Since the decision was made to close Poupard and Trombly, newly-elected school board member Sean Cotton has watched or attended every school board meeting and made it his focus to become knowledgeable about the inner workings of the district. Throughout his career, Cotton gained experience in board governance and management that modeled how to create a successful governance dynamic and led him to his recent interest in serving as a trustee of our school system.
Supported by a close group of family and friends and what Cotton refers to as his “strong inner locus of control,” he feels that he can accomplish anything. He will use this support to exercise due diligence as a Board Trustee. Then, he will begin to push for focus on his district concerns, specifically falling enrollment. He plans to address this issue by showing students the district’s educational value.
“We just need to show [students] the value proposition for GPPSS,” Cotton said. “Convince them that this is the place to be for their education and successful paths in life. If we can do that it will also convince others to join our community and our school system.”
Aside from enrollment, Cotton also plans to focus on the power held by the school administrations. Even in the three months of the 2022-2023 school year, he feels that he has witnessed many instances in which the administration has taken advantage of their control in a negative way.
One of these instances is sporting events, specifically the North vs. South football game, in which Cotton claims that administration restricted access for students from De La Salle into the game. He feels that it is an event to bring the community together, not turn people away. Additionally, Cotton has seen students restricted from expressing themselves when administrators prohibit a theme. As for school dances, he feels that students should not be required to take random breathalyzers and drug tests, as administrators should be able to tell when a student is inebriated. Finally, he believes that administrators
should have no say in class office elections, as it is not representative of the students.
“I come from a philosophy of wanting a normal experience for our students,” Cotton said. “One free from politics as well as free from an overly burdensome administration.”
As someone who believes that pushback is a positive, Cotton plans to approach the changes he wants to see in enrollment and administration control with precision and drive.
“If you are to make change possible you must act and act decisively,” Cotton said. “Objects at rest like to stay at rest, they love to stay at rest. The default for an organization is entropy. I have found when you push an object and it pushes back, you are on the right track.”
Since the pandemic began, Valarie St. John has been seen making contributions to the school board meetings. She felt as the pandemic worsened, people weren't listening to public health experts at the time. This desire for voices to be heard prompted her to run for the upcoming school board election.
“I’m committed to being a responsive board member who will take everyone’s opinions into consideration,” St. John said.
With support from students and teachers within the district along with local, nonprofit organizations, St. John was able to create a successful campaign. However, her number one supporters throughout the election process were her wife and child.
“I had so many great people guiding me through this campaign,” St. John said. “Recent graduates told me about the real problems facing GPPSS students. Teachers explained what they needed to feel supported by the district. Local nonprofit organizations such as the Michigan Education Justice Coalition provided a lot of training that helped me understand what I would be getting into during the election and, hopefully, as a board member.”
Over the years enrollment has declined. To stop this from continuing St. John wants to focus on what the board can control, and how to make our district engaging to new, young families.
“We need to make sure new families’ first experience with the district is positive, not stressful,” St. John said.
Before making any changes St. John does her research, and makes sure no one feels unheard when making such a big change.
“I am very data-driven, so my first step when making a decision is to research,” St. John said. “I also think it’s important to talk to everyone who will be affected by a change, to make sure there isn’t a potential consequence that has been overlooked.”
As she steps into her new role on the board, she has one main goal in mind, focusing on the school atmosphere, and ensuring that it is a place that students feel comfortable attending every week.
“My overarching goal is to make sure all our students feel safe and welcome at school,” St. John said. “I think every specific goal will support that.”
If students have any questions or concerns St. John ensures that she is always here to talk. Whether the discussion is in person or on email, she’s always open to listen.
“I will always be available to correspond with any students at my official school email address for any questions, criticisms, ideas or concerns,” St. John said. “I am looking to start having skip-level lunches at the schools along with one or two other trustees.”
Editor's note: Ginny Jeup, the third newly elected school board member, was also contacted for an interview. After initially agreeing to be interviewed, Jeup did not respond to coordinate said interview. We did not receive any response prior to our publication deadline, but we look forward to speaking with her to keep our readers informed.
The national average ACT score in 2022 reached a record low of 19.8, which is the first time since 1991 when the average fell to below 20 out of 36. Nationally, the math section experienced the biggest drop, however, according to the Oct. 14 School Pointes, this does not apply to GPPSS. Despite this, there are still concerns regarding the cause behind the national decline in scores.
Rather than in-class education driving the decline, changes in the number of participants are suspected to have taken part in impacting the averages, according to testing coordinator Matthew Paulun. Paulun noted that this year the SAT has more participants compared to the ACT.
