The Talon Vol. 14 Issue 2 Nation Ford High

Volume 14 Number 2

Nation Ford High School

January 2021

1400 A.O. Jones Blvd.

Just Dance!

Fort Mill, SC 29715

Move to the Music!

Pages 6&7

Opinion Feeling His Way to the Finish Line Falcon Tony McKinney runs track despite visual challenges Page 10

‘Summer’ reading ineffective Page 11

2 • News

Fort Mill District to Prodvide COVID-19 Testing

by Khonnie Kounbandith During the Fort Mill School District meeting on Dec. 8, Superintendent Dr. Chuck Epps announced that the district will be conducting COVID-19 tests for symptomatic students and staff.

According to the Fort Mill School Board highlights, only students and staff who show symptoms or have a contagious household member can receive COVID-19 testing.

As well as updating the community on district testing, Dr. Epps reported that the district will be following the new CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and SC DHEC (South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control) guidelines.

On Dec. 2, the CDC and SC DHEC updated how long an individual should quarantine after being in close contact with a COVID-19 positive person.

“The new quarantine guidelines, due to being a close contact to a confirmed positive person, have been shortened from the original 14 days. There is now a seven-day or 10-day option,” Nation Ford Nurse Lori Stout explained. “The quarantine guidelines are based on the individual’s last date of contact with the positive person.

“The new guidelines allow a person to exit quarantine after completion of day seven if they have a negative test result in hand,” she said.

“They are not allowed to get COVID-19 tested any sooner than day five of the quarantine. If they choose not to get a COVID-19 test, they are allowed to exit the quarantine after completion of day 10.”

Before winter break, Nation Ford turned to online learning for the remainder of the week before break, from Thursday, Dec. 17 to Friday Dec. 18. As for returning to school after break, the Fort Mill school district announced that all schools will be virtual from Monday, Jan. 4 to Tuesday, Jan. 5.

On Jan. 6, B-day middle and high school students return to face-to-face learning. Prior to the return, the Fort Mill School District board held a meeting, providing more information regarding on-site COVID-19 testing. Dr. Chuck Epps and Dr. Amy Maziarz, Executive Director of Special Services, announces that symptomatic students and staff can take an antigen COVID test at the Catawba Ridge High School athletic facilities.

However, according to the CDC guidelines, antigen tests are ‘less sensitive’ when detecting the virus. At this time, the board has not decided when district-wide testing will take place.

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As a contact in Columbia, high school student Santiago Ortiz will receive the boxes of supplies and distribute them to elementary school students in his hometown of Bogota. Students there live in poverty, and they are supposed to be in virtual learning due the COVID-19 pandemic, however, they do not have access to internet or supplies. Nation Ford seniors Alex and Vanessa Carodona will send the supplies mid -January so students can receive for the start of the school.

Santiago Ortiz

Sisters Create Fund For Elementary School Students In South America

by Alex Cardona Since March 2020, children in Colombia, South America began e-learning due to the pandemic.

Children living there have no access to computers or any way to communicate with their teachers.

Knowing about the poverty project, senior sisters Vanessa and Alexandra Cardona helped to create a donation service project for Nation Ford’s Beta Club.

“When we were kids and visited Colombia, our parents' home country, and we saw the poverty and the children who didn’t have the supplies and the resources we did,” Vanessa said.

“And now that we are in Beta Club and have an ability to make a change, we want to.”

According to Exclusion from Education, 1.2 million Colombian children (11% of all school age children) currently do not receive any formal education.

As Beta Club president, Vanessa is able to create new opportunities to volunteer and donate.

“In times like these, it is hard to find service opportunities that can be available to both at school students and virtual students. Colombia donation can help both,” Vanessa added.

Vanessa’s goal is to have 2-3 boxes of school supply packages and send them to two cities: Santa Rosa de Cabal and Bogota. Not only is she trying to get supplies such as notebooks, pencils, crayons, and drawstring backpacks, she is also taking monetary donations.

Since areas of Santa Rosa de Cabal and Bogota are on the outskirts of town and in the rural areas, the schools supplies benefit children more because illiteracy rates among children over 15 years are almost four times higher in the countryside - 12.5% compared to 3.3%.

A 50-pound box filled with supplies cost at least $120 to ship.

“What we wanted to do was give the same privilege to kids in Colombia that we have with all our resources,” Vanessa said. “Learning without supplies can be very ineffective and frustrating so these supplies can make things a little easier.”

Since shipping takes 10-15 days, by the end of January, the Cardonas hope Colombian students will be entering the new school year along with a few new supplies.

january 2021

News •3

Left: Inside the Groninger, USA manufacturing building circa 2019, Nation Ford graudate Will Jaeger (‘16) machines a part for a filling machine requested by a customer. Right: Programming a filling machine for a customer, Nation Ford graduate Caleb Adams (‘15) circa 2018 in the Groninger, USA manufacturing building.

Photos courtesy of Susan Brackett

Fort Mill Schools Alums Build Equipment To Transfer COVID Vaccine To Public

by Liv Miles Six Nation Ford alumni contributed to the engineering/designing, manufacturing, and servicing the technologies used to transport Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine while serving as apprentices at Groninger medical manufacturing company in Charlotte, NC. These students were granted a scholarship based on their high school transcripts, teacher recommendations and a 15 hour interview process.

Only five out of about 70 students are selected every year for the six-week paid summer internship at a company of their choice. This scholarship and internship provides them with travel opportunities, higher education, and opportunities to learn other languages all paid for by that company.

“You have to love working with your hands, but it’s also important to work with your head,” explained Work- Based Learning Coordinator, Susan Brackett.

Jason Rodean (‘15), Caleb Adams (‘16), Joel Kophazi (‘16), William Jaeger (‘16), Andres Cardona (‘16) and Levi Carlson (‘17) work with Groninger, a company that produces customized machines for medical corporations.

Groninger created a machine that helped put out the Pfizer vaccine but is unable to provide any information about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Students interested in internships of all kinds should contact Mrs. Brackett, Work-Based Learning Coordinator for the Fort Mill School District.

School Nurses To Be First In Line For Virus Vaccinations

Director expects small cast, crew yet still hopes to recruit a couple more actors

by Connor Lambert Similarly to 2020, this year’s musical will be vastly different from normal. Titled “Quaranteen,” this school year’s musical, will have a different production strategy because of COVID-19, the play will be a Broadway musical showcase.

“Normally we would produce a full length musical in the spring, but because of COVID we had to rethink things this year,” theatre director and drama teacher Cheri Addison said. “So, Ms. [Lynn] Marsh, who helps me with the shows, and I decided we should go in a different direction.”

length musical in the spring, but because of COVID we had to rethink things this year.”

