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KAITLYN BARR
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Life 10-11 OnCampus 12 VOLUME 54 | ISSUE 5
2 — Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 — North Pointe
NEWS Omicron cases rise, causing changes within school By Farrah Fasse, Jo Jackson & Jami Townsend EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, WEB EDITOR & STAFF REPORTER
Rise in cases causes disruptions in learning
Rising cases due to the Omicron variant have in turn caused increased positive cases and quarantines in schools. Students who are out of school for a COVID-19 related reason must communicate with their teachers to find out what they’ll be missing, and what they can do over quarantine to get caught up, so that when they get back, the workload isn’t too much to keep up with. Since she wants to make sure students don’t get overwhelmed, chemistry teacher Colleen Byrn says she has talked to quarantined students to check their understanding and ensure their workload is doable as they learn from home. “What is most important to me as a teacher is not the amount of work, but their ability to learn the material, and I want to do that and be as fair and supportive [as possible] under the circumstances,” Byrn said. Similar to Byrn, Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services Roy Bishop Jr. believes that students’ communication plays an important role in their success while at home. Bishop encourages students to reach out to both their teachers and counselors when quarantined. “They definitely need to reach out to their teacher to find out what is accessible, via the tools that they may have online,” Bishop said. “I'm assuming they’ll have an opportunity to be able to make up those assignments when they get back into school.” While learning at home during quarantine, junior Grace Lemanski says her teachers' efforts to help her weren’t as effective as being able to provide in class learning. “Teachers tried their best and did what they could through an email to explain instructions for the week,” Lemanski said. “But only one provided a Zoom link for me to join virtually, which was the most helpful thing any teacher had done.”
Quarantining and isolation rules change
On Jan. 11, following new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Wayne County Health Department released updated guidelines for schools, echoing the new quarantining and isolation regulations from the CDC. The new guidelines shortened close contact quarantines from ten to five days for unvaccinated individuals, as well as those who have not received boosters and are over six months out from their last COVID-19 vaccine. For individuals who have received booster shots, or have had a COVID-19 vaccine within the last six months, quarantine is not necessary, but all groups are directed to wear a mask in public for 10 days following exposure. Additionally, people who have tested positive for COVID-19 may now leave
KATIE MADIGAN
CHECKING BOXES | COVID-19 positive staff and students may now return after a five day quarantine, as long as symptoms have improved or resolved, or they are asymptomatic. Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services Roy Bishop stresses the importance of checking symptoms daily with the Wayne County Health Department COVID-19 screening form. All families are encouraged by the district to use the form everyday. “We are relying heavily on our families at home to make sure that they're screening themselves,” Bishop said.
isolation after five days if asymptomatic or if their symptoms are resolving. Grosse Pointe Public Schools released a statement on Jan. 12 stating that the rules for GPPSS would align with the updated guidance from MDHHS and WCHD. In accordance with guidance from WCHD, GPPSS will no longer be contract tracing. Daily COVID-19 letters will be replaced by a dashboard on the GPPSS website with case numbers and quarantines updated daily at 5 p.m. As many staff and students have tested positive recently, Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services Roy Bishop Jr. says that health and safety are imperative to GPPSS. “We're definitely a family driven institution,” Bishop said. “So, we want to make sure that the person, whether they’re a student, whether they’re a teacher, that their health is our main priority.” Since she is familiar with the difficult feeling of being at home while trying to learn asynchronously, Lemanski says that with the increasing COVID-19 numbers, more and more kids would be in quarantine, making learning a lot more difficult. “I still feel comfortable being in school with the new guidelines,” Lemanski said. “However, it doesn’t seem like such a good idea with COVID numbers increasing, as it could lead to more positive cases meaning more kids out with little to no instruction on their schoolwork.”
Shortage of COVID-19 tests
There are three main types of COVID-19 tests: molecular, antigen and antibody. Some pharmacies and testing clinics offer at-home rapid antigen tests which, according to pharmacy technician Ariana Bradshaw, sell out quickly. “It is hard to keep up with the demand for [the tests] and people often go home empty handed,” Bradshaw said. “When we do receive a shipment of them, they are gone within days.” Outside of home tests, molecular, also known as PCR, and in-lab rapid tests can also be hard to come by. The lab that Bradshaw works at does these types of tests by appointmentonly, and she says that appointments fill up almost instantly. “There was an increase in testing around the holidays especially and shortly after,” Bradshaw said. “Now that the major holidays are over for the time being, there is still a steady stream of testing that occurs on a daily basis, likely due to the rise in cases.” Accessing COVID-19 tests can pose an issue for some families, whether it be due to cost or transportation. To help with this, Bishop says that GPPSS has applied for the MI Backpack Home Tests Program, where enrolled families will receive COVID-19 antigen tests to take home. “So, we're definitely in the process right now of being approved for that program,” Bishop said. “Once we're able to get those tests, we [will] definitely communicate to our community and establish next steps.”
