North Pointe-54-6-Mar. 10th 2022

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FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

Standardized testing advancements to come

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KAITLYN BARR

@gpnnorthpointe www.northpointenow.org

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Life 10-11 OnCampus 12 VOLUME 54 | ISSUE 6

2 — Friday, March 4, 2022 — North Pointe

NEWS

Standardized testing Advancements To come

By Kaitlyn Barr, Alyssa King & Thomas Jones SECTION EDITOR, STAFF REPORTER & INTERN The Scholastic Assessment Test is undergoing substantial changes in 2024. The SAT, administered by the College Board, is a standardized test students take to aid them in the college application process.

The test will move to a digital format, but will still be administered in person. It will also be condensed from three hours to two hours. Passages for the English sections will be shorter, while the math section will no longer have a non-calculator section. On top of this, the test’s question difficulty will shift based on whether students answered a specific question group correctly, meaning it will either get harder or easier based on the students' performance. According to Henry Ford II English teacher and Northside Independence School District literacy consultant Mark Julien, many colleges are turning to test optional admissions.

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They're using technology to make their test easier for schools to administer.

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Andrew Callery COUNSELOR

“Some of [the change to test optional admissions] was [a] response to COVID and the interruptions to in school learning,” Julien said. “But, some major colleges, like the entire California and Cal State Systems, have both signed on for the next four years to not require [the] SAT. That's huge. Basically, you don't have to submit it. I think that's gonna have the bigger impact.”

This shift to test optional admissions is something counselor Andrew Callery believes is a reason for the College Board changing the test.

“They want to stay relevant, they want to stay in business, essentially,” Callery said. “They're using technology to make their test easier for schools to administer, because now they've removed all of the shipping of materials and [having to make] sure that schools are keeping all the things safe and locked up.”

With the growing use of technology in the classroom, the switch to a digital test is not a shock to some students. However, there are others who feel they perform better while using paper and prefer the current SAT format, including senior Stephanie Westrick.

“I enjoyed being able to write out the math problems on paper, and cross out answers to eliminate them,” Westrick said. “I’m sure you would still be able to do some of these things on the new exam, but in general I’m more old school and prefer taking tests on pencil and paper instead of online.”

The test becoming digital raises an entirely new set of challenges, and, according to Callery, the new test may experience technological problems.

Computers may crash or die, and the quality of the computer should be taken into consideration, as it may affect the test’s ability to run smoothly.

“I have some questions about how College Board is going to address technology problems that arise when the test is happening,” Callery said. “We want to see more information about how College Board is going to be working with students who have learning differences and who have accommodations for testing, and how this computerized test is going to work for students who either need the questions read to them or they have extended time.”

Changes to the test will likely impact the way students prepare themselves to take the exam, according to Julien. Test preparation, including prep classes, have been offered for years and Julien is interested to see how these changes will impact students testing strategies and how students efficiency while testing will be affected.

“So much of what we would talk about before had to do with being efficient test takers, because I think one of the greatest hurdles for SAT was the time, students botching the time, and not so much that every student had a hard time finishing on time, but that they were either racing or they weren't in it,” Julien said.

KAITLYN BARR

“With smaller subsections, I think it's going to be more about mastering content potentially as opposed to just sort of the test taking strategies.”

Contrary to Julien’s perspective on test preparations, freshman Isabella Boedeker believes the test carries the same level of importance as before and still requires a great amount of studying, although some of the changes to the test make her feel more comfortable while taking it.

“I think I'm still going to prepare in the same way because the test is still super important,” Boedeker said. “But I feel like there'll be less stress on me and every other student.”

While Julien believes the changes to the test format will overall benefit students, he still has worries about how students will find ways to gain advantages over other students.

“The people with the means and the money and the motivation are going to figure out a way to game the system to their advantage for their kids, for their students, for their communities,” Julien said. “I think that's kind of why some of the colleges are starting to say ‘you know what, maybe we'll just look at kids' transcripts,’ and ‘maybe we'll just put more weight into the essays' and the sort of personal aspects of student admissions when considering who to accept.”

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NEWS GP League of Women Voters hosts informational panel on US History

By Annabelle Julien, Elly Meteer & Parker O'Neill SECTION EDITOR, STAFF REPORTER & INTERN Questioning the right way to teach and represent history has caused a spark in debate nationwide as of recent. In response to the public's interest, the Grosse Pointe chapter of the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization, partnered with a local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to host a virtual informational panel called “What U.S. History Do We Teach in Our Schools?” on Feb. 9.

