Bear Facts Student Media March 2018

OL

R

BEA

IA ED

K LA

bf

M

U TS ST DENT C FA MAR. 2018

O

E Z VOL. 30 ISSUE 4 H C UR ICH HIGH S

GROWING BEYOND

Students reflect on personal growth.

Page 12: Growing opportunities Page 14: Greenhouse branches out Page 16: Concussion repercussions

BEAR FACTS STAFF

Editor’s Note

MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Dear Readers,

megan monoson

We are pleased to present you with our fourth issue of Bear Facts. In this issue we

continue to have our News, Spotlight, and Sports sections of the magazine, however, Journalism 2 students wrote the features in our LZ Life section that discuss the use of social

WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

meggie furlong

media, the places students travel to, and even one about taking partner quizzes in school.

This issue’s Sports section is also different because we focused on State Coverage. Our State Coverage includes any sport that attended IHSA’s State competition thus far into the school year. Other sports in season will not be featured, but there is more coverage of spring sports on our twitter @LZBearFacts, and our website, lzbearfacts.com.

SECRETARY/ BUSINESS MANAGER

rachel brauer

CO-SPOTLIGHT EDITORS

sue’s theme is growth. This theme is presented both through the cover and the Spotlight

chloe faris ria talukder

section. Through this theme, we discuss the success from the high school’s greenhouse

SPORTS EDITOR

With our March issue of the magazine coming out right before Spring begins, this is-

in helping students learn new skills, the opportunities citizenship provides, how students

adam cupples

grow past the repercussions of concussions, how one individual continues to grow past

STAFF WRITERS

sexual assault, how mentorship in various forms affects one’s high school experience, and, overall, how various experiences cause people to personally grow.

Thank you for continually supporting our award-winning publication every quarter as we strive to report interesting and relatable material.

Please enjoy this issue of Bear Facts.

parul pari emma brumage-kilcourse CONTRIBUTORS

max feldman madeleine lawler caroline sun ADVISER

Sincerely,

carolyn wagner BEAR FACTS STUDENT MEDIA

Lake Zurich High School 300 Church Street Lake Zurich, IL 60047 (847) 540-4642

Megan Monoson Magazine Editor-in-Chief

AMERICAN LITHO PRINTING 530 North 22nd St. Milwaukee, WI 53233

Cover design by Megan Monoson and Ria Talukder Cover edits by Chloe Faris Inner cover by Chloe Faris About Us All decisions are made by the Bear Facts staff. The advisor is responsible for making recommendations based on school rules, applicable laws, ethical journalism, and other concerns. However, final authority rests with the staff. The Bear Facts staff strives to inform, entertain, and showcase high quality work to our readers. We always seek to uphold standards of journalistic integrity, acceptable ethics, and truth.

Our Website Bear Facts is also published online at http://www. lzbearfacts.com. Online materials report daily news occasionally related to our print publication.

Advertising To advertise in Bear Facts, please contact our editorial board at bear_facts@lz95.org. Prices vary on size and placement of the advertisement.

For a complete editorial policy, please see our website.

Clarifications: Stevie’s last name should be Pisarevskaya on page 18.

Photo by Ria Talukder on page 6 and 15.

Ria’s last name should be Talukder on page 19.

Photos by the Bear Facts staff on page 21.

BEAR FACTS STUDENT MEDIA LAKE ZURICH HIGH SCHOOL

300 CHURCH ST. LAKE ZURICH, IL

6.

12.

14.

22.

LZ LIFE

SPOTLIGHT

18.

SPORTS

6

Traveling the world

12

Survey Says

22

Improved athletes

8

Facebook in decline

14

Greenhouse growth

24

State Coverage

10

Grading team tests

16

Repercussions of concussions

18

Overcoming sexual assault

20

Impactful mentorship

News in Brief

LZ, world work to end plastic use

photo from wbur.org

written by

“Beat Plastic Pollution” is the theme for World Environment Day, an annual worldwide United Nations event that promotes awareness for environmental issues set for June 5.

In the event’s 44th year, the host, India, will urge countries and industries to adopt better plastic practices, and promote the sustainable alternatives to plastic production. The initiative will focus on the importance of human and marine health and how excess plastic affects both, according to worldenvironmentday.global.

The worldwide intiative ties along with the enviornmental club, REACT’s, latest promotion of reusable water bottles over plastic ones and their effort to raise money for a new water bottle filling station for the school.

“We’re trying to reduce LZ’s production [and] understanding of plastic waste,” Cassie KunTwo community members discuss plans for the distrcit referendum at a schke, senior and REACT President, said. “A Janurary 31 forum. Lake county voters can vote ‘ yes ’ or ‘ no ’ at the primary lot of kids just grab a plastic water bottle in the election on March 20. Photo by Emma Brumage-Kilcourse morning without thinking and don’t know how it affects the ocean, marine life, and the enviornment [overall]. We’re trying to reduce that.”

In addition to replacing plastic water bottles with reusable ones as REACT promotes, Greenpeace, a worldwide enviornmental organization, suggests to avoid excessive plastic food packaging, On March 20, voters in Lake County will decide the fate of to say no to plastic cutlery, and to use resuable a district-wide $78 million referendum that would fund rebuild- shopping bags when making purchases. ing May Whitney Elementary, adding Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) labs to the high school, installing air conditioning inside the five currently unairconditioned schools, and upgrading various other learning spaces throughout the district. The improvements would occur as soon as the the summer of 2019, and will continue through the summer of 2023. The referendum will also not increase taxes.

“These projects would replace or extend the life of current schools; improve safety, security, or accessibility for students; provide air conditioning in the five schools not currently air conditioned; create instructional spaces that leverage technology and enhance best practices in teaching; provide integrated STEAM in shared learning spaces,” according to the referen- REACT club distributed stickers to students who used dum information on lz95.org. “21st century best practices in reusable water bottles over plastic ones. The stickers teaching are rich in technology and focus on collaboration, criti- were part of REACT’s intiative to reduce plastic production. Photo used with permission of Cassie Kunschke cal thinking, communication, and creativity.”

