Issue 1

S outhp o rt H igh Sc h ool

THE JOURNAL Volume 99 Issue 1 September 10, 2020

Facing the virus

Special edition: SHS tackles global pandemic head-on

Sports and the virus

Plenty of potential

Mask maker

Athletes face challenges when dealing with the pandemic

Despite the changes, the school year can still be fun

Teacher takes up hobby to help colleagues and friends

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Page 16

Page 20

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

“I feel like we are already forming into one, big, happy family.”

Welcome to Issue 1 of Volume 99 of The Journal! Since I’ve been on The Journal, it’s our first ever themed issue: the coronavirus. Although this global pandemic could have easily hindered our production, it didn’t. Instead, it actually helped us focus and bond more than ever.

And that is just one of the many reasons why I am so excited to be leading this staff.

In April, I was so over the moon to be named the Editor-In-Chief of this publication and make The Journal of my dreams. In June, I was freaking out about how in the world I could serve in my position effectively if the coronavirus changed everything. And it did, but I learned that change is OK. Because of the pandemic, The Journal staff didn’t have a summer to get to know each other, sell ads or plan nearly as much as normal. But even still, I feel like we are already forming into one, big, happy family.

I couldn’t be more grateful.

Over the last month, The Journal staff has worked tirelessly to get the job done and to get it done well. What my managing editors and I expected out of our section editors and rookies would probably seem impossible to most anyone outside of The Journal. But it wasn’t.

I could not be more excited to share with readers everything we have produced this issue. This is only the beginning.

THE JOURNAL 971 E. Banta Road Indianapolis, Indiana 46227

Editor-In-Chief Elizabeth Valadez Content Managing Editor Emma Herwehe Design Managing Editor Brianna Henry

Editors Thian Awi Eli Beck Taylor Hill Kelsey Jones Tanny Khun Sophie McKinney Emily Mertz

Adviser Mike Klopfenstein

Social Media Manager Shelby Denny

Principal Brian Knight

Staff Artist Kayla Brown

Reporters Bridget Cagle Zach Chambers Paige Denny Grace Elder Owen Hodges Emma Main Megan Rogers Jemimah Ram Nathan Smith December Tling Henry Van Ni

IN THIS ISSUE News

C OV E R

Positive response, 4 Hybrid learning, 6

Sports

Beyond the Buzzer, 7 A whole new game, 8

Foreign Language Hlawtlinnak ding ah, 10

Features Through their lens, 12

12

Opinion

The Valadez View, 16 A coronavirus inequality, 17 Mask up, 18

4

Entertainment A life-saving hobby, 19

Photos A new look, 22

Follow The Journal on social media!

8 @thesopojournal

@theSHSjournal

@sopojournal

The SHS Journal

News

Editor: Emily Mertz

Positive response SHS has a step-by-step plan if a positive COVID-19 test is reported

By Owen Hodges, Reporter

S

tudents returned to the 2020-2021 school year in early August with masks on, a six-foot distance in class and completely online schoolwork.These are just some of the precautions that come with inperson school during a worldwide pandemic.

While the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t necessarily new, it is new to an in-person school environment. Due to the unknown certainty of the situation, SHS has put in various health and safety measures to be potentially used if a student or staff member tests positive.

Principal Brian Knight says SHS students have 4 News

done a good job abiding to the safety measures, especially mask wearing.

“The students, you guys have been fantastic,” Knight said.

If a student were to test positive for COVID-19, the principal or nurses would find out about it by the student’s parent or guardian notifying the school, or the Marion County Health Department reporting to the school that an SHS student’s test came back positive.

Because this virus can infect a person for two to six weeks, most deadlines for work will be flexible, and students will be able to make up their work without too much worry about due dates,

according to Knight.

“We would work individually with that kid and make sure they had time to get done what they needed to get done,” Knight said.

“I can’t see us setting a hard deadline of ‘By the end of next week, it has to be done absolutely.’”

If a student were to start to feel sick during the day with symptoms of COVID-19, they would report to the nurse’s office as soon as possible. The nurse would take the student’s temperature and assess the student based on the symptoms they choose to share with the nurses.

However, they cannot determine if the student is

SHS has a plan in place if someone in the building tests positive for COVID-19.

Nurse Bethany Mendez is one of the nurses that can assess symptoms.

Photo by Kelsey Jones

To learn more about COVID-19 symptoms, scan the QR code below

COVID-19 positive based solely on symptoms.

“The symptoms of COVID-19 mirror the symptoms of so many other viruses and illnesses that we don't make that determination,” Bethany Mendez, a SHS nurse, said.

According to Knight, if a student did test positive, and was at school within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, the school would begin contact tracing. They’d look for any students that were within six feet of the infected student for 15 minutes or more. If anyone had been in close contact with the infected student for under 15 minutes, they would be deemed safe and could continue going to school as normal.