In order to build a space dedicated to learning about how U.S. History is taught and why, Vice President of programs for the League of Women Voters of Grosse Pointe Joan Richardson, one of the people in charge of the event, noted that they had a combination of qualified panel speakers. Social studies consultant for Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency David Hales, South’s social studies department chair PJ Palen and South graduate Bianca Garcia were all asked to speak to give the audience diverse perspectives on the topic.

“Students and parents really never see what it looks like to develop standards [what students need to know] and what standards really mean [compared to curriculum],” Richardson said. “I think it's a really good balance of speakers to kind of take it from the big, broad level, all the way down to an individual student.”

For students to learn the curriculum, it is important for them to understand why we learn certain topics, according to junior Ray Plieth. Plieth believes that learning about our past is important, so we don’t make the same mistakes in the future.

“Winston Churchill said ‘the farther backward you can look the farther forward you will see’ and this quote shows how history can be relevant today,” Plieth said.

Learning and understanding history is an important way of moving forward into the future, including making political decisions such as voting, history teacher Bridget Cooley believes. According to Cooley, having knowledge of past successes and failures could play a crucial role in decision-making for future voters.

“I think it’s really hard to be an informed voter unless you have a historical reference,” Cooley said.

“I think you have to [have the] big picture to be a good voter and I always want my students to have that ability to make decisions.”

U.S. history evolves as different historical events occur. Cooley acknowledges that shifts in society over time have inf luenced our country.

“I think it’s a really interesting time period where women are kind of coming out from behind closed doors,” Cooley said. “ It’s also a period where African American music and culture is being widely appreciated.”

Historical knowledge helps us not only learn about the past, but also builds an understanding of the present.

Cooley emphasized that grasping history contributes to understanding ourselves, where we come from, how it’s shaped us and how we can compare that to our present selves.

“I always tell my students history is who we are, and why we are the way we are,” Cooley said. “Just like right now we are living through a pandemic, it’s gonna shape who you are.”

Similar to Cooley, Richardson believes that history is constantly evolving and teaches us different perspectives of our past.

“Every minute, every hour, every day, there's more, [history] being generated. And our thinking about how history should be taught has changed a lot,” Richardson said. “I hope that we can explore it and just broaden people's thinking, maybe a little bit about what we teach, why we teach it and the difference that it makes for all of our students.”

BELLA YOAKAM

DIFFERENT STANDARDS | To have a diverse panel, Richarson included South graduate Bianca Garcia to show how students who have recently gone through the curriculum have felt when they arrived at college in comparison to their new peers. “The final speaker is Bianca Garcia, who graduated from South in 2016. So she's out of school relatively recently,” Richardson said. “There are gaps in her knowledge that she discovered when she got to college.”

Teacher depa rture causes mid-yea r schedule cha n ges

By Olivia Dodenhoff & Mia Stephanoff INTERNS At the start of the second semester, the departure of a math teacher forced some changes in students' schedules. This change did not only cause difficulty for those taught by the teacher, but also a much larger portion of the school. Counselor Kimberly Deptula was one of many affected by the shift, as she was responsible for making the schedule changes.

“I estimate about 100 students had schedule changes or teacher changes due to the staffing changes in the math department,” Deptula said.

“The counseling team worked to make those changes for all students at the semester change.”

In the midst of the shift, counselors play a major role in support. They are responsible for helping students transition into their new schedules as well as adapt to any other challenges that come with it, such as new teachers and new material.

“Students came with help understanding why the changes were made, as well as help navigating any other changes that needed to be made in their schedule,” Deptula said. “I've also talked with students about how to build positive, trusting and supportive relationships with teachers and what resources are available for additional math support as they navigate the transition.”

In addition to staff, students are also being impacted by this shift. Junior Lauryn Rendzikowski, who had a change in math teachers, found the switch very challenging at the beginning of the semester. “[It was] a little hard adjusting to the new teaching methods and new classroom environment,” Rendzikowski said. “But after the first week it felt like I had been there the whole year.”

The teachers affected by the changes have to adapt to their new schedules while also providing assistance to the kids who are feeling overwhelmed.

Math teacher Eric Vanston, whose first hour Honors Algebra II class was switched to a group of Algebra II CP students, had to prioritize making his students feel comfortable in their new learning environment.

