NORTH GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
SINCE 1968
POINTE
NORTHPOINTENOW.ORG
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2022
Shedding light on modern role models Pages 6-7
KAITLYN BARR & SAVANNAH SEABROOKS
@thenorthpointe www.northpointenow.org
News Editorial Sports
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InDepth OnPointe Reviews
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Life 10-11 OnCampus 12 VOLUME 54 | ISSUE 4
2 — Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 — North Pointe
NEWS Onward and upward: Construction progresses on the third floor By Grace Rossman & Katie Madigan SECTION EDITOR & INTERN
KATIE MADIGAN
The updated classrooms on the third f loor of the B-building are ready to be utilized by students and teachers after being under construction since the beginning of the school year. On Dec. 13, many English classes were moved to these new rooms, while the old classrooms on the opposite side of the third f loor closed for the same remodel. As well as a change of location for their English classes, many freshmen received a new locker on the opposite side of the hall. This proved to be challenging for freshman Jhilmil Chhaya, who is still adjusting to the building, and has never gotten the opportunity to familiarize herself with the building before construction. “We went to our new classroom today to look around, and I had no idea where we even were,” Chhaya said. “It’s definitely going to be harder since I just got used to getting to my class and finding my locker perfectly.” As an English teacher changing classrooms, Kristen Alles understands these possible confusions for the underclassmen. “I think freshmen might have a bit of a challenge,” Alles said. “They're new to the building in general. I think it might be a bit of a challenge for them to get used to which stairwell they need to use, where their classrooms might be and their locker adjustment.” Aside from the possible confusion the new construction has caused, classrooms have been completely modernized. Following suit of the second floor renovations completed over the summer, these classrooms have freshly painted walls, brand new floors, improved technology, new lights and ceiling tiles. In addition to classrooms, the lecture hall has also undergone construction and a complete redesign. The elimination of the movie theater seating has created a space with an open and modern feel, and the space has been turned into two rooms with the addition of a wall. The lecture hall has been designed to match the classrooms updated thus far, according to Assistant Principal Katy Vernier. “You’ve got the accent wall that matches through the whole B-building, the new f loor, and a lot of rooms have these new whiteboards,” Vernier said. The newly reopened North hallway staircase received improvements as well. Although the stairs look the same, the change comes from the addition of tempered glass windows allowing the staircase to stay at a consistent temperature. Throughout the coming years, the rest of the staircases will gradually receive the same update. As junior Vanessa Ciaramitaro walked through the newly opened staircase, she noticed the better regulation of temperature. “I think that in the previous years at North the temperatures in the stairwells were pretty cold,”
Ciaramitaro said, “But, I believe now with the new construction and the new stairwells, that the temperature is more regulated and more comfortable to be in.” In addition to visual and cosmetic changes, asbestos, a cancer-causing mineral, has been removed from the ceiling tiles in the east and west half of the third f loor. Alles finds peace of mind knowing her classroom is now free from it. “When it was there, it was completely covered, so there was no imminent danger or anything like that,” Alles said. “I do think, generally speaking, it gives a little bit of reassurance that it's not there.” Even though there have already been major changes made, North’s construction will continue for about two more years, according to Vernier. The construction will continue to have its effects on underclassmen and upperclassmen alike, including Ciaramitaro. “It's kind of frustrating because one of the best parts of school is passing time and being able to take laps around the hallways,” Ciaramitaro said, “But, it will be nicer for the future students at North to have a new, redone school.”
KATIE MADIGAN
NEW DIVIDE I The changes from construction are shown on the third floor in between the east and west hallway. For English teacher Kristen Alles, these renovations were much anticipated. “I am looking forward to greater space, new paint and a new feeling,” Alles said.
NEWS
Keeping Accountable: Anonymous social media accounts spark debate By Kaitlyn Barr & Annabelle Julien
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Swimmin g into the science win g By Grace Rossman & Gabe Goode
SECTION EDITORS
SECTION EDITOR & INTERN Recently, students at many schools around the world are creating anonymous accounts on Instagram, turning this account making into a huge trend. Some of the most popular accounts for documenting different events or topics at schools include content of students’ poor parking, school lunches, photos of students sleeping in class and students not wearing their masks properly. With so many students being active on social media, accounts like these can garner a large following fairly easily. Kids and teens are heavily influenced by what they see on social media, according to clinical social worker Therese Tuski Scarpace, who specializes in children and adolescents. “The reality is that in adolescence, it is the time to evolve into the person you want to be,” Scarpace said. “Social media can influence who you should be.” Agreeing with Scarpace, senior Michael Villeneuve acknowledges that social media and popular accounts often dictate how people, especially teenagers act, and sees the impact among his peers. “I see so many students following the most recent trend in hopes of gaining likes or validation of some kind,” Villeneuve said. “Admittedly, a lot of the trends are fun and funny, but it’s just interesting to see the herd mentality that comes with them.” Understanding how social media can aid in helping him stay in touch and connect with students, math teacher Benjamin Godwin stays active on social media. Though he appreciates North’s presence on social media, which helps him keep up with events and other information, he acknowledges that the rise of anonymous accounts has its disadvantages. “I appreciate the quote on quote official ones, like Student Association, and the one for North Pointe and all of those,” Godwin said. “While I find some humor in the unofficial ones like the parking one or I've seen one of kids sleeping in class, I think that opens a door to some easy bullying, and just things that we don't necessarily want to portray ourselves as.”
