The Royal News, February 2023

THE ROYAL NEWS

FOR STUDENTS, BY STUDENTS

DANCE OFFERS A BREAK FROM WINTER

COVER PHOTO: KIRA CHEREN INSIDE PHOTO: KIRA CHEREN

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS. THEY DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINIONS OR VIEWS OF THE ROYAL NEWS, ITS ADVISOR OR NORTH ROYALTON HIGH SCHOOL.

MUSIC RECAP

PHOTO BY GRACE KELLEY

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

For years humans have cataloged–be it weather patterns or plant characteristics. We take stock. Surely this has been a critical component in our evolution. We are able to get better because we keep track of what has happened.

I feel compelled to do the same for this issue because I’m forever astonished at what our young people are capable of accomplishing. So here are my records of student greatness from this issue:

Several students on the staff are first time writers for the paper. And they are seniors. They just thought it might be an interesting experience. So many adults I know aren’t about to try something new because we’re tired or just too set in our ways. But many of these students are giving this a shot… just because. I wish we all could harness that “just because” in our lives.

Our The Royal News staff meetings are the best. They brainstorm ideas. And they laugh. And they

problem solve. That very much seems like the foundation for success in any field on any given day.

As much as I put weight into every word these kids write, I also am deeply taken by the photos they submit to me each issue. We are all getting the unique opportunity to see the world through our students’ eyes–in their articles and their images. I hope we never take that for granted and never ignore the importance of their world view.

By no means is this list complete. But it’s a start. And it will help me (and hopefully all of you) remember what matters on those dark days when there doesn’t seem to be much sun.

I am eternally grateful for the ongoing efforts of the students I’m privileged to work with.

Thanks, as always, for reading,

Mr. Hemery

The Royal News Advisor

RAISING AWARENESS AND THE STAKES: THE RETURN OF UNITE TO FIGHT

BY: CASEY CHARLES

North Royalton’s students have made their presence known by handing out bracelets at home basketball games, coordinating the carnation gram sale, and setting up the shoe donation boxes at each school in the district. For a second year in a row, North Royalton will be proudly represented by the students in Unite to Fight, a nonprofit organization directly tied to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Led by seniors Alex Bottomley and Fiona Parker, the group aims to rally enough local support to land the top spot in the regional fundraising competition.

Thanks to the efforts of the team last year, Unite to Fight was able to raise $20,000 alone. Together, the grand total raised for all Cleveland schools in 2022 reached over $1 million. With nearly double the number of active members, Unite to Fight has increased their goal to $25,000 for 2023. All dollars collected directly support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a interna-

tionally-recognized charitable organization with a focus of fighting blood diseases.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has helped fund the research of multiple new cancer treatments, with many already receiving FDA approval. The three main types of blood cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, have devastated the lives of families and friends. The American Cancer Society estimates that there have already been about 24,000 leukemia-related deaths in America this year, with over a thousand of those deaths having come from the state of Ohio. Despite the grim approximation, current advancements in technology and medicine have made the possibility of finding a permanent cure for these diseases more conceivable than ever before.

In order to meet their new goal of $25,000, the students in Unite to Fight have dedicated hours of planning and creativity into new ways to muster support among students. Some of

the highly-anticipated activities that will highlight their campaign this year include powderpuff volleyball, the return of the coin drive, and an in-school student game show.

Male students across all four grade levels are invited to participate in the powderpuff student volleyball tournament, while the game show is limited to upperclassmen only. The group intends to publicize these fundraising efforts to a much greater extent than it was able to last year. By keeping up with announcements, class emails, and posters in the high school, students can make sure that they do not miss out on any of the fun that is headed their way in the coming weeks. Parents, students, and staff are also encouraged to follow the Instagram handle “@unite. tofight” to keep up with their latest news and updates.

As a current team member of Unite to Fight, I am very grateful to be surrounded by such selfless individuals in this incredible campaign. In a year where

lymphoma blindsided my family, joining Unite to Fight became far more than just another activity to put on a resume. The organization became the best way I could confront the impact lymphoma made. The more I have been able to talk to local business owners, parents, staff, and students about Unite to Fight, the more I have realized just how many people within our community have also been affected in some way, shape, or form by blood disease.

