Issue 5
Spring sports preview By; Chloe Singleton
Norwood High School has ma inta ined w inning seasons throughout fall and winter sportsnow it’s time for spring sports. The upcoming season will consist of baseball, softball, tennis and track and field. In years past, Norwood’s baseball and softball team have both suffered losing seasons while in the FAVC. The softball team holds the records of (1-13) in 2011 and (1-13) in 2012. The baseball team holds the records of (2-10) in 2011 and (311) in 2012. Although the teams have faced difficult adversaries in the past, it is a brand new year. Senior and varsity pitcher, Kristina Wolf exclaims, “Even though we lost some of our team last year, the upcoming freshmen, Hannah Tubbs and Amori Gulley, should be an asset to our team.” Wolf also explains the team has key returning players including juniors Misty Wolf at short stop and Serenity Rowe at third base. The girls begin their season on April 2 against Withrow High School. The boys also have a number of key returning players, including senior pitcher Patrick Mattingly. The boys have their first pitch of the season on April 1 against Felicity High School. Be sure to come out and support both teams. Norwood’s Track and Field team has always held a mediocre reputation, with the exception of a handful of students such as Christian Patterson, who qualified for state in 2010. But entering the SBAAC made the stakes a little higher this year. Athletic Director, JD Foust explains, “The athletes in the SBAAC are highly talented. With entering the SBAAC, our performance depends on our numbers.” The team has great expectations for the upcoming season, and encourages anyone to come out and support, or maybe even join the team. The spring sports season is approaching soon, so make sure you come out and support all teams. The 2012-2013 school year has consisted of winning seasons in fall and winter sports, so now it’s time to finish the year with a bang.
March 2013 “You Can’t Take It With You” coming to Norwood By: John Bennett
You Can’t Take It with You is a Pulitzer Prize winning comedy that will be featured March 8 and 9 in the Middle School Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The tickets will be seven dollars. This year the play is sure to be entertaining to the whole student body. The
play first premiered in December of 1936 at the Booth Theater in New York City and was written by George S. Kaufman; the following year it won the Pulitzer Prize in drama. It is full of a goofy cast of characters, from the senile old grandpa to the only normal one in the family, Alice. One of the main rea-
Top from left: Kyle English, Biagia Schirmer, Brooke Helton, Noah Payne, Jon Dellinger, Greg Bauer, Kiki Allen Bottom from left: Caleb Schirmer, Lillie Smelcer, Morgan Hodson, Izaac Rains, Maddie Schneider
sons Norwood’s production of the play sets it apart from all others is the amount of effort that has been put into making it possible. Each actor in the play has put in countless hours of rehearsals, as well as taking time outside to memorize lines, some even embarrassing themselves in the shower. According to senior Alex Raleigh, “Being in the play requires the hard work and dedication of everyone in it to ensure everything is right for when everyone comes to see it.” But let us not forget about the stage crew behind the scenes who work hard to keep the play running smoothly. In addition to ensuring actors are always on cue, they also put in countless hours building and painting the set and other manual labors. A play with a cast full of colorful characters is sure to have some zany
moments. Without giving away too much, the play has many scenes that are sure to make anyone laugh. In addition to multiple explosions due to father Paul Sycamore (senior Greg Bauer), junior Lillie Smelcer’s favorite part of the play is when her character (Gay Wellington), a drunken buffoon, is passed out on the family couch. Besides this there is also a game of Forget-Me-Not (a word association game) led by Maddie Schneider’s character Penny Sycamore which leads to multiple risqué responses from other characters. If not for any of these reasons, then go to increase your merit with the arts, or just as something to do with all of your friends on a Saturday night besides sitting around at home. Come out this March 8 or 9 to see the play and support our school. After all with tickets only being seven dollars what is there to lose?
