March 2021

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TALON TALON ROCHESTER HILLS, MI // MARCH 2021 // VOL. 83 ISSUE 1

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI // MARCH 2021// VOL. 83 ISSUE 1

Read about local igloo restaurants on pg.7 & visit RochesterTalon.com for more stories!

Photo courtesy of: Mariam Hanna

PAGE 2 || NEWS

THE TALON || MARCH 2021

News In RHS

Full Rochester population back in the classroom ALYSSA HART

CO. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

RHS students practicing social distancing at lunch. Photo taken by Alyssa Hart After months of quarantine, an isolated summer, and virtual school, students are back in the classroom a year later. It’s been a year since the beginning of Covid in the United States, and the school schedules have undoubtedly changed over the course of the year.

The most recent update began on Friday, Jan. 8th when Governor Whitmer issued a statement urging all Michigan K-12 schools to return to an in-person learning environment. The statement was not an order, as she continues to allow school districts to make their own decisions using their best judgment, but rather a recommendation.

“The value of in-person learning for our kids is immeasurable, and we must do everything we can to help them get a great education safely,” Whitmer said.

She followed the statement with a variety of guidelines to keep students and faculty safe, such as increased ventilation, masks, social distancing precautions, and daily symptom screenings.

Many Michigan school districts followed shortly with a tentative plan to reintroduce students into the building, including the Rochester Community School district.

Starting Jan. 27 RCS transitioned to a hybrid model. The high schools divided into two cohorts, each attending two days of in-person and virtual school. This hybrid model was used to transition students back into full in-person instruction beginning on March 1.

The schedule includes the full school population and instruction Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30

p.m. Mondays and Thursdays include first through third hour, and Tuesdays and Fridays include fourth through sixth, with Wednesdays alternating each week. Students are given breaks halfway between each class, as well as 10 minute passing times.

The schedule also includes four lunch periods in order to limit contact with other students. At each lunch table there is a QR code scanner where students can log where they are seated that day, in case contact tracing must be done. Additionally, seniors are allowed off campus lunch in order to reduce the amount of students in the building during periods where masks must be taken off to eat.

The new schedule is definitely an adjustment, and one that many students have strong feelings about.

“It felt weird having so many students there and seeing people I hadn’t seen in almost a year,” senior Elise VeCasey said, “but I’m glad we have figured out how to adjust to Covid while still being able to go to school.”

The new schedule also brings up some concerns for some students, who may have preferred the hybrid schedule more.

“I miss being able to sleep in some days with the hybrid schedule, and I know I’m gonna miss going to class from my bed,” senior Stephanie Glaspie said.

Overall, the schedule is definitely an adjustment for both students and teachers, but the additional class time will certainly be valuable to both students and teachers as strides are made towards educational goals.

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ removed from RCS curriculum MARIAM HANNA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

This past January, the decision was made to remove “To Kill a Mockingbird”

by Harper Lee from the Rochester Community Schools’ (RCS) curriculum.

This change was made following major conversations of social justice in literature, both nationwide and locally, as well as movements to progress society towards racial equality.

Mrs. Ashley Painter, the district’s Secondary Curriculum Consultant for English Language Arts, was the one who this decision ultimately came down to.

Using perspectives of teachers, students, parents, and experts, she came to the conclusion that this curriculum alteration was necessary.

“As we’ve been making a commitment our district has to being culturally responsive, looking at a text that uses the n-word and is written by a white author, and a text that also talks about the struggle from a white male hero perspective, we just thought we could find texts that were more inclusive and more culturally responsive to all of those things,” Mrs. Painter explained.

The district emphasizes that their ultimate goal is to make sure students, regardless of identity, see themselves valued and portrayed in the literature they read.

“There is a deliberate intention to make sure that all students can see themselves in the literature, and to keep social justice at the forefront of learning,” Mrs. Carrie Lawler, the Director of Secondary Education for RCS, said. “RCS has worked hard to make sure that all staff are culturally aware and responsive… I’m delighted to see the English Language Arts department’s willingness to make decisions and updates based on what is right and relevant for all students.”

This was not the first time conversation of removing Lee’s novel from RCS curriculum has been had. Mr. Frank Gollon, a Rochester High School (RHS) English teacher, can speak to this: “At first, I was surprised by the decision as I recalled a similar effort several years back that ended with ‘Mockingbird’ remaining in the curriculum. I was torn as I greatly enjoy some of the activities that we would do with it. Upon research, reflection and discussion with my peers, I agree that there are better titles to use with this unit.

A long-running complaint of our ELA titles has been that they are all works from dead white guys (or girl in this case). Our textbook includes writers and writings from around the world and our novels should reflect the same.”

Now that “To Kill a Mockingbird” has been removed, a replacement novel to begin reading in ninth grade English classes beginning next year has to be chosen. There has been talk about enforcing a Literature Circle like Mr. Gollon discussed and some discussion about a student panel as well.

“If you’ve ever heard this expression, windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors: the idea that we want our students to see people and experiences that look like theirs that are different from theirs and that offer maybe a little bit of both,” Mrs. Painter explained when discussing the novel(s) that will be replacing “To Kill a Mockingbird.” “We are a really large district and so we don’t get to purchase novels as often as we like… A lot of our books have been in our curriculum for years and years and years, and this is a direction we’re hoping that we can make some more investment in the future.”

