Issue 10

THE

PROSPECTOR

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@PROSPECTORNOW VOLUME 55, ISSUE 10

FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2016

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District shakes up schedule, activities

BY MIKE STANFORD & GRACE BERRY Editor-in-Chief & Print Managing Editor

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the Prospector went to press, has generated support amongst board members.

“The major driving force behind these changes is to make sure that we’re doing the best we can physically do for [students’] well-being and everything else,” school board member Bill Dussling said. “There is a lot of pressure on students in high school nowadays, and we want to make sure we’re eliminating as much of that pressure that we can.”

n an attempt to counter stress in students, the district will be implementing widespread changes in scheduling and homework policies starting with the 2017-18 school year. This new initiative includes a condensed schedule including a 35-minute lunch hour to accommodate an 8:20 start time, restrictions on the amount of time activities can practice and homework-free breaks.

Ch-ch-ch-changes To reach these conclusions, the school One of the first matters the committee board created a Calendar Committee last needed to address was how to alter the schedyear. According to Superintendent Dr. Da- ule in response to later start times. Accordvid Schuler, the time had come to address ing to Schuler, the committee did not simply these concerns. want to shift the school day; they wanted to “We had heard from find more compact and a lot of students, parents “We had heard from a lot of innovative ways to use and staff that they were classroom time in order students, parents and staff to further decrease the concerned about our that they were concerned pressure on students. students being on 24/7 and feeling pressure and The committee decidabout our students being on stress to always perform ed to push the start time 24/7 and feeling pressure at an exceptionally high 50 minutes later until level and never have time and stress to always perform 8:20 and to end the school to be a kid and decomday 30 minutes later at at an exceptionally high press and just recharge,” 3:20. To make up for this, level and never have time Schuler said. lunch periods will only English teacher Karen to be a kid and decompress be 35 minutes, and class Kruse, one of Prospect’s periods will only be shortand just recharge.” two delegates on the Calened by two minutes. endar Committee, agrees Incoming Associate and says addressing these Dr. David Schuler, Principal for Student Serconcerns was the primavices Greg Minter will be superintendent leading the charge as stury goal of the committee’s deliberations. dent services navigates The committee, which is composed of two the new schedule. To account for shorter teachers from each of the district schools, lunch hours, students will have slightly diffirst met last spring and set out to determine ferent schedules than their peers in other how the district could lighten the load on stulunch periods (see “Unpacking lunch hours” dents while maintaining the same academic on page 3). rigor. To aid them in their decision-making, According to Minter, scheduling will be the committee utilized student and parent more difficult because students will be unfocus groups, roughly 500 pages of research able to switch into classes composed of stuon education and teenage health and 6,500 re- dents from other lunch hours. sponses to a survey distributed this fall.

To guarantee students can take their deThe first wave of recommendations stem- sired classes as they do now, classes only ming from this process came in January offered once a day like AP French and AP when the committee proposed moving finals Computer Science will not be scheduled to before winter break and delaying start during lunch periods. times by 30 to 60 minutes. The recent recomMinter believes this new scheduling will mendations are part of the second wave and require student services to adapt, but he is are designed to create a framework for the confident he and his colleagues will take the later start times and to further improve the change in stride. health of students.

In addition to limiting the amount of time The proposal, which was voted on after students are in the classroom, the commit-

Homework on breaks

Long practices Long school day

college applications

AP classes Homework

Standardized Testing

A HELPING HAND: Someone stretches to help a classmate struggling under the weight of her school and extracurricular workload. District 214 recently passed an initiative designed to lift these burdens by banning homework on certain weekends, limiting the amount of time extracurriculars can practice and condensing the school day. (photo illustration by Mike Stanford and Grace Berry) tee also wanted to limit the amount of time students are spending in their extracurriculars, according to Schuler. To accomplish this goal, the proposal includes a required two-week hiatus for camps and competitions during the summer and restrictions on when teams can practice.

The new system would mandate that no

team or activity has practice before and after school on the same day, no junior varsity practice last more than two hours, no varsity practice last more than two hours and 45 minutes, no morning practice begin before 6:15 a.m. and no activity take place after 7:30 See SCHEDULE, page 3

Inside Post Prom’s sinking ship Event discontinued following decline in student interest

BY RILEY LANGEFELD Copy Editor

LOST AT SEA: The Mystic Blue sails on Lake Michigan. Post Prom was held there until it was canceled this year because, although the event sold-out regularly through 2012, attendance had dwindled in recent years. (photo courtesy of Tribune News Service)

Senior Payton Chantry had just left her junior prom on May 29. She and her friends boarded coach buses for a ride to downtown Chicago, where the Post Prom event was being held on a cruise ship at Navy Pier.

Although Chantry was initially excited, she was faced with disappointment when she arrived. A mere 138 students had bought tickets, leaving the dance floors and tables largely vacant in the ship.

In her mind, her efforts and money

had been put to waste.

“The whole idea of going to the city and being on the lake is fun, but not when there’s not enough people,” Chantry said. “[Then] it’s kind of awkward.”

Chantry’s frustration, and that of other students, has been recognized by the Prospect Teacher-Parent Council (TPC), a parent organization that works with the school to help students in various ways.

This year, the council has decided to cancel the Post Prom event. This decision followed four years of sharply declining ticket sales and a severe lack of parent support.

The Post Prom was created by parents several decades ago with the intention of giving students a fun and safe way to continue celebrating after Prom. Numerous oth-

er schools, including those District 214, hosted similar events along with Prospect for years. Prospect’s Post Prom was held on a boat at Navy Pier, which cruised around Lake Michigan from 1:00 to 3:00 a.m. and gave students a view of the Chicago skyline from the water.

This event required extensive fundraising, a responsibility which was in large part undertaken by Student Activities Assistant Kathy Spicer. Spicer has been involved in planning Post Prom for 31 years, and she has been the event’s sponsor since 2002. She coordinates with Entertainment Cruises (the company that rents out the ship) and handles advertising and ticket sales in addition to See POST PROM, page 2

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News

June 3, 2016

prospectornow.com

Summer school sees all-new format

New system combines class sections, helps low enrollment, streamlines planning processes

BY DAVID FANG Executive News Editor

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ypically, after the final school bell of the year, classrooms will remain dark and dormant until they see student life 3 months later. Aside from the sports camps or marching band rehearsal, the hallways are typically dead quiet.

This year, after the bell rings on June 10th, there will be no time for the classrooms to collect dust. 2016 marks the first year when the majority of the district’s summer, core academic and transitional classes will be housed at one school.

Prospect is set to host the core academic courses like geometry and English while Hersey will host other classes like Driver’s Ed, Extended School Year (ESY), the Newcomer program, and the English Language NO FUN IN THE SUN: Once again this year, some students will be unable to jump in the pool and instead be forced to attend sumLearner program. mer school, but this year the district is experimenting with a brand new summer school system. Most courses will be held at Prospect Previously, the district ran on a twowhereas summer school used to be divided in two between the north and south sides. (photo illustration by David Fang) school system. rive in 2 phases at each stop to accommodate The district would be partitioned into a two to four people in it, or canceling or reall students regardless of location. north and south side. The south side consist- scheduling it. With this new system, all of Summer Learning Facts The first set of buses will take students ed of Prospect, Elk Grove and Rolling Mead- one type of class will be held at one school to Prospect and fifteen minutes later, a sepaeliminating the problem of low enrollment. ows and the north side of Buffalo Grove, • 100 years of research shows that rate bus will take students to Hersey.

Weidner also believes Hersey and Wheeling. student will score lower on standardStudents will also receive four breaks inthat this will improve the classroom enviA singular school on the north or south ized tests at the end of the summer stead of the previous two to three breaks to ronment tremendously. He side would accommodate “This is a big project. than at the beginning. the accommodate the large enrollment. says teachers will now be able all students its respective While administrators are optimistic to hold better class discus• During the summer, about 2 side.

It’s a big endeavor about this new summer school format, they sions and activities with the Even though this sysmonths of math computational abilthat doesn’t come are not making any permanent changes yet. larger class sizes. tem has been successful in ity is lost. together overnight After the summer school session, the district This switch has also partly years past, there were po• More than half of the achievement hopes to reconvene and evaluate the success to ease some logistical probtential problems that lead and there are lots of gap between lowerand higher-inof the new program. lems, according to English and to the changes. moving parts going come youth can be explained by Levinson says that if the idea is unsucFine Arts Division Head Adam According to district unequal access to summer learning on.” cessful, the district will revert back to the Levinson. Levinson leads a Director of Career and two school system. planning team for summer Technical Education Dan opportunities.

Despite all of this being brand new, school along with Weidner Weidner, one of the primaAdam Levinson, English and Sarah Pick, Executive Ad- information courtesy of the National Levinson is optimistic about the success of ry reasons for the change the new summer school format. is fluctuating enrollment and Fine Arts Division ministrative Assistant to the Summer Learning Association “This is a big project. It’s a big endeavor Associate Superintendent for figures in previous years.

Head that doesn’t come together overnight and lots Teaching and Learning, and Weidner says that in of moving parts are going on,” said Levinhiring and assigning rooms will be complethas been planning since Febthe summer of 2015, some son. “We are coming to the end now and I ed well in advance by the planning team. ruary. classes saw issues with not having enough In addition, buses will have to be adjusted think it’s been pretty successful. I think we’ll Levinson says the switch will make it enrollment to run a full section of classes. He see [that] when everything’s said and done. easier on the two summer school principals, for the new system. says that classes were sometimes being run We will have a better grasp of it in August to Weidner says that a full transportation Math-Science Department Head Keith Bellof with only a few students in them. look back and reflect, but right now, it seems During that time, they had to face the dif- and Assistant Principal Jovan Lazarevic. plan has not been created yet.

However, he does know that buses will ar- as things are pretty good.”

With this system, many logistical tasks like ficult decision of running a class with only

POST PROM: projected problems pester party plans CONTINUED from front page managing fundraising. The event cost over $30,000 each year.

This money was raised through various events—notably the Snowbird Craft Show held at Prospect each fall—and was spent on just the booking for the ship and the coach busses.

From 2003 to 2011, Prospect’s event was completely sold out with 589 students attending and had a long waiting list of students who also wanted to purchase tickets.

However, this changed in 2012. Ticket sales started declining by the dozens each year until 138 students attended last year’s Post Prom.

Prospect’s student body had suddenly lost interest in the event.

Senior Mitchell Tapia is not sure why this downward trend began, but he believes that students now view the event negatively.

“I think it’s just a stigma that it’s really only there to keep you out of trouble,” Tapia said. “People judge it by its cover and as-

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2007

2008

2009

sume it’s going to be lame.”

According to Chantry, most students now believe the event is not worthwhile.

She maintains that the event would be very enjoyable if more students would participate.

Associate Principal Scott McDermott, who has worked closely with the TPC regarding the event, says that this decline in student support was accompanied by a continuous lack of parent involvement.

Each year, there were almost no parent volunteers despite many requests from the TPC, and the council had to find teachers

2010

2011

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2015

who were willing to stay out all night to chaperone the event.

Furthermore, Prospect is not alone in experiencing these problems.

After this year, Elk Grove High School will be the only school in the district to still have a Post Prom.

All other schools have phased out their events, and Rolling Meadows High School is having its last event on June 3.

“At some point, you’ve got to look at the entire picture. You can’t have an event that you can’t support,” McDermott said. “Need drives decision making.”

Another major factor in the TPC’s decision was the requirements of Entertainment Cruises.

The company required that Prospect guarantee at least 400 students would attend the event.

If this quota was not filled, the company would combine Prospect’s celebration with that of another group.

This introduced an entirely new set of problems for the TPC and the school, as they could not ensure the safety of the students because of limited coordination and knowledge about the other group.

The TPC decided that the limited student participation and other obstacles outweighed the shrinking benefit of the Post Prom, and they decided to cancel the event.

