Pirate Press_March 2023 (Vol.9, Issue 4)

March 2023

Student Study Habits

Junior Emily Sibert

Students are using many ways to study and get work done in and out of class. Thanks to new technology, students have many more resources than were available years ago. As time goes on, both new and old study habits are used by students, such as notecards and notes, but now students can have them online to be available wherever they go.

One of the online options available now is quizlet. “I like to study with quizlet so I can have options on how I want to study,” junior Olivia Borowski said. Websites like quizlet offer flashcards and practice tests for students to use. Quizlet is used by many teachers as well for reviews and to share with students to help them study.

While quizlet may be helpful to some students, others like to study in groups. “It's nice to be able to talk while also getting work done with friends,” junior Sidney Wilson said. Groups help students take advantage of being able to ask their peers questions regarding their classes. This helps students to be able to double check their work, and studying with another person can help both people more.

Although studying in groups can be beneficial, some students enjoy studying alone. “When I study, I like to listen to the kind of music I’m in the mood for,” junior Chloe Lauer said. Listening to music can be a great way to block out distractions.

When you find a perfect way to study that helps you, you can really improve in your classes and become more successful overall.

Solo and Ensemble Senior Theo Downey

Sing your heart out. The Ottawa Township High School Music Department competed in solo and ensemble on March 4 at ReedCuster High School. The Bass-Tenor Ensemble placed within division one with the song “Misty Mountians.” From left to right is junior Alex Stafford, senior Benjamin Domoleczny, senior Jackson Ewen, senior Totus Keeley, junior Jack Thiry, senior Gabriel Nye, senior Scarlett Pohar, and senior Liam Tipple.

“Solo and Ensemble is my favorite event of the year,” senior clarinetist Emily Swanson said. “Getting to take more control of learning my music and performing with a more close-knit group is such a lovely experience.” Ottawa has notably pulled high placings in many Solo and Ensemble festivals, and this year was no different, with the OTHS Music Department placing third overall.

Juniors Sidney Wilson and Xochitl Gutierrez doing schoolwork in English. Photo credit Sidney Wilson.

Meet the Staff

Isabella Montez is a senior who is serving as both a writer and editor for the “Pirate Press” for a second year. She is a member of the Soccer team, Scholastic team, and Chess Club. She works at The Lone Buffalo and her hobbies include finishing puzzles, playing games and reading. She plans on attending The Culinary Institute of America.

First-Year Writers

Molly Etscheid is a senior who is a part of the Track team. She currently works at Blain’s Farm and Fleet and AnCare Veterinary Hospital, and her hobies include watching TikTok, watching Netflix and hanging out with her sister and dog. She plans to attend St. Ambrose University and major in Sports Management.

Theo Downey is a senior who is part of Earth Club, Project Snowflake, Fine Arts Club, Band and the Track team. His hobbies include reading, writing and photography. He plans on going to a four-university, most likely University of Michigan or University of California Santa Cruz.

Masen Libby is a senior who works at Dollar Tree. His favorite hobby is thrifing and collecting vintage things. He plans on going to IVCC after graduation and eventually transferring to a four-year university.

Elizabeth Butler is a junior who works at Walmart in Morris. Her hobbies include gaming, driving and listening to music. She plans on doing something business related after graduation.

Emily Sibert is a junior who works at Court Street Pub, and her favorite hobbies all include being outside. She plans on going to a four-year university after graduation and majoring in Interior Design.

Isabella Montez

Molly Etscheid

Theo Downey

Elizabeth Butler

Masen Libby

Emily Sibert

Hot or Cold?

Senior Molly Etscheid

Hot or cold? As students walk around the building they may think “Hmm, it is really warm over here” or “Wow, it is so cold in here.” Wherever you go, students are always commenting on the changing temperatures around the building. Students may be wearing a sweatshirt in some areas and a t-shirt in others. But are different parts of the building really that much warmer or colder than one another?