NEWS Advocating for change: BSA holds “Black at GPN” meeting By Sophia Dragich & Gabe Loper SECTION EDITOR & INTERN On Jan. 11, the Black Student Alliance club held a meeting regarding the topic “Black at North,” giving attendees the opportunity to discuss situations they have experienced as Black students and what changes they believe need to be made within the school. The meeting opened the door for students to express their concerns regarding the curriculum and district policies. According to club president Anaya Winesberry, many students explained their experiences with bringing up concerns to the school district in the past. “I feel like when Black students bring up their grievances [to the school district], there is a lot of pushback,” Winesberry said. “There is a lot of watering it down [and] trying to keep it under wraps.” Students at this meeting also mentioned their desire for changes to be made to the curriculum, such as implementing new reading materials, so that the history of Black people is studied in more depth and with more detail. Winesberry said that one of her main goals she hopes to accomplish before she graduates is to push for the addition of different books into the curriculum. “I'm very passionate about adding literature into our school's curriculum that authentically tells the story of Black people,” Winesberry said. “I feel like the books that are in our curriculum now focus more on oppression and prejudice, but they don't talk about the positive accomplishments that Black people have [achieved].” Along with adding new books to the curriculum, Winesberry believes creating a safe environment in classrooms is important in order to validate students’ feelings and organize discussions surrounding race. “Teachers need to be equipped with the tools to facilitate dialogue about race in a way that's effective for everyone [and] centers students of color,” Winesberry said. Winesberry’s views surrounding classroom discussions about race and other related topics are also shared by Sophomore Ruta Hailu, who attended her first BSA meeting on Jan. 11. “I would really love [for] the teachers that are teaching us this information to make sure that there is an adequate bubble surrounding the conversations that we’re having that is safe for
the students who are Black [so that they] don’t feel invalidated by the conversations,” Hailu said. In regards to facilitating classroom dialogue, Assistant Principal Geoffrey Young expressed his perspectives on how teachers can properly establish healthier environments to hold discussions about race. Being a former English teacher at North and having experience teaching the district’s curriculum, Young believes the best way to address the concerns brought up at the meeting about classroom discussions is for teachers to adhere to student needs, and respond accordingly if tension or conflict arises. “No matter the experience or content area, teachers can facilitate fair and respectful discussions when they pay close attention to students’ comfort level, ask questions of students to understand their needs and create specific protocols about how discussions should resolve themselves if there is tension, discomfort or disagreement,” Young said. Along with prioritizing the facilitation of organized dialogue within the classrooms and responding seriously to the concerns of Black students, the school continues to promote open communication and honest evaluation of its policies, according to Young. “North administration started meeting with some of the members of our race and culture-based organizations to simply hear their perspectives and see how we can make North better,” Young said. “Some SOPHIA DRAGICH of the things we heard in some of those meetings were painful for us to hear, but we were glad that we were opening the lines of communication, and getting feedback we needed to evaluate ourselves and the school and better understand our students. We need more of that.” One of the main ways to continue this communication is for students to participate in club meetings, Winesberry says. She believes doing so will allow for more changes to be made in the school in the future. “I definitely think more conversations like this need to be had because there aren't a lot of spaces for Black students at this school to talk to each other about the changes that we want to see,” Winesberry said. “If there's anybody out there who really has something that they want to bring up or something that they're really passionate about, [BSA] is a great place to come and talk about those things.”
North Pointe — Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 — 3
Keepin g it Brief By Madi Lucido & Gabby Miller INTERNS
Sophomores able to purchase parking passes During first semester, consistent with past school years, sophomores were unable to purchase parking passes, even if they had their drivers license. It has been confirmed that they will again be able to park in the student parking lot for the second semester. Sophomore Emily Giffer is excited to hear this news. She believes there’s plenty of room in the parking lot, and she dislikes the complications of parking elsewhere. “It is frustrating to park on Morningside because if you are late you will never get a good spot,” Giffer said. “I am most excited to have an easier way to get in and out of school.”
Performing Arts Center reopens The Performing Arts Center is reopening soon to show North’s musical, “Fiddler on the Roof”, starting Feb. 3. The PAC has been closed for the renovation of the lift, which is used to move platforms, actors, scenery and other production elements above and below the stage floor. However, the PAC isn’t the final construction project, and more transformations within the school are still to occur, according to assistant principal Catherine Vernier. “We still need to finish the 3rd floor, including student bathrooms, and finish the other two stairwells in B-Building,” Vernier said. “There will be work done on the library and A-building still, as well as more mechanical work in the basement and boiler rooms.”
Midterm resumes with changes to effect on grades The end of the first semester brought a new protocol to midterm week. With the exams only being able to maintain or improve students' grades, students and teachers were uncertain of what to anticipate. Spanish teacher Jennifer Spears had originally hoped for a normal midterm experience, but due to the recent peak in COVID-19 cases, her feelings altered. She felt it was necessary for there to be a change in midterms in order to accommodate the numerous students absent and stressed. “Of course I am disappointed not to have a normal midterm week,” Spears said. “I completely understand that we have to somehow recognize that this is not a normal year.” As for Spears and the other teachers in the language department, the preparation and grading was kept the same as previous years with the addition of the scores received being harmless to semester grades. Spears believes that midterms went smoothly. “I’ve actually been very pleased to see students have come this week and have been preparing for the exams.” Spears said. “It has been the best experience that one could hope for given the recent surge in COVID.”
