The Orb - April 2022-23

waste

O R B

verb to fail or neglect to use

to waste an opportunity

STEPS TOWARD INCLUSIVITY: FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS? BY AMBER RIVAS, CAIO MENEGARDO HOW THE UNITED STATES STACKS UP BY PARKER FARRAND, CHARLOTTE MIKSHA

WASTE OF A GENERATION BY AUBREY MATASOVSKY, JORDYN GRANT, ANNABELLA BURNS CLIMATE-CONSCIOUS CLOSET BY MARLEY HAYES, ADDISON GINTHER

02 editorial

CONTENTS

Hamilton Southeastern High School

STAFF

OPINION - 4 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Steps Toward Inclusivity: Cassidy Hayes Forwards or Backwards?

NEWS EDITOR ENTERTAINMENT - 5 Paityn O’Neill

Perserving National Parks

FEATURE EDITOR LOCAL NEWS - 6 Lauren Kopka

Enviornmental Monster or Economic Hero

WORLD NEWS - 7

COPY EDITOR Nicole Morris

ADVISER

How the United States Stacks Up David Young

COVER - 8-10 STAFFERS Waste of A Generation? Emma Bieberich Annabella Burns Sornavalli Chockalingam Kaiden Corliss Climate-Conscious Closet Xavier Dokes Grace Duffy Mame Fall Eco Club Parker Farrand Japanese Club Addison Ginther Riley Dance Marathon Jordyn Grant Avery Grunder Marley Hayes Understanding a 504 Plan Gabriella Haynes Caroline Hiott Benjamin Kruer Erin Lock Chasing History Trinity MacKenzie Sustainability in Sports Aubrey Matasovsky AoI: Delaney Richards Nicole Mathenge Trestyn Mayberry Caio Menegardo Charlotte Miksha Madelynn Page Maya Patel Sydney Pinchouck Amber Rivas Aria Roberts Mackenzie Roberts Katherine Senseman Hannah VanLandingham Julianna Wells Norah Wills

PERSPECTIVE - 11

CLUB FEATURES - 12

PAPER VS PLANET STAFF EDITORIAL: WASTE PAPER RECYCLING

Imagine balling up paper and shooting it into the recycling bin. A pretty common occurrence, right? A study published by the Yale School of the Environment and University College London researched ways to increase the recycling of used paper in the future, as well as its impact on the environment. They found that if all paper was recycled, greenhouse gas emissions could increase by 10%, as recycling paper tends to depend more on fossil fuels than making new paper. Emissions would be exceptionally reduced, however, if paper recycling was carried out using renewable energy sources rather than fossil fuels. Paper generates about 1.3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with about a third of that stemming from disposal of paper in landfills. At HSE, paper is used frequently. It turns out that recycling used paper may not be the most environmental option.

If HSE recycles a ton of paper, which is sent to a place where it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and not renewable energy, that could be hindering any climate benefit efforts. For the next attempt of shooting the paper into the recycling bin, aim for the trash instead.

FEATURE - 13

SPORTS - 14-15

STAFFER OF THE ISSUE

BENJAMIN KRUER

Behind the Cover...

Pictured on this issue’s cover is a close-up of senior Anabella Trujillo. Her face, covered in eyeliner pencil, lists a variety of synonyms for the word “waste” in relation to the focus of this issue. The makeup design was created by Julianna Wells and the concept and final photograph were created by Cassidy Hayes.

This issue’s cover story dives into our generation’s lives with technology and toys with the thought of “wasting” our lives away. We as a newsroom hope to inspire those at HSE to instead make their voices heard, despite how quiet they may seem.

student feature 03

Volume 34 | Issue 7 | Apr. 19, 2023

A JUMP TO NATIONALS

KATELYN LANZTER QUALFIES FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Senior Katelyn Lantzer has always had a love for horses. They were her favorie animal from the time she was little. Lantzer became very interested in riding and begged her mom to let her take riding lessons. Eventually, her mom caved and Lantzer began taking lessons. Now Lantzer has been riding for 10 years and shows at competitions.

Lantzer competes on her own horse, Bama, in what is called jumpers. In jumpers, riders race around a course of 10-12 jumps. The fastest person to get around the course wins.

Lantzer shows about once a month.

At her most recent show, Lantzer got two second place awards. Lantzer also qualified for a National Championship over the summer and is excited to see where it takes her.

