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BLACK AND WHITE MARCH 2019 VOLUME 27 ISSUE 5
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DISCONNECTED
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DISCONNECTED With constant distractions it isn’t hard to become disconnected. However, the current disconnect in the school is ever so evident. With a lack of school spirit, insufficient handicap accessability, and administration telling students to take of their durags, there is a geater divide now than ever. In this issue, we try to bridge the gap of disconnect between what the students want, and what they are given.
MARCH
When Jay Rice ‘94 brainstormed the name of our paper in 1991, it was not because of the ink color. For the last 26 years, our mission has been to bring our audience stories from the school, community and nation, told clearly and without exaggeration--in black and white.
Editorial Board
Editor-in-chief Andrew Maresca Print Editor Obsee Abbajabal Online Editor Ada Basic Design Editor Taylor Siebert Story Editor Brooklyn Dilley Sports Editor Evan Newcomb
Staff Writers
FINE PRINT Black & White is published solely by the Johnston High School newspaper staff. It is an open forum. In accordance with Iowa law, students assign, edit material and make all decisions of content. Editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board. Editorial and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the advisor, school officials or the district. Letters to the editor must be signed. Like all material, letters may not be libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. To write a letter to the editor, or report an error in the issue, please contact the editors at jhsblackandwhite@gmail.com.
Say Hello
Cecilia Allemagne Parker Anderson Riley Anderson Payton Blahut Duncan Christakos Caroline Christensen Annie Culbert Cameron DeRoos Kylie Emery Kara Green Paul Heggen Elizabeth Jones Joel Kellar Jacob Kim Akshaya Kumar Erina Lee Sophia Longo Karla Lopez Siri Mandava Marandah Mangra-Dutcher Ashley Marsh Jacob Marren JD Norris Jenna Olson Charlie Pattinson Ben Pegg Julia Richards Colt Smallwood Ethan Ung Ben Williams
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INSIDE LOOK
12 Insufficient School Spirit
News
4 Winter Color Guard Mock Trial Regionals Blood Drive
Feature
6 No Patience for Parents 8 Waves and Durags
Editorial
18 Unacknowledged Academics
Opinion
20 On the Move
10 Standard-Based Stress 12 Insufficient School Spirit 5 Boys and Girls Track Science Olympiad Dance Marathon Robotics
Profile
16 1/1700: Amber Altman
Arts & Entertainment 22 Hypebeast Culture
4 | news
BRIEFLY
words | Kara Green layout | Andrew Maresca
WINTER COLOR GUARD
The winter color guard is primarily a rifle line made up of 12 people. Rifle Line is a continuation of marching band color guard. “We focus on skills from the beginning of the season so that people can learn before color guard starts up again this year,” Jenna Curry ‘21 said. The color guard did not practice last winter although two years ago flags did. This was the first time rifles have participated. Abigail Coon ‘21 tosses a rifle during a winter color guard practice. Photo by Kara Green
MOCK TRIAL REGIONALS Mock trial teams competed at regionals on March 5. Mock trial is a simulated courtroom experience that students work on for several months, some since December. The case was about a forged painting that was sold to a buyer for $500,000. The seller was being sued for lying about the painting. Teams ‘Meet the Mockers’ and ‘Lawyered’ qualified for state and will compete on April 4 and 5. Lawyered was one of two groups that made it to Mock Trial state.
Photo provided by ‘Lawyered’ Photo by Brooklyn Dilley
BLOOD DRIVE During the student council blood drive March 6, Colt Smallwood ‘19 gives a double red donation. Students would sign a sheet to give consent and then would go down to the multi-purpose room to give blood. After they gave blood they would be given food to eat so that they wouldn’t pass out. Just over 100 people signed up to donate blood including walk ins. Photo Green PhotobybyKara Cecilia Allemagne
BOYS’ & GIRLS’ TRACK
Boys and girls track started practicing inside starting in mid-Feb. The girls team started the season competing at Wartburg College on Feb. 26. New head boys’ track coach Matt Jaschen used three indoor meets to experiment with line ups. The first official meet of the season was March 28. Sam Schmitz ‘20 waits for the baton during the 4 x 800 during the Dickinson Relays at UNI. Photo by Cooper Peddicord
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD The teams, coached by teacher Lisa Horsch, added a practice event Feb. 23 to prepare for the March 30 state competition. Fifty students are to compete at the University of Northern Iowa. Students participate in a range of events from day-of events to others that require work leading up to the competition. Noah Thompson ‘20 grabs a bowl of treats while waiting for an assignment for Science Olympiad. Noah He participated in Circuit Lab. Photo by Chase O’Connel
DANCE MARATHON Students participate in the Dance Marathon held March 5. Sponsored by student council, the event raised money for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals like the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. The dance lasted four hours. some like the University of Iowa’s last 24. The dance had food, games, a photobooth and a DJ. Students raised money through donor drive to increase funds. Students dance during the four hours of Dance Marathon.
