The Royal News, November 2020

NOVEMBER 2020

THE R O YA L NEWS FOR STUDENTS, BY STUDENTS

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CONTENTS 5 6 8 10 12 14 15-16 17 18 20

EDITOR’S COMMENTS LEARNING THROUGH COVID BUSINESSES ADAPT TO THE TIMES THE TALE OF TWO PANDEMICS MAKING THE BEST WITH WHAT WE HAVE BLACK FRIDAY, WHAT TO EXPECT HALLOWEEN IN ROYALTON PANDEMIC PETS SILVER LININGS UNINTENTIONAL ART COVER PHOTO: JARET GOLD INSIDE COVER PHOTO: SAVEA BRINEGAR

SAVEA BRINEGAR HAILEY LANGFORD

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Writer

Writer

PETER CARAM

DYLAN SAUNDERS

JARET GOLD

HAILEE SEKERES

NORAN KHANFAR

CASSIDY WOODMANCY

Writer Writer

Writer

Writer Writer

Writer

Photo by Dylan Saunders 4

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NOT E FROM THE EDITOR

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daptability. Scientists have long celebrated that trait in living beings who are able to outlast their respective peers and persevere in changing times. Time marches forward whether we like it or not, and sometimes it brings welcome change. But sometimes it does not. The world is lingering in one of those “not” moments right now, but, like so much of change, the trajectory of time is out of our immediate control. All we can change is our reaction to these times.

The student journalists in these pages understand adaptability. They came to this class wide-eyed and unsure of what this new style of learning would look like—their classmates and teacher sometimes encrypted into ones and zeros, sent over a wire, and interpreted by their home computers to recreate the likeness of people.

Instead of giving up, they rolled up their sleeves and gave their all to the process. They conducted interviews over Zoom calls and oth-

er electronic mediums. They practiced their writing craft using new educational techniques that, after a few weeks of practice, became normal. They critiqued one another’s articles in virtual breakout rooms. That word, “virtual,” has taken over our lives and is laden with an implication of “not real.” But the work was anything but virtual. It was real.

This is all real. The learning that is taking place in this class is real learning. As are the words in these articles. They were penned by students who refused to give up. They, instead, chose to adapt. And thrive.

I am forever proud and inspired by young people who remind me every day of what matters. Thank you, as always, for reading the students’ work and celebrating their unwavering spirit of adaptability.

-Mr. Hemery November 2020

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To adapt to online learning, Makayla Cooper sets up her own learning space. It provides familiarity of being at school and allows her to focus while doing her classes.

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FROM GEORGIA TO OHIO: THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN EDUCATION DURING COVID

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tudents and staff struggle to keep up with the COVID pandemic. Teachers have been left to decide what education looks like on their own. Students feel stressed not knowing how the future is going to turn out. Although it can feel like the students at North Royalton High School are experiencing these emotions on their own, kids all over the United States share similar feelings about this change of learning. One student in Georgia talked about how she was handling COVID while managing school, just like the students in

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North Royalton.

“I enjoy the sense of normalcy that comes with being at school in person,” Mary Kathryn said about her school in Georgia.

Schools have tried to maintain the feeling of normalcy, but still uphold the safety requirements for COVID. “All desks are separated in classrooms, and at lunch we’re only allowed five people to a table,” Mary Kathryn said. “We also have to wait in the hallways before classes so the desks and classrooms can be sanitized.”

While there are significantly less people in the classrooms, Mary Kathryn said she preferred that due to it being safer and making classes more personal.

Following guidelines and smaller classes is something the schools in Ohio and Georgia have in common. At North Royalton High School, instead of five days a week, students chose from blended or remote.

“I enjoy that we can do both online and going to school in person or even just stay online for the rest of the year,” said Caycee Lowry, a blended learning student from North Royalton.

It gave students the feeling of normalcy, but reduced the amount of time being exposed and being around other students.

“I like that we do both because it gives the students the experience of what online school feels like while also experiencing high school in person at the same time,” Lowry said.

While students seemed to enjoy blended learning, there were problems with the online portion of the education system.

“Online can be kind of confusing when the teacher writes on the board for the kids in class but the kids online can’t really see the board very well,” she added. “Sometimes our Google Meet doesn’t work either and the internet will stop working”.