At school, Lantzer is a part of Mock Trial, We the People and Law and Government Academy. Lantzer is also on the executive boards for the National Honor Society and Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society.

In the future, Lantzer plans on going into law. Lantzer has an internship with the Indiana State Teacher’s Association. Lantzer is

hopeful that her internship, along with her experience in We the People, will help her if she goes to law school or decides on a related career.

Through riding, Lanzter has learned many necessary skills for the future, the most prominent being responsibility. Lantzer was taught the importance of being responsible for herself and her horse at shows and at the barn. Lantzer has also

learned that failure is part of life and is something to bounce back from.

Lantzer advises anyone interested in riding to remember, it’s okay to fail!

“You’re always learning and growing, failure is just a part of it,” Lantzer said. “The people who accept that and stick with it are always the most successful ones.” Story by Sydney Pinchouck.

ALUMNI UPDATE

After graduating from HSE in 2021, Heidi Schlabach moved to Aspen, Colorado, and took online classes at Colorado State University. When not in class, she worked seasonally for Aspen Skiing Company, where she taught ski and snowboarding classes.

Schlabach emphasized how her experience at HSE during the COVID period helped her realize that there is only one life to be lived and there is no right or wrong path to take.

“The world is so big, and we only see such a small part of it,” Schlabach said. “It’s worth it to take the jump to go out and experience other cultures and places any chance you can get.”

The advice she gave to students

currently feeling stuck or feeling like they picked the wrong path is to not stress and do what they love.

“You’re never as stuck as you think you are,” Schlabach said. “There are opportunities for growth and change no matter which path you take so don’t stress about having picked the right one immediately. If you decide one day that what you’re doing isn’t fit for you, take the leap to change it and do whatever is right for you.” Story

by Caio Menegardo.

HEIDI SCHLABACH: CLASS OF 2021

04 opinion

STEPS TOWARD INCLUSIVITY: FORWARD OR BACKWARDS?

STUDENTS TALK ABOUT PROGRESS TOWARD AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT AT HSE HSE promotes a inclusive learning environment with a non-discrimination procedure stating, “Harassment or discrimination of students, staff members, and guests is prohibited at all academic, extra-curricular, and schoolsponsored activities”. It also has many features that promote inclusivity, such as gender-neutral bathrooms and uplifting phrases printed on the main staircase in the flag hallway. But does HSE truly promote full inclusion, or is that all just for display?

“I feel like HSE is fairly inclusive,” Latino Student Union member Gabi Davila said. “While it’s not very diverse, I rarely get a strong sense of exclusion. Joining clubs and connecting with people that share the same race or ethnicity is something I highly recommend to anyone who ever feels like they don’t fit in.”

A sense of inclusion is crucial for anyone’s mental wellbeing in a regularly attended space, and a lack of it may cause a feeling of disconnection and rejection. Black Student Union member Auri Montgomery also shared her thoughts on the process of inclusion here at HSE. “I believe HSE is semi-inclusive,” Montgomery said.

“I feel like we could really work on the issue altogether because as a minority, I still see segregation division throughout our school.”

There is always a fine line of segregation between groups of people, clubs, genders, and sexualities. Montgomery

also stated how she feels the school does a good job at being inclusive, but some fine changes could be made that could impact students’ lives.

“I believe HSE has made progress in its inclusion,” Gender & Sexuality Alliance president Denver Behlmer said.

“There have been revisions to the dress code, teachers asking for pronouns, [the] ability for GSA to meet, and a push for gender-neutral bathrooms.”

A gender-neutral bathroom is there for students who believe they do not fall into the gender binary of male or female. These restrooms provide safety and purpose to gender-queer staff and students. However, all ten genderneutral bathrooms located in HSE are currently unavailable many under claims of misuse for inappropriate reason.

“I don’t think queer people should be punished because of a design fault [the school] should have thought of,” Skyla Thorpe, one of many non-binary students here at HSE, said. “The fact [the school] didn’t think of a way to make sure students get [included] just shows they don’t care about the safety of gay people.”

The HSE School District has since expanded its knowledge involving the LGBTQ+ community and strives to enforce their safety and well-being.

