Talisman vol 54 iss 3 January 31,2019

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TALISMAN a student-edited newspaper

Mr./Ms. Irish dance and pageant raise money page 2 American sign language Sheldon High School

stop bullying vol. 54│iss. 3│January 31, 2019

2 January 31, 2019

Mr. and Ms. Irish

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Mr. and Ms. Irish Kaelyn Knapp staff writer This is the Mr. and Ms. Irish Pageant’s 27th year and people are still excited and eager to be a part of it. The pageant consists of eight couples, and many coordinators, who volunteer their time to help raise money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Students choose to be a part of this pageant for many different reasons.

Junior Mikayla Riley, the junior coordinator for Mr. and Ms. Irish, chose to be a part of this pageant because of the personal connection she has with the NICU. “My Dad was premature. Our best friend’s daughter had birth complications and had to be rushed to the NICU. A lot of people whom I am close with had a connection with the NICU so it makes it closer to home and more personal. I know that raising this money will help people and can even change their lives like it did mine.”

Not only does the pageant help an amazing cause, but it helps students build friendships with one another.

This year the couples were chosen at random. Many of the contestants have said that they wouldn’t have taken the time to get to know their partner if it weren’t for the

Pictures of Mr. and Ms. Irish contestants perform at the Winter Assembly.

A group picture of Mr. and Ms. Irish contestants and coordinators. Photo courtesy of Kaelyn Knapp

Photos by Carsten Konyn

pageant. They have done many fun things together as a group. Riley said that her favorite activity was caroling and the sleepover because everyone was able to bond and get closer.

Senior Kaitlynn Hubbard is partnered with senior Owen Montoya in this year’s pageant. Hubbard said, “The best part about my partner Owen, is that he’s super helpful and we can bounce ideas off each other and he allows me to relax, because I get super stressed over everything, and he’s just goofy and funny and makes me laugh when I’m overwhelmed.” Hubbard has had the opportunity to create new friendships and learn more about herself and how to work well with others. Although it’s a huge time commitment, Hubbard is excited to be a part of something so life changing.

Senior Kheilan Kussalanant is another contestant in this year’s pageant.

Kussalanant has loved having the opportunity to earn money for the NICU while having fun with his friends. If given the option he’d choose to be a part of the pageant again: “I’d definitely do Mr. and Ms. Irish again because it has been a very rewarding experience so far and I have met some great people - best of all DJ Cobwebb.” Kussalanant agrees with Hubbard that Mr. and Ms. Irish is a big time commitment, but the fun he has had and the lives that can be saved because of their hard work makes it all worth it.

Environment

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Staff who ride bikes to school

January 31, 2019

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Madelynn Guistwite staff writer

Many teachers ride their bikes to school, including English teacher Andrew Cabrera. Cabrera has been riding his bike for eight years. Cabrera decided to start riding his bike when he “figured out how to keep a change of clothes at work.”

Cabrera bikes six miles to work and it takes him around thirty minutes.

“When it is raining too much or if I’m running late, I will drive to work.”

Cabrera has rain gear for biking in light rain, but he does not ride to work if it is pouring.

Librarian Kori Kunz also rides her bike to school because she “loves to get outside.” She also rides because it’s good for the environment. Kunz considers herself an environmentalist. She has been riding her bike for seven years and only drives when it is pouring rain. She bikes four miles to work and it takes her around fifteen to twenty minutes. Kunz began riding her bike because she feels it is a very pleasurable way to get around.

Campus supervisor Darren Henry began riding his bike to school when he was twenty years old. He began riding because gas was too expensive. Henry doesn’t ride his bike when the roads are icy or the ground is frozen; otherwise, he always rides his bike. Henry bikes five miles and it takes him around twenty-five minutes to get to work. One of his biggest reasons he rides his bike is for the environment, but he also rides for his health and enjoyment. When it rains Henry bikes in a rain jacket, pants, shoe covers, and a helmet cover. He even rides his bike to go grocery shopping and he can carry up to fifty pounds. Henry said, “When you ride your bike, your brain releases serotonin and other endorphins. Biking makes you happy and gives you an energized feeling.”