Though these anonymous accounts have received some backlash, Villeneuve believes that these platforms encourage students to reflect on their behaviors and improve them so they will not be posted on these accounts. “I think I can speak for everyone when I say these accounts have made me more aware of what I'm doing during school,” Villeneuve said. “I think they ultimately have a positive effect on students – they definitely give me and my peers something to laugh about.” While the intent behind the accounts is to give s t u d e n t s a laugh and entertain them, according to Godwin, it is possible for these accounts to do more harm than good. “If someone from outside the school were to look at [these accounts] and they were to just see a whole Instagram of just kids sleeping in class, that paints an ugly picture for you guys as students [and] for me as a teacher,” Godwin said. Although some accounts could negatively represent teachers and students, Scarpace believes that social media teaches youth what the world’s standards are. “I think the anonymous posts can help because they plant the seed of reality [in the viewers],” Scarpace said. “As long as a person sees something, it is imprinted in the brain on some level.”
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“Salmon in the Classroom,” a program run by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, has made its way to SCI203. This program brings a hands-on experience to approximately 300 classrooms around the state of Michigan, where students can observe the life cycle of salmon in their classroom. Tracy Page, the Aquatic Education Coordinator for the DNR, has run “Salmon in the Classroom” for four years. “I think the most impactful thing out of salmon in the classroom is the ability to connect students to a resource that they would normally never see,” Page said. “Being able to see those fish that you would normally never get to see and never understand, and using them as a catalyst to build an appreciation of nature and want-to-be stewards, and take care of nature, I think is a really cool thing.” These Chinook salmon eggs will grow and hatch in chemistry teacher Christopher Trepanowki’s classroom. 138 eggs were placed in the tank, and approximately 110 of them will survive to be released. Not only will his students get to observe the salmon as they grow each day, they will be able to relate the experience to their chemistry curriculum. “We'll be making connections, especially in the chemistry class, to things like the water chemistry,” Trepanowski said. “It just looks like clear water, but there's a lot more in that water, a lot of those invisible chemicals that are harmful and beneficial to the eggs as they grow.” All students in his chemistry classes will get to experience this from the eggs’ beginnings in Nov. 2021, into April 2022 when they release them into the Clinton River. Sophomore Ben Graham and his classmates are a part of this experience and look forward to the future of this project. “I can kind of say for everyone that it's fun to have them in the classroom,” Graham said. “I think it's just cool because, again, you normally don't have salmon in a classroom.” The overall goal of the program, according to Trepanowski, is to create a meaningful learning environment and experience for the students whether it be an elementary or high school classroom. “One of the things I hope they learn is just how incredible life is,” Trepanowski said.
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EDITORIAL
Over-involved pa rents could a ffect students’ lea rnin g Recently, parents have been trying to find ways to be more supportive of their children’s education. Subsequently, some parents have also tried to assume the role of educational experts with intention to change what and how students are learning in the classroom. While it’s commendable that parents want to be involved in their children’s school lives and be informed about what’s occurring in the classroom, concern about what is being taught in classrooms is mostly unwarranted. There is an extensive process for deciding curriculum to alleviate bias in what is being taught. Parents can check Schoology for updates about lessons going on in the classroom, but as for making rules that affect students’ learning environment, it’s better to leave that up to the professionals. Teachers’ main priority is to put students’ education first, and if they thought there was an issue. they would address it. Throughout the district, and across the nation, parents have picketed at board meetings and formed group forums on Facebook to “advocate” for their children’s education. There has been fear and suspicion that public schools are “indoctrinating” children with so-called leftist ideology, as education and pedagogy continue to evolve. In Grosse Pointe, such suspicion has led parents to come together and create an organization called “Know Your Classroom.”
According to the organization’s website, it is a coalition of parents and community members that strive to understand how education operates in Grosse Pointe Public Schools, in order to better support their children and make informed decisions. Under the resources tab, there are several politically biased articles and documents that put the credibility of the selfproclaimed non-partisan organization itself in question. The growth of “social media experts’’ has given many the false assumption that they have the authority to speak on decisions made by professionals with advanced degrees. The constant questioning of the authority and expertise of teachers, administrators and educational experts is unproductive. Since teachers are the ones spending all day in a classroom with students, and who have pursued advanced degrees along with going through extensive training, parents should seek to form a collaborative rather than combative relationship with teachers. Though it is important that parents are involved in their children’s education to an extent, many people across the nation majorly overstep these boundaries and fight an alleged political agenda with another. We must realize that teachers and administrators are most qualified to make decisions about how classrooms operate.
CHRISTINA SHEA
YOUR TURN: Who is your role model and why? By Christina Shea INTERN
FRESHMAN JOSIE CHASIOTIS: “My role
JUNIOR SAHITH NANNAPANENI: “My
TEACHER BRAD ARMBRUSTER: “My mentor is Gary Bennett. He was an incredible math teacher that taught right next to me, so we touched base every single day. Gary is a phenomenal human being that does everything the right way and whose motto ‘sustain your effort’ rings true in all facets of life.”
