The deadliest hurricane to hit Florida since 1935, Hurricane Ian, struck the southwestern coast of Florida on September 28. Mass destruction followed, leaving homes and businesses either underwater or completely demolished. According to WDIV Channel 4 meteorologist, Brandon Roux, the severity of Hurricane Ian is the product of the worsening climate crisis, and the rising ocean water temperatures.
“The scientific belief is that the warming of the Arctic temperatures, both on land and in the ocean, has [slowed] the steering winds,” Roux said. “The ocean waters are warmer, causing the steering winds to become much less impressive and make much less of a force. They stall out and take two or three days to get out of an area, where in normal conditions, it would be a day. All of these storms produced biblical flooding because of the slow pace that they move.”
Senior Karly Harris has been personally affected by the storm, as she vacations in Sanibel Island with her family. It remains a mystery whether her family’s condo on Sanibel Island is still standing following the natural disaster. “No one knows what’s gone, and no one knows when we’ll be able to go back,” Harris said. “It makes me sad because I have spent a lot of my childhood there and I have a lot of my best childhood memories on the island.
According to science teacher Andrew Pola, not only are Florida residents affected by Hurricane Ian, the natural disaster has had adverse effects on the ecosystems in Florida. “Wetlands can be damaged and literally eroded away, and then there's a lot of silt that ends up washing out into the ocean,” Pola said. “Creatures that live on the bottom of the ocean, like oysters and corals can get covered in sediment. Populations are going to decline.”
It’s not only hurricanes that are worsening as the climate changes. According to Roux, the severity of storms across the country, including in Michigan, have been elevating.
“We have seen 500 year floods happening every couple of years,” Roux said. “But we are getting summer rain events from storms that are producing catastrophic flooding here every couple of years, where it should be every 500 to every 1000 years. It's not so much drought, temperatures, or the number of storms, it's the size and moisture content of each individual storm growing and intensifying due to climate change.”
According to Roux, the division in the United States regarding the climate crisis is another factor that has led to the extreme damage of Hurricane Ian. Although he acknowledges that there have been significant attempts to end the climate crisis, as a country, the United States is struggling to put an end to the problem.
“I think there has been significant change,” Roux said. “But, meteorologists will tell you, it's never enough. There's too much politics in the way, there's too much division with this country politically, to come together and see things scientifically as they should be, so that division will lead to not enough change.” Although the hurricane continues to be a devastation across the country, Pola is optimistic that we will learn and grow from the tragedy.
“Looking at it in a positive light, [in the future] there'll be more zoning and regulation laws passed to where there's higher protections put in place in coastal communities,” Pola said. “Perhaps, there [will be] zoning, where we're not building homes, businesses and developments that close to the coast, so there are wetlands to buffer the storm surge.”
We are getting summer rain events from storms that are producing catastrophic flooding here every couple of years, where it should be every 500 to every 1000 years.
BRANDON ROUX WDIV Meteorologist
ENJOYING THE FRESH AIR | A new design element that has been added to the library is the live, selfwatering plant wall to make the library feel more modern and inviting to the public. "All of those things under our director Jessica Keyser have been accomplished, including infrastructure, which makes the environment more comfortable and the space more usable,” McClary said.
After nine months of construction, the Woods Library has finally reopened its doors to patrons, with brand new features. Improvements such as a Dream Lab, also known as the Design, Record, Experiment, Access and Make Lab, self checkout and new seating arrangements have allowed the library to be more open to the public.
The library has now changed into a more modern environment. North librarian Amanda Pata has seen the Branch and reflects on the change the library has gone through.
“I think that what libraries are has changed a lot since even when I was younger,” Pata said. “There [are] a lot less book-pushing spots, and a lot more community areas. We try to reflect that [in our library] too.”
Books are far from the only thing available at the Woods Branch. A bigger and better DREAM Lab, allows people to record and create their own music, 3-D print, sew, use a Cricut and more. Drop-in hours for the DREAM Lab are listed on the library’s website to gain free access to any of these tools. Branch Manager Pat McClary believes that the pandemic allowed libraries to learn about accessibility.
“I think that with the lab it’s created some other opportunities to offer other services and other ways to get information, or to use it to communicate,” McClary said.
The staff at the Woods library is continuing to provide quiet spaces, and many resources that can be utilized by students, according to sophomore Molly Spence. Spence, who works at the library, explains that the library is always trying to improve and make locals feel welcomed through their diversity.
