The Orb- December 2018-19

Hamilton Southeastern High School December 2018 | Volume 30 | Issue 3

Invisible Epidemic

Page 8: Causes of sleep deprivation among teenagers

Building Success Page 4

Southeastern in Season Page 6

Young Voters

Page 12

What’s Next?

Page 14

Contents

Opinion: 04 Building Success Self-Driving 06 Southeastern in Season Vehicles The Engineering team works together to revisit success of prior season.

Clubs host winter and holidaythemed events for students.

08 Invisible Epidemic Students suffer consequences of not getting enough sleep due to outside distractions such as technology and caffeine.

12 Young Voters

Seniors Grace Rich and Erin Larkin discuss experience of voting in Midterm elections.

14 What’s Next?

Southeastern Sports Network looks ahead to winter sports seasons.

Orb Staff Editor-in-Chief Laura Stancato Section Editors Grace Barclay Laurel Black Kersti Hash Ilene Marzke Hayden Sisemore Lilyan Wray Business Manager Nicholas Bostock Advisers Jordan Klobusnik David Young

Staff Carson Etheredge Evelyn Lahr Peyton McVeigh Elizabeth Moodispaugh Yashasvi Phougat Sophia Tomlin Megan Tooman Sara Vianna Raegan Walsh Sarah Woodward SSN Contributors Lillian Cummins Zachary Marden Tyler Melser

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An idea straight from the shiny future seen from entertainment media today is self-driving vehicles. The idea of being able to plug in an address and sit back as your car taxis you is a dream of some. However, there is another side to this future: the ethics of self-driving vehicles.

To define what I’m talking about is the idea of a car that would independently through a computer and sensors fully drive the car without human input. The debate on these cars are on whether its priorities lie in saving bystanders or the people in the car and if that even is important. Beyond that things like age, number, and gender all can factor into this cars actions when a crash is inevitable. In Germany the Ethics Commision for Self-Driving cars released regulations dictating the computer not take varying variables into account. Rather wanting to just focus on saving the most amount of people.

This seems to be a common theme as an online study was made by the M.I.T (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) over situations with an out of control driverless car. The study findings lined up with the resolution with Germany as people would choose to save the most humans they could. Along with that they found that human lives were valued over animal lives, and that things like bias of variable (gender, age, etc.) only came into account when the same amount of people would die in either variable.

Some think this is an argument for down the road, citing the improved statistics of car safety with self-driving versus human control. However, issues have been brought up with the incidents such as this past May where a pedestrian was struck by a self-driving car in Arizona. This has caused a major controversy in if the safety these companies boast is actually reality. Along with that it has seen self-driving vehicles have issues when not operating in prime weather. In things like rain and snow it has shown issues while operating.

To tie this all up, I find that this technology is still a bit off from coming into reality. While impressive tests have been performed so far, they have not proved themselves in all of conditions and have killed oncoming pedestrians. I believe that these cars need a long time in design before we ever see the commercial application of fully independent vehicles. Seeing as in my own eyes there lies too many unknowns before I could trust functional operation. Column by Carson Etheredge

JEA/NSPA Convention

Students from Publications travel to Chicago, Ill. for Journalism Convention Each semester, students from various HSE Publications classes attend the semi-annual Journalism Education Association/ National Scholastic Press Association ( JEA/NSPA) Journalism Convention. This year’s convention was held in Chicago, Ill., where students from Newsroom, Broadcasting and Sports Broadcasting attended various sessions hosted by advisers, teachers and professional journalists, including former White House photographer Pete Souza.

Order your yearbook today!

$50 Dec. 15 - Jan 1. $55

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Place an order at

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Building Success

Engineering team strives to live up to past prosperity The Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program provides students with the opportunity to participate in the six week long national BEST (Boosting Engineering and Science Technology) competition. The team is comprised of seniors in the Engineering Design and Development (EDD) class that have been in the program throughout their high school career.

