The Orb - November 2023-24

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“We do not want wars...

...there are children who want to live their lives.

”

THREADS OF CONFLICT: THE STORIES WITHIN BY ADDISON GINTHER, CHARLOTTE MIKSHA, LILI PEREZ

EITELJORG BY Charlotte Miksha FORGING FUTURES IN RHO KAPPA BY HANNAH VANLANDINGHAM MARCHING TOWARDS SUCCESS BY Lauren Kopka

IN THIS ISSUE STAFF EDITORIAL How Do Students Approach Opinion and Editorial 4 World Issues?

- E-Learning Or E-Losing - “Class Of...” Chaos

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Arts and Entertainment

- Deep Dive Into Ap Art

- The Eiteljorg Mueseum

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News - In An Auditorium Far, Far Away - Recovering Vanished Voices

12 Cover

- Threads of Conflict: The Stories Within - The War Overseas

16 Feature

- Forging Futures in Rho Kappa - Keeping It Paws-itive

20 Sports

Students here, around the world and nation have a firm understanding of the goings-on of the world but it can be incredibly frustrating trying to figure out how to be effective getting our own opinions out there and our own voices heard. Our generation, Gen Z, has been called the most informed generation, and we are also on track to be the most educated generation as well. Though our generation has these things going for us, it can still be incredibly difficult to be taken seriously when we voice our opinions about world issues. It can be so frustrating, when we see world travesties occurring, but we don’t have an effective way to confront these issues ourselves.

Most of us can’t vote, so how can we make our opinions and ideas heard to the governing adults in our lives?

Small things like local food or clothing drives, protesting, or signing petitions can get our voices heard and help us make an impact in the society we live in. This is an ongoing issue that probably will not be solved until we are adults ourselves and have to remind ourselves on what it felt like to be young and not taken seriously.

Until then though we have to continue doing our best to be educated about the world we live in and open minded towards new ideas and the future ahead of us.

CONNECT ONLINE www.hsenews.com

- Ascent to the Top - The Best Out West

www.issuu.com/hsenews

24 Bush Has YOUR Back - How To Use The PSAT to Students’ Advantage

STAFFER OF THE ISSUE: Lauren Kopka

Table of Contents | 2

BEHIND THE COVER...

International Entanglements have a direct impact on our community, and that’s what we want to convey in our cover photo. HSE students Zena Ambumaylaleh and Layan Ambumaylaleh are subjects in the cover story, and have been directly affected by religious conflicts posed on the front. Photo by Lili Perez.

Hamilton Southeastern High School

MEET THE STAFF Lauren Kopka Editor-in-Chief

Nicole Morris Managing Editor

Paityn O’Neill Creative Director

Avery Grunder Copy Editor

Ben Kruer Sports Editor

Caroline Hiott Arts and Entertainment Editor

Aubrey Matasovsky News Editor

Kennedy Ulmer Opinion and Editorial Editor

Lili Perez Feature Editor

Addison Ginther Staffer

Amber Rivas Staffer

Charlotte Miksha Staffer

Dupree Henry Staffer

Erin Lock Staffer

Hannah VanLandingham Staffer

Jordyn Grant Staffer

Maddy Page Staffer

Volume 35 | Issue 2 | Nov. 2023

Omar Elsayed Staffer

Sydney Pinchouck Staffer

Meet the Staff | 3

E-LEARNING OR E-LOSING? The Pros and Cons of E-Learning

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story by erin lock | lockeri000@hsestudents.org lthough E-learning E-learning days more beneficial than days existed before 2020, making up a missed school day invirtual learning became person? an unavoidable reality during the From the perspective of personal COVID-19 pandemic. A reality that anecdotes and data studies, no. It is dropped the grades and social lives of no surprise that students are more students. likely and able to cheat online, and Of course, anything that happened teachers as well as students struggle during 2020 is typically considered an with communication when their anomaly due to the many improbable intended audience fails to even open events that occurred, but virtual their E-mail inbox. This problem learning has been on the rise even is only magnified with classes that after the pandemic concluded. revolve around hands-on work with Online options for summer school expensive tools and materials such as and college courses have become a welding or fashion classes. norm and with it a question starts to Conversely, E-learning has many loom over teachers and students: are benefits. For one, virtual days allow

the school year to be more predictable.

Instead of having to make up school days during the summer or flex days, students and teachers can make up the day virtually.

If teachers assign busy work that teaches essential topics or skills, things that would most definitely appear on tests or projects, a student is much more likely to complete it.

Ultimately, virtual days are effective when used properly, but that requires organization and communication on both sides.

“CLASS OF...” CHAOS

Snapchat Stories are Doing More Harm than �Good STORY BY PAITYN O’NEILL | ONEIPAI000@HSESTUDENTS.ORG AND LILI PEREZ | PEREZLIL000@HSESTUDENTS.ORG

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he “Class Of...” Snapchat Stories are an excuse to expose, bully and embarrass peers and staff. People not only post disgusting videos and tasteless photos, but also single out people who are just trying to survive high school.

These stories are labeled under “HSE,” but in no way should these horrific posts be affiliated with our school. Things like this cause the school to have a bad reputation.

Some may argue that selling AirPods or posting football pictures is the main center of the story, but a post from early Oct. 2023 would counter that claim. The post was recorded and posted without permission of the student.

HSE 2024 Community

Op/Ed | 4

Additionally, the spam on these stories is absurd; once added to the story, the number of notifications from the app skyrocket. The intended benefit of joining a “Class Of...” story is stated by Snapchat before you even sign up.

“View and join your school’s shared Story, connect with classmates and show your special badge on your profile,” the Snapchat disclaimer states. Despite that disclaimer, people are not using it to meet people or communicate and connect with their peers, but rather to post harmful or inappropriate matters on the Stories.

When you join your class on Snapchat, you are also put into the surrounding classes. If you are in

HSE 2025 Community

HSE 2026 Community

the class of 2025, you will also be added to the Stories for the Class of 2026 and the Class of 2024. That feature is annoying and does not enhance the experience in a positive way. Most people are not interested in the content of different classes, and would rather just view their own grades’ story.

Between disturbing posts and endless notifications, many people have found the “Class Of...” stories to be pointless and harmful.The stories are not being used for their intended purposes and overall cause harm, not connectivity.

HSE 2027 Community

STOP THE REWIND

Thoughts on Ending Daylight Savings

story by Nicole Morris | morrinic001@hsestudents.org

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n Sunday, Nov. 5, we turn back the clocks an hour. While that means an extra hour of sleep that night, it also means getting ready for it to get dark at 4 p.m. for the next several months.

Indiana formally adopted Daylight Savings Time in 2006, with some counties in northwest and southwest Indiana choosing to either switch to Central Time Zone or stay on Eastern Standard all year. Essentially, many of us have been living with Daylight Savings every Spring and Fall for our whole lives. While we may be used to it, does that really mean we need to shift?

Today, there is plenty of research regarding some of the negative health effects of changing our clocks twice a year. According to Northwestern Medicine, not only does it throw off the body’s natural circadian rhythm, our body’s 24-hour cycle that regulates when we get tired, it also increases risks of mental health issues like Seasonal Affective Disorder. For the general schedule of a high school student who wakes up at 7 a.m. and gets home at 3:30 p.m., people see less and less sunlight every day.

Due to artificial light, humans essentially do not need the sun to dictate when we can do work and when we go to bed. Yes, there are

biological impacts of not following our bodies’ circadian rhythms, but we aren’t impacted by the need for the sun like society was in the past. However, to me, the effects of switching time zones twice a year are worse than living in constant darkness.