“I think that the new improvements will attract more people because there are more places to sit, charge your phone or computer, and it’s more organized,” Spence said.
While waiting for the new reopening of her own library, Pata states how these new additions at the Woods branch are going to be similar to what is going to happen in the North library.
“Once we reopen, we'll have more of a social creative space, which might reflect some of the things that are going on at the Woods Branch too,” Pata said.
The new reopening of the Woods library is herding in new and returning faces with new additions and improvements, according to McClary.
“What we’re doing now is adding to our digital databases for movies, magazines, books and music,” McClary said. “It goes beyond the physical collection which people still find endearing and [that’s] why we are still maintaining an AV collection, because everybody uses different things to get their information and access it.”
Within the first several weeks of school, students became aware of the changes the school made with the new rules, especially in regards to attendance and hall passes.
According to Spanish teacher Jennifer Spears, the new e-hall passes make it easier for teachers and administrators to track their student's destinations.
“We need to be more conscientious of how many kids we’re putting in the hallway at once,” Spears said. “I think it actually helps us be more efficient and I think from my point of view it really is a positive change all around.”
Spears believes the new system is on track, but it will take time for students and staff to adjust to the new technology.
"I think we're in the transition process right now, and obviously both students and teachers just need to get more comfortable with the technology," Spears said.
With the Grosse Pointe school board elections approaching on Nov. 8, voting organizations are encouraging voter participation, saying that decisions made may contribute to revised curriculums, budgets and transportation.
In order to increase voter participation, president of the League of Womens Voters of Grosse Pointe Susan Acton strives to educate and inform voters as the league was called on to manage the school board election. She says there are various ways to find information about when and where to vote.
“The way you find out where you vote is you could call your city clerk or go to “vote411.org” and it will tell you where,” Acton said. “You could go anytime 45 days before the election [to] the city clerk and [they will hand you a ballot.]”
Acton says that educating citizens on voting and utilizing local resources is crucial, as one candidate may align closer with your values to make change.
“I would say it’s extremely important to vote in this election whether you have kids in the [school system or not],” Acton said. “There are resources out there to find out what candidates believe and there are real differences [so] please pay attention and vote.”
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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.
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“You’ll probably never get the same treatment the Norsemen do,” 1994 South graduate Chris Jefferies told readers in volume 65, issue 9 of the Tower. His main argument was that South did not receive equivalent funding to North, resulting in their inferior and suffering athletic facilities.
To Jefferies, the South practice grounds and meet locations seemed relatively poor due to their lack of funds. He deemed the Norsemen “unappreciative of the luxuries given to them by their kind administration.” Why was it that South supposedly did not receive the same athletic resources as North did? According to Jefferies, the inequality was simply because South was “poor.”
Athletics was not the only topic that Jeffries related to South’s lack of funds. He claimed that the school could not “afford enough teachers for the German classes,” while North had plenty of funds to do so. In recent years, North has been left without an Italian teacher, and students interested in the class must travel to the South to learn the language. This is yet another area that we are at a disadvantage in when compared to South.
Faculty Advisor: Allison Dunn
Since Jeffries’ piece was written, the roles have switched. North is now known to be the “poor” school when comparing our amenities to South. While members of South athletic teams are often seen taking the field in new uniforms, North athletic teams rarely receive new jerseys and equipment. In addition, South’s football, baseball and softball fields have been newly replaced, reversing Jefferies' complaint regarding South’s inferior practice grounds. Yes, North’s fields are also being updated, however, South’s came first.
As Norsemen, it seems impossible that North would be considered the wealthy high school in Grosse Pointe, as South meets that qualification in our mind. We look at South and see a wealthy, beautiful, historic school that we don’t seem to have. But back then, South saw us that way. So do the stereotypes really matter?
Throughout the years nothing has truly changed that has put one school above the other. We are still the same places with great teachers and great education. It didn’t take much for the roles to reverse, which shows that the stereotypes don’t have complete truth to them. We need to learn to ignore these stereotypes, because they don’t determine the quality of our schools.
To most people, using the bathroom at school is an everyday occurrence and there is nothing else to it. For me, it’s not that simple. Because of the new bathroom pass system and lack of privacy in the bathrooms, I prefer to use my own bathroom at home instead of at school.
Asking to go to the bathroom has become much more complicated than just raising your hand and leaving. With the new e-hall passes, I have to sign in, wait for approval, then leave. It has become both more effort and wait time for the students and the teachers who have to allow the bathroom passes. Going through all these steps discourages me from wanting to go anymore. I prefered
just asking and leaving, or even asking and signing out on paper, so I avoid going at school unless it is absolutely necessary.
