Volume 23. Issue 1. October 2024

Sandra Day O’Connor High School

25250 N. 35th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85083

Volume 29. Issue 1. October 2024

thetalonohs.com

Boys beach volleyball finally launches at OHS

By TRUE VAN DYKE

Editor in Cheif

One of the newest and most advantageous additions to OHS this 2024-25 school year is the uprising boys beach volleyball team. New with hope, determination, and talented players on the rise, the program is set to step out on the right foot for their first official season.

With volleyball being a hot topic and an accomplished name here at OHS, boys beach volleyball is set out to uphold their gold medal reputation and confidently jump onto the sand.

“We’ve been known for being a really good volleyball team, so I think we have a high standard for ourselves,

and so still setting that high expectation,” said Carter King, senior.

While earning the reputation of volleyball success, it took a multitude of pressure, talent, and external influences for the program to officially establish itself at OHS. “It happened fast; the Mesa district and the Chandler district had started it two years ago, and the AIA put out a survey saying ‘Does any other high schools want to start?’ and Dr. Miller, and Mr. Rypkema are always wanting to try and do new things, and be the first, so they said yes,” said Troy Dueling, boys beach and indoor volleyball head coach.

Even students at the school were awaiting the arrival of the sport, their years of experience on

PHOTO BY TRUE VAN DYKE Cooper Wayne, senior, sets up the ball to be spiked by an OHS teammate.

the sand competitively, lending them an advantage this upcoming year.

“It was exciting because we’ve been trying to get this for the past four years, but it’s kind of a smaller sport right now, and not a lot of teams are participating,” said Noah

OHS soars with highest district ACT scores

By RUTH MIOC

Design Chief

Every April, juniors within the Deer Valley Unified School District undergo one of the most daunting elements of their academic career: the ACT. This testing season, as results were released and analyzed, OHS performed exceptionally well, ultimately attaining the highest average composite score within DVUSD, at 21.2.

The phenomenal accomplishment reinforces OHS’s reputation as a leader.

By achieving academic greatness, the school has become a model throughout the region as others aim to replicate its success.

“We couldn’t be prouder.

People are looking at us.

High schools and the

district office are asking, ‘what’d you guys do?’ and ‘how’d you do it?’,” said Dr. Julia Spurgeon, assistant principal.

Initially, one may conclude that a jump from 19.4 to 21.2 in average composite scores is insignificant. However, to place the difficulty of this increase into perspective, improving an individual score by simply 1 point requires approximately 7 to 10 hours of studying.

“Those kinds of jumps are extreme and incredible.

Those are not natural jumps. So for us to increase even 1.8, that’s tremendous growth,” Spurgeon said.

There is no single solution that produced the increase.

Instead, it was a multitude of interconnected factors.

First and foremost, OHS admin determined which demographic has the most room for growth.

“If we can get our 18s, 19s, and 20s and move those up to the 22s, that’s really where I think we got the biggest gain…. A ‘bubble kid’ would be the ones that are slightly or right below the designated state or nation average, that we can move up,” said Dr. Lynn Miller, principal.

Strategically, efforts begin very early on in order to optimize the development of students.

“Everything freshmen and sophomore teachers do is critically important for the ACT. It’s not like you get to your junior year and all of a sudden we turn this ACT switch on. It’s a build up from ACT Aspire, which kids take their freshman year, to understanding those results, to being able to put interventions in place for two years,” Spurgeon said.

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Kaoni, senior.

Although the program is just beginning, the talent of students at the school never ceases, grounding the sport as athletes take their first leap into the season.

“I think we have a good foundation of players here

on the indoor side, so I think having a lot of guys who play a lot of volleyball, and they play a lot of sand as well throughout the year, is going to help; so I think foundationally we have a really good start,” Dueling said.

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News

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thetalonohs.com

October 2024

OHS’s new policy to fight a generational addiction

By TRUE VAN DYKE

Editor-In-Chief

The 2024-25 school year has come with many adjustments for OHS students, the greatest of all being the reinforcement against personal cell phones.

The culmination of years of air pod listeners, social media distractions, and more thumbs texting than ears listening, has led to the administrative implementation of cell phone pockets in every classroom.

Taking up wall space in every classroom, the cell phone pockets allow for designated cell phone resignation to the relief of many teachers across campus.

“I think teachers will have one less thing they have to worry about; I know for myself personally to not have to constantly be on the lookout for kids to be on their phones allows me to focus a lot more on teaching, which means my students are getting a better education than they were prior,” said Richard Weyker, Government

and Economics teacher.

From easing teachers’ stress to providing a better learning environment for students, OHS has high hopes for the initial goal of the policy.

“Collectively as an administrative team, we were listening to teachers’ voices, and even through our admin walkthroughs we saw a lot of students on their cell phones, not paying attention to instruction, not communicating between each other, and so our greatest goal is for students to be engaged in classroom instruction, and protect our learning environment,” said Dr. Julia Spurgeon, Assistant Principal.

While the difficulty of breaking old and adapting new habits this school year is no surprise, only time will tell the true necessity of the policy and the reform it will initiate.

“For most kids, the biggest adjustment is not having that immediate access to their phone and being forced to focus in classes,” said Jaya Amoako-Agyei, senior.

Between instant gratification and digital addition, personal technology has a grasp on the modern generation through readily available handheld devices, altering the culture of classrooms.

“While it’s not so much these things are making us dumber, by fracturing our attention it’s making it harder to learn and absorb what we’re supposed to be doing, and I think students are going to realize they’re performing better in school as a result,” Weyker said.

The administrative perspective of technology within the classrooms is not obsolete, and students themselves admit honestly the benefits the new policy provides.

“Compared to my last three years here, I honestly don’t think it has been too much of a dramatic adjustment for me. I think it always depends on the person, but now that I am forced to focus in my classes more, I think it has been beneficial, and I think it’s something you just have

to adjust to,” Amoako-Agyei said.

Between the administration, the teachers, and the students, this change demands an all ‘hands-on’ effort, as well as the constant enforcement of protocol to produce effective results from the policy in its entirety.

“If a student should not be on their cell phone then we kindly coach the teacher, and just say that our expectations and goals for learning is for students to have their cell phones in the pouches or in their bags, so the learning environment is protected,” Spurgeon said.

As attention spans are undoubtedly growing, the apprehension against technology can be wearisome in a generation that has adopted it so fluently.

“We shouldn’t be running away from technology, we should be embracing it, so it’s a hard balance to find between utilizing technology while seeing its drawbacks,” Weyker said.

The true initiative of the cell phone policy is not to

hinder the abundance of technology, but to rather solidify a healthy balance within the education system.

“One, we are not preaching they can’t have it all, that’s not realistic. Two, we’re saying be attentive when you’re supposed to be attentive, and that’s no different than us in our administrative meetings, or a staff meeting, or a district conference, or any other professional place we go, there are definite expectations for how adults use cell phones,” Spurgeon said.

The new cell phone policy has been implemented to not only promote productive learning environments, but to also engrain skills of self control and interactive communication into the betterment of OHS students; Lead, learn, contribute, and detach from your cell phones.

“As we coach our high school students, from high school, to post secondary, into life, these are all great skills that kids must have in order to be engaged citizens,” Spurgeon said.

experience for what field you are going into,” said Issac Suaava, senior.

The tuition costs of college must also be taken into consideration when making a decision. Luckily in-state schools offer many scholarships and aid programs that can help alleviate the financial burden.

“Having the ability to graduate debt-free, if I can pay off my loans by using the job I have in college will help me, because I want to go into a career where [you have to go through medical school],” said Lilah Manfredi, senior. “Not having the undergraduate debt on top of that would be very useful to not be consumed by debt my whole life.”

When looking at college from an athlete’s point of view, they must consider not only the academic opportunities a school has to offer but also the compatibility of the desired college with their athletic goals.

“I’m really looking at the different basketball programs, how the coaches react, and their relationships with the players. I’m looking at play style and conferences, but I am also going to school to get a degree in mechanical engineering,” said Michael Simcoe, senior.

Through the recruitment process, student-athletes can

PHOTO BY AMAYA KELLY The OHS counseling office features a wall dedicated to informing students of various college opportunities. narrow down their decisions But sometimes just leaving or because your friends are by building relationships the sanctuary of one’s home going there, you want to pick with coaches and players. can make an impact in a the school that’s right for “My coach is trying to college experience. you,” Garraway said. connect me with other girls “Even if it’s not as far as Knowing what school is that are committed in the some people are going out right for an individual can same grade as me that I can of state, it’s definitely a step be tough. But, it has to be a start forming relationships somewhere else,” Suaava college that aligns with the with,” Garraway said. said. students’ interests and future Surrounding themselves Leaving family and friends aspirations. with people who support can be hard when moving “Find a place that you want them and care about their away to college. But leaving to go to that helps encourage future helps relieve stress and the nest can help students your dream of whatever anxiety when making tough learn important life skills on you’re pursuing and just keep decisions and keeping up their own. following it,” Suaava said. with the demands of college “I think it is good to have A common misconception recruitment and applications. a controlled environment like is that students have to go “My circle of people, college where you’re learning to a renowned school to get like my coaches, have been to be independent before you a great education, but that helping me. My family has fully go on your own in the is not the case. When looking been helping me, my dad has adult world,” Manfredi said. at a college, perspective is been talking to a lot of the When committing to a everything. college coaches as well, which college for the next four “It’s not dependent on is helping take a load off of years of life, students should whether it’s as prestigious as me right now so I can focus make sure they are making you’d like or if it’s in the exact on high school,” Simcoe said. decisions for the right setting you want, there’s so OHS graduates don’t have reasons. much variety at any campus to move across the country “You don’t want to pick a that you can find what you’re for a college to feel far away. school just because it’s cool looking for,” Manfredi said.

Beyond the application: the college process

By AMAYA KELLY

Sports Editor

With summer coming to an end and the 2024 fall semester starting, seniors at OHS and across the country are being forced to make tough decisions about what the next four years of their lives will hold. There is a lot to consider when students choose their best college fit.

So what do the seniors at OHS have to say?

A college must have many important factors to be considered a good environment where students can thrive. Choosing a college that meets seniors’ needs is vital.

“I chose Colorado Christian [University] for the academics; it’s a very highly academic school,” said Callie Garraway, senior. “It’s also faith-based so I am able to thrive in a community with like-minded people.”

Getting a college degree will assist students in fulfilling their desired career path. The education they get throughout college will be the foundation of their future. Regarding academic programs at universities is a must.

“The number one thing I am looking for in college is the best education possible so that you can have the most

The Talon

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October 2024

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OHS adds DVUSD’s first seal of civic literacy

By NICOLE EOM

Staff Writer

With the new 2024-2025 school year, many clubs and organizations are starting on a fresh slate, making changes, and preparing to make OHS shine. One organization especially, has been making many alterations to gain members and recognition: the Academy of Civic Engagement and Advanced Studies.

The purpose of the Academy is centered around providing advanced education and fostering the next generation’s civicminded individuals. The students in the program are interested in civics and participate in extra studies and projects outside of the regular school day to prepare for their future careers.

“Most of the people in the Academy are interested in pursuing civics-based career fields. Everyone that I’ve met wants to do something in politics, government, journalism, or something like that, where they’re engaging with the communities they are living in,” said Amelia Thompson, senior.

With new advisors in charge of the organization

last year, this year is especially crucial to bring significant changes to get the program rolling again. This prompted the addition of the Seal of Civics Literacy to the organization, which acknowledges students who have excelled in civics. “[The] Seal of Civics Literacy program is a state of Arizona recognition… it’s for high school students who achieve a high-level proficiency in civics, so students who are very interested in learning about history and our government and how to solve problems in our community,” said Amanda Schleuter, history teacher.

OHS is the first school in the district to add the Seal of Civics Literacy, a fairly new program in Arizona itself, only having been approved by the Arizona State Board of Education in 2019. There are many benefits students can gain from the program, especially the lessons students can get out of participating in it.