NEWS

Megan Monoson magazine editor-in-chief Meggie Furlong website editor-in-chief

Voters to consider $78 million referendum

4

NEWS march 2018

around the AREA

Photo used with permission of Jessi Stevens

Photo used with permission of commons.wikimedia.org

CHICAGO ST .PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

1

Join the rest of Chicago at one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the U.S. on March 17 at 1pm. The 63rd Anniversary of the Plumber’s Local 130 sponsored by Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is free and will be held rain or shine! It begins on Columbus Drive and travels between Balbo and Monroe Drive. There will be three hours of flag waving, Irish step dancing, and more! Wear green and come celebrate! Come to the city early and you may even see the Chicago River dyed emerald green with an eco-friendly dye at 9am. The dye only lasts a few hours though, so take CTA blue or red lines to be dropped off in the loop and be a part of these fun events.

Winter Jam Tour ROSEMONT

2

With only a $15 donation at the door you can be a part of Christian music’s largest annual tour! It has over 10 artists performing and it is on March 30 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. The PreJam Party starts at 6pm, and the show starts at 7pm. Bring cash for parking, but you can pay at the door with cash or checks. The Winter Jam Tour Spectacular is a family friendly event, so all ages are welcome!

Photo used with permission of jba.af.mil

Arbor Day LAKE ZURICH

3

Celebrate Arbor Day by spending some time outdoors in the community on April 27. To recognize Arbor Day, Paulus Park will host breakfast for any volunteers willing to help for two hours of Park Clean-Up. Breakfast begins at 9am and is followed by a Tree Planting Ceremony and then Park Clean-up. Any individual or group may participate. Bring your gloves and dress for the weather.

Color Vibe 5K

Chocolate Fest LONG GROVE

4

Calling all chocolate lovers!

You will not want to miss this three day festival solely dedicated to chocolate. On May 18 the Historic Downtown Long Grove Chocolate Festival will kick off. There will be live music and even a Chocolate Scavenger Hunt for children. Local vendors will be selling chocolate-infused creations and more. Stop by the historic cobblestone streets of Long Grove to take part.

LAKE ZURICH

5

What better way to go on a run than with hundreds of your closest friends and neighbors at the Lake Zurich Color Vibe 5K Run? Held at Paulus Park, this run beings at 8am on Sunday, May 20. Get ready to be covered in all different colors as people throw powder on you as you run and then jam out at the DJ after. All ages may participate, so get your friends and family together for this fun kind of morning run!

NEWS march 2018

5

Closing the book on Facebook

Caroline Sun contributor

Not so long ago, Facebook was the go-to social media platform for people of all ages. But as the years have passed, one growing demographic began to slowly lose interest in the online network that once dominated the social world: teens. Today, as the internet continues to grow and

expand, high schoolers have begun to drift away from the platform that their parents now use.

While Facebook still tops the charts (#3 in the world, according to Alexa rankings) in terms of user database and profit-making, according to Julie Smith, media literacy professor at Webster University, the number of teens who actually use the platform today have dropped significantly from it’s previous high.

“Facebook is the mom jeans of social media,” Smith said. “[The teenagers] don’t want to use it because their grandparents are on Facebook and their parents are on

For information about school clubs/sports/activities

To see what other’s are doing To connect with friends For something else For news and politics To share my life

LZ LIFE march 2018

you checking

F

o k?

Results from a survey of 449 students who responded to a Bear Facts Student Media Google survey in their English classes.

re na

eb o

Facebook?

How o fte

Why are you using

To connect with family

6

Facebook. [Adults] have taken it over and we have killed it.”

While the high population of adults on Facebook may have been the initial reason for the mass migration of teenagers away from the platform, students here at LZHS have some reasons of their own for why they have decided to migrate away from Facebook.

“I have a Facebook but I don’t really use it,” Lena Zhang, junior, said.

“I’m on my phone more often than my computer so I use a lot of mobile apps because it’s more convenient to look at things on my phone.”

Due to Facebook being a social

ac

LZ LIFE

Teens turning more to other social media

41% 23% 18% 15% 6% 6% 5%

1-2 times a month 1-2 times a week 3-4 times a week 1-2 times a day 3 or more times a day

54%

percent of students say they do not have or do not use Facebook

media platform meant for the computer, even its attempt at going mobile could not keep its teenage audiences captivated, says Zhang. She said that the format of Facebook is a little confusing in that “when other people tag you in pictures or other stuff, it gets put into your feed and makes everything feel kind of jumbled.”

Besides Zhang, many students also share similar outlooks when it comes to where they create profiles for themselves.

As Facebook has grown along with its original users, new online networks have come to dominate the virtual playing field.

“I definitely prefer Instagram’s simple interface,” Ryan Duffy, freshman, said, “I don’t like the way Facebook shows posts based on an algorithm instead of just chronologically. Also, I find that personally, the people I want to follow are more active on Instagram than Facebook.”

While Instagram is a hit among many teens for its easy-to-use design and widespread number of users, it is not the only platform that has garnered attention

among teens In fact, a higher percentage of students prefer Snapchat overall as their favorite method of online socializing.

“I like Snapchat because it’s a really fun way to see your friends’ reactions when they take pictures of themselves and send it to you in your conversation,” Hayley Burk, freshman, said about the photo app. “It’s almost like having a real life conversation.”

With so many teens leaving Facebook for simple, mobile-friendly platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter, the future for Facebook is looking dim and according to Smith, the Internet moves so fast that it may not be too bright for the currently popular platforms like Snapchat that have taken the stage either.

“I think that ship has sailed,” Smith said.“In social media language Facebook is old. Facebook has been around for 14 years ... so I think that the kids in middle school right now will be on some app we’ve never even heard of when they’re in high school.”

Being smart about social media

With daily social media use being a part of over 3 billion people’s lives globally, according to a 2018 report

by We Are Social, it only makes sense to also know the best ways to use these platforms safely to those who study the impact social media can have.

Julie Smith, media literacy professor at Webster University, has a few tips and suggestions when it comes to scrolling through social media feeds. According to her, it is important to remember that much of the news that can be found on platforms like Facebook is often times, illegitimate.

“In most cases, the news

we consume on Facebook is not created by legitimate organizations,” Smith said.