While HSE can be considered an inclusive environment, statistics and opinions from students show that there is a lot to improve on. There are numerous ways we can provide minorities in HSE with comfort and inclusion. Story

by Caio Menegardo and Amber Rivas.

Infographic by Sornavalli Chockalingam.

entertainment 05

PRESERVING NATIONAL PARKS

INSIGHT ON PARKS AND HOW TO PROTECT THEM

Horsetail Fall, a waterfall located in Yosemite National Park, is a pot that attracts thousands of tourists every year. From October to February, the sunlight hits the waterfall and creates a streak of bright orange light that looks like flowing lava.

In 1916, the National Park Foundation was established to sustain the landscapes and wildlife across the country. Through planning and designing, this foundation creates an environment that allows visitors to experience the parks while simultaneously preserving them so that future generations can experience beautiful sights such as Horsetail Falls.

While the National Parks Service is doing all they can to preserve the 63 national parks in the US, it is important to take action at home to protect national parks. One can make simple contributions by doing things such as recycling, being cautious of your carbon footprint and most importantly, visiting and supporting national parks. While not everyone is able to take trips to see these beautiful landscapes, making small changes in day-to-day life can help preserve the parks for generations to come. While not everyone is able to take trips to see these beautiful landscapes, making small changes in one’s day-to-day life can help preserve the parks for generations to come.

April 23 is recognized as National Picnic Day. Having a picnic at a local park is a great way to contribute to the protection of the environment. National Picnic Day is intended to encourage the public to go outside, enjoy the fresh air and bond with others. Some parks in Fishers available to the public are Geist Park, Flat Fork Creek, Cyntheanne Park and Finch Creek Park. Story by Nicole Mathenge and Madelynn Page.

Black Bears: Black bears are the smallest bear species in North America

Coyotes: Coyotes can run up to 40mph when chasing prey

Mountain Lions: Mountain lions can jump up to 15 feet high

06 news

ENVIRONMENTAL MONSTER OR ECONOMIC HERO

WILLOW PROJECT’S APPROVAL SPARKS NATIONAL DEBATE In recent years, many countries, the United States included, have taken measures to reverse the damage to the environment that humans have caused. However, in March, President Joe Biden approved a project to drill for oil in Alaska’s North Slope of the National Petroleum Reserve called the Willow Project. He met with Alaska lawmakers and oil company ConocoPhillips who urged him to approve the project.

Supporters of the project state that it will improve the Alaskan economy by creating hundreds of jobs. In addition, the project will aide energy production in the United States and prevent complete reliance on foreign oil.

Alternatively, many Alaskan residents and climate activists think that the negative effects do not outweigh the benefits. They oppose the approval of the project due to its potential destructive effects on the environment. Since the project has reached the public eye, millions of online activists have been voicing their concern for the environmental consequences of this project, such as disruptions to arctic animal migration patterns, eroding and melting of habitats, and health risks for indigenous communities. Six million letters were sent to the White House along with petitions being created pushing for the project to be revoked.

Many of these activists have claimed that the government’s motivation for approving the project was flawed, claiming the government cares more about profit than human life.

“It is emblematic of the trend of politicians prioritizing quick cash grabs over humanity and the earth,” freshman Emma Hayes said. “I think it will speed up climate change, making it harder for us to combat this

issue.”

Many environmental activists tend to agree, claiming that the government is making decisions that will benefit themselves, while harming the planet.

The Willow Project is predicted to produce 239 million metric tons, or 526,904,806,622 pounds, of planetwarming greenhouse gases. Scientists suspect the emissions of greenhouse gases will thaw permafrost making the arctic infrastructure weak.

T h e weak

infrastructure will most greatly impact polar bears and caribou. Critics of the project most often focus on these environmental impacts.

“The Willow Project getting approved changes everything. The government is seemingly willing to do whatever it takes to simply make profit,” senior Charlie Parsons said.

“There are already 69 of 157 bird species in the Arctic that are at risk of endangerment, yet instead of helping, our government has signed to do the

very opposite.”

While many people consider the heavy environmental consequences, others point out another issue, which is oil prices in the United States.

ConocoPhillips’ project design consists of three drilling pads, which will collect 92% of the oil they are expected to produce. Collecting more petroleum oil from US territories will have positive effects on the economy.