McDermott and Chantry both believe that this decision was for the better, considering the various challenges that the event was presenting.

However, the TPC intends to discuss bringing back the event next year at their meeting in June.

Because the contract with the boat company has been terminated with this year’s cancellation, the event cannot not be held on the ship for at least several years. It will most likely be held at a different venue should it be reinstated.

Whatever the outcome, Spicer and McDermott say that the future of the event will be dictated by the students’ involvement.

“A Post Prom should be something that the kids want and that they can support and that they will attend,” McDermott said.

“When we look at it, my message has always been [to look for] what the kids want.”

prospectornow.com

June 3, 2016

News

3

Students find success in internships

BY BEN DOJUTREK News Editor

“If you [are] in an internship in high school, that goes a long way. It’s about what kind of experience you have had.”

U

sually when the school year ends, few students would be excited to start a summer job. However, some opportunistic students are looking forward to work.

Every year during the summer, District 214 offers the District Internship Program where students can apply to experience career opportunities.

Since being established in 2009, the program has differentiated from others. The program is selective in which companies can participate. The district website states that the point of the program is to put students in environments that allow them to earn experience and better understand their options for the future. The district does not want companies using these interns for desk work.

Scott Gustafson, District Career and Technical Education Program Supervisor, believes that the program focuses students on their path ahead, allowing them to make important decisions.

This allows students to learn more about their career choices and better plan for the future.

“Most of the students, when they do their internship, solidify what they want to do,” Gustafson said. “Others, though, have thought that they want to do [a given] career, but when they see it, they change their mind.”

In order to become an intern, a student is usually recommended to the program by their counselor. However, junior Micki Smolenski heard about the program through the Talent Development Program, a program

Scott Gustafson, District CTE Program Supervisor

CAREER EXPLORATION: The District 214 Internship Program lets students chose from a variety of career clusters for internships. (cartoon by Flynn Geraghty) that allows high-achieving students opportunities to further their goals, and was automatically interested in the internship.

After learning about the program, Smolenski filled out a comprehensive application to see if she would fit the ideal.

When debating whether to take part in the program, Smolenski and other students have options in program length and type.

According to Gustafson, there are two types of programs: the summer internship that runs for six weeks and allows students to earn school credit, and the micro internship.

The micro internship is only two weeks and offers students no school credit.

Gustafson says that the micro internship is usually for students to discover and un-

derstand career paths. This allows students who are unsure about their options or career field to get the experience to decide.

After students decide what type of internship they want to take on, they then fill out their application on which career field in which they hope to work.

Students can ask to find internships from fields like graphic design, cooking and science and are then put into internships that match or the field of their choice. Smolenski was particularly excited about the choices for her internship.

Smolenski believes that her internship gives her a plethora of options, allowing her to better understand her field and get experience for the future.

To her, the program allows her to exam-

ine many facets of her chosen career field.

While the internship does not specifically focus on chemical engineering, she is excited to see another side to engineering in general.

According to Gustafson, the program has been successful in giving students like Smolenski the time and opportunity to discover their careers and themselves. It has also let students discover the importance of their classes.

“A lot of students find relevancy in their education,” Gustafson said. “Many find that math becomes very important; they find that relevancy to the subjects they questioned.”

Students realize that some things they have learned have helped them for the working world.

Ultimately, the program has been a success with the district. According to Gustafson, this influx is due to more and more students wanting to have additional input in their career options.

The program has reached its goal of doubling membership every year. But to Gustafson, the important thing is that students find themselves and their career.

“If you [are] in an internship in high school, that goes a long way,” Gustafson said. “It’s about what kind of experience you have had.”

SCHEDULE: Activities, homework affected by changes CONTINUED from front page miles per hour.”

However, according to Math p.m. and Science Division Head Keith However, Schuler says that Bellof, homework-free weekends while these are the general guidewill pose challenges the departlines, administration may grant ment’s busy curriculum, especialexceptions. For example, some of ly since every math student works these stipulations may be lifted for toward an AP or Harper College a theater production during the dual credit test during their senior week of a show. year.

For athletics, Schuler believes Less homework will limit the the administration will have to amount of material teachers can go “almost sport-by-sport” to nail cover, which will take some adjustdown the specific policy. Incomment. ing Associate Principal of Student “Every time you take bits of Activities Frank Mirandola agrees curriculum out, it diminishes the and also says that implementing return,” Bellof said. “But I think the new guidelines will be a balour teachers are skilled enough to ancing act. be able to know what pieces they “You have to respect the tradican trim and not lose out on a rigtions that programs already have orous course.” in place and find ways to work within the new calendar if at all Not all happy campers possible,” Mirandola said.

In addition to curricular chalAnother alteration to the callenges for teachers, students will endar will be the addition of five also have to adapt, and some are homework-free weekends and less than thrilled to do so. breaks (see “Lifting the homeSophomore Pat McPartlin, for work burden” for more details). instance, is not looking forward The committee wants students to to being forced to stay on campus be able to enjoy during his senior their breaks, year and worries Lifting the homeand Associate that it will be Principal Scott work burden harder to make McDermott up missing work New district policy agrees with this after being sick. sentiment. mandates that homework Similarly, “A break, cannot be assigned on some athletes by definition, the following weekends are worried that means someand breaks starting in the the new extrathing stops, and curricular guide2017-18 school year: so if the only lines might give thing that is their teams a Homecoming weekend stopping is that competitive disyou’re not walkThanksgiving break advantage.

For ing into ProsWinter Break instance, sophpect, that’s not a Presidents Day weekend omore football break,” McDerSpring break player Danny Cremott said. “So sap does not want what I see as the to lose the opgreatest benefit tional Thursday is that people can kind of revisit morning throw-a-round, and sophwho they are and get back in touch omore cross country runner Ryan with how to have fun, whether it’s Marr believes the team’s morning a student or a family or a teacher. pool practices provide valuable It’s for everybody to hit a reset butcross-training and injury preventon and recharge, and you can’t do tion. that if you’re constantly going 100

Unpacking lunch hour The Calendar Committee proposed later start times for all schools. As a result, the lunch times will have to be shortened. This is the proposed schedule for Prospect, Elk Grove, Buffalo Grove and Hersey.

5th Period Lunch

4th Period Lunch

1

8:20-9:08

1

8:20-9:08

6th Period Lunch 1

8:20-9:08 9:13-10:01

2

9:13-10:01

2

9:13-10:01

2

3

10:06-10:58

3

10:06-10:58

3

10:06-10:58

4

11:03-11:38

4

11:03-11:51

4

11:03-11:51

5

11:43-12:31

5

11:56-12:31

5

11:56-12:44

6

12:36-1:24

6

12:36-1:24

6

12:49-1:24

7

1:29-2:17

7

1:29-2:17

7

1:29-2:17

8

2:22-3:10

8

2:22-3:10

8

2:22-3:10

While Kruse understands that certain parts of the plan may ruffle some feathers, she hopes students can stay focused on the big picture.

“Those things, in the end, are minor trade-offs compared to the benefits that I think students and staff receive from having that balance,” Kruse said.

At the end of the day, McPartlin, Cresap and Marr understand why these changes are happening and believe students’ health will benefit from the extra sleep.

However, according to Schuler, the Calendar Committee has worked to minimize these costs by accounting for every possible variable.

To combat time lost during lunch, a testing center will be open before and after school. Similarly, the plan includes provisions to increase cafeteria staffing if necessary to combat a surge in students that would normally leave campus for lunch.

Similarly, Mirandola emphasizes that coaches and athletes need not worry about the new extracurricular guidelines, and he plans to spend the next year working with

coaches on how to implement the new policies in an equitable fashion.

“Any time there’s change, there’s a certain level of uncertainty,” Mirandola said. “People want to know what that uncertainty is going to look like.

It’s our job over the next year to nail down what that vision is actually going to look like—to take an idea or blueprint, and to make it a reality.”

Planning ahead Despite some criticism, Schuler estimates that the feedback has been over 95 percent positive. He believes it was positively received at the school board meeting on May 12. Although the fate of the new plan has not been decided, the school board resolved on May 26 to wait on voting for the new calendar until the costs of busing could be determined.

Dussling is among those who support the Calendar Committee’s proposals, and he thinks this sentiment is shared by a majority of his colleagues.

“The feedback has been fairly

positive,” Dussling said. “There are certain areas we have to look at, and we have to tweak a little bit going into this because this is something new for us, too, and we want to make sure we are treating the staff right, and we’re treating the students right. That’s the objective, and we certainly want to make sure that we’re giving the best we can for the academic studies that you have to do.”

Should the proposal pass, the Calendar Committee will work with schools to finalize the plan, and then they will continue to meet to evaluate its efficacy. Schuler emphasizes that the roll out of the initiative will be flexible, and the primary goal will continue to be the welfare of students.

“It’s a two-year pilot, so we’re just going to have to feel it out,” Schuler said. “If [part of the plan] ends up not working, then we’re going to go back to the drawing board and figure it out. We’re not going to force something to continue that’s not working. We think it’s going to work, but we’re also going to be flexible and continue to study it and adapt if necessary.”

4

Opinion

June 3, 2016

prospectornow.com

Staff Editorial

staff

Physics selection proves unfair

Editor-in-Chief Mike Stanford Managing Editors Grace Berry Diana Leane Associate Editors-in-Chief Flynn Geraghty Caley Griebenow Copy Editors Riley Langefeld Leo Garkisch Online Copy Editor Erin Schultz Social media Editor Jack Ryan Online Editor Amanda Stickels Online Sports Editor Wyatt Dojutrek Broadcast Editor Claire Strother News Editors David Fang Ben Dojutrek Opinion Editors Ayse Eldes Katie Hamilton Entertainment Editors Cassidy Delahunty Anna Indelli Cole Altmayer Sports Editors Jack Ankony Paul Evers Staff Writers Jessica Darcy Amber Alerta Despina Kokoris Nikola Arsov Victoria Zhang Visuals EditorS Elisabeth Rohde Kate Mykhaylova Adviser Jason Block Mission Statement The primary purpose of the Prospect High School Prospector is to report news as well as explain its meaning and significance to our readers and the community. We, the Prospector, hope to inform, entertain and provide a school forum for the unrestricted exchange of ideas and opinions. The Prospector is published by students in Journalistic Writing courses. Some material is courtesy of MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

Advertising For ad rates, call (847) 718-5376 (ask for Mike Stanford), fax (847) 718-5306 e-mail or write the Prospector, 801 West Kensington Rd., Mount Prospect, IL 60056, prospectornow@gmail.com.

Letters to the Editor Drop off letters to the Prospector in the box in the library, in Rm. 216 or email letters to prospectornow@ gmail.com. All letters must be signed.

Limit letters to 400 words. The Prospector reserves the right to edit letters for style and length.

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hen it comes to choosing classes for senior year, students are presented with a wide variety of options, and many see an opportunity to load their schedules with classes they enjoy.

But this year, at least nine juniors were forced to change their plans because they were denied admission to next year’s AP Physics C course.

According to Math and Science Division Head Keith Bellof, because Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards only allow for a maximum of 28 students per classroom, the cuts occured because 37 to 38 students requested to be in the course, which is too few for two sections but too many for one.

Student interest often exceeds available resources, so this is a fairly common problem. In the past, two sections of the class have run, but Bellof says that was when AP Phys-

ics C was a one-period course. As it stands now, it runs third and fourth periods as a two-period class.

However, citing limited staff available to each division, Assistant Principal for Student Services Luke Pavone says that as the administration adds one section for a course, another course must lose a section, thus limiting the course offerings.

“We want to make sure that our classes are running pretty close to capacity because that’s the most cost-efficient way to run our building budget and use it effectively,” Pavone said.

While this is unavoidable, the manner in which the administration cut students was unjust.