“It’s usually memes or things that are shared that perhaps were even created in other countries that are completely false. We need to get into the habit of always asking ourselves who is sending this message and we need to know ways to verify information we find online.”

While it is essential to remain aware of what other users are posting, sharing, or sending, according to Smith, it is just as important to keep a watchful eye on what you, as the user, are releasing out into the realm of social media.

“When [people] are using an app for free, they are the product being sold,” Smith said. “[The social media companies] are not in it to be nice. They are curating and keeping track of everything you like and share and send and click and collecting that data so that they can deliver you the most efficient advertising possible.”

Being cautious about the content that a user is both sending out and consuming is the best practice for everyone to follow. Smith advises that social media users be careful online, because even though “social media is fun, of course, it has its pros and cons like everything else.”

What is your

favorite?

42% Snapchat

23% Instagram

16% YouTube

7%

Twitter

2%

Tumblr

2%

Facebook

1% 1% VSCO

WhatsApp

1%

Pinterest

LZ LIFE march 2018

7

In a survey of 449 students this month, students reported how far they’ve traveled from Lake Zurich. The map above shows some of the places Bears reported traveling.

Where in the World

Students travel the world, learn who they are Seeing snow for the first time in Korea.

Riding a gondola down a canal in Venice.

Visiting Judaism’s holiest monument.

More than 5,000 miles away from the school’s halls, these students made memories that shaped them into the people they are today.

4814 miles from home For Tiffany Pham, freshman, traveling around Europe gave her a more positive outlook on life and taught her to “live in the moment.”

“The best part of traveling is just being free.

When you leave the country it’s really cool because you get this rush of excitement that you don’t really get anywhere else,” Pham said. “When you first land wherever you’re going on vacation, it’s really cool because the anticipation leading up to Madeleine Lawler contributor the trip is building up.”

Pham landed in London in 2016, and then took a ten day tour around Europe that brought her to places like Switzerland and Rome. She then returned to France this past summer, traveling to Nice.

Traveling to so many places in Europe in such a short amount of time can be chaotic, and it’s helpful to have a plan, according to Pham.

“I would [say] first [figure out] what you want to see in the trip because then you can work your way around it,” Pham said. “When I went to Rome, me and my brother worked on making an itinerary, where we planned each day. That way, we made sure we could fit everything we wanted to do in and see as much of the city as possible.”

8

LZ LIFE march 2018

6199 miles from home On the other side of the world, Landon Finn, junior, took a trip to Israel that changed his perception of the world and helped him dig deeper into his faith.

“This trip connected me to god, and ever since I came back I’ve really been connected to Judaism,” Finn said. “For example, [The Western Wall] is so spiritual and you never see so many Jews in one place or time. You feel such a strong connection because it’s one of the holiest places in Israel.”

Due to his travels, Finn said he changed several aspects in his daily lifestyle. He now attends services five days a week, wears a Kippah, Teffilin, and Tzitzit, and follows more Jewish laws, such as not eating meat and cheese.

As for advice on how to have a life changing travel experience like he did, Finn advises straying from the tourist path.

“Don’t go to just the most common places,” Finn said.

“There’s a place in Israel called Safed, and it is one of the four holy cities in Israel. It’s not a super touristy place, but there’s a million things to see there.”

In addition to seeing and experiencing the “full 360 view,” Finn says his travels helped him shape a new set of values.

“It has made me realize that life isn’t all about school and that I can be happy that I’m healthy and happy that I have a family,” Finn said. “Just because I have a struggle one day doesn’t mean it’s going to be the end of the world.”

Junior Landon Finn discovered his faith when traveling in Israel. “When you’re there and you get to experience the full 360 view, you don’t even realize the world that’s happening around you,” he says of this time at the Dead Sea. Photo courtesy of Landon Finn

Valerie Multra, sophomore, has traveled to numerous Asian countries with her family. “Night markets are super popular in Taiwan and we would go to them all the time to eat and shop. America doesn’t really have something like it,” says Multra. Photo courtesy of Valerie Multra

8668 miles from home “Traveling so much when I was younger made me very used to going to a new place and not knowing anyone, but adapting to that country’s culture or language really easily,” Valerie Multra, sophomore who has traveled to over ten countries in Asia, said. “A lot of these places I went to I didn’t speak the language, like when I go to Japan I don’t know Japanese or Korean, but taking so many trips has really given me an ability to adapt quickly to a new environment.”

Multra, who grew up in Taiwan until age 10, has had opportunities to travel to places such as Mongolia and Cambodia, and has vacationed in many other countries, including China, South Korea, and the Philippines. She attributes her unique background to her travels.

“Traveling in Asia changed my life a lot because it’s giving me a really different perspective and made me have a really different background than other people that I know of,” Multra said. “Being around so many different people with different cultures has really given me a unique interest in traveling.”

According to Multra, some may “find new cultures scary or shocking.” To her however, this is the best part of traveling.

“You should be prepared to be shocked into a new culture but not to be scared by it, and go into it with a open mind,” Multra said. “It’s always amazing to meet new people and the interesting stories that they have, because every place is different than the one you know and it’s really the experiences that will shape you and change you for the future.”

LZ LIFE march 2018

9

o Stud e

What’s the Answer?

ar t

16% 7%

zes?

based on 449 student responses

th o np

uiz rq

73%

nt res p

:

h effort do you put for

ne

e ns

uc wm o H

as much effort as any quiz more than normal not as much as normal N/A

N/A

Students, teachers debate using partner quizzes Max Feldman contributor

Students are well-acquainted with tests, but not all tests are created equal.

The use of partner tests and quizzes, assessments in which students can work with a partner and both students share the same score, gets mixed reviews from students and teachers.

Students approach partner tests with a different mindset than so-called normal quizzes, according to freshman Rony Ochakovski and senior Holly Brill. A lot of students feel a sense of ease as they meander into a partner quiz, Ochakovski said, namely because students feel they have a safety net.

“I feel less alarmed, less worried. I would feel as if I was going through a normal day. While if I was taking an individual quiz, I would feel more tense,” Ochakovski said.