Art department renovations NHS students to have more choices for 13-14 school year By: Hannah Hale Scheduling can be a stressful time of the school year, especially with additional classes to choose from. But there is no need to worry because the Norwood Mirror has you covered! The majority of the class additions for the 20132014 school year involve art. Our art teachers are stepping up their game and creating a plethora of options to select from. These options include ceramics III, printmaking, sculpture, sculpture II and mixed media. While the classes have not been officially approved, they are likely to be class options next year. What exactly do these classes focus on? Ceramics III is obviously a continuation from ceramics II. This class will focus more on the sculptural aspect of clay as a me-
dium. Printmaking is a class which studies the basic of emboss, collagraph, linoleum, and silk screen to create a print. Don’t let the fancy artwork terms be confusing. Emboss is simply carving or molding a design into a surface and collagraph is applying materials to a rigid surface. Art teacher Suzie Osterman seems to be most excited by the addition of sculpture I and II. This class studies the basics of plaster, wire, casting and found object sculptures. All of these classes would be taught by Osterman. Mixed media’s main purpose is to explore different types of materials when creating artwork. Art teacher Terri Viltrakis says that this class uses “new techniques people aren’t used to using in the arts.” Mixed media uses materials such as wax, dyes and even everyday objects that aren’t normally used
in art. Viltrakis states there will be a multitude of projects ranging anywhere from photo transfers to collages. With all of these additions to the art department one may wonder how these two teachers can handle all of this added stress. It’s because they love what they do. Osterman happily states, “I’m excited to see the new student interests
and creativity. Bringing 3D designs to the Norwood students will be interesting!” Art is not only for creative people. Art classes are great for any type of person and let’s be honest; most of the time art is an easy A! So why not experience these unique classes being offered at Norwood next year? Osterman and Viltrakis would love to have you.
2013-2014 Class Offerings Printmaking Ceramics III Sculpture I and II Mixed Media
INDIAN
NHS Orchestra to perform at Disney World By: Matt Brown On April 11 the Norwood High School Orchestra is going to Disney World where they will attend Disney’s Musicians’ Clinic, ending with a concert in the park. The orchestra was accepted into the advanced clinic and performance venue after sending in an audition tape in 2011. In order to pay for the trip, they have been fundraising for the past two years. Junior Sara Isaac, first chair viola, has fundraised enough money to pay for her entire trip. “It was a lot of work but nothing is better than knowing you get an excellent experience for free,” she says. This trip isn’t just about having fun. Allison Craig, the
orchestra director, hopes students will have a fun learning experience. “I hope the students learn the value of individual dedication and practice and realize how critical that is for success,” she says. In an activity like this, individual dedication is huge because that is how a student excels at something. During this trip, the students are not going to have to act professional the entire time. Everybody is a kid when they go to Disney World. They will have some free time to visit all the theme parks at Walt Disney and soak up some sun. The free time will be a reward for all the hard work the kids have put in to even take this trip. Besides all the fun they will be having, the
Top of the mornin’ to ya! Norwood consults resident expert on all things Irish. By: Ashley Couch In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, we thought we would consult our resident expert on all things Irish, math teacher Elizabeth Koller. She was born and raised in Ireland where she went to high school and attended college. The Irish culture has taken thousands of years to develop, and they celebrate many things different than Americans, including their holidays and traditions. While Americans are out trick-or-treating on Halloween, the Irish are eating colcannon, an Irish and Scottish dish of cabbage and potatoes boiled and pounded. While both the Irish and Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green and sporting the shamrock symbol, Irishmen and women flock to church for mass as it’s a national church holiday. For Koller, the best part about this holiday is meeting with her Irish friends in Dayton. “We all go out to dinner for corned beef and cabbage, sing Irish songs and reminisce.” Two of the most enduring and internationally famed activities are traditional music
and Irish dancing. According to Koller, the Irish love a good excuse for a party. Although Koller loves America for many reasons, the main reason she came to the United States was for her late husband who was from Dayton, OH. They met when they were both volunteer teachers in Kenya. Koller and her husband stayed there for quite some time before moving to Saudi Arabia. A short while after that, her husband retired and they moved to America. Koller tries to make it back to Ireland every year to visit her loved ones. She enjoys many things about her home country, but her favorite part about returning is spending time with friends and family. She says, “We live near the sea so I love to walk along the beach.” Ireland is legendary for its festivals and fairs as well as their accent. It is famed all over the world for its romantic and lyrical lilt, but it isn’t until you experience the dialect firsthand that the variations across the country are clear. Koller, who is distinguishable among other teachers for her accent, says she loves her home place and still plans to visit every year.
students will also get to experience the thrill of performing in front of hundreds of individuals from all around the world. For these students, this
Mythology By: Addy Bryant
is a once in a lifetime opportunity. By fundraising for the past two years, the whole experience they will have will be completely worth it.