“They [individuals who earn the seal] prioritize their community, and not just their immediate community, but their state, and their country. Mrs. Schleuter and I thought it

PHOTO BY NICOLE EOM Academy classes, like the one above, are smaller in number and are taken with similar people.

was kind of a component missing from OC. Not necessarily just OC, but honestly youth around the country,” said Uriah Cross, history teacher and social studies department chair.

On a more tangible level, the Seal of Civics Literacy enables students to stand out on resumes and applications, which is especially beneficial for seniors. “It’s more things that you’re putting onto your high school diploma; that make you a more engaging candidate for college admissions, putting on your resume, anything like that, it just makes you a more outstanding, opportunistic student….

All those things, even if you didn’t do them in the Academy, those are noticeable, beneficial things to do for college and for work beyond,” Thompson said.

However, the Seal isn’t guaranteed for all members of the Academy.

It is earned through the achievement of three different components that prove them worthy individuals of the organization and Arizona.

“Your civics learning is the first component, so that means getting good grades in all of your social studies courses, so you’re mastering the information you’re learning in your

classroom. And then, the second category is civic engagement… They can be in clubs like Model UN, they can participate in the NJROTC, they can do national honors society…

And then, the last part of the whole thing is a written reflection, where you basically write an essay reflecting on your experiences and seeing how you want to continue to apply these things in your future,” Schleuter said.

There are high hopes that the seal will bring new students to the program and help recognize those already in it.

Continue reading at thetalonohs.com

Varsity sports: young OHS athletes with big achievements

By EMERSON LIHN

Staff Writer

Making the varsity team is the ultimate goal for any high school athlete, and for freshmen, accomplishing that goal is something that should not go unrecognized.

With the number of great athletes playing the sports offered at OHS, the accomplishment of making the varsity team is rare and brings excitement to younger athletes, although they eventually have to learn to deal with the challenges and pressure of being a minority on the team.

For many athletes, finding out the news of being the youngest athlete on a varsity team full of seniors brings a wave of excitement and reality.

“I never thought I would get the opportunity to play with seniors and eighteen-year-olds.

It was super scary going to my first game because we played the returning state champion. It was just surreal to be able to practice and play with such high-level volleyball

players,” said Addison France, senior.

Since freshmen are four years younger than the students they practice and play with, they must find a way to build on the dynamic of the team, especially if seniors on varsity have gone through the program for several years together.

“The dynamic was different than it is now. I definitely think we have grown our culture but I do still talk to some of those people from my freshman year,” said Michael Simcoe, senior. “Some of [the older players] didn’t like me, but some of them definitely helped me out and hung out with me.”

There are other circumstances where the whole team comes together and welcomes the younger players into the community with open arms.

“A lot of the girls were like ‘I really hope you’re on varsity’ or ‘I really hope you’re on the team’ as I was trying out,” said Callie Garraway, senior.

After making the team and playing in games, going up against some of the best

players in the nation puts pressure on athletes, being the youngest on the field. “[Being] goalie is a lot different than being a field player. At the time when I was a freshman on varsity, I was going up against some of the best girls in the nation,” Garraway said. “Having that team chemistry and team bonding during the game, and before and after, is really what made me not stressed out.”

Team bonding is important when it comes to building a relationship within the team, especially regarding diverse, younger teams such as the varsity girls’ volleyball team. The roster consists of more underclassmen than usual this season.

“We did some team bonding and I feel like all of us are a lot closer now. Since [there are] four freshmen on the team, the seniors have been doing a good job of bringing us all together,” said Anabelle Cumings, freshman.

Skilled freshmen and younger athletes on varsity teams are able to contribute greatly to the

PHOTO BY EMERSON LIHN Anabelle Cumings, freshmen, and Addison France, senior, in the starting lineup.

success of OHS sports.

“I really did bring a lot to the team. I started, I played, and we were able to get state runner-up that year and I think I brought a really valuable portion to the team,” France said.

Having many young players on one varsity team is uncommon regarding the decisions of a sports coach. Seniority is regularly a huge factor in deciding who to include on the team’s roster.

“Now that I’m a senior, I’ve been thinking about it, and I would say I like how my coach did things. He would still let

the older girls play at not as important games or as a sub, which I agree with, but in the games where you want to win and it’s important, it’s best to have skill over seniority,” Garraway said.

To win games and reach goals, coaches make decisions to start and play younger athletes, even if it means benching an older player who is on a lower level.

“It’s not about seniority, it’s not about ‘Oh, you’ve been in the program for multiple years.’ It’s your skill,” Simcoe said.

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October 2024

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Students leaking havoc On OHS - assasins

By ASHLEY PEREIRA

Photography Chief

To kick off a new school year, it’s an OHS tradition for upperclassmen to partake in the exhilarating game, Assassins. What initially started as a tame water gunfight has transformed into a thrilling, vicious battle.

Teams are formed together with a maximum of six players, who equip themselves with water guns and pay a fee to enter. The goal of assassins is to get people of opposing teams out by spraying them in public while maintaining your own team’s safety; the last standing team wins.

“Everyone starts with an equal opportunity to win, so people are excited to see what the outcome could be,” said Megan Scott, senior.

When spraying other teams, the “kills” must be recorded and sent to the two admins as proof that somebody got out.

These videos are later posted to the Instagram account, providing updates for all students playing.

“It’s fun to see how everyone gets out and gives you motivation to be creative with your kills,” said Jaya Amoeka-Agyei, senior.

Since all juniors and seniors are welcome to play, the game offers a substantial prize pot filled with hundreds of dollars, rewarding the

winning team for their competitive drive. However, some students argue that many people take the game too seriously.

“The competitive drive in people is making them play the game more aggressively than it should be played,” said Reagan Mordka, senior.

Every year it seems as if students become more and more creative in ways to advance their gameplay. By creating elaborate plans and forming alliances with other teams, it’s hard to trust anyone in this game.

“Your own friends are the same ones giving people your address,” Amoeka-Agyei

said.

Given the high stakes and competitiveness, it is typical that the game can last up to months, which could cause many students to feel apprehensive about going out in public, or even leaving their own homes.

“People waiting outside my house every morning just because I live close to school is an adjustment for sure,” Scott said.

Despite the excitement, coordinating this game is not an easy task. Two students are in charge of facilitating the game and making sure everything runs smoothly, but controlling a game with

more than two hundred students can be a challenge.

“It definitely does get stressful with people constantly arguing with me and complaining,” said Jack Morton, senior and Assassins coordinator.

Not only do the two students running the game keep ongoing updates, but they also include challenges to spice up the game and continue to keep things interesting. Simple tasks around the valley called “Drops” are provided to reengage teams who have been eliminated.

“Keeping track of all of the teams is a huge time

commitment, but people have a lot of fun,” Morton said.

The game has gained traction not only within OHS but also among neighboring high schools, leading to an increase in participation and excitement. However, some teachers have expressed their concerns about how the game could disrupt the learning environment. As a result, the OHS administration is not associated with the game.

Despite its controversy, Assassins has become a highly anticipated tradition at OHS, marking the beginning of every school year with its chaotic gameplay.

PHOTO BY ASHLEY PEREIRA The water guns that OHS students use throughout the game.

Students take the wheel: chaos at OHS

By AMAYA KELLY

Sports Editor

With the large student population at OHS, students, staff, and parents alike experience the chaos of high school traffic. New student drivers and a plethora of impatient and sometimes aggressive individuals behind the wheel can cause the parking lot to be a dangerous place.

Although OHS has multiple parking facilities for staff and students, the surplus of traffic makes the school lot congested and compact with cars.

“It’s a very small parking lot, so it’s hard for people to maneuver around each other,” said Shay Garraway, junior. “I think that causes people to also want to get out of school really early, so they drive fast, and it honestly can cause a lot of crashes.”

Even seniors who leave school early can experience this traffic to a certain extent, as cars zoom around the parking lot, eager to leave campus.

“I realized, even during fourth hour when I leave, that it still can get bad at times if people are just bad drivers and they just cut you off and don’t really pay attention,” said Jack Morton, senior.

This feeling of uneasiness students may get when driving in the parking lot leads to them wanting to leave the campus faster, giving them a sense of urgency.

“I always try to get to my car super fast so I can leave right away and not have to deal with everyone having to pull out,” Garraway said.

With reckless driving in our parking lots, it is only a matter of time before someone or their vehicle gets put in harm’s way.

“Someone ran into the front of the driver’s side of my car, and completely [took] my bumper off and my mirror,” said Krish Patel, senior.

Having scary encounters while driving can make one more cognizant of their choices while on the road.

“It changes your perspective and makes you want to be more careful,” Morton said.

Knowing that the actions taken behind the wheel can lead to irreversible damage should make students more empathetic drivers who care about other cars around them, especially during highly trafficked areas, like the school parking lot.

“I think everyone just doesn’t really care about what other people are doing and only takes into account

PHOTO BY AMAYA KELLY With parents dropping their kids off to school in the morning, the OHS parking lot is a dangerous place for students to navigate.

“Sometimes when I see cars situations on the road every what they are trying to do,” pull out in front of me when day. Doing everything they Morton said.

The lack of patience and they’re not supposed to, I can to stay safe might not be willingness to comply with definitely get stressed out,” enough.

“I feel like every other common courtesy rules, Garraway said.

With the heedless driving week I come this close to a such as the “zipper method” in the parking lot can lead tendencies in the OHS car accident,” Patel said.

“We’re hoping this is how to cars driving impulsively parking lot, and surrounding it will go in the future–all and causing stress-inducing the school campus, students digital,” Heath said. are put in compromising situations.

Features

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thetalonohs.com

October 2024

The PSAT: why should you take it?

By MATTHEW WETHERBEE

Staff Writer

The National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, or Preliminary SAT, is a practice test that prepares students for the SAT, a prestigious standardized test that helps colleges determine who they will accept as students. Specific PSAT scores can also help students qualify for scholarships, making it even easier to get into the college of their choice.

That is why the PSAT is so beneficial; it prepares students for the SAT and can get them a high score on their first try. The OHS administration recognizes these benefits, so they are making the PSAT free for all students who want to take it, even freshmen.

Unfortunately, the deadline for registering was in August, but freshmen and sophomores can still wait for the next

school year to take the PSAT. This is the first time that OC is making the test available to freshmen, which can benefit students further, as the test is available to take each year.

“The test is typically taken by students in 10th or 11th grade, but we want to offer it to 9th graders for practice.

Just like in sports, teams have to practice to play in the game. In academics, this is an example of practicing your academics so you can demonstrate knowledge when it comes time to take the SAT,” said Justin McLain, Assistant Principal.

This year, the PSAT is scheduled to be taken on Saturday, October 26th, at 8:00 AM on campus. Students are taking the PSAT this year to help improve their learning capabilities, as well as their skills in subjects they’re already familiar with.

“I was motivated to take the PSAT this year to help me prepare for the SATs and get used to the format of the test,” said Taylor

Nunziato-Cruz, sophomore.

“I hope for a 5 on the test, and I understand that to reach that goal by studying and making sure I take good notes in class.”

Although the PSAT can be taken multiple times throughout a student’s time here at OHS, it’s best for them to study and prepare more each time they re-take it, as their scores will likely improve, providing even more preparation for the SAT. “It really tells you where the student’s at, like your level of learning and if you need help. It really tells you where you are in your learning abilities,” said Tabitha Mioc, sophomore.

Mioc believes it’s important to take the PSAT to allow students to scale where their learning abilities are and improve on areas needed.

She also says that it’s almost required to take the PSAT to boost your chances for success and getting into a good college.

It’s evident that the PSAT

has the potential to help any student who decides to take it, whether they are planning on taking the SAT or just to see where their academic abilities lay. By taking the PSAT, students will be prepared for the SAT and achieve their goals of getting into a good college and having

a successful career, which is exactly why OC offers it to its students: the school thrives off students getting high scores for the SAT. “I would advise other students to take it if they can, as it’s always good to get more practice in general,” Nunziato-Cruz said.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW WETHERBEE Daniel Yohannan, sophmore, looking to resister for the PSAT on College Board.

Child of a teacher: blessing or curse?

By NICOLE EOM News Editor

Most students have a clear distinction between school and family life, but for some, the two aspects coincide.

Being the child of a teacher brings unique experiences, allowing students to have personal connections in the school setting, but it also brings its own challenges.

