Pitchfork, Issue 3, 2023 - 2024

PITCHFORK

THE

EST 1928

Marietta, Georgia

Marietta High School

Issue 3

@mhspitchfork

December 19, 2023

Board vote removes “sexually explicit” books Sydney Martinez Managing Editor The boardroom was quiet, keyboards clicking and cameras flashing. There was a podium set in front of Superintendent Dr. Grant Rivera and the seven Marietta City Schools board members. The board meeting of Dec. 12 began at 6 p.m. with Kerry Minervini, Board of Education chair and representative of Ward Six, hitting her gavel. After the invocation, call to order, and pledge of allegiance, public comment began.

On Monday Dec. 11 the agenda for the regularly scheduled board meeting was made public. The first item of the discussion agenda was the removal of sexually explicit books from Marietta High School, which posted the recommended action: “The Superintendent recommends the Board approve the removal of the attached list of books from the Marietta High School Learning Commons.” As a result, parents and MCS students came to make public comments to the board regarding the Sept. 13 book directive given to Dr. Rivera.

Two MCS parents, Kayla Sargent and Courtney Bellman, one grandparent, Donna Lewis, and an MHS student, Bella Gantt, spoke in front of the Board regarding the list of 23 books that were to be removed from MCS. Sargent and Gantt expressed conerns

Bella Gantt (11) uses three minutes of public comment to speak in opposition of the reccomendation action to remove books from Marietta High’s media center. The 23 books were reviewed for sexually explicit material. Photo by Sydney Martinez for removing any books, and Gantt specifically referenced her favorite book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

“I see the book ban as a threat to understanding the profound impact it can have on a high school student,” Gantt said.

Bellman advocated for allowing choice.

Lewis sided with the recommended action and thanked the board.

“I want to thank you all for your attempts of keeping our children safe, in keeping our children’s minds on what they need to be on,” Lewis said.

The final decision was 6-1. A.B. Almy, Board of Education member representative for Ward Three, opposed the removal of 23 books from MHS, as well as, a 6-1 vote for the parent appeal of the book Me and Earl

and the Dying Girl.

It has been reiterated by board members that this is considered a book removal and not a ban. The board voted 7-0 for the “Sunset Directive,” which will end the review and allow MCS parents and students to appeal or reconsider the 23 books on the list by Jan. 9 2024.

Continue to pg. 6 for “Book removal”

Game day cheer team sticks the landing, third in state Zaria Byers Editor-in-Chief

INSIDE

The month of December marks the beginning of Game Day Cheer competition season. Game day cheer differs from other forms of cheer in the sense that it is focused on crowd engagement. Game day cheerleaders use poms, signs, megaphones and catchy chants to promote spirit in their audience. At both basketball and football games, the cheerleaders serve as motivation to the team as they perform on the sidelines in their signature combination of uniforms and red lipstick. During Game Day competitions, the same energy from sports events are expected to be transferred to the mat. Marietta High School’s cheer Marietta High School’s cheer team (Emma Johnson, Makayla Farris, and Ava team began competition on Dec. 2. The Jane Denny not pictured) celebrates their state win while displaying Blue Devil girls had been preparing for competition spirit. Photo by Zaria Byers

All about FAFSA

Flag football

Overview of what students need to know about the financial aid process.

Highlights of the flag football team’s journey to the Elite 8.

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since their pre-season in June, by weight training and doing workouts throughout the summer. During the school year, they began attending rigorous practices that increased from meeting once a week to every day. At each practice, cheerleaders are required to start by rolling out the heavy mats. Afterwards, they jump-squat and lunge-squat 10 times, without stopping, in addition to a few other exercises.

They then stretch in several different ways.

“Practicing was so tiring because once we got to our choreography, we had to keep doing the routine multiple times to fix the small things within it like stunts and formation. This contributed to the team’s performance by allowing stamina for such a tiring routine while maintaining to look sharp,” Toffy Siriveerawan (12) said.

Continue to pg. 11 for “Cheer”

Holiday celebrations

Exploration of how different cultures across the world celebrate the holidays. page 12

Opinions

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Editorial: The more you know In just the first half of the 2022-23 school year, a reported 1,477 individual books were banned or removed from schools in America. As we progress into the 202324 school year, this number will only continue to increase. With more books disappearing off of the shelves, our access to creative realms are shrinking.

Books are more than just words on a page; they are an escape from reality. Books provide us with the opportunity to turn our screens off and enjoy the tangible.

Through reading, we are able to immerse ourselves into the life of another person and imagine new things. We can feel a connection with the author and receive inspiration. Studies also show that readers experience “shadow activity,” which transports a reader into the body of the protagonist through changes in the brain’s resting state.

Books contribute greatly to our education, especially as writers. We consume news and literature so that we have content to create. However, our education is being restricted as classroom curricula are being changed.

Teachers are limited on what they can present to their classes and libraries are being stripped. Consequently, our learning is restricted. As we read, we become better

people. Through an array of different books, there is so much to be discovered across a multitude of subjects.

Textbooks allow us to understand various topics as told by professionals. We can read autobiographies to see a person’s life from their own perspective and better understand them. The various forms of literary elements that are present in books can provide us with new vocabulary and academic terms to store.

“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”

-Margaret Fuller Riveting novels are also an interesting way to see various aspects of the world through a fictional lens. Along with new perspectives, these books provide us with a larger skill set as writers.

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When books are written by real people, real topics can be expected. These topics aren’t always the happiest, and as journalists, we have been exposed to the hard-toswallow aspects of the world.

By welcoming stories involving all races, cultures, and identities, we are providing voices to everyone. Doing this wholly contributes to the people that we are. On a psychological level, reading has also been proven as beneficial. By reading, we become more empathetic and creative. This helps our interpersonal relationships and communication. Long-term, reading can help prevent dementia as it has qualities similar to meditation.

Reading also develops agile thinking and rationality, which are crucial skills for school and work. As digital learning and AI is becoming prominent, it is important to develop our own minds and think for ourselves. As our selections of books decrease, so do our opportunities to gain knowledge. Understanding topics and people that relate to our current society allows us to have an open-minded outlook on events and issues happening around us. No matter the genre, reading as a whole is beneficial to our develoment as prepared citizens of the world.

What impact do books have on a student’s education?

Lyla Mackler (9)

“Books can make you more interested in literature and they can teach you life lessons while entertaining you.”

Ava Rodriguez (10)

“They help us gain more knowledge and help with our vocabulary. They also increase our reading level and speed.”

Follow us @mhspitchfork

Andrew Lewis (11)

“Books, from a young age have a huge impact. Gaining literacy is important for comprehending harder books when you’re in high school and college.”

William Poston (12)

“They have a pretty big impact because the basis of all learning comes out of books.”

Adam Russell (MHS Staff)

“Books have zero effect on a student’s education if the student doesn’t find anything interesting in that book to read.

Students should find interesting books that will change their lives.”

Polleen Coates (Newspaper Staff)

“Books allow for students, like myself, to explore different concepts that I wouldn’t usually get from an online source.”

A random follower will be chosen each issue to win a Zaxby’s gift card from @Zaxbys591SMP. This issue’s winner is Lucinda Wilder (12).

Pitchfork is published by journalism students at Marietta High. It is free to the student body, staff and community. The views and opinions expressed in the Pitchfork are not necessarily those of the administration and faculty. Letters to the editor should be brought to room J208 or emailed to the staff: pitchfork@marietta-city.k12.ga.us Mission Statement: Pitchfork is a student written and produced newspaper aimed at educating, enlightening, and entertaining Marietta High’s students. All content is determined by the staff in an attempt to be relevant and give voice to the student body.