4 — Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 — North Pointe
Don’t ask Dr. Google On all different kinds of social media platforms, teenagers see other teens discussing their mental illnesses in order to spread awareness. The effort to reduce the stigma around mental illness has proven to be successful, but it has gotten to a point where teenagers self-diagnose themselves with the mental illnesses they see online. There are more than 200 different mental illnesses, and symptoms from one may overlap with another. Teenagers see someone their age struggling with the same thing they are, but that symptom could be an indicator of dozens of different illnesses. The only way to know what condition you have is by seeking a diagnosis from a medical professional. False cases of mental illness are spreading like wildfire, and social media and the internet has fueled this. Self-diagnosing is dangerous for many reasons, one being the unnecessary panic and stress it could cause an individual. Someone may be seeking a quick and easy answer to any symptoms they are having, wrapped up nicely in an internet article, and see their symptoms in a certain illness. They then may begin to convince themselves that they have this mental illness. Teens take to the internet to relieve themselves of their worries, but what they will find most likely will contribute to their already existing panic. Seeing that there is a chance they may have a severe mental illness is anxiety-inducing and
EDITORIAL could make their symptoms worse. The internet is not a credible place to gather information, and the only way to treat an individual-specific concern is by going to a doctor. Having a symptom or two of a mental illness does not at all indicate that you have it. Being sad or getting nervous sometimes doesn’t mean you have depression or anxiety. Having emotions is natural, and part of the human — especially teenage — condition. There is a reason that diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5, which psychologists use to diagnose disorders, says that a diagnosis can only be made if several symptoms are present for an extended period of time. No one should strive to get diagnosed with a disorder just to wear it as a moniker of pride. Mental health illnesses are serious, and many have dangerous symptoms and consequences. When impressionable teenagers with undeveloped minds see the popularity surrounding mental illness on social media, it is easy for them to self-diagnose themselves. Through different platforms such as Instagram or TikTok, countless teenagers have taken to posting about the mental illnesses they were not properly diagnosed with. Doing this invalidates people with genuine mental illness. The people who should be speaking on experience with mental illnesses should only be the people who have had to endure them.
“I love girls...but not like that” ED DESK
By Bee Bielak SECTION EDITOR
When there is any hope of a celebrity coming out as LGBTQIA+, it’s a big deal to the queer community. It’s important to see yourself represented in the limelight. Looking at someone is perhaps a movie star, and also gay, shows who that those who stray from the heterosexual “default setting” are just as valuable to society. This want of queer representation can push some to do drastic things for attention. Let’s talk about queerbaiting. By definition, queerbaiting is the false allusion of non-heterosexual relationships or attraction to catch the LGBTQIA+ community’s eye. Perhaps it’s a movie trailer showing two male presenting people with their eyes closed, lips parted and leaning in. But once actually watching the movie, you realize it was two scenes cut together, and there was no actual homosexual relationship portrayed. The movie will have a heightened rate of LGBTQIA+ attendance because representation deprived people who saw the trailer had hope of seeing themselves depicted on-screen. It’s harmful to tease a struggling community with hope, only to let them down, all for financial gain. Queerbaiting exists outside the realm of movies and TV, and is a tactic often used by celebrities as well. In June of 2021, Billie Eilish posted a series of photos with her and a group of women, resting her head on the behind of another girl. Eilish’s caption caught the attention of the queer community, with it reading “i love girls”. The sensual photos, paired with these seemingly straightforward words that explicitly state a fascination of women and being posted in the LGBTQIA+ pride month, seemed to be the perfect recipe for Eilish coming out. When she announced that she was not queer, and currently had a boyfriend, the queer community was outraged. After thinking we gained another representative to combat the “norm” and being let down, accusations of queerbaiting f lung fast. Eilish had new people paying her attention, but it was under the false idea that she was the queer representation they seek. No matter where it exists in the media, queerbaiting will always be harmful to the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s unfair to give us hope of seeing people like us integrated into normal society, just to be let down again. Only tease a gay relationship if there is one. Don’t make suggestive posts to get attention. Please, leave the queer community alone.
KAITLYN BARR
YOUR TURN: If you could time travel to any decade, which one would you choose and why? By Ella McCarthy INTERN
JUNIOR SA’AD ALRAZZI: “I think I would like to travel to the decade between 20302040, just to see where my future will lead me and make changes in my life based upon that.”
TEACHER LISA SPATOLA: “[I would travel] somewhere in the mid 1500s, visiting some time in the Renaissance would be cool, there are some really great artists from those times. It would be cool to see the Sistine Chapel. The clothes were great too, with all those interesting dresses.”
SOPHOMORE INAYA GRAHAM: “I would go to the ‘90s
because it was honestly the most fun decade ever. The best movies and TV shows, like ‘Clueless’ and ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ came out. And of course, the clothes and hairstyles were iconic. [I] wish I could have been there.”
FRESHMAN BEN DRAGICH: “[I would like to travel to] 2040 so I can see what life is like in the near future. I want to see if COVID is finally gone. I also want to see how the Lions are doing by then. The future is so interesting because we know nothing about it yet we can control it.”
North Pointe — Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 — 5
SPORTS
Sticking it out: Hockey teams face challenges By Kaitlyn Barr, Thomas Jones & Parker O'Neill SECTION EDITOR & INTERNS For the past couple months, both the boys and girls hockey teams have faced multiple challenges. One challenge the boys team has dealt with is injuries. Dealing with injuries is tough for any team in any sport, especially when a team has less players than previous years. Junior and hockey player Jacob Simcox recognizes these difficulties. “It's pretty challenging, especially when you have such a short bench already,” Simcox said. “It's tough when kids are out and then it just makes it even worse.” An already important part of the game is being wellconditioned in order to avoid injury and fatigue while playing. In order to compensate for being short on players, the team does extra conditioning, according to senior and player Brandon Gillery. “We’ve been trying to get our wind up, and just taking what we practice into the games,” Gillery said. The lack of seniors is another issue the team has faced. Having seniors is important to any team because of their experience playing at the high school level, according to Simcox. “It's definitely hard because the seniors that we do have, are going to leave and we do have actually a decent amount of them compared to other years,” Simcox said. “It's definitely difficult compared to other teams that have [more than] 20 seniors.” Similar to the boys team, the girls hockey team has had historically lower numbers, and the same is still true, with just 12 girls on the roster. The team has been fortunate enough to maintain a low number of injuries, with only one player out recently with a bruised knee. Although the team's size is not ideal, junior Gabby Brumme, a member of the girls hockey team, embraces the size of the team.