NHS Orchestra (above) performs for the school on a regular basis. This shot is from one of their past concerts.
Beware the ides of March By: David Torres
“Beware the Ides of March”. These are words to live by, at least if you’re starring in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, a dramatic re-telling of the Roman dictator’s death. The Ides of March hasn’t always had such a foreboding meaning. Before the historical assassination of Julius Caesar, the Ides of March was a division of the calendar based on the phases of the moon. This varied from the 13-15 depending on the month. The Ides of March however had a more specific meaning; it marked the beginning of the consular year.
This is usually when the two annually-elected Roman consuls took office. A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic for one year. Today the phrase “Ides of March” is largely associated with the death of Caesar, who had many accomplishments, including taking over most of modern day France, Germany and Britain. The saying originates in the historic Shakespeare play Julius Caesar when it is spoken by a soothsayer foreshadowing the grisly event. If you really want to impress your English teacher warn them of the Ides of March this March 15.
Girls basketball makes history By: Hannah Hale and Chloe Singleton The NHS girl’s basketball team made history when they synched the sectional title on Feb. 23 against heated rivals Western Brown. The Lady Indians suffered two losses to Western Brown prior to post game season which cost them the league title. Most sports analysts would say it’s difficult to
beat a competitor three times in a row, and this theory was proved to be true when the Ladies beat them by one point The pressure was put on the shoulders of freshman Hannah Tubbs with six seconds on the clock. Norwood trailed Western Brown 58-59 when Tubbs was fouled. After sinking both foul shots, Norwood clinched a victory with a final score of 60-59.
The Lady Indians (left) are all smiles after they captured the sectional title.
What one class can teach you everything you need to know about ancient people’s thoughts and reasoning? That would be mythology. Mythology class is a semester course taught by English teacher Robin Brewer. The class mainly focuses on Greek mythology but dwells in Norse and North American myths. Greek mythology is based on the ancient teaching in Greece, which today is known as the religion Hellenismos. Norse mythology, also known as Scandinavian mythology, centers on Norse Pagan beliefs. North American mythology is much closer to home and consists on the stories passed down through Native Americans about the inner workings of the world. Mythology isn't for the faint of heart. The mystical, thought provoking and somewhat disturbing stories discussed are based on how ancient people thought the world worked at the time. Junior Meagan Geraci says the class "gives you an idea of how certain things came about." Even though the tales were considered myths, it was the people's religion at the time. The class is basically a combination of an English and history course. From watching movies like Troy and Robin Hood to reading out of the textbooks, the class brings new life to ancient stories. So far Geraci says her favorite part of the class is learning about the myths behind different flowers and their use in medicine. Whether
PRANKED! Senior Greg Bauer gets played! By: Elizabeth Isaac Imagine opening your locker only to find your books and binders trapped behind a plexiglass wall. On Feb. 27, Greg Bauer didn’t have to imagine...it was his reality. A prank by middle school science teacher Paul Schember left Bauer scrambling to follow a scavenger hunt with clues that would uncover the key to his possessions.
INSIDER The geekiest day of the year By: Elizabeth Isaac Math fanatics grab your calculators and unite, Pi Day will soon be upon us! As of 2009, March 14 has been officially named national Pi Da y by the House of Representatives. What is Pi and why was the date of March 14 specifically chosen? Pi is an irrational number (symbol ) that is used in mathematics to represent a constant- namely the ratio of a the circumference of a circle to its diameter. This number is approximately 3.14, thus the date of March 14 (3/14) was the most suitable option for its celebration. And celebrate we shall! Math teachers across the nation use Pi Day to encourage students to get excited about numbers. America is a C student in the global classroom of mathematics while countries like China are on the honor roll. The National Science Foundatio n can be likened to a tutor for America and pushed for a day that would bring kids closer to math. Pi Day is exactly that; a day for students to play number games, memorize as many digits of p i as possible, learn about circles, and o f course eat pie. However the most important effect of Pi Day is its ability to foster a fondness for math in the young generation. For junior Becca Galligan, P i Day is especially important. Despite the day being recognized as a time to geek out about math, March 14 is also her birthday. She kills two birds with one stone and celebrates both days at once; by eating a slice of birthday pie given to her by her friends each year. The most popular activity o n this day is memorizing the various digits of pi. In fact, a Japanese man named Akira Haraguchi learned the first 100,000 numbers of the never-ending sequence and can recite them at will. For those who don’t have the sharpest memory there is now an app called Learn Pi available that helps train the user on the numbers of pi. After opening the app the user simply inputs as many numbers of pi as they can. The game resets when a wrong number is entered, thus giving the incentive to remember the sequence. Grab a fork and dig into some pie while you memorize pi, Pi Day will only become more prominent holida y each year until America’s test scores improve.
