Pirate Press_October 2022 (Vol.9, Issue 1)

PIRATE PRESS othspiratepress.com

Behind the Scenes of 201

Senior Audrey Woodyer

DUNT DUNT DUNT... you got a blue slip. You must be in trouble because now you must go to, uh oh, Room 201. Fortunately, we are here to tell you not to fear getting called down to Room 201.

Room 201 is made up of ve di erent people. Attendance Secretary Lisa Woodyer and Discipline Secretary Tracy Clark are the rst two people you see when entering the o ce. en there’s Associate Principal Je Dewalt and two Assistant Principals, Jon Leslie and Jessica Gass, who each have their own o ce inside of 201. Associate Principal Dewalt oversees all of 201. He mentors Gass and Leslie with student issues as well as academic/teacher concerns with parents and administratiors. He ensures the safety of students and oversees that state guidelines are implemented with both teachers and students.

“Mrs. Gass and Mr. Leslie are our chaos coordinators,” Woodyer said. ey speak with students and clean up or address any issues. ey also supervise all home games, making sure safety, security and behavior are within school guidelines. As for Woodyer and Clark, they have a di erent set of responsibilities, which are self-explanatory by their titles. If you need to go home or have an appointment, or if you’re missing in a class, you talk to Woodyer. If you get a detention or are curious about what kind/when to serve one, you go see Clark.

On the right is a photograph taken by junior Mercedes Tobias. e photo on the le was taken by junior Evan Spencer. Both of these photos were inspired by artist Paul Strand. Both of the students are in Kevin Olesen’s photography class.

Je DeWalt

Jessica Gass

Jon Leslie

Lisa Woodyer

Tracy Clark

Meet the Sta

Isabella Montez is a senior serving as both writer and editor for the “Pirate Press” for a second year. She is a member of the Soccer team, Bowling team, Chess Club and Scholastic team. She currently works at e Lone Buffalo, and her hobbies include reading, gaming and cooking. She plans to attend IVCC and then transfer to Illinois Institute of Technology.

First-Year Writers

Angel Lopez is a senior whose hobbies include gaming, eating and sleeping. He is unsure of what he plans to do a er high school.

Audrey Woodyer is a senior whose hobbies include making art, doing yoga and listening to music. She plans on going to IVCC for two years for either psychology or veterinary technology then transferring to get a higher degree.

Emma Coss is a senior and a member of Key Club, the Cross-Country team and Yearbook. Her hobbies include playing guitar, writing and general artistry. She plans to attend IVCC and become a journalist.

Kendra Martin is a senior and part of the Cross-Country team. She currently works at Cracker Barrel and enjoys spending time with her animals in her spare time. She plans on joining the workforce while taking online college courses.

Lilli Warrner is a junior and is a part of GSA and an Athletic Trainer. Her hobbies include cooking, drawing and traveling. She plans on being a military medic a er high school.

Molly Etscheid is a senior and a member of the Track team. She currently works at AnCare Veterinary Hospital, and her hobbies include being outside, swimming and hiking. She plans to study either sports management or marine biology.

Sarah McGrath is a junior and dances outside of school. She currently works at Maurices, and her hobbies include writing, reading and “Obsessing over Harry Styles.” She plans on attending a four-year college to become a full-time author.

Isabella Montez

Audrey Woodyer

Emma Coss

Kendra Martin

Lilli Warrner

Molly Etscheid

Sarah McGrath

Flavors of the Season

Junior Sarah McGrath

Co ee lovers, listen up. Weather changes year round as seasons come and go, and co ee shops use that as an opportunity to add things to their usual menu.

Many co ee places like Dunkin’Donuts, Starbucks and Jerimiah Joe provide special seasonal drinks with the hopes of people being excited about the limited-time treat. Dunkin’ Donuts, for example, has a pumpkin cream cold brew during autumn to add more magic to the season. Starbucks also o ers a pumpkin spice latte. Drinks like that could add more spirit and cheer to whatever season a person is in.

“I get an iced spiced brown sugar latte from Jerimiah Joe because pumpkin, the typical fall syrup, is too strong for me,” junior Alyssa Malmassari, an employee at the downtown Jerimiah Joe, said, “I recommend it for others who like a simple fall avor.” ere are typically multiple options co ee drinkers can choose from when it comes to seasonal drinks, so they don’t have to feel like their choices are limited.

People should not worry if they are unsure about what special drink to get. ere are many suggestions online and because these drinks are so loved, those interested may even bene t from asking friends and family for recommendations.

Seasonal drinks are a great way for co ee shops to gain customers. When people hear about new items on menus, especially ones that t the season, it usually interests them.