As children of education professionals, students carry the burdens of completing their homework and staying on top of their studies. Although it allows the students to feel more prepared, their parents’ requirements may seem demanding.

“She gets on me about my homework every night especially for her class when I took it last year. She made sure I had my notes done, and when I shared a [notes document], she ridiculed me because I wasn’t doing my own notes. She always told me if I did my own notes, I’d get better grades,” said Macy Ellis, senior.

Teachers also use their expertise to help their children with their studies, which allows students to form a deeper understanding of the topics their parents teach.

“It’s actually really nice that he teaches here because

he’s also friends with my chemistry teacher, Mr. Burton, so he can help me a lot with my homework. I feel like that makes my life easier, then I can also help my friends with their homework,” said Zoe Lannen, sophomore.

Most of these students have grown up at OHS from a very young age, and are familiar with the school environment and all the teachers. Naturally, this was the driving factor for teachers who decided to send their children to OHS. “They’ve been coming to O’Connor since they were little: running around the football field and coming to games. It’s just been in their DNA to be an eagle,” said Cindy Garraway, ELA teacher.

Students feel very comfortable in the classrooms their parents teach in, almost graying the barrier between a student-teacher and childparent relationship. This relationship gives kids of teachers a comfort that most students cannot experience at school.

“I do call him Mr. Lannen at school because it’s weird to say dad to a teacher, but I can still be friendly with him and be like, ‘Can you help me with this?’ and ask him ‘What are we eating for dinner?’ [and] he’s like ‘Hi Zoe’ all the time,” Lannen said.

The students’ familiarity

with the school brings its advantages and disadvantages. Knowing the staff that works at the school can get them advantages, such as parking spots.

“My parking spot is pretty good, it’s at 70… the office ladies love me because I’ve been here my entire life, so they gave me a good one,” said BillyBob Baumgartner, junior.

Being known as a teacher’s child also provides an incentive to be wary of their choices in the classroom.

“She has her little spies everywhere because she knows a lot of my teachers so I can’t say anything too drastic or otherwise, I fear they will tell my mom,” Ellis said.

Not only are these students representing themselves at school, but they are representing their parents and their family dynamic, which causes them and their parents to be more cautious when following school rules.

“Especially because he teaches here, I have to not break the dress code because he’ll yell at me before I walk out [of] the house.

He’s definitely on top of me completing my homework, but it’s nice because I complete my homework,” Lannen said.

One of the greatest advantages students gain from having teacher-parents is the ability to easily adjust

their schedules before school starts or even mid-year.

“My dad goes and sees my schedule a week before school starts and he’s able to decide if he wants me to have those teachers or not,” Lannen said.

Teachers in turn have the advantage of being involved in their children’s lives and knowing what goes on at their school by sending their children to OHS. “I know exactly what classes she’s taking and I know the teachers that she is working with, so if there are issues, I can talk to those teachers,” said Tiffany Ellis, history teacher.

By learning from their children, teachers better understand the teenagers in their classrooms, which strengthens their profession.

“As a teacher, your clientele is that demographic of a

teenager. You have your own at home, and instinctively it’s going to make you a better teacher overall… even understanding their lingo, and different nuances that they have as a teenager, and jokes and things like that I wouldn’t probably get if I didn’t have kids of my own,” Garraway said.

Amidst all the difficulties, teachers and students can be there alongside each other during school hours, shaping unique memories different from ones made at home.

“Shay comes up every morning because her class is right across the hall and gives me a hug, and Callie is in my AP class so I get to see her every day. It’s just really sweet and I’m gonna cherish these times that they’re here and I know I’m gonna miss them when they’re gone,” Garraway said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KIERSTYN MALIG All four members of the Garraway family either work at or attend OC.

6 October 2024

The Talon

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OHS welcomes insightful new psychology teacher

By ABIGAIL BRYAND

Staff Writer

Steve Belles is one of OHS’s newest additions as well as the psychology teacher. Belles always knew that he wanted to be both a teacher and a coach, and he is excited to continue to pursue that, going into his 26th year of teaching. Belles views teaching and coaching similarly, pushing students to prepare and perform to their very best.

Belles is enthusiastic about many activities outside of teaching, including football, hiking, and watching movies in his free time. Above all, family is one of the most important things to him.

“I’m passionate about my daughter’s growth. She’s 23 and she’s going into nursing school. My step-daughter is already a nurse. I’m really proud of both of them… my favorite holiday is thanksgiving, just because it’s not about gifts, it’s about time with family,” said Steve Belles, psychology teacher.

Belles has lived in Arizona most of his life, only leaving to go to college for football at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

“[I was] born and raised on the west side, and I went to St. Mary’s High School here in town,” Belles said.

Throughout his entire education, Belles has always had a passion for teaching. He discovered where his career would lie once he neared the end of his college education, and found what would fit best for his lifestyle.

“I think I knew I wanted to teach my last year [of college]… I got my teaching certificate at Ottawa University. I always wanted to coach too, and I think it went hand in hand,” Belles said.

Even though Belles has always somewhat known what he wanted to do, he consistently had a backup option ready to go.

“I think if I wouldn’t have been a teacher, I would have gone into being a fireman.

A couple of my buddies went into it, and there were so many connections to the fire department through St. Mary’s High School, and that was the reason I was going to do it,” Belles said.

Alhough Belles has been teaching for 26 years and coaching for 30, he had numerous job experiences before it.

“I worked at a furniture

PHOTO BY ABIGIAL BRYAND Steve Belles lectures his first period class about dreams. factory, I did landscaping degree.

“Just like anything else, at Glendale Community College, I worked behind a psychology has evolved. bar, I did Uber a little bit, I Psychology is thought of worked at a tile store, I did as more of a science today, vocational counseling, and I even though it is chosen as an sold insurance, but teaching elective here,” Belles said.

Due to Belles’ experience had been my passion,” Belles with coaching football, said.

Belles has taught an he sees improvement as a array of different subjects huge accomplishment and throughout his teaching celebrates it as such.

Just like in coaching, [my career.

“I have two degrees. One favorite thing about teaching was in economics, and one is] the growth in kids and was in psychology… the seeing kids be maybe a funny thing is that I taught little shaky about it at the world history, American beginning, and then grow history, economics, and this into it,” Belles said.

Belles believes that is only my first year teaching psychology is not only an psychology,” Belles said. subject, but Belles argues that important psychology is an important also for practical, everyday subject to be taught, and has application within the lives discovered much about it has of high school students.

“With so much social changed from when he got his

media today, it’s a reflection thing where kids can look inwards - introspection… they know what’s going on in their head,” Belles said.

Not only does Belles strive to be a great educator, he also strives to make connections with kids outside of learning.

“I like to be available for kids, and not just in the teaching environment. If you care about kids, they’ll run through a wall for you, just like on a football field. But they have to know you care,” Belles said.

Belles’ coaching side often shines through when he is teaching, helping students perform at the top of their game.

“It’s hard to be great when you’re working on being average,” Belles said.

JROTC advances their program with new activities

By Nicole Purdy

Staff Writer

Junior ROTC is an important part of OHS,offering students the opportunity to learn about the military, improve their leadership abilities, and develop life skills. JROTC is a program with unique activities that cannot be found in other high school courses. This demonstrates the commitment that OHS has for its students when it comes to teaching the importance of the military.

Informing them about the idea that it is possible to have a career in the military allows students to get ready for their

future.

For this year, the instructors are planning several interactive and educational activities for the students, which helps strengthen the program and inspire kids to continue learning about the military.

“The unit is hosting a military ball for four schools this year,” said Master Sergeant Badey, JROTC instructor. “We are the ones who will be making sure it runs smoothly”.

Military ball is a formal event that celebrates everyone’s accomplishments over the past year. There’s a formal introduction, dinner, and dance after. This year,

they are thinking of holding it in the clubroom at the Air Force base. A row of retired airplanes and jets are lined up right outside the base.

“The kids have a great time; we have a great time,” Badey said.

All of the members of the program get suited up to have a fun night to celebrate their accomplishments.

JROTC hopes to compete in more air rifle competitions and the USA archery student competitions this year. The USA archery is the national governing body for the Olympic sport of archery.

They have a great team for air rifle, making them confident in their competition

PHOTO BY NICOLE PURDY JROTC student practices archery.

performance for this year. “[We] try to get more presence out there in the community which is one of the focuses of this year,” Badey said.

JROTC would like to get more of an attendance in air rifle competitions and archery. JROTC also offers after school clubs for the students, such as Marksman, color guard, and volunteering hours. Many students will help clean up around campus and help teachers.

“I loved the Marksman clubs, [that is] part of something we do for JROTC after school,” said Sydney Guan, senior.

A big part of the joy shared among JROTC is the community that it provides for students interested in the military. Many students shared a favorite aspect of JROTC. “Most classes have groups where they already know each other and in JROTC, you learn and meet new people,” said Guan.

JROTC allows kids to meet new people and form lifelong friendships. Many students receive achievements for their hard work, such as cadet, which is a trainee in the armed services.

“I received outstanding cadet for the freshmen class,” said Alex Sjogren, sophomore.

To get the seniors prepared for a career in the military, the

instructors start telling them important future information their sophomore and junior year. The air force academy, ROTC college, or enlisting are all options for after high school. ROTC college is an option for students to further their education in the military. Students also get in touch with people who are certified in the Air Force, as well as information on what it takes to get into the Air Force academy.

“It’s a process that we start by putting that bug into their ear early on,” Badey said.

JROTC offers many opportunities to the members of the program. This year, they are planning a senior trip to Honolulu, Hawaii for a week during spring break.

“There’s a lot of military history on the island, we’ve planned to take part in flag folding on the Battleship Missouri Memorial and visiting the Arizona memorial,” said Colonel Donald Clocksin, JROTC instructor.

JROTC would like to introduce their seniors to lots of great opportunities on the trip before they leave the nest, a last chance to do something big that the students won’t ever forget.

“This trip will give them a chance to open their eyes to so much of this world that’s out there, that they haven’t had the opportunity to see,” Badey said.

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October 2024

7

Key Club: unlocking new volunteer opportunities

By EMERSON LIHN

Features Editoror

As students at OHS begin to settle down after the first few weeks of the new school year, many decide how they want to establish their place and get involved throughout the year. With a cycle of new students as classes of seniors graduate, kids on campus are bringing different ideas for new clubs.

Last school year, Key Club was introduced at OHS. Key Club is an international organization established at high schools around the world. The idea of the club

is to promote community service and volunteering to students around schools. “[Key Club] is run by students and we create a service project each year that we target in the community,” said Shloka Nair, junior and Key Club President.

Volunteering comes as an enjoyable activity for various students at OHS. Many enjoy volunteering with friends and helping out the community to the best of their ability.

“I knew Shloka was starting [Key Club]. She told me about it and I got really interested in it because I’ve never really been a part of a volunteer club before and it’s something I’ve been wanting

to do. I enjoy volunteering for the community because it makes me feel more connected,” said Paige Trafton, junior.

Other students in programs such as the National Honors Society are required to obtain a certain amount of community service hours. However, many new members of the club may not know where to start when it comes to community service and volunteering.

“I noticed a lot of people needed volunteer hours but they didn’t really know how to get them and a lot of it was run by teachers or [students’] parents telling them what to do. I wanted to make more

PHOTO BY EMERSON LIHN Shloka Nair, junior (left) and Julia Steere, junior (right) promote Key Club and club rush.

of an impact and teach people how to be leaders as students,” Nair said.

With this school year being the second year of Key Club, the President and Vice President hope to solidify the structure of the club to be able to promote it and let students know their mission as a club.

“We’re hoping to get a website up with more information about the club and we’d like to get on the announcements to let people know when our meetings are,” said Julia Steere, junior and Key Club Vice President.

While Key Club continues to figure out what is needed to increase their universality among students, the founders are hoping to have a more structured year when it comes to officers and systems within the club, such as logging time.

“This year we need to follow up a lot more with the officers of the club and communicate more about our goals this year as well as having a new mindset,” Steere said.

Along with the structure and communication of the club, group project plans are in the works between the President and ASU’s sustainability program.