That makes teachers like Jennifer Ventrelle, math teacher, and Laura Kustra, history teacher, worry that sometimes when people work with friends, they do not take the quiz as seriously. However, nearly ninety percent of students say they put as much effort into a partner test as they would a regular one, according to a recent Bear Facts survey that gathered input from over 400 students of all grade levels.

Brill argues that student preparation

10 LZ LIFE march 2018

is not a matter of test design as much as it is dependent on whether students are surprised by or planning for a test.

“For partner quizzes, teachers usually spring it on you, but if they did tell us beforehand, I don’t think I would study any less,” Brill said. “I’m sure the majority of students would study the same way. If you studied hard and are fully prepared, your grade or performance should be the same.”

Perhaps because of a more comfortable experience and the same amount of effort, on average, students test higher on partner quizzes than on normal quizzes, according to teachers.

“On average students score higher than normal [on partner quizzes]. The students who might have scored a little lower score higher because they are working with others. What’s great about partner quizzes is that they are easier to grade because there are better [scores],” Ventrelle said.

Even with these better grades, teachers are not considering giving out more partner quizzes, say the teachers Bear Facts spoke to. Teachers recognize that it would be impossible to give all partner assessments, according to Kustra.

“I think the concern for teachers is whether or not the results are reflective of an individual student’s ability. What’s to prevent a student from just riding the

coattails of another student, what’s to say maybe that a student is feeling a little intimidated and just goes along with what another student says and not fight for their reasoning?” Kustra said.

There is also the 80/20 system factor to consider. Teachers like Ventrelle say that partner quizzes really are not as common anymore since individual quizzes fall into the formative category.

The decline in partner quizzes will not impact many classes, though, as teachers of subjects like English or science do not usually give partner quizzes, according to 449 students’ feedback.

“There are definitely not as many partner quizzes given since regular quizzes do not have as much of an impact on your grade. Now we can really learn from quizzes with revisions and corrections, and I think that has about the same impact as working together with a partner would,” Ventelle said.

Students and teachers agree that partner assessments are good breaks from the daily grind, but individual tests are still essential.

“Partner quizzes assess knowledge of a group not of an individual,” Ochakovski said. “All of your quizzes are expected to be individual so that makes partner quizzes special, they are a gift, they give you something to be excited about.”

AREAS OF GROWTH

SPOTLIGHT march 2018

SPOTLIGHT

Bear Facts explores...

11

Growing opportunities

LZ family’s joruney to U.S. citizenship

Megan Monoson magazine editor-in-chief Visiting family in the United States was planned, moving was a desire, but, after seeing all of the opportunities, staying in the U.S. was a must.

At five and a half years old, Maja Keska, sophomore, moved to the U.S. from Poland, and eventually gained her citizenship last year along with her mother Ania Keska and brother Max Keska.

The move and eventual citizenship were both Ania’s decisions, but it was difficult for her to start a new life in an unknown country while also having two young children to take care of.

Every week, Maja Keska (left) plays card games with her mother Ania Keska and her brother “Seeing my mom struggle was Max Keska when the three of them spend time toegether. Since the three recived U.S. citizenpretty hard,” Maja said. “My mom had ship, the three agree that they have become closer. to raise [my brother while struggling] test, and then they would send another though it took time for the Keskas to be financially. We came [to the U.S.] together, but he was one and a half when letter when they were ready for her to granted citizenship, they received it in we came, and we didn’t have much sup- come and take the test. She got the let- April 2017, and now feel at home. port from our family. [My mom] had to ter right before we went on vacation, “We have a good life here,” Maja do it all by herself, and I’m very proud and we went to Florida. [Throughout] said. “We have a lot of opportunities the whole vacation we were preparing and it’s just really nice. I don’t think anyof her for that.”

Along with financial hardship, Ania since we didn’t know when the letter thing would be the same, [not] anything, struggled with applying for citizenship was coming,” Maja said. “I was on the if we stayed in Poland.” over the past two years — especially beach and we were asking her ques- Since the move, the Keskas have not because she did not know English when tions. When we came back, we helped revisited Poland, but Maja has plans to her study at night. Before we slept, [my travel the world, including Poland, now she first moved to the U.S. “You don’t have to learn English brother and I would ask her] questions.” that they have the opportunity to travel because [there’s] a polish doctor, pol- A few weeks after returning from outside of the country. ish store, polish bakery, polish church, their trip, Ania went to take the “I think, now, since we have our citi[and] polish food,” Ania said. “Every- test and passed on the first try. Al- zenship, we can get passports, so we’re going to travel a lot,” Maja said. “That thing [you want] you can find, so it’s was a dream of mine, and that was holdvery hard when you just work with poling me back for a while since I couldn’t ish people [to] learn to speak English.” travel [anywhere outside of the U.S.].”

The difficulties Ania experienced Although the process was difficult, with understanding the English lanthe whole family agrees that receiving guage made the citizenship exam their citizenship was worth it, and, acchallenging, however, Maja helped her cording to Ania, she now feels more mother prepare before the exam. secure here with “a better life for us.”

“It was last Spring Break, and she “We are very glad we are here. got a letter from the government saying We have a lot of very nice, friendly that she had to prepare for the American friends, and they are like our family now,” Ania said. “We can travel everywhere, I can make ID and driving license, and my kids can go to college here. It’s a better education, it’s easier to Photo by Chloe Faris find a job, and it’s an easier life here.”

Photo illustration by Megan Monoson

12 SPOTLIGHT march 2018

survey says:

STUDENTS GROW SKILLS Photos by the Bear Facts staff

Source: Bear Facts Student Media survey of 379 students.

Chloe Faris co-spotlight editor Parul Pari staff writer

How has your relationship with How do you think the greenyour teachers affected school? house impacts the Transition Students at LZHS? “The greenhouse is a great way for the students to gain new life skills in a hands-on fun way. They have a lot of fun and it’s something they can develop a passion for.”

Austin Myhre, junior

“[Building teacher relationships] has helped me because I feel comfortable going to them for help. Talking to them helps me become more interested in [what they teach]when I might not have been before.”

Alexis Gabrione, junior

Do you think concussions pose as a serious threat for student athletes?

How does US citizenship help you in life?

