The Paw Print Issue 11

Issue#11 | Vol.35 | APRIL 28, 2023

G N I K TA S

E D SI

STUDENTS SHARE OPINIONS ON THE DECISION TO ELIMINATE CLASS RANK

5

GUN VIOLENCE IN THE LAST WEEK

11

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: ANN STARKEY

14

A CAT THAT TEACHES LOVE

TABLE OF CONTENTS OpEd 03

Thought & Prayers Aren't Enough

MONTH IN PHOTOS

News 04

The Paw Print Competes at OSMA

05

Gun Violence in the Last Week

Features 06

Overconsumption

07

Celebrating Creativity at GHS

08-09

GHS Cuts Class Rank in 2025

10

How GHS Utilizes Social Media

11

Staff Spotlight: Ann Starkey

Sports 12 Track & Field 13 Taking the Court: Boys Tennis

Opinion 14 A Cat that Teaches Love

TOP: GHS Academic Challenge team places 5th in the Regional Tournament.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: GLS Facebook

LEFT: GHS Foreign Language Department is recognized for outstanding achievement.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: GLS Facebook

COMING UP SOON May 15

Issue 12 Release

May 16

Senior Payback Day & Field Day

May 20

Prom

15 Grief: Overcoming the Loss of My Mom

Caboose 16

Schlue's Reviews

STORIES>>

MEDIA>>

Read reviews of the latest hit TV shows and check out our weekly sports broadcast by visiting ghspawprint.org or scanning the QR code.

RIGHT: The Green Schools Foundation April Spotlight on staff.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: GLS Facebook

3 | editorial

thoughts & prayers aren't

THE PAW PRINT 1474 Boettler Rd. Uniontown OH, 44685 (330) 896-7500

EDITORIAL POLICY

As of April 18, 12,720 people have died as a result of a firearm in the five months of 2023 alone. With this, there are a minimum of 12,720 reasons to end gun violence. Injury by firearm is the leading cause of children’s death in the United States. Clearly, gun violence is an indisputable problem that continues to plague this country specifically. However, many Americans still oppose methods of control such as increasing background checks and promoting a safe gun culture.

The United States leads the world in economy and military strength, but we also rank highest for gun possession and number of mass shootings. How can a society as civilized and strong allow nearly 50,000 people a year to die due to guns? Death is not the only concern that arises when guns are involved. Exposure to this type of violence elicits feelings of extreme stress and anxiety. 3 million children witness this violence every year, according to Everytown.org. At some point, someone must step up and create substantial change.

Congress must reconsider the power of the second amendment and put common sense gun regulations into effect. Our society requires a cultural shift, as evidenced by children K-12 practicing safety protocols regularly to prepare for what now seems to be inevitable.

Thoughts and prayers after a child dies are not enough.

Assault rifles are weapons of war. It is outrageous that civilians maintain the right to purchase something specifically designed to kill people with brutal speed and efficiency.

These weapons provide no additional purpose besides vigilantism and murder, and serve no purpose as recreational items for civilians. No matter how many stunning statistics are presented, this issue always turns political. Gun violence continues to break barriers in our homes, schools, stores, movie theaters and churches. It must stop somewhere. The human experience as we know it will never be the same if the gun epidemic is not reduced.

In light of these concerns, high school itself transformed into an apocalyptic space.

Students dread going to class over the threat of death. Normal high school experiences such as friendly games like senior assassin now raise concerns. The references to gun use called for the name reconsideration to senior splash, and instead of being shot, seniors are splashed. What kind of civilized society can’t handle childhood games that include squirt guns? Children deserve the liberty to participate in activities safely, and should not be made to feel as though the burden to keep themselves safe falls squarely on their shoulders.

However, in this society, a senior in high school is susceptible to gun violence everywhere, including their own neighborhood. It’s time for this country to wake up and apparently pioneer a world where children can play games without the fear of being shot.

The Paw Print editorial board staff calls for the organizers of senior splash at Green to donate the dollar amount raised to the organization, Everytown. This non-profit organization works to demand action from elected officials to end gun violence. It's a small step, but one in the right direction.

Published By EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: JACKSON HALL

COPY EDITOR: AMY LIN

DESIGN EDITOR: MCKENZIE COLLINSWORTH

PHOTOGRAPHY: LAUREN STEPHAN ALYSSA DAVIS

MANAGING EDITOR: ADVISOR: RILEY SUMPTION NATALIE TANNEHILL MEDIA MANAGER: SOPHIA LOGSDON

SECTION EDITORS: CATHERINE SMITH SOPHIA SALEY NINA SUMMERS IZZY SCOTT JULES BEYES MALLORY GEARHART DAVIS STANLEY HOPE HOFFMAN VICTORIA SCHLUE PAYTON MACESICH

STAFF:

The newspaper staff will make every reasonable effort to verify quotations in final approved copy with the individual(s) quoted, in interest of accuracy. Copy in the newspaper will bear bylines when, in the opinion of the adviser with the editor’s approval, the writer has earned recognition and running the byline is acceptable journalistically. If a newspaper editorial does not bear a byline, it reflects the opinion of the entire staff. A bylined editorial reflects only the opinion of the writer.

Viewpoints expressed in newspaper editorials are not necessarily shared by any members of the faculty (including the adviser), the administration, or the board of education.

All letters to the editor of the newspaper must be signed for verification purposes, but the staff may withhold names upon request. Because of space limitations letters of 300 words or less will receive preference, and longer letters may be subject to condensation with the cooperation of the writer. The final decision of whether to print a letter rests solely with the staff.

CONTACT US tannehillnatalie@green localschools.org @ghspawprint

@thepawprintghs

OLIVIA PENNINGTON AIDEN MORGAN KAYLIE DUSKEY RHIANA BRUCE AMBER BETS KODY HUNTER CHASE BORLAND LAUREN LEEMASTER RYAN MUELLER SELENA SABBAGH ZACHARY JACOBS LILLIAN BAER SKYLAR JOHNSON DANIELLA POTTS LINDSEY REY TAYLOR MCCARTY ISABELLA PANDER NATE CARR NINA MCANNALLY JENNA VENEY ERIC WOLFORD VIENNA HORVATH MARKO KULINA

4 | news

THE PAW PRINT COMPETES AT OSMA

by Olivia Pennington

On April 14, The Paw Print newspaper staff attended the Ohio Scholastic Media Association (OSMA) state convention at Kent State University where they were awarded first place for their biweekly newsmagazine.