Photo by Angela Cai
ROBOTICS robotics team, T.H.O.R. (tactical hazardus operations roboticists), are competing at World’s on April 23-28. They are team First Tech Challenge Team 9974. They compete by attempting to collect ‘silver’ and ‘gold’ object from the floor and from craters set into opposite corners of the arena. T.H.O.R.’s robot qualified to compete at World’s. Photo by Kara Green
ATIENCE
O words | Ada Basic layout | Marandah Mangra-Dutcher
S
cience teacher Sara Kate Howe was
and exhaustion it entails.”
step away from this room and not do anything,
sitting at her computer, responding
History teacher Tyler Miklo was able
even with a sub here,” science teacher Kyla
to emails filled with questions her
to take 12 school days off in order to spend
Burns said. “It doesn’t even make sense. You
students had about the lesson that day. This
time at home with his child. “I do think that
have to still interact with your students even
was a regular, routine part of her job. The
most fathers want to be active participants in
though you’re on maternity leave.”
only thing different? Howe was at home,
the early stages of a child’s life, and that is
While administration has gotten
holding her newborn, on maternity leave.
more difficult when you have to account for
some backlash for this decision, they made
limited paid time off, but the school district is
it with the employee’s best interest in mind.
following what the state law is,” Miklo said.
“I know that’s probably something that isn’t
Maternity leave is a period of absence from work given to a mother after the birth of her child. Leave is considered to be
While the mother is on maternity
always very welcomed, but when you think
short term disability and may last anywhere
leave, their classroom is run by a long term
it about it from an employment status, if
from several weeks to a few months. The
sub. Teachers prefer that the long term sub
you are out on disability leave, which is what
leave may be paid or unpaid depending on
is certified in the subject that they will be
maternity leave is, it’s short term disability,
the employer. Teachers do not have designated maternity leave. They must save up and use their sick days, and are only allowed to use up to six weeks of paid leave. If the mother undergoes a c-section, then they are entitled to eight weeks of paid leave. The paid leave starts the day the child is born, so teachers who have children in the summer are not able to use the paid leave. If they chose to, teachers are also allowed to take another six weeks of unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act. “It stinks that there isn’t a better solution for [maternity leave] in education when, for the most part, the people who are educators are women,” ELL teacher Emily Kenny said. Male teachers also do not have access to a designated paternity leave, but they are able to utilize six weeks of unpaid leave under FMLA. They acknowledge and appreciate the need for maternity leave but feel that paternity leave is not seen as important. “It definitely is not as valued,” AP Psychology teacher Jesse Dowell said. “It does bother me, as I felt very guilty leaving my wife alone with a newborn, with all the work
we really should not be expecting you to be
“Would I like to see improved maternity leave for all educators? I would. Do I think that’s a reality of the current budget for education? No. But that’s just the reality.” Melissa Dale teaching, but that is not always the case. “It is hard to find teachers sometimes for full time jobs in science, let alone for a long-term sub position,” Howe said. “Because of that, for my last child my sub was not certified in science. That makes it difficult.“ A district policy requires all staff members going on leave to surrender all of their district issued technology in order for their substitute to have access to it. The policy also requires that staff members do not check or respond to any work emails. “I could never
checking your email, monitoring student progress, and putting in grades,” Kacer said. Once new mothers return, they have access to the wellness room, a lactation room for breastfeeding mothers in the new high school building. “Johnston has moved beyond the supply closets and that’s just something that I think is becoming a greater reality, that people recognize that women need a space to do this as women are becoming more vocal about it,” English teacher Melissa Dale said. The challenge for teachers now is finding time in the day to use the wellness room. Block days have proven to be especially difficult for teachers because several of them teach straight through the day and do not have a free or planning period to use. “If I were to need time, and somebody else has to cover, then I’m taking time from somebody else and then you’re worried about your colleagues,” Howe said. Some mothers feel self conscious using
the
wellness
rooms,
because
it
occasionally causes them to show up to meetings and other important events late. “Even though I know I’m not just skipping
OR out on a meeting, I don’t like walking into things late,” Kenny said. “It’s just like a stigma kind of, of I’m not doing my job. Even though I am doing my job, plus more.” Although maternity leave is vital for new mothers, the decision to go on maternity leave is not without its emotional responses. Teachers often have trouble stepping away from their work. “It’s just hard to be out, because you’re trying to have a baby but you’re also trying to do your job and take care of your students,” Howe said. “Teaching is different than other professions where you just leave, and other people pick up your weight and you come back.” Teachers who utilize maternity or paternity leave do not regret their decision. “My family is the most important thing to me, and that’s why you see teachers who already don’t make a ton of money, taking unpaid time to stay home with their children, because it’s important,” Dale said. Maternity leave also creates a lasting impact on teachers once they return. “You know, your moms love you and I think motherhood has made me a better teacher,” Dale said. “Because I realize how much my students’ moms care about them and how much their parents are putting trust in me as an educator to care for their children everyday.”