“Normally by January, you’re well aware of where your students are struggling and where they are doing great, so I had to get to know these students brand new,” Vanston said. “The first couple of days were like the beginning of school.”

Vanston recognizes the changes that students have had to adapt to such as new teaching styles and new classmates. Even though many students and staff members find the new situation frustrating, Vanston believes that it will eventually turn out positively.

“Change is difficult, no matter what the change,” Vanston said. “I think that while some of the changes students saw as a difficulty, I think they can lead to growth in the long term.”

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EDITORIAL

Determinin g success through new measures

SOPHIA DRAGICH

In our world today, the culture surrounding success is a toxic one. Earning perfect grades, being an insanely talented athlete and perfecting musical talents are just some of the expectations society has for teenagers. Too often are people deemed “unsuccessful” or “failures” because they don’t reach these standards of excellence. While it may be easy to judge people’s success by their tangible accomplishments, success is much more than acing a test or winning a game. True success is actually the cultivation of positive traits, like ambition, hard work, and cooperation that cannot be measured by assessing work or calculating statistics.

Take students who have poor grades but work really hard in school, for example. These types of students aren’t viewed as successful in the eyes of society. Their assignments are marked lower than an A, and they consider themselves failures.

However, what goes unnoticed is the hours they spend studying and preparing for their tests, the efforts they go through to participate in class and the time they sacrifice to improve their learning.

Their efforts model ambition and determination, two traits that can be used throughout all aspects of life. These qualities are much more valuable than an “A+” in a gradebook, yet they are not praised accordingly.

Athletes who lose their games but strive for improvement and try to encourage their teammates are another group that society fails to recognize as successful. These athletes train for hours, trying to improve their skills. They promote teamwork and sacrifice themselves in order to build others up. While they may not earn a high amount of points or have their name on the record board, these athletes are still successful, because they are improving their own work ethics and positively impacting the people around them. It is these results, not only just the impressive stats, that should be praised and honored, as they are much more valuable than physical achievements.

While society may never adjust its views on success, we should aim to think of it in a new light. We can only do this by recognizing ambition, determination and cooperation as important accomplishments and honoring people who exhibit these traits. If we continue obsessing over tangible results and fail to change our ways, we will create a future where people will be so focused on winning the prize that they will forget to consider the important qualities gained in the process.

Wealth is just the luck of the draw ED DESK By Jo Jackson

WEB EDITOR People are very judgmental towards those that obtain their wealth the non-traditional way, such as singing, dancing or modeling instead of working a typical 9-5. Influencers and singers do a lot of behind the scenes work and put a lot of energy into what they do, often even more time consuming than working a standard job. These influencers were fortunate enough to have an opportunity that could change their lives and they took it, which might upset someone who didn’t have the same chance to attain wealth.

Oftentimes, people try to tell wealthy individuals what to do with their money, such as donating a portion to charity instead of spending it on luxuries like an expensive house or car. If that person doesn’t put their money towards societal issues instead of themselves they’re seen as selfish or narcissistic. I’ve seen a lot of times on Youtube or other social media platforms that people are calling out wealthy people who brag that they bought an expensive car. People comment that they should be putting their money towards things that help the community instead of themselves. Wealthy people can care about issues without contributing to them, and it’s their choice whether they want to or not.

All of these examples support how wealth is commonly viewed by others and the classic stereotypes around wealth. If an individual doesn’t fit into someone’s criteria of being wealthy then that person doesn’t deserve it. People should just mind their own business when it comes to someone else’s wealth. There is nothing that makes one person more deserving of wealth than another. Having money is a reflection of whether luck and/or life choices have created that opportunity.

YOUR TURN: How effective do you think standardized testing is at predicting success?

By Kyleigh Egli DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

FRESHMAN JOSEE LEDERMAN: “For the

average person, with average intelligence, if they get a bad score on the test and still try in life I don’t think it will bring them down at all. I don’t think it will affect them in any way, shape or form in their later years.”

JUNIOR JOHN MUELLER: “I do not because different people are different test takers.

Honestly, if you study for it, obviously it helps, but different people think differently and it doesn’t reflect on how you’ll do as an adult.”

TEACHER SUSAN SIPOS: “I don’t think so because

success comes from a lot of things. You could be really good at school and do a great job on testing, but not want to do any work and not be successful at the other things that you try to do. Also, you could have a really hard time with standardized tests, but if you work really hard and try your best then you can be very successful.”

