NORTH GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
SINCE 1968
POINTE
NORTHPOINTENOW.ORG
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019
Students vs. Sleep Deprivation page 6
SYEDA RIZVI & AMELIA NOWICKI
@thenorthpointe www.northpointenow.org
News 2-3 Editorial 4 OnCampus 5
InDepth 6-7 Life 8 OnPointe 9
Reviews 10 Sports 11 VOLUME 52 | ISSUE 3
2 — Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 — North Pointe
NEWS
Closed for repair: several bathrooms lock for restoration JAMISON TOWNSEND
MANAGING EDITOR & INTERNS For senior Kyle Macgillis, the boys bathroom closures, which left only the first floor science wing and first floor B-building bathrooms open, quickly became a daily inconvenience. “Usually when I go to my classes, I stop at the restroom that's nearest to it,” Macgillis said. “But since those are closed, I've had to go into my class, ask the teacher, and then go. It's just tedious and it cuts time from class.” The restroom closures were a result of recent vandalism in many of the boys’ restrooms. According to Assistant Principal Geoffery Young, the vandalism included toilets clogged with paper towel and vape paraphernalia, bathroom doors broken off their hinges and partitions bent down from the walls. Young said the bathroom closures are a part of a protocol to gain control of a larger problem: student vaping. With fewer bathrooms open, he said it is easier to closely monitor the condition of each bathroom and decreases opportunity for it to be a hangout for student vaping. Senior Annie Fleming and a handful of students from her iTech class recently took a tour of the second floor boys bathrooms. Although it was for a 3D print assignment to create an object that would improve a room at the school, Fleming was unpleasantly surprised at the condition of the room. “There were some toilets in different bathrooms that had stuff flushed down them, and they just didn't work anymore... it was really grungy and not super private. Everything was out in the open and it was just old and worn down looking. It wasn't a place I'd like to be in,” Fleming said. “The urinals didn't have dividers... it was just really gross looking, even though it hadn't been touched. There
was dirt everywhere. It just looked disgusting. There were maybe three or four urinals, but there weren't any partitions...it looked more like a prison.” Fleming said she believes that bathroom access is a student right and should not be used as a form of leverage over students. While she understands that some of them are under construction and are not able to be used, she thinks
“
It wasn't a place I'd like to be in. The urinals didn't have dividers... there was dirt everywhere. It just looked disgusting. Annie Fleming SENIOR
“
By Hannah Zalewski, Phoenix Archer & Jamison Townsend
they need to be fixed as fast as possible. She also attributes the different reforms imposed on students this year, such as the new phone policy, as a possible reason for the student vandalism of the bathrooms. “We have a group of teenagers who are addicted to their phones,” Fleming said. “Then you put them in a school for seven hours and that doesn't allow them to go on their phones and have a mental break then they're going to go crazy. I think that's what happened.” Junior Matthew Magill said the closures are both unpredictable and unfair to students. For instance, on Nov. 19, all but the first floor science wing and first
floor B-building boys bathrooms were open. On the following day, Nov. 20, all the boys bathrooms had been reopened, but the first floor science wing girls bathrooms had been closed. Magill refutes the idea of bathrooms being a right to students. “I don't know if they really are a privilege because I think everyone has to use the bathroom,” Magill said. “I think having the bathrooms closed for a month is not okay.” Young said he hopes to reopen all the restrooms soon.However, he says the administration has not impeded on student rights with the restriction of restroom access. “I do think if you had your bathroom privileges taken away, that would violate a basic right, but it’s not our goal to take away bathroom privileges,” Young said. “We just simply limited the number available. Students can still go to the bathroom whenever they want.” Macgillis understands the administration's decision to close many of the boys bathrooms because it can be hard to regulate vaping activity. However, he sees the measure of closing more than half of the bathrooms unnecessary. Instead, he said they should only close a few of the highly populated restrooms. Another possible alternative, according to Fleming, is the implementation of hall monitors to specifically watch the bathrooms. Fleming sees this as a less restrictive, more effective way to monitor student activity in the bathroom without infringing on student rights. “I think that if they had a hall monitor next to certain bathrooms that administration knows are prone to being misused or abused, then they could simply reduce the factor of boys going in there with the intent of abusing a bathroom,” Fleming said. “But they can't take away rights.”
Keepin g it Brief
By Michael Burns INTERN
Renovations begin at Woods police station Grosse Pointe Woods has been approved for a $500,000 grant and a $146,746 addition from the city; the money will go towards upgrading the prison processing and dispatch. The station has seen various improvements, such as renovations to the dispatch room, cells and an expanded suspect processing area for officer safety. Other additions include a cell that conforms to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a ramp for wheelchairs and a holding cell for up to five people. According to John Kosanke, the director of Grosse Pointe Woods Public Safety department, the Woods and Shores police will work closer together than ever before. “We’ve worked alongside with them for decades with a mutual impact, in mutual agreement,” Kosanke said. “We (Grosse Pointe Woods) are going to take over their (Grosse Pointe Shores) dispatching and their lockup for them.”
Education millage approved The community voted on the Grosse Pointe Public Schools budget on November 5: 25 percent of the budget has been confirmed for the next five years. According to Community Relations Specialist Rebecca Fannon, the operating millage had a 72 percent approval rate, while the sinking fund had a 71 approval rate. Every five years, these ballots are re-introduced for reauthorization. The two proposals will provide improvements to the school grounds, textbooks, new technology and other school supplies. Superintendent Gary Niehaus believes the community has come together to continue prioritizing quality education for students. “That is what sets us apart,” wrote Niehaus in a recent letter. “That is why families move here.”
