Vol 63, Issue 1

Sept. 25, 2026

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 63, No. 1

LEADING

PACK

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY HANNAH HENNINGSEN

THE

Senior Tessie Bradley and juniors Bea Conroy and Emma Fuentes have led the girls’ cross country team to top 10 in the State.

See page 14

Locked Up

All bets are off

New security measures have Teen gambling on sites like been added to the school. Kalshi is a rising issue. Page 3 Page 6

Fresh Hires

New staff begin the school year at South. Pages 9, 10, & 11

Runner Up

Baseball reaches the State finals. Page 15

NEWS | Sept. 25, 2026

New Director of Buildings and Grounds plans for the fu ture Rose Hassman News Editor aine South has appointed longtime custodial staff and equipment manager, Scott Yoshioka, as the new Director of Buildings and Grounds. “I have been working at Maine South since 1993,” Mr. Yoshioka said. “I was originally hired as a part-time Summer Assistant to help the Maintenance Staff. I was then hired to work full-time as an Assistant Boilerman, then a Custodian/Sports Equipment Manager, which I did for 25 years until this school year, when I became the new Director of Buildings and Grounds.” After years of work at South, Mr. Yoshioka hopes to continue to make the school a better place in his new position. “I would like to accomplish several things as the new Director of Buildings and Grounds — the priority is to maintain a safe environment for the teachers and students,” Mr.

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PHOTO BY LIZ PALMER

CLEARING THE INBOX Mr. Yoshioka looks through his email and reviews an invoice. This is his 34th year working at Maine South.

Yoshioka said. “Having worked at this school for so long, I have had the opportunity to see the many changes and improvements. I hope to work alongside the administrators to continue to make changes that improve the school and its environment.” Mr. Yoshioka values team morale and believes that staff collaboration can help make the school better. “It is also important to me to have a positive work environment for the maintenance and custodial staff,” Mr.

Yoshioka said. He’s also begun implementing new building walkthroughs with Associate Principal Dr. Iris Smith, as a means to better accommodate staff and maintain the working order of the physical aspects of the school. “The early morning building walkthrough is an important part of my daily routine,” Mr. Yoshioka said. “It allows me to check on the condition of the facilities and see that everything is running smoothly. I can

address each need as soon as it is identified. I complete weekly walkthroughs with Dr. Smith on Tuesdays. I have an opportunity to interact with the Maine South teachers and staff about what they need and want to feel supported and comfortable in their classrooms or offices.” Mr. Yoshioka believes that having been familiarized with Maine South in his former positions gives him special insight into his new work as Director of Buildings and Grounds. Mr. Yoshioka also hopes to collaborate with the custodial staff to ensure collective success for everyone at Maine South. “Having worked for years with the current custodial staff, I am aware of their personalities and how best to communicate with them,” Mr. Yoshioka said. “I’m also very excited about the new custodians as I will be able to share my experiences with them and ensure they have all they need to be successful at Maine South.”

Hooks replace cafe lockers Home game policy updates Filip Pavlovic

News Writer ew hooks were installed by the cafeteria lunch line at the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year, replacing lockers that once occupied the space. The hooks are meant to give students a place to leave their backpacks and coats before entering the lunch line without being in the way of students waiting in line. “The purpose of the hooks is to have a place for students to hang their backpacks and their coats to avoid garbage being in the hallway and making it a safety hazard for people walking through,” Mr. Michael Edwards, the Assistant Principal of Student Services, said. Utilizing the unused locker space for a different purpose was a longstanding school renovation idea. “Removing the lockers was a long time coming,” Mr. Edwards said. “After the big renovation project a couple of years ago, a decision was made to minimize the lockers since not every student could have one. The lockers were just sitting there waiting for us to decide what we wanted to do with them. We definitely needed that space for the hooks, so we just tore out the lockers.”

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The space problem was originally created when backpacks were banned from coming into the lunch line with students. “With the current lunch line setup, we realized pretty quickly that there was a lot of theft, specifically students taking things from the cafe and stuffing them into their backpacks before they got in line to pay. Even with the staff inside monitoring, the issue became too much of a problem,” Mr. Edwards said. “The backpacks themselves also took up space; if everyone is wearing a backpack, the space becomes more crowded for everyone.” Junior Nathan Flores says that the previous lack of a proper organization system for the backpacks outside the lunch line created separate problems. “When so many backpacks were left on the floor together, some of them looked very similar,” Flores said. “It could be hard to tell which one belonged to you.” Overall, the change has been received well. “The response has been positive,” Principal Dr. Antwan Babakhani said. “The hooks provide a simple solution that helps organize the space while addressing the safety concern.”

Ally Lobo News Editor

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ome football games are now free to attend for all Maine South students who have met the requirement of 90% attendance rate. This is part of a new policy that encourages high attendance for school privileges. “We want you to go to football games and be involved,” Mr. Michael Edwards, Associate Principal of Student Services, said. “It’s better for you as a student to be involved and to be engaged than it is to just go to school and go home every day. This is our way of incentivizing you to come to school by saying, if you want to go to football games, you have to come to school 90% of the time.” This policy had been previously introduced into other Maine 207 schools in the past to encourage higher attendance. “This was a policy that was put into effect across Maine West and Maine East in years prior; specifically with attendance, the district wanted those values to be consistent across all the schools,” Mr. Edwards said. “If you couldn’t be at school at an acceptable level, according to the state of Illinois, you shouldn’t be able to attend all the fun stuff after school.

The expectation is school and academics first.” If a student fails to meet the 90% attendance requirement, they will not be permitted to enter. “You cannot buy your way into a football game if you’re below 90%,” Mr. Edwards said. “We’re not letting you in.” This has led to an especially strong emphasis being placed on not sneaking in. “When we do catch a student for sneaking in or around us, the consequences get pretty significant, because now you’re intentionally breaking a rule,” Mr. Edwards said. “If you come to the student gate knowing you’re not eligible, then you sneak around or convince someone to let you in, now you’ve told several lies, and broken several rules. We are acting on that, and we’re doing our best, but we can’t catch everything.” The updated policy makes it so students can access home games more easily, and some students support the change. “I think the policy is fine,” sophomore Grace DeWitt said. “I get that it might be unfair to people who have trouble getting to school on time, otherwise I think it’s a pretty good idea to get kids to come to school.”

Sept. 25, 2026 | NEWS

New efforts to reduce cafeteria trash makes impact Rose Hassman News Editor

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his year, Principal Dr. Antwan Babakhani and the administrative team set out to change the culture surrounding the long-standing problem of excessive trash in the cafeteria. The hands-on approach to fixing this issue, including verbal reminders of keeping the lunch room clean, have lead to a positive shift in the way the cafeteria looks and operates. “The reason why you’re seeing these changes this year is that my administrative team and I, in discussion with our faculty and staff, realized cafeteria cleanliness is important to all of us, to the whole school,” Dr. Babakhani said. “For the past number of years, the cafeteria has had cleanliness problems, and the counterculture to this problem is that we must treat the cafeteria as if it’s a class, where the expectations, guidelines, and rules are apparent.” The cafeteria’s trash problem was a pervasive issue that perpetuated other kinds of disrespectful behavior towards the school property. “The problem is a several-layer issue that extended back to before my time at South,” Dr. Babakhani said. “The lack of cleanliness had this reverberating impact: if you disrespect one major space of the building, where we all as a community dine together, it, whether consciously or subconsciously, permits you to

accountable,” Babakhani said. “When you have administrative staff there every single day to show, ‘this is super important to us, and so we hope it’s important to you’, it reflects on the students. That’s sort of the message we want to send.” The belief that all students should have a clean lunchroom to eat in motivated the current efforts to lower the amounts of trash. “I believe students deserve clean tables,” Dr. Babakhani said. “For years it was: A lunch comes in, and tables are clean; B lunch comes in, and tables are really messy; and C lunch students come in, and the whole lunch room is a mess. That’s why you also see me walking around cleaning anything that I see sticky or wet or whatnot; I wipe it down because I would want all my students to eat on a clean table.” The efforts to manage the state WATCHING LIKE A HAWK The photo on the top was taken in 2021 right of the lunch room have contributed after the end of sixth period lunch before any sweeping, while the photo on the bottom was to a noticeable positive change in taken Sept. 17, 2026 right after the end of sixth period before any sweeping. The administrative the culture surrounding keeping the efforts have left a noticeable difference in the trash after the lunch period. cafeteria clean. “I’ve definitely noticed a difference disrespect other parts of the building, mess created in the cafeteria during like the fields, the courts, or other lunch periods, such as stationing in the lunchroom,” junior Ava Lowry shared spaces.” multiple administrators in the lunch said. “There’s no more trash left on This year’s efforts to reduce the room and giving announcements the tables and there’s not as much during the lunch period has largely garbage on the floor. The past two KEEP IT CLEAN years, normally you wouldn’t be able influenced the problem. Opinion: students need to take “Since the start of the school year, to find a clean table to sit at during more responsibility for the cleanli- I have witnessed students getting lunch, but now and it’s easier to find ness of the school. up and throwing their trash away, clean lunch tables to sit at. The lunch See page 7 and holding each other laterally room overall just looks cleaner” SOUTHWORDS FILE PHOTO

