Vol 59, Issue 6

April 14, 2023

COMING T0 LIFE

Seniors Maren Nazar, Yianni Korovilas, and Ava Barruffi co-star in the upcoming Spring Musical, “The Addams Family.”

See page 11

Called Off Helping Hand TikTok Takeover Fresh Start

This year’s Spring Fling canceled.

Clubs at Maine South lead to future careers. Page 8

TikTok influences society in many ways. Page 10

New varsity softball roster sparks success. Page 15

Vol. 56, No. 6

1111 S. Dee RoaD • PaRk RiDge, illiNoiS 60068

PHOTO BY NATALIA KOWALEWSKA

DECA heads to International Conference

Anthony Sotto News Editor

FourMaine South students will be heading to DECA’s International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida on April 22-25.

Senior DECA presidents Anastasia Brow and Tina Paxia will be competing in Marketing and Management, while junior DECA members Charlotte King and Anthony Benbenek will be competing in Law and Ethics. The two pairs will compete against high school teams from across the nation as well as from Mexico and Canada.

At these DECA events, students are given a business scenario with a problem to solve. With a few minutes to prepare, they present their solution to a judge. The judges then score based on the response and how they handle their follow-up questions.

“The analogy I like to use with students is that it’s kind of like a swim meet in that when the Maine South swim team goes somewhere, not every swimmer swims every race,” cosponsor Mr. Johannes Beer said. “It’s student choice in that students pick their own different races. They pick which contest they're interested in, they prepare for that contest, and they compete with all of the other students from whatever the competition is.”

To prepare for the competition,

members made full use of their resources, whether it be online practice tests found on the DECA website or practicing with role plays with the DECA chapter.

In addition to preparation, the pairs had to finish within the top four in the regional competition which took place in January.

DECA members have reported learning valuable skills from preparing for these events.

“My communication skills have definitely gotten a lot better," senior Anastasia Brow said. "You learn how to network, you learn to work in the business world, and how to think on your feet."

The sponsors of the DECA club note that students looking for an opportunity to hone their skills should start as early as they can.

“One of the things we find every year is the senior that joined DECA for their first time in senior year saying ‘I wished I joined freshman year,’” co-sponsor Joseph Greguras said.

DECA co-sponsor Mrs. Kladis remarked that the feedback you receive at these DECA competitions is imperative to seeing where your strengths are.

“The more you do, the earlier you start in DECA, the more feedback you get, and that’s where we usually see

our students grow to our international competition because they've gotten that really important feedback over the years from being at DECA,” Ms. Kladis said. “With the score rubric, you can see where you have strengths and where you have opportunities for growth. From there, you can start to hone your skills and figure out ‘where’s an area I need to focus.’”

Club participants have noted that DECA has opened the door for future opportunities in their future careers.

“I think DECA has really helped not only my college application but how I’ll be able to get internships and join clubs in college and overall

helped see what’s in store for my future career.”

Participating in DECA is a rare and valuable opportunity that students should consider.

“It’s an experience that you cannot replicate here in school,” Mr. Beer said. “If we brought outside people and you presented to somebody from outside, you’re still in school, you still have your comfort. At the competition, you’re somewhere else, you’re at a conference center somewhere so it’s a completely different environment. If we did the same thing here, it wouldn’t have the same level of pressure needed to build those skills.

Spring Fling canceled due to low attendance

Katelyn Whitlock News Writer

Spring Fling has been canceled due to a significant lack of ticket sales. Since COVID, organizers have tried to adapt to keep the dance interesting and enjoyable for the student body amid declining attendance, though several factors have caused it to fall through this year.

“We sold significantly less than 100 [tickets],” Associate Principal of Student Experiences Mr. Michael Edwards said. “Interest was very low despite multiple emails and announcements. It just didn’t seem like people wanted to pay to go to the dance.”

This is the second year in a row that this dance has faced struggles; last year, health concerns almost caused the dance to be canceled.

“Because COVID rates were higher...it didn’t look like it was

going to happen [last year],” Junior Class Council co-sponsor, Ms. Amy Kladis said. “I think there was some student desire to have that dance from the lower levels. They reached out to the main office and Mr. Edwards. He came to us and we said we were past our deadline.”

Due to the last-minute nature of the dance, certain changes had to be made.

 WORTH IT?

The Southwords editorial board weighs in on the importance of high school dances.

See page 5

“I thought it was a good idea to make it wear what you want so that people [didn’t have] to go buy a fancy dress and have to go back and buy a prom dress…I just wanted people to be able to feel comfortable,” Mr. Edwards said.

Mr. Edwards became the organizer, and intended for a more formal, larger-scale event this year. However, perception of the event has remained negative.

“Last year, the Spring Fling was a little underwhelming so maybe it's a good thing it was canceled,” junior Kathleen Lynch said.

Another persistent obstacle for the dance has been the lack of upperclassman attendance.

“[No upperclassmen] really go to Spring Fling because there’s prom the next month,” junior Ellie Martin said. “If it was a winter formal, I feel like more people would go and pay attention to it.”

Several students suggest that changing the date of the dance could be a potential solution.

“I've heard a lot of talk that people would be excited about a winter formal,” Lynch said. “I think that would be something to look into for

next year.”

Regardless, this canceled event will cause changes to the way the dance is run in the future.

“If people want to do something different, I’m open to more suggestions,” Mr. Edwards said. “From now on, it will kind of be a year-to-year proposition. My plan for next year is to send an interest survey out to all students in January or February to see if they’re interested in having it. If we get a good solid number I might even ask about price… then we’ll see how it goes.”

Junior Atalia Adam had intended to go to the dance this Saturday until it was canceled.

“I think that's a disappointment for the freshman and sophomores because they don't have an end-ofthe-year activity while juniors and seniors have prom,” said Adam. “The freshmen need something, especially since it's their first year here.”

PHOTO COURTESY MS. KLADIS

GATHER AROUND Seniors Anastasia Brow and Tina Paxhia and sophomore Charlotte King (left to right) hear the DECA State Officers speak. At this banquet, they ate dinner among other high school students in DECA.

Mock Trial celebrates first ever win at State

Elizabeth Bordini Commentary Writer

The Mock Trial team competed at the state tournament in Springfield on March 18 and 19 and took home their first victory in school history.

“I’m really excited for them,” Mock Trial coach Mr. McArthur-Self said. “It’s impossible to really describe the emotion that flooded from those kids’ faces when their name was called. I’ll remember that forever.”

The students had been practicing the same case since early November, meeting every Monday and Wednesday, as well as periodically competing against other Illinois

schools every few weeks in preparation for the state tournament.

The team had to assign attorney and witness roles on both sides of the case as well as prepare argument strategies for both sides. Depending on the round, the team could be assigned either prosecution or defense, but they are not told which until they enter the courtroom.

They were confident in their performance but uncertain about the ability levels of the other teams.

“I felt really prepared—this is the hardest-working group of students I have ever coached in 24 years,” Mr. McArthur-Self said. “I knew they were prepared in most respects, but there are always things you can’t control,

like if the other team does something totally unexpected that can throw our kids off.”

At the tournament, Maine South competed against many teams they had never encountered before, even at other Illinois competitions. They had several rounds of trials during the tournament, each lasting around two hours.

“Maggie Woods gave our defense closing and really put in a ton of effort this whole season,” sophomore Charlotte Chapman said. “She stepped up to keep everyone motivated and really kept our spirits up.”

Now that the team has won the state tournament, they are advancing to Nationals. Some of the opposing

coaches from the Illinois State tournament have offered to help Maine South’s Mock Trial team to competitively represent Illinois at the national level.

The tournament will be held at the end of May in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the team will be given an entirely new case to prepare in just a few short weeks before the tournament.

“I’m very excited for Nationals because the presentations for each team will be much more elaborate and dramatic than our State case,” Chapman said. “Our team goal is to place top 10, which will be very difficult, since Maine South has never gone to Nationals before but hopefully doable.”

HOSA students bring creativity to cardio

Olivia Das Gupta News Editor

Three members of Maine South’s chapter of HOSA—Future Health Professionals qualified to present their satirical sketch on cardiovascular health at HOSA Internationals in Texas this coming summer. The extracurricular is advised by Ms. Heather Sinnott, who teaches Personality and Relationships, Medical Terminology, and Healthcare Careers.

A year after Ms. Sinnot attempted to create a HOSA chapter herself, senior Aisha Arshad approached her and facilitated a final push to create the chapter.

“[Maine] East had been approved the semester before to do it, so I thought since East had been approved to have HOSA chapter, hopefully we’d get approved too, and we did,” Ms. Sinnott said. “That was the summer going into that pandemic year.”

Arshad first became interested in this club during her freshman year and has been a member since its creation.

“We did have a couple other clubs that were somewhat similar to the HOSA level, as HOSA is international, and those were for a lot of other things but not healthcare specifically, which was what I wanted,” Arshad said. “I wanted to find a place where a bunch of people who had the same career goals and aspirations could get together and help each other out.”

Chapter meetings for the club are held once a month, when students can

work on different projects provided by the organization. They may also meet in smaller groups outside of meetings to work on projects.