The question became how would current grade nine English teachers go about the unit this year. The official removal of this title will not go fully into effect until the 2021-2022 school year, so it was up to each educator to decide how they wanted to proceed for now.

“I struggled with this question, as did many of my colleagues,” Mr. Gollon shared. “I will be trying a Literature Circle approach that will allow my class to select one of several options to read.

‘Mockingbird’ will be one of the options.”

Mr. Gollon ended by explaining the role literature plays in society: “As Atticus teaches us in ‘Mockingbird,’ you don’t really understand someone until you consider things from his/her point of view,” Mr. Gollon said. “Racism is one of the negative aspects of our world…

The only way we rise as human beings is when we can rise together as one. So long as some are marginalized or discriminated against based on any factor, we prevent everyone from being able to live peaceful, productive lives. Through literature, we can learn to consider the perspectives of others and in so doing, apply these experiences to our own lives.”

PAGE 3 || OPINION

THE TALON || MARCH 2021

STUDENT OPINION ON REMOTE LEARNING Junior Jenny Kim reflects upon the months of remote learning JENNY KIM STAFF WRITER Last March, whispers spread through the hallways and classrooms that school might be closed for a couple days.

Going back to when schools first shut down, my peers and I were so excited to take a couple days or weeks off from school. But shortly after that, schools were closed until further notice... These closures ended up lasting months, and all we wanted was to go back to school.

COVID-19 has affected the entire human population in countless ways, and it caused a major shift in the viewpoint of school to many students all over the world. Early last year, schools across the country were closed due to a national pandemic, causing millions of students to learn from home.

RHS was quick to introduce us to a new school scheduleone where we saw our teachers and classmates over a video call. At first, it was new and fun. A month or two in, students were infected by Zoom fatigue and missed sitting inside the classrooms.

While some managed to adapt to this new online environment very quickly, students in all grades struggled to maintain online learning and fight against exhaustion. Sitting inside their homes in front of their computers for hours, listening to their teachers talk and teach over a video call was very draining for all.

The end of the 2019-2020 school year was significantly affected, as has been the 2020-2021 school year. Both advantages and disadvantages have been recognized; however, the switch to a remote learning environment has been overwhelmingly stressful. It was a difficult switch, because of the unprecedented nature of the events, but Gen Z showed resilience despite the hardships. No one was prepared for the immediate shift from traditional school to online learning. Decisions were made with an effort to keep everyone safe. Even with the downfalls, many students were able to stay balanced, and keep up with the new accommodations made to their learning. Like many other students, I have struggled with procrastination and doing homework the day before it is due. So to keep myself

Photos courtesy of Canva.

motivated, I created my own schedule where I set aside a time everyday for me to do my homework and assignments.

This really helped me stay on top of things for school, while enjoying my personal and work time.

Teachers also had to make major adjustments in the way they taught their students. They have been brainstorming ways to go through all the lessons while keeping their students engaged. Majority of them needed to create a new schedule for the shortened timeline of the school year. It wasn’t easy, and still isn’t easy, but they are going above and beyond to do their best. Teachers being very understanding

“Going back to when schools first shut down, my peers and I were so excited to take a couple days or weeks off from school. But shortly after that, schools were closed until further notice. These closures ended up lasting months, and all we wanted was to go back to school.”

Jenny Kim, ‘11 about the hardships of this situation have helped me and other students feel more confident and relieved as we continued throughout the school year. Some teachers have been very generous about the amount of workload they give us after each class, and even extended due dates to give us more time. In my opinion, the actions taken by teachers have helped my peers and I progress and grow over this challenging time.

The new type of learning COVID-19 brought has prevented students from getting the real school experience, along with causing them to lose the ability to socialize with their peers.

Other school events that were planned were cancelled or postponed. Normal graduation and prom were far from happening. Many student athletes never got to play their regular season of sports, or even play their last games as a senior. The feeling of preparedness and confidence for the SAT decreased among the students. New students did not even get the chance to go into their new school and meet new classmates in person. I understand that these changes were made to keep everyone safe, but fun and memorable school experiences had to be compromised.

Furthermore, many adjustments were made to major testings, such as the SAT and AP exams. The AP exams were online and the SAT was postponed. Some AP exams were modified to correlate with the progress made during the school year. For instance, there were removals of sections based on the exam type, or a change in the exam format. The postponement of the SAT and ACT persuaded many colleges to offer their new enrollment students an option to apply without a test score. Although not all post secondary schools took part in this opportunity, this test optional alternative benefited a variety of students. Colleges should continue to keep the SAT optional for their future admissions. This option makes students feel more confident when they apply for colleges because it gives them a greater opportunity to show who they are, outside of their standardized test grades.

School education has taken a new path due to COVID-19, and students and educators around the world have been working their way through the ups and downs. Now that we have experienced these new changes with remote learning and schedule changes, little by little, we are all learning together and we will continue to work together to improve and overcome the challenges this pandemic has brought on school education.