FRESHMAN MARIA CASTRONERO: “I don’t

think so because it’s really hard to remember all the information that you learned during school, so I don’t think it’s a good reflection on how far you’ll go.”

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SPORTS

On the rise: Girls basketball in state rankings during impressive season

By Arei Swain & Gabe Goode SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR & INTERN This year, the girls basketball team has been on fire, holding one of the top ranks in the state and winning a top spot in their division. Their commitment to a team-first mentality shows that they are a determined team, willing to do whatever it takes to win. Their hard-working attitude creates a strong teammate bond and leads to good performances on the f loor.

The way that the team plays and acts collectively is a strong aspect of their game that they utilize against every team they face. Senior Elizabeth Siciliano feels that their strong teamwork pays off both inside and outside of the gym.

“We pick each other up, no matter what, and help each other out all the time,” Siciliano said. “We’ve really created a family and I know for a fact we’ve done it perfectly.”

Siciliano has found that the connection between the whole team is evident in games and it helped to develop their team chemistry earlier in the season.

“As soon as I came back and experienced my final first practice I knew our team would work hard and devote time for each other,” Siciliano said. “That’s exactly what we’ve never failed to do at all this season.

We work so hard and I hope it continues on.”

The team has a stifling defense that can put on some impressive displays on the court. Records Secretary and a long time fan of the team Paula Staperfenne recognizes the players’ determination as well as their individual talents. Throughout Staperfenne’s years of watching the team, she has found that their success comes from quality coaching and constant effort at practice.

“They always work really hard,” Staperfenne said. “I think that's always been like a staple of Mr. Bennett's teams. He gets the most out of [this year's team] from the teams that I've seen over the years.”

Along with the team’s drive and strong bond both on and off of the court, their unselfish nature also plays a huge role in setting themselves apart from their competition. Assistant coach Melissa Champine believes that the girls’ ability to work together is a huge asset to the team.

“It's not one individual, it's a collective group of the 10 that are all contributing in their own different ways to make us successful,” Champine said.

Champine is impressed with the team this year, as they have shown that they can play elite basketball at a high level. Since winning the MAC red division, they have their sights set on a deep playoff run or even a state championship. Anything is possible for the group if they continue to put in the effort.

“Going forward, I really hope they do really well,” Champine said. “I was around when [Bennett’s] team won the state championship, and it was a really exciting time, so I'm hoping the same thing for this group of girls.”

ANNABELLE JULIEN

COURTESY OF EMMA BABCOCK

ANNABELLE JULIEN

THE KEY TO SUCCESS | How the team played as a whole was effective in a 46-27 win over Port Huron Northern. According to Assistant coach Melissa Champine, the team plays aggressively.

“We run the floor very well, fast break because we score off our defense,” Champine said. “And teams just can't handle the pressure. If we do it the way we need to, we can. It's very tough to play us.”

ANNABELLE JULIEN

IN-DEPTH

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Women’s history in the making

By Sophia Dragich, Bella Yoakam, Allie McIntyre & Lauren Shipe SECTION EDITORS & INTERNS March is Women’s History Month, a time where we recognize past female achievements and put successful women in the spotlight. It is also a time where we honor the women who are accomplishing things today. Female members of our local community and school are continuing to demonstrate leadership and promote women empowerment through their various efforts and achievements.

Included in this group of successful women

in the making is speech and language pathologist Kristy Schena who started her own nonprofit, Kids on the Go. This organization works with children and young adults with special needs, helping them build social and problem solving skills.

Schena started the charity over 20 years ago and has built it into a successful organization that helps her community BELLA YOAKAM by offering various programs and granting scholarships.

“We offer more than 50 free therapy programs throughout the calendar year for children ages 3-17,” Schena said. “[We “I believe that women also had] more than 450 scholarships granted last year.” are strong leaders At Kids on the Go, Schena believes that she was able to because of their ability to accomplish so much because of the dedicated people, such multitask and because of their as staff, volunteers and families, who work to compassion in make a difference in all they do,” Schena people’s lives and said. “This job has lead the organization provided me flexibility to success. with being a mom, a Not only do the people wife, friend and an surrounding her display executive director.” aspects of leadership In addition and kindness, to our local Schena herself community, students demonstrates embrace women’s similar initiative empowerment and and authority leadership at our by juggling own school. One several responsibilities example of this is Sophia Graham SENIOR between her life at home WILLOW, a club and at work. She believes where female students that the qualities women meet to discuss exhibit allow for them to become successful leaders. female empowerment and plan community service projects specifically geared towards women and girls.

