The Viewpoint January | February 2023

Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556 STUDENT NEWS MAGAZINE MVHS VOLUME 17 ISSUE 3 JANUARY | FEBRUARY

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The Viewpoint

Index

01 Cover 02 Index 03 Highlights 22 04 Briefs 05 Unexpected hero 06 Volunteer options 07 SAD 08 Medical mysteries

09 Who is running?

10 Spring sports 11 Favorite songs 12 80s games 13 Astrology 14 Mental health 15 Superstitions 16 Spring break spots

PTSO FEATURE Q&A The Viewpoint (VP): Why would someone want to become apart of the PTSO? President Lauren Isenberg (LI): Joining PTSO is a great way to be involved in the school community. It provides opportunities to support staff and students in many ways including volunteering as well as financially through membership fees. To thank the staff that joins, we give them pies at Thanksgiving and cookies before winter break. We also award four $500 scholarships to graduating seniors from the members.

VP: How do you all sponsor the snacks on the Muffin Cart?

LI: The Muffin Cart snacks and drinks are purchased by PTSO, but occasionally we have donations from families and businesses.

VP: Where does the money go from the muffin cart?

LI: The Muffin Cart is the PTSO’s year-long fundraiser. Proceeds from sales are used towards many of the staff and student events that we hold throughout the year. This year we also used the money to support our grant program.

VP: How do you sponsor clubs and organizations at MV with the money you all raise?

LI: This school year, we started our Club and Activity Grant Program. Sponsors and teachers were able to apply for up to $1,000 to support their class projects, clubs or activities. We are proud to have granted $10,500 to 16 applicants.

Our goal is to keep our grant program running for years to come.

VP: How does the PTSO support students?

Parents? Teachers?

LI: We support students in various ways. We

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sponsored the suicide awareness bracelets that counseling has distributed. When the pep rally had to be rescheduled, we purchased poms to add to the school spirit. Right before winter break, we hosted a student appreciation with hot cocoa, frappuccinos, candy canes, and cookies; we will be hosting another student appreciation at the end of the school year. Achievement Day is another fun way we support the students; this year we donated cookies, gift cards, and the grand prize. We also host appreciation days for teachers and staff, and provide meals on teacher work days. Parents get opportunities to volunteer, and our meetings are a great way for parents to hear what is going on at the school.

VP: Do you partner with other school wide organizations to run holiday events or are most events solely PTSO? LI: We have worked with other school organizations for a few events; SCA invited us to support the student tailgate. We sponsored the large inflatable obstacle course and passed out glow necklaces. We are always open to new ideas and ways to help other school organizations. Learn and Serve has asked us to sell concessions later this month at the Student vs Staff Basketball Game and we are working out the details now.

VP: What other ideas does the PTSO have to encourage participation from the students and faculty to keep the school pride strong?

LI: Our Social Media Chairs would like to start spotlighting our talented students and staff.

This would give staff, students, and parents the opportunity to nominate.

Students, teachers, and staff all appreciate your effort and time.

The Viewpoint JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2022 VOLUME 17, ISSUE 3

Advisor

Trisha Strahl

Staff Writers

Robert Baldwin Molly Calhoun Miya Easley Laura Beth McCabe Maia Roscigno Reed Cooper Alaina Corbin Jayda Moffatt Jaslene Sanchez-Rios Avery Uhle Cheyenne Calloway Grant Corcoran Amanda Dass Freelance Writers Aya Karouane Greg Evans The Viewpoint is a cross-section of the news and opinions of the student body at Mountain View High School.

It is a forum of expression published by aPrintis. Letters and art to the editorial board are welcomed and should be submitted to room 503.

Front Cover Laura Beth McCabe 2014-2019 International Quill and Scroll First Place Articles 2014-2016 VHSL State Championship First Place Award 2013, 2014, 2015 Free LanceStar Best Over All Newspaper 2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medallist Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556

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Ava Verosa, junior “New experiences/people”

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Brooke Hughes, senior “Ginny & Georgia S2 movies”

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Emmanuel Mayorga, freshman “Seeing friends”

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Highlights

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Collage displaying what students think was the best of 2022

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Madelyn Graves, senior “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”

Genesis Betanco, junior “More farm animals.”

Della Furness, freshman “Marching band competitions.”

Camila Del Castillo, freshman “Pink out” Ava Baker, junior “Meeting boyfriend”

Shahaira Kelley, freshman “Vacation to Mexico”

Ashley Ramos, freshman “Fifa World Cup”

Sophie Young, junior “Football”

Henry Hutsell, freshman “Summer vacation”

Zion Blake, junior, “Kendrick Lamar album ‘Mr.Morale & the Big Steppers’” ck fli

Nicholas Sanders, junior, “Going to the beach”

Isabella Park, freshman “Going to Florida”

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Jayde Mearing, sophomore “New dog” Oscar Alaniz, junior “Bought first truck” Sydney Lamborn, senior, “Getting into college”

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Diego Pons, junior, “Destroy Lonely album ‘No Stylist’

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Jordyn Lemire, senior, “World Cup”

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feature u january | february 2023 u the viewpoint u 03

What’s Happening at The View Dates Subject to Change

By Aya Karouane

Winter Sports Send Players to States

Matt Bello

The Indoor Track, Swim, Gymnastics, and Wrestling teams all sent players to compete at the State Level this winter sports season. States were held in Virgina Beach, VA this year. Gymnastics took the State Championship title. Josi Brooks, coach, said, “After coaching the team for seven years, it felt like our time. The team was nearly flawless in their performance and absolutely deserved the state title. I’m so proud of them.”

Debate and Forensics (February through March) The MVHS Debate and Forensics team kicked off their new season by attending the 2023 Clover Hill Groundhog Day Debate and Speech Classic on February 4. Mountain View had 1 first-place win, 1 second-place win, 2 third-place wins, and 1 fourth place win. They have several other competitions scheduled in February and March.

The Reluctant Dragon (Chorus) (February 24) The MVHS Chorus held their annual Renaissance Night and production of The Reluctant Dragon. John Hatzis, who played the Reluctant Dragon, said, “Our Choir has worked without end to ensure this product is ready to impress. It was an honor to work with Isaac Turley and Elena Maselli. “ 04uthe viewpoint ujanuary | february 2023 unews

THE UNEXPECTED FEARLESS HERO

Sony Pictures took audiences by surprise with their incredible 2023 release by Robert Baldwin

’’I LOVE THE ART STYLE.’’

Let’s discuss the obvious, the thing that most people can agree is the strongest aspect of this movie. The animation is this film is absolutely, without a doubt in my mind, nothing less than phenomenal. The colors, the linework, even the fluctuation in the very frame rate itself throughout the film is absolutely breath-taking. If you watched this masterpiece and noticed a similarity between the Sony Pictures movie Spider-Man: Into The Spiderverse, you wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Bob Persochetti helped lead both projects.

Bob directed both Puss in Boots films and co-directed the Spiderverse film alongside Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman back in 2018. With crisp colors and mesmerizing action sequences, this film’s animation team really went the whole nine yards.

BRA a NDON SPAULDING, SENIOR

’’I HAVE HEARD FROM SOME OF MY STUDENTS THAT THEY LIKED IT.’’ -JOSHUA KING, DRA a MA TEACHER

All in all, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was a spectacle to view and a joy to discuss. From the wide array of lovable characters to the very artstyle and animation itself, Sony did us right with their 2022 release and I can proudly implore you to not only watch the film, but to enjoy it to its fullest degree.

Photo credit to Dreamworks

This film possessed quite the wide array of characters, which initially led me to believe that I would inevitably lose track of them all and lose interest in the important characters and their development. However, the sequel once again brought me to an unexpected turn. Most of the individuals in this movie felt like just that, individuals. Individuals who all contained their own lives and subplots and backstories. One character broke this rule though, Jack Horner. While John Mulne’s character did have a brief backstory and motive provided, at no point did you feel any sort of connection with the psychopath and his ways. This, as I learned while watching the movie, was actually a good thing. You want him to lose, you want Jack Horner to fail.

You don’t feel bad for him as he mercilessly offs his own crew for the potential benefit of his cause. The Last Wish does 3D and 2D characters right.

’’ADULTS CAN ENJOY THE MOVIE TOO.’’ -BEN MASELLI, FRESHMAN

Lobo is another antagonist in the feature, and I would argue he is one of my favorite film antagonists presented to the big screen within the past year.