Now, does that mean that I’m necessarily a fan of staying on EST year-round? Nope! If it was up to me, we’d stay on what we call “Eastern Daylight Time”, or Coordinated Universal Time minus 4, for the whole year. While it would be darker in the mornings, there would be lighter in the evenings, and the vampires called high schoolers would be able to get some sunlight before retreating into their rooms to do homework.

However, it is not up to me. It was up to Congress, when Senator Rubio introduced the Sunshine Protection Act in March 2022. While it passed the Senate, it was never put up to a vote in the House, meaning the twicea-year switch continues, long past its usefulness.

While I could probably argue about time zones and how realistically school and work should adapt their schedules to sunlight instead of having a rigid schedule year-round, for now, I would be satisfied with just staying in one time zone all year.

Information from timeanddate.com

SNACKING WITH SYDNEY Favorite Fall Flavors

Story by sydney Pinchouck | pinchsyd000@hsestudents.org

Not quite ready for Fall to be over?

Here are some pumpkin-flavored snacks for you to try. Only question is, which is the best? Ratings are out of 5 Leaves.

Pumpkin Spice Milano cookies are a great combination of pumpkin and chocolate. The pumpkin flavor is more traditional pumpkin rather than what may be expected from hearing pumpkin spice, more comparable to pumpkin pie.

Little Debbie’s Pumpkin Spice Rolls taste extremely artificial. The spice in the pumpkin cake and the extremely bland flavor of the cream do not complement each other at all. While the Fall flavors are there, the snack doesn’t taste as expected.

Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spice Grahams have the ideal, expected flavor of a Fall snack. They taste just like a pumpkin spice latte. The amount of spice matches nicely with the graham cookie, and there is a perfect Fall vibe.

Pumpkin Spice Little Bites Muffins have a slightly artificial taste, but if you like the taste of the original Little Bites Muffins, you won’t mind. The muffins have just enough spice to add to the pumpkin flavor, making them a perfect Fall snack if you want a quick treat.

Op/Ed | 5

DEEP DIVE INTO AP ART A Look Into Senior Heather Stutz’s Art Story by caroline hiott | Hiottcar000@hsestudents.org

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P Art curriculum wants artists to express their own style in their artwork. Senior Heather Stutz is an AP Art student and the vice president of the National Art Society. This is her second year in AP Art; throughout both years she has faced many obstacles.

When approaching a new project, Stutz finds that after having a general idea, winging the beginning helps with starting a new piece. “I love adding the first thing that comes to mind,” Stutz stated. “Most of the time I have no idea why I do what I do, but in the end I am able to understand what I was actually thinking all along.”

“I hold myself to very high standards because I know what I am capable of, so when I feel I have not met them I’m very critical,” Stutz said, “On my 4x8 ft painting, I redid the face 3 times because I wasn’t satisfied. To overcome this, I step back and force myself to be done. It is difficult, but it works.”

This year, Stutz’s sustained theme is natural light. She wants to convey the serenity and beauty of natural light. Instead of bright fluorescent lights and light pollution she’s bringing natural light to her work, incorporating different times of daylight and different angles.

The medium that Stutz enjoys the most is acrylic paint, but she adds a twist to the paint to make more like oil paint.

“I developed my own strategy for acrylic painting. I let the paint get thick like oil, and I thin it with water as needed,” Stutz stated. “This way it applies like oil, but still dies quickly like acrylic.”

Stutz hopes to communicate beauty through her portfolio. With the support from her friends and family, she has not stopped pursuing art, remembering how her grandpa wanted her to take full advantage of her gift.

A&E | 6

The Wandress, Artwork by Heather Stutz.

Photo contributed by Heather Stutz.

She Watches the Garden, Artwork by Heather Stutz. Photo contributed by Heather Stutz.

FUN PLACES IN FISHERS Story by Sydney Pinchouck | pinchsyd000@hsestudents.org and Hannah VanLandingham | vanlahan000@hsestudents.org.

The Escape Room Fishers is a great choice for anyone who enjoys puzzles and timed competition.

They have multiple different rooms across a variety of themes and difficulty levels. It’s perfect for groups, and they are open almost every day of the year. Photo by Sydney Pinchouck.

The Nickel Plate Trail spans through the Nickel Plate district and has lots of great views to see. The trail is for walking, running, and biking, and goes past many resturants, murals, and activities. There are rest stops on swings and benches and many great opportunities to take photos. The trail is a great place to get some excercise or walk around and see sights of the city. Photo by Sydney Pinchouck.

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EITELJORG MUSEUM

An Indianapolis Cultural Gem

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Story by Charlotte Miksha | Mikshcha000@hsestudents.org oven through rooms are made by native people. Featured brimming with paintings, art themes include indigenous pottery, sculptures and oppression, celebration of culture hand-designed clothing is a story of and masterpieces curated for the tradition and nature, of the endless sake of art. Although the Eiteljorg’s struggle of persistence through Attitudes: The West in American Art disadvantage, of bright communities exhibit highlights art centered around and rich cultures; stories of the tribes indigenous peoples and their culture, and peoples connected through the work itself is done by non-native landscape. Located in Indianapolis people. Not only are native cultures and founded in 1989 by Harrison emphasized in the exhibit, but other Eiteljorg for which the museum is minority groups in American culture named, the Eiteljorg Museum has are spotlighted through beautiful become a staple of Indiana culture, paintings and sculptures. The one existing as the only Native American common idea encircling every art museum in the Midwest. The Eiteljorg piece is this: America. Whether it strives to celebrate and showcase be a gloriously crafted landscape of Native American life, culture, and art a national park or a bronze statue through their elaborate exhibits and of a cowboy on a bucking bronco, everything in the museum in purely displays.

The main draw of the Eiteljorg American in style, origin, and Museum is the exhibit entitled artist. The Eiteljorg Museum is an Expressions of Life: Native Art educating and beautiful experience, a in North America. All artworks, must-see for anyone seeking to learn including paintings, clothing, more about American history or just photography, jewelry and pottery, looking for a creative getaway.

a s . t s r t y

THUMBS UP OR DOWN?

Infograph by Paityn O’Neill | oneipai000@hsestudents.org

Are you excited for Thanksgiving Break?

97%

3%

127 total votes

Do you like pumpkin pie?

64%

36%

130 total votes

Do you celebrate Thanksgiving?

95%

5%

129 total votes ‘Zitkála-Šá (Reunion) 21st Century Ledger Drawing #205. Photo by Charolette Miska

A&E | 7

SIT DOWN IN AN AUDITORIUM FAR, FAR AWAY WITH Olio Road Productions Shows Original Star SIMMONS Wars Goals Check-In

Story by Lauren Kopka | kopkalau000@hsestudents.org

Story by Aubrey Matasovsky | matasaub000@hsestudents.org This month, the Orb discussed the progress of Mr. Simmon’s goals, and the opportunities students have to connect with teachers.

Last issue, Simmons discussed being able to enter the classroom and interact more directly with students and teachers.

“I have been able to get into classrooms and other spaces to engage in organic conversations with some students” Simmons said. “This has allowed me to learn more about who they are and their interests outside of school.” Student perspectives have also been listened to in other formats, too. “We had our first PAC meeting (…) and I thought it went well,” Simmons said.

Simmons also discussed the vast range of opportunities surrounding the students and staff at HSE. “I would encourage students to spend more time with their teachers,” Simmons said. “We have amazing teachers at HSE that care about students and want to support them. Our Pathways period is a great opportunity to connect with them and learn from them.”

