MV starts Sources of Strength chapter
| Grayson Then STAFF REPORTER
The Mounds View chapter of Sources of Strength met for the first time earlier this month on Dec. 4. Sources of Strength is a schoolbased program that focuses on preventing suicide among middle and high school students, as well as promoting mental health awareness and creating positive connections between students and staff.
In 1998, Mark LoMurray founded Sources of Strength (SOS) in Bismarck, North Dakota. As the head of the local Police Youth Bureau, LoMurray attended many funerals of teens who died due to reasons that he believed could have been prevented, such as overdoses, drunk driving accidents and suicides, and decided to found Sources of Strength to increase prevention efforts. Since then, the organization has spread across the country with hundreds of chapters in 38 states.
Deans Kasim Shahzad, Sarah Hatalla, Meghan Childs and mental health specialist Chad Jayasekera lead Mounds View’s chapter of SOS. Originally, they attempted to start a chapter two years ago after receiving a grant but failed to get it off the ground due to low interest. However, this year, they found success. “Last year was kind of a rebuilding year, and
then [we tried] again this year with a different group of people that are interested, different group of students,” said Hatalla.
“Suicide is a very big issue that is not nearly addressed as much as it should be.”
Leena Bassas, junior
While other organizations are reactionary, waiting until a student experiences mental health issues to help them, Sources of Strength takes a different approach by focusing on improving students’ mental health before they have a crisis. “The interesting thing about Sources of Strength was that it tackled it in a way that I’ve not personally seen it before,” said Shahzad. “[The goal] was to kind of catch [an issue] before it got to a point where a student was in dire need or stress.”
Each meeting is structured with several parts, beginning with a game for students to connect with each other, and then a time of sharing, where students discuss different components of the Sources of Strength wheel. “You’ll see on [the Sources of Strength] website, they’ll have wheels with different categories, like gratitude, family, and so it’s about a little bit of sharing just to connect as a group,”
said Hatalla. The wheel includes mental health, family support, positive friends, mentors, healthy activities, generosity, spirituality and physical health.
They also think of ways to educate the community through activities that involve students. “We meet monthly or bi-monthly in the MAC classrooms or through activities and ‘field trips.’ At the meetings, we think of ways to raise awareness and things we can do to include our school in SOS and mental health awareness. We make posters about ideas we can gather on what we can do,” junior and SOS member Leena Bassas said.
The objective of Sources
of Strength is to make mental health a regular topic. “[The goal is] to normalize it more than what it already is. I think post-COVID, we’ve seen a great leap in normalizing mental health, but I think there’s still a lot of work to do,” Shazad said.
Many students are enthusiastic about the new club. “I joined because I wanted to make a difference. Suicide is a very big issue that is not nearly addressed as much as it should be,” Bassas said.
The club has gained support from staff as well. “We all have a genuine interest in mental health, and our students, and supporting our students and building community,” said
Hatalla. “It’s a fun way to build community and get to know more people.”
Even if students are not interested in joining the club, they can still support SOS by participating in programs that SOS leads, which will come out as the school year progresses. Examples at other schools have included gratitude walls where students write what they are grateful for.
SOS members hope that the club will have a lasting positive impact on the community. “It’s the prevention by creating a culture of positive things, and hope and gratitude, so people feel like they’re connected and belonging here,” said Hatalla.
What could happen with the DOE?
| Aydin Kendic STAFF REPORTER
n the past few months, President-elect Donald Trump has unveiled his plans for America’s public education system during his second term. Trump has promised to dismantle the Department Of Education, which oversees federal funding and assistance in education and enforces civil rights laws such as Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational activities and programs that receive federal funding.
Trump hopes to return many of the decisions under the DOE’s jurisdictions back to the states, allowing each state — or even individual school districts — to make the educational decisions they believe to be most beneficial. Republicans are also hoping to see school vouchers become more accessible, which allows parents to get federal funding to send children to private schools or homeschool them. These school vouchers usually receive funding from the budget allocated for public schools.
Trump’s plans start with his nomination of Linda McMahon to become the head of
the Department of Education, which is still pending Senate approval. McMahon is a former professional wrestling corporate executive and served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term.
Some are worried about McMahon’s qualifications to lead the DOE, since she does not have prior experience in education. “I feel like in order to run a department that does this many important things, you need to have a good understanding of how that works. I don’t think she has any experience with the main three things that [the DOE does] with civil rights and higher education and Title I, so I don’t know if she’ll be able to run that well or efficiently, but we will see,” said senior Sarah Pederson.
Under McMahon, the Department of Education could begin to undo changes that were made under the Biden administration. One such change could be a repeal of an amendment to Title IX, which allowed transgender women to compete in women’s sports, a long standing issue for many Republicans. Trump has also discussed reducing the amount of funding the DOE receives out of the
federal budget even further than he did in his first term.
The lack of federal funding for public schools could create a disadvantage for students in states where public education is already underfunded, like Alabama and New Mexico. A loss of funding could also cause layoffs resulting in larger class sizes. “Clearly, some states are going to fund education more than other states are. Some states will be better at it than other states will, and you want to have an even playing field for all students. [It] doesn’t matter if you’re a high school kid in Alabama or New York or Arkansas or Minnesota. You should be receiving the same level of education,” said social studies teacher Scott Oberg. According to an annual report released in January by the Albert Shanker Institute, 60% of the nation’s students in the most chronically underfunded districts are in just 10 states, yet these 10 states serve 30% of students nationwide.
Critics — mainly left-leaning groups — also argue that dismantling the Department of Education would affect public schools’ ability to provide special education programs that are funded on a federal level and
meet students’ IEPs (Individual Education Plans), which outline students’ special educational needs. “With no Department of Education [...] I think states would really struggle to pay for a lot of those special education needs,” said social studies teacher Justin Benolkin. “It’s up to individual states passing laws, and it’s up to individual school districts abiding by those.”
Although the idea of the Department of Education getting dismantled worries some, the probability of this plan going into effect is unlikely. Senate Republicans require at least
60 votes to break the filibuster that Democrats most likely will propose if the bill manages to pass the House. Right now, only 53 senators are Republican, which would not be enough according to Education Week. Regardless of if it goes through, Trump’s proposal reflects a turn towards decentralizing education in the U.S. and amplifying parental control over school systems. However, before any of these plans can even be considered, McMahon’s nomination must be heard by the Senate, which is expected to happen in January.
Linda McMahon speaks at the 2021 Young Women’s Leadership Summit
Dean Shahzad speaks to members of Sources of Strength
PHOTO Suha Sharif
PHOTO | Gage Skidmore
The truth about the “War on Christmas”
How the ‘War on Christmas’ narrative distracts from real issues
As cliché as it may sound, the winter season undeniably brings an uplifting sense of joy, cheer and whimsy. Many people take this time to come together with friends and family, some celebrating holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah that hold religious significance. Still, each year we witness another not-sosecret motivation: money.
Companies’ aggressive commodification of the holiday season starts in the late fall with joyful tunes blaring and colorful decorations appearing all around. For traditionalist Christians who emphasize the religious aspect of the holiday, the commercialization of Christmas is a small, shameful part of a greater agenda: an attack against Christmas, and Christianity as a whole.