When going to the bathroom, I try to choose a stall furthest away from the entrance because the gaps in the stalls are too big for my liking. I’m not the only one who has come across this problem. In fact, many other girls have agreed with me on this reason for not using bathrooms. I don’t feel comfortable using them when I can see clear faces from the inside, and a lot of stalls don’t lock, causing a lack of privacy. In addition to this, the girls bathroom on the second floor barely has any water that runs out of the faucets. When washing my hands, all I’m given is a slow dribble, which does not get the soap off my hands. Due to this, I must either go to the first floor bathroom or science wing to thoroughly wash my hands. While some bathrooms just got redone and are still under construction, I hope that the locks and gaps
as well as faucet problems will be added into the construction to be fixed.
Another reason for my distaste is the hand dryers. Studies by the University of Connecticut and Quinnipiac University researched how hand dryers actually suck bacteria from the air and blow it out on washed hands. Because of this, I personally prefer paper towels. But, none of the bathrooms supply them anymore, so I let my hands air dry or I use toilet paper from the stalls. The hand dryers in the science wing bathrooms aren’t very strong either, so I have to use toilet paper when I’m in there.
Overall, school bathrooms are not something I like to use. I’m not completely against them, but I think that there are many ways in which they could be improved. Closing the stall gaps, supplying paper towels and improving water pressure would all help in making myself and others feel more comfortable.
By Kaitlyn Barr & Mia Schultz SECTION EDITOR & INTERN
Your Turn: What improvements would you like to see made to the school bathrooms?
FRESHMAN ZOENEWSOME:
“I just want people cleaning up after themselves and probably air fresheners.”
SENIORMADDY OLSON:
I think that they should have free pads and tampons in there for girls that need them and paper towels instead of just blow dryers because those spread germs.”
JUNIOR JAY’VEION WHITESIDE: “Better cleanliness to it because everytime I walk in there the floors are wet and there’s tissues everywhere.”
TEACHER KATIE MAKI: “I noticed in the school bathrooms that there is no paper towel dispenser, I think it would be better to have both paper towel dispensers and the air dryers.”
With her eye on the prize, junior volleyball captain Lauren Lefebvre has committed herself to keeping a high intensity every time she steps on the court. She has become North's scoring backbone, however, she wasn’t born with her skill set. Lefebve has dedicated numerous hours since elementary school to improving her performance.
“Ever since I was in second grade my goal was to make varsity as a freshman,” Lefebvre said. “So I put in a lot of private lessons and just worked really hard to make sure I got to where I needed to be.”
With the aid of varsity coach Chelsea Brozo since freshman year, Lefebvre has improved her play and scoring ability in game. She appreciates her continued support throughout her high school career.
“I really like our high school coach,” Lefebvre said. “She’s like my second mom. She is just very sweet and loving and she is always there.”
Field hockey, like any other sport, requires a lot of talent and dedication from the individual effort to the team building. One individual that works toward this standard is senior Marin Hilliker. Hilliker has been playing midfield since junior year and is excited for the season. She explains that she has been able to advance her leadership skills throughout her time on the field hockey team.
“It’s really nice to definitely be one of the leaders on the team,” Hilliker said.
Since it’s Hilliker’s senior season, she’s trying to make the most of it. She says that there are many aspects of the game that make her love it, but her favorite is the connections that she has been able to create with other members of the team.
“My favorite thing about field hockey is just the team and playing with everyone since they are all seniors,” Hilliker said. “It is a really close knit team.”
The varsity football team has flipped the switch on Friday night lights. After a tough season last year, they have stepped up their game with an overall record of eight wins and one loss.
Captain Kyle Armbruster has worked behind the scenes as the players have taken the season head on. He says it has taken dedication and persistence from each player.
“The aid to success is coming in with the same intensity and intent to get better every day at practice and just make each other better,” Armbruster said.
Pushing each other to improve is important, but what keeps the team ahead is their personal competition for playing time in the upcoming games. Head coach Joe Drouin recognizes that the importance of hard work rather than experience or grade level has become a driving factor for the teams success.
“We will start anybody who's working hard and showing that they want to do what it takes to win,” Drouin said. “And that attitude has really come through.”