For instance, junior Alex Guerra was “disappointed” after he learned that he wasn’t going to be able to take AP Physics C. An active member of the Wild-

stang robotics team (see “Untamable” on page 5) and an American Invitational Mathematics Exam qualifier, Guerra plans on going into engineering, and he says that a course like physics is much more applicable to a student like him than to someone who might be going into a different subject area.

He worries colleges may look unfavorably upon an applicant who wants to go into engineering but did not take the most challenging physics course at his/her school.

The students admitted were selected randomly by a computer program, which did not consider the merits and aspirations of students like Guerra.

Had there been an application process, student needs would have been more adequately met. As it stands, the random selection process shows a disregard for the student body.

Although Pavone says the administration would be open to an application process, the lack of forethought in this situations means that for Guerra, it’s too late. “[The administration] should have responsibility of getting almost everybody in the classes that they want,” Guerra said. “And with physics, I think there were too many people that got [cut].”

Junior’s story reflective of larger racial issue Junior Yazmin Owens always knew who to go to when she was upset or in need of comfort: her cousin Brianna Jenkins. For Owens, Jenkins was one of her role models and the one person who could make her day better just by talking to her. Jenkins BY AYSE ELDES was only 19 when she was Executive Opinion murdered in Chicago in Editor October of 2015.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the number of people shot in Chicago in 2015 was almost 3,000–the highest number on record. That number has already exceeded 1,000 in the first five months of 2016. Owens felt the reality of that when having to say goodbye to her cousin, who was a victim of multiple bullets.

The same man who was charged with murdering Tyshawn Lee, the 9-year-old who was lured into an alley and killed, also has been charged in Jenkins’s killing.

“I feel like I’m doing everything for [Jenkins],” Owens said. “She was like my big sister.”

Owens is one of the few black students that MEMORIES: Senior Yazmin Owens (middle) poses with cousin Brianna Jenkins (left) for a make up 1.6% of the Prospect population. As stufamily photo. Jenkins was shot and killed last October in Chicago. “She was like my big sister,” dents like Owens face the reality of racial problems, those who are not affected seem to have Owens said. gotten tired of fighting for blacks as this national According to the New York Times, nearly one in federally to confront these problems with educaissue continues. four young black male dropouts are incarcerattion inequality. In fact, ever since the failed apA 2008 Forbes article questioned whether dised or otherwise institutionalized on an average proach with the No Child Left Behind Act, which crimination existed after the president’s election, day. Evidently, these crime rates are a result of tried to introduce standardized testing to confirm stating that “the election of Obama proved, as the lack of educational opportunities for blacks teacher qualification and school funding, there nothing else could have, that it no longer does.” nationally. hasn’t been any notable program for educational Barack Obama’s election to the highest office In Chicago, which has a black population of reform to minimize the opportunity gap between in the country in 2008 is often cited as the end of over 880,000, the graduation rate is close to 70 perblacks and whites. racial discrimination in the US. cent according to NPR News. Who can blame the A Daily Herald Article found that gifted black However, looking back at small victories and students when educational motivation doesn’t and Hispanic students in Illinois don’t get the acting as if a big problem has been solved is the get any better than Chicago, the district with the same academic opportunities as their white and same as ignoring the complexity of racial issues largest class size in the state and severely lack of Asian peers. for blacks. social workers and counselors.

One Chance Illinois, a nonprofit trying to One of the best examples of this ignorance is When kids don’t have much to gain from the improve educational options for families in Chiviolence in Chicago. According to the Chicago ‘education’ offered to them, the blame should not cago, found that gifted students in districts with Tribune, blacks, males and those in the 20-29 age be theirs when it comes to why people are shot in minority and low-income families are not being range made up the majority of homicide victims the streets every day. Black students make up 39.3 given equal opportunity to enroll in gifted proin Chicago this year. percent of CPS and have no glimpse of hope for grams.

While this problem continues, not nearly governmental help.

If these gifted students are never offered giftenough action is being taken During the 2011-2012 school year, the US Deed programs equally, then it can’t be expected for e h n t umb against it other than writby partment of Education conducted a study them to achieve higher levels of education. When n o ers ing articles about it at i with the Office of Civil Rights to find we have this kind discrimination in our schools, uc in the Tribune for d if bias and discrimination were a it’s evident that there’s still a long way to go in the E people to read. realities in US classrooms. name of racial equality.

T h e The results were shockIt’s easy to say that education is the great numbers ing. Black students were equalizer, but the question of why something shouldn’t expelled at three times the isn’t being done hasn’t been answered. A complex shock us, rate of white students, and problem like this will only continue if we keep citthough. a quarter of the schools ing a Supreme Court decision made over 60 years with the highest perago for educational equality. Considering the fact centage of black and that school segregation was outlawed in 1954 with Latino students did Brown v. Board of Education, equal educational not offer Algebra II, a achievement should have been a problem solved course commonly oflong ago. fered at Prospect, and However, it seems as if educational change a third of these same only occurred in the law, not in the mentality of schools did not offer teachers and educational facilitators. The civil chemistry. rights movements in the 1960’s, the EmancipaBlack stution Proclamation, desegregation of schools, Dr. dents were more than King’s famous ‘I Had a Dream’ speech: these were three times as likely as were big milestones for blacks in America, but white students to attend they have resulted in passive reform. schools where fewer than For real action, views of blacks still need to 60 percent of teachers meet change to make an actual difference for their lives all state certification and liin our country.

Percentcensure requirements.

Here at Prospect, it’s undeniable that our age of The US Secretary of Eduschool consists of a very small number of black cation, Arne Duncan, repeatedly students.

However, if we don’t begin the reform to grade school called for educational reform in 2014 have more minorities at schools like Prospect, the students when this study on racial inequality was academic gap between the races will only expand. attending high-povreleased.

If we are not aware of this issue as students, we “Education is the great equalizer,” Duncan, will be allowing leaders of education to watch as erty schools in the US, by said. “It should be used to level the playing field, students like 19 year-old Jenkins become victims race/ethnicity not to grow inequality.” of ignoring educational issues for blacks.

Nonetheless, not much has been actually done

prospectornow.com

June 3, 2016

Features

Untamable WildStang slays season

BY DIANA LEANE Online Managing Editor

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midst the chaos of the World Championship, the WildStang robotics team’s sole focus was on the arena in front of them, specifically on a bar suspended above their robot, which was in the middle of competing. The robot began to do something it had never done before; one of its two hooks caught onto the above bar, and despite only having one working hook, it began pulling itself up.

Once it reached the height the team had desired and stayed, the group broke into cheers. In order for the robot to ascend successfully, its climbing subsystem needed to work, which had never happened prior to that round.

“That was just really great to see after all of the failures we saw in the shop–before we finally got it working,” senior Billy Doherty MR. ROBOTO: Senior Billy Doherty participates at a robotics competition. Doherty, who chooses which said.

According to Doherty, the team alliance WildStang joins, has been a main player for the team and believes his experiences from the team suspected they would be eliminat- has helped prepare him for college and his future career. (photo courtesy Mark Koch) ed that round, so they attempted es. The game has a medieval theme; works on a prototype, so they can peted at two regionals. the climb despite knowing that robots score by making it through figure out what changes to make to According to the thebluealliusing only one hook could damage fortifications, and launching boul- the real robot when competing. ance.com, WildStang ranked 15th the robot. While WildStang was The season runs from Jan. to ders at and capturing towers. out of 39 teams at the Central Ileliminated, the team walked away April, and throughout that time At a competition, three robotics linois Regional, second out of 52 proud after overcoming that seateams join to make an alliance, who span, Doherty estimates he’s at roteams at the Midwest Regional and son-long obstacle. then perform in seeds; Doherty botics 25 hours a week.

24th out of 75 teams at the World “[It was] kind of bittersweet beOverall, Guerra estimates there chose which alliances WildStang Championship. Since the program cause we all knew that we didn’t joined. The competitions go from are around 65 students in the probegan, the team has won three win the match at Thursday to Saturday; on Thurs- gram and about 20 from Prospect. world championships. that point, so it was, day the teams set up the pit and Due to the fact WildStang is disAccording to junior Alex ‘There goes our seatheir robots, on Friday they com- trict-wide, Doherty believes the Guerra, in order to qualify son, but, hey, look team is advertised less and Guerpete, and Saturday is elimination. for the World Chamwhat we have ra thinks choosing a central place Leading up to the competitions, pionship, a team to show for it,’” to work is difficult. However, the the three sub-teams within Wildmust either win a Doherty said. “We Stang — mechanical, electrical and team has found Forest View works regional, win the did something that software — work tirelessly. The well since it is in between the Chairman’s award not very many first six weeks of the season serve schools. or the Engineering teams have been Despite any downsides, they as the build season, where those WildStang’s robot Inspiration award, able to accombuilding the robot work about both think that including several be admitted from plish.” three hours on school night and of the schools strengthens the prothe waitlist or be in the Hall of The robotics team is diseight hours on Saturdays, accord- gram. They believe the team reFame, which WildStang is in. trict-wide and competes through ceives more funding and resources ing to Doherty.

Each year, FIRST creates a FIRST (For Inspiration and RecogOnce the build season is over, from the district now than it would game the robots must be able to nition of Science and Technology) if it was just a Prospect team. the robot is put in a bag and cannot play; this year the game was called in the Tesla division. This season, Additionally, students are able be worked on further unless the Stronghold. According to FIRST’s in addition to the World Champito make friends from other schools team is making changes at the comwebsite, in the game two alliances onship in St. Louis, the team competitions. However, the group then who they would not have likely work to breach the other’s defens-

5

met otherwise, according to Guerra and Doherty. Furthermore, in order to join the team, members must first apply and be accepted, so the team has a wider range of talent to choose from and utilize.

According to WildStang mentor and former CT Division Head Mark Koch, the team received over 40 applications last year and accepted 24 students. Koch says he accepts students who appear invested in the program and truly interested in math, science and engineering.

According to Guerra, most of the members who stay with the team until senior year choose majors related to robotics; he predicts 90 percent of seniors study engineering after graduation. Next year, Doherty plans to study computer engineering.

Koch believes WildStang greatly helps prepare students for life after high school. Through robotics they learn basic engineering and how to work with software, how to lead and how to work in groups.

“They are well versed in working in teams with other people, and they’re not afraid to jump in and get their hands dirty–whether that’s working on machines or writing software,” Koch said.

“We’re really teaching students how to work together, and one of the big things that’s fun for me is to see the growth of the students over four years time.”

Doherty believes WildStang has greatly affected his future already.

Doherty received an internship from a company that sponsors WildStang, and he believes the skills he learned through the club, such as how to solve complex problems, will be crucial in college.

As the students learn from the club, Koch learns from the students.

“The students are instantly showing me new things they learned, and that’s part of the fun in the program for me,” Koch said.

“I feel like I’m always learning new things about robotics, and there’s always new technology coming out. I like participating in that.”

Bass fishing bonds club

BY ERIN SCHULTZ Copy Editor Seven years ago, when three students found out IHSA was introducing bass fishing as a competitive sport, they told Associate Principal for Student Activities Greg Minter that they wanted to bring the club to Prospect. Minter knew how much auto teacher Tim Schaap enjoyed fishing, so he immediately approached Schaap and asked him to sponsor the club.

Schaap felt extremely honored, and accepted the offer since he considers himself a “die-hard fisherman.” He even volunteered his own boat for the club’s use. A few years later, he asked friend and math teacher Jim Hamann to join him as a sponsor, and they have been leading Bass Fishing Club ever since.

The club currently has eight active members, but there can be as many as 16 at a meeting. Each year, the club practices weekly, beginning in December, for local invitationals and IHSA-sanctioned events such as the sectional and state competitions. They attend about five per year that are held at Ben Watts Marina in Fox Lake and Carlyle Lake in Carlyle.

At meets, the club competes in Schaap’s and Hamann’s boats. Two students and its respective owner are allowed in each boat.

The four students who go to events are determined by how often they attend meetings.

