December 2018 by Melanie Huynh-Duc

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Holidays Without loved ones Two students share their experiences on page 2

Northwest Guilford High School

Greensboro, NC

Volume 55, Issue 2

December 2018

FRONT PAGE FEED

WHAT’S INSIDE

News Op-Ed Spread

3-5 6-9 10-11

Sports 12-14 Features 15-17 Arts & Entertainment 18-19

Is testing overdone? NW alumni play club sports

7 6

Students take a stand against racism Is holiday homework too much?

Weaver offers unique opportunities

Students celebrate holidays without family members

Two students share their experiences celebrating the holidays without a loved one this season Kaylen Ayres, Sarah Teague staff writer, features editor

Kaylen Ayres: First Christmas without Great-Grandma The holidays are a magical time for people of all ages. Smiles light up the room brighter than Christmas lights. But for me and millions of others this year, the absence of a loved one will inevitably damper the festivities. This year will be the first Christmas without my great-grandmother, who passed in June. I usually look forward to this time of year, but honestly, I’m dreading it. Christmas is designed to be spent with family, but how can it be the same when there will be an empty chair in the corner? She was a vital part of our celebrations and made everyone so happy. I’ve already had to experience a lot of firsts after her passing: my first birthday without her, my

first school dance and now, my first Christmas. She won’t be here when I get my driver’s permit and subsequently my license, opening college letters, senior prom, graduation and so much more of my life. We would always go over to her house to decorate her tree. She still lived by herself; she refused for it to be any other way. I would put on the ornaments with my sister as she would sit in her chair and drink coffee. With years and years of decorations collected, she’d always be so joyful when we finished. She had this enormous stocking, longer than anything I’d ever seen before. She always said that since she had been so good, she deserved a big stocking. My dad always joked that it’d be filled to the brim with coal. Even though she won’t be with my family physically, she’ll be with us in spirit. I think of her whenever I hear the song “Mele Kalikimaka,” translated as “Merry Christmas” in Hawaiian. She was from Hawaii and loved when that song was played. I’ll think of her whenever I see the red and green M&M’s because I know those were her favorites. I miss her so much, and I can’t imagine what it’ll be like around

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Christmas. It hurts when I’m by myself, staring at the pictures and the items I collected from her house. When I’m with my family, we’ll all look around at each other. There’ll be an empty hole in our hearts; it’s one that can never be filled. Losing family is tough; it always is. I’ll remember her from previous years, and her spirit will be with me for years to come. I love you, Nin. Merry Christmas up in Heaven. Sarah Teague: Fifth Christmas with Dad deployed

Ten times deployed. Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Korea, across the world for a year or two at a time. Christmas lights stay in their bin, my mom too nervous to use the ladder like my dad does. The fake tree stays in the attic where he left it last year. His seat taken by three dogs all vying for my mom’s undivided attention. And while we have all sorts of electronics that make communicating easier and easier, calling isn’t the same as talking to someone’s face. But this isn’t the first Christmas without him; while he’s gone, life goes on and Christmas is still

celebrated, but something is missing. “You can’t hug an iPad screen” freshman Jacob Teague said. “It’s hard when you can’t look them in the eye and thank them.” Every year, we go to our grandparents’ house for Christmas morning and then drive down to my dad’s parents for Christmas dinner. And every year, my dad and my mom’s dad exchange a joke gift that they add to every year with inside jokes. In the last few years they have added an Obama Chia pet, a talking fish pedestal and a Green Lantern figurine. But this year, he is going to have Christmas at 8 p.m. in his Korean apartment as we open the gifts he paid for across the world. Our Christmas table will miss the pecan pie my mom isn’t making because he’s the only one who eats it, we will have a few extra servings of everything during Thanksgiving, and my parents’ matching costumes rested alone for a year. Although it’s hard without him, other family helps cope with his absence. WIth being able to spend time with grandparents, uncles, aunts and all my other family who flies in for Christmas, dealing with it is a lot easier.

December 2018

NEWS

Northwest ranks “fair” compared to other high schools Emma Fagerberg, Emma Welsh editor-in-chief, news and managing editor

Senior Tess Cunningham, who began attending Northwest this school year, claims she has seen a major difference in the accessibility and use of technology, as her previous school in Ohio offered all of its students Google Chromebooks. “(At my previous school), we used online resources much more often in class

t is expected that students going to school will receive grades, but the tables have turned, and now the schools themselves are the ones receiving grades. In the spring of 2018, consultants were brought in to every school in Guilford County to assess each school’s building and site facility conditions, of GCS received a sustainability and score of unsatisfactory technology. For each category, schools received a score from 0-100 and were given a rank based on their average score. Following this system, 0-59 was considered unsatisfactory, 60-69 was considered poor, 70-79 was the score given was considered fair, 80-89 was considered good and 90-100 was to Northwest High considered excellent. School Northwest High School received a final score of 70. “(The PTSO doesn’t) think a 70 is a true representation of our facilities,” PTSO member Ashley was the score given Royal said. to Northwest Middle According to Board of Education School member Pat Tillman, the mobiles were not taken into consideration during the facilities test because they are considered “temporary structures.” Additionally, Royal went on to state is the utilization of that our score could have been greatly increased because of Northwest High the additions of the twoSchool story building, Roger L. Nelson Gymnasium and the media center in 2002. Though this shows an improvement in the facilities’ was the avergae appearance, there score for a high bestill remains a potencause tial issue of quality. school in Guilford there “(Math teacher County was no Jeannine) Kivi’s room need to flooded after the last go to a storm; every time there’s computer bad rains, it floods, and lab,” Cunwe’re not even sure where ningham said. it’s coming through,” math “This allowed stuteacher Michelle Halchin said. “It dents who have computer access was never addressed.” at home to be able to complete While students who have been online assignments.” at Northwest for the majority Rising freshmen face a simiof their high school career have lar experience in their transition grown accustomed to the conditions at the school, newer students from middle school to high school. “Students at the middle schools have had contrasting experiences here have (tablets), and they come at previous schools.

22%

129%

December 2018

to the high school and all of that modern learning and technology is removed from their experience,” science teacher Caroline Hess said. This not only affects students; the condition of the school affects teachers as well. “(It is) frustrating when you come in as a teacher,” Halchin said. “We need a good environment to work in also. Just like students need a good environment to learn in, we need a good environment to teach in.” In addition to the facility test that was run, overcrowding was a separate issue looked at by the consultants. The results came back that Northwest is at 129 percent capacity. “We already knew about the overcrowding, but now we’re concerned that there is no plan to deal with it,” Royal said. “We have to plan for the future; we have to address the overcapacity issue.” Despite dilapidated conditions and poor technology, Northwest is still one of the most strongly desired school in the area. The capacity of Northwest is projected to increase. “There was no way to predict this much growth,” Tillman said. These issues boil down to one common cause: lack of funding. “One of the problems at Northwest is, because it’s a high-performing school, there’s a feeling that it doesn’t need funding,” Hess said. To make matters worse, the lack of funding goes further back than the district level. “There doesn’t seem to be money put into education,” Halchin said. “Our legislators will say that yes we got raises, which is true, but that’s not everything we wanted. We want good working conditions, textbooks, and that money’s still not there. I don’t see how it’s going to change because it’s going to cost a lot of money. There needs to be a larger budget for maintenance.” Only the first half of the study has been received. The second half, which is about safety and security, has not been released as of right now. “In terms of facilities, it could be better, but considering that 2,000 students are using the facility on a daily basis we’re in decent shape,” Principal Ralph Kitley said. Graphic by Emma Fagerberg

A graphic depicts statistics from the study conducted in the spring of 2018. Guilford County schools received a variety of scores, ranging from 48 to 90.

Important upcoming dates Dec. 17: Chorus Concert

Dec. 24-Jan. 2: Winter Break

Jan. 7-11: Winter Spirit Week

Jan. 12: TWIRP

Jan. 17: Second Quarter Ends

Jan. 18: Makeup Day

www.northwesthorizons.com

NEWS

Cats on campus

The presence of cats near Northwest’s trailers has become the norm, but what does the future hold for these felines?

ence teacher Jessica Tidmore said. Tidmore has been teaching biology at Northwest for four years, and she is the leader of the Red Dog Farm club, an organization that helps make sure that all animals they can help are aided by them. f you are a student or parent of The Red Dog Farm is not the only Northwest, it’s likely that you’ve option, though. seen some fluffy animals hanging Tidmore and English teacher out at the edge of the mobiles. For Lora Medley have both been trying more than a decade, these five or to help the cats ever since they more cats have lived just outside of found out about their impending the school, hiding under the trailremoval. ers. Occasionally they will venture “I remember recently that Mr. Watkins came to me about the cats, because I have a cat rescue myself,” Medley said. “He came up to me and he asked me if I could take the cats or if I knew somebody who could.” Medley has been teaching at Northwest for eight years, and the cats were there even before then. “Right now I’m trying to organize to come and safely get the cats and take them to a no-kill shelter,” Tidmore said. “I’m trying to just get them rescued and hopefully relocated.” Tidmore has also contacted an organization called Juliet’s House in Greensboro to see if they could take in the cats. Juliet’s House take in pets and Photo by Mackenzie Milani-Kaufman makes sure that they go to a Three cats lounge under a picnic table outside the bus trailer. The cats have taken good home. residence at Northwest for many years and are part of the campus culture. Nobody seems to agree of Mackenzie Milani-Kaufman staff writer

out to hunt down a rat or to eat the cat food that the transportation officer feeds them. They add a charm to the school that can bring a smile to your face. However, even though the cats have lived on the high school grounds for more than 10 years, have been fixed and have never been known to hurt or attack anyone, there are plans in the works to get rid of them. “They can’t reproduce and have never caused harm to anyone,” sci-

What do you hope to accomplish as student body president? “I hope to make this as great of a year as we can; to plan all the upcoming events and make them go well, and also increase school spirit.”

