Phone Ban: Skyline Students and Staff Grapple With New Phone Policy
by Kamryn Lindsey
Entering the 2024 school year, returning students expected to be met with the same rules as always. However, discussion during the Spring of 2023 regarding a new phone policy developed into a plan for the new system: banning student’s phones during class starting this fall.
“It kind of felt out of the blue,” says Ainsley Vendola (‘25). “We didn’t really think it was going to happen or work.” Some teachers have done this for years, but the change is that all teachers are doing it now, more consistently.
The new phone policy states that students, whenever they enter a class, must put their phones in a pouch given to every teacher at Skyline. All phones then must remain there until the end of the hour. Phones are only permitted in the halls during passing time and lunch.
Parents were informed of this policy and are expected to call the office to reach their children. Students were also informed, as they were required to sign a waiver of agreement in order to take their picture at registration.
Most students, especially those who have already had previous years at Skyline, were initially upset at this sudden change and felt strongly about phones being taken during class. “I feel like they rushed too fast into something so strict,” says Ryann Brooks (‘26). “It’s upsetting to not be able to use my phone during free time.”
However, as this first trimester has gone by with this new policy, many students have changed their minds. As The Skyline Post has interviewed the student body, there has been a noticeable variety of opinions. Some students still feel as though taking their property during class is unnecessary, should not be allowed, and limits their communication home.
But just as many students The Post spoke with seem to feel as though the policy has limited distractions, helped them get their work done, and helped everyone succeed in class.
“The new phone policy makes me focus because it’s limiting distraction during class,” says Britta Coultas (‘25). “It allows me to give my full attention to the teacher at all times.” While Coultas’s opinion would have been seen as controversial within the first few days of school, students have been adjusting well to the new change.
“I personally like the new policy,” says Riley Howe (‘25). “I took AP Chem last year and had Mr. Jones… He didn’t allow us to have our phones out at all in class and for me that helped my learning of the subject a lot better.”
Luke Zogaib (‘25) feels the same way: “I think it helps me focus in class more. I get a lot more work done.”
On the flip side, many students still feel strongly against it and express their frustration about administration believing it is the best way to support student focus. “It’s disrespectful to take our phones during class because it’s our property and they shouldn’t be allowed to do that,” says Dylan Lindsey (‘28), “I think a public school should not have the ability to take our phones from us because there’s time in class where we’re doing nothing and I’m still not allowed to have my phone. I just don’t understand why.”
Students have also expressed concerns about limited communication home and the inability to talk to people you are not directly with such as parents and coaches.
“I don’t like my phone being far away from me during class,” says Charlie Hazzi (‘25). “I like to have it by me in case of emergency or needing to contact my parents.”
Many students have strong opinions about how controlling the new policy is. “I think that if people aren’t paying attention that’s their own problem and we should be able to self manage,” says Elle Wong (‘25). “Personally I get the same amount of work done as I did last year. I don’t think it makes me more productive.”
Another Skyline senior, Anika Vaitkevicius (‘25) feels similarly: “I honestly feel like they should just not have the policy and it should be under our own self-control, because if we can’t learn to put our phones away and focus ourselves then how will we survive in college?”
by Julia Bansal
Ainsley Vendola
Concern over students’ mental health was a key factor as to why the phone policy was implemented to begin with. In addition, over the last few years, teachers have noticed a decline in attention span, effort in class, and grades. They associated many of these declines with an increase in social media use. Some teachers have noticed that the grades of their students are now improving. The vast majority of Skyline teachers have reported significant changes in the learning and attention of Skyline students. Not only do teachers and students report better mental health, but grades are an improving result.
“The phone policy can contribute to things like depression and anxiety and I’m not seeing that,” said Kristen Winter, the AP Psychology teacher at Skyline, “I’m actually seeing students interact with each other….I don’t believe I became some kind of super teacher overnight,” said Kristen Winter, “I had the highest scores on the first test this year that I have ever seen in the history of teaching.”
All classrooms can have different kinds of engagement depending on how the teacher wants to showcase it in their classroom. For example, science teacher Casey Warner lectures then leaves for student work. The students must be engaged in the lecture so they understand how to do their work after.
From noticing greater engagement in discussions, lectures, and group work, teachers have seen changes in overall social and learning connections in the classroom. “When we’re doing group discussions they’re more present in the moment, which I’ve also been seeing in the labs that we do,” said AP Biology teacher Gabriel Rettaliata. ”It’s important to be able to work with your group and communicate. Having that distraction or the temptation of distraction removed has definitely helped.”
“
It’s important to be able to work with your group and communicate. Having that distraction or the temptation of distraction removed has definitely helped.
AP Biology teacher
One remaining challenge the teachers face when giving students access to their phones is figuring out how to manage them, ensuring that students are on task and using them for educational purposes. There is some confusion within the student community about when a teacher thinks it’s appropriate to make exceptions to the phone policy. While students may not have their phones at all during classes, there are moments when they are needed for educational purposes only.
“I have a couple of students who have asked if they can record my lectures…as long as they check in with me first and have the phone just lying flat on their desk it’s ok with me,” Warner says. “When we go outside, they need to use it to identify species and I also want them to use it even just as a timekeeping device.”
A majority of teachers will make exceptions for QR codes if their lesson requires it. Games such as Kahoot or Quizlet are also frequently seen as exceptions to the policy.
“In general I don’t really see a lot of reason to be needing a cell phone in class,” says Rettaliata. “I speak from personal experience through school not having a smartphone, and I survived. I think present-day students are equally capable of survival.”