“The competition is about the entire engineering process,” senior John Nigh said. “We are judged on our documentation and performance and the sales pitch of our robots. We are judged as if we are an actual company and selling our product.”

This year, the objective of the competition is to construct a robot that can complete the task of collecting trash from ocean gyres. Preparing for competition day encompasses not only class time but hours outside of school as well.

“The PLTW classes allow us to learn the necessary skills to tackle these real world tasks,” senior Thalia May said.

“Through the engineering classes, we’ve been able to approach challenges and learn from mistakes to be able to solve problems in the future.”

Last year’s team was able to improve upon their performance in the regional competition and win nationals. The team this year, known as the Royal Organization for Aquatic Restoration (ROAR), is hoping to live up to last year’s performance.

“I believe that this year’s team has the tools to do even better than last year,” senior Jack DeWolf said. “We were able to learn a lot about what worked and what didn’t from the successes and failures of last year’s team.”

ROAR placed third out of fifteen teams in the regional competition in Bowling Green on November 11. For the national competition in March, the team creates a strategy based on how the judges scored them at regionals. They work to enhance their performance in specific areas where they were lacking.

“I’m most excited about seeing what we’ve spent so much time working on to take place,” May said. “I’m confident that our team is going to be able to effectively present our project.” Story by Yashasvi Phougat. Photos contributed.

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Boutique Bazaar

New fundraiser for Riley Dance Marathon Many students drop their crumpled dollars and spare change into the iconic red bucket as it is passed to them during football games or around school, but do students really understand the power of their money? Members of Riley Dance Marathon (RDM) constantly spread awareness of the impact students’ donations can have on others not as fortunate as themselves. Heidi Schlabach, RDM Director of Morale, believes that every last penny can make a difference.

“Anything can help, even if it just through others small donations,” Schlabach said. “It means a lot to everyone involved.”

This year, RDM hosted a Boutique Bazaar. Boutiques such as Kendra Scott, MJ Layne, State of Grace and more teamed up with RDM to maximize donations to Riley Hospital. The Riley Dance Marathon Executive Team came up with this idea the first time this year.

“The Executive Team is in charge of coming up with all of the fundraising ideas and then promoting them to the school,” Schlabach said. “The Boutique Bazaar should be another great way to get students donating.”

Sophomore Sydney White is both a member of Riley Dance Marathon and is an employee at State of Grace boutique. White currently works as a cashier at State of Grace. “All the boutiques coming to HSE have some great holiday gifts which I know students and their parents will love,” White said. “The profits also go to a great cause that I am passionate about.”

The Boutique Bazaar took place Nov. 10 and raised more than $2,500 in profits for Riley Dance Marathon from ticket sales. The success of the event this year caused RDM staff to expect an even bigger outcome in upcoming years. Story and photo by Peyton McVeigh.

No Shave November

“I wanted to raise money for Riley. Where the money is going to is more important than shaving.”

Jagga Rent, Asst. Principal

“It was a good cause to raise money for.”

Shawn Porter, Performing Arts

“I wanted to join other teachers to raise money for the kids.”

Chris Roberts, Mathematics

“I just wanted to help out the charity.”

Ed Roush, Performing Arts

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Southeastern in Season Clubs host holiday events

As the end of the semester approaches, clubs prepare various festivities to celebrate the holiday season. Whether it’s through entertainment or providing humanitarian aid to those in this time of need, Royals have multiple options to choose from this year.

One of the most popular events provided to the student body is the holiday choir concert. This year’s concert is titled “Tis’ the Season” and will take place Nov. 29 and 30 in the Leonard Auditorium. The concert is a way to see fellow classmates perform what they have been practicing for months, as well as get into the holiday spirit.

“In this show you’ll see so many people doing what they love,” senior member of Royal Addition Tadd Nyland said. “You’ll see and hear many classic holiday songs, with many costumes, and beautiful lights.”