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“Oftentimes, young girls and women are scared to share their opinions and insights out of fear of seeming arrogant, bossy or ‘dumb’. Seeing women in positions of power proves to young girls that they too can be strong.”

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IN-DEPTH

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Wanting to be part of a closely bonded group that engages in female-based projects, senior and WILLOW Co-CEO, Sophia Graham joined WILLOW. According to Graham, WILLOW has made efforts to serve female members of the community by writing letters to female veterans, learning different strategies to monitor mindfulness and raising funds to purchase Christmas gifts for young girls in the community.

The club continues to plan service projects outside of North, in places ranging from homeless shelters to elementary schools. As of now, WILLOW is working on their “Strong Girls” project, where they prepare current fourth graders for middle school by traveling to the elementary schools to perform skits and lead discussions.

According to Graham, this project allows young girls to see empowered women taking on leadership roles. She says having examples of women in leadership encourages the girls to be strong in their own lives.

“Oftentimes, young girls and women are scared to share their opinions and insights out of fear of seeming arrogant,

passionate about achieving your goals, while also being compassionate, collaborative and kind,” Graham said.

Along the same lines as Graham, teacher Sheila Doss, who specializes in working with students with autism, believes that important parts of being a strong woman include being courageous and standing up for others.

“I always admire when people have courage to try new things and to speak out for themselves and for other people,” Doss said.

In addition, Doss says she sees these qualities in her female coworkers, such as psychologist Christine Kuhl and social worker Kelly Osborne, two women who serve as staff members and club advisors who she believes promote strength and leadership. Not only are her coworkers bossy or ‘dumb’,” Graham said. “Seeing women in positions leaders in the school, but Doss herself of power proves to young girls that they too can be strong.” also demonstrates leadership as one Promoting qualities of a strong woman to young of the head leaders for Kids Need girls is important, according to Graham. She believes Opportunities To Socialize, a program these are essential for creating good leaders and at North designed to promote connections inspiring people. between students and foster relationships.

“To me, being a On top of her role in KNOTS, Doss helps strong woman run a small business within the school means being called the Green and Gold Cafe m o t iva t e d , where students in her class sell driven and coffee to teachers around the building and deliver it to their classrooms.

According to Doss, the Cafe is one of her favorite things to organize.

“We call it a microenterprise, a little self-made business,” Doss said.

“We take orders online and we have the kids complete the orders, like pouring in all the creams and all the sugars. They also do little sweet treats and then they deliver them to whoever orders them.”

With teachers like Doss and other staff members who lead clubs and organizations, students at the school are encouraged to participate in extracurriculars such as arts programs, clubs and sports. One athlete, senior Ella Maltby, who recently accepted a scholarship to Concordia University Wisconsin to play BELLA YOAKAM field hockey and lacrosse at the collegiate level, believes North offers female athletes

BELLA YOAKAM

fair opportunities to compete in sports.

“I feel like North has done a great job of creating [gender] equality—for sports, but I think it definitely can do better,” Maltby said. “I think it’s important to recognize that.”

Not only does Maltby believe the school has made solid efforts to provide fair opportunities to female athletes, she has had individuals support her success. “[Ms. Huellmantel] was a super positive coach,” Maltby said. “Mrs. Bennett in the athletic office has definitely helped with the encouragement [as well].”

Similar to Maltby, Schena also says that women in leadership roles promote the success of young people around them.

“I believe that leadership is developed when you have strong mentors in your life,” Schena said.“I also believe [leadership] takes work and [the] willingness to learn more every day.”

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Billie Eilish will be coming to Little Caesars Arena on March 12 to perform her postponed concert. Ticket holders have waited almost two years to see the show in person, as COVID-19 caused a delay. She will be performing her newest album, “Happier Than Ever.” Ticket prices start at $80.

PEOPLE

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IDEAS

On Pointe

What's buzzing this month?

By Christina Shea & Lauren Veitengruber STAFF REPORTERS

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Releasing in theaters on March 4, “The Batman” takes place in Gotham Cit y as Batman faces a killer named The Riddler.

Paul Dano will play The Riddler and Rober t Pat tinson will be featured as Batman.