The convention strives to educate high school students on the principles of journalism. This two-day event hosts a series of workshops covering topics related to newspaper writing and yearbook design. To end the convention, there is an award ceremony and a speech from a keynote speaker. This year, Cathy Kuhlmeier from the infamous Hazelwood School District v.

Kuhlmeier Supreme Court case spoke about her experience of her newspaper article being censored by her high school administration in 1983.

Kuhlmeier spoke about her experience as a student journalist involved in a first amendment case and gave background information to the case not commonly read about in textbooks.

“It was quite amazing to meet her [Kuhlmeier]! I find it disappointing that SCOTUS didn’t rule on the side of Kuhlmeier

Green, Ohio

because I feel the censored content from their school paper was bringing needed attention to an issue facing their community,” The Paw Print Managing Editor Riley Sumption ‘23 said. “On the bright side, I got her to sign the women’s history issue of The Paw Print, and I’m glad I got to speak with her.”

Adviser Natalie Tannehill submitted three full issues to compete in the overall newsmagazine category. The Paw Print shares their first place rating with three other Ohio high schools.

Additionally, many Green students earned individual recognition. The awards were rated on a scale of superior, excellent, and honorable mention. The staff managed to receive seven awards and eight honorable mentions: Mckenzie Collinsworth, Superior for Newspaper Sports page layout; Jackson Hall, Excellent for General Feature; Taylor Mccarty, Excellent for On-air Talent; Davis Stanley, Excellent for Broadcast Sports; Jackson Hall, Excellent for Commentary; Mckenzie Collinsworth, Excellent for Newsmagazine Feature Page Layout;

Mckenzie Collinsworth, Excellent for Newsmagazine Sports Page Layout.

“I’m really proud of our staff and everything we’ve accomplished this year because we all work very hard. Winning some awards was just an added bonus and really gave us some confidence going into next year,” design editor Mckenzie Collinsworth ‘24 said.

Advisor Natalie Tannehill believes that her students should feel proud of what they accomplished this year. This was the first year that The Paw Print attended this state competition, and Tannehill is hopeful that her staff will become regular members for years to come.

“After not competing for the past few years due to the pandemic, I was excited to bring the staff back to Kent State this year,” Tannehill said. “Winning first place and seeing so many of my students win individual awards made the entire event extra special, and I am very proud of them.”

The Paw Print will release Issue 12 on May 12 to celebrate the graduating members of the staff. Articles are published weekly on their website, www.ghspawprint.org.

by Izzy Scott

CELEBRATES EARTH DAY

This past weekend, the City of Green celebrated Earth Day with their annual trash clean up day, Clean Green. Through partnering with Portage Lakes Advisory Council’s Litter Pick Up Day, the city’s Living Green Task Force invited community members to participate in keeping Green clean.

According to the City of Green’s website, the Living Green Task Force “is committed to achieving sustainable practices in the areas of recycling, water, energy, air quality, trees and healthy community through education and engagement.”

Sarah Haring, Green’s Community Development Administrator, works to orchestrate this event alongside others year after year.

“The City of Green began the ‘Clean Green’ event in 2017. I have been a part of it from the beginning,” Haring said. “I think this event is important primarily because when you are one of the volunteers picking up litter, it makes an impression that sticks. It is satisfying to be personally responsible for changing an ugly area to a beautiful one.”

This event centered around the removal of trash and litter from the Nimisila Reservoir Metro Park, as well as the surrounding roads and ditch lines on South Main Street.

Members of Green High School’s Key Club, in addition to members of the City of Green Student Municipal Representative Program, arrived bright and early to help the cause.

Treasurer of Key Club, Meredith Walker, was one of many to volunteer/contribute.

“I volunteered because I wanted to try something new that would better the community and my home," Walker said.

“After seeing all of the trash covering the side of the road, I saw a different point of view and I realized how important it is for Clean Green to help each year and stop [the trash from creating] further damages.”

By splitting up into small groups, the volunteers were able to gather an abundance of discarded plastic, glass, styrofoam, cigarettes, and other harmful and non degradable items. After a few short hours of hard work, these volunteers were able to collect 42 trash bags. Each year, this event continues to keep Green clean.

5 | news

GUN VIOLENCE IN THE LAST WEEK

the rise in gun violence--165 mass shootings in 2023 so far-- heightens fear and concern

by Nina Summers This article does not include multiple acts of gun violence in the last few weeks. There have been 12,713 deaths, 165 mass shootings, 77 children under the age of 11 killed, 453 killed from the ages of 12-17, 421 officers involved in incidents, and thousands of injuries in the span of January 1, 2023 to April 18, 2023. These numbers continue to rise everyday. The United States of America has one of the highest number of gun violence incidents, averaging 120 guns for every 100 citizens. The people highlighted in this article are a few of thousands affected by gun violence in the United States in a short span of time.

Kaylin Gillis

Alabama Shooting

April 15, 2023, 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis was shot and killed in upstate New York for accidently pulling into the driveway of the wrong home when looking for her friend's house. Three other people were in the car with Gillis when they turned into the driveway of 65-year-old Kevin Monahan. Monahan fired two shots from his front porch, one of them hitting and killing Gillis.

Blake Walsh, Gillis' boyfriend, said in an NBC interview that, “We thought we were at the right address. We didn’t have any cell service to figure it out. As soon as we figured out that we were at the wrong location, we started to leave, and that’s when everything happened.”

Monahan was charged with second degree murder. A bail hearing took place on Wednesday, April 19 where he was denied and will remain in jail. Monahan provided his explanation for the shooting, saying that there were multiple cars entering his driveway and he believed that something bad was going on.

News reporter Laura Ly said, “The sheriff confirmed there were several vehicles traveling together – a car with two passengers; a car with four passengers, including Gillis and her boyfriend; and a motorcycle – driving up and down the street looking for an address.”

After the shots were fired, Gillis and her friends drove away from the scene into Hebron, where they called 911 for help. Since the event, $97,000 was raised to help support Kaylin's family.