“Fall, by far, has the best drink avors,” senior Karcin Hagi said. Hagi also works at Jerimiah Joe and provides even more insight on how exciting special avors can be to people. “My personal favorite is a brown sugar latte with oat milk. It’s the best.”

Although fall is a very common season for di erent avors, winter also has high demand for seasonal drinks to be added on menus. Mcdonald’s has a peppermint mocha, and Starbucks has an iced sugar cookie almond milk latte. e drinks may not stay for long, but the excitement people have for them seems to last forever.

Hot Spots

Senior Emma Coss

Does anyone have a “hot spot”? No, I do not mean a cellular hot spot. I mean a place that you frequent. Students certainly do. “Hot spot” number one is Jeremiah Joe Co ee. If you are looking for a splendid cup of co ee and a place to study or just hang out with friends, then Jeremiah Joe is for you. ey serve a variety of drinks including but not limited to co ee, smoothies, boba refreshers, matcha lattes and chai tea lattes. Senior Karcin Hagi has been working at Jeremiah Joe for just over a year. “Being surrounded by co ee always makes even the worst shi s bearable. e free drinks are pretty sweet too,” Hagi said.

Another “hot spot” is B.A.S.H which is a local Asian fusion restaurant. If you love sushi, B.A.S.H has it. If you are looking for a burger, they also serve those. ey really have something for everyone at B.A.S.H. Senior Stefani Villarreal has been working at B.A.S.H for about a year and a half. “I highly recommend it for students if they’re looking for a fast-paced job with friendly sta ! e Chicken Caprese is something I always recommend to customers and friends,” Villarreal said.

R Grotto’s is another “hot spot” in town. It is a local pizza restaurant located downtown. Some of their most popular items are their chicken bits, cheese sticks, bu alo wings and their R. Grotto nuggets. eir seasonal pumpkin spice cheesecake has also made a return as of late. During homecoming and prom season, B.A.S.H and R Grotto’s are packed with students.

Junior Alyssa Malmassari at downtown Jerimiah Joe

Pictured above is Senior Karcin Hagi participating in a friendly latte art throwdown. Photo Credit Jeremiah Joe Co ee – Facebook.

Liam Tipple’s Music Gigs

Senior Kendra Martin

Good music meets good food. Stop by Rosatti’s around dinnertime and you might just see senior Liam Tipple strumming his guitar and singing away. Tipple has performed at seven gigs so far: four by himself, two with Robin Taylor and one featured with graduate Christina Eltrevoog.

Tipple started playing music in band class in fourth grade. His music taste was in uenced by his parents, and as he grew up, he formed his own “instrumental voice.” Tipple said, “I’m in uenced most by Bob Dylan. I feel a strong attraction to that musical independence that he has.” Tipple will perform anything he can play with one instrument but mostly plays folk and folk rock. He plays a lot of Bob Dylan and Hozier songs.

At his performances, he carries with him two acoustic guitars and an electric guitar. “I usually base half of my performance on electric and the other half acoustic,” Tipple said. Along with performing outside of school, Tipple also is involved

Senior Liam Tipple playing a music gig at Rosatti’s. Photo credit Liam Tipple.

A Need to Read Junior Sarah McGrath

Have you ever hoped to have a place to talk about your current read?

If so, the Book Club may be just what you need. e club takes place in the library and is hosted by Librarian Kelley Getzelman. For one ursday a month until the end of the year students can come in at 7:30 a.m. and have engaging conversations about the books they are reading. Students are given a safe space to interact and show their passion without having to worry about it taking up too much of their time. To sign up, all you need to do is use code @ottawabook on Remind.

Getzelman said her favorite part about book club is the interactive and positive environment it brings. She enjoys “seeing how excited the students are to discuss what book they are reading. I also love when they start giving recommendations to other students.” ere

in the school band. He plays the trumpet in concert and pep band, and the bass in jazz band.

Tipple really enjoys playing music, especially for people. “I like it when I start to play, and I see people’s eyes perk up because they know the song. at song might impact that person in a positive way even if it’s just for a few minutes or just for that night,” Tipple said. He would love to be able to support himself with his music but plans to get a degree in education and continue to play small gigs whenever he can for extra income.

Tipple is well supported by not only family but his friends as well. “ ere’s always a nice atmosphere wherever he plays and he’s obviously excited about the gigs he gets to do. He’s super talented, and it’s so cool to be there and watch him play,” senior eo Downey said.

were about ve or six students who showed up to the rst meeting of the year.

“I joined it because I like reading and talking about books,” junior Evelyn Clayton said. Students can join just because they have a simple passion. is book club is a special way to step back from everything you’re used to with school reading. “It’s a safe and encouraging space to share whatever you’re reading, and you can read anything you want,” Getzelman said. Instead of treating it like an assignment, this club provides so much freedom and doesn’t have restrictions that complicate it. If you decide to become a part of this club, you will be welcomed into a place of meaningful conversations and the joy that can sprout from discussing the things you love.