SOPHOMORE NIYA KENDELL: “My role model is my mom because she works super hard to provide for me and my family. [She] works as a nurse at the Beaumont Hospital in Grosse Pointe, and has always taught me to just genuinely be a good person along with some quite helpful life lessons.”
model is Mr. Stackpoole because he is an amazing teacher. He inspires me to make creative T.V. production videos and use new ways of editing. He has taught me all about different camera angles and how to be more creative.”
role model is Rafael Nadal. He is a famous tennis player who plays in Spain. He is my role model because in his matches he never gives up and he is always working to improve himself.”
Reshaping body positivity: Unfollowing toxic influencers ED DESK
By Sophia Dragich SECTION EDITOR
It is known that you become like the people you spend the most time interacting with, which includes social media. I personally spend two to three hours a day during the school year on social media and even more than that during the summer. Because so much time is spent here, the posts and inf luencers we interact with the most impact our thoughts greatly. Surrounding the topics of diet culture and body image, social media certainly leaves impacts on its users, oftentimes for the worst. However, I believe that if you interact with the right accounts and posts, you can control your social media feed and the ideas surrounding food and body image that it produces. Some people say that removing harmful inf luencers from your feed is not effective because some, like the Kardashians, possess the spotlight
in all other forms of media and therefore cannot really be “blocked” from one’s sight. However, their photos on Instagram can be extremely harmful. For instance, when I see posts of inf luencers like the Kardashians who, despite their claims, edit their photos to appear more “beautiful,” I am often filled with jealousy and self-consciousness. The good thing is, I can unfollow them with a few clicks of a button, and their inf luence on my life can decrease immensely. Their images no longer fill my screen and I am not surrounded by photos that cause me to feel inferior. This elimination of the presence of negatively impactful inf luencers from your feed does make a difference in what your brain absorbs, and it can improve your thoughts and actions surrounding body image and health. Another way to control your social media feed is by seeking out helpful inf luencers. For instance, Victoria Garrick and Brittani Lancaster are two
famous TikTokers I follow who vulnerably reveal themselves on the internet by posting videos of the fulfilling meals they eat, exposing their “f laws” without hiding under filters and edits and providing insight into their struggles. I watch their content frequently and look forward to hearing their experiences because they help me form better relationships with my physical appearance and food. Because I sought out positive inf luencers on TikTok like Garrick and Lancaster, I have obtained a better outlook on body image and sustainable eating habits. For these reasons, I believe that if we surround ourselves with the best kind of people and the most beneficial information, we have the power to control what we view on social media and how we respond to the feelings it produces inside us.
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SPORTS Swimmer Louden Fuchs and synchronized swimmer Helen Aouad By Grace Cueter & Julia Liagre MANAGING EDITOR & INTERN When entering the North pool at any time between 3:20 and 5:30 p.m., you will be able to find senior Louden Fuchs, a dedicated, loyal and hardworking swimmer. In addition to his multiple AP classes, student council role, and various other clubs, Fuchs dedicates multiple hours each day to perfecting his swim technique. 7:25 a.m. marks the time that Fuchs wakes up to get ready for school, however it is only the start of a long day ahead for the swimmer. When he arrives at school, his seven hour school day is filled with many challenging courses, his favorite being AP Microeconomics. When the last bell rings at 3:05 p.m., Fuchs heads straight to the pool for a two hour long practice, where he has a routine that helps him prepare for upcoming competition. “Practice usually looks like a 25 minute warmup, leading then into our main sprint set, with a quick warm down at the end,” Fuchs said. A healthy body is necessary to compete at a high level in swimming. Unfortunately, Fuchs faced a shoulder injury his junior year that forced him to take a year off of the sport and continues to affect him. “I'm getting off of my broken shoulder,” Fuchs said. “It kind of hurts to swim sometimes so I just have to take it slower this year.” Fuchs also has to watch his diet, as a healthy yet energizing palette is required to swim at a fast pace. The swimmer says that managing food intake is very important, specifically restricting carbs so that he can drop his weight, while still eating the amount necessary to have the energy to compete. Fuchs notes that his many years of experience have allowed him to take away many things from the sport. He has learned his favorites and least favorites, and says his favorite event is the 100-Freestyle because it is the most straightforward stroke. He also explains that his past and current coaches have impacted his life in many ways, teaching him about the value of balance. “The most valuable lesson I have learned is to pace myself, and not rush through things,” Fuchs said. Fuchs began swimming at the age of five, and has been persistent with his commitment to the sport ever since. He has swam with other teams, in multiple events, and been able to challenge himself in multiple aspects throughout the past 13 years of his life. The swimmer does not plan to compete in college, but is grateful that his swimming career has introduced him to some of the most important people in his life. “I've been swimming all my life,” Fuchs said. “I've met so many kids and have got to connect with other kids from different teams, as well as meet some of my best friends.”
