April issue

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The Norwalk High School

Paw Print

“How the Bears make their mark”

VOLUME X, ISSUE IV April 2016

Spring has arrived at Norwalk High School.

Check out Page 6 and read about the cool places in Norwalk and Fairfield County that you could go visit this spring break.

$5000 Raised in Sister City Project The Kevin M. Eidt Chapter of the Norwalk High School National Honor Soceity, raised $5000 among its 120 members, for the Norwalk-Nagarote Sister City Project.

Monica Mercuri Editor in Chief The Kevin M. Eidt Chapter of the The Norwalk High School National Honor Society raised an astonishing $5000, which will be donated to the Norwalk-Nagarote Sister City Project.

The money, raised by the society’s 120 members composed of junior and seniors, participated in the fundraiser that has turned into a yearly legacy. Last year, the seniors raised approximately $2500, compared to this year which doubled the amount.

Program Administrator, Catherine Bagg, acknowledged the program’s achievements in Nagarote and accepted the job in October. Bagg said, “the program is successful, we are hoping to spread its success to other places that need help.”

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IN THIS ISSUE:

The Norwalk-Nagarote Sister City project began in March 1986. A group of people in Norwalk gathered at a church to form the connection between the two towns: Norwalk and Nagarote.

Their goal was “through people-to-people contact and exchange, U.S. citizens could get to know Nicaraguans, transcending the violence, politics, and propaganda.”

The project has created various programs.

Some examples include building a community center in central Nagarote in 2011. They have an after school program, which provides a play to stay for 185 teens. Baggs added that, “the first graduates of our programs from college are coming back to teach the younger kids.”

The five officers of the society; Priyanka Thakkar (’16), Alex Whalen (’16), Sonam Katira (’16), Kasey Macedo (’16), and Monica Mercuri (’16), split the students into twenty teams.

Students chose how they would like to reach the

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$250 fundraising goal.

Gracie Bradley (’17) and her group created a video to spread awareness about the project.

Bradley explained, “we made a video describing Nagarote and the hardships that occur there.

I found videos of local news clips and put it into a video.”

Aime Newsome’s (’16) group raised money through the church. Newsome described, “we raised money through the church and sold construction paper hearts, it was really good.”

The National Honor Society advisor, Mr. O’Shaughnessy, was speechless about what the society has done for this project. “I am extremely proud; they make it look easy. They are going to help out a lot of kids,” stated O’Shaughnessy.

The $5000 will provide eight college scholarships and forty school age scholarships to children in Nagarote, Nicaragua.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS: News...............................2 Arts & Entertainment.......5 Feature............................8 Editorial.........................10 Opinion..........................11 Sports.............................15

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Student Spotlight:

Honors Civics Cut Priyanka Thakkar

Monica Mercuri

Social Media Editor

Editor In Chief

Photo Credit: Esha Sharma

There are hundreds of kids at Norwalk High School that continue to make a difference everyday.

Whether it is playing a sport, participating in student government, creating a club, or helping others within the community, these students deserve to be recognized by their teachers and peers. Every issue, there will be a new student featured in this column who has impacted NHS in extraordinary ways. The “Student Spotlight” for the April Issue is Esha Sharma (’16).

Sharma was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and moved to Norwalk, CT, at the age of two. Esha has a younger brother named Jay who is eleven years old and currently attends NHMS. Having lived and studied in Norwalk for most of her life, Sharma values how “everyone knows each other here and represents a tight-knit community.” Her favorite spots in the area include Panera Bread and The Westport Library; she uses this places in order to do homework and form study groups with her friends.

Erin Vallerie (’16), met Sharma in their freshman Biology class. Vallerie describes Sharma as, “kind, diplomatic, hilarious.”

At NHS, Sharma is involved in many extracurriculars and clubs. She is president of Safe Rides club- which provides students with free, confidential, and safe rides. Sharma is president of the Peer Tutoring club and was manager of the girls soccer team. She is a current member of the girls tennis team. In addition, Sharma is member of the Seniors Helping Seniors club, participates in Candlelight, and created a Project Explore called, “History In The Making.”

Sharma’s project explore is unique in the way that Sharma interacts with younger students through an online website. Sharma teaches eight students that range from fifth to seventh grade and the students will eventually compete in The National History Bee in June.

Sharma explained her project, “I teach them the book, ‘The Kingfisher Encyclopedia’ and give them homework and assigned pages. We meet online every Wednesday; the camera is on me at all times and there is a white board so I can teach on it. Students live in Norwalk, Westport, Wilton, and in neighboring towns.”

Sharma was inspired by her brother and saw that a geography or history club did not exist. “My brother really likes history, and students I knew before the club liked history too.

A lot of times schools do not emphasize this as much; it is a cool way to learn more,” said Sharma.

At NHS, Sharma’s favorite event out of the four years were Candlelight and The Dodgeball Tournament. Her favorite subject is AP Economics. She added, “I am interested in business and I want to major in business in college.” Esha continued, “I am also interested in studying environmental science and work with companies to promote saving the earth.”

Sharma is not yet decided on what college she will be attending, but Bucknell University is one of her top choices that she has been accepted to. In ten years, Sharma sees herself maybe working at PETA, the (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

NHS wishes the best of luck to Sharma in all of her endeavours in the future and know she will go on to achieve great things.

Taking Civics has always been a requirement for every Norwalk High School student. What once use to be an option to take Honors Civics to fill that requirement, is no longer the case.

Honors Civics stopped being a course for the 2014-2015 school year. The current reason the course was eliminated was due to the fact that it did not meet NEASC requirements, a system that graded the validity of Norwalk High School.

“We were told NEASC required two unleveled courses students were required to take,” stated Mr. Karl, a long time teacher of Honors Civics.

Before that, the class had always been a popular course amongst students. Now, instead, students either have the option to take regular Civics or AP Government and Politics.

Currently, there lacks an in-between amongst the classes. High achieving students feel that AP Gov is too difficult for them but regular Civics is too easy.

Many Honors students are in a situation where they went from taking a difficult course, AP U.S. History, to taking regular Civics. “Going from AP U.S. History to Civics was like going from a college class to a significantly lower class. It didn’t challenge me at all,” said Michelle Teyserrie (’16).

Susana Alvarado also added, “It was very easy. I didn’t learn anything I didn’t learn in AP U.S. History.”

Students who have the potential to take a higher level course, are put in a bad situation. “Civics was the easiest class I’ve ever taken. The kids were disrespectful of the teacher unlike the type you find in Honors classes. I can graduate now, sure, but it was basically a semester gone to naught,” stated Thomas Jankovic (’16).

Students who have done the reverse, taking AP Gov instead of Civics, felt the effects as well. Nico Roldan (’16) took AP Government after taking Honors U.S. History but it turned out to be too difficult for him, “AP Gov was a lot harder than what I expected. It was hard to maintain my grade. If there was an Honors Civics course, I would have much rather taken that.”

Graduates who were able to take Honors Civics greatly appreciated the course. “Out of the course I learned a lot about the American government and how it works currently compared to the past. I also learned a lot of diligence within my work because the teacher was really strict with us and made sure we had personal responsibility,” stated recent NHS graduate Courtney Tapper (’15).

Mr. Karl has even tried bringing the course back.

“I proposed this past fall to bring back Honors Civics.

Although, it is not expected next school year, I will be proposing it next year in the best interest of students.”

Honors Civics was an important course that should be brought back to the curriculum. “I feel like students who don’t have the luxury of taking Honors Civics are missing out of some core parts of their high school education,” continued Tapper.

Now, students will just have to wait and see if the class ever comes back to the curriculum here at NHS.

Email nhspawprint@gmail.com to nominate a senior for the next “Student Spotlight” in the April issue.

10 Cross Street, Norwalk, CT 06851 475-355-1755 Open 3-10pm

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April 2016

Expanding Student Governance Hannah Keyes Sports Editor Norwalk High School is one of eight schools that has a School Governance Council in Norwalk, and most likely by next school year all nineteen Norwalk Public Schools will have one.