“There are already a bunch of preestablished events, so the students get to pick what events they want to compete in,” Ms. Sinnott said. “There’s a lot. Some of them are team, some of them are singular individual events. I always suggest, though, that they pick events based on their past experience in a previous class that they’ve taken.”

While not required, several science and healthcare-related classes have provided students with the tools they need to succeed.

“If you want to promote cardiovascular health, you obviously need to know how the heart functions,” senior Katherine Kuja said. “Medical Termi-

nology and Anatomy and Physiology helped me a lot for our presentation.”

Arshad and Kuja, along with senior Kyungsoo Chon, will be presenting the same sketch that they created for the state competition. The group was tasked with creating a public health announcement about maintaining good cardiovascular health.

“We tried to make it funny,” Arshad said. “We added a lot of different elements and split up our act into three parts and we got inspired by different TV shows. Our first act was ‘Shark Tank,’ the second act was based off of ‘Our Planet,’ and then the last one was based off of really dramatic Bollywood productions.”

The group used these ideas to spread awareness about actions that are harmful to cardiovascular health.

“Our first sketch, which was [based on] ‘Shark Tank,’ was a public announcement on fake pills,” Kuja said. “There are a lot of [companies trying to] promote fake pills when, in actuality, they don’t do anything, so we wanted to bring awareness to that issue. Our second sketch was on eating unhealthily and living a sedentary lifestyle, and what kind of effects that has, and how you can change your lifestyle. Our third sketch was on smoking.”

While initially submitted as a video for preliminaries, the performance at Internationals will be performed live, as it was at State.

“Performing it in front of judges wasn’t as hard as I expected it to be because I kind of just blocked them out and was really focused on my performance and trying to do well for my team,” Arshad said. “But it’s also really interesting and kind of nerve-wracking to see the audience’s reactions.”

Going to this international competition is seen as an auspicious sign for the future of the three-yearold club.

“I’m glad to see that healthcare is really taking off and I would like to see the program expand by offering more course selections in the future,” Ms. Sinnott said. “We have so many students in our school and in our district that want to go into healthcare, so beyond the few classes that we offer it’s nice that we have this student organization for them to join as well.”

STEADY HAND Seniors Katherine Kuja, Aisha Arshad, and Kyungsoo Chon (left to right) hold up their plaques and medals. They won third place at State.

PHOTO COURTESY MS. HEATHER SINNOTT

Language students take trips to Germany and Italy

Olivia Das Gupta News Editor

Overspring break, students in Italian or German language classes at Maine South had the opportunity to travel abroad. The Italian students visited the cities of Rome, Sorrento, Lecce, and more, while the German students started in Switzerland, then moved to Liechtenstein, Austria, and finally to southern Germany and Munich.

“Students learned a lot about German history, and not just German history, but European and world history,” German teacher Ms. Margaret Wolf said. “They were able to see things that they learned at Maine South in context, and make connections between the language and the culture and the history.”

Senior Jack Hartung and junior Joseph Habisohn were two students who went on the Italian trip.

“Italy was an incredible experience,” Hartung said. “The highlight of the trip for me was the Island of Capri. We were taken on a boat tour around the island and we were given some absolutely beautiful views. Our group was given about four hours to

explore the island on our own. During that time, we had some excellent pizza and gelato.”

The students were given the opportunity to learn new things about the language.

“We learned a bit of Italian slang, most of which I can’t say here, though it was strange to see just how much English was spoken in Italy, even in areas that weren’t very touristy,” Hartung said.

They were also able to expand on what they already learned in their Italian classes.

“The biggest thing I learned in my Italian class was pronunciation,” Habisohn said. “Native speakers were able to understand what I was saying.”

The German students felt similarly, and could connect their experiences with broader history as well.

“The experiences in German classes, and some in their other classes, whether it was art history or European history classes—all of a sudden being in the country kind of brought those topics to life,” Ms. Wolf said.

The cultural experience left a positive impression as well.

“It was electric,” Habisohn said. “The entire trip was amazing. The art, architecture, and the food was stunning.”

Even after an eventful break, some felt there was still much more to explore.

“We were only there for a week,” Hartung said. “[But] I could have easily spent the rest of March in Italy, and I wouldn’t have even scratched the surface of everything I could

experience. The trip that we had was incredible.”

The trip also provided opportunities to bond.

“I think also that students had the opportunity to make connections with other students from their class, but also with students who they hadn’t met before and people who they perhaps didn’t realize they could be friends with,” Ms. Wolf said. “I think kids learned a lot about themselves.”

Environmental Club hosts annual vegan cooking challenge

Lyn Brush

Entertainment Writer

The Environmental Club is hosting a new kind of March Madness: the annual Vegan Cooking Challenge.

“The contestants are given around a week to whip up a vegan dish at home,” the club’s organizer senior Elliot Natura said. “They submit photos of their creation, and some photos of the cooking process. The dishes are then voted on via Instagram story polls on the Environmental Club’s Instagram. Winners are decided, and they advance onto the next round of elimination.”

The first iteration of the challenge was created during March of last year.

“The vegan cooking challenge is March Madness bracket-style with two people or teams going against each other per week,” senior club promoter Macy Muellner said. “The first round was open to making whatever vegan meal you wanted, but the rounds after that have had themes such as ‘restaurant meal’ or ‘dessert.’”

While the event is hosted by Environmental Club, all students were invited to participate.

“This year, we had a smaller

bracket, but we have had brackets of around 32 people before,” Natura said. “People often like to compete in a team where they will cook with a friend.”

Contestants are encouraged to be creative and experiment.

“This year’s competition has seen some amazing dishes, like tahini pasta and handmade vegan sushi.” Natura said.

While cooking with all-vegan

ingredients is a difficult task, this has not hindered contestants’ abilities to create diverse meals.

“We’ve had dishes of all different types, from vegan ramen and vegan Mediterranean veggie sandwiches to miso bowls and pasta meals,” Muellner said.

The organizers had fun planning unique challenges for the final rounds of the event.

“For the last two years, we have

done a special ingredient round,” Natura said. “We usually save it for the final round, and the finalists must incorporate a special, sort of niche, vegan ingredient. It is a great way to widen people’s culinary horizons.”

Last year’s special ingredient was tempeh, a traditional Indonesian soybean-based food that is similar to tofu.

“Currently, we are in the final round where we are having senior Jillian Beck vs junior Emma Spychalski,” Muellner said.

This challenge is hard work for both contestants and organizers.

“For me, it’s hardest to make sure each thing is actually vegan,” Muellner said. “You’d be surprised how many things you’d assume are vegan but actually have hidden, non-vegan ingredients.”

Despite the difficulty, the participants enjoy this challenge.

“We wanted to show how easy it was to cook vegan meals or cook vegan substitutes for your favorite meals.” Muellner said.

While this year’s bracket is coming to a close, the club plans to continue this tradition next year.

ALL WALKS OF LIFE Junior Hana Brkic (left) walks in the streets of Rotenburg with new friends from other Illinois high schools. They spent the day there to learn about medieval German history.

ON A ROLL Junior Natalie Colletti’s vegan sushi was submitted to the Environmental Club’s vegan cooking challenge. This dish won and advanced her to the second round.

PHOTO COURTESY MS. MARGARET WOLF

PHOTO COURTESY NATALIE COLLETTI

Yeah, We’ve Been here for 8 minutes already...

Are you ready to go yet?

STAFF EDITORIAL

Are school dances still relevant?

Dances are a staple of school culture as early as elementary school. The excitement of finding everything from a date to the perfect outfit can help unite students and bring some refreshing enthusiasm to the school year.

The energy surrounding events like homecoming and prom can be electric, but as the years have gone by, students’ interest in these dances has begun to die down.

Trying to live out the stereotypical perfect high school experience is a common goal for many students. From hearing stories from their parents about their own teenage years to watching movies, students fear missing out when it comes to school dances.

Though their popularity may be waning, school dances present a unique opportunity in which students can dress up and socialize with new groups of peers. Many students attend pictures beforehand to commemorate the special day and go to social gatherings afterwards.

These memories are ones that cannot be replicated elsewhere, which is what makes school dances so special and an important element of the typical American high school experience.

While the attendance rate for

certain dances remains high, even then, the amount of time actually spent at dances has gone down significantly, with many choosing to spend more of their night out with friends before and after the dance.

There is a growing number of students struggling to find the purpose in attending these functions. Many find them to be a waste of time and money with the expenses of tickets and clothing, and the overall amount of preparation required.

Another common issue amongst students is feeling the pressure of finding a date. Whether it’s with a friend or a romantic partner, the stress of coupling can be overwhelming, and some choose to avoid it completely.

For this reason, many people choose to go with a group of friends to guarantee a better time for themselves, while others don’t see the point of going at all if they aren’t able to find a date.

School dances haven’t always been seen in a negative light. For years they were must-attend events that students looked forward to throughout the academic year. Since the pandemic, many schools have struggled to maintain the reputation that dances once held, likely because many students hadn’t experienced one before COVID.