Electronic locks installed on first floor as part of security plan Carolina Feucht

News Writer multi-year security plan has been underway to make our school safer. The current phase has added electronic door locks to every first-floor interior door. This comes after last year’s exterior door alarms and A-wing hallway locks. “It’s part of a safety thing where ultimately keys won’t be used,” Principal Dr. Antwan Babakhani said. “It’ll all be fobbed. And so in emergencies, all doors will be locked immediately.” In an age where in-school security is a national concern, the administrators decided to take proactive steps towards making our school a safer place. “This all started two and a half years ago when we got a safety consultant agency to come out and walk through all district buildings and identify areas of concern for school safety,” Associate Principal of Student Supports Mr. Michael Edwards said. “So at the implementation phase, one of my primary jobs is to help people understand why we’re doing this.” Additional safety training has become

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routine for administrators and has led to new implementations at our school. “We do training with the state of Illinois, but we also get training from the state department of the federal government and FEMA, which is the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Mr. Edwards said. “All research and evidence of past tragic situations at schools have started with monitoring from the inside to the outside.” There has been a big emphasis on preventing worst-case scenarios, with a focus on making it easy to control who comes in and out of the buildings. “In incidents of school violence from someone from outside of the building, the thing that puts the biggest barrier between them and harming people is doors being locked and closed,” Mr. Edwards said. “What we can do is if you’re in a classroom and you’re a teacher or a student, you have the power to put that barrier between you and someone causing harm.” The main purpose of these locks is to promote acting quickly and deliberately in emergencies. “Knowing in the back of my mind, for now at least, because it’s only the first floor right now,

and then it’ll be second and third, but all first floor doors where students are get automatically locked—That makes me feel good to know that,” Dr. Babakhani said. “If something is happening, I don’t want someone, whether it’s a student or a teacher, to think about the door being locked.” Opinions are mixed on this new system, but more people are now taking proactive steps to prioritize safety. “At the implementation phase, one of my primary jobs is to help people understand why we’re doing this,” Dr. Babakhani said. “And some people will not agree; I’ve gotten some e-mails, especially from parents, you know, who feel very strongly about what this looks like.” The messaging behind updated safety policy has been adopted by students in the recent school year. “I get that some people don’t like the door locks because they think they’re annoying but I don’t,” sophomore Helen Murphy said. “I know it’s a safety thing so it doesn’t bother me. It’s understandable that some teachers want to keep their classes safe and private.”

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NEWS | Sept. 25, 2026

District tightens additional attendance policies Milan Bejatovic

News Writer ith the start of the 2026-2027 school year, District 207 updated its detailed attendance policy to include even more rigorous consequences and student attendance incentives. District 207 initially created revised attendance policies in the 2025-2026 school year; however, the district is hoping to continue to increase student attendance. “Right now our daily attendance rate is about 97% at Maine South,” Mr. Michael Edwards, the Associate Principal of Student Supports, said. “With every initiative that a school has, we have to reevaluate it on a year-by-year basis. What we saw was that while we did a great job [last year], we still had a few areas that we needed to manage. First block tardies continue to be a problem. Offcampus lunch became a big problem, with a lot of students not qualifying and the attendance data not being clear.” Attendance is an issue that the Maine Township has been battling for years; however, the significant drop in attendance after 2020 is what triggered the new policy. “Before COVID, school attendance wasn’t

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great, but there was a very steep drop in attendance after the pandemic when it came to kids being at school and on time,” Mr. Edwards said. “The difference in attitude when it came to being in school was noticeable to the teachers, and as a result, we wanted to make sure students are present so that they can excel in their learning.” Maine South has specific definitions for excused and unexcused absences. “There’s a distinction between excused versus non-excused absences,” Mr. Edwards said. “An excused absence is an absence where the district is aware of the reason behind it; it doesn’t mean that the absence doesn’t count against you. An unexcused absence would be like if a student didn’t come to school and their parents don’t call them out.” The state of Illinois uses slightly different terminology to describe the types of exemptions regarding attendance “The state of Illinois also uses attendance terminology like ‘exempt’ or ‘non-exempt absences’, which determine whether or not the reason for a student not being in school is valid; exempt attendance codes count for things like sickness and college visits.”

New attendance plans are being implemented for students with inconsistent attendance. These support plans bring students together with their family members and school staff to discuss issues and create solutions. They aim to look at the problem at its core by getting perspectives from the truant students and their parents/guardians. “Once we’ve gotten through some initial clarifications, students have been pretty awesome about it,” Mr. Edwards said. “Teenagers may subconsciously crave structure, but they may not know that.” New incentives for students and parents are being promoted as part of the attendance policy. “We wanted to incentivize the parents because they’re heavily involved in their students’ attendance, because most students either take the bus or are driven to school by their parents,” Mr. Edwards said. Even with the added incentives, some students believe it’s too much. “I think that it’s too high of an expectation, since a lot of students have other responsibilities and shouldn’t be stressed about basic school expectations,” sophomore Tanni Ogunjimi said.

New administrative staff positions bring changes for students Emma Fuentes

News Writer s the 2026-2027 school year is underway, Mr. Michael Biondo and Mr. Michael Edwards, have taken on new positions that work towards the common goal of improving school-wide attendance rates and fostering a strong school community. Formerly the Maine South Associate Principal of Student Experiences, Mr. Edwards has shifted his attention towards all student behavioral, attendance, and safety affairs as the new Associate Principal of Student Services. “My previous position involved anything that a student experiences in their school day that’s not expressly about classes or academics like student activities, so think about clubs, dances, things of that nature, and things like building security and safety and campus safety,” Mr. Edwards said. “[Now] I help lead a team of other assistant principals that deal with things like safety, behavior, and attendance. I have a small caseload of students for whom I am the primary support for their attendance and behavior. I also lead communication about our attendance priorities and related matters. I still do the school safety stuff, but now I help more with attendance and behavior and expectations.” Social Science teacher, Mr. Michael Biondo continues his role as a teacher and History Fair organizer. However, his former position as an instructional coach was swapped with becoming the Student Activities Coordinator this school year. “I’m still teaching U.S. history...and I’m still running the Chicago Metro History Fair,” Mr. Biondo said. “[My new role is] completely different.

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PHOTO BY LOLA COSMA

REAL IN RIO Mr. Biondo (left) promotes Hawk

Pride’s ‘HoCo 101’ along with leaders Emily Pagan & Liliana Warner (right). Mr. Biondo continues his role in Hawk Pride in addition to being Student Activities Coordinator.

It’s working with a lot of teachers because they’re the activity sponsors and supervisors. It’s a lot of working with the school administrators and procedures for activities. It’s a lot of direct working with students. I think I have anywhere from four to six students who are working on new club proposals right now.” Mr. Edwards says that his new position also gives him new opportunities to interact with the school and students in new ways. “I think I’m excited about just the newness of it all,” Mr. Edwards said. “I like being a problem solver, and so having a new set of problems to solve feeds my brain. It just brings a different level of energy, and it helps you raise your energy, focus, and attention. I do miss giving [students] leadership opportunities, seeing them be leaders.

But I still get to do it in different ways.” With a few goals set in mind, Mr. Biondo is taking a unique approach to planning out the events of this year. “We want to think about the peaks,” Mr. Biondo said. “I think about how we can create those peak moments at school that everybody’s going to remember forever, that are going to be those lasting things that you look back in 10 and 20 years at your class reunions.” This year’s events would not be possible without the work of all our student organizations and faculty members. “We’ve got all these different groups, plus all the other clubs and activities working hard to make all these things happen,” Mr. Biondo said. As these two staff members step into their new roles, their excitement and energy are evident. “Hopefully, it’s a fun and exciting year with a lot of events to look forward to, and a lot of moments within the year that are gonna be exciting for students,” Mr. Biondo said. As the new Student Activities Coordinator, he’s already started planning for important Maine South annual events and spirit weeks. “We’re going to do some March Madness-type things, our normal celebrations, Hawk Fest, Underclass Uproar, and junior-senior events,” Mr. Biondo said. The new efforts from Mr. Biondo have left an impact on students. “I like the new things added to the homecoming spirit week,” sophmore Natalia Rachwalska said. “I think the Harley the Hawk scavenger hunt is super fun. I feel like the they added a lot of things from last year.”

