April 2018

Bracket challenge winner shares her secrets pg 6

Face off: Drums or flats? pg 3 Founded in 1991

Vol. XXVII Issue V

April 2018

http://thepirateshook.com

Left out 2nd Amendment supporters struggle to be heard

By Javier Morales On March 14, Riverside students held hundreds of anti-gun posters.

Among the anti-gun walkout signs was a pro-gun poster that was torn and ripped in half by angry protesters.

Sophomore Chi Infinito was one of few students at the protest who supports current gun laws.

His sign said “Protect a life, own a gun.”

Infinito believes that school systems should have more guns, not fewer, to keep students safe and certain teachers should be armed.

“I believe if the teacher is permitted and has done all the proper training to have a concealed carrying license,” Infinito said. “They should be allowed and there should be more armed security in the school.”

Infinito feels protesting is not just for one group of people with one belief.

“I believe that the walkout was for expressing people’s beliefs and that’s what I did,” he said. “It was a counter-protest and I was just standing up for what I believe in.”

shootings are not security issues but social issues within the students.

“The problem is not the school, not the teachers. When you go back at other school shootings there are problems.” Collins says. “[The Parkland shooter's motives] had something to do with his ex and had nothing to do with school. They were personal life problems and now that leads me to believe that whatever happens, happens.”

In addition to protesting, government officials have taken action to secure schools and make the lives of students in schools safer.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has stated that to implement more safety in schools all guns that have assault rifle style should be bought with the same permit needed for a handgun.

“This system allows time for appropriate checks to take place before

someone can legally buy a handgun, Cooper said in an interview with WSOC-TV on March 14. "But our law has a glaring loophole since this background check and permit process isn’t required to buy an assault weapon like an AR-15, the weapon used in Parkland. It should be.”

Following the Parkland shooting, North Carolina legislators created a new school safety committee to examine ways to make NC schools

safer and develop recommendations for lawmakers. The committee will meet with local districts and consider all options, including arming teachers and adding more law enforcement officers.

Students across the country walked out of their schools again on April 20, calling for an end to school violence.

April 20 was the nineteenth anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado.

"I was just standing up for what I believe in."

Chi Infinito, sophomore Infinito wasn’t the only student with a different point of view. In a March 20 News & Observer article, Riverside Junior Ray Palma shared his concerns, too.

“This one firestorm sweeps over a nation … all of a sudden it’s like, it’s like the trendy thing to do.” Palma said. “Whenever that happens, I feel like it’s - I wouldn’t say superficial,but - scraping the top and not diving deeper into the root cause of the issues.”

Freshman Dean Collins has mixed opinions about gun control and, like many students, walked out to express his beliefs. Collins thinks the problems in the schools that cause

• PHOTO BY JAVIER MORALES

Sophomore Chi Infinito poses with his sign. He recived backlash in person and on social media for holding a pro-gun poster at a March 14 rally for victims of gun violence.

Share with caution Students risk felony charges when disseminating child pornography

By Ingrid Castro Lara Dissemination of child pornography could happen just about anywhere and to anyone, even in Durham.

A report of two or more students having sex at a Durham high school is currently under investigation. According to Durham Public Schools officials, the act took place on Feb. 20 at the Southern School of Energy and Sustainability.

The students involved in the video willingly engaged in sexual interourse. What may have not been consensual, however, was the video recording of the act and subsequent sharing

online.

The parents of the students involved have been notified, but for privacy reasons the students' names, ages and consequences will not be made public.

If the video is found to have been shared by students older than 18, they could all face felony charges.

But the threat of a felony may not be enough to stop the video from circulating around schools.

Sharing child pornography often occurs in the form of “revenge porn,” which involves students sharing pictures of their peers without their consent.

Riverside has not had an incident like the one that occurred at Southern in recent years, but administrators here have had to deal with this type • GRAPHIC BY BERLY PEREZ of issue.

“I have dealt with child pornography situations between students,” said assistant principal Britton Brown. “My main concern for the students involved is their safety.”

Brown’s immediate approach is to report the incident to law enforcement.

He first notifies parents, law enforcement, and the principal.

“As far as what administrators themselves and the school can do as consequences is suspension,” Brown said.

“The legal process is to initiate an investigation,” said Riverside School Resource Officer Jamie Potts. “We file for search warrants to have access to phones of the ones who sent it and those who received it, see where the information, picture, or video went, who else sent it and file for more warrants. For those who are involved older than 18 will be arrested and charged with dissemination of child pornography, which is a felony.”

"My main concern for the students involved is their safety."

Britton Brown, assistant principal

Cont. on pg 4

Comparten con cuidado Los estudiantes se arriesgan a cargos de felonÍa cuando difunden pornografÍa infantil

La difusión de pornografía infantil podría ocurrir en cualquier lugar y a cualquier persona, incluso en Durham.

Un reporte de dos o más estudiantes teniendo sexo en Durham high school está actualmente bajo investigación. Según los funcionarios de las Escuelas Públicas de Durham, el acto tuvo lugar el 20 de febrero en la Escuela Southern de Energía y Sustentabilidad. Los estudiantes involucrados fueron voluntariamente comprometidos en el intercambio sexual.

Sin embargo, lo que puede no haber sido consentido fue la grabación del video del acto y su posterior intercambio en línea.

Seugido en pg 6

Pirates' Hookok

2

•Editors: Eliza Althisar, Zoe Ashe-Jones •Photo Editors: Tristan Asuncion, Javier Morales •Artist:Taj Smith •Staff: Chris Allen, Luis Apolonio, Ingrid Castro Lara, Mair Famet, Ashley Gonzalez, Fabian Hernandez, Elijah King, Jada Kobbah, Talitha Maxwell, Sheenah Nela, Joshua Nicholson, Berly Perez, Diavian Poole, Divaldo Santos

Editorials

Go to prom or you'll regret it

This year, prom is going to be outstanding.

It’s fun to get dressed up and eat a fancy dinner. Most seniors have given up on looking cute every single day for school, so it will be fun getting dressed up with your friends. The dress/tux shopping can be stressful, but for girls perspective it is so much fun trying on dress after dress, having your mom judge what is actually terrible and what is the cutest dress ever. And it might be painstaking to go through the hair and makeup, but it is also really exciting.

Another reason to go to prom is because dates are overrated. Obviously it’d be lots of fun to go with your significant other, but it isn’t the only option.

Go with your friends. And if none of your friends are going, meet friendly fellow students and make new friends. Try asking your friends to go with you. You can even read this article to them!

If you’re a senior, this is your prom. Other than graduation and weddings, it could be one of the last big formal events you’ll go to. You’ll dance, eat and talk so much that you won’t even be stressed about the tear you didn’t see in your dress earlier. Or that stain on your tux that you didn’t recognized.

Celebrate the beginning of the end of a long, exhausting and at times tear-filled, boring and frustrating journey. Seniors will graduate in about a month. Mr. Swanson, Ms. Taylor and the prom committee have worked tirelessly planning this year’s prom, and it’s going to be so much fun.

Riverside is making prom great again. Don’t miss it.

Privilege walk a powerful reminder On Tuesday, April 17, Riverside students, teachers and parents took part in a “privilege walk.” It was part of a student-led forum to inform parents about the various student organizations working to improve Riverside.

Participants took the survey anonymously, then collected and redistributed the surveys during the meeting so that no one was “sharing” their own answers. The survey asked questions like ‘are you male?’ ‘do you have reliable health insurance?’ ‘have you never been harassed?’ ‘have you never feared for you or your family’s safety in front of law enforcement’ and ‘have you never had to translate for a parent?’ and ‘have you ever been identified as an AP or honors student?" and "have you always felt in the majority?”