– Cheri Addison, drama teacher

by Khonnie Kounbandith

January 2021

Spring Musical Theme Based On Quarantine

“Normally we would produce a full

Despite S.C. requirement access still to nurses not available at press time Under the South Carolina COVID-19 Vaccine Plan in distributing the vaccine, phase one of three is taking place Jan. 15 where healthcare providers and workers in healthcare settings will be the first to receive the vaccine, this includes Nation Ford nurses.

However, at press time, nurses still don’t have information on how to get access to the vaccine.

“We have not been given the details yet,” Nurse Lori Stout says. “The Governor, Henry McMaster, has advised those in Phase 1a to be scheduled by Jan. 15th.

We are considered 1a, but have not been informed yet of where/when we will get the vaccine.”

Phase one is divided into three sub-units, Phase 1a, 1b, and 1c, which were created based on the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) government website healthcare personnel, high risk citizens over the age of 65-years-old, and infrastructure workers will be among the first to receive the vaccine in Phase one.

As 2021 progresses, the SCDHEC predicts there will be a larger number of vaccine doses available to high risk citizens of all ages, and to those who want to be vaccinated in phases two and three.

Teachers are expected to have access to the vaccine in coming days as well, though the logistics are still undermined as well. Children and teens do not yet qualify due to lack of scientific studies at this time.

During the “Quaranteen: A Musical” auditions on Dec. 9, Sarah Willoughby (‘22) auditions in chorus teacher, Mr. Thessalonia Graham’s, classroom for a roll in the cast of the production. Photo by Liv Miles

With many responsibilities, school nurse Lori Stout prepares a feeding tube for a special ed student on Oct. 7, 2020.

School nurses are often the first to identify students or staff who may have COVID-19 symptons. Photo by Khonnie Kounbandith

“The Governor, Henry McMaster, has advised those in Phase 1a to be scheduled by Jan. 15th. We are considered 1a, but have not been informed yet of where/when we will get the vaccine.”

– Nurse Lori Stout

She wanted to offer the Nation Ford students a performance opportunity but on a much smaller scale, she said.

“Since we are all going through this pandemic together, we thought we would take songs from Broadway musicals and create different meanings for the world we are living in today,” Mrs. Addison said.

The musical showcase is very difficult to do and perform on a very small scale -between 10-12 actors --- and she hopes that she can increase the cast to 14 actors.

“We do hope to be able to have a small technical crew to work on this production so we will need to come up with some set design ideas,” she added.

Mrs. Addison predicts the show will take place on May 21-22, 2021, and there are not many alternatives planned right now, such as putting the show online.

Mrs. Addison wants everyone to experience the show live with social distancing.

Another option is that the actors avoid rehearsing all at the same time and instead do that on different days for different scenes or songs.

With all of the restrictions due to COVID-19, the production will be a challenging task, but one thing is certain -“Quaranteen” will be show like no other.

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4 • Features

Animal Crossing Nintendo Game Best Seller

“I think it’s like a little oasis away from the chaos of the world.”

by Megan Jafarace In only nine months, Animal Crossing New Horizons has become the second best selling Nintendo Switch game — selling 26 million copies. It’s brought in fans of previous games, lovers of the excellent design, and even those bored during quarantine.

Despite the whopping price of $60, advertisements and fans on social media quickly encouraged many to give it a try, and those who did realized that it’s well worth the money.

The point of New Horizons is to design things to your liking, create a village of cute animals, and interact with friends along the way. There isn’t much competition, and the player doesn’t always have to pass checkpoints to move forward. Some may lose motivation with no competition, but others appreciate the free atmosphere it creates.

“It seemed like it was a nice quiet escape, which was a nice change during the start of the pandemic,” said Justin Tapia (‘21) — something many fans of the game express. Other than house taxes and the stress of recruiting new villagers, it’s quite a relaxing game.

Unlike the previous game in the franchise (New Leaf) where you take a train to a new town, New Horizons flies you to a deserted island – starting from scratch. The outstanding graphics are brought to players’ attention almost instantly — from the calming ocean, to the fuzzy skin of the animals, and even the dazzling museum. You are greeted by two new animal villagers and the debt collecting raccoon –– Tom Nook, as well as the two raccoon shop owners – Timmy and Tommy.

New npcs (non-player characters) will show up as time goes on, so players will

never be bored of their animal visitors.

For the first few days, players are taught how to craft DIY recipes, fish, catch bugs, set-up tents, earn bells (currency), and so much more. It’s different from most games in the sense that it’s paced on real-world days – not on the game’s own time.

The game is simple yet fun, and that’s what a lot of players enjoy about it.

A new aspect to the franchise many players enjoy is “villager hunting” where you go to islands and recruit new animals to be your neighbors. The game includes over 300 villagers of different styles/species, and some even become fan favorites.

But only one can be invited each day.

“My favorite villager is Bob the cat, I like the way he looks,” said Tapia.

The villagers are quite interactive as well, each with a specific personality and a plethora of phrases. They can even ask for favors – like getting them a bug or fish. It’s hard to be lonely in a game like Animal Crossing.

On top of villager interaction, players can hang out at friends’ islands or even send them letters and presents.

It’s helped friends or those in relationships hang out and have fun together, despite being in quarantine and unable to see each other in person.

The design element gives players something to show off or just enjoy on their own, as well. Players can decorate their homes, villagers’ homes, or even the land on their island with furniture they find or buy from npc’s along the way. They can upgrade their house by paying off their debt with bells or customize it. They can also move homes and shops around — a feature that previous games didn’t dis-

play. And if player’s can’t have their friends come and rate the island, the npc’s surely will. Once players have invited five villagers, they can unlock the feature to get an island rating from a yellow puppy – Isabelle . Or if they want an input on their home – Happy Home Academy sends home ratings every Sunday.

Players can express their fashion style as well, hedgehog npcs sell clothing and eventually open ‘The Able Sisters’ — a fashion store that sells a new selection of clothing each day. Eventually players will have a full closet of clothing, and be free to try out whatever styles they please.

With such a wonderful game as Animal Crossing New Horizons, it’s hard to have complaints — though there are still places to improve.

Players are limited to one island per Switch, which is annoying for siblings. And what’s even worse, is that only the person who boots up the game first helps npcs open up shops or move buildings, leaving the person sharing the console at a disadvantage. Sadly, each island is limited to ten villagers – there seems to be too many beautifully designed animals to just choose a few. Some players feel that the game moves too slow, yet there is always an option to change the clock and move forward a day. Despite the small issues, the pros outweigh the cons.

“I think it’s like a little oasis away from the chaos of the world,” said Tapia. New Horizons came out at just the right time. It’s a comforting and lovely game — and after completing what’s required, the objective is up to the player.

Taste of Margaritas Take-out Amid Pandemic Not As Satisfying As Dining In For Expense

by Ayden Hash & Riley Crutchfield If you’re looking for large portions and you have some money to spend, Margaritas Mexican Restaurant is a great stop along the road. With the pandemic, you may opt for take-out, which is what we tried.