Sept. 25, 2026 | COMMENTARY EDITORIAL CARTOON BY SONIA LOIZOS

Maine South High School 1111 South Dee Road Park Ridge, IL 60068 http://www.southwords.org

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STAFF EDITORIAL

Better student attendance but still more consequences

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istrict 207 has had a tremendous rise in its student attendance rates. Comparing last year to the year prior, the district has seen a 12.7% increase in students meeting the 95% attendance goal, as well as an increase in the percentage of students present each day, from 90% to 92%. In the district, Maine South made the highest jump in daily attendance of all three schools. At press time, 98.7% of South students have attended 95% or more of this year’s classes. Despite the increase in attendance, the school is continuing to increase consequences for not meeting attendance expectations. Similar to last year, students must maintain a 90% attendance rate if they want to attend homecoming and prom, but unlike last year, students must also keep 90% attendance to attend football games. This year, the district has made all home athletics events free (excluding IHSA playoffs). The catch is that if you have under 90% attendance, you not only can’t get in for free — but you can’t even pay to attend the events. This policy creates a contradiction in how attendance is being enforced. There is no threshold set for players, musicians, and dancers to be on the field; however, a student with 89% attendance can’t even watch the game. These consequences ultimately harm all students — even the ones with perfect attendance — because the student

experience is diminished with fewer students engaged. Additionally, upperclassmen specifically at Maine South are being held to a higher standard. Students who want a parking spot must have 90% attendance to be entered into the lottery, and students below that threshold are automatically waitlisted. To keep District 207’s attendance up, they are taking some privileges away, even if you are sick. Parent approved sick days count as excused by the state, and don’t affect your privileges — except for off-campus lunch. To leave the campus for lunch, you must be a senior, have no F’s, and have 95% total attendance including excused and unexcused absences. If a student doesn’t want their sick days to count against off-campus lunch, they must produce a doctor’s note saying that they are not permitted to come to school. Conscientious students are now showing up to school sick because they don't want to deal with going to a doctor but they also don’t want to miss out on off-campus lunch. According to district attendance data, excused absences were down 21.1%, perhaps indicating that students are just showing up ill. This puts other students at risk of falling ill and, in turn, possibly losing their privileges. According to the school, the reasoning behind taking away offcampus lunch after you have missed

class is that students need to remain in the building to complete work that needs to be made up. For many students, lunch is their only unstructured time in the day. It is not fair to expect students to use this time to work. Additionally, this means that early in the year, one missed school day leads to two weeks of mandatory on-campus lunch — an undue punishment for missing a minimal amount of school. While Southwords agrees that there should be consequences for poor attendance, the school should adjust the new policy to balance student responsibility with health and well being. One suggestion is instead of 95% attendance, there should be a 90% attendance policy for off-campus lunch, but students must not have any missing assignments. This would hold seniors to the same attendance standards as everyone else, while ensuring they stay up to date with their classwork — the ultimate reason for these policies in place. Strong attendance is important because it gives students more classroom time to learn, and attendance is positively correlated with grades. If this is the district goal, perhaps they should take GPA or semester grades into account before taking away privileges. While District 207 has seen major improvements in student attendance, policy revisions could maintain these standards without unfairly punishing students.

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

James Biagi Joseph Calderón Lola Cosma

News Editors Samantha Baynes Ally Lobo Rose Hassman Mia Teresi Commentary Editors Claire Magad Lucas Runtz Ivana Zezelj Features Editors Bart Dabkowski Alisa Durkee Samantha Schelovitzky Entertainment Editors Karin Flensborg Andrew George Gabi Shaw Sports Editors Maggie Bublitz Shannon Ottow Riley Story Production Editors Amir Alkhafaji Sonia Loizos Liz Palmer Ella Tait Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

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COMMENTARY | Sept. 25, 2026

You don’t need a date to have a great homecoming ILLUSTRATION BY ELLA TAIT

Claire Magad

Commentary Editor

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omecoming week is something students look forward to every year, from the Powder Puff game and Friday assembly to the parade and, of course, the dance. This time is fun and exciting, but it can quickly turn into a source of stress and worry. Each year, as homecoming approaches, high schoolers scramble to find a date. The thrill of being asked with a sign and a bouquet and the excitement of making a sign with friends create joy for students. For others who don’t have a significant other or someone obvious to go to the dance with, though, the thrill and excitement turns into stress. On top of challenging classes, jobs, sports, and clubs, students now feel the need to have to find a homecoming date. Many would never even consider going alone because that would be “deathly embarrassing.” But is it? If you really think about it, a HoCo proposal is just a Snapchat story that will come down

in 24 hours, and in a week nobody will remember who went with whom. You may be thinking that if you don’t have a date, you will be judged or singled out. High school is hard enough, so it might be tempting to skip and an extra opportunity to be judged. In reality, this judgement doesn’t exist. To be honest, everyone is absorbed in themselves on homecoming, so it is unlikely people’s attention is on you and your date status. If you put it into perspective, everyone is getting ready, putting their tie on, and slipping on a corsage, and no one is thinking about the fact that you don’t have a date.

We only have four years of high school, so why waste valuable time and energy stressing about whom you’re going to take a couple of photos with? If you’re not actually dating or friends with this person, you’re probably never going to look at them again. So spend that time and energy planning an awesome night with your friends. Whether you stay at the dance until the lights come on, or leave 20 minutes in so you can get ready for an after-party, you’re going to be focused on making lifelong memories with your friends. Whether you have a date or not, it really shouldn’t matter because we’re all still teenagers figuring ourselves out. We live in constant fear of judgment and pressure, but why? We’re young and free and have the whole world in the palms of our hands. This is the time for us to make mistakes, learn from them, and grow as people. This is such a valuable time in our lives, and we should make the most of it. We should stop worrying about fitting in and forcing an awkward homecoming date and instead go out with our friends, make memories that will last a lifetime, and be ourselves. You should never have to stress about a paper sign with some glitter and the letters “HOCO” on it. Homecoming is one night — don’t let a date decide whether it’s a good one.

Betting apps: the new face of gambling for teens Ivana Zezelj

Commentary Editor

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or most of history, gambling came with barriers. Casinos had doors, sportsbooks had counters, and placing a bet required physically entering a space built for gambling. Today, a bet can be placed from a phone in seconds, wedged between checking the weather, answering a text, and reading the news. That convenience is drastically changing how teenagers learn about gambling; teens are exposed to the world of gambling before many of them are even old enough to legally participate. Apps such as Kalshi are at the center of that shift. Kalshi claims it’s a “prediction market.” Users can wager on outcomes involving politics, economics, entertainment, and sports. If they predict correctly, they can score big and make sums of money; if they are wrong, they can lose it all. The company may use the language of “contracts” and “markets,” but for a teenager looking at a screen, the experience can look remarkably similar to betting. Unlike traditional casinos, these platforms do not necessarily look dangerous. Rather than poker

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tables and stacks of chips, you simply see the screen in front of you. The experience can make risking real money feel like a part of your routine. At the same time, gambling has become almost impossible to avoid. Sports betting apps have drastically increased their coverage and sponsorships. Suddenly, what was once treated as an adult activity is being packaged as another part of sports and entertainment culture. Celebrity advertising makes that problem even worse. “Euphoria” star Sydney Sweeney recently starred in a highly publicized “Just Sports” ad campaign for the sports prediction app, Novig. While Novig explicitly maintains a 21+ age requirement for its users, the nature of the marketing strategy inadvertently promotes risky behavior to a younger demographic. By using a prominent actress with an immense teenage fan base to promote a gambling-adjacent platform, the ad inevitably captures the attention of millions of minors who follow her on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where the ad was heavily distributed. Of course, gambling companies do have age restrictions. But just because they have them, that doesn’t mean they enforce them. The current age requirement screenings do not prevent teenagers from finding a way onto the app. All it takes is a photo of a 21+ ID, and suddenly, your money is at risk. Losing $10 through an app does not look dramatic. There is simply a small number on a screen,

ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA CHERONE

followed by another opportunity to place a bet seconds later. When money becomes numbers and gambling becomes a few taps, it becomes easier to forget what is actually being lost. Teenagers are constantly told to save money, and avoid impulsive decisions. Meanwhile, an enormously profitable industry has made risking money feel effortless, and socially normal. Gambling and prediction-market companies should face stronger restrictions on advertising that reaches minors, more serious scrutiny of their age-verification systems, and greater responsibility for how their products are presented to young impressionable audiences. The biggest danger is not that teenagers suddenly discover gambling. It is that gambling discovered how to stop looking like gambling.

Sept. 25, 2026 | COMMENTARY

We shouldn’t have to be reminded to clean up ILLUSTRATION BY JAYADA YUNTARATTANAWAN

Emilia Lekarczyk Commentary Writer

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f you were to walk into the Maine South lunchroom two years ago, you would be walking into an absolute mess. Empty chip bags. Food scattered on the floor. Trash everywhere. Ketchup smears. All left behind from the previous apathetic lunch period. Some students seemed to have the disgraceful attitude, “Why do we have to be responsible for cleaning up after ourselves if someone else is going to clean up after us anyway?” Lunch is supposed to be the time when students receive a break from academics and get the mental rest they need. It gives the essential fuel and social connection necessary for students to learn and thrive. But if students do not create a safe and sanitary environment to spend their downtime, enjoy their food, and connect, it creates chaos. Keeping our school clean is not a minor custodial issue — it is the reflection of our mutual respect, personal accountability, and school culture as a whole.