For example, Spring Fling is not seen by many students as a “real” dance since it was not introduced until after the pandemic (replacing what was formerly known as “Girl’s Choice”).

Many see Spring Fling as an underclass dance despite the fact that it is advertised to the whole student body through Student Council. The excitement felt for prom and homecoming simply doesn’t compare to smaller dances, which has become a major problem for their success.

While it is understandable that school dances can be viewed as intimidating, it’s necessary to try experiences that force you to interact with new people in new ways in unfamiliar settings.

Branching out and trying new things is one of the most crucial lessons of high school, and there is so much value in experiences like school dances where students interact socially beyond their friend group and feel more connected to the community.

School dances are a vital component of high school life that play a key role in fostering school spirit, and if we don’t reignite the spark of these events, students lose an important opportunity to expand their social horizons.

Maine South High School

1111 South Dee Road

Park Ridge, IL 60068

http://www.southwords.org

Scan this QR code to e-mail

Southwords

Southwords is a student-run publication designed as a public forum for student opinion and balanced reporting on topics relevant to the Maine South community.

Unsigned staff editorials represent the consensus opinion of the Southwords Editorial Board. Personal commentaries represent the opinion of the author alone and do not represent the opinions of the publication nor District 207.

Student participation in the newspaper, whether through readership, submitting articles, or voicing comments or concerns, is encouraged.

Signed letters to the editor can be given to a member of the editorial staff or e-mailed to southwords@maine207.org.

Southwords reserves the right to edit material for clarity and brevity and to reject obscene/libelous submissions.

Editors-in-Chief

Madison Basquin

Elizabeth Handley

News Editors

Olivia Das Gupta

Sayde Feeley

Anthony Sotto

Commentary Editors

Jacob Mascort

Campbell Micek

Andjela Trkulja

Features Editors

Ava Jurek

Lilien Schirazi

Sofia Sclafani

Entertainment Editors

Maggie Hershey

Caitlin Vengazo

Maggie Woods

Sports Editors

Declan Colleran

Kyra Demeros

Thomas Hurley

Production Editors

Natalia Kowalewska

Cathy Tserendavaa

Ceylan Yildiz

Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

Homework is necessary for understanding

implement it and will often require practice before using it in a game.

the concepts they’ve learned in class but never practiced outside of school.

their own homework completion.

Eliza Goldwasser Commentary Writer

With the implementation of standards-based grading, summative assessments and projects have become 100% of a student’s grade in some classes.

An unexpected and unfortunate effect of this policy is that homework and other formative work have essentially become optional.

This has led to a significant decrease in homework completion amongst students, which can be incredibly detrimental to their success on tests, as well as their success in more challenging classes they take down the road.

Although many have heard how important homework is, few actually think about the adverse effects of not completing homework.

So, let’s apply it to something many are familiar with: sports. If someone learns a new skill, it is unlikely they will immediately understand how to

If athletes do not practice until the night before the game, they will probably feel stressed and uncertain about whether or not they are able to complete the skill successfully.

Similarly, homework is essential because it gives students numerous opportunities to practice and feel more confident about the topics they’ve learned.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult for students to find the motivation to do optional homework when they are already overwhelmed with other classes, extracurricular activities, and part-time jobs.

This has caused students to put classes with standardsbased grading on the back burner.

Classes like math, which teach vital skills that will carry over into students’ lives, are no longer an afterschool priority for many students.

Therefore, when summative assessments roll around, many students are found scrambling to understand

Studies show that the best way to learn is by spacing out one’s studying over a few weeks or days.

Homework is modeled off of this “spacing effect,” and therefore is a significant aspect of a student’s academic success.

Not completing homework not only affects students but also teachers and parents.

Teachers feel immense frustration when students come into tests unprepared and confused without taking steps like completing the homework. There are so many resources that teachers have provided for students to be successful; however, when students don’t use these resources, it becomes a waste of time.

Students should take the initiative outside of school to help themselves, and while teachers can emphasize this as much as they want, ultimately, students are responsible for managing

Despite this, the true problem lies not with the students, but with the system currently in place.

Standard-based grading gives students no immediate incentive to complete their homework, so students don’t prioritize it among all of the demands on their time.

In my science and English classes, I see much higher completion rates of homework than in my Italian and math classes because students feel as though their time is not wasted and their homework has a direct impact on their grades.

If standard-based grading can be modified to add as little as a 10% weight for formative assignments, students would be more successful. Not only will they be more prepared for their tests, but they will also have a boost to their grades from completing formative work.

Homework is not set up to hurt students or overburden them, but to prepare them for both tests and the real world.

Giving value to these assignments in the grade book trains students to realize that preparation is important in high school and beyond.

“Homework is not set up to hurt students or overburden them, but to prepare them for both tests and the real world.”

I told you it was a bad idea not to do the homework...

I would have, But it wasn’t graded!

Students and teachers share communication responsibility

sibilities beyond the classroom.

Whether you are a freshman or a senior, there is a good chance that you or one of your friends has had a bad experience with a teacher when it comes to communication.

Student-teacher communication has been a hot topic at Maine South, as some students are upset by what they feel is a lack of communication from their teachers.

In an age of texting and various forms of instant communication, we are used to getting information incredibly quickly, so students are sometimes frustrated by the time that it takes for their teachers to respond to them when they request help.

However, teachers think that students sometimes have unreasonable expectations for response times.

“We’re so used to everything being answered instantly—we text, we use every app in the world—so, there’s sometimes an unrealistic expectation of how fast a teacher needs to respond to somebody,” English teacher Ms. Johanna Abend said. “We are also humans who have a lot on our plates as well.”

Some students seem to want teachers to be available every second of the day to respond to their every need.

However, all teachers have respon-

“There are certain work expectations that we have, but I also know that we have children and families,” biology teacher Ms. Alexis Liakakos said. “Some also have coach and sponsor jobs for activities that keep them really busy and try to squeeze in some time for family or personal lives.”

Students, however, also have valid complaints when it comes to lack of communication or response from teachers. Many students also have busy schedules and only have certain times in which they can do their homework or go in to get help with their homework.

“It is really frustrating with sports because it’s hard to find a time to go in, and then teachers aren’t there to help you in the mornings,” sophomore Maeve Strotman said. “I would go in early and my teachers wouldn’t be there.”

Despite student frustration, the school mandates morning meetings for teachers at least two days per week.

Some students fail to recognize that these meetings are not optional and that they are not always scheduled for the same days for each teacher, meaning that students are unaware of when teachers are available.

For athletes and other students who participate in after-school activities,

finding a time to meet with teachers is challenging.

“I came in early one morning, around 7:40 to take a test with my teacher, but when I came in, the teacher wasn’t there,” freshman Gabi Nowak said. “It’s happened to me multiple times with different teachers.”

When teachers don’t show up to meetings or miss office hours without communicating why, it can negatively affect a student’s grade. This can cause panic or a flare-up of anxiety for the student.

Multiple teachers also appear to either not reply to students’ emails or not respond to them until it is too late.

“A teacher will wait to email me back until the morning that [an assignment] was due,” freshman Annabelle Izzi said. “It was about how many pages we were supposed to read, which made me unprepared for class.”

Teachers work from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every school day, and are usually unavailable to be at students’ every beck and call after office hours.

“I know many teachers that do not respond until they get here at 7:30 or after 3:30 because those are our teacher contract hours, and legally that is what we are contracted to work,” Spanish teacher Maggie Weaver said.

In order to mitigate the miscom-

munications between students and teachers, teachers need to communicate more clearly about when students can meet with them before, during, or after school.

Additionally, they should create specific times in which students can contact them outside of school hours, such as noting “working hours” in their Gmail accounts to notify students when they aren’t checking their emails.

Meanwhile, students’ expectations need to change when it comes to response times. Not every teacher will have their computer open waiting for a student to reach out for help; they have other responsibilities and activities and families at home.

Students’ expectations that teachers should respond to them the same evening they reach out for help is not always realistic.

Furthermore, teachers shouldn’t be expected to respond to students’ emails or Google Hangout messages the same day they are sent; however, they should be able to respond within a 24-hour window, or before they see the student for class again.

“If a student emails me something and I know I can answer that in class the next day and it’s not going to disadvantage them to wait that long, I will wait to respond to them then,” Abend said. “If it’s an urgent, pressing matter, I will absolutely respond.”

Students should have access to get help when they need it, but teachers also deserve to take time for themselves and shouldn’t have to be on call after the school day has already ended.

Accepting going ‘stag’ to a school dance

text, asking if they would like a date to the dance.

However, not everyone sees the hype around breaking a sweat about going “stag” with a group of friends or with a date.

with my friends isn’t the end of the world. It may seem difficult to look past all the pressure of finding a date, but it’s not impossible.

Flower arrangements are being secured for the variety of school dances on the horizon, and date proposals are filling up Pinterest search bars. While some are stressing over finding quirky and creative ways to play with words, whether to coat their boards in glitter or sequins, and what could possibly rhyme with “prom” or “spring fling,” others are worried if they will receive one of these hand-crafted signs, or simply a

Personally, I have been on both ends of the spectrum. As more of my friends began to acquire dates to dances, I felt it only made sense for me to do the same. I mean, I wouldn’t want to be one of the only ones without a date, right?