Attitude is important to be in a winning mindset, but the key to staying motivated is working to be a close knit team which is easy for this outgoing group. As water boy Adam Ayrault follows the team throughout their victories, he sees their strong bond both on and off the field.
“The most enjoyable part of being with the
team is definitely the brotherhood that this team has,” Ayrault said. “Everyone brings great energy to practice and everyone is just excited to be there and put in the work to get better.”
Their hard work has been paying off as they have won eight out of nine games. Because of their success, the team has an audience rooting for them from the stands.
“I feel proud for the team and happy for all the students that get to finally witness our team winning because it feels good to win in front of our fans,” Armbruster said.
Despite their wins and achievements, the season has not been all smooth sailing due to injuries. However, the players have stayed determined.
“I think the way that these players are able to step up through adversity or change has really been a big part of the success,” Ayrault said. “With players getting hurt and the next guy in line able to step up to the plate and be successful really impacts the game.”
The season is not over yet. The players will continue to push themselves and each other as they enter the playoffs to compete for both themselves and the community. Ayrault believes that their work has and will positively impact everyone at North.
“To see them succeed boosts confidence of the players, coaches, students and the rest of the Grosse Pointe North community,” Ayrault said.
1. CREDITS TO COACH | The highly anticipated North versus South varsity volleyball game led to a victory for North. Junior Elizabeth Wozniak credits her coach Chelsea Brozo for the win. “She really knows how to motivate us into playing better and winning games,” Wozniak said. “We haven’t beat South since 2017, and I’m so happy we got to do that for her.”
2. STICKS UP, SPIRITS UP | With a cancer awareness and rival game all in one, spirits were high on the field for the varsity field hockey team. Varsity coach Sara Gentile admires the new player’s undeniable energy. “They had their hair dyed and custom made jerseys [on] so there was a positive light to the game while still keeping it competitive.”
3. REGROUPING | Although the varsity football team was unable to beat South, assistant varsity coach Dennis Pascoe sees a bright side to the loss as playoffs are just around the corner. “It's another week that I get to coach and another week we get to have fun together so that's what I'm going to focus on,'' Pascoe said.
4. TEAMWORK ON THE TURF | Even though North and South tied in the varsity field hockey, senior Helaina Pietrowsky reflects on how the team supports one another while playing a tough game. “Between every quarter we always huddle up and everyone says what they need to work on,” Pietrowsky said. “We are super uplifting and don’t let anyone get down on themselves.”
5. PLAYING WITH POWER | Teamwork is crucial to a win against a rival, and varsity volleyball coach Chelsea Brozo makes that clear to her players. “Encouragement, motivation, and dedication [are] taught from the first day of practice,” Brozo said. “However, every game should be encouraged the same way [and] we should always show up to be our best and play our best.”
6. A FIGHT ON RIVAL NIGHT | During the rough battle against South’s defense, varsity wide receiver PJ Sorce and the rest of his team worked to motivate each other. “Playing South is like no other game with everything that it means for our school,” Sorce said. “[We hold] one another accountable because we know how good we can do.”
The 2023 school year brought a number of updates to safety protocols for both faculty and students. Administration has increased their awareness of student locations within the school through electronic hall passes, minor changes to drill practices have given students an increased sense of security and former social studies teacher Kevin Shubnell is now the Dean of Student Culture and Community.
While North takes on the topics of safety and protection inside and outside of school, their main focus during class time is attendance. As the new e-hallpass takes effect, some students are indecisive about whether or not it’s necessary to implement. Senior Makyla Williams doesn’t see a point in the new technology. She says it makes her feel like a child when having to let the staff know exactly where she is going and why, and feels that the previous paper method was appropriate.
“I don’t like it,” Williams said. “I personally don’t think it’s doing anything because all we’re saying is where we’re going, like we did on the sign-in sheet.”
Although Williams doesn’t see a point in e-hallpass, or like it, sophomore Sam Michael thinks otherwise. Michael believes that students will soon get used to the new technology.
“I think overall and throughout time it will get better and students will adjust to it,” Michael said.
The time that is taken out of classroom learning to
accept and stop e-hallpass requests is something that puts Williams against the technology.
“I feel like the electronic device is extra,” Williams said. “The paper was way easier and faster for us to get out of class, and we didn’t have to stop a whole lesson.”
The time that both teachers and students spend navigating e-hallpass is a very minor issue in comparison to the positive change that Michael predicts, keeping students present in class.
“I think we use e-hallpass now to get better attendance for students and with better attendance comes better grades,” Michael said.