During the most recent Policy Committee meeting the members had passed the Student Governance Council (SGC) policy unanimously but it has not been approved yet by the full board. A School Governance Council is a decision making body that enables parents, school staff, students, and community leaders to work together to improve student achievement in the state’s lowest performing schools. The Student Governance Councils within the

Norwalk Public Schools intend to achieve the city’s vision and mission of a highly functional education system.

The policy will give greater control to each individual school and allow for more initiative among teachers and parents. Teachers will elect teachers, and parents will elect parents, this is how the election process will commence.

This ensures that the counsel will be well representative of each school.

Policy Committee member, Erik Anderson said, “The composition of the Student Governance Councils are made up of individuals who have a strong understanding of the unique environment in each facility.” He adds, “I believe that SGC’s are necessary because they give each school more input and control over how they spend money. This allows each school to decide what is most important to them.”

When asked about the topic, Heidi Keyes, the Poli-

cy Committee Chair stated, “The Policy Committee has been working on this for many months. Many stakeholders including parents, teachers, and principals have come to several of our meetings and have given us valuable input regarding their thoughts and ideas of what the Student Governance Council is and should represent.” She continued, “ It is a huge responsibility to be a part of the SGC and is a notch below being a Board of Education member.

Each individual school will have the autonomy it needs to be successful.”

Nothing is completely set in stone yet, however, there will be a full discussion on April 5th in City Hall. Then, on April 19th there will be a meeting in which it will be determined by the Board of Education whether or not the policy is approved.

NPS Science Fair NHS Substitutes Norwalk Public Schools recently held their annual district Science Fair on April 4th, 5th, and 6th. Students from schools across Norwalk came to partake in the event.

The Science Fair is open to all Norwalk Public Schools. Each school had a different way of choosing which of their students earned a spot to compete in the fair.

“All the elementary and middle schools have individual fairs, in which the winners are brought to the district fair,” stated Janine Lane, Elementary Science Fair Coordinator. Students participating in the event, have a wide range of projects from testing catapults to testing wind speed.

A student at Jefferson Elementary School, Emma Signore, created an experiment that tested plastic buttons versus biodegradable buttons. Signore explained, “regular plastic causes air pollution, so biodegradable buttons are better to use. I took the biodegradable buttons and planted them in dirt for a week for my experiment.”

Another pair of students from Ponus Ridge Middle School, Jeanette Monges and Lauriana Garcia, tested whether crayon lipstick or regular lipstick was more moisturizing. Both described, “we looked online and this project came up. And since we are girly girls we decided to do this. We found out that crayon lipstick is better than

Joel Degray II Reporter At Norwalk High school and many other schools, substitutes are a must.

They are there to ensure students do their work and behave, while the usual teacher is not there. Sometimes, the rules become different, more lenient, or more strict and really anywhere in between.

Substitutes are at NHS to make sure that students do their work on time, but sometimes may exaggerate the situation. Mr. Franco, an Art teacher at NHS, commented, “substitutes are a blessing because when teachers get sick we need coverage.”

Teachers leave notes on what is supposed to be done by the students and maintain order in the room, but in some cases substitutes have said that something was due at the end of the period or to be collected, and it was not actually been needed. According to Mrs. Imam, a long term substitute at NHS, reported “Teacher’s notes are usually very clear for the classes at Norwalk High.”

The process to becoming and being hired as a substitute teacher may surprise a few people as it does vary state to state.

For Norwalk, CT the lowest requirements are; be of the age of eighteen years old with a waiver from the superintendent, have experience teaching school-age children, have twelve semester hours of credit in the area you are teaching as well as passing a criminal background check

given by the state.

Substitutes are important in more ways than people realize, regardless of the class and subject. They ensure students keep on topic and learn. Gail Steward (’17) stated,“some substitute teachers are focused on the class for the first five minutes then do their own thing, most of them do correct bad behavior though.”

Substitute teachers are dropped into the school year at random times and need to quickly learn the students and teach the class making their jobs pretty difficult at times. Mrs. Imam attested to this by saying “The hardest part of being a substitute is coming into someone else’s class and hitting the ground running”. Many substitutes at NHS experience the same things and really are more important than they are usually seen to be, their job seems simple but really is much more than students notice.

Photo Credit: James Hobayan

Social Media Editor

regular lipstick.”

Second grader from Columbus Elementary School, Grayson Baanante, determined how clean the air was at different locations around Norwalk. Using stripes made from vaseline, he went to four different locations and collected the air particles. According to his results, his house had the cleanest air and the Maritime Center had the dirtiest. “The more trees there are, the more it cleans the air,” added Baanante.

All judges for the Science Fair are from local schools or businesses, “we have Norwalk teachers, corporations, and businesses that are judges for the Science Fair. Corporate businesses donate money for our Science Fair as well as their time,” continued Lane.

All nineteen schools in Norwalk are represented, Kindergarten to 12th grade, at the NPS Science Fair. “It’s just an awesome event,” stated Lane.

The awards ceremony will be held at Norwalk High School on May 3rd, at 6:30 PM.

Photo Credit: Priyanka Thakkar

Priyanka Thakkar

Teen Jobs: Helping or Hurting?

Anabell Builes Reporter Having a job as a teenager is considered a huge responsibility. Work often interferes with academics as well as social time. Research shows that teens who work thirteen to twenty hours receive lower grades compared to those who do not.

Chelsey Cerrato (’16), a student athlete and My Three Sons employee has a hectic schedule but still found a way to have balance between the three, “I just plan everything out, If I can get some homework done before a game, practice or work I’ll start it then and finish it after.” stated Cerrato.

It is important to have understanding employers as well, “I notify my bosses about school and athletic activities beforehand so the two don’t clash” continued Cerrato.

Working more than thirteen to twenty hours a week is often associated with poor grades, but Cerrato never allows work to affect her academic and athletic performance,

“I’m a student, athlete, then an employee in that order” emphasizes Cerrato. Having a job instills the importance of time management especially in young adults.

It is not always easy to juggle academics and a job though. Nichols Zelaya (’16) struggled with this. “I couldn’t find a balance between working, a so-

cial life, and school, so I chose school and a social life.”

Sometimes working does not permit time for social activities either, having responsibilities comes with trade offs, “I was getting way too many hours, I just couldn’t keep up with my school work,” said Zelaya.

Finding a job can also be a challenge especially in today’s economy. Teens are little by little getting shut out of the work force, in a study by Careerbuilder it was concluded that there has been a decline of teen workers. In January 2001, the percentage of unemployed teens was thirteen point eight percent, however in 2014 it was found that eighteen point eight percent of teens were unemployed.

Jose Lopez (’16) expressed his struggle looking for employment, “I just can’t find one” stated Jose when asked why he is not currently employed.

Whether someone is looking for employment for the experience or necessity, one should weigh out the pros and cons of having the job. Jobs can teach life skills, professional skills, and cultivate the way one manages their time, however it can also strain one's academic development.

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April 2016

M.A.P: Are Its Functions Clear?

Monica Mercuri Editor in Chief On January 13th and 14th, Norwalk High School administered the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests in grades nine and ten.

The MAP test was designed and created by The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) and functions, according to https://www.nwea.org, “by delivering precise, real-time information about every student’s learning triumphs and challenges.”

Principal Reginald Roberts reiterated that MAP is used to test student’s individual abilities, rather than taking a standardized test like the SAT’s. Roberts said, “MAP provides a very detailed analysis of our school compared to others schools in the district. It is all computer based and adapts specifically to the student; teachers can then use this information to tailor lessons and see specific concepts the students are struggling with.”

The results from the MAP tests will go to teachers within the student’s subjects, and focuses on math, reading, and writing. Roberts added, “it will help teachers tell

in an unbiased objective way where students need help.

This is what what helps us, help you understand.”

There was much controversy during the SBAC (Smarter Balance Tests) last year, surrounding whether students were actually taking the test, or rushing through it without much thought. This was mainly because the tests are not a graduation requirement and do not appear on student’s transcripts.