For their safety or other personal reasons, some have opted for remote only. Some students have found that online gave them more free time as well.

“I enjoy that I have more study hall time to get work done,” Makayala Cooper from North Royalton said.

While she said there were many benefits to online only, there were also some downsides that made her consider switching to blended.

“I don’t enjoy that the audio in videos we have to watch is bad,” Cooper said. “It’s also difficult to have some kids online and some in person because I feel that the online students don’t get as much help or attention as in person students.”

Each student had different experiences and opinions, but one thing they agreed on is the loss of high school experience.

“I lost the football games, homecoming, get-

ting to be with all my friends in the hallways and the pep rallies. Everything that I looked forward to for my senior year,” Cooper said.

Even in Georgia, Mary Kathryn said their big events were cancelled.

“Our homecoming and possibly prom is canceled. There are also no pep rallies and at football games masks are required as well,” said Mary Kathryn.

From schedule changes to safety procedures, students share similar experiences in school from COVID.

Due to extended study halls, many students have free time. Mary Kathryn (right), likes to spend hers at the clinic, helping the nurses in any way she can.

(Photo credit, Mary Kathryn).

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HOSPITALIT Y INDUSTRY HAS NO CURE FOR COVID-19

BY PETER CARAM

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OVID-19 has infected thousands of Ohioans during 2020, but the people who have contracted it are not the only ones feeling its effects. Managers and employees of the hospitality industry are struggling to stay in business and employed because of the pandemic.

People from the suburbs such as North Royalton are finding fewer reasons to venture into the city of Cleveland. “Right now we are pivoting to work with the times,’’ said Haley Betts, Marketing and Event Manager at Southern Tier, one such establishment that is missing North Royalton patrons. “With sports, concerts and events being canceled, the need or desire to go Southern Tier spaces out the tables and chai downtown has greatly diminished.” restaurant for customers to eat safely While she says that foot traffic in the city has increased as more businesses reopen, especially on the weekends, she adds that winter is right around the porate corner, most likely reducing traffic again. “Typically, December is filled keting with corporate holiday parties that you see booking up through September and October, but this year we will be relying on social events to fill the calendar,” Betts said. “We have set up a number of virtual events and are continuing to look at how we can expand that to better reach the corporate sector.”

The people behind the scenes at restaurants are also feeling a shift in their work. “My job has changed because of COVID,” said Executive Chef Danny Shelnutt of Southern Tier. The restaurant reopened in early June, but its summertime sales were far below pre-COVID levels. Shelnutt would typically expo food prior to the pandemic to ensure it was being prepared efficiently and correctly. Now he produces much of it himself due to declining revenues. “We’ve cut back hours of some employees, and some we haven’t brought back at all,” Shelnutt said.

Some of the staff reduction is due to the nature of the virus. Southern Tier, like many restaurants, is offering fewer items. “A smaller menu makes execution easier for only a few cooks. The fewer employees in the kitchen makes it easier to practice social distancing,” Shelnutt explained.

Reduced foot traffic and revenues are not problems for just downtown businesses. The Yardhouse at Crocker Park in Westlake has lost 38 tables in its dining room due to social distancing rules put in place to fight the pandemic, according to Manager Jeff Shadle. He adds that monthly revenues have been “affected greatly by the limited capacity,” but that they have seen S an increase in carry out sales. Shadle said the slower sales have “made us entree more aware of how important it is to take care of each customer.”

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As the country waits for the medical community to develop a vaccine to make the world safe again, the hospitality industry is looking for its own cures. Southern Tier isn’t waiting for more customers to suddenly appear on their own, according to Betts. “We have refocused efforts on reaching those that live and work within walking distance of our location by distributing marketing collateral throughout downtown, irs in the collaborating with local y. businesses and becoming members of specific corgroups that align with our overall margoals.”

THANK YOU NORTH ROYALTON LOCAL BUSINESSES! Due to the financial stress of COVID on so many local businesses, The Royal News decided not to solicit businesses for advertising dollars this year.

Instead, we want to thank the following North Royalton businesses for consistently contributing to our newspaper over the years. We wish you all the best and a successful economic recovery, and encourage our readers to continue to shop local at these fine establishments.