Margaritas, located off of Route 21, next to the SCDMV. Currently they are doing both dine-in and take-out orders, and they are open from 11 a.m.

- 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and on 10:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Despite COVID-19 restrictions it is still open for business, for both take out and for indoor dining. If you choose to go inside the atmosphere is inviting and filled with decor giving the whole place a warm feeling.

The Honey Chipotle Chicken is made up of chicken strips cooked in Margarita’s special honey chipotle pineapple sauce, served with rice, and beans. The chicken and pineapple was such a great combo and the spiciness wasn’t overwhelming the flavor. The rice and beans were very tasty, my rice wasn’t dry at all. The beans have an addition of cheese on it.

The quality of the food could have been better, but that may be because it was a take-out order and the box had grease built up. This drags the overall quality of the food down. The complimentary chips and salsa that came with the order were pretty good, but

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the salsa was a little too runny, which again, was probably because of the take-out order. My order only took 1015 minutes to be ready, I was in and out in no time.

The pollo con crema comes with three flour tortillas. They were hot and ready as well. It was a good portion of food even despite being take-out, and after finishing I couldn’t eat anything else.

The quality of the food, in particular the sour cream sauce, was severely lacking. Instead of using a liquid sauce , it seemed more like they had only slightly heated, store bought sour cream placed on the chicken.

Both the sauce and chicken were both lacking in queso, as well. It was missing the one ingredient that would give it that lasting flavor instead of the sour tang of the cream sauce.

We recommend dining in, but because of the current state of COVID-19takeout is the safer option. Before COVID-19 had everything locked down, we had been to Margaritas on multiple occasions in which the environment of the restaurant was awesome.

The music is very upbeat and the workers are extremely friendly.

We would give the restaurant 3.5 out of 5 stars -- pretty pricey despite the amount of food, and the quality of the takeout meal may not be worth it.

Margarita’s dish Honey Chipotle Chicken: Chicken strips and cooked in Margarita’s special honey chipotle pineapple sauce, served with rice and beans, all for $12.99.

Photo by Riley Crutchfield

January 2021

Features • 5

COVID-19 Impacts Mental Health

by Alexandra Cardona As the pandemic continues to impact the nation, experts say COVID-19 also impacts children’s social behavior, development, and mental health.

Kelly M. Chrimes, Mental Health Counselor at Nation Ford, has been getting a steady number of referrals in general, where most diagnoses she sees right now are depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Constraint from lockdown can have a long term negative effect on overall psychological well being. The National Library of Medicine demonstrates that the nationwide closures of schools and colleges have negatively impacted more than 91% of the world’s student population.

According to the Elsevier Public Health Emergency Collection, that the lack of school structure can result in disruption of routine, boredom, and lack of innovative ideas in academics and extracurriculars.

“This is a challenging time for so many people with or without mental health issues,” Chrimes explains.

“However, I do believe those more susceptible to mental health issues are already at a disadvantage.”

At the same time, many students have to take on new responsibilities on virtual days, such as getting a parttime job, childcare, and school work.

Especially during the pandemic Chrimes says self-care is crucial.

“I also encourage my kids to take a short walk or move their body in some way, even if it’s for 10 minutes,” Chrimes said. “[It’s] so important to get outside for some fresh air. It’s also so important that during this time [that] students try to connect with loved ones or friends – even if it’s done virtually.

Media can impact the mindset for students as well.

“I also try to tell my students to remember to keep an eye out for how much time they are watching the news/social media about COVID-19,” she said. “I think it’s important to be informed, but it can at times become too much and creates more anxiety/ panic for some.”

Though the numbers of Chrimes student mental health visits have decreased unexpectedly. She only serves

students who are eligible for medicaid insurance – and can only bill that one insurance carrier.

“However, that does not mean that a person can’t connect with a great counselor and work through this trying time,” she explains. “For example, someone who struggles with depression may already have trouble connecting to people outside of their house. Well now, during this pandemic it’s so easy during this time to find yourself isolating more than usual which significantly increases depressive symptoms.”

The American Psychological Association counts 15 million youth with a diagnosable mental health disorder. More than 80 percent of youth in need of mental health services do not receive services in their communities, with color and LGTBQ+ youth being the most likely groups not to receive needed care.

As for other children who are not eligible for state funded mental health counseling, they can turn to parent paid therapy or the guidance counselors offered at school.

Taylor Schaible, Nation Ford Guidance Counselor, also believes Social distancing and quarantining absolutely have the potential to affect the social behavior of adolescents.

“Students are limited or missing out on critical and common social interactions, events, and experiences, both in and out of the school environment.” said. “These experiences may be a simple group project in school, a milestone birthday party, or prom. This can lead to students feeling more isolated, utilizing more screen time, and relying on social media platforms to stay connected with their social circle.”

Because of the hybrid scheduling, Schaible is noticing fewer students visiting guidance.

“Social relationships and connectedness provide adolescents with a sense of belonging and support,” Schiable continues. “When the opportunities to spend quality time and engage in the typical events and interactions of adolescence are taken away or limited, this can cause a feeling of isolation, loneliness, and reliance on social media.

This, in turn, can contribute to increases in depression and/or anxiety.”

However, as for long-term effects,

REVIEW

Finishing her homework with a cup of coffee, a costomer sits outside Café Moka on Dec. 4.

REVIEW:

Quest for Best Local Coffee Shop:

Cafe Moka far better than Mr. Chang’s

by Abigail Weber I was on a quest to find the best coffee shop. The rules were simple: the place needs to be clean, and have a comfortable and sociable environment, the menu has to have a large selection of fresh and appealing flavors, and lastly, the prices should be affordable she hopes that despite this time of isoand fair. lation and loneliness, a disconnect from Located on the corner in the Crossa child’s social fabric will not have long roads plaza in Tega Cay, Mister standing mental health effects. HowevChang’s Coffee House is a local spot er, she warns that children could lack to chill with friends or get a lukewarm necessary social skills or experiences cup of coffee...LUKEWARM!! No one that could affect them long term. likes lukewarm coffee!

