NOVEMBER 2023
THE R O YA L NEWS FOR STUDENTS, BY STUDENTS
TABLE OF
CONTENTS 5 6-7 8-9 10-13 14-15 15 16 18-19
EDITOR’S COMMENTS FAMED REPORTER RETURNS TO HER ROOTS A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT WAR ASIAN LANTERN FEST A BRIGHT SPOT STUDENTS NEED A BREAK HOCO WINS BIG NRHS BAND WINS...AGAIN SWIFT HITS THE BIG SCREEN
COVER PHOTO: AEDAN MILLER 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.
S TA F F
Staff
KIRA CHEREN ANTHONY FARREN JULIA KINDEL ANNA MAIBORODA AEDAN MILLER MOLLY WILLIAMS
Staff Advisor MR. HEMERY
PHOTO BY AEDAN MILLER
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NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
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henever someone finds out that I’m a teacher, I can almost guarantee their next words will be “I’m so sorry.” It’s sort of a joke now, as I’ve gotten used to this reaction. I find myself defending my students all the time. “It’s not really like that,” I’ll say. “They’re incredible.” Yet, when we part ways, I don’t know if I’ve convinced anyone that their perception is incorrect. There is usually a look they’ll give…something between dismay and disbelief. I’m assuming my rebuttal falls flat because they think there is something wrong with me, too, if I’m willing to stand with the kids. But the overwhelming evidence favors the young. It always has. They are engaged, dedicated, and stretched in a million different directions, yet they keep showing up every day and thriving. And this issue of The Royal News is yet another example of that spirit. Despite the fact that writing a news story is challenging, these student journalists sat down and
did the work because they knew it could make the world a better place. It could help bring a community together. They don’t even get credit on their transcripts for their efforts. They just do it because they care. Several of our writers are writing for The Royal News for the first time. Many found great strength in their voices–something they didn’t necessarily know they possessed. One student wrote her first-person account of the war in Ukraine. She included photos she took of explosions and buildings blown to rubble. There isn’t a trace of apathy in their stories. So, as you read these pages, let the students’ words serve as a truth that resides in so many kids today. They care. And their desire to make the world better is infectious. Thanks, as always, for reading, -Mr. Hemery The Royal News Advisor T HE ROYA L N EWS
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NRHS ALUM RETURNS TO HER ROOTS AFTER MAKING IT BIG TIME IN THE NEWS BUSINESS
“I got my start right here on NRHS TV News.” Those were the words NRHS 2016 graduate Penny Kmitt said when she returned to the NRHS airwaves on October 26, a visit that began with a motivational Q&A for current broadcasting students. The students then had the opportunity to work with this professional reporter to produce the morning news. After leaving NRHS, Penny studied at American University and then worked as a reporter for two major news stations, KFDA in Texas and WTKR in Virginia. Speaking to Mr. Hemery’s broadcasting class, she offered practical advice to forge a successful path in the industry. “Take any classes that involve writing–journalism, broadcasting, creative writing. All of them,” she said. 6
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“To be a reporter is to be a writer. But, also, be sure to take social studies classes so you know about the world. One of the best classes I took was Mr. Ambrose’s AP Government. I can’t recommend that enough.” In addition to giving advice about classes, Penny also discussed her social media presence and how critical it is to marketing yourself and getting the news to young people, since that is where they consume the most information. Even during her time here at NRHS, she was filming a video about the experience. During her talk with the class, students asked a variety of questions. When asked about her worst day on the job, she mentioned that “reporters need thick skin. The best days I have are when there is a breaking story and the news is happening fast. But those are also some of the hardest days because they usually involve intense tragedy.” After covering the “heavy” topics, the students peppered Penny with questions about her on-air wardrobes, makeup, and wake-up times.
Sophomore Lily Purtee was inspired by Penny. She said, “Talking with Penny was such a privilege. She was so sweet, upbeat, and such a downto-earth person. Penny was so easy to talk to and answered all of the questions that I had about her career and school.”
After her presentation, Penny and Mr. Hemery delivered the news “like the old days,” except the new studio has been extremely updated. Gone are the days of jiggling wires to try and make the cameras work. Penny was impressed by the new studio and hopes the school continues to support
Penny Kmitt took Broadcasting at NRHS her senior year. Now she's a professional reporter.