In this situation, the student who tested positive would quarantine for 10 days, while any students who were exposed for those 15 or more minutes would quarantine for 14 days.

According to Keesha Hughes, Communications Director for Superintendent Patrick Mapes, a student would be safe to come back 10 days from when symptoms begin to show or the day they got tested.

“After contact tracing is complete, nurses

“

The symptoms of COVID-19 mirror the symptoms of so many other viruses and illnessses that we don't make that determination.

”

Nurse Bethany Mendez

Marion County COVID-19 facts There have been a total of 19,272 postitive COVID-19 cases and 750 deaths in Marion County.

Positive tests for people under the age of 20 have increased.

Source: Marion County Public Health Department

call everyone in the school (i.e. teachers, staff, students) who had close contact with the individual,” Hughes wrote in an email to The Journal. “Nurses provide instructions for quarantining and monitoring symptoms.”

When a football player tested positive on Aug. 21, the administration immediately used the roster to determine which players played the same position and had substantial contact with the infected student and informed their parents of the situation.

After the parents of those students were informed, a message went out to the entire school about the situation, and the game the following day was cancelled.

SHS talked to health officials for guidance, and the team was able to play their first game last Friday.

The nature of COVID-19 has brought on new challenges for SHS to ensure the safety of all students. But, in Knight’s opinion, SHS administration has taken swift action when certain scenarios have arisen.

“I felt like even though we’ve never done it before, we were pretty efficient in the process,” Knight said.

Step-by-step The process after a reported positive COVID-19 test

A student tests positive for COVID-19.

Contact tracing begins.

Student who tests positive quarantines for 10 days, and students who were exposed quarantine for 14 days.

Students are able to go back to school when they are symptom free.

News 5

Students in Jamie Marshall's Spanish class sit six feet away from each other. Students must stay socially distanced due to COVID-19. Photo by Emma Main

Hybrid learning

After months of deliberation, Perry Township makes the switch to an alternative schedule

Benefits of the hybrid schedule

By Jemimah Ram, Reporter

J

ust before the scheduled start of school, staff and students at SHS found out they would be attending school in-person for two days a week, unlike the previously planned full return to school.

The format of the hybrid schedule at SHS is based upon the rate of positive COVID-19 tests in Marion County. According to Principal Brian Knight, the positivity rate is just around 9%. Secondary schools are allowed to attend school at 50% capacity when the county has a 6% to 10% positive rate. If it goes higher than that rate, SHS would have to go fully virtual.

Unlike a normal schedule, SHS is running four periods a day, and each is 90 minutes. This 6 News

new schedule also limits passing period time in the halls so there is less contact among students.

“We worried that if we ran a seven-period day, that we would increase the number of people each individual comes into contact with each day,” Knight said.

The first group of kids that attend school is students with last names A through L, and the second group is students with last names from M through Z. The school district decided on choosing students to go to school by last names so sibling groups wouldn’t be separated.

“We wanted to make sure to keep families together,” Knight said.

If the district had gone by grade levels, then the classes wouldn’t have

gotten smaller. According to Knight, students wouldn’t have been spaced out as the average number of students in each grade level would still be in classes.

The hybrid schedule has also caused teachers to give out all work on Friday and have all of it due by 2:30 p.m. the following Friday. This change has brought about different opinions among the staff and student body.

Junior Albert Thang does not like the new schedule.

“I would rather be in school for the whole week instead of two days,” Thang said.

Science teacher Daryl Traylor feels teachers are adjusting to the schedule well.

“I feel like it's best with the situation we’ve had,” Traylor said.

Ensure siblings stay together

Keep students socially distanced in class

Ensure less crowding during passing periods

Sports Editor: Eli Beck

Beyond the buzzer All or nothing

By Eli Beck, Editor

No matter what level they play at, athletes thrive on the roar of the crowd. But, those playing the sport aren’t the only people that rely on tickets being sold.

Without fans rolling through the gates before gametime, high school athletic departments would not be able to fund other high school sports.

Even though we see many professional leagues kicking off their season with no one in the stands, this would not be a viable option for high school sports. We either have to play with fans in attendance or disregard the fall sports season all together.

This year the IHSAA has decided to limit the number of fans for the season, requiring a max of 250 people per each set of stands. These sets must contain separate entrances and restrooms in order to allow 250 fans, according to the IndyStar.

Professional leagues have the ability to play

Athlete of the Month: Junior Carlos Herrera

without fans because of the revenue they make from television contracts.

High school sports would not receive the same large scale following if they attempted to live stream their seasons. Not only do they lose the money from ticket sales, but they also miss out on revenue from the concession stands. A major bonus of high school sports is the fact that they provide funding for other activities within the athletic departement. This is not the case only at SHS, but at schools across the nation.