Instead of giving up hope, view these next few weeks as a window of opportunity. This team still needs a lot of help if it plans on reaching its goal by March 18th. For those interested in a way to directly support the team, consider making a donation to the Unite to Fight team link at https://events.lls.org/noh/ svoynoh23/tunitetofi, or my own link at https://events.lls.org/noh/svoynoh23/ CCharles. Despite how much one can hope, this campaign will only go as far as the local community allows it to.

A WELL-EARNED WIN: SLC CHEERLEADING

BY GRACE KELLEY

On November 7, 2022, the North Royalton High School Competitive Cheerleading team gained a new title: the 2022 Suburban League Champions. The SLC competition took place at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, the rival school of North Royalton. The athletes of this team put in hard work from July to November, pushing themselves to their limits. Although

helped lead this team to their fifth victory in five years. One of those people is Samantha Shields, a co-captain and senior on the NRHS Competition team. Samantha has been dedicated to the sport of cheerleading for ten years. Another important figure in the team’s win was Olivia D’ambrosia, the other co-captain of the team. Olivia was one of the two captains on the NRHS Competition team, alongside Samantha. Oliva cheered for the majority of her life, a whopping thirteen years! These two leaders were backed by four other seniors: Megan DeAngelis, Leah Dziedziak, Kylie Maciak, and Jenna Timko. Ashley Ursini, a junior on the team, stated that these seniors are “hardworking and motivated.” All of these seniors have been a large part of the program in the last few seasons and will be missed by their teammates!

Although faced with multiple challenges in the past few years, the cheerleaders that make up the North Royalton High School Competitive Cheerleading team have achieved many accomplishments. The immense amount of work that all of these athletes put into their routine showed on the mat, prov-

faced with multiple challenges, all 30 athletes overcame struggles to assist their team in a win for the fifth season in a row!

The pressure on the team leading up to the competition was immense, seeing as these amazing girls have taken home the SLC Championship title for the past five years, excluding the 2020 season. Due to COVID-19, there was no SLC competition in 2020. That didn’t slow down this team though! The NRHS Competition Team attended Americheer, a competition in Columbus, Ohio, where they won the title of Overall Grand Champions. There is hope that this five-year winning streak will continue to expand over the next few years.

There have been multiple feats that the NRHS cheer program has had to overcome in the past few years. For starters, after the 2020 season, Dee Haase retired from her position as Varsity and Competition cheerleading coach after being with the program for eleven years. After some interim coaches, Ree Haase, daughter of former coach Dee Haase, stepped up to the occasion, filling the role of head coach of the NRHS cheerleading program for the 2022 season. Luckily, Ree intends to continue in her role as head coach for multiple seasons to come!

There are 30 athletes, as well as multiple coaches that

ing these girls were worthy of the win! As a new coach settles into her position and new teams are formulated, many people are left to wonder: what else is the next great achievement for the NRHS Competition Cheer team?

The ending pose of the NRHS Competitive Cheerleading team’s impressive routine.

The NRHS Competitive Cheerleading team poses with their champions banner.

Photo Credits: Justina Saxby; justphotos.biz

HOW THE PINS FELL

BY JULIA KINDEL

The 2022-2023 bowling season began with tryouts in November, with matches and tournaments continuing into February. The boys and girls teams played well, with the boys obtaining a record of 7 wins and 5 losses and the girls team following close behind, breaking the school record with 6 wins and 5 losses. The JV girls team remained undefeated with 3 wins and 0 losses. Anastasia

place.

January 25 was Senior Night and the competition against Brecksville for the golden pin. Both teams celebrated their seniors as the Varsity and JV girls teams won along with the Varsity boys, who maintained the golden pin for their 5th consecutive year.

Murynyuk, a junior on the JV girls team, said, “I’m so grateful for the amazing season and meeting the team. I’m so proud of everyone! Go Bears!”

In addition, the Varsity girls team broke multiple school records this season, all of which were broken on the same day against Barberton. These records include a high baker game of 187, a 242 individual game bowled by Abbey Pfeil, and a total match team score of 1,986.

