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decided; the award goes to Krystal Culpepper.
After 14 years of hard work and dedication, Krystal Culpepper, the IB coordinator and counselor, has recently been voted the 2024 Teacher of the Year.
s an honor because not a lot of school counselors get recognized for teacher of the year,”
Teacher of the Year is a staff-chosen award. This means that the school administration will nominate their peers and then, after the nominations are narrowed down, they will vote for a finalist.
s something that my colleagues voted for me so they can see the work that I’m doing, so it was very heartwarming to know that they recognize the work that goes into being a school counselor,” Culpepper
As an IB counselor and coordinator, Culpepper is responsible for many different things. From helping the school maintain its prestigious status to assisting students with college admissions, scheduling, personal matters, and even graduation require-
for training, making sure that when we undergo program evaluation for our school that all those
Culpepper grew up surrounded by teachers, her mom and aunts serving as excellent role modShe knew from a very young age that she wanted to work in education.
“My mom was a teacher, she taught grades four through six, so I was always around it. I have 2 aunts who are teachers as well. So, I kind a like always spent my days after school helping around classrooms,” Culpepper said.
Culpepper also knew from a young age that she wanted to be a school counselor, especially after her negative experience with her high school counselor, which inspired her to pursue this career.
“I did want to be a school counselor because my school counselor was awful, did not help at all,” Culpepper said. “My whole high school experience I saw my counselor two times and that was it.”
Culpepper did not initially intend to specialize in the IB curriculum. However, she was introduced to the program during an internship at another school and quickly became enamored with its ideology.
“And I just, I fell in love with the philosophy and how it helps students to be more globally minded and just thinking about how they can make a better more peaceful world,” Culpepper said.
There are a lot of different facets to our job. So, we are supposed to do things that will help students not only currently in their academics at school but secondary goals,” Culpepper revealed. And then as the IB coordinator, I have to ensure that all of the things that are required for our school to maintain its status as an IB world school are in place, making sure that teachers are slated for training when they need to be slated
Though her job can be overwhelming and stressful, Culpepper never fails to stay positive and have a lasting effect on her students’ lives. She says one of her favorite parts of her job is when former students come back to visit her.
“I appreciate them coming back and sharing their stories and they always talk about how Paxon helped them so much, and they were so prepared, and it makes it feel like, okay, it’s worth it.”
er Kathy Katella stated. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve seen several prominent variants, including Alpha, Beta, Delta, and
Omicron.”
The number of cases over the years seemed to persist, as COVID-19 is still affecting people long after the quarantine.
Right now, COVID cases are still happening widely. In December 2023, the WHO reported 1.2 million COVID cases and 9,575 deaths worldwide,” Boston University Professor Eleanor J. Murray said.
Vaccines, though effective at stalling the virus, could not stop the virus from mutating and infecting people yet again, indicating a lasting focus on Coronavirus.
The data showed very clearly [the vaccine induced immunity] waning over time, indicating there’s a need to target the circulating varUNC Professor of Biostatistics Danyu Lin, PhD said.
Many medical researchers and scientists are working on preventing and curing Coronavirus due to its lasting impact over the years.
and accessible meals, it also began adding things such as preservatives and artificial flavoring without realizing the lack of nutrients in highly processed foods.
"Recent research from Northeastern University's Network Science Institute indicates that 73 percent of the United States food supply is ultra-processed," according to foodtank.com. This means that a majority of our food not only goes beyond regular salt, sugar, and fat intake, but also includes chemical ingredients such as MSG (flavor enhancer), and artificial coloring (Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6,
which have caused many people to have allergic reactions).
More specifically, artificial food dyes are completely unnecessary and have been shown to cause long-term health problems. They are a prime example of how big corporations that produce highly processed foods with many chemical additives are more concerned with selling their product than giving American people good,
“Our work is aimed at documenting what techniques and approaches might be useful not just for this [the COVID-19 pandemic], but the next pandemic,” Harvard Professor of Epidemiology Mauricio Santillana said.
Though the peak of COVID-19 has passed, it remains a lasting disease through its numer-
The California Food Safety Act was recently passed, banning four harmful additives from food. Hopefully, with more advocation for eliminating food additives and the availability of less processed foods, more people will be able to consume healthy foods.
