The dynamic duo and epic rivalry of Mr. Cardon and Mr. Weyker
By ASHLEY PERERIA Photography Chief
The ongoing rivalry between teachers Mr. Cardon and Mr. Weyker has become a notable aspect of OHS’s culture. Richard Weyker leads OHS’s history program, while Andrew Cardon is at the forefront of the algebra program. Despite teaching vastly different subjects, these educators have developed a dynamic that has become a blend of friendship and rivalry.
“I kept hearing kids talking about this other teacher, Mr. Weyker, and how he is a great person, so I decided I needed to meet this guy,” said Andrew Cardon, math teacher.
Initially unfamiliar with each other, both teachers were encouraged by students to connect, as many had taken classes with each teacher and recognized similarities in their teaching styles and senses of humor.
“He is such a good teacher that he motivates me to want to be a better teacher; he makes me want to do a better job,” Cardon said.
The two educators fnd each
other equally motivating, as they have similarities within their respective teaching styles.
“To meet someone like him, who clearly cares so much about teaching and invests so much thought into it, really motivates me,” said
Rick Weyker, history teacher.
“That said, he needs to be destroyed.”
Their playful rivalry has persisted for years, although they tell different stories
regarding how it all began.
“The real beef is that he had to cheat at the arm wrestling competition held in front of the entire school. Now, I won the frst round because it was legitimate, and after I beat him, he cheated the second time, and there is video evidence,” Weyker said.
Five years ago, the two faced off, but while Weyker recalls this as the origin of their rivalry, Cardon asserts that the roots go deeper.
Holiday Coloring
“It started as a friendship, but then I found out he was a Green Bay Packers fan, and he stole my cat,” Cardon said.
Cardon explains that he lent his cat, Mortimer, to Weyker during a diffcult time in his life. However, Weyker has kept Mortimer for over a year.
“He’s such an easy guy to get along with when he’s not vindictive, petty, and jealous about his cats and loser Cardinals,” Weyker said.
Despite their differing opinions on the football feld, the two share a deeper bond, viewing their friendship as a tight-knit team.
“We feed off of each other like teammates playing a sport, and when they’re both having a really good game, the team is doing well,” Cardon said.
Outside of their friendship, the two explain how impactful friendships among other teachers can be.
“I encourage other teachers to be more outgoing and to initiate conversations with teachers in different departments because we all work for the same school and have the same goal,” Cardon said.
With over a hundred teachers on the OHS campus, it can be a daunting task for educators to form friendships outside their own departments, but Cardon and Weyker are living proof that doing so has many positive outcomes.
“In the profession of teaching, it can be very isolating, but having relationships with people, such as Cardon, who can relate to what you’re going through is vital to surviving this job,” Weyker said.
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PHOTO BY ASHLEY PERERIA
Andrew Cardon (left) and Richard Weyker (right) play into their longlasting fued.
The next generation of entrepreneurs: students take the leap
By TAYLOR MOON Staf Writer
It is common to see students at OHS who have a job, but it is becoming even more common to see students who have started their own businesses. These businesses can vary from reselling clothes to beauty services.
Starting a business at such a young age is a positive task for a high school student because it sets them up for success in the future.
“Running my own business taught me the dedication and hard work you have to put into it,” said Cohen Horst,junior.
Starting up a business is one thing, but persevering through trial and error is an important lesson to learn in high school.
“Throughout running my [Depop] account there [have] been successful days and unsuccessful days, and in order to keep the account going, I have to push through until the next successful thing,” said Quinn Robison, junior.
Other students around OHS are taking notice and are inspired by their classmates becoming entrepreneurs.
“I am very inspired to see students around me [being] so hardworking and dedicated to making something for themselves. It makes me want to put myself out there and try creating [a business] myself,” said Megan Derryberry, sophomore.
These businesses get noticed by classmates, and being their classmates makes students want to go get
services from these businesses rather than another option.
“I think it’s very interesting and bold that they put themselves out there, I think it teaches them good skills for the future,” said Ella Peloke, sophomore. “It defnitely sets them apart from the rest and sets them up for a good future.”
These “businesses” that OHS students own are starting to teach them valuable life skills, like good communication and being able to interact with a
customer or client.
“I’ve gotten my nails done by a student here and she’s really nice and can hold a conversation really well, I think that’s a big part of why she gets so many clients. You feel comfortable and it feels professional,” said Haedyn Parman, junior.
Being in high school and running a business consists of risks, because a lot of the time you are putting in your own money with hopes of getting more money in return.