“My advice for students feeling the When I entered the shop, the atmoeffects of quarantine and COVID-19 sphere was bright and welcoming. The would be to: try to keep a routine as music wasn’t too loud or overbearing. much as possible, keeping the typical The walls were painted with red flowschool or at home routine will assist ers, and on one wall a giant painted in keeping a sense of ‘normalcy’ and panda makes a heart with its paw. It benefit mental health,” Schiable says. wasn’t really cohesive with the other “Second, explore safe social distancing walls because the theme of the restauactivities to participate in with family rant was… rustic with flowers? Or and friends to keep active with social maybe just pandas and flowers. Anyinteraction. Third, tap into nature! We ways, there were long tables and sofas are fortunate to live in an area where that complemented the atmosphere. A we can continue to enjoy the outdoors group of teenagers studied while enin some capacity year around. And joying their beverages. lastly, express gratitude – jot down all The drink I got was lavender bubble the things we are thankful for during tea, for $4.59 the tea was watered down these times.” but the flavor of the lavender was fresh and subtle. Mr. Chang’s offers a good selection of flavors, and the wait was about 25 minutes. Twenty-five. Minutes. That’s a long time for bubble tea and a cup of lukewarm coffee. While I was waiting, the table where I sat had tiny crumbs all over it, and the floor looked like it hadn’t been swept for a

by George Gebrail couple days. Overall I would give Mr. Chang’s coffee a 5/10.

Next stop was, Cafe Moka, located in the plaza in Waverly. The coffee shop is smaller than Mr. Changs, makNECK GAITER ing it feel cozier. The decor has a rustic, retro flair to it. Cafe Moka has a mini gift shop where they sold cute stickers and coffee mugs.

BANDANA Contrast to Mr. Chang’s, Cafe Moka has a huge coffee selection with many flavors to choose from. I got the peppermint mocha. It was delicious, hot coffee and cost $4.20. The employees SURGICAL MASK were friendly and the ambience was clean and welcoming. Since the coffee shop was filled with other customers, I had to sip my coffee outside. I would CLOTH MASK differently recommend Cafe Moka if you need a place to study while enjoying some tasty coffee.

All Types Of Masks Not Equally Effective

by George Gebrail Around the time Covid hit, the CenAn extra layer is critical. ters for Disease Control recommended Cloth masks bought at a store are wearing a face mask almost every- decent -- more are at least 50% protecwhere you go outside of your house tive, and cloth masks with a filter are because masks are made to prevent pretty good because they can increase you from getting Covid or to prevent protectiveness 35% - 70%, and and you from spreading it. However, any they are recommended. old mask isn’t good enough. The pubNeck gaiters could be good or bad lic needs specific guidelines. depending on the material. Most gaiA bandana is not a regular mask, ters are made with a really soft materibut it’s better than nothing. Accord- al, where air can easily go in and out. ing to research from Florida Atlantic That’s no good at all.

University, a sneeze droplet can reach A surgical mask is recommended, 8 feet. A bandana shortens it to 4. A but should not be re-used. The N95 cloth mask could be good -- and bad mask or kN95 mask is really recom-- depending on the fabric and the con- mended and could keep you safe from struction. spreading it and getting it.

If you are going to make a cloth Overall, the N95 is the best mask mask and use it, make it at least dou- for protection. The CDC does not recble-layered. ommend the general public using that A T-shirt mask (a mask made out of mask because it should be saved for a T-shirt), is not really good to use. The use by healthcare professionals in hosstretchy material may be comfortable, pitals. The N99, N100, R95, and P95 are but it is not safe for you or others to all very very good masks and recomwear as a mask. mended.

January 2021

TYPES OF MASKS

HOMEMADE T-SHIRT MASK It may be comfortable, but it is not safe!

A neck gaiter could be good and bad. It depends on the material used.

A bandana can shorten the distance of sneeze droplets from 8 to 4 feet.

A surgical mask is good protection. Do not reuse a surgical mask.

A cloth mask with a filter is a lot better than a normal cloth mask.

SOURCES: HEALTHGRADES.COM

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6 • centerspread

n a ce E D e v h o T lution of

Discovering important aspects of dance through time

“One of the most iconic decades of music is bound to have a dance history to match.”

D

by Layla Haliq

ance is the most fluid type of art in existence. Some form of dance has been around almost as long as human life. It was used in rituals by Egypt and India all the way back in 3300 B.C. Carving out cultures, dating time periods, and bringing people together is one of the most important aspects of dance. Dance has evolved through time, and each generation its own unique style.

The 1900s, however, is known for its dance evolution through the years.

Paris actually brought over the dance wave of the 1920s after World War I. The war was over, and America was about to enter its glory days. Dances range from the shimmy to the waltz, which is still used today in competitions, stage production, or TV shows like “Dancing with the Stars.” Flappers rebelled against the older generation and were the first young women who pushed against boundaries and fought for economic freedom for women at the time.

Dance clubs popped up everywhere as a place for people to mingle, dance, and drink since prohibition was well on its way. Jazz, which was started by African Americans, played through the streets almost every night as people danced till they dropped. The ‘20s is one of the most influential decades in American dance history.

The 1930s and ‘40s swung onto the dance scene with the Lindy hop, the boogie-woogie, and other swing dances of the time. Swing dance wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the brilliant idea to combine swing music and jazz.

At this time, the Great Depression hit, and many people were suffering. This is when people turned to dance as a way to escape from reality. Professional ballroom dancing was becoming a more popular form of entertainment.

This was a critical time for dance because it showed people could use dance as an outlet, and the mixture of various types of dance to give jazz, tap, and ballroom. However, it was a swing dance that dug into the significance of this era.

The rock and roll era was one many would never forget. The rebellious acts shown by the 20’s flapper was rivaled by the teens of the 1950 and ‘60s. The song “That’s All Right” was released in 1954, which launched Elvis Presley’s career and paved his road to stardom.

The influences of movies like “Grease” had a major role in not only music but fashion. Poodle skirts and leather jackets mixed with the Bunny Hop left a stamp on dance history still seen today.

The 60s was the birth of new thinking. Teenagers breaking their parents’ tradition and dancing to the beat of their o w n

drums. The Beatles and “West Side Story” had come along by this time, setting up the 60s as one of the most iconic dance eras.

The twist caught on because of a song written by African American musician Hank Ballard. The song got back to the host of the “American Bandstand” TV show, making the song one of the most popular songs and dances of the decade.

Then it was goodbye to the Beatles and welcome to neon lights and upbeat moves of the 70s. Before the 70s, disco remained underground. The influence of Latin dances helped form the disco generation.

Popular Latin dances such as the samba and tango got the ball rolling for disco. Disco was shunned until the late 70s because of its risque expression. Eventually, it was accepted through several artists along with the movie “Saturday Night Fever.” Clubs back then were called discotheques, originating in Paris while Nazis camped in France. Laws that were put in place prevented live music, leaving people with jazz records.

The hustle took effect, and dances like YMCA are still around.

About this time, The Jackson 5 had taken the stage introducing all kinds of dances and reaching various age groups. However, the limelight of disco ended with the 70s.

One of the most iconic decades of music is bound to have a dance history to match. Bands like Led Zeppelin, Mötley Crüe, AC/DC, Queen and Fleetwood Mac, and artists like Micheal Jackson, Elton John, Madonna, and Lionel Richie music broke boundaries and set the bar for music today.