Christmas.” This shift has mobilized conservative Christians across the nation to speak up against a perceived liberal goal of persecuting Christians. What liberals see as an attempt at minimizing bias against or towards any group, conservatives view as an example of bias against Christians.
Along with a change in focus from religious to commercial elements of the holidays, there has also been a push over the last several years to use more inclusive language, such as saying “happy holidays,” instead of the specific words “merry
According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2017, 90% of Americans (and 95% of Christians in America) celebrate Christmas, with 46% celebrating for religious reasons. Additionally, 52% stated they did not care how they were greeted in stores during the holidays. I find it highly unlikely that a group of people who enjoy such religious freedom and acceptance in this country have a genuine reason to feel persecuted. That is because they are not. The socalled “war on Christmas” — as Fox News calls it — is a lousy excuse for people who have not experienced true oppression to complain about nonexistent, or at the very most, minor issues.
In a five-minute YouTube video from PragerU, a conservative media organization, titled
“Just Say ‘Merry Christmas,’” talk-show host Dennis Prager outlines how the replacement of the word Christmas in popular holiday phrases like “Christmas party” becoming “holiday party” and “Christmas break” becoming “winter break” is an attempt to rid American society of all religious influence. He states that when restaurant waiters, flight attendants and strangers wish him “happy holidays” and he responds with “merry Christmas,” people get offended and taken aback. This desperation to be victimized irritates me most. I do not know about you, but I have never witnessed someone actually take offense over someone wishing them a merry Christmas or — besides these bothered few conservatives — wishing them happy holidays in any way, for that matter.
“The so-called ‘war on Christmas’ is a lousy excuse for people who have not experienced true oppression to complain about nonexistent issues.”
Prager’s video strikes me as incredibly ironic considering the level of hypocrisy pres ent throughout it. He states that by labeling conser vatives as over reacting but con tinuing to replace Christmas-related language, liberals are creating a double standard. However, he goes on to express irritation with liberals for trying to rid American society of religious influences while saying that his focus is not even the religious aspect of the holiday, but rather the sense of community and unity national holidays like Christmas bring. In fact, he reveals that he does not celebrate Christmas for religious reasons, as he is Jewish. So then, why is he so bothered with the alleged erasure of religious influence? It all comes down to the baselevel definition of a conservative — a person who wants to preserve tradition while avoiding change and progress.
also dangerous. I remember years ago sitting in Sunday school at church and listening to the teacher warn us — middle school children — about how American society is persecuting us. He specifically cited the switch from “Christmas break” to “winter break” as an example of how Christianity is being directly attacked in our lives. I remember feeling so afraid of what was going to happen to me, to my Christian family. Imagine my surprise when I found out that a sizable fraction of Americans are Christians and I was, in fact, not in danger. To me, this issue is comparable to a conspiracy theory, an extreme amplification of a minor issue that leads to nothing more than unnecessary fear and stress.
Although I can understand the reasoning behind wanting to preserve traditions, I find this conservative response to be not only an over-exaggeration, but
How social media has ruined feminism
rowing up, I have always been on the internet — some might say “chronically online.” With unlimited access to the unfiltered internet, I grew up seeing the world’s hate for women and women having to fight for their rights. I saw the internet change its view of feminism and feminists. I saw the internet become less misogynistic and more women standing up for themselves.
The feminist movement at its core strives for gender equality and the dismantling of the oppressive systems put into place against women. Since the social media platform TikTok has become more popular in
THE
the past few years, so has the desire for female empowerment. The hashtags “#feminist” and “#feminism” have over a million posts combined. However, within the movement, an uncomfortable truth must be acknowledged: the misinterpretation of feminism on social media and online platforms.
These online platforms have taken the original meaning of being a feminist — fighting for equal rights — and twisted it into a polarization of different groups. Whether it be a traditional wife, a radical feminist or a white feminist, women have taken to hating each other online for having different views on what feminism is. These debates undermine what feminism as a whole stands
for: empowering all women, regardless of views. The rise of the tradwife on social media is an especially polarizing topic. Influencers like Nara Smith post videos of themselves doing “traditional wife chores” like cooking or cleaning, glamorizing the traditional lifestyle. This leads to backlash from radical feminists, who argue that the tradwife lifestyle is just conservatism repackaged. This is
“I saw the internet become less misogynistic and more women standing up for themselves.”
one of many places where two genres of online feminism in-
tersect, and the women in both communities put each other down rather than find a middle ground. It is also hypocritical to see women selling products online to help increase the ‘femininity’ of their features. I see numerous TikToks and YouTube videos telling young teens to just wear makeup and dress in a revealing way, rebranding it as a form of feminism and female liberation. Yet if a teen happens to have ethnic features, does not fit the body standard that these women deem as superior and does not have the money to spend thousands of dollars on makeup, skincare and clothing, then they are seen as inferior and unattractive. They will get cyber bullied by women who think they are better than them. Despite all of these issues, social media can have the po-
tential to promote the feminist movement as it can increase the awareness of women’s rights issues, foster communication within communities and organizations and provide education on women’s history. So-
“Social
cial media should be used to promote and empower women rather than demean them. It has the power to change how individuals feel about a topic and change their actions, so there is no better way to use it than in a good light.
Carter Ballman, Julia Gron-
Jadyn Heath-Hlavacek, Aydin Kendic, Kieran Lindahl, Gabriella Markegard, Joey McVean, Alyssa Oertel, Sean Oh, Ella Opsal, Michael Quiggle, Gabrielle Skiba, Grayson Then,
S. Wirrer
Illustration | Via Yang
Pageant queen on the scene
| Gloria Liu MDE & SPREAD EDITOR
From walking in the Milan Fashion Week to earning national titles, junior Maisie Adams has been competing in pageants from a young age. While she loves to dress up and get her makeup done professionally, she has also gained valuable skills like public speaking and becoming more involved in her community through pageantry.
Adams was first introduced to pageantry through her cousin, who is a part of the Miss America organization. She got her first “pageant” experience through the Princess Program, which is under the Miss America organization. This program pairs young girls ages six to 12 with an older girl, usually a Miss or a Teen, and allows the older girls to mentor the younger girls in pageantry. Through this program, Adams fell in love with the feeling of being on stage.
Her love for pageantry drove her to compete in her first official competition at National American Miss (NAM) Minnesota State at age 11. Contrary to popular belief, pageantry is more than just modeling dresses and wearing pretty makeup. There are other aspects in pageant competitions as well, such as interviews and improvisational speeches. With this competition being her very first, Adams vividly recalls it being a
terrifying experience for her. “I just remember being so scared to do the interview that when I sat down, I had this distinct memory of not being able to speak, just stuttering, and being so nervous,” said Adams. Despite this struggle, Adams placed first runner up and then went to nationals for the All American title by the time she turned 12.