“I’ve noticed between ACT and SAT that more people are actually signed up for the SAT now,” Paulun said. “Right now there are usually around 300 kids signed up for the SAT [at North] and there are only usually 60 signed up for the ACT [at North].”
In addition to the decline in ACT test takers, math teacher Erica Thacker says the pandemic may have contributed to the notable decline of ACT math scores.
“We have to consider the effects that the pandemic and learning outside of the school space had on students,” Thacker said. “There are bound to be gaps of things that didn't happen as fluidly or as smoothly as they would have occurred in a traditional school year.”
is important to communicate that with students as well.”
A form of student feedback that senior Olivia Dodenhoff utilizes is using her first ACT scores to create a roadmap for what she needs to review before her next attempt.
“I went into my first ACT without studying or preparing myself in order to show what I needed to improve on,” Dodenhoff said. “My scores revealed my strengths and weaknesses, allowing me to focus my studies on the areas I had a more difficult time with.”
Even with the decline in ACT scores, Thacker states that scores could eventually begin to increase through hard work from both teachers and students.
Millions of plastic particles find their way into Michigan's waters every day. Students Against Violations of the Environment, SAVE Club, is attempting to limit the amount of plastic put into the waters in the area, by hosting a plastic drive at North. The club is striving to help inform students about the effects and dangers that plastic possesses in the human and wildlife community.
According to SAVE Club adviser Christopher Skowronski, not only is it beneficial to inform students about plastic limitation, it is also necessary in order to make a change to preserve the environment for the future.
“I think it's a good educational opportunity,” Skoronski said. “The reinforcement of these things that just do not break down is important. Letting students know that this is something important that we really need to tackle.”
Always trying to find new ways to help his students gain experience, Advanced Placement Environmental Science teacher Andrew Pola and his students are planning a field trip to enhance their understanding and gain real life perspective on environmental topics.
In class, students learn about degradation of the environment and how it affects wildlife and humans. With that understanding, they are trying to connect with the community. Although there is no set date for when a field trip will take place, Pola and his students are reaching out to organizations to see what they can do to improve their learning.
“I want to get students involved in the community and get them connected with organizations that are stewards of the environment," Pola said. "They're working to protect the environment and also [working with the] organizations who are trying to improve the quality of the environment and in turn improve the health of the residents,” Pola said.
The historic shoreline and aesthetic scenery of Edsel Ford House’s Ford Cove makes it a popular area for environmental activities. The Ford Estate is currently in the process of making a new shoreline because the shoreline prior was inaccessible for educational and recreational activities.
With the expansion, improvements will be made to the coastal wetlands and shoreline. As director of landscape at the Edsel Ford house, Kevin Drotos stresses the importance of preserving Ford Cove.
Teachers' direct involvement in their students' learning is something that Thacker believes is important. She says that they should be providing feedback and guidance for students.
“Teachers have to be cognizant of where gaps of learning could have taken place,” Thacker said. “It
“I am optimistic that we will see a positive trend in the data," Thacker said. "But I am realistic in the sense that [improvements] might take some time. I think that having these dips in our data and in our performance has really forced us to look at how can we then fix this trend.”
“Ford Cove is a popular fishing and birding destination, so this project is providing immediate and lasting benefits to the recreational fishing community,” Drotos said. “Improved habitat for birds is an important migratory flyway, as well as an aesthetically improved site enjoyed by large numbers of Lake St. Clair boaters and visitors to the Ford House.”
I am optimistic that we will see a positive trend in the data, but I am realistic in the sense that [improvements] might take some time.
ERICA THACKER Math teacher
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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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ILLUSTRATION | Katie Madigan
Swipe after swipe, Instagram is flooded with current event “activism” posts by numerous celebrities and students alike. Days later these “activists” are no longer advocating for their cause demonstrated through deleted posts and stories. So why is it that some people feel inclined to spread the word about certain topics only to take them down later? Most of the time celebrities and even high school students can feel inclined to post about something because they fear being canceled if they don’t, seek validation, or crave attention.
Examples of images or public service announcements that discuss activism going on in the world include the new suicide prevention hotline, posts of black squares in support of the “Black Lives Matter'' movement and highlights covering topics such as reproductive rights or the Israeli and Palistinian conflict. After weeks of advocating for these things, these activists backtrack promoting an opposing viewpoint by deleting their posts and highlights altogether. This hypocrisy could be attributed to them no longer considering these causes relevant or important, or they regret caving to peer pressure. People attempt to stay “woke” by spreading the word about these events that they may not actually be educated on or care about.