The idea of not having a corsage on my wrist to compliment the dress I had been searching for for months seemed less than ideal.

This added just another aspect of dances for me to stress about, but I have come to learn that simply going

During my sophomore year, I went with a large group of my friends to Homecoming and most of us were without dates. Leading up to the dance I wasn’t stressing about having a date and just went through all the normal planning with my friends.

Then, the following Homecoming, more of us had been asked and the dynamic was different, but the dance was still just as fun.

After this past Homecoming, I wondered why there was so much pressure about finding a date. I had seen both sides, and neither was significantly more enjoyable than the

other. Whether I had that corsage on my wrist or not, I still took the same pictures, danced to the same songs, and had just as much fun after the dance itself.

It may seem like a date is necessary, and finding yourself without one is something to avoid, but that simply is not the case.

Going to the dance with someone wearing a coordinating color or with the people you sit with at lunch is equally as enjoyable.

So, maybe you get a decorated poster or maybe you don’t. The only difference is who you end up in more pictures with—your friends or a date. Either way, you can still maneuver your way into the classic mosh pit and enjoy the dance.

Madison Basquin

Editor-In-Chief

“Students’ expectations that teachers should respond to them the same day the email or reach out for help is unrealistic.”

Emery Yates

News Writer

Clubs can lead to career exploration

Charlotte Hartung Features Writer

High school is a time when students figure out who they are, and who they want to become in the future—a time to discover what type of profession they want to pursue.

A number of career-oriented clubs are designed to help students discover their interests and future careers.

From Auto Club to Constitution Team, there are plenty of clubs that cater to students’ individual wants and needs in order to create successful futures.

Students can explore their interests through clubs or create clubs. Senior Gaetano Iannotta revived the Auto Club during his sophomore year.

“Coming off the heat of the pandemic, everyone was coming back to school and didn’t have much to do, so it became a really exciting place to meet new people and discuss a passion that we didn’t have the opportunity to do for a full year,” Iannotta said.

Auto Club’s main focus this year has been to design and build a go-kart to compete in a race in April.

“Even though we have faced some challenges throughout the way, we have been able to craft solutions to fix them,” Iannotta said.

These experiences are especially important to seniors figuring out their next move.

“Having experience building this car has helped me discover what I want to do in life,” Iannotta said. “Next year I will be starting college at Purdue University College of Engineering. The ability to create something out of an idea has been the most rewarding event of my life.”

Other students have found outlets

to pursue their passions in other clubs, such as Mock Trial.

Mock Trial is a way for students to explore their interests in law in a competitive and fun environment.

Sophomore Charlotte Chapman is on the Mock Trial team that’s headed for nationals in May.

“Mock Trial provides an experience in courtroom environments,” Chapman said. “I’ve met so many amazing people through this club. Between a super close team, inside jokes with competitors, and all the people we get to learn from, there are tons of people we get to know. We have two lawyers who come to our practices and help us with our material. We also get to meet lots of lawyers and judges at the competitions since they judge and score our trials.”

One future lawyer that helps out with Mock Trial is Maine South alumna Caroline Kuja (‘20). She is a junior at NIU where she participates in their mock trial team.

“I first got involved with the Maine South Mock Trial at the end of my sophomore year,” Kuja said. “I was considering going into the legal field, but I was unsure. I thought maybe participating in trial advocacy would help clear up that uncertainty for me, and it did. I think that mock trial provides the kind of experience that you take from it. Personally, Mock Trial helped the most with my public speaking skills and my ability to network.”

Another club that promotes career skills is the Distributive Education Club of America, also known as DECA.

Sophomore Abigail Kladis has been a part of DECA for two years now.

“I am definitely interested in the business field,” Kladis said. “DECA provides so many real world experiences. You can see what it’s like to be in marketing, accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, hospitality, and so much more. I think DECA is a great club to put on your college resume because it shows that you are really interested in business inside and outside of school. I had a lot of fun doing DECA this year and would definitely recommend it.”

On the other hand, students not interested in the business field can look into Model United Nation (Model UN) which allows students to debate relevant political topics.

Sophomore Eliza Goldwasser believes that the club provides irreplaceable experiences.

“I never expected to be interested in foreign relations or diplomacy, but being in Model UN has actually opened my eyes to what the field might look like, and I’m definitely going to consider it,” Goldwasser said. “One of my favorite things about Model UN is getting to meet people from all around the state, and if we go to international conferences like [Chicago International Model United Nations], meeting people from all around the world.”

Senior Sara Mietus is involved in the Constitution Team (C-Team) which is headed to nationals in April

State.

where they will compete against their rival, the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies.

“The people on the team are all so driven and inspirational,” Mietus said. “I am always left impressed by what each of my classmates offers to the group discussion and the way the units are intertwined. Each teammate has a unique perspective to bring forth, which allows for good civil discourse and learning to understand all perspectives of an issue facing America.”

Maine South is fortunate to have alumni role models such as Siobhan Colleran, an alum class of 2015, to help students figure out their futures.

The week of March 13, Colleran visited the Healthcare Careers class to talk to students about the medical field.

“It’s important to know that we’re not superheroes and we can’t possibly do everything,” Colleran said. “It’s not feasible to join every single club, take every single class offered, or get top-of-the-line grades all the time. At the end of the day, what matters most is if you’re showing an interest and getting involved with whatever healthcare events or clubs that interest you. So long as you have a sincere passion for the field of healthcare and are motivated to achieve your goals, you’ll get to where you’re meant to be.”

LEGAL LADIES Mock Trial members Maggie Woods (23’), Charlotte King (24’), Kyra Demeros (25’), and Sara Mietus (23’) (left to right), compete at “Empire Chicago” in October. Later in the year, the team would go on to win

PHOTO COURTESY MAGGIE WOODS

Changing negative perspective on college decisions

Maggie

Sheehan

Features Writer

Think about how often you’ve heard someone’s college decision and your immediate reaction was, “I thought they were smarter than that.”

Many stigmas exist surrounding college decisions. The reality is that post-secondary choices are based upon much more than solely the school’s reputation.

Mr. Michael Edwards, Associate Principal of Student Experiences, has noticed hesitancy from students to share their college decisions due to fear of judgment.

“It does not matter if you are going to a four-year, two-year, community, trade school, or military—the important thing is that you have a plan and a future that you can be excited about,” Mr. Edwards said.

This year’s account, @collegedecisionsouth, has nearly 600 followers.

The Instagram page helps students share their accomplishments without having to worry about backlash.

A multitude of factors go into the months of deliberation and contemplation, and the last thing a student wants

is to be judged for their commitment.

Senior Milla Bellisario, who recently committed to Florida State University (FSU) to study meteorology, shared the components that went into her college decision.

“After visiting the FSU campus, it felt like the right fit for me,” Bellisario said. “Besides that, money was an important factor, and getting a scholarship solidified my decision.”

Similarly, Senior Zahra Mehrdadi said that cost is one of the main factors in choosing her post-secondary destination.

“Though I have not committed anywhere yet, some factors that went into choosing a college for me were how good the pre-med programs were, student life, and the overall price of the institution,” Mehrdadi said.

Through the constant college frenzy, seniors at Maine South have found a way to bring their graduating class together.

Zahra Mehrdadi is the founder of Maine South’s 2023 College Decisions Instagram.

The account has become a yearly tradition for students to share their

final decisions publicly with friends and family.

“I created a new college decision on Instagram because as a student myself, it is always fun seeing where everyone will fall after knowing them for four-plus years,” Mehrdadi said. “The ability to run an account that lets my peers express themselves is an amazing experience. The account is a fun and engaging way to bring together the senior population, since even after being together for four years, we still haven’t met the whole

student body.”

Despite the discomfort surrounding college decisions, sharing them can also have positive effects on students.

“After working hard for these past four years, I wanted to share my accomplishment of getting into a college I wanted to go to,” Bellisario said.

Along with the ability to display your pride, this public account allows incoming college freshman to be able to connect with alums and current students at their college.

“Sharing my decision definitely helped me connect with people going to the same college because past Maine South graduates who currently attend there have reached out to me,” Bellisario said.

Mehradadi’s account succeeds in being a safe space for students to congratulate and connect with each other in a new way.

“For students who love to celebrate each other’s accomplishments, it inspires you to strive for greatness,” Mr. Edwards said. “On the other hand, for some, it can create a feeling of competition and inadequacy. Sometimes it’s a matter of your perspective.”

School-Based Health Center brings benefits to students

Michael Glushkov Features Writer

TheSchool-Based Health Center, or SBHC, is a resource available to all students within District 207. Despite this, few students have ever heard of it.

The SBHC is an accessible, affordable, and confidential primary care program partnership between Advocate Medical Group and Maine Township High School District 207.

The Health Center itself is located in the basement of Maine East High School.

Students at Maine East, Maine West, Maine South, and Frost Academy all have access to the SBHC, which aims to improve both their physical and emotional health.