Adams credits pageantry for improving her confidence and being able to speak fluently. When she was younger, Adams struggled with a speech impediment, and her family believed that having to give speeches or do interviews at pageant competitions would help her overcome it. “They were like ‘It’ll push you out of your comfort zone, and you’ll learn how to talk on stage in front of judges,’
and it was actually pageantry and kind of pushing myself past what I was comfortable with [that] helped me not only [become] way more confident, but also get past some of those speech impediment issues that I had,” said Adams.
Many pageant organizations also emphasize academic achievement and community involvement for participants. In 2023, Adams started her own non-profit called Buffy’s Friends Forever, which she began after a traumatic experience of trying to treat her sick English bulldog, Buffy, who was diagnosed with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Luckily, Buffy survived after multiple treatments. She has spent hours creating thousands of little boxes filled with necessities such as food, tissues, hand sanitizers
and more for pet owners who have gone through similar tribulations. “The whole point is to create a little bit of compassion [for] people to know they’re not alone and that we’ve dealt with the same thing,” said Adams. She has partnered with the Animal Emergency and Referral Center (AERC) here in Minnesota to donate these boxes and has raised over $43,000 in donations for her nonprofit.
Aside from creating a successful nonprofit, Adams also has other notable achievements. With a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Adams got the chance to walk in the Milan Fashion Week show in Milan, Italy in Feb. 2023. While she only walked one show, this ex perience allowed Adams to get a taste of what modeling was like, which is something that she is interested in. “We just wanted to dip our feet into what modeling is. It was really fun, and I [had] a good time,” said Adams. Throughout Adams’s pageant career, she has also achieved some notable awards. In 2022, Adams won America’s Most Beautiful Junior Miss, which led her to compete in na tionals where she won the Na tional Junior Miss title as the Minnesota Junior In 2023, she won NAM Minnesota Junior Teen, where she then competed in
nationals and won second runner up for the overall national junior teen title. This past summer, Adams competed in Ideal Miss and got first runner up for the national teen title. She also won National Top Model and National Actress at NAM. Whether it is walking the runway in a sparkling dress or giving back to her community, Adams’s pageantry career has impacted her in many different ways. With her love for the values that make up the competition, Adams hopes to continue competing in pageants in the future.
From pen and paper to guitar and taper
| Ryan Wirrer STAFF REPORTER
aking a step onto the stage, sophomore singer songwriter Audrey Stenzel belongs in the spotlight, singing acoustic covers of her favorite songs and entertaining audiences with her vocals. Stenzel has been performing since her childhood, and her musical career has had significant leaps and bounds in the past year.
“My creativity gets sparked when I’m feeling frustrated, loving, melancholy, just really overwhelming feelings.”
Audrey Stenzel, sophomore
Her musical journey began when she started learning the piano at age three. “I grew up with so much music. My mom constantly had music [turned] on in our house when I was growing up, and I very early on grew a connection with it,” said
Stenzel. Over the years, Stenzel has learned several other instruments, including the cello, ukulele and guitar.
While musically skilled, Stenzel has always been partial to the guitar and piano for their unique sounds. “I overall love the versatility of guitar and all the different sounds I can create. Even just for one song, I can play chords, finger picking, bass notes, and each one makes their own unique sound. My favorite genre to play is 100% indie folk or indie alternative, Phoebe Bridgers kind of stuff. You can make the coolest sounds on guitar with indie folk,” said Stenzel. Stenzel especially loves to perform music for various audiences. “I started going to concerts when I was around seven, and I also grew up loving theater. I really fell in love [with performing] once I was in orchestra and choir and had [concerts]. I realized how badly I wanted to be able to do that as much as possible.” Since then, she has gotten the opportunity to perform acoustic covers of popular songs on social media and in her own community, including at the Churchill St. Restaurant and the YMCA Youth in
Her favorite venue to perform at is the Shoreview Farmers Market. “It’s so much fun to see all the different people, the smiles music brings to people’s faces, and to have some really great conversations with vendors and buyers,” said Stenzel. “I do TikTok live sometimes too, if you count that as a gig, but those are fun. I’m very grateful and lucky for my opportunities.” Most of her gigs are scheduled by her mother, who she lovingly calls her ‘mom-ager.’
In April 2024, Stenzel performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), marking a significant step in her career. “The RRHOF [performance] showed me how much I would love to be able to go on tour someday and have a full stage and sound set up for myself,” said Stenzel. With this opportunity, Stenzel hopes to catapult her career into larger stardom, performing at bigger gigs with greater audiences.
Besides performing, Stenzel also enjoys songwriting. Most of her creative inspiration comes when she feels particularly passionate about an event in her life. One of her recent
inspirations was going back to New York after not living there for years and feeling like it was still home. Although she has yet to perform any of her songs to the public, she someday hopes to release her music on music streaming websites once she has a larger social media following.
For now, Stenzel plans to continue writing and singing. “Right now my plans are to just let myself enjoy music. A big worry for me is if I have big dreams and hopes to make a career out of my music, I could feel it become a chore or deal
with major disappointment in my music which I really want to prevent,” she said.
Stenzel’s January will be taken up by planning more gigs at venues like coffee shops, performance halls and new places she hopes to perform at. The singer songwriter and performer hopes to have just as much, if not more success in 2025.
Government talent show.
PHOTO VIA Maisie Adams
Stenzel preforming Enchanted by Taylor Swift at Music 4 Mounds View in 2024
PHOTO | Isabel Li
Adams competes in her pageant competition
Adams winning Most Beautiful Junior Miss
PHOTO VIA Maisie Adams
Spiraling towards success
| Sean Oh STAFF REPORTER
At four years old, class of 2019 Mounds View alum Izzi Gorowsky figure skated for the first time on her local lake. Since then she has dedicated her life to building on that first moment on the lake. This dedication and passion for figure skating has led her to pursue it as a career, where she is currently touring with Disney on Ice, a series of ice skating shows around the world that feature ice skaters as characters and scenes from Disney films.
Gorowsky’s location in the Mounds View school district led to a perfect recipe for figure skating success. Because her childhood home lies near Coon Lake, Gorowsky spent numerous hours practicing and training during the winter according to an article by the Shoreview Press. During an interview done by The White Bear Press, she revealed that her parents also helped maintain an outdoor ice rink which allowed her to invest more time into her craft. She also lived very close to the White Bear Sports Center where she frequently trained and performed.
Her time at Mounds View High School played a significant role in shaping her adulthood. Throughout her time at Mounds View, she was a part of National Honors Society as a junior and senior and took classes such as art and sport marketing,
along with four years of American Sign Language classes. Gorowsky also had many teachers and staff members that made a positive impact on her in high school, which influenced her decision to pursue Disney on Ice. “Looking back, I feel very fortunate that I had teachers who valued and encouraged me to pursue this unique opportunity. I think it’s really important to keep post graduation options
open and not to limit yourself to one path. I’ve been able to travel the world, go on incredible adventures, and learn so much about myself all while pursuing a childhood dream,” said Gorowsky.
During her senior year of high school, Gorowsky created an audition reel for Disney on Ice which earned her a call back for an in-person interview and an eventual audition in front of
the show’s performance director. Later, in the spring, she received a contract for Disney on Ice and began touring only two weeks after graduating. “It was a bit of a whirlwind. I’ve always been passionate about skating and performing, so I was really excited to get started on a career I’ve worked my whole life for,” said Gorowsky.