Another problem with social media “activism” is that some of the people who share these PSAs
do not receive information from credible sources. Social media is frequently a primary news outlet for many teens as seen in a survey conducted by Common Sense Media and Survey Monkey in 2019. According to the survey, 53% of teenagers get their news from social media and 61% of them claim that the news is often inaccurate, which is harmful to their perception of these current events. This is frequently seen in how political parties are portrayed on social media. Extremists from both sides of the political spectrum can lead to a false narrative, which can perpetuate fallacious stereotypes towards the groups.
When people log onto Instagram, or any social media platform, chances are they are not in search of information surrounding current events, they are just there to check up on their favorite influencer or friend. While social media can be a good way to quickly receive new information, especially for the younger generation, it is important to address your concerns by attending protests, writing letters to the government, signing petitions or keeping up posted activism, rather than buying into peer pressure to post. In addition to this, fact checking posted statements is key when perceiving news from social media. Instead of consuming all of the information from social media, viewers should gather their information from more reliable and unbiased sources before forming an opinion.
I'm not an avid social media user. The way I hear about trends is from my friends or in passing. From Wordle, to BeReal, to Tik Tok dances and sounds, every new trend seems to be over before you have time to jump in on it. With all of this I find it hard to fit in. How does one keep
up with all the trends to stay relevant?
I feel that because of social media, any trend that people start will have a lifespan of one to two weeks. Anyone remember Wordle? I do. I remember the one, maybe two, weeks when every Twitter post featured a row of green, yellow, and gray squares.
A possible reason for this quick turnover of trends is due to the nature of social media. In the past, when you wanted to listen
to a song, play a game or watch a movie, you either did it on your own time or someone you knew showed it to you. Now, that song, movie, or picture is forced in front of your face daily. You’re less likely to keep listening to a song or look at a meme when you’ve seen it 100 times while scrolling through Tik Tok. Social media keeps us almost instantly connected to the world, but because of that instant connection, burn out occurs so much sooner
than it did in the past when word of mouth was king.
But why does this all matter? At the end of the day it's just songs or a meme that dies out quickly. Some may say it has no impact in the grand scheme of things. But I feel that it does. I think that with this rush of trends that fly by, it's hard to pinpoint an identity or memory to the whole of this generation. Looking back at other generations you can see trends that last decades. Long hair, glam rock, star
wars, emo music, the old school style of the internet itself. All of it is rooted and fondly remembered by the generations who lived it, but what will Gen Z have to remember in the future? Even the things coined as the song or movie of the generation seem to not be able to withstand the onslaught of online burnout. So, in the future, we won't be able to remember much if we can’t hold onto trends for more than a minute.
“I would say social media keeps you informed, but you have to watch out for what is true and what is not true.”
“Social media tells me a lot about current events. I get all my knowledge from social media and it usually really influences my opinion.”
“I think that social media kind of puts people in a bubble, so that they only see what they want to see."
“It does not affect my view on current events because the only things I follow on social media are cupcakes, puppies, and the Seahawks.”
“Social media gives me a negative view on current events because everything is really convoluted and feels so negative.”
Michigan vs. Michigan State and North vs. South are Grosse Pointe’s most familiar rivalries.
Rivalry game days for Grosse Pointers result in full green and white or maize and blue outfits. Whether you’re in the stands or watching Channel 7, there is an obvious dispute between fans through outfits, flags or even fights. But, being on the field brings both tension and motivation to players. I believe that while rivalries bring unnecessary opposition, they bring more positive outcomes than negative.
Hearing news of violent aftermath post rivalry games is not uncommon, but the fight between eight MSU football players and one U of M player brought the controversy to another level. Whether this occurred because of a personal or external situation, the deep-rooted competition between the teams undoubtedly brought the situation to a more severe outcome.
The time preceding rivalry game days can also have a negative effect on the civility of these games. Driving into school to see spray painted banners with negative comments about North that South students hung up before the rivalry football game lessened excitement for the upcoming game. Like the vandalism at our school, North students frequently paint South’s rock before a rivalry game. This seems to bring repercussions, such as offensive posts that often follow.
While fans seem to be the main motivators towards an unfriendly rivalry, the competition is also used to push the teams to their best. Personally, during a field hockey game against South my team has more energy and a certain spark in comparison to playing an school that we have no relation to. Both this specific energy and personal connection makes us more intrigued and motivated.
Communities can also be brought together by these annual events. Both field hockey and soccer have put on fundraisers in partnership with South to raise money for St. Jude cancer research and treatment. Even from other sides of the bleachers, the conflict is put aside. Seeing communities come together and players’ drive makes a larger impact than the separations caused by rivalry games.