Managing Editor Sydney Martinez Editors-in-Chief Zaria Byers Wes Harrison Section Editors Sydney Hernandez Addison Moreland Design Editors Libby Barnes Quinn Mulkey

Business Managers Amber Ryan Amelia Jenkins Social Media Managers Kaia Kirkpatrick Lily Konigsmark Promotion Managers Trinity Seals Mae Bullington Advisor Andrea Lyons Staff

Aidan Allegro Polleen Coates Colette DePasquale Reagan Kelley

Alexandria Kelly Ady Grace Miller Harrison Pacin

Opinions

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Santa Claus is coming to town

Papa Noel viene al pueblo

Addison Moreland Section Editior

Sydney Martínez Editora Gerente

It’s the day following Thanksgiving.

Your mother is frantically running through the kitchen as her cookies burn, blaring “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” so loudly that she can’t hear the timer ringing. Your father is parading your little siblings out into the yard, enlisting them to help string the lights across the eave of your house. It is without a doubt the most wonderful time of the year. Nevertheless, Christmas is far more than merely holiday fare, decor, and the falling snow, it is about the customs we commemorate and the traditions we hold so dear to our hearts, such as the fictional Santa Claus. The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicolas. Much revered for his generosity and devotion, he became the focal point of numerous folktales, worldwide.

As a teenager, Nicolas was consecrated for his very generous heart. Nicolas wandered the countryside to tend to the needy and the sick. Nicolas came from a very affluent family, with his parents, Nonna and Theophanes, the bishop of the city of Myra, leaving their estate to him when they passed. Nicolas, who always had the spirit of giving, took his inheritance and gifted it to those who were less fortunate. He led a life of decency and humility, and by the time of the Renaissance, Saint Nicolas became the most popular Saint in all of Eu-

rope. By 1446, nearly 803 years after his death, Nicolas was canonized by Pope Eugene IV. While the idea of Santa Claus has centuries-old precedents from the Christian and Pagan worlds alike, his appearance as we know it today is largely the creation of one man: German artist and cartoonist, Thomas Nast. Originally drawn as a ghoulish elf, Nast eventually evolved his illustration into a character that children of all ages can enjoy. By the end of the 18th century, Nicolas was widely recognized in American culture, so much so that the Salvation Army began to send unemployed men in Santa suits to solicit donations for impoverished families to provide them with Christmas meals, a tradition that has persisted on to this day.

While there isn’t a man in the sky riding a sleigh pulled by reindeers, Santa Claus isn't a completely made-up person. He has transformed Christmas into what it is today. Rather than being about the presents we receive, the legend of infamous St. Nicolas has helped spread the unconditional love that he so graciously gifted upon the world nearly 2,000 years ago.

Es el día después del Día de Acción de Gracias. Tu madre está frenéticamente corriendo por la cocina mientras que sus galletas se queman, tocando “Buenas Navidades” a todo volumen que no escucha el timbre de el horno. Tu padre está desfilando con tus hermanitos hacia el patio, alistándose para ayudar a colgar las luces alrededor de tu casa. Sin ninguna duda, este es el tiempo más lindo del año. De cualquier modo, la Navidad es mucho más que una excusa para la festividad, más que las decoraciones o la nieve que cae, la Navidad es la temporada que conmemoramos hacia las tradiciones que mantenemos muy cerca a nuestros corazones, justo como la historia ficticia de Papá Noel. La leyenda de Papá Noel puede ser recordada más de cientos de años como un monje conocido como San Nicolás. Muy venerado por su generosidad y devoción, se convirtió en el punto de atención a nivel mundial.

Como un joven, Nicolas fue consagrado por su corazón muy generoso. Él caminaba por el campo para atender a la gente en necesidad o los que estaban enfermos.

Nicolas vino de una familia afluente, con sus padres, Nonna y Theophanes, el obispo de la ciudad de Myra, dejando su territorio con Nicolas cuando fallecieron. Nicolas, quien siempre tuvo el espíritu para regalar, tomó su herencia y la regaló a los que

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eran menos afortunados. Él siempre llevó una vida de decencia y humildad, y para el tiempo del renacimiento, Papá Noel fue el más popular Santo en todo Europa. En 1446, casi 803 años después de su muerte, Nicolas fue canonizado por el Papa Eugenio IV. Si bien la idea de Papá Noel tiene precedentes centenarios tanto en el mundo cristiano como en el pagano, su apariencia tal como la conocemos hoy es en gran medida la creación de un solo hombre: Artista y dibujante Alemana, Thomas Nast. Originalmente dibujado como un elfo macabro, Nast eventualmente evolucionó su ilustración a un personaje que los niños de todos edades pueden disfrutar. Mientras que la idea de Para los últimas años del siglo 18, Nicolas fue ampliamente reconocido en la cultura Americana, tanto así que la organización “Salvation Army” empezó a mandar hombres desempleados en disfraz de Santa para solicitar donaciones para las familias empobrecidas para proporcionarles dinero para la cena de Navidad, una tradición que ha persistido hasta esta dia.

Mientras que no hay un hombre en el cielo montado a un trineo jalado por renos, Papá Noel no fue una figura completamente falsa. El ha transformado la Navidad en lo que se conoce hoy. En lugar de tratarse de los regalos que recibimos, la leyenda de Santo Nicolas a ayudado y se ha extendido el amor incondicional que él ha regalado generosamente sobre el mundo hace 2.000 años atrás.

DM answers to @mhspitchfork with your name and 3B. We will randomly select three winners for free @Zaxbys591SMP

“Banning books gives us silence when we need speech.” -Stephen Chbosky Sydney Martinez Managing Editor Book banning is not a new phenomenon, but has been a recurring event dating back to 1637. “Obscenity,” “explicit sexuality,” and “inappropriate” are broad terms that have been used in the process of removing books. These are the same terms used in the trend of banning books in 2020. Over 2,000 book titles have been banned throughout the United States, many of them being targeted for being written by LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, or for mentioning sexuality, gender identity, or race.

Since July, I have been following this topic closely after I saw a video of a Floridian teacher looking at the covers of books that were going to be tossed out from an elementary school’s library. There were at least six 80 pound boxes full of books shown in the video. When paying attention to the cover of a few books, I saw “Black Eagles” and “Lewis and Clark Explorers of the American West” books on the history of America.

Why take books away from children who are learning to accept diverse cultures or, better yet, why get rid of books on the history of the United States? Book banning is a matter of violating the First Amendment. Authors’ right to express their opinions or stories through writing has now been censored by schools across America due to the “explicit content” their books contain.

In April of 2022, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a bill allowing parents to request the removal of a book from school libraries. The recent rise in book banning has caught the attention of parents in Georgia, making them review books in our libraries.

Bill 226 has had an effect in Cobb County and caught the attention of a Marietta City Schools parent. Our school followed suit, recently putting “Flamer” and “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” up for review, consequently banning the books from our library for containing “sexually explicit content.”

As of Dec. 12, other books have been pulled from our own school library for containing “sexually explicit” content, but I assure you, this is only a fraction of the books in our school that contain such content. I think that if this book review were so important to our board, they would have taken their time to carefully read all books that were flagged for “mature content,” and “adult level” themes. Also, I would appreciate it if students were included in the process of book reviews. We are the ones reading the books, not parents.

Not in any step of the Board of Education’s review process was a student allowed to give their opinion on any book, we are only allowed to appeal a decision for a book after the fact that they were pulled from our library.

In a more broad context, books that have actual obscene content rarely get challenged.

Books that explore sexuality and gender are said to “endanger” children. It’s time to wake up. The world is a harsh place and has harsh realities, so why ban books that reflect real world issues? High school students are old enough to grapple with these issues in real life so we are old enough to read about them in our library books. According to EdWeek Research Center, at least 57 percent of students in schools won’t notice that these books were pulled, but the 43 percent that do care are not heard by their school representatives. Moreover, teens have access to the internet. They can search up sexually explicit content on the internet. This review across the country is not very effective when it comes to protecting kids from sexual content.