Interview with student body president Clayton Joyner

Emma Welsh news editor and managing editor

How has it been as student body president? “I enjoy the responsibility of it and being able to impact the school and represent my classmates.”

Why did you decide to run? “I decided to run for the opportunity to make a difference at the school and be a leader.”

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the exact reason why the cats are scheduled for removal, but some people have a few guesses as to what led to this decision. “It’s possible that a student complained about (the cats),” Tidmore said. “Or the cats might just be unwanted now.” “(The new transportation lady) is allergic to cats, from what I’ve heard,” Medley said. “I’ve also been told– nothing specific– that there have been other complaints about the cats.” As the cats have lived at Northwest for as long as most staff can remember, it’s obvious that they’re very old. There would be many risks to taking them away from the high school. A big move for them could be very stressful and dangerous. Each year, 1.5 million shelter animals get euthanized if they aren’t adopted. Most of the euthanizations occur to cats rather than dogs. “Because (the cats) are outdoor cats, we would need to have a barn or something like that to make sure that they don’t get too disoriented and try to come back to the school,” Medley said. “When you transfer feral cats, it’s recommended that they stay inside for 30 days to rehabilitate themselves to their new environment. The same applies to the semi-feral cats we have here at the school.” Juliet’s House: https://www. julietshouse.org/

Have you been treated differently because of your new title? “Not really, because I know people talk about it a lot, but I don’t think anybody truly treats me in a different way.”

Has being president changed how you see the school? “It’s changed some of my views on the administrators because I never knew them personally before. Now that I see them on a regular basis, I have personal connections with them.”

Photo by Emma Welsh

Senior Clayton Joyner poses for a headshot. As student body president, he has accepted the responsibility of representing Northwest.

December 2018

NEWS

A night to remember: The outcome of November midterm tranforms Washington Thomas Altmann staff writer

ovember the 6th undoubtedly transformed Washington. The night ended with Democrats taking the House of Representatives, the first time in eight years, gaining 20 new seats, and Republicans keeping the Senate, gaining two new seats. Electricity could be felt as shockwaves were sent out by massive Democratic flips in Virgina, New York, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, and Wisconsin and tensions ran high in Texas and Florida as Republicans kept closely contested seats. There were important mechanical parts of the midterms that ended with theses results. “A third of the Senate is up for reelection each year,” social studies teacher James Thompson said. “The senators that were up for reelection this cycle were primarily the Democrats. The map didn’t work out very well for them.” However, things worked out for the Democrats in the House. “Things played out much like the polls predicted,” Thompson said. “There wasn’t really a blue wave. The races were tighter than the polls were saying.” Despite this, Democrats swept the floor with voter enthusiasm and picked up enough seats to boost them to a clear majority. Enthusiasm and voter turnout also played a major role in the Democratic upsets across the country. This midterm was historic in voter

turnout, with 30 million more ballots cast than the 2014 midterms. “High turnout on both sides,” Thompson said. “Only six percent less in North Carolina than the presidential election.” The night was also a night of important firsts. For the first time in history, 100 women will be sworn into the House. The first lesbian Native American will be sworn into the House. The first Muslim women will be sworn into the House. The youngest women, at 29 years old, will be sworn into office. Finally, for the first time in American history, an openly gay man will now be Governor of Colorado. This will potentially have benefits for minorities across the country as members of their minority group will now represent them in congress and push for an agenda conducive for minorities. With the new power of their win, Democrats have pledged to launch investigations and subpoena the Trump Administration. Nancy Pelosi, the preeminent Speaker of the House, has also pledged that if the conclusion of the Mueller investigation finds collusion between Trump and Russia, the Democrats will pursue impeachment. “With Democrats taking back the house, it changes everything about national politics,” Thompson said. “Most oversight of the executive is focused in the House. The oversight you’re about to get is going to be very significant.” Furthermore, some people are already looking towards 2020 based on the results of the

midterms. “There’s a distinct possibility of Democrats taking the senate back in 2020,” Thompson said. “For the next election cycle, you’re looking at Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, places Democrats did very well.” Democrats and Republicans will take their seats this January, and Washington will be a washed anew with a divisive power dynamic.

Photo by Emma Fagerberg

Senior Alana Roy poses with a sticker that states “I voted.” She and many others voted for the first time this November.

Guilford County creates more time for school: Megan Harkey sports editor

fter winter break, all Guilford County Schools (GCS) will start five minutes earlier than usual. At Northwest, instead of the late bell before announcements ringing at 8:55, it will ring at 8:50. In 2013, the North Carolina’s General Assembly passed a law that required school calendars to include a minimum of 185 school days or 1,025 hours of instruction. This year, Guilford County Schools’ calendar included only 176 school days but with 1,056 hours. However, due to the unforeseen four inclement weather days already used in first quarter, GCS officials will add five minutes to the school day to be in compliance with state law. “Historically, we experience our worst weather in Guilford County between January and March,” Chief of Staff Nora Carr said to WFMY News. “We want to have additional minutes in the bank so we can deal with any more issues that might arise this year and still meet state requirements.” However, this earlier start may

December 2018

pose potential problems for students and staff of Northwest. “I think school starting five minutes early is unnecessary,” junior Morgan DelFalva said. “I believe it is going to confuse students and faculty members.”

Initially, Principal Ralph Kitley considered other options, such as adding five minutes at the end of the day or taking one minute off of each passing period between classes. However, the School Based Lead-

ership Team (SBLT) determined to add the five minutes to first period at their meeting held on Nov. 19. “The team decided to add the additional five minutes to first period,” SBLT chairperson and English teacher Alexander Wertz said. “This will help accodoate instructional time that would otherwise be lost due to the morning announcements.” Out of a 100-student random survey, 66 percent are against the new time change. “Five minutes is not enough time for teachers to get any successful teaching time in,” DelFava said. However, Kitley reassures it is to make up time without having to add more days to school year in June. “I’ve been doing this for a while and students have always reacted pretty well; expectations (should be met),” Kitley said. Because of Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Florence in September and October, GCS students and staff have already made up one day on Nov. 1 and still have one remaining day to make up on Jan. 18. Both days were previously designated as teacher workdays.

Five minutes to be added each morning Fifteen percent of the 100 surveyed support the added five minutes because they may already be at school by then or they support not adding more school days at the end of the year. “Student council is definitely in support,” senior class president Landon Clary said. “The student body values our days off, and the last thing we want is for those to go away.” When Jan. 3 arrives, zero period class time will not change, and buses will be adjusted by five minutes. Delayed Start Mondays will also adjust five minutes. There will be a few days for a transition period, so students can acclimate to the change without getting tardies. “(Regardless what happens), I think students will adapt very well,” Clary said. “I’m sure there will be a few complaints about (adding five minutes to the school day), but I think most students understand that this will benefit us.” Graphic by Megan Harkey

A graphic depicts responses from a student poll. Over half of the sample taken are against the addition of five minutes to the begining of each school day.

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EDITORIAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR As a concerned student at Northwest, I am writing to inform our community about a new club. Junior Jaelen Clarke has created a club entitled United Youth of Excellence. He initially wanted it to be named “Black Youth of Excellence,” but he was told he could not have that name because it had the word black in it. I have a problem with this suppression of Jaelen’s First Amendment right to name his new club. This new club’s intention is to provide a safe space for people of color at Northwest, while still welcoming anyone of all races who is interested in participating. At Northwest, and in our country, I feel that minorities are pushed aside. Unfortunate recent events over Thanksgiving now prove how there is underlying racism among some students within our school. The minority enrollment rate at Northwest is 21 percent, while at Penn-Griffin School of the Arts is 72 percent minority and Smith High School minority enrollment is 92 percent. According to Jaelen, this club’s purpose is to provide unique opportunities for students, such as visiting HBCUs (historically black colleges) and working together to solve problems. “We talk too much about the things we want to change, but now this group will allow us to make these changes,” Clarke said. So while this club will not be given its originally intended name, I do hope students of all races will join in participating. Northwest needs it now more than ever. Respectfully, Cadon Pinon, 9th grade

Nor thwest r eac ts to v i ra l v i de o STAFF EDITORIAL

Photo by Melanie Huynh-Duc

Staff members from of Northwest Horizons wears black to protest racism within Northwest. A racist video made by two Northwest students surfaced over Thanksgiving break, students took immediate action to protest the two students’ actions.