Connected by the court
“Yes, our team is small,” Brumme said. “But, because it's small, we all are really close and connect with each other.” Rather than letting the small size of the girls hockey team be a determining factor in the outcome of games, girls hockey coach Casey Quick and the members of the team refuse to let this shake their spirit. “All the girls that I have are good hockey players and they understand the game,” Quick said. “They've got good hockey IQ,” While having a smaller team may have its downsides, there are still benefits to having a team with less players, according to Simcox. “Personally, I like having a smaller team,” Simcox said. “You just get more ice time, and more one-on-one with coaches.”
10% OFF PURCHASE COURTESY OF ABIGAIL HAGGERTY
HUDDLE UP | Junior Jacob Simcox, boys hockey player, says the team has felt the effects of a smaller team as a result of injuries, and less players to begin with. “The season’s been rough,” Simcox said. “It's hard with a short bench and not having as many kids as we’d like to have.” By Mia Stephanoff INTERN ONLY GOING UP | From steals, to fast breaks, to three-point shots, sophomore Patrick McGlinnen did it all. While he played a great game, he continues to work on bettering his skills. “I like shooting threes, but I’m going to work on my layups more,” McGlinnen said. “[I also like] working on my steals.” MIA STEPHANOFF
MIA STEPHANOFF
SCORING A GOOD TIME | The Norsemen wave a “good game” to cross town rivals, Grosse Pointe South Blue Devils unified basketball team. First year player-coach and junior Sarah McCloskey, expressed her favorite parts from their game. “I enjoy how excited everyone is to play,” McCloskey said. “They all work so hard and always have a great time. It is very rewarding when some of the more shy kids make a shot and you can see their faces light up.” For more highlights on the Unified basketball team, check out our Instagram page.
MIA STEPHANOFF
LAYING UP SUPPORT | The crowd cheered on both the Norsemen and Blue Devils during the game. Fans like parents, staff, friends and other basketball teams all came out to show their support. Freshman Charlotte Julien isn’t new to these games, and expressed what she enjoys most. “I enjoyed seeing everyone working together to have a great time on and off the court,” Julien said. “I found it fun that there were so many people in the stands for both teams being so supportive, and making it such a positive environment for all the players.”
6 — Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 — North Pointe
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I THROUGH THE DECADES By Kaitlyn Barr, Bee Bielak, Grace Rossman & Katie Madigan SECTION EDITORS & INTERN It wasn’t until the 1920s that the concept of dating was introduced. It evolved from and replaced a courtship, a relationship committed to marriage. The words “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” began to signify a romantic relationship rather than a platonic one. During this era of romantic relationships, it became acceptable for young people to have the freedom to choose who they wanted to be with, without the pressure of devoting themselves for life. The idea of dating has been around for decades, but it’s meaning has changed immensely throughout time. From writing love letters to swiping right on a match, dating has progressed exponentially. According to Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Ellen Miller, dating has been changing at a rapid pace. With social media and technology developing, dating has developed and changed as well. “[In past generations], relationships had a very strict framework,” Miller said. “Over time, that has changed and that framework has become a little bit more flexible to accommodate changing circumstances, [such as] women being more focused on education, and men may be more focused on staying home.”
g Datin 70s e 19 in th
In 1965, two young children became friends, not knowing all their future would hold for them. From seeing each other at Sunday morning church when they were six, to celebrating their 42nd wedding anniversary, Student Activities Director Peggy Bonbrisco and her husband John Bonbrisco have spent nearly their whole lives together. Their older sisters were a pair of best friends, and their earliest memory together is from one of the many days when the girls were stuck at home babysitting the two kids. John Bonbrisco recalls this memory. Peggy Bonbrisco remembers the same day. “[My first memory of John] was jumping in bed,” Peggy Bonbrisco said. “It was with our sisters babysitting and horseplay, fooling around and watching shows on TV.” The two grew up together, but it wasn’t until 1974, when they were 16, that they went on their first date. As teenagers, the Bonbriscos went on dates almost every weekend, and sometimes went with
a group of friends. The now closed Club 500 was a hotspot for teenagers, and one of the Bonbriscos’ favorite date spots. Bowling and movies were some of their other typical date night activities. Peggy Bonbrisco recalls the Gratiot Drive-In movie theater, where they went almost every other weekend. “You stayed in your vehicle, and you had a speaker connected to a long wire, rolled your window down, tucked the speaker in and that’s how you listen[ed] to the movie,” Peggy Bonbrisco said. “What was cool about that, is you could bring as many people in your car [as you wanted] and just pay for the car, so we always got the car filled up.” In an age with no smartphones, the Bonbriscos’ access to communication posed some challenges. When Peggy Bonbrisco became a teenager, her mother bought an extension cord for the landline phone stationed on the wall. She was able to drag it just up the top of the staircase, in an attempt to gain as much privacy as she talked to John Bonbrisco on the phone. Despite her best attempts, she acknowledged that everyone heard her conversations. “If your mom answered the phone, your mom knew who was calling you. Not like [parents now], they have no idea who’s texting you and who’s calling you,” Peggy Bonbrisco said. “The whole family knew because it would be like, ‘Oh, Peggy, it’s John,’ and everybody would giggle and laugh.” John Bonbrisco also experienced troubles with the landlines they used in the 1970s. “I would pick up the phone and it was what we called a party line back then,” John Bonbrisco said. “There was somebody else actually using the phone that was down the block, so I couldn’t make my call when I expected to.” Another issue the Bonbriscos encountered while dating was being strapped for cash on their dates. In their time, kids typically often didn’t get much money from their parents. “John used to run out of gas, and we would have just enough money to fill the tank and then go do what we’re gonna do,” Peggy Bonbrisco said. “Our children had more access to cash than we did, it was a little more free flowing, but not really in our time. Mom or Dad might have given you a couple of bucks or whatever, but that was it.”