It is truly a stroke of luck if we see kids reading books. This recent decline in literacy has impacted schools more than books have. Books are what bring knowledge to the people. The choice to read or not read a book is up to the reader. The choice to be offended by the book is up to the reader. Readers should not be the ones who choose to publicly seek to ban a book simply because the content goes against their personal values. One’s own beliefs should not be pushed on to other people, and that is what is happening with book bans. This book ban across America is seizing the First Amendment from diverse voices who are shaping the future of America. Let’s not ban books that go against personal views, instead embrace the differences that make the world. We should cultivate an environment that promotes reading instead of banning books.

News

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El Niño snowy winter weather predictions Kaia Kirkpatrick Social Media Manager

As winter quickly approaches, many are excited about anticipated holiday activities. However, some plans might be put to a halt with the recent weather predictions of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

There will likely be an abundance of snow, rain, and ice this year because El Niño has hit. El Niño is a weather phenomenon that increases the warming of the Pacific Ocean. However, the impacts extend far beyond the equator.

According to the NOAA, “forecasters issued an El Niño Advisory, noting that El Niño conditions are present and are expected to gradually strengthen into the winter.”

El Niño is a part of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) which consists of El Niño, La Niña, and a neutral phase. The different phases cause vastly different conditions and they switch irregularly making it difficult for people to adequately prepare for the conditions.

However, meteorologists have detected temperatures 1.78 degrees above average in the Pacific Ocean.

Earth has previously experienced back-to-back La Niña conditions for the past five years. During these years,

Georgia experienced much less rainfall and much warmer winters. The last El Niño the United States experienced was in 2019, but the conditions were much weaker than the expected conditions for this winter.

Georgia already felt the effects of El Niño this summer with the wet and soggy conditions in June and a shift in summer temperatures in July this summer. The complex weather patterns of El Niño also increased the amount of natural disasters occuring around the world. The increased moisture in the atmosphere caused extreme rainfall in the central and eastern pacific and caused dry conditions near the equator.

NOAA predicts wetter-than-average conditions for northern Alaska, portions of the West, the southern Plains, Southeast, Gulf Coast and lower mid-Atlantic and drierthan-average conditions across the northern tier of the U.S. Although no El Niño cycle is the same, the phenomenon has a tendency to make winter conditions in the south colder in the south and warmer in the north of the United States. This also impacts the amount of precipitation

present in the U.S. Flooding is an increasingly common phenomenon caused by increased rainfall and rising sea levels due to El Niño.

These winter disasters have already taken a toll on East Africa. The region has been experiencing incessant rainfall since October. The flooding has also caused mudslides that have misplaced around 40,000 Kenyans.

This flooding is also expected to affect California later into the winter. Cities along the coast line are expected to see much flooding as El Niño progresses.

The wet conditions are also expected to hit the south this winter, including Georgia. However, instead of floods, the state could receive snowfall this year. This winter Georgia will experience above average rainfall. With the expected frigid weather, this could be the perfect recipe for snow and ice this winter.

El Niño conditions will likely peak during December through January. This winter could be a strong El Niño, which has only happened five times since 1950. This leads the NOAA to predict that this winter may be one of Georgia’s coldest winters yet.

Student's favorite snow day activities "I would go out and jump on my trampoline if we had a snow storm."

Maggie Beth White (11)

"I would have a snowball fight and drink hot chocolate with my friends."

Chandler Lathen (10)

"I would build tiny snowmen with my brother and make homemade snow icecream."

Esmeralda Rivera (12)

Guide to FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid Zaria Byers Editor-in-Chief What is FAFSA?

Work-study programs

The primary step in applying to colleges is completing the FAFSA form. Though it has previously opened on Oct. 1 in previous years, it will become available on Dec. 31 for the 2024-25 school year. FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is essentially a large source of finances for higher education. This form also allows students to apply for grants, work-study funds, and loans that differ in amounts, depending on their eligibility. Many scholarships that are applied to college costs also require the FAFSA. Along with its new opening date, students will see changes to the criteria for aid eligibility. FAFSA’s older criteria was dependent on Expected Family Contribution and the Cost of Attendance of the school a student is attending. For the upcoming school year, FAFSA will use the Student Aid Index to estimate how much federal student aid the student qualifies for. The Student Aid Index also removes the number of family members in college from calculation.

FAFSA also offers work-study programs which provide students with job opportunities to earn money while enrolled in college. These jobs are usually geared towards community service or the student’s study of choice. The wage received will be at least minimum wage, but can increase depending on the skill sets required. Other factors, such as date of application and the level of funding a student’s college provides will also determine how much a student is able to make in this program. Similar to other forms of aid, the work-study program is based on financial need.

Types of Aid The FAFSA offers need-based grants, loans, and work-study funds. While each of these types of aid provide college funds, they differ in their conditions.

Grants The Federal Pell Grant and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant are the two grants that FAFSA offers for students. The Federal Pell Grant is typically awarded to all eligible undergraduate students who display extreme financial need. There is also eligibility available for those who are incarcerated and meet certain requirements.

Unlike the Pell Grant, FSEOG is limited. Participating schools receive a certain amount of funds from the U.S Department of Education. After all of the funds have been awarded, there is no more availability for a FSEOG that year.

Loans Loans are categorized into subsidized and unsubsidized loans. The amount received from subsidized loans is determined by a student’s college and it may not exceed the set amount of financial need. The U.S Department of Education pays interest on these loans. Unsubsidized loans are determined by a student’s college depending on the cost of attendance and other forms of financial aid the student will receive. The student will be responsible for paying the interest on these loans.

Where to learn more The official Federal Student Aid provides detailed information about when, where, and how to apply for financial aid. Students can also gather more information through events at Marietta High School. On every second Tuesday of the month, college advising sessions are held to discuss topics pertaining to college readiness. Students can also register for FAFSA Support on Wednesdays, where they will be assisted in completing their FAFSA form, start to finish.

Community

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Devils doing good deeds Amelia Jenkins and Amber Ryan Business Managers Every year, clubs organize various donations to support the community. Students take part in hygiene, toy, game, and food drives that are then donated to numerous organizations or schools and are given to children. These are organizations such as Must Ministries, Hope House, and Cobb Christmas as well as schools like Lockheed Elementary. These clubs help the Marietta community prosper and have a filling holiday season.

To donate, the clubs set up collection boxes either in the club sponsor’s classroom or in the MHS rotunda for all the donations to be collected. The appealing aspect is that students do not need to be a part of these clubs to contribute.

While students are wondering what gifts they are getting, some kids already know they are not getting a gift at all. In the spirit of the holidays, it is beneficial to give back to the community.

According to Data USA, 12.9 percent of families in Marietta, Georgia live below the poverty line, which is a higher number than the national average. This means that there are people in the community that need help and there is no time like the holidays to do so.

Giving in community is important Marietta High School and below you will find information as to why.

Spanish Honor Society members at their annual Christmas Party with their collected toy donations. Photo by Elizabeth Berry

Spanish Honor Society During the holiday season, the Spanish Honor Society participates in a toy drive as a local charity service project.

Their collection of toys goes to children who do not have much during the holiday season. Every year they pick a different organization to donate also.

This year, Spanish Honor Society chose Cobb Christmas, an organization that is staffed by volunteers and gives toys to children ages three to thirteen. They work to keep the Christmas spirit alive through their donations and work the volunteers do.

Spanish Honor Society's toy drive started on November 13 and ended on December 12.