“You defnitely have to put a lot of your money and time into it,” Horst said.
Putting your own money into a business can be a diffcult thing to overcome, but many OHS students possess the perseverance that it takes to overcome the struggle.
“To start a business, you have to [have] capital. You have to have money at frst to start your business because you have to pay for a website, among other things” Robison said.
Foreign exchange students revel in culture and friendship
By AMBER HAYDEN Arts & Entertainment Edtior
Each year OHS is responsible for welcoming many fresh faces to campus including several foreign exchange students. Coming from a wide range of countries, they arrive ready to learn and eager to meet their new peers.
A year studying abroad as a foreign exchange student is a time flled with excitement over the potential that lies ahead. Still, understandably, there is plenty of anxiety over everything these students leave behind.
“It’s not easy. It was a little bit hard when I left Italy. I left my parents and my friends, but now it’s okay,” said Paolo Barisone, junior.
Though they may initially be weary of the changes ahead, foreign exchange students are enthusiastic about sharing their experiences with their new peers.
“[I like] exploring my parent culture, my country, and saying good things about [both],” Barisone said.
Whether they are talking about shared experiences at OHS or offering their unique perspectives to classmates, many foreign exchange
students have a passion for meeting new high school students.
“I really like meeting new people here, talking to them, and just trying new things here that I couldn’t,” said Adam Sloma, junior.
Beyond riveting conversations with peers, OHS provides many opportunities for students to engage in. While attending school, foreign exchange students often have supplementary work courtesy of their exchange.
“It surprised me that there is so much stuff to do inside the school. Most people don’t know that I have a lot of stuff from the organization that made my exchange. I have to do a lot of additional work and stuff like that,” Sloma said.
When it comes to the experience within the classroom, foreign exchange students work together with their classmates to adapt to a new way of learning.
“I used to learn things just by looking at books and doing some studying but here I learn things from talking to people [and] from talking to teachers. It’s different ways of learning things,” said Sylvia Cheng, junior.
Due to new ways of learning school material,
many foreign exchange students also experience an unexpected change to the structure of their school day.
“What surprised me is that everything here is so different from my country, like the schedule. Our school used to end at 5 p.m., which is a lot longer than here, so lots of
things are different,” Cheng said.
After initial changes, OHS’ foreign exchange students have persevered through challenges. With the good relationships they are fostering with their peers, they are shedding light on their perspective of the
world.
“I think it’s the people here. I like the people here because they’re not mean and they’re nice to me. They’re friendly and they like to ask me about cultural things and I think it’s interesting for me to open my eyesight of my view to the world,” Cheng said.
Quinn Robison, junior, organizes his merchandise to take pictures for his Depop account.
PHOTO BY TAYLOR MOON
Adam Sloma, junior, refects on his time as a foreign exchange student at OHS.
PHOTO BY AMBER HAYDEN
FCCLA: shaping careers and leaders of the future
By KENDALL WALKER
Copy Chief
School clubs and organizations are places where students can interact and work with like-minded people while also learning valuable lessons and skills that will help them in the future. OHS is home to several of these organizations, where students are given the opportunity to join and further involve themselves at school.
FCCLA is one of these unique and benefcial organizations that enable students to enhance skills in specifc felds while working together and preparing for competitions at state and national levels.
“FCCLA stands for Family Community Career Leaders of America, so it kind of encompasses a lot of different careers, but it’s just
a chance for the students to gain experience, leadership opportunities, and things of that nature,” said Carrie Anderson, math teacher.
This organization stands out because it focuses on multiple interests and possible career paths.
“There are three different sections to FCCLA, which are education professions, early childhood professions, and then interior design, which I’m in,” said Kailyn Carter, senior.
FCCLA is a national organization that provides students with the opportunities to compete at higher levels and take the next steps in their desired feld and projects.
“We hold meetings every two weeks and do fun activities, but the main purpose is that we go compete for the projects that we do in the class, and can go to nationals and state for them,” said Ava Sabyan,
junior.
This organization allows students to get involved within the school and even hold leadership positions further into their experience.
“I’m really excited to be president this year for early childhood, and I wanted to get involved more at school, so I thought that this was a good way to do that,” said Ava LeWinter, junior.
FCCLA’s programming allows students to hone in on a specifc career path to explore and decide if it’s something they want to continue to pursue.
“We work on a lot of fundraisers for FCCLA and I would say it’s a good way to practice leadership skills and it gives you a way to test different things out, like going to a lot of leadership conferences and fun activities, so I think it’s just helping me to fgure out what I want to do in the future,” LeWinter said.