There is not enough information yet to tell if the phone policy has impacted student grades.
Eda Kirca
Gabriel Rettaliata,
Sydney Harwick (‘25) is caught mid-call as math teacher Jeff Oleksinski, holding a growing stack of student phones, reminds her of Skyline’s no-phone policy. Credit: Payton Oleksinski
Annie Blais
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Ashley Han
ADVISOR LAYOUT DESIGN EDITOR
Eda Kirca
LAYOUT ASSISTANT
Alison Green
AD SALES MANAGERS
Tori Williamson-Cardneau
Robby Shannon
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Kamryn Lindsey
CONTENT CREATORS
Addie Fife
Mary Ellen Vance
Ainsley Vendola
Julia Zhang
NEWS EDITORS
Sebi Fry
Kamryn Lindsey
Tam Miller
Ian Saucer-Zeoli
Olivia Watters
SPORTS EDITORS
Gabi Arocha
Blake Davidoff
Maeve Kilbride
Adira Maze
Julia Moe
Robby Shannon
A&E EDITORS
Dana Abduljber
Roman Gattusco
Zach Huber
Nati Murrell
Leif TenBrink
Sarina Thomas
LIFESTYLES EDITORS
Hana Ghani
Maybree Love
Josie Miller
Fatema Refiei
Kat Stewart
Skyline Students Criticize New Grading Policy
by Bom Kim
Feeling angry about the grading policy at Skyline? Chances are, according to a survey done by The Skyline Post, your friends are as well.
To understand how students are feeling about the grading policy, The Post shared a survey through Schoology grade level groups and individual solicitations, and collected 70 responses between September 23rd-27th. 12% of respondents report positive response to grading policies; 29% report mixed feelings; and 59% report negative reactions.
Since the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, Skyline has been using a different grading policy than other schools in Ann Arbor. Grade percentages are no longer visible to students in Powerschool, and the minimum grade is no longer set at 0%, but 50%. These are just a few aspects of the larger policy, explored in depth on our website.
The hidden grade percentages received the largest number of student complaints and critiques in particular. Approximately 50% of respondents report dissatisfaction with the hidden grade percentages.
“[Seeing our percentages] encourages us to do better in our class to ensure we have a solid grade,” says Vikash Patel (‘26). “It just doesn’t seem [like] anywhere near a good idea to get rid of [it]… Compared to the lack of percentages in powerschool, the new phone policy seems flawless.”
Reported opinions about the 50% minimum grade rule are also overwhelmingly negative; only one student responded positively. “Stuff like the 50% rule doesn’t help students [who] actually need the policy,” says Nithila Balaji (‘25). “It lets other students get away with having a bad work ethic. An equity-based grading system needs to be more than that.”
Many Skyline students only know the basics of the grading policy. About half of survey respondents claim that they fully understand the grading policy, while the other 50% claim to understand only some of it. However, questions and confusion were expressed by respondents in both groups. Concerns weren’t limited to the newest changes; concerns about older aspects like the 80/20 mastery grading policy also surfaced.
“I don’t understand why process work is only 20% of one’s overall grade,” says Stuart Knight (‘25). “I feel like the process work I do actually ends up being what I spend most of my time on.” 76% of the class of ‘25 and ‘26 report no change in grades since implementation of the new policy. 18% report that their grades went up. 6% report that their grades went down.
Skyline’s administration team intended these changes to the school’s grading policy to help create a more equitable grading system. The hidden percentages and the 50% grade floor are just two steps out of many to ensure fairness and equity for students.
“We’ve started to look at the data throughout the years and we see some improvements,” says Principal Casey Elmore, “but we’re looking for longer data to be able to really show some patterns and longitudinal data.”
“I think that, anytime we change something, there’s an adjustment period that has to take place…” says Elmore. “I think that’s still a little bit of what we’re going through right now, that adjustment period.”
Meet Olympic Runner and Skyline Athlete Hobbs
by Shannon Anderson-Reed
Just a few years ago, Hobbs Kessler was a Skyline student athlete getting ready for his next test. Now, he can say he ran at the Olympic trials for the first time when he was 18 years old and signed a professional running contract in 2021.
This past year, after he qualified at the Olympic trials, he ran the 800 and 1500 meter races in the Olympics at age 21.
“It was a really cool experience [and] it’s been my goal for the last 3 years – crossing the finish line and knowing I was going to the Olympics,” says Hobbs. “There was so much weight on my shoulders, [and] it was really relieving…You only get the chance once in every four years.”
In 2012, Kessler’s mother, and Skyline English teacher Serena Kessler, qualified and ran in the Olympic trials, but unfortunately didn’t qualify. This inspired Hobbs to run in the Olympics, with his mom supporting him and being his biggest inspiration throughout the whole journey.
“She’s done a lot of just being a good mom [and] making me feel loved and supported,” says Hobbs. “Seeing her as an athlete and seeing her train are some of my earliest memories. I learned a lot through her [which] made it [all] feel more familiar.”
Hobbs was very active as a kid but he never dreamed of being an Olympic runner, up until middle school when he started showing interest in the sport. He felt out what he wanted to do before then and even did rock climbing for a while before focusing on running. However, his skill took time to develop as he wasn’t the best immediately.
“A lot of kids have a dream of being in the Olympics when they’re young. He didn’t have that vision,” says Serena Kessler. “We let him play [and]
EDITOR’S NOTE
just be a normal kid…We just let him be really active [and] follow his interests…We didn’t know he was going to be such a great runner. His talent didn’t emerge right away.”