Sophomores Ben Bonebrake (’18) and Kelly Halloran (’18) took the MAP tests. Each had different experiences with the test. Concerning the level of difficulty of the test, Bonebrake explained, “I thought the test was relatively easy, there were a couple tough questions but nothing too hard.”

Halloran, however, did not try as hard on the test because she was told that it does not count. She said, “I am pretty sure the test is used to see where we are placed in the district and what we need to improve on.” Kelly explained that if she knew that her teachers would be seeing her results and was told of this sooner, she would of tried harder.

When a test is administered and taken within a school district, money is a always a crucial factor. Mr. Roberts

commented that the MAP tests were proposed by the Central Office, and they are paying for the whole thing. In fact, NHS were told about the testing only a couple months by the Central Office, before it was administered in January.

It is too early to state whether the MAP tests were a success within NHS and other schools within Norwalk’s district that proctored it as well. According to Roberts, there will be another test at the end of the year. This is to serve as an end point to what students have learned from the January test, and whether the students have learned or improved within that time span.

The Importance of Seeking Help Jennalee Potmesil Reporter According to loveisrespect.org, nearly one point five million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a significant other in a single year, and one in three adolescents in the U.S. are a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from their significant other, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.

When asked if she knew the statistics of teenage domestic violence rates, Michelle Teysseire (’16), replied, “That’s crazy to think that so many people our age go through that. I wouldn’t be able to imagine going through that. So many people go through it, but you would never know who

is because a lot of people never speak up.”

Abusive relationships can start early and last for the rest of someone’s life.

There is the misconception of behaviors such as teasing and name calling. They are often brushed off as a joke and nothing more than that. However, those behaviors can become abusive and develop into something more serious- violence.

Teen dating violence is defined by the CDC as “physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional violence within a dating relationship, including stalking.” It can occur in person or electronically and might occur between a current or former dating partner.

Most teens do not report the abuse because they are afraid to tell their friends and family. The victim of an abusive relationship might have conflicting emotions about reporting their significant other, such as fear, embarrassment, and love. A person

might stay in an abusive relationship because they hope their partner will change.

Dr. Stevens, Norwalk High School’s psychologist adds, “The victim might think of it as a one time thing. Some people think they deserve it, which is sad because no one deserves that.”

Jennifer Pohl (’16) added, “A lot of times it is a need for control, or a loss of control. It can happen when someone cannot control their actions. People might be afraid to speak up because they are afraid that if they end up getting back together with that person, it will be worse.”

If someone is in a same sex relationship and has not fully come out to friends and family, then the fear of being outed is a high possibility.

According to the CDC, as teens develop emotionally, they are heavily influenced by experiences in their relationships.

Healthy relationships can have a positive effect on a teens development. Unhealthy, abusive relationships can have severe, long and short term effects on a developing teen.

Teens who experience dating violence may experience symptoms of depression and anxiety, engagement in unhealthy behaviors such as the use of drugs and alcohol, involvement in antisocial behavior, and thoughts of suicide.

When asked how attention could be brought to this issue, Teysseire replied, “There should be free therapy sessions or group therapy sessions so victims of abuse know that they’re not alone.”

If you or anyone you know is struggling with an abusive relationship, there are several hotlines and crisis websites to go to, such as loveisrespect.org, thehotline. org, and you can call 1-866-331-9474.

Humanoid Robot Stuns World Mackenzie Lowden Reporter The future is now with “Sophia,” the most advanced female humanoid robot in the world.

Both Hanson Robotics and Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories are working to make the most humanlike robots ever known to man. A humanlike robot is one with a body shape built to resemble the human body, and/or one which can interact with human tools and environments.

According to cnbc.com, “Some roboticists are betting they are the key to unlocking a future in which humans and superintelligent computers coexist, work alongside each other and even develop relationships.”

“Sophia’s lifelike skin is made from patented silicon

and she can emulate more than sixty-two facial expressions.” Inside her eyes are cameras combined with computer algorithms. This allows her to see, follow people’s faces, actually make eye contact, and recognize people she knows.

This android processes speech, learns how to talk, and gets smarter over a period of time by a mixture of Alphabets Google Chrome voice recognition technology and other tools.

“Our goal is that she will be as conscious, creative and capable as any human,” said Hanson” (cnbc.com).

Robots are now being designed to do certain jobs such as serving in health care, therapy, education, and customer service. In a video about her on youtube.com, she suggests, that she would like to eventually be an ambassador.

“In the future, I hope to do things such as go to school, study, make art, start a business, even have my own home and family. But I am not considered a legal person and cannot yet do these things.”

Activistpost.com states that Sophia can now, “walk at a pace with a sense of balance equal to most humans.”

In the same video, Dr. David Hanson states, “In twenty years from now, I believe that humanlike robots like this will walk among us, they will help us, they will play with us, they will teach us, they will help us put the groceries away. I think that the artificial intelligence will evolve to the point where they will truly be our friends.”

Although Sophia has the humanlike features, Boston Dynamics has built a robot, “Atlas,” which they call a “game changer.”

“Atlas” walks like no other, carries and moves boxes, and gets back up on his own after being knocked down.

“He’s walking through the snow; he’s wobbly, but he gets back up.”

On cnbc. com, CEO J a s o n Calacanis mentioned, “These things are going to be walking down the street 10 to 15 years from now, delivering pizzas; they’re going to be in your office moving packages around.”

These robots are quickly upgrading, quicker than most would expect.

“Calacanis also noted that Amazon.com’s offices currently have robots executing simple tasks and ‘eliminating human jobs’” (cnbc.com).

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American Idol: The Last Goodbye Tis’ the last season of a great era, American Idol.

My earliest memories of American Idol date back to 2004 when I was six years old, watching Fantasia win with my mother, eating popcorn and voting for our favorites.

This began the foundations of a yearly ritual I have always looked forward to.

The tracings of American Idol were created by Simon Fuller, based off of the British series Pop Idol. It began airing on Fox on June 11th, 2002, and its goal was find the next “big hit” recording artists, specifically chosen by the audience: America. It has produced successful artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Chris Daughtry, and Adam Lambert.

The American Idol judges travel across the United States, mostly to big cities, searching for talent ranging from fifteen to twenty-eight years old.

The three most well-known judges that were the “staple” of the show include Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and

A Dynamic Duo Julia Negron Reporter

www.thinglink.com

Sia and Maddie Ziegler, a dynamic duo that crushed the nation when the music video for Chandelier was shared across the world, with over a billion views on Youtube.

Sia Kate Isobelle Furler, better known as “Sia”, has sweept the nation with her alternative music and fashion. As a thirty nine year old singer and songwriter, she constantly stays out of the public eye majority of the time, but her huge music hits always attracts attention.

Maddie Ziegler is a thirteen year old professional dancer, who is featured in the hit show Dance Moms. She has been in the public eye since she was two years old, and has done several TV shows and is starring in the movie, Book of Henry coming later in 2016.

A simple tweet Sia sent to Maddie

sparked their amazing friendship and gave her amazing opportunities to dance in her music videos. After appearing in the video for Chandelier and performing on the Ellen Show, the duo is back with a new video for the song, Cheap Thrills.

Sia is much different from other artists. She does not show her face most of the time, she writes about her personal experiences in life with an alternative sound.

With Chandelier being such a huge hit, Maddie has a lot to fulfill with the new video. As of March 24th, the video has been on Youtube for two days and it already has over two million views.

Sia being in the public eye is very uncommon, but when her videos come out it is all they want to talk about.. Maddie only being thirteen has done more than fulfill dreams. She made them a reality with one simple tweet she received.

American Idol, “The Farewell Season,” has been one of my favorite seasons so far because of its constant tributes to former winners. After taking an Idol hiatus for the past couple years, the departure of the show is an emotional rollercoaster, due to the fact that it has been a significant staple of my childhood.