By the 80s, the film “Dirty Dancing” introduced new dance styles like lambada, which comes from Brazilian roots and was very fast-paced. The world of heavy metal and punk came to life in the era. KISS and Iron Maiden were defining features for this time in the 80s as people headbanged their way through the decade – as well as Moonwalked. Micheal Jackson, again making history, made the moonwalk one of the hottest dances of the era. he 90s definitely ended the century with a bang. Hip hop took off, and the big names of the time were MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, and the Spice Girls. The defining point of the 90s were line dances like the Macarena, the Electric Slide, and of course, the Cha-Cha Slide.

The techno scene of the 90s came from the city of Ibiza as clubs started appearing and beats from the music appeared in songs

by Janet Jackson. MTV took over television screens, creating a diverse universe for all kinds of music. Partner dancing was deemed “cool” again.

The revival of swing was also another major part of the decade. This generation has left the biggest impact on people today, from the music to the dances.

The 2000 and 2010s can be classified as the perfect blend of hip hop and pop. Brittney Spears, Soulja Boy, and Taylor Swift are prevalent artists known for very different music types. The dances of the time vary as well. The 2000s would not be the same without Singles Ladies and Crank That. The influence of many groups, such as NSYNC, had been one of the defining points at this time.

The 2010s is known for its boy band craze. People can’t look back at the 2010s without including Big Time Rush in the memory. The 2010s is also one of the most rapid-growing of the decades. No one would think that the Dougie and Renegade are a part of the same time period, but that makes the 2010s so special.

Dance has been known as a form of expression throughout the decades, especially for teenagers. From the waltz to swing, dancing became a form of communication and expression.

Of course dance wouldn’t be what it is without the music. No one wants to moonwalk to ballroom music.

They go together. The reason why each decade is distinct is because of the music played during the time.

The 1980s is known for classic rock, while the ‘90s was famous for rap music.

Dance has been molded through time and continues to be today. People now don’t go out every night and do the Twist.

Just like in 20 years, the dance trends will be totally different.

It’s the younger generation that turns it into their own. Who knows what the rest of the 2000s will be remembered for.

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January 2021

Centerspread•7

Faculty Flashback Teachers share memories of their high school dance days

January 2021

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he bump. The pony. The Woah. Dances and music have evolved throughout time, but entering 2021, new songs and dances quickly become popular.

Every teen generation has launched its own trends.

1970s Mainly known for its eclectic music taste, the ‘70s brought bluesy soul, gospel, and disco music, and a variety of different genres of music to dance to.

“Although I think the ‘50s and ‘60s had the best music of all time. I think the music of my generation was much better to dance to than today’s music,” said Assistant Principal Pam Pittman, who was in high school in the 70s.

The most popular song was “Staying Alive” by Bee Gees; however, some of her favorites were “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, “We are Family” by Sister Sledge, “Brick House” by Commodores, and “Old Time Rock and Roll” by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band.

Media Center Specialist Julie Hooper graduated from high school in the 1970s and grew up in Fort Mill.

“Mostly you just free form danced,” she said. But popular dances also included the pony, the swim, the bump, the twist, and the shag -- the state dance of S.C. At her school proms, most of the time, they would dance with someone, but in later years, they all just danced separately.

Mrs. Hooper says that the dances didn’t really go with specific songs besides “The Twist” by Hank Ballard.

The 70s picture teens wore jeans, hip huggers and bell bottoms, and sometimes even tie-dye wife beaters. Platform shoes were all the rage for both boys and girls. Prom attire for guys included pastel-colored tuxes, both with and without tails, and ruffled shirts.

1980s During the 80s, disco was becoming less popular, and pop-dance music was becoming trendy. Michael Jackson was arguably the most famous artist of that time.

“I would say ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson was probably the most popular song when I was in high school,” said Assistant Principal Ernest Poag, who went to high school in the 80s. “My generation’s music was created with more instrumentation where most of today’s music is created electronically.” he said. “Most of that is due to innovations in how music is made today. Great music can be created today from a laptop/tablet/phone whereas during my generation, you always had to record in studios.”

2000s The 2000s was known for its hip hop dominance through music. “I personally think music in the 2000’s was the best, mainly because that’s the music I remember growing up, and it brings back memories,” said special education teacher Lindsey Bobrowski. “One of the most popular songs when I was in high school was ‘Live your Life’ by T.I.,” she said.

She also finds that music is a method of relaxation and enjoyment for people and that listening to music helps her forget about certain life situations she may be dealing with so she can just relax.

2010s The 2010s was a time when R&B and pop music shone. “It seemed like no matter where I went or what radio station I played in the car, I remember hearing a lot of Rhianna from the years 2005-2010,” said history teacher Jordan Callahan.

He explained how music keeps his spirits high when he needs it and how it has evolved through time.

“If I get goosebumps when I hear a certain voice, it sort of wakes my soul up,” he said. “It can also just make your toe start tapping for no reason. No matter what sort of day I am having, I can always rely on music to cheer me up, or even keep me motivated. Music is a very huge part of my life and soul.”

He also explained artists today have sampled and learned from previous successful artists before them.

Mr. Brady Nash, an English teacher at Nation Ford, who graduated from Lewisville High School in the class of 2015,

says the dances that were big while he was in high school.

During this time, the dances that were popular were the wobble, the Quan, dabbing, whip/ Nae Nae, and Milly rock.

“We danced with both line dances and with dates -- with dates were typically slow dances,” he said. ash says things haven’t changed much fashion-wise.

“I wouldn’t say it’s changed too much from popular styles now. I know for prom outfits, having a jacket that was a different color than the pants was popular for guys; for girls, dresses that showed your midriff were popular.”

Two of the most popular songs during that time were “Hotline Bling” by Drake and “Trap Queen”

by Fetty Wap. Tiktok, a trending app for mostly teens and over 800 million users, has a ton of catchy dances.

Some of these dances include the Renegade, Savage, Cannibal, Say So, Walk-In, and so many more.

Out of these five dances and between 155 people at Nation Ford, 44’s favorite dance was Renegade, 14 for Cannibal, 28 for Savage, 31 for Say So, and 38 for Walk-In. A year into the next decade, more songs and dances are evolving and becoming well known with teens today. We go into 2021 with new trends and ideas that will forever be a part of history.

A year into the next decade, more songs and dances are evolving and becoming well known with teens today. We go into 2021 with new trends and ideas that will forever be a part of history.

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by Zaria Drakeford and Gracie Chadwick

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Say So

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Cannibal

9%

Savage

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Walk In

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Renegade

28.4%

The Talon

8 • sports “I love everything about it, and how it’s offense and defense and two completely different games in one.” –Justin Lehman

Headed To The Big Leagues

Four stellar student athletes sign to play college sports next year

by Kaiden Bridges & Marcus Romec Alex Cardona & Emily Willers Four student athletes signed with colleges around the country to play sports. Friends and family of all four students gathered to celebrate their hard work and dedication at the signing in the gym on Nov. 11, 2020.