School News | 8

The Leonard Theater was all decked out for the showing of “:Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope”. Ushering and ticket taking was done by the Entertainment Team. Photo by Lauren Kopka

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long time ago, in a theater far, far away, the original 1977 cut of George Lucas’ “Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope” was released in select theaters across the nation. At the time, it was regarded as a bizarre sci fi experiment and was expected to flop, dragging those who worked on it down with it. However, upon its opening night, it went become a blockbuster hit. The technicality of the film was regarded as revolutionary and breathtaking.

Since its acclaimed release, George Lucas has continually returned to the film to edit it. Each re-release includes new changes like eyelids on Ewoks, included voice overs and even entire scene changes that were not logistically possible at the time of its release. The versions on DVD and Disney+ are different than the one that premiered in ’77 meaning, many viewers who were not alive for the original theatrical release have not seen the original Star Wars, which is where Olio Road Productions (ORP) comes in.

Jeremiah Follis, the club founder for ORP, came into possession of the original version of the film several years ago and decided to show it now as a fundraiser for ORP. The clubs works during the academic school year to

create an entirely student-made and led feature length film. Of course pulling off such an impressive feat requires an enormous amount of cash to fund it. Each year, the movie before it pays for the current movie to be filmed and produced, through sometimes that doesn’t cover all of the expenses.

“We usually just do it off of all the money we have we get from club dues, which don’t go as far as it used to with inflation and everything,” Follis said. “Film equipment is expensive and it rapidly evolves, so if you have a good camera two years later its not a good camera.”

The movie was shown on October 24th, in the Leonard Auditorium with the permission of Lucas Films.

Upon entering the Leonard, movie goers were rewarded with a true theatrical experience. Star Wars music and spotlights decorated the theater and created a frame for the almost two foot projection screen which the movie was shown on. The crowd seemed to enjoy the movie, and crowd favorite actors like Harrison Ford even received whoops and applause when they entered on screen.

Tickets were ten dollars a piece, and approximately 75 viewers attended.

UPCOMING REFERENDUM

HSE Schools Puts Important Referendum on the November Ballot Story by Avery Grunder | grundave000@hsestudents.org

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hat is a referendum?

It is a question put on the ballot for the purpose of asking the public’s opinion on the matter. According to the in.gov, “Indiana Code 2046-1-8 allows the governing body of a school corporation to adopt a resolution to place a public question on a ballot.” This public question can only be placed on a ballot if it is determined that the school corporation cannot carry out public education without a referendum tax levy or “that a referendum tax levy should be imposed to replace property tax revenue that the school corporation will not receive because of the application of circuit breaker credits.”

The history of HSE schools referenda dates back to 2009.

November of 2009 was followed in referenda by November 2010, May 2013, May 2016 and the current referendum set to be voted on November of this year. According to Fishers City Council President John Weingardt, “Seven years ago,

voters approved HSE’s referendum with more than 70% of the vote.”

According to HSE Schools’ Interim Superintendent, Dr. Matt Kegley, “the current referendum that the district is asking to be renewed was passed in 2016.” Kegley added, “the current rate is close to $0.2275 per $100 of property value…If approved by voters, the new rate will dip to $0.195 per $100 [of property value].” HSE Schools named two main uses of the referendum revenue in their spending plan: attracting and retaining teachers as well as maintaining class sizes. The referendum has been endorsed by the Fishers City Council and the HSE Schools Trustees. Advance HSE, a committee of parents, teachers and community volunteers, has been the main promoting source of this year’s referendum.

Multiple school corporations across Indiana are approving referenda for this year’s voting ballot. Some school corporations including Bluffton Harrison MD, Fort Wayne Community, School City of Hammond, Carmel-Clay Schools, Lake Station Community, School City of Whiting

and West Lafayette Community cite differing reasons for the need in revenue. These reasons vary from needing additional school resource officers to needing funds for school bus transportation and building renovations.

Why Does it Matter to Students?

This referendum, if passed, stands to provide students with enough teachers to keep class sizes as they are now. If the referendum fails to pass, officials have stated that teacher cuts will need to be made, causing class sizes to increase. A passed referendum would give students better opportunities to get one-on-one help from teachers. Students would be able to collaborate and discuss within smaller, closer classes. Whether the referendum passes or not, student will need to stay aware and up to date on the decision and the impact it will bring to schools.

Local News | 9

FROM EUROPE TO INDIANA

How European Conquests Led to Disadvantages for Indigenous Communities Story by Jordyn Grant | grantjor000@hsestudents.org and Maddy Page | pagemad000@hsestudents.org

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n August 3, 1492, Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus set off on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean with intentions to find a route to Asia from Spain.

However, two months later, on October 12, 1492, he became one of the first European explorers to arrive in North America—or what was once called the ‘New World’— and changed the course of history forever. Years later, many countries and communities around the world commemorate this moment on what we know as Columbus Day. However, one important aspect of his voyage that has been brought to the attention of global leaders by activists, is the fact that, in doing this, Columbus had essentially disrupted the communities of Indigenous People who were already living in the New World prior to Columbus’ arrival.

According to an article by History, Columbus saw Indigenous Americans as obstacles to be moved, rather than people to be respected.

His crew had also brought diseases such as smallpox, measles and typhus from Spain that eventually spread and drastically decreased the population of those who were already living on the land. Thus, this led to activists wanting to possibly change the meaning behind Columbus Day to recognize the painful history Indigenous communities have faced since the start of global exploration and celebrate their cultures.

In 1977, a United Nations Conference that was held to discuss discrimination against Indigenous People and activists had brought forward the idea that “Columbus Day” should be changed to “Indigenous Peoples’ Day”. While Indigenous Peoples’ Day has not yet become a federal holiday to be celebrated on October 9, several U.S. lawmakers have petitioned to make it one.

State News | 10

Some states around the country have also begun programs that acknowledge Indigenous People in their communities.

At Indiana University Bloomington, there is a land acknowledgement organization called Indigenize Indiana and it “reminds the nonNative community of the ways they need to work to improve the representation of and support for Native and Indigenous communities at IU Bloomington.” Even though there are changes being made to help bring awareness to Indigenous people and their cultures, there are still many struggles they continue face every day such as educational disadvantages, cultural discrimination and employment.

In the late 19th century, the U.S. government established Native American Boarding schools, which attempted to assimilate or change the Indigenous youth to mainstream American culture through “education”.

In addition to the regular subjects that were already heavily emphasized with American beliefs and cultures, the Native children were forced to convert to Christianity, English was the only language allowed; and punishment,

diet restrictions and more followed if the students did not comply. The Native students were neglected and they “faced many forms of abuse which included physical, sexual, cultural and spiritual abuse. They also [endured] beatings and several hours marching and recreational time [dedicated] to watching disturbing movies such as Cowboys and Indians.”

Melissa Mejia, a writer with the Indigenous Peoples’ Foundation, released an article called “The U.S. History of Native American Boarding Schools” in which she dives deeper into what she claims the United States has tried to cover in their action to erase the Indigenous peoples’ history and cultural background. Mejia notes that in these schools, it “was a part of the United States overall attempt to kill, annihilate or assimilate Indigenous peoples and eradicate Indigenous culture.”

The Carlisle Indian School located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania was founded by Richard Henry Pratt and was established in 1879 with the purpose of “experimenting with Native American assimilation education and imprisoning and [holding] Indigenous people captive.” Meija states.

It was Pratt’s belief that “A great general has said that the only good Indian is a dead one. In a sense, I agreed with the sentiment, but only in this: that all the Indians there are in the race, should be dead.