Participants lined up at a starting point. QSA and Activism Club president Joala Downey and Black Student Union member Olivia Haynie read the questions out loud. If a participants’ surveys answered yes, they took one step forward. If they answered no they, they took a step back.

At the end of the 27-question exercise, there were three people behind the starting line. The distance between the participants revealed that all people do not have equal opportunities and privileges.

The cafeteria was silent during the exercise. When it was over, the group shared their observations. It was an important reminder that some people have to work harder than others to achieve the same things. Some have dental insurance from the day they are born, while others miss days or weeks of school to navigate their health needs without it. Other families have religious holidays that do not line up with school and work holidays.

Riverside should do more to eliminate privilege and create a more inclusive school. For example, the school needs to hire more bilingual staff and faculty members. Current bilingual teachers work hard to translate information for students and parents, but it pulls them away from their jobs - teaching their classes and running their own extracurriculars.

Riverside’s student organizations also need to work together. They share the same goals, such as diversifying honors and AP classes and creating a culture of respect. Better communication and planning would lead to better advertising, more resources and a more powerful impact on the school and community.

The privilege walk was a powerful reminder that treating everyone equally can be really complicated, but it’s important to keep trying.

• GRAPHIC BY BERLY PEREZ

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the hook? email bryan_christopher@dpsnc.net

The best, worst and most anticipated albums of 2018

By Tristan Asuncion

MO,’ twice. The only difference is that the remix in the album includes an Offset feature. 6ix9ine’s yelpy, screaming vocals feel silly rather than angry over a generic Soundcloud trap beat. The energy that 6ix9ine brings on some of the songs does give it a workout music vibe, but it isn’t enough to make it a good album.

Best Albums of 2018 Little Dark Age - MGMT Genre: Indie pop To all the indie kids out there: Little Dark Age by MGMT is the album for you. The songwriting and production give this album a unique feel. MGMT left behind it’s psychedelic indie pop days in favor of a more contemporary, synth sound. The different topics in each song, like the times spent looking at a phone or being with your best friend, make the album stand out from its predecessors.

Best Track: BILLY Worst Track: RONDO ft. Tory Lanez, Young Thug

Anticipated Albums of 2018 Travis Scott - Astroworld Genre: Southern Pop Travis Scott’s last two projects, Rodeo and Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, are great albums. His experimental sound and his strange vocals make his music sound unique, and I look forward to what he has in the pipeline.

Best Track: Hand it Over Worst Track: TSLAMP Black Panther: The Album Various Artists Genre: Hip-hop, Rap Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) was in charge of the Black Panther album, and the result is a soundtrack made for the movie that works surprisingly well with the amalgamation of artists signed to TDE. Kendrick Lamar is the starring voice of the soundtrack but gets solid contributions from other big artists like Travis Scott and SZA. The voice and style of each artist comes off strong, but also manage to be uniformed. There is a good mix of aggressive bangers and soft songs.

The collection of artists doesn’t come together well in every song, however. Certain tracks can be jarring, like “X,” an absolute banger, playing right after “All The Stars,” a poppy R&B song.

Best Track: King’s Dead Worst Track: Pray for Me

Worst Albums of 2018 Culture II - The Migos Genre: Rap

1. MGMT's 'Little Dark Age' 2. Various Artist's 'Black Panther: The Album' 3. The Migos' 'Culture ll' 4. Justin Timberlake's 'Man of the Woods' 5. 6ix9ine's 'Day 69' • PHOTO BY TRISTAN ASUNCION

Quavo and releasing an album with Travis Scott, the trio reunites to create Culture II. Their previous record, Culture, played to the trio’s strengths and gave us a tight, condensed taste of their sound, which has influenced rappers throughout the industry since it was released in 2016.

Culture II, however is an hour and 30 minutes of the Migos sound and gets real old real quick. Out of the album’s 24 tracks, there are a few good ones you can pick out and it would ultimately be a better project. Tracks like “BBO,” “Stir Fry,” “Motorsport,” “Notice Me,” and “Made Men” would’ve made a solid, short album.

Best Track: Stir Fry Worst Track: Flooded

Man of the Woods - Justin TimWith Offset back after making a berlake collab mixtape with 21 Savage and

Genre: Folk-pop/R&B

Justin Timberlake’s latest project, Man of the Woods, is just a futile, weird, attempt at mixing a folk sound with Timberlake’s contemporary sound. All the songs are awkwardly mixed, and he doesn’t even sound like the main focus of his own album. Instead we hear the strange production overtake Justin’s great voice.

Man of the Woods starts off with the opening track, “Filthy”. An awfully mixed, awkward song, filled with strange warble noises that overpower the whole a large part of the track, then in the middle it turns into this epic, orchestral tune that just confuses the listener. I guess the opening track really does show what’s in store for this album: a sloppy mess.

Best Track: Say Something ft.

Chris Stapleton

Worst Track: Supplies Day69 - 6ix9ine Genre: Screamo Rap

Last year a new wave of artists started gaining traction through the music sharing website Soundcloud.

Some turned out great, like Ski Mask the Slump God. Others turned out like 6ix9ine.

Day69 shows 6ix9ine’s one dimensional sound throughout the 11 tracks, even repeating his hit single, ‘GUM-

Please

recycle this

paper!

Post Malone - Beerbongs & Bentleys Genre: Hip-Hop For all the white girls out there (and me), there’s a new Post Malone album coming soon. If his past two amazing singles Psycho and Rockstar are a preview of what’s to come, then I’m excited for the other material in Beerbongs & Bentleys.

Brockhampton - PUPPY Genre: Hip-Hop In 2017, this progressive boy band released a trilogy of albums, Saturation I, II, and III, which all hit hard. For those bored with the trap rap sound, listen to the creativity of Brockhampton and their new album, PUPPY, coming out this year.

April 2018

3

Flats vs. Drums Flats are worth the extra effort

By Mair Famet Don’t lie to yourself; flats have the most flavor. From barbecue to buffalo or even lemon pepper, when you get a basket of wings, what do you pick out first? Exactly, the FLAT. Flats are so much better and fulfilling, they bring tears of joy.

When you order wings, a flat is the only source of flavor. Some individuals go out of their way and order a plate full of flats even if it cost extra.

Nothing good comes cheap.

Rapper Rick Ross also agrees. in a 2016 interview with Dan Jackson from Thrillist.com, Ross verified that he is team flats.

”All flats,” Ross said. “I’m team all flats. It’s all flats vs. the drum squad.”

Ross owns nine Wingstop franchises across the southeast. Even the best of the best know that flats the best.

Drums have cartilage in them who likes nasty dead tissue wrapped around their meat? Who likes no flavor?

Who likes the dry inside with no seasoning? When a drum is being prepped, there is no wiggle room for the seasoning .

A flat might have less meat but it’s better to savor every seasoned bite.

Don’t listen to the drum side.

Luis is a very arrogant individual, just like all drum people.

Agreeing with him is like

eating your cereal with a fork.

Luis might try to persuade you to join his cult, but ignore the hot air and lies coming out of his mouth. Drum people are so cheap (ordering a plate of flats cost more at restaurants than ordering a plate of drums) and obsessed with quantity they don’t know what quality is.

If you truly prefer drums, you also pick your nose when no one is looking. You’re the type to fart in a room full of people and blame it on people who like flats. But deep down you’re really just bitter and so full of pride that you don’t want to put it aside and admit that flats are better. Like seriously!

Just admit it.