Minor changes to drill protocols have been one of the many safety focuses since the beginning of the school year. Students and staff are instructed through emergency drills in preparation for a true threat. One of the main improvements, according to social studies teacher Bridget Cooley, is the emphasis on preparation in times of crisis.
“It feels like we have more of a plan in place,” Cooley said. “I just think we’re running a tighter ship in terms of who’s out of the classroom, how we are keeping track of that and then just preparation for drills for teachers.”
One of the biggest changes that occurred is the transition from one fire emergency plan to two. Unlike last year, the new protocol is for students and staff to remain in their classrooms instead of evacuating
in attempts to contain the emergency, until directed otherwise by administration via PA system. The drill was assessed and improved to increase efficiency and safety, which is something the teachers have been trained extensively on.
“We’re taking into consideration if someone pulls the fire alarm, what to do,” Cooley said. “We [also now] have some protocols on how to blockade the door or things like that, if necessary.”
In addition to the changes made to the fire drill protocols, the reunification location of the evacuation drills has changed. The last time that North students and staff practiced an evacuation drill was during the 20192020 school year. Students left the building and traveled to Lochmoor’s indoor tennis courts, which a portion of have since been repurposed as a golf simulation. Because of the reduction in usable space, students now go to the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church across from the North entrance. Senior Grace Lemanski is grateful to be at a school that is prepared for emergencies, however, she has concerns about the new evacuation location.
“I am glad we have a plan,” Lemanski said. “But the walk [to the church] was a lot longer and it was inconvenient to walk across Vernier.”
Administration is confident in the changes they have made. Because of this, Young believes that there will be very few changes on the student end in the future.
“I think teachers and staff will continue to refine their safety protocols,” Young said. “But what the students would be asked to do during a drill is not likely to change very much, if at all.”
This year, former social studies teacher Kevin Shubnell transitioned into a new role, Dean of Student Culture and Community. Since many new rules have been implemented at North, Shubnell helps students follow them. North staff has increased their efforts to hold students accountable for their actions. Many students have griped about the new procedures and tardy consequences, but Shubnell believes they will have a positive impact on the student body.
The many aspects of his job include applying the rules to students and making sure the rules are obeyed. Shubnell has to deal with the consequences of substandard actions, rather than creating the rules.
“I had a say in a lot of the new rules and protocols, but for the most part my job is enforcement of the policies and procedures and making sure they are followed,” Shubnell said.
Shubnell spends his day enforcing policies, but also helps to keep students on track with their attendance. He says that the interactions he has had this year differ from last year, and he appreciates being able to connect with the whole school, and not just his classroom.
“I taught in a classroom for 16 years, so getting out of the classroom and doing something else was what was most attractive to me about the position,” Shubnell said. “It really allows me to see the whole school, as opposed to just my classes and the small world.”
The downside of this position is dealing with adversity everyday, and having to grant punishments for misconduct. Optimistically, Shubnell hopes to be involved with the positive culture that North has to offer.
“I would like to get on the other side of it, because I keep dealing with negative things,” Shubnell said. “Eventually I would like to be sitting in on Student Association, student council and club meetings. I’d like to be in touch with the positive culture of the school.”
As a lot of the procedures were altered this year at North, Shubnell says there are reasons behind it. He feels that the past few school years have been challenging, due to the pandemic so there was a different approach to students.
“We are enforcing or holding our students to a standard, and holding them to expectations and making sure that those expectations are met,” Shubnell said.
“I think that it’s very different this year because we are enforcing more of our policies and following through on some of the things we said we were going to do.”
From country music to pop hits to folk songs to re-releasing albums, superstar Taylor Swift has come a long way since her debut in 2006. Her tenth studio album, “Midnights,” portrays Swift at some of her lowest moments and her experience confronting the way she is perceived by the public. “Midnights” gorgeously reflects Swift’s faults and fears, following her as she escapes from her own nightmarish thoughts. The new album expertly weaves elements of her old work into an introspective experience.
Many of the songs in the album connect Swift’s higlly publicized life to her past and present relationships and self-image. A muted drum begins “Lavender Haze,” the first track of the album, in which Swift reveals how the media’s portrayal weighs on her. Despite what everyone wants from her, Swift opts to stay in the moment with her lover. In “Anti-Hero” Swift describes herself as a kaiju-like monster, who is both out of place and destroys everything around her, with a commanding voice and blaring synths. Swift dwells on the possibility that she is the problem.