Coming back to NRHS was truly returning to her roots. Penny took Mr. Hemery’s broadcasting class her senior year. Mr. Hemery said, “I’ll never forget the day Penny and I had the talk about her future. I forget what she said she was thinking about majoring in, but I told her she should really consider being a reporter. She was made for this business–she’s insanely smart, has a wonderful on-air presence, and is more driven than anyone I’ve met.” Although she stated that she gained valuable knowledge in college during internships, she also mentioned that her time in her high school broadcasting class “really prepared me for what I wanted to do for my career.”
the programs that helped her achieve her success and fame. Sarah Burdick was one of the broadcasting students who had the chance to work with Penny in the studio. Sarah said, "Penny came in and talked with so much excitement about her job that it made me hopeful that people do find a career they truly enjoy. It gave me hope that I will someday find a job that I love as much as she loves hers. It was truly inspiring listening to her story." The opportunity to work with such a seasoned, professional reporter was an incredible opportunity for the students at NRHS. Everyone at NRHS wishes Penny the very best as she continues in her golden career. T HE ROYA L N EWS
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O P I N I O N : T H E WA R I N U K R A I N E : A STUDENT'S FIRST-HAND AC C OUNT BY ANNA MAIBORODA
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hile the whole world is sleeping, Russia is attacking Ukrainian cities. February 24, 2022. This was the worst morning in lives of all Ukrainians. Russia attacked Kiev with a few rockets. Alarms. All Ukrainans couldn’t believe this was happening. It was a Thursday. 5 am. First rockets hit the airports. We couldn’t believe there was war in the century. It felt like a stupid dream. We had so many emotions: fear, disappointment, and anger. But the first thought we had was: Am I going to stay alive? Am I gonna be killed? Putin said the operation was to "protect the people" of the Russian-controlled breakaway republics. He falsely claimed that they had "been facing humiliation and genocide perpetrated by the Kyiv regime." I was living in Kyiv when the war started. My mom was working that night and she heard some sounds. I was sleeping and woke up because my phone was ringing. My mom phoned me, and she was like, are you okay, I heard sounds on the roof of the building. (It actually was the first rocket that Russia fired at the Boryspil-Ukrainian airport.) I can not even remember what I did after that. I just didn’t believe it was happening, but I will never forget how scared my mom and I were. The first days were panic; I didn't understand what was going on and when I asked my parents the same question every time, they couldn't actually tell me anything because the truth was horrifying. 8
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We were sitting in basements and the metro. A lot of people actually moved there, because it was so dangerous upstairs. The day the attacks began, it was supposed to be a simple day when we went to school and people go to their jobs, but the night was not calm. At 3:44, Russian tanks and soldiers rolled into the Luhansk region. At 3:59 a crowd of notUkrainian soldiers was seen at the checkpoints. Then the rockets started at 4 am. It’s been almost two years of this horrible terror. Almost two years of Russia being recognized as a terrorist country. If you ask Ukrainians what they feel right now, you will hear a lot of words, but none of them will explain actual feelings that we lived through. It’s the fear of death. The worst feeling in the world. And the strongest emotion is hate. A lot of hate toward Russia and all of the people that support this terror. It’s genocide of Ukrainian culture. We were born there; we were growing up there. We built our country. Nobody has a right to kill. Another NRHS Ukrainian freshman, Viktoriia Kolyniak, said, “My main dream right now is to go back home and take back what was taken away from me.” On May 6, 2022, Amnesty International published the results of their investigation of the massacre. It concluded that Russian forces were guilty of unlawful attacks and willful killings of civilians in Bucha, Andriivka, Zdvyzhivka, and Vorzel. Kyiv
authorities said that more than 1,400 deaths, including 37 children, occurred during the Russian occupation of Bucha. Russians destroyed thousands of houses only in Bucha. Imagine how many towns were destroyed because of Russia during this war. They killed people in occupied territories, came into their houses and stole all of their things. Russians were stealing washing machines, toilets, and clothes. Only in Mariupol, Russia killed 20 thousand people. They attacked a theater where hundreds of people were hiding. They held Ukrainian military hostages in Azovstal, where there were brutal battles, tortured them, and then organized a trial in Russia with 22 defenders of Ukrainian soldiers, among whom were eight women. When this all occurred, I was in the triangle between Bucha and Gostomel city. These cities were attacked in the first days, and we were lucky to stay alive. One day a plane fell down on the neighbor-
hood’s roof, and there was a lot of fire and fear. It was one of the scariest days in my life. You can not even sleep normally, because you can die in a second from Russian rockets. They killed thousand of people, thousand of cities and broke thousand lives. Viktoriia echoed these feelings and said, “Imagine that you are living your best life in the best country with the best people. You have your home, friends, and happiness in life, but in one second
they can come and kill your friends, family. They can break into your house and steal everything. We don’t need to imagine it because that is what is happening.” War is when you are driving to the grocery store and there are burnt-out cars. War is when you are sitting in the cafe and see a Russian rocket damage your friend’s house. War is when you are happy seeing the sky is clear. Russia broke a lot of lives and keeps doing it every second. Stop the war and genocide of Ukrainian culture.
ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BY ANNA MAIBORODA T HE ROYA L N EWS
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ASIAN LANTERN FESTIVAL'S FUTURE SHINES BRIGHT
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BY AEDAN MILLER
ights, Lights, and even more LIGHTS! Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s annual Asian Lantern Festival has come back in full swing. All the crowd's favorite lights, food, music, gifts, and entertainment returned bigger and brighter. Running for roughly three months, July 7th to September 16th, the festival hosted more than 250,000 people. Not only were you able to drive through the lovely display of lights, but walk through as well. Beaming with over 1,000 Asian-inspired lanterns on display, it was hard for most to pass the opportunity to buy tickets. NRHS student, Trevor Freed, said, “They had this really cool zodiac animal display showing different years on them.” These displays showed different years 10
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on them and had the corresponding zodiac animal as a lantern display; mine was the year of the dog! Along with the animals, another crowd favorite was the 150-foot Enchanted Garden Walk. Seemingly out of a fairytale, the Enchanted Garden Walk hosted a variety of plant and animal lanterns that stretched far along the road. Along the path were many interactive exhibits, such as drums, stepping pads, and even light-up swings. Waiting along a more hidden path on the route was access to an acrobatics show. Performers showed off their many impressive talents. For example, the Chinese-inspired face-changer swapped the mask directly on their face over and over again right in front of the audience!
There was also Asian-inspired cuisine for energy. Grabbing a seat surely was difficult with the number of people lined up to get a taste of this delicious food. Many of the food stalls present were local businesses that you can support. Li Wah is a friendly face to the festival, showing up without fail every year to bring exposure to their delicious food. If you crave more, they have a permanent location in Cleveland. With its increasing popularity, you can be sure this event will be back next year bigger than ever! “They put a lot of effort into it like a lot. It covered the whole zoo and it was very colorful”, said Trevor. Even if you missed out on the festival and wish to see festive lights ASAP, Christmas is just around the corner. With the holidays comes Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Wild Winter Lights! Beginning November 14th, you can experience Christmas-themed lights, hot chocolate, and even meet the legend himself, Santa Claus. It is safe to say that the Asian Lantern Festival’s future shines bright.