That’s coming from the number one Namor fan in the world. Lobo, which simply means wolf in Spanish, is terrifying. Now, as a grown man I don’t take that word lightly. As can be read in reviews online and as experienced myself, there were a multitude of occasions in which children would cry in the theaters due to the innate fear Lobo instilled into them. “-we left shaken and ever since my son has had sleepless nights.” says a disgruntled mother after leaving a Google Review, she had watched the film with her son on his tenth birthday shortly after the movie’s release. However upset she was, I would be inclined to agree more so with Clarisse Loughrey, Chief Film Critic at The Independent: “The Last Wish offers something different and unexpected: Puss has grown up with his audience.” Lobo is a perfectly appropriate villain for modern cinema.

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The thought of more As more and more people apply to new schools to continue their academic life, lots are wondering what they can do to stand out; here are some local volunteer opportunities to look into

Today’s society progresses and people are expressing themselves more and more. However , not everyone agrees with these choices. It is important to create more safe spaces throughout our lives for people to feel included and welcomed. As Sarah Payn , freshman, stated, “It’s important because you can’t always learn properly when not safe.” The first volunteer opportunity is titled “Out-Of-Closet-Cards”, provided by DoSomething’s website. Their goal is to distribute cards throughout America to teachers in order to make more welcoming places for the young people of today. So, what is on these cards? It’s really not strict when it comes to it: a good design with rainbow colors possibly or even different flag colors. A good title is a great thing as well, just anything that allows for people to have a glance at it and know that they are safe there.

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by Molly Calhoun

Every day, hate crimes are committed, and every day many of these go without notice and leave those close to the victim in pain. These stories of victims need to be shared, and justice needs to be served. The volunteers at DoSomething Organization want something done. They have a goal of 3,000 graphics and stories of victims to combat the media’s biased coverage.

Your job would be to post victims’ names, photos, and stories to your social media account to spread the word. It’s important to let these victims’ stories be known because many people are unaware of the severity of these crimes nowadays. Sarah Squire, freshman, also stated that it’s important “...because if the news does not get out, the cycle can repeat once again because little is known about the crimes themselves.”

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According to the IBL News website, at least 771 million people today lack basic literacy skills. Whether it be money and resource issues or that lack of urge to learn, it is definitely a problem for today’s society. In order to inspire the upcoming generations, the team at Dosomething has proposed pop-art bookmark-making in order to influence people to learn. The idea consists of creating a fun popart bookmark and sticking it in an old book to donate to a local elementary school. They are leaning towards the idea of that pop art you make based on literature and simple subjects that children could understand. It’s important for people to learn to read as today’s society practically revolves around texts and literature, as well as the fact that Ayah Hasan and Sage Anastasia, freshmen, have stated: “It’s important to help get jobs in the future.”

Ways to solve Seasonal depression

If you’re suffering with depression mainly around the holidays, this might help you by Cheyanne Calloway

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o you stress out around the same time of year? Feeling sad or down most of the days? Losing interest in activities you used to love? Well is so you might have Seasonal Depression.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or Seasonal Depression is as common as it gets.

Many people around the world suffer from SAD. According to Cleveland Clinic’s website, about 10 million Americans suffer seasonal depression a year.

Can you guess what season it most commonly occurs in ? If you guessed fall/winter, you were spot on. Depression is difficult to get over sometimes. Sometimes you can get it for a couple weeks, while others can get it for months, maybe years.

The first way to solve it is to just cry it out. Research shows that crying is actually way more effective than keeping in your emotions according to Select Health’s website. The best advice is to let it all out and it is a great coping mechanism to get your emotions and feelings off of your chest.

Another way to solve your SAD is to prioritize things that will benefit you. For instance, when people fall into depression, most people start to cut certain people out of their life and drop certain activities. They might even lock themselves in their room for hours at a time. But did you know that it actually makes your depression worse?

The website Help Guide says not to distance yourself from others and says, “ It can be difficult to not isolate yourself but isolating yourself only makes your depression worse.” Hailey Wills, sophomore, says, “Just take some time off from everything and take deep breaths” to calm down and relax your mind when upset.

Getting a therapist and being one of the biggest steps you can take while having depression. You are accepting that you need help and that’s a good thing because now you know that you’re not alone. Although if you have a friend you might feel closer to and know you more, then you might think that having a therapist isn’t beneficial, but that’s not always the case. Very Well Mind’s website gives valid reasons on why it might be better having a therapist rather than talking to your friends or family about it. For one, you might be embarrassed or scared to tell your friend the whole truth about something, but while with a stranger, you might be more open to keep your guard down because you don’t know the person. Jennifer Allen, high school registrar, says, “A therapist is more objective then a friend and will tell you what you want to hear while a therapist will tell you the truth.”

It’s okay and important to keep reassuring yourself. When it comes to feelings, reassuring is a very recommended thing to do such as maybe putting up motivational notes, or even just telling yourself that you can do it and get through it.

Furthermore, knowing you’re not alone is also a big step moving forward. If feeling alone there will always be people online going through something the same, if not similar. National Alliance on Mental Illness’s website ‘ uses the phrase “Everyone is fighting a battle we know nothing about.’’ Thus, that goes back to knowing that you’re not alone in any battle because there is always going to be someone just like you going through the same thing.

In all, seasonal depression comes and goes and learning ways to cope and manage it makes it a lot easier for those who struggle with it. I hope this helps anyone going through SAD and always remember you are never alone.

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Medical Mystery

Rare medical conditions you may not know you have by Avery Uhle

Mass Hysteria

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Situs Inversus Situs Inversus is a rare genetic condition in which the organs in your chest and abdomen are positioned in a mirror image of normal human anatomy. A similar condition to Situs Inversus is called Heterotaxy syndrome or “situs ambiguous.” Though contrary to Situs Inversus, Heterotaxy syndrome often causes major health problems.

Even though it may seem like Situs Inversus would cause major health problems, as it affects all your internal organs, this is usually not the case.

According to the Cleveland Clinic’s website, Around 1 in every 10,000 people have Situs Inversus and just Situs Inversus alone tends to not have any health problems due to their condition. In fact you could go your entire life without knowing you had Situs Inversus if you stayed away from x-rays.

According to Science Alerts’s website, in 2019 there was a case of a 66 year old man with a cough and chest pains who, after doctors started investigating, was diagnosed with Situs Inversus after doctors discovered all of his internal organs were on the wrong side of his body. His cough and chest pains were not a cause of his Situs Inversus but an upper respiratory infection.

Another well known case of Situs Inversus is the case of 99 year old Rose Marie Bentley who died in 2018 of natural causes. According to CNN’s website, Bentley’s body was donated to science and was to be used in the dissection room at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland where her chest cavity was to be opened and observed by students. When Bentley’s chest cavity was opened, students quickly noticed that Bentley was missing a large vein that’s normally on the right side of the heart. When professors came to investigate the situation they noticed that almost all of Bentley’s internal organs were backwards. Bentley was diagnosed with Situs Inversus with levocardia which caused most of her organs to be backwards and many other medical irregularities in her body. It was estimated that Bentley’s body was one in 50 million.

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Foreign Accent Syndrome is a condition where a person begins to speak with an accent that they did not previously have, usually because of damage to the central nervous system. Psychogenic Foreign Accent Syndrome is a variant of Foreign Accent Syndrome. Psychogenic Foreign Accent Syndrome causes a person to speak with a foreign accent for psychological reasons, such as a neurological condition or even mental health conditions.

Foreign accent syndrome is an extremely rare condition and according to Medical News Today’s website as little as 80 people in the world have this condition as of a 2018 analysis.

Foreign Accent Syndrome is not curable but can be regulated by medicine, surgery, or speech therapy depending on what caused the person to develop foreign accent syndrome.

“If I had to choose one I would choose the foreign accent one because everything else would still be functioning and it would not affect my life quality,” said Autumn Robinson, freshman.