Throughout “Midnights” Swift confronts her treacherous road to fame. “You’re On Your Own, Kid” is reminiscent of Swift’s country music days. The song paints the picture of Swift growing up in a town she desperately wants to run from.
In the seemingly chaotic and hopeless world that the album builds, “Sweet Nothing” is a beautiful piano ballad with hints of a violin and saxophone. Swift finds peace and content with a partner who loves her. “Mastermind” is the selfassured, satisfying closing song for an album that reveals Swift at her lowest.
Swift’s vocal performance excels on tracks like “Anti-Hero,” in which it goes from soft singing to a thundering harmonization. The quieter moments are also appreciated, both “Maroon” and “Sweet Nothing” give Swift’s lyrics time to shine.
“Midnights” takes the synth sound from “1989,” the darker tone from “reputation,” and the lyrical gems from “Folklore” and combines them into her best album yet. Swift stares into the mirror and isn’t afraid to reveal her faults and fears on this album. Besides some awkward lyrics on “Bejeweled” and the overly peppy “Karma,” “Midnights” is a fantastic four star worthy album.
While they are known for their heavy rock music and edgy tunes, the Arctic Monkeys seventh studio album “The Car” is a step in a new direction as seen in lyrics and sound. The album consists of ten melodious tracks that are primarily written by frontman Alex Turner. The album features loud strings which are frequently heard throughout their discography, but it also presents a new groovy sound, as it commonly references the disco era through objects like “mirror balls” and “disco strobes.”
Imagery is a staple for Turner when it comes to songwriting. The opening track, “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball,” paints a picture of the narrator walking to their car after an inevitable breakup with their partner. The harsh keys used in the introduction gave the track a spooky, yet melancholy atmosphere due to the heavy topics heard in the song. Subsequent to this is a funky and upbeat track that discusses the narrator’s feelings towards different scenarios. “I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am'' features illustrations of looking out on the French Riviera. As peaceful as that sounds, the narrator feels disconnected from society, because rather than experiencing everyday activities, they are living in a lavish lifestyle that they feel they don’t fit in with.
While the tracks display a unique use of imagery, many of them sound very similar. In fact, sometimes I couldn't even tell when one track ended and the next started. “Big Ideas” discusses the same concept seen throughout the album of shying away from their old, people pleasing sound, and evolving into their true style. The slow pace and drum beats paired with piano notes are often seen in songs like “Jet Skis On The Moat.” Unlike the themes seen in “Big Ideas,” this track highlights the idea of a dwindling friendship. Lyrics like “Or are you just happy to sit there and watch while the paint job dries?” demonstrate how the narrator is asking their friend if they are ready to give up on their friendship.
Despite the drastic evolution from their debut in 2006, the band still pays homage to their previous albums. “The Car” still features heavy use of the piano which is also seen throughout the entirety of their sixth studio album “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino,” but also the mellowness of their fourth studio album “Suck It and See.” Subtle references to their other albums like “Favourite Worst Nightmare” and “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” were evident in songs like “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball” and “Mr Schwartz.” Although the slowness of the album was boring at times, I found pleasure in the descriptiveness and melodies of the tracks. The dense topics of growth and desire for materialistic objects made this album even more complex compared to the standard pop album consisting of love songs and superficial tracks, which makes this album worthy of four stars out of five.
By Alyssa King DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
PHOTO | Alyssa King
The newly opened French bakery, LeRouge Boulangerie, is located on Kercheval in Grosse Pointe Park. The bright red building is hard to miss. When walking up to the bakery I immediately noticed the inviting outdoor seating under the red and white striped awnings. The smell of fresh coffee was strong outside of the bakery along with typical coffee shop music. As soon as I walked through the door I was taken aback by the soft decor and the stained glass window that lined the back of the store to display the pastry chefs at work.
Unsurprisingly, the line was wrapped around the side of the store. Once I finally made it to the front of the line, I felt a little overwhelmed looking at all of the pastry options they had to offer. I settled on a pain au chocolat, or a chocolate croissant, and a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice. My total came to $15.01, which in my opinion is a little pricey for only two items. The small glass of orange juice, although delicious, was not worth eight dollars. The chocolate croissant, on the other hand, was worth every cent. It was perfectly warm and flaky, and I was able to tell that it had been freshly baked that morning.