Kill the Indian in him and save the man.” Pratt believed that what he was doing to innocent children, was morally correct and that they had it coming.

Just for simply living, Indigenous people are terrorized by others, and even though not to that extent in the 2000s, they are still discriminated against today.

RECOVERING VANISHED VOICES Indigenous Peoples’ Day Helps Shed Light on a Silent Crisis Story by Hannah VanLandingham | vanlahan000@hsestudents.org

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s a house party in the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Deer Lake, Montana was coming to a close, people began to head home. Others would make it back to their houses, but fourteen-year-old Henny Scott would not. She disappeared from the house and was quickly reported missing to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

A missing person’s report would not be filed for two weeks because the case sat on an empty desk while that employee was on vacation. An official search was never conducted, so Scott’s family took matters into their own hands and began searching for her themselves. Without the family’s knowledge, the FBI stepped in, took over the case, and located Scott’s body not 200 yards from the house she disappeared from. The cause of death was ruled hypothermia, despite her body bearing other signs of violence, such as a broken nose, multiple bruises and she was wearing clothes that were not her own.

A similar story from the same county broke not a year later. 18-yearold Kaysera Stops Pretty Places went out with her friends one night and then disappeared, her family was not notified. Places was found in a backyard on a busy street five days later, but authorities wouldn’t contact her family until two weeks later.

Their stories are not anomalies; many missing person’s cases for indigenous women are handled similarly. Law enforcement has often dismissed their cases or put them off, leaving families in disarray, often starting to search for themselves.

According to the National Crime Information Center, in 2016, there were 5,712 reports of missing indigenous women, however the federal missing person database only showed 116 cases being logged,

a little more the 2% of the reports.

Law enforcement does not uphold the same standards and requirements for cases involving an indigenous woman that they would adhere to for a white woman.

Many people are familiar with the case of Gabby Petito, a twenty-twoyear-old white woman who went missing in Wyoming in September of 2021. Upon receiving the news of her disappearance, many people latched on, became obsessed and tried to solve her case themselves.

The case received a massive amount of publicity and attention from the nation, and more importantly, law enforcement. Petito’s body was found in Wyoming, a state where thousands of indigenous women go missing every year, without a word from the media or law enforcement.

Many people have cited “Missing White Woman Syndrome” as the reasoning for the media circus surrounding the Petito case. It is a “phenomenon” where interest in crime is peaked if it involves an attractive white woman. This is not a new discovery either; American history is rich with cases of Missing White Woman Syndrome. In the 1800s, when settlements were beginning to expand and take over Native territory, Native Americans would take captives and many records indicate that more people were interested in the story of the captive if it was a white woman.

Directing media attention away from the thousands of cases of indigenous women creates a dangerous lack of public knowledge of the situation, especially when law enforcement is ignoring it as well. But there is hope yet; many protest groups have stood up in support of these women, with their symbol of the red hand over their mouths, representing how the stories of these women have

been silenced.

Awareness for this movement has increased in recent years, and the increase in public awareness will likely lead to more attention from police.

Increased awareness has also, in part, come from the overall public awareness of indigenous issues. In recent years, many problems that face indigenous communities have come to the forefront of the public eye, such as high levels of poverty, poor access to education, environmental degradation, and extreme human rights violations. American citizens have just now started to be educated on these current issues, and past issues.

Many people are unaware of America’s gory history, and they praise Christopher Columbus as a hero who discovered and founded the country, when, in reality, many tribes containing millions of people had lived there for centuries. Colombus “discovered” the land, enslaved these people, and between violence and European disease, killed roughly 55 million of them. The curriculum in schools has very recently begun to make a change, but there are many people who continue to receive the wrong set of information.

The movement to recognize many buried aspects of American history has led to a lot of changes in what people once knew as the whole truth.

Increased awareness has been one of the biggest factors in receiving national recognition of many of these issues. Reform is needed in many areas, but improvements are being made. The problems are far from over, but the country seems to be moving in the right direction.

International News | 11

Photo By Lili Perez

THREADS OF CONFLICT: STORIES WITHIN

An Unseen Perspective of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Story by Addison Ginther | ginthadd000@hsestudents.org, Charlotte Miksha | mikshcha000hsestudents.org and Lili Perez | perezlil000@hsestudents.org

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My Palestinian and Israeli friends walked together holding hands in peace marches and singing songs of hope,” the mother and wife of an Israeli, Sara Gad said.

“Whenever there was a tragedy or another death of someone we knew, we got together to hold each other and show how much we cared.”

On October 7, 2023, the Hamas organization fired rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip. They stormed through Israeli cities killing and injuring thousands while capturing hundreds as their own hostages.

Hamas returned to the Gaza Strip with Israeli citizens waiting for Israel to attack back. Even though this most recent war between the two countries just started, tensions between them have been high for multiple years.

The conflicts between these countries started back in 1948 when Israel declared itself a country and Palestine

Cover | 12

was split into three different parts, a Jewish State, an Arab State and the city of Jerusalem by the United Nations Partition.

Five Arab nations, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria protested the partition and attacked Israel to prevent the establishment of the Jewish State. On March 26, 1979, Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty formally ending the 30-year war.

The Gaza Strip has been one of the most important parts of the history between the two countries. This strip of land is between Palestine and Israel that the Palestinians have claimed ownership of. Some of the Palestinian citizens live on the Gaza Strip but the environment is considered tough to live in without sufficient access to clean water or the internet and unemployment is extremely high.

The Gaza Strip also does not contain any shelters, bunkers or safe zones so,

when attacked, they have no place to go for guaranteed safety.

“We were all weary of the death, sadness and fear. We were sick of having your every bag searched for bombs on every bus, restaurant, shop and theater,” Gad said. “Every forgotten backpack left on a bench or bag in the road stopped everything in a 50-foot perimeter shutting down traffic and walkways until the bomb squad could come and check it out.”

The devastating conflict is proving extremely divisive not only within Israel but across the entire world.

Although Fishers, Indiana, seems far removed from the violence happening in the Middle East, not only are students taking sides, but they are being directly impacted by the war there. Many were quick to support either Israel or Palestine, which had been occurring for many years before the outbreak of this war.

Lemma Obaid, an HSE freshman who was originally from Palestine and has family and friends still living there comments on the impact of this war for them. “[The war] impacted lots of family members,” Obaid said.

“They’re dealing with a lot.”

Seven out of 10 Americans (a statistic established by The Hill on October 23) stated that they were in support of Israel over Palestine.

This finding is backed by the billions of dollars in funds and military equipment that have been donated by the United States government to Israel over the past few weeks. However, the death toll of Palestinians is ever rising alongside that of Israelis, most of that number being innocent civilians.

“It’s like the whole world is basically against us,” Obaid said. “They’re all going to Israel and giving them support when we need support. We’re fighting an army without any weapons or anything.”

This view on the Israel-Hamas conflict is apparently heavily present in American society, which indicates there is another perspective to acknowledge.

“I feel like [Israel’s actions] are not at all [justified] because it’s ruining people’s lives,” Obaid said. “It’s their land and [Israel] stole it from them.

They should get their land back.”

Violence has been laced through the story of the two territories, reaching an ongoing high as the death toll and causalities have continued to climb since October 7.

No matter the prejudice and erasure existing toward Palestinians right now, they still maintain hope for the future and the American mindset.

“I want [students at Hamilton Southeastern] just to support us and know that we’re in the right,” Obaid said. “We’re not the terrorists.”

The main goal has remained the same for the past fifty years for Palestine: freedom. “Palestine will be free in a couple of years,” Obaid said.