This year, administration has stepped in to enhance the cleanliness of our eating spaces. During all lunch periods, school administrators are positioned in the cafeteria to monitor student activity and later come around with trash bins to ensure all trash gets thrown away. That’s not the only measure that’s been taken — students are also given five-minute warnings before the lunch block ends, providing us with enough time to wrap up for the upcoming period. While the changes have certainly improved conditions, true change depends on the students’ sense of responsibility rather than just school enforcement. If we don’t respect our

cafeteria, how can we respect and be proud of our school? When environments are left dirty, it allows for germs to form, increases pest risk, and most importantly, causes a ripple effect among students. People naturally follow by example. When a few students leave trash behind without consequences, it signals to others that “nobody cares” about the shared environment, leaving them inclined to follow in that same direction. This subtle message sets the tone for the rest of the day, and transfers into how students treat classrooms, hallways, and even academics. According to a study from the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, physical clutter competes for your

brain’s attention and forces it to process irrelevant items. This increases cortisol and hinders the ability to focus and execute tasks, making it much more difficult to mentally transition from lunchtime to afternoon classes. To further improve how we treat the cafeteria, we need to shift the responsibility to ourselves. Small acts of peer-to-peer accountability can be incorporated regularly into lunch times to create positive feedback. This can range from rotating or appointing someone within a table or friend group to do 10 second scans before leaving an area, to gently reminding others, “Hey, you dropped your wrapper.” Building mindful habits and checking in with others while doing so can amplify your progress and the progress of other students around you. Accountability is the easiest and fastest way to help our school’s sanitation. The cleaner the cafeteria is maintained, the better the experience. The changes made to the cafeteria were necessary to create a cleaner environment, However, in order to maintain this, students, must take initiative and keep our spaces clean.

Everyone should be able to read cursive writing Joseph Calderón Editor-in-Chief

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have been told countless times that my handwriting is illegible. And no, it’s not because my handwriting is chicken scratch or anything; it is simply cursive. A lost art to some, I find cursive to be both an elegant and efficient way of writing. Whether in class, quickly scribbling down notes, or writing a birthday card, cursive is my go-to style of writing. Unfortunately, many of my peers seem unable to decipher this now-foreign style of writing. Cursive often gets treated like an outdated skill, something that belonged in elementary school alongside multiplication tables and spelling tests. I think society is too quick to dis-

miss it. Print writing may seem easy to read because each letter is defined separately, but even with this, printing can be sometimes harder to read. The flow of cursive makes writing more fluid, and oftentimes faster. And there are benefits beyond speed. A 2020 study in Norway found that writing in cursive activates brain waves and neural pathways used for memory and learning. Being able to write and read cursive was also associated with better outcomes for learners with dyslexia and dysgraphia. Portuguese first graders who were taught cursive were able to write for longer periods of time, attributed to cursive’s unbroken flow. Some research even suggests that cursive boosts reading comprehension. So why is cursive disappearing? Convenience. We are living in a time when tech is constantly changing communication. We text instead of calling and use autocorrect instead of reviewing, among other things. Yes, print is more convenient to

PHOTO BY LIZ PALMER

teach and read, but when you stop learning cursive, you are losing more than a style of writing. You contribute to the loss of our history. As handwriting in general disappears from daily life, we are losing our connection with the past and its stories. All the Founding Documents of the United States are written in cursive, with cursive signatures of great men. Everyone should be able to read these documents for themselves. Or imagine not being able to read handwritten letters by your parents or grandparents. Once you lose your understanding, you lose your connection.

Just because something is old or inconvenient, that does not mean it is not worth preserving. We should maintain our connection to the past. People should be able to sign their own name and read the Preamble in its original form. So learn. Read old letters. Look up how to write certain characters. Practice writing, even. We should not measure something’s value by its convenience. Yes, it is possible to get by without writing and reading cursive, but understanding it keeps us connected to our past, and those connections are worth keeping.

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of t ar science

FEATURES | Sept. 25, 2026

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Bart Dabkowski Features Editor

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hile walking through the second and third floors of Maine South, students can notice one of the many unique features of the science wing. Throughout the hallway, there are murals painted on pillars, each with artwork representing different science classes. The oldest murals were created in 2004 by a student in the chemistry class of former teacher Ms. Lisa Hoogenboom. Ms. Devin Slauter, the current head of the science department, was job sharing at the time they were created. “She had a student in her class who was very creative and very artsy,” Ms. Slauter said. “She was trying to connect the student to what they were doing in chemistry, and they came up with this idea of doing a mural as a way of showcasing her talent and also the class.” That original mural is outside room A315. Students in other classes who saw the mural also became inspired to create their own. “Ms. Liakakos had some students who came to her and said, ‘Hey, we saw this one down there. I really want to do this,’” Ms. Slauter said. “Ms. Sayre had the same thing happen. She had one or two murals done in 2008 with a couple other students that were interested.” Murals also began appearing in other parts of the A-wing. Ms. Kendra O’Halloran teaches chemistry on the second floor, and was also approached by students who wanted to paint murals both in the

hallway and inside her classroom. “The murals already existed upstairs, but years ago they built the two labs here,” Ms. O’Halloran said. “They had classes upstairs, saw the pillars, and then asked if they could do it down here.” The process of creating the murals was mostly student led, with teachers usually just supplying materials and approving designs. “We bought the paint and brushes,” Ms. O’Halloran said. “Some of them were artists and had their own brushes and materials that they liked to use. They would run designs by us, like what they were thinking of doing.” Physics teacher Mr. Jeffrey Downing, who teaches next door in A231, was impressed with the work students put into painting the art. “The ownership that the students had about that kind of thing was amazing,” Mr. Downing said. “They really worked many hard, long hours.” In 2 0 2 0 , t h e A- w i ng w a s renovated as part of the school’s construction project. Many of the murals on the third and second floors were painted over during the process. “I think people were just given instructions to paint, and there was not any thought about what was already on the walls,” Ms. Slauter said. “I think that some of them were accidentally covered up, which was such a bummer. Same with inside the classroom — one of the physics classrooms had a bunch of paintings.” When science teachers found

PHOTO BY AMIR ALKHAFAJI

PHOTO COURTESY FIRST/LAST NAME

IN-CLASS WORK A pH scale mural is found in room A227, a chemistry classroom. Many of the murals in the classroom were inspired by the pillar art.

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PHOTO BY AMIR ALKHAFAJI

IN PLAIN SIGHT These pillars are found across the A-wing hallways on the

second and third floor. The artwork represents classes like environmental science, physics, chemistry, and biology.

out, many tried to protect the murals. “We had to fight for it because students had worked so hard,” Ms. O’Halloran said. “We fought very hard to keep as many as we could in here, but there were probably two or three that were painted over. I got to pick a couple to save.“ Despite the loss of the artwork, the murals still continue to positively impact the school and inspire students. Ms. O’Halloran’s students decided to paint a mural of a PH scale inside her classroom to replace those that were lost. “The pH scale on the back of my wall was done as a surprise from one of my classes,” Ms. O’Halloran said. “They painted that mural for me because my other one was gone. In one night, they painted that entire pH scale up there. I came in the next day and saw it and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’” Many science teachers are also willing to be involved in similar projects in the future. “I know pretty much everybody in the science department would be happy to have students do this again because everybody loved it,” Ms. Slauter said. “Everybody thought it was so neat. You would see a lot of people interested in doing that.” Senior Reuben Krzesaj has taken many science classes throughout his high school career, and has often seen the murals while in the science wing. “I really liked them,” Krzesaj said. “They really gave the class some extra personality. I liked the chemistry ones

which had things like the periodic table. ” Ms. Slauter believes that the murals can also help inspire students to take science classes. “Maybe students who don’t know too much about the types of classes go past this mural, and they’re like, ‘That looks really cool. I’m kind of interested in that,’” Ms. Slauter said. Although the murals weren’t what convinced Krzesaj to take many of the science classes, he still likes the representation of the classes. “I still would’ve taken the classes, but I did really like seeing the representations of the different science classes,” Krzesaj said. “It would be great to see all represented.” Reuben believes that other departments, like the math department, should also create similar murals to encourage students to take advanced classes. “We should probably have math murals that include calculus and multivariable topics,” Krzesaj said. “If visualized correctly, it could encourage people on the fence to take the class.” Ms. Slauter also believes that the murals can show the creative side of science. “I think it just brought some interest, some color, to the entire hallway,” Ms. Slauter said. “Sometimes students tend to think that science is a little bit more rigid, that there’s no creativity to it. I think that this was a way for kids to kind of see the other side of science.”

Sept. 25, 2026 | FEATURES PHOTOS BY LIZ PALMER AND AMIR ALKHAFAJI

New Hawks

t h g i l F e k Ta

A new group of teachers, administrators, and support staff join Maine South, ready to help students soar.

Arya Cham, Bart Dabkowski, Alisa Durkee, Aria Fioravanti, Karin Flensborg, Andrew George, Alex Halstead, Lily O’Malley Erin Pedersen, Shauna Ronan, Samantha Schelovitzky, Hannah Seol, Gabi Shaw, & Mia Teresi Entertainment & Features Staff

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here are 34 new teachers and administrators joining the Maine South community this year. These new faculty members are eager to make an impact in the Career and Technical Education, English, Fine Arts, Health and Wellness, Math, Science, Social Science, Special Education, Student and Family Services, and World Language and Multilingual departments.

Ms. Mackenzie Bell has joined the Student Support Team as an Alternative Learning Opportunities Program advocate. “I’m here to work one-onone with students who maybe are having a hard time,” Ms. Bell said. She previously worked as a special education teacher, where the interactions with students outside of the classroom sparked her interest in student advocacy. Ms. Bell is looking forward to learning more about Maine South. “It seems like there’s a lot of school spirit,” Ms. Bell said.