Plants adorn the third floor of the science wing
The third floor has been livened with the addition of floral displays. Interior design teacher Marianne Modlin introduced the idea. “I love to garden. It brings me peace and joy,” Modlin said. “I hate to see something that’s flourished over the summer just die.” Modlin contacted Principal Kate Murray, who later brought in some plants of her own, along with government teacher Dan Gilleran, who has a featured tree. Since then, Modlin has noticed many students investigating and admiring the plants. The plant display can be found on the third floor science wing.
NEWS
North Pointe — Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 — 3
Student debt concern prompts free tuition discussion By Michael Hartt, Abi Murray & Joleigh Jackson PAGE EDITORS & INTERN As students contemplate attending college, many are stressed about the possible student debt they may accumulate. Junior Annaliese Thomas says that her dream of going to medical school is overshadowed by the amount of debt she could potentially take on. “I am concerned because I heard that (the student debt) lasts even through medical school up to 20 years and you still need to pay off your loans,” Thomas said. “That's a bit of a heart shock.” As more students become discouraged about going to college because of the cost, organizations, and even the universities themselves, are stepping in to help to alleviate the burden for students with financial need. For example, starting the fall of 2020, Wayne State University will be offering all students who graduate from a Detroit high school free tuition for their fall and winter semesters through the Heart of Detroit Giving Pledge. Librarian Amanda Pata sees the pledge as a great opportunity for students. “I’m really excited about the possibility to get more students on the path to college and making that more affordable,” Pata said. “I’m a proud graduate of Wayne State, so I’m excited that more students will maybe get an opportunity that they wouldn’t have had before.” According to the guidelines set by WSU, in order to be eligible for the pledge, the student must live in the city of Detroit, have graduated from any Detroit high school after 2020, receive admission from WSU as a firsttime, full-time freshman and complete the FAFSA by March 1. Students also must join RaiseMe, a program that lets students log ach ievement s and activities that will help them earn
micro-scholarships. Eligibility for the pledge is not impacted by a student’s GPA, SAT/ACT scores, their involvement in extracurriculars or family income. Syed Rizvi, a North alumni and current WSU student, believes that while reducing the cost of tuition is a step in the right direction, making it completely free for students should not be the goal. He believes that cutting the cost significantly is a better alternative. “By reducing the cost of college, the benefit still goes out to the population. It just helps to ensure that there is a responsibility placed upon the student for enlisting into an
educational institution,” Rizvi said. “Schools should just impose a small fee. I'm not against the idea of reduced tuition, and yes, making it significantly reduced, but not entirely.” However, Christian Miller, also a North alumni and current WSU student, says that the Heart of Detroit Tuition Pledge is completely beneficial for WSU students who are struggling financially with tuition. “The number one reason for dropping out is because people don't have the financial means to pay for college,” Miller said. “ I think (the pledge) is a wonderful thing and I'm sure in the long run getting more students into Wayne State will then in turn give back to the city of Detroit.” Junior Jordan Solomon would like to see the trend of colleges offering free tuition because he believes that it is important universities make themselves more accessible to students of all backgrounds by reducing the financial barrier that holds many back. Having attended Renaissance High School in the past, Solomon said she can see how The Heart of Detroit Tuition Pledge could give students a new sense of motivation. “Knowing that there's something after high school, will make high school more important to people,” Solomon said. “With the Wayne State opportunity being there, I think that it's definitely going to encourage more people to get on top of things.” Solomon hopes others can be happy for the new opportunity given to Detroit students. She predicts it helping many more than just the individuals who benefit from the pledge. “There are a lot of factors weighing down on people in the area, so making something like (college) easier would really be a help to the entire community because (there are) so many things that go on that would push people away from college,” Solomon said. “It’s not going to just affect Detroit, it’s going to affect the area surrounding PHOENIX ARCHER it too.”