Maddie Barhorst

Emily Morris Justin Lehman

Katie Pou The Talon

Maddie Barhorst Maddie Barhorst (‘21) signed with Ohio State to play women’s lacrosse with an athletic scholarship to the D1 school she’s always longed to attend.

“It feels great to officially become a Buckeye!”

Barhorst said.

She has dreamed of going to Ohio State since she was young.

“Ohio State has been my number one school since I started the recruiting process,” she said. “My whole family is from Ohio so it just felt right to go there.”

After playing basketball, softball, and several other sports growing up, Barhorst finally settled with lacrosse when she was a sixth grader.

Though she’s had many successes in her athletic career, Barhorst also battled challenges along the way.

“I’ve had two knee surgeries to help fix a condition I have in my knee called Osteochondral Defect,” Barhorst said. “My bone was beginning to wear away, so the surgeon had to go in and put holes in my bone to try and regenerate itself.”

Despite her injury, Barhorst has stayed motivated to be the best athlete she could be.

“Maddie is an extremely hard worker. . .” lacrosse coach Kristine Schmidt said. “What sets her apart from the rest is that she is very self-driven.”

The senior is a natural leader and sets the bar for her fellow Falcons.

“Maddie uses her motivation and unites her teammates,” Coach Schmidt said. “Girls look up to her. It’s her drive that brings people together on the field.”

The midfielder had also received an offer from Furman University to participate in their lacrosse program.

Despite COVID-19 taking away her junior season, her hope is to have one last ride competing this spring season with her teammates at Nation Ford before she graduates.

Emily Morris Emily Morris (‘22) is one of the top prospects in the Charlotte area. She committed to The University of Wake Forest on signing day.

Morris has never played soccer for a high school team before – she spent most of her career playing club soccer for ECNL National at the Charlotte Soccer Academy.

Due to hard work and dedication, she can continue her passion for playing soccer.

“I’m really excited for the upcoming season because I’ve never had the chance to experience school soccer before, so I can’t wait to play with people from Nation Ford,” Morris said.

Emily has had her mind and heart set on Wake Forest for some time now. “ I chose Wake Forest because the campus is perfect, I loved the coaches, and when I went on a visit I got to meet all the older commits, and they were amazing,” she said.

Going to college is a great experience, but even if it’s only a couple hours away being separated from family can be hard. “ I can’t wait to finally arrive at the Wake campus, and play soccer in such a competitive conference, but I can’t imagine not being close to my family and friends.” Morris said.

The Nation Ford girls are getting ready for the start of their season, and they couldn’t be happier to add a teammate like Emily Morris to the squad.

“I’m looking forward to playing my last and only year of soccer at Nation Ford High School with all my friends,” Morris said.

Justin Lehman Coming up on 15 years of playing baseball, Justin Lehman (’21) committed to Westpoint Military Academy.

“I wanted to go to Westpoint ever since I was young,” Lehman said. “I wanted to go to a military academy and help my country, be part of something bigger than myself. As soon as I started talking to Westpoint and went up to visit, the very first time I saw the campus, I knew that’s where I wanted to go, and that’s who I want to become.”

As a catcher, Lehman has played for the Falcons team and for Five Star Carolina National.

Coming up on the fourth year of coaching Lehman, Michael Lewis has seen Lehman is a very serious and cerebral player who understands the game very well, and off the field, he has his moments where he’s a 17-year-old but takes his life seriously -- and it shows in his accomplishments.

“Work ethic--” Coach Lewis added, “ [Lehman] is a very hard worker-- he tirelessly works to improve his skills both as a catcher and at the plate.”

However, Lehman sees more in the game.

“It’s an escape from real life,” he said. “It’s something that I can always go to, and it’s a happy time when I go up there. It’s something that gets me away from everything else and clears my mind.”

At times, baseball becomes his whole world.

“Whenever I’m focused on the game,” Lehman added. “I can’t be focused on what’s going on outside the field, so as soon as I step between the lines, my head is between the lines. I can’t think about the world, can’t think about anybody else, just me and my teammates, and at that moment that’s all I care about.”

What does the coach notice most about Lehman?

“The first thing that comes to mind is that [Justin] has elite arm strength,” Coach Lewis noticed. “A good defensive catcher as you will see. Great knowledge of the game and a fierce competitor.”

It is not only sport that Lehman has come to enjoy but the team and brotherhood he has formed.

“It’s a blast. It’s like a brotherhood--that’s the best way to describe it,” Lehman added. “The baseball team is something I look forward to every single year. And every single year it is the best part of my year because you see the same guys everyday, and you bond with them, unlike anybody else you are with. It’s just a great time.”

Facing the sport in its truest form, there is nothing Lehman doesn’t love.

“I love it all,” Lehman said. “I love everything about it, and how it’s offense and defense and two completely different games in one. So whenever you’re on the defense side, you strictly focus on defense -- and on the offensive side it’s strictly offense.

I love that part.”

Katie Pou Katie Pou, who was highlighted in the last issue of The Talon, signed to The University of Pennsylvania to continue her cross country and track career there.

“I can’t wait for the next four years as a Quaker,” she said.

Upcoming Signings Three more student athletes are planning to sign to play sports in college in coming weeks. Mary Palmer (‘22) is planning on committing to Lees McRae University to swim. Hannah Neff (‘21) is committing to Anderson University for volleyball. Committing to the Navy College program, Bryce Webb (‘21) will play football.

January 2021

sports •9

Falcons Lace Up For Lacrosse

by Abby Weber

The girls Lacrosse preseason has been canceled due to COVID-19, but regular season — so far — will begin in the spring as usual.

“We are allowed to condition and will continue to do so until opening day on February 1. unless we are told otherwise,” says head coach Kristine Schmidt.

This season will come with some difficulty, not just with avoiding COVID- 19 but with how the season abruptly ended last year.

“Since our spring season was cut extremely short last season, my girls will have to work even harder to make up for the lost time,” Coach Schmidt said. “I have faith in my team that they will rise to the occasion and put in the work.”

There have been guidelines set by the South Carolina High School League and Fort Mill School District for this coming Lacrosse season to ensure the health of the athletes and coaches.

“The health of my team and coaches are my number one priority as we are a close-knit lacrosse family. Their health has always been and continues to be the number one priority.”

Last season the team was really young due to the split of high school, but they have grown into a hard working team and also a close family.

“I have many strong 12th and 11th graders on this team that are motivated and have amazing work ethic. This team also stands out as a whole because they are very close,” said Coach Schmidt.