“Last year was a little

rough because it was the beginning stages so we had to do a lot of paperwork before we could actually do anything. This year, since we’ve already started, we’re working with ASU’s sustainability department, and we’re going to come up with a service project for all our club members,” Nair said.

Being able to do group projects this year puts members in new situations where they get to learn more and develop valuable skills which will be of service to their future.

“Key Club benefits my future by giving me experience with working with others in a professional setting with a goal of making a difference,” said Abigail Trafton, junior.

As Key Club continues to make an effort to promote students engaging in community service through structuring the club as a team, members continue to inspire themselves and those around them while working towards helping others.

“Key Club puts me in situations where I can be grateful that I have a privileged life and that I am able to do the things that I Continue reading at thetalonohs.com

Outstanding students at OHS

By KENDALL WALKER

Copy Cheif

Over the summer, certain OHS students were able to achieve and be a part of extraordinary events and accomplishments. It is important to recognize the students who are going above and beyond in order to reach their goals and pave paths to success.

One opportunity for outstanding success is through connections to ROTC. ROTC is an expansive program that provides various opportunities for high school students, and certain students at OHS are putting in the effort and working towards their futures.

“Through ROTC I was able to apply for a scholarship program where there was a list of about 15 flight schools, and I chose to go to Tuskegee, Alabama for the Heritage to get my pilot license,” said Logan Leonard, senior.

Fulfilling this accomplishment was not an easy feat, and required an extensive amount of hard work and dedication.

“Over eight weeks I did all of my training, which was about ten hours of ground training per day, and about two-three hours of flight training per day,” Leonard said.

Taking risks and following

dreams, even at a young age, can benefit students and put them ahead in their future career paths.

“It has always been a dream of mine to fly, and this has given me such a stepping stone towards going further and going to possibly [be a] military pilot, possibly commercial pilot,” Leonard said.

Life can be extremely busy, especially in high school, but students who make the sacrifice to achieve their goals are able to learn important life lessons.

“It was a bit of a work-life balance thing, and getting practice with that early, but I’ve been able to manage it and get it done,” Leonard said.

Some OHS students are also displaying massive achievements within their sports, getting the rare and impressive opportunities to play with top teams.

“I went and played for the U19 national team for volleyball in Honduras, and we got to compete against a bunch of different countries and we won, so we qualified for worlds which is next year,” said Devyn Wiest, senior.

Being selected to play for any national team is not an easy task, and making the roster really showcases the amount of determination and dedication that some students display.

“Over the year and past years, 20 athletes were selected, and then in June there was a weeklong tryout for the 20 athletes to narrow it down to 12 for the travel roster,” Wiest said.

Within these opportunities, students are able to expand and further develop their level of play, as well as experience a setting with other like-minded athletes working towards the same goal.

“It’s so much more competition, even at practice, and I think sometimes in practice it was harder than the actual games, so it was really cool seeing that many hardworking people and just being a part of that,” Wiest said.

Being in high levels of competitive sports also comes with extremely busy schedules, and students learn at an early age the importance of prioritizing the different aspects of their life.

“We traveled as a team, so before the Honduras trip, we had a week in Colorado Springs to train, and then we went straight from Colorado Springs to Honduras,” Wiest said. “I just think it’s really important to stay on top of school and get ahead when I can.”

Other students at OHS have been showcasing their extraordinary musical talents and creating impressive platforms which aid them in

developing their careers.

“Currently at the moment I’ve started a[n] Instagram channel and I also have a YouTube channel where over the next few years I’m going to be promoting my new works on the piano, and I’m hoping to build a more personal brand that can kind of get my name out there in the music industry,” said John Simcoe, senior.

The level of maturity and intent that various students put into their interests can help them gain confidence and wisdom within their chosen career paths.

“Creating songs is really a spontaneous process but I would say that you have to get inspired first, so just seeing

the world around you and how people interact with each other, and getting an emotional vibe. Melodies and thoughts will just come into your head at random times so you just have to be ready for when it comes,” Simcoe said.

It is important to explore different interests and recognize the facets of life that bring someone joy since that happiness can become influential in successful careers and futures.

“I have a classical music background, so I’d say from the very beginning I was very inspired off of that, and I was involved in music along with long with bands in elementary and middle more piano because Continue reading at thetalonohs.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF LOGAN LEONARD Logan Leonard, senior, stands on top of a plane at his flight school in Tuskgee, Alabama.

8 thetalonohs.com

October 2024

“

Always put your best foot forward; just because someone doesn’t seem like they’re your cup of tea, it’s important to be kind. Be kind to one another because the world is kind of mean sometimes.

”

Kaylea Burstynski History Teacher

You only have “four years of high

school, so make the most of it.

Live everything to the fullest.

“

Becky Currence Junior

October 2024

thetalonohs.com

“

The three most important things to me are God, family, and friends.

“

Maverick McCall Sophomore

“

One important thing that I’ve learned is that it is important to put yourself out there in things that you love. By doing that you can make meaningful friendships and have things that are relatable.

”

Elizabeth Young Junior

9

10 October 2024

Too old to Trick-or-Treat?

By KENDALL WALKER Copy Chief

Halloween is just around the corner, and OHS students are gearing up and sharing some of their haunting opinions, traditions, and favorite aspects about the spooky holiday.

Many students are very passionate about the idea of trick-or-treating and see it as a timeless tradition of fun and community bonding with no age limit.

“I don’t think that anyone is too old to trick-or-treat. I think that people of all ages, all the way up until you’re ninety, and past that even, should be trick-or-treating, especially in high school,” said Chase Norton, senior.

Students also see Halloween as a way to spend time with friends and communities outside school.

“I would say high schoolers aren’t too old to trick or treat because it’s fun to go out with your friends,” said Dallas Slade, freshman. “I’ll probably be hanging out with my friends or cousins.”

Other students believe that as kids get older, instead of being the ones trick-or-treating, they could focus on making Halloween special for those younger than them.

“I think that high schoolers are probably too old to trick or treat. I mean, I like getting candy but I think we could be the ones

handing out candy to people now,” said Wyatt Walker, freshman.

Various high school students often throw or attend Halloween parties instead of trick-or-treating, and see it as a fun way to hang out, play games, and celebrate the holiday with friends.

“For Halloween this year we might throw a party with some friends and our youth group at our house,” Walker said.

Nevertheless, students are excited and looking forward to their respective Halloween plans, looking to make this year frighteningly fun.

“I was thinking go all out for Halloween this year, you know, be extravagant and be the life of the party,” said Katie Hoppenworth, senior.

Like many holidays, Halloween serves as a time when families can get together, create memories, participate in any traditions, and create new ones.

“Every Halloween we go to my cousin's house and hang out there,” Slade said. “Halloween is also my grandma's birthday and it’s a fun way that our whole family can get together.”

Certain families have yearly customs that become a staple and something they can look forward to every year.

“I carve pumpkins every year with my family and we also bring a TV outside

Poem: The beginning of fall

By SKYLER FREEMAN

Staff Writer

As summer’s heat begins to leave Excitement stirs with the beginning of sleeves The autumn breeze and orange leaves fall While vivid anticipations call The filter of the world changes Kind words and cheery exchanges Our hot state begins to cool down There is no need to frown Pumpkin patches and warm drinks The days fade faster as quick as a blink Lets hold each other and keep ourselves warm Love grows large like the calm to a storm

and put it on my dad's truck to watch football,” Walker said.

OHS has some of its own festive activities in certain clubs and programs where students can get into the Halloween spirit.

“Usually we have a special Halloween practice for marching band and we have trunk or treat after where we all get to dress up in our costumes and go trick-ortreating with all the cars and all the props, so it’ll be pretty fun,” Norton said.

One of the most prominent aspects of Halloween is the idea of obtaining as much candy as possible, which high school students seem to agree to enjoy.

“You know I’m out there taking my pillowcase and running to every single house to beat my sister for our weigh-in because whoever gets the most candy wins, and then we obviously sort it all and give each other the stuff we don’t want,” Hoppenworth said.

Certain students already have their Halloween costumes planned out and are excited to put some creativity to the test and see people's reactions.

“What I’m dressing up as is kind of a secret, but it might be a little Paw Patrol action, you never know,” Norton said.

Whether it’s dressing up as ghosts, superheroes, zombies, or clowns, Halloween elicits a sense

of nostalgia and reminds people of all ages about the joys of feeling like a kid and experiencing the excitement of the holiday.

“My favorite Halloween costume was when I was like five years old and was Scooby Doo and Scooby just hit different because, you know, Rooby-Rooby-Roo,” Hoppenworth said.

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11

OC Sounds Off: Is Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween movie?

By ALYSSA BUCKNER

Staff Writer

NO: Since the release of the 1993 Tim Burton movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas, people have questioned whether or not it should be considered a Christmas or Halloween movie. The debate is unnecessary as the themes addressed throughout it clearly suggest it is a Christmas classic.

The movie follows Jack Skellington, voiced by Chris Sarandon and Danny Elfman, who is the Pumpkin King of the fictional world of Halloween Town.

After executing successful Halloweens year after year, Jack starts longing for a change. He stumbles upon a group of trees during a walk in the forest, which happen to hold various holiday-type worlds. Intrigue leads him into the world of Christmas, where curiosity takes over.

Jack finds the practices and traditions fascinating, so he decides to make a Christmas of his own.

Throughout the movie, Jack tries to learn about the purpose of Christmas and why people find joy in it. This is a common theme in most Christmas movies, as it is customary for the main characters to learn about the real purpose of the holiday. In this case,

By AMBER HAYDEN Arts & Entertainment Edtior

YES: Although The Nightmare Before Christmas incorporates an opposing holiday in the title, it is definitely a Halloween movie. This becomes clear in just the first few minutes of the film when Jack Skellington is introduced along with many other Halloween-inspired characters. With animation appropriate only for a film made up of skeletons and Frankenstein-like creations, The Nightmare Before Christmas brings out classic spooky traits to deliver a haunted ambiance.

This is furthered by the soundtrack used in the film. With songs like “This is Halloween,” the film immediately creates an eerie atmosphere only fitting for a spooky film. Later songs in the film add to this with either somber music that fits the dreary mood of the season or songs with a frightening undertone

toward the end of the film.

To add to this, all the songs are sung by characters, like Jack Skellington, who are created in such a way as to look creepy.

Even when the Christmas elements are introduced with a multitude of bright colors, The Nightmare Before Christmas maintains its spooky feel. This is easily discerned simply by looking at the animation of the wellknown Christmas figure, Santa Claus. Though he is known to be jolly, he does not look that way and rather appears not too dissimilar from the other characters if not for his noteworthy appearance.

Santa wears the signature outfit from the red coat to his famous hat, but the colors are muted to match the animation of the others in the film. He acts like Santa for the most part, except for a few moments lacking his usual jolly attitude that

makes him different from the Santa people expect.

Additionally, the people who Jack interacts with when he tries to be Santa Claus share this feeling of wrongness. They are animated in such a way that they look like kids who belong in a Halloween film when it comes to their appearance rather than a Christmas movie.

Beyond the characters, there is not much difference between the scenes of his home in Halloween Town and when he visits Christmas Town.

The Christmas elements Jack sees during his visit, however, do nothing to change the tone of the film and are instead simply a plot device used to further the Halloween theme. Were it a Christmas movie, the overall essence would change, perhaps into something more uplifting; something the film purposely avoids.

Jack figures out that the holiday of Christmas is full of happiness whereas Halloween focuses on aspects of horror. The Nightmare Before Christmas isn’t considered a Christmas movie simply because it’s set in that time frame, but because the movie is in the traditional format of a Christmas movie. The Grinch is another prominent example of this use because the main character acquires the ability to respect Christmas and understand its unique qualities by the end of the film.

Even though some can view The Nightmare Before Christmas as a scary movie, a big portion of Christmas classics also have aspects that could be considered frightening.

To name a few: Krampus, Gremlins, The Grinch, Die Hard, Home Alone, Edward Scissorhands, etc. All of these movies also possess themes and situations that are quintessentially “spooky,” similar to The Nightmare Before Christmas; if these are considered Christmas movies, why can’t The Nightmare Before Christmas be regarded as one?

during the Halloween season and because there are some Halloween-type aspects. Although the first few minutes of the movie are technically set during that time, the majority of the movie occurs in between Halloween and Christmas.