"In fact, artificial food dye consumption has increased by 500% in the last 50 years, and children are the biggest consumers dyes cause serious side effects, such as hyperactivity in children, as well as cancer and allergies," according to healthline.com. There is a clear reason why most of these additives have been banned in Europe.
It doesn't help that unhealthy foods are usually the cheapest because they are the easiest and quickest to produce. “ foods are 52 percent cheaper than less processed alternatives, on average," according to foodtank.com.
TikTok is facing a permanent ban in the U.S., but is it right?
Trevor O’Donoghue, William Wakefield
In recent months, TikTok has become a hotly debated topic across the U.S., as Congress has raised concerns about the app's data security and national privacy. These concerns stem from TikTok's connection with its parent company, ByteDance, which is based in China.
The U.S. government has given TikTok until January 19, 2025, to either sell the app or face being shut down. There is a lot of mystery behind the ban as Congress has withheld essential information as to why it's being banned. This has created controversy about whether the ban is constitutional and if it is more harmful than beneficial.
for the ban that the government is hiding from us.
The ban would have monumental economic effects; not only is TikTok a form of expressing oneself but it is a crucial necessity for smaller businesses, as it makes up a significant source of income for many creators and businesses. The app can also be great for marketing and attracting new customers. Banning TikTok would mean putting many people out of jobs.
fosters global communication where users can share and learn about different cultures. This cultural exchange promotes understanding and appreciation among diverse groups of people.
The ban on TikTok would disconnect and further isolate communities, societies, and cultures.
With this in mind, Congress's judgment can be called questionable at best, with many viral clips of the hearing on the ban going viral. Again and again, U.S. politicians showed their ignorance of the situation by asking oblivious and pointless questions.
Due to the nature of the hearing, many have sided with TikTok, saying the ban is unwarranted and unjustified. TikTok is seemingly still trying to fight the ban and is still doing everything it can to remain operating.
Many people speculate that the ban violates the 1st Amendment, and it is unconstitutional to enforce this ban. Some also question the motives of the ban and if it's a breach of national security, or if there is some other reason
One crucial aspect of TikTok is that it creates a more interconnected global community. It
fair barrier to entry for many students. It's time to make the SAT and ACT free for all students.
The cost of taking the SAT or ACT can range from $50 to over $100 per test, depending on the location and any additional services required. For many families, these costs are simply out of reach. According to a report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, students from low-income families are significantly less likely to take the SAT or ACT than their wealthier peers. This creates a self-perpetuating cycle of disadvantage, where students who are already at a disadvantage are further hindered by their inability to access these crucial exams.
But the benefits of making the SAT and ACT free extend far beyond issues of economic equity. By removing the financial barrier to taking these
exams, we can help to level the playing field and ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed. This, in turn, can help to increase diversity and representation on college campuses, which is essential for creating a more inclusive and vibrant academic community.
“Another issue is that the presence of economic biases hinders these tests from being fair,”
Miranda Knowles wrote in “Future or Failure: Why We Should Abolish the SAT and ACT”. “With the SAT costing $55 and the ACT costing $60, some families may be only able to afford to take the test once.”
Furthermore, making the SAT and ACT free would also help to alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that often accompanies the college
No matter what side of the debate you're on, what's undeniable is TikTok has become a crucial part of today's society, all across the globe. Regardless of whether the decision is made for it to be banned or not, it will have big implications either way.
application process. Students would no longer have to worry about scraping together the funds to take the test or choosing between taking the test and other essential expenses. This would allow them to focus on what matters: preparing for the test and showcasing their skills and knowledge to college admissions committees.
Of course, there are costs associated with administering the SAT and ACT, and making them free would require significant funding. However, there are several potential solutions to this problem. For example, the College Board and ACT, Inc. could work with government agencies and private foundations to secure funding for free testing. Alternatively, colleges and universities could consider eliminating the SAT and ACT requirement, as some institutions have.