Lockheed Elementary Senior Ella Patterson decided to give back this holiday season by organizing, collecting, and donating toys to Lockheed Elementary. She has decided to collect both money and toy donations and is going to deliver them to some of the families apart from the school who cannot afford to buy Christmas gifts themselves.

“I wanted to do something good for my community,” Ella Patterson (12) said.

Patterson’s mother is the principal of Lockheed Elementary which allowed her to work alongside the school to donate. She found 20 families in need this season and will be giving gifts to them this Christmas.

National Honor Society Many junior and senior Marietta students take part in the National Honor Society and give back to the community in various ways. Colleges look at being a member of this club as a high honor because of the prerequisites needed and their impact on the community. Starting January they will begin collecting clothing and toiletries for the Hope House.

This organization helps women in Georgia get back on their feet after a significant life event. They have been able to serve women across Georgia, but need help maintaining supplies since this is a volunteer-based organization. So, NHS will be collecting these items starting next semester to help Hope House.

Fellowship of Christian Atheletes Marietta High School has a strong faith-based community that has an affinity for giving back. This giving season they are contributing to Must Ministries by assembling hygiene kits for the organization. Must is an organization that helps those stricken by poverty get back on their feet by providing them with clothes, food, and job opportunities.

FCA is accepting any hygiene items such as shampoo, deodorant, soap, and dental items. The club provides many opportunities throughout the year to give back. If interested in the club, they meet every Friday morning on the J-Hall steps at 7:00 am. Fellowship of Christian Athletes is still looking for donations until Friday, December 15. The collection box is in the rotunda.

Thank you to our generous sponsors and supporters of student journalism

Since 2021, there has been an increase nationally in book bans sponsored by different parent groups. According to the American Library Association, there were 695 tracked challenges to library materials in the first eight months of 2023, a major increase from the 377 challenges seen in 2019. Moms for Liberty is one of the parent groups that challenges books. According to the Associated Press, they have organized banning efforts nationwide and sought for more parental control over books available to young adults.

On Aug. 23 the Cobb County School district removed two books from their libraries, “Flamer” by Mike Curato and “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews. This was met with people standing on both sides of the issue in the Cobb community.

In Cobb County, after the books were removed from the library, the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition began making appearances at every monthly meeting of the Cobb County School Board to make public comment. The student led organization implored the board to focus on issues that students actually attested to facing in schools instead of banning books and claiming for it to be for the good of the students.

“It’s left up to the Board and Superintendent’s own discretion to pull all books that they subjectively find inappropriate which could easily open up an opportunity for more and more bans,” Ava Bussey (12), a student at MHS and intern with GYJC, said.

The Marietta City Schools Board of Education issued a directive on Sept. 13, 2023 for a review of all the books within all the school libraries. The directive instructed the superintendent to set operations in place to remove all books with “sexually explicit” material that they believed were inappropriate for students.

This issue was first brought to the board concerning two books found within the Marietta High School media center, “Flamer” and “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.” There are over 20,000 books in just the MHS media center and tens of thousands more at all the media centers in MCS. The board directive stated that there was a need to “remove sexually explicit material that is defined collectively as obscene, pornographic, not age appropriate and without substantive historical or academic value.”

All parents, guardians, students, or staff have the ability to call for a reconsideration of the materials in the media centers and they have had this choice for many years. The process has a decision made between the principal and complainant. This process has been available for more than 20 years and

is currently under the MHS Media Center website under the tab BOOKS.BOOKS.BOOKS, https:// www.marietta-city.org/Page/4189. The two books brought to the BOE were not first brought through the proper reconsideration procedure within the school instead they were brought directly to the board.

To complete the directive MCS Superintendent Dr. Grant Rivera worked in collaboration with MHS media center staff and district academic department to review identified books. Using an assortment of challenged and banned book lists, the media specialists at upper level schools were directed to review their catalogs for the presence of the books. The books at MHS were then distributed for reading amongst a group of educators and media specialists for vetting purposes. The vetted books were then sent to the MCS central office to be reviewed. The media specialists and staff of MHS were not involved with the central office review process, only the original vetting and review process. Students were not included in any of the processes.

The review included “a committee of educators who reviewed each book for sexually explicit content,” said Rivera.

According to Rivera, based on recommendations from the media specialist at Marietta Middle School, 19 books were transferred from MMS to MHS. Additionally, one book was transferred from MSGA to MHS. On Dec. 12, the MCS Board of Education convened for their monthly meeting. At this meeting, twenty-three books were brought for review. All twenty-three books were removed with a vote of 6-1. A.B. Almy was the sole dissenting vote on the matter.

In Marietta as well, the public has not stood idly by for this decision. School board meetings relating to the issue have consistently been filled with concerned parents, staff, students, community members, and alumni who stand on both sides.

“It all depends on what they mean by sexually explicit, if they’re talking about actual things that students shouldn’t read, then I’m fine with it,” Elden Towler (11) said. “If they’re talking about like any mentions of homosexuality or anything that goes against Catholic guidelines, then I’m really not for it.”

In response to the book being brought for review, the author of “Flamer” penned an open letter to the Marietta community against his book being removed from MHS’ library.

“Let it out. Speak it, sing it, write it, paint it, dance it. Censorship is fought with expression.

That is your First Amendment right, no matter

your age or station,” Curato wrote in his letter.

This echoes thoughts and fears that some students have relating to the review policy. They expressed that this review policy could be used to censor free speech and free thought for the student body.

“Reading is a choice, nobody’s forcing anybody to read books about sex. I think that we are at an age where we all should be able to learn and read freely, and that’s not a problem with the school, it’s a problem with personal choice and freedom that would be restricted,” Ren Darby (12) said.

Parents and students also believe that there is a need for moderation in what content is available at the school. At the Sept. 13 school board meeting, two parents handed out copies of pages 133, 170, and 171 from “Flamer,” the page where the main character discovers pornography and is encouraged to masturbate with other boys from the summer camp. This example drew varied reactions from the community members present at the meeting. This varied response and opposing stances was reflected at the Dec. 12 school board meeting.

“I am not a book banner, but there is a place for [The Color Purple] in the library, but there’s also a place for “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.” It’s not my decision to choose what books other people’s kids read. Let us choose. You want to keep this, you can’t get rid of “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” Courtney Bellman, an MCS parent, said after reading an excerpt from “The Color Purple.”

“I think we need to be careful about what our children are reading, what they’re consuming.

When you’re an adult, you can read whatever you choose, and hopefully, as an adult they’ll make the choices too,” Donna Lewis, an MCS grandparent, said.

The group known as “Marietta in the Middle” positions itself as a bipartisan, evidence-based education coalition of parents, students, faculty, and community members. The coalition writes pieces that can be found on social media about education and policy made by MCS BOE and they also post notes from school board meetings.

“The purpose of it is to hold the board accountable and provide a voice for parents and students and community members who are not listened to by the board,” Kayla Sargent, an MCS parent, said.

At the Dec. 12 meeting with a 7-0 vote the “Sunset of MCS directive” was passed, which puts an end to the review and allows “any appeal arising under the directive with respect to the recommended removal of sexually explicit books from Marietta High School” and it “must be submitted by January 9, 2024.”

Flamer

by Mike Curato

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

by Jesse Andrews

Flamer is a graphic novel set in 1995 that tells the story of Aiden Navarro and his time at a Boy Scouts summer camp.

Navarro is met at camp with homophobia and bullying. Navarro experiences romantic feelings for another camper that conflict with his moral views of homosexuality. He leaves the scout camp week with an understanding that he will encounter many struggles in life. The book depicts Navarro’s suicide attempt and his decision to live. Flamer was officially removed from MCS on Nov. 16 in a 6-1 decision.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a novel following social loner, Greg Gaines, and his two childhood friends, one of whom was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. The story follows the three’s interactions and production of a short film that is a mashup of their time together. Rachel dies shortly after the film’s release and Gaines abandons filmmaking. Gaines realizes he is tired of being someone who he wasn’t and starts making films again. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl was officially removed from MCS in Dec.12 in a 6-1 decision.