April 15, 2023, a mass shooting killed four people and injured 28 during a Sweet 16 birthday party. The shooter opened gunfire at an event venue in Dadeville, Alabama at 10:34 p.m. At the moment, 15 kids are hospitalized and staying at Lake Martin Community Hospital.

Holly Yan, CNN reporter, said, “Among them, five were in critical condition, and four were in stable condition. Those nine patients have been transferred to other medical facilities.”

Philstavious Dowdell and KeKe Smith were among the four who were killed; Dowdell was the brother of the 16-year-old celebrating her birthday. Both kids were seniors in high school Dowdell earned a scholarship to play football at Jacksonville State University and Smith had planned to attend the University of Alabama.

Police have yet to produce a statement about any suspects, motives, or leads on the shooting and they have asked everyone with information to speak up on it.

Heather Roth & Peyton Washington

Two teenage cheerleaders were shot in a supermarket parking lot in Texas after accidentally opening the door of the wrong vehicle. Pedro Tello Rodriguez Jr, who shot the teen, was arrested April 18, 2023. Detectives found a 9mm pistol in the center console of the car.

News reporter Tina Burnside said, “He is being held on a $500,000 bond and accused of deadly conduct with a firearm, a third degree felony, and probable cause document states.”

One of the girls had gotten out of her friend's car and opened the door to the vehicle she thought was her own when she was shot. The teen started to apologize to the man when he was reported to get out of the passenger side of the car with a gun and open fire. Payton Washington, one of the girls that had been shot twice, was in stable condition in the ICU. She suffered a ruptured spleen, damaged pancreas, and diaphragm.

Burnside said, “Her stomach is not closed up yet and they are keeping her on heavy antibiotics for at least 48 hours to hopefully fight off infection.”

The other teenager, Heather Roth, was struck by a bullet but released at the scene of the crime after minor treatment.

William White & 6 year old Daughter

In Charlotte, North Carolina, a 6-year-old and her father were shot by their neighbor when a basketball accidently rolled into his yard. Robert Louis Singletary, a 24-year-old man, shot the 6year-old in the cheek and the father in the back. It was reported that some kids in the neighborhood were playing basketball at the White’s house when the ball rolled in the yard of Singletary.

Jonathan Robertson, a neighbor, told CNN, “We never expected anybody would break a gun amongst all those kids. I mean that was insane.”

The father, William White, has been seriously injured and remains in the hospital. The daughter and a second adult were grazed by the bullet and have been treated already. Singletary is on the run from police and authorities say that he is still armed and dangerous.

Debbie White, William's mother, told CNN that, “ He’s in a lot of pain and he’s worried about his family with the suspect being on the run and him in the hospital not being able to protect his wife and kids.”

Police have successfully secured warrants for four counts of attempted first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and two accounts of assault with a deadly weapon. The suspect has a history of violence after being previously charged with assault and kidnapping after attacking his girlfriend with a mini sledge hammer.

The White family is hopeful for a full recovery and the community is on watch for the suspect.

6 | features

discover what you can do to reduce overconsumption

by Daniella Potts

facts

Scrolling through TikTok reveals a terrifying trend of selling products to viewers in a sneaky way. With names like “Amazon must haves” or “my favorite Amazon finds”, it doesn’t seem like marketing.

However, many people make money off of buying items in bulk and selling them for a higher price on websites like Amazon.

“I see all of the influencers that I love owning all of these products and it makes me feel left out if I don’t have them,” senior Lauren Yurick said.

Most of the items shown are things like carafes, veggie slicers, and other unnecessary items created from non biodegradable materials.

Even worse, a lot of these things will be forgotten about and not put to use once bought.

Amazon is not the only major trend right now; an up and rising star to the circle is Temu. With the catchphrase “We’re like Shein”, they have no specialty. They sell everything from cheap bluetooth earbuds to $40 wedding dresses. The main attraction to this company is the inexpensiveness of products. However, these cheap alternatives often don't last very long. Many need to be bought in order to keep this lifestyle up, and money adds up. Still, Temu has quickly become the most downloaded free app on the market.

Our society has become obsessed with these cheap alternatives like Shein, Temu, and Zara. This is killing the world. Not only is it filling up landfills, but humans are spending up the earth's resources

1.7 times faster than it can regenerate itself. Another issue many don't think about is the carbon emissions from transporting and making all of these goods.

On the government website Congressional Budget Office, it says “CO2 emissions represent roughly 97 percent of the global warming potential of all greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.”

Decreasing overconsumption would greatly reduce a large issue that contributes to environmental problems.

What things does someone really need? Do they need that cute veggie cutter, or that carafe they’ll never use, or that new thing whenever they already have a perfectly good one? The only way to solve this problem is to stop supporting the industry - to re-evaluate the things that one purchases and really consider whether or not it’s a necessity.

“I’m into self care stuff, and most of the stuff I have isn’t necessary,” said Yurick.

Many times, the items that most have laying around the house can be re-used or reinvented into something else. Another option that allows for people to still buy inexpensive things would be thrift stores. They do not just have clothes; they have entire sections dedicated to artwork, books, kitchenware, etc. There are so many decisions that the average person can make to help stop the problem of overconsumption.

FIRST EARTH DAY

RECYCLING IMPACT

The first Earth Day took place in 1970 and raised awareness about the need to protect and preserve the environment.

Recycling reduces garbage in landfills and preserves natural resources. One ton of paper can save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 463 gallons of oil.

CLIMATE CHANGE

BY THE YEAR 2050...

Climate change is causing global temperatures to rise, which is leading to more extreme weather events like hurricanes and droughts.

There will be more plastic trash than fish in the ocean if we don't take action to reduce plastic pollution.

7 | features

we asked for submissions from GHS students to showcase the amazing talent walking around the halls. Here's what we received.

Still Life

TRY E O

The Morning Star Falls Civic

by Lauren Stephan '25

The wind brushed his wings and howled in his ear On top of the clouds his brethren say goodbye They glared at him and left with a mean leer.

At that The Morning Star had started to cry His cries were so loud it killed his pride He continued to fall, at a quick speed Soon he hit the ground believing he had died The Morning Star's hands had started to bleed he didn't care much, his surroundings look like hell White feathers were scattered and battered The Morning Star's ears were ringing like a bell and the fallen angels heart was shattered This is what happened to him, the shining star He fell from grace and is left with a deep scar.