Students particapate in morning book club in the library.

Sweater Weather

Molly Etscheid

As the months keep getting colder, we have to start thinking about our fall clothing. And I do not mean standing on a beach in California, as the song “Sweater Weather” by e Neighborhood suggests. I mean putting your hands in the holes of a sweater and maybe, possibly wearing some high-waisted shorts, as the song says.

Most people want to be trendy or t in to the current popular styles. We all know the popular places to buy clothes online, but what about what you can get here in town to stay on top of the fall trends?

A er talking to a few students in Kellee Granados’s fashion class, they said that they think annels, oversized shirts, baggy jeans and sweater vests will continue to trend, and the popular color will be brown. ey suggested that the popular places to shop around town are Target, Kohls, Walmart and Goodwill.

Senior Savanna Rogers loves to shop at Goodwill. She says her favorite things to buy are “sweater vests, oversized sweatshirts, or anything previously loved.”

“Vogue” has also released some popular trends for this fall, which are very similar to things other students have said. ese trends include messenger bags, leather blazers, white t-shirts and platform combat boots. ey also suggest white t-shirts and skirts over pants.

e Heartbreak Album

Senior Emma Coss

Students know her all too well; Taylor Swi is nothing new. In 2021, she released two throwback albums back-to-back, including her newest release, “Red (Taylor’s Version).” e album has 30 songs and has a listening time of about 2 hours and 11 minutes, with 9 songs from the vault, a 10-minute version of “All Too Well” and a message from Taylor. Swi has once again outdone herself with this album.

As Swi has said herself in her “A Message from Taylor,” “Red (Taylor’s Version)” has equal parts tragedy and euphoria wrapped up into one album. e album has features including Ed Sheeran, Phoebe Bridgers, Gary Lightbody, and Chris Stapleton.

e rst day “Red (Taylor’s Version) was released, it gained over 90.8 million streams on Spotify. Tracks like “All Too Well,” “ e Last Time,” “Red” and “I Almost Do” do a great job at tugging on the heart strings of their listeners. While tracks like “22,” “We Are Never Getting Back Together,” “Stay Stay Stay” and “Message In A Bottle” have an upbeat vibe to them. e album wonderfully captures a heartbroken individual. It captures the roller coaster of emotions that come with heartbreak. Tragedy and euphoria build on each other throughout the album.

“Nothing New,” featuring Phoebe Bridgers, touches on the relationship between the music industry and young women, hence why Swi asked Bridgers to duet, since she herself is a young woman in the music industry. Swi ’s 10-minute version of “All Too Well” adds more depth to the wrecked relationship behind the song. e added verses give new complexity to the song, and the shi s in the song give the song a whole new light. Her storytelling through her lyrics is truly a gi .

Personally, “Red (Taylor’s Version)” is one of my favorite albums of Swi ’s. Senior Ben Domoleczny, a fellow “swi ie” says, “It just perfectly captures how it feels to have your heart broken. It goes through the whole cycle.”

If you are going through a breakup, make sure to add this album to your playlist. If you are not going through a breakup, then you should add it to your playlist anyway because it is worth a listen, of course, along with all her other albums.

Seniors Faith Love and Ben Domoleczny show of their “Vogue” fashion by wearing combat boots, a leather blazer, a white t-shirt and a brown neutral sweater.

Swi ’s “Red (Taylor’s Version)” album cover.

GSA and Feminists for Change

Junior Lilli Warrner

If you’re looking for a modern club at school and to help others outside of school, then try GSA and Feminists for Change, both sponsored by social studies teacher Tracey O’Fallon.

GSA stands for Gender and Sexualities Alliance. ey are an activities support group for the LGBTQ+ and allies so people on and o the campus have a better understanding. “ e GSA will acknowledge the diversity of individuals regarding sexual orientation and embrace the diversity,” O’Fallon said.

GSA has been at the school for a while now but is getting more attention as the years go on. is year there are a dozen students participating. During the year they hold di erent events such as Suicide Prevention Walk in October, Queer Friendsgiving, Drag Prom in the late April and more.

“I like the welcoming space we make for everyone, regardless of sexuality or gender identity,” senior Faith Love, one of the team leaders, said. GSA meets every Wednesday at 7:30 in Room 610.

Feminists for Change is for “ e Advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes,” O’Fallon said. In this club they have some things they want to accomplish together like doing debates, discussions, protest and more.

e activities they will do are holding a meeting at a women run business in November, visit a woman-run businesses in November or December and make their own t-shirts from sweatshop-free vender or a female-owned business. Feminists for Change meets every ursdays at 7:30 in Room 610

Print and ll out the following crossword puzzle and turn into Lisa Kerestes in Room 519 for a prize.