Performing in Disney on Ice — portraying many different characters and doing stunts on ice and with aerial apparatuses — has kept Gorowsky on a tight schedule. “Our typical work week is: travel by bus or plane Sunday/Monday, Monday-Wednesday are rest days and time to explore the city we’re in, then perform shows Thursday-Sunday,” said Gorowsky.
Gorowsky’s time on tour provides her with great satisfaction. “During my career I’ve been able to portray many iconic Disney characters. Putting on the costume is such a magical feeling, and when I look in the mirror I get to see my favorite princesses looking back at me,” said Gorowsky.
She has also been able to traverse the world, to countries such as Australia, France, Japan and more, while forging strong relationships. “Being able to perform the show every day with my best friends never feels like work. I’ve made the most wonderful memories and have created lifelong friendships,” said Gorowsky.
Although Gorowsky enjoys the experience of being on tour, she cites being away from family and friends as a downside. However, she has been able to visit them while performing shows in Minnesota. “I’ve gotten to perform at both the Target Center back in 2022 and at the Xcel Center recently in November. It was amazing to have my friends and family be able to come to the shows,” Gorowsky said.
After Gorowsky’s time with Disney on Ice ends, she hopes to shift her focus to choreography. In her Disney on Ice performer profile, she explains how throughout her life, even while listening to music, she choreographed skate routines in her head, and sometimes even fell asleep doing so. She also wants to pursue physical therapy, her desired occupation after attending Loyola Marymount University, where she planned to attend prior to working with Disney on Ice.
Though her career with Disney on Ice will not last forever, Gorowsky will always hold a special place in her heart for it. “As cheesy as it sounds, it’s honestly a dream come true. I’m a part of the opening number that starts the show,” said Gorowsky. “I feel such a rush when we enter and see the audience for the first time. I love being able to see the kids’ faces light up and feel like I’m a part of making a core memory for them.”
Volunteer Outreach Club gives back for the holidays
REPORTER
Around the holiday season, the idea of giving back stands strong among the Mounds View community. The Volunteer Outreach Club (VO Club) at Mounds View exemplifies these ideas, providing students with opportunities to give back to their community and gain volunteer hours. The club typically meets after school on Thursdays in Mary Carney’s room, where they focus on doing hands-on activities and connecting students with different organizations. The club’s executive board consists of the president, senior Mary Ahmed, co-vice presidents senior Elilta Gaim and junior Joseph McVean and junior Sean Oh, the secretary. Students may know the club as “Volunteer Service Club,” but this year the executive board decided to change its name. “[We wanted to] give it a new name that kind of catches people’s eyes because we just felt like the Volunteer Service Club was such a mouthful,” said Ahmed. Along with the name change, club presidents have upped their activity on Ins-
tagram to promote the meetings and volunteer opportunities and created a positive environment to encourage all students to join. “The club is a joyful community. Everyone in the club are wonderful people. I personally like the club because of the idea of helping our community and other communities as well,” said junior Alyssa Gatumbo.
On Dec. 5, members worked together after school to make stocking stuffers for less fortunate children and families in the area. They partnered with Solid Ground, an organization that helps build families in poverty. “[We] put a lot of goodies in [the stocking stuffers], fun stuff for toddlers, young kids, and then we [sent] it off to the organization, and they [gave] it to each family,” said Ahmed. The leaders bought different goodies, including stuffed animals, gloves, toy trucks and other necessities, for five different kids ages one to 14 years old.
Most recently on Dec. 12, the club continued to spread holiday cheer by ringing bells with the Salvation Army. Bell ringing helps raise money for the Salvation Army, a charity organization that helps families
in need. They also have plans for more events in the future.
“Plans for the club is to offer volunteering experience to students of Mounds View, so that they don’t feel like it’s impossible to make a difference in their communities,” said Ahmed. Additionally, the club’s Instagram page (@mvvolunteeroutreachclub) includes a monthly calendar, updating members on future meetings and events.
“This will be a club where you belong and everyone belongs here at VO Club,”
Elilta Gaim, senior
Although the Volunteer Outreach Club started meeting only a few weeks ago, they encourage students to try to attend their meetings. “This will be a club where you belong and everyone belongs here at VO Club,” said Gaim. Regardless of the number of members, the club strives to make a difference in the community. “We just like to really give to the world and take that stance because you don’t have to be this
huge organization, you could just be a small club at school,
doing these really cool things,” said Ahmed.
Disney on Ice skater Izzi Gorowsky performs a spiral on the ice
PHOTO VIA Izzi Gorowsky
| Gabriella Markegard STAFF
PHOTO | Mary Ahmed
Volunteer Outreach Club members ringing bells for the Salvation Army
| Vincent Meyer SPREAD EDITOR & ONLINE ME
College admissions season is in full swing and the stress of application season is as apparent as ever. Students stress about the uncertainty of where and what they will study and which schools are considered “good” and which ones are not. For many it can feel like the next few months will determine the outcome of their whole lives— even if that is not true.
With deadlines for regular decisions quickly approaching, seniors at Mounds View and
The overwhelming culture
around the country are considering what to put on their applications. For many it may feel as if the decision to put a standardized test score or a certain extracurricular could determine whether they get into their dream school or not.
Nearly 80% of Mounds View graduates have attended college in recent years compared with the 61.4% national average according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In such a college-bound environment, the pressure of submitting applications is often increased. Mounds View’s college-focused student body has some benefits
such as increased participation in school activities, motivation for students to perform academically and access to counselors that give information about financial aid. However, the stress can also lead students to be peer pressured into joining clubs, anxious about standardized testing, and uncertain about whether they can afford the many costs of sending applications.
In this spread, we explore the adverse effects that extracurriculars, standardized tests and financial barriers can have on the college application process.
Standarized testing in flux
| Julia Gronert STAFF REPORTER
A What’s the issue?
cross the United States, there are more than 1,900 colleges that do not require the ACT and SAT. Many of these schools temporarily moved to test optional during the COVID pandemic. Most of these decisions will expire in the next couple of years, leaving colleges to analyze whether or not testing is a good representation of students’ academic abilities.
Standardized testing has faced much criticism for bias in scores. Lower income and
These tests are meant to compare students from different high schools on an even playing field. Colleges can only allot so much effort to admissions, so they can not spend time researching every school and how their grading, advanced course offerings and overall student body compare to other schools.
Opportunity Insights, an institute researching obstacles to economic opportunity in the U.S., found that high school GPAs have a very low correlation with a student’s GPA in college. In comparison, students from the same demographic groups with higher ACT or SAT
on scores. Schools like Brown, Dartmouth and MIT have moved back to test mandatory, with the possibility for other schools to follow. “With many big Ivy League schools ... and top schools still requiring standardized tests, if that’s a dream of yours, I think you do have to put more emphasis on it,” said Madison Hendrickson, Mounds View’s Career and College Coordinator.