Ms. Tigelique Woods is the Health Programming Coordinator of the Health Center.

“D207 teachers and administrators noticed a growing population of students at Maine East who were either new to the country or lacked health insurance,” Ms. Woods said. “These students had trouble meeting the minimum requirements for entrance into school, including physicals and proper vaccinations.”

The School-Based Health Center is funded by the Maine Township High School Foundation. They are able to offer many treatments and services, some of which are completely free of charge.

“The district applied for the funding, partnered with Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, and created the D207 SBHC,” Ms. Woods said. “We have been awarded a yearly grant every year since 2003 to continue operations.”

Services include sports physicals, regular physicals for schools, COVID tests, STD testing, strep tests, vaccinations, mental health, dental services, and much more.

Ms. Amy Carlson, nurse at the school-based health center, ensures that students will feel comfortable and at ease at the SBHC.

“There are lots of benefits to going to the school-based health center,” Ms. Carlson said. “Most services are offered free of charge for all students, you feel

safe when you are here, the staff is awesome, you get the same care here that you would at a doctor’s office, and it is very convenient for students.”

To treat students in need, the SBHC staff includes a full-time nurse practitioner, a full-time mental health worker, and a part-time physician. However, in order to receive any care from the school-based health center, students will need to have a parental consent form on file.

“Students would have access to many medical professionals, just like a doctor’s office or hospital,” Ms. Woods said.

“Overall, the staff in the School-Based Health Center are very friendly and welcoming people.”

Students don’t need to be anxious or worried when it comes to visiting the SBHC. Everything is kept completely confidential, and all meetings are held in private, so there is no chance of being seen by a fellow classmate.

“Students should feel safe coming to the [SBHC] because it is an inclusive space for all students, no matter what their background or situation is,” Ms. Carlson said. “Our staff at the Health Center is kind and caring, willing to help with the needs of their patients. We have very considerate staff with positive energy. Also, students should feel safe coming here because everything is confidential, just like it is at a doctor’s office.”

The SBHC isn’t only a place for District 207 students to receive medical care—it also offers paid internship opportunities for students.

Senior Sophia Hammes had only positive things to say about her internship experience.

“The student internship program brings us a sense of purpose,” Hammes said. “[The other interns and I] absolutely love the collaboration and respect the team has for each other. We like the work that we do in the student internship program. We make a lot of social media posts about promotion for the SBHC and about different health-related topics. We also enjoy working as a team with students from different schools.”

PHOTO CREDIT @COLLEGEDECISIONSSOUTH

MISSION: DECISION This is Milla Bellisario’s college decision post on the @collegedecisionsouth Instagram page. This standard format highlights the student’s name, major, and college choice.

“Students should feel safe coming to the [SBHC] because it is an inclusive space for all students”

-Ms. Amy Carlson

Sofia Sclafani Features Editor

Influencersare all around us. From in-person branding to social media experts, trendsetters can rise in popularity with ease.

However, nobody starts out at the top; people must gain the admiration and respect of viewers through hard work. This process is known as “micro-influencing.” For some, it may take months, while others count on one viral video.

Platforming is the action of creating your own “personal brand” through your aesthetic. This helps to benefit one’s social account and the businesses they choose to work with.

Senior Molly McCarthy, a microinfluencer from Maine South, has been posting on social media from a very young age.

“I started making YouTube videos and posting on Instagram in middle school, and I just never stopped,” McCarthy said. “Once I saw people doing it as a job, I thought it was the coolest thing ever, so I started posting more consistently.”

Through continuous posting, micro-influencers start to gain the attention of brands they support and love.

“I actually have worked with a

few brands in the past,” McCarthy said. “Aloe Attiva and Loving Tan have sent me some products to try. I’ve also worked with a personal trainer to promote his gym which was so much fun.”

TikTok can benefit people who have an interest in technology, business, or creating a personal brand.

Even if it is not their main career, it gives students a chance to explore something they’re interested in and even create new relationships. Through this learning experience, they can also become more involved in their desired profession for the future.

“The biggest success I’ve had through my social media would be through networking,” McCarthy said. “I want to work in fashion so I’ve been able to connect with some major fashion influencers, stylists, etc. who work in the industry. I’ve also landed a social media job from a stylist who saw my looks on my Instagram, which was huge for me.”

Many times, current viral influencers give inspiration to those wanting to get started.

Teens all over the world are taking inspiration from these influencers because they connect with their personal interests and passions.

School response to the emergence of TikTok

Ava Jurek Features Editor

SWIPE UP ON SLIDE

JEWELS Micro-Influencer Ally Currey promotes a well-known jewelry company, ‘Slide,’ through her TikTok video. She includes a promotional code as well for her viewers to use on their next purchase.

Junior Ally Currey, has a passion for content creation and aspires to follow that career path.

“I got interested in influencing from watching videos from people like Darcy McQueeny, Lexi Hidalgo, and Ana Stowell,” Currey said. “They influenced me to buy their products which made me realize that it would be a great experience to promote products from businesses I love.”

With a prominent passion for social media, micro-influencers take their videos seriously in an effort to pursue their career.

“As of right now, influencing is more of a hobby for me because I don’t have a lot of time, but it is definitely a goal of mine to be able to have a career in content creation,” Currey said.

Students influenced by influencers

Lilien Schirazi Features Editor

TikTok is one of the most widelyused social media apps today. With its rise in popularity comes economic opportunity for influencers, people who work with different brands in efforts to promote their products and increase sales.

With TikTok reaching about 834 million users, it is no surprise that the effects of these influencers have reached Maine South and local communities.

Sophomore Dylan Ranalli believes that influencer marketing can be seen as something interesting as it introduces new styles to viewers.

“I think influencers positively affect the student body, especially when promoting something because it’s fun to see new products and trends,” Ranalli said.

On the other hand, junior Ame-

lia Stanek feels that influencers may not actually be a positive influence, especially when promoting products involving body image.

“I think influencers have a more negative impact since they can cause comparison, especially among teenagers,” Stanek said.

Product advertising is very common amongst different social media apps, and it’s evident on TikTok too. Many have questioned the reliability of influencers’ and how they differ from regular advertising.

With influencers, teens can see their honest reactions, proving to be more reliable than advertisements.

Like many, Ranalli has made purchases from Ana Stowell, an influencer on TikTok, known for her bathing suit brand, and was pleased with her purchase.

“The only influencer I have bought products from is Ana Stow-

ell,” Ranalli said. “I bought a few of her swimsuits because she promoted them well and I loved all of the different colors and designs she made.”

Similarly, Stanek had seen the trend of the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops which has risen in popularity.

“I recently bought the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops because I heard that they give you a nice glow and a natural tan effect,” Stanek said.

Unlike Stanek and Ranalli who follow beauty and fashion-based influencers, junior Tudor Cupcea follows fitness-based influencers, but also appreciates any posts that improve his mood.

“JPGCoaching on TikTok is a great fitness influencer who I follow,” Cupcea said. “The advice is targeted mainly towards more experienced lifters. I enjoy watching content that helps me or makes my day better.”

spreads fast in school hallways. Leading social media app, TikTok, is known for starting trends, promoting businesses, and spreading ideas.

Word

Its impact on Maine South has risen tremendously.

Maine South, along with the other Maine Township schools, decided to ban social media use while on school Wi-Fi, partially because of how TikTok was being used.

Mr. Michael Edwards, Associate Principal for Student Services, was a part of the decision.

“Across all three schools in the district, we were finding that students were using social media apps to engage in conflict, cyberbullying and taking photos of one another without consent,” Mr. Edwards said. “We believed that we could prevent some of those instances if our network did not provide access.”

Administrators such as Principal Dr. Ben Collins feel the ban of social media helps to limit the negative effects of TikTok.

“We banned it because it was causing distractions to school and there wasn’t an obvious classroom and learning enhancement that it offered,” Dr. Collins said.

Although there were no specific examples of Tik Tok causing issues in the school setting shared, there were many general issues brought up by administration.

“[There have been] fights, bullying, blackmail, disinformation and distraction from learning,” Mr. Edwards said. “Research has shown that TikTok and other social media is actively harming young girls and those who struggle with body image.”

Tiktok is not just a negative social media platform. It can be a learning tool where students share helpful information and awareness.

“I think the benefits have to fit into the curriculum,” Dr. Collins said. “We want students to learn how to use social media in a modern setting but it has to be aligned to what the teacher is doing in the classroom.”

Spring Musical looks past the creepy and the kooky

Charlotte Chapman

Entertainment Writer

The upcoming Spring Musical, “The Addams Family,” offers a fresh take on a classic and beloved group of characters through dynamic performances and an elaborate set.

The musical focuses on the iconic Addams family as they attempt to support their daughter, Wednesday, while she navigates a new relationship. However, her boyfriend, Lucas, and his normal family clash with the gory and unique Addamses.

The abnormality of the Addams family is highlighted by the Ancestors.

“The Ancestors represent all of the Addams family members of the past,” director Ms. Carrie Saurer said. “In the story of the musical, the Ancestors play an integral role in helping Wednesday achieve happiness.”