“I think [citizenship] helps you in life. It will allow you to get better jobs and give you more opportunities.”

Haley Czabaj, sophomore

40.7%

of LZHS students know people residing in the U.S. without citizenship

“quotes said.think [concus“Yes I do sions] are a serious issue, especially for athletes in football. People are very physical in contact sports, such as football, and you can hit your head.”

Ellie Root, freshman

89.7%

of LZHS students know someone who has suffered from a concussion

How can people help address the issue of sexual assault?

“I feel like most Americans address major issues best when they become aware of the issue in their community.”

Patrick True, senior

SPOTLIGHT march 2018

13

Greenhouse branches out

Transition students grow skills through work Chloe Faris co-spotlight editor

The greenhouse, which sits right outside door 10 on the west side of the school, is a symbol of growth for the Transition program, filling essential needs for the students as they develop life skills along the way.

“Our students get to work on jobs in there. We grow many different kinds of plants, so the kids learn how to care of them — [which] fills sensory needs,” Jenna Catladi, special education teacher, said.

“Some of our students need that tactile learning experience to process the different stimuli in their environment.”

After winning grant money from the District 95 Foundation, the Transition Program, students who work on life skills after graduation, were able to create the greenhouse. This space has allowed for hands-on experiences that help the students further their tactile development, Annamarie Bader, special education teacher, said.

“We have students that have autism that may have difficulties touching the soil, but as time goes on, you can see some of them grow [and are] able to handle it more,” Bader said. “We work with one occupation therapist on a lot of occupational type stuff, so sweeping, planting, cutting, and things that are very hands

on that will help with [the students’] fine motor skills.”

Within the greenhouse, the students not only improve their skills, but they also take pride in having their own jobs, but they also learn how to work with one another, according to Kennedy Schaefges, transition student.

“It really makes me happy because sweeping is one of my things that I do in the greenhouse,” Schaefges said. “I like to sweep up everything. It’s been really helpful, and my friends like to help me out too.”

For students to continue learning these kinds of skills, the special education teachers plan to extend working on the greenhouse into the summer when it is usually closed down due to heat, Bader said.

“Our students do go to ESY [extended school year services], so they will work with a summer school teacher out there. In the spring and summer we will be working to get straw bales outside,” Bader said. “If you don’t want to dig in the soil, you can have straw bales outside where we can get all prepped and ready to go. We can grow vegetables and herbs in straw bales.”

With the vegetables, herbs, and other products the students grow, they have plant sales and sell to the staff at the school — which has attracted many people.

“One of the more popular things we have had this year was [when] we grew a bunch of herbs, and we turned them into turkey spices for Thanksgiving,” Bader said. We haven’t made a ton of money, but hopefully, in the future, we will. It just takes a couple of years to see what works and what sells — just like any business.”

Source: Bear Facts Student Media survey of 379 students.

96.4%

85.7%

of LZHS students believe the greenhouse holds value for Transition Students

of LZHS students believe getting out of the classroom will help Transition Students develop life skills

1. Jenna Cataldi, special education teacher, helps a transition student water the plants in the greenhouse.

Working in the greenhouse three to four times a week, students work on skills and grow their abilities.

2. After working in the greenhouse, transition students and teachers wash materials to prepare for more planting.

3. Transition students add water to the soil in the greenhouse. Now that spring is near, activity in the greenhouse will pick up for students.

4. Jeffrey Murphy, transition student, adds soil to a pot to place a plant. Students work on hand-ons activities which aids in tactile learning.

percent of people might suffer from post-concussion syndrome, where they continue to experience symptoms after 6 weeks -cdc.gov

percent of most people that are diagnosed with concussions who do not suffer from loss of consciousness -healthcare.utah.edu

percent of traumatic brain injuries related hospitalizations, and deaths among children zero to 14 years were caused by falls -cdc.gov

percent of overall concussions increase catastrophic head injury leading to permanent neurologic disability -headcasecompany.com

Photo by Carolyn Wagner

Haley Wold, senior, is the perfect model of someone who has faced the challenges of a concussion and grown past them.

After persevering through three concussions, Wold has learned more about herself and her true priorities in life.

Concussion repercussions

how LZ students grow past brain injuries Parul Pari staff writer

Most individuals move through their daily lives on auto pilot, going through similar motions from day to day, but for some students, an injury taught them not to take the ability to perform even the most simple tasks for granted.

Concussions are temporary unconsciousness caused by a blow to the head, some concussions more severe than others. Experiencing such severe injuries and having to drastically change her life in order to recover proved difficult for Haley Wold, senior, who has had three concussions.

“I was a sophomore when I got my first concussion, and [it] happened [when] I was in a soccer match and I had the ball. Someone came from behind me and swept the my feet out from underneath me, so I rolled back and hit the back of my head,” Wold said. “We didn’t really know that it was the concussion so I kept playing in soccer matches, and I was in a lot of pain.”

The concussion ended up having a lot of repercussions in the years to follow both on Wold’s mental and physical health.

“There were a lot of issues [that I developed] from that. Throughout the concussion, I kept having really bad anxiety because of school, and I couldn’t keep up,” Wold said. “The main [issue] was because when you damage your optic nerve your eyes cannot converge, and if your eyes can’t meet together then you can’t read.”

Due to these side effects, Wold decided to meet an optometrist to regain her eyes’ strength.

“After I met with an optometrist, I started going once a week for eye therapy and things got better. Then, going into senior year, I got another concussion in PE class. It was a basketball to the back of the head, and it screwed things up all over again,” Wold said. “I was freaking out at this point because I want to go to college next year and I was not about to sacrifice that.”

After these two concussions, nothing went back to the way things were for Wold.

“There is just so much intertwined [in your

brain],” Wold said. “For example, you have this thing called your Vestibular System and mine got knocked out of whack. It can mess with cognition and perception and, that [is] who you are.”

Since her injury and its repercussions, Wold has started focusing on herself by making her personal health a priority. Another student who has also changed her priorities after her concussion is Erin Bajor, junior who has suffered several concussions and her first concussion was from basketball.