video purporting to show two Northwest students on a racist rant surfaced over Thanksgiving break. Although the things said in that video are too offensive to be afforded the dignity of print, one thing is clear--the video has brought to the surface the vile racism that threatens to overtake our school. “The disease is ignorance,” social studies teacher Jim Thompson said of the video. This is true, though the ignorance is all shielded behind a veil of hate. The video singled out a specific group of students at our school on the basis of

their race and called for unspeakable violence against them. By any standards, these actions are unacceptable. Focusing too much on a single video, however, misses the point--for too long, our school has chosen to ignore the small minority of students who hold racist views, hoping that ignoring their presence would make the problems of racism disappear. Clearly, this approach has failed. In this sense, the discovery of the video may have been a blessing in disguise--we are now forced to confront the racism behind its creation. Northwest prides itself on

being a place of inclusion, where students from all walks of life can come together for learning. However, when such offensive speech from our fellow classmates surfaces, it can drown out our far more significant strides towards inclusion and acceptance. Through all of this, we need to remember that our actions can have an enormous impact. The video was an example of that impact being leveraged for hate, but we can do better. The actions of two individuals do not define who we are as a school--rather, we are defined by the actions of the majority of students who want to make a positive change in our community. We’ve seen examples of such positivity in the days since the video’s release. On the first day back at school, students organized over social media to wear all black in a show of solidarity, and other students have stepped up since then. A movement to “spread the sticky notes” sprung up to promote inclusivity, spearheaded by sophomore Trinity De Risio, and sophomore Nick Volinski started a social media campaign, under the hashtag #BiggerThanNW, to “show the world and show our peers that not all of Northwest, not all of the city and not all of the world is filled with hate and racism.” The new year will be difficult as we will be forced to grapple with uncomfortable subjects, but we believe that our school will emerge from this ordeal stronger and more united.

NORTHWEST HORIZONS STAFF Editor in Chief Emma Fagerberg

Managing Editor Emma Welsh

Adviser Melanie Huynh-Duc

News Editor Emma Welsh

Graphics Editor Madison Ayres

Principal Ralph Kitley

Op/Ed Editor Autumn Dixon

Webmaster Nathan Vescio

Spread Editor Angela Seo

Features Editor Sarah Teague

Staff Writers Thomas Altmann, Kaylen Ayres, Kimberly Brown, Catherine Harris, Christy Ma, Madison Magyar, Mackenzie Milani-Kaufman, Ed Peña, Adam Sasser, Amara Titus Franklin Wei

Arts & Entertainment Editor Sydney Thompson

Contributing Writer Erin Kohn

Sports Editor Megan Harkey

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Northwest Horizons

@nwhorizons

Statement of Policy Serving as a primary printed and online forum for student opinion, Northwest Horizons publishes four times each year published by the staff at Northwest Guilford High School. The paper is supported through community advisers. Staff Editorials are unsigned. The stance of each editorial is voted upon in staff meetings, but requires the approval of the majority of the editorial board. All members of the school community are encouraged to express their views. Letters to the editor must be signed when submitted.

December 2018

HEAD TO HEAD

Should teachers allow holiday celebrations in class? YES: It encourages religious freedom

Autumn Dixon op/ed editor

s the United States continues to grow into a more secular country, people continually question religion within the publicschool system. People challenge students’ freedom to practice and celebrate their religions holidays, especially in December when Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza are celebrated. Despite religious differences, students should have the freedom to celebrate holidays in school. Holidays are a large part of the American culture. America is a country made up of immigrants with different ethnic and religious backgrounds. Students within our school come from many different backgrounds and share many different belief systems. As students, we should have the right to celebrate the holidays that we celebrate in throughout the year as we wish. In turn, we should also learn about other students’ celebrations. Doing so will allow us to include more religious celebrations, other than Christmas, in our school celebrations. “As long as no one feels offended and you celebrate everyone’s holiday, then we should be able to celebrate holidays in school,” junior Zoe Simon said. Simon is a Jewish student who does not see an issue with celebrating holidays in school if every student’s beliefs are included. Holidays and traditions are intended to bring people together. If students can celebrate any religion they please in school, it will allow students to grow together and feel more comfortable in an environment that accepts their beliefs. By celebrating and sharing students’ traditions in school we will allow students to avoid conflict by uniting students instead of exclud-

ing students by limiting their celebration of their religious holidays. “We deserve to celebrate, but don’t get into the religious part of it,” junior Hannah McFar-

land said “ just celebrate

NO: It distracts from learning

Sydney Thompson arts and entertainment editor

ow that it is colder outside, antic-

ipation for the holi-

day season rises. Stu-

the holiday.” If students in a class share different religious beliefs, they should celebrate in a casual way while keeping religion out of the celebration if students are offended. Students deserve a break from the rigorous work they do in school and through a celebration they can relax. “People just don’t want to offend anyone,” Simon said. “If people are offended, then they should do something about it.” Teachers and students currently avoid celebrating and teaching in school to avoid conflict. Since religion in school is constantly being challenged by secular beliefs, teachers and students don’t want to address a big part of many people’s lives. Despite the secular beliefs that are very apparent in today’s society, students should have the freedom to celebrate their religions in a respectful way at school.

dents become more excited about winter break. Teachers promise parties and special events to do with Christmas. But are these holiday celebrations good for the students? “(Holiday celebrations) are absolutely a distraction,” Spanish teacher Amy Kieffer said. Kieffer is not the only teacher who thinks this. AP world teacher Elizabeth Russell also believes that holding parties can hold the classrooms who decide not to partake in festivities to false standards. “I don’t have a problem with celebrations if they are tied into the curriculum,” Russell said. “But if you’re just watching a movie and handing out candy, it makes the other students resentful and angry. They wonder ‘Why is my teacher making me do work?’” The class-time distractions, however, are only part of the rea-

dents can better enjoy their holiday season. “Since we have a break, it’s automatically assumed that we have a whole bunch of free time,” Alison said. “But we don’t have as much free time as perceived because of the holidays.” In previous years, Alison has developed a system to enable him to tackle his assignments efficiently, while also giving him a chance to enjoy the holidays. “Occasionally, over winter break, I would have some homework to do,” Alison said, “and in that case, I’d try to get it done as quick as possible so I can enjoy the rest of the holidays. But this year, I might have

to change what I normally do because of how late we’re getting out so I’m not working on the actual holidays.” Other students who have never experienced a winter break in high school can only speculate as to how it will affect the way they celebrate. “I think it’s going to affect my break slightly more than it has in the past, but hopefully it won’t be too much worse than it has before,” freshman Seth Wilder said. But like Alison, the shortened schedule of this year’s break and the added homework of high school compared to middle school will force Wilder to change the strategies he’s implemented in previous years.

son some dislike the celebrations in class. Some students, like senior Alana Roy, believe that the celebrations exclude certain denominations within the school. “I think that when we only celebrate Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter, we’re excluding students who don’t celebrate those holidays,” Roy said. “We need to respect all holidays, or we shouldn’t celebrate any of them.” Kieffer agrees. “We need to respect the wishes of the parents and the students,” Kieffer said. Junior Savannah McCracken says she personally believes that there should be no holiday celebrations. “I think celebrating holidays in school is wrong because there’s a good chance of students having religious beliefs that conflict with such celebrations,” McCracken said. “Especially so with Christmas, since it’s so Christian, and it excludes other religions like Judaism.” At Green Valley Middle School in Fairfield, California, teachers have taken initiative toward helping their non-Christian students feel more comfortable. In their school, they banned all celebrations to maintain the separation of church and state. “Educators today teach students from a variety of ethnic, racial, religious and cultural backgrounds,” neaToday writer John Rosales said in his article entitled “Confronting the Big Questions.” “(Unless the parties are) used to teach the curriculum,” Kieffer said, then pre-winter break festivities are classroom distractions. Religious objections make celebrating holidays in school a bad idea. `”We need to keep the church and state separate,” Roy said.

Graphic by Sydney Thompson

School affects the way students celebrate the holidays Ed Peña staff writer

or many students, winter break is a time of year to which they look forward most. However, this year’s break seems shorter than ever, with the first official day off not taking place until Dec. 24. Between fewer days off and the homework assigned over these days, winter break may not be as restful for some students this year as it has in the past. Because of this, some students, such as sophomore Landon Alison, believe that teachers should lower the amount of work they assign over the break so stu-

December 2018

“It may force me to work on stuff closer to the holidays instead of it being spread out over the edges of the break on just regular days rather than Christmas,” Wilder said. Fortunately for students, through, there are teachers who are willing to help them better celebrate their holidays. “I certainly do work over the holidays, so I sympathize with my students,” Latin teacher Kathryn Beach said. “Still, I do my best to not give too much work over the break.” With winter break ending on Jan. 2, many students will have to find new ways to balance homework over the break and time spent celebrating the holidays.

northwesthorizons.com

OPINION

Standardized tests should not dominate public education

Photo contributed by Sherilyn Little A regular day of schooling is hijacked by a standardized test, as seen above where Northwest students are taking the ACT. Since 2013, North Carolina’s Department of Instruction requires that each public high school administer the ACT to juniors, in addition to the Pre-ACT and PSAT to students of mutliple grade levels. Nathan Vescio Webaster

ill standardized tests stand the test of time? Standardized tests like the ACT and SAT have been around for decades. These tests have evolved far past juniors showing up on a Saturday for a few hours just to fulfill the requirement for their college applications, to now being taken during the school day each year. “It’s a lot of work,” sophomore Elena Edwards said. On Oct. 10, the PSAT made its return to Northwest, with all sophomores and juniors taking it. Seniors were given the day off, while the freshmen took a different practice test in the mobile units. The freshmen test counted for nothing and accidentally included the answers in the back of the test packet. This took up most all of the day, only leaving a shortened 4th period, a 2 p.m. lunch and comedically short 15-minute fifth and sixth period classes. Just two weeks later, on Oct. 24, the school was once again dragged into the standardized testing black hole. The sophomores this time were made to take the practice ACT, forcing English teachers to relocate to the mobiles and cutting off the other classes from the English hallway for more than half the day. Lunch was once again disrupted, and fifth and sixth periods were cut to 42 minutes instead of 57.