Their biggest rivals are Fort Mill High School, but because of these unprecedented times, their focus won’t be so much on rivalries but rather getting the opportunity to compete in the official season.

During the second half last season againist Fort Mill High School, Maddie Barhorst (‘21) goes up for the ball against one of the yellow jacket players. The Falcons fell short and lost by one. Photo by Emily Willers

Baseball Teams Swinging For Success

by Olivia Miles Nobody knows what is in store for 2021, but the Falcons are still preparing for the upcoming baseball season with tryouts on Feb. 1. Head Coach Michael Lewis expects a successful season.

“We have a great group of guys returning this year, but with last season cut short, there is a lack of experience playing at the varsity level,” said Lewis.

“However, I believe most programs are going to go through these same challenges. Our expectation is to compete for the Region Championship.

“The boys will be once again competing in the 5A Region 3 conference along with Gaffeny, Clover, Boiling Springs, and Fort Mill.

Avery Childs (‘22) is hoping that his junior season is not cut short due to COVID-19.

“I don’t expect anything to be completely normal, and I’m sure there will be plenty of precautionary steps we have to take before playing other schools to ensure our safety and our opponents safety, too,” said Childs. “Nothing is going to be normal for a while, so I think it will be challenging for us to get used to all these new things, but that’s the situation we’re in and it’s what we have to do to have a season.”

The season has not yet started, and players are awaiting tryouts. The Falcons are excited to get back on the field and play a sport they love, but with unpredictable COVID-19, there likely will be some more obstacles.

January 2021

The JV Falcons walking on the field to shake hands with their opponet the Catawba Ridge Copper heads after their game last season. Photo by Terri Keller “The biggest challenge we will face this year will be the inability to have an open season,” explained Coach Lewis. “In normal years, we would get 20 practices to evaluate and prepare our players for the season throughout December and January, but with the challenges of COVID, that is not the case

this year. Our players, specifically returning varsity guys, are going to have to lead the way and encourage all of our younger guys to start that preparation process in December.”

With the first game still unknown, there is still a lot of preparation to be done.

The Talon

10 • Sports

One Step At A Time

Resilient freshman Tony McKinney races to the finish line despite his visual impairment

by Kaiden Bridges There are some things you just can’t run from. But that doesn’t stop Tony McKinney (‘24) from racing.

The resilient freshman athlete will run for the Falcon’s track team this year. But one thing sets him apart from the rest of the athletes – McKinney is visually impaired.

“In sixth grade math class I accidentally stabbed myself in the eye with a pencil,” McKinney said. “My mom and I went to the doctor, and he told me that I had an Open Angle Glaucoma in my right eye.”

Glaucoma is an eye disease that gradually begins to steal vision, and right now, there is no known cure for this condition. The doctor explained to McKinney that his life would never be the same.

“I initially felt really discouraged when I found out about my vision,” McKinney admits.

But McKinney’s mother Doretha Lipscomb leapt into action.

“When Tony was first diagnosed, I honestly didn’t have time to feel anything,” she said. “His eye condition was so aggressive that all I could focus on was trying to get him in to be seen by a specialist to try and slow the progression of his vision loss.”

The specialists for McKinney’s condition were all in cities hours away from Fort Mill, including Raleigh and Charleston.

“Tony is the kindest, most fun loving, creative, talkative, spiritual and friendly young man anyone could ever have the blessing of getting to know.”

“I had to be positive for him and keep him looking forward to a bright future even though he could not see like he once could, he had to do things a different way now and learn it fast,” said Lipscomb. “I am just recently beginning to feel the emotions of him losing his vision and what life looks like with that loss.”

When McKinney was initially diagnosed, it was unclear what his future would look like with his impairment.

“At first when I was told that I was losing my vision, I was very sad, and felt as if I wouldn’t be able to live anymore. . .” said McKinney. “Now, I am beginning to accept this as a part of me and knowing that my visual impairment is not all that I am.”

One way to cope that McKinney has found helpful is running.

“When Tony was first diagnosed with the eye condition, his right eye was no longer in working condition,” Lipscomb said. “He could no longer play the sports that he had been playing such as baseball, basketball, soccer and flag football.”

With the help of another visually impaired student, McKinney discovered a sport he still could participate in, which was running track.

“I really love running,” said McKinney. “I’ve realized that you don’t exactly need vision to run.”

McKinney ran track at Fort Mill Middle School, participating in the 400 meter and 4x4 events.

“Once he realized that he could run, he said that he felt like a bird being able to fly for the first time,” Lipscomb said. “He felt free and didn’t have to think about not being able to see to do something he liked again.”

With Nation Ford’s track season already underway, McKinney couldn’t be more excited.

“Tony is a really hard worker and very coachable,” said track coach Jake Brenner. “He’s committed and has been at almost all of the conditioning sessions we’ve had so far.”

The Talon

In the local Let Me Run race, runner Tony McKinney (‘21) heads toward the finish line in 2019. McKinney has Open Angle Glaucoma, which impairs one eye, and the condition is progressive with no known cure yet. He joined the Falcon track team this year. Photo courtsey of Doretha Lipscomb.

Even though the outcome of the spring season is questionable with COVID-19, McKinney still has high hopes for himself and the team this season.

“I’m very excited for the upcoming meets,” he said. “I hope we’re able to race and even win some.”

Despite the unknown, the runners are continuing to work hard during their conditionings.

“Tony has done well so far,” Coach Brenner said.

“His vision is limited to his peripheral, so he knows how to compensate and use his vision where it’s strongest.”

“His eyes are so full of happiness and joy when he looks at you it is like a star shining bright.”

McKinney runs in the farthest left lane, closest to the field. This way he is able to see the curves in the track due to still having vision in his left eye.

“Tony hasn’t let his vision impairment stop him from doing something he loves,” Brenner said. “You can tell that he sets goals and goes after them. I think too many people are afraid to take risks because they’re scared of failure – Tony isn’t one of those people.”

Outside of running, McKinney has a passion for art and design as well.

“When I grow up my dream job is to be a video game designer,” he said. “I love to draw as well.”

Despite McKinney’s obstacles, he continues to

persevere and embrace his passions.

“Tony has decided that he wants to do several different things for people with disabilities and vision loss. . .” Lipscomb said. “He also wants to create games that are more descriptive in detail for people with visual impairments, so all of his characters have a lot of details that can be described when playing the games for the people who have disabilities.”

Despite all that McKinney has had to overcome, he is always looking out for others.

“Tony is the kindest, most fun loving, creative, talkative, spiritual and friendly young man anyone could ever have the blessing of getting to know,” she said. “He is so strong and resilient he can bounce back from everything that is thrown at him. He always has a smile on his face that will brighten anyone’s day.”

She’s clearly proud of her son. “His eyes are so full of happiness and joy when he looks at you it is like a star shining bright.”