The Halloween characters in the movie are not preparing for another Halloween, they are getting ready for Christmas. Christmas is the main theme of the movie, regardless of the subplots it contains.

Tim Burton is known for creating gothic-fantasy movies. With this in mind, one can determine that Burton has a very unique style of storytelling; The Nightmare Before Christmas explores Tim Burton’s peculiar take on the holiday of Christmas. His style of animation did contribute to the overall eerie mood, but this odd mood doesn’t automatically mean that it’s not a Christmas movie.

By including so many Christmas themes and plot points, it is impossible not to consider it as one.

Those who believe that The Nightmare Before Christmas isn’t a Christmas movie are close minded.

From the perspectives Some argue that of many, this movie is a The Nightmare Before distinctive Christmas classic Christmas is a Halloween which is to be cherished for movie because it is set generations to come.

When put together, the music, characters, and animation add up to the classic Halloween movie people know and love.

When people think of The Nightmare Before Christmas, it is not

Christmas they are reminded of, but things like ghosts and skeletons. When it comes down to it, The Nightmare Before Christmas has a slight Christmas element, but beyond that, it is pure Halloween town.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDb

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thetalonohs.com

Modern innovations - Gen Z and slang

By MATTHEW HOODHUNT Editorial Chief

Gen Z includes some of the greatest inventors out there. They shape their own dialect through generational colloquialisms that define their age group - from being down to go to a party or cooking on a test, these Gen-Z-coded experiences are shared using words and phrases that linguistically separate this generation from the rest.

Slang itself has no true definition assigned to it by linguists, but words are generally thought of as slang if they are used informally, vulgarly, or in some sort of taboo manner.

The word “slang” carries the connotation that it is not used by professionals, but rather, “thieves, vagabonds, etc,” as Dictionary.com puts

it. Implying that users of slang are “lower” in some way than users of standard English creates an aura around it that is off-putting to adults, which only furthers the generational divide.

Nuance is added to the slang conversation when considering words and phrases that are still thought of as “slang” or “new” but have more or less been naturalized into standard American English. Things like “ghosted” or “left on read” are used pretty fluidly by many adults, but are still omitted from dictionaries.

Language, in this sense, is never truly “standard,” but just grows branches over time. Thinking of slang as more of a subsect of the English language, however, showcases the inventive nature of Generation Z. New words pop up every few weeks, some sticking around for longer than others. They

rarely invent the words, but alter or sometimes create new meanings. When people a decade ago dressed well, nobody said that they “ate,” but Gen Z invented a new meaning of the word.

Another good example are the new definitions of “cook/cooking/cooked.”

The most interesting facet of the word “cook” is that when someone is “cooking” or they have “cooked,” they did or are doing a great job on something, but if someone is “cooked” (adjective, not a past-tense verb), they are struggling at whatever they are doing.

It’s hard to tell what, if anything, this says about Gen Z, but it shows at least some ability to communicate on their own level, without the conventions of regular English. Rarely do people think of a still maturing generation as inventors, but in their own way, they

are. New expressions and words are shared in schools and online communities extremely quickly, which if anything makes Gen Z quite a socially homogenous group.

One crucial aspect of Gen Z slang is that it is used to associate one’s vocabulary with their unique experiences growing up through the 2010’s and 2020’s. No other generation relates, in a storytelling way at least, to having a goated teacher, cooking on a presentation, or crashing out. Yes, all living generations have at some point or another been treated to a good teacher, done well on a project, and gotten angry to the point of quitting, but the idea is that they shared those experiences as such. Gen Z is able to define these experiences in their own way, using the altered meanings of existing words or making up their own to relay the experience to one

another, which oftentimes has the effect of making it more relatable. Slang comes in different flavors: it can be used metaphorically or idiomatically, but most importantly as a generationwide inside joke. Tell your parents that you got gassed up by your friends after wearing a new outfit to school. They are probably clueless as to what that means, but peers are automatically in on the joke that your friends did not pour gasoline on you, but just gave you compliments.

Ultimately, as confused as parents and teachers may be as to what their students are saying, slang is a premier unifying factor of the generation. In a world with plenty of division, Gen Zers associate together around their made-up words that seem so temporary and pointless, but really define the generation and the times they are growing up in.

K-8 vs middle school: which is better?

By TAYLOR MOON Staff Writer

Most students go into high school prepared with an understanding of the correct criteria. However, some students go into high school ahead academically and are more mature than others.

The choice between going to a segregated middle school (7th-8th grade) or going to a K-8 school can really change the next 4 years of high school. “I would say middle school [sets you up better]…

I think it teaches you little life lessons,” said Zoe Lihn, freshman. Even the little small life lessons that you learn in middle school helps set you up throughout highschool and the rest of your life.“It [middle school] taught me how to be more

PHOTO BY TAYLOR MOON

Group of freshman divided by who atteded a K-8 and who attended middle school.

independent and how to deal with peer pressure,”said Lihn.However, the majority of K-8 high schools, such as charter schools, offer high school classes, but don’t transfer their credits to high school. “It [middle school] did set me ahead. I went into high school with 2 credits already… I think that’s good for kids who just want to get a head start,” said Kate Mosby, junior. By choosing to go to a K-8 school for students’ middle school experience,

high school might be a bigger change than for those who came from an independent middle school.“Probably just adjusting to having more people, especially older than you. Like when you’re in 8th grade, then going back down to where you started [oldest in the school to the youngest],” said Amare Runyon, junior.

Going to a middle school exposes students to a new campus that allows them to adapt and be with people who are closer in age. Not

only this, but they are treated like high schoolers. “Going from an elementary school campus, to a middle school campus, to a high school campus it definitely prepared me because it gets a little bigger. You also have more independence with it only being 7th and 8th grade,” said Mosby. Each school has different maturity levels throughout the students, and the way teachers and staff treat their students varies based on the school.

Both schools aim for success, but in different ways.“With middle school they set you up, it’s almost more strict... people are more mature, but with K-8 you’re more babied,” said Lihn. Schools provide different learning opportunities, and whether it is more gentle learning or strict rules, both have their ways of controlling the Adviser:

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top online publication and one of the top print publications in the state. Letters to the editor must be signed and dropped off in Room 508, e-mailed to thetalonohs@gmail. com or mailed. Letters may be edited for content and/or space

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Opinions reflected here are of those of The Talon staff and do not reflect the Deer Valley Unified School District.

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The Talon is published as a forum for student opinion at Sandra Day O’Connor High School: part of the Deer Valley Unified School District.

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“When I taught at the K-8 school they wanted the teachers to have more control over the kids. In the middle you don’t have that; middle school is a Junior high school. They learn more responsibility and independence,” said Ronda Cunningham, ELA teacher.

Although both schools are run very differently, they each have one common goal in setting students up for success in high school and the future.

Both schools work hard to make sure the students are set up academically for success no matter what type of school they go to.

“My curriculum wasn’t more watered down than what I taught at the middle school, so in my case, no I feel like academically my kids were ready for high school,” said Cunnigham.

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 4 October 2024

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Page 13

Short N’ Sweet is unserious yet amusing

By ALYSSA BUCKNER

Staff Writer

“Espresso” singer Sabrina Carpenter released her sixth studio album Short N’ Sweet, on August 23rd, 2024, her cleverness shining through each unique song. Although this is not Carpenter’s first successful album, it topped them all by debuting at No. 23 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

With lead singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” becoming summer sensations, Short N’ Sweet is Carpenter's most highly anticipated album so far. Her latest surprise single “Taste” has also become extremely popular. The horror film-inspired music video featuring Wednesday star Jenna Ortega is currently the No. 1 trending for music on YouTube, with already over 15 million views.

All of the singles for Short N’ Sweet have music videos that connect in one way or another. At the end of “Espresso,” Carpenter finds herself going to jail; “Please Please Please” continues this narrative as she starts off the video getting bailed out (in the background, “Espresso”

is playing as well). In “Please Please Please” she leaves a lipstick stain on duct tape which she used to cover her boyfriend-atthe-time, Barry Keoghan's lips. This same piece of duct tape is shown during the first clip of her newest music video “Taste.” All of these connections are brilliant and show how clever Sabrina Carpenter’s artistic flare is.

Throughout the album, listeners experience Carpenter’s hilarious personality through her songs. From start to finish the album keeps listeners

hooked. “Taste” is a wonderful song to start with, and “Don’t Smile” rounds out the album perfectly.

“Don’t Smile” alters the famous quote by Dr. Suess “Don’t cry because it’s over.

Smile because it happened,” and concludes the album beautifully. Her comedic lyrics like “this boy doesn't even know / the difference between "there," "their" and "they are”, combined with her outstanding vocals make Short N’ Sweet a lovely album to listen to.

Compared to her previous albums such as Emails I

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPOTIFY Can’t Send, released in 2022, Short N’ Sweet showcases how Carpenter can effortlessly sing in numerous genres. Instead of having the same pop theme similar to her most prior release, she explores different genres including folk, R&B, and country. For example, “Good Graces” is R&B/ pop, and “Slim Pickins” is completely different, being country/folk.

Being so diverse confirms the notion that Sabrina Carpenter is incredibly talented.

Carpenter collaborated with famous artists such

as Jack Antonoff, Julia Michaels, and Amy Allen while writing her hit album, which was genius. They efficiently perfected each song, making them unique and amazing. The album flows so nicely and surely lives up to its name.

Many of the songs off the album revolve around Carpenter's rumored relationships throughout the past two years. She explained in an interview with Zane Lowe that for the past couple of years, most of her relationships have not lasted long but have had the biggest impacts, hence the album name. Even though Carpenter’s lyrics are mostly unserious, she still pours her emotions into each song which is what makes them so remarkable. The fact she can sing lyrics like “you're so empathetic, you'd make a great wife” with so much passion invokes feelings within the listener that they can resonate with on a deeper level.

The album as a whole is one of Sabrina Carpenter's finest works, and is great for anyone in a fun or energetic mood. Similar to the title, even though it is Short it's most definitely Sweet.

Song Reviews: Fall 2024

PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTUBE

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPOTIFY

PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTUBE

By ASHLEY PEREIRA

Photography Chief

PHOTO COURTESY OF GENIUS

“Harvest Moon”

by Neil Young

“Nomad”

by Clairo

“The Great Pumpkin Waltz”

by Vince Guaraldi

“Drunk on Halloween”

by Wallows

Although this song can be listened to year-round, it truly flourishes during the fall season. Neil Young incorporates thoughtful elements such as the steel pedal, harmonica, and acoustic guitar to encapsulate a comforting sound that many correlate with autumn. Young’s entire album “Harvest Moon” is a perfect addition to your fall rotation. With its folk-inspired foundation, the melodic steel pedal sets and soulful lyrics tie together a beautiful song that truly captures the season’s essence.

The opening track of Clairo’s third studio album, Charm released earlier this year in July, is centered around a finger picked guitar track, with a mix of airy vocals, and devastating lyrics, creating a truly captivating and emotional experience. With lyrics exploring the ideology behind topics such as solitude and heartbreak, audiences are immediately pulled toward these relatable themes. Clairo’s introspective songwriting establishes a sense of vulnerability, and allows for an intimate connection between the artist and listener.

From the 1966 animated special, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, comes a timeless fall classic. The beautiful soundtrack accompanies the beloved story of Charlie Brown and his friend’s autumn adventures.

This generational fall classic was created by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, who perfectly captures the warmth of the fall season, while invoking nostalgia in audiences of all ages. Due to its association with a fall classic film, this track has become synonymous with the fall season, making it a necessity for any fall playlist.

This self-reflective alternative pop anthem by the SoCal band, Wallows, follows the morning after a Halloween party and reflects on decisions made the night before. Led by an acoustic guitar accompanied by soulful horns and soft drums, a smooth and easy listening experience is created. The song explores the topic of heartbreak with the backdrop of a party setting. This ballad is the perfect addition to a fall playlist because it captures the perfect balance of reflection and introspection while drawing listeners in with a captivating melody.