Mr.Bowden is on the bike that he rides to school.

Photo by Madelynn Guistwite

Should you use plastic straws, or other materials?

Anthony Crank staff writer Straws are apparently the next big epidemic. Some people want them gone so badly that they won’t go to certain restaurants just because those restaurants give them out. There are so many reasons why straws shouldn’t be used anymore that it almost seems like they should be replaced. It’s a waste of materials and it’s not needed to drink. Some people don’t like drinking out of restaurant cups because of their fear of the cup not being clean. However, there are many solutions. The easiest thing to do would be to change the material of the straws from plastic to something else. They can be changed to a ton of different things like: metal, glass, and bamboo. Those are just three of the options, but the list goes on.

Junior Max Blanchard said “I prefer to have a straw because of convenience, but I really appreciate some of the steps that restaurants are taking to improve the Earth. Restaurants should keep straws, but they shouldn’t give them out with every drink. They should give them out upon request.” He agrees that we should use the alternative options that aren’t plastic. He thinks that changing the material wouldn’t hurt anyone; it would only help them.

People still get to keep their straws and the Earth stays healthy.

Junior Emmalee Paul disagrees, however. She is a strong supporter of straws and thinks that all restaurants should keep them. Straws are a big deal to her and if a restaurant was to get rid of straws,

“It wouldn’t change my opinion of the restaurant, but I would bring my own straws to use because I don’t like drinking from restaurant cups.” She thinks that if the straws were to be replaced by a different material, that would be acceptable, just as long as they don’t get rid of them entirely.

Junior Brady Bowden said that straws shouldn’t go away because “it takes too much effort to drink from a cup.” He said that straws make life easier and he won’t have to do as much if he has them. He said he doesn’t oppose the idea of changing the material of straws which seems to be a very popular idea.

It seems like if straws get changed to metal, that can be used over again, everybody would keep their peace with having straws and the people who don’t like plastic being used can rest at ease knowing that the Earth has a brighter future staying cleaner.

Nhaya White is holding a metal straw.

Photo by Meghan McMahan

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January 31, 2019

In the Halls

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Are lockers relevant?

Zoelle Ranstad page editor

While lockers have been associated with middle schools and high schools for many years, their popularity is starting to decline. Going into junior high, getting your first locker can be an exciting coming-of-age moment and some students even go as far as personalizing their lockers with décor. Using a locker in middle school is often a mandatory safety precaution, but at Sheldon most students keep their backpacks with them at all times and a growing number of students don’t use their lockers at all. Freshman Samantha Curtiss has a locker but rarely uses it unless she has a heavy textbook with her. Curtiss doesn’t believe having a locker makes your school day easier and said, “It causes more stress, because you have less time to get to your next class.”

Some students don’t use a locker at all and prefer having everything they need with them all the time.

Sophomore Britney Solomon said that using a locker is “inconvenient and a waste of time.”

The only downside to not having a locker that Solomon

could think of was the literal constant heavy weight on her shoulders. Solomon said, “The weight of my bag makes my back hurt from all the textbooks in it.”

There is still a large number of students, however, who are in favor of lockers. Locker supporters include many athletes who have extra bags and equipment they need to store throughout the day. For example, junior Marissa Rinen uses her locker daily for cheer as well as sophomore Emma Hawley, who plays basketball for Sheldon’s junior varsity team.

Hawley frequently leaves her basketball bag in her locker and said, “Having a locker makes my day easier because I don’t have to carry all my stuff around.”

Overall, there are many different factors that could be argued in the debate of whether or not lockers are still a necessity at our high school.

Photo by Meghan McMahan

Sophomore Jenna Ward using her locker.