• PHOTO BY TRISTAN ASUNCION

Flats vale la pena el esfuerzo extra Por Mair Famet

pueden tener menos carne, pero es mejor saborear cada bocado sazonado.

No escuches el lado de la pierna. Luis es un individuo muy arrogante, como todos las piernas de pollo. Acordar con él es como comer tu cereal con un tenedor. Luis podría tratar de persuadirte de que te unas a su culto, pero no escuches el aire caliente y las mentiras que salen de su boca. La gente de las piernas son tan barata (ordenar un plato de flats cuesta más en los restaurantes que ordenar un plato de piernas) y obsesionado con la cantidad que no saben qué es la calidad.

Si realmente prefieres las piernas, también te scas los mocos de tu nariz cuando nadie está mirando. Eres el tipo de tirarse un pedo en una sala llena de gente y culpar a las personas que les gustan

• PHOTO BY TRISTAN ASUNCION

Drums are better. It's that simple.

By Luis Apolonio Flats are for the people who are trying to look sophisticated. You can arrange flats in a pretty and nice way, because they have less meat than drums. Actually, flats are inferior to drums in many ways. Let me explain.

Drums have way more chicken than flats. Leaving the drums for others is a sign of respect, it shows that you respect that person. Flats are made up mostly of bone, because the chicken’s two bones nearest the wing - the radius and the ulna - surrounding the only meat it has make up most of the weight.

By contrast, three-quarters of the drum is chicken and not bone. Mair believes that the chicken is just distributed evenly on the flat, but the only chicken on the flat is in the middle. The flat is like a celery stick - skinny and lacking in flavor. Flats lack

los flats. Pero en el fondo eres realmente amargado y tan lleno de orgullo que no quieres dejarlo de lado y admitir que Por Luis Apolonio los flats son mejores. ¡Como serio! Solo admítelo.

Los flats son para las personas que intentan parecer sofisticadas. Puede organizar flats de una manera bonita y agradable, ya que tienen menos carne que las piernas de pollo. De hecho, los flats son inferiores a las piernas de pollo muchas maneras.

Dejame explicar.

Las piernas de pollo tienen mucho más pollo que los flats. Dejar las piernas de pollo por otros es un signo de respeto, muestra que respetas a esa persona. Los flats se componen principalmente de hueso, porque los dos huesos del pollo más cercanos al ala, el radio y el cúbito, rodean la

flavor because they don’t have much meat so they don’t carry much sauce, which contributes to the flavor of it. You’re better off eating the celery because it will still bring more flavor than the flat.

Flats are also really messy to eat. The sauce and the skin make them slippery, and they could go flying out of your hand. You need two hands to eat them successfully. Unlike flats, drums have a built-in handle in them so you won’t have to get both hands dirty.

The built-in handle in drums is just the one bone, surrounded by chicken on all sides. The handle itself sometimes even has chicken!

Mair says that you have to learn how to eat flats to not get both your hands dirty, but why would you want to learn a technique to eat a flat when you can just bite into a drum?

Flats are messier, more work to eat and have less meat.

That doesn’t sound like a

good trade.

I love sauce as much as the next guy, but the drums have a better taste because as soon as you bite into it, you taste the delicious chicken instead of going through the squishy skin which makes up most of the outside of the flat. The skin on the flat is as thick as the chicken on the inside which is nasty. You’re getting a oneto-one ratio between skin and chicken in the flat; however, on drums, you’re getting four times as much meat than skin, which is way better. Drums even have more sauce soaked into the chicken, which means that it boosts the flavor of the wing! The flat can’t hold that much sauce so the meat is drier than the Atacama desert (the driest place on earth).

Mair does not understand the amount of pros drums have over flats, and the quality and happiness drums bring you. If you commit to drums now your life will go way better.

Drums están mejor, así de sencillo

No te mientas a ti mismo; Los flats tienen más sabor. De la barbacoa al búfalo o incluso única carne que tiene la mayor a la pimienta de limón, cuando parte del peso. obtienes una canasta de alas, Por el contrario, tres cuar¿qué seleccionas primero? tas partes de las piernas de Exactamente, los flats. Los pollo es carne y no hueso. flats son mucho mejores y Mair cree que el pollo está satisfactorios, traen lágrimas distribuido uniformemente en de alegría. los flats, pero el único pollo Cuando pides alas, ¡un flat en los flats está en el medio. es la única fuente de sabor!

Los flats son como un palo de Algunas personas salen de su apio, flaco y sin sabor. Los camino y piden un plato lleno flats carecen de sabor porque de flats, incluso si cuesta exno tienen mucha carne, por lo tra. Nada bueno es barato. El que no llevan mucha salsa, lo rapero Rick Ross también está que contribuye al sabor de la de acuerdo. en una entrevista misma. Será mejor que comas de 2016 con Dan Jackson de el apio porque aún así te dará Thrillist.com, Ross verificó que más sabor que el de los flats. es equipo de los flats.

Los flats también son real“Equipo de los flats para mente desordenados para siempre”, dijo Ross. “Soy comer. La salsa y la piel los equipo de todos los flats. Son hacen resbaladizos, y potodos planos contra drían salir el escuadrón de piervolando de nas “. tu mano.

Ross es dueño de Necesitas nueve franquicias dos manos Wingstop en el sudpara coeste. Incluso los memerlos con jores de los mejores éxito. A saben que los flats diferencia son los mejores. de los flats, Las piernas de pollas piernas lo tienen cartílago, a de pollo quienes les gusta el tienen un desagradable tejido asa incormuerto envuelto en porada en su carne. A quien no ellos para le gusta el sabor? que no A quién le gusta el tengas que interior seco sin conensuciardimentos? Cuando se te las dos prepara una pierna, manos. El no hay margen de asa incormaniobra para que porada en el condimento entre • FOTO POR TRISTAN ASUNCION las piernas al tambor. Los flats ¿Será que las piernas de pollo son mejor que los flats? Nuestros expertos en pollo, Mair y Luis, los ayudaran decidir. de pollo es

Si en verdad prefieres las piernas de pollo, también te sacas los mocos cuando nadie te está viendo.

solo un hueso, rodeado de pollo por todos lados.

Mair dice que tienes que aprender a comer flats para no ensuciarte las manos, pero ¿por qué querrías aprender una técnica para comer un flat cuando solo puedes morder una pierna de pollo? Los flats son más desordenados, hay más trabajo para comer y menos carne. Eso no suena como un buen intercambio.

Me encanta la salsa tanto como el tipo siguiente, pero las piernas de pollo tienen mejor sabor porque tan pronto como muerdes, pruebas el delicioso pollo en lugar de atravesar la piel blandita que constituye la mayor parte del exterior del piso.

La piel del flat es tan gruesa como el pollo en el interior que es desagradable. Está obteniendo una proporción de uno a uno entre la piel y el pollo en el flat; sin embargo, en las piernas de pollo, obtienes cuatro veces más carne que piel, lo que es mucho mejor.

Las piernas de pollo incluso tienen más salsa empapada en el pollo, lo que significa que aumenta el sabor del ala. Los flats no puede contener tanta salsa, por lo que la carne es más seca que el desierto de Atacama (el lugar más seco de la tierra).

Mair no entiende la cantidad de percusión que tienen los flats, y la calidad y felicidad que te traen. Si te comprometes con la batería ahora tu vida será mucho mejor.

4

Always on the move

Pirates' Hookok

Transient students face additional challenges

By Divian Poole

schools.

“I don’t like changing schools,” It’s hard being the new kid in a said Brodie. “But my life, if I’d new place or environment. Here at stayed in one place, wouldn’t be Riverside, there are a few students that different. I’d still be doing the who know what that feels like more same stuff.” than most.