Even though she is only a sophomore, Lillian Deskins’ success has helped to shape her into someone her teammates can look up to, according to cross country coach Scott Cooper. “She plays a great leadership role, as a role model,” Cooper said. “People look at her and see how hard she works, which sets the tone for everybody else to be working hard.”
While many athletes view running as a punishment, for sophomore Lillian Deskins, track and cross country are her essence— nothing compares to the feeling of tying up her laces and letting her muscles take control for miles. On Oct. 29 at the MHSAA Girls’ Cross Country Region meet, Lillian Deskins managed to run the course in 18:57.3, which is a new personal record for her and has put her 8th on the school record board.
Although Lillian Deskins has been able to succeed as a top runner, she has had to overcome multiple hurdles. Last year during track season she struggled with some health issues.
“I was frustrated because I was putting the work in and the results just didn't show,” Lillian Deskins said. “It made me wonder, am I even cut out for this? I just was not the runner I thought I should be.”
It took more than running for Lillian Deskins to accomplish a new PR time. The mental aspect is just as vital as the physical. Strategies flowed through Lillian Deskins mind while her feet continued to do the objective.
“[During the race] I found a pack of girls that I knew were really fast runners and I just stuck with them, and I kept telling myself pick it up, literally just 10 more minutes, and you have your spot,” Lillian Deskins said. “My biggest goal was to make it to states, but part of me was wondering how fast I could actually go and if I could break the record.”
After a successful run at the regional meet, Deskins qualified for the state meet. Although her race did not go as well as she had hoped due to rough weather conditions, she still managed to persevere while competing against the best runners in Michigan. Her dedication has not gone unnoticed by others, as teammates including senior captain Eyrn Cosgrove are inspired by her willingness to push herself.
“Her success is all because of her own hard work,” Cosgrove said. “She deserves everything she's gotten because she has put in all the effort to get there.”
Teammates and coaches traveled two hours to spend the day cheering Lillian Deskins on at the state meet. While she has a large pool of supporters, she would consider her biggest supporter to be her father, Les Deskins.
Between biking behind her during night runs and exchanging information regarding running, Les Deskins plays an active role in Lillian Deskins’ life. He frequently encourages her to take what she learns from sports and apply it elsewhere.
“It’s important to us that Lillian takes advantage of the lessons that running provides for her overall growth as a person,” Les Deskins said.
By prioritizing herself and working hard Lillian Deskins is able to dominate the clock. On top of her health struggles, Lillian Deskins has also faced mental stressors before races, according to cross country coach Scott Cooper. Cooper says he has had to calm her nerves before each race so she can run to her full potential.
“My job is to settle her down because she gets very nervous and stressed for the races so I have to work with her to calm herself down,” Cooper said.
Cooper has enjoyed coaching her because of her determination and willingness to work. He has noticed improvement in both areas in the past two years.
“She’s a very coachable person,” Cooper said. “She’s always asking how she can improve and when I give her advice she takes it.”
Through cross country Lillian Deskins has managed to rediscover her love of sports and competition. Her hard work and dedication that allow her to succeed stands out to those around her.
“[Lillian] is disciplined,” Les Deskins said. “[She] has established a standard of preparation and commitment that is like nothing I’ve seen from a youth athlete. She simply does not waver from her regimen.”
By Mia Stephanoff & Allie Mattes COPY EDITOR & INTERN
PHOTOS | Mia Stephanoff
1. GIVING IT THEIR ALL | Playing a rival school means leaving it all on the court, especially for districts. Senior Mary Schaden believes that working as a team to achieve goals is the key to success. “We leave it all on the floor so we are able to go home knowing we gave full effort.”
2. NEVER CAUGHT OFF GUARD | The team prepares by conditioning to be ready for whatever the game will throw at them. Junior and outside hitter Lauren Lefebvre thinks that physical preparation is just as important as mental preparation. “To prepare for districts we did a lot of conditioning with weights and cardio,” Lefebvre said. “Then we would practice our different rotations and play.”
3. SERVING UP SKILLS | The student section isn’t the only way the volleyball team receives support. Many parents attend games over the season and watch as their child grows in the sport. Teri Dodenhoff has enjoyed watching her daughter, senior and libero Olivia Dodenhoff, improve during her senior season. “I think her mental and physical game improved throughout the season,” Teri Dodenhoff said. “Her endurance and ability to anticipate also grew stronger after every game.”