Many people can go along with their normal life even with Foreign Accent Syndrome, but people from different centuries who have had this condition sometimes face ostracization. According to Medical News Today’s website a very early recorded case of foreign accent syndrome details a Norwegian woman during WW2 who got hit with shrapnel and the resulting brain damage caused her to develop foreign accent syndrome in the form of a German accent which caused many people to shun her. A more recent case of foreign accent syndrome, from Medical News Today’s website, is from 2011 and involves an American English speaking woman named Karen Butler who, after a dental surgery, woke up with an accent that sounded British and Irish. Initially her accent was attributed to swelling in her mouth from surgery but weeks after surgery, when swelling went down, her accent remained. It is possible for Butler to get her American accent back through extensive speech therapy, but Butler, in an interview with Health News From NPR, said she doesn’t mind her new accent.

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“In my opinion of those three conditions I would think that mass hysteria would cause more of a day to day issue,” said Margaret Gallagher, anatomy teacher. According to Healthline Mass Hysteria is a conversion disorder, or mental health condition that involves physical symptoms prompted by emotional or mental tension. Mass Hysteria tends to affect multiple people and often spreads visually and verbally. There are two types of Mass Hysteria: Mass anxiety hysteria and Mass motor hysteria.

Mass anxiety hysteria spreads from person to person and involves sudden tension, restlessness, fear, and other symptoms of anxiety that usually end quickly. Mass anxiety hysteria is usually found in isolated communities and close knit groups.

Mass motor hysteria also spreads from person to person but tends to resolve slower than mass anxiety hysteria Mass motor hysteria consists of irregular motor symptoms that can show up among people experiencing frequent tension and long term stress.

“I’ve heard of mass hysteria before, like the town of people that danced until they died,” said Emma Morgan, freshman. According to Medium’s website, Choreomania or dancing mania was present in Europe around the 14th and 17th centuries and consisted of groups of people dancing in the streets without rest until they would collapse of injury, exhaustion, or even death. No one really knows how choreomania started or ended but many scientists now recognize it as a case of mass motor hysteria.

Not all cases of mass hysteria are gruesome and result in death though. In fact many people have most likely experienced a tame form of mass hysteria before. For example, when a pop quiz is announced in class and students begin to suddenly feel tense, that would be considered very tame form mass anxiety hysteria. A very recent form of mass motor hysteria was the toilet paper hoarding that came with the Covid-19 pandemic.

2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WHO’S RUNNING AND WHAT’S THEIR CASE?

BY REED COOPER

Joe Biden President Joe Biden is likely to be the nominee for the Democratic Party in 2024. As President, Biden has championed bipartisanship and governing from the center. He is working towards giving some Americans student loan forgiveness, which can remove up to $20,000 in college-debt. Despite Biden’s claims of gas prices being $5 per gallon when he took office, gas prices were an average of $2.39 per gallon and are now an average of $3.27 as of January 2023, according to ABC 10 News. During a 60 MinGage Skidmore/Flickr utes interview with Scott Pelley, he responded to claims he is too old or not mentally sharp enough to be president. He assured voters they shouldn’t be worried about him because the “vast majority of the American people do like what I’ve gotten done.” According to the Daily Mail, Biden has said he would be “very fortunate” to face-off 45th President Donald Trump in 2024.

The White House

Kanye West

Famous rapper and designer formerly known as Kanye West, Ye, announced his second campaign for President in November 2022, promising America’s return to God. This isn’t Ye’s first time making a splash in American politics. In 2005, Ye reacted to President George Bush’s response to Hurricane Kartina, saying he “doesn’t care about black people,” according to the Chicago Tribune. he also performed at a presidential inaugural ball for President Barack Obama. More recently, Ye famousCosmopolitan UK ly supported President Trump and even visited him in the Oval Office in 2018. He and his presidential campaign have faced waves of criticism for his association with anti-semetic figures.

Ye had dinner with President Trump at his home and club, Mar-A-Lago, in November where he reportedly asked Trump to be his running mate, which Trump declined, according to the Associated Press.

Donald Trump Forty-fifth President Donald Trump announced his reelection campaign for president in November 2022 from his personal residence and beach club, Mar-A-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida. Forbes’s Loren Thompson described Trump as the “most controversial U.S. President in modern times.”

As president, he stepped up to fight child and human trafficking, made history as the first president in decades who did not start any wars, and put in place tax cuts which Gage Skidmore/Flickr propelled higher income growth. However, Trump was the first President since Richard M. Nixon to not release his tax returns. According to RollCall, after a long legal battle, Trump’s tax returns were made public in December 2022 revealing Trump lost money as President.

He also made history as the first President to be impeached and acquitted twice. Trump is reportedly looking for a new running-mate after a falling-out with his former Vice President, Mike Pence, concerning January The White House 6, according to a report from PBS.

“We need someone who will keep our country safe, strong, and feared. I like Trump’s policies, but I’m not sure if he can win again.

For the young generation, try to be a leader instead of a follower. Do what’s right.”

Safety & Security Specialist Beasley

“I do not want to see what happened in the 2020 election. I hope our government is able to host a fair election with a clear winner. At the end of the day, both parties should make sure they act in our country’s best interest.”

Science Teacher Donna DeToll

“How will they address public education reform? I don’t believe in recycling candidates regardless of party affiliations. Your vote matters. Educate yourself and register to vote.”

Design Teacher Amy Ellis

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The 2022-2023 soccer year is about to start. The 2021-2022 boys junior varsity record was six wins, zero losses and three ties.

The 2021-2022 boys varsity record was nine wins, three loses and three ties.

The 2021-2022 girls varsity record was nine wins, four losses, and two ties. The 20212022 girls junior varsity record was seven wins, zero losses and three ties.

Tamia Nelson, sophmore said, “We’ve been running a lot and getting in shape. This is going to be a tough season, but we will pull through.”

Coach Fernando Ramos said, “I’m excited for this season. We need to work on fitness this year.”

The boys lacrosse program is coached by Michael Beutel.

The boy’s record from the 2021-2022 season was 12-1.

Coach Beutel has set some expectations for his team this year. He said, “I’m looking for guys who’re hungry to become better students and athletes. We want our guys to be hard workers who’re gritty and resilient, on and off the field. If this group can play as a team in all phases of the game, and maintain their composure in pivotal moments, the sky’s the limit for this group.”

In addition, the boy’s lacrosse team is looking for managers this season: one to take stats and one film manager to film the games. Anyone interested should email Coach Beutel at beutelmw@staffordschools.net or talk to Coach Miller in room 429.

According to Beutel, key returners for the season are Donny Gonzalez, Logan McGrath, Shane McGrath, Jesse Ramos, James Ramos, Gabe Wess, Eli Druiett, and Steven Preston.

The girls lacrosse team is coached by Lauren Donahue. The girl’s record from the 2021-2022 season was seven wins and two losses.

Coach Donahue said, “As a program we are looking to improve each day at practices and at games. We are looking for consistency in our gameplay and to make it further than we did the previous season”.”

Four starters graduated last year, but she said there is a good group of returners that will help mentor new recruits. She said she hopes to bring junior varsity girls up to the varsity roster and see some newcomers make a splash at tryouts since there are positions to fill.

According to Coach Donahue, on offense, senior Kat Druitt will be returning. In the midfield, seniors Olivia Wahlin and Mary Wahlin, as well as juniors Ava Windham and Gabby Bartels will be returning. Furthermore,on defense, junior Delainey Hinson and sophomore Adleigh Fraser will be returning. Finally, two goalies who will be returning are junior Carley Pruett and senior Emily Arvesen.

“We are looking for our players to be ALL IN at every practice and game. To grow as a player on and off the field,” said Coach Donahue.

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The new 2022-2023 year of baseball is on the way, so that means new players and new opportunities.

Last year the varsity baseball team had eight wins and seven loses. Junior varsity team, on the other hand, had ten wins and zero losses.

Coach Craig Lopez said, “I’m excited for this new season and for the opportunities for all of them. My goal for this season is to get them to believe in themselves and to be the best versions of themselves.”

The boys and girls tennis programs are both coached by Katie Benson.

The boys tennis team’s record from the 20212022 season was three wins and nine losses.

Meanwhile, the girls tennis team’s record from the 2021- 2022 season was five wins and seven losses.

Coach Benson is looking for positive energy and more team spirit this year. She said, “As an individual sport it can be hard to remember to encourage teammates from court to court so that is one of my goals for the season.”

Key players on the boy’s team include William Hudson (senior), Nolawi Solomon (junior), Jacob Grena (senior), and Logan Zollner (junior). As for the girls, Jasmine Muturi (junior), Meagan Calvert (junior), and Megan Soderholm (junior) are all returning players.

The softball team is coached by Meghan Smith.