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North’s choir will be performing their Great Works concert at Assumption Greek Orthodox church on March 24 at 7 p.m.

The students will perform a variety of songs to showcase their hard work from throughout the year. Tickets will be available at the door.

Professional wrestling video game, WWE 2K22, will be released on multiple gaming systems starting March 8. This will be the 26th game released under the WWE brand, featuring wrestling stars such as AJ Styles and Alexa Bliss. The game will be available for purchase at retailers such as Best Buy and GameStop starting at $59.

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Wallows, a band made up of Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters and Cole Preston, will release their third album, “Tell Me That It’s Over,” on March 25. It will consist of 10 tracks, including their hit song, “Especially You”. The album will be available for streaming on Apple Music and Spotify, and as a vinyl and CD on Wallow’s website.

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GADGETS

9 APPLE

PINTEREST

Van Gogh’s Artistic Roots exhibit, opening March 28 at the Detroit Institute of Arts, is a collection of Dutch and French realist artists which inspired Vincent Van Gogh’s growth as an artist. The exhibit will be free for those living in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, and no tickets are necessary.

Best selling authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen plan to release their new thriller titled “The Golden Couple” on March 3. The novel follows a middle-aged couple having difficulties as they attempt to salvage their relationship. The novel can be preordered on Amazon for $23.99.

Apple plans to launch cheaper versions of iPhones as soon as March 8. These new phones will be similar to the iPhone SE, but with a 5G support system, making them closer to $400 dollars as opposed to the usual $1000 Apple iPhone. They will be available in Apple stores and on their website.

AMAZON

KXSC

INDYSTAR

Season 8 of "The Flash" will air on The CW channel, app and website on March 9 at 8 p.m. This season will contain a series of crossover episodes which star main character Barry Allen (The Flash) with other superheroes from past CW shows.

WWE

PINTEREST

BRUSHEEZY

The March Madness basketball tournament will contain 68 teams which will play each other for over three weeks in 14 different cities. Teams will need the usual qualifying number of 25 games to participate, which was previously decreased to 13 due to COVID-19. The tournament can be viewed on several channels, including CBS.

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REVIEWS i s wo r t h yo u r t i m e

By Gabby Miller STAFF REPORTER

The world has been going crazy over a new daily puzzle challenge. Every social media platform is filled with people bragging about how many guesses it took them to solve these puzzles. What is this game? Wordle. Wordle is a web-based word game arranged in grid formation, which allows players to have six attempts to guess a five-letter word each day.

Initially, this game sounds remarkably difficult. However, it is achievable as Wordle gives feedback for each guess. These clues are represented by colored tiles. Three different colors are used to indicate when letters are in their correct position. For example, dark gray is used to fill in tiles when the letter guessed is not present in the word. The color yellow is used to indicate that you have guessed a letter that is in the word, but it is not in the correct spot.

Finally, the color green is used to indicate that you have guessed the correct letter in the correct placement.

After playing the game for 10 consecutive days, I have discovered that the amount of tries it takes to solve the puzzle is more luck based than skill. Several people have strategies to complete the puzzle in the least amount of tries possible, such as starting with words like “alien” or “adieu” that contain several vowels or more commonly used consonants.

Although it all comes down to luck, the result of several yellow and green tiles in your first guess is a positive start. For example, one day the Wordle word was “pleat,” and my first guess was the word

“great”. This was a fantastic starting point because I was given three green tiles and just had to figure out the first two letters. My second guess was “sweat” and when that was still gray, I guessed “pleat” and it was all green.

Many people struggle to reveal the word in the six tries. Coming from someone who hasn’t lost yet, it is simply because people don’t understand the game and rush the process.

Sometimes you just need patience and thought with each of your guesses in order to get the word within the six tries.

Many people reuse gray letters and waste attempts by placing letters in the same spot as their last guess.

Wordle is an addictive game. All of my classmates are chatting non-stop about the puzzles. I enjoy Wordle. The words sometimes take me a long time to guess, but I love the way they make me think. I also enjoy talking about the game with my friends and family, and seeing who guessed the word quicker. However, I am frustrated that I can only complete one Wordle a day because I really enjoy the challewnge. I also feel it would be a better game if there was an indication for when a letter is duplicated in the word. For these reasons, I give Wordle 4/5 stars for being an enjoyable brain-teaser that has potential for improvement in the future.