Without fans, that funding would be nonexistent.

On top of the debate about whether to play with fans or not, athletes are also making themselves more susceptible to the same issue that would keep fans away from the games: COVID-19.

According to the CDC, the highest risk of spreading the virus while participating in sports is when there is full competition

between two teams, showing that there are more concerns than just injuries when it comes to playing high school sports.

A quick look at the increased chances of injury or sickness from playing sports this season shows that the only way it would be worthwhile to risk playing fall sports is if fans are in attendance.

This way, the athletic department would still be able to make money from sporting events.

There are ways to ensure that fans are safe while watching sports in the stands, such as socially distancing seating options, requiring masks and keeping common areas clean and sanitized.

If fans are restricted from games, it becomes nonsensical to continue fall sports this year. But if the athletic department can still find ways to bring in money for the school, then bring on fall sports.

To vote for next issue's Athlete of the Month:

Head over to The Journal Rewired and vote on the current poll.

Q: What have you done in practice to deserve this award?

A: "I've come in on Saturdays after we've played tough opponents."

The Athlete of the Month was decided through a poll on The Journal Rewired.

Sports 7

A whole new game

Athletes face challenges with new COVID-19 guidelines this season

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has been the cause of the biggest change to modern sports in recent history. From taking away senior seasons to being the reason that some athletes don’t pursue collegiate careers, all athletes have been affected by COVID-19 in one way or another.

“With everything going on, I don’t know that any of (the football players) felt truly certain that we would be playing right now,” head football coach Brandon Winters said.

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, many athletes have voiced their opinion that they want sports to continue to play, and while the impact sports has on students is important, many schools 8 Sports

By Nathan Smith, Reporter

and local governments do not see it as important as the athletes’ health.

The Marion County Health Department has implemented many new rules and guidelines to protect the players from the virus. The changes range from keeping all athletes socially distanced if possible, wearing masks when not participating in a practice or game and not touching other players or equipment if possible.

Junior quarterback Zach Shepard believes the new guidelines will play a role in games as the players must be separated from others on the sidelines and must wear masks at all times when off the field.

Senior Taylor Renick, the middle blocker for the girls volleyball team, has voiced her opinion on the

new rules and regulations and how she feels about them, but she understands why she and many other players must follow them.

“I dislike (the guidelines),” Renick said.

“But it is what we have to do, so I respect them.”

Although some see the pandemic as a negative, there are SHS teams and athletes who have found ways to bring positives out of this. As teams are forced to go through these uncertain times together, their bonds and connections with one another have grown as well.

According to junior soccer player Albert Thang, the soccer team has not only gotten much closer to each other, but they have also learned lots about the people

Due to COVID-19, fans are required to social distance and wear a mask while sitting in the stands. SHS lost their first game of the season 35-28 to Columbus North High School. Photo by Kelsey Jones

Did you know?

16 schools across the U.S. have moved their football season to Spring 2021.

Source: MaxPreps

around them.

“We have gotten closer as a family and spent some We have quality time with each gotten much closer as a other,” Thang said. family and As the coaches and spent some quality time athletes prepare for their with each upcoming season,Winters other. feels the limited amount Junior Albert of practice time opposing Thang teams get will pay off due to the fact that they might not be quite as prepared for their games.

“I think some teams will To learn about the try to jam all the things new faces they’ve always done into a in the SHS shorter period…” Winters athletic said. “I think if one team department, tries to do way too much, scan the QR it will be obvious because code below. they won’t be able to execute (it).”

If the seasons do get canceled, many athletes will have not gotten the chance to perform at all.

“

”

For seniors, this could have a huge impact on whether or not they go on and play sports at the collegiate level. For Renick, it determines if she continues to play volleyball in college.

According to Renick, if the volleyball season does get cancelled, it would be extremely hard for college scouts to look at her and would impact her chance at playing volleyball in college tremendously.

For some SHS athletes and coaches, they are just grateful for the ability to enjoy sports in the midst of a global pandemic.

“It has not been the most convenient thing to deal with,” Winters said.

“But it is better than the alternative, which would be no sports.”

Senior showcase

Bryan Martinez Cross Country “For non-contact sports, the amount of people allowed in the games and the amount of people that can participate will be affected.”

Senior Chloe Patton passes the ball upfield.

The Lady Cards lost to Greenwood High School 3-1 on Aug. 29. Photo by Kelsey Jones

Bawicung Phutin Soccer

Senior Taylor Renick walks with her parents before the girls volleyball senior night on Aug. 26. The Cards lost 3-0 to the Westfield Rocks.

Photo by Emma Main

“I think the seson will be canceled and colleges won’t be able to recruit.”