Total student debt in 2018:
$147,000,000,000,000 According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
MIC
4 — Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 — North Pointe
EDITORIAL
Freedom is slavery; I g nora nce is stren gth; 2019: Comfort is a nxiety
to realize that it’s restrictive of a child’s independence. Undoubtedly, the unsafe world we live in is constantly appearing to get worse, but apps like the aforementioned have no right shielding children from living their own lives and understanding the freedoms that come with age. For years, research has shown time and time again that overbearing parents add to the stresses and anxieties of adolescence. Tracking apps are no exception. In 2012, a study at the University of New Hampshire found that authoritarian parenting styles are more likely to raise ruleAMELIA NOWICKI breakers. In 2014, the Society for Research in Child Development Generation Z: victims to the rise of new technology. With the turn of the century, found that teens whose parents were the rise of communicative technology has psychologically manipulative were brought us a little too close together, and in more likely to conform to peer pressure turn, driven us further apart. However, the and had an inability to create stable “dangers of social media” are not the only relationships, both as a child and as an adult. More recently, a study from the threats lurking in our back pocket. Different than the “Find my iPhone” American Psychological Association application, tracking apps like “Life360” stated that helicopter parenting — a allow parents to know where their term used to describe invasive parents child is 24/7. Marketed as a modern who closely monitor their child’s every solution to safety, the app includes move — inhibits a child’s ability to features such as real-time arrival and express healthy emotions and develop departure notifications, crash reports fundamental social skills. So despite the known effects of and crime updates in recently visited areas. Those who choose to break the overbearing parents, tracking apps like surface of this invasive service have come “Life360” are still on the rise. To teens, the anxiety of knowing your parents are
watching instills a sense of being trapped. For us, it does not provide a sense of security or that we’re being helped. The Big Brother world we have to live in makes it seem like there’s no way out, like there’s no way that we could ever function on our own. This manipulation bleeds into everything we do, and forces us to be reliant on others in times where relying on ourselves should be enough. As a result, we don’t really know how to survive independently. As a generation living with security cameras disguised as cell phones, we lack any sense of independence, and once we’re on our own, we don’t know how to act. Never having the opportunity to make mistakes, we don’t know our limits. When we finally get that sweet, sweet freedom, we act out and make decisions that are detrimental to our ability to function, forced to resort to the only support system we’ve ever known: our parents. Now it’s time to break the cycle. To put it frankly, it’s unethical for a parent to keep their own anxiety at bay by living their lives vicariously through their children. Instead of interrogating kids about everything they do, parents need to trust them. There are always circumstances where a parent needs to intervene, but if a kid is at a bi-weekly study session, there’s no need to monitor which steps they take with each foot. There is evidence that trust is what builds stable relationships between parents and their kids. Safety is important, trust is even more so, but there is never a need for the “Black Mirror”-esque surveillance these tracking apps allow.
Should gym class really be a graduation requirement? MY TURN By Marvin Robles
INTERN Gym class is a burden — not an educational experience. How does a physical education class motivate students to become a vital part of a working society? This class is simply just not worth enough to be a graduation requirement. Doing 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity benefits you physically and mentally; however, there are other ways to achieve this besides going to gym class. I wasn’t thrilled when my counselor told me I had to take gym class to graduate, and I did not want to take it because of personal reasons. To avoid this, I took three years of a second language, a substitution completely unnecessary. Many choose to take electives like cooking classes, because they provide the opportunity to learn about skills that can be used in the future. They are classes in which you would need a lot more instruction than something like “take five laps.” Students that do not want to be a part of this class have personal reasons, that extend to body shaming, health concerns and social image. Making this a requirement is not fair to those who do not wish to participate. It seems contradictory to place such emphasis on a subject when there are options made available to get out of it. I’m not advocating for the removal of physical education; there are students who are passionate about this class, just as there are those passionate about technology or music. But not everybody shares these passions. I would rather take a class I am passionate about instead of being forced to take one that makes me uncomfortable. The substitutions offered instead of physical education are simply a waste of a class slot. And maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think schools should have the right to force students to participate in an activity that makes them uneasy; the least they could do is get rid of mandating it, along with its ridiculous substitution requirements.
YOUR TURN: What do yout think is the biggest contributor to students’ lack of sleep? By Hannah Zalewski MANAGING EDITOR
JUNIOR NOAH LAWSON: “I mean, it could be
homework. It can be just screen time. I feel like they can’t really learn as much, because they’re just so tired and they just don’t focus.”
TEACHER NICOLE STURGEON: “I think it’s
phone use too late into the night. And I don’t know the information well enough, but I know that the blue light studies and all those good things have an interference of the screens in your sleep rhythms.”
SENIOR AMANDINE HARDIE: “A lot of kids do extracurricular activities. They don’t count on having three things of homework to take an hour, and then they just stay up late. That and, you know, binge watching Netflix. I mean, that’s what I do.”
TEACHER SEAN MCCARROLL: “A hundred percent phones. Screen time psychologically plays with how our brains perceive things. Then it makes it harder for us to fall asleep, let alone the fact of somebody is sleeping near their phone or on their phone until two in the morning and then try to turn it off.”
ON CAMPUS By Farrah Fasse & Robert Maddox PAGE EDITOR & INTERN
North Pointe — Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 — 5
The Sound of Music
From Thursday, Nov. 21, through Saturday, Nov. 23, students starred in the fall production of “The Sound of Music.” Set in Austria, the classic musical tells the story of a woman named Maria Rainer, played by seniors Tessa Bessette and Melissa Haubert, who moves in with the strict Captain Georg Von Trapp, played by senior George Graham; Rainer teaches Von Trapp and his children the power of music under Nazi rule.
ROBERT MADDOX
ROBERT MADDOX
DO RE MI| Senior Tessa Bessette played Maria, the lead role of the musical. Bessette has been on stage many ROBERT MADDOX times before and has hopes for a future in drama. “Well, I've been doing musicals and plays for eight years. So, it's just something that I knew that I wanted to do, because I'm going into musical theater and that kind of stuff,” Bessette said.“I just love being just someone else for a little bit, just being able to step into someone else's character and feel other people's emotions. I just think that's super cool.”
ROBERT MADDOX
SO LONG, FAREWELL| Senior George Graham played Captain Georg Von Trapp, one of the play’s leads. He said that he greatly enjoyed the experience of being in the musical, and that their virtuosity helped bring the musical together. “(It was great) just getting to work with such talented people. Everybody in this program, from the students, to the directors to the orchestra, everyone is just so talented,” Graham said. “It was just such an honor to work with all of them.”