The Ancestors are tasked by Uncle Fester with helping the young couple.

“Our characters are trapped helping Uncle Fester bring Wednesday and Lucas together otherwise, we can’t go home to our graves,” senior Yasmeen Barcham, who is head of hair crew and portrays an Ancestor, said.

On top of their role in the musical’s plot, the Ancestors also add a challenging yet impressive element to the show. Because they come from a variety of generations, the Ancestors’ hair, makeup, and costumes are each individual and detailed according to their era.

“With so many time periods represented, the costumes, hair, and makeup execution will really shine in this production,” Ms. Saurer said.

The large cast has also provided a challenge for the sound crew.

“For the other shows this season, there have only been six mics used,” senior Colleen Compton, assistant technical director and sound designer, said. “Being on sound, and now having all 24 [mics] used, is a big change.”

With the help of the Ancestors, this musical’s portrayal of the wellknown family offers a familiar yet current perspective.

“‘The Addams Family’ musical takes characters that people have known since the 1930’s and brings them to life in a new, original way,” Ms. Saurer said.

“The Addams Family” musical was first developed and tested in Chicago. After some changes, the show debuted on Broadway in 2010. The musical was the first time the Addams family characters were portrayed in a stage production.

“The older generations will likely recognize iconic characters like Morticia and Gomez from the original single-panel cartoons created by Charles Addams for The New Yorker,” Ms. Saurer said. “People from my generation will remember the hit 1991 feature film starring Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christina Ricci, and Christopher Lloyd. The younger audience members will recognize the characters from the 2019 animated film, its 2021 sequel, and, of course, the recent Netflix hit, ‘Wednesday.’”

The timeless popularity of the Addams family proves just how relatable the characters are to any audience.

“There is a reason that Charles Addams’ kooky family has withstood the test of time,” Ms. Saurer said.

Despite their somewhat violent lifestyle and strange habits, the Addams family represents a close-knit and loving household.

“The Addams Family is a story that shows us a family that, on the surface, is easy to judge as creepy and strange,” Ms. Saurer said. “However, as the story unfolds, we ultimately learn that at the core of this eclectic group is something beautiful—love.”

This theme of misjudgment is woven throughout both acts of the musical, leaving the audience to reconsider their own perspectives and beliefs.

“This show is important because it challenges us to confront the misperceptions we often carry around with us,” Ms. Saurer said.

While tackling these meaningful and emotional ideas, “The Addams Family” remains a light-hearted production with many unique features.

“‘The Addams Family’ is genuinely a show that entertains” senior Ava Barruffi, who plays Wednesday, said. “With the amazing vocal and pit score, it leaves the audience fully immersed in the life of the Addamses with full choral craziness and solos that people of all ages can relate to.”

The musical also incorporates comedic aspects while maintaining high-quality musical performances.

“It’s a fun mix for a musical because there’s a lot of comedy, but there’s also some really good musical numbers, and it’s also a very fun set,” Compton said.

This set of “The Addams Family” is an impressive and memorable feature of the production.

“One thing that stands out are the

multiple scene locations, including the Addams’ cemetery, the interior of the mansion, and Central Park,” Ms. Saurer said. “In order to quickly and seamlessly transition from one location to the next, we will be using beautiful backdrops as well as multiple set pieces that are currently being constructed by our crew members.”

This aspect of the show, while rewarding, is one of the more difficult parts of the production.

“We move quickly from one locale to another and it is my goal to make these transitions seamless,” Ms. Saurer said. “Luckily, there is an amazing group of people working tirelessly on crew to ensure that this happens.”

There’s a huge collection of students who have already put in countless hours to pull off this show.

“More than 150 students have been working for three months to bring an incredible experience to the auditorium stage,” Ms. Saurer said. “The pit orchestra, crew, and cast have put in hundreds of hours in order to bring our school community a beautiful piece of art that is funny, uplifting, and loaded with singing and dancing that you will not forget.”

The family portrays an important message about relationships.

“Sometimes our relationships in life with family, significant other, and friends can get a little messy or complicated,” Barruffi said. “The Addams Family processes these moments and finds solutions which is really important for audiences to see, especially in such a modern setting.”

The Addams family takes the stage at the Watson Auditorium on April 21, 22, 28, and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and April 23 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for $10.00.

SIBLING BONDING Senior cast member Ava Barruffi (Wednesday) points her iconic crossbow at seniors Maren Nazar (Pugsley) and Yianni Korovilas (Gomez). Despite being a close-knit family, Wednesday and Pugsley have a playfully violent relationship.

PHOTO BY NATALIA KOWALEWSKA

SPARKS FLY Junior construction crew members AJ Bernabei (left) and Henry Sues (right) use a tool nicknamed “Sparky” to mount branches of a tree to the ceiling. These trees frame the proscenium walls which contribute to the eerie look of “The Addams Family.”

PHOTO BY NATALIA KOWALEWSKA

Band takes the stage at Symphony Center

Grace Halpert Entertainment Writer

Wind Ensemble had the opportunity to perform at Symphony Center in downtown Chicago on Friday, March 17 alongside two other high school bands. Famously, Symphony Center is where the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs.

This was the band’s first time performing at Symphony Center. They performed with bands from Libertyville High School and Batavia High School, both of which qualified for SuperState and are highly regarded in Illinois.

Wind Ensemble was invited to this performance by the other bands. The event was organized by directors from all three schools.

Band director Mr. David Hutter and student musicians rehearsed for months to prepare for their big performance. They played two pieces: “October” by Eric Whitacre and “Give Us This Day” by David Maslanka. Wind Ensemble has been working on “October” since January and on “Give Us This Day” since September.

The performance was exciting for everyone involved.

“My favorite part of the trip was walking on the CSO stage for the first time,” junior baritone saxophone player Lia Margaris said. “It was a surreal experience.”

Others on the trip shared this sentiment as they watched from afar.

“My favorite part of the experience was watching the students’ facial

reaction as they walked on stage for the first time during our sound check,” Mr. Hutter said. “They were in awe being in such a historical and beautiful space.”

When it came down to the performance, Orchestra Hall was filled with eager spectators.

“There were about 1,000 people in the audience for the performance,” Mr. Hutter said.

Though this sizable crowd could have been intimidating, Margaris felt excited going into the performance.

“I love going downtown, so it was super cool going inside Symphony Center,” she said.

Student musicians were focused to ensure a successful performance.

“When we were performing, [the students] were so attached to the music and in the moment,” Mr. Hutter said.

This field trip was a valuable and memorable experience for members of the band.

“I learned that sometimes, you just have to stop, look around, and just be grateful for what is around you and realize how lucky you are,” Margaris said.

Playing at Symphony Center is one of two notable accomplishments for Wind Ensemble and the band program. Recently, Wind Ensemble was selected for a second consecutive year to perform at SuperState, which is a performance involving the top bands in Illinois. They will perform at the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign on May 6.

A NEW SYMPHONY Wind ensemble brass players perform “October” and “Give Us This Day” at Orchestra Hall. They rehearsed for several months before their March performance, which was attended by nearly 1,000 people.

PHOTO COURTESY ARIEL LANDVICK

Saucy

...TO GO

Pazzi di Pizza | $18.00

Expectations were high for Pazzi di Pizza’s Rigatoni Vodka, but this take-out meal is not for every one. The pasta and sauce themselves were decent and tasted similar to Zia’s, but the flaky, chalky cacioricotta cheese sprinkled on top was too overwhelming in texture. The pasta would appeal to a wider audience if ordered without cacioricotta cheese, which is an acquired taste. Pazzi’s mouth-watering complimentary bread had seeds on top and a delightfully soft texture inside.

Moretti’s Ristorante & Pizzeria | $14.99

Moretti’s has established itself as a staple Italian cuisine franchise in the Chi cagoland area, which is why it’s surprising that their vodka sauce tasted more like marinara. Between the unnecessary amount of fresh tomato and what can only be described as the result of not fully mixing this not-so-vodka sauce, this dish lacked sophistication. This, plus the fact that it was not served with bread, means that we’ll stick with their chimichurri steak salad instead.

Southwords samples take-out vodka pastas in the Park Ridge area

Caitlin Vengazo Entertainment Editor

Zia’s Social | $17.95

Zia’s Social’s penne with vodka sauce (Build Your Own Pasta) had the classic flavor and creamy texture of a typical vodka pasta. However, the complimentary sides set this meal apart: a foot-long loaf of delectably soft bread and their signature side of crunchy veggies in a savory vinaigrette sauce. As for the pasta itself, we enjoyed the basil mixed into the sauce and the optimal pasta-to-sauce ratio.

Nonna Silvia’s Trattoria & Pizzeria | $18.99

Nonna Silvia’s Rigatoni alla Vodka sauce had a remarkably creamier and slightly thinner texture than its peers—excellent for dipping its fluffy side of bread. The generous amount of parmesan cheese melted perfectly over the pasta made for a satisfying first bite over and over again. The bits of pancetta and onions mixed into the sauce were a nice touch, earning Nonna Silvia’s vodka pasta the Southwords stamp of approval.