On January 8, 2023, North Royalton hosted its first-ever tournament at Yorktown lanes. With the help of parents and team members, the Royalton Roll-off was successful, with the boys becoming the tournament champions and the girls finishing in 4th

Ultimately, some standout players contributed to both teams significantly. For the boys, it was seniors Dominic Catanese and James Sinclair; for the girls, it was senior Mallory Boduszek and junior Abbey Pfeil. These four all placed in the Royalton-Roll-off, with James placing second, Dominic and Mallory earning 3rd place, and Abbey getting 8th place.

Bowling is still a growing sport at North Royalton, so look out for and support both teams next year! Abbey Pfeil said, "Everything always starts off small and grows into something big. Our team started small and grew into an amazing group of people. We had an amazing season breaking records and setting the stakes high for our future years!”

DANCE OFFERS A BREAK FROM WINTER

BY: KAITLYN MESSICK

Ushering in Valentine's Day, St. Paul Hellenic hosted North Royalton High School’s Winter Formal on February 12. Selling nearly 400 tickets, this event was sure to be a hit, especially since many students prefer Winter Formal over Homecoming. Many students appreciate the change in scenery, as Homecoming is held in the high school gym. In contrast to the party center, the gym was not created for hosting events and is not as versatile.

Tickets to winter Formal were about $40, depending on how early you were able to buy them. The tickets included unlimited fountain drinks and snacks, which ranged from eggrolls to pizza to mini meatballs.

Hope Campbell highly recommends attending, having nothing but praise for the recent dance. She stated, “It was really fun! The food was good and it was just really pretty.”

Additionally, senior Akshita Kannan, who attended Winter Formal for the first time this year, said her favorite part was the music.

“I was honestly impressed with the DJ. The music was really good.”

Regardless of any criticism of the music or event, these dances are a great way to socialize and go out with either your friends or your significant other. They also are a great way to express yourself. For many, the selling point of these events is just having an excuse to get dressed up and spend the night with your friends.

NRHS LETTERMAN VISIT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

VALENTINE'S DAY: A SINGLE PERSON'S LEAST-FAVORITE HOLIDAY

BY BRANDON BARRETT

When people think of Valentine’s Day, they think of love. Romantic dinners by candlelight. Long walks through ancient forests. Songs sweeter than saccharine confections. A jazzy saxophone playing out the smooth sounds of RnB. Love, a feeling so overpowering it has driven some mad and others to glory. However, no one stops to consider the plight of the single on this most romantic of holidays. How one must feel to be surrounded by images of happy couples and sounds of love-struck hearts, relating to none of it. These poor souls often spend the day alone and sad. But, some have managed to find a way to trudge through the sugary waters of February’s coldest day.

Through all of February, the high school prepared for this holiday. The hallways were covered with hearts and messages. The cafeteria was filled with pink and red decor. A grand Winter Formal was thrown the weekend before. All of these preparations,

however, have been geared towards couples and their desires. The single people get left out.

North Royalton students had varying opinions on the day. Senior Mary Titterington said, “I think it’s a cute holiday for couples but it’s not something that is super serious. Just a fun thing to celebrate when you love someone.” Scott Sopata, a junior, on the other hand, said, “Well if you can survive the wave of breakups before and manage to have a date then I’m sure it’s great, but if you’re like me and single it’s boring and mildly upsetting.”

Despite the build up to this day, most students went about their normal lives. Mary, for example, said that she just went to work, though some did go to the dance the prior weekend. Even though Valentine’s Day is a holiday largely geared towards couples, people without a partner can also exist on that day as well. Whether that involves living their normal lives or going to dances just to have fun, everyone can still love Valentine’s Day.

NEW BILL TRIES TO CURB DISTRACTED DRIVING

BY GRACE KELLEY

In the state of Ohio, the concern of whether or not distracted driving laws need to be updated has been a debate for some time. Fortunately, Senate Bill 288(SB288) was recently passed. This bill has altered the circumstances for which an individual can be pulled over. SB288 has sparked some controversy within the state, leaving some to ask if this new bill is really going to do the job.