However, since their season begins in the winter and the team can’t practice on the frozen water, it practices weekly in the auto shop.

They practice by balancing on buckets to simulate balancing on boats, casting at targets and watching videos. They have also

had Jimmy T, owner of Fishtech Bait and Tackle, come speak to them.

According to Hamann, it is important for the club to practice frequently to increase skill level, even on land, because there are over 25 schools at sectionals.

“We try to go as much as the kids want to,” Hamann said. “It’s all about what they want to do and how interested they are.”

At sectionals on May 6, the club competed at Ben Watts Marina from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The catches are scored based on weight.

Senior Tim St. Denis caught four fish weighing 5.5 pounds total. Senior Patrick Walsh also contributed to the score by catching a 1.5 pound bass.

However, the students don’t feel any pressure to compete against other schools while in the boats. The team attributes this to the fact they’re not sure how other boats are faring, having no contact with them for long periods of time.

“You’re just out there … thinking about what you can do to catch more and what you’re doing wrong. A lot goes through your head; it’s a big mental game,” St. Denis said.

According to freshman Tim Konopacki, the team likes hanging out and talking to each other on the boats, but the collective attitude is dependent on the amount of fish they catch.

“You’re either really frustrated or really happy depending on if you’re catching fish or not. If someone catches a fish, we’re like, ‘Fish! Fish! Get it!’” Konopacki said.

At IHSA-sanctioned events and local invites, boats are scored by the weight of bass they bring in. The maximum number of fish each boat can bring in to be weighed is five, and the heaviest five fish in the competition win.

ALL ABOUT THAT BASS: (from left to right) Freshman Tim Konopacki, seniors Patrick Walsh, Tim St. Denis, Jacob Lomazov and junior Charlie Siefke pose after their meet on May 13. (photo by Erin Schultz) Each fish must be at least 14 inches long to qualify for weighing, and students must measure bass on the boats before bringing them back on land.

The goal at competitions is to catch as many fish as possible and narrow it down to the heaviest few, but sometimes catching five is not an easy feat. Though competitors know which bait to use in certain conditions, occasionally factors that are out of their control get in the way of a catch.

“You want to do better than your competition, but at some point, it’s not in your control if you don’t catch fish. Maybe it’s the weather or [the fish] just aren’t biting,” Konopacki said. “One day you can catch ten pounds, and the next day, you can get no fish.”

Once fish are caught, they are put into

a live well, a container of water for the fish, in the boat. When it’s time for them to be weighed at the end of the competition, they’re placed into bags and transported to the scales.

After the fish are weighed and the winners receive their prizes, either a Bass Pro Shops gift card at local invitationals, or a plaque from state, the fish are thrown back.

St. Denis says this step is very important and the club tries their best to not hurt the fish.

However, while the competition aspect is fun for the team, they also value just being able to fish together. “[I like] that now I have more friends that like fishing as much as I do,” Konopacki said. “I can stop asking my dad to take me and have them take me. It’s a lot of fun.”

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In-Depth

June 3 , 2016

Therapy takes four-legged form at local hospital Dogs, owners train to create secure environment for patients, their families

BY CALEY GRIEBENOW Associate Editor-in-Chief

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or some patients at Northwest Community Hospital, compiling a set of collectors’ cards is one way to pass the time. However, the cards do not have action figures or superheroes on them; they have pictures of therapy dogs, complete with the dog’s name, their breed and a bio box.

According to Jody Stautzenbach, a therapy dog owner herself, collecting the cards can offer a sense of

comfort to the patients.

“For the patients who are staying [at the hospital] longer, we can pass the cards out, and it helps them become more familiar with the dogs in the program,” Stautzenbach said.

Although sophomore Mattie Stautzenbach, Jody’s daughter, doesn’t get to see her dog Jasper work since only her mom is certified to work with him, she knew he would make a good therapy dog because of his loving personality. “[Jasper] is playful and still tries to sit on your lap,” Mattie said.

“While he has his bursts of energy, he is mostly pretty calm.”

Mattie’s dog, Jasper, is a 5-yearold, 125-pound, Bernese mountain therapy dog who is certified to work with hospital patients and their families. Jasper and Jody have been working at Northwest Community for four years through the program Northwest Community Animal Assisted Therapy. Jasper is currently one of about 80 dogs in the program.

Sophomore Alyssa Kubitz and her mom Debbie are very familiar with the program, since their dog Abby was one of the first fourteen dogs who worked at the hospital nine years ago. The program had positive feedback from the hospital, so it was allowed to continue.

To be a part of the program, there is an intensive three-day evaluation each dog must pass in order to be a certified. The dogs’ tests can include: whether or not they bark at someone knocking on the hospital door, if they don’t eat bacon off the floor and if they can listen to verbal commands. Alyssa assists in the training process for new therapy dogs by lying on a bed, pretending to be a patient and seeing whether or not the dogs jump up.

Once the dog passes, they begin to work at the hospital twice a month on two hour shifts. They can comfort patients of all ages and fam-

ily members in waiting rooms.

For Debbie, the positive effect the dogs have on the patients is apparent, and it motivates her to continue to help others.

“We know the benefit of what the dogs could provide to people,” Debbie said. “They bring happiness and comfort to those in need. We love them, and in return they’re fulfilling us.”

Jody and Jasper feel that same purpose when they work at the hospital. From Jasper getting belly rubs in the waiting room to him comforting a woman whose elderly mother passed away, Jody remained grateful for the opportunities she’s been given to work alongside Jasper.

“I feel privileged to be able to help others and volunteer with [Jasper],” Jody said. “It’s rewarding.”

Debbie can recall a time when seeing Abby provide comfort to a woman was particularly rewarding. Abby and Debbie would visit a woman, who had a terminal disease, since she was away from her kids and dog during her treatment. The woman told Debbie that Abby eased her pain for a little bit.

Debbie was also touched when Abby comforted a sick young boy, and he was so happy that he asked if Abby could come to his birthday party.

Small moments like those re-

mind Debbie why she signed Abby up to be a therapy dog in the first place.

“Every time we visited, we made a difference.” Debbie said. “We walked into the hospital with a purpose.”

Abby worked for eight years with Debbie by her side before she passed away. While they have another dog, Scout, who they hope to train, Abby’s passing was difficult for the whole family. However, Alyssa chooses to remember all the good Abby brought into the world.

“Abby was so accepting,” Alyssa said. “It was cool to see all the people she impacted.”

During those eight years, Abby not only worked at the hospital. She also worked in high schools for kids with disabilities, and she worked with military families and cancer support groups through Willow Creek Community Church.

When Debbie looks back on her time with Abby, she is in awe of what dogs can teach people.

“Dogs and sick people need each other,” Debbie said. “They make the days a little brighter. Abby taught me everyone is deserving of unconditional love, no matter what they’re dealing with.”

Pets-aRUFF LIFE: Abby, the Kubitz family’s late therapy dog, sits calmly for a picture during one of her shifts at Northwest Community Hospital. All of the therapy dogs are equipped with their ‘collectors’ cards’, as shown on the right. The dogs are trained to comfort patients of all ages and their families.

“We know the benefit of what the dogs could provide to people,” Debbie Kubitz said. “They bring happiness and comfort to those in need.” (photo courtesy of Debbie Kubitz)

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Issue 10 has featured the inaugural best pet contest. All 28 entrants competed in two rounds of online polls, each with nearly 500 votes.

All pets can be found on prospectornow.com.

Check out the five finalists to the right.

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Which pet is best?

photos courtesy of Jody Stautzenbach

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June 3, 2016

In-Depth

Students discover calling in vet’s office

BY MIKE STANFORD Editor-in-Chief

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Sophomore Lae Czarny walked into *their Sophomore Lae Czarny bedroom and saw their tarantula, Sylvester, walked into hiding in his cage *their with one bedroom of his legs broken off earlier this year. tarantula, and saw their Fear and shock soonin took Czarny Sylvester, hiding hisover cage as they hoped that Sylvester was still alive. with one of his legs broken They called for their father, Ken Czarny, and off year. told earlier him what this happened.

Lae was relieved when heand said Sylvester would not die.

Fear shock soon took Although Ken and Lae weren’t there to see over Czarny as they hoped it, Lae assumes that Sylvester’s leg got caught that Sylvester was still in the mesh canopy at the top of his cage, and alive.

They called for he fell while trying to get it out.their Almost Ken immediately after and finding out Sylfather, Czarny, vester him was alive, Laehappened. hopped onto the comtold what puter to do research. They wanted to make Lae was relieved when he sure that losing a leg was normal for a taransaid Sylvester would Sylvester’s not tula, which it is. Eventually, leg grew back. die.

Doing research on their pets is a normal Although Ken and Lae activity for Lae because they own a tarantuweren’t there to see it, Lae la, bearded dragon, guinea pig, two cats and four fish.

To read more of Executive Online Editor Amanda Stickels’ story about Lae and their pets, head to prospectornow.com.

Pets-a-palooza

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himself when he volunteered at that family just adopted a new puppy, so you get to see them go an animal hospital when he was 15 years old. through it all again.”

Roberts was able to see firstDespite these depressing ashand both the rewarding and pects of her job, Nolan plans to go to veterinary school and even- gorier aspects of the job, which eventually allowed tually work him to begin his caas either a The best thing to reer knowing what residential take away from [the to expect. As a reveterinarian job] was learning of sult, he has a job or an animal physical what the job actually that he “can’t get enough of”.” therapist. consists of and still Miller hopes that Miller also loving it. he can one day say wants to go the same. More iminto veteriClare Nolan, senior portantly, however, nary mediis that he never loscine but is es sight of why he unsure of exactly which exact route he wanted to pursue the career in the first place. would take. However, he hopes “Without vets, I would not to incorporate working abroad have been able to spend as much into his career path at some time as I have been able to with point.

According to Roberts, the my dogs,” Miller said. “And why best way to get into the field is not spread the love and make it possible for others to experience by working at an animal hospital early, like Miller and Nolan what I got to?” are doing. Roberts did the same

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WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? Senior Clare Nolan poses with a puppy at her job as a veterinary assistant at A Central North Animal Hospital. Nolan wants to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, and she is getting a head start in high school. (photo courtesy of Clare Nolan)

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Sophomore collects exotic pets *source prefers they/them pronouns *source prefers they/them pronouns

or senior Clare Nolan, working with animals comes naturally. Her family has fostered puppies throughout her life, so interaction with dogs has been a staple of her childhood.

Last May, Nolan decided to take her passion one step further and got a job at A Central North Animal Hospital, where she now works roughly 26 hours a week as a veterinary assistant.

In addition to Nolan, junior Mike Miller also works in the veterinary field. Both were inspired to become to pursue careers in veterinary medicine by childhood experiences with animals and are getting head-starts in high school.

When Nolan first started at A Central North, she was still working her previous job as a lifeguard. However, the animal hospital quickly captivated her.

“I knew I wanted to be there as much as I could,” Nolan said.

“So I quit the lifeguarding job and decided, ‘Why would I keep working at a job that doesn’t really have anything to do with my future when [the animal hospital] pretty much is my future?’”

For Miller, applying for an internship at an animal hospital was the result of career exploration. He wanted to pursue a path that would not only be enjoyable for him but also one that would make an impact on others. In veterinary medicine, he hopes he has found both.

Miller credits emergency care and preventive medicine for the longterm

health of his former dog, Too Sweet, and his current dog, Chloe. He believes that becoming a veterinarian would allow him to do the same for others.

Miller began his internship, which was arranged through the District 214 internship program (see more about this program’s increasing popularity on page 3), in February. He shadows Dr. Humphrey Roberts three days a week at two of the practices he owns, the Arlington Golf and the Wheeling Animal Hospitals.

Miller was unsure of what to expect at first, but he soon found that his internship is, as he puts it, “really freaking cool.”

On a typical day, Miller follows Roberts as he treats animals, works with clients and performs surgery, which is the part of the job that Miller believes is most interesting.