I put thermometers in various places around the school to see what the average temperature was after one school week. The places I used were Kingman Gym, a classroom on 900, a classroom on 500, a locker on 700, and the counselor’s office. Here are the average temperatures I found for each:

Kingman Gym (400 floor)- 68 °F

Classroom on 900 floor- 74 °F

Classroom on 500 floor- 65 °F

Locker (700 floor)- 72 °F

Counselor’s Office (200 floor)- 75 °F

This evidence does prove that the temperature changes students may feel walking around is true. Although it is difficult to keep this large of a building all at the same temperature, students have found a few solutions to the issue.

If students are looking to avoid these ever-changing temperatures and be better prepared for the weather, they may consider layering their clothes. Not only do a lot of people around the school layer their clothes, but it will also make it easier to deal with the changes. Layering can be as simple as wearing a t-shirt under a sweatshirt. Or you could dress it up with a cute cardigan or nice jacket.

Senior Arwen Gay always keeps a jacket with her, so she is always prepared for any area of the school. “You never know what to expect each day,” Gay said. “Sometimes I am sweating in a certain class, and sometimes I am cold.”

Clay Reclaim

Senior

Masen Libby

Reduce, reuse, sculpt. When you’re in art teacher Leah Kuhn’s classroom, you might notice the heaps of clay in the back next to a garbage can labeled with a paper that says “reclaim.” Reclaiming clay is a process that uses old, dried clay scraps and makes it new again.

“We reclaim clay to save money. It means we don’t need to order more clay for next year, and it’s more sustainable,” Kuhn said. In a world more aware of its impact on the environment, recycling clay is one of the many things that people do to reduce their environmental footprint.

Senior Arwen Gay shows off her layered outfit.

Rate My Professor: Ottawa Edition

Senior Theo Downey

Rate My Professor: The overall opinion of a teacher is vital when it comes to the atmosphere of a classroom. A teacher can make or break the overall quality of a class. The “Pirate Press” brings you an official rating from some students around school about teachers that they have had in class before.

Mr. Jacobi, five stars: From two students, Mr. Jacobi was dubbed a favorite. “He genuinely sees all of his students as people and connects with individual people so that each student can do their best,” senior Emily Swanson said. Junior Aubrey Sanders said, “He gives everyone motivation in a way that’s good for them.” Overall, given five stars, Mr. Jacobi has clearly had a positive impact on his students.

Mrs. Nordtvedt, five stars: Plenty of people have great things to say about the CAD teacher. “Mrs. Nordtvedt is a really nice teacher, and she’s one of my favorites. She always helps with the assignments, and it’s really easy to get a good grade in the class,” junior Kate Passwater said. If a teacher makes everything about their class easy for students, it’s almost a no-brainer to take it. CAD sounds like a great option knowing that you’re in good hands.

Mrs. Schoonover, five stars : She’s quite new to the school, but she already has high praise from students. “She’s actually opened my eyes and made it so math isn’t super hard,” freshman Mar Walker said. “Opening my day with her class, I know that I’m able to not have to worry about anything bad happening with my classmates because she watches out for everyone.” “Schoonie,” as some some students call her, is a very understanding and upbeat teacher.

Mrs. Overocker, five stars: I’m sure that everyone has heard something about Mrs. Overocker while walking through the halls. Those who have taken her class know a thing or two about her, though. “She is kind, even though she doesn’t like to admit it, and treats her students with fairness. She also is very funny and likes to have a good time,” sophomore Evvie Jeppson said. So long as you follow the rules, Overocker is a teacher well worth your time.

Mrs. Walter, five stars: The FFA adviser has made the list as a favorite. “I spend a lot of time with her because of trips for FFA, and she feels like more of a best friend than a teacher sometimes,” sophomore Billie Partridge said. Certainly a comforting presence for students, Mrs. Walter gets five stars.

Mrs. Priestly, five stars: Her students have given good reviews. “She’s cool, and I understand her class more than any other class,” freshman Charlie Thiry said. Certainly good at helping her students make it through their topics and help them, she’s a great choice when it comes to classes.

Ms. Stachowicz, five stars: She is also new to the scene and has made quite an impact. “She changed the way that I look at music, but also myself for the better,” senior Corinne Francis said. “She’s a positive person and cares about all of her students.” Maybe choir is something new to try knowing that the teacher is definitely on your side.