When Hobbs ran for Skyline, despite his talent taking time to evolve, he still found that he was a successful runner and enjoyed it. During his teen years, Hobbs Kessler broke the U.S high school record for the indoor mile with a time of 3.57.66. During the outdoor track season, he ran an 8.39.04 time in the 2 Mile at the NSAF USA Meet of Champions in Myrtle Beach as well. This ranked him as the 4th American High Schooler at that distance. Around this time, he also won his first state title in the 1600 meter race.
His success in high school led him to pursue running at a higher level. Hobbs started off running at Northern Arizona University in September 2020 and now runs professionally for Adidas.
“He found that he liked to run [and] he liked the team,” says Serena. “He had success and it was very motivating. We just loved and supported him; we never put pressure on him. He [was determined] to be good at running.”
At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, Hobbs Kessler ran a 1:43.64 in the 800 meter race (a personal record for Kessler) and placed 20th overall in the semifinals. He also ran 3.29.45 in the 1500 meter race, placing 5th in the Olympic Finals.
“To see track and field at the highest level…to experience that, to participate, [and] to see athletes that were the greatest of all time was a really cool experience.”
Competing at such a high level, Hobbs will always be an inspiring story for other Skyline athletes looking to be the best they can be.
A newspaper does more than just deliver news—we amplify voices, spark change, and tell the critical stories that need to be heard. As student journalists at The Skyline Post, we take this responsibility seriously, especially today: when truth and facts can feel like they’re constantly under attack. From critical on-the-ground reporting at teacher protests to controversial editorials that tackle complex issues, The Post has consistently risen to the occasion, unafraid to cover stories that demand attention. By standing firm in defense of student press freedoms, we are not only protecting our ability to write and report—we are also ensuring that all voices, especially those of students, have a seat at the table. Too often, student
Callie Crawford (‘28) stares, perplexed at her Powerschool page’s grade display. Credit: Bom Kim.
Survey: Changes in student grades after new policy, Sept 2024. Credit: Bom Kim
Kessler
Hobbs Kessler running the 1500 meter race semi-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympic games. Credit: Kevin Morris/by permission of Hobbs Kessler
Vikash Patel (‘26)
AAPS Announces a Healthcare Premium Increase Across the District
by Kamryn Lindsey
laid off and transferred, starting the “Support Ann Arbor Teachers” movement. After getting through a hard and confusing year, teachers had hopes of improvement because the layoffs were based on budget estimates that included a raise, a salary step increase, and better pay during the years to come. However, entering the 2024 school year, during a staff meeting, AAPS union members were told by the union that health insurance costs would rise across the district, with amounts varying based on which union they belong to: teachers, administrators, central office, or paraprofessionals. Currently, paraprofessionals and central office are paying a little less
‘We’re
Kirca
In the wake of AAPS’ $25 million budget crisis in June of 2024, nearly 200 teachers were laid off district-wide and a myriad of classes are no longer offered at Skyline.
Teachers reported feeling burdened by untold stress and pressure as they pushed on with their jobs amidst the threat of cuts. “Teachers were stepping out to experience their emotions because no one knew who was getting moved or how the cuts were going to happen,” says Psychology and English teacher Kristen Winter about the building morale at the time.
“We’re on stage, 24/7… and we’re not supposed to show our emotions. We’re supposed to be this happy face for everyone to see.”
than $100 per paycheck; in fact, according to math teacher Megan Stark, their health insurance for the entire year is capped at $1000. Teachers and school administrators however pay close to $10,000 for the entire year, making the price raise especially hard for teachers and school-based administrators.
The cost of living has gone up for everyone, everywhere, and according to WTW’s Global Medical Trends Survey, the cost of medical care benefits in the U.S. is projected to increase about 8.9 percent in 2024, in comparison to the 8.2 percent in 2023.
For AAPS teachers however, paychecks and salaries don’t reflect the cost of living increase, which, according to Ann Arbor Educators union, will make it even harder to “keep us here” (AAEA union slogan). Essentially, it’s a pay cut for the staff. The amount of out of pocket money the teachers must come up with takes a large toll on their paychecks.
“I have two children, one of whom has to see a cardiologist once a year,” says Sietz. “Right now, out of pocket, I’m paying about $7000 for his medication. Next year that could be double.”
According to Skyline High School principal, Casey Elmore, the insurance company that has assisted AAPS with their healthcare coverage has
recently deemed the district as high risk due to the high cost of insurance claims from the staff. Elmore stated that 98 AAPS staff member claims exceeded $50,000, almost three times as many claims filed in 2023. Companies have either quoted the district higher, or refused to entertain the conversation about insurance coverage.
“Mathematically they are doubling our insurance premiums,” says Stark. “They said that the premiums were only going up about 17% but in reality my out-of-pocket cost [would be] almost 104% more than what it is now.”
While many blame the district officials for the healthcare price increase, Elmore stated there is not much they can do due to Public Act 152 limiting how much the district and employers can contribute to the employees and staff healthcare plans and benefits.
“My understanding is that the law says that districts are only allowed to cover a certain percentage of the insurance premiums for the employees,” says Elmore. “That’s the reason why the district is only able to contribute a little bit more towards the insurance premiums even though there’s such a significant increase.”