ROBERT MADDOX
ROBERT MADDOX
GOOD NIGHT | Freshman Ryan Lutes made his debut on stage in "The Sound of Music" with a leading role as Friedrich Von Trapp. Although he may be new onstage, he’s no stranger to the musical. “'The Sound of Music' is probably one of my favorite musicals," Lutes said. "I've probably seen the movie a million times ... it's been such an experience.”
LET'S DANCE | Sophomore Michael Villeneuve played Rolf Gruber and danced with Liesel, played by senior Lillian Klein, in the set’s park. Although Villeneuve says he is somewhat new to performing, he asserts that he’s always been fond of theater. “Well, I've always had an interest in theater,” Villeneuve said. “I've been doing these plays for three years at this point, and I love it.”
ROBERT MADDOX
NOW! | Senior Alex Jakubiec, who played Nazi Herr Zeller, demanded that Georg Von Trapp, played by senior George Graham, wave the new Nazi flag instead of the Austrian. It's not the first time Jakubiec has been on the stage, and he encourages others to join if they would like. “I’ve done musicals in previous years, (I) always love the community (with) all the people in the play and the shows that we do,” Jakubiec said.
6 — Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 — North Pointe
IN-DEPTH
No rest for Students struggle to surmount sleep deprevation By Syeda Rizvi, Michael Hartt & Cassady Pierzinski
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PAGE EDITOR & INTERN
For senior Nia Crutcher, sleep is an anxiety-inducing topic. Crutcher, like many teenagers, says she rarely gets enough sleep due to the activities she is involved in. Her lack of sleep, she says, affects everything — from her mood to her focus — throughout the day. “Sometimes I’m too tired to do my work. I don’t have enough time after school because of everything I’m involved in,” Crutcher said. “So it makes it hard to stay focused and fight how tired I am in class (when I don’t get enough sleep).” Crutcher is just one of millions of teenagers who are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis. In a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control, 73 percent of high school students across 30 states claimed they were getting under eight to ten hours of sleep a night, which is the guideline recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. According to the same study, insufficient sleep among adolescents is associated with an increased risk for obesity, diabetes, injuries, poor mental health, attention issues, behavior problems and poor academic performance. Psychology teacher Jennifer Weisbrodt is one of the many educators attempting to create solutions for poor performance in the classroom due to sleep deprivation. One of Weisbrodt’s temporary solutions to tired students is a coffee station she has set up in the corner of her classroom. “I think we are really seeing the effects of (sleep deprivation) in our classrooms, or at least I am,” Weisbrodt said.
HANNAH ZALEWSKI
“This is part of the reason for the coffee station. Kids sometimes really struggle and so just water, coffee, anything that they can use to keep themselves alert (is helpful).” Weisbrodt also cited the Off and Out of Site phone policy, a policy requiring students to keep their phones in a place where they can’t immediately access them in all educational environments on campus, as a solution to a general lack of sleep among students. While she mentioned that the policy was not explicitly created to solve sleep problems among students, she believed that it is most likely doing so by helping to decrease the attachment felt between students and their devices. This attachment, Weisbrodt said, is one of the main reasons why she feels teenagers are not getting enough hours of high quality sleep. “Just the accessibility (of phones) is a problem, and even if someone can fall asleep, sometimes they are getting text messages or alerts in the middle of the night and it is disrupting their sleep,” Weisbrodt said. “Disruptive sleep has its effects as well. We need to get through all of the stages of sleep to really feel refreshed, and these phones with their lights and alarms are really not helping us to do that.” English teacher Jonathen Byrne agrees with Weisbrodt, but also says that some of the main factors he perceives as contributing to teenagers poor sleep schedules are their diets, pressures from social media, and involvement in extracurricular activities. “I think diet is (one of the reasons why students are not getting enough sleep). I know that when I eat healthy, I rest better, and if what my students are eating in my classroom is any indication of their diet, it’s not a very healthy one,” Byrne said. “Also, just wanting to feel like you belong somewhere, social media, extracurricular activities, just spending time with your friends is a really big deal for young people. So most things become more important than sleep, and that’s why people don’t get enough of it.” Furthermore, Byrne, like Weisbrodt, attributed sleep issues among teens to phone use in general. Citing phone use as a cause of teenagers’ sleep problems is now a common occurrence amongst those who study adolescent sleep schedules, as data begins to show a correlation between increased phone use among teens and worsening sleep schedules. For example, a 2009 study performed by the CCD reported that 69 percent of teenagers claimed they were not getting sufficient sleep, compared to the 73 percent figure cited previously. That information, in addition to data from the Pew Research Center which shows an almost 34 percent increase in teenage mobile phone ownership from 2008 to 2019, shows a correlation between increased phone ownership among teens and an increase in the percentage of teenagers who report experiencing sleep problems. Some, like Crutcher, are in support of changing the structure of the school day so that it starts later in the morning and ends later in the afternoon. This is also a popular idea amongst medical professionals who argue that many students do not get enough sleep because their circadian rhythm, or internal sense of time which tells the body when to sleep, is actually inclined towards those who wake up late. -Byrne, however, does not think this is the best solution to the sleep problems teenagers experience, because he feels it would allow students to miss too much class time for sports-related early dismissals. “I would worry a little bit about the logistics of moving the day back,” Byrne
IN-DEPTH
North Pointe — Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 — 7