Ms. Mariangela Bonasera is the new head of the Multilingual department, teaching ELA 4 and Italian 1. She lived in Italy for a year teaching English. “I fell in love with teaching,” Ms. Bonasera said. “I got my master’s in teaching at Dominican, where my counselor told me to get into teaching Italian.” She is also a Maine South alumna. “I think I always had the dream to come back here, I just didn’t think it was possible,” Ms. Bonasera said. “Everyone has been so kind, so I am immensely appreciative of that.”

Mr. Luke Burkum is joining the English department teaching English 2 at Maine South and Creative Writing at Maine East. As a Maine South graduate himself, he wanted to make an impact on students as a teacher. Mr. Burkum currently coaches boys’ cross country with Mr. Fermanich, his former teacher. “There are a lot of great opportunities at Maine South with the coaching, the curriculum, and just the opportunity to teach at a bigger school with more resources and highly motivated students,” Mr. Burkum said.

Mr. Amir Cavic is a new Physical Education teacher at Maine South. He realized he wanted to work with young people instead of his original plan of becoming a physical therapist. Not only is he passionate about physical activity, he displays his passion for Maine South and Hawk Pride. “I’m really excited to experience more of our school community and traditions,” Mr. Cavic said. “It’s inspiring to see how much pride Maine South students have in their school and how eagerly they support their peers.”

Mr. Ryan Dela Cruz is new to the Math department teaching Math 3, AP and regular Computer Science. His interest began at Maine West, where he worked as a COACH tutor and helped students with math. “Everyone only ever needed help with math and I was good at it,” Mr. Dela Cruz said. After growing up with the district, Mr. Dela Cruz returned to District 207 once an opening became available. “I’m really excited to teach Computer Science — it’s been fun at both levels,” Mr. Dela Cruz said.

Dr. Yahaira Diaz is one of Maine South’s new school psychologists. She believes school psychology allows support for students and their families to be more accessible. Dr. Diaz is already familiar with Maine 207, having previously worked at Maine West. Her experience in the district drew her to Maine South, where she looks forward to collaborating with teachers in the Student Support Team (SST). “I think the energy just feels really positive, and that’s really exciting for me,” Dr. Diaz said.

Ms. Elizabeth Eichin is a new member of the Foreign Language department teaching French 1, French 2, and French 2 accelerated. She started learning French in middle school, where she enjoyed the change of pace from traditional classes. “I think the cultural aspects and getting to understand the world through another culture’s eyes is really important,” Ms. Eichin said. She previously spent a year abroad teaching English to French students. “It was very cool, but also definitely very challenging,” Ms. Eichin said.

Ms. Madison Evaristo teaches Fashion Merchandising and Early Childhood Development. She grew up in the area, where she heard of Maine South’s activities and academics. “It was really exciting to be a part of a school community that is so involved with their students and where students are just known to be so successful,” Ms. Evaristo said. “I am excited that I have sets of classes where I’m with those students the entire year. It just helps me grow more meaningful, lasting relationships with them.”

Ms. Jamie Hamilton is joining Maine South’s Science department teaching chemistry and physics. She previously worked in Tennnessee, where she taught chemistry for a decade. “I started out teaching biology only, and the school I was teaching at needed someone to pick up a couple of overflow sections of chemistry,” Ms. Hamilton said. She has found Maine South welcoming. “I love the school. All of my co-workers are super, super nice and helpful,” Ms. Hamilton said. “The students are great.”

Ms. Emilia Jodlowska is new to the Career & Technical Education department teaching Early Childhood Development. Ms. Jodlowska has appreciated her first few weeks at Maine South, “I’ve been enjoying just getting to know the students, making sure that they’re learning, but that we’re also having some fun.” She is excited to create her own teaching style. “I love having my own students and just putting my own knowledge and content into it and making the classroom my own,” Ms. Jodlowska said.

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FEATURES | Sept. 25, 2026

Ms. Claudia Kadzielawa is new to the Health and Wellness department teaching Health at Maine South, and Health and Physical Education at Maine East. Ms. Kadzielawa graduated from Maine West. She is looking forward to giving back to the community she grew up in. Ms. Kadzielawa teaches students practical skills. “I’ve always been passionate about living a healthy and active lifestyle,” Ms. Kadzielawa said. “I also enjoy helping students learn about the importance of taking care of their physical and mental health.”

Mr. Brian Kane is a new member of the Social Science department. Mr. Kane teaches World History and Civics and Government. He studied political science in college due to his interest in elections. Mr. Kane enjoys traveling, which influenced his love for teaching and learning about other cultures. Mr. Kane is very excited for this school year, due to the friendly community, school culture, and a personal connection. “I am thrilled that my 99-year-old grandma lives down the road from school so I can visit her more often,” Mr. Kane said.

Ms. Robin Khan is a new member of Maine South’s Student Support Team as a psychologist. “I complete evaluations as part of special education processes. I also work with students one-on-one if they need support with things that are going on at school,” Ms. Khan said. Ms. Khan aims to make students feel safe and secure. Prior to working in psychology, she worked in early childhood development. “I still wanted to be able to work in a setting where I could work with kids,” Ms. Khan said.

Ms. Rebecca Lapp is new to the Special Education department, and she is Maine South’s newest speech language pathologist. She has been teaching for seven years, but has worked at multiple schools before coming to Maine South. “I’m excited about being really plugged into the school community here,” Ms. Lapp said. Ms. Lapp is also a Maine South alum, which is where she discovered speech therapy and why she decided to work at Maine South. “I am really just grateful to be back and be a Hawk,” Ms. Lapp said.

Ms. Claire Neuberger is a new member of the Mathematics department teaching Math 2, Foundations of Problem Solving, and Precalculus Compression. She enjoys encouraging students to view math differently and adapt a new attitude. Growing up in the area and learning that her mother attended Maine South, Ms. Neuberger decided to apply to a job opening at Maine South. “All the students are great, all the staff are great, and I couldn’t ask for a better school to work at,” Ms. Neuberger said.

Mr. Joseph O’Hara is a new member of the Science department, teaching Physics and Space Science. He studied English in college, but later made a switch. “I had always wanted to go into the sciences. I pivoted in college [to English] and I regretted it,” Mr. O’Hara said. “So, I went and got a master’s in science education.” He plans to rework the space science curriculum. “Space Science is one semester, and I’m kind of replanning a lot of that curriculum,” Mr. O’Hara said. “It’s a passion. I really love it.”

Mr. Mark Ori is a new member of the Special Education department teaching Seminar, Earth and Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Physics. Prior to teaching, Mr. Ori played professional baseball, and is now taking on the role as head baseball coach. He was once a student at Maine South, and has been enjoying teaching. “This is where I grew up,” Mr. Ori said. “I’m very passionate about Maine South, especially being a product of [Maine South High School].”

Ms. Sydney Pape is a new member of the Maine South Career and Technical Education department. teaching Culinary and Interpersonal Relationships. Ms. Pape’s interest in the subject began after taking a family consumer science class, which changed how she felt about school as a whole. Ms. Pape is looking forward to being a part of the Maine South community. “I think I’m just excited to be here. I think that’s really it. Just to experience being a Hawk,” Ms. Pape said.

Ms. Monika Smaga is a new Math 1 and Math 3 Compression teacher this year. She always enjoyed math in high school, as well as being a tutor for other students. This is Ms. Smaga’s fourth year teaching, but Maine South has been a very welcoming place for her. She is excited to see the traditions here at school like the homecoming parade and becoming a Hawk. “I’m excited to build those closer relationships and really feel like a Hawk with everyone,” Ms. Smaga said.

Ms. Carolyn Stadnyk is a new member of the English department teaching English 1. Ms. Stadnyk started out as a teacher’s assistant at Maine West before transitioning into a long-term sub position at Maine South last year. She is excited about planning lessons, and looks forward to seeing her students grow. “I enjoyed the English language, especially since it wasn’t my first language to begin with,” Ms. Stadnyk said. “I think because I had to work really hard for it, I just fell in love with it.”

Ms. Stephanie Tadda is new to the Social Science department teaching World History and AP Psychology. She has long wanted to become a teacher and became interested in history after taking AP World History while in high school. She was previously a student teacher at Maine South. “It’s been nice to see all of my old coworkers again, the people who helped shape me to be who I am as a teacher,” Ms. Tadda said. “And the students here are really warm and wonderful.”

Ms. Noemi Terrazas has joined Maine South’s Student Support Team as a counselor. Prior to being a counselor, Ms. Terrazas was a teacher. “I knew I wanted to do counseling from my own experience in high school, wanting to be that support for students,” Ms. Terrazas said. She learned about Maine South through a current teacher. “I had heard great things about the school, the students, the community,” Ms. Terrazas said. “When I saw a job opportunity come up, I felt like I couldn’t pass it up.”

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Sept. 25, 2026 | FEATURES

Ms. Annie Lee is a new teacher in the World Language department, working as a Spanish 3 teacher. Before coming to Maine South, Ms. Lee worked with children of various ages in Quito, Ecuador to develop their English language skills. Ms. Lee believes that learning languages is one of the best ways to connect with different people and cultures. “A subject is just a vechicle to connect with people. By learning Spanish, you’re learning a language; you’re learning a whole other way to connect with people,” Ms. Lee said.