Because he interns after school and most surgeries are in the morning, Miller usually does not get to see animals going under the knife. He was able to watch for the first time on a day off from school and was instantly hooked by a side of the job he did not even consider before his internship.

Nolan’s responsibilities are more wide-ranging because she is a paid employee; she does everything from preparing vaccines to walking nervous dogs to answering phones. Going into her job for the first time, she did not know what to expect, but what surprised her most was how fast-paced and hands-on the job is. However, these surprises did not lessen her desire to become a veterinarian.

“The best thing to take away from [the job] was learning of what the job actually consists of and still loving it,” Nolan said.

While Nolan does enjoy most parts about her job, there is one thing she finds difficult to stomach.

Around the time she first starting working at A Central North, a family came in with a goldendoodle puppy named Lexi that was just like any other. Nolan was there as they kept bringing in the dog for routine appointments as Lexi grew up, and she was also there when Lexi was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Lexi eventually had to be put down, which was heartbreaking for both the family and the workers at the animal hospital.

“You watched the dog grow up and then fall at the same time,” Nolan said. “I know it’s the circle of life and things happen the way they happen. [But]

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Features

June 3, 2016

prospectornow.com

Retirees leave lasting legacy Over a century and a half of combined experience will be lost this year when seven Prospect’s long time employees take their leave and begin their retirement.

Weber welcomes new lifestyle

BY FLYNN GERAGHTY Associate Editor-in-Chief Marilyn Weber started working at Prospect in the athletics office in 1986. Weber remembers her first week as “crazy,” because it was the start of a new season and a lot of athletes were coming in. However, despite the hectic nature of it all, Weber enjoyed it.

“It was always fun to see how the different sports were doing at the competitions and everything, especially if they did really well,” Weber said. “It was always full of excitement down there.”

Throughout her 30 years at Prospect, Weber has been given the opportunity to work with many interesting people, whether it be in the athletics office, or the main office, where she is currently working. She has even been given the unique opportunity to work here while her four children were in school here.

“When they were students here, I didn’t really see them that much, except, of course, if they needed something,” Weber said. “They had their things to do, and I had mine.”

One of them, Peter Weber, went on to become the orchestra coordinator here at Prospect. However, despite working in the same building, Weber says she and her son

don’t see each other very much. This is why one of Weber’s favorite activities is to watch the orchestra concerts and see how well her son works with the students.

“It’s really fun,” Weber said. “I always enjoy going to the concerts and it’s always fun just watching them play and it’s so much fun seeing [Peter] conduct and work with students who are playing. The students do a great job.

That’s what I really enjoy about it.”

However, after working here at Prospect for 30 years, Weber will take her leave and retire after this school year.

One of things she believes she will miss the most is the people that make up the Prospect community.

“There’s a number of people here who are just very nice,” Weber said. “There are just really good people here at Prospect. You just kind of get used to seeing those people every day, and it’s going to be a change to not see them.”

While away from Prospect, Weber wants to travel, specifically to the national parks and spend time with her two grandchildren, Sabrina and Linus.

Though she won’t have a physical presence in the building, she hopes she left something behind in everyone she met.

“I hope I was able to share a little bit of who I am with others,” Weber said.

Martin migrates, marks new start Despite cosmetology being her basic trade, Carol Martin took a job at Prospect in 1989. She wanted to have a job that would fit well with her then-young children’s schedules. She started off in the cafeteria, but was then moved to security and then into the attendance office. Because of all of these changes, Martin has gotten to know many different students and staff members over the years.

“We’ve all ended up working together,” Martin said. “Sometimes during the school year, you’re here at work more than you are at home. So all these people become your family. You get to know them on a very personal level.”

However, after being at Prospect for more than 25 years, Martin will be retiring in June. During her retirement, she plans on doing a lot of gardening, spending time with her 10 grandchildren and her Golden Retriever, Lilly, as well as adopting a golden retriever puppy.

As she leaves Prospect, Martin hopes she has left a positive impact on the students and staff.

“I hope I have put some joy into some people’s lives,” Martin said. “I try and be as pleasant as possible to the students. I’ve made a lot of friends with [them]. I hope I have even helped someone have a better day.”

Carpenter keeps Prospect close at heart In order to have a job close to where her daughters went to school, Kim Carpenter started working at Prospect in 1997.

She started off in the College and Career Center and loved the hours and having her summers free.

After working there for three years, the opportunity arose to work in the Activities Office. Carpenter felt very qualified, especially since she had seven years of bookkeeping experience under her belt.

“When this job opened up, I just put in for it and I was lucky enough to get it,” Carpenter said.

As Carpenter was getting settled in her new position, she was also experiencing what she considers one of her favorite memories of Prospect: the football team’s repeated successes and state championships of the early 2000s.

“That was really fun,” Carpenter said. “The kids were excited. My girls were of that age, as juniors and seniors, and so I knew a lot of the boys that were on the football team.

That was just a really exciting part of being involved at high school.”

Carpenter is not through with being involved in Prospect sports. Even though Carpenter will be leaving Prospect after 19 years of service, she will continue her 16-year run coaching the bowling team.

“It’ll be great,” Carpenter said. “I won’t be tired, so I’ll be really into getting the kids ready for bowling. It’ll be an exciting year.”

Schoeps says sayonara to students, staff During her transfer from Forest View High School, CinDee Schoeps had a choice of either going to Prospect or Elk Grove. She chose Prospect due to location and started off in the attendance office.

Through working at Prospect for the past 30 years, Schoeps feels she has forged meaningful connections with the students.

“I just love working with the kids,” Schoeps said. “That’s one thing I’m going to miss: the kids.”

Schoeps is extremely impressed by the work that some of the students can do, specifically through programs like Knight’s Way. “[I’ve learned a lot about] positive attitudes through Knight’s Way,” Schoeps said. “I listen to the Knight’s Way stuff and try to apply that to my life.”

Schoeps hopes the students and staff continue to do similarly great things after she retires this year. During her retirement, Schoeps plans on volunteering at Mainstay Therapeutic Farm in Richmond, which is an organization that helps disabled people ride horses.

As Schoeps leaves, she hopes that she was able to be a friend to anyone who came through the attendance office.

“I hope that I’ve shown a little ray of sunshine to all the kids that come through the Dean’s office so that they know they have a friend here and that this isn’t always a bad place to visit,” Schoeps said.

Miller moves on to makes new memories When Sue Miller’s job was eliminated at Forest View Educational Center in 2006, she decided to come to Prospect, where she was put at the help desk. As Prospect began switching over to a more technology-based curriculum, Miller took it upon herself to provide help in any way she could.

“I think the best part of my job is helping people,” Miller said. “If I can make their job easier, then that gives me satisfaction.”

Miller has been working at Prospect for the past nine years, having been in the district for the past 22. However, this year will be her last, as she is planning on beginning her retirement.

During the next stage of her life, Miller hopes to reconnect with some old friends and head down to her family’s lake house in Lake Summerset, which is just outside of Rockford. Miller is also very excited for her daughter, Jennifer’s, wedding, which will be this fall.

Despite her exciting plans, Miller will miss seeing all of the friendly faces around Prospect.

“On a day-to-day basis … I see people, work with people, et cetera,” Miller said.

“When I retire, I won’t be seeing them every day, so I’ll miss their friendships.”

To read these retiree profiles from past issues, head over to prospectornow.com!

prospectornow.com

June 3, 2016

Features

9

Sophomore says ‘ciao’ to Chi-town Ibata-Arens continues cultural experiences by studying abroad next year in Avellino, Italy

abroad from his parents, who both have jobs that require international travel. His mom, Kathryn, saw that Max had been developing an interest in the Italian language and culture since fifth grade and encouraged Max to pursue his passion and study in Italy.

“As a [Depaul] university professor who sees students not very much older than Max

BY AMBER ALERTA come to my university, I think that it is so Staff Writer important at your age to try to get as much ophomore Max Ibata-Arens stood international experience as possible,” Kathas tall as a nine-year-old boy could ryn said. “We are such a global world, and stand on top of a mountain in Japan as an educator, I think it is absolutely critwith a view that stretched miles in every diical that parents, educators, schools, high rection. But he wasn’t alone in appreciating schools [and] school districts all get behind this view; small monkeys also roamed these the idea of developing the global cultural mountains every day. It was this beautiful competence of our students and children atmosphere that eventually became Iba- because the United States is not getting any ta-Arens’s favorite place to be in not only more competitive than it’s been.”

Japan, but in the entire Max, who shares similar “Travel to me is about world. views as his mom, found These mountains were Greenheart Travel after meeting new people just a few of the places that searching online for a qualand having experiences ity company through which Ibata-Arens likes to visit. that I would never get to to travel. To get accepted As a boy, Ibata-Arens was able to experience Japahave if I stayed at home. into the Greenheart Travel nese culture and go back program, Max applied for a By leaving my comfort to his heritage during his student visa and filled out family’s annual trips to Jazone, I am learning how a lengthy application that pan. included medical papers, to take risks and grow “Experiencing [Japaa copy of his passport, picas a person.” nese] culture when I was tures of him doing what he young really opened me up likes, a letter written by to the world and made me Max’s parents, letters of recMax Ibata-Arens, interested in just learning ommendation from teachers sophomore about [other cultures],” and a personal letter in ItalIbata-Arens said. ian written by Max to his This urge to learn and host family saying who he is travel has inspired Ibata-Arens to study and what he likes to do. abroad next school year in Avellino, Italy Max thanks Hope Pavich, Greenheart through the Greenheart Travel Initiative.

Travel’s foreign exchange program manGreenheart Travel is a program that orgaager, for guiding him through the process. nizes international volunteer opportuni- He also attributes his quality application ties and internship positions for teens and and preparation for his trip to Italian teachadults. ers Lyn Scolaro and Antonino Bondi, who Ibata-Arens got the notion to study helped him translate and proofread his letter

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Students, staff find Uber app uber handy

BY KATIE HAMILTON Opinion Editor

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After working on the school musical with tech crew until 8:30, sophomore Anthony Moreth found himself stranded without a ride because both of his parents were at work. Scared to walk, he instead took out his phone and opened the app Uber. Uber is a driving service controlled through an app that allows people to call cars with their mobile devices.

The Uber app is set up with a credit card for a fast paying process following the rides. It contains information on the drivers and

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their cars, such as the car model and license plate, and also includes estimates how much rides will cost.

After the ride, it presents a rating feature, making it possible for the rider to give feedback on their driver and vise versa.

The ride service, though most popular for adults in their 20s, has become relevant to students who cannot find rides to and from activities.

“I think Uber is a really great way of going places instead of walking because sometimes walking can be really sketchy,” Moreth said.

He uses Uber late at night,

when walking alone can be dangerous for high school students.

Moreth says the majority of Uber drivers he meets are extremely nice, making him feel safe. Uber driver and Prospect P.E. teacher, Dominic Cannon says he always tries to make his clients feel comfortable. He shakes their hand, introduces himself and lets his passengers sit in the front seat to ensure that they feel safe. He says that engaging in conversation is one of the best ways to make a passenger feel comfortable.

Senior Gianna Honcharuk says that the majority of the drivers are extremely friendly, but that isn’t her main reason for using Uber.

According to Honcharuk, an added benefit is the low fare.

Last year after prom, half of Honcharuk group used Uber while the other half took a taxi. Honcharuk says the final price on the taxi

Sophomore Alyssa Cacini The Girlfriend

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Sophomore Ryan Howe

Baseball number?

The Subject

#15 and #4

Sophomore Casey Daleiden The Best Friend

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PASTA LA VISTA: The Leaning Tower of Piza is one Italian landmark sophomore Max Ibata-Arens wishes to see while in Italy. (photo courtesy of Wiki commons)

and are teaching him the Italian language.

In addition to learning Italian at school, Max also enjoys watching the news and The Simpsons in Italian because it is a popular tv show in Italy with which he can further his Italian learning.