Rayan Oyoun, another student at Hamilton Southeastern with similar ideals, said, “This is not a statement, it’s a promise.”

Students, Zena Abumayaleh and Layan Abumayaleh are both from Jordan–originally Palestine. Stories like theirs show both sides of wars and conflicts, allowing people to gain perspective on the innocents caught in the crossfire. Not only do these experiences cause pain, but trauma for the family and country.

“Think about how some people are their family, who are dead, and they can’t even recognize [who is] under the rubble,” Layan Abumayaleh said.

“You’re taking them apart piece by piece to recognize who the person who died is, how would y o u comprehend that?”

Layan Abumayaleh continued with a

visualization to provide perspective, “Imagine someone knocks on your door and tells you this is my house get out or I will kill you right now. Imagine living under siege [for] around 73 years and you can’t go anywhere and you [are] treated like a secondclass citizen,” Layan Ambumayaleh said. “Would you fight or stay in the same place? The moment you fight back they label you as a terrorist.

Palestinians have been under attack for years. They hear news about kids, cousins and their families being murdered and butchered, but nobody looks at them, so would you stay back, or would you fight, that’s my question to you?”

This war not only impacts the adults fighting and their direct families, but also the children. “We do not want wars because there are children who want to live their lives, but some [people] in Gaza are shooting everywhere. What [should] we say about the children who should have a beautiful future? These children are forced to live a life full of wars and explosions. They want the children to live a stable life,” Zena Abumayaleh said. “In Gaza, we defend our country, but [why] is it the fault of the children who were killed due to the explosions in Gaza? These children must live their lives. Some children died at a very young age. Why are these children blamed?”

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Blame, pain and suffering are felt among the people of both countries.

Children, parents, families are calling for peace.

Gad states, “People were killed on both sides and a new era of a second Intifada (holy war) was born. Our dreams of an exciting Jerusalem celebration died overnight.

Throughout the weeks and months that followed, we seemed to live in a waking nightmare. There were daily reports of suicide bombers blowing up buses, restaurants, shops, openair marketplaces and movie theaters.

No place was safe,” Gad said, “My brothers narrowly missed being blown up in bombings a few times.

My brother Aaron was so close to a bus bombing in front of a bus stop that he watched a man die in front of him in the blast. He lost his hearing for a few days and still has PTSD from the experience until today. We were constantly on alert, wondering who would be next to die that I knew.

I went to the funeral of a beloved cousin of my boyfriend (who later became my husband). After a while, it just became part of life.”

Gad continues,“they may have a different name, but they are the same: Isis, Al-Qaeda and Nazis. The blood of many innocents is on their hands, including their own people.”

“All I can do is pray for them all; my Palestinian friends, my Israeli family and friends and all the leaders. Please God let this nightmare end.”

Gad leaves us with this:

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THE WAR OVERSEAS

How the Conflicts Between Israel and Hamas are Impacting Communities Across the World Story by Maddy Page | pagemad000@hsestudents.org

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n Oct. 7, 2023, an organization known as the Hamas, launched a surprise attack on Israel from a location in the Gaza Strip. Hamas fired missiles into Israel, penetrating their air defense mechanism known as the Iron Dome, and resulted in killing more than 1,300 Israeli civilians. On Oct. 8, 2023, Israel officially declared war on Hamas in response to the attacks.

In response to Israel declaring war against the Hamas, the United States quickly began to help Israel with air defense and ammunitions.

Additionally, due to the population of innocent civilians who are in harm’s way from the fighting, many Israelis and Palestinians have begun to flee the country, in search of safety from the war. On Oct. 19, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that there would be visafree travel for short term visits to the U.S. for eligible Israeli citizens seeking to flee the country.

However, as the war goes on and more destruction ensues, civilians are finding it increasingly difficult to leave the country, as exits and entrances are being shut down in Israel and the Gaza strip to prevent Hamas forces from further invading Israel.

Thus, families are being separated and people are trapped inside and outside the boarders surrounding the countries. Freshman Lemma Obaid has currently has family living in Palestine, in the heart of the war happening overseas.

“I just wish we could help them.”

Obaid said.

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FLAVORS OF THE WORLD

Yak and Yeti Brings Himalayan Cooking to Fishers Story and review by Nicole Morris | morrinic001@hsestudents.org and Kennedy Ulmer | ulmerken000@hsestudents.org

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ak and Yeti, located at 11561 Geist Pavillion Drive, next to Goodwill and Goldfish Swim School, introduces the city of Fishers to foods native to India and the Himalayas.

In line with traditional Nepali customs, guests at Yak and Yeti are invited to eat with their hands instead of a fork and knife, and family-style dining is encouraged so everyone can taste a little bit of everything.

From momo - steamed or fried dumplings - to curries, Yak and Yeti hits all the marks for an authentic Himalayan dining experience. Almost every dish is mixed with coriander seeds and cumin, two of the most popular ingredients in Nepali cooking. The unique blend of spices and herbs creates a symphony of

flavors that every customer can enjoy.

Most of the offerings on the menu are customizable, especially the curries.

Customers can choose a spice level from one to 10 for any curry. The appetizers are meant to be shared, so we recommend ordering two or three, depending on the size and appetite of the party.

The excitement does not stop at just food, as Yak and Yeti also offers a plethora of specialty drinks, from traditional Himalayan teas to fruitflavored Lassis, which are Asian yogurt drinks. Sit at one of the many tables or booths for some privacy during the meal, or choose a seat at the counter for some fun conversation with the kind and welcoming employees. Yak and Yeti is a unique dining experience that everyone in Fishers needs to try.

Exterior of Yak and Yeti. Takeout is offered in addition to dining in. Photo by Nicole Morris.

Dinner Review

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n order to review Yak and Yeti’s menu, an appetizer, two entrees, and naan was ordered and shared family-style.

Below are the reviewers’ thoughts and opinions on their dinner and experience.

Everest Samosa Chat Not super spicy, so ideal for more mild eaters. Good texture with a wide variety of vegetables. Definitely shareable. We loved the presentation, and it was very flavorful.

Bowls of lamb kadai and rice. All curries are served with rice. Photo by Kennedy Ulmer.

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Fried Chicken Momo A fried dumpling with a delightful chicken filling. The shell was crispy – would not work as well with a takeout order, but steamed dumplings are available too. Flavorful and the sauces provided were amazing.

Garlic Naan Like garlic bread, but naan. Soft and fluffy, still warm and super flavorful.

Cannot go wrong with some amazing bread.

Keema Naan Naan, but filled with lamb.

Essentially like a calzone with gyro lamb meat. Absolutely delicious.

Lamb Kadai – Spice Level Five Lamb was perfectly cooked. The sauce is flavorful and spiced well.

The vegetables added great contrast.

We chose spice level five, which is considered “medium” on a scale of 1-10. Pairing the lamb with the rice added delightful texture and flavor.

A plate of fried chicken momo. Yak and Yeti also serves traditional steamed dumplings.

Photo by Kennedy Ulmer.

Table spread at Yak and Yeti. The amount of options allows for everyone to find something they like. Photo by Nicole Morris.

AP AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES New AP History Class Offered at HSE

Story by Dupree Henry | henrydup000@hsestudents.org

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P classes give students the opportunity to earn college credits before attending college, which many students take advantage of. This school year brings the addition of a new AP class that teaches students about African American history.

Other history classes such as AP World History, AP European History and AP United States History do not go in depth about African American history or culture because they are filled with other content. However, the new AP African American Studies class allows students to learn more about the culture and history of African Americans, while earning a college credit.