Notre Dame Basilica located in Montreal Canada Photo by Alyssa Davis '24

Broken Glass My heart is like broken glass It has been shattered, stepped on, and tossed Held together by a mold of a person It is broken and frail My heart is like broken glass It has been colored with memories and lessons Held together by solder and melted metal It is beautiful and shines in the sun My heart is like broken glass put into a stained-glass treasure.

Created by Jay Carroll '23

by Sophia Logsdon '23

Painting by Payton Macesich '23

Drawing by Payton Macesich '23

Blonde Basquiat

P

CELEBRATING CREATIVITY AT GHS

8 | center spread

GHS CUTS CLASS RANK the elimination of class rank and what that truly means

by Kaylie Duskey The class of 2025 is now the first GHS class to not be ranked based on their GPA. The elimination of class rank results in the elimination of the valedictorian and salutatorian distinctions.

Instead, fellow classmates will “elect” a student to give the graduation farewell speech. This student-elect will be evaluated by a “faculty council” created by the school administration.

Student Services Department Chair Marilyn Ruff served an integral role in the decision making.

“This decision has been 10 plus years in the making….It began with a committee of teachers (some who have since left Green Local Schools) and was approved by the Board of Education back when the class of 2025 was in middle school,” Ruff said.

Students of the 2025 class have mixed reviews on the elimination.

“It’s a bit annoying just given everything, but it’s the school’s decision”, Rohun Shringarpurey ’25 said, “but I think it will eliminate some degree of overworking.”

Some view the elimination of class ranking as hurtful to their academic achievements. Another class of 2025 student, Ella Marochino, comments, “I am honestly upset. I work hard for my grades and now it just seems kinda pointless”.

Over the past few years, colleges and universities have redefined what the “perfect student” looks like. In the past, a student needed perfect grades, GPA’s, and standardized test scores in order to make it into the Top 25 and be noticed.

“Other districts that have gone to the Latin system have noted that some universities use rank percentile for admissions and scholarship consideration," Ruff said, "This means that a population of our top students are eliminated from consideration for acceptance to these schools. When comparing the rigor of different schools, this had a negative effect on our students as we rank high academically as a whole."

Moving away from class ranking is almost meaningless when it comes to the college realm. Many learned quickly that Top 25 was not a proper device in judging people on their intelligence.

There are many factors that can affect the smartness of students in a certain area, the main one being finances. Schools with more money typically have better test scores and grades overall. The variation of students at schools can result in a valedictorian at one school being a number 100 at another. The levels of intelligence within each school can not be compared against each other.

Instead, they focus more on GPA and classes taken within the students’ high school career.

Another issue with the ranking system pertained to the weight of the college credit plus classes, thus coining the term, “CCP Farming”. This was given to the students who only took CCP classes to boost their GPA’s. The people who coined this term, peers of the CCP students, were the upset AP students who worked hard all year with debatably harder content, yet were weighted on the same scale as CCP class. This led to the smarter students missing the Top 25 mark because they chose to take on AP courses instead of the CCP semester-long courses.

Mrs. Ruff broke down the weighting system for CCP and AP courses.

“The state now requires that if a school offers an AP course in a given department any college course must be given the same AP weight," Ruff said.

"The lowest weight a college course can be awarded is Honor weight. As you can imagine, this quickly became controversial. For example, AP Literature with Mrs. Berardi carries the same weight as any English class taken at Stark State, Akron U, Kent, etc. AP Chemistry with Mr. Owen carries the same weight as any Science class taken at Stark State, Akron U, Kent, etc. AP US History with Mr. Tomecko is equal in weight to any social studies course taken at Stark State, Akron U, or Kent” Ultimately a key factor in the decision to eliminate class rank was to focus more on students' long-term success. “Our goal is for our students to benefit long term and not just on the day of graduation," Ruff said.

AROUND THE HALLS: students weigh in on class rank “It allows students to focus on personal performance rather than competing”- Laney Mikes ‘23 "I don’t feel great to be honest, I would rather be recognized for my hard work and getting those grades"- Genevieve Divoky '25

“I’m a senior so this won’t affect me, but class rank never altered my academic abilities”-Olivia Rutledge '23 "For the kids that do achieve good grades, they should be recognized"Emily Graham '25

“Class rank is stupid and they should put it away” Jonathan Diorio '26

"It gives you a sense of accomplishment"Ali Smith '26

"I don’t think that they should get rid of class rank. Many students work hard to be recognized and taking that away is unfair to those who have worked towards being top of their class."- Avery Price '25

“Personally, taking away class rank takes away some of my motivation”- Jamie Duskey ‘24

"I feel like the people that do good should be rewarded for everything they worked so hard for.

The valedictorian is so important, they work their whole high school career to work towards that, it also looks very good to colleges, for example, if I put being valedictorian on my college application I feel like I would have a better chance of getting in"- Alena Kraft '26

9 | center spread

THE STUDENTS WEIGH IN

KEEP THE RANKS

by Catherine Smith The Top 25 is an achievement that determined students at GHS have been striving to achieve since the day they started high school their freshman year. Students who want to finish their senior year at the top of their class integrate a multitude of honors and AP courses into their schedules to successfully meet this goal by the end of their high school careers. Although the Top 25 will be removed for upcoming graduating classes for 2025 and beyond, the achievement itself should remain at GHS because of its awarding nature for students who work diligently throughout the school year in multiple challenging courses and because of its purpose for serving as an incentive for students to work harder and climb in their class ranks.

Finishing in the Top 25 not only comes with a ceremony towards the end of the year, but it is also an immense accomplishment for those who finished amongst the top of their class. Throughout students' high school careers, some opt for the more demanding courses, like the honors and AP’s, that require more extensive work in contrast to the standard classes that are more manageable.

Choosing to take these classes is no simple task, and most of these students spend multiple hours each night completing homework and studying for their tests and quizzes for the duration of the week.

“I probably spend about 2-3 hours doing homework everyday,” stated Bella Ake ‘24, who takes four AP classes and one honors.

For this reason specifically, being recognized in the Top 25 is a nice reward for those who put in the time, effort, and hard work over and over again. Graduating high school with an accomplishment of

this sort is extremely useful for college acceptance, but in all, it makes the recognized students feel like their continual hard work didn’t go unnoticed.