14 October 2024

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Charli XCX’s Brat: a cultural phenomenon

By NICOLE PURDY

Staff Writer

On June 7, 2024, singer and songwriter Charli XCX released her sixth studio album, Brat. Fans have eagerly anticipated this album since she leaked information about it on her Instagram account. Compared to her last album Crash, Brat has received immense attention on social media. The album has already passed 500 million streams on Spotify.

This album received immense internet success that the summer was renamed as brat summer. Even so, listeners are still talking about the album and the essence of 2024 summer.

Fans have noticed a significant change in her sound and lyrical depth. Pitchfork gave the album a 8/10, the album is celebrated for its perfect blend of electropop

and emotional themes, demonstrating Charli’s unique ability to balance fun with vulnerability.

The album’s singles have brought listeners into the phenomenon that is Brat.

“Von Dutch,” the lead single, is a song about embracing being an object of gossip or obsession. The second single for the album, “Club Classics” is similar to “Von Dutch’s” aggressive beat but has a completely different meaning. “Club Classics” is about having fun with friends and hearing her music while partying in the club. The last single to be released, “360” is the first song on the track list and the one to set the theme for the rest of the album.

The eleventh track, “Apple” has over 1 million videos posted on TikTok. A dance was created to the song which brought attention to the album. Influential creators added their version

of the trend, which helped circulate the song on the platform.

Charli XCX fans have yearned for an energetic album.

Brat certainly delivers, and fans can not get enough. She has released two remixes since the release of the album. Including “Guess” with Billie Eilish and “Girl, so confusing” with Lorde. Fans loved the songs and it has helped gain even more attention towards the album. She also released a remix with Addison Rae for the song “Von Dutch,” which includes her high-pitched scream that mixes perfectly with Charli’s lively beats.

Brat has a put-together lively theme that projects the message that it is okay to be messy. Charli XCX has described the theme of the album as such. Fans have resonated with the theme, which has lent a hand to the popularity of the album.

This album has created a huge impact on the music industry, inspiring new sounds and artists. Many people on social media agree that this album was the best fans have gotten from Charli XCX. The vulnerability of this album has given it a popularity that none of her other albums have. The phenomenon even reached

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPOTIFY the vice president of America.

Kamala Harris used the Brat color and album text font for her Twitter account. Brat has had a global and political reach.

Brat is much more than an album, it is a blueprint.

Charli XCX used cohesive branding, energetic beats, and strategic collaborations to make Brat a success.

Alien Romulus: cash grab or proper legacy sequel?

By COLIN ROBISON

Equipment Manager

Alien Romulus marks the 9th release in the Alien franchise and includes rising stars such as Cailee Spainey and Isabela Marced. Alien Romulus does a fantastic job of enticing new fans who have never seen the older movies, while also satisfying the original fans of the franchise. Many fans were skeptical about the release of this movie, but it successfully shattered most viewers’ expectations. It has already made its budget back, and continues to rack up milestones at the box office.

The opening of Alien Romulus grabs the viewer’s attention and sets the tone for the rest of the film. The beginning of the movie is completely silent, with

the first piece of dialogue not being spoken until five minutes in. Silence is a common theme in this movie and plays a massive role in the finale. The movie follows a group of six people who steal a spaceship to go and board another one for supplies, but they are greeted with a far greater challenge than they expected.

The group thinks they are just going to board and then get off but it turns out that the ship has been ransacked by the infamous Alien villain, “Xenomorph.” The whole movie takes place on this one ship but it does a great job building an atmosphere and also building suspense. This movie is more of a thriller rather than a horror movie, but there is a fair share of terrifying moments. There is one scene in particular where it looks like they finally got

away, but then a certain event shakes up the whole movie and sets up the finale.

While on the press tour for the movie, one of the actresses, Isabela Marced, talked about two particular

scenes that were so disgusting the camera crew had a hard time filming it. One scene in particular has gone viral online for Marced’s impressive acting. The acting in general was a major

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB

highlight throughout the film since everyone brought their best performances, especially David Jonsson.

He essentially plays a robot, and his mannerisms are so precise that they are almost scary. Cailee Spainey also continued her excellent year and delivered another careerdefining performance.

Alien Romulus is a mustwatch, but it does have one major issue through the sense that it drags on. The movie itself is under 2 hours, but there is a fake ending that leads into the movie running for another 15-20 minutes.

While it is not a major issue, it definitely runs a little bit long and can feel like it’s never going to end. That is one of the only things wrong with the film, so it is worth the watch and exciting to see how successful the movie has been.

Jump from page 1: exceptional performance on the ACT It is crucial for schools to balance commitment to the curriculum alongside teaching the structure and knowledge needed for the ACT. OHS has been executing these goals.

“The bigger vision is we are going to stay true to teaching our standards, but we still need to train our kids on how and what an ACT test looks like, as well as the skills that are on there,” Miller said.

Another issue that is targeted is consistent student engagement. OHS has and continues to work with outside entities that offer assistance.

“The entire ELA department, specifically, started implementing strategies that we had professional development

on… One of the key things is choice reading and the research shows that when students have a choice in what they read, they will read [more],” said Kelly Simon, ELA teacher.

On a smaller scale, techniques implemented in the classroom allow scores to naturally rise.

“I dove right into shifting my entire classroom and focus.... Especially the routine of making 10 minutes of reading and 10 minutes of writing a standard in my junior level ELA class, no matter what… When students read and write every day, scores go up,” Simon said.

The most known tool is Method Learning, which is an online study resource that reteaches concepts

and provides test questions similar to the format of the ACT. OHS is unique because it hones skills and stamina by infusing a resource like Method Learning into classes.

“With anything, it takes practice. Just like an athlete or a musician, they have to practice, mess up, practice, mess up, practice, and have the environment to be able to do that in,” Simon said.

DVUSD provides an additional incentive for students to perform well. If a student received a score within the proficient or highly proficient benchmark, a core class grade from their sophomore or junior year that directly correlates with a subject on the test can be augmented to a B or an A. “A motivating piece would be the grade enhancement,”

Miller said.

OHS may be located in a more affluent area.

Nevertheless, it does not collect supplemental federal funds.

While numerous parents are willing to support the school with tax credits, and additional money is received due to dual enrollment, it is a complex affair. In the end, a prominent factor that contributed to success is the efficient manner in which OHS allocates funds.

“Money that comes from the state trickles down the district and the district gives every school an amount per pupil. Because O’Connor has more kids, we get a larger budget, that doesn’t mean we’re funded differently…

We can still use that money, which I do for tutoring, and

then for students who maybe can’t afford it,” Miller said.

The extraordinary culture fostered at OHS allows students to reach their full potential.

“It’s about striving to take the obstacles out of the way for my kids, for our teachers, so they can learn…

I want our kids to come to school feeling safe, feeling that there’s an adult here that loves them, and that they can knock the sock off of anybody,” Miller said.

Looking to the future, there is pressure to maintain the current momentum.

OHS is prepared, and wants to improve everyday by continuing beneficial strategies and adding depth.

“I am always happy, but I am never content,” Miller said.

Opinions 4 October 2024

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Why don’t young people care about politics?

By MATTHEW HOODHUNT

Editorial Chief

High schoolers not caring about politics is not a new concept, but it is one, regardless, that gets brought up every election year. Some students are super energized by politics, current events, and voting, but what seems like a vast majority find politics outright unappealing.

How come?

Thinking of American politics as a spectrum, like a number line to represent the ‘left’ and ‘right,’ it feels as though debates, opinions, and issues we face in this country have migrated from the center out to the extremes.

Students, and frankly most Americans, cannot help but feel like their opinion must be “one or the other.” The rising expectation that ideas and policies should be black and white ultimately disgusts young voters. It tends to make them experience a surprising amount of pressure when asked for their stances, having to decide to be ‘pro’ or ‘anti’ something. Most people, young or not, find polarization discouraging, but for students who will be voting for the first time, or just paying more attention to this election, it could push them away from politics for

more than just the next four years. The ramifications of a disenchanted electorate a decade from now will only be fully realized when that time comes, but disillusionment in Gen Z starts with this election, if it did not begin already with the 2020 election.

What students see on social media molds their opinions to a worrying degree, and that is where polarization reaches new lows. While a lot of students resist pressure they receive from social media, resisting that pressure is where they become disillusioned with politics. The “one or the other” agenda festers like a cancer on all social media platforms. Some get wrapped up in it, adopting the opinion of what the TikTok and Instagram algorithms push down their throats the most, but for those who are aware of it happening, they are increasingly discouraged to ever participate in politics or educate themselves on issues in America and abroad. To many students, the fear is that A: educating themselves will only make reality seem more bleak than it already is, and B: they too will adopt an extremist opinion, and be no better than who they are annoyed by when scrolling through their socials.

Political polarization is

all around us clear as day, but there is one huge reason that tends to go uncaptured: security. Suburban students, regardless of the results of elections, will likely always have security in a multitude of aspects of their lives: their parents’ jobs, their rights, their education, their religion, their speech. It takes away an, admittedly extreme, incentive to participate in national and local elections.

Although students who live comfortable lives in the suburbs feel the effects of inflation, high gas prices, etc., ultimately it is at most a bother to them. A student here, in north Phoenix, is nowhere near as exposed to harsh economic realities as a student further south, thus applying little to no pressure to get involved in politics.

Many suburban, upper middle class students are not looking to expand their rights either. Low ethnic and religious diversity removes what pressure there would be to advocate, protest, and vote in the interest of those from different backgrounds.

One final turnoff for politics are labels. There is no better way to push away Gen Z than give them a label: liberal, conservative, democrat, republican, etc. It is a list of insults to young adults, assigning them to a word or faction based on

one or several opinions they have. Virtually everyone has opinions that are on both sides of the political spectrum. It is a huge logical fallacy: assuming that if a person leans left or right on a single policy, they will lean the same way on any or all other policies. Faction assumption is another product of the divisive “one or the other” doctrine of modern American politics, and it is annoying. Even if someone really does align a majority of their opinions with a single group- progressive, libertarian, conservative, etcthe idea of labeling oneself as a member of a party or group is extremely unattractive.

Gen Z does not want to cut themselves off from others socially, and belonging to a

detrimental to Palestinians.

For many younger voters and people of color who have been vocal about issues of racial and ethnic justice, this stance is rooted in a broader critique of systemic inequalities and imperialism.

They assert that supporting candidates who may be seen as complicit in perpetuating these injustices undermines their commitment to human rights and solidarity with oppressed communities.

Kamala Harris’s campaign for presidency has gained significant momentum.

However her speech as she accepted the presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention both doused and fanned flames, calling for a ceasefire while validating Israel's defense.

Maintaining the support of a wide array of Democrats is a fragile balancing act.

Regardless, she has addressed concern more directly than Joe Biden.

Furthermore, there is even tension within leftist sectors. In August, an online exchange between popular political Tik-Tok creators Maya Abdullah and Tori Grier

caused a debate to emerge on social media concerning community interests and racism. The situation is a physical manifestation of the festering anxieties of the election. Proponents of Grier express that the Black community should vote for Harris to evade a Trump presidency.

Abdullah’s supporters contend that Palestinian Americans should not be pressured to vote for a commander in chief of a military that aids Israel. Divergence is normal and discussions should be encouraged, however addressing the intersectionality of the issue and promoting the existing longstanding solidarity is crucial in promoting unity.

In regards to voting, others within the Democratic ranks, particularly older generations and pragmatic strategists, urge young voters to participate in the election as a means of advancing progressive change from within. They argue that abstention serves to strengthen the positions of more conservative candidates.

Moreover,

democracy is a right that has not always been guaranteed to all Americans. Voting is not simply a civilian responsibility, it honors the grueling work of previous suffragists and activists.

While everyday people in the United States do not directly vote for the president, participating in democracy protects voting rights, especially in local elections where individual voices hold more sway. The amount of leftists infighting could be the margin Trump needs to win with.