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In 1997, science teacher Liz Michaels unknowingly met who would be her future husband, Alex, in their fifth grade classroom. Eventually, he would bring her back there to ask her to be his wife, as they swung on the swings they played on together as kids. It wasn’t until their junior year of high school that they officially started dating. The previous year, they rekindled their childhood friendship in their Advanced Placement US History class. As high school sweethearts, the couple shares all their memories of their teenage years together. “The first dance that we went to together was actually homecoming our senior year, and then we obviously went to prom together, too,” Michaels said. During this time, teenagers’ date nights became less traditional. Instead of going out to the movie theater or sitting down at a restaurant, teenagers in a relationship began to hang out like they would with their friends. This trend has continued to the modern day, and activities the Michaels did are still popular among high schoolers. “We did a lot of driving around. We used to watch a lot of movies in his parents’ basement,” Michaels said. “For a fancy night, he would always cook for me.” In the modern era, teens are texting each other all the time no matter where they are. They could be at school, at their house or in a different state, and still be able to get a hold of their partner. However, this was different for Michaels. While texting was an option, she would have to pay by the message in order to text someone. This caused a conflict with how Michaels was able to get a hold of her partner, as texting was out of budget for a typical high school student. “We had to ration how much [we could] actually text each other so that our parents didn’t get a big bill,” Michaels said.
IN-DEPTH ng i t D a ay tod
In 2018, seniors Noah Dean and Kristin Krier met in the back of their freshman year Earth Science class. The two spent the academic year, and following summer, in the “talking stage.” They harboured feelings for one another, but only hung out in groups until Dean asked Krier out in the summer of 2019. Despite having spent a decent amount of time in the “talking stage”, this couple expresses that it’s not always a good place to be. “Depending on how open you are with someone in that stage, it really just kind of sets you up for success or failure,” Krier said. “Some people in the talking stage put on a little act. I feel like that’s where you get into trouble with relationships, [when] you don’t really know what the other person’s like.” Dating in the modern age is far from anything traditional, and much more laidback than it has ever been. Dean and Krier provide the perfect example of this, as they don’t do what is considered more “traditional” dates, like going to dinner. “We don’t go get food,” Dean said. “We don’t really go to movies. Every once in a while, it’ll be just like hanging out at whatever house. Sometimes we’ll go on a hike.” Not only do modern couples have different ideas of what a date looks like, they also approach communication differently. With prominent social media apps like Snapchat or Instagram and unlimited call and text, constant contact is possible for those in relationships. However, communication does vary from couple to couple. Dean and Krier shared their preferred methods. “I feel like both of us don’t really communicate very well online,” Krier said. “So especially during the pandemic, online wasn’t a big thing. When we want to talk to each other, it’s either in person or on FaceTime.”
Because of the time the Bonbriscos grew up in, they have a lot to compare modern technology to. Phone calls when they were younger were inconvenient due to the fact they had to wait to make a call because a neighbor was on call. “Communication is a lot easier today,” John Bonbrisco said. “If there’s something that I need to let [Peggy] know, I can generally do it right away. Whereas when we were growing up, that could take hours.” Working in a school, Peggy Bonbrisco has seen the shift in communication firsthand. She notices how students talk
Com mun ica and tion datin g
to their romantic interests, and it is drastically different from what she can remember when she was a teenager. “When [the Student Union] was open I could see kids texting each other from booth to another booth,” Peggy Bonbrisco said. “I couldn’t get over that at the very beginning, because you’re right there, get up and talk to them.” Although he doesn’t see it like Peggy Bonbrisco does, John Bonbrisco understands how new technology and teenagers’ accessibility to it affects modern dating and the issues that it poses. “[The pace of the world] is so fast and so quick,” John Bonbrisco said. “The pace of communication has just increased so rapidly from when we dated.” Peggy Bonbrisco adds on to John Bonbrisco’s ideas on how social media plays a role in dating. “In our day, you’d pass a note, even in high school,” Peggy Bonbrisco said. “‘Oh, so and so said they liked you,’ and that would take about an hour or so to get that going. And then maybe one or two people might hear about it. With technology, things are posted and so many see it immediately, as it’s happening. I think a lot of things probably don’t even get to play out before they even get started.” Both Krier and Dean agree that social media has a huge impact on many teens’ relationships and is what has caused so many relationships to be based on the importance of constant contact for a successful and healthy relationship. “I’ve been around people where they’re checking their other person’s Snap score or something like that,” Krier said. “If it goes up before they text them back, they freak out. And that’s not okay.” Michaels shares the same idea that over the years, social media apps have proposed some problems, including privacy. It was reassuring for Michaels to know that her relationship was not displayed on Instagram or Snapchat. “I think there was some comfort in knowing the relationship wasn’t necessarily public,” Michaels said. “Sometimes social media makes everything so public and you don’t have a lot of privacy. And then if you decide to keep your privacy, there’s questions about that as well. So, I think that has changed the pressure of relationships.” Privacy has also been changed through the use of dating apps, which many use in order to find partners. Miller acknowledges that these apps are convenient, but realizes the large change that this has brought to modern dating. “It’s so easy to pull up a dating app and meet somebody and go on one date and go somewhere,” Miller said. “It’s so easy to look outside the relationship where it’s hard to keep the accountability. It’s hard to stay grounded and what you have because it’s so easy to look outside of it, so I think it has definitely a new factor in relationships and things that may not have been even 20 years ago have been such a thing.”