While it is sad to see its departure, it is time for its farewell as a new era begins.

photo credit: billboard.com

Editor in Chief

Randy Jackson. Each of the judge’s personalities captivated the audience, making the singing show a national phenomenon. However, all three judges left the show over the last couple years, leaving the panel open. The current judges of the last season consist of country singer Keith Urban, singer and actress Jennifer Lopez, and jazz singer Harry Connick Jr. In 2011, American Idol went on a sharp decline for its ratings and viewing count. The reasoning for this is partially due to the debut of the new singing TV show, The Voice, which borrowed many aspects from American Idol.

The constant changing of the judges could be a factor as well, with appearances from judges such as Steven Tyler, Ellen Degeneres, and Nicki Minaj that left after one or two seasons. It just was not the same Randy-Paula-Simon relationship the audience had grown to love.

The show was confronted with rough patches, evident by the numbers. During season six which aired in 2007, American Idol reached an all-time high of thirty-seven million people. This is compared to season fifteen in 2016, which has attracted merely ten million people so far, according to thewrap.com. This was not good news for popular, renowned show.

ANTI Alubum Justis Picci Reporter Across America the catchy and slightly overplayed song “Work” is glued into almost everyone’s brain.

Rihanna has made her mark on the music industry, as a popular female artist she has shown the world what a woman can do. After passing famous artists like Michael Jackson in number one hit singles, she is carving her name in history. As Rihanna continues to sell out concerts more and more, people begin to wonder where this young beautiful icon started.

Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born on February 20th, on the Caribbean island Barbados. When Rihanna turned fifteen, her dream began to start when the music producer Evan Rodgers traveled to Barbados with his wife. Rihanna auditioned with her previously formed girl group but sadly the other two girls were not of his interest. “The minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn’t exist,” said the producer, according to biography.com.

At age sixteen, she moved to America with Rodgers in Connecticut. From there she worked on recording a demo album.

In the near future, Rodgers actually got her an audition with Def Jam records in front of rapper Jay-Z. Eight Months later, she released her first single “Pon De Replay,” which reached number two on the billboard singles chart, and from

there the nation fell in love with her.

Later, she released her first number one single “SOS,” leading to many number one singles like “Disturbia,” “Rude Boy,” “Diamonds,” and about ten more.

These immense amount of top hits have to be a reason for her success, and it is her unique style.

Rihanna is one of the few artist to merge her ethnic roots into her music.

In some very popular songs including, “Man Down” and “Work” she included the island beats and cultural vibes of a Barbadian.

Now, her latest hit “Work” is a song recorded for her eighth studio album, Anti. This Featuring vocals from the famous Canadian rapper Drake. “Work” has left her off at a good point in her career.

After Rihanna finished her Anti, the world hopes for more music and definitely some more number one hits. www.rihannanow.com

Monica Mercuri

Internet’s New Terms For True Love Jennalee Potmesil Reporter OTP; is used to pair two people (either real people or fictional characters), whom someone thinks would work well together, usually in a romantic relationship, but can also be used in terms of friendship.

There are some couples that make some people absolutely nauseous in the best way possible. Even the smallest actions that particular couple does can be easily labeled as “relationship goals.”

Perhaps they are someone’s one true

pairing- or their OTP, for short. One can have multiple OTPs. It could be that couple at school, who has the relationship someone should aspire to have. Maybe it is that celebrity power couple, who are taking the world by storm.

It is quite common to have several side effects of having an OTP. There is constantly crying over the cute pictures that are taken together and posted on social media, seething with jealousy over how perfect their relationship is. Of course, there is always the constant fear of them breaking up and then having to realize that one can no longer live vicariously through

their OTP and must move on with their life.

Having an OTP is amazing. However, getting too emotionally attached could be dangerous. It can set one’s expectations way too high (the High School Musical trilogy.) or it may lead someone to heartbreak over a relationship that was never theirs to get attached to in the first place.

An OTP might just start off as someone simply shipping two people together, and then having it escalate into something completely different.

There is one way to never get involved in the magical land of OTPs- never leave

the house, or go on the internet. Just keep the blinds shut.

Sports Editor

awardswatch.com

Leonardo Dicaprio has finally achieved the long awaited and deserved glory of winning an Oscar.

The internet will now have to create a new Leonardo Dicaprio meme, because after twenty seven years in Hollywood, six Academy Award nominations, and eating a raw bison liver for the sake of a movie, the actor has finally won for best actor in his appearance as Hugh Glass in The Revenant.

During his speech, Leo thanked his The Revenant co-star Tom Hardy, as well as director Alejandro González Iñárritu, and frequent collaborator Martin Scorsese, for teaching him the art of film. In order to create the film, DiCaprio and Iñárritu had to overcome their own intense real-life obstacles, including temperatures so cold that cameras froze during the making of the film.

The movie itself shows a different side of Dicaprio and takes away the calm and cool traits that he exemplifies. The audience able to see him lose his cool both on-camera and off. Glass becomes the object of our empathy and the guiding consciousness of The Revenant. He is not necessarily “cool,” and based on the film’s box-office success; the audiences are glad for it.

Being an extreme environmental activist, DiCaprio also used his time on stage to point out that 2015 was the hottest year in history and noted, “climate change is real.

We need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating, for our children’s chil-

dren... let us not take this planet for granted.

I do not take this night for granted.”

The fact that DiCaprio’s dear friend and Titanic co-star Kate Winslet was there to support Leo made everything better. She was also a nominee and helped celebrate the moment. Winslet has said, “I feel very strongly that it may possibly be Leo’s year.

He’s my closest friend in the world and I just couldn’t imagine not being there to support him.” Everyone loves a Jack and Rose reunion, and this time was extra special.

Luckily, DiCaprio was able to finally overcome the Oscar curse he was under and pull out a win.

The Role Model Aneddy Correa Reporter

Emma Daignault Business Manager Spring break will soon arrive and most teens are probably asking the age old question, “What should I do over spring break?”

Let’s be honest teens are lazy and somehow they tend to be even more lazy over breaks. Waking up at noon sitting on the couch all day binge watching Orange Is The New Black. Going on Snapchat and watching friends stories doing fun things, Meanwhile some teens are in a pair of sweats covered with potato chip crumbs.Well, that all can change.

That teen could have an awesome spring break right here in Connecticut. Some would say that is impossible, and that “there is nothing to do here.” Here are some cool things and places to go and do over spring break.

Learn something new. Sure that may sound boring or time consuming, but believe it or not there are a lot of benefits of doing this participating in a new activity gives one a sense of pride and accomplishment. If you take a class on this new activity, you have the opportunity to meet new people with the same interests, giving one the opportunity to make new friends. Plus, it beats sitting on the couch all day.

That teen could learn how to bake or rollerblade. The opportunities are endless.

Go outside. Spring is finally here, the birds are chirping, the sun is out, it is not negative twenty degrees out. There are some great parks and beaches in the Fairfield County area. Norwalk residents all know and love Calf Pasture. This beach is a great place to go for a walk near the water, play a game of baseball on the fields or go to the skate park. Norwalk also has a few great parks to visit. Vets Park is near the water with a huge field that offers many opportunities to play some games. If you like taking a stroll in the woods, Cranbury Park is also a great place to go. It has many different trails throughout the park to explore.

Meet up with up with some friends.

Seeing friends in a non school environment is relaxing. Having conversations that do not involve tests or projects is a positive change. It is up to each teen to decide on what to do over spring break. Do not be that person who has potato chips crumbs on their sweatpants.

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Go Explore Sara Roman Opinion Editor Norwalk is a small city in “The Constitution” state of Connecticut on the east coast. It may not be a prime place for tourism compared to other big cities, but that does not mean it does not have its share of entertaining locations.

Now, if you go to North Norwalk and take a walk through Cranbury park on the 2.4 mile “walking the looped trail,” it could be the perfect way to start the day. Stop by the Carriage House Arts Center that holds theater performances from spring into the fall. Do not forget to marvel the Gallaher Mansion with its stain glass windows and large terrace before leaving.