Marietta City Schools enacted a directive to remove “sexually explicit” materials from its media centers, appeals process available through Sunset Directive

Written by Graphics by Wesley Harrison Sydney Martinez

Books that have been burned, banned, or removed across history 259-210 AD Chinese Emperor Shih Huang Ti burned and destroyed all the books in his kingdom, retaining only a single copy of each for the Royal Library and those were destroyed before his death.

35

THE ODYSSEY

Roman Emperor Caligula fought against the reading of “The Odyssey” by Homer because he feared it expressed too many ideas of Greek freedom.

1524-26

Church authorities in England burned thousands of copies of William Tyndale’s English translation of the New Testament. The authorities held that the bible should only be read in Latin and that they should be the only ones to read and interpret it.

TESTAMENT

1597

Queen Elizabeth I disliked a scene from Shakespeare’s original version of “Richard II” where the king was removed from his throne, so she had it removed from all copies of the play.

THE Tragedie of King Richard the second

1616-42 Galileo’s theories in support of Copernicus’s helio-centric solar system were condemned by the Catholic Church. Eventually, his widow destroyed some of his manuscripts about the solar system.

Galileo’s Theories

1788

THE SORROWS OF YOUNG WERTHER

Governments from Italy, Denmark, and Germany, banned “Sorrows of Young Werther” by Goethe due to immorality because of its graphic depiction of the titular character’s suicide at

1859

The Origin of Species

The book “Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin was banned in various institutions due to its teaching of the theory of evolution.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

1885-1907

Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” was thrown out of various libraries because the titular character presented a negative example for impressionable readers.

1959

The Rabbit’s Wedding

Protests by the White Citizens’ Council led to the banning of “The Rabbit’s Wedding,” a children’s book because it was thought to promote racial integration.

1973

A school board in North Dakota burned many copies of “Slaughterhouse-Five” and “Deliverance” for profanity and references to homosexuality.

Slaughter House-Five

2019

Harry Potter

People in the U.S. demanded the removal of “Harry Potter” from libraries due to the depictions of magic and witchcraft. The American Library Association reported the series as having some of the most frequently challenged books in libraries.

Titles that were removed from Marietta City Schools Libraries in 2023

Titles that have been of A Court___ and atFrost MHSStarlight

A Court of Wings and Ruin A Court of Thorns and Roses A Court of and Mist Fury

CITY OF THIEVES

TheCasual Vacancy

BEYOND MAGENTA

IDENTICAL

tricks

CRANK

lucky

Juliet Takes A Breath

The Infinite Moment of Us

GRASSHOPPER JUNGLE

13 Reasons Why

IT ENDS WITH US

MORE HAPPY THAN NOT All Boys Aren’t Blue

DYING DYING GIRL GIRL

THIS BOOK IS GAY

MONDAY’S NOT COMING

I Love You, Beth Cooper

AND AND THE THE

EARL EARL

Blankets

ng aa bei ofofbeing rks of peperks perks the the the being llflower wawallflower wallflower

AND AND

ME ME

FLAMER FLAMER

Features

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Staying local in Marietta

Libby Barnes Design Editor

page 8

Three small businesses thrive from community support

Sessions Stand, a walk-up coffee shop that opened in 2018, expanded to a much larger building early this August. The overwhelming support and popularity within Marietta allowed owner Katie Pfister to fulfill her dream of bringing her touch to the Marietta community.

“We wanted to bring something to the community that we saw that there was a need for,” Pfister said.

At the end of her Sessions journey, she wanted a place where people could gather other than the Square to showcase all of what Marietta had to offer. Phister references Sessions Stand as a “community hall” where people are welcome to come and throw events, have meetings, or even just go out for coffee with a friend. Growing up in Marietta, Pfister has learned that Marietta is a big group of friends and family. So, when starting her business she wanted to find a way to bring the community together.

“Marietta has been a support in all of the things that we have done, more so than we could probably imagine,” Pfister said.

From starting in a 500-square-foot building, the community has supported them so much that they were able to expand to a 5,000-square-foot building in just five years. Even through the pandemic, they received continual support towards Sessions Stand because it was always to go and there was an overall love for the business. They were lucky enough never to have to shut down during this time and that helped them grow even closer to the community.

“It was a way for us to feel like we were giving back to the community…and that is what the whole [Sessions Stand] has been about,” Pfister said.

Sessions Stand, 380 Sessions Street NW

The mother and daughter duo, Elizabeth Kunetz and Caroline Tillman, knew that the Square was missing something special and decided to welcome the Marietta community into their family and love for reading. The two opened up The Reading Attic in June of this year and have been flooded with support from the city. Growing up in Marietta, Tillman had always had a passion for reading and wanted to find a way to give back to the community.

“I just feel like The Square needed this, and that's why it felt right,” Tillman said.

The community supported the business when opening, with new people coming in every day excited because there was finally a more local bookstore in Marietta. Everyone who walks in the door continues to show support by telling friends and family all about the bookstore. As well as spreading word of mouth, local churches, and elementary schools have gotten flyers to hang in a show of support. “[Marietta] has all really rallied around us,” Tillman said.

With all of this popularity, Tillman has started to recognize people who come in and out of the store regularly. She mentions a family who often brings their homeschooled kids into the store. The dog-friendly store appeals to many children with their store dog, Fields, who welcomes everyone into the store with his fluffy fur and bright smile. As the local business strives in The Square, they start to notice more and more regulars wanting to know about all of the events that the bookstore had to offer. Creating a safe and welcoming spot in The Square was exactly what the community needed with The Reading Attic being able to fulfill that missing piece in just a few months.

Poole's Pharmacy, 660 Whitlock Ave. SW, Suite G-1 Photos by Libby Barnes

Katie Pfister Sessions Stand “More than anything, if you have a drag and a passion and you want to do something, just go for it. No matter what, if you love what you are doing then you will be happy in what you are doing every single day. If you are going into it saying, ‘I know with everything in this is what I want to be doing and I’m going to do this,’ it’s going to make everything worth it and if you don’t try you will never know.”

The Reading Attic, 21 West Park Square

Since 1974, Poole’s Pharmacy has been providing for the people of Marietta. The familyowned business is currently run by Thomas Sherrer. Sherrer was inspired by his father, John T Sherrer, and business partner, Bob Poole, who originally opened Poole’s and inspired Sherrer to go to school for pharmacy and take over the family business. Poole’s is very invested in Marietta, especially at MHS. Many MHS students who wish to pursue a career in pharmaceuticals are employed at Poole’s working in customer service.

“Since I took over the business in 2015, we have employed 16 Marietta High School Students with 4 of those being current MHS students,” Sherrer said.

Being in Marietta for so long, Sherrer has seen generations of families come in and out of the store daily. Poole’s has seen patients go from small children to full adults. Generations after generations will continue to choose Pooles as their local pharmacy. “[Creating a bond with regulars] has become a lasting legacy for our pharmacy…Many of our patients we’ve grown to know so well that they feel more like family than patients/customers,” Sherrer said.

Along with sponsoring many MHS activities, Poole’s can be seen at Northcutt Stadium on Friday nights during football season at Marietta Fan Fast. With his support for the Marietta community, the Marietta community has shown their support for Poole’s. The pharmacy has been able to expand continually by providing new and updated services as opposed to just distributing medications. Sherrer credits Marietta for being able to keep their business open.

“Without the support of the Marietta community, not only would our pharmacy not be open, it would not have been possible for us to expand our business model,” Sherrer said.

Being a well-known name in Marietta, Poole’s has become the go-to pharmacy for many and will continue to create their family-like connections for years to come.