Student mobility is when students Sophomore Deandre Brodie has change schools for reasons other been to 9 different than grade schools in the last promotion, 10 years of his life. especially He attended five elein the midmentary schools, two dle of the middle schools and school year. two different high According schools. to an arti“I attended so many cle from the schools because I got National into a lot of trouble,” Education said Brodie. “I was Associahanging around with tion, stuthe wrong group of dents with people. It felt weird higher moswitching to all the bility are different schools. I more likely had to start over and to drop out. meet a lot of differChanging ent people and I had schools disto find my type of rupts adofriends.” lescence deBrodie’s parents velopment • PHOTOS BY JAVIER MORALES moved him to differa n d r e l aSenior Amillion Miles (top) and ent schools because tionships sophomore Deandre Brodie of his behavior and with peers (bottom) discuss the challenges of the environment he and educamoving a lot. Both have attended at was in at the other tors. least 9 different schools.

Teachers here at Riverside have experienced the same thing. Rebekah Rutherford, an English as a second language (ESL) teacher, went to seven different schools before attending college. She attended three different elementary schools, three different middle schools, and one high school.

“I learned about different cultures, languages, religions, governments, food,” said Rutherford. ”Each person is influenced by their environment but that environment by itself doesn’t determine personality.”

Rutherford’s parents’ jobs forced them to move around a lot, so she attended many different schools.

Senior Amillion Miles has attended five elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools. She has gone to Riverside since 2017.

“It was weird changing to all the different schools,” said Miles. ”You don’t know what’s next and you never know if you’re going to a school where you’re going to be made fun of.”

Like most kids, Miles moved around because of her parents. Her dad is a landscaper and her mom is a nurse.

“I moved because of my parents’ jobs,” said Miles.

“If we didn’t move, I probably would have been around

my cousins and gone to Hillside.

I’ve never been bullied but I think new kids who are bullied get bullied because they haven’t been in that area before a n d are targeted because they’re by themselves.”

Assistant

• GRAPHIC BY ALEX NAVARRO

Revenge Porn

Survey suggests RHS students prefer drinking over smoking

By Jada Kobbah According to a Pirate’s Hook survey, approximately 17 percent of students at Riverside High School smoke and drink.

The survey was distributed via email, social media, and homerooms.

The 77 responses suggest Riverside students are more likely to drink than smoke.

Riverside’s responses are similar to national drinking statistics but far lower for smoking. A 2017 report from the US Department of Health and Human Services found that 11 percent of students ages 14-17 smoked in 2015 (down from 16 percent in 2013).

33 percent of students reported that they drank in 2015 (down from 19 percent in 2013).

Most respondents believed more than half the student body smokes and drinks, and 80 percent reported having a friend who smokes or drinks.

Business teacher Eric Wilson did not expect these results.

“I’m surprised that more teens drink

than smoke at Riverside,” Wilson said. “ Back in my time teenagers were smoking more than they were drinking.“ Teens can be drawn to smoking and drinking only because they wanna look cool, act older or just feel independent. But Riverside students often mentioned stress as their motivation.

“If you are stressed smoking will be the only way you are able to cope,” one student wrote.

Other responders noted, however, that drinking and smoking actually increases their stress levels.

Worldwide, people who drink could be dealing with behavior problems, school failure or even depression, according to verywellmind.com.

For teens struggling to manage their stress, smoking and drinking can create a vicious cycle. Teenagers would only go to smoking when they’re stressed because that’s the only outlet they have and they feel they don’t get enough of it. The more they smoke or drink, however, the more stressed they get, creatng a vicious cycle.

• GRAPHIC BY JARED AUSTIN

principal Ashley Stephens wishes some parents understood how disruptive changing schools can be to students’ academics and lives.

“One thing that parents and students don’t know is changing schools just to change schools isn’t all that great as it sounds,” said Stephens.

“When you change schools you basically start all over again. It’s your new teacher’s choice to either let you take a pre-test on your knowledge or put what you had for a grade at your old school back in the gradebook.”

Cont. from pg. 1

• PHOTO BY TRISTAN ASUNCION

Biology teacher Mika Twietmeyer explains a Venn Diagram to her students. Twietmeyer has taught at Riverside since 2008.

Mika Twietmeyer named Teacher of the Year, finalist for DPS award

by zoe ashe-jones

When Mika Twietmeyer was a kid, her least favorite subject was science.

Today, Twietmeyer is the Teacher of the Year for Riverside, where she teaches science.

Twietmeyer grew up in Yardley, Philadelphia, and attended University of Maryland College Park, where she majored in biology and entomology. She got her Masters of Arts in teaching, with a secondary science concentration, at Duke.

“I always thought I would end up in the classroom,” said Twietmeyer.

“I really enjoyed science but it was a hard class for me. I wanted to share my experiences with students, and develop creative ways to bring science to students.”

Twietmeyer teaches AP biology, honors and standard biology, and credit recovery biology. She makes green pancakes to represent chlorophylls, takes her class on trips to the Eno and the tennis courts, and has a Pie Day once a semester.

In addition to helping students in the classroom, Twietmeyer is happy to help outside of school. In 2016, after Wildin Acosta was detained because he was undocumented, Twietmeyer attended court dates and supported him throughout the process.

“My proudest moment was watching Wildin Acosta graduate after spending most of his senior year of high school in immigration jail,” said Twietmeyer.

Students who have had Twietmeyer enjoy her teaching style.

“My favorite part of having her as a teacher was her enthusiasm,” said sophomore Kaia Spero. “Her enthusiasm made me want to be excited too.”

Cuando Mika Twietmeyer era una niña, la materia que más detestaba era la ciencia. Hoy, Twietmeyer es la Maestra del Año de Riverside, donde enseña ciencias.

Twietmeyer creció en Yardley, Philadelphia , y asistió a la Univer-

sidad de Maryland College Park, donde se especializó en biología y entomología. Obtuvo su Maestría en Artes en enseñanza, ciencias secundarias, en Duke.

"Siempre pensé que terminaría en una aula", dijo Twietmeyer. "Realmente me gustaba las clase de ciencia pero fue una clase dificil para mí.

Quería compartir mis experiencias con los estudiantes y desarrollar formas creativas de llevar la ciencia a los estudiantes ".

Twietmeyer enseña Biología AP, Honores y Biología Estándar, y Biología de Recuperación de Créditos.

Ella hace panqueques verdes para representar clorofilas, lleva su clase en viajes a Eno River y las canchas de tenis, y tiene un día de pastel una vez al semestre.

Además de ayudar a los estudiantes en el aula, Twietmeyer está feliz de ayudarlos fuera de la escuela. En el 2016, después de que Wildin Acosta fue detenido porque era un inmigrante indocumentado, Twietmeyer asistió a las citas judiciales y lo apoyó durante todo el proceso.

"Mi momento de mayor orgullo fue ver a Wildin Acosta graduarse después de pasar la mayor parte de su último año de la escuela secundaria en la cárcel de inmigración", dijo Twietmeyer.

Los estudiantes que han tenido a Twietmeyer disfrutan su estilo de enseñanza.

"Mi parte favorita de tenerla como maestra fue su entusiasmo", dijo la estudiante de segundo año Kaia Spero. "Su entusiasmo me hizo querer estar emocionado también".

Editor's note: Twietmeyer is a finalist for the DPS districtwide Teacher of the Year Award. The winner will be announced May 16.

According to North Carolina state law, it is illegal to disseminate revenge porn without consent, especially when the intention of sharing it is to humiliate the victim.

If the sexual image or act is shared with intent to coerce, harass, intimidate, demean or cause financial loss to the depicted person, it will become a class E or H felony for someone over 18.

