Pirate Press_September 2023 (Vol. 10, Issue 1)

P IRATE PRESS

September 2023

Homecoming

Sophmore Brooklyn Byone

Red and White make Pink! If you loved the”Barbie” movie as much as the fashion industry did, you will surely enjoy this year’s Homecoming theme.

With the growing popularity of the “Barbie” movie, and the color pink, student council decided that “Barbie” would be a good theme for the 2023 Homecoming Dance. While some may love the theme, others may not.

Some students are a little skeptical about the Barbie theme. “It’s pretty basic and boring, and I feel like the dress up days themes don’t really match Barbie,” sophomore Diego Martinez said.

Although the theme is “Barbie,” the student council tried to make the themes for dress up week more universal and not directly related to “Barbie.”

“We like to make the week all inclusive, especially when choosing our dress up days. We want them to be fun but easy for all to participate,” Student Council Director Kellee Granados said.

Many local schools are also serving pink with their homecoming themes, so not only has the “Barbie takeover” reached OHS, it is also catching the attention of schools all over the country.

According to Andersons Blog, “The release of the new Barbie movie has sparked an entire Barbiecore trend, which means pink will be the color of choice for many Barbie-inspired Homecoming dance themes this year.”

Although it isn’t required, many students, including me are sticking to the traditional pink for Homecoming attire.

“I’m wearing pink, and so far I think I’ve heard of about five other girls just on the Poms team who are also wearing pink,” junior Maggie Kidder said.

It is clear that Barbie’s impact is continuing to affect us all even months after the movie’s release.

Lime Green for Michael Junior Maddie Kerestes

Step into my bow-tique. Senior Pirate Pom Melanie Stisser ties a lime green ribbon in sophomore Pirate Pom Maya Martin’s hair while getting ready for the first home football of the season. In support of senior Michael Mills after his diagnosis with lymphoma, OHS Pirate Poms tied lime green bows into their hair. Other student organizations such as Superfans, Cheerleading, and the visiting team, Streator, student section also decked out in lime green. Senior Melanie Stisser said, “I was happy to see so many people in the community show up and support Micheal for the first game.”

PINK PINK PINK. Since the new Barbie movie was released, the fashion industry has experienced a great change in the demand for pink. Stores all across the world have been filling their displays with all shades of the famous color.

Photo credit: coroflot.com

Meet the Staff

Sarah McGrath is a senior and is currently editor for the “Pirate Press.” She loves to read, write, and listen to music. After she graduates she is planning to attend a four-year college and major in English.

Writers

Felicity Johnson is a sophomore who spends the majority of her time with the people she loves. She enjoys listening to music, playing piano and exploring the outdoors. She plans on getting a degree in Mass Communications and traveling as much as she can.

Brooklyn Byone is a sophomore and a member of the tennis and soccer teams. Her hobbies include baking, playing sports and watching lots of movies. She plans to travel all around the country then visit other countries. She loves to be outside and spend time with family and friends.

Maddie Kerestes is a junior and a member of the Pirate Poms. She also dances outside of school at Adagio School of the Performing Arts. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and crocheting. After high school she plans to attend a four-year university and graduate school to become a lawyer.

Ava Laury is a senior who loves Journalism but also likes to channel her creativity into many other forms of art. Her primary hobbies are drawing, painting, baking, listening to music and design. She also enjoys writing poems, with the hopes of potentially publishing them one day. She has plans to go to IVCC to study writing, design or photography and will then transfer to a university.

Evan Spencer is a senior and member of the bowling team whose hobbies include playing the guitar, gaming, and listening to music. He currently works at Pine Hills and really enjoys spending time with his band. He plans on working at Excelon.

Kira Wheeler is a junior whose hobbies include baking, swimming and reading. She currently works at Johnny’s Old Fashion Ice Cream. She also loves helping people, and she hopes she can do something about that in the future.

Sarah McGrath

Felicity Johnson

Maddie Kerestes

Ava Laury

Brooklyn Byone

Evan Spencer

Kira Wheeler

Artist of the Month: Christian Gray Senior Evan Spencer

There are many talented student musicians in the world but when it comes to senior Christian Gray he is gifted. Gray has been playing drums for 6 years, but it wasn’t always that way. When Gray was younger, he always wanted to play the drums, but his parents put him into sports. Sports did not take Gray’s mind off of wanting to play the drums.