Member of the Grosse Pointe Blue Dolphins combined North and South girls synchronized swimming Team, Helen Aouad is an extremely committed and busy junior. She dedicates more time than just her 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily practice time, to becoming the best teammate and athlete she can be. From the time she wakes up at 6:30 a.m., to when she finally lays down to rest at 10:45 p.m., Aouad delicately balances the many aspects of being a student athlete. When she leaves for school at 7:45 a.m., Aouad is just beginning her long day ahead. She’s in the most demanding year of high school, junior year — and she’s doing it without a tutorial. While many students rely on this extra 50 minutes of peace to do schoolwork, Aouad doesn’t have that luxury. It can be difficult to manage on days when she has a heavier workload, and she’s anticipating increased stress with the pressure of exams coming up. After her long seven hours at North, she heads right to the Neighborhood Club for a workout. “Once I get home, it’s normally 3:15 p.m. so I get dressed and I go to the gym,” Aouad said. “[I do] mainly cardio, some flexibility, and in the past I’ve done the yoga classes or spin classes there.” Being such an active teenager combined with the desire to compete and practice at peak performance undoubtedly affects Aouad’s diet. During her freshman year, her coaches said something about nutrition that stuck with her. “They said when people are exercising they think they don’t need to eat as much food, but it’s the opposite,” Aouad said. “You need to eat a little more to replace what your body is burning off.” Ever since, Aouad has focused on fueling her body with foods that will help her feel and swim at her best, such as protein and potassium. She learned the hard way how scary and painful it can be if she doesn’t. “My freshman year I got really severe leg cramps to the point where I couldn’t swim to the wall, I was just bobbing in the water,” Aouad said. When Aouad gets home from the gym around 5:00 p.m., she quickly turns around to head back to North for synchronized swimming practice, which includes a variety of training. The girls start off with a 20 minute stretch, then break into groups based on difficulty level and finish their two hour practice off with a mock competition where their coaches pretend to be judges. Ultimately, Aouad’s passion for synchronized swimming is a perfect fit. “I hated the competitiveness of swim team and being a retired dancer gave me the chance to combine the two things I loved,” Aouad said.
COURTESY OF GUY HEHLERT
GRACE CUETER
Coach Kinyon makes aspl By Kyleigh Egli & Elly Meteer DISTRIBUTION MANAGER & INTERN
ash
This season offers a fresh dive into a clean slate and a new head coach, Kyle Kinyon, for North’s boys swim team. Before coming to North, Kinyon had accumulated 10 years of head-coaching experience, and with that, he aspires to lead North’s boys swim team to success both individually, and collectively. “I’ve sat down with some of the boys,” Kinyon said. “I plan to continue doing this just to see what their individual goals are.” While Kinyon adjusts to his new role as head coach, he continues acclimating to each swim team member. Kinyon intends to spend the first year getting to know each member athletically and personally as he plans to coach the team towards new records. “There's a couple records I know we’re gonna try to go after.” Kinyon said. “More so though than that, my first year is [focused on] just starting to build to the core with these guys, not scare them away,” Kinyon finds significance in teamwork, like that found in relays. Relays give the team a chance to work together, and achieve a goal where they each have to rely on one another for. “When you bring four individuals together trying to compete for a goal they have in mind collectively as a unit, I think it’s a cool thing,” Kinyon said. Kinyon's main motivation for becoming a coach was to support other’s growth. He values the reward of assisting his protégés, and witnessing their progress and accomplishments. “[I want to] be a part of that process of helping young men [and] young women identify goals, and be there as they go and achieve those goals,” Kinyon said. “Once that happened for the first time, I was hooked.”
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IN-DEPTH
The role they play The problem with modern role models
By Bee Bielak, Bella Yoakam, Ella McCarthy, Christina Shea & Lauren Veitengruber SECTION EDITORS & INTERNS Since childhood, society has given us role models to look up to and idolize. These people we take inspiration from introduced us to many of our first experiences during the most influential growing period of our lives. However, as we get older we are influenced by others through social media, film and peers at school. Teens idolizing role models that do not fit the stereotypical idea of one has been relevant for many years. Some students may wear clothing displaying one of their role models, whereas adults may get tattoos of famous quotes from their idol. Our role models can influence our appearance and decision making, even swaying our opinions on some controversial topics. Role models can be anyone in your life or in your surrounding environments. The importance of who you choose is critical to your own development as well as your contribution to society. Has the word “idol” lost its meaning as society grows and changes around it? As media becomes more prominent, can just anyone be a role model to our youth? And if this is the case, how do we ensure our kids stay on a good path following positive leaders?
As the word “idol” is used more loosely without fulfilling meaningful criteria, kids have turned to just about anyone including celebrities and social media influencers for their opinions and overall way of life, even though they may not always be the best or most reliable source. To ensure the upcoming generation is well informed and consists of well rounded individuals, we must encourage the acknowledgment of positive and qualified role models when possible. This begins with identifying who we idolize and why we do so.