“I think (schedules) too much in a small timespan,” sophomore Carson Cassetty said. However, odd changes to the bell schedule were the result of several factors that the administration couldn’t control. The bell schedule was only able to be changed after the tests were complete, so when

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assess. Assigning an arbitrary score from another series of multiple choice questions can’t really provide anymore insight into students’ abilities than the scores and work ethic they already demonstrate in class. “(Standardized testing) should be important, but not to the extent

I’ve been to many funerals and it’s never about how great they did on the ACT. It’s about who they were. social studies teacher Ray Parrish

“

the tests ran later than expected, like on the 10th, and sooner, like the 24th, the faculty had to make their plan quickly. “We can’t predict when people are going to finish,” Principal Ralph Kitley said. “We have to fix things on the fly.” After all of this practice and testing in such close proximity to each other, one has to ask; how much is it really necessary? The state of North Carolina requires that students take the ACT to graduate from high school, but do we really gain anything from taking it during school or other similar tests? Students take plenty of tests as it is on the subjects these exams

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that it is,” junior Alex Wilson said. Furthermore, not all students test well, but they show strength in other areas of study. Relying on test scores to determine students’ worth leads to a student’s value being reduced to how well they can fill in bubbles. “Some people are great in so many ways, but they just can’t test,” social studies teacher Ray Parrish said. At the very least, Northwest doesn’t pay for the testing. All standardized testing is accommodated for in the North Carolina education budget. However, money spent on testing is not money that ever returns to Northwest in the form of money to spend on materials or

teacher salary. “(Standardized testing money) doesn’t do anything for the school,” Kitley said. The problem of overemphasizing standardized testing extends to, and may have been created at, the collegiate level, and is perpetuated by the state’s inane desire to hoard data on its students for PR purposes. Colleges have been drilling into kids’ heads that doing well on standardized tests is essential for them to get in the door. A study by the National Association for College Counseling from 2008 found that 95 percent of schools either require SAT scores or recommended sending them. Fortunately, this trend may be changing. Many esteemed colleges in the nation either don’t require test scores or are reducing the emphasis on these scores. As of this year, there are over one thousand test optional colleges nationwide. To conclude, standardized testing is an archaic practice. Students today deserve better than having their capabilities determined by one or two numbers. Some colleges have begun to recognize the futility of their tests and have stopped requiring them. Schools need the money the state spends on these tests, and every day spent practicing or taking a standardized test is a day teachers lose to actually teach kids something, so it’s time to stop wasting our time and tax dollars. “I’ve been to many funerals and it’s never about how great they did on the ACT,” Parrish said. “It’s about who they were.”

December 2018

The beginning of the end of humanity:

OPINION

Climate change will destroy our world

arthropod biomass in a rainforest with data taken during the 1970s and found that biomass had fallen 10 to 60 times. Our study indicates that climate warming is the driving force behind the collapse of the umanity stands on the forest’s food web.” precipice. Today we face the most This is only expanded in scope profound challenge we have ever by another study published in the encountered: climate change. No PNAS. longer can this be an issue that is “Hundreds of species and myrdebated as being factual or non iad populations are being driven factual. It is going to be extremely to extinction every year,” the study difficult to advert the literal beginsaid. “We describe this as a ‘biologining of a human extinction-level cal annihilation’ to highlight the catastrophe, as corroborated by current magnitude of Earth’s ongogovernmental organizations and ing sixth major extinction event.” by scientists in peer-reviewed This “extinction event” is journals. uncomphrensively troubling. The I draw these worries from the bottom-up cascurrent state of Graphic by Thomas Altmann cade of extincclimate change and Most pressing issue the U.S. should adress tions will reach political landhumans and scape. The current 50 cause the eradipresident and cation of entire controlling party of food webs vital the United States, 40 to us. the second-largest However, producer of carbon 30 people will emissions, deny likely either climate change’s ignore the studvery existence and 20 ies, not believe have taken steps to the studies or lessen our efforts discredit the to combat it. This 10 studies. is beyond problem“No one atic. 0 cares about cliWe have 12 mate change,” years. That is Abrams said. how long we have Gun Violence Climate change International Divisveness of “It’s this really before we reach 2.7 relations politics big issue, but degrees Fahrenheit of warming above A survey of 100 Northwest students found that out of four options, only 11 percent since people pre-industrial lev- of respondents believed climate change was the most pressing issue. This clearly are focused on their everyday els, according to demonstrates the apathy much of this school has for climate change. lives they keep a recent groundit in the back of their heads. “If we complete this goal, we’re breaking and unprecedented We as a collective species must still going to have a lot of issues, United Nations Intergovernmental today do something about the Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) re- but it won’t as catasphrophic after issue. These topics are extremely 2030 and beyond,” Thompson said. port. The report was conducted by uncomfortable and such immenseThe report found that extreme 91 authors from 40 countries and ly troubling results like these cause weather events will intensify, reviewed 6,000 scientific studies. us to cast them aside. However, between 70 percent and 90 percent “I find it so disheartening that the academic world is crystal of coral reefs will die and droughts the world’s scientists are getting clear—climate change is happening will become more frequent and together and giving us this deadbecause of humans, and we have worse once we reach the 2.7 deline, but people aren’t mentioning precious time to stop it. grees mark. it at all.” senior Allison Abrams There exists in astrophysBut the report also finds we are said. ics something called the Fermi living in some of the effects today. If we reach temperatures above Paradox. It asks the question, since “(The U.N. report) basically said this, the effects of climate change mathematically there are many that climate change and the efbecome irreversible (rising sea Earth-like planets with potential fects of climate change are already levels and extinction of flora and for intelligent life, why haven’t we here,” Thompson said. This was fauna) and we start a positive contacted one? The theory presents recently experienced first-hand by feedback loop that exponentially filters, or obstacles, to life that are Northwest students through Hurincreases warming. The melting so difficult to overcome most fail. ricanes Michael and Florence. of ice caps which releases carbon The apogee of this is the “Great Even more troubling is that we dioxide which causes even more are already well into the “biological Filter,” an obstacle so difficult all melting. civilizations fail at it and go exannihilation” of entire food webs “We have a very short window tinct. Climate change may very well and a “sixth major extinction to mitigate the effects of climate be our cosmic Great Filter. Howevevent,” directly caused by climate change,” social studies teacher er, humans are resilient creatures, change. James Thompson said. “We have and with a concerted effort, we can “Arthropods, invertebrates to reduce our carbon emissions overcome where all others have including insects that have exsignificantly.” failed. ternal skeletons, are declining at More specifically, the report But there’s a caveat: “It’s hard an alarming rate,” a recent study found that we must reduce global published in the Proceedings of the to make change when no one net emissions of carbon dioxide National Academy of Sciences Jour- cares,” Abrams said. “We just need by 45 percent by 2030 and 100 to make people care.” nal (PNAS) found. “We compared Thomas Altmann staff writer

December 2018

percent by 2050 to keep temperatures at the 2.7-degree mark. Currently, there are no plans to make the changes required, and even the Paris Climate Accord doesn’t achieve this goal. “We require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society,” says the IPCC report. This is monumental. Without comprehensive changes to almost every aspect of the way humanity operates in the status quo, we are doomed. Moreover, this must start today--not tomorrow--with everyone onboard. Even the extremely unlikely goal of 2.7 degrees is almost unstainable for civilization.

Where to find the best burgers in Greensboro

Sarah Teague features editor

estled between a Harris Teeter and a dental practice on Battleground Avenue, Rody’s Tavern celebrates sports and family dining with ease and good prices. Screens cover the walls of the dining spaces, and people celebrating their favorite teams can be heard from the bar and even out from an outdoor patio. But this isn’t the only thing that draws customers in. Tuesdays boast $6 burger night, which is a great way to bring large families together with a cheap meal and a quality dining experience. Rody’s offer a wide variety of burgers, like a pimento cheese burger, a barbecue burger, and a jalapeno burger, among others. With all these choices, there is something for everyone. When I go with my family, I usually order the jalapeño burger. Pepper jack cheese on a 1-lb patty, fried jalapenos and topped with chipotle ranch, giving it the kick promised. It’s just spicy enough not to overpower the flavor of the burger, but still have ample flavor. With the burger, you also get a generous serving of fries. Served hot from the kitchen, these fries are some of the best I’ve ever had. But the best way to eat them is to dip them in Rody’s homemade ranch. The two together make for a perfect side to complement the perfect burger. But if you don’t like burgers, they offer a variety of other meals. Wings, all kinds of sandwiches, salads and barbecue are just a few of the other meals you can order. All of the sandwiches are served on a long roll, stuffed with steak, BBQ or whatever else you order. All meals are served with a heaping order of fries or onion rings, either way you can’t go wrong. Quick service, great meals, and a family atmosphere are all things that define Rody’s Tavern and are all things you will be able to enjoy your next visit. Photo by Sarah Teague

The jalapeño burger is is just one of the many items on Rody’s Tavern. On this burger, there is pepper jack cheese, a 1-lb patty, fried jalapenos and chipotle ranch.