the weary as teachers combat its effects in the classroom said. “Grosse Pointe already has a later start than all the other high schools, and so if you’re talking about sports, especially something (that has) to be played outside, moving the day back later (would increase the amount of time students would miss due to early dismissals). I don’t think it’s an insurmountable problem, but it is something we need to figure out.” Phone usage is certainly a factor in loss of sleep — but for students with rigorous curriculums, school may be what is preventing them from a full eight hour night’s rest. While many stay awake through the night to balance a strenuous workload with extracurriculars, doing so can be more counterproductive than it seems. Circadian rhythms are disrupted by both pulling all-nighters and having erratic sleep patterns; most students fall into the latter category. While it is common for students to try and make up their sleep on the weekends, recent research has found that the number of hours one sleeps is just as important as the consistency of the time one sleeps. Andrew Phillips, a biophysicist at the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, studied 61 full-time students at Harvard College for a month. By tracking their sleep diaries, which would specify sleep regularity using the index SRI, the researchers were able to find a correlation between the SRI and academic performance. The result? Students with a regular SRI obtained a higher grade averages than those with an irregular SRI. A full eight-hour sleep is crucial to cognition and memory consolidation. When sleeping, the brain goes through four main phases of Rapid Eye Movement and Non Rapid Eye Movement, spending an average of 90 minutes per stage. These stages should, ideally, repeat around six times per night. By not sleeping for eight hours, the brain reaches only the first two stages of light sleep. REM and slow-wave sleep are stages three and four, which is when the brain processes information that was learned when awake. A lack of sleep deprives the brain of being able to process what was learned throughout the day, which can in turn lead to slow memory recollection and impairment. Because of this, students that do not sleep well regularly can significantly hurt their academic performance. Byrne sees this sleep-academic balance as a significant contributor to students’ lack of sleep as well. “I don’t think that anyone gets enough sleep, but teenagers today put a lot of pressure on themselves to be successful academically and to participate in a lot of different things. I think that pressure comes from a lot of different places — their friends, their parents, their teachers, their peers — and they also are wanting to communicate with their friend groups and so they use social media,” he said. “I think that while the invention of the smartphone is great for a lot of different things, the amount of sleep that we get as a society is not one of them.” To try and alter this pattern of irregular sleep, Weisbrodt said that doing things as simple as regularly conversing with parents can create a solution for this problem. “Having those conversations with several parents at conferences, parents were surprised that their children had trouble staying awake at school,” Weisbrodt said. “I think having those honest really conversations (can help).” Contributing: Zshaquira Boyd MICHAEL HARTT
8 — Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 — North Pointe
LIFE
Holiday Hot Spots Detroit Zoo Wild Lights
oaklandcountymoms.com
OAKLANDCOUNTYMOMS.COM
By Farrah Fasse PAGE EDITOR
Noel Night
Every year, the Detroit Zoo illuminates the night sky with their Wild Lights event, an hour-and-a-half walk through the zoo. It decorates the establishment with five million LED lights and 230 animal sculptures. The event includes a carousel, concessions, an ice-skating rink and animal habitats. Last year, senior Arzoo Chhaya attended the event and thoroughly enjoyed it. “I really liked it,” Chhaya said. “I thought it was cool that they had pretty lights everywhere and (it was) organized really well.” Wild Lights is running from now until January 5.
On Dec. 7, Midtown Detroit Inc. will be presenting its 47th annual Noel Night. Noel Night is an open-house community event where over 110 participating venues will be made available to the public. The venues include museums, eateries, galleries, historical buildings and other establishments. Although there were many activities available last year, junior Eliza Ellery enjoyed going to the Detroit Institute of Arts the most. “It was fun, but it was really crowded,” Ellery said. “My family just went to the DIA and walked around.”
DAILYDETROIT.COM
Campus Martius
Parcells Holiday Bazaar
For the past 44 years, Parcells Middle School has been hosting the Holiday Bazaar. This year’s bazaar, taking place on Dec. 7 at 20600 Mack Ave., will feature more than 150 vendors. Along with shopping, the event will have a café with refreshments to purchase. Parcells lifeskills chair Andrea Gruenwald says that even though there are many places to shop at during the holidays, there is something special about the Parcells Bazaar. “The unique thing about the Parcells Bazaar is that they only take vendors who handcraft their items,” Gruenwald said. “Everything is homemade, which is pretty cool.”
WXYZ.COM
Campus Martius offers several family-friendly events. In addition to their ever-popular ice skating rink, Campus Martius offers small markets to purchase gifts and carriage rides. Special education teacher Lisa Steiner goes to Campus Martius every year with her husband, children and grandchildren for Christmas events. “I think my favorite part was spending time with Wesley, my grandson, who was really excited about the Christmas tree and pointing to every ornament on it,” Steiner said. “(I enjoyed) having coffee and drinks, sitting around the fire with my family, (playing) Jenga, because they have games at the tables, and just spending time with my family.”
Thelma's Attic LLC THELMASATTICLLC
Contributing: Autumn Peck
Holiday gifts that won't break the bank 23&Me
am a zo n .c om
For many, this DNA-test is apart their holiday wishlist. It is an interactive, fun and interesting way to learn more about you, your family and ancestral history. This gift perfectly fits the theme of focusing on your family during this season, and now covers more than 1500 geographic regions. Available starting at $79.00.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & INTERN
Coffee maker
Create your own tea kit
amazon.com
Waterproof speaker
amazon.com
By Syeda Rizvi & Grace Cueter
This bluetooth speaker allows hands-free calling and eight hours of playtime with only two hours of charging time. Equipped with a suction cup, you can listen to music while taking a relaxing bath, without worrying about getting your phone wet. Available in white, black or blue for $15.95.
amazon.com This is for anyone with an instinct for flavor or for all the tea-lovers out there. The assortment comes with a DIY flavoring kit that includes six tins of loose-leaf tea, five tins of herbal flavoring and one mixing can. The five tins of flavoring include hibiscus, rose petals, lavender, ginger and lemongrass. Available for $21.99.