Sports 9

Foreign Language Editor: Thian Awi

Hlawtlinnak ding ah Himi lai lak ah EL zirhtu le tlawngta pawl in hlawtlin ding in an zuam Ngantu Henry Van Ni, Reporter

Mirang ttong an thiam lo ruangah an tlawngta pawl harsatnak an tong ti thei in, EL sayama pawl in an hlawtlin theinak ding ah an zuam pi rero. An tlawngta pawl hrang ruat in kum dang in an tuah dah lomi pawl an tuah.

“Ka tlawngta pawl Canvas ah thil tuah daan an thiam hri lo ruangah khami kha ka zirh dingmi ah ka telh ve,” EL department chair le sayama Amy Peddie in a ti.

Peddie in EL kaitu pawl ih harsatnak an tonmi dang pakhat cu Canvas ih thil tuah daan hi asi tiah a ti. Canvas website ih ttongkam an hman mi

cu a danglam zet mi asi ih Mirang ttong thiam lo hrangah cun theihthiam a har deuh ding. A tlawngta pawl an theihthiamnak dingah Peddie in Google slides a tuah sak.

“Ka khan ih ka tuah mi hmaisabik cu Canvas ih ttongkam an hman mi kha ka simfiang,” Peddie in a ti. “An fiang lomi kha ka sut ih cule Canvas ih ni-thla siarnak hman daan ka sim.”

A tlawngta a bom vekin, zirhti dang pawl Peddie in a bom ve. Tlawngta pawl ih an harnak pawl a theih hnu ah zirhtu dang pawl hnenah an harsatnak a sim. A sim a sile, an tlawngta pawl

bom daan ding kha an thei ve ding.

Peddie lawng si lo in, himi tlawngkai daan thar lakah EL sayama Hiba Ruahnak Al-Awadh in a tlawngta ttha bik ka pawl hrangah caa awl pek theimi deuh dingin a zirh daan cu tampi a thleng. A zirhmi pawl thusuh hi in an tuah ttul dingmi a si an theihfiang theinak dingah a zuambik.

EL sayama Amy Peddie “Caa ka zirh hlan ah, caan malte sung modules Canvas ih ka ret mi pawl ka zoh ter. Thusuh duh an neih pang le himi caan ah in sut thei,” Al-Awadh in a ti.

A tlawngta pawl thuhla ah cun, AlAwadh in an Peddie ih ruahnak pekmi pali buaibik mi 1. Thu tampi sut aw. Thu suh ding kha ttih aw hla ziangahtile na saya pawl in thu cu tlawng na suh ruangah an thinheng lo ding. ngai an kai maltuk kha 2. Thil na theihthiam lo asile screenshot zaih awla an duh lo na saya Email in sut aw. tiah a ti. A 3. Na rualpi pawl caa na theihthiam lomi an theih asile sut aw. tlawngta tampi pawl 4. Na chromebook Mirang caa siar ter aw, a lo bom maithei, cun a hlan 10 Foreign Language

“

”

Peddie in a khan ah a tlawngta ca tuah a bawm.

Peddie in a tlawngta pawl hi a bawm thei tawk in a bawm rero. Zuktu Emma Main

To read this story in English, scan the QR code below.

ih an kai daan vek in an zuam rero. Phunkua kai kai duhsal. Nihnih lawng Cung Rem in a zuam thei tlawng ah rawng lo in, ni tawk in a zuam a ti ih a nga sung kai an beisei. saya le sayama pawl ih a Himi an beisei nak cu an hleice bawmnak a ttul lo. saya le sayama pawl hnen “Tu fang ah cun ihsin bawmnak an ngah harsatnak tampi ka nei thei zat ngah an duh. lo,” Rem in a ti. “Caa cu Cule Al-Awadh in keimah ten ka zuam rero zarhkhat ah veikhat ih ka hmat pawl tla an hrawng a tlawngta pawl ttha ko.” pakhat tete in a biak Rem vek tlawngta pawl tum. Himi caan ah an cu harsatnak tampi an harsatnak le an harsat lonak pawl a sut. Ziangvek asi khalle a bawm theih ahcun a bawm ruangah a si.

Z i r h t u pawl in an zuam pi rero lai ah, tlawngta pawl tla an Phunhleihnih kaimi Aung Piew Peddie ih khan mah le tawk ah a to. A hrekkhat tlawngta pawl cu online in an rak ihsin tlawng an kai ruangah khan ah tlawngta malte lawng an um. Zuktu Emma Main

nei lo ih buaipi an ttul tuk lo. Asinain, tlawngta harsatnak tong tampi tla an um thotho. Caa lam ih harnak tong tu pawl hrangah Peddie in ruahnak a pe.

“Ruahnak ttha bik ka pek theimi cu tampi thusuh hi a si,” Peddie in a ti. “Zirthtu pawl in thu tampi nan suh ruang ah an thin a heng lo ding.