Southern Tier’s pizza is one of the es to eat on the restaurant’s small menu to serve to customers.

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SOCIALLY DISTANT BY 100-YEARS: HOW ROYALTON REACTED TO THE PREVIOUS PANDEMIC B Y JA R E T G O L D

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orth Royalton, in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. People get sick, and people die. While many follow health guidelines, such as wearing masks and avoiding public interaction, others do the complete opposite. There is anger at restrictions on freedom; the public is divided on how to respond. This is North Royalton, 2020. But the description is also North Royalton, 1918, in the grip of the Spanish Flu. The North Royalton Historical Society keeps some of the best records of the city’s history. Yet, when it comes to the Spanish Flu pandemic, the usually reliable records are absent. But the lack of information actually reveals much about the condition of Royalton back in 1918.

“Back then, most people [in North Royalton] lived on farms,” Historical Society President Don Harris said. “As they were often two or three miles apart, there probably weren’t a lot of cases.” In the city center, however, that was a different story. Harris says the flu would have spread to Royalton via merchants traveling from Cleveland, which had tens of thousands of cases, and more than four thousand deaths by the end of the pandemic. The dense population put store owners and city dwellers most at risk for contracting the flu.

According to records from the Western Reserve Historical Society, Royalton had no de-

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Cuyahoga County police officers were required to wear masks in 1918. This officer directs traffic while reminding passerbys to buy liberty bonds to support the troops in the ongoing World War One. (Reprinted with permission from the Cleveland Police Museum.)

cent hospitals in 1918, so people either had to treat their family members with home remedies or go to Cleveland for medical care, where the risk of infection was high. Records from Cleveland hospitals show that there was a 16 percent mortality rate among flu patients, which is much higher than the 2-3 percent for COVID. Unlike the current pandemic, the Spanish Flu disproportionately affected younger people, including children. According to the government website Influenza Archive, the restrictions on schools were more severe, with all the schools in Cuyahoga County, as well as Royalton, ordered to close for a year.

Following the flu’s arrival in the Cleveland area, Royalton’s stores, saloons, and churches were all temporarily shut down at the order of Ohio Governor James Cox. While no one was happy about the closures, certain groups felt the impacts more than others. Farmers who relied on supplies from the stores suffered shortages and parents struggled with the school closings, as there was no way to conduct school from home at the time.

Just like today, there were many who ignored the health guidelines. According to The History of North NRHS student Dominic Notargiovanni (above) Royalton 1811-1991, when the North Royalton Christries to practice health advice, such as wearing a tian Church closed (for the first time in its history), mask outside the home. some members met in secret, leading to an outbreak of the flu. The same was true for saloon patrons, who gathered at neighbors’ houses to drink. Just like today, students also broke regulations. The county policy on school closings was a shutdown of the school once a certain percentage of students were absent. When thousands of kids didn’t show up, this led to the public schools in Cuyahoga County, including North Royalton, being shut down. According to the Influenza Archive, “As it turned out, the vast majority of the absent students were truants who, hearing that schools would be closed if absences were high enough, tried to force the issue by remaining away from school.” When the schools found out, they ordered classes to resume as usual. Ironically, however, there was a massive outbreak of the disease among students who went back to school, and the schools were forced to close, this time until the pandemic ended.

In 2020, there are currently more than 21,000 COVID-19 cases in Cuyahoga County and 686 deaths.

This is shy of the 1,000 deaths in the county during the Spanish Flu. With the virus entering a third wave, the toll is expected to surpass the previous pandemic. And just like 1918, there have been reported cases in North Royalton schools.

High school student Dominic Notargiovanni shared his thoughts on what can be learned from the Spanish Flu. “From [the Spanish Flu], we know that our actions can lead to people’s deaths,” he said about students breaking social distancing rules, both then and now. “Attending large events is just irresponsible.”

Although Dominic disapproves of the actions of some people, he thinks the school administration has been handling the pandemic far better than schools did 100 years ago. “Things are all right so far. They’ve done a good job trying to keep us safe, following the governor’s recommendations,” he said. “It’s our own actions that really determine our health.”