On the other side of the aisle, the Republican Party is experiencing its own turbulent internal conflicts, largely centered around the controversial figure of Donald Trump. The former President's divisive rhetoric and actions have created a significant rift among Republicans, with some strongly supporting his leadership while others actively oppose it. Similar to Democrats, without a unified front, they could struggle to effectively challenge their opposing party in upcoming elections.

party would do just that: separate them.

Gen Z voter registration and participation is on the rise. In fact, Gen Z voter turnout in 2022 was higher than that of Millenials and Gen X when they made up the same age bracket, according to Tufts CIRCLE, a non-partisan research organization. Yes, it contradicts the thesis that Gen Z is disinterested in politics, but the feeling in the vast majority of the population is that politics are a sensitive topic at the least.

Maybe Gen Z is blooming late, or maybe it will turn out to be a largely apolitical group in adulthood. Whichever the case, politics are a rough subject for young people, even those who plan to vote, across the country.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNSPLASH

Divided we fall: separation within political parties

By RUTH MIOC

Design Chief

As the 2024 presidential election nears, both the Democratic and Republican Party face unprecedented divisions. For democrats, a polarizing issue, specifically among younger voters, is the moral and political implications of voting, especially amid the ongoing crisis in Palestine. This disunity is driven by a disillusionment and a concern for human rights that many young progressives believe should take precedence over traditional electoral strategies.

The debate has become particularly charged as some activists and voters question whether participating in an electoral system that might not fully address their concerns endorses policies they view as unjust.

Pro-Palestinian advocates within the Democratic Party argue that voting in the upcoming election could implicitly legitimize a political structure that continues to support policies

Trump's influence has polarized the Republican base, with some members and voters distancing themselves from his brand of populism in favor of a more traditional conservative approach. In fact, entire organizations have been established, such as The Lincoln Project and Republican Voters Against Trump. They argue that Trump's erratic behavior and inflammatory statements jeopardize the party's longterm viability and alienate moderate voters.

Many Republicans explicitly expressed disdain after the January 6th capitol attack, desiring a restoration of the party's credibility and broader appeal.

In a broader context, these divisions highlight a critical challenge for American democracy: the ability of political parties to navigate internal disagreements while remaining effective in their roles. The rigidity of traditional party structures is tested. Although the parties are extremely unlikely to split, historically, when significant division is present, a victory is not.

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OHS: where football is more than a game

By TAYLOR MOON

Staff Writer

Varsity: As the OHS varsity football team charges into the 2024 season with confidence and passion, they are working hard to prepare for a successful year. The team is striving to live up to the OHS football legacy previously established.

Confidence and chemistry are key to having a successful team that works well together; there is no doubt that the OHS football team lacks any of those essential core values.

“The team dynamic is looking pretty good; we are all competitive in practice but at the end of the day we are still a team,” said Ryan Wang, senior.

As the 2024 season starts up, it is clear that the group has a younger team dynamic, with less seniors and more starting underclassmen on the varsity lineup. However this doesn’t stop the team from working hard and competing together.

“The younger team is definitely stepping up to the role that they need to; we had about 30 plus seniors last year and now we have about 20, and those younger guys are definitely stepping up and doing what they need to contribute,” said Logan Bayus, power training coach.

Having younger teammates doesn’t stop the team from recognizing each other’s talents and hyping

PHOTO BY TAYLOR MOON OHS varsity football warms-up their muscles, using activation stretches during halftime. one another up. could present challenges as don’t think that’s slowed us “We got some great the games begin, but the OHS down in any way,” said Devin athletes, and some great stars football team doesn’t let that Mota, junior. stepping in, we got some stop them from putting in Even through challenges, great receivers, a great line, the effort on and off the field. the team’s skills and dynamic overall we are looking good,” “We have been working is strong enough to continue said Jaden Maxey, junior. hard throughout the summer to prepare them for a The discipline and coaching for the season and we have all successful season. within the football program become a big family on and “I think we just have to leads to victory and having off the field,” said Quvohn use what we have to our well rounded athletes. This Lewis, sophomore. advantage, and if we do that is what carries the OHS team we can win football games,” JV: to having admirable team With the upcoming season, said Tyler Johnson, junior. chemistry through both wins the junior varsity eagles Having a smaller group and loses. means the team faces the are facing a completely “They have put in more different team setting than challenge of not having work than 90% of the teams usual. During past seasons, enough players to fill in Arizona this year, and the team has had a lot more positions if an athlete gets they have been working their players than this year. hurt or can’t play due to butts off. I’m super excited “There is a lot of diversity grades. to see what they can put onto on the team, everyone is “If people were to get the field,” Bayus said. injured or sick, it opens a lot going different ways. We are Having a team composed a smaller team compared to of space and obviously there of players varying in age the other two [teams]. But I isn’t a lot of backup so if we

were to lose someone it would take a lot of learning and practice to fill,” Mota said.

The team chemistry on junior varsity is a positive trait that will help lead them to triumph in the upcoming season.

“We have some good players, and we are bonding pretty well… we have a good team bond, like coach says it’s little things like this that matter,” said Nikos Stavro, sophomore.

Freshman: New freshmen joining the OHS football program have big shoes to fill and a legacy to live up to. With the new season approaching fast, the athletes need to work on their team chemistry.

“The team dynamic is getting really good, it can be hard because there are a lot of new kids. That’s what practice is for, to be better when games come,” said Braylen Lopez, freshman.

Coming to a new school and having new teammates that you have never played with before can present challenges, but the OHS freshman team doesn’t let that stop them.

“It’s a lot different but it’s definitely good to build a new bond and create a new team,” said Dash Singleton, freshman.

The freshman team is going into the 2024 season with high enthusiasm and a drive to win and carry on the OHS football legacy.

“We just need to keep working hard and be better as a team,” Singleton said.

Flag football: building a new culture

By COLIN ROBISON

Equipment Manager

OHS girls flag football is coming off of a losing season, but after a new coach and a new culture they are looking forward to this season. The new coaches have worked to shift the culture of the program and hopefully lead the team to success.

With this being girl’s flag football’s second year at OHS, the players are looking to improve from last year and continue to make a name for themselves. They have grown from last year due to focusing on being a family and welcoming in new players.

“We have really good team chemistry. One thing that our coach is big on is [being a] family,” said Becky Currence, junior.

This year OHS welcomed in a new coach for flag football and he has been

trying to reinstill a culture within the team, and build a solid structure.

“I had to build a foundation and they’re buying into it because there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Robert Latona, head coach.

The girls haven’t just been working hard off the field but also on the field, during the school year and even during summer.

“We were here every morning at nine am…four days a week during summer,” Latona said.

While the season hasn’t started yet, the team is already looking to improve their record from last season.

“We want to get farther than last year…we just want to make a reputation for ourselves,” Currence said.

With many new players joining the program this year, the veterans have taken them under their wing and have helped them learn the

system. “[The returning players] have asked questions [for the new players] to make sure no one is afraid to get out there…and try new things,” said Kylie Pruitt, sophomore.

With Coach Latona having an impressive track record and a lot of experience, he understands the differences between girls and boys flag football.

“I will tell you the girls work as hard if not harder than some of the boys,” Latona said.

While the team hopes to have success during the season, their core focus is on becoming a family.

“I think we’re going to win a lot of games. I think we’re going to be really close by the end of the season and it’s going to be like a family,” Pruitt said.

Everyone on the team has the same goal and that’s to make it to the state

PHOTO BY COLIN ROBISON Lauren Silhol (front), senior, and Becky Currence (back), junior, drop back to cover the recivers. championship and hopefully fun while developing and win it all. learning a lot of new skills,” “[Our goal] is to get into the Pruitt said. state title competition and The coaches all praised the eventually win the thing,” girls about how hard their Latona said. work ethic has been and how The girls have also they’ve been grinding to get mentioned that while they prepared for the season. are being disciplined and held “I found out real quick that accountable for their actions, once they bought in, [the they also can be relaxed and players] give [it] everything comfortable with each other. they got no matter what,” “Everybody has a ton of Latona said.

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17

Girls volleyball is prepared to win

By AMBER HAYDEN Arts & Entertainment Edtior

Varsity: OHS volleyball is putting their best foot forward this season. Intending to win state again as they did last year, they are proactively putting effort toward achieving this.

By relying on the excitement of the season ahead and the new bond with their teammates, the games ahead look promising for girl’s volleyball.

“I’m excited for this season because last year we won state and we have the same goal for this year and although it’s a different team, we’re creating new goals [and] we’re [working on] mindset,” said Brooklyn Palmer, junior.

Ready and full of motivation, the team is able to rely on each other’s strengths to work toward their goal of winning state.

“We’re very resilient and work really hard to get the things that we want,” said London Clark, freshman.

With their goal in mind, the OHS varsity girl’s volleyball team knows the importance of working well together. To further their teamwork, they are not only putting effort into practice for the sake of doing well at games but also to build chemistry with each other.

“Recent practice has gone really well. We have four

PHOTO BY AMBER HAYDEN Girls volleyball team huddles to hype each other up. freshmen on the team this “I think the dynamic is year so we’re really trying to really supportive. In most build that chemistry so we schools, you’ll see how seniors have to be patient, but it’s or upperclassmen are more going pretty good,” Palmer of a leader and like to take said. that leader role as compared During practice and before to the younger kids, but I they hit the court, the team feel like since our age groups is putting their bond to use, are really mixed up, I would encouraging teammates to say the dynamic is pretty play their best. mixed in. It’s pretty diverse,” “We do dynamic stretching Palmer said. and we also do little notes JV: that cheer each other up,” Alongside varsity, this Clark said. year’s JV volleyball team is With the persistent work also striving toward making they are putting in, the themselves even better than varsity team is creating a they were before. positive and helpful dynamic With a new season comes for them to rely on when it new players and new comes time to play. opportunities to make the

most of athletes’ time on the court. By relying on their teammates, some returning players are already seeing improvement from last year.

“I just think the atmosphere is really similar, and our skill level has definitely gotten better, but the respect between teammates is the same and just the family aspect is the same,” said Reese Blair, sophomore.

By putting effort into relying on each other, the team is already starting to become more coordinated and in-sync on the court. “[My favorite part is] getting to play all together as one and I’ve met new people

from volleyball,” said Trinity Hanrath, freshman.

Though this is only the beginning, the team is already building a strong bond with each other that is benefiting them in all aspects of the sport.

“We’ve got so much chemistry, like just as players and as people. Just being able to balance being friends off the court and being teammates and sisters on the court, it just works,” Blair said.

Alongside the natural friendship that comes with the game, the team is putting their all into practice, working toward success on the court.

“We work really hard in practice and outside of practice we have weight training so that gets us ready to play for games,” Hanrath said.

Though they are prepared to put the proper effort into playing well, they also understand what is most important. When it comes to the game, it is necessary to not only work hard but also to have fun with teammates.

“Our goals are just to win as many games, become a really strong family, and just have fun. Having fun is basically just the goal really because [in] volleyball you’re supposed to have fun and if you’re not having fun you’re in the wrong place,” Blair said.

Swim and dive splashes into their new season

By SKYLER FREEMAN

Staff Writer

Varsity: Swim and dive makes a splash entering into their new season. They have put in tons of effort to prepare for this season and they are looking better than ever.

With seniors preparing for the upcoming season and warmly welcoming the underclassmen, there are a multitude of opportunities for the program. The team has come together to bring school spirit and positivity to the sport.

Although there can be a lot of pressure when starting a new season, swim and dive, as a team has been able to stay positive and excited, finding their own rhythm once again.

“We are off to a good start [and] practice has been going good,” said Piper Pendleton, senior.

With efficient practices and collective team bonding, swim and dive have set goals they want to achieve.

“As a team my goal is to win districts. The boys have won three years in a row

and it would be amazing if OC could win both boys and girls,” said Laleeta Pal, senior.

With boys having a great run, the girls are wanting to match it, uniting the legacy of the team.

“We’re all very supportive of each other’s goals,” Pal said.

With everyone being at different stages of their swim career, the team is supportive no matter what.

“We have a lot of new members on the team and I’m very excited to help them grow and develop through swim,” Pal said.

The returning team members are excited about their new teammates and are proud of them for joining a new sport and being willing to learn.

“Talk to everybody, and have fun with it, while also being respectful,” Pendleton said.