“Students get the chance to learn, in detail, about the African American experience,” Brenda Barrett, the teacher of the AP African American Studies class said. “History is a big portion, but we also go into music, literature, etc. The course allows one to go more in depth than a regular history class.”

A big question students ask before taking a class is how much homework does the class give. Students taking the course seem to view the workload as reasonable.

“I’d say the workload is pretty moderate,” Savannah Pennybaker, a senior enrolled in the course said. “We don’t have a lot of tests or quizzes, but we do have a bit of homework/group discussions. I think it’s necessary to have a moderate amount of work in the class. It only helps.”

Although there are students taking the class currently, the class is not technically in the school’s corse catalog. It will be an official class next school year. However, students taking the class in its “pilot” stage seem to enjoy the material.

Barrett in front of her classroom photo collage.

This collage is located behing her desk. Photo

by Dupree Henry.

“There are some things that I was completely oblivious to when it came to the experience of Africans living in America,” Kierstin MitcheIl, a senior enrolled in the class said.“I get to hear the perspectives of my classmates every day during class and I love just sitting back and listening.”

The content of this class is in intrest to many students “I took the class because it was new and seemed interesting to me,” Pennybaker said. “I’ve been in HSE schools for my entire life, and I have never heard of a class like this, so it sparked my interest quickly.”

This class touches on uncomfortable topics that are often avoided in schools and other public places. This leads to deep conversation in the class.

“My classroom is a safe place to have the hard discussions this course requires [and] allows,” Barrett said. “We are finally teaching hard history and we are having those hard conversations.”

This part of history is uncomfortable for most and it may drive many away from the class. However, teaching “hard history” can benefit students greatly. It forces one to look in different perspectives and form new opinions that may go against what they originally thought. This leads to more open-minded and adaptable students.

“It is incredibly important to offer this class,” Barrett said. “If we want to offer our students diverse learning opportunities, this class is a necessity.”

Barrett’s classroom photo collage. It consists of photos from various American cultures. Photo

by Dupree Henry.

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FORGING FUTURES IN RHO KAPPA

Exploring Careers and Inspiring Service in Social Studies Students STORY BY HANNAH VANLANDINGHAM | VANLAHAN000@HSESTUDENTS.ORG

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ho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society is one of the lesserknown honor societies at HSE, but its purpose greatly serves many students.

They offer many opportunities for people who are interested in pursuing careers in law, teaching, history, and more. Rho Kappa gives members various opportunities to learn more about paths they may be interested in taking.

The students involved in Rho Kappa that complete these projects are juniors and seniors who have completed six Social Studies credits, with one of those credits being from an AP or dual credit course, have a GPA of 3.5 or above and have completed prior community service.

The application process is simple: filling out a form stating that all requirements have been met and why the applicant is a dedicated social studies student. Applications are reviewed and new members are selected by club sponsor and leader Janet Chandler.

Once students have been accepted into Rho Kappa, they select student leaders. This year, their student leaders are Co-Presidents Emily Everett and Haley Vega, Secretary Alex Yu, and Publicity Director Lauren Hand.

These leaders are chosen through an election process with general society

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members. Student leaders must be seniors in their second year of club membership.

During the 2022-2023 school year, Rho Kappa had roughly 20 members.

This year, the club has grown in size to roughly 40 members. This change in numbers has provided a new dynamic compared to what returning seniors experienced last year. The leaders are adapting to these changes and new members, using the circumstances as an opportunity to learn, grow, and make the club the best they can for new members.

Focus on general members is very important for the club’s leaders, as most of their activities are based on the input of club members.

At the beginning of the year, leaders ask the general members who they would like to have as a guest speaker for the coming year.

“I was a regular club member last year, and it was our first year as a club, and they were going through a lot of changes and even though I wasn’t in leadership, I saw what they were doing there,” Co-President Emily Everett said. “I personally really like Social Studies, so as a leader I’m able to bring perspective knowing what a regular club member would want, and what someone who’s really into Social Studies would want.”

Guest speakers from many

different professions visit the club typically every month. For example, this November, Hamilton County historian David Heighway and in January, Zachary A. Myers, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana will be speaking to the society about their careers, and in December, the Indiana Court of Appeals will be doing a live case in the Mary Armstrong Little Theater.

These guest speaker opportunities are not the end of what the society has to offer as members of the club complete two service projects each.

Students have many opportunities to complete their projects. The student leaders and sponsors work together to create different opportunities for service projects through the club.

One opportunity available to club members is volunteering to be a poll worker in local elections. Students can learn about and participate in government processes while earning service hours; this opportunity also pays their workers, so students will get paid during their project. “[Our primary goal] is for people to understand different kinds of careers that they can do with social studies interest,” Chandler said. “[That] and perform service within the community and the school.”

KEEPING IT PAWS-ITIVE

Pawsitive Paws Creates Safe Space for Students STORY BY Sydney Pinchouck | pinchsyd000@hsestudents.org

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he new animal club, Pawsitive Paws, was created to bring positivity and kindness towards animals and animal lovers. Members of the club are given the opportunity to learn more about different animals, along with in-person viewings and feedings.

Students can share their personal pets to display the animals they love.

Pawsitive Paws was started by Junior Hayley Hall. She was inspired to create the club because of her love of animals.

“Leading Pawsitive Paws is an inspirational experience that has given me a new passion,” Hall said.

“This club is my favorite hobby and something I constantly look forward to.”

The club is open to anyone and stands for students who want to see animals and feel them in person.

Members get to try feeding, holding animals and discovering new animals they might love. Most importantly to Hall, it was designed to bring a safe space to both people and animals.

“Pawsitive Paws creates a safe place for all animal lovers, including myself,” Hall said.

Anyone interested in joining Pawsitive Paws can join the club’s Remind with the code 77ce4a4 to

get information about upcoming meetings. Hall highly encourages joining to expand knowledge and love of animals and meet people with the same interest.

“We want to bring together all animal lovers,” Hall said. “To help create a loving environment for friendships and our favorite pets.”

THE FUTURE OF FCCLA Teaching Students Necessary Life Skills STORY BY Amber Rivas | rivasamb000@hsestudents.org

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amily, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), a newly introduced club, is aiming to offer students more opportunities to be involved at HSE. FCCLA hosts training, education, hospitality, human services, tourism, visual arts, design and is a student organization for students in family and consumer sciences education (FACS).

Megan Davis, the faculty sponsor of FCCLA, became involved with FCCLA in college. Ever since, Davis has been inspired to give students opportunities to become involved with

HSE and strengthen her relationships with students.

FCCLA offers students the opportunity to expand their leadership potential and offer skills for life by doing community projects and state and national conferences. In these conferences, students present a project concerning FACS while competing against other students in the state and country. These conferences can provide students with skills including planning, goal-setting, problem-solving and decision-making, all necessary skills in the home and workplace.

The work of FCCLA helps students and teachers focus on various youth concerns. These concerns consist of parenting, family relationships, substance, peer pressure, sustainability, nutrition, and fitness.

Focusing on these youth concerns can provide inclusivity and lead to more support systems within HSE. FFCLA is a prime opportunity for students to improve HSE’s inclusivity and student skills. The club meets during Pathways A on gray Fridays.

The club is open to any HSE student who wants to learn more about FACS.

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THE BULLETIN

Phoenix: Overrated, Over-touted

Story by Ben Kruer | kruerben000@hsestudents.org A longer version of this column can be found on hsenews.com or by scanning the QR code at the bottom of the page.