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BY HAILEY LANGFORD

COVID CANCELS ACTIVITIES

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his year at North Royalton high school dances, student sections, and other fun activities are cancelled. With this pandemic going on, the principal and activity leaders are tr ying to give North Royalton students a great year despite the lack of social events.

Mr. Osborne, the principal at Nor th Royalton High S chool, said some of the traditional events, like dances, are really hard to make happen this year. “Dances are one of the most dif ficult things for us to do at this time,” said Mr.Osborne.

“I don’t see us having dances any time soon.”

Students are having a difficult time coping with the loss. “I feel really sad about the dance being cancelled,” said ninth-grader Jelena

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Empty seats at the stadium is upsetting considering the overwhelming spirit at NRHS.

Milenkovich.

Mr. Osborne and the activity advisors are tr ying to come up with not just safe, but fun activities for the students to engage in. “We’re going to look at things in a different way,” said Mr. Osborne. Recently Mr. Ciha and the class advisors held a virtual pep rally for students.

Sports were also a challenge this year, especially getting fans into the stadium for football games. The Ohio High S chool Athletic Association put restrictions on how many people could be in attendance in the stadium. In order to have a ticket, people had to be an immediate family member of a participant, which included members of the football team, cheerleaders, and the marching band.

Until the state changes that r ule,

Nor th Royalton High S chool won’t be sell- ing their last year to participate in these high ing tickets to any student sections. “ To look school experiences. up and see the stadium empty, it’s sad,” said “If you participate in fun activities your Mr.Osborne. high school years will be more exciting,” said Mr.Osborne said he and the school admin- Milenkovich, and although COVID has ruistrators are tr ying to make the best they can ined a lot of things this year, the staff at Nor th out of the situation. But with the pandemic Royalton High S chool is tr ying to provide the going on, it’s ver y hard to promise anything. best opportunities and learning oppor tunities Despite the hardships, he said the students as they can during COVID. are doing ver y good with the rules.

“Most students are overcoming their natural habits,” said Mr.Osborne. Students are tr ying to social distance and following the guidelines. Most students are not hugging their friends in the hallway, shaking hands or sitting next to one another.

“You have to take what you can and make the most of it,” said Mr. Osborne, “and that’s what we’re tr ying to do here.”

Even though Nor th Royalton High S chool dances and fun activities have been cancelled, students have been f inding other ways to distract them f rom this COVID experience with sports such as cross countr y, track, soccer, and football.

This can be a big There’s not alot of activity going on in the gymnasium. The gymnasium is deal to seniors, be- filled with chairs, tarps, instruments and bookbags abandoned for storage in this horrible virus COVID. THE ROYA L NEWS

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LOCAL BUSINESSES PREP FOR UNUSUAL BLACK FRIDAY

park Mall has yet to give store managers guidelines for holiday B Y DY L A N S AU N D E R S shopping. The only instructions Southpark Mall has provided to lack Friday sales incite stampedes customers so and violence among shoppers, who far are signs pack themselves shoulder-to-shoulencourag ing der in any given store. But with the shoppers to threat of COVID, local businesses and shopwear masks, pers must find some middle ground when it social distance, and comes to health and holiday shopping. Both follow common-sense stores and shoppers face the holidays with health guidelines. uncertainty.

Vincent Zubal, a “I don’t know,” said Walsh freshman and manager at PacSun, exNorth Royalton resident Bella Harvey. Belpects to see what he calls la, her sister, and her aunt typically go out “standard procedure”: after Thanksgiving dinner and take advanshoppers will wear tage of Black Friday deals. “We go and shop masks, social distance, until we get tired,” said Bella. “We usually and use hand sanitizer go to Southpark Mall and Target.” She isn’t stations at their discresure how this tradition will hold up come tion on Black Friday.

November 27. Her mother has been online Another manager, shopping for the past few Black Fridays, Jackie R. from Zumez, and Bella thinks that her family may follow thinks the plan should suit. Her post-Thanksgiving plans are still in be more detailed with question. information like the Shoppers like Bella aren’t the only ones maximum capacity of without solid Black Friday plans. Southshopp e r s and a closing t i m e t h a t Some shoppers try to get a g i v e s NRHS Senior Noelle Kostyac worke r s a chance to sanitize the building.