Certain teachers at OHS are also involved in FCCLA, and can utilize their subjects and knowledge to help lead and plan different aspects of the organization.
“I’ve been a part of FCCLA for 15 years, and throughout it, I’ve been an advisor and have helped with training for interior design throughout my time,” said Lauren Tessmer, Interior Design teacher.
FCCLA is more than just preparing for the competitions and schoolcentered events. Students are able to involve themselves in the community and learn a signifcant amount of leadership and work-like skills.
“Throughout FCCLA we do some charity work, we do some team building, we do offcer training, we compete, and we also hold meetings every other week where we do an activity and then we discuss the business of the organization as well,” Tessmer said.
FCCLA offers a wide range of benefts for students, and stands out among other clubs on campus.
“We offer competitive opportunities along with scholarship opportunities. We are known as a professional organization but we’re a club too, which I think is a big difference between our organization and others,” Tessmer said.
The advisors of FCCLA put in the effort to facilitate travel opportunities for students to get to different conferences and events.
“This is my second year in FCCLA and my section goes
with the CTE class, education professions,” Anderson said. “My role is to organize all of the trips that we take as a part of FCCLA. We have different leadership conferences and competitions that we go to, so organizing all of that, and also implementing different projects into the course.”
Being able to compete on a national level has allowed several students and teachers within FCCLA to travel and create memories.
“Every year I’ve gotten to go to nationals has been an experience within itself. We’ve gotten to go everywhere from Nashville, Tennessee, to Denver, Colorado, to Seattle [Washington],” Tessmer said.
The travel aspect of FCCLA allows for an entirely new set of experiences and benefts for students, who get to share ideas and learn from people around the country.
“When we go to state, it’s a big convention where we’re around people that are interested in the same feld as us and the same activities as us, and then same thing with nationals,” Sabyan said.
High school is a place to make memories and friendships through shared interests and ideas, and FCCLA is one of the organizations that allows students to be creative and work together to make something great.
“My favorite part of being in this club is the people and being able to collaborate with them to make something that we think is super cool,” Carter said. “The projects that we do are partner projects, so we really get to bond with people and work together.”
New AP courses: expanding students’ opportunites
By MATTHEW WETHERBEE Staf Writer
As of the 2024-2025 school year, two new courses have been added to the curriculum: AP European History and Physics C. Although highly advanced, both classes branch off from their original subject and display a more specifc and detailed curriculum, helping students master categories they already know. This can prove benefcial for students’ college applications and future careers.
Physics C, taught by Jonathan Wyllie, is a calculusbased physics class that is considered more challenging than algebra-based physics.
The Physics C class is highly benefcial for students who plan on going into science and engineering careers.
“AP Physics C would beneft the students that want to major in STEMrelated felds because if you get a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP
Mr. Wylie enthusiastically teaches his new class, AP Physics C.
Physics C exam, that would translate to a university-level calculus-based course so that it would fll that credit,” said Jonathan Wyllie, physics teacher.
Anyone planning on majoring in a STEM feld will likely have to take a Physics class at some point in their academic career, as it
provides essential knowledge in mechanics. AP Physics C gives high school students a great opportunity by making this readily available to juniors.
“It combines stuff that you’ve learned in a different class, Calc AP, so I guess it helps with applying what you’ve learned to other
classes, which is something that you have to do in college but haven’t had to do in high school,” said Shane Bringhurst, senior.
AP Euro History serves a similar purpose for students. This course focuses primarily on the history of Europe, with in-depth lessons and historical context
about events, people, and advancements.
“It is an AP History class, so it does give those AP credits as well as that 5.0 A when you are doing the class itself, but it also gives a more in-depth understanding of things like art and the events that happened in the English Civil War,” said Kaylea Burstinski, history teacher.
Burstynski also believes that it can give students a more signifcant appreciation for their country, rights, and how the nation got to where it stands today. Not only can this course be academically benefcial, but it may also help students’ perception of the overall world by showing all sides of the story.
“We always look at things through the lens of the United States; we don’t see other people’s perspectives, and it’s important to understand the perspectives of everybody in history because you can’t understand the whole picture without seeing every side of the story,” Burstynski said.