Mr. Declan Lyons is now a teacher working in the Special Education department after working as a teacher’s assistant last year. He teaches Seminar and English 1-4. He was inspired to work in special education by the teachers who worked with his brother, who has down syndrome. His time at Maine South solidified his career choice. “When I got the chance to come back, I was really happy,” Mr. Lyons said. “I’m excited to have a good year.” This year he is looking forward to the Hawk Pals events and overall school spirit.

Mr. Giovanni Martinelli is a new World History and U.S. History teacher. This is his third year at Maine South, after spending the past two as a teacher’s assistant. He has always enjoyed history, and has wanted to pursue a career related to it. He’s also looking forward to helping students in any way he can, and to baseball, for which he was an assistant JV coach last year. “I’m excited to continue building connections with my students and helping them achieve their dreams and goals,” Mr. Martinelli said.

Ms. Molly Miklosz is a new teacher in the Fine Arts department, teaching Art 1-3 and AP Art. She has always wanted to pursue art, and being a teacher has made it even more fulfilling. “[My first few weeks] have been so stimulating, creatively,” Ms. Miklosz said. “It’s been so fun to be around students who are so creatively engaged.” She is looking forward to the art shows, where she gets to see student’s portfolio come to life. “It’s like really connecting with a younger me a little bit, too,” Ms. Miklosz said. “It’s really cathartic.”

Mr. Tyler Pennington is a new World History and AP World History teacher this year. He was inspired to teach history due to an interest in how decisions from many years ago still shape our world today. After learning about an open teaching position from his former teacher and coach, Mr. Fritz, he made the move to Maine South. So far, he has loved the positive energy and hard-working students. “I am looking forward to seeing all the traditions and customs that Maine South has,” he said.

Mr. Edward Resendiz is a new teacher in the CTE department and teaches AP Computer Science Principles and Cybersecurity. “I started out as a math teacher and then got thrown into computer science in my third year of teaching,” Mr. Resendiz said. He is excited to continue working with students. “The kids are great, and I’m having a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to learning more about cybersecurity and learning more along with my kids,” Mr. Resendiz said.

Ms. Nora Ross is a new nurse in the health office. She has worked as a nurse for 26 years, mostly in operating rooms. Later, she decided to become a school nurse, working at a few different school districts before here. A highlight of her week is seeing the marching band perform in the halls on Friday, which reminds her of her time as a student at Maine South. “I love on Fridays when the band walks through,” Ms. Ross said. “It’s very nostalgic for me and it’s just a great way to start the day.”

Mr. Michael Shirley is a new addition to the Social Science department this year, teaching both AP World and World History. Along with teaching, he is also taking over the head coaching position for the Mock Trial team. His inspiration behind becoming a teacher stems from a long line of teachers before him and a particular high school teacher. “I was inspired by an old AP Euro teacher and he made history fun and made teaching seem like a blast,” Mr. Shirley said.

Dr. Amy Tucker is a new Assistant Principal of Student Supports. Dr. Tucker had worked in a position similar to this for 14 years before ending up here at South. “I was looking for a change. I had been at other schools for a while, and I know Dr. Babakhani and Mr. Leavenworth,” Dr. Tucker said. “When I saw the opening, I was really excited to have an opportunity to work with them again, and it was perfect timing.” She noted that everyone has been very kind and welcoming. “M

Ms. Lily Weder is a new member of the Health and Wellness department, teaching Health alongside a class of Yoga and Fitness. Growing up, her own P.E. teachers became her role models and inspired her to pursue the same kind of career. In her first few weeks, she has jumped right into coaching girls’ cross country and has loved building connections with students. “My goal is to bring a vibrant energy to every class, inspiring students to embrace lifelong movement,” she said.

Ms. Cara Wilson has always known she wanted to teach, but her love for math developed through the challenge the subject provided. “I love all things puzzles, and everything in math just felt like a puzzle,” Ms. Wilson said. After spending the last few years coaching teachers and overseeing curriculum, Ms. Wilson decided she wanted to get back in the classroom. “I really missed being with students,” Ms. Wilson said. Since arriving, she has found Maine South to be very welcoming.

Mr. John Wylie is joining the Math department teaching Math 2 and Math 4 STEM. Mr. Wylie discovered his interest in teaching while working with high school students. “I thought back to all the amazing teachers I had in high school and was like, ‘Okay, maybe I want to teach,’” Mr. Wylie said. Previously, he taught math at a high school in New Mexico through Teach For America. Mr. Wylie is still adjusting to the block schedule, but has found the transition to be positive.

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ENTERTAINMENT | Sept 25, 2026

Sip Studio

ST RS

Pink Paradise Studio Swirl

Entertainment Editors

“Studio Swirls” are blended frozen drinks. Pink Paradise is made with coconut and dragon fruit, which was noticeable through the vibrant, layered look of pink and white. The drink was creamy, with a milky and fruity taste. The texture was thick, similar to that of a milkshake. It actually tasted more like strawberry yogurt than either dragon fruit or coconut, a result of the combination of flavors. However, this nostalgic feeling that came with the taste of strawberry yogurt was a little overshadowed by the overpowering sweetness of the drink. If it was a little less sweet, it would be a perfect drink.

Island Pop Bobachiller

Salted Caramel Boba Milk Tea

The Island Pop Bobachiller was a simple tropical drink with a coconut base and mango popping boba included. The boba itself was enjoyable, giving a burst of fruit flavor and a great texture. However, the drink overall lacked some depth and didn’t have much else going on flavor-wise. One main drawback was that it was a little too sweet, causing the coconut flavor to get lost. While it offers a pleasant combination of mango and coconut, a touch of less sugar and more flavor complexity would make it a standout menu item.

The new Salted Caramel Boba Milk Tea was fantastic but came with one small issue — the boba itself. The actual drink was delicious. Unlike many drinks with caramel, the flavor was not too overpowering or rich; instead it had a nice underlying flavor. The tea was also not very sweet as one might expect. Unfortunately, the boba which is supposed to be a nice chewy, brown sugar boba, instead falls apart in your mouth and lacks freshness. Overall, the drink would’ve been flawless if it weren’t for the brown sugar boba. PHOTOS BY LIZ PALMER

New this school year, the cafe offers fun drinks for students crafted by Sip Studio, with each costing only $6. Southwords tried three of the many new options to find out which sips outshine the others.

Karin Flensborg, Andrew George, & Gabi Shaw

The real reason movie attendance has skyrocketed Caitlyn Kim

Entertainment Writer

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s the resurgence of attending movie theatres a result of a new generation’s mark on “cinema,” or a result of pre-existing titles and the appeal of A-listers? With this past summer’s releases, it seems that movies — and more prominently, moviegoing — has begun to re-emerge as a consistent occurrence. However, as much as movies like “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” “Obsession,” and “The Odyssey” have captivated audiences on the global scale, the pattern in overall increased moviegoing starts with the summer of 2023: the summer of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” This contrast in the world of media and entertainment found itself timed perfectly enough in the aftermath of a worldwide pandemic

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that it sparked a wildfire within audiences craving distractions. In other words, “Barbenheimer” was the perfect coincidence for the global circumstances. Internet trends and viral excitement centered around upcoming movies across platforms. With the movie lineup this past summer, it’s hard to pinpoint if the real reason theatre attendance has increased is because of genuine creative storytelling or not. “Obsession,” directed by Curry Parker, hit theatres May 15, 2026 and grossed over $400 million worldwide with just a $750,000 budget. It became the highest grossing movie ever made for under $1 million. Scenes from the movie became internet memes lasting through the entirety of the 2026 summer. The most interesting detail of “Obsession” is not its tantalizing plot — the leading stars and crew were primarily made up of indie filmmakers and actors. This prompts the argument that the recovery of moviegoing is genuine. Both “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey” reached record-breaking box-office num-

ILLUSTRATION BY SUZY KUZMINSKI

bers, with “Brand New Day” setting the highest domestic opening weekend of all time with $360 million, and “The Odyssey” setting the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time globally. However, if a closer look is taken at both movies, the difference between them and a movie like “Obsession” is clear: the breakout roles of “Obsession” versus household names like Zendaya and Tom Holland. Being associated with these names and franchises immediately gave these movies a leg up, an unfair advantage that most movies don’t have.

The line between genuine and “manufactured” interest can be much thinner than it usually seems to be, depending on the moviegoer. It’s hard to tell when looking at the theatre seat statistics in a larger, sociological sense because we as humans are all so different. Of course, this is not to also say that the sides don’t mix, because of course they do. In the end, there’s no single reason for the increase in movie attendance — but rather a combination of genuine storytelling and star-studded blockbusters. As long as people are enjoying the films, the resurgence of moviegoing is a win-win.

Sept. 25, 2026 | ENTERTAINMENT

PHOTO BY SOPHIE CHEN

Nuich takes on the Jimmy Awards

Olivia Brentanos

Entertainment Writer

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SKIRT STAKE Senior Nathan O’Brien, sophomore Cait Brennan, junior Emma Rodriguez, senior Isabella Tabet, and junior Charlotte Looby (left to right) rehearse a scene from “Sense and Sensibility.” The cast has been rehearsing with period-accurate skirts and suits to prepare for the performances.