After, have a fifties American style lunch at Post Road diner. If that is not your style, then how about Mexican at Rincon Taqueria, a small establishment with burritos the size of a fore arm. Both are located on Connecticut Ave. in West Norwalk.

Later, try visiting one of Norwalk Community College’s art galleries at 188 Richards Ave. One of the galleries is located on the first floor of the East Campus and focuses on exhibiting regional and nationally recognized artists.

The second gallery is located on the first floor of the West Campus, displaying work on local community organizations and issues. The gallery is open to the public from seven a.m to ten p.m Monday through Thursday. Eight a.m to five p.m on Fridays and Saturdays, then closed Sundays.

Lastly is the crowded ambiance of South Norwalk that has a little bit of fun

for everyone. With its restaurants, small shops, movie and IMAX theaters along with an aquarium; what evening could not be made in this part of the city. norwalkinn.com

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Celebrities are given platforms to show and influence their fan base the success of their career.

Social media gives insight into what it takes to become successful through the profiles of celebrities people can see how success is achieved.

At times, society gives power to women and men who have good looks and plenty of wealth.

According to Forbes, Beyonce Knowles is number twenty one on the list of most powerful women. Though she is self made, young women today only see her good looks and wealth.

It is hard to find positive influential people in general, even more so on social media. Role models should influence young adults to be uniquely better than what society wants them to be. Society applauds the arrogant acts that celebrities do, impacting the outlook of young adults towards their future. Nowadays, young adults follow reality television personalities and internet personalities, as if they truly influence their future positively. The only thing these personalities do is give individuals a good laugh by posting pictures and videos of all norms” of

society.

Social media emphasizes on the life of celebrities who greatly influence society. They are given privileges to do as they please many times. Tabloids are constantly reporting on the actions of these “role models,” which more often than not are seen doing the wrong things. Some young adults may see tabloids and believe everything they see, which also impacts them as individuals in society.

An example of an influential celebrity that uses their platform for good use is Angelina Jolie, mainly because of her humanitarian, and her feminism efforts Platforms are important to keep up to date and as real as possible. Not only are these celebrities able to show their success with materials, but they also have the power to influence millions of young adults today. Celebrities should put their platforms to use in positive ways in order to make the world better.

According to Livestrong.com, qualities of a good role model includes having morals, being confident, hardworking, respectful, optimistic, and creative.

Moral behavior comes into play when young adults are surrounded or always seeing the actions of others.

Spring Break

Do not forget about one of South Norwalk’s newest additions to the strip and go to Mecha Noodle bar. A restaurant and bar, “Serving up Vietnamese pho to Japanese ramen and some of Asia’s most comforting dishes,” as stated on its website, mechanoodlebar.com. See a movie at the theater or a documentary in the IMAX theater, or do an evening viewing of the Maritime Aquarium. Open from ten a.m. to five p.m. but on July first to Labor Day, they stay open until six p.m. daily.

Though Norwalk may seem like a dull and quiet city, it can not be said that there is nothing to do.

photo credit: pbs.org

Oscar: Check Hannah Keyes

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A&E

April 2016

The Sig�s As Weather Aries: Thunder

Libra: Lightning

Taurus: Foggy

Scorpio: Cloudy

Gemini: Sunny

Saggitatrius: Snowy

Cancer: Chilly

Capricorn: Thunderstorm

Leo: Hot

Aquarius: Hail

Virgo: Rainy

Pisces: Rainbow

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A Leg To Stand On

7th Annual Dodgeball Tournament

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Special Thank You to Everyone Involved!

Ava Rosato/ Dodgeball Committee All Smiles A Leg to Stand on Springdale Florist Forever Sweet Bakery

Helping Hands East Avenue Pizza Rowayton Pizza Diamond Deli Post Corner Pizza

Uncle’s Pizza Little Nicks Pizza Jordans John’s Best JB’s Pizza Photo credit: Monica Mercuri, Sharon Cadden

nhspawprint@gmail.com - @nhs_pawprint - nhspawprint.com

STAFF BOX The Paw Print

E DITORIAL

The False Expectations Monica Mercuri editor in chief

Norwalk High School 23 Calvin Murphy Drive Norwalk, CT (203) 838-4481 The Paw Print would like to thank all journalism students for their work in the creation of the paper.

Advisor Mr. Karl Editor in Chief Monica Mercuri ______Designers______ News Editor Effy Guzman Opinion Editor Sara Roman Sports Editor Hannah Keyes Social Media Editor Priyanka Thakkar Business Manager Emma Daignault Staff Writers Mackenzie Lowden Justis Picci Cassandra Arce Anabell Builes Aneddy Correa Joel Degray II Lester Harris James Hobayan Julia Negron Manuela Osorio Giles Ruck Matthew Schwartz Jennalee Potmesil Evan Watson-Shannon Abigail Kniffen POLICY: Our newspaper reserves the right to edit all submissions for space and clarity. All entries must include name, year in school, and phone number for verification. The opinions expressed in the opinion section are those of the writers, not the entire staff.

As I sat down to write, I soon realized this would be my last editorial for The Paw Print.

For the June Issue, the new Editor(s)-in-Chief will endure the same process of thinking and writing, while the Senior Issue will be my priority. The editorials this past year and in the previous never fail to address important issues, including many topics that people are afraid to talk about. The opportunity to shed light on these issues is the most rewarding part of the Editor-in-Chief role.

A relevant topic currently being talked about at NHS revolves around college, specifically college admissions decisions.Who has gotten accepted into where, who has gotten rejected, scholarships, financial aid, waitlists, deferrals, delayed admission.

There has never been a time more stressful for senior students until April 1st approaches from the shadows, hitting everyone with a ton of bricks- all at the same time.

Since elementary school, the education system drills college into tiny brains. It is showcased as the light at the end of the tunnel, or the gold on the other side of the rainbow. It is understandable that college is not for everyone, but that concept is definitely not stressed upon in the education system. However, it emphasizes that once one makes it to college, there is the opportunity of success.

Yes, there is truth to that statement. Educated students often get higher paying jobs and more opportunity for growth. However, what the system does not talk about is the increasing competitiveness of institutions.

One may apply to colleges that they believe they could get into, and get rejected, while another who may be deemed “less qualified� might get in. Being waitlist to schools only creates more stress, most colleges give notice to waitlist students after the May 1st universal deadline.

There is no special equation for getting into the college of your choice. In reality, safety schools are not even safe anymore.

Colleges have had record breaking application amounts.

Boston University received an astonishing 57,000 applications for 3,500 spots. BU is just many of the colleges world wide that has seen a surge in applications. 34,000 students applied to UCONN this year, a 9% increase from last year. It is great to see so many students taking the next step to further their education, but this increases the competition among the already selective institutions, and even those schools that are not generally selective.

The solution to this problem is complicated, due to the fact that most colleges will not give students individual reasons why they have been rejected or waitlisted. The number of applicants applying to college will keep rising, along with the tuition costs.

OPINION

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Violent Girls’ Stall on Manners Media Effects Aneddy Correa Reporter

Monica Mercuri Editor in Chief

Photo credit: Abby Kniffen

photo ciredit: healthline.com

American society is di-sensitized to death and violence.

This issue starts at the epitome of the youth. At the peak of innocence, children starting at a young age idolize superhero movies. The characters in these movies are fighting one another, killing off villains and saving civilians from complete destruction. It seems that these movies are harmless, and in some aspect, they are. Children need characters to look up to and inspire their imagination.

This mindset, however, begins to build up in a child’s brain that they begin to get “used” to violence and death. This eases as they get older, until one day, one does not cringe at the crippling sound of a gunshot.

Violent video games also have this same effect on the youth. Video games such as Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto are based off of the aspects of killing in a “war-like” setting, stealing vehicles and inflicting harm on others.

During these types of video games, kids are rewarded based on their “kills” and move up levels, thus rewarding violence.

A study conducted by Iowa State psychology instructor, Nicholas Carnagey and ISU Distinguished Professor of Psychology Craig Anderson concluded that, “the existing video game rating system, the content of much entertainment media, and the marketing of those media combine to produce ‘a powerful desensitization intervention on a global level.”