Furthermore, the Top 25 acts as a motivator for students to work harder in each of their classes, and ultimately finish with the grades necessary for a Top 25 student. With the possibility of finishing within the top of their class, students have a motive to add honors and AP classes to their schedules, so they can get the grades that are essential to be a member of the Top 25. Once in these more demanding courses that typically take an extraneous amount of effort, the achievement of finishing amongst the top of their class at the end of their high school careers is the driving point that makes all of their hard work and effort worth it.

“Being in the Top 25, in my head, almost validates and rationalizes the endless hours of work I put in towards my grades,” stated Adrianna Barnes ‘24.

With the removal of the Top 25, younger Green Local Schools students will never have the same achievement to look forward to hopefully receiving their senior years; they also won’t receive the same appreciation that prior students did for all of their hard work when the time comes. Thus, removing the Top 25 is an unfortunate reality for the classes of 2025 and beyond, and it will be heavily missed by the students who wanted recognition for their efforts in school or a reason to work a little harder.

TOSS THE RANKS

by Mckenzie Collinsworth Competition has been threaded into the minds of students ever since they began learning. Who scored the highest on a test? Who has the best GPA? Who’s ranked the highest in the class? All of these questions circulate in the minds of high school students.

Learning and growing become obsolete because the only thing on a student’s mind is receiving the best grade on a test. They study the material, prepare for the test, take the test, receive an ‘A’, then they forget everything they learned in order to prepare for the next test.

The cycle continues until the student successfully passes all of their classes and has a 5.0 GPA, but what did they actually learn? The Top 25 acknowledges those students who are able to pass tests in weighted courses.

Honors, AP, and CCP are all weighted courses offered at Green High School. These classes are mostly the same course material with more depth and more work. These classes probably do provide more information and students do learn more, but are they in the course to learn or for the GPA boost?

“I 100% take most of my classes for the GPA boost. I like the classes that I take, but the GPA boost is definitely an incentive,” said Parker Green ‘24, who has taken a total of eleven honors and AP classes in high school.

With so many schools abandoning class rank, colleges tend to rely less on a student’s rank, but rather their extracurriculars, course content, and character. GPA still plays an important role in college admissions, but a well rounded individual shows room for growth.

Students should use their time in high school to understand their own interests and passions so they can be prepared when they go to college. Most of the weighted classes at GHS stick to the standard

four tenets of school: math, science, history, and language arts.

Students think they’re GPA will suffer if they take an elective class that’s not weighted even though it’s something they might find fascinating.

“I wanted to take more electives that actually interest me like current events and true crime because I plan to pursue a career in government, but I felt like I had to take AP classes in order to compete with my peers and to boost my GPA,” said Sophia Wells ‘24, who also participates in numerous honors and AP classes.

Class rank fosters unhealthy competition more than it encourages high achievement. Students either find competition with other students or they tend to compete with themselves. Trying to outscore and “beat” your classmates in a game that is meant for growth and encouragement generates pressure in certain academic areas. The race for Top 25 becomes so close that students are fighting to be 25 or 24. The satisfaction will be nice, but what about 26, 27, or 28? Those students are so close, but won’t receive the same acknowledgement because their GPAs were 0.001 away from the student before them.

“It used to be a goal of mine, but after I found out how close the competition was, I realized it wasn’t that important to me,” said Meredith Walker ‘25.

High school is meant to allow students to develop and understand who they are. How can they find their interests when the only thing on their minds’ is ‘how can I beat the person in front of me? Students should be driven to learn and preparing for their futures. Class ranking limits students developing a broader education because they stick with the few specific weighted classes offered.

10 | features

ghsbulldogs2023

ghsbulldogsfb

greenstuco

girlsofgreen

greenhsartclub

HOW GHS UTILIZES

by Amy Lin

From clubs to sports to other activities and organizations, Green High School has a plethora of social media accounts to promote these groups and their upcoming events. Extracurricular activities are a key part of student life, allowing individuals to connect with each other, make new friends, build up college resumes, contribute to the Green community, and overall make the most out of their high school experience.

But, the main obstacle with getting involved seems to be getting the information for these events - whether it be meeting

social media

dates, Google Classroom codes, Remind codes, and more.

With the rise of social media in recent years, a common solution is prevalent at GHS: student-run social media accounts.

Through student-run social media accounts, specifically Instagram, members of clubs and sports are able to post about meeting dates, games, activities, as well as other promotions, accomplishments, and celebrations for the group. As these are public accounts, the information is easily accessible to any student interested, and they can simply follow the account for future updates and content.

@ghsbulldogs2023 Every year, the senior class officers create an Instagram account solely to celebrate and communicate with the senior class. This year proves to be a busy time for seniors and their parents as there are many events to attend and decisions to make.

Ava Pulley, senior class president, is one of the main contributors to this page for the class of 2023.

"Instagram seems to be the preferred method to communicate about deadlines and events for seniors.

Most students get their information from Instagram alone," Pulley said.

On this account, seniors can send their after high school plans. Every senior gets their own post usually displaying a senior photo and quote as well.

"This is definitely my favorite part of the account. I love seeing where everyone is going," Pulley added.

"Social media is such a normal thing for our generation. It’s so easy to communicate information through instagram as most students have it,” senior class vice president Jenna Pulley said.

Not only do these accounts provide information for students, but they also showcase what goes on in the school to community members. Certain clubs dedicate a lot of time into community service and events, such as Key Club and Girls of Green, so a look into their social media pages can provide a glimpse of their hard work and may even garner more support and opportunities for them.

“As a student who plans to study marketing, gaining experience in managing social media is extremely important. It [social media] continues to become an integral part of society, especially for businesses trying to advertise their products,” Pulley said.

The use of social media for extracurricular activities allows for speedy communication, a wider range of information to be spread, and gives insight to the work of organizations at school. It’s a userfriendly method that helps booster involvement, so be sure to check out some of the GHS student-run accounts.

ghsbulldogs2023

ghsbulldogs2023

ghsbulldogs2023

11 | features

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

by Davis Stanley Mrs. Ann Starkey strives to make a positive impact on her students while providing a professional learning environment in her classroom. Starkey has been teaching here at Green High for eight years but has taught mathematics for 25 years. Before teaching at Green, Starkey taught at multiple colleges in the area. She was a professor at Walsh University, Stark-State College, the University of Akron, and now teaches for Kent State University at the high school. Starkey points out that she really enjoys the high school level, too.