Inspiration from owners Caroline Tillman The Reading Attic

Thomas Sherrer Poole's Pharmacy

“Don't let your fears stop you. Just because you think it might not happen or you are struggling to get it to happen, doesn't mean it won’t. Don’t let [negative words] stop you. Keep grinding, thinking about it, making it happen, talking to people because you never know what could happen.

It just takes one person to believe in you, that one space to open up is the right space.”

“The pros of being your own boss definitely outweigh the cons. I would encourage people to do their homework and research before jumping into any adventure. You end up investing a lot of time and money into a business venture and while success can be exciting, failure can be very disappointing. Just remember to enjoy the journey along the way and learn from your failures because they can only make you better.”

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Features

'Tis the season at the Square

page 9

Polleen Coates and Ady Grace Miller Staff Writers

Gobble Jog:

A charity race to benefit MUST Ministries

Race participants eagerly approach the finish line.

One of the most prominent Marietta traditions during the Thanksgiving season is the Gobble Jog. The Gobble Jog has taken place in Marietta every Thanksgiving morning for the last 21 years, earning its place as one of the largest Thanksgiving races in the Southeast.

“My family and I run the Gobble Jog whenever we can. My parents are pretty frequent runners so they always invite my sister and I to participate. For my parents, it's a race, but for me and my sister, it's a fun way to hang out,” Cooper Busby said (11).

On the morning of the race, nearly 10,000 runners from all over line up in the historic Marietta Square to participate in races of all skill levels. The race features a timed 10K and 5K for runners who are attempting to qualify for the Peachtree Road Race. The event also features an untimed 5K and 1K, as well as a 100 yard “tot trot" for children ages 5 and under.

Overall winners of the 10K and 5K receive plaques for their victories. In

addition, winners from each group receive medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

The event, run by over 300 volunteers, benefits MUST Ministries. MUST Ministries is dedicated to their mission of assisting the homeless and other struggling individuals with shelter, clothing , and more.

The Gobble Jog has become a family favorite in the Marietta Community. For Gabi Comsudes (12) and her family, it is a cherished tradition.

“I have done the jog about eight times.

I first did it when I was younger with my parents, and the last three years I have done it with my cross country teammates,” Comsudes said.

Marietta truly knows how to start off a Thanksgiving celebration. Next year, join in on the fun and gobble across the finish line.

Photo by Libby Barnes

On Nov. 30, Marietta came together for the annual Christmas tree lighting to usher in the holiday season. It brought joy, warmth, and a sense of togetherness to our community.

Plans of great detail transform the square into a winter wonderland. Local businesses bedazzle their storefronts with merry decorations, creating a picturesque backdrop. Marietta City Schools decorated an array of small trees, each uniquely inspired by the creativity of students.

“I love coming every year because I feel like it really brings people together and gets everyone in the Christmas spirit,” said an annual attendee.

The centerpiece of this winter wonderland is undeniably the grand tree in the center of Glover Park. Anticipation grew as the countdown to light the tree began.

As the tree came to life, a hush fell over the crowd as people of all ages gazed up at its beauty.

In addition to the tree lighting ceremony, the festivities included chior performances

by our local elementary schools. Angelic voices could be heard echoing throughout the square as family and friends crowded around the big brick stage for photos.

Erin Blackwell, a mom to a Westside Stinger, was one of many in attendance.

“This is my first year coming to this festival, and I think it is fabulous,” Blackwell said.

Santa made an appearance, adding even more holiday cheer and excitement to the night. The Marietta Fire Department was also in attendance with their big red truck, decked out in wreaths and lights. To finish it all off, there was an ugly sweater parade showcasing some hilarious Christmas attire.

“I think everyone should have a little magic in their lives,” said Blackwell, reflecting on the evening.

Anyone can enjoy the cheer at the square throughout the season through the beginning of January.

Ringing in the season:

Marietta gathers for annual tree lighting festivities

Westside Students enjoy the Christmas lights in Glover Park.

Photo by Polleen Coates

Sleigh Bells and Holiday Market: Festive 5K run followed by seasonal shopping

Marietta sophmores participate in the Sleigh Bells 5k.

Photo by Ady Grace Miller

Once again this year, excitement filled the air for the 22nd Annual Sleigh Bells on the Square 5k. It was a rainy morning, but that did not stop racers of all ages from gathering for the fun-filled event. The 3.1 mile course looped around Glover Park and the surrounding streets.

Race participants radiated Christmas spirit with festive holiday accessories.

There was certainly no shortage of Santa hats, reindeer ears, tutus, or fuzzy socks.

Participants were supplied with miniature jingle bells to tie on their shoes, adding the unique touch that gives the race its name.

“My favorite part of the race was running with my friends. We were able to push each other throughout the race and it was good to have people to run with,” said Mary Caroline Murrell (10).

In addition to being fun, Sleighbells on the Square helped a great cause. Presented by the Cobb County Bar Association, it benefited the Children’s Emergency Fund, an organization that provides grants to local families facing unexpected financial hardship. It helps these families in need get back on track by assisting with utility bills, clothing, medicine, housing, and more.

Later that day, shoppers flocked to Sessions Stand for the annual holiday market.

The event featured live music, seasonal food and drinks, and local vendors selling their handcrafted creations. With such a wide variety of items to choose from, there was something for everyone.

Several MHS students participated in the market. Anslie Semanisin (10) sold clay jewelry, hairbreadths, and ornaments.

“The Christmas market is really a great way for small businesses to put themselves out there,” Semanisin said.

Camilla Weigle (12), has been a part of the market for three years. She has sold various painted works, including Christmas gift tags, Nativites, wooden angels, abstracts and landscapes.

"The holiday market is such a fun place for the community to gather and support local businesses. I am always blown away by the support the community gives back to people who have their own businesses like me, and I could not be more grateful to be surrounded by people who have loved and supported me ever since I started my business," Weigle said.

Sports

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page 10

Flag football, Area Champs to Elite Eight Reagan Kelley Staff Writer

Flag Football is an increasingly popular sport in the United States. In 2020, all Georgia high schools had the option to add girls flag football as a sport. Marietta took on this offer and created a Flag Football team open to the girls of the highschool.

In the inaugural season, the fall of 2020, Marietta was only able to create a varsity team to compete; there were not enough students for a junior varsity team. The varsity team finished the season in the Elite 8 with a record of 7-2-1. In the second year of the team they still had only one team playing, but the success of the team from 2020 carried over.

The 2021 team made it all the way to the state championship and ended the season as the state runner-ups. In 2022, the team experienced the growth of the sport and they were able to make a Junior Varsity team. This JV team was only able to play a small number of games throughout the season, but were gaining valuable experience. The 2022 Varsity team was able to take it all the way to the Final Four and end with a 14-3 record.

This year, for the first time, the team was Area Champion.

They advanced to the Elite 8. They also were able to continue with the 2 team model and had a record setting 50 girls come to try out.

“Everyone on the team put their full heart and effort into keeping this program alive and successful,” Harper Mangine (12) said.

The Flag Football team is out on the practice field almost everyday to run plays and talk over strategy. They even came out over the Thanksgiving break in November.

“They encourage one another to bring their best every practice,” Head Coach Katherine Copeland said. “When it comes to playoffs we stick to routine. We focus on our game and being the best versions of ourselves.

They watch tapes of their past games and opposing teams so they can ensure they are putting their best foot forward.

The Flag Football game days almost always consist of 3 high schools playing against each other, so at practice the team must work to prepare for multiple teams and they must practice in any weather condition.

On Tuesday Dec. 5, the flag football team took on Kell High School at Northcutt Stadium. Marietta won in a shutout game with a score of 20-0.