Freshmen gather in hallway Regan LaCoste staff writer

Senior Hunter Freeman has never seen or heard freshman talking bad about their own classmates standing in the middle of the hallway, but he doesn’t care enough about them to listen. Freeman finds it annoying when freshmen stand in the middle of the hallway, and said, “They are in the way of the flow of traffic.” Freeman also believes freshmen that stand in the middle of the halls make themselves easy targets for upper classmen to yell at them, and are a safety hazard in case of an emergency. Freeman understands that freshmen and students in general just want to socialize, but they need to do it out of the way of everyone trying to get to class.

Junior Nisha Karanam stated that freshmen know standing in the middle of the hallway is annoying, but they just don’t care. Karanam is a transfer from Carmel High School in Indiana, and she described her first week at Sheldon as different because upper classmen weren’t afraid to put lower classmen in their place. She has experienced students telling freshmen to move out of their way and to shut up. Karanam said, “Freshman stand in the middle of the hallway because they’re dumb.”

Junior Asia Walton has witnessed that right before lunch, upperclassmen go into the freshmen and shove them aside so they get out of their way. Walton thinks it’s the freshman’s “tea time.” where they talk about everything and everyone. Walton said, “Freshmen who go to class right away during break don’t have many friends. Ones that stay in the halls typically have friends.” She said that she thinks freshmen are obligated to stay in the halls with their friends because it might be considered weird if they don’t.

Walton finds it annoying that freshmen stand in the middle of the hall in the way of everyone, even if, they are just trying to fit in.

Photo by Meghan McMahan

Freshmen standing in the middle of the hallway.

Classes

The Talisman

January 31, 2019

Trimesters and semesters and quarters, oh my!

Desiree Angeles-Young page editor There are different schedules high schools use depending on what they feel fits best for their school. Sheldon has a trimester schedule, meaning there’s three different terms with five periods each. Other schools use alternative schedules, such as semesters, which is two terms per year with generally seven classes. A quarter schedule has 4 classes per term, usually rotating throughout the year with an ABC schedule. All these schedules work, but is one better than the others for our school as a whole? Students and teachers have their preferences for which one works best for them. Senior Eva Camacho said “I prefer trimesters, because that’s the only type of schedule I’ve ever had, so I can’t vouch for the success of the other schedules.”

Senior Bella Swan said, “I think having a quarter and rotating schedule would be better, because even though it might be confusing at first to be switching classes every day, it gives students more time for homework and studying time.

Also, you get more of a variety for classes.” A rotating schedule is typically

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with quarters, because it consists of A, B, C days where there’s 4 classes a day switching all week. A quarter and rotating schedule would definitely be a big change for Sheldon, but for students in the International High School program it wouldn’t seem that difficult to adjust to. In IHS, the students already have a rotating schedule for the whole year.

Camacho, who is in IHS, shares her opinion on this schedule: “For me personally I still get confused sometimes with our rotations in IHS, so I don’t think I’d like having it as my all day schedule.” Before the 3x5 schedule, Sheldon had a block schedule, which made classes a bit easier for teachers and students according to IHS teacher Josh Hamill.

Hamill said, “I prefer semesters overall because there’s more consistency with the classes and no gaps for classes as we do with trimesters or quarters. However, I’d rather have the block schedule back than what we have now, because for me being an IHS teacher where we rotate classes, it made it easier and less confusing for students.” He also explained that his perspective is probably different from regular teachers, because they don’t have the rotations of classes every day.

Something that Camacho, Swan and Hamill agreed on, is that they feel 70 minutes is a good amount of time for our classes, because it gives students more time to finish classwork and testing.

Though they do have different opinions for which schedule they prefer, it’s clear that no matter what schedule one chooses, there will be positive and negative aspects.