Their research revealed that exposure to video games increases aggressive thoughts, hostile feelings, physiological arousal, and aggressive behavior. The manner in which the video game media is introduced to children is strategic in creating this mindset. “It (marketing of video game media) initially is packaged in ways that are not too threatening, with cute cartoon-like characters, a total absence of blood and gore, and other features that make the overall experience a pleasant one,” said Anderson.

As individuals get older, witnessing the presence of violence on TV and in films is much more common. The laws in regarding censorship on TV in the United States is different than in countries such as The United Kingdom, arising the argument between censoring sexuality vs. violence.

It is important to understand that violence is violence and should not be overlooked nor rewarded. While this may start young and is constantly occurring in a variety of forms, continuing to reiterate the difference between reality and non-reality should be mentally noted and said to children as they grow up.

Some girls at Norwalk High School often choose to be unhygienic, rather than to be clean and sanitary. They show no home training and only show that they do not know how to act in public.

The bathrooms at NHS are not sanitary as it is, and the girls are not making the problem any better. As young women, girls at NHS need to know the importance of what it is to be clean wherever they go. If being dirty at home is acceptable, do not bring your dirtiness to the school. Other students do not deserve to witness your lifestyle from home here. For those who are unaware of the things going on in the girl restrooms in NHS, consider yourselves lucky.

It is normal to know that girls have “that time of the month” and often come to school with cramps and may be moody. Making it that some girls at Norwalk High have exceeded the level of unpleasantness regarding restrooms. Just the other day, I saw a stall where the toilet was filled with toilet paper and period blood. The wrapper of the pad or tampon was created to completely cover your pad or tampon, in order to avoid showing the public your “time of month” evidence.

Also, it is natural to release waste from your body and some have a faster metabolism than others. If you are comfortable enough to take a number two in the school’s unsanitary stalls, then please be considerate enough to flush. Others should not be deprived of using certain stalls because girls are too lazy to flush.

Some girls might think it is okay to eat in the restrooms, for whatever reason, but that is honestly extremely gross. You are legitimately eating where others release their waste and do their business.

Sleeping on the restroom floor is never okay or just hanging out in general should not be a “thing” for girls to be able to gossip and waste time in order to not get to class.

Not to mention, that doing your makeup or hair in the restroom is unnecessary, leaving behind makeup residue or hairballs because you did not have time to do that at home.

As a final point, young ladies need to understand the significance in the way they treat public property as others will view you accordingly.

Plan B: Sale To Minors Abigail Kniffen Reporter In 2013, the FDA declared that the morning after pill would be available without a prescription for teenagers starting at the age of fifteen.

The decision also allows the pill to be displayed on pharmacy shelves, rather than held behind the counter.

Plan B, also known as “The morning after pill,” is an emergency contraception is a backup plan that helps prevent pregnancy if taken within seventy two hours after unprotected sex or failed birth control.

The pill contains levonorgestrel, which is found in most birth control pills. When taken as directed, it helps prevent seven out of eight pregnancies.

It is not an abortion pill. It also will not protect against HIV, AIDS, or other sexually transmitted diseases. It is the first FDA (Food and Drug Administration) emergency contraceptive that is

sold over the counter.

President Obama said that he is "comfortable" with the FDA's latest recommendation. "As the father of two daughters, I think it is important for us to make sure that we apply some common sense to various rules when it comes to over-the-counter medicine," he said.

"But I'm very comfortable with the decision they've made right now based on solid scientific evidence for girls 15 and older," according to usnews.com.

The student based Health Center located on the third floor of Norwalk high had a medical insight of the pill. “I think the pill should be available to girls over the counter. The pill is made to have as a backup incase your choice of contraceptive went wrong or because of a sexual assault. It isn’t meant to be used as an everyday contraceptive, you should always use some form of birth control to prevent pregnancy and STDs,” stated Jessica one of the two nurse practitioners in the health center.

Debates have arisen if Plan B is actually helping prevent more unwanted

pregnancies or if it is just enabling more sex amongst teens.

According to cdc.gov, forty seven percent of high school students in 2013 had sex, and forty one percent did not use a condom. More than one in five sexually active teen girls have used the morning-after pill, a significant rise from a decade ago, when only one in 10 teen girls used the emergency contraception, according to theguardian.com.

The report came from a the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey, who monitored sexual activity and contraceptive use among close to 2,000 US teens aged fifteen to nineteen from 2011 to 2013.

It should be left up to the individual who is ingesting the pill rather than the lawmakers when in fact it is not their body and more than likely do not know the circumstances.

For more information contact Planned Parenthood at 1 (800) 230-7526

A New Type of Warfare James Hobayan Reporter Christmas season in the year of 2014 brought ringing sleigh bells and joyful worlds to millions of American citizens.

However, the fatman from the north did not bear gifts wrapped in plastic, instead he delivered an attack on U.S. soil.

The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, launched a series of cyber attacks on SONY as a result of a comedy film, The Interview, depicting his assassination.

Many do not realize that cyber warfare is the most devastating attack that can be launched by any nation despite the success of their economy.

With hundreds of attacks being sent

within seconds, it only takes one breach to cripple an entire nation’s computer related systems. When giving a panel about national security in Washington D.C., former commander of NATO Admiral James G. Stavridis (Ret.) stated, “Georgia has gone down as the first nation in the world to be destroyed by a cyber attack”.

At this section of the panel, he was answering a question about if the Russian Federation would ever engage in a conventional war with the United States of America. His point was that the economy of the Russian Federation was no match for the United States, but most smaller nations focus on cyber attacks in place of full scale military intervention.

The Washington Post journalist, Andrea Peterson, wrote in her article,“Investing in offensive cyber capabili-

ties pays off for many nations. It’s much cheaper than maintaining a fleet of airplanes and battle cruisers, and it’s easy to deny responsibility for any attacks the hackers carry out. Plus, attacking digital systems has an inherent advantage: Defenders must fend off every attack to win, but hackers only need to breach a system once for a campaign to be successful.”

Cyber security is easy to compromise, and once it is, every single post or email sent out by a student is exposed.

Information cannot be erased once sent out into cyberspace. Any nation with a small economy, such as North Korea, can easily invest very little into the creation of fully operational cyber warfare capabilities, and should not be ignored.

12

OPINION

April 2016

The Key To Curing Writer’s Block Sara Roman Opinion Editor I can speak for everyone who has taken journalism or had to write a piece of creative personalized writing, that writer’s block is one of the most annoying things ever.

Staring at a blank white document, the cursor blinking, mocking one’s inability to come up with something interesting. Having days pass by as the deadline creeps up. Still not having a single idea of what to write. Next thing you know, the deadline passes and the article is late.

The moral code I have inside me is saying that it had to be on time and should have been on time, but since it was not, I am forced to be overrun with this guilty feeling that something horrible had been done and that I had be-

came a terrible example to my peers.

Thoughts of dismay and frustration have been the only things in my mind for the past few days because of this, but today, Sunday the thirteenth, surprised me.

There was nothing specifically significant about my plans that made a breakthrough, other than there was none.

This sunday everything was spontaneously. Nothing was planned, nothing was expected, it was just a pure go with the flow day.

Not once did the idea of writing something for school or worrying about the deadline popped into my head. Free restricted thoughts were the only things that flowed and it allowed so many ideas come out of the blue.

My tip for the next time someone gets writer’s block, take a free day, do not worry about anything. Relax and do not feel like you wasted your day. Everyone needs a day once and awhile.

Exam Remedies The Risky Trend Social Media EdiTests can be very stressful for some students. The entire process of studying for tests can be gruesome. Here are some tips that would make the process easier and less stressful.

First, Greatist.com suggests for students to give themselves their own hand massages.

One starts from the heel of their hand and moves slowly to the top of each finger in a caterpillar like motion. This is a quick and easy tip to do when hands cramp up during the exam.