While this is only a mockup, the actual Rate My Professor website is an incredible resource for students. It allows them to get an insight into a professor and the way that they run a class. This is very important when it comes to picking college classes in the future, as it ensures that you will actually learn and gain something from the class. Students should keep this in mind when taking that next step in their education career.

Overall, there are a lot of great teachers in the building. Most are always willing to set aside time for their students and make sure that they truly understand each concept and are doing alright. These are just a few to consider when thinking of classes to take.

Andrew Jacobi Janelle Nordtvedt Emma Schoonover Jessica Overocker

Track Meet

Senior Molly Etscheid

RUN, RUN, RUN. The girls track team have begun their indoor season at Sycamore. The girls started practicing back in early January and had their first meet on Feb. 23. They have 4 indoor track meets before they turn to the outdoor season.

Coach Emma Schoonover is seen encouraging freshman Basia Lambert through the last leg of the 4x400 relay.

Junior Mayla Ragan said her favorite part of the meet was “the 4x160 and how we all did the best we could.” She is excited to see the progress throughout the rest of the season.

Senior Abby Morris said her favorite part of the meet was “cheering on the rest of my team.” Morris is also excited to break new PR’s and improve her form.

Overall, the team placed fourth out of five teams.

The Poms

Strut your stuff. The Pirate Poms Dance Team competed at the IDTA state competition on Feb. 11. The team placed second in AAA Jazz, second in AAA Lyrical. They were also awarded third place AAA Grand Champions for overall combined scores.

Sophomore Sienna Banushi said that her favorite part of the day was “getting lined up on the performance floor while the judges called out what place our team received while holding onto my teammate's hands hoping we got top 3.”

The team had a long and successful season since starting in November with multiple top 3 finishes.

Senior Molly Etscheid

Ali Stachowicz

Sierra Walter

Angela Priestly

Ottawa Township High School

Crossword Puzzle

Teacher Edition

Try to guess these teachers by the hints provided below.

Across

2. Tells stories about a farm in Iowa

3. Loves the smell of formaldehyde.

6. Used to be the librarian.

7. Brings two teams to state every year.

8. Lives in Ceder Point.

9. Featured in a local historical movie.

Down

1. Has a band and name rhymes with a vegetable.

4. Coaches cheerleading.

5. “Lets put it this way.”

Athlete of the Month

Junior Emily Sibert

Junior Ivan Munoz has been a wrestler to watch out for. He is a previous state champion. After winning state while attending Shepherd Middle School, he has been working hard to become better and better with hopes to win state again. Even though he has been to state many times he has only placed first once in 2018.

This year he went to IHSA state finals and placed 6th. He fought hard and earned a good overall spot. He is looking forward to the future that wrestling may bring him. During his sophomore year he placed 2nd in Fresh/Soph State.

The reason he is good at wrestling is because of how long he has been doing it. Ivan has been wrestling for 9 years and travels all over the country to wrestle. This year Ivan is going to participate in the Virginia Beach duals individual tournament in March, where he is hoping to qualify for Fargo in North Dakota this year. “I believe in hard work,” Munoz said.

Even though wrestling is not a team sport Munoz still tries to help everyone to his fullest extent. “He’s really kind and helps others when he can,” junior Wyatt Redding said. His coaches also acknowledge his effort. “ He’s a hardworking young man that has really stepped up this year with his work ethic and wanting to be a better wresteler,” Coach Kevin Aughenbaugh said.

With his future very bright, Munoz likes to keep working to achieve his goals. Even when a match doesn’t go his way, he gets right back up and tries again. Munoz said when he tries again, he tries more.

Book of the Month

Senior Molly Etscheid

“All the Bright Places” by Jennifer Niven has been flying off the shelves of the library, leaving many students on a long wait list to get their chance to read. Many students like the book or may be attracted to it because “it’s a heart-wrenching love story between two broken people,” librarian Kelley Getzelman said.