There is a statistic that surfaced recently, discussing texting and driving. MillerandZois.com states that “58% of crashes involving teenagers were caused by driver distraction.” In today’s day and age, it can be assumed that the 58% has to do with technology or texting while driving. Technology has evolved at an exponential rate in the past fifteen years and it does not seem to be slowing down. New technology is advertised almost every day, meaning more technological distractions are becoming available. Because of this, SB288’s implementation is reasonable.

At this point, questions about the contents of the bill may be arising. In simple terms, the bill states that anyone that is seen holding a phone and/or oth -

er electronic devices while operating a motorized vehicle can immediately be pulled over. This includes texting, taking pictures, and scrolling on social media while driving. There are some exceptions to this bill, such as emergency calls and using a device while one’s car is stopped at a red light. Still, it is smart to avoid using an electronic device while sitting in the driver's seat unless your vehicle is parked. At the end of the day, this bill is being implemented to eliminate distracted driving in Ohio.

Some drivers in Ohio are unaware of the passing of SB288 and the fact that it applies to everyone driving in the state of Ohio. This means that someone passing through Ohio can be pulled over for any signs of distracted driving. This implementation is helping keep Ohio roadways, as well as Ohio’s citizens, safe.

Distracted driving is a real-world problem that has to be faced and dealt with on a day-to-day basis. No one wants to contribute to a statistic of distracted driving fatalities. To assure safe driving, always keep your eyes on the road and be alert!

MAKES A HUGE COMEBACK

BY PETER CARAM

After fourteen years in the making, Avatar The Way Of Water has finally arrived! This film is a sequel to James Cameron's film Avatar that came out in 2009, and now that it's finally here, audiences are curious to see if the film was worth the wait. The story starts off with Jake Sully (played by Sam Worthington) narrating the events that have taken place since the previous film. He and his wife Neytiri (played by Zoe Saldana) have started a family and are raising four kids. They live a quiet, peaceful life in Pandora until the humans - “the sky people” - destroy nearly everything in Pandora. After a year passes, Jake and Neyteri lead a squad of Na'vi to ambush the sky people, but their youngest son L’oak (played by Britain Dalton) and oldest son Neteyam (played by Jamie Flatters) nearly get hurt in the battle field raising the ire of Jaket. Meanwhile, the “sky people” are able to bring back Colonel Quaritch (played by Stephen Lang) by putting his consciousness in a Navi body. As soon as he gets used to his new body, he wants nothing more than revenge on Jake for what he did to him in the first film. He leads his squad in an ambush that results in Jake and his family abandoning their Pandora home and running away to live with the Met -

kayina clan. Differences between Jake’s family and this new clan raise questions on whether they can survive. The film scored a seventy-six on Rotten Tomatoes and has made more than $2.1 billion at the box office.

I enjoyed this film from start to finish. The storyline is easy to follow and more creative than the first film, and the main theme of the story is family as shown through the eyes and emotions of the Sully family. The film mainly focuses on the Sully kids rather than Jake and Neytiri, who are considered the main stars of the franchise, setting up several possible storylines for already planned sequels. But the best part of this film are the beautiful and mind-blowing effects - the landscapes and visuals which caused audiences to fall in love with the first film are magnified with this film taking place in a water tribe near an ocean with the characters swimming and exploring this new part of Pandora. Overall, I give this film a perfect 10/10 - it not only is a sequel that's better than the original, it somehow makes the fourteen years it took James Cameron to bring this film to life worth every second of the wait. Avatar The Way Of Water is now in theaters and is the perfect film for audiences to dive into this winter season.

WAKADANDA FOREVER: MARVEL PAYS TRIBUTE TO CHADWICK BOSEMAN

BY PETER CARAM

Following months on the big screen, Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Black Panther Wakanda Forever has finally debuted on Disney Plus. This film was postponed not only because of the Covid-19 pandemic but also due to the passing of Chadwick Boseman, the Black Panther himself. His passing led Marvel to rewrite the whole film to honor Boseman. The question is does it live up to extraordinary expectations Marvel fans had for it?