PAGE 4 || FEATURE

GIVE THANKS BAKERY

THE TALON || MARCH 2021

German heritage bakery in Downtown Rochester JENNY KIM STAFF WRITER The smell of fresh baked goods spreads throughout the Give Thanks Bakery, located right in Downtown Rochester.

For 22 years, the Bakery has been located in the same spot in Downtown Rochester, on the west alley of Main street between 2nd and 3rd off Walnut at Municipal Parking Lot #12.

The Bakery was founded in 1998 by Gerald Matthes, who was pursuing his dream to establish a European artisan bakery in his family’s tradition. On New Year’s Day of this year, a successful ownership transition was negotiated to Matthes’ longtime customers and dear friends, Katy and Dietrich Knoer.

The Give Thanks Bakery is best known for their artisan bread loaves and pastries. Their breads are made with artistry in the classical French and German traditions, and with the long, cool fermentation of the doughs, you can taste the fresh and deliciousness in every bite.

“Our most popular breads are French Sourdough (Levain), Swiss Multigrain, Golden Semolina and Rochester Rye,” Knoer said.

Along with their bread loaves, the bakery has a large variety of pastries, including croissants, cakes, and tarts. They also sell cookies, with the best loved ones being the Earthquake and the Rustic Walnut cookies, both made with almond flour.

“Favorite breakfast pastries include our cranberry walnut scone. And people love our eclairs, tiramisu and fruit tarts,” Knoer said.

The wide variety of baked goods provided by the Bakery is loved by all their

customers, but the most popular out of all is the Almond Croissant, which has been described by customers as heaven on Earth.

“People come to the bakery for this item alone, but often leave with a bag full of bread, cookies and dessert pastries as well,” Knoer said.

Along with their customer favorites, the Give Thanks Bakery also has their own unique menu, related to the heritage of the bakery, which is German.

“One unique item is our Christmas Stollen, a German Christmas bread made from a yeast dough filled with marinated fruits and nuts and coated in powdered sugar. Our customers come from far and wide to buy our Stollen every year which is modeled after the authentic Dresdner Stollen,” Knoer said.

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, the Bakery is offering decorated Shamrock sugar cookies and Irish Soda Bread.

“This is a traditional ‘quick bread’ that uses baking soda as a leavening agent (instead of yeast) and is popular around St. Patrick’s Day,” Knoer said.

As March comes to an end, Easter items will be available in the bakery.

“Our online advance orders for Hot Cross Buns and Springerle cookies will open,” Knoer said.

New owners of the Give Thanks Bakery, Katy and Dietrich Knoer, plan to carry on the tradition of the Give Thanks Bakery and continue serving products their customers love. Even with the hardships from the COVID pandemic, the Bakery was able to stay in business due to the support from

Photos courtesy of Katy Knoer.

Pictured above are Katy and Dietrich Knoer, the new owners of Give Thanks.

their loyal customers.

“I love working at Give Thanks! Aside from the pastries and breads being absolutely delicious, the staff feels like a family. Everyone who walks through the doors of the bakery is greeted with a smile (behind a mask) and a warm welcome. It has been amazing to experience such an incredible work atmosphere, and if you haven’t made the trip to get your European treats, now is the time!!” counter staff and RHS Junior Eden McCullough said.

“Working at Give Thanks Bakery has provided me with an exceptional amount of knowledge and experience. I have been able to meet and work alongside some incredible humans. My bosses are amazing and I am proud to be a part of this community. So next time you’re craving some authentic, rich pastries, head over to Give Thanks Bakery!!

You won’t be disappointed!” counter staff and RHS Sophomore Sam Tandy said.

Online ordering will also be available on their website soon, with a list full of their well known items. Check them out on Facebook and Instagram ( @ givethanksbakery ) and their website at givethanksbakery.com

THE TALON || MARCH 2021

PAGE 5 || FEATURE

PANDEMIC PALS

Puppy adoptions skyrocket during quarantine ANDREW KOSS STAFF WRITER Coronavirus. When most people hear that word a lot of things come to mind, and most of them are negative. Job loss, death, isolation, and toilet paper shortages. There is one positive thing that came from the pandemic however-- free time.

With everyone at home, American households saw this as the perfect opportunity to adopt a puppy. According to the Washington Post, many dog shelters were getting rid of puppies twice as fast as usual, and some even ran out of puppies.

One Florida animal shelter in Palm Beach had a celebration amongst all of its employees when every last puppy was adopted out of their kennels.

“Just the fact we can say we have one of our kennels empty (for the first time ever) is amazing,” spokeswoman Elizabeth Harfmann told her local news station.

Animal shelters saw an average of a 15 percent increase from 2019, with the Last Chance Animal Rescue in Maryland nearly doubling their 2020 adoption goal. When the pandemic hit in April, there was a 34 percent increase in adoption compared to the same time in the year prior. With everyone home, what better time to adopt?

This trend is not just seen in statistics, but also in the student life at Rochester High School.

Senior Claire Tamer and her family adopted and trained a puppy over the course of the pandemic. They named the Shih Tzu puppy Ivy. The dog helped the family grow closer and got to grow up in a very loving environment with the whole family being home.