There would be benefits to having an ASL class Kayla Challburg staff writer Sheldon currently doesn’t offer a sign language class despite having deaf students. Having a sign language class could help Sheldon students communicate with people who have total or significant hearing loss. American Sign Language, also known as ASL, is a complete, complex language that is shown through visual gestures and signs, along with facial expressions and body movement. Sophomore Jaime Cook said, “It would be a good class to gain because there are people who struggle every single day with communicating in their communities. We should learn how to use sign language just as much as people use Spanish, French or Japanese.” According to www.nidcd.nih.gov, no one form of sign language is universal. Different sign languages are used in many countries or regions. For example, British Sign Language (BSL) is a different language from ASL. Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet created sign language and started a school for the deaf in 1817 in Paris, France. According to www. startasl.com, about 28 million Americans, around 10% of the population, have some form of hearing loss. Around two million of these people are classified as deaf. Sophomore Jailee Esperanza said, “Yeah, I think the deaf community would have a level of appreciation because we’d be able to communicate with them.”

Some people have described ASL and other sign languages as “gestural” languages. This isn’t exactly correct. Hand gestures are only one component of ASL. Facial features, such as eyebrow motion and lip-mouth movements as well as other factors such as body orientation are also significant in ASL as they form a crucial part of the grammatical system. Sophomore Lexi Zollman said, “I think we do have a language selection based on the majority spoken, which is good.” In the USA, American Sign Language is the fourth most commonly used language. The best way to learn ASL is to have it taught by someone of hearing loss.

For Junior Kerah Jackson, ASL is her life. It’s the way she communicates with the world. Jackson said, “It’s really important for adults to know if they have a deaf child, for them to be able to interact and communicate with them.” A child or adult can go deaf or hard of hearing at any age, or time.

Knowing sign language young can help you in the future if you have a deaf or hard of hearing child. Jackson also said, “Yeah [the deaf community] would enjoy seeing people interested in ASL. It would feel more comfortable talking to hard of hearing people.” It’s important to make everyone feel comfortable and learning someone’s main language and having interest in their language could really help people feel more comfortable.

Photo by Talisman staff Junior Kerah Jackson listening through an ASL translator.

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Hip

January 31, 2019

Matthew Burgess staff writer Digital Illustration by Lindsey Putnam

Sometimes in club meetings, there are competitions to win prizes. Some of the games are fishing related, like trying to hit something by casting a tennis ball into it.

Other games are classics like rock paper scissors. Bateman said, “There have been a variety of prizes like lures, candy, or even a glow-in-the-dark IFC keychain.

For bigger and more competitive games you could win an IFC t-shirt.”

The Irish Fishing Club is a club at Sheldon High School that has been around since 2014. It was established by now Oregon Duck quarterback Justin Herbert, and has been led by the same teacher, Mr. Wright, for all these years. “I’ve done it since 2014 because there is always an interest by students, and I like spending time with the people involved,” said Wright.

Wright’s nephew, who attends Coburg Charter, also joins in on some meetings. Some students think that they can’t come to meetings or join because they don’t know Wright or they don’t know any of the current members. “All students that have good character, respect, and care for the environment, and preserve the fishing spots for future generations are welcome to join,” said Wright.

Senior Patrick Herbert is the president of the Irish Fishing Club. He helps set up dates for meetings and helps Mr. Wright run them. He also helps with setting a good date for the annual fishing trip, so the greatest number of members can attend the trip. Another job Herbert does is helping Wright pick out what apparel to order and what to get put on the apparel. “Last year we went back to our traditional style IFC logo that is an ESPN type font and has a fishing lure in it,” said Herbert. In order to get an IFC t-shirt you must be a member and you can do one of two things.

You can fundraise enough money or you can buy it from Wright.

Senior Logan Bateman is a member of the Irish Fishing Club and attends almost every meeting. Bateman said, “The meetings are really fun. Everybody comes together in Mr. Wright’s room and talks about fishing and trying to plan fishing trips with the club. It is like a big family.” The club is trying to plan another trip to Florence, Oregon to go fishing in the ocean.