An zir mi thil an theih lo asile an mah le an mah hrang ttan an lak a ttul.”

Na chromebook in Mirang ttong in a lo siar sak daan 1. Accessibility timi kha hmet aw. Himi cu nazi umnak na ah a um.

2. Select-to-speak hril aw.

Foreign Language 11

Features

Editor: Sophia McKinney

The Journal dives into the different perspectives regarding the coronavirus within the SHS community.

Through their lens

The coronavirus leaves an impact on the SHS community

By December Tling and Megan Rogers, Reporters

A

s the SHS community works together to stay connected during this time of COVID-19, The Journal has spoken to many people about their experiences and feelings regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Some say that it has made them feel lonely and hopeless, while others say they are learning more about themselves during 12 Features

this time.

While everyone may be dealing with obstacles, they are all handling this pandemic in their own way.

Some individuals that The Journal spoke to say that they keep in touch with their loved ones over the phone. Others say that they’re spending more time with their families at home. Some have been scared to even

be around their high-risk family members.

Everyone has a different story, and these are just a few of the voices from the community. While these voices may not represent all of the stories, they can shed light to how others may be living with this new reality. To better understand others’ perspectives, take a look through their lens.

“

They can shed a light to how others may be living with this new reality.

”

Senior Mary Sang's tips on how to recover Get plenty of sleep Senior Mary Sang and her father Joseph Hlei are posing for church.This was before COVID-19 began to spread. Photo contributed by Mary Sang.

'COVID-19 has taught me not to take my time and health for granted'

Eat some warm soup

Senior Mary Sang Senior Mary Sang received an email that she tested positive for COVID-19. She spent many days in quarantine, and eventually recovered.

More cautious of her surroundings and friends, she continues on with her journey day by day, having learned many valuable lessons along the way.

“COVID-19 has taught me to not take my time and health for granted,” Sang said.

Working in customer service, she knew there was a risk of her contracting the airborne disease. Her father Joseph Hlei and sister Zai Par were sick beforehand, also working in jobs with a high risk of contracting a virus, but were not tested. They kept working until Sang also became infected.

As she was hanging out with her friends, she had an immense headache and a fever that warmed her on the inside but not the

outside. Taking ibuprofen and Tylenol had not helped at first, but instead made her headache worse.

She began to lose her sense of taste and alternated between feeling chilly and hot.

When she learned she had COVID-19, she was in denial and disbelief.

This was also affected by how the media portrayed the virus.

“I always thought I had a pretty strong immune system,” Sang said. “So, I was like ‘Wow, I think this is fake just because I saw in the news they say that the government is false-diagnosing people just so they have more power.’ Then I realized my symptoms were actually real.”

Sang quarantined for ten days. Throughout those ten days, she drank lots of fluids, rested, and took care of herself like she had a common cold.

While recovering, Sang

worried about her father who is in his 60s. She felt afraid since there was the possibility of him not recovering from the virus.

Near the end of the ten days, Sang longed to be with her friends. Senior Van Lian is one of her close friends.

They didn’t get to see each other during that time, but once she recovered they hung out with caution.

“I was just trying to keep my distance while also being there for her,” Lian said.

Throughout this experience, Sang has learned to take COVID-19 more seriously.

She encouraged people to continue wearing their masks and sanitize their hands often.

Keep yourself entertained

SelfQuaratine

“

COVID-19 has taught me not to take my time and health for granted Senior Mary Sang

”

Features 13

'I wanted to keep teaching' Retired teacher Bonnie Tempest

Retired social studies teacher Bonnie Tempest and her husband David Tempest are pictured. Since the pandemic hit, Tempest feels that family comes first. Photo contributed by Bonnie Tempest

Social studies teacher Lloyd Winebarger works on Canvas during his prep period.

He took over Tempest's classroom when she retired. Photo by Sophia McKinney 14 Features

Throughout her 24 years of teaching at SHS, social studies teacher Bonnie Tempest enjoyed interacting and bonding with her students and colleagues. Due to the virus, all of these perks came to an end.

“I didn’t really want to retire yet, but it was the best decision for my family.” Tempest said.

Ever since the coronavirus has begun to spread, SHS has had to make many changes.

Teachers have to teach online and in-person.

Unfortunately, Tempest couldn't fulfill both. ”I wanted to keep teaching,” Bonnie Tempest said. “Frankly, by the way they’re doing things now, pretty much everything is online anyways.”

Due to her husband of 35 years, David Tempest’s health conditions, he was more prone to this airborne disease and if he caught the virus, the effects would be devastating. Had his wife chosen to come to school and then come home to him, it would have put him at even more risk.