The Make-a-Wish Club will be hosting another musically affiliated event with their second annual Make-a-Wish Holiday Concert on Dec. 22. This event features students and other local talents who will be performing traditional holiday carols. There will also be holiday crafts, games, cookies and hot chocolate. The club’s goal is to reach $8,000, the average amount of money it takes to grant a child just one wish.

“The mission of this event is to raise money for the Make-aWish Foundation,” junior and club officer Nathan Macha said. “All proceeds will go directly to the organization. We are passionate about giving kids with life-threatening illnesses the wish of their dreams.”

While previously established clubs are upholding their holiday traditions, new clubs are forming their own. The newly founded Disney Club will be celebrating the season by giving to those who cannot spend the holidays at home.

“Dec. 7 after school in room J107 , we will make tie blankets that are Disney themed for the kids in hospitals.” senior Mackenzie Lotz said. “The mission of this event is to make the kids feel a little bit better. While we also give back to the community.”

With the end of the semester just around the corner, the stress and business of finals oftentimes consumes students. However, getting involved in entertaining events, serving the community or participating in any club happening can reduce the tension that this portion of the school year brings. Story by Laurel Black. Photos

contributed.

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Done to Death

Cast, crew members discuss Fall Play The Drama Club opened its 2018-2019 season with a comedic mystery play, Done to Death, which is about five formerly famous mystery authors who are brought together to write the ultimate television mystery. The authors provide parodies of each other’s writing styles as murders take place and bodies start piling up.

“By nature, comedies are more fun to watch and perform, especially at the high school level,” junior and actor Demrie Hasey said. “There were many great scenes and moments that certainly brought laughter, and I think there was a lot of great energy in the theatre.”

Done to Death begins with five failing authors gathered together to come up with a script for a television special. But when a real murder takes place, the only thing the authors can do is to use their knowledge based on the fictional murders to solve the crime, thus pinning the crimes on each other.

“The Fall Play was very special not only to the audience but for each member of the cast and crew,” senior and student director Sara Vianna said. “We got more people involved this show and working on a comedy about mystery, we all had the opportunity to make new discoveries each night and explore new jokes. It was a very rewarding experience.”

The Drama Club’s next production is the Spring Musical ‘Mamma Mia’ March 7- 9. Story by Lilyan Wray.

Eyes focused on the victim, the Done to Death cast performs in the Little Theatre Nov. 14. The production was put on by the drama club as their Fall Play. “For me, drama has been an anchor extracurricular since freshman year,” junior Demrie Hasey said. “When it’s the week of the show and everything comes together, I know that I will be thrilled by the excitement of itHSENews.com all.” Photo by Sarah Woodward.

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Invisible Epidemic

Sleep deprivation, technology affects teenagers Have you ever been found guilty of postponing your Canvas assignments until the last hour it’s due? You’re not alone; it is very common for high school students to procrastinate and consume a large dose of caffeine in hopes of staying energized for a night filled with homework.

However, these late school nights make students face a concerning issue involving their sleeping habits. With the amount of homework and after-school activities, it is common for students to give up sleep in order to spend their time doing those tasks.

We took a look at the statistics that correlate lack of sleep with technology, school and caffeine, and analyzed how they affect teens. It opens up the question on whether high schools should start at a later time than elementary schools.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep is vital for a teenager’s well-being. Having the required eight to ten hours of sleep helps teens manage the stress of being a student. Not getting enough sleep comes with consequences and limits students’ ability to learn, listen, concentrate and participate in class and increases levels of anxiety and depression. Introduction by Ilene

Marzke.

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I

t’s the same routine every day.

Wake up, attend seven classes, go to an after-school activity, drive home, eat dinner, stay up late working on homework, go to bed. There is not much room for a social life, relaxation or even a job in a normal day of a high schooler, which are some of the key components of a healthy teenage lifestyle.

Students are faced with a dilemma: should they finish their homework or get a full night of sleep? When students are pressured into performing well at school or in outside activities, sleep is the first thing to be taken off their to-do lists in order to take care of other responsibilities. Whichever decision a teenager is to make will affect them in some way and the option of doing homework is seen as the one with the least amount of consequences.