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PHOTO BY KIRA CHEREN
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PHOTO BY KIRA CHEREN
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OPINION: A MID-WEEK BREAK
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BY ANTHONY FARREN
hen you are lying down in your com- There have been many others who have fy, warm bed with exactly four pillows advocated for this change, as well. We and a weighted blanket to keep you even had this somewhat implemented company, what keeps you up at night? with Remote Mondays during our hyIs it the anxiety from your upcoming saxophone au- brid year, which was a day to do some dition for the school play? Could it be the regret of easy work while sitting at home with not liking that one post a cup of from years ago that said orange juice and your if you just ignored it dog lying on your lap. then you will have bad However, I think anluck for the next five other day would work years, and so that’s why just as well: Wednesday. you keep losing your faWhy is Wednesday so vorite necklaces? Or is significant? It has a lot it actually the stress of to do with the aspect of going to school for 35 feeling accomplished hours during a five day as half of the week is week? over, while also being Everyone has their drained from the first fair share of problems two days that come bewith school. Whether fore. it be the insane amount NRHS math of homework to falling teacher, Mr. Matus asleep in class because agrees with the signifyou weren’t able to manicance of the midweek age your time, balancing day. He said, “I think it’s extracurricular activities just something to get with school life, it’s safe students’ attention. It’s to say that our Amerithe middle of the week, can, five-day week stanand once you’re past dard of schooling can be that bump, it’s all downtoo much for students hill.” After Wednesday (unless you drink a Redpasses, students start Students are stressed with all the work, like bull everyday, which I to look forward to the this physics assignment. don’t recommend doing). weekend, but they still are After experiencing 14 drained mentally, even with years of school from Pre-K to my current senior year, the excitement of Hump Day coming and going. I have wondered if there would ever be a change to Due to all of this, I believe that with a break day this grueling experience of basically a 9-5 job. There- in the middle of the week, students can recharge and fore I started to brainstorm ideas to try and fix this relax, doing some light schoolwork on their computproblem to improve the lives of students across the ers so that they can come back more refreshed the country. After some thought and research, I landed next day. Not only will this be beneficial for students, on the perfect solution: having one day off to create a but it will also improve the mental health of teachfour-day week system. ers. A day off would give teachers a chance to prepare Of course, I’m not the first one to think of this. lesson plans on a day that doesn’t interfere with their 14
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weekend plans, and allow them to be productive in the comfort of their homes and families without having to put on a polo. However, some people believe that having Mon-
HOCO 2023: THE GAMBLE PAYS OFF BY MOLLY WILLIAMS
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homecoming dance is something students look forward to at each start of the school year. It’s a chance for students to look their best and dance with their friends all night. This year’s homecoming dance brought the bright light city of Las Vegas to North Royalton High School, and it definitely showed. Upon walking inside, students were introduced to the excitements of the city with the colored lights, your typical Las Vegas- themed dice and cards, and the big bold letters displaying the words “Casino.” Not only was the chill atmosphere of the cafeteria accessorized with these decorations, but everywhere you went there was entertainment to be found. In the hallways where several photo ops could be taken with friends.
Students get to school early every day, which makes our youths a full-time job. day or Friday off would be more beneficial for everyone, including Mr. Matus, who said, “I think Monday or Friday would be better. Remote Mondays might potentially work.” While these two days do have some advantages to being a day off, students and teachers will still have to wake up at 7:00 AM for four whole school days straight, which is still 28 hours of endless facts being poured into students’ brains. So with all of this in mind, Wednesday is the best candidate for a new rest day to overtake our American school systems. Even if this never happens in our district, we can still enjoy the excitement of Hump Day and begin our ride down the downward slope of the school week to enjoy the weekend.
But what stole the show was the party life reminiscent of those of Las Vegas in the gym. In advance, students were able to select three songs they wanted to hear from the DJ so they wouldn’t be disappointed by the usual party songs you would hear at a regular homecoming dance. Lily Purtee, sophmore, loved the experience and said,“I really liked that people got input on the songs, and the theme was much better!” Homecoming was an overall hit with the attendees with exceptional music and an entertaining atmosphere, setting the bar higher for the upcoming winter formal. THE ROYA L NEWS
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BAND MARCHES THEIR WAY TO STATES
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BY: JULIA KINDEL
n October 28th, the North Royalton High School Marching Band walked off the Hilliard Bradley field after their performance, concluding the season with a bang. The band waited in the endzone for the results and was rewarded with straight ones from the judges. Cheers and tears arose from the group as exhilaration and relief washed over them, but also as seniors realized it was their last performance. The season began in August with band camp lasting the entire month. The band performed their show “Fortune Favors the Bold” for the first time at the Festival of Bands hosted by North Royalton in September and steadily improved s i n c e t h e n . However, even after countless Monday a f t e r noon and We d n e s day night rehearsals, there were still aspects of the show that needed cleaning. Eventually, the final week before States arrived, and the band focused tirelessly on improving the small details and perfecting the show. The band was ultimately successful in their hard work, as they maintained the years-long tradition of earning a one at States. Eshaan Satyawada, a trumpet section leader, said, “I feel like everyone in the band worked really hard throughout the season for us to succeed at the State Finals.” In addition, many changes were made to the visuals, drill, and music as the season progressed. 16
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These changes added more complexity to the overall show and earned the band higher scores. Michael Kindel, a senior trombone player, said, “It was cool seeing everyone in the band improve throughout the season. I’m glad to be in a band that isn’t stagnant and constantly makes changes and improvements.” Some memorable moments from the season include Barney (a purple instrument truck) breaking down in the middle of the road after the band’s performance in Toledo, the band’s exceptionally rainy performance at Brunswick, the auxiliary’s monumental improvement that almost gained them the highest score in the s c h o o l ’s history, and Mr. Vitale smiling while signing Dave the Skeleton outside the Polaris Mall in Columbus. In all, many seniors feel like their final marching band season went by in a flash. When they were freshmen, they did not have a complete year of marching band because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This made it feel like their marching band experience was even shorter than usual. Nonetheless, the seniors proved their dedication to the band by staying with the program even though recovering from the lockdown was challenging. Now, the seniors can only hope that the future generations of NRHS Marching Band members will uphold the reputation and success of the program.