As far as deciding whether or not to submit a test score, it depends. “I think you have to
Fees, fees and more
| Isabella Kunc PRINT MANAGING EDITOR
Slege GPAs. Dartmouth College
sion to return to test mandatory, stating that it allows them to better compare students from
mit scores. “About half of our admitted students submit test
lar numbers to the applicant pool,” said Mitchell Walstad, an admissions counselor for the University of Minnesota.
tional until fall of 2027, when they, like many schools, will review their admissions data and choose whether to maintain
The reasons not to submit
ting my test scores personally ... I think I could have done a lot better,” said senior Abigail
ent their best qualities in their applications, without having to worry about how their test
tainty of testing policy in the future, students may wonder how much they should focus
“If you feel strongly about an ACT or SAT score, I think that it can only help.”
Madison Hendrickson, college counselor
really strongly consider all the different aspects of your application. If you feel strongly about an ACT or SAT score, I think that it can only help,” said Hendrickson. Most colleges have a common data set available online, showing the middle 50% of ACT and SAT scores of their students, which can be helpful in deciding if a student’s test score best represents them.
Though the argument around testing can be quite heated, it is still only one piece of a multi-faceted application. Most schools use a holistic review process, where schools take everything submitted into account. “There’s no one factor that’s ever going to be the single decision maker in a student’s application,” said Walstad. Test scores will be looked at alongside extracurriculars, GPAs, family circumstances and a variety of other aspects. While it is likely that testing requirements will fluctuate in the next couple of years, they will still not be the sole focus of an application.
ome high school students spend thousands of dollars before they even get to college, whether by applying to over 10 to 20 colleges, paying for specialized application counseling or even just buying a whole lot of things for their dorm rooms. However, the problems in the system lie not in frivolous decorations, but in the inequalities that these rising costs exacerbate.
Application fees have grown in the past few years. According to US News, the average application fee in 2022 was $45, with some — usually more selective colleges — as high as $100. These application fees can be important to schools as it helps them pay their application readers after seeing a historic rise in applications according to CNBC. However, in general, application fees can discourage students from applying, especially low-income students according to Research.com.
One way to bypass rising application fees is to use a fee waiver. Some students get application fees straight from colleges, either by participating in admission events or just because colleges want them to apply. These application fees can help students who otherwise would not be able to apply.
At Mounds View, some students can get application fees by talking to their deans. “There are accessible fee waivers for students who maybe can’t afford the application fee, which they can get from Mounds View, which is help-
ful,” Career and College Services Coordinator Madison Hendrickson said. October is also College Knowledge Month in Minnesota, allowing students to apply to Minnesota State colleges and universities for free. However, many students miss such opportunities because they are not publicized enough, or students do not pay attention.
Other issues students can face include paying for standardized testing and then paying to send those test scores. “A lot of schools will end up saying that you basically have to send in an official score from ACT, and then you have to send in these official score reports — it’s not a huge amount or anything, [...] but it does add up,” senior Zidan Elias said. To send an official ACT score, it costs $19, while an official SAT score from CollegeBoard costs $14, with a $31 extra charge for rush shipping, which would take one to four days. These costs are a reason why many colleges have started to allow students to self report test scores, at least when applying.
The cost around applying to colleges only grows with families that have more money. From paying for private standardized testing tutoring to hiring a college counselor, some people are willing to spend thousands of extra dollars to get their students into prestigious universities. According to the Chicago Tribune, the use of private college consultants has grown rapidly in the past few years due to decreasing admission rates with increasing applicants and a more
culture of college applications
more fees
complicated application process. While there is not much that can be done to even the playing field with such counselors, some com panies have started offering free college admissions counseling to all their employees according to NPR.
“The issue there really lies with these test ing companies that are profiting off of some thing that students will need to do.”
Furthermore, when applying for financial aid, the FAFSA is free to fill out, but the CSS profile costs $17 per college to send, which can also add up quickly. The FAFSA is an application for federal student aid including grants and loans from the government, while the CSS profile is used by colleges for non-federal financial aid. “It’s not just that, like, application initial cost. A big concern that I’ve had was with this CSS profile, which is like the financial aid thing. There’s a cost associated with that,” Elias said.
However, even the FAFSA has limitations. “I think the most barriers [exist] when filling out [the] FAFSA, because some stu dents are ineligible to fill out the FAFSA form, and that can be due to their citizenship status and their immigration status, which creates a lot of financial barriers for those
| Michael Quiggle STAFF REPORTER
F Activity overload
or many students, getting good grades and excelling in classes is only a small part of their academic success. Over time, extracurricular activities have become an increasingly important part of enhancing academic learning. Although extracurriculars allow students to explore their passions, they have started to become a stress factor for students, often becoming simply a checkbox to stand out for college applications.
Students participate in extracurricular activities for a
Center for Education Statistics, students who actively participate in extracurricular activities have a 15-20% significantly higher chance of getting into college compared to those who do not. This is likely because extracurricular activities can provide college admission offices with insight into a student’s personality, interests, commitment to community involvement, ability to balance academics with other pursuits and willingness to learn.
However, where students feel most pressured with these activities is the fact that colleges often look for extracurriculars
program for the hours so that they can put it on their college application,” said senior Jayda McAdams.
In some cases, students create clubs that they are passionate about to show creativity and commitment. However, in other cases, students will even go as far as to create clubs in order to make their college application “more impressive.” This habit results in clubs with no other purpose than to add to a college application, and the clubs end up dying once the student leaves high school. “I would strongly discourage against it because in the end,
By the numbers
Is Tipping Outdated?
| Joseph McVean STAFF REPORTER
n today’s society, tipping culture has spiraled out of control. According to the New York Post, 76.1% of consumers and service workers agree that tipping culture has gone too far, in a phenomenon the PEW research center describes as “Tipflation.” Tipflation has become a nuisance for consumers and employees in today’s society.
From my point of view, tipping was not always as intense as it is nowadays. It feels like before COVID-19, the general norm in my experience was 20% for a good job and lower for a sub-par job. Now, with the norm being 18%, 20% or 25%, I feel less inclined to tip 20%, seeing as I am pressured at minimum to pay 18%. Along with the increase in minimum tipping, the social pressure of tipping also makes it an inconvenience. I feel guilty if I do not tip well, even if it is for places that should not need tipping such as coffee shops or Panera. When it comes to a group setting, tipping can become even more stressful, especially when others expect you to tip for something that does not call for it.
In general, tipflation has gotten out of hand because of the spread of tipping into
previously “non-tipping” industries, such as grocery stores and home repair services. According to PBS Newshour, the rise of digital payment systems has introduced tipping prompts in businesses where tipping was not traditionally expected, leading to growing frustration among customers. Unlike traditional tip jars, which consumers can ignore, these automatic tipping screens put more pressure on consumers to tip even when they are provided limited service.
In addition, companies and employers have grown increasingly greedy, pressuring consumers to pay the wages of their workers through tipping, rather than providing fair payment. In fact, the minimum wage laws outline only $2.13 an hour for the minimum wage for tipped employees, compared to $7.25 for non-tipped employees. By expecting tips to make up for the $5.12 not paid by employers, companies cut their costs profoundly while taking advantage of the consumer.