4. SUPPORT OFF THE COURT | The student section was loud and proud to cheer on the Lady Norsemen. Junior Jenna Winowiecki was in attendance and outfitted in the construction theme. She loved the energy created on and off the court during the game. “The sport is super exciting and I love the atmosphere of everyone being so excited for one another when they succeed,” Winowiecki said.
5. MORE THAN TEAMMATES | Not everyone gets the opportunity to play on the same team as their siblings. For Sophomore and defensive specialist Charlotte Julien, this was her year to play with her big sister. “It has been such a fun experience getting to play with my sister for the first time before she graduates,” Julien said. “Being on the court with her has given me a new appreciation for her as a player and as a teammate.”
Although the benefits and drawbacks of social media usage has been a hot topic throughout the years, rapper Kanye West’s recent antisemitic comments on Twitter have sparked a new controversy. How the spread of misinformation, specifically by verified influencers and celebrities, affects teenagers is a topic that has been put into light following West’s statements. The posts have also ignited a discussion surrounding how social media platforms grant users the ability to speak before they think and how that affects an impressionable audience. On top of this, entrepreneur Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter, which was concluded on Oct. 27, has brought up concerns regarding the unclear standard of what can and cannot be said on social media.
From fake news to conspiracy theories, the spread of misinformation on social media has been prevalent since social media platforms began to develop in the early 2000s. Even two decades later, the misinformation issue is still rampant, and situations such as West’s latest Twitter controversy only adds fuel to the fire.
Working with students who have grown up with technology has allowed school psychologist Christine Kuhl to see the rapid spread of misinformation by both celebrities and the average social media user.
“I think discerning real, factual information from unreliable sources and false information is difficult and more challenging for [their] generation,” Kuhl said. “Making sure that the sources that you’re getting your information from are credible, is an important piece of learning how to manage social media and the internet.” Misinformation comes in many forms, one of them being conspiracy theories. A popular conspiracy that science teacher Don Pata has seen on Twitter and Instagram is that the earth is flat. According to Pata, these rumors are perpetuated by influencers who support the false claims that circulate. “People will believe things that they read if they perceive they are either from experts, or if they already align with their current viewpoint, even when shown scientific evidence to the contrary,” Pata said. “Then if you get a famous sports figure who also says the same kind of thing, or a famous musical artist, who says
the same thing, people who are holding these beliefs that are non-scientific it somehow gives credence to these things, even though they are not true, scientifically speaking.”
In the online age of the 21st century, average people have the ability to become influencers and create a platform for themselves where they can be seen and heard by millions of people. Kuhl says the access to such a big audience leads these influencers to feel highly-ranked in comparison to others, specifically when they gain a blue check mark, which deems an influencer as “verified.”
“I think [verification] can make people feel a certain sense of importance, and a little bit of an inflated self esteem,” Kuhl said. “I’m sure it makes some people feel superior but others may want it for a little bit of extra credibility or notoriety.”
Following the conclusion of Musk’s purchase of Twitter, many people, including senior Ray Plieth, foresee changes within the app in the near future. One change that has already been made is the ability to purchase your own verification check mark for $7.99 per month.
“I do feel like that blue checkmark culture isn’t getting better with the recent purchase of Twitter by Elon Musk and the new checkmarks we can pay [for],” Plieth said. “We’re giving [people] a level of prestige on a public platform that only lends to the harm they can do.”
Celebrities, such as West, seem to display this prestige over the average social media user through theirTwitter posts, according to senior Gaelle Dalmacy.
“I think [West] does think he’s better than other people by the way he talks,” Dalmacy said. “He referred to himself as God.”
Social media can be a helpful tool to connect with people from different backgrounds, and when used correctly it can have many benefits that outweigh the negatives, according to senior Gaelle Dalmacy.
“I think people like Selena Gomez, who advocates for loving yourself and positivity [is a positive use for social media],” Dalmacy said. “I think that’s a really great thing.”
Although social media has the ability to showcase people that work to spread positive messages, Dalmacy acknowledges that many people often post without thinking of what the possible consequences could be.
“Once you post something, it’s hard to delete it, a lot of people don’t think things through before they post,” Dalmacy said. “They post something, and don’t think about the consequences it’ll have, then you have to go and defend yourself.”
Amidst the Kanye West controversy, new questions are being asked about what people have the right to say on their social media platforms. For Dalmacy, the balance between freedom of speech and censorship of hate on social media is hard to decipher.