“All the Bright Places” is a compelling and beautiful story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die. She is popu-

lar, and he is the school freak. These two high school seniors might have never gotten to know each other if it were not for a crazy coincidence.

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school where they both are contemplating jumping, it is unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It is only with Violet that Finch can be himself-- a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who is not such a freak after all. And it is only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink.

How far will Violet go to save the boy she has come to love?

Senior Brooklyn Lawson read the book last year and said she had heard about it on TikTok. Her favorite part of the book was when Violet and Finch were in the closet together; “It felt like such a vulnerable thing for Finch to show Violet,” Lawson said. However, she did not like the ending.

In 2020, the book was turned into a movie featuring Jusitce Smith as Finch and Elle Fanning as Violet. It’s available to stream on Netflix.

Junior Ivan Munoz placing first at Seneca. Photo Credit Ivan Munoz.

“The Last of Us” Review

Senior Mason Libby

There has been a curse with shows being made using a video game as its source material. These shows tend to fail, except for the highly anticipated “The Last of Us,” which premiered on HBO and HBO Max on Jan. 15.

“The Last of Us” is a television adaptation of the game released in 2013 by development studio Naughty Dog with its first season having nine episodes. The first episode follows the same premise as the prologue, with one of the main characters Joel and his daughter Sarah.

The series immediately deviates from the source material by taking place in 2003 instead of 2013. The first episode spends most of the beginning fleshing out the characters and showing the Cordyceps infection that hits the people of this world.

One of my favorite parts of this episode takes place during the prologue. Little hints reveal how Joel and Sarah did not get infected, while everyone else did.

Some of these hints include Sarah refusing to eat cookies that were baked by the Adlers and Joel forgetting to get his birthday cake. Since the fungus was in flour, these actions end up saving their lives.

Breath of fresh air? Pictured is Joel standing next to someone far into the infection with the Cordyceps fungus in Season 1, Episode 1 of the hit show. Photo provided by IMDB.

Later, it jumps about twenty years to 2023. The warm feeling of two decades prior is replaced by the cold and overgrown city of Boston. The Federal Disaster Response Agency, this universe’s version of FEMA,

set up a camp in the city where Joel and the other main character, Ellie, now live. The game’s duo is now together, and they are just as good. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are perfect choices to play these characters, and they do an excellent job.

If you played the game or have not, this show is perfect and is worth watching. It does the original justice and is a great adaptation. I am not the only one who thinks this as the show currently sits at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and was renewed for a second season.

Artist of the Month

Everyone has a passion that they want to follow, and junior Owen Tipple is making that a reality for himself. Between Tipple and junior Will Trupiano, they have been creating music together. “I’ve been playing music since I was a little boy, I was always tapping on the walls and tables making music with everything I could,” Tipple said. He pushes himself to keep playing and practicing to better his work.

He is currently working with Trupiano to create indie rap music with real instruments and effects. They are working on releasing their first double EP under the name TNL Productions, and it will be out on Spotify and iTunes in mid-April. In the near future, Tipple says that they have plans for a sister EP to be released a few months after their debut. “We plan on performing our music live as well,” Tipple said. “We want to make the performance as independent and genuine as possible.”

He obviously has people in his corner as he works with his friends to create music. His family also sees what he is doing as something to be commended. “He has a good creative drive, and it’s nice to see him committing to something he enjoys,” his older brother senior Liam Tipple said.

“Owen has been passionate about music all of his life,” his mother Tracy Tipple said. “He feels the beats through his body more than I ever could. I think it’s great that he has found a genre that speaks to him.”

Owen is also an artist in more ways than one. He creates his own guitars to make music. “I have a woodshop in my garage, I spend a lot of time out there during the week usually. I build lots of different things, typically guitars,” Tipple said. He also talked about his experimental work with paper and skateboards. He works with hydro dipping as well and likes to put the dipped finish on a lot of his pieces.

Owen and his group are taking their own passions and creating something out of them, which is truly something to be proud of. It’ll be exciting to see where they take their music and how far they’ll go.

Junior Owen Tipple in art teacher Leah Kuhn’s classroom. Photo credit Leah Kuhn.

Senior Theo Downey