Softball’s record from the 2021-2022 season was five wins and three losses with several games canceled.

Coach Smith said she is looking forward to having a lot of players returning this year since they will be able to pick up where they left off last year with the exception of a few new players. Some of the returning players include senior outfielder Lexi Kantor, senior catcher/third baseman Madi Bachman, sophomore shortstop/ pitcher Liz Harley all returning for the 2023 season. “I am looking forward to their leadership and guidance with some of our underclassmen,” said Coach Smith, “but I am really excited to see some of my underclassmen perform and step up.”

According to her, the expectation is that all players embrace the role they are given at any given moment–whether it is as a starter or a teammate cheering on others in the dugout; everyone has a role.

She said, “I want my players to play selflessly and play for each other. Enjoy every moment even if it’s not “their” moment.

Once my girls do that, I know they are playing together as a team.”

Her outlook on the season is a positive one, as she said, “We have one of the best offensive teams in the district and if the girls perform the way I know they can, we will be good, scary good.”

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fter this great month of love for your friends, family, special someone, and of course music, here’s a list of some of the biggest songs and albums that have come out according to Genius and Billboard top 100.

• Feb 2, 2023 Karol G x Romeo Santos- X Si volvemos • Feb 3, Young Fathers- Heavy, Heavy Korn- Requiem Mass • Feb 10, Paramore- This is why

• Feb 15 Yo la tengo- This stupid world • Feb 17 Pink- Trustfall • Feb 24 Gorillaz- Cracker Island

On another note, some of the greatest music moments of the month were Rihanna’s controversial Super Bowl performance. This had been her first Super Bowl and first performance of the year.

Secondly, the annual Grammys came with head turning outfits and artists like Bad Bunny winning the Best Musica Urbana Award for ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’, Beyonce gaining the most Grammys, performances from Steve Lacy, Olivia Rodrigo presenting awards and so much more.

Now welcoming March, it is up to us to wait for music from Rihanna, Beyonce, Lana del Rey, Olivia Rodrigo and more amazing artists all rumored to be releasing albums.

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February Music recap

After numerous conversations with the student body, I have found not only their favorite Valentine songs but the best music released this month

by Jaslene Sanchez-Rios

Q: What is your favorite song?

Do you have a specific song to dedicate to your valentine? If so, what is it?

A:

Freshman, Malia Peters • Favorite song - “Here With Me” Taylor Swift • Dedication song - “You Belong with Me” Taylor Swift Freshman, Alexis Bolanos • Favorite song- “Bebe Dame” Fuerza Regida & Grupo Firme • Dedication song - “Glimpse Of Us” Joji Sophomore, Lylah Morreale • Dedication song - “Love Story” Taylor Swift Freshman, Lily Bruse • Favorite song- “Art Class” Beabadobee

Freshman,Bethany Evers • Dedication song- “Do For Love” Tupac Junior, Jordan Brooks • Favorite song- “Next To You” John Vincent the 3rd • Dedication song- “Next To You” John Vincent the 3rd Junior, Sean Brosnan • Favorite song- “Wop” J Dash Junior, Kyree Herd • Favorite song- “Not Finished” Lil Baby • Dedication song- “Playing Games” Summer Walker Junior, Bre Finley • Favorite song -” One Number Away” Luke Combs • Dedication song - “Rumor” H.I.N.P

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Nothing But Board Games Here are some fun and intriguing board games that were hits in the 80s to play with family and friends at your next game night by Laurabeth McCabe

Flickr

Wikimedia Commons

Wikimedia Commons

Wikimedia Commons

Scrabble is a board game that can be played by two to four people involving a lot of critical thinking skills. Words spelled will gain the player points and the person with the most points at the end of the game wins.

As the 80´s Fashion website states, “This was a 1980s staple game though it was invented in 1938. People still play it to this day, either as a board game or a computer game. Back in the 1980s, it even became a daytime game show.”

Snakes and Ladders is a board game that originated in India. As the 80´s Fashion website states,¨ For many young kids, it wasn’t Trivial Pursuit or Monopoly which started their love of board games. Instead, it was this very simple game that required mostly luck to win. The roll of the dice determined if you won or loss.¨ A total of two or more players is needed in order to play. In order to win, the player must successfully reach the 100 tile.

Clue was first introduced in 1949 by Parker Brothers. The game can be played by three to six people. The end goal of the game is to solve the murder by investigating six suspects and determining the weapons used out of six possible. As the 80´s Fashion website states,¨This was a murder mystery game that fostered many kids’ aspirations to be detectives when they grow up.¨ Hungry Hungry Hippos was introduced in 1978 by Fred Kroll. As the 80´s Fashion website states,¨When it came to fun in the 1980s, Hungry Hungry Hippos had you covered! This was a 1980s fad game that fascinated many young players at the time, and it didn’t need skill or strategy.¨ This game can be played by two to four people. The game has a total of 20 marbles that each hippo tries to eat by pressing a lever. The goal of the game is to eat the most marbles in order to win.

Alyssa Hellmann, a senior, states that she has played Trivial Pursuit, Boggle, Clue, Snakes and Ladders, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and Scrabble. One challenge Alyssa expressed she faces when playing board games is not yelling when she loses, and winning the board game is what gets her most excited. Alyssa´s strategy when playing board games is to read the peoples faces around her to see what they are doing. The environment Alyssa likes to play board games in is around family.

Aleena Owens, a senior, states that she has played Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble. One challenge Alenna expresses she faces when playing board games is coming up with a strategy, and what gets her most excited is typically the themes. Alenna’s strategy depends on the win criteria for the game, but typically will play a few rounds, and then she will decide what to focus on. The environment Aleena likes to play in is in a large setting with more than four people.

Jazmyn Whittingham, a senior, states that she has played Scrabble and Clue. One challenge Jazmyn said she faces when playing board games is using strategy and thinking quickly on her feet, what gets her most excited is winning and the competitive feel. Jazmyn’s strategy depends on the board game, but usually makes her moves based off of the other person.The environment Jazmyn likes to play in is at a party with friends or any comfortable, familiar, and fun environment.

Victoria Parage-Riboul, a senior, states that she has played Clue, Snakes and Ladders, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and Scrabble. One challenge Victoria expressed she faces when playing board games is getting too competitive, but what gets her most excited is the challenge of playing board games. Victoria’s strategy depends on the board game. Victoria typically plays board games at home or at friends’ houses.

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Wikimedia Commons Trivial Pursuit was first revealed in 1981 and was designed by Chris Haney and Scott Abbott. When playing Trivial Pursuit, anywhere from two to four players can play at one given time. Each player will keep picking up cards and will stop when they answer a question incorrectly.

Cards picked up will range in difficulty. The end goal of Trivial Pursuit is to collect all six colored wedges by answering all trivia cards picked up correctly. As the Bar Games website states, ¨Trivial Pursuit is one of the few games that really makes general knowledge questions fun! The game is essentially a race between players. And there is a lot of room for strategy as well.¨

Board games are a great way to have fun while spending time with your family and friends. Each person’s strategy for playing is different, allowing for the game to be played in multiple different ways while still adhering to the rules and objectives of the game. Some board games have been played for generations while others have just come out. As the 80s Fashion website states, ¨While video games became popular during the 1980s, board games actually ruled in many households back then.¨

Astrology Affirmations

Listed below are the significant strengths and weaknesses of each zodiac sign by Maia Roscigno Aquarius

Pisces

Aries

Date-February 19th- March 20th Traits- Pisces are deeply emotionally sensitive and empathetic people. They are very compassionate and are always wanting to help. Weaknesses for them are that they aren’t realistic with things, they lack personal boundaries, and they rely too much on others.

Date: January 20th -February 18th Traits- The sign of the Aquarius is often highly unique personalities. They are very creative and idealistic, as well as independent people for the most part. They struggle when it comes to being very opinionated and hardheaded.

Gemini

Taurus

Date- March 21st- April 19th Traits- Aries are made of fire, so they are very bold and headstrong. Aries never backs down from something challenging. Weaknesses for Aries are that they are very impulsive and aggressive which comes across very strong.

“Taurus yes I feel like I resonate with my sign” Brennan Wiley, Sophomore

Date- May 21- June 20 Traits- Geminis are a very complex sign because they have many different sides to them.