Lauren Tessmer, Interior Design teacher, Kailyn Carter, senior, Ava Sabyan, junior, and Jessie Estrella, junior, at FCCLA Nationals in Seattle, Washington.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KAILYN CARTER
PHOTO BY MATTHEW WETHERBEE
HOSA headlines across OHS
By TRUE VAN DYKE Editor-In-Chief
HOSA: the future of health professionals and the current passion project of many OHS students. From competitions, student-led meetings and unifed goals, HOSA is a CTE program and evolving club that has more to offer than just what is on campus.
Catching more attention than ever, the club seeks accomplishment and growth this 2024-25 school year.
“I think more people know about it; we’ve done more trying to get it out there that HOSA is not just for sports medicine. They have a lot of programs for other aspects of healthcare; Veterinary [interests], EMT, [and more], and knowing that, we’ve been able to grab a lot more people,” said Akayla Dolezal, Sports Medicine teacher and HOSA advisor.
With more eyes on the program and students joining, HOSA is on the rise of setting a new reputation and raising expectations for the OHS brand.
“I’ve been organizing all the meetings, organizing fundraisers, getting together lists of all the people who go on the feld trips. This year there’s actually like 120 members, which is the most that we’ve ever had, which is really good,” said Emma Hesse, senior, HOSA
president.
With a competition based program,advantageous students across campus invest their talents, time, and efforts into succeeding within the club. Although open to anyone, HOSA requires the aspiration and motivation of OHS’ best to move up the ranks within the program.
“As much as you put into it is how much you’ll get out of it; you can do the bare minimum, show up to the meetings, and just take your tests, but you’re not going to get as rewarded from the club as someone who is committed to their events and really putting in everything that they can to gain the full experience of what HOSA has to offer,” said Ryan Morris, senior, HOSA secretary.
Between internal and external competitions, both
state and international, this year brings a new hope and sense of determination that is sure to be bright, and sets the club apart from previous years.
“I would say their enthusiasm; I think before, they just wanted to say they were a part of the club, but I think this year they actually want to do things in it. Whether that’s testing to go to state, or to help with our volunteer drives, I think they are a lot more enthusiastic about being involved,” Dolezal said.
With HOSA being a student-led organization that chases the careers of many students’ prospective futures, it can be intimidating to join, but it never fails to both welcome and push those who take the chance.
“I actually joined late my freshman year, because
I decided not to, but then I started hearing good words about it…since then, I’ve become more invested each year. The feld trip in the spring down to the Tucson convention center was when I really became a part of the club and when I really felt like it was a home for me,” Morris said.
With a multitude of opportunities, the club pushes its members, and itself as a whole, to prepare throughout the school year to chase their goals, and achieve success wherever they are called to -- putting the ‘student’ in ‘student-led’.
“Last year we had one place at nationals, so I would like more to be able to go and place at nationals. Then I know our big goal, there [are] different tiers for HOSA clubs in general, and we want our chapter to reach
platinum this year, so that’s our goal, individually and as a club,” said Dolezal.
By setting up OHS students for success within not only their high school careers, but their futures within the medical feld, HOSA creates an environment suitable for those who are passionate about fnding out what they are good at. Creating excitement around healthcare, and testing the limits of each individual, HOSA produces a benefciary relationship between student and effort.
“I really feel like I’ve taken more of [a] role, leadership wise, and I’ve had the experience of these four years so I kind of know the direction the club is heading, and I want to set that trajectory up for the next four years, so that everyone can enjoy it,” Morris said.
Marching band’s colorful season
By NICOLE EOM News Editor
From football games to assemblies, the award-winning OHS marching band returned for the 2024 fall season, producing symphonies and stirring school spirit. Home to 12 different sections, the marching band encompasses not only a variety of shiny hand-held instruments, but color guard and percussion as well.
Every show that the marching band performs has an underlying meaning and symbolism represented through the set, costumes, and this year, colors.
“The show is called ‘Where the yard lines end’... it’s based on Shel Silverstein’s poem ‘Where the sidewalk ends’. It starts in black and white, so the marching band goes through these yard lines and removes the mold of what we are and adds color
to it…, The color guard goes from black and white then adds all these colors,” said Austin Cilone, band director.
However, the marching band’s spectacular performances are well-earned outcomes of the hard work they put in, from physical training to practicing their instruments for the show.
“Usually we have two or three-hour practices before [the competition] just to prepare. We usually start with PT, like running and stretching with Mr. Cilone, our band director, and we run into the usual basics, like marching in time, practicing tosses for color guard, just generally preparing our show and running over it, and cleaning up little mistakes,” said Maria Joniec, junior.
The amount of work put into practicing and perfecting the shows may be stressful for many students, but their love for the program keeps them involved.