PHOTO BY AEDAN MILLER
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BY MOLLY WILLIAMS
TAY L O R RU L E S T H E WO R L D
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aylor Swift is, undoubtedly, one of the most influential and prominent pop culture icons of this century. Her music has reached millions of people, and she’s grown to have great success since her self titled debut album in 2006. Chances are you’ve heard of this public figure since you were born and listened to “Shake it Off ” on the radio at least fifteen million times. But Taylor, in most recent times, has found herself traveling across the country and soon around the world with her acclaimed The Eras Tour. This tour is based on all the eras she’s gone through musically, playing her biggest hits from each album. Since these tickets went on sale, they sold out almost immediately, making it a special experience for fans who get to attend. For the fans who couldn’t, Miss Swift had a special surprise, coming out with Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, a concert film with all the songs she played in cinematic form for folks to enjoy in the comfort of the movie seats. This film broke numerous records, one of which being the highest-grossing concert movie 18
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of all time at over $92 million. Record breaking of course isn’t new to Taylor but it’s nevertheless impressive. This movie was released on October 13th to the joy of fans everywhere. But this concert flick was more than just a movie; it was a celebration of music and art. The Taylor Swift fandom, also known as “Swifties,” took this as an opportunity to take this movie and turn it into something bigger than a film, but as another concert. Before entering the theater, Swifties were warned not to dance in front of others, in the aisles, or in front of the screen. Though some took it too far, forming almost cult-like circles, most danced in their seats or stood up without blocking any views from the audience. Attending this concert movie, for me personally, was one of the greatest experiences at the theater I’ve ever witnessed. I bought my exclusive, and expensive, Taylor Swift popcorn bin and drink cup and went on my way to my seat. My expectation for movie theater etiquette was weary since the things I saw on my “X” timeline, but I was proven to be wrong. I saw all walks of life enter through the doors as there
were both young and old people coming to enjoy Taylor’s talent, sitting in their seats quietly and respectfully. When the movie started, there was a sense of community I felt as I was surrounded by crowds of people who loved Taylor Swift as much as I do, singing and dancing in their seats. The in-person concerts popularized friendship br a c el e t - ma k ing activities where fans would create bracelets based on Taylor Swift songs and lyrics and trade amongst each other, popularized from her lyrics “So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it.” This phenomenon continued in my theater as complete strangers would trade their bracelets and become best friends forever. The movie itself was filmed exceptionally well, showing not only Taylor in her glory, but fan reactions, the incredible dancers, and the band. She starts off with the famous “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince,” bringing goosebumps to everyone watching, feeling the eagerness for the beginning of the “Lover” era. From there,
she branched off to her other albums. Taylor didn’t have the albums in order from release date but separated them in a perfect, balanced way in where the slower albums would have an intermittent pop album. Taylor Swift’s effect on an audience also hits the same at the movies. She captures attention unlike many artists I’ve ever seen. Over the years she’s improved her stage presence, and it’s shown greatly here in this tour. Her care and love for her fans cannot be denied, as time and time again she’s shown great appreciation for those who support her, giving back to them in the form of a remarkable performance. Casual moviegoers can still find enjoyment in this movie for its high-quality cinematography and overall vibe of the theater. Even if you aren’t a Taylor Swift fan, you can still have an amusing experience and even be left with a lasting impression. THE ROYA L NEWS
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PHOTO BY KIRA CHEREN