Their strengths are that they are very outgoing, creative, and intelligent; Some of their weaknesses are that they are very indecisive, impulsive, aggressive; they lack patience and always want it their way.

Date- April 20th- May 20 Traits- Taurus is an earth sign.

As a result, they are usually very reliable, determined, and down to earth.Their weaknesses are that they tend to be very stubborn and hard headed.

Source Credits: Allure.com & Costarastrology.com

Cancer

Date- June 21- July 22 Traits- Cancer is a very sensitive sign, so they are very protective, nurturing, and caring.

Cancer weaknesses consist of being overly sensitive/dramatic, emotionally unstable, and moody.

“I am a Capricorn and I am 100% one” -CC Glass, AP

Virgo

Leo

Date- July 23- August 22 Traits- Leos are very confident, charming and humorous. they are often the center of attention.

Leo’s weaknesses are quite a lot.

Leos are very self centered, they will do anything for attention, and they always have to be right.

They hate being criticized or told they are in the wrong.

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Libra

Date- August 23- September

Date- September 23- October 22 Traits- The sign Libra is very charming, friendly, intelligent, and well balanced individuals. As far as struggles they face, Libras crave physical emotional connections. They are most afraid of being lonely. They also are very selfless, which is not a bad thing, but they put everyone else over themselves which ends up harming them.

Traits- Virgos tend to live their lives very reliably, creatively, and logically. When it comes to the downsides to being a Virgo, they are typically very stubborn, uptight, obsessive and they are huge overthinkers.

“Scorpio and I am so a scorpio” -Dede Lewis, AP Assistant

Scorpio

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Date- October 23- November

Traits- The traits of a Scorpio are very simple and straightforward; they are really determined people with anything in life, loyal, and brave. For the not so good traits, they are incredibly resentful, secretive, and filled with many lies and much jealousy.

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Capricorn

Sagittarius

Date- November 22- December 21 Traits- Sagittarius are very optimistic, honest, and spontaneous people. Their weaknesses are that they can be very irresponsible, lazy, and they have a huge fear of commitment.

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Date- December 22- January

Traits- Capricorns are sensitive, hardworking, and practical. They are known to be very overachieving and determined with things in their life. When talking about weaknesses, they have a hard time with change, they lack patience and they hold deep grudges.

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Self-assurance is Reassurance During the first quarter of the year the will to continue gets tested; here are some ways we can better outselves this year by Jayda Moffatt | Photo by Pxhere

What is mental health? Mental health encompasses our physical, emotional, and mental well-being, it influences your behaviors and heavily affects how you handle stress according to MentalHealth’s website. It refers to your overall psychological well-being which includes the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships, and your ability to manage your feelings and deal with difficulties.`` Your mental health also regards your mental fortitude, and how you handle stress can play a big role into how you cope with tough times. Online research is very important to educate yourself and others on what you may have; however, seek professional guidance before self-diagnosing as that can harm more than it can help you and those around you.

“I wish someone were to reach out during tough times, because I know how worked up I can get and the help really goes a long way.”

Junior Catherine Southland

Media spreads information about mental health and most of it is positive, helping spread information, common misconceptions, and other useful knowledge that others can benefit from. Having accurate information about mental health is the most important thing. With accurate information you are now able to help spread awareness about what you know and how you can help others out.

According to AuroraArizona, “Change only happens when people take action, and raising mental health awareness is an important action that almost everyone can take.” It is crucial that we look out for those who may not receive as much accurate information, where gaining access to such information is difficult or overlooked. Being aware of the situations and backgrounds people come from and helping educate them is one of the first steps to keeping everyone on the same page and all properly informed.

“I like letting them-- my friends in need- talk about it to me, I love communicating to people, communication is key.”

Sophomore Mikayla Ray While obtaining accurate information about mental issues in our community it is very important that it contains statistics which help bring to light the lack of information given to us and the lack of help given to fix these problems. According to Mental Health America (MHA), one in five people will experience mental illness during their lifetime.

With this we now know just how common mental illnesses are among our friends and our schools. Not only are we met with the shocking fact that these illnesses affect our love ones so commonly but according to AuroraArizona, “--Mental health issues are also a significant contributor to suicide, which claims the lives of nearly 50,000 people per year in the United States alone.”

The lack of coverage given to people in the community shows just how immense our issue is. Together, showing accurate information about what happens and what we do and don’t see with help open the eyes of the people who overlook these issues.

With so much stress especially during the pandemic and postpandemic, we look for ways to stay positive, motivated, and uplift others. Having a healthy mindset can affect other aspects of your life including your work, relationships, and even an improvement within yourself and self-image. When you look at life with a glass-half full mindset you are able to overcome stress and anxious encounters with less mental strain because you were fortifying your mind prior.

Mental Health America came up with 31 tips to help boost your mental health; Tracking your gratitude, working on your strengths, and even included a quote from Martin Luther King Jr., “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” These mini moments can make an impact during your day to day life and you can gradually see an uptake in your happiness and a decrease in stress factors.

“I try to be more positive-- I tell myself to have more self confidence and I just try to pick myself up.”

Sophomore Elsie Afful 14 u the viewpoint u january | february 2023u feature

Are You Superstitious?

Scary, interesting, and fun superstitions from around the world

by Alaina Corbin

Russia Yellow flowers may be beautiful, and you may feel they are a good gift. In most countries it’s fine, but in Russia it can mean so much more. Yellow flowers symbolize the end. They are a symbol of sadness and deceit. Giving yellow flowers in a relationship can lead to the end of the relationship or a whole lot of fighting. According to Russia Beyond website, “It’s better to choose white or red flowers in Russia.”

Mexico

Philippines

Optical illusions are cool and very fun to look at, but have you looked into a deeper meaning? Mirrors are good for a lot of things: making sure you look decent, writing reminders, and even just a decorative piece. In Mexico they use them all for the same purposes with one exception. They will never put two mirrors facing each other. “Facing mirrors opens a doorway for the devil,” as stated on Good Housekeeping’s website.

Leaving a wake? Maybe consider taking a quick pit stop at a diner or park. In the Philippines, people will take a pit stop before returning home from a wake. They believe the deceased could follow you back to your home. According to Golden Heaven’s website, this is such a well known thing in the Filipino culture they have their own term for it, “pagpag.”

Brazil “I don’t put my hat on the bed. My cowboy hats go anywhere but on my bed, otherwise I’ll get bad luck the next time I ride. Even just a touch on the bed can bring out evil and I never risk it. I put it anywhere but the bed.”

- Junior, Breanna Finely

South Korea

Hands full, do you need to set something down? It’s all good until you set down your wallet or purse. Placing your wallet or purse on the ground is something we have probably all done when our hands are full, but Brazilians strictly avoid. If they are placing something down, the wallet is last. They believe placing your wallet on the ground will cause you financial debt. “A purse on the floor is money out the door,” stated on Insider’s website.

Do you get hot at night? Well, so do South Koreans. The only difference is where you might turn on a fan, they will not. Death by fan is a huge superstition in South Korea. It is known that in the country, they will never sleep in a closed room with a running fan. According to Insider’s website, Koreans believe, “Prolonged exposure to fans causes hypothermia, loss of water in the body, and even asphyxiation.”

France

Egypt

Walking through a town in France, you could be having the best day until you step into a pile of dog poop. For most people, this interaction with the feces on their foot would upset them and ruin their day, but not in France. The people of France truly believe that it’s good luck if you step in dog poop.

According to Good Housekeeping’s website, “It’s only bad luck if you step with your right foot” in French culture.

Have you seen any owls recently? If so, watch out! Owls are known to have very acute hearing, which can be a problem. It is known that owls bring terrible news. It is said that in Egypt, the birds will hear before you do. They are seen as “bad omens” according to Good Housekeeping’s website. Hearing or seeing an owl isn’t a good sign in Egypt, and you should probably prepare yourself for something bad to come.

Canada

- Senior, Alexandra Hanny

- Sophomore, Riley Cook

Asia Pictures are taken to show where you went, who you were with, and all the new things you saw. When taking pictures with three people, have you ever thought about who stands where in the picture? In Asia, they have a superstition that you should take a photo with more or less than three people but never just three. It is said that the person in the middle of a three person picture will die first, and according to goodyfeed.com, “This superstition is actually part of the great Asian heritage.”