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any already expect the Phoenix Suns as title contenders because of their various offseason acquisitions, headlined by the trade for Bradley Beal. Yet, the Suns hardly seem any better than they were last season. Yes, Bradley Beal is a good player, but is he expectation-altering for Phoenix?

Simply put, he is not. Beal is a former All-Star, emphasis on the word former. During Beal’s last All-Star appearance in the 2020-2021 season, he put up gaudy numbers, averaging 31.3 points per game but since, Beal has regressed sharply in almost all facets of the game. His points per game is down more than eight points from the 2020-2021 season. Never a great three-point shooter, Beal’s percentage in the two years since his last All-Star appearance is more than 15 percentage points lower.

While Beal has statistically regressed, the thing that the Suns should be more worried about is his availability. Over the past two seasons Beal has played in less than 55% of games. This lack of availability could be a huge concern for Phoenix as their two best players, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, both dealt with injuries a season ago.

Phoenix’s gamble on Beal means that they have sacrificed team depth, a critical element of success come playoff time. This lack of depth will result in Phoenix never having the better all-around team in a loaded Western Conference, torpedoing their title chances.

Continued...

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THE BEST OUT WEST Celebrating the Pac-12’s Swan Song

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Story by Ben Kruer | kruerben000@hsestudents.org

oming into this college football season “The Conference of Champions” was no more. UCLA, Washington, Oregon, and USC are all headed to the Big 10. Colorado, Arizona State, Utah, and Arizona are all headed to the Big 12. Cal and Stanford are headed to the ACC. Only Oregon State and Washington State remain as reminders of what was a great conference. Known for succeeding in “below the line sports”, the Pac-12 has recently struggled to find success in the college football space, partly prompting the mass exodus to seek higher financial gains.

The sad irony for the Pac-12, or rather the Pac-2, is that they may be the best conference in football this season. Washington, Oregon and maybe even Utah could all make the College Football Playoff if the ball bounces right. Washington and Oregon both have incredibly highpowered offenses, while on the other hand, Utah has staked their claim as one of the toughest teams in the nation with their vaunted defense.

Oregon State, USC, UCLA and Washington State are good, top 25 teams that would likely be great in other conferences. This doesn’t even include Colorado, led by first-year head coach Deion Sanders. The Buffs have become the most publicized team in college football and while they have had their ups and downs, it is hard to deny how intriguing they have been.

At the time of this writing, Oregon and Washington have been the only of the “big hitters” to play each other (with Washington barely escaping with a win), so it is not yet clear who is the top dog in the conference.

Nonetheless, these two teams give the Pac-12 their best chance at fielding a College Football Playoff team since the 2017 iteration. The worry would be that the Pac-12 is so good this season that it would be impossible for a top team to finish with a record worthy of a College Football Playoff

berth. For example, Washington has a ridiculously challenging schedule to close out their season. As of this writing, The Huskies must finish their already demanding slate by playing three straight top-25 teams, plus their biggest rivals Washington State, with half of these games being on the road.

The Pac-12 is not only the conference with the most depth, but also the one with the best players. At the time of this writing Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. being considered the favorite. While USC quarterback Caleb Williams has had an absolutely horrendous month, his talent could still keep him in the race. Oregon quarterback Box Nix has also put together a stellar season and is more than capable of jumping into the top tier if he and Oregon finish the season strong. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has also played well throughout the season. Speaking purely statistically, Pac-12 quarterbacks dominate the leaderboards. Sanders, Penix, Williams, and Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward are all top ten in passing yards and Sanders, Penix, Williams and Nix are all top eight in passing touchdowns.

There is an innate sadness in the Pac-12 disappearing. This was one of the oldest conferences in college football and has left an indelible mark on all aspects of college athletics, not just football. Again, there seems to be some solace in the irony of it all. The conference that started conference realignment and is thus responsible for the downfall of the Pac-12, the SEC, has been nowhere near as good as the Pac-12 this season. The SEC is incredibly top-heavy, and those top teams, Georgia and Alabama, appeared flawed. Pound-for-pound, the Pac-12 is better than the SEC and frankly, it is a delight to see as, hopefully, “The Conference of Champions” can ride off into the sunset.

MARCHING TOWARDS SUCCESS

Competition Season Brings Accolades, Personal Achievements Story by Lauren Kopka | kopkalau000@hsestudents.org

Royal Command and Guard’s Color Guard performs during a Varsity football game Friday, Sept.

1 Performances took place during regular season games. Photo contributed Janna Tinch.

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very Friday during regular football season, under the blinding stadium lights, roughly five percent of HSE’s population waits posed and ready on the Varsity football field to perform in front of hundreds of fans during halftime. And most Saturdays from September to October they perform their hearts out at regional and national competitions.

For each performance, drum majors senior Skye Wood and junior Dylan Balka conduct from their raised platforms and as the speakers introduce the first few measures of “Spring No. 1” Wood and Balka begin to lead the Royal Command and Guard through their multi-statement performance titled “Avant Garden.”

The performance consists of three separate movements and is based upon a modern painting of a flower.

The music, set, costuming and choreography is designed to lead the audience through a story of growth.

The music specifically arranged by an outside composer, based from source material that Director of Bands, Audrey Torres and Assistant Band Director Edward Roush meticulously combed through at the beginning of the season to find a piece that would work to bring the best out of their ensemble.

“The first statement is all about

introducing the garden,” Balka said.

“It’s kind of small, a few plants. The second part of the show is a storm and the third part is when everything comes to life. They based it off the past two years where it’s small, smaller than big.”

RCG has competed everywhere from local high schools to the University of Louisville during this year’s competition season. Their charged performance brought high rankings in local invitational competitions as well as in the national circuit, Bands of America.

“Last year, for the first time in the history of the school we made finals at BOA and that was the first in school history...that’s a very competitive circuit,” Torres said. “Bands can come from all over the country so that was a really great goal and this year we went to another BOA regionals, which was larger and more competitive than last year and we made finals again so that’s a really wonderful accomplishment for the students.”

RCG typically practices three days a week for two to three hours at a time to get their performance is as polished as possible for the upcoming weekend. Saturday competitions are an all-day event for the RCG. Call times to the high school come early to ensure plenty of time for sneaking in another rehearsal as well as have time

to rest and load all of the equipment into trailers for transportation to the competition. The RCG will then pile into school busses, where 30 minutes prior to their arrival, Torres enforces a strict silent time to get everyone dialed in on the task ahead.

Then all of the practice, long hours and preparation comes down to one moment, where the team steps on the field as a united front.

“What’s so cool about that is we can see the students put all they have into it and see the hard work, all the blood sweat and tears that have gone into it, pay off in this moment where we as a team get to go on the field and perform together,” Torres said. “You can see the emotions, usually walking off the field you can see whether there beaming ear to ear or crying usually in a good way like ‘I just left everything out in the field.’”

The competitive season recently concluded on Oct. 21 and while the season brought shiny accolades to display in the band room, that’s not why they keep working hard season after season.

“We always preach to our students, it’s not about the accolades and the trophies. They’re great and they come with success but its also like how good can you be how can you get better. At the end of the day you can’t control how another band is going so we’re always pushing every day to get better and better and that’s what’s happening.”

Royal Command and Guard stands at attention after a Bands of America competition. RCG finished 11th place. Photo contributed Janna Tinch.

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ASCENT TO THE TOP

Football, Girls Volleyball Season Recap, Postseason Preview

Story by Dupree Henry | henrydup000@hsestudents.org Story by Omar Elsayed | elsayoma000@ hsestudents.org

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oing undefeated in any sport is spectacular, which describes the girls volleyball season perfectly. Earning a 31-0 record overall, the girls volleyball team dominated this regular season.