“People could argue [anything posted is covered under] freedom of speech, but [Kanye] is also saying Anti-Semitic things, and spreading Anti-Semitic rhetoric to his fans, ” Dalmacy said. “It’s complicated, because on one hand, I think that he should not be saying this stuff. But also, how can you censor that?”
There is a strict line between how the government should handle freedom of speech on social media versus how private companies should monitor
their apps, according to social studies teacher Daniel Gilleran.
“I don’t think you can necessarily limit it from a governmental and fundamental perspective,” Gilleran said. “I think that individual private corporations do have a responsibility to make sure that what is disseminated is truthful, that fine line of deciding if it’s hateful.”
The recent transition of leadership for Twitter’s company brings new questions as to how content will be regulated. Musk took over Twitter leaving users, such as Pata, wondering what he will do about erratic users like West.
“If you just allow people to say whatever they want to say, including hate speech, I think there’s going to be a
real problem,” Pata said. “I think that it’ll be bad for the platform, and It’ll be bad for society as a general concept. If we’re going to have these platforms, where people are gonna be able to express their ideas, we need a referee, someone who tells people like this is appropriate or this is not appropriate. If we don’t have that, then young people don’t learn from the mistakes of others.”
By Hayley Zalewski
PHOTO | Hayley Zalewski
Even though Cheese to Please can be easy to miss because of its small size, the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the store should be enough to draw customers in. The little, Napa-inspired charcuterie shop sticks out amongst the others on Mack Avenue because of the trendy dark exterior that catches your eye.
As I walked into the elegant shop, I was surprised when I saw the light and bright interior which is comprised of a white and tan color palette. I was enticed by the comforting environment and the warmth that was displayed. For it being the owner’s first and only brick-and-mortar store, I very much enjoyed the calm and quiet setting. I was immediately assisted by the owner, and she was very helpful in answering the numerous questions I had.
Not only are they all about charcuterie, they also sell a number of different items related to cooking and hosting. The store even sells clothing, bags and hats. Something that intrigued me was that their main intent is to cut down on their plastic intake and choose to sell local, sustainable products. Everything sold in this small establishment can be recycled, repurposed or reused.
They only offer a few different items to-go at Cheese to Please, so that narrows down your choices for ready made food. I bought one of the mini charcuterie boards, which cost $18. It almost always comes with the same ingredients, and there are no customizable options. Yet, for parties and big events, you can have the board made to your
liking. I paired the board with the La Colombe Vanilla Oat Milk Latte, since they didn’t offer any drinks that were made in house. I also bought a Mast chocolate bar since the owner recommended it, which made my total $24.99. The price of the board itself did seem a little steep, but I completely understand that a small business like this that is trying to sell more ethical products needs to have their prices set at a certain standard.
The mini board was very delicious. The different combination of flavors and food made it unique, but for picky eaters, it might not be the best option. It consisted of many types of olives, nuts and meats like salami, as well as cheeses like Brie and Gouda. It also contained many different fruits and vegetables like pickles, blueberries, red and green grapes and dried apricots. There was also a package of honey and a package of sourdough flatbread crackers included as well. The way it was arranged was absolutely stunning and the deli meat shaped into a rose was a very nice touch. The mixture of flavors created a very appetizing experience for me and I loved combining all of the different ingredients to create something amazing.
Overall, I would give Cheese to Please 4.5/5 stars. The to-go boxes are good for people with a distinguished taste palate and although their prices can be expensive, the ambience makes up for it. The boards they offer would be more fitting for a bigger party or for an actual event, but if you’re willing to try their to-go charcuterie boards, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
By Lauren Kaled
Following the sudden loss of Chadwick Boseman to cancer, the actor who played Black Panther, many became curious about how Marvel Studios would handle his character's sudden disappearance from the films. Over 62,000 people even signed an online petition, calling to recast Boseman in the Marvel Universe. Although a recasting did not take place, I’m sure most will agree that his character’s disappearance in the film was handled with care.
Walking into the theater, I knew beforehand that this movie was going to put me through emotional turmoil, just as every other Marvel movie, but this one truly hit deeper than others. Due to the top-notch actors and actresses who clearly weren’t acting during Black Panther’s funeral scene, my tears came fast. Something that truly stood out to me throughout this movie
was the gorgeous costume work. This wasn’t surprising since Ruth Carter, the costume designer, won an Oscar for her work on the original Black Panther movie, and thank goodness she came back for the sequel. Between Okoye’s Dora Milaje Red Bodysuit, the Wakandan Funeral Attire and everything in between, Carter did a wonderful job combining both modern and traditional wear, something that most action movies lack.