Senior Ishaan Modi frequently gives homework priority over sleep. He works to improve his study habits and sleep schedule by getting more homework done throughout the day, but still falls back on his old habits. “[Staying up late] negatively impacted my physical and mental health because I needed my sleep and I could not function properly,” Modi said. “If I am not rested then I can’t learn, which means I have to do more tasks on my own outside of class. It is a vicious cycle.”

But this choice can be costly as well. One night of staying up late can quickly turn into two. Then three.

Then seven. It is a domino effect that will hinder students and their academic performance far past the firstall-nighter.

The world of technology is also causing the sleep deprivation epidemic to worsen. Teenagers spend an average of nine hours on phones, computers or other

electronic devices according to Common Sense Media.

The blue light emitted from screens reduces melatonin levels that control sleep cycles, allowing teenagers to feel more awake when they should be sleeping. With assignments due at 11:59 p.m. some nights, it is easy for a student to put it off until the last minute, causing them to stay up later and increase their screen time.

Sleep deprivation in teens can lead to the incapability to sit still or stay on task, mood swings and increases the risk of depression and anxiety. These symptoms of sleep debt are commonly referred to as a mindset of “just being a teenager”. However, this invisible epidemic may be more than just an excuse placed on adolescence from the moment they turn 13 years old.

In a 2010 study by The Journal of Adolescent Health, it was found that only eight percent of teens are successful in attaining the eight to 10 hours of recommended sleep. The Child Mind Institute reports that 60 to 70 percent of teens are living with severe sleep debt.

Going to bed earlier is not an easy solution. Teens cannot adjust their natural tendencies because biological sleep patterns shift during adolescence, meaning that it is normal for a teenager to not be able to fall asleep until 11:00 p.m. Students are incapable of reaching the suggested amount of sleep due to their 6:00 a.m. wake-up call every morning for school.

Senior Abigail Yant spends an average of three to five school nights staying up late to finish homework after she has finished work at 8:30 p.m.

“If I am not rested then I can’t learn.

It is a vicious cycle.”

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“Students’ schedules are busier than ever before and students who incorporate honors, AP and ACP classes entail even more time outside of school,” Yant said. “It’s necessary to stay up late in order to accomplish everything that needs to be completed to maintain the high standards set for us.”

Many schools around the country have proposed moving the high school start times to later in the morning and elementary schools to earlier times in order to combat this. In addition, years of research shows teenagers need more sleep than younger children in order to be fully alert at school.

Starting in the 2019-2020 school year, Noblesville Schools will shift their start times with a hope that it will decrease rates of depression and anxiety and increase levels of attentiveness. The elementary schools will begin at 7:50 a.m., while the high schools will begin at 8:40 a.m.

Only 15 percent of high schools in the U.S. have set their start times for after 8:30 a.m. and it took Noblesville much deliberation to come to what they hope will be a solution to their sleep deprivation problem.

However, this change has caused an uproar from parents who worry about childcare for their young children after school before they get home from work.

They also argue that the implementation of later start times will in turn cause after-school activities to run later. “[Education] is the only industry, the only profession, that ignores research because change is difficult [and] we don’t want to upset people,” Noblesville Superintendent Dr. Beth Niedermeyer told the Indianapolis Star. Noblesville was unable to ignore the research that has been out there for years, and it is only a matter of time before more schools follow suit.

For Hamilton Southeastern Schools, on the other hand,

3:28 AM

“It’s necessary to stay up late in order to accomplish everything that needs to be completed to maintain the high standards set for us.”

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late start times do not seem to be on the radar in the near future.

“It is a district decision,” Principal Charles Hoover said. “Most of the school buses have to make two runs in the morning and two in the afternoon, and for times to switch would require a change in the school day time for each grade level.”

In the current state of 7:35 a.m. start times for both high schools, sleep-deprived students seek ways to stay awake through the eight hour school day.