“My puppy affected my family life by bringing us closer together to help take care of this puppy,” she said, “the motive to get this

dog was to give us something to do and make us happy during this pandemic.”

Dogs require a lot of attention and care, especially during the first few years of their life, so for many people work can be a major deterrent to not adopt a pet. With this obstacle gone however, many households saw it as the perfect opportunity to expand their family.

Senior Alyssa Hart also got a puppy over quarantine. They named the dog Firkins, and he is a lab pit mix.

“My puppy brought my family closer together in order to help take care of him,” she said, “He has brought us a lot of joy into our household amidst a crazy year.”

Hart’s family saw the pandemic as the perfect opportunity to adopt since the whole family was home and they had lots of free time.

“During the pandemic my whole family was home most of the time, which made it way easier to give him the attention he needed,” she said, “Quarantine was the perfect time to get our puppy since we could all help out.”

Despite this major upsurge in adoptions, there are still thousands of animals who are in need of loving homes.

“The shelters are never, ever completely empty of animals,” John Welsh, the spokesman for Riverside County Animal Services Department in California, told USA today.

2020 was an amazing year for pet adoptions, and allowed so many animals to find their forever homes. Although Coronavirus brought many, many challenges, one positive outcome of the pandemic is all of the puppies that finally made their way out of the shelters.

Pictured above is Alyssa Hart’s puppy, Firkins. Photo courtesy of Alyssa Hart.

Pictured above is Claire Tamer’s puppt, Ivy. Photo courtsey of Claire Tamer.

PAGE 6 || FEATURE

THE TALON || MARCH 2021

A LOVE STORY THAT BEGAN IN A LAND NOT SO FAR AWAY Ms. Rosol is about to become Mrs. Devine, and it all started at West Middle School MARIAM HANNA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

In seventh grade, Jack Devine moved to We both learned what we need to feel secure Rochester Hills and began attending West even though we weren't together all the time Middle School. He took the bus to and from whereas in high school you see them every school and tried to use the time to nap, but single day for like eight hours a day.” he was often awakened by his classmate, Ms. Many couples meet one another and dive Bre Rosol, who liked to talk to her friends right into a romantic partnership, but Devine and everyone is grateful for his around her. Little initial friendship with “I was like ‘He’s got to go, we’ve did they know Ms. Rosol because it got to tell him- this cannot that in just over built the foundation happen, we need to cancel a decade, they for their current-day would be engaged relationship. him, like shut him up, take the and planning a “Honestly, [my microphone.’ And then he called summer wedding. favorite memory] me up and I was like ‘Oh,’ and I Ms. Rosol was when we first realized what was happening.” and Devine started dating and both went on to she was at Michigan attend Rochester State, I would just -Ms. Bre Rosol High school. go visit and we They shared a would just hang strong bond and out,” he said. “We remained friends through the thicks and would watch TV, talk, maybe go get some thins of adolescence. food somewhere, and it was just a good “I think there was always a little bit of combination of being friends- being more feelings there from both sides, but we were than just boyfriend and girlfriend. It was a in the same friend group, and I had dated very comforting, very fun time together.” some of her friends, she had dated some Graduation is one of Ms. Rosol’s favorite of my friends, so nothing really had ever memories with Devine to reminisce on, materialized,” Devine explained. “Once we not only because it was a fun night and an got out of high school, we just decided to try exciting start to the future, but also because it I guess and then here we are.” of a comical moment the two shared.

They decided to move their relationship “I remember him saying when further right after graduating high school, I graduated, when they call off your name as but they soon faced an obstacle. Ms. Rosol you walk across the stage, he was like ‘Oh, would attend Michigan State University in I never knew that your middle name was the fall, but Devine would not. To avoid the Elizabeth,’” Ms. Rosol said. “I was like all hardships of a long-distance relationship, this time, and it’s stuck in my head because they decided to break up. you think you know someone so well so I “When he didn't get into Michigan State, just thought that was funny.” we were like ‘maybe this isn't good, maybe Devine proposed to Ms. Rosol at her we should try something else,’ and then we family’s annual Fourth of July party at their were like ‘no,’” Ms. Rosol said. “Neither of lakehouse Up North. us actually wanted that, we just thought that “We had a singer come in for the party... was the right thing to do because we weren't we were all sitting around watching him in school together. And then after that we’ve perform,” Ms. Rosol said. “Then he came been together ever since.” on the microphone and was like ‘Is Jack out Many will say that communication is vital there? I wanted Jack to come up here. He in a healthy and stable relationship, especially has something to say.’ So Jack came down in a long-distance one, and Ms. Rosol can from our house, and he was all dressed up, definitely attest to that. She also emphasized and I was so embarrassed because I thought the significance of learning how to be alone he was gonna do karaoke. I was like ‘Not in and happy. front of all these people’ and his sisters are “I think obviously you mature a lot sitting next to me- and they were recording during college, so when we started our but I didn't know- and I was like ‘He’s got to relationship going into college, we both were go, we’ve got to tell him- this cannot happen, pretty immature,” she said. “We wanted to we need to cancel him, like shut him up, take have fun, and we didn't really understand the the microphone’. And then he called me up boundaries of being in a relationship. So I and I was like ‘Oh,’ and I realized what was think a big thing on that was learning how to happening.” communicate, especially being long distance.