In recent months, gas prices have skyrocketed, getting as high as $6.43 per gallon in California and as high as $5.25 in Indiana last June. Supporters of the project’s approval have stated that it will help in lowering gas prices and help stabilize the United States oil market. Additionally, advocates state that the project will be able to produce fossil fuels in a cleaner and safer way than other countries. The project is expected to produce oil for 30 years.

The public opinion on the project is heavily conflicted, with both sides making strong points to justify their positions.

The greenhouse gas emissions and potential harm to wildlife call the opposition to action, while the rising cost of gas and reliance on foreign oil do the same for the supporters.

The approval of the project directly opposes Biden’s previously proposed clean energy initiative, which has seemingly been placed on hold.

These actions by the government have caused many lawsuits to be filed against the Biden Administration, but none were successful. The majority of the public seems to be in opposition of the project, as they continue to protest and fight for environmental justice.

Story by Katherine Senseman and Hannah VanLandingham.

HOW THE UNITED STATES STACKS UP

world news 07 WHAT SHOULD THE U.S. DO?

COMPARING THE US ENVIRONMENTALLY

It is a widely accepted fact that the United States is not as environmentally sensitive compared to other countries of their power and size. However, many are not aware of just how extreme the climate crisis is in the US. As of 2022, the US was ranked 43 out of 180 countries environmentally according to the Environmental Performance Index. Compared to other countries with similar populations and geographical climates, this placement is low; the United Kingdom and other European countries were ranked in the top 10.

The reason for the subpar score is the extreme carbon emissions the United States produces every year. The US has released 509 billion tons of carbon throughout their history and contributes 14% of all carbon emissions globally making them the second highest contributor of CO2 emissions in the world. Although the US is evidently one of the top contributors of climate change, their actions to stop it have not quite equaled those of other countries. Denmark and Luxembourg, among other similar nations, are consistently making efforts to limit their carbon footprint and stop climate change, making them high on the list of countries with a strong climate policy and receiving top scores on the Environmental Performance Index.

However, the US is looking to improve their efforts to tackle climate change. The US has said they will produce net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 along with many other countries with a climate change policy, but there is a long way to go until then.

Where could the US improve to be on par with European countries?

YaleEnvironment360, Yale’s School of the Environment journal, notes a couple key factors to Europe’s success. First, there is a strong social pressure to be environmentally conscious, strong enough to deter the average person from carrying a plastic bag or taking a taxi as opposed to public transport. The US is set up in a way that allows for idealistic and self-fulfilling lifestyles where social pressure cannot always be applied, instead prioritizing fuel-guzzling large machinery and an abundance of personal space.

Another factor for Europe to be more environmentally conscious is their size. Since any trash they produce is going to be stuck nearby, they historically have spent more time researching how to keep the land eco-friendly. Also in many European countries, what an American would consider a need is a commodity. Items like dryers, AC and sometimes cars are not present. Yale’s School of the Environment also did a piece on Dan Jørgensen, Denmark’s Minister of Climate and Energy Utilities. Since 2019, he has established connections with the US on an understanding to work towards clean energy. Although a lot of Jørgensen’s focus is on wind power, there are more ways to be environmentally conscious.

Jørgensen plans to have emissions down 70% worldwide by 2030, and he is not the only one with plans. Moves are being made to combat the environmental crises of modern day. Right now, the US is behind in being a frontrunner to protect the environment. The journey to improvement starts with each person adapting strategies made more difficult by the size of the country. Keeping each other accountable for eco-friendly habits is the first step to an environmentally conscious country. Story by Parker Farrand and Charlotte Miksha.

[I think the US should] stop ruining the arctic for profit.”

-Rachel Wan, 12

“We could change our energy source to wind. We burn a lot of coal [as is].”

-Nicholas Prater, 11

“I think a big thing the US could do is move a littble bit more towards nuclear [energy].”

-Dominic Loew, 12

08 cover

WASTE OF A IS TECHNOLOGY CAPPING OUR POTENTIAL?

GENERATION? T

he Internet is a large part of most of our lives.

Communicating with friends through Snapchat, watching entertainment through Netflix or creating content through YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, people have access to do whatever they want. The Internet has something for everyone, but has technology affected Gen-Z a little too much?

Is it pushing this generation to the point where they are wasting away?

Some experts feel that it is.