However, that record was not built in perfect conditions.

“This season, as a team, we did a good job of shutting out the outside talk about our team,” senior outside hitter Lauren Harden said. “I feel we did great focusing on what goals we have as a team and what we need to do to achieve them, without buying into the chatter of people not in our circle.”

Despite the doubt, the team has elevated since last year. They have made improvements in their play and chemistry.

“I think as a team we’ve done a good job staying and playing together,” senior setter Macy Hinshaw said. “We have improved a lot defensively and handling our first contact.”

As of this writing, the volleyball team is continuing their dominance into the postseason, winning both sectionals and regionals, and they plan to keep up the pressure.

“We expect to go far and have a lot of fun,” senior libero Sophie Ledbetter said. “We just need to stay focused for every game and play at our level of volleyball.”

With this being the last chance for these seniors to represent HSE volleyball, there is greater emphasis on succeeding in this postseason and making a lasting impact on the team.

“The teams that make it farthest in the post season are ones that do it together,” Harden said. “They play together, have a common goal and make sure to enjoy the time they have together.”

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Royals huddle up prior to a game against Fishers on Sept. 7. Photo by Maddy Page.

“

We have some talented athletes, especially with volleyball and football.

Almost every Senior is going someplace to play at the next level, many at a high Division I.

”

-Jim Self

Senior tight end Kam Anthony celebrates during a game against Fisher on Sept. 8. Photo

by Marley Hayes.

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he bar was set high for the boys’ football team with their historic season last year, but they have followed up quite well this season. They recently finished their regular season at Brownsburg on Oct. 9. Unfortunately, the team was handed their second loss of the season with a score of 21-14, making their record 7-2 only losing to them and Westfield. The regular season included several memorable moments, the first of which was a drubbing of Ft. Wayne Carroll, who ended the Royals championship run at semi-state last year. In that game, senior linebacker Jack Osiecki tallied three sacks and junior safety Mason Alexander picked off two separate passes, both of which he returned for touchdowns.

An overtime thriller against the rival Fishers Tigers followed just weeks later. Senior linebacker Judah Parker, the team’s leading tackler, made a key stop, which led to the Royals’ leading rusher Jalen Alexander punching in the game-tying touchdown, and junior kicker Hugo Belmonte kicked the winning extra-point resulting in a score of 35-34. Another memorable moment was a comeback win against the Zionsville Eagles on the road. In that game, senior Donovan Hamilton, the team’s leading wide receiver, tallied over 220 yards. The HamiltonAlexander duo is responsible for over half of the team’s touchdowns this season. All this would not be possible without junior quarterback Chandler Weston who has been the backbone of the team this year with almost 1,500 total yards and 15 touchdown passes.

As of this writing, they are gearing up for their first-round Sectional game against Ft. Wayne Northrop on Oct. 27 and will face the winner of Fishers vs. Homestead on Nov. 3.

ATHLETES OF THE ISSUE: Anaya and Anissa Lammie Story by Omar Elsayed | elsayoma000@hsestudents.org

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n sports, sibling bonds often fuel the drive to greatness. The Lammie sisters, Anaya, a junior, and Anissa, a freshman, are two extraordinary athletes setting the track and cross-country scene on fire with their remarkable achievements and teamwork.

The sisters boast impressive personal records. Anaya shines in cross country with a personal best of 19:39 and has participated in state meets in her freshman and sophomore years. She and her 4x800 relay team proudly placed sixth and earned a coveted medal at last year’s indoor state track meet. Anissa runs a 55.57-second 400-meter time, a time that would have been Sectional and Regional champion-worthy last year, and her 18:40 5k is a minute faster than her sister’s.

The Lammie sisters’ journey into cross-country and track and field began with a playful rivalry that turned into a lifelong passion.

“Anissa always took clothes from my closet, and I ran after her to get them back,” Anaya said. “We agreed that we were decent at running and chasing each other, so in fifth grade, I joined the cross-country team and Anissa her 3rd-grade track team. We have been running ever since.”

Anissa aspires to commit to a Division I college and has a goal of placing within the top three at the state track meet. Anaya dreams of not only running with her sister at the state meet, but also competing at the highest level possible.

For aspiring sibling pairs looking to excel in any endeavor, the Lammie sisters offer simple yet impactful

advice: “Always work hard,” Anaya said.

“Encourage each other and be competitive.”

As of this writing, the pair have yet to compete in the cross-country State Championship, which is set for Oct. 28th. The Lammie sisters, alongside the successful cross-country team, are ready to demonstrate that dedication, teamwork, and sibling bonds can lead to remarkable achievements.

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE:

Sisters Anissa (left) and Anaya (right) Lammie smile after a cross country meet. Photo contributed by Anaya Lammie.

Royals wide receiver Donovan Hamilton carries an American flag prior to a game against Avon on Sept. 1st. Photo by Katherine Senseman.

Sports | 23

BUSH HAS YOUR BACK

Bush Back At It Again: How To Use The PSAT To Students’ Advantage Q&A by Lauren Kopka I kopkalau000@hsestudents.org and Paityn O’Neill | oneipai000@hsestudents.org

Q: Why is the PSAT so important for we should and if our kids are showing an upward progression. The two sides are for the kids and for all grade levels?

A: The PSAT is actually the preliminary SAT. What the administration to look at it and see the specific

it does is get kids ready for the actual SAT that the state now requires juniors to take in March. One of the real critical things is that when you are in the 11th grade, you now qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) which helps if you do well on it you can get scholarships, get involved in recognition programs and that’s when the switch becomes where you’re looking at schools versus schools now looking for you. That is one of the reasons why 11th graders all should take it and try to do their best just for that alone and then it helps you prep for the SAT. Even though some schools have now become test optional, a lot of scholarships will reward you for your test scores.

Q: Is the PSAT still important for 10th graders?

A: Yes. It is important because practice makes

perfect. No one teaches you how to sit for a three hour long test, we don’t teach that in school. Being able to practice and experience what it is like is very very critical. Our state government decided that they wanted to invest into students to get them prepared for the SAT. A lot of kids during the summer between their sophomore and junior year will take an ACT or SAT to see how they’ll do or if they are about to apply for scholarships. There are some junior scholarships that they can apply for where they may need a score.

The second part of it is that it gives a school district data. We take what kids have done and use it to see where our kids are at, if we are growing as a unit, if we are progressing through the state standards as

areas of learning we as a school need to work on to better prepare our students.

Q: What should students do with their scores after they have taken the test?

A: I would say that if you are a sophomore, I would take it and look at it. The score report is very clear, it’s like a stoplight. Red areas tell you that you’ll need to stop and look at the areas in which there are components that you really don’t know and want to strengthen. The yellow areas will tell you that you are sort of in the middle, but there is some cautionary tales there to meeting those benchmarks. Green areas means that you have met the benchmark. It is really good from a visual standpoint to see where you are at. Juniors on the other hand, I would say to you that this is a good indicator on how you will do on the SAT in March. If your score is low or even if it is high, I always tell kids to go back and practice.

Like I said, practice makes perfect. If you practice, understand the skills, look at the score report it will greatly benefit you in the long run.

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No one teaches you how to sit for a three hour long test, we don’t teach that in school. Being able to practice and experience what it is like is very, very critical.

-Mrs. Bush

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GET IN TOUCH College and Career Office, F104 across from the Guidance Office Karen Bush, College and Careers Director kbush@hse.k12.in.us Jen Holle, College and Career Assistant jholle@hse.k12.in.us