North Pointe — Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 — 7
Some The Bonbriscos are firm things never believers of doing everything for your kids, and have enjoyed change seeing their children grow throughout the years. Seeing their children mature, and have their own partners has opened their eyes to the realization that relationships aren’t all that different now. “That’s the magic, I think, of marriage and family,” Peggy Bonbrisco said. “And, it really touches you when you see your kids start to go through something that we went through a generation ago. It’s really not all that different in how you handle things.” John and Peggy Bonbrisco both hope that even if they met in a different generation they would still choose each other. “Knowing Peggy the way she is, I would hope that I would still choose Peggy, because she has a wonderful heart about her,” John Bonbrisco said. “That’s the thing that has always drawn me to her.” Dean feels the same way about Krier, believing that even if they had met in a different time period, their relationship would not have changed, primarily because of the way they met and began their relationship. “We didn’t start talking over social media or online or anything like that. We really started talking in person and kind of like that quintessential of ‘oh we have a class together’,” Dean said. I think that’s pretty timeless and how that would have affected our relationship.” With developing technology and social media, it’s easy for things to change. However, Miller believes that the foundation of a relationship hasn’t changed all that much since the beginning. “[What has] stayed the same throughout the years, I would say, is the foundation of what creates a healthy relationship,” Miller said. “No matter what your sexual orientation [is], what your backround is, all relationships should focus on effective communication, trust and mutually agreed upon values and rules for what your relationship should look like. That love and support and encouragement should always be there.”
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The long awaited romantic comedy, “Marry Me,” will be reaching theatres on Feb. 11. The movie, starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, encompasses the unconventional love story between a music superstar and a fandom fan in the audience following their sudden marriage.
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February is Black History Month, a time to reflect and honor the contributions, culture, and history of African-Americans. Join in on this celebration at a pop up exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation showcasing the significance and impact of many Black activists. The exhibit will be up throughout all of Feb. and March, and tickets can be bought on the Henry Ford Museum website.
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Dua Lipa announced her 28 city Future Nostalgia North America tour, which will hit venues throughout the U.S. and Canada in early 2022. Dua Lipa is performing Feb. 25 at Little Caesars Arena with tickets starting at $69. The lineup for the concert is Dua Lipa, Caroline Polachek and Lolo Zouai. Dua Lipa will SPOTIFY be performing songs from her new album and other fan favorites.
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After leaving fans on the edge of their seats following the dramatic mid season finale in Dec. 2021, the popular show “All American” will finally be returning on Feb. 21. The season four mid season premiere will air on CW at 8 p.m.
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On Pointe What's buzzing this month? By Julia Liagre & Natalie Babcock STAFF REPORTER & INTERN
A-Pink, a popular k-pop group, will be returning to the music industry after one member failed to renew PINTEREST her contract with the company two years ago, halting their development. All six members are returning and making a comeback after being absent since April 2020, when their last album was released. Though the release date of the albums, the concept, and other specifics have not yet been specified, the group has concluded they plan to make a resurgence in the month of February.
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This year's Super Bowl LVI will be on Sunday, WIKIPEDIA Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. The game is scheduled to take place at SoFi stadium in Los Angeles, and will be broadcast on NBC and available for streaming on Peacock. The halftime show is expected to be the best in years, with appearances from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar. Even if you’re not a football fan, tune in to watch the commercials— NBC is charging $6.5 million for a 30 second ad.
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Charmaine Wilkerson, an American writer based out of Italy, will be releasing her highly anticipated debut novel, “Black Cake,” this month. The novel, takes readers through the journey of two estranged siblings brought together by their mother's death. TWITTER
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Get into the winter spirit at the Ice and Snow Fest at the Eleanor and Edsel Ford House on Lake Shore. The event takes place from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 26, and tickets are $5. The beautiful open grounds are the perfect place for all the fun winter activities, like snowshoeing and snowman building. There will even be a lesson on how changes in climate have FORDHOUSE affected the Great Lakes in the winter.
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The Air Jordan 1 is one of the most popular Nike shoes. The release of the “Dark Marina Blue” Air Jordan 1 has had sneaker heads on edge waiting for it to come out. This new style is releasing on Feb. 16 at select retailers and Nike.com. The retail price tag is set at $170 USD.
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Elton John has been doing his “Farwell Yellow Brick Road” tour since 2018 and it will continue until 2023. It is supposed to be John's final tour with more than 300 shows worldwide consisting of 23 songs. There will be two local performances at Little Caesars Arena Feb. 8 and Feb. 9. Tickets start at $122.