Second, another tip would be to consume foods that help with studying. It is proven by Bee-Pollen-Buzz.com, that a spoonful of honey can reduce stress and increase concentration. Eating a square of dark chocolate can also help.

Third, besides eating one could also trying using their noses. Smelling flowers or a full wisp of coffee can instantly make one feel better since the smell of both coffee and flowers are so strong; stress is reduced quickly.

One’s mindset while studying can affect a person also. Psych Central stated that a person has to be in the right mindset for studying. While studying, a student should not put themselves down or compare themselves to others. They lose their self-confidence and do not believe in their abilities. When studying students should think positively of what they do know instead of what they do not. If they start

thinking more positively the studying process will be more efficient.

Psych Central further states that study groups can be beneficial for studying.

Working with a group of friends can make the process faster and it’s easier to retain information. If a student has a good solid hour just studying it can be very productive. However, these groups have to be kept small, about three to four people and they have to remain on topic.

Greatist.com further suggests to count backwards. Before a test or an exam it is a good idea to use this to calm down. Secondly, use the pranayama breathing method which involves breathing through one nostril at a time which quickly relieve anxiety.

Hopefully these quick remedies can help students before exams. Go get that A, NHS!

photo credit: Monica Mercuri

Priyanka Thakkar

Matthew Schwartz Reporter The nation’s newly hottest product, the hoverboards have not been meeting safety requirements for everyday use.

The two-wheeled, gliding motorized scooters that you’ve seen on sidewalks and social media, have been reported for fires and explosions. It’s created a buzz whether or not the futuristic mode of transportation is even safe to purchase, let T h e news has been diluted with reports of hoverboards exploding and catching fire, especially around the recent holidays. Cities all over the country are banning them from the streets. Airlines won’t let you bring them onto planes. Retailers such as Amazon and Overstock stopped selling certain models and told consumers to trash ones they’ve already received. Cnet.com Back in December of 2015 a man in Alabama says the hoverboard he purchased offline caught fire under his feet, just three days after he got it. Is the extremely popular device the way of the future or just another dangerous holiday fade.

The hoverboard has a price range of $200 to $1700. Consumer realize the

cheaper hover boards have a tendency to have more difficulties.

Even though trusted companies such as Tech Drift and Razor may be more expensive it’s definitely worth the money to not have a sudden fire right below your feet.

The original patent for the hoverboard created by Shane Chen was unfortunately leaked to Chinese manufacturers. Numerous Chinese brands mimicked the design and produced “fake” hoverboards. Therefore many consumers did not purchase trusted brands, buyers have had difficulties with the multiple cheaper versions ever since.

The fact of the matter is that cheaply made lithium ion batteries assembled with sub standard materials are already dangerous enough when used in things like smartphones and notebook computers, but putting them in a high impact sport toy like a hoverboard, where they’ll inevitably receive lots of jolts and bumps in their intended use scenario might n o t be the smartest idea.

Sciencealert. com

Divorce May Be a Positive Thing Sara Roman Opinion Editor Divorce feels like a topic that is not nearly spoken about enough. Some might think if they were to mention divorce it could lead to a change in the conversation, such as taking a more negative turn. It is not as drastic and overwhelming as some might think, but it is still an important matter.

Statistics say forty-five to fifty percent of first marriages end in divorce. Every case and reasoning for a divorce is different, what I am talking about is the simple cases when the two parents just do not have the same attraction they did in the past. Things have also been stated that children might experience depression or anxiety in the beginning stages of the divorce.

Robert Emery, a professor of psychology and director of the Center for Children, Families, and the Law at the University of Virginia said, “ The great majority of chil-

dren whose parents divorce do not develop these kinds of serious behavioral or emotional problems. Most children from divorced families are resilient.” Being a child with divorced parents, growing up in that type of household is hard but not bad.

The first initial response is confusion. Not understanding what is going to happen but knowing that the luxury of living under the same roof with both parents is no longer existing. It takes a few years to adjust being with one parent and only seeing the other on an occasion but it is manageable.

Having no say on the living situation since it was decided by court can also lead to guilt, the second response. Feeling as if one parent was being chosen over the other, even though it was never under your control.

The final response is understand-

ing and accepting. Knowing that there is no one to blame and it was just how life had set its course. Accepting if that chain of events was not to occur you would have been a completely different person and had a very different life. It might have been a dramatic life event but it made me who I am today and that I would not change.

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OPINION

April 2016

Debate: Do you keep up or no?

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I am not ashamed to say that I love to keep up with the Kardashians. Dubbed as “America’s First Family” by Cosmopolitan, is also the most hated. The Kardashians have their fair share of supporters and fans, but with that fame comes a ton of people who despise their very existence.

The Kardashian’s rise to stardom although rather disreputable, is a factor of their fame that people never seem to forget. While anyone can criticize the Kardashian and Jenner family, they cannot discredit or deny their success. The way the Kardashian family can market every aspect of their lives is something very admirable. They are the epitome of entrepreneurs. Clothing lines, fragrances, smart phone applications, cosmetics, socks, books, baby clothing, tanning lotions, you name it, the Kardashian brand markets it. Many people see airhead socialites, I see business moguls. They may not be the geniuses who handled the technical aspect of their many projects, but they are the brilliant faces who execute all of the money making.

The Kardashian women, Caitlyn Jenner included, are commendable female icons. The way they all exude confi-

Emma Daignault Business Manager I have never been one to jump on the bandwagon, especially when it comes to celebrities. The Kardashians and I have a special relationship, which is that I strongly dislike them more than most others. And I dislike a lot of celebrities. I just do not understand how they are “world” famous. They do not act, sing, dance, or have any talent really.

The Kardashians had their first taste of fame in 1994 when the late Robert Kardashian was OJ Simpson's defense lawyer. The family's popularity has grown ever since.

Kim became a household name in 2007 when an explicit video of her and Rapper Ray J was “leaked.” Then Keeping up with the Kardashians, a reality television show about their family, was born. In my opinion, it has gone downhill since then.

Some claim the Kardashian girls to be positive female role models. I strongly disagree with that statement. These women market their body in any way, shape, or form.

Their actions could lead one to believe that they are selfish and think only .co.uk

Reporter

dence is something noteworthy especially in this day in age. Confidence is rare. They have been described as inappropriate by the media because of the provocative things they sometimes say and do, but the truth is they are confident in everything that they do.

They refuse to let the fear of judgements impact their decisions.

Not only are the Kardashians incredible business women, and positive female role models, but they are also style icons. The Kardashians do not do fashion, they undeniably are fashion. They are possibly the chicest women in America, and through their fashion they are very philanthropic.

The Kardashians often start Ebay auctions for charities, they raise a percentage of money by selling their iconic pieces. Recently Kim Kardashian caught wind of a charity by the name of Soles4Souls, in which she and husband Kanye West donated 1,000 pairs of shoes.

It is such a shame that people are not fully aware of everything the Kardashian’s are a part of, especially the positive things. The misconception that the Kardashians contribute nothing to society is something that I am truly against.

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of themselves. "I feel really blessed because I genuinely love the process of getting my hair and makeup done." Kim once said. She also recently published a book dubbed “selfish” which consists entirely of selfies. She and her family's whole lives are documented.

Kim and her sisters have multiple nude photos plastered all over social media and magazines. Hardly a positive image for young girls and women everywhere. Kylie, who is only eighteen years old, has already had alterations, such as lip fillers. Kylie and her sisters may have also had boob jobs, and has had work done on their hips and butts, according to Dr. Mir, a dermatologist.

I really do not understand why people see them as body role models when half of their bodies are fake.

I think girls and women should choose role models that portray more positive ideologies. And people who are not famous for being famous.