“I do get a little frustrated when I go to the store and still, still see people walk around without a mask…,” David Tempest said. “I think they're so narrow minded

that they think ‘Well, I don’t care if I get the Coronavirus.’ Well, what they're not considering is them getting the virus and passing it on to someone who could ill afford to get infected and I think it’s a very selfish outlook and people who feel that way should re-examine themselves again.”

Therefore, she had proposed to teach strictly virtual since her husband is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Tempest had been preparing over the summer for her online classes, hopeful that the township administration would accept her proposal. Unfortunately, the proposal was rejected.

She says that she does not feel bitter about the virus nor the rejection.

“I think the people who actually know me know that I don’t usually get that upset,” Tempest said.

Art teacher Breanna Bierod says that she will miss having Tempest around. She once was one of Tempest’s students when she attended SHS. Bierod admired Tempest and hopes that she can walk away knowing she made an impact.

“She’s a rockstar of a teacher and deserves to go out with dignity,” Bierod said.

How Boone helps Plans ahead for unexpected changes

Assistant principal Amy Boone works in her office on Sept. 3. Boone has been responsible for scheduling classes and balancing class sizes.

Photo by Megan Rogers Offers support to her community

'It was a lot less doing and a lot more planning' Assistant principal Amy Boone

Over the summer, assistant principal Amy Boone spent more of her time at SHS than normal. June began with administration meetings, Keeps and Boone tried her best physical to establish a plan, even distance from those though she knew there around her was always a possibility of last minute changes.

“It was a lot less doing and a lot more planning,” Boone said.

Two weeks before school began, the Marion County Health Maintains open Department announced communication that schools would switch to a hybrid schedule.

This left Boone feeling tired and stressed.

One of her main jobs is handling student scheduling and balancing class size.

She says this was more difficult than previous

years because she didn’t know how many students would show up in person and how many would be completely virtual. Since gathering the final report on the number of students in these categories would not be completed until close to when school started, Boone had a short amount of time to complete all the scheduling and last minute changes.

“As much as you can prepare, there will always be something last minute.” Boone said.

Even with all the new obstacles she has been facing this year, Boone says that she has seen some positive sides as well. She believes that getting through this pandemic is a team

effort. Boone says she appreciates everyones’ cooperation going into this.

“I’ve been really impressed with how well all of the students and staff have kind of adapted with the situation that we’re all in,” Boone said.

Not only has Boone seen positives, but others have seen the positives that she has brought to the administrative team.

Office manager Alicia Tasker admires Boone’s effort.

“She has had to become very creative, and being able to juggle student schedules....”

Tasker said. “So she’s spent a lot of extra time really making sure that everybody’s schedules have matched up.”

Features 15

Opinion Editor: Taylor Hill

The Valadez View

Virus got you down? There is still a positive outlook amidst a global pandemic

By Elizabeth Valadez, Editor-In-Chief

I feel like it was just yesterday that I had my kindergarten orientation, but I’m actually supposed to graduate in May. The most bittersweet part of it all is my senior year experience isn’t going to be anything like what it’s been cracked up to be, but that is okay.

Was I ever into sitting in the student section at football games? No. Do I like socializing in big groups in general? Not really. But COVID-19 has taken away all of these things and more, and it just feels unfair. But then again, most things in life are. So I’m trying my hardest to make the best of it.

For starters, I’m writing this column. The first of nine columns this year, and it feels so weird. I’m the Editor-In-Chief of a publications staff that I can technically only see in person up to two times a week. Without The Journal in my life these last two years, I don’t think I would have survived. Sure, the stress has gotten to me at times.

But the staffers who have very quickly become my people are so worth it.

16 Opinion

And feeling even the slightest disconnect between us all is disheartening. But we are working. Hard. And honestly, the sweat, tears (and hopefully no blood) that have gone into producing this entire issue have truly amazed me. I’ve never been more proud to be a part of such an amazing group.

The motto of The Journal’s adviser, Mike Klopfenstein, is “Good work sucks.” Harsh, right?

Not at all. Klopfenstein has never gotten anything so right. Because even in the midst of a global pandemic, The Journal is not merely good. We’re still great.

I wouldn’t say we are untouchable, but sometimes it feels like it.

Obstacles and barriers come up time and time again. And even though everything happening should knock us completely off our rocker, it hasn’t. And I think that’s an accomplishment in and of itself.

This plays into other aspects of my senior year too. There aren’t dances to plan for or hallways to decorate for Student

Council, but we’re still having fun. There’s not a big concert to look forward to in band, but we are finding new ways to learn and play music.

I have to set aside time to apply to colleges, but I only go to school inperson two times a week.

And all of this shows that the world really isn’t ending. At least not yet.

There truly are positive ways for all of us to cope with the current state of the world. Whether it’s reminding ourselves of how far we’ve come, or that the little things are what matter, we’re still here. Showing up.

Informing ourselves.

And most importantly, being as safe as we can.