Originally, the healthcare providers had given district and union members three options of new plans. Through union bargaining and meetings,
In the teacher contract, there are set maximum numbers of students that can be seated in each class. Principal Casey Elmore reports that we are “closer to those than we have been in the past, but most classes are still not over those contractual maximums.” Increasing class sizes is a method that aims to utilize every part of the budget at its lowest cost.
This increase in class size has put a strain on many teachers and their classes. “To consistently go from a maxed out class to [another] maxed out class and still feel like you can be directly available academically and personally and socially for that many people is exhausting,” says History teacher Ashley Ducker. “It doesn’t make me feel as effective as I have in the past.
Many courses are not being offered this year due to unmet minimum course request numbers. Although it may appear more noticeable in the budget crisis aftermath, classes with lower enrollment have always been cut to maximize the district budget. Grahm Hannah, Spanish teacher, agrees: “You’re the same person, you can’t expand your bandwidth; but you have that much more electricity running through it.”
You’re the same person, you can’t expand your bandwidth; but you have that much more electricity running through it.
Grahm Hannah, Spanish Teacher
According to Elmore, 16 is the minimum number of students required to run a class. “In the past, we’ve run classes smaller than that because we’ve had FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) to work with,” Elmore explains. “But this year it was a strict 16.” One example is the reduction of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism (E&M). ”It’s more about Physics II enrollment rates,” Physics teacher David Greene says. “If there aren’t enough requests put into E&M, only the Physics II: Mechanics course is offered.”
Administrators approached the budget crisis by taking cuts from classes historically unable to run at full capacity. “We build our master schedule every year based off of the course requests that students put in,” says Elmore. “The decisions about which courses wouldn’t run or where FTE could be cut were based on where the lowest number of course requests were.”
Many courses can return with enough enrollment. For example, AP French was initially not offered for the 2024-2025 school year, but was later added by administrators after receiving sufficient course requests. Like many other high
another three options have been opened up. Union members now have six options to choose from in regards to their healthcare plans. The three additional plans show room for negotiation among the board and district.
“It’s all negotiable, but until that cost-sharing formula changes, this will negatively impact the staff going forward,” says AAEA Union head Fred Klein. “We are hopeful that we can bargain changes to the current way the district pays for healthcare premiums.”
Based on their number of family members, total income, and health needs, union members will need to choose their new insurance plan. According to English teacher and union representative Christopher Cole, there are “lower monthly cost[s] but there’s higher costs for like deductibles and things like medication.”
The insurance raise is set to take place in January of 2025. AAPS has faced and gotten through much adversity during the past year, and looks like it will continue to need to do so in the years to come.
“It’s all negotiable, but until that cost-sharing formula changes, this will negatively impact the staff going forward,” says Klein. “We are hopeful that we can bargain changes to the current way the district pays for healthcare premiums.”
level language courses, it is now taught along with another level, French IV. Languages and social studies have borne the brunt of the cuts, particularly the Latin program. “It’s being phased out across the district,” Latin and History teacher Collin Ganio says. “Anybody who was enrolled in Latin last year can still take it, but they’re not adding new level 1 classes.” He will shift to teaching history courses such as World and U.S. History. “It’s a little bit sad of course, because Latin is one of my passions,” says Ganio. “But teaching is a passion.”
Similarly to Ganio, other teachers are being moved to teach courses with more enrollment. “We lost a lot of staff, which means you lose a lot of course offerings.” History teacher Ashley Ducker says. “That’s certainly going to lead to a shakeup also in teaching.” Ducker will continue teaching AP US History and World History Through Film; she will teach regular US History in place of the newly cut AP World Humanities. “[Regular US History] is a class that I haven’t taught in a while, but it’s still in the same wheelhouse of content,” says Ducker.
Winter is teaching English for the first time in nearly ten years due to its high enrollment rates. She has taught in Skyline’s Psychology program since its start as a single Psychology class to “…having to hire teachers for AP classes and then Applied Psychology” as interest grew. She currently teaches 10th grade English alongside regular and AP Psychology. Overall budget cuts have been made in the music department, limiting co-teacher support at Skyline and the number of instruments able to be repaired. “The middle school teachers come over here for a certain amount of time,” Orchestra conductor Andrea Murray says. “We used to have five hours of co-teacher support, and [now] we only have three hours of that co-teaching support.”
Murray has shifted from teaching one trimester of Guitar to teaching it across all three trimesters. Along with this, a noticeable increase in class size has occurred: “Now we have Guitar I and Guitar II in the same hour,” explains Murray. “Not only do you have a bigger class size, but now trying to teach two different levels in the same hour at the same time.”
Like the special education and music departments, the Spanish program has seen an increase in class sizes. “Spanish 1 at Community [High School] in the past has normally run in the teens, and now it is up in the high 20s,” says Spanish teacher Grahm Hannah. Skyline has seen a simi-
lar increase as well, he explains. “It’s not every class that sees that dramatic rise, but a class that usually ran at about half the size is now much larger.”
Many teachers have been splitting their time between two buildings, adjusting to fill the shoes of the curriculums and different schedules at each respective school. Skyline and Pioneer French teacher Laura Davis says “It’s the same curriculum, but it’s not gonna be the same curriculum because [Pioneer is] on semesters and we’re not.” Skyline’s fast-paced trimester courses are a stark difference to the semester pacing that many other AAPS schools employ. This poses another stressor on traveling teachers’ plates, as daily lessons have to be planned and paced differently to accommodate each school’s schedule.