Customized candle With scents including candied winter apple, frosted berry, christmas cookies and mulberry, these mason jar candles can be ordered with a customized message. One four-ounce etsy.com candle has a 15-20+ hour burn time, and is perfect for the holiday season. Available starting at $8.00.
keurig.com
This one's for all the caffeine addicts this holiday season. Warm up during the holidays with the K-Mini Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker. It can serve one cup in minutes, and can quickly become a part of one’s daily routine. Available in red, black, gray, teal and blue for $99.99.
Polaroid camera What better way to capture all the memories you will make this holiday season than with a Polaroid camera? This camera is equipped with automatic exposure measurements, helping you to capture the perfect photo each time. It also has a new selfie mirror with a shutter speed of 1/60 amazon.com seconds. Available now for $49.95.
IDEAS
What’s buzzing this month?
Emma Sanderson & Kourtney Walk INTERNS
3 Album
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“Black Christmas” will be released to theaters on Dec. 13. The movie follows Jess Bradford, played by actress Brittany O'Grady, and her sorority sisters as they fight against a stalker during the holiday season. Its genre is mystery/ slasher, and it is rated PG-13.
Movie 2 1 Movie
EVENT
Kanye West, following his “Jesus Is King” album, is releasing another album, “Jesus Is Born,” on Dec. 25. He described this release as the “Sunday Service Album," saying it will include selections from his popular event of the same name, featuring his esteemed choir.
6 ALBUM
“Jumanji: The Next Level” will premiere on Friday, Dec. 13, and will be available at all theaters. Its genre is fantasy/action, and it is rated PG-13.
EN.WIKIPEDIA.COM
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USATODAY.COM
SPIN1038 .COM
On Pointe
North Pointe — Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 — 9
4
5 EVENT
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a progressive metal group, will be performing at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday, Dec. 28. Tickets can be purchased on StubHub.com.
The 2020 Miss America Competition airs on Dec.19 on NBC at 8 pm.
313PRESENTS.COM
The Detroit Pistons play the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 18 at Little Caesars Arena at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on stubhub.com.
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Harry Styles will be releasing his second album “Fine Line” on Dec. 13. There will be 12 tracks including his singles “Lights Up” and “Watermelon Sugar.”
Jeezy will be having a concert, “All White Winterfest,” on Dec. 13 at Little Caesars Arena. It will have a lineup of Lil Durk, Lil Baby, Queen Naija, Jacquees and Teyana Taylor. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert starts at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com
“Fast and Furious: Spy Racers,” an animated spin-off from “The Fast and the Furious,” will feature the voices of Tyler Posey and Camille Ramsey. It premieres Dec. 26 on Netflix. Genre: Animation
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“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” releases in all theaters on Dec. 20. The surviving Resistance faces the first order once more in the final chapter of the skywalker saga. It is an action/adventure film and is rated PG-13.
10 — Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 — North Pointe
REVIEWS "Frozen 2:" a winter wonderland INTERN
Through Disney’s pristine animation, a potential classic was released in response to the original hit. "Frozen 2" follows the tale of two sisters working together as the roots of their kingdom unfold. The sequel captures the essence of the two women, where they belong and where they come from. The film was packed with strong female leads, who strived for a better future by learning from the mistakes of the past. It possessed a variety of musical numbers most notably from the star of “Let it Go,” Indina Menzel. Her character in the film, Elsa, was painted
to reflect strength and change as she faced challenges connecting her powers to the world. Alongside her, Kristen Bell as Anna exceeded her previous role by becoming more relatable and down-to-earth while taking on a position as a leader. The film revolves around the past of Anna and Elsa’s parents. In an attempt to restore harmony between the forest life and Arendale, both sisters embark on a journey through the forest to connect their past with their present. The soundtrack, though not as catchy as the first film, was performed in the classic Disney style to engage the audience and connect with the theme of the plot. Performers such as Johnathan Groff, playing Cristoff, and Josh Gad, playing Olaf, enhanced the plot with a sense of humor. The goofy two brought back a feeling of
nostalgia from the original. Though meant for youth, the film seemed to have elements for all those who enjoy a story of adventure and fantasy. This movie, however, was predictable: like most Disney plots. But it exceeded my expectations of what could be brought out from the original. The production seamlessly merged the two movies in an unexpected but suiting manor which fulfilled questions left behind after the first film. In its entirety, "Frozen 2" lived up to my expectations as a Disney family movie, while challenge the imagination of its viewers. I give this film 4 stars, to the breathtaking animation, dynamic storyline and predictability.
MOVIE
Jessica Meyers
Mini Reviews
“Let it Snow”
NETFLIX.COM
About: A group of high schoolers come together after a snowstorm hits. Good: This story of teenage love and new friendships is an accurate adaptation of John Green’s, “Let It Snow,” to get you into the Christmas spirit. Bad: The plot is cliche and has multiple inconsistencies which make it hard to follow.