ARENTS
waves & 8 | feature
E
ric Daylue ‘19 was enjoying his off period when hall monitor Eric Irwin words | Obsee Abbajabal approached him. “[He] told me to design and photos | Payton Blahut take my durag off,” Daylue said. “I said, ‘No.’” Irwin then called for assistant principal Jerry Stratton. When Stratton arrived, Daylue was asked to talk with him in one of the DPAs. “He was talking about how [I shouldn’t] let this little thing affect my education,” Daylue said. “I was like fine. I didn’t want to hear him talk about it so I just took it off.” Durags became mainstream in the 70s with an increased prevalence in the 90s and early 2000s. Celebrities such as Jay-Z, Nelly, and Solange Knowles have been seen sporting the headwear. The primary use of the durag is to keep waves, or define curls, in check. By wearing it, durags allow hair to grow into uniformed curls. However, the question has been raised that durags might violate the hat policy. Jaedyn Brockway ‘19 has consistently started wearing bandanas to school after homecoming week. “I loved the look on me,” Brockway said. “I also have unmanageable baby hairs that stick out like a sore thumb and when I wear a bandana, it lays them down. This is no different than another student wearing a headband.” Daylue continued to wear his durags after being reprimanded. “As a minority, we don’t really have
Students and faculty have differing opinions on whether the durag should be worn in school
much going for us in this school,” Daylue said. “I feel like that if they tell us to take off our drags, they’re just talking culture away from us. I’m just not okay with that.” This lack of cultural proficiency has not gone unnoticed by some white students. “Our administration is failing to see and understand the cultural diversity among the student body,” Brockway said. Later administration switched their policy regarding the durags. Students are able to wear them in class, but not in the hallways because it disrupts the facial recognition software for the cameras. Stratton was unavailable for an interview with the Black & White. Daylue believes that the cameras are not the main issue.“[Administration] say it’s not about race,” Daylue said. “But, you can tell it is because whenever they talk about durags they have to mention gangs.” Brockway sees inconsistencies when the hat policy is enforced. “I, personally, have never been told to take my bandana off and I think it is due to my race,” Brockway said. “African American students have come to me asking why I have never been told to take [my bandana] off and the only answer I have is that our society likes to pinpoint minorities as being gang affiliated, even when they are not.”