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SPREAD

2018 President Donald Trump announced the US intention to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the JCPOA. The announcement drew criticism from former President Barack Obama, under whose leadership the deal was negotiated.

The Winter Olympics were hailed as an important symbol of international cooperation as North and South Korea entered the opening ceremony under one unified flag.

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March

A former student, armed with an AR-15, entered the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, before going on a shooting rampage that left 17 dead and 17 more injured. The shooting sparked significant debate over the issues of gun rights and mental health.

February

January

Memes about Tide Pods became so popular that teenagers began to post videos of themselves eating the detergent. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission had to put out a PSA.

April

START

May

editor in chief, spread editor, staff writer

A coalition including the United States, France and the United Kingdom launched airstrikes against suspected Syrian chemical weapons facilities in retaliation for an alleged government-perpetrated chemical attack that left 70 dead.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in the first-ever summit meeting between the two nations. The summit took place in Singapore because of its perceived political neutrality.

English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking died March 14 at age 76.

The long-standing ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia, which had been in place since 1957, was lifted following a decree the previous year by King Salman.

The Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33 in the Super Bowl.

June

Emma Fagerberg, Angela Seo, Franklin Wei

Twelve Thai boys, members of a soccer team, and their coach were rescued from a flooded cave after a widely publicized international rescue operation.

IN REVIEW

SPREAD This past year has been a journey of ups and downs. Here, weâ€™ve collected some of the most significant national events of 2018.

The Italian Space Agency announced the detection of whatâ€™s believed to be an underground lake of liquid water on Mars.

Photos compiled by staff. All photos were taken from the public domain and labeled for reuse.

The 2018 midterm elections had the highest voter turnout since 1966.

41st president of the US, George H.W. Bush, died on the 30th.

November

Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and US resident, was killed after entering the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. The Saudi government eventually acknowledged his death and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. The international community voiced its condemnation of this apparent attack on press freedom.

July

Arizona Senator John McCain died on the 25th at age 81.

Hurricane Florence caused severe damage to the Carolinas, primarily as a result of freshwater flooding.

October

August

Apple became the first publicly-traded company in the world to achieve a market value of 1 trillion dollars after trading ended on Aug. 2. Apple beat other tech giants to the milestone, including Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet, the parent company of Google.

September

Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, faced decades-old sexual assault allegations.

Border agents fire tear gas into Mexico to prevent migrants from entering the US.

Comic book writer, editor and publisher, Stan Lee died on the 12th.

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SPORTS

The ACL epidemic: Long-term injuries plague young athletes Kaylen Ayres staff writer

NO’S BAKE DI

s an athlete, there are many things to worry about: making it to every practice, playing well and the results of games. However, there is an underlying dread that they all share-injury. Injuries are very common while playing sports. From contusions to sprains, they usually aren’t too detrimental. Recently, more and more Northwest athletes have experienced the same injury: ACL tears. The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is the connector of the femur to the tibia. It plays an important part of the stabilization of the knee. When injured, there is extreme pain, popping sensations in the knee and swelling. “I realized that the injury was very serious once I felt the immediate pain,” sophomore Grace Thacker said. “The high school trainer explained that it was very possible that I tore my ACL and needed to see a doctor right away.” Thacker was taking a penalty shot on March 29 for a lacrosse game against Summit, when a girl from the opposing team ran into and pushed her. After going to the doctor, it was revealed that her ACL and meniscus were torn, requiring surgery to repair them. “I knew that this meant I wouldn’t be able to play for a long time,” Thacker said. Similarly to Thacker, sophomore Carter Johnstun was injured in a football game against Western Guilford on Aug. 23. “I tried to be the hero, and it just didn’t work out,” Johnstun said. Johnstun had just caught the ball, and while he was running, a Western defender dove and tackled his legs. His initial reaction was to

jump up; this caused his knee to be twisted in the other direction. “It was the worst pain I had ever felt in my life,” Johnstun said. After his surgery to repair his torn ACL, he was forced to sit out the remainder of the season. Expecting to be cleared to play in April, Johnstun has high hopes for the upcoming season. “I am not going to quit football,” Johnstun said. “I am going to come back better than ever.” For senior Elizabeth Kitley, her injury happened before her season could start. At a basketball tournament in July, Kitley’s knee gave out while doing a jump stop. After receiving a call from her doctor about the MRI, it was revealed that it was an ACL tear.

“I broke into tears and started sobbing,” Kitley said. “I knew I would be missing out on my senior season, and I had a really long recovery in front of me.” The surgery involved using her hamstring to make a graft for her new ACL and lasted three hours. “I woke up in a lot of pain,” Kitley said. Even though she’ll be unable to play this winter season, she has her head up for her future: Division One basketball at Virginia Tech. These injuries may have altered these athletes’ seasons, but they all are focused on their future. “I don’t have time to mope around,” Kitley said. “I need to get stronger and be tough.”

Photos by Carter Johnstun and Elizabeth Kitley

Sophomore Carter Johnstun (top) is tackled, which is the play that tore his ACL. He could not play for the rest of the season. Senior Elizabeth Kitley’s knee (bottom) after ACL surgery. She tore it while doing a jump stop in a game.

GODINO’S

Bakery & Coffeehouse

S EEHOU

www.godinosbakery.com

336.298.7452 - godinosbakery@yahoo.com

Paul and Mary Ann Godino 1007-A NC Hwy 150 West, Summerfield, NC 27358

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December 2018

Northwest alumni play at a higher level: Amara Titus staff writer

Bria Gibbs Bria Gibbs is a freshman forward on the Women’s Basketball at Presbyterian College in South Carolina. As well, Gibbs was a four-year member of the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team at Northwest, leaving an impactful legacy of being a part of the Team Captain her junior and senior year, and being a part of four conference championships. “(She) chose PC (Presbyterian College) because the academics are great, and she liked the feel of the campus and basketball team. Her parents have been her biggest influence in life as an athlete,” Presbyterian College’s biography on Gibbs said. Gibbs is majoring in History with a minor in African Studies, and she loves basketball. Her favorite music to get pumped up to is rap, such as “Lil’ Baby” and “NBA YoungBoy,” since high school, she has listened to music to get ready for a game and gives herself pep talks in the mirror for confidence. “I definitely think of basketball as a pathway for my career and future to come,” Gibbs said. “I am going to finish out my (college) career as an athlete. I love it.”

SPORTS

Two former students share their college sport experiences

Rylee Wilson Rylee Wilson is a freshman outside hitter for the Women’s Volleyball team at Winston-Salem State University. Wilson was not only a dedicated athlete in high school, but also a member of the National Honor Society, and she earned a Service Learning Diploma upon graduation from Northwest. Although Wilson loves the game, she doesn’t consider volleyball as anything more than a hobby. “It is something I love, but it isn’t necessary to reach my particular career goals,” Wilson said. Wilson is currently pursuing a major in pre-nursing. While she doesn’t have any pre-game rituals, she’s had a habit since high school of wearing an ankle bracelet every time she plays. She also likes to get pumped up to hip-hop or rap, or “something with a bass and a good tempo,” she said. While she only considers her sport just a fun hobby, she does love to play and is loyal to her team and her college. “I’m committed to playing at Winston-Salem State University, and I do believe I will be playing for the rest of my college career,” Wilson said. Photos contributed by Bria Gibbs and Rylee Wilson

Athletes who die on the field: Young athletes with heart conditions Megan Harkey sports editor

sound that’s not supposed to be there,” Carter said. A heart murmur is a sound ichigan high school basket- during one’s heartbeat cycle that can either be innocent or a hint to ball star, Wes Leonard, scored the a very serious heart condition. Ingame winning point for a perfect season on March 3, 2011. The crowd nocent murmurs are found during exercise, in newborns and in adoand team were ecstatic after an lescence due to growth spurts. Abovertime game of 57-55 against normal heart murmurs can show Bridgam High School. Then, the a hole in the heart (a septal defect), unexpected happened; Leonard or heart valve abnormalities. collapsed and was pronounced “When I hear a heart murmur, I dead after two hours of emergency don’t allow (the athlete) to pracmedical help. tice until they see a (cardiologist),” Leonard was 16 years old and Carter said. is one of the 150 young athletes Coach Michael Everett has had who die every year due to sudden experience with and athlete with cardiac death from defects like hya heart defect like HCM; unfortupertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). nately, it was unknown at the time, “(HCM) is a general term; it’s different for everybody,” physician’s and it was too late to treat him. “I had a young man while I assistant (PA) Sarah Carter said. was in (Scotland County). He had Carter is a graduate from Wake a heart condition that we did not Forest University and has been a know about,” Everett said. “He PA for 18 years. passed away at one of the open Leonard suffered from an gyms.” enlarged heart, or dilated cardioThe procedure for staff in an myopathy that causes 2.3 percent of athlete deaths. A more common, emergency like this is to call 911 and perform CPR until the ambubut broad defect is HCM, which lance arrives. leads to a fourth of athlete deaths. Everett’s recalled tragedy ocHCM is a disease where the the curred around 1999, a time when heart muscle thickens and makes physicals were not always required it difficult for the body to pump blood. The symptoms include heart by schools. The athlete was about 17 years old when he passed. murmurs, shortness of breath or “If he had had a full physical, rapid heartbeats. maybe they could have detected “When I see a (patient), I (listen that before he came out there,” to) their heart for a murmur or a