“I like teaching at the high school level more just because I can develop relationships with students that attend every day rather than occasional college students,” Starkey said.

One of her students, Preston McElroy, said that Mrs. Starkey is one of his favorite teachers in the building.

“Mrs. Starkey is just a great person in general. She always teaches the material very well and also helps me and other students individually. She’s one of my favorite teachers and I recommend other students to take her class as well,” McElroy said.

Starkey also helps out with the Fellowship of Christian Students Club and is an active member at her church, The Chapel of Green.

Starting out, Starkey taught in Indianapolis at Warren Central High School but she says she’s grateful for a community like Green.

“Here at the high school, I enjoyed watching my kids grow up here and competing in sports and in the band too. This is such a great community in Green and I’m glad to be a part of it,” Starkey said.

In Mrs. Starkey’s free time, she always enjoys being with her family, working out, playing tennis, hiking, jogging, and reading. In her days in high school, Starkey was a two-sport athlete and competed in volleyball and track. But before high school, she knew she wanted to become a math teacher.

“I knew I wanted to become a math teacher when I was in 8th grade. I just loved the logical aspect math has to offer,” Starkey said.

One of her colleagues, Mrs. Taylor Gazdacko, says Starkey is incredibly helpful and a great role model.

“Mrs. Starkey is someone we can always look to for guidance on our classes. She always goes above and beyond for all students and not just hers,” Gazdacko said.

Mrs. Starkey got her degree in mathematics and education from Ball State University while receiving her master’s degree at the University of Akron.

QUICK QUESTIONS Q. Favorite movie?

A. Shawshank Redemption Q. Favorite musical artist?

A. Steely Dan Q. Favorite vacation destination?

A. Definitely Myrtle Beach area. My favorite spot would have to be Litchfield Beach. My family and I rent a nice house with a pool and enjoy the beach.

Q. Favorite ice cream flavor?

A. Chocolate chip.

Q. What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t a teacher?

A. I would probably do something in the accounting field, but when I was younger I was considering becoming a dental hygienist.

12 | sports

TRACK

by Mallory Gearheart The Green track team is enduring a successful season for both the boys and the girls. They’ve attended seven meets so far, including three invitationals at Glenoak, Marlington, and Lakeview. The girls' record is currently 5-2, only losing two invitationals, while the boys' record is 3-4.

FIELD

GIRLS

The girls’ most recent track meet was a commanding victory over McKinley on April 18, 2023. With their winning record, the team has been dominating the competition and is showing no signs of slowing down.

The team's success can be attributed to the distance runners who have been carrying the weight on their shoulders and pulling through for the team. Sophomore Avery Price is doing particularly well this season, especially in her 4x800 relay, where she is the first-leg runner. The other three runners in the successful relay include Sydney Lutz, Claudia San Jose, and Allison Cicerchi. The relay is consistently placing in every meet, which excites not only Avery but the whole team.

“We were really good last year, so I was nervous at the start of the season, but now, I'm not worried about anything! I am so excited for what is to come!” Price said.

The sprinters have been particularly impressive, consistently finishing strong in their events and securing crucial points for the team. Junior Alaina Bradford has shown strong leadership on the track, scoring an average of 6 points per meet. Having a torn ACL in her freshman year, Bradford is glad to be back and better than ever.

“I have been working hard the whole season, staying positive about my knee, and it is finally paying off,” Bradford said.

Like the runners, the girls’ field events are consistently scoring points for the team. High jump sophomore Jillian Taylor has placed first in every single meet this year, with a 5-foot jump! Taylor is a lead scorer for the girls' track team and is essential to their winning record.

Despite their impressive performances, the girls know that there is still work to be done if they want to achieve their ultimate goal of making it to States. With the team's distance runners leading the way, however, there is no doubt that they have the talent and determination to achieve their goals and continue their winning season.

BOYS

The boys' track team is putting the work in to endure a successful season this year. With their 3-4 record, the boys started off with a rocky start, but they are not letting their record stop them from having a successful season.

The boys are consistent with scoring points in every event, with no one event consistently carrying the team. Every event has scored points for the team.

Senior Caleb Carr is a stand-out sprinter, running the 4x200, 4x100, and open 200 meter dash. Carr is looking forward to the season with some of his best friends, who are also his teammates.

“Track is really one of the most social sports. Even if it isn’t your main sport it’s still just a fun thing to come out and do in the spring to either stay in shape or mess around with your friends. My main thing is swimming, i’m not super good at track, but i still love every minute of it,” Carr said.

Along with sprinters, the field events have also been carrying the weight. The boys’ discus and shot put throwers have been doing particularly well. Aidan Mastaso consistently places for the team, coming in first in their most recent meet versus Mckinley. Mastaso’s personal record is currently 138, which he is excited about.

“This is my first time being able to actually throw far and I love it.” Mastaso said.

The boys' track team has been putting the work in and are looking forward to the rest of their season.

photos by Jay Carroll

13 | sports

TAKING IT TO

COURT boys tennis

by Jules Beyes

PHOTOGRAPHY BY. JERRY VINSON

As the spring weather begins to warm up and the flowers start to bloom, it's time for high school sports teams to hit the courts and fields. Among them, the Green High School boys tennis team is poised for an exciting season, which is filled with intense matches and fierce competition.

With a talented roster of athletes and a dedicated coaching staff, this team is ready to bring their A-game and prove their skills on the court.

“I feel the most important part of being a leader on the court is keeping everyone’s heads up, even when the odds are against us,” Erich Duffrin ‘23 said.

The Green High School boys tennis team is a force to be reckoned with this season. With a current varsity record of 66 and a JV record of 6-3, this team has already proven their skills on the court, despite several of their games being canceled or postponed due to inclement weather. The senior team captains, Max White and Caden Bahry, have been outstanding in leading their teammates to

success, both on and off the court.

Together, these two seniors have helped set the tone for the team, inspiring their younger teammates to step up and contribute to the team's success. Despite facing some challenges this season, team captain Caden Bahry is determined to finish strong and show the Federal League what they're made of.