“I feel like if they tell us to take off our durags, t hey’re just takin g culture away fro m us.” - Eric Daylue ‘19
W
hat is purple, gold, and stressed all over? Students that thought the school was making the switch
to standards based grading. Chris Bergman, the Executive Director of Teaching, Learning and Innovation for the Johnston Community School District, said that there has been a lot of communication issues during this period of transition, which is why only a few know exactly what’s going on. “The first thing I would like to say is that we want to really make sure that we’re clear that we are not doing standardsbased grading,” Bergman said.“We are really honing in on two different things. So one, is our standards that are required by the Iowa Core. Then the grading piece is actually separate. It’s really about grading practices.” English teacher Kristi Miller says that administration keeps referring to the new grading policy as the ‘standards-based mindset’. “So in a standards-based grade, you don’t really have a traditional grading system with like, ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, and ‘F’,” Miller said. “It’s more like ‘Exemplary’, ‘Proficient’, and ‘Developing’, so there’s not a letter grade associated with it. That’s kind of a big leap to take, and parents and students especially get nervous about that when they think about applying for colleges.” Some departments in the school, such as science, have been using a grading system called standards-based reference. Chemistry teacher Dave Oldham has been using the system for six years. “I started with my AP class, which is a little different than General Chemistry because we’re prepping for a high-stakes test at the end, so my
STANDARD-BASED
STRESS
goal is to always allow reassessments because, at the end of the day, the AP Exam grade is what matters, and I really wanted to make sure the kids had an opportunity to re-learn,” Oldham said. While some teachers favor the idea of standards-based, others have their concerns about it. In the business department, accounting teacher Michael Barta has only recently started using the standards-based system. “I think the
Students have mixed feeling abouts the idea of switching to a standard-based grading system
only concern I have about standards-based
words | Cecilia Allamagne layout | Andrew Maresca
day and feeling the pressure and anxiety that
grading is trying to wrap my head around the retake process,” Barta said. “I like the kids having to get prepared for one big day on test comes with that, because that’s life.” Everyone has bits and pieces of knowledge. Instructional coach Mark Augspurger is one of
the few teachers that really know what is going on. “Common Grading Practices,” Augspurger said. “Basically, it is a set of seven practices that makes [grading] more equitable for the student and their parents and teachers. It’s no longer ‘well, if you get this teacher, it’s this grading practice and if you get that teacher it’s a different grading practice’, this Common Grading Practices system is going to be the one that all teachers will use.” These new grading practices will not only make sure teachers are grading more or less the same way, but they will create a learning environment that students do not have to dread. Fairness and equity are a large part of the plan being put in place next year, which is something students should look forward to. After years of scattered practices, and no one quite sure what is going on, the school district is finally moving towards a singular grading system, and, as with every change in life, teachers, and more importantly students, will have to adapt to the coming transition to Common Grading Practices.
12 | in-depth
INSUFF SCHOOL SPIRIT words | Evan Newcomb & Joel Kellar design | Andrew Maresca
ICIENT F
While events like football games are well attended, other groups and events struggle to get participants to show up
ebruary 1. It was the boys’ basketball
all these cool things that no one knows about
our school. I think the reason for this is
team’s Senior Night, and one would
and if we celebrated it, it might show students
because it is so steeped in tradition and kids
expect to see the stands filled with
new things to be apart of,” Wiebers said. “It is
really want to participate in it because of all
students supporting their classmates. But a
simple things like celebrating our successes
the great experiences other kids have had in
quick glance would reveal that fewer than 25
that will help the school become more
the past,” Gray said.
students had shown up.
connected.”
Gray has tried to get student involvement
“I would say our school spirit is pretty
School spirit is more than just athletics
in intramurals up by advertising them
poor, unless there is a football game or a big
though as it encompasses all out of school
more, however her attempts have been
event coming up,” Nick Pittman ‘19 varsity
activities that students can be involved in.
fruitless. “To advertise intramurals we do
golfer said. “I would say we have less spirit
This includes the many clubs, student council
flyers in the restrooms, we put them in the
than other high schools.”
activities, intramurals and many others.
announcements, we have QR codes so that
Football games are one of the few events
Kari Gray is a staff student council leader
kids can sign up for it, we have social media
that consistently draw students’ attention.
and helps organize many activities within
accounts and student word of mouth, but we
Activities Director Joseph Nelson believes the
the school. She has noticed a severe disparity
still never seem to have enough kids,” Gray
reason for this is the engaging environment
said.
that the games create. “Our kids like to
The administration attempts to put the
tailgate, so our parking lot before a home
time and dates of all the activities on social
game is like a festival,” Nelson said. “Friday night football provides an environment where there is a big pregame. I think that it is the only sport that provides that venue on a nice fall Friday night, you can’t really do that in any other sport.” The high student attendance of football games makes other sports, that may be just as successful as football, seem less important. In previous years the school has done pep assemblies in order to recognize all sports during any given season, however they decided to stop this once we went to the new
I think there has been less participation at the new school and I think it is because we are so big that we do not have that feeling of being united or even in the same school building.
high school. Many students thought the assemblies were always a nice release from school and gave the school an opportunity to recognize all sports.