“Once we started connecting, that’s when we began to succeed in our games,” Lylah Campos-Nodari (10) said.

With this win, they took on Cherokee High School and won in another shutout with a score of 25-0. In these 2 games combined 4 girls worked to put Marietta on the board, Caroline Bryant (11), Marley Quammie (12), Kaylee Wang (9), and Kennedi Young (11). These wins took Marietta to the Elite 8 and allowed them to play one more game against Blessed Trinity.

On Thursday Dec. 7 the Flag Football team took on Blessed Trinity High School, who Marietta had lost to earlier in the season. Early in the season, Marietta suffered a 27-0 loss against Blessed Trinity, and unfortunately Marietta fell to the same fate, on Dec. 7 with a 19-0 loss the season came to an end.

Even though the team’s season was cut short, players and coaches were still immensely proud of how they performed and grew throughout the season.

“Our confidence levels have skyrocketed and we believe in ourselves more than anything, which I love,” Kennedi Young (11) said.

In the end the team worked incredibly hard and ended the season with an impressive 16-5 record.

“We all have improved as a whole, separately and together as a family,” Kaylee Wang (9) said.

Quarterback Kennedi Young (11) prepares to throw a pass. Young ranks 15 in the state with 2282 passing yards over the season.

Marley Quammie (12) looks at opponent she had tackled. Quammie was the leader in rushing yards per game averaging 14.3 yards. Photos by Sydney Martinez

Fall to winter sports: out with old, in with new

Colette DePasquale Staff Writer

Cross Country

The cross country varsity girls team won the GHSA class 7A state meet, and finished out the season ranked as the all class number one team in Georgia. The boys varsity team finished 3rd at the state meet, with a strong front pack of 5 runners finishing in the top 50.

A few weeks after the state meet, the runners took a trip to Cary, North Carolina for the Nike Cross Regionals meet. Competing against the state champions from each class in the 11 states from the southeast region, the varsity girls finished in 8th place.

Sophomore Mary Nesmith placed 21st and received the honor of being named 3rd team all region in the southeast.

“It was a fun trip to Cary and I was happy with how I placed individually and how our team performed for our last race of the season,” Nemsith (10) said.

The boys team had a strong end to their season, with many creating new personal bests or running times close to their bests.

The distance Blue Devils now approach track season and hope to carry with them their success from cross country.

Swimming The swim team has begun their season which will span from early December to February. They look forward to the season and the upcoming meets.

“I’m really looking forward to state, as it is always so rewarding to see how me and my relay do after a full season. We have a great group of people on the team so it’s going to be a really awesome experience. Overall just really hoping for fun and fast performances in my races,” Ryan Thompson (12), a member of the boys swim team, said.

The team has already qualified as a relay to go in two different events, and hopes to meet more qualifying times for the state meet throughout the season.

Important upcoming meets: Swim region: January 13 @Cobb Aquatic Center Swim county prelims: January 19 @Mountain View Aquatic Center Swim county finals: January 20 @Mountain View Aquatic Center Swim state meet: January 30 - February 3@ Mcauley Aquatic Center

When surveyed, runners on the team most commonly responded that their favorite meet of the season was the region championship. The girls cross country team won the region championship meet, and the boys finished 2nd. It is a team favorite meet where many run their best times of the season. State was the next most common team favorite.

“Region was my favorite because it was fun with my teammates as our last team race and event of the year,” Addi Morelli (11) said.

Wrestling Wrestling season spans from early December to mid-February.

“I want to qualify for state or place in the top 10 this season,” Micah Polk (12), a member of the wrestling team, said. “I enjoy working with teammates and helping and meeting the incoming freshman.”

The team is approaching the Cobb County invitational meet, and will then compete at area, sectionals, and state later in the season.

Important upcoming meets: Area duals: January 13 State duals finals: January 20 Cobb County JV invitational: January 26-27 @Allatoona High School Sectionals: February 10 Traditional state tournament: February 16-17

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Sports

page 11

Lemon Street Classic, tourney honors a legacy

Aidan Allegro Staff Writer

The annual Lemon Street Classic, a boys’ high school basketball tournament, started in 2018 to honor Lemon Street, which was the only Cobb County high school that allowed Black students before the integration of public schools in 1965.

“We knew we wanted to run a Christmas tournament.

We’d done it in the past, but we wanted to take some time to really plan it and plan it well. When we first got here, we were going to name it after a landmark of Marietta and in our first week of preplanning we learned about Lemon Street High School,” Hood said.

Lemon Street was originally built in 1894, but a new building was created in 1951. The building was renovated in 2020 and serves as another campus for Marietta High School. It also houses historical displays and information.

The tournament uses the historical Lemon Street school name and the present MHS motto, “Be Somebody,” which

came from Coach Ben Wilkins of Lemon Street and was passed down through decades of MHS coaches.

“We really wanted to honor the people of Lemon Street and after our first game, we realized how impactful that was to many others after much of the alumni and family members of Lemon Street students came out to support us,” Hood said.

Alumna Lena Bennett Evans Smith was inducted into the MHS Hall of Fame this year, and she was one of the first honored at the Lemon Street Classic. She was a student at Lemon Street and is an influential part of Marietta’s community. In high school, she led the girls basketball team to three consecutive play-off appearances, was voted “Most Athletic” in 1970, and attended MHS one year prior to the integration of Marietta City Schools. She is still a devoted supporter of Blue Devil Basketball, being voted “Most Outstanding Fan” by former Superintendent Emily Lembeck. She still comes to all home games and helps gather community support of the Lemon Street Classic.

“Lemon Street is more than just a basketball tournament.

It represents a school, and a community that doesn’t have a school anymore, and created a place for them to gather, but we wanted to give a voice and a platform for those alumni and relatives of Lemon Street to make sure that they were known and had a chance to express themselves and tell stories,” Hood said.

Next year, a new scholarship for the Lemon Street Classic athletes will be available. The tournament director, John Silvey, along with the Ludacris foundation was able to create the Lemon Street Scholarship Fund.

“We’re so grateful to Ludacris for his donation and his family and all they’re doing to give back to communities,” Hood said.

This opportunity will help the increase in popularity of this tournament allowing it to continue representing the legacy of Lemon Street students and athletes.

The tournament begins on Dec. 21 and has 28 teams competing. They are split into brackets and each team is guaranteed three games.

TOURNAMENT TEAMS Pope (GA), South Paulding (GA), Sandy Creek (GA), Walton (GA), Walker (GA),McDonough (GA), Campbell (GA), Chapel Hill (GA), Blythewood (SC), North Cobb (GA), Peachtree Ridge (GA), Riverwood (GA), Cherokee (GA), Lemon Street (Marietta) ,Dutchtown (GA), North Gwinnett (GA), Therrell (GA), Clarke Central (GA), Eastside (GA), Millbrook (NC), Eagles Landing (GA), Etowah (GA), Buford (GA), Heritage (GA), Christ School (NC), Wesleyan (GA), John Milledge (GA)

"Cheer" continued from pg. 1 In addition to practicing, the cheer team also engaged in UCA Camp and stunt classes. These programs helped the girls perfect their moves and maintain discipline. They also choreographed their Game Day dance routine. Their coach, Stanecia Nelson, went to the extent of requesting a choreographer that she met in Texas.

The strenuous practices, classes, and camps prepare them for the complex stunts that they perform for competitions. In a typical competition, the cheerleaders will execute extensions, which are supposed to look very clean and sharp. They also perform a variety of other structures and moves to impress the judges. The team’s maintenance of solid extensions, stunts, and chants served them well during their game day competitions. The team began their first official competition on Dec. 4, where they traveled to Lanier High School. The event was Lanier’s Game Day on the Ranch Competition, where there were six 7A teams competing in the high school game.

Marietta’s cheer team placed first.