For minors, it will be a class I misdemeanor. If the revenge porn is found to be a class H felony, probation is a possibility but subjects will most likely receive incarceration for up to 39 months.

As of 2017, 38 states and the District of Columbia have specific laws outlawing the distribution of revenge porn, according to an ABC11 report on the incident. The law became effective in North Carolina on December 1 2016.

North Carolina is the twenty-seventh state to enact a “revenge porn” law. A person who is charged under a revenge porn statute can or may also be charged with other related crimes including cyber crimes, computer crimes, distribution of child pornography and more.

In some states it is at the judge’s discretion to require the defendant to register as a sex offender if convicted.

A 2014 article from the American Psychological Association suggests revenge porn is alarmingly common.

While only 10 percent of ex-partners threaten to post sexually explicit photos and videos online, approximately 60 percent of those threats become reality.

Despite the threat of felony charges, Potts believes students won’t stop creating and sharing child pornography unless they are caught.

“The best way to prevent distribution of child pornography is to not do it but subjects will continue to do it until they get caught,” Potts said.

"The best way to prevent distribution of child pornography is to not do it."

Jamie Potts, SRO

April 2018

News

A Magical, Enchanted Forest: Prom 2018

5

By Chris Allen This year’s prom is going to feature loads of new things.

According to Monique Taylor, this year's prom will be “Enchanted Forest” themed prom, and the hotspot will be the new “SmileAndStyle” photo booths. There will be two booths that look like a giant iPhone and a mirror.

Riverside marketing teacher and prom adviser John Swanson thinks the photo booths will be an upgrade from last year.

“The booth will allow for students to have greater accessibility with the booth than last year,” Swanson said.

Instead of just getting a picture strip, students will be able to text the pictures to their own mobile devices immediately after taking them.

Swanson also said students will have new and improved snacks..

Overall he said you should expect nothing but a good time with a great DJ and good snacks.

Mágico Bosque Encantado: Baile 2018 Por Chris Allen

El baile de graduación de este año presentará muchas cosas nuevas.

Según Monique Taylor, el baile de graduación de este año será baile de gala con el tema “Bosque Encantado”, y el punto de acceso serán los nuevos fotomatones “SmileAndStyle”. Habrá dos cabinas que se verán como un iPhone gigante y un espejo.

El maestro de marketing de Riverside y consejero de baile John Swanson cree que los fotomatones serán una mejora con respecto al año pasado.

“El stand permitirá a los estudiantes tener una mayor accesibilidad con el stand que el año pasado”, dijo Swanson.

En lugar de simplemente obtener una tira de fotografía, los estudiantes podrán enviar las imágenes a sus propios dispositivos móviles inmediatamente después de tomarlas.

Swanson también dijo que los estudiantes tendrán nuevos y mejores bocadillos. Deben esperar un buen momento con un gran DJ y buenos bocadillos.

•GRAPHIC COURTESY CHRISTIAN LORENZ • GRAPHIC COURTESY OF OF CHRISTIAN LORENZ

Avengers: Infinity War set to dominate Hype all around the globe for the new superhero film

By Divaldo Santos The “most ambitious crossover event” in history is set to debut on big screens April 27th. Avengers: Infinity War is set to be the biggest movie of the year, and maybe the decade, as it surpassed Black Panther pre-ticket sales by 256% in its first 6 hours of presale.

Avengers: Infinity War will be the climax of a universe 10 years in the making. The film brings Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Starlord (Chris Pratt), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and the rest of their fellow Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy members to face their biggest threat yet, the mad titan Thanos. Thanos is on a mission to collect the scattered Infinity Stones, powerful gems that control the way

of life as we see it. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain and everything we’ve seen our heroes fight through over the last 10 years has led to this moment.

The film has been breaking records since November, beginning with the first trailer for the film, released on November 27, 2017. The trailer dragged in a total of 230 million views across all platforms in a span of 24 hours. Breaking 2017’s IT trailer record by over 33 million views. The film’s second trailer, released online during the NCAA Tournament on March 16, earned the record of being the 3rd most viewed trailer of all time with 179 million views within its first 24 hours. Falling 2nd, is 2017’s IT film with 197 million views within its first 24 hours.

Over the last couple of months,

tons of anticipation has been building for Avengers: Infinity War. Just last month on March 1, Marvel Studios announced that the film was pushed up a week ahead of its original release date of May 4 and now is to be released on April 27.

Other films such as Amy Schumer’s I Feel Pretty have been moved out of the way to avoid the competition with the films after the surprise announcement.

Excitement for the film has spread everywhere.

“I’m legit, so excited for Infinity War," said senior Lamar Mills. "You don’t understand.”

Mills is a hardcore comic book film fan and has seen almost every DC Comics and Marvel movie to come out in the recent years.

Having Infinity War bring every hero together can only bring hype

to the most diehard fans.

“I have to see it in IMAX," Mills said. "I’m gonna try to get into any fan event showings, can’t wait."

Even people who haven’t been too invested in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe are still excited to see their favorite heroes go up against a world-ending threat.

“It looks like a real good movie," said sophomore Alejandra Garcia.

"The trailer was intense and I really wanna see Iron Man and Thor too.”

Senior Sergio Ramirez also can't wait.

“It’s gonna be lit and it’s something I’m gonna have to see," Ramirez said.

"These trailers are making me even more excited to see it, to be honest.

If you know, you know, if you dont, you dont."

Spratley, Swaim named RHS Beginning Teachers of the Year

By Zoe Ashe-Jones

passion over to my students so that I can be an integral part of their Angelica Spratley has been a small and big successes all while Riverside teacher for two and a being a support system during their half years. Her fellow Beginning setbacks.”

Teacher of the Year, Allison Swaim, While Spratley’s favorite part has been teaching for three years. of teaching is helping students While they teach different sub- succeed, both academically and jects, attended different colleges, personally, Swaim enjoys proband took lem solving, d i ff e r e n t improvising, paths to and learning. becoming “In the teachclassroom, ers, they every day is have one full of mothing in ments where common: I’m required they love to improvise teachand probing and lem-solve,” helping said Swaim, students “from using achieve. laughter to “After dissolve ten• PHOTO BY TRISTAN ASUNCION working sion to usthrough Angelica Spratley teaches engineering. She ing theater to c o l l e g e began teaching at Riverside in 2016. teach a new as a Sciconcept. Evence, ery day that Technology, Engineering, and I teach US history, I learn things Math tutor and teacher’s assistant, I didn’t know. Not only do I I fell in love with helping students continue to learn new content, I achieve their academic goals in am also constantly learning how order to enhance their livelihood,” to be a better teacher, shifting my said Spratley. “I carried this same practice to invite students to take

ownership of their own learning.” Bachelor’s of Arts in Comparative Spratley went to college at American Studies, she was pursuing North Carolina Central University, a career in documentary radio and where she multimedia majored storytelling. in Biolo“I came to gy. Before realize that she startas much as I ed teachlove the deing, she tective work worked as of journalism, a tutor for I didn’t want Riverside to spend my students. A life in front parent recof a computer ommended screen, edither to the ing footage,” e n g i n e e rsaid Swaim. ing depart“I need to be • PHOTO BY TRISTAN ASUNCION ment and immersed in Allison Swaim teaches Social Studies. She she was full-bodied, began teaching at Riverside in 2015. offered a fast-paced, job. people-cen“I was enthusiastic about the tered work that is challenging, opportunity in being able to teach physical, and creative.” more Riverside students,” said "She's a good teacher," said junior Spratley.