For many years he asked to play the drums until finally his parents, Misty and Ken Gray, bought him a beginner electric drum set. Gray’s drum teacher, Randy Noy, is great support for him and the very same person who taught him his talents. Gray has been taking lessons with Noy for 6 years..

Currently, Gray plays for the band Zodiac Rose. Other members include junior Lindsey Fabris, senior Evan Spencer and OHS alumn Keegan Arthur. They play more grunge and pop punk music. They are mainly a cover band, but they also wrote a song named “Fire Driver.” Fabris said, “Christian is one of the most passionate drummers I have seen. He truly loves messing with them.”

Misty is proud of what he has become and glad he picked up the drums. She is always helping with buying him new gear and carrying it around with him. The band is also great support for him. Gray said, “Whenever I’m drumming, the whole world falls away and I slip into a zone where I’m not worried about anything. I believe everyone needs something like that, where they are in their own little space, almost another universe. Unfortunately, most people never find that thing, I’m just glad that I have.”

Gray plans on taking a different approach to his future than music. He wants to go to college to become a nuclear engineer so he can work at Excelon. Still, he will have his drum set with him and maybe even play some gigs in his free time.

Gray’s passion for the drums is something that is truly amazing. With how much practice and drum sticks he’s been through, it’s no question that he won’t quit. Congratulations to Christian Gray for being chosen as the Artist of the Month, and good luck to him with his talents.

Photo credit: HR Imaging

Athlete of the Month: Brooklyn Byone

Junior Maddie Kerestes

Though “love” means the same as “nothing” when keeping score in tennis, the love that sophomore Brooklyn Byone has for tennis cannot be described as the same. Byone is new to the tennis world, having only started the sport last year. “My freshman year was the first time I’d ever touched a racket, and I just fell in love,” Byone said. This tale of Byone finding great success in a new sport is becoming less and less common. The “Washington Post” explains that as athletes get into high school, the environment of playing a sport becomes much more competitive and selective to the point where many students choose not to play because of the pressure that comes with playing a sport. However, Byone rose to this challenge and, in only her second year ever playing, is now number one singles for girls JV tennis. Her accomplishments were not won without merit though. Byone says she works hard at practice and puts in a lot of her own time outside of practice as well. Her dedication is not lost on her coach Tracey O’Fallon who said, “Brooklyn has done a great job for us at number 1 singles. She has improved so much from last year and her confidence has grown. I’m so proud of her!”

It’s not all work and no play though, Byone says she gets to play with a fun group of people with a good team dynamic. After high school, Byone hopes to continue her newfound passion by playing in college or just for fun.

Christian Gray poses for his senior photos.

Photo credit: Samantha Elizabeth

Strike a pose. Sophomore Brooklyn Byone poses for her individual portrait for fall sports. Byone has just begun her second season on the girls tennis team.

Photography Practice

Senior Ava Laury

Picture this! On Sept. 14, Kevin Olesen’s Photography classes went on a walk for their first shooting assignment outside of the school. The students practiced their observational photography skills and got creative searching for shapes by the river, as one student is shown doing here. “It was definitely a great learning experience,” a senior student said. “I got to experiment with lighting and exposure in a setting where we could better explore our surroundings.” They have been preparing for assignments like this by working to determine proper camera settings, filters and formats based on location.

First Place Medal

Sophmore Brooklyn Byone

Crushing it! Freshman tennis player Caitlyn Trettenero receives a medal for first place in #2 singles bracket. Trettenero won all three matches at the OHS Red & White Invite on Sept. 9. “I love just playing tennis and talking to people. Tennis has led me to meeting new people and making more friends. I will continue throughout high school so I can get a scholarship,” Trettenero said.