“My earliest [concussion] that I remember was [when] I was playing basketball and a girl landed on my head. My friends made me go to the trainer [at our next game] because I fell over while trying to sing the national anthem, and I couldn’t stand up straight or write my name,” Bajor said. “I had to quit all my sports, and I still have [to deal with some] eye problems as well.”

These eye issues, among other side effects, caused many problems for Bajor in school, and they also changed her perspective on what is important in her life.

“I realized how to live life and take advantage of the moment [after] my doctor had talked to me about quitting all my sports,” Bajor said. “I love snowboarding and tubing, and he asked me if I would want to go tubing and snowboarding with my kids for the rest of my life or if I would want to stay in high school sports [for the two years].”

Overall, both Bajor and Wold agree that their concussions have come with difficulties, but ultimately shaped their views on how to lead their lives with different priorities.

“It’s weird because what kid is usually going around thinking ‘am I going to get hit in the head?’” Wold said. “[But] I would not be the same person without this happening and it has made me a lot more open minded and a lot more realistic.”

march 2018

17

When no wasn’t enough

growing stronger after sexual assault

secretary/business manager Rachel Brauer

He was an hour late for our first date, so I nervously waited in my car. The date itself consisted of notso-exciting conversations involving car mechanics and lasted 30 minutes. He politely walked me back to where I had parked and even opened my door so we could sit in the back and talk more.

Then, in a matter of minutes, he assaulted me and left me with a lifetime of lingering effects.

My assault was nothing like I had been taught to expect. It happened in broad daylight in a parking lot where many people could easily see everything. We had texted prior to our date; he was respectful, kind, even chivalrous during our short time together. After it happened, he thanked me.

I did not want to believe - I could not believe what had happened. On the drive home, I was in shock and I even asked myself “Was I just raped?” because, although the events suggested so, he didn’t seem like a rapist to me.

Every 98 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted, according to The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization. Every experience affects the victim differently, so what I was troubled with and the way I dealt with it is not universal. When survivors bravely decide to speak out, they

18 SPOTLIGHT march 2018

tell their stories but don’t often explain in detail how their experience changed them, like my experience changed me in more ways than I could have imagined.

“The timeline of how long it may take for [victims] to heal is definitely person-to-person. Hopefully, at some point, the victim will find a way to move on, but it’s not like you can put a band-aid on it and forget about it,” Julie Anderson, social worker, said. “A lot of times, people just try to keep moving instead of seeking the help that they need.

Intensive therapy is definitely needed to get through this type of healing process.”

It’s not like I haven’t experienced difficult situations before, so I believed this would be like falling down and getting back up again. I naively expected to bounce back from this with similar ease.

I thought writing a poem and talking openly about what had happened to me would completely heal me, but I could not properly express what I was going through since I had not yet experienced the true effects my assault had on me.

I only realized speaking out like this didn’t work when I woke up in a panic after my first night terror; I relived my experience so vividly to the point that I genuinely believed it was happening all over again. This would turn into a regular occurrence until I couldn’t take it anymore and began to think eliminating sleep would solve this problem.

I often didn’t sleep at night for almost two months. I took about two-hour naps a couple times a day so I could sort of stay alive; it was not sustainable or healthy, but l preferred exhaustion to reliving my trauma.

Being constantly awake forced

me to think about what happened and that led me to analyze everything surrounding my experience. Without a healthy approach or mindset, I was not able to heal during this time and, months later, I still struggled. I blamed myself for what happened: I felt extremely guilty for not reporting my attacker to the police station or getting a rape kit.

But a kit requires a victim to get a several hour intrusive inspection at a hospital within 72 hours since of trauma.

Of the little information I knew about sexual assault, I felt it was a victim’s duty to go through those crucial steps, however, I did not. I was not alone in this though because, according to a study done by RAINN, only 310 cases were reported out of 1000 rapes.

I thought about every moment leading up to the assault. I thought about everything he said, and I thought about everything I said. I remembered everything he did, and everything I did not do. This pushed me into a deep existential depression that worsened with each sleepless night. My troubles seemed endless and my life seemed pointless if I had to continue living it how I was.

This lack of motivation began to affect me as a student. I turned into someone who did not care to put effort into school. I was constantly behind, and stopped wanting to catch up. My sleepless nights were meant to make it so I didn’t have to keep reliving my trauma, but, ironically, school became a living nightmare for me because of it.

Every day went by in slow motion, each one more unbearable than the last.

I went through every mind-numbing school day feeling nothing. I had no escape from the routine of day to day life.

This is not the person I was known to be a year ago. Everything about my personality changed; I had to relearn who I was. The things I liked before were not as enjoyable and uninterested me entirely.

“Some victims feel like they are grappling with their own identity and who they are now compared to who they were before their assault experience,” Tim Dowling, school psychologist, said. “Sexual assault might cause a victim to not do things they normally do as trauma changes people in many ways.”

Everything that affected me after my experience really tested me.

Luckily, I had already been seeing a therapist and a school social worker.

I had people to talk me through this difficult time. Months later, I had developed a healthier mindset for my situation and took the steps to get back on track. I started sleeping again

which allowed me to start processing my experience instead of dwelling on it and I slowly regained my motivation for life.

It would be dishonest to act like my life has reverted back to how it was before this happened, and the honest truth is that I will probably never be the same person I was. It may take years before I will finally feel somewhat normal again, but I know there is life beyond trauma because I have finally started believing this as well.

Ways to cope 1. Seek out therapy. There are free online forums like & Cups that can help as well if you cannot afford it.

2. Call a sexual assault hotline. The Chicago number is 1-800656-4673 and a representative will be able to answer any questions you may have or help you through the initial shock.

3. Grounding exercise: focus on where you are by going through the six senses related to your surroundings. What are you smelling, feeling, seeing, hearing, and tasting in that moment.

Sources: Jazzmin Villanueva, a local psychologist.

Photo illustrations by Rachel Brauer

THE VALUE OF MENTORSHIP

OUR VIEW

We all have significant relationships throughout our lives that shape all of us and how we think. But many of us do not realize exactly how valuable these can be -- and how they can benefit everyone involved.

The Bear Facts Staff believes...

Above all, high school is defined by relationships. Peers, teachers, and student leaders all have significant power to shape our high school experience for the better, and oftentimes a significant relationships blossom under these circumstances.