Andy Tate, who is taking American “She says the important things History II with Swaim. "She gives and only the important things,” interesting ways to do stuff. I like said sophomore Nathan Skalla, who her lectures." took Computer Science Principles The Beginning Teachers of the with Spratley. “She makes a lot of Year from Riverside will go on to jokes that make learning more fun.” compete against other beginning Swaim didn’t start out to be teachers and be honored at a dinner a teacher. When she graduated on May 16. from Oberlin College, she had a

What did RHS students do during Spring break?

9.7% with out g n Hu riends f

25% he Went to t beach

21% home Stayed at 8.1% Toured c ol

1.6% - Voluntered 6.5%-Visited family 7.3%- Worked

4%- Babysat 1.6%- Studied 4.8%-Played/practiced a sport

leges

6

Takahashi wins Bracket Challenge

Pirates' Hookok

2018 NCAA tournament featured early upsets, unexpected final four

By Christopher Allen The winner of this year’s Riverside March Madness Bracket Challenge was senior Junko Takahashi. Her win was especially shocking because her champion was the Virginia Cavaliers, who were upset in the first round by a 16 seed. This was the first time a 16 seed has ever beaten a 1 seed.

“I chose UVA to win it all because

I am a big Virginia fan,” Takahashi said. “It is one of my top choices for what school I would like to attend.”

Takahashi took a practical approach when it came to picking who would win each game.

"I looked at both schools, and if I recognized one, I picked it to win," said Takahashi. "If I knew both of them, then I took seeding into consideration." While wining a March

Madness Bracket Challenge is never just about sports knowledge, this year was especially unique.

The 2018 tournament was very wild, and that is partially the reason why everyone had bad brackets.

Kansas and Villanova's respective regions were the only ones where a top 3 seed made it to the final 4.

Meanwhile, Xavier and Virginia’s respective regions had an 11 and a 5

seed representing them. Takahashi, Artley, and Summerson finished in the top three because they got almost all of the teams correct from Kansas and Villanova`s region.

"If I recognized one [school], I picked it to win."

Junko Takahashi, Senior Final Standings:

Junko Takahashi, Technology assistant Steve Artley and Matthew Summerson pose with their brackets.

Takahashi won despite picking The University of Virginia to win the tournament. • PHOTO BY TRISTAN ASUNCION

1) Junko Takahashi 2) Steve Artley 3) Matthew Summerson 4) Victoria Watson 5) Adam Kirsch 6) Steve Foster 7) Justin Mofield 8) Grace Shelton 9) Garrett Wishunt 10) Catina Jones

Spring sports briefs

(Left) Junior Nick Gore putts during an early-season match. (Right) Freshmen DiAmiri Martin runs the hurdles event in a recent meet. Many Riverside spring sports teams are fighting to qualify for the state playoffs.

• PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE HELM

Women's soccer

Track & Field

The women’s soccer team is on the verge of making the playoffs.

The lady Pirates are currently 3-71, and 1-5 in conference.

“Our conference is really competitive," said soccer coach Eric Long.

"We are going against Wake County schools, but we’re holding our own.

It’s going well, our record is 3-7-1.”

The Lady Pirates have upcoming games against Green Hope, Northern and Cary.

Long believes they team will need to win eight games to make the playoffs.

“With only three wins right now," said Long, "we’re probably going to have to win four or five games out of the six we have left to make it into the playoffs."

The women’s soccer team has bounced back from injuries and adversity and have played well in their last two games. However, each game resulted in unfortunate 1-0 loses to Panther Creek and Athens Drive.

The Pirates hope to finish out the season strong and reverse the results of their past few games.

The Rivrside track and feild team defeated Athens drive High School on April 19 “We had a very good meet,” said assistant coach Gerald Mitchell. “We had people who were hurt, who were not feeling well, but the rest of the team stepped up, and in the end the girls and the guys won.”

The track and field team is in a new conference this season and is getting used to it.

“It’s been an interesting season so far, it’s our first year in this new conference,” said Mitchell. “Our main focus is getting them to qualify for states or regionals” Mitchell and head coach Greg Brown want the members of the team to be as fast as they can and be fast enough to qualify for states and regionals.

The students that have qualified for regionals so far are senior Abira Reddish and sophomores Cameron Grant and Jordan Landis.

The track and field team is now preparing for the Tri-6 Conference Meet on May 1 at Athens Drive.

By Chris Allen

By Luis Apolonio

For up-to-the-minute news, visit thepirateshook.com

And follow us @thepirateshook

Baseball

After a tough week, the baseball team looks to finish strong and qualify for the state playoffs.

Head coach Doug Simmons has stated that “The team is not as good as we expected," said head coach Doug Simmons. "I expect us to be in the top half in our conference."

The team is currently 9-10 overall, 1-5 in conference “We need to start winning some games to get in the conference [race], and there’s a lot of good baseball teams this season so we need to play well.”

Riverside lost on Monday, April 16 to Green Hope High School. The pirates were up 8-6 on one of the top teams in the state, but unfortunately went on to give up 3 runs in the last inning to lose 9-8.

The next day the Pirates bounced back and beat Hillside High School 10-0.

On Friday, they played Green Hope for the second time and, due to multiple errors and blown opportunities at the plate, lost 5-1. Riverside had multiple chances to blow the game open but failed to do so.

The Pirates need to win the next four conference games in order to have a chance to make the playoffs.

They will face both Cary and Athens drive twice.

The Pirates hope to sweep both teams and move their conference record to 5-5.

By Jada Kobbah

“We need to start winning some games to get in the conference [race]. We need to play well.”

Doug Simmons, baseball coach

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Comparten con cuidado Seugido de pg 6 Los padres de los involucrados fueron notificados, pero por razones de privacidad ninguna de las edades ni las consecuencias se harán públicas. Si se encuentra que el video fue compartido por estudiantes mayores de 18 años, todos podrían enfrentar cargos por delitos graves. Pero la amenaza de un delito grave puede no ser suficiente para evitar que el video circule por las escuelas.

Compartir pornografía infantil a menudo ocurre en forma de "pornografía de venganza", o estudiantes que comparten fotos de sus compañeros sin su consentimiento.

Riverside no ha tenido un incidente como el ocurrido en Southern en los últimos años, pero los administradores aquí han tenido que lidiar con este tipo de problema.

“He tratado situaciones de pornografía infantil entre estudiantes,” dijo el subdirector Britton Brown.

“Mi principal preocupación para los estudiantes involucrados es su seguridad.”El enfoque inmediato de Brown es reportar el incidente a la policía. Primero notifica a los padres, la policía y el director.

“En cuanto a lo que los administradores mismos y la escuela pueden hacer como consecuencias, es la suspensión,” dijo Brown.

“El proceso legal es iniciar una investigación,” dijo el oficial de recursos de la escuela Riverside, Jamie Potts. “Solicitamos que las órdenes de búsqueda tengan acceso a los teléfonos de los que lo enviaron y a los que lo recibieron, vea a dónde fue la información, la imagen o el video, quién más lo envió y solicitó más garantías. Para aquellos que están involucrados mayores de 18 años serán arrestados y acusados ​​de diseminación de pornografía infantil, lo cual es un delito grave.”

De acuerdo con la ley del estado de Carolina del Norte, es ilegal difundir pornografía de venganza sin consentimiento, especialmente cuando la intención de compartirlo es humillar a la víctima.

Si la imagen o acto sexual se comparte con la intención de coaccionar, acosar, intimidar, degradar o causar una pérdida financiera a la persona representada, se convertirá en un delito grave clase E o H para una persona mayor de 18 años. Para menores, será una clase I delito. Si se considera que el pronombre de venganza es un delito de clase H, la libertad condicional es una posibilidad, pero es muy probable que los sujetos reciban encarcelamiento por hasta 39 meses.