media for students to see. Principal Ryan Woods, who runs the school Twitter account, thinks that the school uses outdated social media services. “We try [to get information about activities] with social media, that is probably our biggest thing,” Woods said. “The problem is the social media platform has probably changed faster than we keep up with…as a school district we are still using Facebook and Twitter and I think the kids are off of that, they are all on Instagram or Snapchat.” Wiebers had a different idea to get the times and dates of all the activities out to
Kari Gray
students. “Simple things like announcements where we announce what events are going
between the amount of people that sign up for
on or results of events from previous weeks,”
Pittman remembers a pep assembly
activities such as intramurals, and extremely
Wiebers said. “This idea is simpler than social
experience he had during his freshman
popular events like Rock Around the Clock.
media and it will get the information out to
year. “I remember my freshman year I was
“Intramurals is like it is taking time out of
everyone in the school not just the people
on varsity golf and I got brought over to
kids’ weekends, while Rock Around the Clock
who have a Twitter or a Facebook.”
do a pep assembly at the high school and I
is a popular event and we have more teams
Gray agrees that the social media they use
thought that was really cool because I got to
than we can fit. We usually have to cancel
to advertise is outdated, but advertising could
be recognized for my accomplishments in
intramurals because not enough students
be improved if students were allowed to use
my sport and have my classmates know what
participate,” Gray said.
their creative sides. “I would love to do posters
Rock Around the Clock is a tradition at
in the walls because a lot of kids do not look
Business Teacher and football coach
the school, most likely being the reason for
at their emails or the TV’s in the school where
Rod Wiebers sees students doing impressive
the immense student participation. “Rock
we advertise a lot of the intramurals at in this
things all the time. “We have students doing
Around the Clock is this monster event for
new school,” Gray said. Hanging posters
I did,” Pittman said.
14 | in-depth
across the school is currently banned, but
“When I was in school whenever activities were going on everyone that was not playing would go to them because it was a big deal to us.” Rob Wiebers
that might be changing soon as the student council has been talking to administration to try and get it to be allowed. Wiebers thinks the best advertisers are the students. “I think students need to find ways to get each other active in events, I think the students should be promoting it to other students,” Wiebers said. Students have been doing their best to get more people to come out even setting up a popular Twitter account called Dragon Nation where they announce when events are going on and where they are located. They even allow students to vote on what the theme for the student section
“When I was in high school we went to every
should be.
single sporting event, that was what we did for fun.”
by the school, only 16.4% of students said that
Kari Gray
Most students who are in activities never see their teachers come to those activities. According to a connectivity survey conducted they have had a teacher attend one of their activities before. This shows that teachers have a hard time connecting to their students outside of a classroom environment. Many teachers are completely clueless about activities going on after school. Wiebers remembers a time this happened. “A lot of
“My high school experience was awesome, we had pep rallies every Friday, everyone went to football games, it was just a great experience” Dave Oldham
teachers did not even know about our playoff game against Southeast Polk on the night of it,” Wiebers said. The disconnect between teachers and students is so great that some teachers do not even know about the most popular events in our school. If the teachers do not have school spirit, then it tells students that they do not need to either. Wiebers tries to spread information about activities to his students. “I want to talk to students at the beginning of the class period about what activities they are participating in or are excited about. I also encourage them to attend those activities and cheer on their classmates,” Wiebers said. He also attempts to practice what he preaches. “I try to go watch
“One time our baseball team made state and the whole town went to watch.”
as many events as I can, I try to bring my kids who are in elementary school because I want them to develop a sense of pride about being apart of Johnston.” Pittman believes that teacher involvement similar to Wiebers could really help school spirit. “I wish we could get more teachers involved in activities so they can spread
Kayla Bousum
around information about different activities and get more kids involved,” Pittman said.