WHO WE IDOLIZE Modern society has evolved into a group that idolizes controversial individuals, particularly those who are money-motivated. Special education teacher Sheila Doss expresses that money is an important factor for children and teens when choosing who to look up to. “I think there are a lot of performers and people in sports who I’m not sure how people find them inspiring other than they make a lot of money,” Doss said. The individuals that teenagers look up to most is heavily weighted by social media. With so many ways for kids,
teenagers and even adults to be exposed to celebrities in the social media business, it is easy to be swayed and influenced by their actions. Junior Jack Bidigare gives insight on how his fellow students idolize celebrities with a large social media presence. “These celebrities are on social media a lot so they just follow them because they are there,” Bidigare said. Social media “stars” have become the idols of people of all ages. Currently, they are one of the biggest groups that our society views as role models. Bidigare expresses how media influence works through one star in particular. “The Rock, for example. He posts a lot,” Bidigare said. “Even if he is not trying to connect the youth, I feel like that is a way you can influence people.” The popular social media platform, TikTok, is the go-to spot for teenagers to find influencers. With social media catering to the younger generation, teenagers can connect to influencers without actually knowing them. Doss is a mother to teenagers who uses social media platforms, like TikTok, to find these social media stars, and explains that she doesn’t understand the appeal. “My daughter, who is a senior in highschool, idolizes a lot of TikTok people, I’m not sure why she likes them,” Doss said. “I hope she finds them inspirational because they are doing good things.” Counselor Kimberly Deptula expands BELLA YOAKAM on how she sees the
media influence the decisions and mindsets of more than one generation in her life. “It tells everyone, like teens and adults, a specific way that we should believe and think,” BELLA YOAKAM Deptula said. “I think it is single-handedly one of the biggest impacts on why we look up to different people.”
WHO WE SHOULD IDOLIZE Everyone has a different idea of who should be held above the rest, but who really deserves to be at the top? With the spectrum of role models being so broad, there needs to be a line that indicates what makes someone worthy of being one. Deptula gives her perspective on the qualities that make someone worthy of the title of a role model. “I think a role model is really someone who isn’t perfect,” Deptula said. “You can see how they learn from their mistakes, how they grow, how their mindset is about moving forward.” There are everyday heroes and role models at our own schools. Peer 2 Peer is a program that allows students to help others in the school. The members act as role
IN-DEPTH
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models themselves. By putting themselves out there and reaching out with fellow students, they begin to grow the qualities of a great role model. Senior Peer 2 Peer member Ada Johnson explains what it takes to be idolized. “You should never idolize someone who desires to be selfish in order to succeed, or someone who’s just making bad choices continuously and not learning from their mistakes,” Johnson said. “If you see someone continuously choosing to go down the wrong path, even though they have all the positivity around them, you shouldn’t be idolizing that. It’s just not a good idea.” School activities can provide exemplary students and athletes with the opportunity to be a role model for their peers. Despite student’s similar ages, they are still able to offer guidance through shared experiences. Bidigare reflects on his older student role models on his football team. “As a freshman I looked up to some seniors I played football with,” Bidigare said. “Even though they are only two years older than me I really looked up to them.” Although not all celebrities promote the correct behavior and decisions, with careful research and consideration, some can be deemed worthy of the role model title. Johnson has called actress Viola Davis her idol since middle school due to her resilience and advocacy for those in need. “She’s a woman of color and I’m a woman of color, so I see those similarities right there. She’s gone through so many struggles. Yet, she continues to just move on and move forward,” Johnson said. “I just love to see someone like her become so powerful. It makes me believe that I could do the exact same thing in life.” Doss makes a clear point that taking the time to know who you’re really idolizing is important, so that you have the right idea on who you are striving to live like. “I think you should look at what’s inside that person rather than what’s on the outside,” Doss said.
criteria someone needs to meet to be a good role model. “[Just] someone who does the right thing for the right reasons,” Doss said. The term “idol” is used lightly, however it is a title that needs to be earned. Your idol needs to be someone that you are truly knowledgeable about, has motives that you agree with and makes an impact on something that is important to you or aligns with your beliefs. Idols and role models vary from person to person, how they impact us is different. Deptula explains that when looking up to an individual, it is important to make sure you understand and develop an understanding of who they truly are. She believes that those who learn compassion are who we should strive to look up to. “I think a key piece is someone who has learned to help their community and help those around them, and through those things is really inspirational,” Deptula said.
Contributing: Alyssa King
MOVING FORWARD How do we fix the issue of our youth looking up to just anyone who has some TikTok followers, or a celebrity that they happen to find attractive? Bidigare suggested looking in places other than the media to find these role models. “[Find them] in school,” Bidigare said. “For example, freshman and sophmores — as a freshman I looked up to some seniors, so I guess in that way you can look up to other students.” Taking note of the student body around you can be one way to find positive people to look up too. Doss suggests that there is just one
BELLA YOAKAM
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IDEAS
2021 IN REVIEW Highlights from each month of the year By Grace Cueter, Robert Maddox, & Savannah Seabrooks MANAGING EDITOR, STAFF REPORTER & INTERN
JANUARY The inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States occured on Jan. 20, 2021, marking the start of his four-year term as president. The 59th presidential inauguration took place on the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington D.C., where Biden took the presidential oath of office.
JULY On July 9, 2021, the Movie ¨Black Widow¨ was released on both Disney+ and in theaters. The movie follows Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, who comes face to face with a dangerous conspiracy. Natasha is forced to deal with aspects of her life from before she became an Avenger in order to stop a force that will do anything to take her down.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers competed in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7, 2021, and became the Super Bowl LV champions with their victory against the Kansas City Chiefs. The final score of the game was 31-9.
From July 23 to Aug. 8, 2021, Tokyo hosted the 2021 Summer Olympics. The entirety of the Olympic Games took place behind closed doors in the Japanese capital due to the spread of COVID-19. The event also featured new sports such as surfing, karate, skateboarding, rock climbing, baseball and softball.