December 2018

Everett said, “but they were just playing pickup basketball.” After his death, the team played in his honor and the community came together to have a large service. Today, it is enforced at Guilford County Schools to have all student athletes turn in a recent physical and concussion form before tryouts. This ensures that the athlete is healthy to play with approval from a medical professional. “Sports physicals (help) because the best we can do is have physicians lay hands on the patient,”

Carter said. Although these life-threatening heart defects are not common, it is a physical check for the possibility of a health problem that may affect the athlete’s athletic ability. “They are some (defects) that (one) can play sports with, and some that can be corrected,” Carter said. “You have to look at it case by case.” Photo by Madison Ayres

A lifeless hand is portrayed reaching for a basketball on the court. Each year, 150 young athletes die of sudden cardiac death.

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SPORTS

Northwest alumni go clubbing: A glimpse into college club sports Madison Ayres graphics editor

or many athletes, college athletics is the next step in continuing their athletic career. They can be recruited by coaches or they can try out for the collegiate team. However, this commitment isn’t for everyone. College sports at the higher level can take up a lot of time, which can prove challenging to students who want to focus on school or want to have free time. There is an alternative that many college students choose to take: club and intramural sports. For Northwest graduate Andrew Matherly, Class of 2018, the chance to try something new made club and intramural sports appealing. He is currently attending Appalachian State University and is playing intramural volleyball. During high school, Matherly played lacrosse and football, so volleyball is a step out of his comfort zone since it’s a sport he hadn’t played since middle school. “(Club sports appealed to me because) of the opportunity to learn new techniques and better myself as an athlete,” Matherly said. A benefit of participating in club and intramural sports is having less of a time commitment than typical collegiate sports. Club sports are accommodating to students, allowing students to put school work before practice. According to Matherly,

most if not all teams will let you miss practices to take quizzes or tests without penalty. “I will definitely play another club sport and intramurals but you do have to balance your schedule and not overdo it,” Matherly said. “If you are taking an exceedingly rigorous schedule, you may not want to be on more than one team at a time.” Many high school athletes participate in club sports that travel, such as Triad Elite, a men’s lacrosse league, and Greensboro United Soccer Association, a soccer club for both men and women. Northwest alum note the differences between high school club and college

Sports Profiles Madison Magyar, Autumn Dixon staff writer, op/ed editor

club sports. “Club in college is a lot different because you have players coming from all different backgrounds,” Maggie Holcomb, Class of 2017, said. “Some girls have played highly competitive club while others walked onto the court for the first time at tryouts.” Depending on the school, club sports usually don’t make cuts. Teams are organized based on skill and experience; the more competitive players are placed on higher teams and are the ones seeing more playing

time. Since there is a medley of players on the team, it requires them to work together to get the best possible outcome. “The level in college is only different because you know that some of the girls come from different clubs and have trained differently,” Julia Humel, Class of 2017, said. “It all depends on how you work together to compare the intensity (of high school and college club).” Holcomb and Humel played volleyball at Northwest for four years, additionally playing club volleyball at NC Power Volleyball Club. They both went into playing club volleyball at UNCG knowing each other, which prolonged their time playing with each other. All in all, sports are a way for students to bond over a sport and meet new people. Being involved in any sort of club or organization helps students expand their social circle and improve their college experience. “The people I have met on this team are some of the nicest people I have ever met,” Holcomb said. “The relationships I have built with these girls are ones that I know I’m going to keep up with.” Photos by Madison Ayres

Julia Humel (left) passes the ball during a scrimmage at practice. Maggie Holcomb (right) sets the ball with her pepper partner to warm up. Both are alumni that now play club volleyball at UNCG.

Stephen Vega Grade level: Junior Sport: varsity wrestling Position: 220-lb wrestler Hype song: “Here Comes the Boom” by Nelly Aftergame: Eats anything Paige Sigmon Grade level: Junior Sport: varsity swimming Position: Swims everything but mainly the 100m backstroke Hype song: Anything by Post Malone Ritual: Hits thighs and shoulders to get muscles warmed up Superstition: Must put her bun at a certain

Ashlyn Plott Grade level: Junior Sport: varsity indoor track Position: Hurtles and triple jump Hype song: “Famous” by Kanye West Ritual: Stretch and pray to not hit hurtles Aftergame: Goes to Sheetz for food Photos contributed by Martlet Photography, Stephen Vega, Ashlyn Plott and Paige Sigmon

place on her head Aftergame: Goes to Rio Grande Mexican restaurant with her friends Chris Hampton Grade level: Junior Sport: varsity basketball Position: Guard Hype song: “Martian” by Takeoff Ritual: Praying Aftergame: Goes to hang out with friends for a little bit and get lots of rest

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December 2018

FEATURES

Impact of helping others:

Service clubs improve the community

Photos by Christy Ma

Christy Ma staff writer

ad news and misfortune are often capitalized upon by news sites; simply turning on the TV can cause an onslaught of depressing stories. The constant acts of violence, hate and fear-mongering can become desensitizing, and some may wonder why they should care. The answer -- to help a community. A community is the bond that keeps people caring for each other -- a bond formed from a common goal. The Northwest community is no exception. Clubs at Northwest have beautified the school, raised money for the less fortunate, fundraised for local shelter animals, made local biking safer and tutored other students. “Here in Greensboro, we are a community that helps each other,” founder of Vikings for Greensboro junior Kema Leonard said. “If you have something you don’t need, you can give it to someone else. Later when you need something, it can be reciprocated. That communal vibe is really good for us, (especially) in a day where we can be so selfish toward each other.” Out of the 57 clubs offered at school, roughly 20 are specifically geared towards service to the community. Each service learning club is unique for whom they intend

December 2018

The service learning club, Vikings For Greensboro, participates in a food pantry. Service learning clubs are an important part in developing a student’s sense of responsibilty and empathy

to benefit and how they plan on making a difference. For example, the Red Dog Farm intends to benefit shelter animals in the form of fundraising, while the Cycling Club intends to create safer biking routes in the form of biking for awareness. However, every service learning club shares a common goal. “(We should all aim) to help others and leave the community better off than when you first saw it,” co-president of Interact Club junior Alexandra Vlad said. Some Northwest service leaders have witnessed misfortune up close, which was why they decided to take action. “(Earlier this) year my mom and I were (driving through) Raleigh (after the) Greensboro tornado hit,” Leonard said. “My mom woke me up, and it was pouring.” The Greensboro tornado that Leonard was referencing was catastrophic to North Carolina. “Houses were destroyed,” Leonard said. “There were trees crashing down, and people were crying and running. I had to help lift a tree off a car, and we had to drive under wires (to escape) because all the roads were closed. (That’s when I knew) I needed to start something; I needed to do everything in my power to help them. That’s why I started so many tornado relief projects last year. We (raised

thousands of dollars) for tornado affected schools; we all have the power to make a big difference.” The cycling club also had their share of misfortune. An anonymous member got hit by a car on Sept. 8 when cycling the A&Y Greenway on Strawberry Road. He is well, except for a sprained wrist, but the club claims it was not the first time a cycler was hit on that road. In response, they have set up a petition on change.org to the Department of Transportation in hopes of reducing the speed limit on Strawberry Road, installing flashing lights so cars can notice the crosswalk and adding more stop signs to prevent future accidents. “There is always work and service to be done for our community,” cycling club president junior Jesse Andrews said, “because not everyone is as fortunate as us.” Service learning clubs are important for high schoolers to develop a sense of charity and community early on. Whether developed from a sense of self and pride, or habit and repetition, helping out in high school can translate into helping others in adulthood. Math teacher Rhonda Hudson was raised on helping others through charity work, and she is now the sponsor of the Interact Club. “(The ultimate goal of service)

is teaching our students to give back,” Hudson said. “Not just to our local community, but national and international community. Whatever you do, you should be giving from your heart and (a place) of passion - not because you get something in return monetarily, but because you get something deep in your heart.” Service learning is a mutually beneficial action. It can raise self-confidence and create a sense of self. “In this big, huge world (sometimes) you feel like you’re nothing,” Hudson said. “That’s when giving back to someone becomes not only important for them, but also for you. You learn to love others as people, and we all become a little team-- (we all become) a community.” As a community is formed through passion of a common goal, an effect can be seen upon the community and the individual. “We are in an age where we become ever more isolated even as we search for community,” Key Club sponsor Elizabeth Russell said. “But I’ve had kids (who) find something that lights a fire (in them) through organizations and service communities. It helps (us) feel less hollow and more dimensional. (We truly) make a difference, (for we are not just an academic group), we are an amazing (community).”