He also believes that smaller class sizes could help connect the students and teachers. “If we were able to reduce class size I think it would benefit the connection amongst the students in our classrooms. And I know this is hard to do logistically, but from a connection standpoint it would be instrumental,” Pittman said. As one of the bigger schools in Iowa it can be harder for Johnston to have good school spirit. “I do not know if the school has just gotten too big for its britches or if it is because students are too focused on school, but we struggle to become connected as a school,” Gray said. Wiebers and Gray both went to smaller schools and they have noticed a big difference between big schools and small
“I would get a carload of kids and we would go to Decorah to cheer on our girls team on a tuesday night. The road trips and cheering on friends were some of my best experiences in high school.” Tim Brickley
schools. “One of many cool things about a small school is that everyone knows what is going on because everyone knows each other and when I was in school whenever activities were going on everyone that was not playing would go to them because it was a big deal to us,” Wiebers said. Gray thinks that students are not getting the entire high school experience that she had at a smaller school. “When I was in high school we went to every single sporting event, that is what we did for fun,” Gray said. “I think the kids here are in school to just take classes and learn, while for me it is this entire experience that I think a lot of kids are missing out on.” Wiebers thinks that being a bigger school can make it difficult to have spirit. “One of the challenges we have here at a bigger school is that we struggle to communicate to everyone what is going on so we have to find a way to make it a community event that everyone wants to go to,” Wiebers said. Community events during school hours could help students connect better as they
I think that it is very important to have school spirit and support athletics, band, choir, after school activities, any club or organization we have at Johnston. It is important to care about these organizations and you can show your school spirit by supporting and cheering them on. Destiny Willer
could get a break from school and have a time to connect with their peers. An idea that has been discussed is instead of sitting in an advisory classroom for hours on the first day of school, the school could instead set up a bunch of Rock Around the Clock like activities for students to participate in. This would provide an engaging experience for students, while letting them make connections with other students.
“In our high school every student lived, slept, and breathed CarrollKuemper” Michael Barta
16 | profile
A
mber Altman ‘20 has always
her study hall freshman year, and now she
year. “Her name was Abby, and she couldn’t
loved connecting and working
is involved in Peer PE and Peer Art. “It’s
speak,” Altman said. “But everytime I would
with people. “It gives me a sense
really rewarding to know that they look up
go in there, she would have this huge smile
of accomplishment,” Altman said. “I like to
to you and love you as a person,” Altman
on her face and get super excited. She was the
put other people’s needs first, I make sure
said. “Hearing that you’re able to impact
first special needs student that I ever formed
other people are happy before myself.”
someone’s life is really special to me.”
a bond with. She’s had a special place in my
Altman transferred here from Holy Trinity
Altman also enjoys working with them
School when she was a freshman. The biggest
because she admires how genuine and kind
In fact, their bond is so strong that Altman
adjustment for Altman was the difference in
these students are. “I feel like teens anywhere
was able to go visit Abby last year at JMS, and
class sizes between the two schools. “It was
internally judge you, but when you’re
was recently granted the opportunity to do
crazy, because at my old school, a whole
with the special needs students, there’s no
that again this year during her free period.
grade was 50 kids,” Altman said. “I kind of
judgement whatsoever,” Altman said. “They
“I hadn’t seen her since last year, so I didn’t
miss it, because you knew everybody. Now, I
are such kind hearted people.”
know if she would remember me or not,
don’t even know half the kids in my grade.”
Although she loves to work with all
heart ever since.”
but when I walked in she had the same big
Since her transfer, Altman has grown
special needs students, Altman has formed
a passion for working with special needs
a special bond with one student in particular
reaction and was all giggly,” Altman said. Altman remembered that one of Abby’s
students. She started by visiting them during
that she worked with during her freshman
favorite things to do was go on walks, so she
1/1700:
AMBER ALTMAN FROM SOPHOMORE TO SENIOR, ONE STUDENT WAS RANDOMLY CHOSEN TO TELL THEIR STORY
words | Kylie Emery layout & photos | Brooklyn Dilley knew that was the first thing that they should
years old with her dad as her coach, and still
can score for it. I think that’s really cool that
do together. Afterwards, they played with
plays on the same team as Mallory Leewright
she can trust me in that way also.”
some of Abby’s favorite toys.
‘20, her best friend that she has known since
Outside of school, working with special
Altman’s favorite part of being able to
preschool. They both transferred from Holy
needs students, and soccer, Altman is very
help the special needs students is simply the
Trinity. Leewright learned how to play soccer
involved in volunteering at her church. She
fact that they remember her and are always
from Altman. “Being able to teach her and
helps with eucharistic ministry, children’s
excited to see her. “I also worked with a girl
have her grow a new passion is pretty great,”
liturgy, and sometimes will do Bible readings.
named Molly last year a lot, and she would
Altman said. “With her being my best friend,
“My mom wanted me to be involved in my
have the same reaction as Abby,” Altman
it was way more fun to play in games.”
community,” Altman said. “I think it’s helped
said. “She was blind, but everytime I would
Because Leewright and Altman have
form relationships with people that go to my
walk in the room, she would hear my voice
known each other for so long, they can rely
and say ‘Amber’s here!’ I loved that they were
on each other when playing. “She plays
Altman believes that her passion for
always excited to see me and I loved that they
forward and I play outside mid, so a lot of
working with and helping people comes from
could know me just by my voice.”
times we will do ‘give and goes,’” Leewright
her mother. “She’s a very stubborn and tough
church.”