Zumez plans its business cycle around Black Friday, but Jackie R. said, “We’re all just taking it week by week” this holiday season. With no official Black Friday policies in place, Southpark Mall stores hesitate to make any long-term plans of their own.

This year, customers can expect to see many more empty lots on Black Even in the face of such Friday. Most businesses are conducting online Black Friday sales.

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uncertainty, stores are determined to salvage what Black Friday sales they can. At PacSun, for example, online deals “are being promoted more heavily because of everything going down,” said Zubal.

Te c h nology retailer Best Buy ended their early Black Friday sales on October 14.

Best Buy’s early deals competed with Amazon’s Prime Day deals, which took place from October 13 to October 14. The early deals ahead of the Black Friday rush. also preck shops for early holiday deals. vent crowds from rushing Best Buy on Thanksgiving night for Black Friday doorbusters, according to Best Buy’s website. Besides sales and extra benefits for rewards program members, Best Buy’s website encourages customers to use online shopping options and curbside pick-up. These types of promotions keep customers and employees safe while allowing stores to profit.

A S C A R I E R HA L L O W E E N B Y C A S S I DY WO O D M A N C Y

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he Coronavirus is still affecting how people live every day. This Halloween in North Royalton, some people are rethinking the classic holiday by devising alternative ways to celebrate or adapt traditions.

Many people still planned to hand out candy or go trick or treating. Melissa Vonderu, a parent who lives in North Royalton, said, “I would love to still be able to hand out candy. I feel like it’s probably still safe for kids to come trick or treating.”

Some are saying that if people just wear a mask and stay six feet apart, kids should still be able to trick or treat and parents or adults should still hand out candy.

But some people feel that even with masks and being six feet apart it won’t be enough for everyone to stay safe while trick or treating or handing out candy. NRHS student, Vanessa Vadovski, said, “It’s too much of a risk because you’re going to be so close to so many people.”

Another student, Avery Justice, thinks that it’s safer to just stay home and hang out with family or have a small get together with friends.

Some people don’t really know which option is safer.

NRHS student Peyton Bunsey said, “People can do what they want to do based on what their experience with COVID is like.”

Some residents of North Royalton are saying that it depends on what a person wants to do. If they feel that it’s safe to trick or treat, then they can. If they feel that it’s not safe to trick or treat, then they can celebrate Halloween a different way. It really depends on what they feel is safer, and what kind of impact this year had on them.

People are also unsure if they should still do Halloween parties.

Vonderu also said, “So if we do go forward with a Halloween party, I would insist on it being outside, and I was thinking to maybe have a mask competition, because I would like everyone to show up with masks.”

Some felt the safest way to celebrate Halloween this year was to watch scary movies with family and friends.

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HAU N T E D H O U S E S T O R I E S T HAT WO N ’ T G I V E YO U N I G H T M A R E S B Y S AV E A B R I N E G A R

he girl creeped forward, her eyes darting to every corner and shadow in fear. Her friends walked beside her, appearing calm, but both holding their breaths in anticipation. Without warning, someone with a mask revved a chainsaw, making the group scream and sprint towards the exit.

Haunted houses. While some people enjoy the rush of excitement they get being chased from people dressed up, others may respond differently to someone trying to scare them. Everyone reacts to fear differently and ends up with interesting stories to tell by the end of the night.

Whether inside a haunted house or simply waiting in line, anything can happen when someone is least expecting it.

“I was dressed up as a cat and saw an old lady in a wheelchair,” Angelina Cipiti from North Royalton said. “She came up to me and said ‘kitties look very tasty,’ and put one of my fingers in her mouth.”

Taken by surprise, Cipiti was horrified by what the worker did. Looking back on it now, she said, “It was weird at the time and still is, but I can’t help to laugh about it.”

While inside haunted houses, sometimes people accidently lose personal items trying to escape from the people dressed up.

“One time, I lost my shoe in the first room of a haunted house,” Jordan Kouns from North Royalton said. “My friend hit one of the actors so they told us to leave, but I had to tell them my shoe was still in there.”

Although the actors searched for her lost shoe and found it, Kouns said she was embarrassed that she lost it in the first place.

“They started looking in the last rooms, but I didn’t want to tell them that I lost it in the very beginning,” she said. “Luckily, they found it regardless.”