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REVIEWS
Feeling cheesy? Cheese Shoppe delivers some tasty treats By Kate Bania INTERN
The Cheese Shoppe recently opened on Mack Avenue, bringing a great shopping experience and delicious food along with it. Upon entering the store, I was filled with curiosity due to the fun colors and decorations. It had a modern bakery aesthetic, where they displayed cute cheese dishes, and even mini grocery baskets. There are two counters on the back wall where I was given samples by the very friendly workers. One of my favorite cheeses is goat cheese, so a staff member pulled some of her favorites containing goat cheese. I absolutely loved all of them. I bought a goat cheese with hints of honey, a goat and gouda cheese and an amazing mix of goat cheese and brie, that all totaled less than $20 together. My favorite was the goat cheese brie. It had an inner goat cheese layer with a smooth texture, and a creamy brie outer layer that was finished with a classic brie rind. It had a peppery aftertaste that left me wanting more. The gouda goat cheese had waves of honey from the honey rind. It had a more solid texture that was sturdy
enough to eat without a cracker. The plain goat cheese would be perfect to pair with toast, top with some pickled jalapenos and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. Since no proper charcuterie board is complete without accompaniments, I bought some jam and crackers. I got a strawberry jam and a fig jam. The strawberry jam had a fresh fruit f lavor, and had a nice kick of spice at the end. The phyllo crisp crackers I also purchased were a mediocre base for the cheese, but I thought there was too much going on with them. The crackers themselves were topped with nuts, apricot and honey, taking the spotlight away from the cheese in a bad way. In addition to cheeses, crackers and deli meats, the Cheese Shoppe offers some amazing baked goods. The bacon and cheese quiche du jour was splendid. The egg and cheese melted together well, and the crust was pleasantly soft and slightly sweet. My favorite of the two baked goods I purchased was the ham and cheese roll. It was baked in soft and f luffy bread, and topped with poppy seeds. It was savory and super f lavorful. I loved the whole experience at Cheese Shoppe. All of the cheese was really good, and they had a multitude of other
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Not blown away: Dyson Airwrap does not impress By Christina Shea INTERN
The Dyson Airwrap has swept the nation over the last few months, introducing a supposed low heat and volumizing way to simultaneously dry and style your hair. This sounds great in theory, but for the exorbitant price of $550, the Dyson Airwrap has been a controversial topic of discussion especially on social media platforms. After seeing all the attention the Airwrap was getting online and the many people that absolutely loved the product, decided to try it out. The Airwrap is made up of interchangeable attachments that click into the base of the product. It contains a blow dryer and round brush head, two straightening heads, and four curling heads, two of which are smaller for tighter curls. I began with clean, wet hair and used the blow dryer attachment to dry my hair until it was only damp. The attachment clicked into place very easily, making it easy to change between the various heads. As far as the hair dryer itself, I did not see much of a difference between the Dyson attachment and my previous experience with the less expensive options. However, it did seem to use less heat by drying my hair with cooler temperatures and more airflow. Next, I used the
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straightening attachment to smooth out my naturally curly hair. This attachment did vary significantly from the usual straighter, using bristles to straighten my hair as hot air blew onto the hair from only one side. Because of this indirect heat only covering one side of my hair, this attachment did not work well for me. It took many passes to get my hair partially straight, but even then, pieces of my hair were still left curly. After, I clicked on the two curling attachments, one being for the right side of your face and one for the left. The curling barrels sucked up my hair and left me with bouncy voluminous curls as if I had gotten my hair done at a salon. Finally, I finished out my front pieces of hair with the round brush attachment, twisting them upward to curve the ends. I thoroughly enjoyed the round brush head as it smoothed and slightly curled my hair without making it frizzy. As a whole, I think the Dyson Airwrap is an excellent product for my hair type, but for the price it is not worth it. I would rate it a 3 out of 5 because I do not believe that much money is necessary to spend , as many alternative hair products exist that give a similar look.
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great options for pairings with the cheese. I definitely recommend giving the recent addition to Mack Avenue a try. From the unparalleled service to the delicious cheese, it was incredible, so I give it a 5 star rating.
10 — Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022— North Pointe
LIFE
History in the baking: Baked by Elizabeth BSA back in action By Kyleigh Egli & Lauren Veitengruber INTERNS In November of 2020, following encouragement from friends and family, senior Elizabeth McMahon took her hobby of baking and turned it into a business, Baked by Elizabeth. McMahon has always been drawn to the oven, and baking has been an integral part of her life since she was young. “I started baking for close friends and my family and I started doing bigger things and selling it in November of 2020,” McMahon said. “A lot of people were recommending that I started selling because they really liked the cakes.” McMahon not only uses her personal creativity, but also gets inspiration from other bakers, like her mother and grandmother. Along with other influences, she takes a lot of inspiration from one of her favorite shows, “How to Cake It”. “[The Host] is a Canadian baker and she makes a lot of cool cakes,” McMahon said. “One of the first cakes I made was inspired by her.” Running a business can be very demanding, especially around the holiday season. With each cake taking around two hours to bake from start to finish, it’s a major time commitment for McMahon. “The week before Christmas 2020, I had around 30 cakes,” McMahon said. “It gets discouraging because it's a long time on my feet, but it's worth it.” On top of being the sole employee at Baked By Elizabeth, McMahon is also the captain of the girls swim team. With all the business she gets, it can be difficult to balance school, swim and baking. “It's definitely overwhelming because I want to do things — it's a huge commitment and takes lots of time,” McMahon said. McMahon mainly advertises on Instagram, @eliz.bake, and through word of mouth from customers. She enjoys helping clients design their cakes, cookies and cupcakes. There are many different, unique cakes featured on her social media accounts, but the most popular is the carrot cake.
By Arei Swain & Allie McIntyre SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR & INTERN
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HOLIDAY SPIRIT | Many of senior Elizabeth McMahon’s cakes for her business include intricate designs. “I'm pretty open about decorations if someone wants complicated things,” McMahon said.
“I like carrot cake, it's super easy and anything with cream cheese frosting on a baked good is super good,” McMahon said. Through the pandemic and everything surrounding it, motivation can be difficult to find. Though there is a lot of stress involved with starting and managing a business, McMahon finds the hardest part is getting started with something she hadn’t necessarily done before. “If anyone were trying to bake, the main thing would be patience,” McMahon said. “Trying new things looks easy, but it's actually really hard.”