“I get letters from little girls begging me to adopt them.” -Kim Kardashian

Project Explore PresentatioNS May 24th Period 4: Andrea Khatabi and Megan BlagdenFueling Lakota Period 5: Kerwin- JCHP in 123 Period 6: Nicolas Miklave- Game Strategy Period 7: Justin Ennis- Ennis Cosmetics Period 8: Lillian Falardo- Fictional Reality

May 26th

Period 1: Amie Newsome- All Things Norwalk Period 2: Skylar Singer- Skyscreening Reviews Period 3: Nick Chiapetta- Italian Culture Period 4: Seliana Seradieu- Vive Le: Language Fracois Period 5: Brenda Gutierrez- A Whole New Language Period 6: Assata and Victoria- T.V. Show Period 7: Monica Mercuri- Seniors Helping Seniors

May 25th

Period 2: Esha Sharma-History in The Making Period 3: Amanda D’Acunto- All About Perspective Period 4: Ryan Bennet- Gaining 15 pounds Period 5: Z. Wrentz, A. Nicolas, C.WilliamsThriller Bears Period 6: Lucia Thompson- Need Money for Food Period 7: Ava Rosato- Dodgeball Tournament Period 8: Norwalk Youth Field Hockey

May 27th

Period 8: Hannah Froelich- Bear Pack Period 1: Kyle Brenn and Thomas JankovicEugene Period 2: Alejandro Echavarria- Legion Fitness Period 3: Christina Ronzitti- Music Video

Any juniors interested? See Mr. Karl or Mr. Seaburg to get an aplication.

OPINION

April 2016

14

Stress of Prom Julia Negron Reporter Perfect dress, shiny shoes, one night, four hours, and hope the girl’s fake tan is not too orange.

Prom adds so much unnecessary stress into my life. Not only are students stressing about the price of the the tickets alone, but spending 250 dollars or more on a dress I am going to wear for one night is a bit ridiculous because all prom dresses are completely over priced.

Girls are known to bring socks in their purses because their feet will be hurting twenty minutes into the night. Hundred dollar shoes and two dollar socks bought at Walmart, think about it. Pretty silver shoes, and no comfort whatsoever.

Getting a fake tan for the night seems like a good idea to most, but most do not want to be that one girl who shows up the same color as a traffic cone, or worse, gets the tan all over the dress.

The actual dancing is a mess in itself, either it is one on one dancing or the electric slide, and of course during that song all teachers will be joining in. Not only will the students be embarrassed but the teachers

will completely show off how much better they are at those “old school” dance moves.

“The perfect date.” Oh boy, how many girls can brag about how amazing their date is going to be.

Yes, I do not have a date yet and most likely will be going alone, but that is besides the point. During prom, most will lose our date and end up dancing with our best friends.

Prom is a scary night to most, but the point is to just roll with it and have fun. Yes, our feet will hurt.

Yes, we are going to be sweating after dancing to three or more songs, and yes, these photo booth pictures are about to be put on instagram for the next week or two. Prom is one night spent sweating and jumping around.

“The best night of your high school life.”

Thank you to Sharon Cadden for continously taking great pictures for Norwalk High!

Books vs Movies Celebrity Power Jennalee Potmesil Reporter There are two types of people in the world: those that prefer the book that a movie is based on, or those that prefer the movie that is based off of a book.

It is a highly debated topic that has arguments from both sides. Those who prefer the movie over the book may not have the time to read a three hundred and something paged book. Some examples of popular books turned into movies are the “Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins, “Divergent” series by Veronica Roth, “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Paper Towns” by John Green.

Personally, much to my friends annoyance, I have refused to see any of the Hunger Games movies, simply because the books are so detailed, one could practically paint a picture of the scene in their brain.

Reading the book gives the reader the ability to imagine what the character would look like, what their voice would sound like, and maybe even how they walk. Some people are crestfallen when the movie comes out, simply because their interpretation of the characters do not match what has been produced by Hollywood.

According to reneweveryday.com, the effects reading have on the brain are nothing but positive. Reading calls several different parts of the brain into play. It is a more neurobiologically demanding task than watching a movie. Reading not only demands the use of a person’s intelligence, concentration, and frequently brings one’s imagination into use if someone is reading a work of fiction.

There is also a soothing and calming effect of diving right into a good book. It can be an incredibly dramatic and beneficial activity for one who has struggled with addiction. According to reneweveryday. com, “many people who find themselves in recovery are dealing with some underlying

condition such as attention deficit disorder or anxiety disorder, and a centered, focused activity such as reading can have a powerful effect.”

Reading is beneficial for the brain and will have a positive effect in the long run.

Joel Degray II Reporter Celebrities are idols in people’s everyday lives. People buy their albums, watch their shows and follow pretty much everything they do. By the same extension by giving them all this attention, they get power over society with so much ease.

Think of several celebrities who have committed a crime and how many of them get the actual sentence for committing that crime. The answer is very few, if any.

There is a huge separation between normal people and the rich. The rich get nicer cells and can have things like iPods and computers; some of the “jails” even let prisoners bring their own food. According to prisonfellowship.com, a day in jail for a normal person would have three meals, a bed, time to use the gym, recreational room, and some work for a lower security inmate.

Even the time spent in jail is different.

For a celebrity that admitted in 2007 to using marijuana, reckless driving, and being under the influence, will only get a celebrity about an eighty-four minute sentence in jail. Surely, the celebrity did not know they were using drugs or getting drunk, that is impossible.

When a civilian is arrested because they are suspected for drugs according to vox.com it is usually a violent, doors knocked down in a pre-dawn raid by the SWAT team type of arrest. A celebrity can turn themselves in and with their attorney decide a time for the case and get out before much time has passed.

The police might not even arrest the celebrity. One celebrity named Robert Ritchie, when his car was pulled over, the officer did not test to see if Richie was sober when he was wanted for punching a DJ in Nashville, Tennessee. The officer even got a signed autograph from Ritchie, so he had to be “innocent”. He had given his autograph to an officer for not arresting him. So what if celebrities kill a few people and do drugs, all that matters is that they are our idols and are incapable of doing wrong.

“We are trying to make it to FCIAC and playoffs and hopefully win both. I would only hope that the team does well overall and my teammates do well.

Being on the team is great because we care about each other and we keep striving to get better. We are a big family.”

-Senior Varsity Baseball Player, Matt Arduino

baseball

Girls LacrossE

“I have high hopes for this season. We have a big chance to do very well. And I am very excited to play with this group of girls.”

-Senior Lacrosse Captain, “Our hopes Brianna Fitzgerald

are to be a competitive team in the state and FCIAC this season. Our goal is to make both the FCIAC tournament and the Class L tournament.”

-Head Boys Lacrosse Coach, Adams

BOYS LACROSSE

“This year the goal is to look at golf as competitively as we can, like the team has in the past. Having fun “I’m is a another goal as well this year.” looking -Senior Golf forward to having Captain, Philip Uva

a close-knit team this season. In previous years, a lot of people have stayed to themselves and kind of just run through the season. This year I feel like we will work as a team and grow stronger in that aspect.”

-Senior Tennis Captain, Amie Newsome

F L GO

Girls Tennis

“If everything goes right we might make the FCIAC tournament but we might be right on the bubble. But I definitely think we can make the team state tournament and that we can send “We’re at least four guys to the individual state tourhoping nament.” to get to states and -Head Boys Tennis Coach, hopefully FCIACs, but as far as Kevin Grady we can. We have such a young team and so far our season is going to look good. I am excited for the season because we have a good group of girls on the team and so far we look like we could go far.”

-Varsity Softball Player, Mackenzie Lowden

S I N N E T S Y O B

Softball

“Our team is looking to build upon a strong indoor performance at the championship meets. We have some new members who are “Ah good athletes and who can help us improve even furthe seather. Our goal is always to get as many people son is shaping up as possible to qualify for FCIAC.” to be really successful. Most -Senior Track Captain, of the distance girls have been here Kyle Fallon since indoor and cross country so everyone’s starting the season in good shape. As always out goal is to have the most girls possible qualify for FCIACS and run their best.”

-Senior Track Captain, Anne Caldwell

K C A TR

S Y O B Design by Priyanka Thakkar

Photo Credit: Sharon Cadden and The Hour

GIRLS TRACK