While both Kouns and Cipiti are in high school, being fearful of haunted houses isn’t only limited to age.

“It was me, my wife, and two other couples,” said Jeremy Gleisinger, a North Royalton parent. “One girl thought it was a good idea to wear heels. She was really scared and ran off, but got lost and no one could 16

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find her. ” Worried for their friend, they actually searched for a little while. Gleisinger said they called her name and did what they could, but with no success.

“She actually joined another group to get through, so we saw her at the end,” Glesinger said.

When they saw each other at the end, they couldn’t believe she ran so far that she had to group with other people. While everyone else thought it was hilarious, the friend was still pretty scared about the situation.

Haunted houses are definitely an experience to go through, but sometimes the fear results in some good stories to tell. It’s definitely unpleasant to think about going through dark rooms full of clowns or spiders, but there’s also the opportunity for a story to be told.

Showing no fear, Angelina Cipiti posed with a Freddy Krueger statue before she got in line for the haunted house. (Angelina Cipiti photo credit.)

PA N D E M I C P E T S : O W N E R S H I P S P I K E S I N N O RT H R OYA LT O N B Y JA R E T G O L D

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ocial scientists say companionship is almost as important to people as food and water, so it is not surprising that many people have turned to pets during the pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, the rate of pet adoption has increased dramatically in hundreds of shelters across the country, which has helped them stay afloat in a time when many businesses have closed shop.

The North Royalton Animal Hospital is one of the establishments seeing an uptick in service from new owners.

“There are more vet checkups than last year, with so many new pets,” says Dr. Katie Liutkus, who works at the hospital.

“It kind of evens out. The [dog] daycare has received less visitors because people aren’t really going on vacation, but the hospital has been busy.” Paws at Play daycare is expected to return to full capacity when the pandemic is over, likely next year.

Dr. Adam Hechko, the owner of the hospital, agrees, and says that this upward trend in adoption, while a great thing, also has some negative effects. “You have all these new pets who are stuck inside all the time, because their owners don’t leave the house. I think we’ll find that when the pandemic is over, there will be a lot of animals with attachment issues and behavioral problems because they’re not getting the stimulation they need.” That’s why Dr. Hechko prioritizes play and socialization for pets that go to the vet.

The pattern of increased pet adoptions has been record-

As hospitals fight to keep us safe, the North Royalton Animal Hospital has made it their goal to keep pets healthy too.

(Reprinted with permission from the North Royalton Animal Hospital.)

ed not just in North Royalton, but across the state and country at large. Petpoint, a software company used by shelters across the United States, compiled data from over 2,000 locations and found an average 700 percent increase in adoptions from 2019.

As the survey was compiled in June, that number is likely even higher now.

Of course, it’s not just pet stores benefiting from the surge in adoptions. Pet owners are coping with the difficult times better with their animal companions.

According to a survey done by Zoetis Petcare, 72 percent of participants reported that having a pet has helped them get through isolation.

During the pandemic, Animal Hospital owner Adam Hechko got his sons pet goats (above), which has really helped them get through isolation. Because the family lives on a farm, the goats have plenty of room to roam around. (Photo Credit: Adam Hechko.)

North Royalton High School student Jude Stanley, who has five dogs and a cat, agrees that his pets have helped him so far. “Even them just being there makes everything more… normal, you know? I’m glad there’s others at home with me when I’m home.”

With the pandemic expected to continue well into 2021, the need for companionship will only grow, especially as the country enters a third wave this winter. Numbers of adoptions are only expected to increase, according to the Washington Post, and this means both loving new homes for pets and desperately needed company for owners. Hunkered down, people and their pets will get through this crisis together.

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ROYALTON TEACHERS FIND SILVER LINING IN COVID CHALLENGES

BY PETER CARAM

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eachers’ jobs in 2020 at North Royalton City Schools and around the country are changing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instruction that used to take place face-to-face is now happening virtually, and several teachers - while admittedly not fond of the change - are also finding hidden benefits.

“I do not like online learning,” said Tony Kleem, a history teacher at North Royalton High School. Yet, he enjoys teaching kids and knows that online instruction will protect us and keep people safe; he just dislikes it.