Along with preparing his skills for the trip, Max is also finding a proper gift to give his host family. To go with this gift, Max plans on only bringing the bare necessities to Italy. This will help him fully immerse in Italian culture because he won’t have many American things with him.

For Max to truly experience Italy, he will learn in Italian while at school and will connect with his Italian family by not returning to and not communicating with his friends and family in the United States. Max says it will be very difficult to deal with the homesickness he will feel because he will miss them while he is away.

“Homesickness is what I’m really scared for just because it’s almost unavoidable. Everyone [who studies abroad] has it,” Max said. “Not being with your family or friends for a whole year, especially around Christmas, is when it’s pretty bad.”

However, despite this fear, Max is excited to experience Italian culture firsthand after years of making Italian food and learning the language here in the United States.

He plans on visiting Rome, Venice and the Amalfi coast while in Italy. After he returns, Max wants to continue his travels and cultural education by taking a roadtrip through the United States and visiting other countries, along with paying Italy another visit sometime in college.

“Travel, to me, is about meeting new people and having experiences that I would never get to have if I stayed at home,” Max said. “By leaving my comfort zone, I am learning how to take risks and grow as a person.”

was $25, but the Uber was only $6.

“I wasn’t surprised, but I thought it was funny to see how [the group that took the taxi] reacted to the price difference”, Honcharuk said.

Honcharuk also expressed how easy it is to use the app. For clients, all they need is the app and a credit card. Students can use Uber to go to concerts, downtown Chicago, school practices and home; Honcharuk used Uber to commute to a hotel in an unfamiliar part of Chicago.

Cannon believes that there are some clear advantages of working for Uber. He says that between the hours of being a teacher and a coach, it is hard to find more time for an additional job, but with Uber, he decides his own hours. This feature adds an entirely new way for full-time employees to earn money on the side by creating a more flex-

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ible work schedule.

Cannon says being a teacher and coach has made him more aware of students’ hectic schedules. In addition, becoming an Uber driver has made him more conscious of the transportation issues that kids face.

He believes that Uber is a good way for kids to commute from after-school activities, especially kids whose parents aren’t available to drive them.

Even though the app is convenient, Honcharuk says that she doesn’t know many people who use it. She believes it’s because students are scared to use the app.

“If you have a preconceived notion about it, you’re obviously going to experience it in a different way, [but] I think if you’re open to trying it, you won’t have a bad experience,” Honcharuk said.

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Entertainment

June 3, 2016

prospectornow.com

Fine tuning musical skill, experience Seniors plan to bring passion for music to future colleges

BY LEO GARKISCH Copy Editor

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t Thursday May 19’s Spring Band Concert, senior Peter Hong puffed the final note of Wedding Dance

by Jacques Press on his E flat clarinet. After the whole band took a bow, he headed back to the band room for one of the last times. Not only was this Prospect’s final band concert of the school year, but it was also Hong’s last concert as a Prospect student.

For the past four years, he and other current senior musicians have helped elevate the level of Prospect’s band program. Next year, several will continue to play their instruments in college.

Senior Megan DelSignore, a flute player, is one of these

PLAY ON: Senior Peter Hong performs at this year’s Spring Band Concert on May 19. Hong will be one of many seniors who continues to practice music even after his time in high school ends. (photo courtesy of Peter Hong)

Has one of your favorite shows ever gone downhill?

students. She is considering double majoring in music and psychology at Columbia College in Chicago next fall. Regardless of what she decides, DelSignore will continue to play the flute, the instrument she has loved since fourth grade. This commitment to and love of to her instrument is what she says has made her interested in playing in college.

Similarly, band director Chris Barnum, who played euphonium at the University of Illinois, said that his love for music was one of the reasons he continued his musical studies in college.

“I was really into playing [euphonium] and really into band in high school,” Barnum said. “But I knew that the further along I got, that I was going to be … trying to raise my level of musicianship so someday, when I was out teaching, I could hopefully impart some of that on my students.”

Barnum has been successful at this so far as Hong and DelSignore have both played in various Prospect ensembles including concert band, marching band and symphony orchestra throughout their high school careers. Each has had the opportunity to travel with the band to places like Indianapolis’s Lucas Oil Stadium and Washington D.C. Although they are both experienced players, they are expecting the college musical scene to be very different from high school.

Hong, who will attend Purdue, is planning on only participating in concert band (a wind ensemble) and not in marching band. He said that playing in college will be less of a time commitment than it was in high school.

Not being a music major, his ensemble won’t meet every day. This is a big change from how it is at Prospect where band is a normal class and students are obligated to come to after-school rehearsals and eight-hour days at band camp over the summer.

DelSignore, who currently practices for around two hours every other day, believes she will need to begin practicing every day when she gets to college. Barnum said that when he was in college, he would end up playing at least four hours between practice and rehearsal every day.

Time management is essential for any college student, let alone a double major music student. DelSignore said that for her, double majoring is going to be quite the balancing act, and she anticipates some difficulty in scheduling classes between Columbia’s music and arts colleges.

Playing it forward Many seniors will continue to play instruments in college. Here are a few.

Lillian Hermes University of Chicago Minoring in music Plays bass clarinet

Martin Brablec Columbia College Majoring in music composition and musical theater Plays keyboard

Jacob Hwang North Park University Majoring in music Plays French horn Hong also believes it will be a challenge to balance his regular schoolwork while still playing clarinet. He explained that because he’ll be living in a dorm, it will be more difficult to practice as he will have to play in a practice room.

On the other hand, both Hong and DelSignore are excited for the challenge of playing more advanced musical literature. Hong anticipates that the other band members will be more serious about their instruments in college.

“I think the difference will be the dedication of people, not just for band, but to their instruments and really caring about playing a bit more,” DelSignore said. “A lot of people quit after high school, so there’s just going to be a bit more dedication to wanting to play really well and practicing a lot.”

‘Game’ dethroned Half of my wardrobe consists of graphic tees with a “Game of Thrones” logo somewhere on it. I read all the books that the show is based on in the span of two months in seventh grade, and I would spend most of my free time After four years of marriage reading trivia based on the series to the HBO TV fanon a variety of differtasy epic “Game of ent Wikis and message Thrones,” I have begun boards. to consider something, However,my a thought I would have love for the world of never even entertained “Thrones” has come back in the show’s early into question ever seasons. since the show comI need a divorce.

BY COLE ALTMAYER mitted the most unhoThe show I marly of television sins; it ried back when I was Entertainment Editor “jumped the shark”, a young and impreswhich is TV lingo sionable middle schoolfor a point of no return in terms er has changed into something of quality, and it might’ve done much different, something that I more damage to the show than am not OK with devoting an hour the Fonz’s original shark-jumping of precious time to every Sunday stunt in “Happy Days”. night. However, old habits die Somewhere around the middle hard; I never miss a new episode, of season five, “Thrones” lost its even though the childlike sense of luster. It was a result of extreme excitement I used to feel while anchanges from the source mateticipating a new one was murdered rial and over-reliance on cheap and tossed into a roadside ditch a shock-value to keep viewers tunlong time ago. ing in. The show, once a drama Watching the show now feels about intrigue in a political setless like a leisurely way to kill time ting, has devolved into a medieval and enjoy myself, and more like a themed rehash of “Survivor”, but job. instead of voting people off the isIt’s an obligation not to a perland, the writers brutally kill them son, but pixels on a screen, as silly off instead. as it sounds. I need to watch not It feels as if the writers have because it is still entertaining to taken a commonly used stereotype me, but simply because I’ve been of the show, the fact that major on the bandwagon far too long to characters are often killed off in jump off now. horrifying ways, and made it its “Thrones” has been a pretty big only defining characteristic. Inpart of my life since I first picked it stead of shocking, it just feels tired, up, and I don’t feel ashamed of that, boring and played out. Almost evdespite what it has become. ery episode someone is killed off, My bedroom is plastered with and almost every time my reaction all sorts of “Thrones” merchanis “whatever”. dise, with colorful posters displayBeing a fan of “Game of ing the coats of arms of the noble Thrones” at this time feels very families in the show and collectible similar to rooting for your lofigurines posed upon the shelves. cal sports team despite them not

‘Game of Thrones’ trades good plots for shock value

“I was addicted to [‘Dexter’] at first, but then it got really bad... I just wanted to know what happened at the end.”

-Jane Williams, sophomore

“[‘Arrow’ became] the same thing repeated; there’s a bad guy, [Arrow] kills him… then there’s another bad guy, and he kills him.”

-Joe Ferraro, freshman

“[When there’s a bad part of ‘Gotham’], I just expect it to get better. At one point, the quality will go back to normal.”

-Mike Wharton, junior

GAME OF GROANS: “Game of Thrones” has become less like a labor of love and more like actual labor: boring, frustrating, and stressful. (photo by Claire Strother) being very good; sure, there are better teams out there, but this is the team I invested in. I bought tickets, a jersey, a hat and even if they’re on a losing streak, I’ll see it through just in case they make the playoffs.

However, with the direction “Thrones” is going, I’d wager a guess that I’m not getting anything good back from this investment any time soon. The show is more successful now than it ever has been before, with more fans, more money and more merchandise for me to buy than I could ever comprehend. Hell, just the other week I bought a figurine of Stannis Baratheon, one of my favorite characters from the series, and immediately regretted it.

Not only did the useless hunk of plastic cost seven dollars too many, but Stannis’s character from the book was pretty much ruined in the show when he burned his own daughter alive in a desperate ritual to stop a blizzard. Ironically, Book-Stannis would have him executed for even thinking such a

thing. In a way, that figurine was both everything wrong with the show, and everything wrong with me for still watching it.

Ultimately, being a longtime fan of anything risks disappointment. I’ve lived through countless bad albums being released by good bands, and unnecessary sequels to great movies and video games.

“Thrones”, however, has been the most significant example of this in my entire life; this is the one that has actually gotten to me. I can live with the new Radiohead album being not quite as good as the others, but just the thought of how far “Thrones” has fallen makes me cringe.

But every time I try to force myself to walk away for good after yet another train wreck of an episode, something in me convinces me to stay, at least for one more week.

No matter how stressful this little “marriage” gets, I don’t think I ever will stop being a fan. Even if I end up throwing the remote control through my TV.

prospectornow.com

June 3, 2016

Freshman advice Water gun Fights

Motivation The white album Entertainment editor Cole Altmayer reviews the positives and negatives of the latest Weezer album.

See how the long standing tradition of senior assassin guided the class of 2016 to the end of the year.

Cubs trivia Lemonade

Entertainment

11

Good vegan you got vs a friend in me The Best Friends Club helps students with special needs fit in and make friends.

Associate Editor in Chief Caley Griebenow reviews Beyonce’s newest album.

Head to prospectornow.com for breaking news, videos, contests and more!

Students discover passion in sewing

BY CASSIDY DELAHUNTY Executive Entertainment Editor

F

reshman Meghan Schimka discovered an unusual hobby in an unusual way: by attending a Renaissance fair.

When Schimka’s mother told her and her sister that they would be going to a

MY FAIR LADY: Freshman Meghan Schimka (left) poses with her younger sister at a Renaissance fair.

Schimka and her sister made the dresses they are pictured in, which kicked off Schimka’s love for sewing (photo courtesy of Meghan Schimka).

Name: Kristen Zim Grade: Freshman Biggest accomplishment?

Zim believes her biggest accomplishment has been her hard work and perseverance through the marching band program, along with “doing extremely well [in band] for being a freshman.”

“Find an instrument that you’re interested in and just keep practicing,” Zim said.

Renaissance fair, the girls decided that they would make dresses to wear t in order to be fully immersed in the experience. With two layers to each dress, it was a huge project requiring weeks of hard work, as each dress essentially had to be sewn twice.

However, since Schimka had read many books about the Renaissance and was very interested in the time period, the dress project kicked off her sewing hobby.