Splitting teachers across schools has been a practice used in previous years to minimize budget spending. Enrollment rates in certain classes differ across schools, causing split FTE depending on the demand for teachers of the course. ”You try to piece that part you have with another school who has a piece that they need to fit with something,” explains Elmore. “It’s kind of like a big jigsaw puzzle when you’re putting it all together.”
You try to piece that part you have with another school who has a piece that they need to fit with something.
Casey Elmore, Principal
Although he taught at both Pioneer and Skyline last year, Hannah now spends his afternoons teaching Spanish at Community. He notes that “... an impact of having large class sizes with less staff is that sometimes staff need to go to other buildings.” Many teachers of specialized courses and electives teach at two different schools, as those courses typically fluctuate the most in enrollment.
Since the Special Education department is funded by services independent from the district budget, teacher assistants (TAs) are staffed depending on the needs of individual students with IEPs. According to Elmore, three TAs were transferred to other buildings because Skyline’s “...[caseload] numbers were below those max sizes for the caseloads.”
Since these transfers, Special education teachers have reported a lack of TA support in their classrooms as Skyline’s caseloads got closer to the maximum. Elmore says, “Special Ed caseloads got larger for case managers, but we’re still providing all of those services. “
Credit: Elena Gery
On the morning of December 10th 2024, Skyline teachers gathered around the drop-off circle for a call to action on their recent pay and work situation. Credit: Eda Kirca
Attendees of the December 11th board meeting held signs rallying support for teachers. Credit: Staff
Winter Holiday Gift Guide: Trendy Last-Minute Finds
by Julia Bansal
As the winter season approaches, so does the season of giving—and let’s be real, finding that perfect gift can be tricky sometimes. To help make things a bit easier, we reached out to Skyline students to hear their top recommendations for “trending” gifts that everyone would love. With their suggestions in mind, We’ve put together a gift guide to help you find the ideal present for friends, family, or maybe even yourself.
Film Lovers:
If you know someone passionate about movies, these gifts will help them bring the theater experience home, dive deeper into their favorite films, or track every movie they watch. From Criterion Collection Blu-rays to stylish A24 merch, this list has all the essentials for a true cinephile.
Sofia Coppola Archive - $65 (Barnes & Noble, MACK)
• AAA24 Membership - $5/month (A24)
• Criterion Collection Blu-rays - $25-$40 (Criterion Collection, Barnes & Noble)
• Movie Poster Prints - $10-$20 (Etsy, Redbubble)
• Projector for Home Theater - $50-$150 (Anker, KODAK)
Monthly Streaming Subscriptions - $10-$20/month (Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+) Film Journal - $10-$15 (Amazon, Barnes & Noble)
• Director’s Script or Book - $20-$50 (Amazon, local bookstores)
• Popcorn Machine - $30-$60 (Nostalgia, Amazon)
• Letterboxd-PATRON Membership - $49/year (Letterboxd)
Music Lovers: Whether they’re always plugged into Spotify or collecting vinyl, music lovers will appreciate gifts that let them dive even deeper into their favorite tunes. From high-quality headphones to curated playlists, these picks are perfect for any music enthusiast who lives life with a soundtrack.
• Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones - $399 (Sony) Bose SoundLink Flex Speaker - $149 (Bose) Posters of Favorite Artists - $10-$20 (Etsy, Redbubble)
• Record Player - $50-$100 (Victrola, Crosley)
• Vinyl Records - $20-$40 (Urban Outfitters, Target, local music stores)
• Spotify Premium or Apple Music Subscription - $10/month
• CDs (Target, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, local music stores)
Beauty Lovers:
Beauty lovers are always on the lookout for the latest products to add to their routines. With everything from cult-favorite perfumes to the trendiest lip masks, this selection has the perfect mix of essentials and indulgent treats for anyone who loves self-care.
• Glossier You Perfume - $64 (Glossier)
Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa Perfume Mist - $35 (Sephora, Sol de Janeiro)
Sephora Holiday Gift Bundles - $25-$50 (Sephora)
• Aquaphor Healing Ointment - $5-$15 (Drugstores)
• Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm - $24 (Sephora, Summer Fridays)
• Kiehls Fan Favorites - $68
• Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask - $24 (Sephora)
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Blush - $23 (Sephora)
Fashion Lovers: Fashion-forward friends can never have too many statement pieces. Help them express their style with popular picks, from classic sneakers to cozy loungewear and stylish accessories that complete any look.
• Adidas Samba Sneakers - $100 (Adidas)
• Leaf Camo Sweatshirt - $30-$40 (Pacsun, Hollister)
• Brandy Melville Clothing - $20-$50 (Brandy Melville)
• Birkenstock Boston Clogs - $160 (Birkenstock)
• Patagonia Fleece - $89-$159 (Patagonia)
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag - $38 (Lululemon)
Cozy Lovers: Know someone who loves a good night in? This category is packed with all the essentials for staying warm and comfortable, from fluffy slippers to oversized hoodies. Perfect for those who embrace the cozy side of winter.
Ugg Slippers - $90-$120 (Ugg)
Color-Block Scarf - $25-$40 (H&M, Uniqlo)
• Puffer Jackets - $50-$200 (Uniqlo, Aritzia, North Face)
• The Comfy or Oodie Blanket Hoodie - $50-$100 (The Comfy, Oodie)
• Scented Candles - $10-$30 (Bath & Body Works, Yankee Candle)
• Heated Blanket - $40-$80 (Target, Amazon) Cozy Pajama Sets - $20-$50 (Old Navy, Target, Gap)
Wax Melts and Warmers - $15-$40 (Scentsy, Amazon, Walmart)
• Essential Oil Diffuser - $20-$60 (Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond)
• Tea Sampler Set - $15-$40 (Teavana, DAVIDsTEA, Amazon)
Trinkets & Collectibles Lovers:
For those who can’t resist a cute collectible or love decorating with little treasures, this category has a variety of fun, quirky items—from popular plushies to stylish phone cases—that are sure to bring a smile to their faces.