“I think a large focus for our team this year is adaptability. Multiple of our varsity guys have had to play at multiple positions due to things like injuries. Our team has had to play with various different lineups and various different players have had to step into roles that they didn’t think they were going to at the beginning of the season,” Captain Caden Bahry ‘23 said.

As the Green High School boys tennis season heats up, both the varsity and JV teams are making impressive strides on the court. The next match is just around the corner, on May 1, 2023, when the varsity team will take on Wadsworth High School at home, while the JV team will play away at Wadsworth.

GHS SOFTBALL DOMINATES THE LEAGUE

by Chase Borland “Mercy!” Is what was yelled last Wednesday when the Lady Bulldogs softball team took on McKinley and beat them 16-0 in just five innings. The team is currently on a dominating streak this season with some impressive wins against teams like Walsh and Hoover, along with overpowering wins against teams like Glenoak and Lake. This is putting the team on a fast track to winning the Federal League title after having already beaten every Federal team thus far.

“I think our team is successful because there’s a core group that’s been playing together for years. We all trust each other to do our job and understand that mistakes happen. So I think in the end it’s pretty much the bond that we have that makes us successful,” senior shortstop Brooke Heisroth said about the

success of the team.

The team is being led by a strong group of tight-knit ladies that have played with each other their entire softball careers. The seniors of the team include Kylie Gorsuch, Brooke Heisroth, Avery Robinson, Marissa Redford, Kaylie Duskey, Juliana Barker, and Grace Elliot.

“The success of the team is due to the high level of competitive softball experience that this team has. We all love to play the game and are very competitive when we play. We all work well together and all have each other's back,” senior catcher Kylie Gorsuch said.

The team has worked hard not only in their games but continues to work hard and get better at practice as well. This level of

competition and drive has pushed them to look forward to going far in a state playoff setting.

“They are also just work horses; they come in and get it done. We had a season canceled due to Covid and the past two seasons have ended at the district finals being district runner-ups. So this year we’re really pushing to get past that roadblock. They’ve been really successful in executing the things we’ve asked them to do,” Coach Gerber said about her team's success.

Although they’ve had weeks of games thus far, the season is only halfway over. The team still has three more Federal League games against Glenoak, Hoover, and Jackson. This season gets to wrap up with six home games, so go out and support!

UPCOMING GAMES

Varsity Softball Team celebrates win against Walsh.

PHOTO BY: Michelle Herdlick

Varsity Softball Team celebrates win over Perry.

PHOTO BY: Michelle Herdlick

April 29

v. Glenoak @11 a.m.

May 2

Senior Night v. Hoover @5 p.m.

May 3

v. Nordonia @5 p.m.

14 | opinion

A CAT THAT TEACHES feeling apathetic in a sympathetic world

LAUREN LEEMASTER

VACATION SHOT.

Leemaster '23 poses with her favorite hydro flask water bottle at the beach.

My father’s life began during wartime in South Korea, with him escaping to the States shortly after. Defined by the constant shifting of social environments, he spent his days in a cultural haze.

While the Western World prioritized individuality, my father’s past encouraged composure and respect. Honoring the latter, it’s uncommon to see much emotion from him. Therefore, in my house, empathy does not come easily. Most days, our emotions are reserved to be dealt with in solitude.

Being fostered in an environment that contrasted so differently with my life at school made it difficult to acknowledge my struggles as a child. This resulted in me leaving most of my conflicts unspoken, and I found myself using time as the most justifiable solution to the obstacles that plagued my world.

For much of my adolescence, my “I love you's” felt meaningless and were infrequent expressed solely due to cultural obligation.

Whether it be in mourning or even just a bad day, I maintained a strict laissez-faire relationship with expressing my emotions.

The lack of discussion emanated a strong sense of loneliness and, as I developed, I

grew insecure of my emotional intelligence.

In the spring of 2022, a cat named Tuxedo taught me love. With all black fur, sans his paws and one patch adjacent to his right eye, he was an enigma. Near the beginning of his existence, he favored fulfilling his to-do list under the moonlight.

However, as daylight increased, his confidence followed suit. Soon, Tuxedo braved a new world that was our entire block, including the porch of my very home.

My family initially kept our distance, not wanting to disturb his routine. But human nature is flawed, and curiosity killed the cat we soon developed a feeding routine for him.

Around one month after his arrival, I watched out the window as he sat in mother’s lap. It was placid, strikingly so, and I couldn’t help but smile. I could see the fondness in my mother’s actions: practiced, yet cautious as to not spook the cat.

Prior to this, I never considered that my family preferred something dissimilar to conventional “love”, but the image that sat before my eyes mirrored something of unyielding affection. She did not speak, but rather sat and admired. I do not labor under the illusion that my family does not love each other.

Nonetheless, I’ve found that my family's affections are limited to nonverbal cues.

We convey our love atypically. In place of soft spoken words, my father cooks two dishes at dinnertime - one normal and one vegetarian - and my mom never fails to call on her way home from work. It’s the made from scratch bread, hand-kneaded egg noodles, and bulgogi that we share at the

table each week. It’s the coffee that I drink with my sister. It's Tuxedo’s meal routine.

The domesticity of these actions prove that we care. And while I am aware that a black cat did not teach me love in actuality, I have no evidence against the fact that he didn’t alter my perspective on what love bears semblance to.

Love does not discriminate against cultures, nor heritage or behaviorisms.

Rather, it's malleable and personalized. My emotional intelligence is not contingent upon the number of hugs I distribute, nor the words of affection that I share with others.

Instead, I show my care in my actions and how I treat others.

Finding comfort in my emotional capacity has allowed me to connect with others in a more intimate manner, as I no longer feel as if I am depriving others of love. I still struggle to actively expose myself to vulnerability, but I know that the way I convey my love is limitless and fluid, and I think that that is beautiful in itself.

TUXEDO'S

feeding schedule morning One can of wet food (check for ticks) Set out new blanket on cushion

evening

One can of wet food (add a few dry treats)

15 | opinion

OVERCOMING THE LOSS OF MY MOM KODY HUNTER In our lives, we are bound to experience some type of grief that comes in various waves. They may be small waves of pain or immense feelings of grief. Whether it be a loss of your pet or a loss of family/friends, there are different levels of losses we experience in our lives with some leaving a deeper wound in our hearts.