Fall play brings the 19th century to the stage Ellie Ivanov and Kylie Larson

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The cast will train in movement and mannerisms more accurate to the time period, making the performance feel more authentic. “Our winter play director [Samantha Kaufman] is also a movement director, meaning she specializes in different theatrical movement, one of them being period movement,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said. “She’s actually going to come in and work with our students for a week, where she’s going to train students the etiquette of how you would walk into a space, walk out of a space, sit down, stand up ­­— what you do when a woman walks into a space.” The play is also sure to draw emotion and opinion from the audience. “I hope that [the audience] feels like they are rooting for the characters in this play,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said. “I hope that they’re also feeling nostalgic for a story that they may have known for a long time. I also hope that their minds are open to the brilliant work of Jane Austen. I think she’s a very well known author that not a lot of people make the choice to experience and to have it play out in a theater production in front of them. I hope it opens their eyes to all the amazing literature that has made up our history.” “We haven’t done a period piece since before I was even at this school,” Moriello said. “The audience can expect to hear some older, elevator-ish type music — we’re trying to play with sound as much as we can — and overall expect a great experience that’s more traditional than we’ve been used to the past few years.” With its combination of romance, drama, comedy, and history, “Sense and Sensibility” is going to be a unique production this October. Whether the audience is familiar with Jane Austen’s classic or never heard of it, the show aims to bring the 19th century to life. The production take place at the Watson Auditorium on Oct. 15, 16, and 17 at 7 pm. “Audiences can expect to see so many talented and dedicated actors doing what they love on stage, and trying to portray a story that we haven’t really seen from Maine South in a few years,” Moriello said.

JIMMYS FIT Jane Nuich (‘26)

rehearses a piece from “Hadestown.” The costume she is wearing was created by broadway professionals.

PHOTO COURTESY JANE NUICH

Entertainment Writers sing long skirts, buckled-heels, and teacups, the annual fall play is traveling back through time with “Sense and Sensibility,” an adaptation of Jane Austen’s famous 1811 novel, which follows the Dashwood sisters who become impoverished after their father dies. The play explores relationships and themes of love, social class, and gender. The period-piece aspect of the show will bring a fresh experience to viewers, as the school has done more modern plays in recent years. “Sense and Sensibility” is a marked change from what the Maine South audience is used to. “We haven’t really done a production that is based on a universally well known romance novel,” director Mr. Joseph Fitzpatrick said. “It’s going to make the past funky. We are sticking to the time period, but we are going extreme with colors, patterns, some furniture and set design. It’s going to feel really fun and light.” For this first semester, Mr. Fitzpatrick will also have help directing from his student teacher, Ms. Mia Petillo. “As [Mr. Fitzpatrick’s] student teacher, I’m working as an assistant director, where I’m bouncing ideas off of him, working with smaller groups, as well as assisting the crew,” Ms. Petillo said. “I’m also working as a costume shop manager for this production, so I will be hanging out with the costume crew a lot as well.” Taking place in the 19th century, the play will present a completely different era. The dialogue, movement, and storyline are much different from ours today. “In modern plays, you can walk and talk the way we would today, but everyone was more poised and professional in a period piece, so the language itself is super different and it can come off as sarcastic if you don’t play it correctly,” junior Alyssa Moriello said. Moriello is playing Lucy, a character who is known for her changing social status. Her character is an example of the relevance of social classes during the 19th century.

aine South graduate Jane Nuich (‘26) was selected to perform at the Jimmy Awards this summer on June 22, 2026 as the character Eurydice from the musical “Hadestown.” The Jimmy Awards is a high school musical theatre program that selects two students from each regional theatre program to rehearse with Broadway professionals in order to compete on a Broadway stage. “You spend 12 days in New York City training with Broadway professionals and rehearsing in the Juilliard School of Music, practicing for and creating a big show that you put on at the end of the week,” Nuich said. Before students are eligible to be accepted into the Jimmy Awards, they must audition for and go through a regional program, which, for Nuich, was the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards (IHSMTA). High schools across Illinois are nominated for their musical productions, actors, and directors. Nuich was nominated for her role as Eurydice and won the award of “Best Performer in Actress Role,” so she was selected to represent Illinois at the Jimmy Awards. “This process was really fun,” Nuich said. “I had a great time preparing for it and being at IHSMTA was such a fun experience.” Preparing for the Jimmy Awards is demanding. Nominees had rehearsals every day there with Broadway professionals from around the country. The professionals worked with the attendees to help them prepare for the performance. One key component of the Jimmy Awards is the character medleys, where attendees are placed with a group of other students and perform a snippet of a song they sang in their production. All 116 nominees audition to be a part of this medley, and only 40 are chosen to perform. Nuich was selected to perform, and sang “All I’ve Ever Known” from “Hadestown.” Nominees travelled throughout New York city on a bus. They visited Times Square, where each of the nominees were displayed on the billboards. “[Seeing my face in Times Square] was the craziest thing ever — it didn’t even feel real,” Nuich said. Overall, the Jimmy Awards is a place where students skilled in musical theater can share their talents and love for performing. “Having workshops with all of these crazy talented professionals and incredible directors that helped work on the show with us was amazing, and it was just really cool to make those connections and have those experiences,” Nuich said.

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SPORTS | Sept. 25, 2026 PHOTO BY MAX GVUZD

Girls’ cross country is ranked 10th in state Margaret Filatov, Riley Story, & Joseph Calderón

Sports Writer, Sports Editor, & Editor-in-Chief

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fter a fast start to the season, the girls’ cross country team is ranked 10th in the state, with senior Tessie Bradley ranked 12th individually by Illinois Running News. These rankings have kickstarted their momentum. Maine South competed at the Mike Kuharic Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 5. The Hawks earned first place as a team in the varsity 5k race. “The first meet went absolutely amazing,” Bradley said. “We placed first, and we knew that having a strong summer was going to translate into the season.” The start of the season offers new opportunities to let athletes show how they’ve been working on their endurance, consistency, and better race times. “Success comes from consistently showing up for your teammates and offering genuine encouragement, which creates the kind of motivation that pushes everyone to challenge both each other and themselves,” senior Holly Pettersen said. The team has a strong dynamic with 13 returners on the roster. “We were pretty successful last year with a young team so we knew we were going to be successful this year,” head coach Jeffery Downing said. “Given all [the returners], they knew exactly what structure and system were going to work for us this year.” Hopes remain high for rest of the season. “It’s really exciting to watch [Tessie] progress and see how far she can go,” Coach Downing said. “She was 19th at the State meet last year and the question is now if she could be in the top 10 or even better. But also, to see these girls understand that they could be really good and to watch them grow together will be the exciting part.” This is just the beginning for the Hawks. “I’m really excited for the seaON PACE son that we have Senior Tessie Bradley runs at the Bill Dawahead of us, and I son Warren Invite on can’t wait to see all Sept 19. At press time, the great things Bradley was ranked that the girls 12th in the state by will do,” Bradley Illinois Running News. said. PHOTO HANNAH HENNINGSEN

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PUTT FOR PAR Senior Bailey Purcell follows through on a putt at Wilmette Golf club on Sept. 9 in a match against New Trier. Purcell placed fifth after shooting a three-over 38.

Boys’ golf sets conference goals John Dobrinska and Billy Kotty

Sports Writers he boys’ golf team, coached by Adam Kwiatkoski, got off to a slow start with some challenging tournaments against top competition. The Hawks have begun to turn it around as they start to translate their practice into strong meet performances. Maine South opened the season with a sixthplace finish at the nine-team Deerfield invite on Aug. 24, followed by a 160-144 loss to Evanston on Aug. 25. The highlight of these competitions was senior Bailey Purcell, who earned the best score on the team in both matches. “Bad rounds teach you a lot about yourself and your game,” Purcell said. “We started off kind of rocky,” senior Joey Jankovic said. “We weren’t doing our best, but I think as the matches went on, we’ve been getting into the swing of things and conference play has been very tough recently.” Despite some setbacks, Maine South was able to string together multiple quality rounds on difficult courses, including a 319 18-hole score at the Libertyville tournament on Sept 8. “It’s tough playing different courses, especially

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ones we haven’t played on before,” Jankovic said. The Central Suburban League has proved to be a difficult environment for golf this year, with six top-100-ranked teams in the state. Maine South ranked just below at 106th. Despite the competition within conference, the team remains optimistic about their ability to keep up. “We have three powerhouse schools close by,” Jankovic said. “We compete pretty closely with teams like Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South.” Coach Kwiatkoski kept 13 guys on varsity instead of the usual 12. To keep the competition high among the 13 which brings along a new incentive to do well this year. “Because of the extra player, we have to use an extra black JV bag due to there being only 12 varsity white bags,” Purcell said. “Whoever shoots the highest gets the black bag. It’s an incentive for us shoot a lower score and overall makes us perform better.” As the season has progressed, the Hawks have the postseason in their sights. The regional golf tournament, hosted by New Trier this year, takes place on Sept. 30. “I want to make the top 10 at state,” Purcell said. “It would be nice to bring some guys with too.”