Devine chose the party as the perfect

setting to propose because he knew that Ms. more like ‘Oh we’ll just see what happens’ Rosol, being a family-oriented person, would and didn’t take school seriously,” Ms. Rosol like her family there. He also joked that explained. “Sometimes it’s just like let’s see doing it in front of so many people would what happens, lets plan a random trip… But ensure some free photos and videos.

I just think being in the right relationship“I didn't want to have to get a the other person will teach you things about photographer for [the proposal], so I figured yourself that maybe you didn't know.” the best way to do it was to do it in front Seeing where life takes you is an idea that of sixty people. They would all just take Ms. Rosol emphasized. pictures, and I wouldn't have to pay for “You shouldn’t try to force something someone else to do that. So really, it was just to work out just because you wanna be high a cost-saving measure.” school sweethearts or whatever it is,” she

Growing up and maturing, people cautioned. “Just kinda feel out whatever learn from the individuals around them. it happening, and if things do not go the Ms. Rosol and Devine both developed as way you want them to go, just live with the their own selves but also as a couple. Then learning moment of that.” learned from each other and matured as Similarly, Devine views high school as a reflections of one another. time to learn more about one’s self. It’s not “I’ve definitely grown. I’ve changed. about finding the right person as much as it I’m a lot different,” Devine said. “A lot is about finding out what you do not want in of me is still the same personality-wise, a person or out of a relationship. professionally there have definitely been a lot “Figure out what you cannot put up with of developments that or accept in another have been made just person, whether it’s “Just be honest with because of Bre. In something with their people, and don’t be high school, I wasn’t a scummy. Know what you’re attitude or how they treat good student, I didn't you or anything like that,” looking for, and just be get ito any colleges he said. “You're gonna respecting.” out of high school, be able to see a lot and I ended up earlier whether or not graduating from a relationship is gonna -Jack Devine Grand Valley with have potential to be a bachelors degree, long term and serious” and now I’m going to At the end of the day, Oakland to get my masters. I would say thats the same rules that apply to simply being a pretty much attributable to Bre.” decent person apply to having a successful Ms. Rosol has always been organized, relationship that the two people can grow goal-oriented, and focused. Devine has and learn in and enjoy. helped her embrace the randomness of the “Just be serious, be smart, be loyal,” Devine world and enjoy life even without structure said. “Just be honest with people, and don’t at times. be scummy. Know what you're looking for, “I’m really big on school and setting and just be respecting.” goals for yourself and planning, and Jack is

THE TALON || MARCH 2021

PAGE 7 || LIFESTYLES

IGLOOS ARE NOT JUST FOR POLAR BEARS Five local restaurants that offer igloo dining MARIAM HANNA EDITOR-IN-CHEIF

Griffin Claw The Beer Cheese & Pretzel Bites appetizer at this sports pub is an absolute must, as is the Not Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich. The igloos are warm and comfortable, and the scene as a whole has a casual vibe that makes the dining experience enjoyable.

Buddy’s Pizza This retro gourmet restaurant is renown for their Detroit style pizzas, but the Loaded Fries may just be their most delicious dish. The potatoes were crisp and fresh, and the toppings brought immense flavor to the table.

Camp Ticonderoga This retro gourmet restaurant is renown for their Detroit style pizzas, but the Loaded Fries may just be their most delicious dish. The potatoes were crisp and fresh, and the toppings brought immense flavor to the table.

Park600

This upscale eatery is in the heart of Downtown Rochester and will easily find a way into yours. The filet mignon is full of natural flavor, and the garlic potatoes served with it are creamy as can be. The Park600 Burger is a delicious classic! The service is beyond wonderful and makes the dining experience that much better.

Berkley Common Located in Downtown Berkeley, this lodge-inspired restaurant has a plethora of menu options to choose from for any dietary needs. The Fried Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich is a classic but great choice. The igloos are well-heated, and there is outdoor fireside seating as well.

PAGE 8 || LIFESTYLE

THE TALON || MARCH 2021

The cases are accumulating, but this time it isn’t COVID RHS seniors struggle with ‘Senioritis’

I AM A MOSAIC MARIAM HANNA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ALYSSA HART

CO. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The cases are starting to rack up as we reach spring. The symptoms are brutal: Laziness, lack of motivation, school absences, intense procrastination, and lots and lots of stress. Each year with the arrival of the second semester, Senioritis cases skyrocket.

Senioritis is like a disease that infects mostly high school seniors the months leading up to their graduation. Many seniors have their college plans in place by this time of the year, which can make it hard to stay focused on wrapping up your high school experience. That being said, most colleges do not require students to submit second semester score reports, so motivation to succeed in school is at an all time low during the last few months of the school year.

Senioritis returns every year without fail, and the symptoms are beginning to cultivate in the class of 2021. The key difference this year is that classes were online for half of third quarter. That made it even easier for students to disregard their schoolwork, since it didn’t feel the same.

Senior Claire Tamer is one of many students who has experienced senioritis in an online school environment.