In contrast to the United States, tipping is considered optional in Europe, with the standard ranging from 5% to 10% on the high end according to N26, a digital bank based in the EU. This practice is
possible because of the higher minimum wage in the EU versus the US, where service industry workers rely on tips over a steady income. For example, in France and Germany, the minimum wage laws do not discriminate on the basis of tipped versus nontipped employees and are both around 50% of the average annual salary in their respective countries. In the US, however, the minimum wage hovers around 20% of the average annual salary. With this disparity in minimum wages, it is clear that the US is far behind its European counterparts when it comes to providing adequate wages to its workers. That gap should not be compensated by tipping.
Overall, tipping has gone too far, and is further exacerbated by the expanding amount of tipped industries and corporate greed. In the end, not much will change for consumers or workers until the minimum wage is raised, offsetting the current reliance on tips, which will ensure workers a stable, reliable income to support their families.
ipping has faced significant criticism lately, with many arguing it would be unnecessary if workers were simply paid better wages. However, tipping offers many benefits for both the tipped worker and the tipper. It enhances the dining experience by creating a more personalized and attentive service, while making sure that the worker is rewarded for their effort. Additionally, tipping provides workers with extra income on top of their regular wages and any raises they may receive, making it a valuable practice.
Tipping plays a vital role in supporting workers’ income and enhancing the dining experience. According to the National Restaurant Association, about 90% of tipped workers prefer tipping over pre-determined wages, with 87% expressing concern that their earnings would decrease if their employers paid them the full minimum wage instead of allowing tips. Even if these workers were paid the federal minimum wage of $7.25, they would still face a low income with no additional supplements. It is clear that tipping helps ensure workers a livable wage. Without tips, many would face financial uncertainty, and the personal incentive to provide good service could
diminish, impacting the overall experience.
Tips also encourage more interaction and better service between the customer and the server as people are more likely to tip higher if they like the person serving them. According to PewResearch, 77% of adults will generally tip higher amounts to their server if they interact more and if they like their server more. The more a customer feels connected the more likely they are to return to the same place, driving up sales, which could help small businesses rake in more money and raise their profits. This can result in stronger businesses and more stable jobs.
Tipping can also help small business owners grow and thrive. According to Gusto, a platform that provides payroll and HR solutions, tips enable small businesses to attract talent by offering higher overall compensation than they might otherwise afford. This benefits not only employees, who receive increased wages, but also small businesses, which often operate on tight margins and must compete with larger, more established companies. Additionally, with 82% of Americans expressing a desire to support local small businesses (according to BusinessDasher), tipping becomes a practi-
cal way to contribute to their success.
Dining charges are generally lower in places where tipping exists. While dining around the world often includes fees for both meal and service, in the United States, service charges are lower because tipping supplements workers income. In contrast, countries that forgo tipping in favor of mandatory service charge typically have higher prices due to this additional fee. Pew Research shows that around 72% of Americans oppose mandatory service charges, indicating a stronger preference for tipping than the alternative in fixed charges.
Ultimately, tipping remains an essential part of the dining experience, not just as a rewarding service but as a system that empowers both workers and customers. It provides workers with an opportunity to earn beyond stagnant wages and creates a dynamic where service is directly recognized. While critics argue for replacing tipping with higher wages, such a shift could strip away the flexibility and personalization that make dining out unique.
Kieran Lindahl
STAFF REPORTER
How are student schedules created?
| Isabel Li PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Students always highly anticipate the day their schedules are released, allowing them to compare class periods, teachers and lunches with their friends. However, most students do not know what goes on behind the scenes. For admin, creating student schedules is one big puzzle that requires them to balance student interest, class period conflicts and lunches.
The scheduling process begins in February when students register for their classes for the next school year. From this registration data, which is displayed on Synergy SIS, Associate Principals Gretchen Zahn and Ben Chiri can see how many students are interested in each class. This allows them to determine how many sections of each class to offer to make a preliminary mass schedule.
Zahn inputs the mass schedule into Synergy and runs its scheduling program, which gives a percentage of students who would get a schedule with all the classes they registered for. “So typically, when I’ve run that program in the very beginning, I may only be at like a 58 or a 60% success rate,” said Zahn. “So then I can go in and do reports that say, ‘here is where the conflicts are happening,’ and then I have to go
in and start manually shifting.”
This data allows Zahn to shift class periods around to create a more successful schedule for all students. After hitting around 85% success on the program, the deans resolve any remaining schedule conflicts with students on a case-by-case basis.
“[Teachers] have the ability to say, ‘Yes, I will take 38 or 40,’ versus telling a small number of kids on a lottery, ‘You can’t take it.”
Gretchen Zahn, Associate Principal
A common source of schedule conflicts is “singletons,” which are classes that Mounds View only offers one period of the day. This includes many upper level classes, electives and music ensembles. When designing schedules, the admin tries to spread singletons throughout the day to maximize the possibility of students being able to take multiple singletons. The Synergy program helps them determine which period each singleton should be in by highlighting the biggest schedule conflicts. “The other thing that the program can do is tell
me that, okay, we have 60 kids conflicting out of Concert Orchestra, and the majority of them, it’s because they also want to take French, so that program can also help us to determine where it’s conflicting out the most, so that we can go in and adjust that accordingly,” said Zahn.
Furthermore, although the admin tries to make class sizes even, it is not always possible due to the number of students who register for a class. When the number of students registered is “over capacity” but not enough to open another section of a class, teachers can either put some students on a waiting list or take on more students per class. “[Teachers] have the ability to say, ‘Yes, I will take 38 or 40,’ versus telling a small number of kids on a lottery, ‘You can’t take it,’” said Zahn. Most teachers opt to take more students, which is why classes like AP Calc BC have 38 students in one class period this year.
In addition, lunch schedules have to be curated around the class schedules. Mounds View added an additional lunch in 2021, which had to be incorporated in the middle of third period due to overcapacity in the original lunches. Freshman and sophomore classes are sorted into 1st and 2nd lunch, and the remaining teachers are randomly assigned a lunch. However, special considerations are
made for part-time teachers to leave early or for classes like Physical Education, which is always lunch 4 to prevent students from eating before exercising.
Students may have noticed that Mounds View revised the process for schedule changes in the 2023-2024 school year. Instead of simply emailing deans, students fill out a google form with their reason for request, such as schedule conflicts, PSEO adjustments or enrollment in another course. Zahn created this system to eliminate the unfairness of the old system, where students on a waiting list for a class may not have gotten a spot because another student emailed their dean requesting a
change. “It truly is fair versus ‘I happen to get lucky because my dean clicked at the right time,’ and that just felt really gross when that was happening because there were kids that had gone in two weeks before, and they were denied,” said Zahn. Although Mounds View admin follows a complex process to create a schedule that works for all students and teachers, their intentions remain simple. “We’re always working with certain priorities in mind,” said Chiri. “The priorities are providing opportunities for kids and keeping things fair for kids. That’s essentially it.”
What are the most effective study methods?
| Gabi Skiba STAFF REPORTER
any students think that cramming on energy-drink-fueled Sunday nights and endlessly rereading their notes is the best way to study. However, a basic understanding of psychology reveals more effective and efficient study methods.