• Sonny Angel Figures - $10-$15 each (Urban Outfitters)
• Jellycat Plushies - $15-$30 (Amazon, Jellycat)
• Lego Flower Sets - $50-$60 (Lego, Amazon) Calico Critter Keychains - $10-$20 (Amazon, Walmart, Barnes & Noble) Wildflower Phone Cases - $35 (Wildflower Cases)
• Owala or Stanley Water Bottles - $20-$50 (Owala, Stanley, Target)
Food Lovers:
For the friend who’s always in the kitchen or the one who can’t resist a unique snack, these gifts will elevate any foodie’s experience. With tools to make everything from matcha to waffles, this is the perfect set of ideas for anyone who loves experimenting with flavors.
• Milk Frother - $10-$15 (Amazon, Target)
• Matcha or Bubble Tea Kits - $20-$40 (Etsy, Amazon)
• Mini Waffle Maker - $10-$15 (Dash)
Sweet Treat Gift Boxes - $15-$30 (Snack Crate, Universal Yums) Reusable Beeswax Wraps - $15-$20 (Etsy, Whole Foods)
• Gourmet Chocolate Bars - $5-$15 each (Trader Joe’s, Plum Market)
• Personal Blender - $20-$30 (Nutribullet, Target)
Book Lovers:
From e-readers to limited edition books, this section has something for every bookworm. If your friend loves to escape into new worlds or spend their weekends curled up with a novel, these thoughtful picks will make reading time even better.
• Kindle Paperwhite - $139 (Amazon)
Personalized Book Embosser - $20-$30 (Etsy)
Book of the Month Club Subscription - $16/month (Book of the Month)
• Special Edition or Illustrated Books - $30-$60 (Barnes & Noble)
• Bookstore Gift Card - $20-$100 (Barnes & Noble, local bookstores)
• Reading Light - $10-$20 (Amazon)
Searching for the perfect gift at a gift store in downtown Ann Arbor, Rock Paper Scissors. Credit: Julia Bansal
Nutribullet Personal Blender
Calico Critter Keychain
Target Crosley Cruiser Plus Bluetooth Vinyl Record Player - Black
Amuseable Jellycat Sun Plush
SummerFridaysLipButterBalm
Nostalgia Electrics Vintage Collection
Winter Starbucks Items: Sip or Skip?
by Sydney Harwick
Starbucks’ long awaited winter menu is finally here! Their new mix of flavors includes gingerbread, peppermint, sugar cookie, cranberry orange, dark toffee, vanilla, and sage. While some drinks and treats make you want to come back for more, others might make you question if they should even stay on their holiday menu. There are so many options to explore, from icy frappuccinos to relaxing refreshers, but not all of them are worth reordering. After tasting all of their new items, here’s our review of what’s worth trying.
Do Recommend
Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte: This drink stands out the most and is an ongoing fan favorite every winter. At $5.75, this order captures everything a sugar cookie offers plus a sweet and smooth flavor,
this is worth trying.
Penguin Cookie:
If you are intrigued by sugar cookie drinks like that one, this sweet treat is one of their winter items to pair with it. This buttery shortbread cookie has a light and fluffy texture with just the right amount of sweetness. At $3.45, the chewiness is its one flaw, but when paired with your favorite drink, it becomes ultimately satisfying. Of course, the cute penguin design is an attention grabber, but its taste is what makes people keep coming back for more.
Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher:
This drink gives you a refreshing cranberry burst! At first sip, a distinct Christmas store scent fills your mouth with hints of orange and cranberry, but after a few more sips, the pinecone and spice flavors go away and a tart cranberry taste takes over. At $5.45, I would pick this over the Cran-Merry any day and even over some of Starbucks’ other refreshers. I grew to really enjoy this unique holiday taste and believe it’s worth giving it a try, especially if lattes and bitter coffee isn’t your thing.
Iced Peppermint Mocha:
This drink went above and beyond expectations, perfecting the balance of a rich smooth dark chocolate with a cooling peppermint flavor. This holiday-filled drink is topped with yummy chocolate shavings, delivering both the classic peppermint chocolate taste and fun texture adding up to 5/5 snowballs. This drink at $5.95 is one of my new favorites and is worth trying out if you are a chocolate lover.
Iced Gingerbread Latte:
The last winter drink that was tested is a smooth cinnamon-spiced coffee that transitions your taste buds from fall to winter. At $5.95, it is another fan favorite as it’s not too sweet but not too saturated with coffee. I would recommend this drink to anyone who waits to put their Christmas decorations out until after Thanksgiving, or if you’re looking for a go-to drink, but not wanting to jump right into Christmas drinks right away.
Dark Toffee Bundt:
The last food item that was tasted on the Starbucks winter menu was a pleasant surprise! A moist cake filled with toffee flavors and fun red and green sprinkles was the perfect sweet treat to end this review. For $4.25, it’s definitely not a small snack but the medium-sized bundt paired great with coffee and the toffee was not too overwhelming which made it hard to stop eating. If you have a sweet tooth, this is something worth trying.