ALBUM
Rating: 3/5
Gabrielle Bielak INTERN
The Bubble Tea Parlor recently opened at 21012 Mack Ave — and it’s the perfect spot for an afternoon study session or even a chill hangout with friends. From the moment I walked in, there was a light, bubbly atmosphere I was immediately drawn to. From their warm reception to their light-hearted aura, walking in felt like I set foot in a friend’s home.
GABRIELLE BIELAK
When I entered, I was greeted with a “Hello, and welcome!” from their lovely staff. The splashes of neon color and scattered patterns on the walls give the entire establishment a fun twist compared to other places I’ve been. Something about the homeyness radiates good vibes. A unique blend of furniture and cozy spots to hangout are offered, and there are multiple games to play while you wait. Watching people competing in giant chess or foosball was a nice contrast to other locations that portray a dull aura in comparison. Ordering is a simple and quick process. As soon as patrons approach the counter, the friendly staff will offer them an assortment of free samples. They had about five different kinds of tea available to try. When actually ordering, the staff was helpful with my questions regarding their extensive menu. They offer a long list of unique flavors, from raspberry to cookie dough to avocado. Drinks can come iced, frozen or slushed, and their milk-based teas come with the option of almost any type of milk substitute. Once a tea is chosen, next is the choice of tapioca, bursting or chewy pearls in fruity and sweet flavors. While there are a lot of choices to make, it ensures everyone's drinks are customized to suit them.
Although teas are their specialty, they have a list of tasty snacks to choose from: one of which being the iconic egg pod waffle, that has been trending online. My tea was ready to drink only a few minutes after ordering it. I got a large iced vanilla thai milk tea with cherry bursting pearls for $6. The price may seem a little steep, but the drink was definitely worth it. The tea itself had the perfect amount of ice to be refreshing. The cherry bursting pearls were a fun pop of flavor that enhanced my drink, and there was a good tea-to-pearl balance. I also ordered an egg pod waffle for $3. While I got mine plain, there is a range of toppings you can choose to add. There was only about a 5 minute wait for it, and it came out piping hot. I would definitely recommend pairing it with your tea, as a simple tasty treat. The Bubble Tea Parlour will definitely become a frequent spot I visit. Overall, I give the parlour 4 stars, because they are just starting out and something tells me they will constantly be improving; there is no doubt in my mind that The Bubble Tea Parlour will become an iconic hangout spot in Grosse Pointe.
“Pony”
About: Rex Orange County’s new album is the highly anticipated follow-up to his breakout album “Apricot Princess.” Good: This album is a great blend of emotional trauma and childlike nuancess. Bad: It is very similar to his last album and sometimes feels like the songs are all over the place.
Rating: 4/5
SHOW
Bubble Tea Parlor opens up on Mack Ave
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“The Crown” About: This well-written show about
Queen Elizabeth II's reign is a long awaited follow up for season 2. Good: This season lived up to its expectations and captured the essence of the monarchy in the 1970’s. Bad: It was bland and had plot holes that will hopefully be cleared up in season 4.
Rating: 3.5/5
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SPORTS
Sunny-side-up: Recent study finds new benefits to eating breakfast following morning exercise By Amelia Nowicki & Brandon Miller PAGE EDITOR & INTERN
With the stress of education and extracurriculars, many students find it difficult to find time to include exercise into their daily routines. For senior Mackenzie Stockwell, fitness itself isn’t difficult, it’s finding the time for it. While she typically works out in the afternoons, she finds mornings to be most beneficial to her personal schedule. “The ideal time (to work out) is probably in the mornings because I get it over with the quickest and then I have the rest of the day just to relax,” Stockwell said. Recent findings from a 2019 study at the University of Bath and Birmingham (UB) found that working out before eating breakfast was more beneficial to overall health as opposed to working out after eating breakfast. The study revealed that the body responded more positively when the fast between going to bed and waking up was maintained through exercise. Although this did not necessarily help with weight loss, it improved the health of the participants by regulating blood sugar and reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes. According to Stockwell, this routine is realistic once students learn to prioritize. “I think working out in the morning is attainable for students just because if you make time for it every day then you will be able to do it,” Stockwell said. During the six-week trials, UB found that the timing of food
consumption played a major part in their results. Those who worked out during the morning fast were able to benefit more from the proteins and sugars they consumed afterwards. For senior Enrique Castronero, food plays a huge role in overall nutrition and his workout routine regardless of what time it’s eaten. Part of this includes the portions and types of foods he eats. “If anything, I’d do a light snack before a workout, like a granola bar, maybe an apple or banana before working out,” Castronero said. In addition to the timing of a workout, the types of food one consumes plays a major part in one’s health. For example, while breakfast cereals are some of the most popular options for students, they tend to be loaded with processed sugars which aren’t good for one’s nutritional health. According to science teacher Andrew Pola, certain foods eaten before or after workouts can also have adverse effects on the body that prevent it from being healthy in all regards. “I would stay away from a lot of dairy because it has lactate in it and that can contribute to the build up of lactic acid and cause cramps,” Pola said. “So maybe a light snack predominantly of carbs like a granola bar or a piece of fruit half an hour before you workout I think generally is recommended.” Despite the new health benefits of following a specific schedule, Stockwell believes that getting involved in school sports, such as girls ice hockey, help her stay in shape and are
a great way to ensure everybody can incorporate exercise into their daily routines. Along with Stockwell and Castronero, Pola believes finding the time to work out at all is important, whether it be before or after breakfast. “I think a thoughtful plan regardless of when you work out includes your nutrition, your intensity, your frequency (and) the technique of the exercises you're performing,” Pola said. “All those things are important to improving your physical fitness and avoiding injury.”