What starts with lack of sleep can then result in a dependence on caffeine including coffee and other energy drinks.

Yant never leaves her house in the morning without making herself a cup of coffee. It is also not unusual for her to have another during her flex period or after school.

“I never feel as awake, alert, or in a good mood without [coffee],” Yant said. It’s become a mindset that if I don’t have caffeine, I’m probably not going to have the best day. Even if I don’t need it, I still have some, which is a big part of the problem.”

Eventually, the human body can develop a tolerance, allowing someone to consume more caffeine than what is safe. Caffeine may leave one feeling energized for a few hours, but once the adrenaline levels the caffeine stimulated in the body begin to decrease, a crash will occur. After this crash, one may feel the same symptoms of tiredness, irritability and inability to concentrate that they experienced before their caffeine intake.

Unfortunately, the sleep deprivation problem is made worse by the solutions that teenagers use to recover from it.

Sleeping in on the weekends and napping during the day can further throw off a teenager’s sleep schedule.

Caffeine intake in the morning will wear off, and in the afternoon can have effects on sleep quality and quantity for the night ahead. For a high school student, the only realistic option to recover from their loss of sleep is to return to a consistent sleep schedule, which is impossible for a lot of students to accomplish.

Continuation of methods to relieve sleep deprivation can be detrimental to a teenager’s health in the most extreme ways. The number of teens aged 13-18 suffering from mental illness has spiked to 20 percent, which can lead to teen participation in drug and alcohol use as ways to deal with mental illnesses. These potential risks are contributed to by a variety of causes, with sleep deprivation being one of the biggest contenders.

This sleep deprivation problem is hindering students from performing to the best of their abilities in all aspects of life, and it is hard to determine when or how it can be fixed.

But one thing is for sure. For change to occur, students, faculty and parents must agree on who is to blame and who is responsible for curing this invisible epidemic.

Story by Raegan Walsh. Photos by Grace Barclay.

Study Advice from Teachers Photos by Sara Vianna.

Curry Harden, English

“Find task-oriented study buddies who are serious about learning the material. At the end of the study session, teach the material to the study buddy.”

Lindsay Van Groningen, World Language

“For a language writing final, try to anticipate a possible prompt based on what you learned that semester. Then write a few rough drafts. Try writing one with your notes and then one without. Ask your teacher to give you feedback on them.”

Keaton Squires, Mathematics

“I would spend as much time as you could going through each class’ review guides taking them as real tests.

If you take each review guide seriously, then no exam should surprise you.”

Anne Gowland, Social Studies

“Start reviewing now (grumbles and eye rolls I know....I was there too, once). Reviewing a little over a longer time period is much more beneficial than cramming large amounts of information in a short amount of time.”

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

72.2% of

highschool students sampled reported getting less than 8 hours of sleep

18 million

About survey respondents reported that sleep deficiency interfered with job perfor-

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Young Voters

Students discuss importance of political involvement Voting, which has long been considered one of the foundational elements of our country’s democracy has been built on, has now become what could be described as a trend. Since the 2016 election, the drive to get young people active in politics and younger voters registered has spiked, making the 2018 midterm election one for the history books. The school has been known for its drive to embrace students’ political passions, allowing clubs dedicated to political discussion, social change and getting involved directly in the community, so it came as no surprise that students would be eager to get out and vote for the first time.

Senior Erin Larkin voted for the first time Nov. 6 and greatly enjoyed the experience.

“Voting is important because people in government make decisions that affect our everyday lives and the livelihood of other Americans,” Larkin said. “Without it, we wouldn’t be able to have a say in our democracy.”

The most common theme since the 2016 election towards politics was the power of using voice. This theme carried over into the midterm and empowered many voters to go to the polls. With more than 47 percent of available voters showing up to vote, this midterm broke the record for voter turnout since 1966 according to NPR. Today more than ever, with the influence of social media at an all time high, appreciating indivdual

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voices and opinions has been a drive for voters both young and old. This idea was echoed by many students, including senior Grace Rich.