Although many factors contribute to an individual’s understanding, the note-taking method a student uses plays a crucial role in learning. While some find typing notes convenient, the fast-paced action gives the brain less time to summarize and process information. Handwritten notes have a higher chance of retention due to the cooperative motor action and mental recognition of the information. However, students often overestimate the importance of underlining and highlighting with handwritten notes; while it may be pretty, emphasizing your notes with neon colors is not useful by itself for long-term memorization.
More than just learning, retention of knowledge relies on memorization, especially active methods, instead of just re-reading class notes, which only ensures that a student can
recognize and not recall material. Active recall involves retrieving information from your brain without being prompted, such as using flashcards or writing practice test questions. In a study conducted by The American Psychological Association in 2011, participants were separated into multiple groups and given the same list of words to remember, using different methods of memorization. In groups where participants used extensive memory training methods such as active recall, participants accurately relayed the list, while others struggled remembering it.
Many students’ study habits of cramming the night before actually hurt their test scores.
A study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology shows that studying for long periods of time before an exam not only leaves students exhausted, but also disappointed in their test results. The study shows that the information that the students review while cramming has little chance of being fully retained in the long term. A way around this is the spaced repetition technique, studying at intervals that are closer at the beginning and more spread out as time passes. “Studying over
a course of time, instead of doing it [all] one night, [like] taking five minutes and looking through your notes and over every single day, …can really help,” said Carolynne Ladd, social studies teacher. This is because daily repetition strengthens connections in the brain, making it easier to recall and remember information over time.
“Studying over a course of time, instead of doing it [all] one night, [like] taking five minutes and looking through your notes and over every single day, ...can really help.”
Carolynne Ladd, social studies teacher
In addition, sleep is often overlooked by students, but research shows that it directly influences both cognitive functions and memory retention. During sleep, the brain transfers what was learned during the day from short-term memory to long-term memory. Lack of sleep can disrupt this process,
making remembering the material more difficult for the student and decreasing focus and concentration.
Effective studying methods give students an incredible advantage to stay on top of their academic performance on tests, as well as leaving them with more time to spend on outside
activities. Using these tools and knowing their benefits can help prepare students for tests, including the upcoming ACT in April or AP tests in May.
REVIEWS
European Christmas Market kicks off the holiday spirit
| Lillian Landberg FEATURES EDITOR
Verdict:
4.5/5
visited the European Christmas Market in the St. Paul Union Depot on opening weekend to scope out one of the city’s Christmas traditions. The market itself opened in Dec. 2014 and has operated every year since then, even going so far as to create a virtual market during 2020. The market offers traditional European food, drinks, small gifts, live music and more. It caught my attention as a fun winter activity to attend with friends and family to celebrate the holiday season with good food and cute decorations.
To start, parking around the event was difficult. We arrived around 4:45 pm, which appeared to be a busy time. As with any event downtown, there were two different ways to park, either on the street or in the designated event parking. The free street parking required a bit of a walk to the market, while
event parking cost $10 and was located directly under or next to the bridge where the market took place. For a quick visit, I would not recommend the event parking, but I stayed for about an hour and a half, making the price well worth the while.
The market has three different clusters of stations. One of these clusters had mainly merchandise, one had food and the other had a mix of both with kid-friendly activities. For the merchandise, they sold mittens, hats, ornaments, wooden houses, dolls and other Christmas trinkets. My favorite vendors were Winter Wonderland which sold mittens, sweaters and other woolen winter essentials, Bulry Babe which sold handmade basswood earrings and Coco Nola’s that sold tiny gluten free pignoli cookies. Almost all of the small gifts came from handmade sources, which added to the authenticity of the market. However, it did make some of the merchandise expensive. For example, a pair of Winter Wonderland mittens cost $25. While the price scared me a bit at first, the mittens had a variety of cute designs and were sufficiently warm. I did not try the hats, priced at $20, or the few sweaters they sold at the substantially more expensive price of $100.
For food, my friends and I had a common goal of buying hot chocolate. However, only about three stalls sold it. The first line we joined had about a 10- to 15- minute wait, but they ran out of hot chocolate by the time we reached the front. Undeterred, we moved onto the next stall. My friend got the Russian tea instead, while I finally got my hot chocolate. Unfortunately, the hot chocolate lacked quality, but it only cost $5, which made it worth it just to have something warm in my hands. The Russian tea was much better, with a thick mixture of spices, tea and lemon juice. The stall also sold lefse, a traditional Norwegian flatbread made from potatoes, sprinkled with sugar and butter. It tasted sweeter than other lefse I’ve had before, but not unpleasant. The only downside we experienced was the small amount of outdoor heating. When we arrived, the temperature hovered around 15 degrees, making outdoor heating a necessity. They did have very small gaspowered fires, which only provided heat when either standing downwind or getting very close. Although the market provided a warming house it, because of the cold night, was rather crowded.
As for entrees, I tried the French onion soup, consisting of a rich blend of onions, cheese, small pieces of bread and broth. Although it was difficult to eat while walking, I found it enjoyable because of how warm it felt. There was one long table for all guests to sit and eat, but it felt more appealing to walk around the market and take in the festive sight. When visiting, I recommend buying warm things like French
The replication of “Moana”
| Elijah Mattfield REVIEWS EDITOR
Verdict: 2.4/5
oana 2” was released on Nov. 27, eight years after the original “Moana.” I personally anticipated this movie because, as seen in the trailers, it seemed Moana was going
on a vastly different journey than she had before with tougher obstacles and new characters.
The opening scenes had me intrigued as the movie showed the lessons Moana learned from the original movie. To start, “Moana 2” showed her physical improvements, from hopping from cliff to cliff to climbing up mountains. It also featured her original crew of Heihei and Pua. The implementation of the lessons and improvements Moana learned in the first movie worked well in the sequel, and the scenes in which Moana rode
on her canoe with expertise and zero support impressed me.
Although “Moana 2” effectively implemented the improvements from the old Moana, the movie still felt like a replication of the original. The storyline “Moana 2” followed felt the exact same, where Moana had doubts about her capability to pursue and achieve the goals she had but eventually came to terms with them to help the world around her. Some scenes, such as Moana running up the landscape to the peak of the mountain, reminded me of scenes from the original movie. The template feel of the sequel caused me to question their reasoning behind the production of their second movie.
As for any Disney movie, the music plays a heavy role in the film. Although most of the songs did not pique my interest, “Get Lost”intrigued me with its melodic tune and character development on Moana. The beginning of the scene takes place inside a giant clam, and the scenery is incredible throughout the environment. As the song progresses, it features a tour of the giant clam and its beautiful landscape and eventually ends
in a clichéd lesson of the power of helping one another.
“The storyline ‘Moana 2’ followed felt the exact same, where Moana had doubts about her capability to pursue and achieve the goals she had but eventually came to terms with them to help the world around her.”