Making the SAT and ACT free is a crucial step toward creating a more equitable and inclusive college admissions process. By removing the financial barrier to taking these exams, we can help to level the playing field and ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed. It's time for policymakers, educators, and testing companies to come together and make this vision a reality.
phasize that the product good that it’s hard to imagine anything but incremental improvements.” Each new model often includes moderate to minimal advancements in processing power, camera capabilities, battery life, and software features. These upgrades usually yield a hefty price tag. For consumers who prioritize having the latest technology or those who benefit from enhanced capabilities such as photographers, gamers, or professionals the cycle can be justified as part of Apple’s drive for innovation.
ly updates since this has been going on for well over a decade, and the decision to upgrade is almost entirely voluntary. For those who value having the latest advancements, the cycle is a welcome routine. Nonetheless, the yearly cycle may encourage unnecessary spending among those who might feel pressured to stay up-to-date, even if their current devices continue to meet their needs.
Many popular music artists such as Taylor Swift and Eminem told their fans that they voted for Kamala Harris. This created controversy about how people were really going to vote. This has been all over TikTok, with artists' speeches on why they are voting for Harris, but this did not help her win in the end. Opinions about these artists may have led Americans to change their vote. The less people like an artist, the less their endorsement will do any good for the candidate.
The endorsement by Ms. Swift, delivered minutes after Ms. Harris and Mr. Trump had stepped off the debate stage in Philadelphia, offers Ms. Harris an unrivaled celebrity backer and a tremendous shot of adrenaline to her campaign, especially with the younger voters she has been trying to attract,” according to The New York Times.
Swift may be a popular artist with the younger generation, but a wide variety of Americans and even Gen Z, do not support Ms. Swift and her career. This is also true with other artists who endorsed her, such as Eminem, Ariana Grande, and Billie Ei-
It also did not help that many of Gen Z who supported Kamala were not old enough to vote. The ones that are old enough either did not vote or could not cancel out Republican voters.
On the other hand, many of the artists who endorsed Donald Trump were not the most popular, but they were rappers or country artists, which grasped the attention of some younger voters.
“Watching the explosion of the country genre as a symptom and not a cause could have worked in the Democrats' favor, or at least helped offer an understanding that the youthful electorate wasn't moving left as they would have liked to assume,” said Marissa R. Moss, a writer from the Rolling Stone.
So, do these endorsements actually help politicians? The answer is no. In the end, it all comes down to how people feel when they are at the ballot box and how their morals lie.
Are the Jaguars in Trouble for the Coming Years? They came into the season with high expectations, but have underperformed. Gabe Wilson
The Jaguars came in hot from 2022 when they went to the playoffs.
They were down 27-0 in the wildcard game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Trevor Lawrence had already thrown four interceptions before this point, and the Chargers’ secondary were looking for another takeaway. Lawrence threw for a touchdown right before halftime, which brought the score to 27-7. In the second half, the Jaguars defense played lights out, and Trevor Lawrence threw for three more touchdowns, which gave them the lead at 28-27. The Jaguars ended the game on a made field goal by Riley Patterson, which brought the score to 31-30. The Jaguars went on to play the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round, which they lost.
The following year, the Jaguars started the season eight and three, then Trevor Lawrence got injured, which brought them nothing but losses until they played the Panthers, and at that point, they were 97 with that win. Trevor Lawrence returned and played in the final game against the Titans, and that game determined if they could make the playoffs. They went on to lose and failed to make the playoffs, which brings us to this current season.
They started off the season with one win and two losses and now they are 2-8 and tanking for the number one pick in the draft. Fans might ask what went on between the losing stretch from last season to this season, and many have the same question including the team itself.
Head coach Doug Pederson in a press conference for the Jaguars media team reflecting on the team’s performance against the Detroit Lions.
“I can’t control that; I’ve been around this league for a long time and if it’s going to happen it’s going to happen obviously,” Pederson said. “At the same time, I still have a job to do and that’s you know get prepared for a good division opponent in two weeks.”
Pederson was lost and disappointed by the Jags’ 52-6 loss against the Lions this past week, and they’re on their bye week, which means they could
Should students do more to support sports by creating a student section?
Athletes hope to see more student attendance.
Trenity Gray
As the winter sports season approaches and fall sports come to an end, Paxon is in for a very eventful season. Athletes and students have begun to spark a debate about the student section after Paxon’s student
section throughout the fall sports season lacked spirit and support.