Despite his initial uncertainty about this new teaching style, Mr. Kleem has discovered that online learning is not as bad as he thought it would be. It may be different, but “we humans adjust well; it doesn’t mean we enjoy it, but we adjust,” he said. “Every kid has been forced to learn this way, so they’re all on the same playing field.”

Kleem does see a silver lining to the changes brought on by COVID. ”Young adults are very adaptable.

This might make all of us care for people more, have more empathy and kindness.

If we look back at different generations, they all had something to overcome. This is our time to overcome and make the world hopefully better,” Kleem said.

The students in Kleem’s class have been helpful not just with participating but helping Mr. Kleem teach them through online learning. “I teach like I normally do. I lecture using the smart board instead of the chalkboard. My smart board is shared with the students at home,” Kleem said. He likes to make teaching fun for himself and learning fun for his students. “I try to play Jeopardy games and take virtual field trips with the students,” Kleem shared.

He also has made extra accommodations due to the pandemic. “I know I give more time to hand things in because of Internet issues either at school or at home,” Kleem said.

Gina Stabile, ELA teacher at North Royalton Middle School, agrees with Kleem that teaching online is no substitute for connecting with her students face-to-face. “There’s not a whole lot I like about teaching online versus in person. I miss seeing my students and connecting with them in a more personal way. I miss the energy I get from a classroom full of students. I miss greeting students at my door,” Stabile said.

She did find value in the few weeks she was able to teach live in the classroom before going back to all virtual. “Initially it was difficult to connect and build relationships with students,” which is something I value so much. However, being that we had a little bit of class time together, it has been easier this time around to connect with my students,” she said.

Stabile is optimistic that the challenges students are facing will not hold this generation back. “I think that since this is a global pandemic, we will not be as behind as many are thinking we will. I think

“This pandemic has ta kids can adapt and are

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the whole world is struggling to figure things out right now,” she said. “I do think a positive from all of this will be students’ ability to problem solve a bit more on their own. I think kids are having to become more motivated to work and to keep up with their learning, and I think the students who are taking advantage of that will actually be more successful in the long run.”

North Royalton HIgh School ELA teacher Dawn Saringer sees better organizational skills as the key to success during these times. “Remote learning has taught all of us teachers and students to be more organized,” said Ms. Saringer. She adds that making sure to have an organized system in online learning is the only way she can teach remotely.

Despite her best efforts, however, she feels there will always be something essential missing from online learning. “I miss not having that day-to-day, face-to-face interaction with my students. It has been difficult finding ways to truly make connections with students using online tools,” Saringer admitted.

Saringer’s big concern is the fact that the current generation of learners was already too comfortable interacting through their phones rather than face-to-face. “This generation has become way too comfortable ‘talking to their phone,’ and I am worried that remote learning may be encouraging more of this.

Having a conversation with a human face to face is fading, which can’t happen!” she exclaimed. “I do my best to have as much face-to-face conversation and teaching with my students remotely through Google meets.”

Despite the challenges, the three of them have a sense of optimism for the future. “Keeping a classroom positive and engaged was always important,” Saringer explained, “but

aught me that e resilient.”

-Ms. Saringer

this pandemic has taught me that kids can adapt and are resilient.”

Stabile revealed that her understanding of what students deal with outside of school has significantly increased. “I will allow students more freedom to apply my content to their personal style and interests, and I will continue to understand the individual needs of all learners. I will definitely grow from this experience and I hope my learners will too,” Stabile said.

For his part, Kleem has kept his sense of humor, “Say goodbye to snow days! Or flu outbreaks - we can teach from home.”

COVID-19 has moved instruction from the classroom to the bedroom for many North Royalton kids.

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UNINTENTIONAL ART

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By: Dylan Saunders

etting distracted during class looks a bit different for NRHS artists than it does for most students. Those without artistic talents can produce a few stick figures and smiley faces in the margins of their papers. Artists, in comparison, draft visual masterpieces during math classes (or whenever else the inspiration strikes). Some of NRHS’s senior artists have provided examples and insight into their creative processes.

Ella Mordaunt remembers how easy it was to zone out and “end up drawing without even realizing” as early as elementary school. As a senior, Ella said that her mind never stopped wandering, but her aptitude for visual art has grown. Outside of her participation in ceramics, drawing, studio, the NRHS Art League, and the National Art Honors Society, Ella likes to flex her creative muscles during her other classes.