Photo by Matthew Burgess

Not a moment to spare Bowling has been around for hundreds of years, and within the last two it has made it to Sheldon. At the start of 2016, now junior Taylor Pickering started Sheldon’s bowling team during his freshman year. As to why he founded the team, he said, “I had a friend who I bowled with in the Junior League, and when I wanted to bowl in high school the only team available was at Thurston. So I founded a team here.”

If finding a team was a problem for Pickering he was sure it was a problem for other students and Pickering found a solution, starting the bowling team that would venture to state two years in a row.

Digital Illustration by Lindsey Putnam

IFC

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Bowling has a very positive environment, offering lots of friendships and coaches who can help you improve.

Like other sports, it is no walk in the park. Some tournaments are far away and require an early morning commute to attend. The team has to attend tournaments nearly every Sunday during the regular season, which stretches from September to February, and March

Nathan Byers page editor

is when State occurs. Sheldon’s team attends roughly 15-20 tournaments per season depending on the weather conditions.

The team is comprised of several students who have maximized their skills after being on the team for a short time.

Newcomers and old-timers alike, improve their skills regardless.

Students are determined to improve. Junior Ian Gilchrist is on the team and stated that his goal is, “To beat [his] highest scored game of 221 and have a fun time.” A number of students have exceptional high scores and average a score of over 200 and they continue to exceed expectations.

Many students on the team are tremendous bowlers with amazing goals. Junior John Bates has bowled a game where he scored 246 points, and he is inching his way towards the main goal of many bowlers alike. A ‘perfect game’ is sought after by nearly every competitive bowler. Like the term entails, you have to bowl flawlessly. Bates stated that his goal was to, “Bowl a 300. That’s everybody’s goal. The perfect game. A more reasonable goal though for me is always focusing on bowling the next strike.” Determined and unique in nature, bowlers share a common goal and are always looking to improve their game in search of that goal. With a positive environment and the right amount of dedication, our athletes will be able to achieve their dreams.

JV Bo

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Happening

January 31, 2019

Game attendance

owling Team

Carsten Konyn page editor

Some sports at Sheldon don’t get as many spectators as others might.

Despite the fact that many athletes enjoy racking up large amounts of fans - other student athletes couldn’t care less about such attendance rates. For example, sophomore golfer Emma Reposa likes that she doesn’t have too many people watching because lots of people would stress her out. Repose said, “It’s too much pressure to want to do better.” Only friends and family watch her games which is great for a relaxed environment for her and her golf team.

On the flipside, junior Elliot Gordon enjoys the masses of people watching her dance team. “It’s kinda like adrenaline; if you don’t have adrenaline to do something you, can’t do it well.” Spectators boost Gordon’s confidence, and she’s motivated to impress the crowd. Gordon loves everyone watching and would love to encourage even more attendance.

Some of the people who don’t get many spectators just don’t particularly care; they’d be fine if more people came but they aren’t complaining. Such as junior Ryan Duncan, who said he only gets a few handfuls of people watching his varsity soccer games. He wouldn’t mind if more people came to watch, but as he said, “I don’t care.” It wouldn’t matter to him and if more or less people came.

digital illustration by Lindsey Putnam

Varsity Bowling Team

photo Provided by Taylor Pickering

photo Provided by Taylor Pickering

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Events

January 31, 2019

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Boys basketball working hard Jacob Webb staff writer The boy’s basketball season is in full effect, and there is a lot of buzz around this year’s squad.

Seniors Jackson Tucker, Dominic McGarvey, and Patrick Herbert are the captains of this year’s Varsity team. The team got off to a slow start due to the fact that their football players were playing at the state championship game. Tucker said, “We missed our football guys at the start of the year, but we are now working together as a unit to get up to speed as fast as possible, and start giving quality opponents good efforts through four quarters.”

The Irish base a lot of their play off the McGarvey and Herbert. Tucker, the point guard, added how the team can always count on the pair to grab the rebounds and help push their offense to the

next level. But he also said how junior Dawson Prickel has helped push the squad to a new level due to his “sharpshooting.”