Paxon’s cheerleaders sophomore Anilah Jones and junior Mckinley Taylor shared their thoughts about the lack of students that come to sports games to support and show their school pride.
“It’s honestly very disappointing,” Taylor asserted, reflecting on the low attendance at games. “We take our time out of our day to get the crowd excited and hyped just for there to be no crowd or them to not reciprocate the same actions.”
Paxon’s cheerleaders show their spirit all year around in attempts to liven the crowd and cheer their players to a victory.
“It feels quite discouraging,” Jones exclaimed. “We try to interact, and they do not reciprocate. Why can’t they be like Wolfson’s student section and be hype? Why come to a football game and not support your team?”
re-coop and recover for the next game against the Houston Texans. At this point, the media and fans start to wonder if coaching is the problem.
The Jaguars’ offensive coordinator Press Taylor is the main play caller of the team, and he made statements during a press conference for the Jaguars media team about the team not capitalizing on opportunities.
“It’s about being consistent down in and down out and what it looks like,” Taylor said. “Even last week you know we went down to score and got points on the first drive but there were some hiccups along the way that we felt like were self-induced,” Taylor said. “And those were the things that you kind of got to get out the way.” The press conference was on October 17, and at the time the press was reflecting on the team’s 35-16 loss against the Bears on the October 13.
The Jaguars’ owner Shad Khan said this is the best team in Jags history, yet they haven’t been playing like it.
Advanced schools similar to Paxon aren’t generally recognized for their sports. In the past, they were recognized more for losses instead of victories. Some students have lost hope in their school teams due to the losing streaks they’ve encountered in the past. Although recently, Paxon’s streak has been quite impressive and unexpected.
“The reason for a small student section may be because of the higher education standards, some students may not have the time nor motivation to attend these games,” junior Timothy Sloan said.
Although Paxon’s sports teams need support and spirit, some students put school first as academics are going to come first when it comes to their free time.
“Being able to feel the energy and the support from the crowd is one of the most important things to athletes,” Kyler Young, a junior studentathlete explained. “We look forward to it every game, but without it, it can cause discouragement.”
Athletes get a boost of pride and a sense of unity when everyone comes together to show their support and spirit for the teams.
All in all, Paxon’s student section is highly desired for all sports. The sports record has been making its surprising turn as fall sports season comes to an end, with football 7-2 and volleyball with a winning streak as well. Although students may not take much pride in their school’s sports and there was a small section during the fall season, entering winter sports season, athletes are hoping for a big crowd with great school spirit.
‘CHROMAKOPIA’ Takes the Charts
by Shaunice Price
Released on October 28, Chromakopia has spent three weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 200.
The album was released by two-time Grammy winner Tyler, The Creator, and has been met with both critic and fan acclaim. With features of well-known artists such as Glorilla, Lil Wayne, Daniel Caesar, and more it’s no surprise that the album is such a hit. On the album, Tyler provides insight into his experiences and feelings that fans haven’t heard about since his last full album, “Call Me If You Get Lost”. On “Chromakopia”, Tyler has produced and written all the songs, which further intensifies the messages throughout the album.
Throughout the album, Tyler’s mother helps guide the listener with her words. On the first track of the song, she explains the meaning of the song, “St. Chroma”. She opens the album with, “You are the light, it’s not on you, it’s in you. Don’t you ever in your life, dim your light for nobody.” This opener foreshadows how the album will showcase how Tyler presents his “light” to the public, as well as how he feels about having this light and his doubts about it. Throughout this song, he expresses how he has risen to the level of fame he has today and how confident he has always been in himself. Although his confidence has always been strong throughout his music career, here in this album, he expresses how he has been doubting himself lately.
Straying away from this message, on “Like Him”, his mother provides a piece of evidence that shocked most fans. Throughout this song, he wonders if he truly looks like his father. At the end of the song, she reveals that Tyler’s father, who has been absent for all his life, wanted to be a part of his life. “…cause he always wanted to be there for you But he’s always wanted to be a father to you.” Throughout Tyler’s work, he has expressed how his father has been absent and how angered he is by that. For example, in his song “Answer” from his 2013 album “Wolf”, he expresses his anger with his father for being absent and how much he resents him for it. “‘Dad’ isn’t your name, see ‘F*****’ a little more fitting.” Tyler’s expressive lyrics that expose his feelings are something his fans know and love him for, and in his newest work, he doesn’t shy away from this signature of his.