A partir de 2017, 38 estados y el Distrito de Columbia tienen leyes específicas que prohíben la distribución de pornografía de venganza, según un informe de ABC11 sobre el incidente. La ley entró en vigencia en Carolina del Norte el 1 de diciembre de 2016. Carolina del Norte es el vigésimo séptimo estado en promulgar una ley de "porno de venganza".

Una persona acusada bajo un estatuto de venganza porno puede o puede ser acusada de otros crímenes relacionados, incluyendo delitos cibernéticos, delitos informáticos, distribución de pornografía infantil y más. En algunos estados, queda a la discreción del juez exigir que el acusado se registre como delincuente sexual si es declarado culpable.

Un artículo de 2014 de la Asociación Estadounidense de Psicología sugiere que el porno de venganza es alarmantemente común. Mientras que solo el 10 por ciento de los ex socios amenazan con publicar fotos y videos sexualmente explícitos en línea, aproximadamente el 60 por ciento de esas amenazas se hacen realidad.

A pesar de la amenaza de cargos por delitos graves, Potts cree que los estudiantes no dejarán de crear y compartir pornografía infantil a menos que sean atrapados.

“La mejor manera de prevenir la distribución de pornografía infantil es no hacerlo, pero los sujetos continuarán haciéndolo hasta que los atrapen,” dijo Potts.

April 2018

7

Sports

NBA

Athlete of the Month Catherine Fishback

Playoff Watch

Six teams ready to surprise

•Photo by Javier Morales

By Ashley Gonzalez Catherine Fishback has been playing soccer since she was ten.

In the eight years since, she’s become the captain of Riverside’s varsity soccer team and signed to play collegiate soccer at Belmont Abbey College.

“My biggest role models in soccer are Ellen McAdams, who played soccer at Riverside for four years, and Carli Lloyd, who plays on the US women’s national team,” said Fishback. “When I was on a team with Ellen she was always the person I wanted to beat in practice.

"I wanted to be as good and hard working as her. Carli Lloyd’s Instagram always has videos of her training no matter where she is, or what the weather is like outside. Seeing Ellen and Carli’s work ethic further drives me to work towards the goals I have in soccer,” she said.

Fishback isn’t only a soccer player, but also a leader.

Head coach Eric Long appreciates the way she pushes everyone to get better - himself included.

“She’s one of the hardest working players that I’ve coached,” Long said.

“She works hard during games and practice and really challenges me as far as being on my toes as a coach.”

Long also loves her leadership.

“She and I work together a lot on different aspects of the team, practices and what I need from the other teammates,” Long said. “she’s really stepped up into that role.”

Fishback and the Lady Pirates are currently 3-5-1.

The women’s soccer team next plays on April 27 against Northern High School at 6:30 p.m.

Fishback suffered a knee injury in mid-April. The injury sidelined her for awhile, but athletic trainer Sarah Bell expects her to be available to play Northern on senior night, which is the last home game of the season, on May 4.

By Joshua Nicholson

1.Utah Jazz

Ladies and gentleman, Donovan Mitchell has arrived. He just had one of the best rookie campaigns in the modern-era of basketball (20.5 ppg, 4.0 rebounds, and 4 assist per game) With a star quality big-man in Rudy Gobert who happens to be the favorite in this season’s defensive player of the year award, and an underrated forward in Joe Ingles who makes 44.1 percent of his three-point attempt has basketball savants eager to see how much noise they can actually make in the playoffs. And Mitchell has taken it up a notch during the playoffs. He is averging 25.7 points per game on 44.8 percent shooting from the field. Mitchell is showing he can turn up the heat in the playoffs.The Jazz are leading the series 2-1 with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of this year's playoffs.

Anthony Davis is showing he can play at a high level when he needs to.

2.New Orleans Pelican

After losing a perennial all star in Demarcus Cousins to a torn achilles, the Pelicans still find themselves finishing 6th in a tough western conference. They would go on to meet the Portland Trail Blazers and proceeded to sweep them. Anthony Davis (Pelicans Forward) averaged 32.3 points per game during the series. Showing that he can play at a high level when he needs to. The Pelicans play the winner of Golden State Warriors and the San

Antonio Spurs.

3. San Antonio Spurs

Even though Kawhi Leonard is still questionable for a return this postseason, the Spurs are still making things interesting as the 7-seed in the playoffs. With a perennial all star in Lamarcus Aldridge, who averaged 23.4 points per game (ppg) this year, arguably the best 40-year-old in nba history (Manu Ginobili), and veteran rotation players like Tony Parker. The spurs still playing with poise and heart after an up and down season. They look to battle back against the Warriors and climb out of a 3-1 hole.

1.Philadelphia 76ers

Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, and the 76ers are young, but they are ready right now. With a team full of rookies and sophomores, the 76ers control their destiny in the Eastern Conference after locking up the third seed and jumping out to an early series lead in the first round of the playoffs.

The 76ers average a league best 46.9 rebounds per game, which can ultimately slow the game down, making Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid a more formidable threat for runs at the rim. Maybe people will finally trust the process.The Sixers are currently playing the Miami Heat and lead the series 3-1.

2.Indiana Pacers

With an experienced coach in Nate McMillan the pacers have seemingly taken on a new identity. The Pacers during the regular season ranked among the NBA’s bottom six in both 3-point attempt rate and free-throw attempt rate according to fivethirtyeight.com a blogging and analysis organization.

This statistic is the complete opposite of the league-best Houston Rockets (58-14) who during the regular season shot a little more than 50 percent of their shots from 3-point range.

The Pacers finished in fifth place at 48-33. They are currently playing the Clevland Cavaliers in the First Round. The series is tied 2-2. Clevland's Superstar forward Lebron James has averaging 32.5 through the first four games of this series on 54.2 percent shooting from the field.

Lance Stephenson is the best player in the league, right?

3.Miami Heat

The Miami Heat aren’t a team that jumps off the paper at you, being that they finished the season ranked fifteenth in defensive and offensive efficiency. However, adding a veteran leader in Dwayne Wade (three-time champion) at the trade deadline is something that can help some of young talent on their grow. The Heat are currently playing the Philadelphia 76ers who lead the series 3-1.

Freshman three-sport stand out propels softball team

By Robert Duncan Softball player Deborah Ensley scored three times in a single game last week to give the Lady Pirates their first runs of the 2018 season in a loss to Southern 5-3 .

The Freshmen shortstop, who showed up 3 weeks after the official start of the season because she was still competing in a NCHSAA women’s basketball playoffs, had a solid performance after only two days with the team.

Despite having limited time she lead the Lady Pirates’ offense.

Ensley singled down the third base line in her first at bat, then stole second and third. The next

batter bunted, and an off-target throw throw to home plate allowed her to score.

Her last at bat occured in the top of the fifth inning, when she walked.

Two batters later she scored her third run of the game when a teammate executed a well-timed sacrifice bunt.

Ensley’s best defensive performance came when a Southern first-basemen connected on a solid ground ball that made its way past the junior shortstop sarah Berman, and Ensley fielded the ball making a solid throw to second base to get the out and close out the fourth inning.

With her style of play, surely the Pirates will find their way into the win column this year.

Sophie Blue, softball coach

Even though Riverside has yet to see a change in the win column they are extremely excited about what this potential young star can do to improve their overall team play and dynamic, much like she did for the two other teams she has played on, tennis and basketball.