News Hofstra’s, a university that is most known for highly ranked education argues, “When you’re getting a device at five years old, you haven’t developed that ability to regulate yet, [making it] easier to slip into the impulsivity of using the technology and having a harder time breaking away from it.”

In this generation, most younger kids are watching more TV than going outside and exercising.

Bingham Memorial Hospital states that obesity rates are increasing due to inactivity, technology and poor eating habits. Kids and teenagers are not as active as they used to be. Technology has many students glued to their devices, suggesting they are wasting the day.

To analyze how this impacts our students, @hsenews did an Instagram survey on technology in March 2023. The results of the study showed that most of the HSE’s survey participants got their first device between five to seven years old, which studies suggest can be very harmful and damaging to kids productivity and can negatively affect their learning ability.

The survey also concluded that most HSE students spend five

hours or more on social media, with the most used apps being TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

Spend between two to three hours daily on social media. They also admit, while doing their homework, that they are quicker to pick up their phone when a notification appears, showing how addicting social media is.

Technology has given people ways to interact without talking faceto-face, meaning communication skills are hugely affected. Instead of learning how to make eye contact and keep a conversation going, a lot of kids are growing up antisocial and not knowing those essential capabilities that prepare them for school, college and most importantly, jobs.

Overall, because the majority of Gen Z is online, they are facing consequences to their development.

Too much technology causes disassociation from reality and can create unrealistic standards.

Apps like Instagram only show the side that the person posting wants people to see. Being constantly surrounded by photo editing and filters, teenagers do not know what is real and fake, which can tarnish self-esteem and more.

It would best for us to take a step away from excessive technology use for our future. Getting fresh air can greatly help this generation with the problems that social media causes in the long run.

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DIFFERENCES MADE

Many people doubt how the younger generation can create change in the world. While what kids can do in their communities is sometimes limited, their voices and actions do matter and can spark change to take place across the world. Students such as Greta Thunberg and Charitie Ropati have already made humongous impacts on their local and global communities.

Greta Thunberg was born January 3, 2003, she is an autistic Swedish environmental activist who rivals world leaders and their actions on climate change.

In 2018, while she was 15, Greta started a movement called Fridays for Future, which organizes protests and strikes to spread awareness about climate change and environmental issues. The organization spread information about the state of the world states of her Friday for Future states, “The capital system continuously puts profit over people. Corporation’s greed for more profit is driving the destruction of ecosystem and the climate” FridayforFutures wrote. She is also an author she has written twenty novels relating to the importance of environmental activism.

Greta has been an inspiration to many other teens who care about the environment that specking up can make a change and influence how others see the world.

Charitie Ropati started her activism at 18, she is an educational and environmental activist

10 cover who inspires to include accurate education of Indigenous culture in education. Ropati herself is a member of the Native Village of Kongiganak, Alaska and she has developed an inclusive curriculum that is taught in select high schools.

Ropati helped create a policy for the Anchorage School District in Alaska that students were allowed to wear Indigenous regalia when graduating. This regalia includes sacred clothing, accessories and other artifacts that are used during ceremonies. After this massive step forward for her community, she is now a student in Griffin Lab at Columbia University and studies permafrost and cultural resilience in indigenous groups. Ropati shows how important it is to speak out about things that are not right and can put others in a beginning light.

These students have caused change in their communities and the world. They have inspired many to speak out about things they are passionate about. It is important to remember how much even small voices can start something bigger.

The younger generation can make a difference and can change the world for the better if people speak up and say when something is unjust.

DIFFERENCES MADE

Famous examples do not have to be the only ones, either. Throughout HSE, there are many groups that are working towards building a better and brighter future for both them and the community around them.

Some groups are simply a meeting place for members of a minority group, like Gender & Sexuality Alliance or Black Student Union.

Others, like Key Club, are geared towards fundraising and organizing product drives for sanitary products or canned food.

“Key Club is a student-led, high school organization,” Kenneth Link said. “Our members make the world a better place through service within the school and in the community.”

Key Club is not only responsible

for the spring and fall blood drives, but also for the Adopt-a-Family program in December and the annual Melanoma Awareness week.

Bring Change to Mind, sponsored

by Leslie Caliz, focuses on mental health awareness and taking care of student’s mental health within the school.

“I see that we are making an impact on the level of comfort students have with conversations related to mental health,” Caliz said. “There is a lot to be learned from each other and I am happy we have the opportunity to support each other and celebrate successes in mental health.”