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FEATURES

Weaver Academy offers unique opportunities for Northwest students Franklin Wei staff writer

hile many students find that Northwest suits them perfectly and happily take advantage of the many courses offered here, others think there’s something missing. “Northwest doesn’t have any hands-on classes that interest me,” senior Brandon Mantle said. Mantle’s gripe has some validity—in recent years, budget cuts have forced cuts to many electives, including speech and debate, AP European history, marine science and we the people. Also, AP sciences, formerly two periods long, have been halved in length to just one period, which has reduced the time available for hands-on labs. Mantle, like many other students, has instead supplemented his schedule by taking classes at Weaver Academy, a magnet school located in downtown Greensboro that provides two educational programs: a smaller, full-time program for the performing and visual arts that has about 300 students, and a more popular, parttime career education program that draws about 700 students from across the county. The full-time arts program requires students to complete an application and audition process, and they usually enter as freshmen or sophomores, although there are some exceptions for juniors and seniors. According to Weaver’s web site, students in the arts program choose from eight programs of study, includ-

Photo by Franklin Wei

Diesel Technology instructor James Crutchfield works on starting a turbocharged diesel engine in the garage at Weaver Academy. Weaver’s courses allow students chances to practice hands-on skills as varied as sewing and car repair.

ing dance, drama, classical guitar, music production, piano, strings, visual arts and vocal music. The career education program is more easily accessible to students: a quick visit to Northwest’s counseling office will allow students to enroll in courses such as automotive technology, computer programming, heating, ventilation & AC technology and scientific visualization. Weaver students can either take the bus to and from Northwest, which takes about 25 minutes each way. They can also

drive themselves, which is usually faster, according to Mantle. Mantle said that his primary motivations behind going to Weaver were wanting to work on cars and getting hands-on experience, goals that have been met with his current schedule. He is taking Diesel Technology 2 and Automotive Technology 1 this semester, and will take Diesel Technology 3 and Automotive Technology 2 next semester. (Weaver is on a block schedule, with four periods a day and different courses each semester.)

Both diesel and automotive technology teach the textbook fundamentals of vehicle maintenance and repair, but the classes also offer students plenty of hands-on opportunities not found elsewhere. “Students can bring in their own cars and work on them, fix them, or do any modifications,” Mantle said. This freedom, he added, makes skills learned in the classroom immediately applicable because students can work on what they feel like needs working on—not just a set task dictated by the teacher. For sophomore Justice Johnson, the significance of Weaver is more than being able to supplement her schedule—it’s in fact the reason she still attends Northwest. “To be honest, I was about to drop out of Northwest and go to a different school,” Johnson said. Upon learning about Weaver’s offerings, however, she elected to stay. Johnson is taking Apparel 1 this semester and will take Apparel 2 next semester. Apparel 1 is a “very fun class,” she said, that gives her a chance to both sew and learn about the history of fabrics and clothing. Both Mantle and Johnson heavily praised the hands-on nature of Weaver courses, which makes it an enjoyable experience for them. “I definitely enjoy (taking classes at Weaver),” Johnson said. “I would definitely recommend it... it’s (very) hands-on, which makes it fun. Especially going in the morning—it’s a great way to start off the day.”

Students sell coffee, donate earnings Megan Harkey sports editor

alking into the media center on Delayed Start Monday can be rowdy and crowded with students sitting at every table and computer. Now, a soothing aroma of coffee fills the room, along with apple cider and hot chocolate. “Magic Cup Monday” began on Nov. 5, and for a dollar, students and teachers can get a cup of coffee in numerous flavors. Flavors include pumpkin spice, vanilla and apple cider, and hot chocolate is also sold. Exceptional Children (EC) teacher assistant Debra Fyler and OCS students who operate this endeavor, will greet you with a warm cup and a smile. “My drink was really nice because I had a sore throat on Monday, and it made my morning a lot better,” freshman Ava Overmyer said. There is also an array of snacks that vary in price. All funds are donated to students and

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people in need around the community. “We have raised money for families that are in need at Proehlific Park,” OCS teacher Dakota Keller said. For teacher caffeine needs only, Thank God It’s Friday (TGIF) began Oct 26. Students participating sell beverages to teachers between second and third period. “It was delicious; it was a great start to my Friday morning,” EC teacher Kristin Skordahl said. The students who participate also benefit because they receive service learning hours and have an opportunity to help those less fortunate. “They do all the leg work, for sure,” Fyler said. Now that the holidays are coming around, Fyler and the student baristas will put wrapped boxes around the school to collect toiletries for the military. From Nov. 26 to the week before winter break, each fourth period will compete to fill their box. The class with the most products will have a popcorn and pizza party.

“We hope the kids will really support this and bring a lot of stuff because everybody knows someone in the military,” Fyler said. Whether one needs a caffeine boost or just a warm mug of cider to boost their Monday morning, The OCS students are ready to help.

Photo by Megan Harkey

‘Magic Cup Monday’ and ‘TGIF’ sell coffee to teachers and students. All funds are being donated to the community.

FEATURES

How teachers celebrate the holidays Angela Seo spread editor

Social studies teacher Jennifer Loveday-Donovan has spent 34 Thanksgivings at the theme park. “From the time I was five until I moved here, my family never did Thanksgiving--we always went to Disney,” Loveday-Donovan said. “I never had a real Thanksgiving until I was 35.”

Photo contributed by Jennifer Loveday-Donovan

During Christmas time, many people participate by giving presents to their close friends and family. English teacher Jason Allred has a gift-giving tradition that’s unique. “Each year, all family members get something they want, something they need, something they wear, something they read and usually a trip,” Allred said. This Thanksgiving, they celebrated with a trip to Disney. Photo contributed by Jason Allred

Biology teacher Jennifer Linden celebrates Christmas with her family by first going on a trip to Boone with friends to get trees. “The season kicks off by cutting two large trees for the living room and front office room in our house,” Linden said. “We always have a holiday party and put up a Christmas tree in every room.”

Photo contibuted by Jennifer Linden

Spanish teacher Gwen Stencler also has a tradition of going to Disney. “(My daughter) Emma (Fagerberg) and I have gone to Disney almost every Thanksgiving since she was six,” Stencler said. Similar to Allred, Stencler and her family spent Thanksgiving 2018 at Disney World. Photo by Emma Fagerberg

A dream job in the happiest place on earth Erin Kohn staff writer

dream job in the happiest place on earth; standing in line in the sweltering Florida sun, senior Morgan Sutton waits two hours for Disney’s “Tower of Terror.” Sweating, she eagerly awaits the three-minute ride. While many people might consider it vacation, senior Morgan Sutton’s summer job, working for her uncle’s business “Touring Plans,” consisted of riding rides at Disney World and reviewing the parks’ restaurants. Posted wait times are notoriously wrong at this popular tourist attraction, so Sutton’s job was to stand in line for many of Disney’s most iconic rides such as “Space Mountain” and “Test Track” and time how long it took to get through the line and correct the posted time. “I love my job because I’m able to be in such a happy place and do things

that I love, different said. With commutwas nothgoing was

as well as meet people from parts of the world,” Sutton family residing in Florida, ing to Disney World every day ing out of the ordinary. “My family has been to Disney since before I born, and I’ve been going my entire life,” Sutton said. “It’s easy to go now because my family lives 30 minutes from the

parks.” In addition to timing the waits, Sutton also reviewed several restaurants over the course of the summer. “I loved being able to try and review new restaurants, especially in Epcot’s World Showcase because of the variety of countries represented,” Sutton said. “I got to try foods I’ve never even heard of.” Something new happened every day while working in Disney, but some things became a tradition. “Every time I went to Epcot, I would get a strawberry smoothie and see a show,” Sutton said. With hopes of saving the money she earned for college, Sutton plans to return to Orlando in the future and resume her job. “College is super expensive,” Sutton said. “Even the applications cost a lot, so working at Disney was a really good opportunity for me to save as much as I could for the future.”

Photo by Erin Kohn

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Why we still love superhero movies A Adam Sasser staff writer

little over 10 years ago, Marvel Studios changed the course of superhero movies when they released “Iron Man.” Since then, superhero movies have become a big part of our culture. It’s hard to find anyone who just flat out hates the genre as it seems to have something for everyone. “Iron Man” changed the game when it created an extended cinematic universe by featuring Nick Fury in its end credit scene. While there had been superhero movies before that, like “Spider-Man” (2002) or “Batman” (1989), none of them created as much buzz as Marvel did with “Iron Man.” “The reason superhero movies do so well is because they appeal to several audiences. They appeal to adults who grew up reading the comics and also towards younger viewers who love superheroes,” junior Ryan Patterson said. It’s no secret that Marvel changed the game when it created its massive connected cinematic universe, which has been a new thing not only for superhero movies but also for movies in general. Several other studios have tried to replicate this ability to have an extended film universe. Warner Brothers is trying to do it with the DC superheroes, Fox with the XMen/ Deadpool and Universal even tried with their “Dark Universe.”