“Online school made it much harder for me to stay motivated because there’s less pressure to do it since we didn’t have to see our teachers in person” she said.

Senior Stephanie Glaspie experienced a similar situation: “I found it harder to stay motivated during online learning because there were less deadlines for things,” she said, “It’s more about what you want to do rather than having mandatory assignments.”

Another aspect that feeds into senioritis in the final semester of high school is that most colleges don’t require students to send in their second semester transcript.

Although some universities may request students to send scores, a good majority of them do not. This can be another reason why seniors don’t see their grades as that important, and may cause a lack of motivation to succeed.

Despite the fact that this isn’t exactly the ideal senior year, students are still trying to keep their head up.

“Especially with remote learning I had extreme senioritis,” Tamer said, “I will still try to keep my good grades in the second semester because I still think it’s important even though I already got into the college I

want to go to.”

Glaspie is also putting her best foot forward despite the undesirable circumstances.

“I don’t need to send my second semester scores,” she said. “Second semester will not impact my future, but regardless I will try my best.”

Sitting in front of a computer screen for four and a half hours of classes, extracurricular club meetings, and an additional surplus of online homework felt tedious and mentally draining.

Experiencing school in an environment that is constantly changing is difficult. With returning to the hybrid model in February, and then full time in person in March, there were some mixed emotions.

“I don’t mind staying online,” Tamer said, “but I do want to have things such as prom and graduation.”

Glaspie on the other hand was looking forward to seeing her peers again.

“I love going back and being able to see everyone in person before we graduate and go our separate ways,” she said.

Overall, finding motivation for learning during the final months before graduation can be tough. Senioritis is becoming more common, and some students are struggling.

So what can teachers do to help combat this issue?

Glaspie finds it difficult to find motivation when the assignments are optional, so she thinks creating more deadlines would be beneficial for her.

Tamer has a slightly different view on the matter.

“To help us stay attentive in class teachers can try to make all the lessons as fun and entertaining as possible,” she said.

It’s safe to say that this school year didn’t start as planned thanks to the unpredictable circumstances that took place. Teachers, students, and parents all had to make adjustments and this year hasn’t been easy on anybody. Despite the difficulties, students are continuing to try their best to push for success as we transition into the final quarter. Although a mostly virtual last year of high school has been a big adjustment and a hard reality to face for many seniors, hope has not been lost.

I had expectations.

Expectations that I would know exactly what I want and how to get there. Expectations that I would be an entirely new person with a more certain outlook on the world.

Expectations that though I would have contemporary experiences and perspectives, I would hold the same mindset. The mindset that who I am is unrelated to those around me. Uninfluenced by my peers. Undetermined by my family.

When I first walked the halls of Rochester High School in the fall of 2017, I thought I was me and nobody else, and that I would become ‘just me’ even more in the next few years.

I could not have been more wrong.

Now that the day I have been counting down to, dreaming of, longing for for what seems like forever is nearing, I recognize that certainty is a fantasy. That nobody ever stops experiencing new perspectives. Most importantly, that individuality is not as individual as its name suggests.

I am ambitious. I am compassionate. I am eager. I am joyful. I am my original, unique self. But I am also every soul that has touched mine, every smile I have encountered, and

every heart that has carried me.

My mom held my hand through every sick night, pulled me close in moments of despair, and fueled my laughter and joy. I am her unconditional love. My dad taught me that no dream is too big, no star is too far, and no desire cannot be fulfilled. I am his determination. My sister, Marci, has immense love for every single person in her life. She drives to make their worlds better. I am her warmth.

My aunt spent day and night working to be the best educator and supporter for her students, fighting each battle. I am her passion.

My cousin, Dominic, questions everything that surrounds him and has a burning desire to better understand the workings of this crazy world. I am his curiosity. His brother Dylan is only four and already knows what he wants. He knows this life is too short to waste it not enjoying every moment. I am his will.

I am the way the sun hugs the Earth in the summer, the way the snow kisses it in the winter, the way good music makes our entire bodies move, the way a new adventure sends adrenaline down our spines, they way ocean waves make our blood tingle, and the way a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on provide utmost comfort.

I am a mosaic. A mosaic of every spirit that has encountered mine, every sensation my body has felt, and every person I have experienced. I am not just me; I am them.

PAGE 9 ||

THE TALON || MARCH 2021

DOES LUCK EXIST?

Staff and students share their opinions and experiences with luck HOLLY MCDONALD FEATURE EDITOR

As you stroll through the park, you notice a piece of paper shaped like a rectangle buried under a rock. You stop in your tracks and lean down to examine the object. It is a 50 dollar bill. You assume it is your lucky day for finding this prize out of the blue.

Whether you decide to take the money or not is a completely different story, but the chances of finding it were pretty slim. Is this luck, or just coincidence?

The opinion of luck is always varied depending on the person. Some people happen to have good fortune all the time, while others seem to constantly face miserable situations.

So… is luck real? Or is luck just a result of our decisions and actions?

“I believe in luck because there are always chances of the smallest probabilities to occur,” junior Shawna Lee said.

“The randomness in life allows us to gain what we call luck.”