Wordle is definitely worth your time.

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LIFE

Spotlight shines on "Fiddler on the Roof" performance

By Grace Rossman & Jami Townsend SECTION EDITOR & STAFF REPORTER

COURTESY OF TIM LAWLIS

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT | The cast members rehearsed for three months to prepare for the show. As the lead, Michael Villeneuve dedicated many hours to creating the final product. “My favorite part of the musical was definitely seeing everything come together little by little,” Villeneuve said. “Rehearsals were pretty slow at first, but slowly [and] surely we got every little thing ironed out, which was so satisfying to see.”

After a year-long break from school musicals, the drama students were finally able to return to the stage for a production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” from Feb. 3-7. The musical has been one unlike past years with unfamiliar mask protocols, construction and a brand new director. Despite these challenges, the cast, crew and pit orchestra persevered to create a successful show.

Show lead Michael Villeneuve, who played Tevye, a poor father of five daughters, is proud of what he and his peers have accomplished.

“I genuinely think, in my not so humble opinion, that this musical has been one of the best that I’ve ever seen at North,” Villeneuve said, “'Fiddler' is such an intimate

and emotional show, and having everything work out led to what I think was a phenomenal musical.”

During the practices and preparations for the musical, those involved faced uncertainty as to where the show would be held. It would either take place at Brownell Middle School’s auditorium, or North’s auditorium, where the older cast members are accustomed to. The reason for the switch would be due to the closure of the Performing Arts Center since the beginning of the school year, but to the cast’s delight, the PAC was reopened just weeks before the show. The crew members rushed to clean out the space, which was being used primarily as a storage area, to make it show ready. First year Drama Director Michael Gravame and the cast had limited time to practice on the stage, but the last-minute switch was worth it to perform in their home auditorium.

“It was a huge benefit to be able to perform in our home school theater. After a year of being moved around, it was wonderful to produce 'Fiddler’ on our stage,” Gravame said. “The lighting is better and everyone is so familiar with the space it just worked out for the best.”

Another change in the program this year was working under the leadership of a new drama director, specifically one who wholeheartedly dedicated himself to all of the show’s characters. Producer Tim Lawlis, who worked closely with Gravame from the start of rehearsals to the last curtain close, has glowing remarks for his work on the show. “[Gravame] constantly inspires everyone to do their best,” Lawlis said. “As a result, many members of the cast feel that they have done their best acting under his direction.”

Although there was an initial struggle for the cast to accustom to the new instruction, they adapted quickly.

Gravame became known for his attention to the small, yet important details, which, according to Villeneuve, were incredibly important in producing a successful final product.

“[Gravame] has two big strengths: costume and character,” Villeneuve said. “He’s gone to around three different Broadway costume companies and ordered countless high quality costumes for the whole cast.”

Even though the musical lacked the normalcy of past years, everyone involved was driven to create a product that they are all proud of. With a dedicated director, a hard-working cast and a “show must go on” attitude, they did not let anything stop them.

“I think it was a smash hit,” Gravame said. “The amount of great congratulation compliments are still coming in.”

COURTESY OF TIM LAWLIS

PERFORMANCE READY | With the majority of rehearsals taking place in the Brownell Middle School multipurpose room, the cast got the chance to perform in the newly renovated PAC only a few weeks before the opening show. Producer Tim Lawlis assisted the cast in the last minute venue change. “The cast was so happy to be able to perform at North, especially the seniors,” Lawlis said. “They all worked hard to adapt the show to the North stage, even though they only had two weeks before opening night.”

North Pointe — Friday, March 4, 2022 — 11

LIFE

By Julia Liagre & Katie Madigan STAFF REPORTERS

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” is a cliche mantra everyone has heard at least once in their lives. However, not everyone knows why. Better Health Channel notes that breakfast kick-starts your metabolism and replenishes your body after hours of not eating while sleeping.

Without this energy, it’s common to feel sluggish and distracted. According to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, breakfast is especially important for students, as it helps improve alertness, memory, concentration and other valuable skills to have throughout the school day. Eating breakfast doesn’t mean waking up with the sun and spending hours creating a five course meal—quick and simple meals can be equally as nourishing, such as the ones below.

Egg-cellent Muffins Mushrooms

Bell peppers

Spinach

Chopped onion

Banana Bread Overnight Oatmeal

These egg muffin bites are a great option for those wanting something quick and light in the morning. They are dairy-free and can be prepped at the beginning of the week and stored in a container in the fridge for up to five days.