AUGUST
F E B R U A R MARCH Y
On March 15, 2021, students, teachers and staff in GPPSS high schools returned to traditional school, 5 days a week. Prior to this, the school year consisted of a completely virtual school and 2 months of hybrid school, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
S E P T E M B E R
APRIL Bringing long-time Taylor Swift fans nostalgia, “Fearless (Taylor's Version)” was the first re-recorded album by Swift. The album was released on April 9, 2021, through Republic Records and featured songs such as “Mr. Perfectly fine” and “Love Story”, both receiving over 100 thousand listens on Spotify.
On Sep. 24, 2021, the movie “Dear Evan Hansen” was released on the big screen. The film is a coming-of-age musical about Evan Hansen, a nervous and lonely highschool student. Hansen finds himself on a journey of new experiences when a letter he wrote for a writing exercise is found by the parents of a son who had recently taken his own life.
Olivia Rodrigo’s studio album “Sour” debuted on May 21, 2021. The album gained massive popularity through the songs “good 4 u”, and “drivers license”, both receiving over 1 billion listens on spotify, leading Rodrigo to seven 2022 Grammy nominations.
MAY
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The Major League Baseball World Series took place from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2, 2021. The Atlanta Braves won against the Houston Astros 4-2 in five games, making 2021 the first year that the Atlanta Braves have won the World Series since 1995. On Friday, Nov. 12 2021, a judge ruled to end Britney Spears' 13 year conservatorship. The ruling prevents her father from making her personal and financial decisions.
NOVEMBER
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J U N E
The Pixar movie “Luca” was released on June 18, 2021. The film follows a young boy named Luca Paguro, a young sea monster boy with the ability to transform into human form while on land, as he explores a town with his fellow sea monster friend.
“Sing 2” the sequel to the movie “Sing,” made in 2016, was released on Dec. 22, 2021. In the movie, the persistent and energetic koala, Buster Moon, gathers his cast of animal performers to put on an extravagant show located in the entertainment capital of the world. However, Moon faces a challenge in his attempts to convince the world’s most isolated rock star to be a part of the show.
WIKIPEDIA GLAMOUR DESERET
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REVIEWS
Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 — North Pointe — 9
Go another way: Young adult novel falls short By Alyssa King STAFF REPORTER “You Can Go Your Own Way” by young adult author Eric Smith, is a peculiar story with a unique plot that follows two old friends, Adam Stillwater and Whitney Mitchell. After falling out of love, life pushed them back together. Adam and Whitney both run the social media accounts for their families’ gaming businesses and constantly find themselves trading insults on Twitter. When a huge snowstorm hits their town, they find themselves trapped in Adam’s family’s pinball arcade. One thing I especially love about this storyline is how it takes two old friends that have suffered from copious amounts of grief and brought them back together in a way I haven’t experienced before. Smith does a great job at showing the difficult nature of letting go of something, especially if it is something you love that brings you happiness. Adam cannot let go of his father’s arcade and of his legacy. Whitney cannot let go of her position as a social media manager, desiring more than anything to be acknowledged by her father. The storyline is great but there are some questionable art elements that were added. Throughout the chapters, text chains and Twitter posts will appear between the main characters and their families. It made me feel as though I was scrolling through someone’s text messages instead of reading a book. It was distracting at times and was unnecessary to the story line.
Additionally, the constant perspective changing was completely redundant. The chapters go back and forth from Adam’s and Whitney’s point of view. I usually enjoy books with perspective changes, but it doesn’t seem to fit this book very well and seemed to rush the storyline at times. Although this is a YA romance, I wish the women throughout the story were more than side characters. Even Whitney, one of the main characters, was written as more of a love interest than a real character. Smith attempted at making her character fit into the modern feminist stereotype but completely fell short. All of her ambitions and wants that weren’t focused on boys were completely glossed over. It would’ve elevated the story even more if her character actually showed some depth. The pacing of the story was completely off. The whole main plot of the book is that Adam and Whitney get stuck in the arcade, but that doesn’t even happen until you’re over halfway through the story. Up until that point, the entire book is just establishing background information that it honestly could have done without. When I finally did get to the climax of the story, it felt rushed. I wanted to read more of Adam and Whitney together, rather than their separate lives. The story has great underlying themes, but the pacing messes up the execution entirely. “You Can Go Your Own Way” is a unique story but the book just isn’t for me. I don’t know if it’s the odd
art elements, Whitney's character falling short or the unusual pacing, but I do not see myself picking this book up ever again. All in all, I give it 3 out of 5 stars.