Respect is a huge value the swim and dive team enforces and they will never fail to flawlessly show off that trait.

“Don’t be scared to talk to upperclassmen and coaches,” said Reagan Mordka, senior.

PHOTO BY SKYLER FREEMAN OHS student competes in swim and dive.

You can never truly love a incoming freshmen have been sport unless it’s enjoyable, welcomed with open arms so it is important for varsity and have had an exciting to make it fun for everybody start to their season due to and not take things too the close community they seriously, while also creating have created. an encouraging culture “I’m excited for a new within the team. season,” said Will Mordka, “Have fun with it and don’t freshman. put too much pressure on JV swim and dive is coming yourself,” Pendleton said. in strong with new goals and JV: expectations for the team JV is extremely excited this year. for their new season and the “I want to be able to

improve my times and do well at the meets, especially the invitationals,” Mordka said.

The team as a whole is motivated to represent OHS and continue to get better and enhance their race times, fostering their love for the school through appreciation for the sport.

“I’m excited to see people improve and see the team compete in meets,” Mordka said.

The Talon

18 October 2024

thetalonohs.com

Girls golf: Tee up for a memorable year

By MATTHEW WETHERBEE

Staff Writer

The great thing about OHS is how involved the students are allowed to be through many different classes, activities, and clubs. Sports are a very important part of the high school experience at OHS, and administrators are constantly looking for new ways to get students to participate at their school.

The girls golf team here at OHS gives new and unique opportunities to young athletes, providing them with an experience in something that they are passionate about, as well as making new connections and building a community centered around friendship, teamwork, and inspiration.

“My favorite part [of the team] are the girls and Coach Horyza. He makes us all actually want to be there

and be the best we can be.

And the relationship all the girls have is great,” said Ella Jackson, junior.

The girls golf team is a way for athletes at OHS to pursue their love of golf and form a new family centered around the sport. Jim Horyza, coach of the girl’s golf team, believes that motivation is key in keeping the team united and ready to play and improve their skills.

“Motivation is something we talk about pretty much every day. We say if we’re gonna play nine holes, pretend like this is a real match. So, to get their mindset right, and it’s not just goof around time, we make sure that when they’re playing, it’s like they’re playing in a match,” Horyza said.

Along with motivation comes the ability to help a student build their teamwork and leadership skills when on the team, which is always

The 500 club is the home course for the OHS girls golf team. the main goal at OHS. This other people and being able allows for the older, more to build up teamwork,” said experienced players to help Maya Bustos, senior. out with the newer ones, The girls golf team provides strengthening their bond. many benefits to students, “Even though golf is such as building new skills, labeled as an individual relationships, and overall sport, high school golf opportunities, making their provides a new experience experience here at OHS of being able to work with worthwhile.

thing, sometimes different things are better,” said Noah Kaoni,senior.

Coach Williams’ goal with boys golf this season is to greatly improve the team overall.

“The Deer Valley cup, and the state tournament is a really good goal, but really just keep getting better everyday. We had a really good start to the season with tryouts,” Williams said.

He hopes to achieve this by motivating the team to help each other and to improve their team building skills with one another.

“As long as we focus on pushing each other and getting better, good things are gonna happen. Coach Cross left a very good team; they seem to support each other,” Williams said.

Following a legacy set up well, Coach Williams is

PHOTO BY MATTHEW WETHERBEE “When you go out of the golf course, you would think it’s just a hole, right?

Straight out, aim at the pin.

But that pin is farther than you think, and the more that you think negatively, the farther and farther distancewise it gets both figuratively and physically,” Bustos said.

Boys golf swings for success in its new season

By DANIEL YOHANNAN

Staff Writer

The boys’ golf team is extremely excited to start their new season. With a few matches already played, OHS hopes to win the district-wide championship.

The school is positively certain that the boys team can bring home the gold.

Jeff Williams has stepped up as their new coach this season. Long time players are excited for the possibilities their new coach will bring to the program.

“I’ve coached boys golf for about 18 years. It’s my first time on the boys’ side over here,” said Jeff Williams, boys’ golf coach.

With the start of this new season, Coach Williams plans to run things differently. This will steer the team towards a newfound success and the growth of their skills.

“He said he’s gonna run things a lot differently, but honestly I think that’s a good

going to continue to help the team improve this season through building the players relationship’s with each other “This year with Williams he is more of a team chemistry guy, so we got to build our chemistry and we gotta get up there,” said Colby King, senior.

Although golf is a physical sport, players describe it more as a mental sport. In other sports like basketball

PHOTO BY EMERSON LIHN Ian Sager, junior, takes his first swing on hole one at boys golf’s home game at 500 club.

and football, there are people yelling and it’s difficult to focus in that environment.

In golf however, everyone is silent; making it easy to let the player’s intrusive thoughts control them and make it more likely to mess up.

“It’s you versus you out there,” King said.

Golf is a more time consuming game, with that extra time your mind can work against you, causing mental fatigue and making you slip up when you take swings.

“You gotta persevere through the bad shots, you gotta push through, and it’s tough,” King said.

Overall the boys golf team is looking to go above and beyond this season, improving their already great skills and winning matches along the way.

“We’re just going to keep improving. We had a great season last year and we just want to keep getting better,” Williams said.

Jump from page 1: Boys beach volleyball The excess of talented players also alludes to a balance of time management and additional responsibilities delegated to students as yet another sport gets added to the OHS agenda.

“I’m pretty busy at the moment, with club volleyball and playing golf, so it’s going to be a lot on my schedule, but I think I can pull it off,” Kaoni said.

Although the senior’s at OHS will only be granted a single season of the program, it allows for an exciting time of playing hard and setting up a successful culture within the team.

“You definitely have to step up and take a leadership role [as a senior], compared to last year with volleyball I was a backup, behind all the seniors, so you kind of have to step up and show the guys ‘this is the way to do it’, and have a good team chemistry,” Kaoni said.

Falling perfectly hand and hand with indoor volleyball, the addition of the sport not only allows year round practice for the players, but comparatively allows a variation of play that challenges the athletes to the best of their ability.

“I honestly think it’ll be way more loose and way more

fun; it’s only you and one other person compared to five other people on the court,” King said.

Although the season has barely just begun, the beach volleyball name already rings strong at OHS, and this year is bound to set up success for future years of the program.

“We start out having fun, a lot of energy, making sure everyone is comfortable with each other, and making sure everyone is able to play with whoever they want. And just [trying to] set up a good fun season to come, so more PHOTO BY TRUE VAN DYKE people will want to join next Hayden Williams, senior, tosses the ball before volleying with his team. year,” King said.

The Talon

thetalonohs.com

October 2024

19

OHS badminton enters new season

By AMBER HAYDEN Arts & Entertainment Edtior

Varsity: With the start of a new season comes new opportunities for athletes to excel in their sport. The OHS badminton team is starting the year off strong, laying their foundation by building valuable relationships with their teammates.

Badminton has a new coach this year who aspires to bring success to the team through his research done before the season. Players are already seeing positive impacts to their team.

“We have a coach who’s really doing research on other teams and prior history.

He’s really putting a lot of effort into making us better and doing specific drills for footwork,” said Aubrey Baker, sophomore.

During practice, the new badminton coach is working to foster the girl’s love for the game by encouraging them to play their best and connect with each other while improving.

“The main thing I love about it is the girls, they have the competitive side, but they’re also there because they truly enjoy the game and they also enjoy being with each other,” said Lance

Gephart, head badminton coach.

When it comes time to play, this environment prepares players to lean into their competitive side upon reaching the court.

“I happen to be good at [badminton] so I like winning a lot. I’m very competitive and I always try to work hard to achieve my goals, which this season is to win a lot of the games,” said Brynlee Evanson, senior.

Though the badminton team aspires to create a successful season, they are also ready to have an exciting and enjoyable time with their team.

“I think this year’s team is going to be very fun, energetic, and filled with very nice people that are just there to have fun [and] bring spirit to the school,” Evanson said.

With their shared love of the game, the badminton team is working together to curate a bond with old and new players alike.

“We have newer people and some people who have never played before who are coming in as freshmen so I think it just gives diversity of opinion and diversity of skill too,” said Amber Devore, senior.

JV: Like varsity, the JV badminton team is also seeing an influx of new players this season. They are already

PHOTO BY AMBER HAYDEN Lokelani Guydos, sophomore, serves the birdie during practice. encountering the advantages experience. of playing with people with a “Badminton can be variety of experience levels. an individual sport and This allows the players to sometimes with individual do better than they have in sports like badminton, golf, the past because they are able tennis, to bring together a to rely on the diverse abilities team it’s a lot harder. So if of their teammates. you can do that it makes “I think this year is everyone so much stronger as actually better because we a team,” Gephart said. have newer students that By looking at Badminton have newer skills and that’s as more of a team sport when really interesting to see,” many see it as individual, the said Nithila Elayaraja, team is able to look towards sophomore. each other to find success.

With these new players, JV “There’s a lot of new Badminton continues to work people on this team so I think together to build a stronger that’s going to be really good. team with their collective There’s a lot of new things

that we can learn so I feel like we can learn different things.

It’s really not changed much with our dynamic,” said Payton Clark, junior.

As a whole, the badminton team continues making vast improvements to their camaraderie by rooting for each other.

“Well at first, we had a lot of new people and a lot of old people, but there was very little mixing of it. I put a stop to that because it doesn’t matter if you’re on varsity or JV. We’re all going to know each other,” Gephart said.

Cross country runs towards success

By AVERY MASSIE

Staff Writer

Practicing at five a.m., getting in their miles, staying hydrated, and competing; These are just some of the challenges that the runners in OHS cross country will face this season, while also fighting for success.

Luckily, the bonds that the athletes have made with each other help to carry them through any rough times they may face.

“All the people are very helpful. Our team is very tight knit, and knowing that helps me get up in the morning,” said Luca Calero, senior.

Other teammates are not the only ones helping support the team; with Head Coach Kellen Chavez playing a very important role.

“You spend so much time around each other, just grinding it out, that you have to enjoy the people that you are around. [The runners] know that is one of my chief expectations,” said Coach Kellen Chavez.

Not only does Coach Chavez ensure that his team has close

bonds with each other, but he also knows how to connect with them on a personal level as well.

“Being out there and running with the kids is how I coach. It allows me to build relationships in a way I don’t think you’d get with other sports,” said Chavez.

While being out there and running with his athletes, not only is he proving to them that he can do it too, but he is making himself available for the runners to talk to whenever they need.

“I look up to my coach, Chavez. He’s really helped me with the mental game, not just in running but in other aspects of life too. He made me realize I just need to believe in myself,” said Madi Ludwig, senior.

The mental game is a very important aspect to runners in cross country, and the sport is not only about a battle of physical endurance, but it is a mental battle against themselves as well.

“Cross country is a big mind over matter sport. You feel the pain while you’re running, and you want to stop, but you have to push

through,” said Brecken Bellows, freshman.

It can be very difficult to continue on in times like that, but runners learn how to develop a mindset that allows them to break past those barriers.

“While I’m running, and while I’m in pain, I think of where I want to be in life when it comes to running and that motivates me while I’m running to go harder and go faster,” said Bellows.

Meets are very important in cross country, but some may not know how much the players really go through while training to compete at this level. Every morning the players must be awake for a five a.m. practice, so along with training to run, they must also train to get up that early.

“The hardest part [of running] is probably also having to push yourself if you’re not having the best day and you want to sleep in. Waking up early is really hard,” said Ludwig.

However, being awake at such times effectively unites everyone and brings them together.

PHOTO BY EMERSON LIHN Kellen Chavez, coach, Ari Mason, senior, and Nya Richardson, junior, warm up.

“We wake up so early in the showing up to be around morning together, so we’re all each other,” said Chavez. pretty close,” said Calero.

The bonds made on this Having a tight knit team is high school team will last a what is important to Coach lifetime, and it is something Chavez, as he is all about that they will not soon forget. creating a strong community “I’m with my best friends within his program. every day. I kind of don’t “I don’t care how fast even think about running they are, they are running because I get to be with as a community. They are them,” said Calero.

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