Wallpaperflare.com

Pregnancy cravings are something that all women go through during their 10 month time frame. Some think the cravings are strange and try not to give into them, but not in Canada. Canadians believe that pregnant women should give into their cravings, especially if that craving is fish related. According to Good Housekeeping’s website, in Canada’s culture, “Expectant mothers who crave fish but don’t eat it will end up having a baby with a fish-head.”

“I haven’t heard about very many superstitions but I wouldn’t mind learning about different ones. I feel like it would be something fun to hear about. For the ones I have heard about though, I don’t find them reasonable. They just don’t make sense to me.”

“I’m not really superstitious. I do, from time to time, knock on wood for peace of mind. I also believe in the little ones like opening umbrellas indoors, and broken mirrors. “

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Spring Hot Spots If you need help choosing a vacation for spring break, here are some ideas that are close and inexpensive by Amanda Dass

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f course, we must include one of the most popular spots in Virginia for travelers. Virginia Beach is an amazing spot for, obviously, the beach. Being one of the most popular spots in Virginia, tourists love to lean towards the beach, especially during the warm months of spring and summer. Visitivirginiabeach.com proudly states, “Although Virginia Beach offers something for everyone, it truly is a perfect vacation destination for kids of any age.” From Mountain View, it’s roughly a 3 hour drive. Many of the hotels and rooming are fairly inexpensive for tourists and residents coming into town. Molly Ferland, senior, says, “It looks nice, but I’m sure Florida beaches are better.” Assuredly, if you want to enjoy the feeling of sand and water, Virginia Beach will give you that pleasure.

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f you’re looking towards the nature scene for spring break, Shenandoah National Park would be a perfect place for you. They have many nature activities, such as hiking, camping, and fishing. If you’re not looking to camp, hike or fish, you can go on a nice ride down Skyline Drive. Hannah Neiss, junior, shared that she would visit Shenandoah so she can go camping. It’s roughly an hour and a half away from Mountain View. Shenandoah can be the place for you to wind down, all while providing you with the perfect sounds of nature.

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re you more into city life? If so, you can also visit none other than Washington, DC. DC will provide you with that bustling city life that you’re looking for. Elizabeth Fleming, junior, said, “I like Washington, DC because of the Smithsonian and the landscaping.” From museums, sports, good eats, and shopping, you’ll have everything you need all in one place. You can also go and see the Cherry Blossom festival, which happens from mid March to early April. “Many of these are free to attend or enjoy online.”, washington.org states. In addition to that, it’s only an hour away from Mountain View. Therefore, if you want to live fast, DC will be the perfect spot for you.

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Covid’s Attack

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Interviews from high school students about how their education was effected by Covid-19

By Gracie Prat

Freshman Logan Bugni talked about his experiences during Covid.

Before Covid, everything was going great for Bugni. “School was genuinely enjoyable for me. I aimed to miss as little school as possible,” Bugni stated. He learned very easily and had no major concerns or struggles. “I kept concentration in class and rarely procrastinated anything,” he continued. Bugni was able to keep an A/B honor roll while his work ethic was through the roof.

During Covid, Bugni’s education was deeply affected. While still maintaining an A/B honor roll, he noticed that he was starting to form some academic struggles. He learned that he is a very hands-on learner and that’s what made online learning extremely difficult for Bugni.

“School was very boring,” he said dreadfully, “but I highly enjoyed being able to sleep in.”

Bugni’s love for school declined along with his amazing work ethic. “I started to use Google daily for all of my classes,” he said.

Bugni continued by saying that he tried his best to pay attention, but he was easily distracted by electronics and other things that were going on around the house.

However, some aspects still remained the same. For instance, before Covid he didn’t procrastinate often. He completed his work as soon as possible so he could go to practice without the stress of school work left to do.

When quarantine was over, Bugni was elated about once again being able to attend school in person. He continues to maintain an A/B honor roll. Bugni went on the record to say that it has been more difficult to maintain those grades than it was prior to Covid. He continued by saying, “I try to complete my homework during any extra time in class.” I think it’s safe to say that Bugni has gotten back into the swing of his strong work ethic with procrastination being left behind.”Learning has gotten much easier for me since being back in school,”Bugni stated.

“Having my teachers and classmates present to ask for assistance has led me to use Google less than when I was learning at home.”

Bugni also added, “I don’t like waking up early, but I am glad to be back in the building.”

Next up, freshman Taylor Whitlock had thoughts about her Covid experience with school.

Before quarantine, Whitlock didn’t really enjoy school for the most part. “School just wasn’t for me,” she said, “and I definitely didn’t enjoy having to wake up early just to learn. I didn’t pay much attention, I would have rather been doing anything else besides sitting in school,” Whitlock said. Whitlock did admit that with these cons she was able to find some pros during this time.

While being able to carry amazing grades with an exceptional work ethic, she had no concerns or struggles throughout this time. Whitlock said that she always completed her work easily and very timely. “I would attend school as much as possible,” Whitlock stated. “I had plenty of friends that I deeply enjoyed seeing everyday.”

As we went into quarantine, things began changing for Whitlock. Her perfect grades and work ethic began to struggle as Covid became an apparent nuisance to in-school learning.

Whitlock stated ,“My grades dropped drastically when we went into quarantine,” She continued by stating “My A/B honor roll slowly turned into C’s and occasionally D’s.”

She, however, said that she began liking school more and more. Unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons. “I loved being able to go on my phone whenever I wanted which kept me from understanding what I was being taught.”

Whitlock then continued by saying she was disappointed in herself and put minimal effort into learning and became highly dependent on Google to understand the material being taught.

She said, “I would still attend school everyday, but it was almost like I wasn’t there, considering I paid no attention to the teachers or the lessons that were being taught.” She completed work when it was assigned to her bu would only put in effort to keep her grades above an F in order to keep her phone privileges at all times.

When it was time to go back into the building, Whitlock was extremely nervous about how well she would be able to fall back into the habits needed to have A’s and B’s, as well as focusing on learning in person. As the story goes, Whitlock had nothing to worry about, just like before the A/B honor roll has been easy to maintain. She strives to attend school everyday and does her best to stay focused in class. Since returning to in-person learning she has become less dependent on Google and other online search engines.

“School has become a lot more enjoyable for me now that I have made good friends that I get to see everyday,” Whitlock concluded, stating that she has no major struggles and she is thrilled to be attending in-person learning once again.

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Last, but certainly not least, sophomore Elias Hines talked about his experience with quarantine learning.

Hines said that prior to Covid he really liked school. “I really liked school because It wasn’t difficult for me and I had a large group of friends. My grades would be described as being average, I always kept them above a C grade.”

He would give his undivided attention to the teacher and was able to pick up on the things being taught quickly and fairly easily. Hines also noted that he would complete his work as soon as received the assignment in order to make time for his after school activities. His commitment to his studies was obvious. “I was attending school daily and I never complained about it,” he said.

With schools being completely online, Hines began struggling more and more in school.

He was struggling using the chromebook as the main method of learning. He would have preferred to be in-person learning from his teachers and peers.

“I didn’t pay attention while the teachers were speaking, and that, in turn, caused problems for me in completing my lessons,” he said. “During the majority of quarantine my sole resource was Google. Honestly, I don’t think I learned a single thing while attending online classes,” he finished.

Hines also stated that he lacked motivation to complete assignments because online work took longer to complete and more energy. He then added his grades dropped at a rapid pace and before he knew it, he was at a low point in online schooling. Covid, as well as online school, really knocked him off his feet.

When entering the building for school again, Hines was met with many emotions, especially excitement. “I was so happy to be in school with my friends again,” he said. He continued by stating that he was relieved considering he didn’t successfully endure online school. He stated, “As soon as we went back to in-person learning, I quickly fell back into my old habits of focusing on my grades and hard work.”

Hines did mention that his grades are now back to where they were before quarantine and that he pays attention to his teachers and practices the behaviors of a successful athlete.

His assignments and tasks are being completed efficiently with minimal to no issues.

Hines said, “I still don’t enjoy waking up early, but I would not trade it to go back to online learning.”

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athlete’s focus it takes a lot to manage both school and a sport at the same time but it has proven to be possible By jason Blevins wikimedia commons

It’s hard to manage both school work and a sport all at the same time. So how is it done? You have to have good time management and the drive to do and succeed at both.

One way is to try to do your work in class. If you can’t then after practice find time to finish the assignments. It’s important that while you are trying to be on a school sports team that you manage and stay on top of your work so that way you not only don’t get behind, but so you also don’t receive any penalties or punishments for not staying on top of your academics.