Altman also enjoys working with people in
said. “She’ll be running forward, and if she
person with a kind heart,” Altman said. “She’s
a team setting, such as when she plays soccer.
has a defender on her, she’ll pass the ball
just a really caring woman, and I want to grow
She has been playing since she was three
right back to me. I then can kick it up and she
up to be that type of person.”
18 | editorial
[UN]ACKNOWLEDGED ACADEMICS The editorial is an opinion held by the editorial board of the newspaper and is a collaboration of the board. It needs a simple majority to pass. This month’s vote was 6-0.
W
alking through the halls, it
students achieving excellence in academics.
up a lot of wall space. “So, athletic stuff looks
is not too hard to gather the
But the question is, why?
different I think because the sheer numbers
importance this school places
The trouble with an academic hall of fame
of people who qualify for first team all-state
on athletics. Whether it be the large athletic
is knowing where to draw the line. Principal
is much less than 4.0 students. It’s a different
trophy display case in the cafeteria, the many
Ryan Woods acknowledges this, saying it
bar, a different hurdle to get over,” Woods
sports flags and posters hung around the
is ultimately to do with sending the right
said.
school, or the athletic hall of fame along the
message to students. “The hard part would
Regardless, not having a hall of fame for
indoor track around the gym. It is fair to say
be, what’s the bar?” Woods said. “Is it a 4.0
students who have achieved excellence in
that athletic achievements done by students
GPA? And you have to look at the other side
academics shows an indirect favoritism for
are represented in this building.
of that too, when you start putting bars on
athletic achievements over other student
Of these things, the athletic hall of fame
academics, are you sending an unintended
achievements. Thus, students may feel less
stands out, as other student achievements
message of, if you’re not a 4.0 student, you’re
of an urge to strive for excellence if they are
in academics evidently do not hold the
not good enough?”
awarded less representation than athletes.
same importance in the minds of the school
Logistically, having a hall of fame
There
is
currently
some
academic
district to be worthy of a hall of fame; no
composed of 4.0 students from every class
representation in this school, including
such hall of fame exists in this school for
of students to come through JHS would take
academic letters and other awards/recognition for achieving a high GPA or recognizing the top 3 in 15% of the senior class. However, none of these are boldly displayed for students, parents, or visitors from other schools to look upon, like the athletic hall of fame. Two or three separate hall of fames is not necessary, but why not have an allencompassing hall of fame that includes the arts, academics, and (of course) athletics? Why not just have a general hall of fame for JHS students with remarkable achievements? Of course, this is merely a first world problem for privileged students going to an exceptionally privileged school and hardly a global, CNN-worthy issue, but when so much money is put toward celebrating athletic achievements, its right to wish for some representation academically, which Woods does acknowledge. “I do think affirmations or noticing certain things is important,” Woods said. “I think everybody likes to hear something positive about what they’re doing...we need to find ways to recognize our students more.” Therefore, a more inclusive hall of fame is something we should be working toward. Finding the bar or academic goal for determining who gets recognized in the hall of fame might be somewhat of an issue, but not to the point that academic achievements should be almost entirely overlooked and underrepresented within this school.
20 | opinion
ON THE MOVE
words | Ben Pegg picture & layout | Julia Richards
“It is a good start, but if we were to be truly handicapped friendly, we would have three elevators, one for each color, essentially, and we would also have a button on each bathroom door.” Ben Pegg
T
he few handicap accessible auto-
After first hour, my next class is in the
matic door buttons, slightly wide
upstairs yellow. Most of the time, I simply
doors and two elevators does not
cut back onto the upstairs green landing, or
truly mean that the school is truly handi-
library access point and through the library.
cap accessible. It just means that we are up
Hauling the door open is difficult and doing
to code, which is the barebones minimum
it by myself will take time.
needed for the school to be legal according to the American with Disabilities Act.