“Many times, I feel exhausted and tired and I spend a lot of time with these people, so sometimes they get on my nerves. But I end up getting over it because I realize that it’s just marching band, it’s here for fun, it’s for my friends and getting to spend time,” Joniec said.
Because of its large time commitment, marching band requires high schoolers to fnd a balance between their duty as both students and musicians. Most students fnd any spare time they can to fnish up their homework in order to free room in their schedules for practice.
“I defnitely use Talon Time a lot to make sure that I’m keeping up with my school work. I haven’t really ever had a huge problem with falling behind in school and doing marching band. Because we do have days off… relatively I keep up with the school work,” said Paige Wells, junior.
Outside of practices, students also participate in fundraisers, such as Trunk or Treat and car washes. With the help of staff and boosters, they can host these events to cover the program’s costs.
“The marching band has a lot of traditions… Even next week… our boosters will
come in and they’ll decorate the building for us and get everything ready,” Cilone said. “And then they also do all these fundraisers and if the students fundraise enough, they get to pie me in the face and do all these awful, awful things to me.”
Jump to page 15
PHOTO COURTESY OF LORI PERKINS
PHOTO BY ASHLEY PERERIA
HOSA students Andrew Hirani, senior, Jayneal Patel, senior, Ryan Morris, senior, Krish Patel, senior, walk in the homecoming parade.
The marching band feld gains color during the middle of the show.
OHS students are most studious at comfy cofee shops
By ALYSSA BUCKNER Staf Writer
As the school year progresses, many students begin to accumulate a workload of assignments and projects which need to be completed. To be productive, high schoolers from OHS tend to go to coffee shops around the Happy Valley area.
There are numerous reasons why students are inclined to study at coffee shops instead of at home, but a common incentive is that being in a new environment leads to more productivity.
“I study a lot outside of school; I’m in four AP’s so I have a lot of homework,” said Olivia Bowen, junior. “If I have hours of homework I definitely won’t do it at home because there, I can only get myself to do so much.”
The study locations of high schoolers vary depending on numerous factors, but usually, students go to welcoming coffee shops to complete their studies.
“I like going to Elevate. I know some people who work there and I feel like the
environment is just overall good,” said Jack Morton, senior.
Some OHS students who work at coffee shops, such as Elevate, strongly believe they’re wonderful places to get work done.
“It’s quiet there so it’s a good place to study at,” said Megan Scott, senior. “It gives you a new environment to study in.”
Being surrounded by others who are also getting work done at coffee shops serves as a motivation for students as well.
“Everyone’s working so I feel like it definitely does help you stay on task once you see everyone else,” Morton said.
A benefit to studying at places such as coffee shops is that you can get pickme-ups after or during the process of studying.
“On the weekends I go to Barnes & Noble or Elevate before I go to work,” Bowen said. “They’re good places because I get myself food which I feel like is a reward for me studying.”
A bit further from OHS is another great spot to study, Cabin Coffee Cafe. OHS students aren’t as familiar with it because of its location.
“I work at Cabin Coffee Cafe at 67th and Happy Valley,” said Payton McCall, senior. “I usually see people from Ridge there because it’s right across the street.”
If it were more wellknown by OHS students, it would be extremely popular due to its homey atmosphere.
“It’s very cozy for people to settle in and study for hours,” McCall said. “It’s much like going to a relative’s house and hanging out…I feel like a lot of people would go there but it’s a hole in the wall.”
Along with the welcoming environment, Cabin Coffee has several unique benefits that make it a perfect study spot.
“All the employees are super friendly and take care of the people…we also have sandwiches and açaí bowls; all that good stuff,” McCall said.
Whether OHS students are working on big projects or doing homework, coffee shops are always a go-to place to be studious.
“It helps me get more work done…I definitely feel like a lot of people do study in coffee shops,” Morton said.
The dual nature of Christmas
By NICOLE PURDY Staf Writer
As wintertime nears, OHS students share different beliefs regarding religion, and how each might relate to the holiday of Christmas. Practicing religions such as Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism, each student at OHS may have a contrasting idea of the meaning of Christmas, whether they celebrate it or not. Several students and their families do not believe in Christmas’ original meaning, but still choose to celebrate it out of popularity.
Over the years, Christmas has been heavily commercialized. As a result, more people have become immersed in other aspects of the modern holiday rather than celebrating the intended meaning.The giving and receiving of gifts from loved ones, family dinners, and depending on religion, a church service, are all a part of the holiday.