Head Coach Clark’s team competed in the Emerald Shootout tournament during the last week of school before winter break. He said the Irish are really starting to play to their full potential with the various underclassman. However, the biggest test for this year’s team is South Eugene, the big game is on February 7. Junior shooting guard, Ben Gittins claimed South has a really gifted point guard who is very tough to contain. “If we limit his chances with the ball in his hands, and force them to play with the ball in the hands of their other players, we will give ourselves a shot to win this game.”

During Coach Clark’s first year as coach for the Irish, his squad made it all the way to the state championship game. Clark said “We have the type of talent to duplicate a season like we had that year, it is just a matter of everyone buying in and wanting to achieve a common goal. We have to take everything game by game, practice by practice, dribble by dribble. And hopefully see our school’s name at the end of the bracket in a few months.”

Clark also made sure to shout-out the student section, praising how they help the Irish play better. “they make the atmosphere what it is”, explained Clark; “They do a good job distracting the opponent while not distracting us, and help motivate us to get a win.” Some of the main people who lead the student section this year at the home games are seniors Lauren Meyer and Owen Montoya.

Meyer said, “I just have so much Irish pride. I love watching my friends excel at their activities, and it’s fun social time too, being able to see people I don’t see at school a lot.” Meyer is known around the school for always being very energetic and being able to make people laugh. Montoya said, “I really like making up the themes and being able to decide what people are going to wear.

It’s also really fun to see all of us students get in the opposing player’s head. We all just feed off of each other and it’s always a really good time.”

Unity assembly Christien Ramirez staff writer

Photo by Carsten Konyn

Coach Clark watches his basketball team’s practice

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Here’s the scoop on the upcoming Unity assembly, which was originally scheduled for early February, but has been postponed until a later date which has yet to be determined. So, until the unity assembly actually happens, it’s still in the planning stages.

Now, for what’s happening at the unity assembly, according to campus supervisor Darin Henry, “Usually a silly and heartfelt film featuring students and staff.” There will also be plenty of students who are coming to speak and present. According to head secretary Selena Frazier, “There will be a number of students speaking and participating. They are speaking to share their knowledge on unity, equality, and civil rights.”

Some of you are probably thinking of skipping the assembly. Now listen here, these assemblies take time and care to make and you shouldn’t be skipping them. Henry said, “Some people have a habit to skip, but this assembly is different and it shouldn’t be missed.” Abraham Lincoln once said, “By the people, for the people, of the people.” The staff here at Sheldon take that to heart. Henry said, “There is always a push to make the assembly more student run, students talking to students. It’s hard due to students being shy.”

According to Frazier, the purpose of the Unity Assembly is “to educate, recognize that everyone is different and should not be judged or ridiculed no matter race, color, creed, gender, religion, etc.”

This assembly is all about making students feel welcome and accepted.

According to Frazier, “Diversity is a part of life that needs to be acknowledged and recognized; one must educate themselves. The world is full of differences.”

As an extra note, Henry added that if anybody doesn’t feel welcome and accepted, to come talk to him.

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Winter Activities

January 31, 2019

Fun things to do in the winter

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Lindsey Putnam and Jasmyn Jensen page editors

Photo by Jasmyn Jensen

The winter season is frigid for some and a wonderland for others. Along with winter sports and family time, come the not-soromanticized reality of frozen toes and chapped lips. Junior Michaela Kearney said, “I like the cozy parts of winter but not the actual season.” Kearney is not a stranger to the cold, just like anyone at Sheldon would know, in the wet cold of Eugene.

It isn’t unusual to enjoy only certain parts of winter, but enjoying all of them is almost brave if you plan on keeping all your toes.

Junior Keshia Sanders said “I can go to the mountains and enjoy the snow and I love giving gifts to my friends and family.” The winter season in Eugene is special in the

sense that it is plausible to spend a day skiing or playing with snow in the mountains and still make it home for a cozy night.