McKinney has dreamed of starting an all-inclusive summer camp for kids with vision loss and disabilities.

“Kids can go to the same camps as kids without those challenges so that people will know how to interact with people that are not like them across the board,” Lipscomb said. “It will allow for people to see that just because you may not be able to see like they do, it does not mean that you can’t do the things that they do. It just may have to be done differently.”

Despite the loss of his vision, Tony McKinney makes a valiant effort to see the world in a different way, and thanks to him, the rest of us can, too.

January 2021

Op/ed •11

Periods More Effective Than Blocks

by Megan Jafarace

From school to school, schedules vary. Whether they have block or traditional schedules with 6-8 shorter classes, everyone seems to have an opinion.

As I moved to high school, I expected to enjoy block schedules more. Though after having a block schedule for a little over a year, I’ve realized that my preference is period schedules.

There’s a plethora of reasons for this – retaining material, the pace of classes, or maybe it’s the longing for a nostalgic middle school schedule.

According to Dr. Frank Y.H. Wang, president of respected textbook company - Saxon Math, “Children learn most effectively when they are exposed to concepts in small, easily understandable pieces called increments and when new concepts and skills are reviewed continuously.”

Although some students find 7 or 8 period schedules more stressful, many students say the day feels quicker and easier to take in, as there’s a new class every 45 minutes. Before you know it, it’s time to go home.

Most teens find themselves getting bored and tired in block classes, even after drinking a fresh cup of coffee in the morning.

As for retaining material, block schedules rush through the material for a half of the year, leaving the other

half to focus on something new — and students forget some of the previous material.

“After completing the course, there were two tests to evaluate retention, one at 4 months and one at 11 months after the course. Based on scores on the multiple choice test, the authors found that students retained about 85% of what they had learned after 4 months and still retained 80% after 11 months,” a study on block schedules from University of Kansas displayed. Though it isn’t a large difference, students still forgot 20% of the material — showing that block schedules aren’t as effective retention-wise as some say they are.

It may seem as though there’s less time during period schedules, but having the full year to learn keeps the information fresh in student’s minds.

There’s typically no need to rush in period schedules, while block schedule timing whips the material at students any time it gets a chance. People can argue that periods are rushed, being less than an hour long – but what helps is that the material is spread out over 180 days, leaving no time to forget material during the school year.

Period schedules also provide a new set of faces each class, so if kids don’t have friends in a certain class, it isn’t too stressful. Meanwhile, block

schedules make students sit with the same people for over an hour, which is boring for those who don’t get along or students who have friends in other classes.

Overall, period schedules provide new experiences, classes, and faces quicker than block schedules. And it is said that time flies when you’re having fun.

‘Summer’ Reading Requires Improvements

by Ayden Hash “Summer” Reading... students hate it or love it. Either way students will most likely put off reading the book or books till the last second, so when it comes time for a test or project on the book, they won’t have forgotten all about what they read. Delaying defeats the purpose of “summer” reading.

Precourse Reading started out as a way to encourage and help develop a habit of reading. Students nowadays see the requirement in a different light. Many students would rather have more time to enjoy their summer than bog it down with having to worry about finishing a book or two. Going down this road of procrastination can cause a lot of students problems -- such as not being prepared for when they go back to school.

Because summer reading heavily affects students grades at the beginning of a semester, missing it or getting low scores could be detrimental to their English grade. t may take students an extremely long time to recover their grade.

However, if Nation Ford would do gram with books being shoved down away with “summer” reading, or make their throats since they were young. it “recommended” or “encouraged” The attitude is critical, and at this only -- which is what Fort Mill High point, many students have more or less does -- the college prep classes students learned to hate summer reading -- and who are prone to missing work or as- even sadder, reading in general. signments would have an easier start According to English Department to the school year, and there wouldn’t Chair Richard Solt, a benefit of the be a gray cloud looming over heads as summer reading program is giving the return to school grows closer. And students a chance to read, not for the shouldn’t the sake of readrequirement be ing, but so that Because summer the same for all they may comstudents in the prehend the reading heavily affects district? reading and students grades ...getting low u n d e r s t a n d While the AP or Honors scores could be detrimental to deeper meanstudents benings.

Even their English grade. efit from prethough some course reading kids may not as they have more rigorous courses to retain what they read, they are conprepare for along with an expectation stantly developing skills, and over of a higher workload, many College time, if they actually do the reading, Prep students do not have the same they will reap the benefits of summer work ethic or expectation from home, reading. and they find an assigned book a dull When students read for school, they read. It’s not a benefit when students are not only expected to read the book have grown to hate the reading pro- but comprehend it, therefore, they

The Talon Staff Editor-In-Chiefs: Alex Cardona Khonnie Kounbandith Section Editors: Kaiden Bridges Zaria Drakeford Megan Jafarace Marcus Romec ad manager: Emily Willers Adviser: Beth Swann

Staff: Gracie Chadwick Riley Crutchfield George Gebrail Layla Haliq Ayden Hash Connor Lambert Olivia Miles Abigail Weber

Nation Ford High School 803-835-0000 1400 A.O. Jones Blvd.

Fort Mill, SC 29715

january 2021

should be able to discuss it and bring to light the authors’ nuanced meanings in their works.

Even if summer reading can benefit students, those benefits are lost once the student decides to refuse to do the work or parents do not support their child. if the student decides to read the book during the school’s “five-day grace period” that defeats the purpose of having to read the book during the summer in the first place.

If the district’s English teachers were to ask students what they would want to read, and find out what students are interested in when it comes to reading, then they could improve the program by basing it off of the students and their interests instead of what each school’s English Department chooses.

Precourse reading is becoming less beneficial for students instead of starting the school year strong.

The Fort Mill School Dirstrict needs to read in between the lines, and give students a say in what they’re reading to make it more enjoyable.

The Talon Policy

The Talon provides students with an opportunity to research and write informative articles related to Nation Ford High School or topics students find interesting. The paper’s objective is to notify the school community of the news in a timely and informative manner and to entertain them through articles and columns.

The staff encourages letters to the editor. Nation Ford High School students, staff members, and the public can express their opinions and reactions to the articles in The Talon.

Letters should be signed and should not exceed 150 words. Letters submitted may be published in the paper at the discretion of The Talon staff and will be edited for accuracy, length, and grammar, as well as offensive or inappropriate content.

The staff may permanently keep all unpublished letters for reference or guidance for future writing. All submissions should be submitted to Mrs. Swann, room D111, or via email to swanne@fortmillschools.org.

Please keep in mind that opinions voiced in the articles and personal columns are not those of the Nation Ford High School newspaper staff or Nation Ford High School’s administration, faculty, or staff; opinions are solely those of the author who submitted the article.

International 1st Place by Quill and Scroll Society 2015, 2016. 2019 Best in State 2020

The Talon