This can be an incredible opportunity to learn and be challenged by others with more experiences. In a less specialized context, children and teenagers are helped by mentors who can act as positive role models in their lives. Cultivating these relationships benefits everyone involved, both those being supported and those in the mentor role by giving them a sense of accomplishment.

According to Youth.gov, there are many benefits to teenagers that come with being mentored.

Teenagers who were being mentored by a coach or other community leader had better interpersonal skills, higher high school graduation and college

20 SPOTLIGHT march 2018

“How have you grown as a person since starting high school?”

enrollment rates, and were significantly less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.

While these relationships sometimes come about through an official programs, both inside and outside of school, the less structured kinds of mentoring relationship can be just as important. The storyline of teachers making unique connections with individual students is ingrained into popular culture by films across the decades, and for good reason. In a study by New York University’s Department of Applied Psychology that focused on cultivating positive relationships between teenagers and their teachers, the students who had participated in the program had higher GPAs. However, according to Michelle Levin, PE leadership program sponsor and PE teacher, the benefits extend far beyond the material for the students who are involved in them.

FERNANDA DEL BOSQUE,

WERONIKA MARKOWSKA,

“I went to Catholic school, and I wasn’t given any proper information about how to transition through high school. It’s really stressful. You have to keep fighting your way through.”

“As a as a teenager. I have the opportunity to do so much without major repercussions, and that’s why I’ve become a lot braver and more in control of my emotions.’

freshman

junior

an er at th Fr (F an ra Ac m

ing th th of

th

Sin sch lea pe mo ap po

THE IMPACT

79.7%

The lessons from these mentorship programs and the positive effects of good student-teacher relationships have other applications here at Lake Zurich High School. Activities like the Special Needs Athletic Program (SNAP), Freshmen Achieving Maximum Excellence (FAME),and National Honor Society (NHS), and Physical Education leadership all incorporate mentorship-like aspects in varying ways.

According to Levin, relationships are often the most important part of good PE leadership.

“Freshmen needed to [...] see leaders modeling positive relationships and leading the way in the classes in a respectful way,” Levin said. “I think it’s really important to dive into the issues of leadership and talk about what it means.”

However, beyond the person being mentored, the benefits of mentoring extend to the mentors

ETHAN HEPLER

senior

Since starting high school, I would say i’ve learned to accept other people’s perspectives more. I’ve learned to appreciate other people’s points of view.”

DAVID ANTCZAK

history teacher “I’m more accepting. [In high school] I thought I knew it all and now I realize I don’t and that there’s so much more...

Now I have a better perspective on the world.”

themselves as well. A study from the Journal of Vocational Behavior that people who serve as mentors have an increased sense of confidence.

Additionally, a recent trend in college admission has been searching more for “leadership experience” so students gain tangible benefits in addition to more emotional ones.

High school is a unique time in a person’s life, and the structure of it naturally leads to opportunities for positive relationships. When students can connect with more experienced teachers, coaches, or peers, the results can be life-changing for everyone involved.

Appreciating the mentor figures in students’ lives can be a powerful tool for change in the community. When we can take the initiative to take on leadership roles, it transforms lives for everyone involved in these ventures.

How can we appreciate the mentor figures in our communities?

One way is to get involved in the mentorship opprotunities here at LZHS. Programs created to develop leadership skills are everywhere, from sports to student council and beyond-- and creating those relationships can benefit everyone.

of LZHS students say they have at least one adult or student mentor who influenced their high school experience positively overall

55% of students in the U.S. were more likely to enroll in college after they were mentored, according to USA Today

55.4%

63%

of LZHS students believe having a good relationship with their teachers affects their attitude towards school Spurce: Bear Facts Student Media survey of 379 students

SPOTLIGHT march 2018

21

Hard work beats talent

how two LZHS athletes significantly improved with hard work over time

SPORTS

Adam Cupples sports editor Certain athletes try a sport for the first time and give up quickly because they believe that with their raw skills, they have no shot at ever succeeding.

However, there are other athletes who persevere through these tough times and end up improving dramatically over the following years. These athletes fall into the latter category and exemplify the cliche “Hard work over time beats talent”.

Grace Loverde - Golf When Grace Loverde, junior, first tried out for golf, she went into tryouts with a sense of uncertainty; however, she decided to try out anyway and says she does not regret that decision. Although Loverde was unsure about joining golf, Mel Fox, girls golf coach, says she is glad that Loverde made the decision to try out for and ultimately improve in golf.

“I was very happy when Grace came out for the golf team freshman year,” Fox said. “She was a freshman willing to learn the game so she could become a better player. One method Grace used to improve her golf game was practicing with her dad on the weekends during the season, which led to her improving quickly.”

One of Loverde’s biggest influences for her golf improvement was her dad, along with one of her closest teammates, Loverde said.

“[My dad] always wanted me to play golf but didn’t want to push me if I didn’t love it. But, when he saw me play, he told me that I could be really good, and I believed it,” Loverde said. “Another person who helped me improve is my friend Bry [Hogan]. She gave me a run for my money as one of the best on the team, and constantly pushes me.”

As Loverde improved, she also began to make an impact on the golf team, Fox says.

“Grace [is] a pleasure to have on my golf team,” Fox said. “I was so happy Photos used with permission of Grace Loverde for her when she shot a 91 as her lowest 18 hole score ever, at the IHSA Regional Golf Tournament in September 2017. That was the day I knew she was willing to put in time to improve her game.”

In order to improve her golf game, Loverde practiced often while also working on her confidence.

“Since the minute I started playing, I told myself, ‘I can’t stop working.’ Now, I practice yearround, three times a week for two hours each day. The biggest part of improving is self image. You have to have confidence in yourself to succeed which is something I’m still working on that to this day.”

Top right: Loverde watches her shot during a golf meet her junior year.

Bottom right: Loverde follows through on her shot during a meet that took place her freshman year.

22 SPORTS march 2018

Far left: Soto passes an opponent during a race that took place his senior year.

Near left: Soto transitions into his final sprint during a cross country meet that took place his freshman year.