In terms of the plot, “Moana 2” had many plot holes that did not get filled. The entire story surrounds Moana’s passion to reunite the people of the world, but there is no reason as to why she needed to. Along with the plot’s confusion, I was confused about many character developments. I could not tell why the villain Nalo, a powergreedy god who divided the people, suddenly wanted more power. Another introduction left untold was the character Matangi, a demi-goddess who served Nalo. She seemed to
onion soup and hot chocolate to keep warm.
The market is a great place to visit with friends and features good food and festive activities. The lights, stalls, merchandise and food all added to the holiday cheer. Whether right after Thanksgiving or the weekend before Christmas, the market provides abundant festive spirit for families and friends. Overall, I rate the Union Depot Christmas Market a 4.5/5.
have an important role in the story but was never seen again after about an hour into the movie.
The end of the movie lacks a sense of clarity. Moana’s role at the end of the film and her character development left me confused. It felt incredibly vague as characters earn new powers, but the movie seems to have no explanation to how or why these developments occur. As a reply to the ending, I do not believe there will be a “Moana 3” and if production of a third movie occurs, I can not imagine what it would be about.
“Moana 2” seemed like a replication of the original “Moana” which left me disappointed. My high anticipation for the vastly different journey Moana would conduct was left untold throughout the plot-holes of the movie. Taking into consideration the gorgeous scenery and lack of clarity towards the end of the film, I rate this movie a 2.4/5.
PHOTO | Isabel Li
Market stall with handmade gifts at European Christmas Market
Conor’s clever coaching
| Jadyn Heath-Hlavacek STAFF REPORTER
very day before and after school, the weight room is abuzz with athletes striving to improve their athletic performance. Behind these workouts, strength coach Conor Mitchell curates detailed routines for each sports program. An intense yet encouraging coach, Mitchell has quickly become a staple of Mounds View sports culture.
Growing up, Mitchell always had an interest in sports. He played soccer and ran track in high school and majored in sports psychology at Bethel University. He then took on an internship under the head strength coach at Bethel that sparked his passion for all sports and strength and conditioning as a whole. “The strength conditioning internship at Bethel really allowed me to broaden my views of all these other sports and how they work, learning the whole background of every sport, and then looking at the ball mechanics [and] how people move,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell became the Mounds View strength coach during the 2022-2023 school year. He currently holds a weight training and conditioning program before and after school and trains athletes of different sports. He creates all of the workouts based on athletes’
strength training experience, as well as the specific ball mechanics or movements for each sport.
When you’re really new to working out, you’re not exactly sure what to do, but he makes it really comfortable. I really like that aspect about him, like he makes the environment just something that you can easily get into.
During his first year, Mitchell described this job as “pulling teeth,” as he had to figure out how to implement his own training methods while adapting to what students had grown used to with the old coach. Transitioning from training college students to high school students was also difficult because the atmosphere in college was much more serious. As a result, Mitchell was very intense his first year, often making athletes do push-ups as punishment. “I think I almost weeded kids out that first year because I was too
strict on what I wanted versus now, we have the same standard, but my coaching style has gotten better to how to actually coach kids while keeping that standard high, but wanting them to actually stay in the program,” said Mitchell.
He focuses his attention on the student athletes and just students for them to get better... he knows who they are, and he puts all his emphasis on the students that want to try and helping them get better.
Isaiah Iverson, junior
Since then, Mitchell has prioritized building relationships with athletes, leaving a positive impression and gaining a community of students who like him as a person. “[He is a coach] that you can’t hate. He’s really amicable. He’s just really easy to like. He’s really nice to everyone, and I like the fact that he makes an active effort to talk to everyone there,” said senior Linus Tong. Even now, alumni often come back to chat with
Mitchell, building upon connections created during weight training.
In addition, Mitchell is passionate about instilling good values in his athletes. He emphasizes not only discipline in the weight room, but also in an athlete’s overall life. “I think [with] strength and conditioning, [people] just think of the physical side, but most people don’t think of the mental side of it too. ‘How do we train these kids not just to be better in here, but how do [the skills learned here] relate to the rest of their life?’ Because if you got to be disciplined here, that’s going to relate to other areas of your life, too.” He also encourages athletes to be curious and to ask him questions about why he includes certain exercises in their training regimen.
Overall, Mitchell’s encouraging atmosphere and attitude has made a positive impact on athletes — one that other coaches can see. “The weight room can be hard and lifting can be challenging, and you don’t always feel like coming in here and working out. But when you have a guy like Coach Mitchell motivating and putting together workouts that you can trust are gonna get great results, it can help you push through those days where you don’t really feel like working out,” said football coach Aaron Moberg.
Athlete of the Issue: Andrew Gette
How long have you been playing baseball?
I’ve been playing baseball pretty much my whole life. Since kindergarten, I started playing T-ball and stuff like that. I originally lived in New York, and then in second grade, I moved to Minnesota and that’s when I really started to love baseball… Ever since second grade, that’s been my favorite sport.
Why did you start pitching?
I didn’t really start pitching until middle school. [In] fifth grade, I usually always played first and third base, and [in] seventh or eighth grade, I thought pitching was my thing.
How do you train outside of school/the season?
I play for a club team. There’s also a facility I go to with a pitching coach. He’s played in the MLB [Major League Baseball] so I go there a few times a week. His name is Jim Brower. He played in the MLB for 10 years.
How many offers did you get? Minnesota, Iowa, Xavier, Nebraska, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Central Florida.
Why did you decide to commit to Miami University?
It was just a perfect fit. Ever since I started playing baseball, playing baseball down South [has] been a dream of mine. Academically, Miami is a really good school too. I love the coaches, I just love being down there.
What are some goals you have for next season?
My goal since my freshman year was to win Mr. Baseball. It’s pretty much given to the best senior, the number one best performer in the high school season of their senior year. It’s a cumulative reward of all your seasons combined, so that’s something obviously to work towards this year.
PHOTO VIA Conor Mitchell
PHOTOS VIA Andrew Gette
Linus Tong, senior
PUZZLES
First three students to complete all of the puzzles and DM @mvviewer on Instagram win a free snack or drink from the Mustang Marketplace. Scan the QR code to visit The Viewer’s website:
BONUS: Guess The Viewer editors
Across
2. Traditional Norwegian flatbread sold at the Union Depot Christmas Market.
3. Types of extracurriculars students join that correlate to the field they hope to go into in the future.
5. Classes which are only taught once in a school day at Mounds View.
9. The first instrument sophomore Audrey Stenzel learned to play.
10. University strength coach Conor Mitchell attended.
11. The pet organization junior Maisie Adams partnered with to donate pet necessities, abbreviated.
12. Last name of the former WWE wrestler selected by presidentelect Donald Trump to be head of the Department of Education.
13. The type of event members of the Volunteer Outreach Club participated in on Dec. 12.
Down
1. Word to describe the rising rates for tipping culture.
3. The year of high school when Izzi Gorowsky auditioned for Disney on Ice.
4. Financial aid application that costs $17 per college to send out.
6. The more effective kind of notes, compared to keyboard-typed notes.
7. Last name of the former MLB pitching coach who junior Andrew Gette trains with.
8. Name of the main character in a sequel movie, released Nov. 27.
10. City where Sources of Strength was originally founded.