Being lucky seems to be something that always happens to other people rather than ourselves. After the numbers are drawn on a huge lottery, it always seems to be one lucky person winning more money than they can imagine, but it’s never us.

“I feel like I am an unlucky person because most good things that come to me don’t come out of luck it’s more like my own work, but whenever it’s out of my hands and up to fate it seems as if there’s always a bad outcome,” junior Marci Hannah said.

However, those who are luckier may not restrict luck to huge events. Luck can come in small forms, like running into a friend at the store.

“I think everyone is very lucky, but not everyone notices how lucky they are,” junior Maren O’Connor said.

For instance, luck can be the situation you are born into.

Some may think it is lucky to be born into a stable family or have the relatives they do.

“The luckiest thing to ever happen to me would probably

Lucky charms to bring good fortune Photos by Holly McDonald.

be my family,” history teacher Mr. Joe Marchenia said. “I was lucky to be born into my mom and dad’s world, and have my brother as well.”

Sometimes, one can feel even luckier if a certain heritage or history of luck runs in the family.

“I do believe in luck,” junior Connor Cracium said. “My birthday is St. Patrick’s day and I’m part Irish so it’s in my genetics to have luck.”

Being Irish doesn’t necessarily mean good fortune is always present. O’Connor comes from an Irish family with some unlucky instances in their past.

“There is actually sort of a stereotype around the phrase ‘Luck of the Irish,’” O’Connor said. “When you look back at Irish history, there are a lot of unfortunate instances.

For example, my family came to America during the potato famine.”

No matter how lucky or unlucky we seem to be, everyone has at least one good story of how luck has been on their side.

“The luckiest thing that has ever happened to me is when I was at Cedar Point,” junior Emma Sawdon said. “My dad’s phone fell from a ride. I found it right under a gate, an arms width away, without any scratches or cracks.”

It’s not normal in life to be extremely lucky all the time.

But sometimes, we can create our own luck to determine the outcome we desire.

“For the most part, I believe that we make our own luck in life,” Mr. Marchenia said. “If there is something in life you want, you need to put in the work, effort, and stay disciplined enough to achieve it. However, sometimes coincidence and chance collide in our favor, and this, I would call lucky.”

Sometimes we rely on signs or good luck charms to bring us good fortune. The Rochester Varsity Cheer team has good luck charms including a bee, a ladybug, and a horseshoe.

“I strongly believe in our cheer lucky charms especially the

Coin photo courtesy of Canva.

ladybugs because I rarely see ladybugs,” Hannah said. “If I ever do it’s on a cheer competition day or a game day or something like that.”

In life, relying on luck for success can be a dangerous move.

It is better to rely on hard work and dedication to bring success.

“I think hard work plays a bigger role in success,” senior Ryley Butz said. “Giving all you’ve got and working towards your goals rather than hoping for some luck gets you a lot farther. Sitting around hoping to get lucky won’t get you as far in the future.”

True forms of pure luck are so rare. It is more likely that planning, or lack of it, plays a huge role in the outcome of a situation.

“The things that are considered lucky sometimes come as a result of preparation or hard work, and then things just fall into place,” Cracium said. “Sometimes people say they are unlucky because they forgot their homework, but really that’s not luck, it’s lack of preparation. Sometimes luck shows up in the form of winning a prize or gaining something unexpectedly, but this is less frequent.”

In a situation like this, some are strong believers that luck does not exist. Those who are more focused on logic and reason look past the probability of luck and are more focused on the outcome.

“I don’t believe in luck,” Sawdon said. “I think things happen to certain people for a certain reason.”

At the end of the day, our luck may be more present than we realize. We may not notice how lucky we are until the moment has passed. It just takes some reflection and an open mindset to realize that luck is all around us.

“Luck is when something you hope to happen, and or not expecting at all, happens for your benefit,” Mr. Marchenia said. “You may only realize it’s lucky in hindsight.”

PAGE 10 || ADVERTISEMENT

THE TALON || MARCH 2021

PAGE 11 || SPORTS

THE TALON || MARCH 2021

FALCON SPORTS HIT WITH QUARANTINE COLLIN KILPATRICK SPORTS EDITOR

to play, and also watching our own film to evaluate ourselves.”

While girls basketball fortunately was able to come back from quarantine to play their senior night game, the boys basketball team will have to miss their senior night game due to quarantine.

“It’s a little bit upsetting that we won’t be able to have our senior night or play other games that we would want to,”

Girls basketball stands for the national anthem before game Photo courtesy of Faith Cabalum

Senior Mark Williams lines up for a shot Photo courtesy of Mark Williams

Falcon athletics have been hit hard with the effects of quarantine due to the COVID-19 protocols. Teams including cheerleading, wrestling, along with boys, and girls basketball have each seen a majority, or all of their players quarantined.

Under current regulations, sports teams practicing indoors must enter a quarantine if one positive COVID-19 case occurs among the athletes.

The need for athletes to quarantine has made teams lose significant portions of their seasons which greatly impacted the players.

“Quarantine had a huge impact on the season because it delayed it multiple months and overall shortened the length of our season,” senior girls basketball player Faith Cabalum said. “This made it hard to stay consistent due to the on and off practicing and games throughout the first few months.”