Farm Progress Show

Sophmore Felicity Johnson

HANDS ON. The FFA recently attended the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, IL. This is a show that presents the newest changes in farm technology and products by letting attendees see and experience things first hand. “I find it so valuable for students to really see how much input and cost goes into this type of career and lifestyle. The Farm Progress Show allows for a real-life experience to see what farming is all about and if it may be a path members want to take,” Agriculture Teacher & FFA Adviser Sierra Walter said.

Photo credit: Sierra Walter.

Photo credit: Tracey O’Fallon

Popular Books

Senior Ava Laury

For avid readers, choosing the next book they want to read may involve many factors, as there are various options. From dystopian novels to lighthearted short stories, there seems to be something for any reader to enjoy.

Because of the plethora of options available and the different demographics for each of them, there are some questions raised about what novels other students have read and enjoyed.

This curiosity resulted in an exchange with librarian Kelley Getzelman, who was able to provide the most borrowed books across the school. These books have been compiled into a list with the most popular titles listed first. This list includes stand-alone titles and book series, as both seem to be equally popular.

“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas

“The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han

“One of Us is Lying” by Karen M. McManus

“A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas

“Heartstopper” by Alice Oseman

“The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han

Photo credit: Amazon.com

“One of Us is Lying” by Karen M. McManus

Photo credit: popgoesthereader.com

Out of the options listed, “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas has been the most read. As described by Barnes and Noble, it is “an important and timely novel that reflects the world today’s teens inhabit … Thomas boldly tackles topics like racism, gangs, police violence, and interracial dating.” This book has been reviewed incredibly positively and is regarded as “topical and necessary” by critics. It will appeal to people who are interested in a well-written novel about overcoming the prevalent issue of discrimination in society.

Someone who is looking for a series may enjoy “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas, as it has received a multitude of positive reviews. The fantasy series’ highest praise comes from senior Eternity Biggs, who has said, “The ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ series is, by far, my favorite series. I read the first book in about a day and was immediately obsessed. The book brought everything together really nicely and kept me on the edge of my seat.”

Another series that students have raved about is “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han, which is unique in that it has its own Prime Video show. Senior Emily Sibert said, “I really enjoyed the show, which made me read the book. The book was even better than the show and told more.”

Some of the most popular authors include Colleen Hoover and Stephen King, with students recommending the books “Never Never” by Colleen Hoover and “It” by Stephen King.

Recommendations from other authors include “Unwind” by Neal Shusterman, “All These Things I’ve Done” by Gabrielle Zevin, and various pieces by Ali Hazelwood.

As we are entering the fall months, if staying inside with a book and a cozy blanket has been sounding more appealing, these beloved titles are ones to consider.

A student is shown enjoying the space and reading a book from the “Heartstopper” series

“TheHateUGive”byAngieThomas Photo credit:Amazon.com

The “Heartstopper” series by Alice Oseman

Photo credit: Amazon.com

Managing School and a Job

Junior Kira Wheeler

As students get older, they realize life changes, and they have more responsibility. Moving from a seven hour hour school day to work can feel exhausting and annoying, like they are living the same day over again. Some students forget to do their homework because of work or because they are too tired and procrastinate.

Statics say that just over thirty percent of high school students have jobs. “The New York Times” noted, “kids today are already under too much pressure, they argued, their time better spent studying, doing extracurricular activities they enjoy, and more important being with friends and family.” It’s not easy for all teens, though, as some need jobs to cover costs such as gas or car insurance.

Having a job does show teens more responsibility and prepares them for the future. Also, growing up plays a big role in taking care of yourself. Teens should have jobs because it gives them experience for when they look for other jobs. On the plus side, not all jobs make you work so many hours. Junior Selene Woodard said, “I only work on weekends, so I have enough time managing homework and my job.” Students could control their hours so they don’t feel overwhelmed and tired.

Working gives teens a sense of how life will work for them. If they have bills to pay, this will help them save their money and know that responsibility will come with adulthood. More benefits of high school students working is that low-income jobs requrie little to no education, which shows students that to earn a good living, school is essential. It also teaches the value of money, given that some students are used to parents buying things for them.