In a sports world that has been overtaken with sport specialization and many athletes compete in one sport year-round, Ensley defies the odds by succeeding regardless of the playing surface and training regimen.

“I just like to play ball,” said Ensley, who is 14 years old. “People see me playing basketball, or softball and I play well. However,

I love tennis the most, I just like to play.”

Ensley is the only freshman three-sport-athlete at Riverside and will earn her third varsity letter at the conclusion of spring sports season.

“Defensively, Ensley plays center field like a vet and is playing well enough to help us finally get a win,” said head coach Sophie Blue.

“With her style of play, surely the Pirates will find their way into the win column this year.”

The softball team next plays at Cary High School on Friday.

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8

Pirates' Hookok

Riverside faculty share their battles with cancer

By Joshua Nicholson

• PHOTO COURTESY OF BECKY RUTHERFORD

• GRAPHIC BY TAJ SMITH

• PHOTO BY FABIAN HERNANDEZ

• PHOTO BY JAVIER MORALES

• PHOTO BY ELIJAH KING

Becky Rutherford

Catherine Sebring

Amy Bass

Claribel Galarza-Andujar

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July of 2013. I was leaving a job at a neighboring county, I had already interviewed at Riverside, and I was not expecting to have any major health issues between one job and the next job. I actually started my chemotherapy 2-3 weeks before I started working here.

Trying to juggle between lesson plans and research was very stressful and strenuous. In spite of that, I believe this experience was one of the best things that has happened to me. I have learned how to be patient with myself and have made stronger bonds with my students.

Coming in as a new teacher was hard but my students made it easy.

The way that they handled things was probably in a similar way that adults would handle it. When I had to be out in the beginning to go get surgery, it was around Thanksgiving and my students wanted to have a class party. They brought me flowers and balloons, and I wasn’t expecting them to have any feelings toward my situation at all. However, my students were genuine about. It really helped me gain confidence and feel a sense of togetherness with my students.

My son was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 1997. Our family would undergo a true test of our strength as we watched him suffer with one of the most common and formidable types of childhood cancer. My son wasn’t really old enough to understand because he was only four.

However that was not the hardest thing to deal with. It was the fact that I had to share the news of the diagnosis with my husband, which was probably harder for me than hearing it from the nurse.

With all of these things going on around me I still kept teaching and later found myself counseling at Riverside. I love engaging, teaching, and talking with students. Coming through that experience is one of the many things I use everyday to keep coming to school with a smile on my face.

The greatest takeaway was the strength we had as a family, because when one person gets sick it affects everyone and he had a little brother that, I’m not going to say I ignored, but I tended to leave him in the care of my husband. It took all of us to be strong and support him to get him to the place where he is now.

When I was 13 I noticed a cyst in my throat.

It felt very much like an Adam’s apple, which I knew girls did not have. I then showed my mom, who immediately took me to the doctor.

The process was very tiring - I was misdiagnosed three different times before receiving the correct diagnosis.

After finally being diagnosed I found out that there was something wrong with my thyroid and it had a cyst. For the next couple of months I marched into uncharted territory. I went into surgery hoping it would remove the cyst from my throat. Pathology showed it was cancer and they decided to go back in while I was still under and remove the entire thyroid.

There were two small cysts on the back side.

Fortunately my cancer was encapsulated, which means it had not broken out yet and spread to my body, sparing time for doctors the need to treat the cells properly.

As I reflect on my teenage years, I think one of the main things that has brought me to where I am today was maintaining positive thoughts.

You can do your medical treatments, but you have to stay positive. This is your fight and it’s not just a physical fight; it’s also a mental fight.

Sometimes you just gotta believe that everything is going to be all right. After getting diagnosed with non hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, I found myself in a tough situation. I had a career going on as a teacher in Florida for 16 years when I was diagnosed for the first time. Then I came to teach Spanish at Riverside, where I have been for three years, and was diagnosed for the second time with the same type of cancer.

It was difficult, but in the same sense empowering to know that you have something to live for. My students need me, my community needs me, and I love my job. I could never see myself walking away because of the grace of God and the support not only of the students but also the administrators and my co-workers kept me going.

I also have 3 boys and a caring husband at home, so that keeps me busy. I have so many beautiful things to live for and it gave me all the reasons to believe that everything is going to be all right. Last year I started representing the Lymphoma and Leukemia Association in the school trying to create awareness for this condition.

New Counselor Deondra Jenkins joins RHS

By Eijah King Close to a month after long-time guidance counselor Renee Hango left Riverside, Deondra Jenkins replaced her.

Originally from the small town of Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina, Jenkins earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and African American studies from UNC-Chapel Hill. She moved to Durham three years ago to attend North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and earn a master’s in school counseling.

“I really love Durham,” Jenkins said. “I tell people I consider Durham my home away from home because the diversity that’s here at Riverside - I could say the same for Durham as well.”

Riverside,teachers, students, and staff have are overjoyed to have a new Pirate on board.

“I think that because she’s young and has fresh ideas, she is going to be a huge benefit for Riverside students,” Assistant Principal Kadeidra Carr said.

Although everyone has welcomed Jenkins, she has still faced a few challenges.

“There are always challenges that come in, especially at a time of the school year like this towards the end,” Jenkins said. “I have to say the biggest challenge is getting adjusted to the day to the day. Especially as a counselor, no day is alike.”

While being a guidance counselor was not her initial dream, Jenkins loves the school, what she does, and agrees that she can be valuable

to all aspects of RHS. “Everybody works together as a team,” Jenkins said. “I really love that collaborative effort and that is really one of the reasons why I wanted to do high school counseling. I know staff value the principles of teamwork and it shows.”

Nuevo Consejero Deondra Jenkins Se une a RHS Por Eijah King Cerca de un mes después de un largo tiempo de consejera de orientacion Renee Hango dejo Riverside, Deondra Jenkins la reemplazo.

Originario de la pequeña ciudad de Lake Waccamaw, Carolina del Norte, Jenkins obtuvo una licenciatura en sociología y estudios afroamericanos de UNC-Chapel Hill. Se

New counselor Deondra Jenkins closely reviews her caseloads and paperwork to catch up and to get a feel for the Riverside and her students. Jenkins moved to Durham three years ago to attend NCCU. • PHOTO BY TRISTAN ASUNCION

mudó a Durham hace tres años para asistir a la Universidad Central de Carolina del Norte (NCCU) y obtener una maestría en consejería escolar.

"Realmente amo a Durham," dijo Jenkins.

"Le digo a la gente que considero a Durham mi hogar lejos de mi hogar porque la diversidad que hay aquí en Riverside también podría decir lo mismo de Durham."

Todos en Riverside, incluidos profesores, estudiantes y personal, están muy contentos de tener un nuevo pirata a bordo.

"Creo que porque es joven y tiene nuevas ideas, va a ser un gran beneficio para los estudiantes de Riverside," dijo la subdirectora Kadeidra Carr.

Aunque todos le han dado la bienvenida a Jenkins, todavía se enfrenta a algunos desafíos.

"Siempre surgen desafíos, especialmente en un momento del año escolar como este hacia el final," dijo Jenkins. "Debo decir que el mayor desafío es acostumbrarse al día a día.

Especialmente como consejero, ningún día es igual."

Si bien ser consejera no fue su sueño inicial, Jenkins ama, la escuela, lo que hace, y está de acuerdo en que puede ser valiosa en todos los aspectos de RHS. "Todos trabajan juntos como equipo," dijo Jenkins. "Realmente me encanta ese esfuerzo de colaboración y esa es realmente una de las razones por las que quería hacer consejería en la escuela secundaria. Sé que el personal valora los principios del trabajo en equipo y se nota."