Photos used with permission of Danny Soto

Danny Soto - Cross Country/Track Also still working on his self image and confidence, Danny Soto, senior cross country and track runner, has also significantly improved as well as a runner.

“My initial experience with running was very different from what I experience on a day to day basis currently,” Soto said. “It was hard to run even a mile a day because I basically had no experience running prior to my freshman year.”

Though Soto only started running four years ago, JB Hanson, boys cross country and track coach, says he noticed Soto had an eagerness to learn and improve almost immediately.

“My first impressions of Danny was that he was honest, respectful, and eager to learn,” Hanson said. “I already knew his family from coaching his older brother, and I knew they would be supportive of him in pursuing his goals. I knew he

would be held to a high moral standard by his parents and older brothers [too].”

Both of Soto’s brothers were a key part in helping him improve as a runner, he says, but Soto also credits himself for the growth he has made over time.

“I think [my brothers] definitely influenced my training,” Soto said. “I definitely look up to them. However, I think that I was my own biggest motivator. Initially, I joined cross country to lose weight, but, after a couple of weeks, I realized that losing weight shouldn’t be my main reason for running. The reason I should be running is to become the best runner I can be. I worked hard and got to where I am today.”

His determination to work hard has allowed Soto to improve drastically through the years, Hanson says.

“Danny showed he was a hard-working, goal-oriented person right away. His

character was evident in his consistency and focus from his very first cross country season,” Hanson said. “While he may not have experienced dramatic improvements in his first cross country season, it was clear that he had a desire to excel. It was probably during Danny’s freshman track season that he started raising some eyebrows. I think he ran 5:20 or so for the mile that spring, which was incredible considering he could only muster an 8:00 mile about six months prior.”

In order to improve in high school athletics, Soto says being consistent with your training is the only way.

“Honestly, if you love a sport and you truly want to become great at it, you just have to keep working hard because hard work over time beats talent,” Soto said.

“No matter what sport you play, if you really love it, you should work hard to improve yourself in it.”

SPORTS march 2018

23

STATE COVERAGE

This month, we celebrate those sports who, as of March 8, qualified for State Finals.

1. Poms The varsity dance team poses after their hip-hop routine placed 1st at 2A State in January. After their State victory, the team traveled down to Florida to compete at Nationals, where their hiphop routine placed 4th and their poms routine placed 10th.

Photo used with permission of Teri Johlie

2. Boys Bowling The varsity boys bowling team poses in their hotel while at State in January.

After they finished 2nd at Regionals and 5th at Sectionals, the team advanced to the second day of State, where they finished 7th overall.

3. Cheerleading Members of the cheer team let out a scream during their routine at State last month. After finishing 2nd at both Conference and Sectionals, the varsity squad concluded their season with a 19th place finish at State.

Photo used with permission of Eric Reusch

Photo used with permission of Rachael Fischer

24 SPORTS march 2018

4. Football The football team huddles together before the 7A State game starts in November. The team rolled through the regular season with an undefeated record behind stellar play from both the offense and defense. The Bears finished the year as the 7A State Runner-Up with a 13-1 record.

Photo used with permission of Luke Mertens

Photo used with permission of Adam Cupples

4.

5. Boys Cross Country Members of the boys cross country team pose after their trip to State in November. The team finished 1st at Conference and Regionals, and 2nd at Sectionals, en route to a 10th straight State appearance.

At state, the team placed 11th with 328 points. Patrick Burns, senior, was an AllState medalist after placing 17th.

5.

SPORTS march 2018

25

Sweating the fine print Non-athletic sports pose unique challenges for IHSA regulations Emma Brumage-Kilcourse staff writer

When most people think of sports, they think of athletic events with star players and packed bleachers -- but what many people do not know is that the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) regulates many competitive events that are not athletic, and has done so since the earliest years of the organization. But this fact raises an important question: how exactly does IHSA define a sport?

Kurt Tenopir, IHSA board of directors member and principal of Fremd High School, says that the purpose of the IHSA is to enrich students’ lives by providing them opportunities for healthy competition. He also says the IHSA answers the question of whether to include a club, sport, or activity in their purview.

“Once there is a critical mass of interest from schools,” he said, “we give them that opportunity to expand.”

According to Tenopir, it is all about what schools, and their students, at a particular moment are interested in.

“We have a list of emerging sports, which we put on a competition watchlist and start talking to schools and officials about,” Tenopir said.

A major example of an activity on that list that is currently gaining in prominence is eSports. Tenopir says that the IHSA has actively been in contact with high school Gaming Clubs across the state.

On the subject of emerging eSports,

26 SPORTS march 2018

Chicago Tribune contributor Ted Slowick suggests incorporating STEM into IHSA: “Mathematics and robotics are fields where teams of students compete. Members could appeal to the IHSA to officially sanction math and engineering contests as activities. They could join such beneficial pursuits as chess, Scholastic Bowl, and journalism as official IHSA activities.”

The question of what activities to include under their organization’s umbrella has always haunted the IHSA. A recent athletic example of this is lacrosse, with many alleging that the IHSA was slow to respond to the sport’s growing popularity among Chicagoland teenagers, which, according to the Daily Herald, was picking up steam due to feeder programs into high schools and areas like North Shore developing their programs. However, the IHSA took the unusual step of creating a benchmark and defining what exactly the critical mass had to be: 65 boys teams and 40 girls teams statewide.

That precedent, however, could be harder to apply to activities with less clearly defined team roles.

However, he does acknowledge that non-athletic sports often have unique challenges that can be difficult to address in debating inclusion or establishing a state series. For example, with the speech team, “one or two people on that team can win a state championship for you,” Tenopir said.

“We try to make sure judging and rules are as fair and equitable as possible.”

1. Bass Fishing 2. Team Chess 3. Debate 4. Drama & Group Interpretation 5. Journalism 6. Music (in separate Solo & Ensemble and Organization Contests) 7. Scholastic Bowl 8. Speech Individual Events.

@emiliamangiardi

@haileyterrasaz

@bobby.elliott

@lauraz529

@teah_mirabelli

bear facts!

Want to be featured here? Submit your Instagram photos to our Twitter contest in May!

get your

daily @lzbearfacts & lzbearfacts.com