“It is important to share your voice and participating in your government is part of our civic duty as citizens of this country,” Rich said. “It is an amazing opportunity that should be taken advantage of.”

Voting has been considered an important part of American politics and while statistics may fluctuate and party values may swing through the years, the value in this American tradition lives on in the excitement of young people. Story by Evelyn Lahr. Photo by Laurel Black.

Change in Leadership

Midterm elections result in new school board members Julie Chambers, a resident of Fishers for three years, has become very invested in the city’s future. Outside of working to become a school board member, Chambers is an attorney at her own law firm, Chambers Law Office, LLC, and enjoys spending time with her family. Chambers says she stands beside those in the education field, believing that teachers should implement new methods, stressing that students should care more about what they learn, rather than their test scores.

Additionally, Chambers also believes that financing towards schools should be used for teachers, as well as students. Due to the recent distress from school shootings, Chambers believes that Resource Officers should be present during school hours.

Information from www.chambers4hse.com. Photo Contributed.

Bradley M. Boyer is a father of three, and long time resident of Fishers. He strongly stands by those who choose to wait to attend college and has taken part in educational opportunities for the last 25 years. Boyer’s experience coaching youth soccer and being a Sunday School teacher gave him an inside look as the struggles of students. Boyer believes that the administration needs to do a better job at casting a strategic vision for the schools, set clear goals and give students more opprortunities to prepare them for careers in which they are interested. Boyer believes teachers need professional development to be able to teach well, but does not believe that fixing things that are not broken is also the answer.

Information from youarecurrent.com. Photo Contributed.

Michelle Fullhart is a returning school board member who has called Fishers home for 16 years. Choosing to raise her family of three boys here and as a former educator at Fall Creek Elementary, Fullhart gained insight regarding education, as well as children. Fullhart is a firm believer in the redesign of the districting system and she finds it unfair and inconvient for those who are “flippers,” or students who are attending high schools that do not fall within the same district as their junior high. Although taking up the position as a school board member, she continues to act as a full-time substitute teacher at New Britton Elementary.

Information from www.youarecurrent.com. Pboto contributed.

Janet Pritchett, long time PTO member at Fishers Elementary and mother of four, has always taken part in the Fishers community. While Pritchett mentions her many accomplishments that withheld within her time at the PTO, she felt as if she could do more. Running for a school board seat seemed natural for Pritchett, as she is knowledgeable of the happenings inside the schools. Unlike those who ran against her, she found that the administration is satisfactory and on the right track. Not only does Pritchett have experience within the school system at Fishers Elementary, she is also a local businesswoman who has grown very successful within the community.

Information from www.pritchett4hseschools.com. Photo contributed.

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What’s next?

SSN previews winter sports seasons The boys basketball team will begin its season with high expectations. The Royals currently have one of the most experienced rosters in the state with the return of senior Aaron Etherington, who is currently the sixteenth-ranked player in the state of Indiana. The team also returns seniors Noah Smith and Brandon Miller, who both played varsity last season. Also returning is 7’ 1” junior Mabor Majak, who is currently ranked as the third best prospect in Indiana for the class of 2020. “I’m looking forward to competing with my teammates each day, getting past Sectionals and winning a state championship,” senior Chris Kottlowski said. Story by Tyler Melser.

The HSE girls basketball team has its eyes on State once again this year after finishing last season with a 16-8 overall record and a 5-1 record in the HCC. However, it’s a new year with one of the most talented teams in the state. The Royals have had two early blowout victories, winning 95-18 against Southport and 73-22 against Valparaiso. In just four games, the team has managed to score a total of 283 points, the most from any team in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference (HCC). “This season is a big deal for me because it’s my last year playing with these girls,” senior Tayah Irvin said. “My biggest goal for this year is for us to make it really far in the tournament.” Story by Tyler Melser.