Although many people enjoy going out and doing winter activities, others like junior McKay Watkins prefer to stay home in the warmth. Including staying home and playing with his dogs, Watkins said, “Also because of the holidays I go to visit my dad more and spend time with that side of my family.” Even with the troubling weather, many people still travel to visit with family. As well as traveling to visit with family, others travel to places where it’s nicer to spend quality time together.

Staying active during winter Jessica Johannesen staff writer Staying healthy throughout the winter is very important. There are many different ways to stay healthy during the winter season such as staying active, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy diet, as well as taking those extra steps to keep your body healthy such as taking vitamin supplements, getting a flu shot, and many more.

Taking these steps are great ways to protect your body during the cold winter season.

For many people, staying active throughout winter is a struggle. Things like the weather, daylight savings, etc. have an impact on when, how long, and how often you exercise. Sophomore Makayla Dreyer said, “It’s harder for me to stay active during winter rather than during other seasons because it’s colder outside and it gets dark sooner so I don’t want to go outside in the dark and cold.” Although exercising regularly may be a challenge for some, there are some possible solutions. A great way to stay active during winter is to exercise at home or indoors. Doing this is just as effective and is a great way to maintain your exercising habits despite the unpleasant weather.

In addition to exercising, maintaining a healthy diet is key. A healthy diet includes many things like drinking enough water and eating foods with the right nutrients. Sometimes it’s difficult during the winter to fuel your body with all the nutrients it needs because of a lack of things like the sun; but there are ways around that. One way is to eat healthy foods and steer away from processed foods.

Sophomore Meg Hubbs said, “I try to maintain a healthy diet, especially during winter, because I know that it gives me the extra nutrients my body needs during the winter to keep me healthy.” Many foods like fruits and vegetables provide essential nutrients that help keep your body healthy. They can be great replacements for the nutrients you’re

missing out on because of the winter weather.

Aside from healthy eating, a great way to boost your health during winter time is to take vitamin supplements.

They can have a big impact on how you feel, how much energy you have, and make up for the things you aren’t getting during the winter, such as enough sun.

Another great option for further protecting yourself from illnesses during the cold and flu season is getting a flu shot. Sophomore Sophia Calevi said, “I get the flu shot because I think that it is good to have extra protection

against the flu and other illnesses spreading around during the winter.” For many, the flu vaccination provides another layer of protection against viruses that your body may not be able to fight off on its own.

Although staying healthy during the winter is tough, it’s very important. There are many ways to do so including exercising regularly, keeping up with a healthy diet, taking vitamins, and getting the flu shot. Participating in these options will assist you in staying healthy during the cold, winter months.

Sophmore Diego Gonzalez participating in Net Games class.

Photo By Carsten Konyn

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School Life

January 31, 2019

the Talisman

Bullying can be overcome Meghan McMahan page editor

Bullying is a problem at Sheldon and many people are being affected by it. However, most of the time, situations are kept quiet. Students are suffering from bullying and it’s affecting their life and their education. High school is supposed to be fun, and for making memories. While this is the case for some, most kids will only remember the negative stuff that happened during their high school years. Bullying might not seem like a big deal, but it is affecting masses of people who aren’t willing to speak up about it.

According to stopbullying.gov, bullying can come in many different forms. Their current definition of bullying has two modes and two types. The two modes include indirect, and direct bullying. Indirect bullying could be excluding someone with the intent to include someone else.

Direct bullying could be purposefully harassing someone if the bully dislikes the victim. The four types include physical, verbal, relational, and damage to property. All though bullying sounds like a big word, it can in the form of harassment that the victim is uncomfortable with. According the website, “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.”