It’s very stressful for teens to keep ahead in their schoolwork because of their job. It requires students to be on a strict schedule. Working and being in school can seem tiring, but there are ways to make it easier. Students could put a reminders on their phones or write things down in their planners. They could also add a study hall to their schedule so they have more time to get their work done. Truly it is about all the amount of stress one can handle and how comfortable they feel about school and a job. Junior Billie Partridge said, “Juggling between work and school can be pretty stressful and difficult to maneuver around, being that I work five days a week. Although it is difficult, it is important that students are flexible and ready for change. It only prepares you for your future and it is better to learn younger that way you’re ready for whatever life throws at you.” Most students do see the importance of having a job, which will improve their life. It’s different for most students, but in the end, they are getting where they need to be, and that’s all that matters.

Why Students Should Read the “Pirate Press”

Junior Maddie Kerestes

Senior David Scott at a job site installing pools “working in one hundred degree weather to make sure people have their pools in this heat is worth it.”

Many students at Ottawa Township High School don’t even know they have a school newspaper, let alone read it, which is truly a shame. Students would reap many benefits from exposure to journalism run by fellow students, including improved reading skills, relationships with other students and school spirit.

In an age when, according to NPR, “journalism is becoming a do-it-yourself enterprise,” specifically through social media, it is increasingly important that young people be able to distinguish between formal journalism and fervent social media posts. Newspapers also serve as platforms for the exchange of ideas and the formation of freethinkers through exposure to different events and opinions, that they would not have any contact with without that newspaper. The “Pirate Press” brings people together in this way of idea cultivation and inner school relationships.

Former editor of the “Pirate Press,” from the class of 2014, Lexi Landis said, “School newspapers, especially high school newspapers, serve an incredibly important role in high school communications. While information typically comes from administration or faculty, school newspapers provide a really important outlet to get actual students’ views on a lot of different topics. Let’s face it–students make up the vast majority of the high school population, and their voices deserve to be heard as well. Having a school paper positively impacts student relations by bringing them together and allowing them a voice.”

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Past editions of the OTHS newspaper go back as far as 1941. The current editions of the “Pirate Press” are now 100 percent digital.

The “Pirate Press” has something for everyone in the school and will increase school pride on a larger scale than just recognition of sporting events that often are seen as the main form of school spirit. There are a multitude of extraordinary people and events at OTHS, and by reading the “Pirate Press,” students come to truly understand just how amazing OTHS students and staff are. Check out the “News Tribune” website or Pirate Nation social media for the monthly edition of the “Pirate Press.”

Growing Popularity of AI

Senior Ava Laury

What if you could simply add fragments of ideas into a program and it could generate a complete thought or image for you at the click of a button?

This may have been a dream in the minds of some tech-ori ented people only a handful of years ago, but presently, this is our reality. Numerous applications are being designed to generate endless amounts of media such as stories, art and even photos. With an array of sources to search through, these AI technologies look for key words in prompts to put out what they determine to be the perfect result for the task at hand.

The way this software obtains data is similar for most programs, and there appear to be some complexities in the pro cess. The laboratory that has created ChatGPT openly displays the purpose of this AI on their website, stating that their mission is for their research to “eventually lead to artificial general intelligence, a system that can solve human-level problems.”

There are mixed opinions on this subject matter, many of which come from the younger generations who are beginning to enter the workforce.

Currently, the most common consensus seems to emphasize the potential of AI. Senior Gwynn Eisert said, “I think AI can be helpful, especially for art. AI generated programs can be used as inspiration for artists and animators so they can keep coming up with new ideas.”

However, the downfalls of the current state of AI have not gone unnoticed. “Some of the art that is generated can be cool, but I’m scared it will cause future art to lose its creativity,” Eisert said. “I know some of the other apps like ChatGPT concern people because they may be used to cheat, but I feel like you could tell that is not their work. The AI art, to me, feels more like a threat because it has the potential to take jobs from artists.”

Generative AI is among the most used right now, with art generators such as Dall-E and writing aids such as ChatGPT. AI even comes with phones in the form of search engines such as Google Assistant or Siri. These applications can offer more complex outputs depending on the amount of information taken in over time.

AI is currently on the rise and, according to Grand View Research, is expected to see a yearly growth rate of 37.3 percent within the next seven years. Only time will tell how much it could be capable of.