GOODREADS
Opa! Estia is a flaming hit
By Gabby Miller INTERN
Estia Greek Street Food opened Dec. 6, adding diversity to the collection of restaurants on Mack. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere, yet is spacious with plenty of tables. Its layout is very organized, and you are led to a line towards the back with a buildyour-own meal setup. Notably, the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Honestly, I was conf licted and had no idea of what I should order, but the server explained all the combinations as he prepared the food in front of me. From my first glance at the menu, the greek fries side instantly caught my eye. When I got home and took a look at the dish, the fries were crispy with a golden brown finish. I was impressed that the fries weren’t soggy or drenched in grease like one may find to be true of the carryout at many other restaurants. The fries themselves were great, however the real star of the show was the sprinkled feta cheese on top, hence the name “Greek fries”. As humorous as it sounds, the feta cheese was the best part of my meal overall, as it is imported from Greece. It was soft, creamy, and melted in my mouth creating the perfect contrast to the crispy fries. GABBY MILLER For my entrée, I knew I wanted a gyro, but was debating which f lavor direction I should take. Thankfully the server was extremely patient and gave
great advice. He guided me through my decision of a lamb gyro on their homemade pita wrap, with onions, garlic spread, hummus, oregano, olive oil and the show-stopping feta cheese. For $8.95, the portion size was extremely generous, as it was packed with as much food as the wrap could fit. The lamb on the gyro was delicious and thinly sliced, complimentary of all the spreads. The onions were also thinly sliced which I enjoyed, as it prohibited the onion’s f lavor from being overpowering. Greek and Mediterranean food is a favorite of mine, so it is safe to say that I’ve had plenty of experience with garlic spread and hummus, and Estia's was the best I’ve ever had. The f lavor of the chickpeas and garlic is distinguishable and has the smoothest and creamiest consistency. Each of the f lavors together blended into the perfect combination, making my meal only more enjoyable. I am beyond excited for my next visit, and have already begun to recommend the restaurant to friends and family. The staff is welcoming and eager to help, and the food is outstanding. Estia is my new personal favorite spot for Greek food in Grosse Pointe Woods, deserving of a five star rating.
GABBY MILLER
GABBY MILLER
LIFE Clocking out and cashing in: The work world for students
10 — Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022— North Pointe
By Kaitlyn Barr & Gabe Loper SECTION EDITOR & INTERNS
KAITLYN BARR
BALANCING ACT | Instructor Brian Levinson believes the co-op program allows for a stable schedule. "It allows students to gain valuable work experience," Levinson said. "Students leave school after 4th hour allowing them to work earlier in the day resulting in a much better school/work/ life balance." Many students have extremely busy lives outside of school, a large number being involved in sports, clubs and some working. With businesses hiring as young as 14, it encourages many high school students to get a job throughout their teen years. One popular business for community members to visit is TCBY, a frozen yogurt store on Mack. According to TCBY manager Carly McCartney, the store has many students employed there. However, between
inexperience, scheduling and accountability, she says that having too many student workers has its downsides. “You know their application might look great, but if they say they're in art club and they go to church and they play basketball and they do this, well when are you going to have time to actually work,” McCartney said. One option for students interested in working during the school year is the Cooperative Education program at North, also known as co-op. This program allows seniors to leave school after their fourth hour in order to go to work, while still earning enough high school credits to graduate. With about 30 seniors involved in the program each year, the coop option encourages and teaches the importance of balancing school, life, work and interests. Finding a job you enjoy can be challenging as a teen, however Business and Technology CTE instructor Brian Levinson says he is here to help students find something they enjoy. He sees the benefits from the co-op program, recognizing how it can help students receive the advantages that come with having a job and being able to balance school work. “I get a ton of positive feedback from students in the program because they have more time to focus on school work while making money and gaining work experience,” Levinson said. Students who are part of the co-op program are not required to take as many courses, and are dismissed for the day after their fourth hour class. The decrease in the number of classes makes it easier for students
to balance the workload of school. Additionally, the four hour duration allows for athletes in the program to reach their required amount of classes each day in order to compete in games and competitions. Senior hockey player RJ Cassar is involved in the coop program at North, as he also works at Da Edoardo, a traditional Northern Italian restaurant. Between hockey practice, work and school work, Cassar has a busy life. However, he feels that having a job as a teen can be beneficial due to the benefits of work experience. “It shows kids a meaning of work,” Cassar said. “A lot of kids have jobs while they work in college, so it kind of carries over to the next step.” The co-op option is able to prepare students for the work world and provides an earlier look into many fields, according to both Cassar and Levinson. Levinson says it allows for students to learn how to budget their time, and feel ready for their adult lives. “Co-op not only provides great real word work experience, it helps with time management skills,” Levinson said. “Most students leave high school for college and have to work and go to college. This [program] provides early access to this lifestyle making the transition easier.”
Save me a slice: Plan for TMP to return By Kate Bania & Olivia Dodenhoff INTERNS Pizza Tuesdays are close to making a comeback for students after almost a year and a half of being gone. Tuesday Means Pizza was previously held at First English Church across the street from North weekly. Kelley Bidigare, a coordinator of the event, says that the moratorium on TMP was not solely attributed to one factor. “The biggest factor that led to TMP discontinuing was COVID and the schools moving to virtual learning in March of 2020,” Bidigare said. “In addition, the person that ran TMP had a child that graduated from GPN in 2020, [and] since she no longer had a child attending North, she was unable to start it back up again this school year.” Even though Bidigare wants to clarify that TMP is not officially back yet, she continues to work so that everything can run successfully in future. Bidigare says that getting TMP up and running again will take an immense amount of work and dedication, and is worried about a lack of parent volunteers to support student demand. “I'm going to put the call out for any North parents that would like to volunteer within the next few days, most likely through social media,” Bidigare said. Aside from the nerves starting TMP up again, Bidigare is filled with excitement to bring back something that the students loved.