The countless positive comments Schimka received while wearing the dress helped lock into place her love of sewing, despite how hard it was originally to both sew the dress and find the motivation to do so.

“I didn’t like [sewing the dress] for a long time,” Schimka said. “When I finished it, I [realized that sewing] is actually a lot of fun.”

Ever since attending the fair when she was in sixth grade, Schimka has sewn everything from extravagant Halloween costumes to everyday clothing. While she only has time to pursue about one or two projects a year, Schimka still enjoys the end result.

“You [can] say you made [the project] and be proud of it,” Schimka said.

Along with making complex costumes, Schimka enjoys repurposing clothing she already has.

Often, when she grows out of clothing, Schimka will take other old pieces of clothing a n d modify the garments so they fit again. Schimka says she does this by adding layers to a dress or skirt that is too short or by removing fabric from a dress that is too long.

According to Schimka, modifying and

When did she first get into band?

Zim started playing clarinet when she was in the fifth grade and continues to play to this day.

Zim says she has enjoyed band for so long because of how it has helped her throughout her time in school.

“It gives me something to do outside of school and...I [have made] a lot of friends.” Zim said.

“A lot of people don’t know how to [sew] and it’s something that we’re losing. I’m proud that I can do something that other people normally can’t do.”

Meghan Schimka, freshman making her clothing is appealing because she thinks many common trends are boring.

For example, Schimka does not like the common trend of words on clothing.

This is why Schimka says that making clothing allows her to create garments that are both expressive and fun for her to wear.

“I like to make my own clothes that express how I feel and not how other people want [me to feel],” Schimka said.

Similarly to Schimka, sophomore Caitlyn Kviz has been sewing from a young age. Kviz, unlike Schimka, mostly likes to sew bags and purses.

While Kviz has tried to sell her work before, it was not a very successful endeavor. However, Kviz says this does not deter her from sewing since she mostly sews for her own personal enjoyment.

Despite how others often think it is impressive when she sews, Kviz has noticed that not a lot of people share this hobby with her. According to Kviz, current popular hobbies revolve more around technology and less around making things by hand.

Schimka agrees that sewing has gone down in popularity, but for her, it is more of a positive than a negative.

“A lot of people don’t know how to [sew], and it’s something that we’re losing,” Schimka said.

“I’m proud that I can do something that other people normally can’t do.”

Use the Aurasma app on this photo to see Kristen Zim’s clarinet skill in action.

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Sports

June 3, 2016

prospectornow.com

Softball propelled by power bats

BY WYATT DOJUTREK Online Sports Editor

T

he varsity softball team was down 5-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning against Glenbrook North on April 18. Things looked bleak, but the Knights scored five runs in the last frame to tie the ballgame.

As they went into extra innings, the Spartans and the Knights kept trading runs until the bottom of the thirteenth when sophomore Alyssa Cacini ended the team’s six game losing streak with one swing of the bat, which was a big hit for both her and the team.

“Before that at-bat, I was a little bit in a slump, and it was really nice to contribute to the team with the walk-off home run,” Cacini said.

Home runs like Cacini’s have been the team’s trademark this year as they have hit a program record 22 homers.

Head Coach Jim Adair believes the reason for the increase in home runs is that the team has been swinging for the fences a lot more than they have in the past.

“We have a lot of strong kids, and they know what pitch they are looking for,” Adair said. “You just need to have the right pitch.”

Adair also believes that the new faces in the program have helped the team up their power.

Sophomore Colleen Palczynski, who is tied for the team lead in home runs, believes that the transition to varsity has given her the opportunity become a better power hitter.

“This year, the game has been more my speed than last year at JV,” Palczynski said.

Heading into the season, the team had 10 out of 16 players, including Palczynski, who were rookies at the varsity level.

The new varsity players made their first big splash in their first conference victory by a score of 13-8 against Buffalo Grove on April 28. They were guided by key contributions from freshman pitcher Maddie Borkowski, who got the win in three innings of pitching.

Adair believes that Borkowski has done a terrific job pitching in her first season.

“We have put [Borkowski] in some hor-

FINISHING THE JOB: Freshman Cassie Cunniff and junior Cate Meersman throw back to the mound in a 6-1 victory over Lake Forest. This was also head coach Jim Adair’s last home game as Prospect head coach as he will be retiring at the end of the season. (Photo by Elisabeth Rohde) rible pitching situations this season and she has been terrific,” Adair said.

Sophomore Alex Kanter was also big in that game with four runs batted in. Her success has been a pleasant surprise for the Knights.

“We thought that she was fast,” Adair said. “She has shown us that she is very good.”

Another underclassmen that Adair says has stepped up for the Knights this season is freshman Cassie Cunniff.

He believes that the first year players have made a big impact on the team by continuing to work hard and never giving up.

This mentality has been especially evident in their offense.

“It’s a matter of just saying, ‘I’m not nervous’ and [getting] in there and putting in a good cut on the ball,” Adair said.

Adair credits Cacini and sophomore Lauren Caldrone for being some of the leaders of the team.

“I don’t have to tell them what they have

“I’m confident that these kids will continue to work hard, and they know we have a good thing going here. They have so much potential, [but] I don’t think that they know it.”

Jim Adair, head coach done wrong,” Adair said. “I can see [Cacini and Caldrone] talking to the [other] players.”

Adair believes that the leaders of the team have also been leading by example for the new varsity players to follow.

“I think that I have to spark things up and make things happen on the field,” Cacini said.

Adair also thinks that Caldrone, Cacini and senior Hannah Brummer have done a great job keeping the team positive in the

face of adversity.

“They have been getting off their butts and on the fences during every game,” Adair said.

Adair believes that the first-year players have done a lot better as the season has progressed. According to Adair, the girls have been doing much better in drills involving technique.

Despite this improvement, their record was 10-21 overall and 3-13 record in the MSL. However, the Knights have had to face a very difficult schedule this year; the teams that the Knights have lost to have a combined record of 48-7.

“We had some disappointing losses where the wheels just came off the chain,” Adair said. “The girls were just frustrated and angry that we couldn’t finish the games.”

As the team continues to grow going into next season, Adair believes that the team needs to continue to improve the communication on the field.

Despite some disappointing losses, the team has still found a way to stay positive.

“We always have to come back the next day and play our best,” Adair said. “Sometimes we didn’t get the job done, but we can learn from [that].”

Adair is in his last year as head coach as he will be retiring at the end of the school year. The team closed out his last home game as head coach with a 6-1 victory over Lake Forest, a moment he describes as bittersweet.

“It’s hard to imagine that was my last game at home,” Adair said. “I’m relieved that it is over, and I am ready to move on.”

However with the record aside, Adair believes that the team’s future is extremely bright. According to Adair, there will be a couple of good players coming up from the junior varsity team. He believes that this team could win conference and go even further than that next year and looks forward to coming back to watch their games next season.

“I’m confident that these kids will continue to work hard, and they know we have a good thing going here,” Adair said. “They have so much potential, [but] I don’t think they know it.”

prospectornow.com

Everything to Win Team mantra keeps Knights mentally strong, helps send eight members down to state

the year, teams sometimes get that mindset of ‘Man, I can’t wait for this to be over.’ However, our guys said ‘We’re going to maximize he boys’ varsity track and field every opportunity we have in the season,’ 4x800 relay team qualified for state because it has truly been a fun season for us in dominant fashion at the Loyola because of that attitude.”

Class 3A sectional on May 19. Seniors Luke In addition to sectionals, the team Filipic, Matt Cozine, Karson Lecomte and ju- claimed its first MSL conference championnior James Riordan crushed the qualifying ship title since 2011 on May 15. In this meet, time by 11.65 seconds and held off all com- the Knights placed first in the 4x100, 4x400 petitors by at least 4.75 seconds. It was the and 4x800 meter relays. According Mirandofifth meet this season where this relay team la, winning those three relays was extremely placed first. important because, at that meet, each relay According to head coach Frank Miran- was worth double the points. dola, the 4x800m relay team led from start to Something Cozine thinks was key to finish, showing that they were poised to do placing well in the sectional and conference something special down at state. Cozine says meets was the team’s “Everything To Win” that since the (ETW) mentality. In Boys’ track shines at relay team has Mirandola’s second already run well sectionals season as varsity below the state head coach, he has qualifying time, instilled this philoso4x800 Relay- Luke Filipic, Matt they didn’t have phy into the program.

Cozine, James Riordan, Karson to go all out.

“Life teaches you LeComte “This meet a lot of lessons,” Midefinitely gave randola said. “And 100m Dash- Anthony Kies 11.09 us a ton of conover the course of the fidence going (2nd) last couple of years, I forward,” Cozine have developed this said. “The fact [ETW] philosophy High Jump- Michael Shafis 6’5” that we didn’t go [that] if you really (1st) 100 percent and want to be successful ran the second in life, you have to be Shotput- Billy Matzek 53’11” (1st) best sectional fearless in pursuit of time in the state your goals and to not was just an added Discus- Matzek 160’0.5” (1st) let that fear create bonus.” an artificial ceilIt is perforing for yourself.

400m Run- Kevin Sherwood 49.54 mances like If you can go (2nd) this that Cozine and attack believes have those goals 1600m Run- LeComte 4:17.04 (1st) defined the seawith full and Jack O’Donnell 4:21.24 (4th) son for him and effort and his relay team. full enerAs a team, the gy, you 4x400m Relay- Sherwood, CoKnights placed are more zine, LeComte, Filipic 3:22.34 second in the secliketional meet, scorly to ing 80 points behind Evanston, which scored achieve them or put yourself in a more ad85. (See other state qualifiers in “Boys’ track vantageous position than if you were to let shines at sectionals”). In order to qualify for fear dictate your life.” state, athletes need to place first or second in Junior thrower Vince Shields believes their respective events or have a time, disthat the idea of ETW has grown vastly in Mitance, or height, that meets the qualifying randola’s two seasons. mark.

“When it first started, some people didn’t “They came out and competed extremely really understand the meaning or impact of hard,” Mirandola said. “And it’s one of those it,” Shields said. “But once people bought things where as you get towards the end of into it, they started to understand [its pur-

BY JACK ANKONY Executive Sports Editor

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pose] and realize that you want to go out there and give everything to win.”

Senior sprinter Kenny Hsiao believes that it is important for everyone to have a positive mindset going into each race, a part of ETW. “[ETW] pushes everyone to be the best they can and helps them realize that they can’t be satisfied with someone being better than them,” Hsiao said.

ETW has also become an offseason club.

The team took part in activities where they had laser and strobe lights in the fitness center and gave out t-shirts to recognize special efforts. Shields especially enjoyed the ETW club because it made kids on the team compete and work harder. The rewards of ETW also can be seen during the season. Every Monday, coach Mirandola gives out his ETW player of the week, which is awarded to athletes who performed well or worked especially hard that week.

In addition to the importance of ETW, Cozine thinks it is vital for the team to stay united since the team is so big with all the distance runners, sprinters, throwers and jumpers.

One way the team does this is by warming up together every day at practice before team members split into their individual events. Cozine says that in his freshman and sophomore years, the team didn’t really do that. The effect of this change, in Cozine’s opinion, is more of a team feel. Mirandola DASH: Junior Kevin Sherwood trains thinks this is important because the team hard for the 4oom run. Sherwood qualihas realized that it’s strength is its depth, fied for state in this category along with and the team members know they need each the 4x400m relay with seniors Matt other for success. According to Shields, this Cozine, Karson Lecomte, and Luke Filipic. unity at practice translates to unity at meets. (photo courtesy of Claire Strother) “[Being close as a team] allows us to really cheer everyone on when we are at the phase’ of the season. The Knights’ final meet team camp when our event isn’t going on,” was at state on May 28 in Charleston, Illinois Shields said. at Eastern Illinois University.

These team bonds have At state, the team had been brought together by strong showings.