The employees were very helpful and answered my numerous questions about the menu and bakery itself. However, their current hours of operation are difficult to follow. Their Instagram and website both say that their hours are 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. but the first two times I went they were already closed two hours early. So if you are wanting to check it out, which you absolutely should, go as early as possible. All in all, I would give LeRouge Boulangerie 4.5 stars for their food quality and atmosphere.
By Joleigh Jackson WEB EDITOR PHOTO COURTESY | Disney & Nickelodeon
The “Big Time Rush” episode “Big Time Halloween” features James, Kendall, Carlos and Logan living in an alternate universe where they are monsters and have to be turned human in order to sing in the “Halloween Night of Fright” concert. I give this out of five stars because I like how each character has their own conflict but still leads into the main purpose.
In the “Ghostest With the Mostest” episode of “Jessie,” the kids were tricked into believing that a ghost named Abigail is haunting them. In the meantime, Jessie goes to a Halloween party to meet a mysterious masked man that she believes could be her soulmate.
I rate this episode two out of five stars because most of the focus is on Jessie’s desperate attempt to find love.
In the “iScream on Halloween” episode of “iCarly,” Sam, Carly and Freddy film their webcast in an apartment they believe is haunted. Meanwhile, Spencer is trying to carve out a giant pumpkin and evade angry children he didn’t give Halloween candy to. I rate this episode a four out of five stars because the comedic plotline Spencer creates makes it entertaining and carries the entire episode.
By Lauren Veitengruber & Wren Cueter STAFF REPORTER & INTERN
PHOTO| WREN CUETER
Fashion has always been something that senior Elena Shaheen has had a love for. Focused on perfecting the preppy look, she plans on taking the fashion world by storm.
Last year, Shaheen excitedly worked with former life skill teacher Marianne Modlin to reboot the then dormant Fashion Club at North. Since, Shaheen has tested her leadership skills and built a powerful and passionate group.
“[The Fashion Club has] been here for quite a bit,” Shaheen said. “Freshman year I joined the club. [It] was very small and kind of unorganized, so when I restarted it junior year it really expanded and now it's becoming a whole organization.”
This year, Shaheen is working with the new life skills teacher Bryan Schuerman to bring the club into a new era by partnering with the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America in order to set a groundwork for it to flourish in years to come.
FCCLA is a family-consumer science
Club members are no stranger to early mornings. Arriving to school at 7:30 a.m. on Fridays is just another part of the French Club’s schedule. While most people are begrudgingly headed to 1st period, French Club members make their way to their meeting. Inspired by their dedication, Spanish Club hopes to soon host their own morning meetings.
According to Spanish teacher Jennifer Spears, students have expressed interest in restarting the Spanish Club, which hasn’t been running for several years. Spears and her students are trying to find a place and time to get together.
“Right now we have a small group of students who want to resurrect the Spanish Club,” Spears said. “They are in the process of picking out a date to just get interested students together so we can maybe brainstorm ideas.”
Even though the Spanish Club hasn't officially started, students have various plans for its future. Senior Lauren Huizdos, who hopes to take on a
organization offered for middle and highschoolers across America. The organization will be incorporated into the existing Fashion Club for students at North.
“Mr. Schuermen has now adapted our club from just being about fashion, to now giving us opportunities to go to expositions, conferences, field trips and more resources and opportunities,” Shaneen said.
North FCCLA members are gearing up to go to Lansing for the FCCLA fall leadership conference. They will have the opportunity to understand the expectations and explore the organization. There are also national competitive events for students to participate in.
“Students will go and learn different leadership skills and a bunch of stuff,” Scheurman said. “It’s not just all about fashion, fashion can be a part of it, but I want us to branch out and do community service.”
Although Schuerman is new to North, he is no rookie to the FCCLA. He has been a part of the organization since his freshman year of high school and was a state officer in Indiana. He has started three chapters at different schools, opening new doors of opportunities for his students.
“I personally have a strong passion for this organization because I wouldn't be sitting here today if it wasn’t for that,” Shuerman said.
Both Shaheen and Scheurman emphasize the idea that fashion and consumer sciences are ever present in daily life. They are excited to spread this message to the student body and hope more people will join the team as they continue to grow and build their foundation.
“Fashion is a huge part of all of our lives,” Shaheen said. “Even if you don’t want to work in fashion or be super out there with your clothing, we all care about fashion in one way.”
leadership role in the club, says she wants to provide students an opportunity to learn about the culture and language in a different setting.