The discussion of social issues affecting students takes place outside of clubs or groups, as well.

Many protests have been led by students; freedom of expression in schools was designated as a constitutional right because Mary Beth Tinker, along with her brother and friends, protested the Vietnam War by wearing black armbands to school. Students have recently led protests advocating for gun control in Tennessee after the Covenant school shooting.

No matter the topic, one thing

remains constant in student-led protests: using the resources around them. The internet holds a wealth of information and perspectives that can provide further context and lead to solutions never thought of before.

“Students must stay informed and up to date with what is going on around them.” Caliz said. “They must take opportunities seriously and do so with urgency.”

Students of this generation have a unique opportunity to contribute to future history books. Whether this time is remembered with indifference or with pride is decided now. Story

by Aubrey Matasovsky, Jordyn Grant and Annabella Burns.

12 club features

ECO CLUB

HOW THE SCHOOL STAYS CLEAN

When walking around school, students may notice the numerous recycling bins in the hallways and classrooms. When they go home and return the next day, magically, the bins are empty. The people behind this are the members of the Royal ECO Club.

The ECO Club meets every Wednesday from 3-3:45 p.m. in J212 and takes care of recycling all of the plastic bottles. “[We mostly focus on] our recycling program. We got approval to get these bins from Pepsico and we put them around the building,” the club sponsor, Kacy Brobst, explains. “Every Wednesday, we count them up and give a report to Pepsico.”

These reports allow the club to provide more bins around school and do other environmentally friendly projects like making benches with recycled material.

While, it may get a bit messy at times, it’s these club members who help keep the school tidy and more environmentally friendly! Story by Erin Lock.

Photo contributed.

JAPANESE CLUB

BECOMING A CLUB AGAIN

Japanese Club at HSE has been brought back this year after 10 years of its absence.

“Last year, Rio Akachi came to me at International Night and asked if I would be the sponsor,” club sponsor Nichole Mathews said. “I used to teach Japanese here at HHS. It has been fun to play with the language again and share the culture.”

Japanese Club is a place to learn about the language and culture of Japan, although the members is what makes the club. The club meets once a month for activities lead by the president and officers. The members have a variety of levels of culture and language knowledge, from being fluent or a native speaker to never having studied Japanese. The club also organize lots of food events from bashing watermelons to having Japanese Christmas cake and mochi. During International night, the Japanese Club raised $100 for earthquake relief in Turkey and Syria.

Japanese Club is all about learning a new culture, language, food and having a lot of fun. Story by Caroline Hiott. Photo contributed.

RILEY DANCE MARATHON THE RODEO FUNDRAISER

This year’s Riley Dance Marathon (RDM) took place on March 25, at the Hamilton Southeastern High School (HSE) main gym from 5PM8PM. The theme of the event was rodeo, so students were encouraged to wear their western gear. This year’s RDM encouraged spring sports teams to “show up and show out” according to the HSE Newscast, to support their team and the club. This year’s event and donor drives raised a total of $21,393.90!

The RDM club at HSE runs an Instagram page with the handle @ hse.rdm. Students are able to join the club to support Riley Children’s Hospital by clicking the link in the bio of their page. Story by Aria Roberts. Photo contributed.

What is a 504 plan?

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CHANGING THE STUDENT LEARNING EXPERIENCE

T

he term 504 originates from Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. As a federal civil rights law, Section 504 requires public schools to provide procedural safeguards for students and parents with disabilities. These safeguards commonly manifest as accommodations for improved learning environments by changing the timing, format, presentation, setting and more for assignments, tests, exams and classes. 504 plans do not alter the curriculum students learn, but how they learn the curriculum.

To determine eligibility for a 504 plan, a student, along with their academic, medical and other records must be evaluated by their school and possibly their health care provider.

Most schools have a 504 team in place to help in this process. If it is determined that the student is eligible for a 504 plan, meetings will take place between the student, parents, health care provider and school to discuss the specific accommodations to improve the student’s learning experience. All accommodations that are determined for the student are listed in a student’s individual 504 plan.

A student’s 504 plan is reviewed at least yearly to ensure an optimum learning experience for the student. 504 plans exist to minimize the impact of disabilities on students, parents and the overall learning environment.