Cyrus proclaims independence on new album

“Endless

Destination Study Spots

With finals and AP exams nearly upon us, Southwords hand-picks three destination study spots for a change of scenery to jumpstart your learning.

Maggie Woods

Entertainment Editor

#1. Oak Park Public Library

255 Augusta St., Oak Park, IL 60302

The beauty of Oak Park Public Library’s interior and exterior has earned itself the top spot on our library rankings. It’s the perfect blend of classical and modern architecture. Decorative chandeliers dangle from the wood ceilings of the main study area on the second floor. However, they are not even needed during the day because the whole floor is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows. It is the ideal location for a long study day and is definitely worth the 30-minute drive.

#2. CoCo & Blu Cafe

12 S Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights, IL 60005

a man to provide her happiness; she can treat herself just as well, if not better.

Ceylan Yildiz

Production Editor

Miley Cyrus’s eighth studio album

“Endless Summer Vacation” was released on March 10 containing 12 songs, plus a demo of Cyrus’s hit single “Flowers.”

This pre-released single hinted at the disco-pop rhythm and selfconfident lyrics that Cyrus channels throughout “Endless Summer Vacation.”

Featuring the now iconic lines, “I can buy myself flowers / Write my name in the sand / Talk to myself for hours / Say things you don’t understand,” Cyrus’s lead single is a reaction to the lyrics in Bruno Mars’s hit, “When I Was Your Man.” She proclaims that she doesn’t need

Track two, “Jaded,” highlights the regret that follows a relationship that could have been better than it was. The term jaded describes boredom after having too much of something.

Cyrus describes how constantly being around someone can drain the fun out of a once-loving relationship, becoming a tiresome commitment rather than a voluntary devotion.

The artist alludes to how she may have fostered this feeling in a prior relationship and communicates a sense of grief over the missed opportunities for happier memories, which describes aftermath of a breakup in a compelling yet tragic way.

Although the album consists of a decent amount of gloom, songs like

“You,” “Rose Colored Glasses,” and “Handstand” explore Cyrus’ journey of learning to love after heartbreak. From relationships of solely physical attraction to those of genuine love, this album will resonate with fans who have experienced a relationship on any point of the spectrum.

After Cyrus divorced Liam Hemsworth in 2020, fans may have expected the stereotypical heartbreak album: melancholy songs with a theme of mistrust. Instead, Cyrus ventured from the heartbroken cliche to capture the spunk, independence, and freedom of a single woman while also exploring the complex emotions that follow a breakup.

“Endless Summer Vacation” feels like a raw conversation with Cyrus herself; it’s an unapologetic representation of who she is. As the music industry has transitioned from simple pop to R&B and alternative, it is interesting to hear her signature pop-rock, country style evolve.

This small café in Arlington Heights is the perfect place to study on the weekend. The big windows and light colors of the café create an airy and lighthearted atmosphere for a stressed student. Their numerous small tables make it an ideal venue for small study groups. The menu is a bit pricey, but their delicious food and drinks are worth it. If you are looking for an Instagram-worthy study spot, this is the place for you.

#3. Skokie Public Library

5215 Oakton St., Skokie, IL 60077

Don’t let the old exterior of this building fool you; this library is one of the most impressive in the Chicagoland area. Its interior was renovated in 2021, which brought in more natural light and modernized the layout. There are a plethora of seating options near windows and outlets on the second floor. Additionally, it has a whopping 18 study rooms, which can be reserved ahead of time, making it the perfect location for group projects. This library is also open later than the Park Ridge Public Library on the weekends. If you ever want to get out of Park Ridge, the Skokie Public Library is the perfect location for late night study sessions.

Summer Vacation”

Miley Cyrus

Girls’ lacrosse sets their sights on Sectionals

Ava Kontuly & Declan Colleran Sports Writer & Sports Editor

The girls’ lacrosse team has gotten off to a strong start this season, winning their home opener against Prospect on Mar. 20. The win came after a 17-8 loss on the road against Warren Township.

“(Prospect) is a sectional opponent as well,” Coach William Pankratz said. “It was a good bounce-back win for us after the first game of the season.”

Boys’ volleyball aims for success in conference and state tournaments

Thomas Hurley

Sports Editor

Boys’ volleyball hopes to get out of what they consider a mental rut to earn their spot at the top of the Conference.

“The first few games have been on the rougher side,” senior Max Jokinen said. “You can tell we are still getting adjusted to each other as individual

players and we tend to struggle with communication.”

The team is not satisfied with their 5-3 record.

“We are not happy with the results,” senior Joe Mcdonagh said. “Even though they might not be the most encouraging, it has motivated us to keep putting in more hard work and to become more hungry for those wins.”

The team is specifically hoping to get first place in the CSL.

“Our goals are always lofty,” Coach Garrett Fechner said. “Win Conference and make it to the State tournament.”

They are certain they have what it takes to achieve this, gradually improving on their skills.

“We are getting better and better as we play more games,” Jokinen said.

Boys’ water polo looks to repeat last year’s success

Declan Colleran Sports Editor

The boys water polo team has gotten off to a strong start, winning the Boilermaker Round Robin at Bradley University on Mar. 11.

The Hawks are looking to perform at the same level that they did last year, when they finished with the best record in program history, at 26-4.

“Coming into the season, our goal was to continue the excellence set by last year’s team,” Coach Terry Lyons said.

That excellence was on full display against Evanston on Mar. 14. After trailing by five goals at halftime, the team pushed the game into double overtime. Maximus Federenko scored a golden goal, giving the Hawks a 16-15 win.

“It was looking like it was going to be a blowout, but we brought it back,”

GET

senior captain Adrian Tolczyk said.

As the season heads downhill towards the playoffs, the Hawks are aiming to avenge last year’s loss to New Trier in the sectional final.

”We want to make it to the sectional finals again,” Tolczyk said.

Despite their successes, the Hawks

have also had to contend with an unusually small roster. The team typically only has about three substitutes during each game.

“Subbing gets difficult when there is a close game because you need those subs to get a little bit of rest,” Tolczyk said.

As a result of having fewer subs, the players tend to get more playing time, which in turn has improved their fitness levels.

“Having three subs on the bench on varsity may seem like a downside, but it allows us to get more minutes, and it adds to the conditioning work that we are doing,” senior Joshua Torres-Jackson said.

With the Conference and Sectional tournaments only weeks away, the Hawks will have to rely on their conditioning in order to advance past some of the state’s toughest opponents.

The girls have come into the season with high expectations for themselves. Notably, they are aiming to win the sectional championship.

Last spring, the team’s playoff run came to an end in the sectional semi-final game. The Hawks lost 11-9 to St. Viator in a tight contest at Wilson Field.

The team will get another opportunity to match up against St. Viator when they play them on April 24. The game will mark the end of a busy period in the schedule, when the girls are scheduled to play five road games in 10 days.

With the season now in full swing, the Hawks are finding creative ways to be successful.

“Our slogan is ‘one more,’ so being able to utilize that to push ourselves will help us achieve our goals, and hopefully bring home some wins,” junior Sophia Gianaris said.

The team’s postseason schedule is yet to be posted (as of press time), but the road to a sectional championship will not be easy. The Hawks will have to advance through the Sectional quarterfinals and semifinals before they get a chance in the championship.

Despite the demanding schedule, the girls have found ways to develop camaraderie.

“I think having a good mix of sophomores, juniors, and seniors allows us all to bond quickly,” junior Catherine Connolly said. “I can proudly say that this team is a family that works amazing on and off the field.”

The Hawks will look to rely on this togetherness as they progress through the season.

OPEN! Sophomore Goalkeeper Stellen Karkazis searches for a pass against Glenbrook South on April 6. The Hawks beat the Titans by a score of 20-7.

PHOTO BY LILY GIAMBARBEREE

GETTING DEFENSIVE Seniors Adrian Danciu and Jake Birkett leap for a block in their home game against Loyola on April 5. The team eventually lost in three sets.

PHOTO BY CATHY TSERENDAVAA

Boys’ lacrosse faces tough competition

Julia Van Roeyen Sports Writer

As the season moves into full swing, the boys’ lacrosse team is eyeing down a run to the conference championship.

“Our biggest goal this season is to win the conference,” senior attacker Sean Mullan said. “This would be the first time that the lacrosse team has won conference.”

With tough competition from teams such as New Trier, who went undefeated in conference play last year, the boys have lots of work ahead of them.

Despite their postseason ambitions, the Hawks have struggled early in the season. The team failed to produce offensively against Loyola on March 22, losing the game 17-2.

After the Loyola match, the team didn’t see the field for another two weeks, when they played New Trier at home.

The team stumbled again, losing on April 6 to the Trevians.

Though the team lost three of their first four games, the players’ work ethic has been unwavering.

“A unique trait that our team has is our constant drive to never stop giving 100% effort,” sophomore defenseman

Girls’ softball team is ‘reloaded’ this season

Julia Beck Sports Writer

“Reloaded” is the softball team’s motto this year.