Another thing about most action movies is the fighting choreography repeating itself. It’s considered boring by many at this point, specifically the leg sweeps that knock bad guys to their feet after just one punch. The common fight scene can leave audiences bored and unfazed. This film was anything but that. The fighting scenes are unique, new and original,
leaving even me, a hardcore action movie lover, on the edge of my seat.
Cinematography has always been something that I notice while watching movies, and this has some of my favorite shots, especially when we are shown the underwater town of Talokan. With many glowing lights, unique camera angles and the gorgeous architecture, it left me in awe of the screen in front of me and wishing I could swim right through it.
As someone who has lost a loved one to cancer, I know how hard it is to resume a normal life afterwards. Black Panther’s mother and his sister, Shuri, represent very accurate depictions of loved ones after a death. The director, Ryan Coogler, clearly made everything with love for Boseman in his heart, which all in all makes this movie an astonishing 5/5 stars in my book.
By Sasha Poradun INTERN
When I walked into the Chocolate Bar Cafe it screamed vintage diner and undoubtedly has the best hot chocolate I have found locally. I ordered the medium hot chocolate with almond milk for $3.95. It tasted like a semisweet brownie. I give it 5/5 stars.
If you have an affinity for homely hot cocoa and good service visit Coreander’s. I had a regular hot chocolate with marshmallows for only $3.18. The taste exploded in my mouth, but it had a bit too much sugar. Overall, I rate this 3/5 stars.
Vasi’s Cafe and Bake Shop has a wide selection of hot chocolate variations. I ended up getting the hand crafted hot chocolate for $3.00. This included imported dark chocolate and a circle of whip cream. It was delicious but tasted too much like Swiss Miss. For its unoriginality, I give this 3.5/5 stars.
Morning Glory’s hot chocolate got me into the holiday mood. There was only one flavor, but it was warm and delicious. The only problem I had was that it was fairly regular and basic. At a total of $3.26 for a small, I rate this 3/5 stars.
By Sophia Dragich, Katie Madigan & Gianna Roux SECTION EDITORS & INTERN PHOTO & GRAPHIC | Sophia Dragich & Katie Madigan
The Quiz Bowl team can be seen practicing once a week, buzzers in hand, answering intense questions. Members have perfected strategies that allow the team to expand their intelligence and help them grow together. This season, they hold a 5-0 record, and have been striving to achieve an undefeated status in their league, which they have maintained since 2019.
Much of the team's success can be credited to the addition of new participants, according to Quiz Bowl coach Ben Henri. Henri says he spots true potential in each of the new players.
“A lot of the younger players, especially this year, are really taking it seriously,” Henri said. “They want to get more playing time, they want to learn this stuff and be able to buzz in. I'm looking forward to [seeing] how each of them develop.”
The underclassmen’s strength has been a big asset to the team’s success this year. Senior Quiz Bowl captain Liam Harris acknowledges that his motivation has been impacted by the dedication of the new members.
“The new recruits are really good,” Harris said. “They’ve replaced some really good talents from last year and honestly it’s a really good refresher just
to see that they’re competent and can do really well in tournaments.”
The younger members of the team put a lot of time and effort into covering new topics during their practices. Sophomore Jack McHenry shares how the dedication put into practices translates to their success at competitions.
“[The teammates] just inspire me because it's like a friendly competition,” McHenry said. “I've been inspired to just be better and beat them.”
Experienced members have been able to provide support this season for newcomers. This spirited enthusiasm has helped to fill the spots that were occupied by last year’s high scoring members that graduated, according to Henri.
“Last year we graduated some very talented seniors,” Henri said. “When we graduate those seniors, we lose a lot of knowledge, so then it's up to the younger students now to step up and start picking up on things that were lost.”
Despite losing talented seniors, Henri has faith in the future of the team as they are picking up the knowledge gaps that were left behind. He also says he tries to emphasize learning a wide range of topics so competitors can become more well rounded.
“I try to push people out of their comfort zones, because if it were up to them, most of the time we would just have people studying a bunch of history, and things like that,” Henri said. “And very few people want to study poetry, but poetry is a chunk of the knowledge in Quiz Bowl, [so we] start reading some of these short poems and memorizing who wrote them.”
Not only do they apply newly learned information to their competitions to come out on top, the team also has certain people who tend to specialize in one topic and can answer questions related to the topic. Although he notices the individual skills, Harris says he appreciates the group effort more.
“There is a lot of collaboration especially if someone is really good with one topic,” Harris said. “They’ll try to share what they have so everyone can be pretty well-versed in a specific area.”