When dealing with academics, as well as athletics, you need to find a healthy balance between the both so as to not prioritize one over the other. In order to do both, you need to have work ethic. There is also a sense of drive you have to have. It’s hard to push yourself like that sometimes, but in the end it is worth it. You feel accomplished with the work you’ve done and be proud of what you put yourself through for the outcome you are facing.

You should focus on your schooling first before you play sports because you are a student athlete not a athlete student. Set your priorities and know what should come first before all. If you are asked by a teacher to stay after school to finish an assignment or help you get your grade up, you should always listen to said teacher because your coaches will agree and encourage you to focus on your grades and school work.

What you do in school matters too. If you expect to just get your work done and be good at a sport, that’s not going to cut it. Yes those are important details to succeed in your sport but you have to act right in and outside of school. Stay out of trouble and don’t be influenced to do things that you know you’re not supposed to do. Do what’s right and focus on yourself, surround yourself with people who have the same goals as you and what you want.

You have to balance a lot of things as a student athlete, school, sports and a social life. How do you balance this out? Study smart, don’t just pour all of your energy into your school work or else you will exhaust yourself very quickly. When you are working and studying, focus on what you need to know and what you need to be successful.

-“Give everything 100% and never give up, no way out of words” -Freshman Jamal Corbin

“Keep your mind open and clear .”

- Sophomore Alex Hoffman

“Wake up with a good attitude.”

-Sophomore Kevin Jones

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How to save our endangered aquatic animals in the deep blue sea by Noah Carter

Public Domain Vector

We all know and many people love aquatic animals, but unfortunately, a lot of them are endangered.

Aquatic animals are going extinct, especially the ones we love most. Animals such as sea turtles, dolphins, seals, and more are in deep danger because of littering and capturing animals. These acts that may seem minor in the human realm are big deals to our ocean friends. Sterling Di Bianca, freshman, claims, “Without aquatic animals, we would be mentally hurt, because they bring joy into our world.”

For example, sea turtles like to eat jellyfish because they are easy to catch, but they often mistaken plastic bags for jellyfish, causing them to eat and choke on the plastic. Sea turtles and fish even get tangled in plastic soda rings.

Littering is an important issue because it can harm aquatic animals.

Dolphins are another example of the endangered species in need. Illegal hunting causes dolphins to lead to extinction. Seals are flying down the charts of their popularity as well.

Here is how we can help our sea friends and stop their extinction. First off, littering is the number one on the list.

Not only is it killing our aquatic animals in the ocean, but littering is also causing the earth to be in danger too. Next is hunting. If you are fishing for some food, that’s okay, but we shouldn’t be killing dolphins because they bring us joy to the world. Adam Stanton, freshman, also said, “ Some animals are needed for us, so without them, we might not be able to survive.!”The easiest solution is to stop hunting for them. Seals are also endangered by human greed due to hunting.

Brendan Lane, freshman, states, “We can put the animals in a designated area to keep them safe from extinction.”

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Music & Fashion

Music and Fashion are both forms of art that coexist within each others world

by Kailand De La Cruz

Young Thug is a 31 year old rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. Young Thug has been making music for a long time but on August 26, 2016, Young Thug dropped his album Jeffery. The cover art consisted of Young Thug wearing a dress made by Alessandro Trincone. The dress was very different, and Tom Franco, junior, said that “I think it’s cool because it’s something people aren’t used to seeing.” This was really big for people into cross dressing because it opened more eyes to it.

Cross dressing is still something all people won’t accept, but it slowly is getting accepted more and more every day., And Young Thug was a big reason for that.

Jeffery - Young Thug

Kanye West is a very controversial artist. Kanye is a musical genius, but his actions are very questionable. His 2013 album Yeezus was a very experimental album. Jayden Kendall, junior, says that if he were to describe the album with an emotion it would be “anticipation.” The album was about finding the beauty in chaos. During the Yeezus tour Kanye would wear these masks that were covered in jewels. Kendall says that the masks were “very different and a big influence in fashion at the time.” The masks were made by famous fashion designer Maison Margiela. Kanye’s meaning for wearing the masks is that he wants to depersonalize himself and focus on his dreams. These masks were truly a piece of art and will always be remembered for being worn by Kanye.

Yeezus - Kanye West

Playboi Carti is an artist who doesn’t seem to release a lot of music, but when he does he makes a big impact on the music and fashion scene. With his recent album “Whole Lotta Red,” he really changed the fashion scene like no other artist has before. For his album, he went for a very hardcore “punk” look that consisted of all black outfits. He made designer brands like Rick Owens, Balenciaga, Issy Miyake, and Maison Miharah way bigger than they already were, especially with his label “Opium” consisting of artists Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, and Homixide Gang also pushing this new punk rockstar aesthetic.

Whole Lotta Red - Playboi Carti

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NFL Gear

How can we improve NFL safety? by Anthony Fields Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a game after a severe tackle. As a result, what has been done to improve NFL safety has become a hot topic.

Idris Collins, junior, said, “When I think of the word safety, I think of the care and protection one may have.” For example, guardian caps are helmets with a soft shell padding on the outside of the helmet.

They provide an extra layer of protection during practice and reduce head impact by twenty percent, according to the NFL’s official website. Rami Kamel, junior, said, “I think the NFL could change their helmets to be more protective because there have been a lot of concussions this season.”

Shoulder pads cover the shoulders and chest along with the rib area and are precisely fitted by measuring the player’s back from one shoulder blade to another with the help of a measuring tape. In the early 2000s, the shoulder pads construction took a leap with the addition of new synthetic fibers. These fibers aid in making the pads lighter and cooler and thus prevent dehydration of the athletes. The modern pads are modified to make them more comfortable and provide better protection along with better ventilation and mobility, according to Rookie Road’s website.

Overall, the NFL has already created a lot of procedures to protect their players. Daniel Evans, athletic trainer, said, “There’s not really much we can change since they are making it as safe as possible. Any more changes would change the game.”

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If a player does get a head injury, concussion protocol includes four steps. First, they perform light exercising and can attend team meetings if capable. Second, the person will perform running on a treadmill for twenty minutes under supervision in case anything goes wrong. Third, non contact

drills, such as cone drills, are done. The step is reintegration into full participation in practice with any restrictions.

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The Angels of death In-depth insight on well-known killers by Hailey Grimes This article contains graphic details

filmdaily.co

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This article contains graphic details

murderpedia

This article contains graphic details

Jeffrey Dahmer was a serial killer who was found guilty of killing 17 men, dismembering their bodies and committing cannibalism and necrophilia.

Dahmer’s childhood had many problems and struggles. His mother, Joyce Dahmer, suffered from depression and had multiple failed attempted suicides. His father, who was constantly occupied with his work as a doctor, was largely absent in Dahmer’s life.

Professional Psychiatrist Louis Schlesinger claimed, “When you do something like Dahmer did, it doesn’t just happen one day, it’s created in the mind.”.

Carl Wahlstrom, a forensic psychiatrist, said that as a child, Dahmer had an “off the charts” libido, and constant fantasies about doing harm, which included killing men, and sleeping with their dead corpses. Dahmer was different in the way he chose his victims out and killed them. He mostly picked them up at bars, malls, and more with promises of money or sex. He would give his victims alcohol that was lined with drugs and then kill them. Dahmer would then abuse them and dismember their bodies. To hide the evidence of his killing, he would remove their bones, smash them to powder, and dissolve the flesh with acid.

One of the earliest theories on Jack the Ripper was written by writer Leonard Matters in 1929.

He suggests that Jack wanted revenge on the prostitutes who he believed murdered his son.

His theory concluded that Jack the Ripper was actually a cancer specialist, named Dr. Stanley.

It’s said that Dr. Stanley’s son, Herbert, fell in love with a prostitute named Mary Jane Kelly. At the time, Mary was suffering from syphilis, which Herbert was unaware of . Herbert ended up contracting it and dying two years later.

Jack was said to have been seeking revenge for his son. That’s why his murders targeted prostitutes. As a disorganized killer, Jack was said to never have planned a single murder he committed. Instead, he took advantage of opportunities to offer to pay these women for sex and lure them onto a secluded street. Then, he would slice their throats. As the women bled to death, he would brutally disembowel them with a six -inch knife. Jack ended up finding Mary, and killing her.