DC comics has tried their best to jump on the bandwagon that is superhero movies, but they can’t seem to get a good foothold on how to make a good superhero movie. A good example of this would be how Marvel’s “Avengers” (2012) with a budget of $220 million was able to make a whopping $1.519 billion at the box office, while DC’s “Justice League” had a budget of $300 million and only managed to make $657.9 million at the box office. “I think that Marvel just has more creativity in their stories and they’re just more elaborate. Also, they don’t try to shove eight story lines in one movie,” freshman Bobby Philips said. That’s part of the problem for other studios that want to make their own extended universe; they rush into it. DC’s “Batman V. Superman” tried to set up the entire DC cinematic universe in just one movie and only succeeded in making a rather confusing movie. Marvel didn’t show us that “Iron Man” was in an extended universe until the movie was over via the famous Marvel end credit scene. Another thing that makes us keep going back for more Marvel movies is how none of these movies follow the same direct style. It’s

like a movie genre buffet: “Captain America: The First Avenger” (2012) is much like an Indiana Jones movie. There’s a mystical artifact that Nazis want to use to gain control of the world, and the hero has to race against the clock to stop it. Now compare that to “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014). The story is no longer about a once scrawny boy from

Illustration by Adam Sasser

Iron Man punches Batman. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has mastered the art of the superhero movie, while DC has not.

Brooklyn but rather acts more like a spy movie. It’s a movie where the hero learns that his allies aren’t what they seem, and he must go rogue to find the truth. All the Marvel movies do this to some extent; “Ant-Man” (2015) is a heist movie, “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) is a tale about a group of misfits working together to stop a planet destroying weapon, “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017) acts like a buddy film and the list goes on. Compare Marvel’s current creations to those of the past, like Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight Trilogy” or Sam Raimi’s “SpiderMan Trilogy.” Sure, they were hot during the first two movies, but by the third, they had begun to feel stale. Marvel avoids losing their edge by continuing to redesign the way they tell their stories. Sure, all these movies are still superhero movies at their core, but with each one, we get a new look at the storytelling. If Marvel continued to just make movies where the good guys fight the bad guys, then it would get pretty dull pretty fast. So, we can all rest easy with the knowledge that superhero movies won’t be disappearing anytime soon. “They’re here to stay,” Phillips said.

The holidays come to Downtown Greensboro I Kimberly Brown staff writer

t’s that time of year again. The holidays are here, and Greensboro is preparing for a series of events to kick off the season. In years past, Downtown Greensboro has hosted parades, festivals and other social gatherings in the months of November and December. This year is no different; many of the festivals and celebrations are back, and people are excited. “It gets them (people) in the mood for the holidays,” freshman Emma White said, “(They are) in a cheerful mood.” White is one

Photos by Autumn Dixon

Festival-goers admire the Christmas tree. The Greensboro Festival of Lights was the most popular holiday celebration in Greensboro.

of many students who enjoy spending the holidays with friends and family going to festivals and the parade in Downtown Greensboro. One of the largest events in Downtown Greensboro, the Festival of Lights, took place on Nov. 30. The Festival of Lights has been a holiday celebration in Greensboro for more than 25 years. It offered community singing sessions, a social photo booth, acoustic performances by some of Greensboro’s artists and of course, the lighting of the tree in Center City Park. “I went when I was in middle school,” sophomore Chaeyon Jang said. “It was very pretty, and the lights were all around in the park. There were many little stands going on, and it was pretty interesting because it was my first time going.” The Festival of Lights annually draws around 10,000 people and is enjoyed by many Northwest students like Jang. The Greensboro Holiday Parade on Dec. 1 was another recurring event that has been going on for the last 40 years. The parade averages about 60,000 spectators

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each year, and this year is no different. People in the community came to the parade to celebrate the holiday spirit and spend time with friends and family. The Piedmont Winterfest skating rink also returned this year, starting Nov. 16 and ending on Jan. 27. The skating rink offers community members with a safe place to spend the afternoon with friends. The rink is open to the public, but it can also be reserved for private events, like the Curling League. In addition to festivals and the parade, students can also enjoy holiday concerts from the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra (GSO). This year, the GSO is hosting the Dukes of Dixieland, one of the most popular jazz groups in the country, on Dec. 31. The website advertises it as bringing “traditional jazz into the 21st century, melding ragtime, blues and American anthems into one dynamic evening.” “The orchestra is nice; they’re really good,” Jang said. Jang is part of the youth orchestra which is sponsored by the Greensboro Orchestra. She said that she intends to volunteer at the

event this year. Many Northwest students enjoy attending events like these because it brings them closer to their friends and family. It also gives them a chance to engage in their community and provide inspiration for future events. “People come together for parades (and) come together to make floats and meet new people,” White said. Students appreciate the time off during the holidays to spend time with their friends and family and to celebrate with the community. “I think they (festivals and parades) do (bring the community together) because a lot of people share the same type of happiness, so you can bond with those kinds of similarities,” Jang said.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Top 10 songs to rock the holiday season Madison Maygar staff writer

1. “Jingle Bells” by James Lord Pierpont This classic seems to be the most well known among the students due to its catchy chorus and upbeat sound. Even though it was originally meant as a Thanksgiving song, its holiday spirit is unmistakable. “It is the one I know the best,” senior Ashtyn Ellis said. 2. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Johnny Marks The original story of Rudolph was continued in a musical rendition that resonated throughout the nation, charting number one in the Christmas of 1949. “It was my favorite as a kid,” junior Taylor Strain said. “I loved the movie.” 3. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee Having sold 25 million copies as of 2008 and recorded when Lee was only 13 years old, this song continues to be a favorite. “I listen to it with my family every year on Christmas Eve,” senior Mason Houghtby said.

4. “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt This was a hit for Kitt herself, the song talks about expensive gifts and everything wanted for Christmas. “We always used to play that when I was a kid at my grandmas house,” junior Molly Coble said.

7. “Winter Wonderland” by Michael Buble Since the original version created in 1934, the song has been recorded by over 200 artists, yet the version with Michael Buble is the most well-known. “The slow vocals invoke a certain image in your head,” junior Jason Ellington said. 8. “Mary Did You Know?” by Pentatonix Featured on the Pentatonix Christmas album, it charted number 26 on the billboard top 100 in 2014. “My mom and I listen to the Penatonix album whenever we decorate,” junior Shelby Lester said.

Capricorn- Recycle and your life will change. AquariusYou are a social media queen/ king this month. Pisces- Be generous and you will suffer less. Aries- You keep questioning everything, but the answer is right in front of you.

9. “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses Though this song was released in the UK and only made it onto their top charts, it found a way into the US. It is not very traditional as it talks about a woman skipping Christmas due to lack of time and energy. “Its so different from other Christmas music,” junior Claire Halterman said. “There’s funny lyrics.” 10. “The Christmas Shoes” by NewSong This song tells a meaningful story of a boy wanting to buy shoes for his sick mother. It is not upbeat, but it helps remind people of what Christmas should be about. “The radio station Delilah always plays it,” junior Krystyna Derezinska-Choo said. “That just reminds me of Christmas.” Photos compiled by Madison Maygar

Graphics display the album covers of the top 10 songs. Students deem holiday music as one of the most important parts of the season.

How to create a bright backpack display

Sydney Thompson arts & entertainment editor

ith ugly Christmas sweaters, reindeer antlers, indoor and outdoor decorations, there is a new avenue of celebrating the holidays at Northwest. Backpack decorations are a way to express holiday cheer. The following are common ones:

Lights One popular decoration is to put lights on the backpack. The way to do this without using extension cords is to buy a string of lights attached to a battery pack. These can be either in a closed loop or an extended string, and only require batteries, making them easy to transport in a student’s backpack. These can be found in stores like Target, in the holiday section. Ornaments Another way to decorate the backpack is to add ornaments to the strings of lights. These can be found for $3 at Target and for

Catherine Harris staff writer

Sagittarius- Life may seem disappointing, but you must look at it from a different angle.

5. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by Arthur Warrell This song is often the go to for Christmas carolers due to its many variations and easily changeable lyrics. “It’s iconic,” junior Hua Jiang said. 6. “Little Drummer Boy” by Bing Crosby Originally known as “Carol of the Drum,” this song is a classic that also has ties to an animated film created in 1968. “I used to listen to it growing up with my mom because it was her favorite as well,” junior Isaac Byrd said.

December Horoscopes

under $10 in craft stores such as Michael’s. Keychains Keychains can be used to get your backpack into the holiday spirit. Keychains of reindeer and the like are available at stores like Target in the holiday section, and are small but noticeable. No matter how you choose to decorate, just add your own flair and have fun. Photos by Sydney Thompson

Holiday decorations shine on a backpack. Backpack decorations are common during this season at Northwest.

Taurus- Stop being lazy and get out of bed. Turn off Netflix and do something. GeminiYou probably feel empty inside, but that’s okay because it looks good on you. Cancer- Write a letter to your future self about your problems instead of burying them deep inside of you. Leo- Change your style up as an experiment, but you never know. Maybe you’ll like it. Virgo- Try to not think about your death this month, but if you do, make sure you’re sitting down. Libra- Stop focusing on trying to fix other people’s emotions. It won’t work. Focus on yourself. Scorpio- Stop trying to be cool and just be yourself. Life is too short to be someone you’re not. Illustrations by Catherine Harris

The constellations Leo, Cancer, the void and Aries scatter across the night sky. The horoscopes above are just for fun and not meant to be taken literally.

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