Eleven seniors graduated last year, leaving open spots for an almost-brand-new varsity lineup.

With positions to fill and even more talented young players looking to fill them, creating the rosters took more time this year.

“The first reason [it took longer] is because we started try-outs a little late this year due to a great and deep run in the state tournament for [girls’] basketball,” Coach Emilia Pasier said. “The second reason is that we have a lot of talent in the program and we wanted to make sure that we were making the right decisions to give the players the best placement for success for now, later in the season, as well as in the future.”

Members of the team are look-

ing forward to how the season might play out, but they know there is work to do given the number of new players.

“I think our biggest challenge for this season is the number of new people we have on varsity,” senior Samantha Bergeron said.

Still, she remains optimistic that the team is ready to take on this challenge, and that they will boast some new achievements.

“Even though a lot of our team is new to varsity, there is still a lot of talent on our team,” Bergeron said.

Nevertheless, this won’t stop the team from aiming high. Going into this season, the team has a collection of goals they’re set on achieving.

James MacDougall said. “What sets us apart from other teams is our tough endurance that allows us to constantly push ourselves to greatness.”

Within their conference, the team is now preparing for important matches against Highland Park on April 19 and Evanston on April 24.

“Our team has faced some challenges playing against some of the top 10 teams in the state,” junior goalie Charlie Migon said. “But with a little focus and grit, the Hawks will soar.”

Though playoff schedules have not yet been released, the Hawks are typically drawn into the same sectional as both Loyola and New Trier. This means that the Hawks will get another opportunity to play these elite teams.

“Our biggest challenge will be to come together as a complete lacrosse team and prepare properly to win those games,” Mullan, who is committed to play Division 1 lacrosse at Marist College, said.

Mullan is accompanied on the attacking line by his brother, Andrew. In addition to the Mullans, there are four other sets of brothers.

“Having multiple sets of brothers on the team definitely helps build our chemistry,” MacDougall said. “It creates bonds that other teams just don’t have.”

Boys’ tennis team has a new look this season

Kyra Demeros Sports Editor

The boys’ tennis team, like many other sports teams, is facing the challenge of starting from scratch. This season, the majority of players are new to varsity due to the large number of seniors that gradu ated the previous year.

“This year, we have been rebuilding our varsity team more or less from scratch,” senior captain Jack Hartung said. “A majority of our varsi ty last year has graduated, and a lot more of our players are new to this level of play.”

While members of the team have large shoes to fill, they are certain that with de termination and grit they will be able to overcome this chal lenge.

“Even though a lot of our top players graduated, we aren’t going to let that stop us from having a great season,” junior Oliver Marsalek said.

Players are working diligently this year to be sure that this obstacle does not affect their game play.

Their hard work has paid off, giving Coach Gerald Smith a challenge making the line-up.

“Almost the entire varsity line-up has shown that they are capable of playing the top singles and or doubles positions,” Coach Smith said. “This is a great problem to have as a coach. I am confident that, as we get into the season, we will settle into a

The team is looking toward future matches despite challenges they may have faced toward the beginning of

“I am personally excited about Sectionals,” Hartung said. “During my sophomore year, the team and I won Sectionals for the first time in nearly twenty years, and I’m hoping to replicate that success this year and get as many of our players to State as possible.”

“We would like to repeat as Conference champions,” Coach Pasier said, “as well as to extend the season with a good run in the state tournament.” SERVE UP Sophomore

Walter Szulczewski serves in a doubles match on April 8 at Maine South against Rolling Meadows.

PHOTO BY CATHY TSERENDAVAA

SNEAK ATTACK Freshman Elliot Galfano (right) passes the ball back to a teammate in the opening seconds of the game against New Trier on April 6. The Hawks ended up losing the game 16-8.

Playoffs considered primary focus for baseball

Thomas Hurley Sports Editor

Motivatedto work towards the playoffs, the baseball team is unfazed by early losses and ready to achieve some high goals.

In late March, the Hawks tied Fremd before beating Lane Tech and overwhelming Prospect 10-0; however, every game since has resulted in a loss. Still, the players are confident in their ability to perform well later in the season, when they feel it matters much more.

“Starting off with a few losses doesn’t really bother us,” senior Kerim Orucevic said. “It keeps us in check, but we understand that what really matters is the playoffs and preparing for that time of year.”

If anything, their seven initial losses only provided more motivation.

“The losses that we have faced allow us to be more tenacious to achieve the goal,” junior Christos Vaselopulos said.

These obstacles have actually strengthened the team’s mindset.

“As a team, we have gained confidence in ourselves,” junior Frederick Wessel said.

The start of the season is relatively insignificant to the players.

“We all know that losing a few games at the beginning of the season doesn’t mean anything,” senior Dan Allegretti said. “It's the way we re-focus and adjust to those issues, leading to hopefully a more

Girls’ soccer upperclassmen lead team to success

Maeve Strotman Sports Writer

The girls’ soccer team got off to a winning start, taking first in the Elk Grove Tournament. As the season continues, they hope for many more wins to come.

Coach JJ Crawford has high expectations for his team and hopes they can win Regionals later this spring, despite an ever-changing, challenging schedule due to unexpected weather.

With games against strong programs like Evanston and New Trier, the team will need to be at their best. However, this season, the team’s toughest competition might not be other teams, but rather themselves.

“I think we are all very hard on ourselves and put on a lot of pressure because we have a lot of goals for this season,” senior captain Annie Katsiavelos said.

Despite the pressure, many of the senior players agree they need to cherish and enjoy their final season together.

“Ultimately, I want us to make memories and have fun because it’s an

amazing experience,” Katsiavelos said.

This year’s team is relatively young, with seven sophomores, six juniors, and eight seniors. Coach Crawford expects the older players to take on leadership roles and mentor the underclassmen.

“We will go as far as the seniors help guide us,” Coach Crawford said.

For the seniors, many have embraced their role as leaders in the program.

“It’s important that we lead by example and be someone that [younger teammates] can look up to,” senior captain Payton Ranalli said.

She takes her coach’s expectations very seriously, intending to be the best leader she can, especially for the younger players.

With such a wide age range, the relationships among the players might be expected to be harder to foster; however, the team feels that this won’t be an issue.

“This team specifically, I feel, has the most team chemistry that I’ve experienced ever,” Ranalli said.

“Everyone has nothing but love and respect for each other, and I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls to end my soccer career with.”

successful rest of the season.” Neither a lack of wins nor less-than-perfect facilities can affect the team.

“Many spots in the infield are uneven and it makes it really difficult for infielders like myself to field ground balls cleanly,” Allegretti said. “The outfield is a mess with weird undulation, holes in the ground, and flooding issues. The coaching staff and student-athletes have been working hard to maintain their fields.”

The team won’t allow the field to impact their playing.

Instead, they focus on practicing effectively.

“[The field] isn’t the most ideal, but it doesn’t bother us as a team at all,” Orucevic said. “We do drills which reflect our failures in the game so we can improve on what we are failing at and begin to play better again.”

To take it one step further, the team is also working on their mental tenacity.

“One thing we focus on a lot is the mental side of the game,” sophomore Alex Babich said. In baseball, it is really important to control your mind and your thoughts.”

“The goal is to make a deep playoff run during the season, but, more importantly, to maintain the camaraderie,” Vaselopulos said.

Girls’ water polo ready to show improvement

Thomas Hurley Sports Editor

With a renovated pool and a new head coach, the girls’ water polo team is determined to find success despite starting off with a 1-7 record.

“It is important that we are constantly being reflective on what we do well and what we can improve,” Coach Paulina Pappas said.

Even though this is her first year as head coach, Pappas sees notable growth in the team.

“We have many great athletes with water polo talent who play outstandingly one-on-one, but we are working on becoming more reliant on each other and really utilizing each other during games,” she said.

This emphasis on cooperation makes teamwork a priority.

“As a team, we need to focus more on working as a cohesive unit,” junior Loula Korovilas said.

The team is also getting to know Coach Pappas better.

“[Our attitude] has changed from scared of the uncertainty of a new coach

to feeling excited about what she could do,” sophomore Liz McAllister said.

On March 21, the team beat Schaumburg, who are tied for second in their Mid-Suburban League. Winning 15-4, they demonstrated their teamwork, with eight different athletes scoring.

The victory also ended a four-game losing streak, but they'd thought positively all along.

“I want to go into every game confidently, even if the odds aren’t likely,” Korovilas said.

Their improvement has been noticeable, reflective of the team's dedication to communicating better.

“We have grown a lot as a team,” junior Mia Jolineau said.

Even though they ended up losing 16-2, the Hawks were successful in giving New Trier, with a record of 10-3-1, steady competition in their April 4 game against them.

“We could keep up with them, play aggressively, fend for ourselves, and work as a team,” Korovilas said. “We used all our prior knowledge...I was proud of the team and I can see an even more positive future for us.”

BATTER UP Sophomore Alex Babich prepares to swing in the March 23 game against Lane Tech. Maine South won 3-1, but their focus remains on the playoffs later in the season.

PHOTO BY HAYDEN MAGAD