“Especially now,” Ella said, “I’m at home full time with many distractions.” Last January, Ella sketched some members of her math class (left).

“They didn’t move much, so I took that opportunity to draw them,” said Ella. In March, Ella created similar sketches of “something from each of the classes [she] was in” (right). A water bottle in German class, a Chromebook and dolphin plushie from English class, a faucet in science, and a door frame in math class were Ella’s muses for the day.

Although photography is Emma Kelley’s medium of choice, she isn’t afraid to branch out when class gets a bit dull. Emma enjoys losing herself in the magical world of Harry Potter, something that shows quite clearly in her distracted doodles.

“I had already read the Harry Potter series six times, and I was really bored,” said Emma about her drawing to the left. “I drew this in eighth grade during silent reading.” The sketch features a few easily recognizable characters, including Hagrid, Hermione, and Harry Potter. The building in the background mirrors the haphazard architecture seen in the live-action Harry Potter films.

Emma describes the cartoonish elderly gentleman pictured on the right as “my own version of Dumbledore.” Similar to her work in eighth grade, Emma drew inspiration from rewatching “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” the night before a science and sustainability lecture. This alternative Dumbledore, unlike his live-action counterpart, has a dark beard and carries a gem-tipped staff.

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“My inspiration for these doodles is really just people,” said artist Gopala Ponadda. “I love drawing people; I think they tell a lot of stories and drawing them…feels natural.” Gopala sets himself apart from other artists with the unique creative process he applies to his sketches.

“When I doodle, I usually take one idea… and expand on it” on the following notebook pages, explained Gopala. For example, Gopala drew the person in the second image on his math homework. A few problems later, Gopala drew the simplified sketch (the third image).

Gopala refines his sketches much like a student editing sentences from their essay. The third sketch “broke down the structure of the face and .. used fewer lines to convey the same information” as the original image (second), said Gopala. The simplified sketch may look less detailed, but it shows how much more confident Gopala became with his linework.

The fourth image showcases one of the more interesting aspects of Gopala’s sketches. Unlike most in-class doodlers, Gopala doesn’t limit his inspiration to what he can see.

“I often draw things according to the music I’m listening to or things I hear in class,” said Gopala. He was listening to a podcast when he sketched the lower-left image. The podcast said something about insects and swords.

“Those words stuck with me,” said Gopala, “and I sort of just drew what came to mind.” Gopala’s audio-to-art translation resulted in a sword with an intricate dragonfly guard and handle. Gopala attributes his skills to nearly a decade of artistic experience and growth.

As president of the National Art Honor Society, Noelle Kostyack finds herself constantly sketching and drawing during class.

To her teachers, Noelle may appear to be zoned out. During this time, however, Noelle tests out new techniques and styles she finds online.

“I looked at TikTok trends and Pinterest boards,” said Noelle, “A lot of my inspiration... actually comes from Pinterest.” Noelle follows accounts that post human references. Noelle said she enjoys drawing models “that kind of stand out… or have an interesting feature.”

“For this woman, it’s her hair and her eyes,” said Noelle, referencing the young woman in the left hand photograph. The two people in the right photograph were not drawn from reference photos. “I was just sketching out some ideas. I just wanted to add something along the sweater lines and to the curly hair,” Noelle said, “I love the idea of short hair and female sketches...it gives...a very interesting definition of their facial features.” She pointed out that the two figures in the right image have facial features similar to hers. “Artists are more prone to draw faces that look like their own because we are used to seeing ourselves in the mirror everyday,” she explained.

Noelle excels at using whatever tools she has on hand to create art. She drew the images above with highlighters, a red pen, and a green marker “I’ve never really experimented with highlighter; it’s like a new medium,” she said. Noelle challenges herself to think outside the box when it comes to how she creates shading and highlights. Above her pre-calculus homework (left), Noelle hastily drew a pear and a sunset to help herself define how colors would be used in the following faces. The green marker creates shadows and dark, bold colors. The red pen provides definition. Two different colors of highlighter give Noelle all the shades she needs to make a math class masterpiece.

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Photo by Dylan Saunders