Many Royals have 504 plans that are meant to make the academic experience at HSE the best it can be. Some Royals want to voice their concerns and solutions regarding the compliance to 504s.

One student anonymously commented that “most of my teachers didn’t pay attention to [my 504 plan] and I would be forced into situations that I have the 504 plan for.”

Inattention to 504s at HSE is a common concern echoed amongst students, especially those who have 504 plans.

Another student anonymously proposed a solution: “I think it can be fixed by bringing it to life a little more, to not make children feel like they’re not safe telling a teacher if something isn’t going the way it should be.” Story by Sornavalli Chockalingam and Avery Grunder.

About 12 percent of students nationwide are covered by the IDEA (and thus also recieve Section 504 protections), but only about 1.5 percent of students nationwide are covered solely by Section 504,” via edweek.

Infographic by Sornavalli Chockalingam and Avery Grunder.

CLIMATE CONCIOUS CLOSET

perspective 11

IMPORTANCE OF ENVIORNMENTAL TRENDS IN TODAY’S WORLD

M

any students do not realize what they do each day that impacts the world. Simple things like not recycling and using too much plastic can change the world without even knowing it. About 91% of plastic isn’t recycled, meaning only 9% is.

We used 367 million metric tons in 2020, compared to last year we used 400 million metric tons according to Geneva Environment Network.

Another option for unwanted clothes is donating. In the spring and fall a local business called Indy Kids hosts a consignment sale at Finch Creek Fieldhouse. At this sale, people bring in unwanted clothes, toys, furniture and more for other people to buy.

Citizens come and buy the used items for a much lower price than they retail for. At the end of the sale, if items are not sold, and the owner of the item agrees, they will be donated to charity.

This sale gives people a second option of how to get rid of unwanted items instead of just throwing them out.

While the Indy Kids Sale only comes during spring and fall, many local Goodwills accept donations year-round. Goodwill has more than 3,300 locations in the US and Canada and has a website that ships to all 50 states of the US. According to the

Goodwill website, 85% of houses in the US and Canada are an average of five minutes away from a Goodwill meaning that most people will have the ability to drop off donations.

Goodwill is another great year-round alternative way to get rid of unwanted items. By donating to Goodwill, when other people buy your items, the money goes to community programs and different classes like for people who have disabilities, job training, placement services and more.

Another big environmental trend is using energy instead of gasoline or using less gas. Gasoline contains many different types of chemicals, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and various chemicals.

Burning the fossil fuels when driving releases those chemicals and gases into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a big part of climate change. A couple things we can do to use less gas is driving around less or carpooling, electric cars or even riding the bus. As riding the bus might not be a favorite for most people, carpool or less driving could be a small change but a bigger change in the future.

Shein is a very popular online shopping choice. They sell clothes, beauty products, accessories, home décor, electronic accessories and

more for low prices. Most people find this amazing and are constantly buying from there, until the truth comes out about what really hides in their clothes. Shein has been investigated multiple times and multiple different chemicals have been found in their products such as Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). According to SGS, PFAS is linked to several health-related problems such as asthma, cancer, weakened immunity in children, low birth weight, increased cholesterol levels and weight gain. If you want to order clothes or products at a discounted price, instead of choosing Shein, try other online stores such as Etsy, Poshmark, Goodwill or thrift shopping in general.

There are many more environmental trends that have been popular for a couple years, but these trends are growing in popularity. They are impacting our world more than we know from chemicals in clothes to gases in the air. The good news is that there are multiple solutions that vary from thrifting and goodwill to consignment sales. Our earth and lives are very important and we need to do our part to protect them. Story

by Marley Hayes and Addison Ginther

Tips and tricks on how to help the enviroment!

Infograph by Mame Fall.

Conserving water Conserving water can be done in many ways and have many benefits. Some ways you can save water are by limiting the use of water when brushing your teeth, taking shorter showers, faucets or even pipes for leaks and many more ways to save water.

Tote bags Tote bags can be a helpful way of eliminating plastic pollution from the earth. But, there is a lot of misguided information about going full on tote bag which is not the case. Cotton tote bags have a high global-warming caution beacuse they need more resources to produce

Bamboo items Bamboo items are the best option when it comes to helping the earth. Bamboo products are 100% biodegradable. If they get lost out in nature it can decompose in less than 180 days.