They can be easily reheated by wrapping them in paper towel and microwaving them for about 45 seconds. The bites are extremely customizable, and could easily be altered to include whatever vegetables you prefer, or even add some cheese on top for an extra gooey touch.

Overnight oatmeal is an extremely nutritious and balanced breakfast, packed with fiber, protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats. It’s perfect for those who find themselves needing something bigger to hold them over until lunch, and is completely vegan and dairy free.

The preparation is completed the night before so it takes no extra time in the morning, making it much easier to get in a proper meal without taking time JULIA LIAGRE away from your morning routine.

Directions: Combine base ingredients, add on your preferred toppings and refrigerate overnight.

Satisfying Strawberry Banana Smoothie

7 eggs

Directions: chop and saute your vegetables until soft.

Whisk seven eggs and add salt and pepper to taste, then combine vegetables and eggs.

Pour the mixture into greased muffin tin, and bake for about 25 minutes at 350°F.

JULIA LIAGRE

A refreshing smoothie is a quick and easy recipe to make when you are running late. With just four simple ingredients, this smoothie will keep you satisfied for hours. This recipe can be vegan just by substituting the dairy yogurt for a plant based yogurt. This smoothie can also be changed depending on the flavor of your choice. Instead of strawberry and banana, try swapping it out for dragon fruit and mango to create your own unique flavor.

Directions: Add almond milk, sliced banana, frozen strawberries and yogurt to a blender. Blend until smooth.

½ of a banana KATIE MADIGAN

⅓ cup almond milk

⅓ cup yogurt

1 ½ cups frozen strawberries

½ a mashed banana

½ cup oats

1 scoop of protein powder

¾ cup liquid of choice

ON CAMPUS

NORTH

TMP is the place to be After an almost two year hiatus, Tuesday Means Pizza is back

By Gabe Loper INTERN

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 SECTION EDITORS Kaitlyn Barr Bee Bielak Sophia Dragich Annabelle Julien Grace Rossman Bella Yoakam WEB EDITOR Jo Jackson GABE LOPER

THE RETURN OF TMP | Students can once again head across the street to First English Lutheran Church for unlimited pizza and breadsticks. Senior Aiden Santamarina says one of his favorite parts of the tradition is the social aspect of coming to TMP. “[It’s nice] being able to go with friends, eating all you can eat and just enjoying [it] and having a good time,” Santamarina said.

GABE LOPER

GABE LOPER

UNBEATABLE RECORDS | With the lunch’s unlimited pizza, junior Alex Agius says he hopes to stay on top of his sliceeating record as TMP resumes. “Try to beat me in my most slices I’ve had,” Agius said. “[I’ve had] nine slices.”

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Arei Swain STAFF REPORTERS Grace Cleary Alyssa King Julia Liagre Madi Lucido Katie Madigan Gabby Miller

Elly Meteer Christina Shea Jami Townsend Lauren Veitengruber DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Kyleigh Egli INTERNS Natalie Babcock Kate Bania Olivia Dodenhoff Gabe Goode Thomas Jones Shannon Kane Anneliese Lechner Gabe Loper Ella McCarthy Allie McIntyre Gabby Miller Parker O'Neill Savannah Seabrooks Lauren Shipe Mia Stephanoff

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.

JUST $5 | Along with having multiple pizza toppings and offering a variety of choices, sophomore PJ Sorce, says TMP provides a convenient lunch option because of its low price.

“It’s [like] free pizza,” Sorce said. “[It’s] all you can eat pizza for $5.”

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.

FIRST TIMERS | TMP offers a wide variety of pizza options, according to sophomore Cameron Beers, who attended her first TMP this year. “There's a lot to like,” Beers said. “You get a lot of food for such a small amount of money and it's really fun to go with your friends.”

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.

GABE LOPER

GABE LOPER

FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE | The weekly tradition is open to all North students. According to senior Alex Downey, the diversity of students who attend TMP is one his favorite parts of the Tuesday lunch. “[I can see how] many different people in different friend groups can all meet up there [and] have a great conversation,” Downey said. “Everything is always great.”

CONTACT US Email: gpnnorthpointe@gmail.com Phone: 313.432.3248 Twitter: @gpnnorthpointe

FACULTY ADVISER: Allison Dunn