Unfortunately, most kids aren’t willing to talk about current situations. However, a parent of a student is willing to talk about her high school days. High school was many years ago for Adonia Martin, and she has had the time to process and accept what she went through in high school. Her friends would tease her because she wasn’t participating in the activities that they were doing. Martin believes that keeping morals and values is very important; she has done that

since she was very young. In high school, her friends didn’t want to give up their new activities, so they bullied her to make her feel bad and to push her out of the friend group. The bullying was so bad that she had to change schools. At around age twenty-one. of those friends apologized for the bullying. Martin is now observing that this person is very weak, insecure and never content, even as an adult. Martin said, “It has to come from a very weak person who has to put other people down, in any shape or form, in order for them to be elevated up.”

Martin’s advice for the youth is to keep your morals and values. No matter what life throws at someone, keeping their morals makes them authentic. She says that it’s also important to not let other people define you. Martin said, “A teenager’s brain still isn’t fully developed.

Do not let kids with undeveloped brains affect your self esteem. You wouldn’t let a three year old do that.” Some kids in high school or middle school let other people define who they are. Some people are dependent on social recognition and approval. Martin is currently trying to teach her own kids that they should love themselves, and they shouldn’t rely on the opinions of others.

Librarian Kori Kunz said that being a bully victim can affect academics: “It’s never easy to concentrate on something that’s complex and difficult. Emotional health is important for general focus.”

Being a victim of bullying can be very distracting and time consuming. A lot of time can be spent thinking about what happened instead of being aware of what’s going on currently. This situation can take away from school work.

Photo by Talisman staff

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least favorite had to be math because that’s something he’s always struggled in.

Freshman Isacc M. described his experience in freshman year so far: his first day was boring, but amazing because it was a new experience. The trickiest thing that day was finding his classes, since he was only used to his classes from middle school. However, his overall impression of the day was that it felt weird and unamusing. Since there are five periods instead of six, he wasn’t used to it. His favorite class that first day was science. He remembers doing labs and study group, which was his favorite part of that day. His

In popular culture, freshmen have often been depicted as being wimpy, small and ugly. His take on why people depict freshmen to be that way often happens because they are newly entering high school and easy targets. That is why having a supportive friend group and community goes a long way. Even though class periods are different and the atmosphere has changed from middle school, he still remains positive in the midst of it all.

Cheer

the Talisman

January 31, 2019

11

Give me a C-H-E-E-R. CHEER! Hannah Owens staff writer Senior Maya Jude is a Sheldon varsity cheerleader and she said that the reason why people look down upon cheerleaders is because “people don’t know that we have competitions on the weekends and compete against a bunch of teams all over the state.”

Jude recently moved here from Indiana and she loves the sport, just hates the stereotype.

She wishes people would appreciate the cheerleaders at Sheldon the way they did in Indiana. Jude believes cheerleaders deserve the recognition for all the hard work they put into the sport.

Junior Nisha Karanam said, “I think stereotypes about cheerleaders are that people think they are ditzy, stupid, stuck up, and not aware of their surroundings because of the way movies and people portray them.” Karanam doesn’t agree at all with the stereotypes;

she believes cheerleaders should be treated just the same as all the athletes in other sports, and how it’s a shame that people still think that cheerleaders are like that.

Karanam’s older sister has done cheer for a long time, and she states that her sister has gotten many injuries and bruises from the sport. She thinks cheerleading is probably one of the most dangerous sports ever. Karanam said, “Cheer is definitely more dangerous than soccer, volleyball and basketball.”

Marist junior, Lauren Englet said she thinks cheerleaders practice almost every day.

Englet said, “Cheerleaders work really hard, and it takes a lot of strength for the stuff they do, like throwing girls in the air.”

Senior Hannah Washington said “At games, I love watching the cheer team dance.”

Many students love watching the cheerleaders preform and stunt, but unfortunately, the cheer team is still considered a “club” at Sheldon.

Sheldon cheer team at the assemblies.

Pictures by Jasmyn Jensen

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Staff Adviser Staff Writers America Bolden Kayla Challburg Anthony Crank Jessica Johannesen Kaelyn Knapp Hannah Owens Christien Ramirez Jacob Webb

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