Do Not Recommend Cran-Merry Drink: Starbucks came out with new winter iced tea refreshers as well, filled with cranberry, orange, and lemon flavors. This drink is visually appealing with its light pink creamy colors, however, its looks didn’t quite transfer into its taste. The creamy colors come from the overwhelming amount of milk added to this
Overall
Warm Up This Cold Season: Soups to Beat the Chill
by Fatema Refiei
Nothing warms your soul more than a steaming bowl of soup as the temperature drops and the chill sets in. So, what better way than some soup recipes to warm you up this season? These homemade soup recipes will keep you warm and cozy and your health strong throughout the season.
One of my favorites is Asheh Reshteh, a tasty and healthy Persian soup that is a true comfort food. Whether it is summer or winter, this soup is always a hit. It is a kind of soup that you will be craving when you are under the weather, but it is also refreshing and light for warm days.
In my family’s version of Asheh Reshteh, we pack it with a variety of fresh vegetables like onions, parsley, cilantro, mint, scallions, red beans, lentils, garlic, and chickpeas. They are packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that help boost immunity and digestion. For instance, cilantro is known for supporting heart health and lowering blood sugar, while parsley is rich in vitamin K and helps with blood clots and bone health.
Asheh Reshteh holds a special pact in my heart because it reminds me of my home, Iran. It brings back memories of childhood—walking into the house and knowing instantly that my mom was making this soup. Asheh Reshteh has a lingering scent. The aroma is so rich and savory that you practically taste it before you ever see the pot. It fills the entire home.
This soup wasn’t just a meal; it was a reminder of all the warm, comforting moments we shared as a family. It’s funny how a dish can carry so much meaning, how it can bring you back to the familiar sights and sounds of your childhood. Every spoonful of Asheh Reshteh feels like a little taste of home.
Drinks
Latte, Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher, Iced Peppermint Mocha, and Iced Gingerbread Latte.
Drinks you should not run to Starbucks to try: the Cran-Merry Drink and the Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino.
Sweet treats, the Penguin Cookie and the Dark Toffee Bundt will fulfill your cravings. The Turkey Sage Danish and the Snowman Cake Pop I wouldn’t recommend.
Whether you’re in the mood for something sweet, refreshing, or spiced, Starbucks’ winter menu offers it all, but not all of them will satisfy you.
Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher
Peppermint Mocha
Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte Snowman Cake Pop
Lebanese Lentil Soup garnished with olive oil, red pepper flakes,
parsley. Credit: Fatema Refiei
Asheh Reshteh: a Persian noodle soup with caramelized onions and roasted dried mint for garnish. Credit: Fatema Refiei
Dark Toffee Bundt
Penguin Cookie
• America’s Best Customer Service by Newsweek – 2019
• Top 100 Workplaces Detroit Free Press – 2012-2018
• Top 50 Franchise by Franchise Business Review – 2014 - 2018
Fall Sports Round-up: Skyline Eagles Wrap up the Season
Cross Country Sprints into
by Robby Shannon
by Evi Edlund
&
Wins 2nd Place at Sectionals
Skyline Girls’ Swim & Dive soared high and dove graciously at Sectionals on the weekend of November 8th and 9th 2024,achieving a 2nd place score with a strong 450 points Skyline.
Skyline’s Adrienne Schadler (‘27) individually scored a whopping 40 points for the team. Additionally, she won first in both the 500-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle.
Captain Sofia Torres (‘25) scored 30 points for Skyline through her incredible performances in the 200 yard individual medley and 100 yard butterfly. “I feel like this year’s team was definitely one of the best,” said Torres. “We supported each other all the time and always came into practice with a positive mindset…. I [got personal records] in my events and relays…. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my teammates.”
Heading into states with nine team qualifiers, Skyline Girls’ Swim & dive continues to look increasingly stronger.
by Alex Brabec, Blake Davidoff, Evi Edlund
“
...At the end, people were just confident with themselves [and] at regionals, everyone was saying ‘we will make it.’
Girls’ Golf Wraps Up Season in High Standings
by Evi Edlund
Pom Ranks 5th in Mid-American Pompon High Kick Championship
by Julia Zhang, Evi Edlund
Skyline’s Pompon team has historically been known for cheering on the sidelines and during halftime. Recently, they have decided to step off of the court and onto the stage.
For the past two years Skyline Pom has entered themselves into competition. This year at the High Kick competition, they got 5th in their region. “A lot of people disregard pom because they think we are ‘bad’ or ‘useless,’” says Ava Schmier (‘26). “...but we have grown so much this season, so I hope that others see that.”
A lot has helped their team improve over the years. Harder tryouts, the dedication of the team, new team members and new team rules have all greatly helped their improvement. “I think that making tryouts harder definitely helped our team because it pushed people to get even better before the season started,” said Schmier. “It is important to know that there is always room for improvement, and once you are on the team, the hard work begins.”
This year, the Skyline Pompon team has a new addition. For the first time since the team was established, they have recruited a male dancer: Markell Freeman (‘27). He is helping the team with their leaps and bounds towards improvement.
The Pompon team continues to strive for greatness and hopes to get even better placement at next year’s High Kick competition.
Liv Housler (’28) gets ready to tee off. Credit: Mary Packard
Girls’ Swim
Dive
A Pom team member leads the student section in a cheer.