“The goal of Spanish Club [will be] to allow students to explore the culture in a non-classroom environment and teach students more about the world around us,” Huizdos said. “We plan on having bake sales [and] taking field trips to places like the DIA and Mexicantown in Detroit.”
While the Spanish Club is working on getting back up and running, the French Club is working on increasing membership. After gaining experience in the club, senior co-president Nathan Jochum, now helps to lead meetings and bring people together to learn the language.
“The goal and purpose of this club is so that everyone, from the experienced French students [to] people who have never taken French before, can participate and learn more about French
culture,” Jochum said.
Even with all the work that comes with it, French teacher Lori Ostertag is happy to sponsor the club. She believes that there is true value in learning the French language and culture.
“It opens up the whole world to people,” Ostertag said. “You can travel to different countries, but if you don’t speak their language you really miss out on a whole lot of understanding of their culture and mentality.”
With these values in mind, Jochum hopes to bring in more members to the club as the year progresses.
“I want to increase the membership base by a little more [and] get a little bit more active participation during meetings,” Jochum said.
By Grace Cueter & Stephanie Karoutsos EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & INTERN PHOTOS | Grace Cueter & Stephanie Karoutsos
LYNN DENNIS | BABETTE
“It’s really cool that it’s such a classic show,” Dennis said. “It’s funny but also serious so it will be really fun to watch.”
“Something I find really cool about the Beast’s costume is that it’s literally bursting at the seams,” Lutes said. “He’s outgrown these clothes he grew up with and now they’re ripped with fur pouring out and that sort of thing. I'm so excited to see how the final costume will turn out.”
GASTON“I’m looking forward to people seeing my song with Belle, I think it’s hilarious,” Sachs said.
“What I love most about my role is the way I can channel my emotions and personality easily into Belle and bring her character to life,” Davis said. “She’s daring, kind and loves adventure, which applies to me perfectly.”
“The show possibly will be dedicated to Angela Lansbury, the voice actress of Mrs. Potts in the original animated film,” DeFillippo said. “She passed away on Oct. 11, so it only makes sense for us to dedicate the performance to her.”
“Being a teapot, I have this beautiful puffy skirt of blue and white designs along with my arm being the spout of the kettle also matching and pulling together the whole character and costume,” Wright said.
“This year our show has such a diverse representation from all different grades and places within the school,” Licavoli said. “I’m so excited to show off what this group of misfits can accomplish on the stage.”
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT | Despite the teachers' win in this year's annual pie eating contest, senior Alex Agius managed to defeat all of the other students during the competition. Agius has been competing in this contest since he was a freshman. “My sister convinced me to do it,” Agius said. “I just decided to keep the tradition going and try to keep my [undefeated] title.
STOP! HAMMER TIME | Not only did the dance team perform many flips and tricks during the pep rally, they also took on the undertaking of coaching our football team in their own routine. Freshman dancer Eva Jarvi was happy to take on this role and participate in both performances. “It was funny [to coach the boys] honestly,” Jarvi said.“It was our first performance, so we were just getting used to it and everyone was really excited to [see us] go.”
BASKING IN THE GLORY | Sitting on the sidelines during the pep rally, junior and safety on the varsity football team, Brennan Hill, got to enjoy the spotlight while dancing as well as soak up the excitement from the crowd. “[The pep assembly] was really fun,” Hill said. “We got to dance and [we] got to watch all of the games from the baseline on the chairs, so it was fun to be up close with all of them.”
HARD WORK PAYS OFF | Having been working diligently weeks beforehand, the pep assembly was a time for Student Association treasurer Paige Spence to admire all of the hard work that she put into it. “With the weeks leading up to [the pep assembly] we had meetings every Wednesday morning to prepare every game we were going to do,” Spence said.
HUNGRY NORSEMEN | Although this is nowhere near his first rodeo in the world of celebratory games—having participated in Musical Chairs in the past— Hungry Hungry Hippos champion and social studies teacher, Brent Maynard, crushed the competition during the assembly game. “You have to have a good team behind you to be able to pull you around fast,” Maynard said. “Pascoe and Coop [are part of my dream team] because they were the OG crew that helped me beat the seniors [last year at the All-Night Party].”
HOLD ON TO THAT FEELIN' | The choir performed a rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin'” as a way to boost school spirit. The ensemble was led by choir teacher Benjamin Henri. “I wanted them to help me come up with ideas of songs where most people know the words and can sing along [in order] to send the students off on a good note for homecoming,” Henri said.
707 Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
PHOTO | Grace Rossman