Although everything feels extremely different, I’m not too unhappy about it, which is very unusual for me.

Sure, my senior year isn’t what I expected, but that doesn’t mean it has to be worse than my previous expectations.

The Journal is figuratively on its own two feet. I’m on my own two feet, which is very surprising. And that’s enough to make me smile.

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I’m the Editor-InChief of a publications staff that I can technically only see in person up to two times a week.

Without The Journal in my life these last two years, I don’t think I would have survived.

Editor-In-Chief Elizabeth Valadez

”

A COVID-19 inequality Football and marching band are treated differently during the pandemic

By Owen Hodges, Reporter

On July 17, the news hit that high school marching band competitions would be canceled and thousands of kids were heartbroken.

COVID-19 is no joke. With something this serious, I thought the response for all extracurriculars would be the same.

Unfortunately, that's not the case.

The responses to how to proceed with the football and marching band seasons have been completely different

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When I joined last year, it changed my life.

Sophomore Owen Hodges

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Mask up

and unfair.

As a trumpet player in marching band, I have experienced the inequality first-hand.

Band itself is already underappreciated, and now all of what marching band is about is gone. There’s To continue reading no marching, barely any rehearsal and this story, no competitions. When I joined last year, scan the it changed my life.

QR code The friends I’ve made have had an below. impact on my life that will last forever.

I also just genuinely love performing so much, and to have that completely stripped from me is devastating.

Competitions were canceled to lower the risk of spreading COVID-19. But, a max of 750 people watching a football game is allowed...

Don't be selfish, wear a protective covering to stop the spread

By Kelsey Jones , Editor

To read continue reading this story, scan the QR code below.

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the U.S. and schools were shut down, I panicked.

My family and I went into quarantine so we could protect my grandparents and stay safe. Once people started to make masks for hospitals and to sell them so people could leave the house safely, my mom, sister and I jumped on the train and made as many masks as we could.

Every day the virus numbers climb higher

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My family and I went into quarantine to protect my grandpaernts and stay safe.

Senior Kelsey Jones

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and higher. Since Sept. 3, the number of cases has risen 236, and the number of deaths rose by one. Besides quarantining, one way to stay safe is wearing a mask. On July 9, masks became a requirement in Marion County, and there are people who still don’t wear a mask or who won’t wear it correctly.

Going out into public, I see people wearing their masks under their chin, under their nose, hanging on their ear or not even wearing one at all. I do understand that sometimes it becomes hard to breathe, but the people who choose to not wear a mask are just making a selfish choice in my opinion.

Not wearing masks can spread...

Opinion 17

Journal Address In-person classes should not have started this early into the school year JOURNAL ADDRESS This is the opinion of the editoral board of The Journal.

In early March, Marion County made the decision to switch to virtual learning after they were made aware of COVID-19. After stay-athome orders were put in place and all Marion County schools were closed for inperson learning, we were all made very aware of just how dangerous the coronavirus could be.

And still, that fear factor is present. Although Perry Township and the Marion County Health Department have done all they can to make students feel safe, we, The Journal, feel that inperson learning should not have been an option for the 2020-2021 school year.

As of Sept. 8, the Marion County Health Department has reported 19,073 coronavirus cases and 750 deaths. And one of these cases can be accounted for by a SHS football player.

Not only is our county struggling (along with the 18 Opinion

rest of the country), our school could very easily become a hot spot for the virus. If someone is asymptomatic the whole time they are carrying the virus, imagine how many people it could be spread to. Of course this is why rules and regulations have been put in place, but is that enough?

Yes, we only go to school with the people in our last name groups of A through L or M through Z. But beyond that, administration cannot control who we come into contact with once we leave the school doors. That is no fault of their own, but there are simply too many areas for error, for a single positive case to turn into a hundred positive cases.

Now, the obvious is that all of us could have chosen to be a virtual student for the year.

But for a couple of reasons, this would have been entirely unattainable.

Let’s be honest, the reality

of virtual learning can be quite lonely and less effective. Production of The Journal would quite literally not exist if our staff stayed home because software is available at school, and most of us don’t have technology that can get the job done.

While we understand the risks and have observed our unrest, we will still put ourselves in a vulnerable position to make it work. But if everyone was virtual, we wouldn’t feel such pressure to operate as normal, simply because we couldn’t.

Although there is a plan in place for contact tracing and quarantining for infected and possibly infected individuals, a school of more than 2,000 students is hard to control on a normal, non-pandemic basis. We, The Journal, feel it is unreasonable to continue with in-person learning, even through a hybrid schedule, because there are simply too many unknowns.

Fun and games The Lunch Bunch by Kayla Brown

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7 4 3 6 8 2 7 8 5 7 1 4 6 7 6 1 1 9 8 1 3 9 4 1 6 3 8 9 8 4 3 Check out the Journal Twitter @theSHSjournal for the solution.