Girls’ golf builds early momentum Erin Przekota Sports Writer

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he varsity girls’ golf team has started the season with a 2-1 record at press time. For these girls, every competition this season has been a new opportunity to learn and improve as a team. “Having a good mindset and staying motivated throughout the season has helped me improve significantly,” senior Maddie Ahrens said. Even though the Hawks have faced competitive opponents early in the season, holding each other accountable to work hard every single day has made a big difference for the girls. “We face stiff competition in the CSL conference,” Coach Lindsay Pisano said. “I encourage the girls to focus on their own game and not get too wrapped up in other players’ performances.” The girls have created a positive environment that allows them to see constant improvement

in their gameplay. Many are still working on perfecting their swings. Heading to the course swinging for an hour at practice every day creates good habits that set them up for success. “I’m really hoping we develop not only our physical skills, but also our mental skills,” senior Audrey Gress said. “Having a positive mindset on the course allows you to not get in your head and relax.” Mindset is a main priority for the girls, and it shows throughout every competition. You will always see this team with smiles on their faces and lifting each other’s spirits. “Allowing your mind to focus only on the shot in front of you allows me to zone in,” Gress said. Having a positive mindset allows the team to continue playing strong. “I love spending time with these girls, and I want to end the season on a high note as a team,” Ahrens said.

Sept. 25, 2026 | SPORTS

Baseball finishes second in the state Scarlett Shembeda

Sports Writer

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ast year, the boys’ baseball team had an impressive season with a final record of 2616, finishing as the final state runners-up. This is the program’s first time making it to the 4A state championship in 60 years. “We were the underdogs,” senior Evan Adamczewski said. “I felt like that was what pushed us through the playoffs was that no one expected us to go farther than we did in previous years, and that’s what makes teams dangerous.” Last season, one important factor on the way to the boys’ success was their strength of schedule. By challenging themselves throughout the season against multiple highly skilled teams, it helped the boys stay motivated towards a common goal: going to state. “We always load our schedule up with the best teams possible to prepare us for playoffs,” Adamczewski said. Another way these boys stayed driven was through leadership. Many of the younger boys looked up to the seniors, while the seniors made sure they were staying focused and driven. “Seniors kept us in line, made sure we were always doing the right thing, and worked hard in practice,” senior Bryce Jurek said. “They kept us engaged so we wouldn’t let us down in the game.” Many of the players agree that the turning point of the season was when they realized they had a shot at state after winning against Mt. Carmel.

PHOTO BY LOLA COSMA

WINNING TEAM The varsity baseball team advances to the state final on June 12 with a 9-1 victory in the state semi-finals against Naperville-Central. The Hawks lost 6-7 against Libertyville in the championship on June 13.

“It was a high-scoring game — 19-17,” Jurek said. “Braeden Cremmins came into the game and tied it up.” While these players made Maine South baseball history, they were also able to make many unforgettable memories. They were also able to help each other reach their large common goal while also being able to push each other to reach their own personal goals. “When I got called up to varsity my freshman year, we ended with a record of 12 and 24,” Adamczewski said. “I knew I wanted to lead this team to something greater, and I felt like we

accomplished that.” Looking ahead to this season, since coach Lorenz and many seniors left Maine South, these boys will have to adjust to new coaching while also continuing to push the new players that will join the team this season. “We have a lot of returning starters,” Jurek said. “We have a new coach coming in, which we are all excited about, and we will continue pushing toward our goal, which is winning state.” This year, the large difference will be the role they have to fill: being the state runners-up. “We are no longer the underdogs,” Jurek said.

Juiris breaks school diving record in first meet

Elizabeth Wasielewski

PHOTO BY JILLIAN FLYKE

Sports Writer

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reshman Ella Juiris started her high school diving career with a record-breaking performance, beating the previous record by 37 points. She set the record with 277.20 points, up from the previous record of 239.50 points in 2018. “I was really happy,” Juiris said, “The person who had the record before me was a really good diver, so I was surprised.” Juiris had no idea she broke the record by an impressive 37 points. “I’ve been diving for four years,” Juiris said. “I got into it because my sister did it too, so I did classes through the park district.” Juiris is always looking for ways to continue to build her skills and improve as an athlete. “I really want to get my front and half pike down and increase my difficulty level,” Juiris said. “You need to be really resilient, and you need to not give up and push through.” By maintaining this attitude, Juiris managed to break the record. Although her coach knew that she was capable of success, he had never expected her to start the AIRBORNE Freshman Ella Juiris dives into the pool season by breaking records. on Friday, Sept. 18 in a meet against Vernon Hills. The team “You don’t ever go into a meet expecting some- won with an overall score of 115-70.

body to break a record, but having watched her dive in practice for a couple of weeks and having known the previous record, I knew she was a better diver,” Coach Donald Kura said. As her coach, Kura maintains high expectations for Juiris — especially knowing what she is capable of. “I’m happy for her, but not super surprised,” Coach Kura said. “I’ve seen her dive in practice… I know that she has been diving for a long time and she is really talented.” However, Coach Kura wasn’t the only one excited for Juiris. “When they announced her name we were all cheering for her,” senior Sophia Wandel said. “We were all really happy for her.” This record-breaking meet is only at the beginning of Juiris’ swimming and diving career at Maine South. Juiris gaining this experience will help her excel in ways that will lead her to success throughout her freshman year and the rest of her high school diving career. “I want her to be able to enjoy her freshman year, and every meet is going to be a new experience for her, so I just want her to have the best end-ofseason meet that you can,” Coach Kura said.

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CROSS COUNTRY | FLAG FOOTBALL | FOOTBALL | GOLF | BOYS’SOCCER | GIRLS’ SWIM & DIVE | GIRLS’TENNIS | GIRLS’VOLLEYBALL

Girls’ flag football continues its strong streak Melina Cesur Sports Writer

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he flag football team’s positive environment has directly contributed to the team’s success this season. “Our positivity and ability to have fun are the reasons we have been so successful,” senior linebacker and rusher Maria Teer said. At press time, the Hawks have won 10 out of 16 of their games this season. After all the accolades the team received last season, in which Coach Carlos Panizo was selected as the Chicago Bears Girls’ Flag Football Coach of the Week, the team continues getting honors. Senior Emerson De La Cruz and sophomore Tina Majka were recently featured in the USA TODAY Sports Pre-Season All-American Flag Football Team. The flag football team has developed considerably in these few years. “When I started freshman year, it was only a club,” senior Nellie Ossmo said. “We had about five games, and everyone was just learning the rules of the game. As the years went on, the game rules progressed, and the number of teams grew.” What started as a small group playing a few games has become one of the strongest teams in the country.

PHOTO BY SOPHIE CHEN

ON THE MOVE Senior Maria Teer runs the ball against Fenwick on Sept. 10. The team won 45-0 against the Friars. “At the beginning, it was a club, but it was never treated that way,” senior Maria Teer said. “Everyone was naturally talented and was there to have fun and hang out with friends. Once the sport ramped up, our team focused on winning but kept the free spirit and happiness throughout every game.” Since its establishment at Maine South and at surrounding schools, the sport has continued to progress. “It’s become an environment of competitiveness, and just so much

growth,” junior Avery Kopf said. “Growth is the biggest thing about this sport.” The positive chemistry and the bond between the players have contributed to the Hawks’ recent success. “Everyone is really supportive of each other, and even though we’re competitive, we still have a lot of fun together,” junior Laila Abukhalaf said. With Regionals starting on Sept. 9, the Hawks continue their training in hopes of a good playoff run. “It’s a short season,” Kopf said. “Once

playoffs start, we’ll really see how these programs have progressed and how Maine South has just pushed our girls to be the best they can.” The team works towards setting a positive environment while also competing to win games. “I hope that we can enjoy the season as much as we can no matter what,” junior Aubrey Intarakumhang said. “We can always find a way to have fun with everything, but also have the intensity and focus to improve and win games.”

Boys’ cross country begins race towards state Isla Craig Naples Sports Writer

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fter placing third at the 24-team Mike Kuharic Cross Country Invitational, the Maine South boys’ cross country team is proving it has the experience and determination to compete with the best. The team is currently ranked No. 17 in Illinois Running News’ Class 3A rankings, led by a varsity lineup featuring five senior runners. Senior captains Alex Czerwonka and Collin Frye, four-year varsity runners, have helped guide the Hawks as they work toward their ultimate goal: qualifying for the IHSA State Meet in Peoria. Throughout the season, injuries have been one of the biggest challenges. “A lot of our top varsity team had injuries and other medical setbacks,” Frye said.

PHOTO BY RYAN MAIGLER

PREPARING FOR FLIGHT Seniors

Brenden Tremblay and Gavin Cook on Sept. 17 prepare after school for the Minooka Flight Races. The Hawks won the Flight invite on Sept. 19.

However, the team continues its push to success. “As a team, we have been working our hardest both inside and outside of practice, whether that be finishing our workouts, doing core to the best of our abilities, or lifting,” junior Nathan Looby said. The Hawks have also made changes in practice to improve strength and prevent injuries. “We changed up a lot since last year,” Czerwonka said. “Now we are doing a lot more strength training and stretching, including more plyometrics, core and lifting.” After missing out on qualifying for state in recent years, the boys are even more motivated to qualify as a team. “One of the obstacles that our team has had to face is not qualifying for State these past three years,” Czerwonka said. “We cannot control the past, but we can control the future.”