The key reason that Jack the Ripper was never caught is simple: murder was still uncommon during the reign of Queen Victoria. London had many streets and dark alleys, which was the perfect place to murder someone.

Ted Bundy was a very shy and introverted kid with no real idea of how to get on well with other people. He had an unhappy childhood involving constant name changes and house moves. He was born to an unwed mother who told him that she was his sister and his grandparents were his parents. As a result, he spent his early life living with his grandparents; some reports say his grandfather was mentally unstable and prone to violent outbursts.

Once grown up, Ted was very articulate, being described as an extremely bright and smart psychology graduate studying law. He spent his spare time working with emotionally traumatized children.

Starting in 1974, he battered, raped and murdered at least 36 young women, despite being in a permanent relationship.

Bundy lived in Seattle initially and found victims at the local halls of residence and at a lakeside beauty spot. He drove a VW Beetle; he drove to a pretty much abandoned mountain road to carry out the murders and dispose of the bodies.

Psychologists point to everything from Bundy’s traumatic childhood as the cause for his serial killings.

Emma Whirlow, a freshman said, “When Serial Killers kill people, the families of those people, and the friends, have to deal with the grief and the emotions that come with the fact that the person died the brutal way they did, or the fact that they died at all”

Anthony Green, a freshman said, “Serial Killers are man made. They usually start killing because of experiences and things they go through”.

Jonathan Day, a psychology teacher, stated, “Serial Killers, absolutely do not deserve a second chance.”

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The Month of Madness

What exactly is March Madness and how does it work? by Lincoln Pendleton According to a Twitter post, Trent Frazier, a basketball player said, “To walk out on the basketball court earlier and see ‘March Madness’ it was like all my dreams come true”

According to QuotesHD, Brian Giorgis, a basketball coach said, “You never know in the tournament.

That’s why they call it March Madness. Half of it is believing.”

According to QuotesGram, Cappie Pondexter, former professional basketball player said, “It doesn’t matter. It’s March Madness. You’ve got to bring it every time, every 40 minutes.

That’s all we have.”

What is March Madness? March Madness is a single-elimination tournament of 68 teams that

“I enjoy watching march madness with my family. It’s fun to watch the chaos and to-head in seven rounds to see who is the best. Throughout the tournament, fans get to witness excitement.” buzzer-beater shots, massive upsets, and hopefully, their favorite team being the last one standing. - Madsen Call, freshman

compete for the national championship. The best college basketball teams in the nation go head-

March Madness started in 1939 and has happened every year since then, except for the 2019-2020 season which was canceled because of COVID-19. The first tournament started with just 8 teams, and has continued to grow to the 68 team tournament we have today. One of the main reasons March Madness is so popular is the way it gets fans involved. On Selection Sunday (March 12, 2023), the NCAA will release the official March Madness bracket. Millions of fans will compete in the “Bracket Challenge Game” where fans can guess who will win each game, and who will ultimately win it all. Why is this such a

“Every March I fill out March Madness brackets with my firends and we compete to see who can get the best bracket. It’s fun to watch brackets get ruined by just one game or even one shot” - Eli Nichols, sophomore

big deal? Because it’s a hard game to win. According to NPR’s website, the odds of getting a perfect March Madness bracket (meaning you guess all of the winners to every si-ngle game) is 1 in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808, or 9 quintillion. “To help wrap your head around how ridiculous that is,” says NPR’s Jeff Dean, “there are 31.5 million seconds in each year. 9.2 quintillion seconds would be 292 billion years. ” According to the NCAA’s website, no perfect March Madness bracket has ever been picked. Why? Because March Madness is known for having upsets all the time. According to NPR’s website, it’s almost impossible to predict the tournament’s upsets. That’s why it’s so exciting; you never know what is going to happen. Fans still fill out brackets, some to get better brackets than friends and family members, and others for the reward of getting a perfect bracket. Fans

“I usually dont like watching basketball but March Madness is something that everyone can enjoy and watch” - Adelaide Allred, sophomore

can play “Bally Bracket”, where if they get a perfect March Madness bracket, the fan would win 100 million dollars. But what about this year? Who is supposed to win it all? According to CBS’s website, either Kentucky and North Carolina are supposed to win. As March gets closer, start to fill out your bracket and take a 1 in 9 quintillion chance of being the first person to ever get a perfect bracket.

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According to QuotesHD, Rick Chryst, a former athlete and coach said, “In March, the days are getting longer. March Madness is a good way to get through the month. The sites are rotated, so people really do have a chance to attend. It touches every part of the country. Not just hard-core basketball fans, it reaches out to even the casual fan. It’s something that people can really connect with.”

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Salem Witch Trials The mass hysteria that is the Salem witch trials.

by Gasville Gumbs

The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in Colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 to May 1693.

According to National Endowment for the Humanities, many people were accused of being a witch and there were 30 people found guilty. Out of the 30,19 were hanged, five people were jailed, and one was crushed to death.

Arrests were made in the numerous towns beyond Salem and the Salem village. The Grand Judges and trials for their capital crimes consisted of the people appointed by the court in 1692 and by a Superior Court of Judicature in 1693 in Salem.

This is where the witch hunts were the deadliest. According to National Endowment for the Humanities, there were 14 more women and men hanged in other towns of Massachusetts.

Also, during the trial there were three methods that they would use to put the so-called witch in court by using confession testimony. They would need two eye witnesses to testify that the person was a witch. Also, they would use spectral evidence, meaning they made everything up to get the poor victim killed. However, this story has a happy ending. The trials were shut down for not treating the defendant fairly, but some people still feel the effects of the trials today. Due to general rational trauma and the children of the families who survived the trails.

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It spans through generations millions to thousands of people affected by it to this day. The Salem Witch Trials were one of the biggest mass hysteria events in all of American history. In the years to come, there were individual and institutional acts of repentance for the erroneous accusations of those in the trails. For example, in January 1697, the court of Massachusetts made a day of fasting to make up for the tragedy that they committed. According to the National Endowment for the Humanities, also, that month, Samuel Se wall , one of the judges explained that he was wrong in the proceedings. In 1702, the General Court declared that the trials were unlawful.

The Salem Witch Trials were unnecessary the elders should have done better research into proving that they were witches.

Actions from the past have consequences in the present. raw pixel

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Natalie Goodwin, junior says, “ I will definitely try to stay up to date this year with fashion.”

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ccording to Fashinista, the fashion inspiration taken from ballet is not new but is predicted to be a big trend this year. On the 2022 red carpet collections from Molly Goddard and Simone Rocha that included many ruffles and cloud like tulle. Florence Pugh used it more than anyone “The actor called on designs from the likes of Rodarte and Valentino to play with billowing tutu-like skirts and voluminous tulle sleeves.” This took minimalistic aesthetics up to another level. Alison Stiefel, general manager of ShopStyle, says “we can expect this level of airy dressing to transition into a more wearable trend into 2023.” People searching and shopping for lace, tulle, and sheers started inclining as we came into 2023. Brand including Nensi Dojaka put up one of the most persuasive arguments to input these feminine pieces of fashion into our everyday wardrobes, not just for red carpets.

Denim Headquarters

Fashion of the new year Lets see some fashion trend predictions for 2023

by Mary Jane Seitz

Kelly Pollock, Fashion careers teacher, says, “I think one of the biggest come backs will be wolf cuts and blowouts.”

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hen it comes to denim Fast Company says, In the ‘70s it was bell bottoms. The ‘90s was low cuts. And the last decade was skinny jeans and jeggings. The tide has now turned. In 2023, people are predicting that straight jeans will be a big hit.

“We’ve been seeing customers move towards jeans with looser fits and wider leg openings,” says Amy Williams, CEO of the denim company Citizens of Humanity. “Jean styles are connected to shoe styles, and the wider legs are perfect for chunky lug boots, which are now in fashion.” Sarah Ahmed, creative director of denim brand DL1961, says that as the wide legged jeans come back into style, brands like hers will infuse their denim with stretchy and extremely soft fibers. This makes sure they keep their shape after a whole day of wear, especially in the knees, which can become baggy. “Denim (went) through an evolution to create a polished look with maximum comfort and all-day wearability,” she says.

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Fashion Magazine covers

Ian Tuffour, freshman student says, “ I can’t wait to see this years fashion trends.”