“I have developed this several leaders like Hsiao and CoLeComte placed 5th in the [ETW] philosophy [that] 1600m run, freshman Mizine along with Lecomte and senior Brady Schwartz. if you really want to be chael Shafis placed 5th place Hsiao explains that Miranin the high jump, junior Bilsuccessful in life, you dola expects a lot out of him, ly Matzek placed 8th in the not just in his performance, have to be fearless in shot put, the 4x800m relay but as a leader, too. of Filipic, Cozine, Riordan, pursuit of your goals “It is very important LeComte, and senior Mackand to not let that fear enzie Bach placed 3rd. for me as a senior to show the underclassmen what Next year, Mirandola will create an artificial it’s like to be a part of this step down as head coach to ceiling for yourself.” program and to show them take on a new role as assiswhat the Blue Circle, [the tant principal. In the home track team’s nickname] is stretch of his final season, he Frank Mirandola, all about at Prospect,” Hsiao wants to end the season and said.

Head Coach his tenure as coach on a posMirandola says that leaditive note. ership is important for the team since the “It is all about trying to put our student track and field season is especially long with athletes in a position to achieve their goals the addition of the indoor season. Mirando- and accomplish their dreams,” Mirandola la calls the state finals the ‘championship said.

Sophomore develops gymnastics program

BY JACK ANKONY Executive Sports Editor Going into the parallel bars event at the state gymnastics meet on May 13, sophomore Jack D’Onofrio was nervous, but knew he could handle the moment. He had qualified for the same event during his freshman year, and he was ready to tackle the bars again.

Once at state, all qualifiers in an event compete to advance to the finals. D’Onofrio explains that he stuck his landing and did the best he could, but he missed the finals by just .25 points.

“I was a little bit upset because that was my goal to make it to finals,” D’Onofrio said. “[But the seniors who placed ahead of me] are all leaving next year, so I’ll hopefully be up there next year.”

D’Onofrio also made it to state in vault, but he didn’t expect to make it to finals because of the tough competition he faced. He believes that even if he was perfect, the field would still have been too strong to overcome.

D’Onofrio credits his success to his hard work in preparation for state. He explains that the three or four hours of training he would do daily during the offseason helped get him where he is today. Teammate senior Dylan Kowatsch saw D’Onofrio reap the rewards this year.

“I was very impressed,” Kowatsch said. “[D’Onofrio] improved a lot since last year, and he’s going to get a lot better over the years.”

Kowatsch was also impressed with how D’Onofrio aided the team by being a great teammate. Not only was D’Onofrio support-

BALANCED: Sophomore Jack D’Onofrio holds himself up on the pommel horse.

D’Onofrio made it to state in the parallel bars and vault, but hopes to improve and make it to state next year in every event. (photo by Cassidy Selep) ive of his teammates at meets, but he also helped other gymnasts improve by sharing the skills he has gained from his experience.

His and the seniors’ leadership propelled the Knights to a 3rd place finish out of all of the teams in the East at the MSL conference meet. D’Onofrio believes that the team has also benefited from head coach Julian Basler’s motivational tactics. Basler helps comfort the team and gives them confidence to achieve their goals.

This comfort level is also achieved by Basler spotting them when they are trying

out new tricks. The goal is that they will to do the tricks by themselves down the road, according to D’Onofrio.

Aside from working on new tricks, D’Onofrio also believes the team’s conditioning is invaluable.

Most of their training includes high repetition workouts and conditioning to maintain their bodies. 100 dips and 50 pull ups are typical exercises in their training regimen, according to D’Onofrio.

D’Onofrio knows that if he gets stronger, he will get better at his tricks, ultimately benefiting the team. This mindset provides extra motivation during workouts.

The team has become close through these workouts. However, the team will soon be broken apart when key seniors graduate.

D’Onofrio says that all of the seniors were a lot of fun to be around, and they were major contributors to the team score. These seniors include Kowatsch, Dongyoung Kim and Adan Vivero.

Looking ahead to next year, D’Onofrio hopes to qualify for state in all events, with parallel bars as his main focus. The allaround events include the high bar, vault, parallel bars, pommel horse, floor and rings.

He thinks that more teammates will join him at state next year, and he anticipates a strong offseason with a lot of hard work.

As a team, D’Onofrio believes they can use this year to build off because they are all determined to do better.

“I see the team getting pretty far next year,” D’Onofrio said. “We are all determined to do better and work harder. I think we’ll just kick butt next year.”

Baseball wins 4A regional

BY JACK ANKONY Executive Sports Editor On May 30, the varsity baseball team beat Glenbrook North 3-0 to win the 4A regional title. This was the team’s first regional title since 2011.

Sophomore Ryan Howe pitched for the Knights and was dominant throughout.

Howe tossed a no-hitter for the Knights, and got solid defensive help from senior shortstop Travis Gates and junior third baseman Grant Zellmer.

“I always felt in control of the game, and having the greatest teammates in the world helped give me confidence to go out there and perform,” Howe said.

In the first inning, the Knights grabbed the lead after Zellmer crushed a three run home run, and didn’t look back.

The Knights play Warren on June 1. For coverage of this game visit prospectornow. com. Last year the Knights lost to Warren in the regional title and are seeking revenge.

“It’s going to be a big challenge for us,” Howe said. “But I think our team has the tools and the heart to go out and win that game.”

KNIGHTLY BANTER Read the Prospector’s first edition of their new blog series “Knightly Banter” where they talk about Bryce Harper here. prospectornow.com

Girls’ track hurdles over competition

New Coach Jay Renaud will replace Frank Mirandola as head coach of the boys’ varsity track team as Mirandola takes an assistant principal job. prospectornow.com

JUMP FOR JOY: Seniors Cassidy Selep and Maya Mason practice running hurdles before the state compeition. Selep and Mason, along with seven other girls, qualified for the state meet. Mason placed 8th in the state for the 100-meter hurdles (photo by Claire Strother)

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Year: Sophomore Qualified for State in: 200m dash (26.48) 4x100m relay (48.44) 4x200m relay (1:44.87) State Result: 2nd in 4x100m relay

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Athlete: Trevor Engquist Year: Senior Sport: Baseball is your favorite thing about Q. What baseball?

My favorite thing is just having fun with A . [my] teammates. is it like to be a senior and a leadQ. What er on the team this year?

I just try to put my team first and try to A . make big plays and [get] big hits when the team needs it.

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do well. They weren’t kids trying to do well.

These kids knew that when they came to a meet that they were going to perform.”

According to Wintermute, the team has been led by a group of “stud seniors” in Mason, Brenda Kendziera, Skudlarek, Cassidy Selep and Angela Roman. What makes them such “studs” is how well rounded the seniors were as athletes.

“They’re not just sprinters. They’re not just throwers,” Wintermute said. “These are girls that we can put in multiple events.

They might win the long jump, and then they might go over and win the high jump.”

Wintermute also said the seniors are supported by young competitors such as Walsh and Berman. He says the young members bring a type of work ethic and competitiveness that rubs off on the entire team.

“It’s that type of [competitiveness] that is brought to practice every day, and it raises the bar for everyone else,” Wintermute said.

“Even [the inexperienced] kids—like the JV

GOING FOR THE GOLD

Year: Senior Qualified for State in: High Jump (5’5”) 4x100m relay (48.44) 4x200m relay (1:44.87) State Result: 2nd in 4x100m relay

These runners qualified for state, made it past the preliminary round, and medaled in the state finals.

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Year: Senior Qualified for State in: 100m hurdles (14.81) 300m hurdles (46.97) 4x100m relay (48.44) 4x200m relay (1:44.87) State Result: 8th in 100m hurdles 2nd in 4x100m relay

Je Year: Junior Qualified for State in: 3200m run (10:45.62) 1600m run (5:05.40) State Result: 5th in 3200m run

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Year: Freshman Qualified for State in: 4x100m relay (48.44) 4x200m relay (1:44.87) State Result: 2nd in 4x100m relay

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Q. What is your favorite memory of playing baseball at Prospect? actually this year when Grant Whitebloom hit a walk-off A . Ittowas win the game in the bottom of the 9th inning. We had a runner on second and this was going to be the last inning and there was one out and Grant hit a little line drive in between shortstop and third and Richie [Baczek] was at second and he came home running hard and they missed the throw and he ended up scoring so we won 3-2. My energy just went up and everyone was cheering really loud. It was a good time winning that game.

Q. What has Prospect baseball taught you? me how to treat people with respect and getting A . Ittohasknowtaught everyone on the team.

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he girls’ track and field 4x100-meter relay team was coming off its best race ever. On Friday, May 20 in the state preliminaries, the team had broken the school record for the event with a time of 48.12 seconds.

Next up for the team was the state championship race. After what senior Maya Mason called a very “scary” final race, there was some tension in the air.

“I knew the third place [runner] was very close,” Mason said. “I was watching the board to make sure we got second or third.”

What showed up on that scoreboard really made Mason excited.

“After I found out that we were actually the second fastest team, I was jumping around and clapping looking like an idiot, but it was exciting,” Mason said.

The team of Mason, senior Jes Skudlarek, sophomore Annie Walsh and freshman Samantha Berman ran the relay in 48.40 seconds at the state final race.

Once the results were confirmed, Walsh could not believe they had won by two-hundredths of a second. The results showed what Skudlarek had expected; a highly competitive relay.

“It could’ve been any of us, so the [team was] all like,‘We need clean hand offs,’ and, ‘We need to run as fast as we can,’” Skudlarek said. “We just ran our hardest, and afterwards we celebrated a lot.”

In addition to the relay team’s success, the girls’ track team as a whole had a high-

ly successful season, winning its third MSL title in the last five seasons. After winning its second sectional title in as many seasons the team had eight girls qualify for state in 12 different events.

The team ended up having state finalists in the 1600-meter run, 3200-meter run, 100-meter hurdles, high jump, pole vault and 4x100-meter relay. Skudlarek is amazed at the success the team has had.

“I look back, and I can’t believe how many meets we won,” Skudlarek said. “We went undefeated all throughout conference.

We won conference. We won sectionals. We got 18th in the state. This team is just amazing.”

In his 15 years of coaching, head coach Pete Wintermute said there has not been a stronger program than this year’s girls’ track team.

“The swagger this group had–this group went to meets and expected to be good,” Wintermute said. “They weren’t kids hoping to

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BY PAUL EVERS Sports Editor

kids—they see it. And that’s what they get to be around every day. It’s been a fun season just to watch [the team] compete every day in practice.”

Also, the work ethic brought by the seniors has set the bar high for the whole team. “[The young runners] got to experience the type of work ethic these [seniors] have, and it’s the type of stuff that carries on–the tradition of excellence–beyond one year,” Wintermute said.

Skudlarek sees that no one section of the team wants to let the rest of the group down.

“We feed off of each other,” Skudlarek said. “The field events ... if we start to succeed, we have the sprinter girls rally and the distance girls are like, ‘OK, they did really well, so let’s do really well for the team.’”

According to Wintermute, one of the strengths of the program is the team’s depth.

Wintermute says that in many events — such as pole vault, long jump and hurdles — the team can have two people in the top three finishers, which creates a lot of points for the team in meets. Skudlarek also agreed that the team has a massive amount of depth, with field, sprints and distance events all performing well. What has created this depth has been each member of the team striving to do better. “[In] a sport with 18 events, nobody really wants to be the weak link,” Wintermute said.

“It has challenged everybody else to step up their game, and we’ve gotten stronger in all the sprints. [Also] competitive-wise, in the distance they’ve raised their game too.”

Wintermute said that this team’s legacy will live on for a long time.

“This is a team I will remember for a really long time, I’m sure we’ll talk about [this team] for a really long time,” Wintermute said. “You tell the stories to teams five, 10, 20 years down the line and, ‘Man 2016, this group was one of a kind. They did it all … it was a complete package and a complete team.’ I’m fortunate to be a part of their journey and to live in their successes.”

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FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2016

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