With most athletic teams, each new year comes a new lineup of senior leaders. In this case, the wrestling team hosts a small number of seniors and will rely on the development and growth of the underclassmen athletes, as Nick Brobst takes over as the varsity head coach. The Royals placed second at the Arsenal Tech John Hurrle Memorial Tourney after only starting one senior on Nov. 17 and look to continue the team’s early success. “The team is very young, but we have a lot of heart so I expect us to compete very well this year,” junior Sam Crousore said. Story by Raegan Walsh.

Meet the Coach: Akialis

SSN’s first spotlight with boys track and field head coach What is special about coaching at HSE? “I think the best thing about coaching here is the combination of the dedication and work ethic of our student-athletes, the support from our administration and the community, and the experience level of the coaches I get to work with. When all of that comes together, it’s really special.”

What are you looking forward to this season?

“We have a lot of younger athletes, sophomores and juniors, filling some key events left by seniors last year. I’m excited to see guys grow into their new roles, become part of new events and keep improving throughout the year.

Our athletes work so hard and spend so much time working to improve. One of my favorite things as a coach is to see that hard work pay off.”

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This year’s Royals swimming and diving team is ready to make a splash. Despite losing the Mudsock and Sectionals last year, the team is hungry to bring the Mudsock title back to HSE. The Royals have strong leaders in the senior class, as well as competitive talent among junior and sophomore competitors. The team hopes to make its mark at State, as well. “The reason we will succeed this year is because a lot of the guys have figured out that what you put in is what you get out,” junior DJ Rogers said. “This has made everyone practice harder and has encouraged racing in practice.” Story by Zachary

Marden.

Amid a Mudsock loss and a loss at Sectionals last year, the girls swim team knows its goal for this year: to return the Mudsock trophy to HSE. Members of the team hope to win the Mudsock competition, conference and Sectionals. However, the swimmer’s goals aren’t just all in competition-based. The team atmosphere is focused towards their goals, as well. “The team culture is pretty great,” senior Margaret Guindon said.

“We are a super close group and we all get along really well. Everyone knows our goals so we are determined to reach them every day at practice.” Story by Zachary Marden.

With the end of football, the competition cheer squad has now moved into Nationals season. Coming off a fourth place finish last year at State, the girls placed fourth again this year, as well as being named Grand Champions at the Purdue Invitational. The Royals will be competing in a two and a half minute routine at Nationals. “I am most looking forward to Nationals,” senior Cecilia Vigren said. “This is a huge competition in Florida where we go against schools across the nation. Elements in the routine include jumps, standing tumbling, stunts, running tumbling, cheer, pyramid and dance,” head coach Alexandra Csiernak said. Story by Raegan Walsh.

Athlete of the Issue

Jackie Maulucci Trait: Determination Maulucci is a junior on the girls basketball team who became a varsity starter after overcoming muliple injuries.

“This is Jackie’s first season as a varsity starter [after] she spent her eighth grade and freshman years hurt. She has had a big impact on our team this season so far.”

Chris Huppenthal, girls basketball head coach “Knowing my injuries happened for a reason really helped me through [the recovery process]. I watched a lot of film, looked at the areas I could improve and spent many days and nights in the gym getting back to full health. I truly believe hard work pays off.”

Jackie Maulucci, 11 HSENews.com

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As the end of first semester approaches, so do final exams. With the added pressure of preparing for finals and finishing projects, students may struggle to find time to get the adequate amount of sleep at night. Studies suggest that humans need eight hours of sleep every night to have a healthy sleep schedule, but numerous students fall short of this recommended amount. While some students may turn to caffeine for a boost of energy, others go about the school day exhausted.

In this issue of the Orb, we took a closer look at sleep deprivation among students. By examining causes, including busy schedules and technology, and effects, such as anxiety, light can be shed on how students can better balance their schedule to include the proper amount of sleep.

Beyond sleep deprivation, this issue also covers club events, a feature on young voters, information on local midterm electees and more.