The Black Student Alliance held their first in-person meeting for the 2021-2022 school year on Jan. 11. Since the beginning of the pandemic, BSA meetings have been held online. Now, BSA is back to providing a safe space for African American and allied students to talk about race and other social issues. The student-led club is advised by social studies teacher Brent Maynard, who believes BSA is a very important club for the school. “I think it’s an incredibly important club here at North,” Maynard said. “It was started by students that felt there wasn’t a club that represented African American student voices in school.” The club discusses topics that the members feel are important to them. Senior and vice president of the club Kym Harbin expresses how the club has been a community to her as a Black student. “It’s just a spot that I feel like I can fully be myself and relax, and have conversations with people that understand what I am going through, and what it’s like to be Black in society, specifically at North,” Harbin said. A new member of BSA, sophomore Avani Davis, feels that the club has a lot of potential to grow and make significant strides at North. “I feel like if we’re able to bring this to the attention of people that can make change, then I feel like we can really come together and solve racial inequality in the school and the district,” Davis said. Although the name of the club is BSA, Maynard says that the club focuses on a wide variety of issues that affect teenagers. “I think that’s what is misunderstood a lot of times based on the title of it,” Maynard said. “But, it’s open to all students to share perspectives, to learn new perspectives and to be open to hearing a diverse array of voices.”
LIFE
North Pointe — Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 — 11
By Annabelle Julien & Savannah Seabrooks SECTION EDITOR & INTERN
Though some people will be celebrating Valentine's Day with a significant other, 31% of the American population will be single on the holiday, according to Pew Research Center. So don't worry Boo, you're not alone! This is a guide to help everyone get through Valentine’s Day solo and enjoy the holiday.
Start your night out right with some takeout comfort food. Try and eat an entire individual sized heart shaped pizza from Hungry Howies. Or, if you're not feeling cheesy, eat your weight in Chinese food. Though you might be sick to your stomach the next day, a good meal is always worthwhile.
Not in the mood for snacks and a movie? Then perhaps some self care might tickle your fancy! A spa night is the perfect way to calm your nerves and make you feel as relaxed as ever. Try lighting your favorite scented candle, draw a bath with a bath bomb or even wear a moisturizing face mask. Anything you need to help yourself unwind.
It’s time to stop feeling sorry for yourself, so let's start the day off in a positive way! Give yourself a little pep talk before going about your day. It's difficult to feel confident when you have negative thoughts in your head telling you that you're no good. Treat yourself like you would treat your best friend, and cheer yourself on.
Next, cuddle up with a blanket on your couch and watch some classic rom-coms. There are two ways to go: at this point you are either mad at the world, or in a fit of depression, listening to “All By Myself”. If you're the latter, try “500 Days of Summer'', for the story of a one-sided romance that some of us can relate to all too well. For those of you struggling through the holiday and are looking to share your pain, try the ultimate romance movie “The Notebook”. This will-they-won’t-they relationship story will have you hanging on the edge of your seat. And what is a movie without snacks? Grab yourself some popcorn and an individual pint of ice cream. Ben & Jerry’s is always a hit, but you do you. The mix of entertainment and food is sure to keep your spirits up.
If the day after Valentine's you are feeling alone and a little miserable, be sure to book yourself a time slot in one of the rage rooms at Madison Heights Escape Room Zone. While you're at it, don’t forget to swing by the local CVS, and stock up on all the half priced chocolate that no one bought. You may be alone, but you will have chocolate, and a snap from Team Snapchat!
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Fit check: Unique midterm fashion INTERN
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BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY
OUR STAFF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Farrah Fasse MANAGING EDITOR Grace Cueter
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EXPECTED ENSEMBLE | While senior Ma’rion Griffin presented a relaxed look with a hoodie, he predicted a similar range in clothing for the other students throughout the week. “I’d expect to see people wear pajamas, [because] it’s a half day, and it’s chill.” Griffin said. “I saw a lot of pajamas and joggers too.”
SECTION EDITORS Kaitlyn Barr Bee Bielak Sophia Dragich Annabelle Julien Grace Rossman Bella Yoakam WEB EDITOR Jo Jackson SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Arei Swain STAFF REPORTERS Grace Cleary Alyssa King Julia Liagre Jami Townsend
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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.”
By Elly Meteer
SNEAKER ESSENTIALS | For midterms, sophomore Ginger Caballero and her sister April Callabero not only want to take midterms staying comfortable, but in style. Ginger Caballero puts value in presenting her shoes as it reminds her of some of her favorite things while she takes her exams. “They’re pink like pigs, my favorite animal, and they match my dad’s CD that he has,” Caballero said.
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DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Kyleigh Egli INTERNS Natalie Babcock Kate Bania Olivia Dodenhoff Gabe Goode Thomas Jones Gabe Loper Madi Lucido Katie Madigan Ella McCarthy Allie 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. 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. We are a member of the Michigan Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Student Press Law Center. One copy is available free to all community members. Additional copies may be purchased. Our editorial policy and advertising rates are available online.
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ARRAY OF ACCESSORIES | While displaying a unique belt as a personal favorite accessory, sophomore Emily Smith gives a brief overview on each fashionable clothing item that completes the full midterm outfit.”My shirt is from a punk rock flea market, the belt is thrifted, the pants are also thrifted, and the demonians are from Plato’s,” Smith said.
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COMFORT IS KEY | When it comes to exam-taking, freshman Grace Olson prioritizes comfort. “My thought on midterm style is that you’re only there for a few hours, and you’re taking tests, so be as comfy as you can,” Olson said.
CONTACT US Email: gpnnorthpointe@gmail.com Phone: 313.432.3248 Twitter: @TheNorthPointe
FACULTY ADVISER: Allison Dunn