Mentally, quarantine also took a toll on athletes, especially for the seniors who did not know how their final season would end up, as the state of the season could change at any second.

“COVID had a significant mental impact on the team, we had to shut down due to a COVID case right at the peak of our season,” Cabalum said. “Mentally it was hard to come back knowing we were behind,

Williams said.

Quarantine has proved to have a significance for many RHS sports, yet athletes are still trying to stay positive through all of it.

“This season really hasn’t been what we’ve expected, but we have done a good job of staying positive, and playing hard,” Williams said.

and dealing with the fact that at any second you could get shut down again. Knowing this it became very important to play every game like it was our last especially for the seniors.

For some athletes, they felt as if the quarantine had come at the worst possible time, because their team was just starting to find their rhythm.

“The team spirit was really strong before we had to quarantine, even though right before quarantine we had lost our game against Adams on a buzzer beater, that was a game where everyone came together, and we really played well,” senior boys basketball player Mark Williams said. “We were really looking forward to going on a run, and potentially win the league. We were hoping to continue that momentum right into districts where we would play Utica, who is a team we can really beat.”

Although quarantined athletes are required to spend ten days away from their teammates, the players were still able to find ways to work on their sport while being separated.

“Even though the team is on quarantine right now I know a lot of us are shooting outside in our driveway,” Williams said. “We’re going on jogs, just to stay in shape so when we come back we will still be fit. We’re also watching college games, and watching film on other teams that were going

THE TALON || MARCH 2021

PAGE 12 || SPORTS

RHS Mountain Biking Starts New Program

Athletes Will Now Be Given Oppurtunity To Earn Varsity Letter COLLIN KILPATRICK SPORTS EDITOR

The Rochester High School Mountain Biking club will be entering its third year as a club sport this coming spring; however this year, athletes who meet varsity requirements will be able to receive a varsity letter. The varsity program will officially begin on Monday, May 3, at the beginning of the new season.

The addition of a varsity program not only allows athletes the opportunity to possibly be given a varsity letter, but also the ability to compete at a higher level.

“Our vision for the varsity program is simply to offer students the opportunity to take their mountain biking to the next level,” Assistant Mountain Biking coach Mr. Crites said. “We have riders who are passionate about the sport and want to compete with other youth cyclists across the state. This varsity program allows them to do just that.”

The club has seen two seasons at Rochester High School, and has now officially gained lettering status after receiving approval from many Rochester administrators.

“We are a club sport and as such, we first got permission from Ms. Harris, the club coordinator at RHS,” Coach Crites said. “Then we received permission from Mr. DeLuca and Mr. Allen to allow our students to letter in Mountain Biking if they meet our team’s varsity requirements.”

The addition of a varsity program will entail greater

competing at a higher level, the club still offers opportunities for new riders, or those who are not trying to ride competitively.

“Our club’s primary goal is to get kids on the bike and to have a good time,” Coach Crites said.

“For example, our Monday night rides are designated ‘chill’ rides with a focus on building skills, learning the trails, and just having fun with the team.”

For students who are hesitant to join the club due to the cost of a bike, a Bike library will be added, giving athletes the ability to have a

bike for the season.

“We have an exciting new Bike Library program coming this spring, coach Crites said “The program will allow students to loan a bike for the entire season free of cost.”

The season begins Monday, May 3, with the first race being held Aug 29. Students who are interested in joining can Visit rhsbiketeam.com or email rhsbiketeam@gmail.com Students can also stop by room, B122 to ask Coach Crites any questions they might have.

Members of mountain biking club ride along trail.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Crites commitment to the team, for those athletes who are competing at the higher level.

“Our varsity athletes will certainly have a greater commitment to the club,” Coach Crites said. “Our varsity program requires that students attend additional race training practices, accumulate weekly mile quotas, participate in trail maintenance days, and compete in at least four of the six MiSCA (Michigan Scholastic Cycling Association) races in the fall.”

The new varsity program hopes to attract new riders to the club with the added incentive of a

The season was as best as we could make it. The shortened season and having to quarantine for 10 days was not ideal but we still had fun.

-Senior Megan Lorenzo

possible varsity letter.

“The bottom line is that we want to grow the team as much as we can,” Coach Crites said. “So if the new varsity program succeeds in attracting more students to join our team, then that’s great!”

Despite not having a varsity program, the club saw a great increase in participants from year one to year too.

“We saw tremendous growth in our first two years,” Coach Crites said. “We grew from a small team of just a handful of students to over 30 riders by the end of our 2020 season.”

While many athletes will be

This isn’t the season we expected, but everyone is working hard and giving it their all.

-Senior Josh Smith

Rochester high school mountain biking club poses for a team picture.

Photo courtesy of Mr.Crites

Our competitive season was cut short by COVID-19, and we are unable to compete in our tournaments, which is devastating, as we’ve worked so hard this year. As a senior, I’m heartbroken, but I’m thankful for every moment I get with this team.

-Senior Moira Yee

Our season turned out pretty well for the amount of time and restrictions we had to deal with. We worked all season, and ended up making another trip to the regional finals, so overall it was a good season.

-Senior Connor Boyd