The film starts off with Shuri, (played by Lettia Wright) the princess and brain of Wakanda, in her lab trying to recreate a heart-shaped herb to cure her brother from an unknown disease. But right as she succeeds, her mother Queen Romanda (played by Angela Bassett) delivers the news that her brother has passed away. Soon after a funeral is held for T’Challa while the entire nation of Wakanda says goodbye to their king.

The story continues a year later when Queen Romanda, now ruler of Wakanda, is summoned by The United Nations to complain that Wakanda has not been providing resources to other countries as they promised. Queen Romanda defends herself by saying now that the king and protector of Wakanda is gone, other countries see this as an opportunity to steal vibranium resources from Wakanda and that they won’t back down any more from countries that tried to steal their resources. Later Ramonda walks with Shuri to discuss T'Challa's passing when suddenly a new character,

Namor(played by Tenoch Huerta), comes out of the water and says he needs Wakanda’s help against the surface world and if they don’t help he will destroy Wakanda. Is Namor a friend or foe? The rest of the lengthy film unfolds to give us our answer.

With an eighty-four on Rotten Tomatoes and ranking as the most streamed Disney Plus movie worldwide, it's safe to say that audiences have a lot of love for this film.

Overall, I found the film amazing at hitting its target audience. The story is great and the effects are better in this film than in its predecessor. Furthermore, the pace of the film is quite quick despite having some longer scenes devoid of action during its two hours and forty one minutes. The characters are well written and there are several phenomenal portrayals, specifically Lettia Wright as Shuri, Tenoch Huerta as Namor (whom I consider to be one of the best villains in the MCU) and Angela Bassett who absolutely kills it in this film. But the best part of this film is the fact that it is more than just a standard Marvel film, it's a love/goodbye letter to the departed Boseman. Overall, I give this film a 9.9/10 because it is indeed one of Marvel's best films of the year, and it felt more serious and emotional than the past few MCU projects. Black Panther Wakanda Forever is now available on Disney Plus in case you missed out on watching it in theaters and don’t forget to watch the post credit scene - it will make your heart melt!

BY OLIVIA HARDING

THE GRAMMYS: A RECORD-BREAKING NIGHT

On February 5, 2023, Crypto.com Arena hosted one of the most important and iconic music award shows of the year, the 65th Annual Grammys. Artists from all over were styled to celebrate these nominations in hopes that they would bring home a golden trophy.

The show began when host, Trevor Noah, introduced Bad Bunny, who performed "El Apagón" and "Después de la Playa." His performance seemed to get many artists like Jack Harlow and Taylor Swift off their feet and dancing, but the most jaw-dropping aspect of his entire performance was his outfit - a simple white T-shirt and faded jeans. Next, Brandi Carlile, who was nominated for 7 awards this year, was introduced by her wife and two daughters. The 25-grammy-nominated artist performed “Broken Horses” in a long fur coat with pink, silk undershirt. But, to truly kick off the awards, Jennifer Lawrence presented Best Pop Vocal Album to Harry Styles, for his third studio album, Harry’s House.

Viola Davis, an EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award winner) then presented the Grammy for best R&B Song to Beyoncé. Sadly, at that time, she was stuck in traffic, so her collaborator Nile Rodgers accepted the award on her behalf. Next, red-haired Shania Twain was surprised to present the Best Country Album to Willie Nelson, who, also, sadly couldn't make it.

Stevie Wonder performed, accompanied by a teenaged vocal quartet, singing "The Way You Do the Things You Do" and "Tears of a Clown." Artists like Smokey and Chris Stapeton performed on stage with him, singing Stevie’s "Higher Ground.” Sam Smith and Kim Petras won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their radio single "Unholy." Sam Smith encouraged Kim to take the stage, and she acknowledged that she is the first openly transgender artist to receive a Grammy - adding on to the truly groundbreaking night.

Lizzo, who was nominated for five grammys performed “About Damn Time” and “Special,” wearing a Dolce & Gabbana satin black dress. Noah introduced SZA, who presented Bad Bunny with the trophy for Música Urbana Album and Harry Styles performed his Record and Song of the Year contender, "As It Was” in a silver sequined, flared jumpsuit. Cardi B presented Best Rap Album to Kendrick Lamar for Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, which marked his third album of the night, following Lamar’s early wins for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song ("The Heart Part 5").