“After talking to a few of my son's friends, it was unanimous that we needed TMP again,” Bidigare said. “It is a huge undertaking, but I'm willing to bring it back because the students at North really enjoy it.” Some students look forward to the return of TMP because it is a change from the normal school lunch. Staying at school everyday for lunch has left some underclassmen, including freshman Julie Lyons, bored with the provided lunch and looking for other options. “Sometimes the school lunches are not always as great,” Lyons said. “[TMP is] like an alternative.” Junior Cam Schafer attended TMP every Tuesday his freshman year before it unfortunately shut down. Schafer remembers how much he enjoyed going, especially with his friends. “I miss having the fun times with my friends walking across Vernier to the church,” Schafer said. Bidigare wants Tuesday’s menus to include a variety of pizzas, creating more fun and enjoyable options for students. “My goal, as well as the church's goal with TMP, is to offer a delicious pizza lunch to North students while keeping them as safe as possible,” Bidigare said.
KATE BANIA
LUNCHTIME RUSH | Junior Cam Schafer reminisces about the lunches he spent at TMP his freshman year and gives insight on the return of Tuesday Means Pizza. Schafer misses the good deals TMP offered for him and his friends, “I would attend if TMP were to come back because it was good pizza for cheap,” Schafer said.
LIFE
Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022— North Pointe — 11
Taking on ‘22: Students on New Year's resolutions By Natalie Babcock & Mia Stephanoff INTERNS
7 in 10
58%
of students find resolutions to be effective
students plan on setting a New Year's resolution
13%
47%
of student resolutions involve self-betterment
8%
of student resolutions involve sports
RESOLUTIONS
of student resolutions involve academics
“I have a lot of extracurriculars, and not a lot of time to spare, so I have to take any chance I can get to do my homework,” sophomore Meredith Bayus said. “Unfortunately, I procrastinate a lot, and I’m trying to break that habit.”
This information was gathered by a student survey
“My resolution is to procrastinate less,” senior Luke Borowski said. “It seems cliche, but there are many times where I will find it difficult to focus on certain tasks, or just not want to start them in the first place."
ON CAMPUS
Tote bag sale is a go! Fashion Club sells student-decorated bags By Jami Townsend & Allie McIntyre STAFF REPORTER & INTERN
NORTH
POINTE
707 Vernier Road Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 northpointenow.org “Grosse Pointe Public School administrators and teachers are responsible for encouraging and ensuring freedom of expression and freedom of the press for all students, regardless of whether the ideas expressed may be considered unpopular, critical, controversial, tasteless or offensive.” BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY
OUR STAFF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Farrah Fasse MANAGING EDITOR Grace Cueter PAGE EDITORS Kaitlyn Barr Bee Bielak Sophia Dragich Annabelle Julien Grace Rossman Bella Yoakam WEB EDITOR Jo Jackson JAMI TOWNSEND
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED | Sophomore Rheya Dixon was one of the shoppers at the tote bag sale, and she expressed appreciation for the creative design of the bags and conveyed interest in possibly joining the Fashion Club in the future. “I like the hearts [on the bag], that was nice,” Dixon said. “I would actually join the club.”
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Arei Swain DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Kyleigh Egli STAFF REPORTERS Alyssa King Robert Maddox Jami Townsend
INTERNS Natalie Babcock Kate Bania Grace Cleary Olivia Dodenhoff Gabe Goode Thomas Jones Julia Liagre Gabe Loper Madi Lucido Katie Madigan Ella McCarthy Allie McIntyre Robb McIntyre Elly Meteer Gabby Miller Parker O'Neill Savannah Seabrooks Christina Shea Lauren Shipe Mia Stephanoff Lauren Veitengruber
The North Pointe is edited and produced by Advanced Journalism students at Grosse Pointe North High School and is published once a month It is in practice a designated public forum without prior review. ALLIE MCINTYRE
Our editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe Editorial Board. Members who have a conflict of interest with an editorial topic do not partake in that meeting or vote. Comments should be directed to the student editors, who make all final content decisions. The views expressed are solely those of the student authors of the editorial board and do not reflect the opinions of the Grosse Pointe Public School System.
ALLIE MCINTYRE JAMI TOWNSEND
GRATEFUL FOR A GREAT SALE | Shaheen shares the gratitude of the Fashion Club with their many supporters and patrons. “We’d like to thank all the people who bought tote bags, we appreciate your support of our club and what we came up with for our designs, and we hope to do more stuff like this in the future,” Shaheen said. ALLIE MCINTYRE
SCHOOL SPIRIT | Fashion club president Elena Shaheen explained the struggle to combine a creative aesthetic with the North style. “We tried to find a balance between the creativity and having a North theme to our bags like North colors — and kind of trying to mix it with modern takes,” Shaheen said.
THE SALE MUST GO ON | The first tote bag sale took place on Thursday, Dec. 2, while the second and final sale, postponed from its original date due to school closure, took place on Tuesday, Dec. 7. Shaheen took inspiration for the sale from social media. “It was my idea to do the tote bag sale,” Shaheen said. “I [saw] Pinterest tote bags kind of trending and I thought it would be a cute, fun [and] creative idea for us to decorate our own and sell them to the school.”
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FACULTY ADVISER: Allison Dunn