My longest walk is from Mixed Choir to Newspaper. If I were a fully capable person,
Every morning I get on the bus, which is
I would just walk up the stairs. But because
a whole other level of effort because it means
I’m handicapable, my sorry behind has to go
sledding down the driveway, dragging my
all the way from the back corner, way out to
feet to brake, and hopping on while the bus
the lunch room, do the elevator routine, get
driver wrestles with my walker. I am given
off, go down the upstairs green side hallway,
my iPad and left alone for the remainder of
turn left and go all the way down the main
the fifteen minute ride. I mostly write stories
hallway. Then, I turn left again. I walk all the
on my iPad, or look at funny or interesting
way down the blue side hallway. This walk is
writing prompts from Tumblr. Then, as the
almost 10 minutes, and is roughly three-quar-
bus gets into the line, I drop the iPad and
ters of a mile long.
get my gloves and hat on. This process is
The back wheel of my walker gets caught
about two minutes and takes roughly four to
on the doorframes 90% of the time. When
six times as much energy as it takes others.
that happens, I have to scrape the wheel
Keep in mind that I have maybe eighty or
against the frame at least three times.
eighty-five percent of the energy reserves of
The furniture at the school is a nightmare.
a normal person, so I get a little tired. After
It is hard to maneuver my walker through the
handing the iPad to the associate, I stagger
large blocks of desks and the many legs. Ev-
my way to the front of the bus, and get off.
erything is easy for my walker to get caught
When I get to the side entrance of the
on. Unfortunately, I am the elephant in the
school, I must push the button to unlock the
room. My slow movements, the scraping and
door. If the button works, then all is well and
clunking noises that follow me everywhere
good. However, on the rare occasion that the
is hard to endure. The social awkwardness of
button does not work, I am forced to either
being the elephant in the room does not get
stand there and knock (usually someone lets
better.
me in), or to walk halfway around the school
The elevator is in the dead middle of the
to get in through the front entrance. This is a
school. It is a good start, but if the school
nightmare I’ve only had to experience once.
were to be truly handicap friendly, we would
By this point, my tired self is very late to
have three elevators for each academic hall-
first hour. First period is Algebra II with Dan-
way of the building. The building should also
ielle Pippert upstairs. From either entrance,
have automatic door buttons on each bath-
the elevator is in the middle of the bottom
room door. Actually, the school should have
floor which means roughly five minutes
these buttons on every single door. It is really
of walking. Waiting for the elevator takes
disappointing that more is not done to make
20-seconds, making me even more late.
sure the school is opening doors to everyone.
HYPEBEAST CULTURE words | Charlie Pattinson layout | Cameron DeRoos
T
he kids currently roaming the halls
cool. One thing remains constant between the
have gone through many fashion
two, though, and that is the logo. The bold,
phases. In elementary school, Nike
white text and red box make for an iconic
elite socks were everything. There was the baseball necklace scam, where the necklac-
logo. Typically Supreme is worn by boys, but a
es supposedly gave you balance. Silly Bandz
brand that has trended upward amongst all
dominated the young kid wrist market. Once
teens is Champion. A few years ago, your dad
middle school came around, American Eagle,
was probably wearing a throwback Champion
Hollister, and Abercrombie became a force. At
crewneck and you thought it was ugly. Now
least 80% of the school wore these brands in
Champion is the brand of the masses.
some way shape or form, many even to this day.
Social media is the biggest influencer amongst teens. Kids portray themselves how
Urban Dictionary defines a hype beast as “a
they want to be seen, sometimes opposite of
kid that collects clothing, shoes, and accesso-
reality. Instagram accounts are professional.
ries for the sole purpose of impressing others.�
Every post is meticulously thought out and
It is a trend that has been around since the
calculated. People become judged based off
beginning of time. People have always worn
of the amount of likes or followers they have.
certain styles, or bought certain brands as a
What is at the forefront of an Instagram
statement of status.
post? The clothes of social media influencers
What is the defining clothing movement
such as professional athletes, celebrities, and
for current high school students? Hypebeast
Youtubers play an effect in the big picture of
culture. The streetwear brand Supreme has
what kids wear or purchase.
been on a steady rise over the past few years.
On the accessories front, it is all about
The high prices and resell market have con-
bags. Backpacks, hand bags and fanny packs.
tributed to these brands becoming massive.
They are sported by many people and are an
Everyone wants to get their hands on Su-
easy way to get a first impression that you
preme, whether it is real or not.
have some style. For the listening corner of
Supreme clothes typically check one of
hypebeast culture, airpods dominate. They
two boxes: they are either a plain and simple
are insanely popular, because, well, who does
design, or are so crazy and ugly that they are
not love Apple.
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