With teamwork and healthy competition, Henri recognizes the team's abilities to collaborate as a group, and hopes this will lead to future success.
“We want to continue to go undefeated in our league,” Henri said. “I think we have the potential to absolutely do that again this year.”
Every December, the Norsemen are ready to spread holiday cheer. Walking through the halls around the holiday season you can hear live music, see gift giving, and feel the generosity. As a community made up of different clubs and organizations, there are many traditions that North has in order to bring joy to staff and students alike.
From door to door, Interact Club is bringing holiday cheer to Beechwood Manor, an assisted living home for senior citizens. For the past 20 years, the Interact club has made holiday wreaths, decorations, and cards for local senior citizens to spread holiday joy. Interact Club adviser Jill Davenport emphasizes the importance of this tradition and shares how spreading joy through this service project impacts her.
“I don't even know that I can put [the impact] into words,” Davenport said. “It's just so important to do for others. Kindness is an integral part of our lives to help the lives
of other people. It gives me joy to make other people happy.”
Walking into a service project with glue in one hand and felt decorations in the other, holiday crafting is rewarding for Senior Isabella Deskins. Deskins has been a member of Interact Club since her freshman year and enjoys creating festive decorations for senior citizens every year with other students.
“I feel like I'm making the senior citizens happy and excited for the holiday season,” Deskins said. “It feels super rewarding to be able to help and make others have a smile on their face.”
While presents aren’t everything during the holiday season, a chance to give and donate a gift to a family is a Norsemen tradition that continues to flourish. Every year for over 50 years, the Student Association conducts the highly anticipated “Adopt a Family'' fundraiser. Students and staff look forward to working with each other to help provide gifts to families in need within Grosse Pointe. Classes that are able to participate are assigned a family to buy and collect gifts for. Student Association adviser Jonathan Byrne sees how this program imacts the students who ensure these families have a happy holiday season.
“It really brings the North community together,” Byrne said. “Wherever you can have an event where people have a shared purpose around service, it creates a sense of community that is really unmatched.”
As the vice president of SA, senior Zoey Crossley has a lot on her plate during the holiday
Whether it is “Deck the Halls” or “Jingle Bells,” the rare occasion of live music in the hallway brings joy to students and staff. Orchestra director Noah Zogas, shares his enthusiasm for the musical tradition of having the Chamber Orchestra play Christmas songs in front of the going tradition gives a chance for any non-music student to see what the band, orchestra, and choir work hard for.
“I usually look forward to the reactions from both the students and the guests that sort of stop by,” Zogas said. “I don’t think that all of the student body really understands all of the work that goes on in C building
because they’re just not around music or the arts.”
All eyes are on the conductor as the orchestra looks for the cue to begin another Norsemen tradition. While prepping for the early morning performance Senior Chloe Harb takes a deep breath and prepares to play. Harb remembers the joy she got while listening to the live performance freshman year and hopes to carry the tradition onward to her last year.
“I remember I really liked [watching] freshman year. I just got to sit and listen to everyone, and even listen to the jazz band or the choir,” Harb said. “So to me, it's just about spreading a little bit of joy during school, because everyone needs it.”
GRAPHIC | Bella Yoakam CONTRIBUTING | Mia Stephanoff & Alyssa King
By Ella McCarthy & Mary Bentley SECTION EDITOR & INTERN PHOTOS | Ella McCarthy
Being one of the three silly girls obsessed with Gaston, sophomore Jillian Nixon basks in the role as she gets to make the audience laugh. “[When being] a silly girl, the most important thing is the annoying, ear piercing whine,” Nixon said. “I’ve loved getting to be the comedic relief among such great ladies.”
Going from closed off to madly in love, the Beast is an emotionally complex character for senior Ryan Lutes to play. “For most of the show [the Beast] is a very bitter, angry, aggressive person,” Lutes said. “Later on in the show he becomes softer and [more] open.”
With unique character traits like a British accent and a vividly distinct costume, senior Naima Wright admits playing Mrs. Potts is physically challenging. “My arms [have] very little use since mimicking a teapot means committing to acting as one,” Wright said.
As the beloved candelabra Lumiere, junior Ben Graham brings the spirit of his character to life, having fun while acting along with the rest of the cast. “He’s really flirtatious,” Graham said. “I've [also] never done a French accent before so I had to learn how to do that on my own [by watching] tutorials.”
Despite making her theater debut with a lead role, junior Avani Davis was not afraid thanks to the support of the cast. “Everyone was so nice and made me feel really confident [in] my abilities.” Davis said. “Now I feel so confident with singing [and] belting [my songs].”