On October 28, 2020, the worst year of my life and frankly many others due to COVID, I lost my mama to stage 4 ovarian cancer. What I learned from this loss is that you never truly move on from grief, you can only learn to move along with it. There will always be days that feel like you’ve taken one step forward and ten steps backwards.

When it comes to these tragic losses we face, I think it’s important to note that everyone has their own way of coping.

Everyone gets over a loss at their own pace.

I got over the loss of my mama rather quickly because I got rid of her old texts, voice messages, and materialistic items that resembled her.

As sad as this may sound, I needed to do this for myself because I was still holding onto her when she was already gone. The things I was holding on to weren’t going to bring her back. They were just memories that wouldn’t allow me to escape the grieving hole that I was trying to get out of.

The stuff that I wasn’t able to let go of would constantly trigger emotions that caused me to think about her and I just wanted to move on to this new normal that I am currently living.

I felt like I was in a hole, alone, watching everyone above carry on with life while I screamed inside, yelling for help, wishing

someone would look down on me and see that I was struggling to escape. I just needed someone to stop along their way and throw down a rope that would allow me to climb out of this hole of emotions so that I could start new beginnings and complete the grieving process.

In the grieving process, it’s important to surround yourself with people who can help you. I believed I had nobody in my corner to help me through the loss of my mama so I resorted to writing. I believe writing is one of the most underrated types of therapy.

Writing became my best friend and it’s what gets me through everything.

My mama's loss isn’t just a date on the calendar, it’s the day when my very existence changed forever. I’m not going to see my mom in the crowd when I walk across the stage at my high school graduation, and I’m not going to see her in the crowd when I walk across the stage at my college graduation either. She isn’t going to meet my children, and she isn’t going to see me accomplish my life goals. My mom won’t be a part of all of these things that mothers are supposed to experience. The grieving process showed me to live in the moment because we aren’t promised tomorrow. I wish I took more advantage of the time I had with my mama because you just don’t ever think about how these could be your last days with someone until you actually lose them and start to wish you acted differently.

POISED AND AT PEACE.

Hunter '23 poses after taking a nature hike.

With grief, there’s always the ability to find rays of sunshine through whatever loss you experience. This also applies to life beyond grief. You will never not be able to find something good in a bad situation, even if it’s small. I know with the loss of my mama, I now discovered my purpose and it’s what I am doing right now, which is helping others through their lives with my own life journey.

I may at times question God’s plan for me, but his plan is the life that I am currently living and I love life right now. I will be graduating high school in less than a month, spending the summer with friends before we go our separate ways. I will move into my apartment in August, and then I start college shortly after, which will be the start of my everlasting career of helping others.

1616 | caboose | caboose

SCHLUE'S

REVIEWS

by Victoria Schlue

Featuring a wide variety of different rap artists and hip-hop music, Rap Caviar is one of the most listened-to playlists on Spotify with over 15 million saves. This playlist is just over 2 hours and 30 minutes long, featuring 63 different artists and multiple different styles of hip-hop music. Future dominates this playlist. The Grammy winner has a total of four songs, with other artists such as Metro Boomin, Travis Scott, NLE Choppa, Nicki Minaj, Lil Baby, Tyler the Creator, and crowd-favorite 21 Savage, all following with three songs each. Considering the large number of artists on this playlist and the range of musical styles, I still find myself still craving a sense of diversity through its entirety.

Because Spotify is one of the biggest music streaming platforms, and Rap Caviar is one of the biggest playlists on the app, I expected to find new artists waiting to be discovered such as some of my favorites: Wale the Sage, boybeige, Quasimoto or even Quadeca.

While also struggling to include new upcoming artists, I found some of the same mistakes of inclusivity, as Spotify failed to shine light on a veteran in the hip-hop scene, Jay-Z. After releasing his new song “NEW YORK (CONCEPT DE PARIS)” on April 16, I was almost positive this would be somewhere on the playlist, considering his legacy, but I quickly humbled my hopes and was brought face to face with Justin Beiber.

While I don’t particularly enjoy Justin Beiber’s music, I can appreciate the talent that he holds. That being said, I have yet to find where he fits in a rap category. Almost the entirety of Bieber's music holds awards in pop categories, which thankfully, justifies my confusion.

Not only did I come to see the inconsistencies with the genre mixups, but I was also disappointed with the lack of loyalty Spotify has with its artists. After coming out with a new album in February, hip-hop artist Logic has continued marketing his recent album, “College Park,”

by announcing his “The College Park Tour” featuring hip-hop artist Juicy J. Following his release of the 17 songs, Spotify highlighted one in particular off the album, “Self Medication,” featuring Seth MacFarlane, Redman, and Statik Selektah a few weeks prior in the Rap Caviar playlist. Subsequently, Logic and new coming artist C Dot Castro debuted their new rap group: halfBREED. As halfBREED announced their new extended playlist, I also expected them to have one of the top spots, considering the extended playlist holds an aspect of diversity Rap Caviar so desperately needs. Along with my hopes for Jay-Z, my conclusions fell short.

Though Spotify failed to mention many deserving artists, I was pleasantly surprised by Tyler the Creator certainly leaving his mark on the playlist as the performer held three new songs off his most recent album, “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale.” In 2021, Tyler the Creator produced the original “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST” album, showcasing 16 songs and quickly becoming one of his most popular albums. His latest release features all of the original 16 songs but introduces eight new tracks. Nonetheless, he repeats history as his new song "DOGTOOTH" rises rapidly on charts.

Along with Tyler the Creator, I notice female rapper BIA making a small but important impact among the male rappers, as she is one of the few female hip-hop artists aside from Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj on the playlist; BIA is one of the only female rappers I enjoy listening to.

Because the hip-hop genre is so male-dominated, I find it hard to really enjoy a female voice, but BIA certainly gives female artists a credible name as she owns songs with other huge female voices in hiphop such as Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, and Victoria Monét.

I give Spotify’s Rap Caviar Playlist a 3 out of 5 for lacking a backbone, but being decent enough to give credit where it's needed.

AD

Redlights- Wale the Sage

3P- halfBREED

NEW YORK (CONCEPT DE PARIS)- JAY-Z, GILL Scott-Heron

Tidepools- boybeige, Overpade

Thank You Next - Quadeca

Yessir Whatever - Quasimoto, Madlib

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Victoria gives her song suggestions to improve Rap Caviar, or just for great listening