The team then progressed to the 2023 GHSA Game Day State Championship at Georgia State University, where they placed third out of 22 teams in the state. There were only 11 finalists in this championship. This win

marks their fourth placement as finalists and their record placements in the division.

Aside from the time and consistent practice put into the sport, the cheer team can also cite members of the Marietta community as a source of fuel. On Dec. 7, Marietta High organized a send off in support of the cheer team’s success. The team agrees that the gathering motivated them before competition day.

“There was so much love in the atmosphere and so much support from family, friends, and our coaches,” Zariaha Smith (12) said.

Game Day will be ending in December as opposed to a usual February ending. This adjustment kept the overlap of Basketball Cheer to a minimum, which allowed the team to have a better focus. Without having the extended Game Day time period, they were able to see a short-term goal within reach. This also improved the overall atmosphere of the team. Over the course of their time together, the cheer team has built a sense of community. They have established friendships that their coach, Stanecia Nelson, says is quite noticeable.

“This year, the team’s chemistry was very loving. These girls liked each other so much that they would get in trouble for wanting to socialize all practice. I do feel that

The game day cheer team had a dinner at MHS prior to leaving to spend the night in Atlanta. They were celebrated by a crowd at their "All the Way to State" send off as they loaded the buses.

less drama and more loving teams are better, but we will be looking for a balance next year,” Nelson said.

Connections were also formed between the girls and their coaches, as they served as a source of inspiration.

Thier efforts to put the team in a positive mood before practice were widely appreciated by the team.

"The week of our state competition, Coach Nelson bought two stuffed animals which were the mascots of our top two competitors. She had those stuffed animals sitting at practice to remind us who the real competition was," Siriveerawan (12) said.

Nearing the end of the season, the seniors will be leaving the team in the hands of the underclassmen.

While the team has a strong group of rising juniors, strong and skilled applicants are needed to balance the group.

Makenzie Carter, a senior, has high hopes for the future of the team.

“This team’s journey has been really fun and loving.

Next year, I expect the team to continue to grow. We have resources and our amazing underclassmen to make us proud. I believe that they will bring back a ring next year and make history,” Carter (12) said.

After placing third in the state at the GHSA Game Day State Championship, the team gathered for group photos at the competition site, Georgia State University. Photos courtesy of Stanecia Nelson

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Global Festivities Addison Moreland Section Editor

page 12

Festividades Globales Sydney Martínez Editora Gerente

Esther Soluade: Asoebi Dressing Yoruba tradition Origin: Nigeria Christmas is not limited to the conventional European customs of tree lighting and house adornment. In Yoruba culture, there is a custom referred to as asoebi, or the “family cloth.” This tradition occurs when individuals gather together and wear clothing of similar fabric to symbolize their unity and solidarity to celebrants. The original idea of asoebi was for the easy identification of family members during a landmark event, such as Christmas, weddings, and other culturally significant holidays.

“Asoebi holds cultural significance to me as it symbolizes unity and shared identity during the holidays.

Wearing the same fabric fosters a sense of community and visually represents the solidarity among attendees,” Esther Soluade (12) said.

Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, is a prominent Hindu holiday that is widely celebrated across the globe. Ohm Desai, who comes from a multicultural household, commemorates both Diwali and Christmas. His favorite part of Diwali is lighting diyas with his family and gathering together with his family to pray and exchange presents with those he cares about the most.

“Diwali is extremely personal to not specifically families, but also the community as a whole,” Desai (10) said.

Despite the celebration’s distinct differences, Desai honors both holiday's rich traditions.

Posadas Navidenas, a religious festival celebrated in Mexican culture, honors the journey of Mary and Joseph before the birth of Jesus and it is unique to each region of Mexico. Emilio Eraydin and his family gather together every year to reenact their experience of finding an inn.

“Some people might argue that my family doesn’t celebrate Posadas very well because we don’t celebrate with the entire community, but I love the way we celebrate and the traditions we uphold,” Eraydin (11) said.

They dress up, sing, pray, and celebrate the forthcoming anniversary of Jesus’ birth. Contrary to Christmas, Posadas embodies all the warmth and tradition for which Mexico is famed, in addition to highlighting what Christmas is truly about.

A festival that begins on the 25th day of Kislev, Hanukkah celebrates freedom from oppression and of religious expression of the Jewish people. Selia Kelly and her family partake in the poignant ritual of lighting the menorah. For eight marvelous nights, they gather around it to commemorate the traditions they hold so dear, such as the lighting at the synagogue and the making of latkes; a traditional Jewish cuisine.

“My favorite tradition is retelling the story of Hanukkah in the hopes of shedding light on our heritage,” Kelly (9) said.

Kelly embraces the festival as a beacon of hope and resilience in times of adversity, uplifting herself and those around her with an unwavering sense of purpose.

La Navidad no se limita a lo costumbres convencionales de Europa como la iluminacón del arboles y la decoracion adorno de casas. In la cultura yoruba, hay un costumbre que se llama asoebi, o “la tela familiar.”

Esta tradicion occure cuando la gente se reunen y se ponen una tela similar para simbolizar la unidad y solidaridad con los celebrantes. La idea original de asoebi fue para identificar fácilmente a miembros de la familia durante evento grandes como La Navidad, bodas, y otras celebracions culturalmente significativas.

“Asoebi tiene importancia cultural para mi porque significa unidad y una identidad en común durante las festividades. Teniendo puesta la misma tela fomenta una sensación de comunidad y visualmente representa la solidaridad entre los asistentes.” Esther Soluade (12) dijo.

Ohm Desai: Diwali Hindu tradition Origin: India

Emilio Eraydin: Posadas Catholic tradition Origin: Mexico

Selia Kelly: Hanukkah Jewish tradition Origin: Israel

Photos courtesy of students featured

Diwali, o el festival de luces, es una festividad prominente de la religión Hindú celebrada alrededor del mundo. Ohm Desai, quien viene de un hogar multicultural, conmemora ambos Diwali y Navidad. Su parte favorita de Diwali es encender diyas con su familia y reunirse junto a ellos para orar e intercambiar regalos con los que ama tanto.

“Diwali es bien personal, no solo para las familias, pero tambien para todos como una comunidad,” Desai (10) dijo.

A pesar de las diferencias entre las celebraciones, Ohm honra las ricas tradiciones de ambas celebraciones.

Posadas Navidenas, un festival religioso celebrado en la cultura Mexicana, honra el camino de la Virgen Maria y Jose antes del nacimiento del niño Jesús.

Emilio y su familia se reúnen cada año para recrear la experiencia de encontrar una noche para dormir.

“Hay gente que argumentan que mi familia no celebra Posadas muy bien porque no celebramos con toda la comunidad, pero me encanta el modo que celebramos y las tradiciones que defendemos,” Eraydin (11) dijo.

Ellos se visten, cantan, oran, y celebran el aniversario del nacimiento de Jesus. Al contrario de la Navidad, las posadas encarnan toda la calidez y tradición por cual México es famoso además de resaltar de qué se trata realmente la Navidad.

El festival que empieza el día 25 de Kislev, Jánuca celebra la libertad de la opresión y de expresión religiosa para los judios. Selia y su familia participan en el ritual de iluminación de la menorá. Por ocho noches, ellos se reúnen alrededor de la menora para conmemorar sus tradiciones, como la iluminación en la sinagoga y la creación de latkes, una comida típica de los Judios.

“Mi tradicion favorita es poder volver a contar la historia de Hanukkah con esperanza de arrojar luz sobre nuestro herencia, ” Kelly (9) said.

Selia conmemora el festival como un rayo de esperanza y resiliencia en tiempos de adversidad, levantándose a sí misma y a los que están alrededor de ella con una sentido inquebrantable de propósito.