The "In Memoriam" tribute began with a performance of Loretta Lynn's "Coal Miner's Daughter," sung by Kacey Musgraves in a pink catsuit and accompanying pink feather cape. Quavo honored Migos member, Takeoff, with a special performance, followed by a rendition of “Songbird” by

Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt and Mick Fleetwood honoring Christine McVie.

Madonna then announced Sam Smith & Kim Petras, and this duo got to perform their Grammy-winning song "Unholy” in their bright red Valentino gowns. Next, another record was broken - Best Dance/Electronic Album for RENAISSANCE allowed Beyoncé to become the artist with the most awarded Grammys (32 Grammy Awards). The Queen of Hip-Hop and Soul, Mary J. Blige performed the title track from Good Morning, Gorgeous, which was up for album of the year.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, LL COOL J then presented the inaugural Dr. Dre Global Impact Award to, get ready to be shocked, the one and only, Dr. Dre. Next, to celebrate 50 years of hip-hop, there was a 13 minute performance with artists like Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Too $hort, Nelly, The LOX, Lil Baby, GloRilla and so many more.

After meeting Adele for the first time that day, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson presented the Pop Solo Performance trophy to Adele and Luke Combs performed "Going, Going, Gone." The First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden, in a gorgeous reflective silver gown, said she was honored to give out the first award for Best Song for Social Change, gifting it to singer-songwriter Shervin Hajipour for his song "Baraye."

Dr. Jill Biden then presented Song of the Year to Bonnie Raitt for "Just Like That,” which was a surprise to even Bonnie, herself. Lead vocalist for the rock band Coldplay, Chris Martin, announced the winner of Record of the Year to Lizzo for "About Damn Time" and she dedicated that award to her idol, Prince, whose death inspired her to make positive and impactful music. Steve Lacy performed "Bad Habit" in an all black Saint Laurent suit, with Thundercat on the bass. Next, Olivia Rodrigo was announced to present Best New Artist, an award she is all too familiar with, and gave it to Samara Joy, an upcoming American jazz singer.

Finally, Trevor Noah invited a select group of superfans onto the Grammys’ stage to assist in presenting the final award of the night, Album of the Year. Similarly to the start of the 65th annual Grammy Award, Harry Styles won it again for his album, Harry’s House. Styles acknowledges the other nominees, stating that he listened and loved all of their recent work, and collaborators on Harry’s House Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson also gave thanks to the audience. To end the night, DJ Khaled performs "GOD DID," featuring JAY-Z, John Legend, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Fridayy.

It was truly an amazing night for music.

SPOTIFY WRAPPED: A NEW KIND OF GIFT BY BRANDON BARRETT

On November 29, 2022, something took over the high school: a trend that had been growing for years that has been made incredibly popular by the streaming music app, Spotify. Everyone was talking about their Spotify Wrapped. Spotify Wrapped is a year-end display from the app of what artists, songs, and albums the listener has been enjoying. It comes with fun graphics, messages from artists, and a playlist of the top 100 songs listened to all year by that particular user. Many students use their Spotify Wrapped, and look forward to it weeks before.

It - and other services like it, such as Apple Music Replay - shows the listener their most played songs and artists. In some cases, especially on Spoti- fy, the top songs are organized into a play- list that can be down- loaded. The listener can thus see what their music taste really was during the past year - and how much or little it has shifted.

Senior Elaine Steel recounted how she “listened to a lot of musicals.” Scott Sopata, a junior, explained how a lot of the people he knew argued over whether rap or 80s music was superior. He said the trend was being talked about everywhere, “In my group chats I’ve seen people talking about it.”

Spotify Wrapped is - and will continue to be - a very popular trend in North Royalton High School. From musical lovers to enjoyers of hip-hop, students of every musical taste came together to share their music tastes and laugh at some of the more questionable aspects of their choices from earlier on in the year.

PHOTO BY KAITLYN MESSICK