Fun and games 19

Entertainment Editor: Tanny Khun

A life-saving hobby Teacher takes personal time to make masks for colleagues and kids

By Paige Denny, Reporter

W

hen speech and broadcast teacher Sara Berghoff’s husband started having to wear a mask to work, they could not find masks anywhere. She started making them for him, then as time went on, Berghoff understood that masks would become a necessity for everyone around her to wear as well.

At the very beginning of the pandemic, masks were not readily available. When Berghoff realized that masks were going to become significant for everyone, she continuously updated the style of her masks and the processes she went through to make the masks. Then she could see what would work best for her and different people that she would be making them for.

“As it became clearer 20 Entertainment

that masks were going to become important, I continually refined my style and process,” Berghoff said.

What started off as her making masks for her husband then later turned into making masks for herself, her children and everyone she was close with at work. Berghoff has made masks for many teachers at SHS, including friends like English teachers Dawn Fowerbaugh and Jessi Walpole.

Luckily, with the help of social media and her sister, Berghoff was able to get different patterns and different designs that she liked to print off.

She was able to sew the designs that she printed off. Berghoff says she numbers off each of the masks she makes so she knows which one she is working on. A friend of hers had bought some

masks that tie around your head, and when Berghoff saw them, she learned how they were made and decided that it was the style she wanted to start making.

Berghoff started making her masks this way to give herself more room to breathe and to be able to speak clearly without the masks falling down or off her face.

Fowerbaugh says this specific style of masks that Berghoff makes helps her throughout her day because she doesn’t have to fully take it off, she can just pull it down and it stays on her neck.

“It has ties on it so you can take it off and it just stays around your neck, that's what is nice about the kind that she made it so that it just stays on you.” Fowerbaugh said.

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“They're really comfortable and lightweight and big enough where I don’t feel like they're falling off or there's a lot of space on the cheeks,” English teacher Jessi Walpole

”

Berghoff's masks

Speech and broadcast teacher Sara Berghoff is pictured making masks for her family. She takes time to make her masks in her at-home-office. Photo by Kelsey Jones

Berghoff still makes regular masks with earloops, but she feels the ones that tie are more comfortable for wearing all day. She says that the masks that tie are better for wearing all day because while talking they don’t fall down and they are big enough to be comfortable and still have room to breath.

Walpole says that the masks Berghoff made for her are enjoyable to wear because they are soft and secure, still leaving room to be able to breathe. “They're really comfortable and lightweight and big enough where I don’t feel like they're falling off or there's a lot of space on the cheeks,” Walpole said.

Berghoff made a big bag of masks full of

different sizes, including adults sizes and kids sizes, for the teachers and their kids. Her son’s face does not fit very well into masks, so she finally found a pattern to fit on his face.

Walpole says she likes that Berghoff has kid friendly masks. Walpole’s daughter also enjoys the masks Berghoff makes, and she wears them almost everyday when she goes to school.

“I really do think that a lot of people are wearing masks that don't fit their faces well and that is why they are so uncomfortable in their masks, everybody I think just needs to go up a size to keep it from falling off their noses all the time, if people are really uncomfortable in the masks then they should find ones that Entertainment 21

Photos

Editor: Kelsey Jones

A new look Due to the coronavirus during the 2020-2021 school year, SHS had to make serious changes to places like the cafeteria, office and the classrooms.

Cafeteria

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Dominant: On Sept. 1, M-Z students walk to their class during a passing period.

1. Lunch tables now have an "X" on them to indicate where students sit. Students now sit with their classes during lunch.

2. Principal Brian Knight wears a mask while on his computer during lunch. Administrators and students are now required to wear a mask when they are not eating or drinking.

3. This year, lunch ladies wash trays as students drop them off after eating. This allows for more places for students to drop trays off, away from other students.

4. Assistant principal Chris Finkhouse releases students to take up their trash.

5. The office now has tubs for parents to drop off students' things for cleaning. This is to ensure that the people in the office touch less things that come in and out of the building.

6. Front office secretary Krista Perry now communicates with people through the door bell so fewer people come into the school.

7. Student workers in the office are now scanning IDs when a student leaves or arrives late. This is a quicker and safer way for students to interact with office staff.

8. English teacher Heather Todero gives her students instructions before giving them the rest of the time to work.

9. Students and teachers have to wipe down desks and equipment used in the class for safer contact.

10. Science teacher Amanda Schnepp has cut outs of scientists to mark the seats the students can't sit in. Students can no longer sit next to each other.

Office and Classroom photos by: Kelsey Jones, Editor Cafeteria photos by: Emma Main, Reporter

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Southport High School

THE JOURNAL REWIRED

Editor-In-Chief Elizabeth Valadez

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