Energy saving light bulbs Energy saving light bulbs is one of the most common uses of removing carbon footprints in homes. If the percentage of carbon footprint increases, then wildlife is impacted severely.

Solar energy Solar energy has been a high topic when it comes to saving money and saving the earth. Solar panels had become popular in 2008 with nearly 4% of U.S homes having them installed.

14 sports

CHASING HISTORY GIRLS TRACK TEAM BREAKS RECORDS, STARTS SEASON WITH SUCCESS

On Saturday March 25, history was made by the HSE girls track team. The girls distance medley relay team had a time of 12:19.86 which beat out Floyd Central for first place. The Royals’ time, however, set a new indoor school record by 12 whole seconds. The team is made up of junior Margaret Powers, senior Julianne McLean, senior Grace Newton and sophomore Elizabeth Butler. The distance medley relay begins with a 1200-meter leg, then followed by a 400-meter leg, an 800-meter leg, and finally, a 1600-meter leg to close out the race.

“All four girls ran well to win that race,” coach Julie Alano said. “The anchor, Elizabeth Butler, just would not be denied as Floyd Central attempted to pass her about 10 times.”

That strong showing at Indoor State reflects how the season has unfolded thus far. The Royals finished third at Indoor State and similarly placed third on March 11 at the Hoosier Crossroad Conference Indoor Meet.

“Only a few of our 130 athletes were able to compete indoors,” Alano said. “[However], the entire team has been working very hard and is excited to show off the work.”

Their first meet following the Indoor State Finals was March 29 against the Carmel Greyhounds and the Royals fell short against their Hamilton Country counterparts.

The meet was close throughout but the Royals lost by two points. The Royals still won several events though.

Freshman Chloe Senefeld, Elizabeth Butler and junior Elise Herman won the 400-meter, 800-meter and 3200-meter respectively. Furthermore, junior Elaina Constantine placed first in the shot put, freshman Riley Williams won the pole vault and the 4x800-meter team of Newton, Herman, Powers, and freshman Katelyn Evans also won their event.

“Our focus is now the state meet in June,” Alano said.

“Each meet in the state tournament is a little different, but we hope to continue our success at the Sectional and Regional level as well as place in the top 5 at state.”

This team was looking to repeat their success from a season ago when they won their sixth straight conference sectional, and it seems as if they maybe well along the way. The strong showings at Indoor State and in their meet against Carmel show a possible road to victory as the Royals look to make a statement this young season.

Story by Benjamin Kruer. Photos by Cassidy Hayes. Pictured Senior Makenzie Loftin.

sports 15

SUSTAINABILITY IN SPORTS

THE EFFECTS OF REUSED SPORTING EQUIPMENT AND RECYCLED UNIFORMS ON YOUNGER ATHLETES When an athlete receives a hand-me-down, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Disappointment is usually the feeling the lowerclassman has when receiving their jersey.

HSE’s athletics programs give lowerclassmen used jerseys to save money and not spend money on new ones every season. It helps save costs for other needs, like equipment, transportation and keeping facilities clean.

For instance, the freshman girls’ volleyball team received new jerseys for the first time in 10 years.

This united the girls to get better each season and focus on how they are playing more than how they look on the court.

Also, when looking at the freshman football team, they have had the same jerseys since the late 2000s and early 2010s. Coach Kelly installs a system that the football team needs to earn the right to receive new items like helmets and jerseys. This system ensures that Coach Kelly’s program will have athletes playing better than they look.

Recently, this has translated to many successes in HSE’s athletics programs that will help lead to better and bigger things for everything HSE.

ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE: TRAIT: PERSEVERANCE DELANEY RICHARDS Junior Delaney Richards has participated in girls track and field seventh grade She began by competing in sprinting events, but later found her love for shotput after being introduced to the sport and has stuck to it ever since.

Unfortunately, Richards has been set back due to an injury, but has persevered and continues to practice and motivate her teammates.

How did it feel to be accepted onto the team?

I love going to practice and just being welcomed by all the throwers. The boy and girl throwers practice together so it is like a big family so when I show up to practice, I’m always excited to see and support them.

What has been the most rewarding moment in your high school track career?

“Last year when I got to see my friends go to state and compete for the school. I was able to go and support them and I was so happy!” Story by Mackenzie Roberts

Photo Provided by Delaney Richards, Second From Left

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