Credit: Carrie Halliburton
The Skyline Women’s golf team before an important season match. Credit: Lon Horwedel
Henry Strait (‘25)
Vintage Jazz is Returning: The Cause For These 20th-century Comebacks
by Alison Green
cause she is a wonderful person and that he is willing to wait for her to love him. Laufey vocalizes about being left behind due to everyone around her finding a person to love while she
and
to have a person to love.
If you are fond of the song I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire by The Ink Spots, you may enjoy the song I’ll Never Smile Again by Tommy Dorsey. Tommy Dorsey sings about loving someone so much to the point they don’t want to smile unless they’re smiling at the person they love dearly. I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire by The Ink Spots is a song about wanting to warm someone specials’ heart due to their desire and longing for that person. Both of these songs are about being attracted to a special person and waiting a long time to show their affection for them. If you enjoy the song We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn, you may enjoy the song It’s Been A Long, Long Time by Harry James and His Orchestra. It’s Been A Long, Long Time by Harry James and His Orchestra is a song about seeing a loved one once again after an extended period of time, feeling thankful to be around them once more and yearning for their affections. We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn is a song about bidding a farewell to the people you know and comforting them by saying you will return to meet again another day, another time. Both of these songs give voice to the idea of not seeing someone for an extremely long period of time, appreciating that person, and expressing affection towards them. The two of these songs together are like the before and after being apart from the person you love; wishing them goodbye and welcoming them a sweet hello once you return into their arms.
If you like the song What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, you may enjoy his cover of Frim Fram Sauce with Ella Fitzgerald. Frim Fram Sauce by Nat King Cole is a song about wanting to play around and have freedom to do as you please. “Ussin-fay,” a frequent lyric within the song, is a pig latin word for “fussing,” expressing the fuss they have for wanting to be satisfied and free. What A Wonderful World is a song about admiring the world around you and appreciating the people in your life, feeling thankful for what you have. Both of these songs are about freedom, having fun, and making the best of life. Along with this connection, they’re both sung by the great Louis Armstrong.
It’s Time: Christmas Music On Repeat This Season
by Mia Banerjee
Are you tired of listening to Mariah Carey songs on repeat the moment winter starts? Maybe it’s time to try some songs your classmates love listening to during the holiday season.
“I usually start listening to holiday music around the beginning of November, like after Halloween,” says Clara Guan (‘28). “It’s like, the spooky season is over and now it’s the season for cheer.”
Many students like winter or holiday songs because they remind them of specific experiences they have had while listening to the song. “So, on Christmas, my extended family will all gather together in my grandparents’ living room and we’ll all just sing Christmas carols,” says Sam Gryniewicz (‘27). “Since we have a really big family, we’re able to all divide into parts, like we’ll have our tenors, altos, sopranos, and basses, and we’ll all sing different parts – kind of choir-y – just as a family.”
Some students are reminded of the season when it is referenced in the song. For example, many artists make allusions to winter, Christmas, or other holidays. “Lover by Taylor Swift reminds me of Christmas,” says Guan. “It talks about Christmas and winter at the beginning.”
Students listen to many different artists during the holiday season. Some people enjoy listening to artists that make them feel sentimental. “Frank Sinatra is probably my favorite holiday music artist,” says Mia Griffin (‘27). “He has a good voice and is just kind of a classic. These songs make me feel nostalgic.”
Even some Skyline teachers like listening to holiday music. “I love Christmas music and I think it’s fun and I listen to it when the season is right,” says math teacher Nicholas Bertsos. “I love Mariah Carey, I grew up with Mariah Carey and she can do no wrong. It is overplayed, 100 percent, but at the same time, do better guys, I don’t think so.”
Some students dislike Christmas music, either because it’s overplayed or just because it annoys them. “It’s interesting to listen to but it gets extremely boring really fast,” says Skyline Post music critic Alison Green (‘26). “It’s like all you ever hear after Halloween, and literally the moment it hits November 1st, all you hear is Christmas music in every store. It won’t even be Halloween and why, [Halloween’s] not over yet, it’s nowhere near December. It’s literally so annoying.”
Other students listen to conventional Christmas carols. “A lot of the traditional Christmas songs, mostly the songs you would sing, not the pop style songs, but more traditional songs,” says Gryniewicz. “One of my favorite christmas songs is God Rest You Merry Gentleman.”
Many students listen to more pop music instead of traditional Christmas songs. “I usually pull out Lana Del Ray during the holiday season”, says Lindsey Chou (‘28). “Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande is one of my fondest memories of Christmas music.” Due to global warming, Mariah Carey has begun to defrost a little earlier every year. Credit: Bel Air Studios
Skyline Punk Band Rocks the House
by Leif TenBrink
for it.”
The band’s chosen lane is punk, the likes of The Clash, Ramones, and Stiff Little Fingers. The trio has a handful of their own songs written to perform, including “Dead Kids,” a solidly modern-day punk tune about gun violence in America.
“When … my dad made me listen to The Green Album, the Clash’s debut, [I thought,] ‘this is like, the tip of the hierarchy of music,’” explains Amick. “At the core, that’s all you need, really: some kind of message, and to just get it done.”
In 2020, a new jazz artist, Laufey, rose from the ashes of the pandemic and brought millions of
wonderful world of jazz music. Her
popular songs were From the Start, Falling Behind, Valentine, and Let You Break My Heart Again. However, vintage jazz music deserves to be revived as well
If you enjoy Laufey’s From the Start, you may enjoy Somethin’ Stupid by Frank Sinatra, a song about infatuation and falling deeply in love. From the Start talks about falling
Haven Lexcen (‘25) makes some noise onstage. Credit: Marah Putz