Fun Fall Crosword

Students in Leah Kuhn’s 3D design class start to work on animal sculptures. With the same approach as artist Will Kurtz, the students are surfacing the sculptures with newspaper.

Book of the Month

Senior Molly Etscheid

Murder mysteries are all around us, but this one is a little close to what some may call our home away from home (aka school). “One of Us Is Lying” is a mystery book by Karen McManus that keeps everyone guessing. is book is perfect for those of us who are wanting to be detectives.

“One of us is lying takes place in a high school, and the opening scene is in detention . . . It just hooks you right from the beginning,” librarian Kelley Getzelman said. “Five students go in detention and only four come out. So, from the get-go, you know one of them is lying to you.”

Sophomore Kayla Doty said she saw this book all over TikTok and decide to check it out from our library. She liked that it was “not predictable” and “kept her guessing.” is book was released in 2017, and due to its popularity, the author released a second book in 2020 titled, “One of Us Is Next.” is book is a continuation of the rst book and takes place a year later.

Doty has also read the second book, which she said, “Is not as good.”

ere is word that McManus is working on a third book that may be released in 2023. However, if you are not into books, you are in luck. ey have also turned it into a television show on Peacock. It may also be coming to Net ix sometime in the future.

“I have four copies of the book, and they are always checked out. I even have one in Spanish that is always checked out,” Getzelman said. is book is de nitely hard to get so make sure to email Getzelman in the library to pick up your copy or even the sequel.

Day shows her heifer named Winnie at the DuQuoin State Fair. Photo credit Sierra Day.

FFA with Miss Day

Senior Kendra Martin

e FFA has a new adviser, and she ts right in. Originally from Cerro Gordo, a small town about two hours south of Ottawa, Sierra Day has always made agriculture a part of her life. Day participated and was regularly active in the FFA throughout all four years of her high school education. Along with her FFA experience, Day has also been showing heifers competitively her entire life. “I enjoy the competitive nature and how it developed me as a person,” Day said.

Prior to taking on the role of the new agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, Day was a journalist in the agricultural eld. Day decided to take on this new job because she wanted to be more directly involved in education, and her experience in the FFA moved her to do so. So far, she is enjoying it. “ ere’s up and down days. I’m overall fortunate about the students who are willing to learn in my classes.” Junior Emily Sibert said, “Basic Ag Science is my favorite class because Ms. Day is passionate about what she teaches, which makes her class enjoyable.”

From being in the FFA herself and having that experience, she has high hopes for this year’s team. “I would really like to double our numbers and bring home some awards.”

Play Preview

Senior Audrey Woodyer

Lights, curtains, action. is year’s play is “Frozen JR” so “Let it go” and enjoy the show. A er ve years of not being able to do a musical because of COVID and how expensive they are, they’re nally back. is fall play is the second to last one for director Sue Williamson, a er nearly 40 years of directing plays. Auditions were held right a er Labor Day. e roles were decided partially based on vocal range, “I can sing but I couldn’t sing most of those songs. at’s why we have them sing for auditions,” Assistant Director Sally Taliani said.

“Frozen JR” is rumored to be the best play they’ve put on and will outshine the ones from before, “With all the little kids and little girls that came to see the play last year for the princesses, I can only imagine how they’ll feel to get to meet Elsa and Anna,” Taliani said. So if you have younger siblings or know someone who does, invite them to dress up as princesses and princes and get pictures with Elsa and Anna.

Senior Corinne Francis as Anna and sophomore Molly Ewen as Elsa are dedicated to doing their best to make the play live up to its expectations. Choir director Ali Stachowicz will assist with vocal rehearsals. e play is showing in the auditorium Nov. 18 and 19. All are welcome and encouraged to bring a friend and come show support to our hardworking theater kids.

Taken from behind the scenes of play pratice for the fall play. Photo credit Corrine Francis.

Homecoming Homage

Senior Kyra Mitchell poses side by side with science teacher Julie Mantzke. Photo credit Kyra Mitchell

Pirate Pride

Senior Audrey Woodyer

Move out of the way, the Pirates are coming through. Junior and Senior football players joined together on a oat to celebrate the homecoming parade on Tues, Sep. 21 downtown at Washington Park, ending in front of the school. e homecoming parade was to celebrate the fall sports and give recognition to them along with our homecoming court. Although it started to rain, it didn’t stop our cheerful Pirate spirit.

A group of seniors at a photoshoot before homecoming. Photo credit Michaela Froisland.

A group of students posing outside of Cracker Barrel on homecoming evening. Photo credit Lilli Warrner

A group of sophmore girls pose for the camera while someone photo-bombs them. Photo credit Lisa Kerestes.