In the track, “I Killed You”, Tyler expresses how Black people have to “tame” their natural hair to be seen as professional by other people. He also describes how Black people themselves will judge each other based on their hair. This theme of hair in the song reflects how Tyler has been wearing his hair during his album run. In an unnatural-looking afro, the song reflects how people might judge his hair, but he makes it clear that he believes that all types of Black hair in all forms are beautiful.
Does ‘Don’t Move’ deliver on its premise?
In another expressive track, “Tomorrow”, Tyler reveals his fears of aging and all the experiences that comes with this. His fear of having children is emphasized within this song, “The thought of children, it brings me stress.” He also contemplates his fear of being in a fully committed relationship, which is previously discussed on the track, “Darling, I” stating, “Will I flip the switch and finally settle down?”
On his final track, “I Hope You Find Your Way Home”, Tyler reflects on his experiences. He reveals his annoyance with people who constantly negatively speak about him, and his accomplishments, along with reflecting on his personality and how he presents himself. At the end of the track, fans get to hear the last voice message from Tyler er. “I’m proud of you, bro. Like, you just never cease to amaze me. There's no words to express how I feel. Do your thing, just keep, keep shining.”
The
horror thriller’s unique concept was the focus of its marketing, but could it follow through?
“Don’t Move” is a direct-to-Netflix horror film directed by Sam Raimi. It stars Kelsey Asbille, as Iris, a grieving woman trying to cope with the death of her son, and Finn Wittrock playing Richard, a sadistic serial killer. The premise is that after injecting her with a fast-acting paralytic poison, she escapes, and must run, fight, and hide from him in a massive, isolated forest before her body shuts down, with only 20 minutes until it completely takes over.
“Don’t Move” fails to deliver on the promises it makes, as rather than the movie being about her trying to survive with her body failing her, it’s about Iris laying on the ground paralyzed while the plot moves around her. Much of the movie would have been the same if you replaced her character with a sandbag, as she plays almost no part in the movie she leads in. Instead, you watch as incredibly lucky coincidences play out for both sides, the “seasoned serial killer” swivels between being so massively incompetent that he can’t keep a zip-tied and tasered woman in the back of his car for more than five minutes without her escaping and getting strokes of luck that are al-
most supernatural.
Meanwhile, Iris has no agency for most of the film. The trailer portrays the race against time as a core component of the movie, with her setting a timer on her watch and trying to secure a safe place until the paralysis takes over. In actuality, the heavily showcased 20-minute timer is meaningless because she’s immediately paralyzed. Instead, she was essentially just someone for the camera to cut to in between other characters doing things and progressing the plot.
This isn’t to say the movie has no good qualities. The cinematography, especially at the beginning, really showcases how alone she is, emphasizing the vastness of the forest, surrounded by towering mountains. However, this is almost immediately undermined by the fact that she’s surrounded by other people for almost the entire movie.
The movie’s acting is great, and Wittrock’s performance as Richard is excellent. In an interview, he stated that he studied Hannibal Lecter, which is evident in the quality of his performance. Richard’s descent into madness seems like a reply to the recent online romanti-
cization of serial killers, as the façade cracks away and he reveals his insanity more and more until it’s clear that behind his charisma he is an irredeemable monster. Asbille’s performance is similarly great, and she manages to show a wide range of emotions with just her eyes. Iris’s character is not written nearly as well, with her grief for her son being portrayed as random, jarring cuts to her and her son, and a small boat that she carries around. This lack of backstory and character exposition makes it hard to empathize with her, a cardinal sin for any horror film. This is especially glaring considering that a character who is in the movie for mere minutes has a much more full and compelling background that is thoroughly explained and elaborated on.
Considering that it was directed by Sam Raimi, creator of the “Evil Dead” series, “Don’t Move” is a disappointment. However, its unique concept, and great acting, is a movie worth watching, even considering all its flaws, and its 92-minute runtime means that it is a very quick watch. Anyone who has Netflix should consider watching it if only to see what could have been.