REACHING OUT. The A.L.I.C.E. training presentation is given each year to remind students what to do if there is ever an intruder in the building. The counselors often meet in the auditorium during PEP with students to inform them of resources provided and safety procedures.

Mental Health of Students

Sophmore Felicity Johnson

One out of ten students at Ottawa Township High School said that their mental health has declined since starting high school. While the school makes heavy efforts to provide resources to students regarding their mental health, are they being helpful?

Anxiety among students is currently worse than ever. Or is it? The counselors here believe that students’ anxiety isn’t getting worse, it’s just becoming less stigmatized, so more students are sharing that they are struggling.

“I do believe that anxiety has always been one of the biggest challenges that students face, but I do think that what’s changed recently is that students are a lot more open about it,” Michelle Schoolman, junior class counselor, said.

Our school cares greatly about the well-being of students, and that shows through all of their provided resources and efforts to have available options for everyone. If you feel like there is something missing or the school isn’t doing enough, you’re in luck.

The school was recently awarded a mental health grant for the next five years. With this money they are planning on bringing new programs to the school.

“One of the things that we’re going to be doing is providing a speaker every semester that will be geared towards mental health that all students will have the opportunity to see,” Schoolman said.

In addition to bringing in more speakers, the school is also planning on adding more outside resources and weekly videos called “WORTH” that will be shown during PEP and will present different topics on mental health.

“I’m super excited to see what it looks like and the supports that are going to be put in place because of it,” Jennifer Rios, freshman class counselor, said.

GENERATING THE NEXT GENERATION. OpenAI is the AI research facility responsible for creating ChatGPT, with its logo being depicted here. This program’s primary purposes are refining documents and creating data. It is one of the most popular AI software, with its latest figures showing over 100 million users.

It is nice to see our school taking extra steps to ensure that their students’ needs are being well met.

“I feel like a lot of people struggle with talking about their mental health, so hearing other people tell their stories and share their struggles will most likely help the students who have a hard time with it,” sophomore Josie Donahue said.

Seniors’

Last Year Sophmore Brooklyn Byone

Early Graduation? Not for the class of 2024. Most seniors have chosen to stay and prolong their high school experience. They wish to stay invested for as long as possible and participate in school events. Experiencing their last year for prom, student sections, sports, Fine Arts, clubs and social gatherings has kept seniors involved in the school.

There have also been a lot of firsts for what is supposed to be the last year of high school. Students are branching out during their senior year and trying new sports and clubs. Many seniors are looking forward to this year to connect with each other and soak in high school. “I have enjoyed doing Fine Arts a lot and encourage as many people to sign up for it, regardless of their anxieties; trust me, it gets easier,” senior Nicholas Hamilton said. Memories are an important part of high school, and they connect students together over shared experiences. Senior Melanie Kaminski said, “My favorite memory from high school is when the Pirate Poms were competing at sectionals. We went out, then danced our absolute best, and the result from our dancing led us to the IHSA State Finals that coming week. Not only was it rewarding, but it made me realize that without Ottawa High School, I would have never met these girls, let alone be able to experience such a reward with them.”

Senior Counselor Lauren Yates stated that almost all seniors are decided on what path they want to go down and future schooling plans. A lot of seniors are interested in going into the trades, to IVCC or going to IVCC for a couple years before transferring to a 4-year school. They are moving forward with their lives while holding onto what the school has given them. Advice from Yates to the graduating class: “To trust their gut, to trust their heart, to trust their head, and that they are capable of doing more than they think they can. They survived a high school experience that was highly affected by the pandemic, so if they could find their way through this, they can find their way through anything life throws at them.”

This year isn’t over yet. In fact, it’s barely just begun. It will go by fast, but the experiences will last a lifetime. Every student should cherish their memories but still look towards the future so they can grow. Good Luck class of 2024.

The levee photo and Senior Sunrise are important traditions to continue to connect seniors. Senior Caroline Cooney said, “It was fun to catch up and it was a great way to start my morning with my class.”

Photo credit: Erin Byrd.

Photo credit: bwrsd.org