BRANDON MILLER
Boys varsity hockey builds new locker rooms In the past few months, the varsity hockey team has been working towards building a new locker room at the Fraser ice rink. Junior Dylan Holman, a member of varsity hockey, has noticed an increase in team camaraderie due to the construction of the lockers. “There has been a change in the team morale this year, with a more business-like attitude, all wanting to make a run for states,” Holman said. The locker room isn’t the only change in the team’s dynamic; Coach Rob Blum stepped up as head coach. Not only has Blum made an impact on team spirit, but assistant coach Brent Maynard has improved the moods of the players as well. Varsity junior Nick Asmakis has grown fond of the new change in leadership. “Maynard is quite possibly the greatest person ever to come to GPN hockey,” Asmakis said. “Not only is he the heart and soul of this team, he is the backbone and foundation.” Coming off a change in coaching instruction, the hockey team chose MICHAEL BURNS to be more hands on with their new project, and opted to create the locker COMMUNITY EFFORT| In addition to the players and coaches, rooms themselves. Junior Dominic Vitale was apart of this team-wide help was being offered to build the locker room from around the effort. He believes this activity has emphasized the communal aspects of community. “It was the work of parents as well as people who constructing together. they worked with," Maynard said, "Or friends that could help “We helped out with the building with the dads a lot, so yeah, we pretty them out." much built them ourselves,” Vitale said. “Team morale is at 100 percent.”
By Julia Magnan & Colin Duffy PAGE EDITOR & STAFF REPORTER
MICHAEL BURNS
PASTA PARTY ALTERNATIVE| Through building the locker room, the players were able to have a bonding experience with the team captains leading the way. “The captains, especially (senior) Michael Burns has really been kind of like the crew," Maynard said.
FIVE MINUTES WITH Math teacher Benjamin Godwin
Math teacher Benjamin Godwin is one of many faculty members who recently joined the staff. To keep himself motivated, Godwin does not have to look far — he says he is encouraged by the people around him to put in quality time and effort.
QUICK HITS Varsity Gymnastics with Elise Torp With the winter season approaching, the gymnastics team is preparing for their season. Freshman gymnastics member Elise Torp says the practices are making her team better every single day. “Everyday, we learn more about teamwork and how we can help each other,” she said. “We practice Monday through Thursday, and we all work on skills that we need for our competitions.” Torp believes these practices promote teamwork while building trust and friendships through the team. Even though the season is early, she still sees her team finishing competitively. To Torp, gymnastics has always been interesting, and despite the tough practices and hard work that has to be put in, she still recommends people to join the team. “I think if anybody likes gymnastics and wants to learn more about it and how to do it, then they should definitely join.”
NORTH By Justin Vaughan INTERN
“The students inspire me,” Godwin said. “They make me laugh, they keep me young, and they keep me up with current styles.” Godwin says he uses his daily interaction with students as a learning tool to hone his craft. He considers himself a lifetime learner, picking up from his peers inside and outside of the building. Nature is his place to go for stress-relief. Godwin’s favorite part about nature is the memories it brings him of his dad. “I love to be outside.” Godwin said. “(When I was younger), it didn’t matter what the weather was, I remember running around the neighborhood with my friends and causing trouble.” Godwin also spends time with his two sons, one 4 and the other 6. He loves to play football with the eldest and ref lect by strolling through the woods. Godwin enjoys autumn above all other seasons because of the traditions that come with it. “What's not to love?” He said. “The leaves, the cooler temperatures, football, the cider mill trips for donuts and cider... fall has it all.”
By Areion Swain INTERN
Varsity Hockey with Ethan McCormick The hockey season has recently begun, and preparing for the games requires plenty of conditioning. Junior member Ethan McCormick has seen the team increasing effort because of their numbers. “We’re working hard, conditioning, getting in shape so we can last the whole period because we don’t have a lot of kids this year,” he said. “It’s pretty hard but we’ll get through it.” McCormick understands that the game of hockey is a physical battle, but a mental one as well. To McCormick, playing hockey teaches problem solving skills, and requires him to work with his team to figure challenges out He says it promotes trust and teamwork. “(Hockey is) pretty fun because you get to go to school with a lot of kids you play with,” he said. “It’s a little harder because it’s high school. You get banged up a lot more.”
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 Syeda Rizvi MANAGING EDITOR Hannah Zalewski PAGE EDITORS Farrah Fasse Michael Hartt Julia Magnan Abi Murray Amelia Nowicki STAFF REPORTERS Colin Duffy
Victoria Wittenberg DISTRIBUTION MANAGERS Jessica Meyers Hayley Zalewski
INTERNS Phoenix Archer Gabrielle Bielak Zshaquira Boyd Michael Burns Grace Cueter Joleigh Jackson Robert Maddox Brandon Miller Autumn Peck Cassady Pierzinski Marvin Robles Emma Sanderson Areion Swain Jamison Townsend Justin Vaughan Kourtney Walk
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. CONTACT US Email: gpnnorthpointe@gmail.com Phone: 313.432.3248 Twitter: @TheNorthPointe FACULTY ADVISER: Allison Dunn