Ask the Ash: Surviving high school By: Zach Ashford
Usually every month, I’m bombarded with questions from troubled students such as yourself. But for some reason, I wasn’t asked a single question this month. I guess my advice works after all. I really am as perfect as I think I am. But I was a little lonely without all of you… That being said, I thought I’d give some broad advice that could apply to absolutely anyone. I’ve thought about it for literally minutes, and I’ve compiled a list of three rules to insure your survival in this crazy place called “high school.” Be friends with all different types of people. I was always told that I’d discover who I really am while I was in high school. I think that there’s no better way to find out who you are, by spending time with all different types of people. You never know what you might find interesting or fun to do, and the only way to find out, is to do it. Be active in your school. I know that everyone isn’t an athlete, and that’s alright, because I’m not that great at sports either, if my physique didn’t give that away already. Not everyone is cut out to play bas-
ketball or football, but there are other things to participate in; after school getting close to my maximum clubs, academic team, or one of the amount of words, so it’s time for me many sports teams that Norwood of- to go. See you all in the hallways, fers. You don’t have to be an amaz- and remember, stay beautiful. ing athlete to apart of something. Plus, if you’re like me, and don’t have many friends, extra-circular activities are a great way to get out and meet people. Find a best friend. We all need someone to turn to when we need something, to hold us when we’re crying, or to spend every waking moment together… Just kidding, that’s a little creepy, every needs their space. For me, that’d be Timmy Peddicord. He and I are pretty much the exact same person… give or take a hundred pounds. High school is a very volatile place, and we all need someone to help us make it through those four long years, so find your true friends early. Even though you clearly didn’t need me this month, I’m still here to bug you with potentially bad advice and crappy jokes. Deep down, you all need me, just admit it… I’ll al- The Ash provides stellar advice, ways be just a question away if any ranging from romance to school of you need me. No question is a stuwork. pid question, but most questions aren’t school appropriate. Well, I’m
GSA: ‘a refuge for LGBT students and our allies’ By: Kayla Bennett The Gay-Straight Alliance is a youth organization with a goal to end harassment and discrimination in schools. According to gsanetwork.org, the purpose of GSA is to educate the community about the organization, create safe school environments, and fight discrimination, harassment, and violence in schools. Sophomore Darrick Boston said, “I think the purpose of GSA is too stop hatred against gays and any other groups of people.” Norwood High School GSA meets every week on Wed. at 3:00 in room 420. Social Worker Joann Payne is the leader of the group along with President Maranda Bodkin.
9 10 out of
LGBT Students have reported being bullied at school in the past Year.
ophomore Amira Bauer-Hutsell says, “My favorite part of GSA is the friends I’ve made because of it, and the things we set in place and accomplish.” Boston says, “It’s a safe place.” According to Boston, GSA helps people be confident with their sexuality and enlightens people. There is a lot more to GSA than most people realize. The group also plans for nationwide events, such as “No Name Calling Week” and “National Day of Silence.” No Name Calling Week is an annual week of educational activities in hope to end name-calling of all kinds, and providing schools with the tools to eliminate bullying in their community. National Day of Silence is a student- led event that brings awareness to anti-LGBT name calling. NHS is
one of many participants in both o f these organizations. Are you thinking about joining GSA, but scared? Even if you’re not a n LGBT student you are more than welcome to join this group; after all a major goal for GSA is to provide a safety net for students in the coming out process. Boston states, “I was scared at first, but I want to make a change. We have to go to this school to, so why don’t we try to make it a better place for future generations. We aren’t the only ones doing this; there are GSA groups all around trying to make a change. Having one more member is just getting us closer to achieving our goal.” Bauer-Hutsell added, “Come sometime………we don’t bite.”
28% Hundreds of GLSEN Chapters nation wide
LGBT Students drop out of their high school because of discomfort from verbal/ physical abuse
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12 Students in NHS GSA Chapter