“It can be about being with your family and friends. It doesn’t have to be about religion,” said Shloka Nair, junior.
Many Hindu families celebrate the holiday so they can spend time with
family and enjoy good food together. Hindu families celebrate Christmas because they believe that it unites people from all over the world and spreads the signifcance of family.
Americans believe that on December 25th, people can come together to spread love.
Holidays, especially Christmas, are about spending time with loved ones when our lives are so busy; it’s rewarding to slow down and have fun with family.
“Christmas is a time with family and friends and it’s about giving rather than receiving. I like to spend more time with them. Normally, it’s a way to step away from all of the work from the year,” Nair said.
It is important to recognize the familial aspect of Christmas even if people do not believe in a specifc religion. Similarly, some Buddhists also celebrate Christmas. Some students at OHS believe in the culture of Christmas because the happiness of the holiday is
shared globally.
“I used to get told Santa wasn’t real a lot,” said Jackson Yu, junior. “Eventually it came across as being fake.”
Many kids fnd it funny to tell other kids that parts of the holiday are made up. When one kid fnds out Santa is not real the gossip spreads like wildfre.
“We have a shrine at home; we stay home and pray,” Yu said. “We leave food out for people who have passed.”
A part of his family’s religion is to honor their deceased loved ones. Staying home to pray to them is an important part of his Christmas. On the other hand, some students celebrate Christmas in their respective ways, along with an additional holiday, during Christmastime. Depending on a kid’s surroundings, getting to experience two different sides of Christmas impacts many student decisions.
“My mom grew up with a Christian background, and my dad and his whole entire family [are] Jewish,” said Lily Romirowsky, junior.
Getting to experience both religions growing up has had a huge impact on Romirowsky’s personal beliefs and how she views religion.
“By blood, I’m Jewish but religiously I’m Christian,” Romirowsky said.
While some students at OHS celebrate multiple holidays, or celebrate Christmas in various ways, some view Christmas, mainly, as the celebration of the birth of Christ.
“[At church], all of the junior high [students], college students, and adults come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ,” said Kelsie Dennison, sophomore.
Being together with people of the same faith helps people to feel more comfortable within their religion, including Christianity. One of the best parts for Dennison is the celebration of Christ’s birth, remembering his message.
“Christmas should be more about giving and showing God’s love,” Dennison said.
For many the meaning of the holiday is more about the time to celebrate with family and friends than it is about religion. Although religion plays a big part, spending time with family is more sought after.
“A lot of my family from outside of the country gets time to come here or we get time to go there….That’s when I see my family the most,” Nair said.
PHOTO BY ALYSSA BUCKNER
PHOTO BY NICOLE PURDY
The counselors offce always displays various holiday decorations.
Elevate is a popular place for OHS students to study.
Carrie Young “
Don’t we treat people how we want to be treated? Sometimes my job entails that I have to not be nice or be frm, but I just like to be positive because if someone is having a bad day, can’t we bring them some positivity?
”
Preston Delly Junior
When I think about a bunch of careers that I could possibly have, I would be satisfed to wake up everyday and teach high school students. “ ”
Kawika Seguritan
[I’m
confdent because] I’m a Seguritan - it’s kind of in my blood. I was born into a responsibility.
I’ve learned a lot [from sports], not just from the mental side but also the physical side.“ “
Maci Jones
Freshman
Editorial: Is Santa real?
By MATTHEW HOOD-HUNT Editorial Chief
Most teenagers by now know the answer to the question: is Santa real? But many fnd themselves still entranced on Christmas morning, fond of holiday memories and feeling nostalgic, looking at the presents under the tree. Christmas never loses its glow. It is not as bright as it was years ago, but the holidays are so moving for people, even as adults. Jaded as one may feel now that childhood Christmas won’t return, the season is rich with emotion, appreciation of family and friends, giving back, and kids’ willingness to believe in Santa is one of the most important aspects of it all.
Some parents do not allow their kids to believe in Santa, most of them thinking, “Why would I lie to my kid? If I’m buying the gifts, why give someone else the credit?” A fair enough point, but ultimately takes away from their children’s wonder during the holiday. However, many who were supposed to be non-believers found themselves believing anyway, insisting to younger siblings that Santa was indeed real, and asserting privately that some of the presents under the tree were
from him instead of their parents. Believing in magic is essential to childhood, even for those who are supposed to be denied it.
That is what makes Santa and ultimately Christmas so special: magic. Many had an Elf On the Shelf, Santa’s eyewitness to their behavior, which was symbolic of parents’ effort to keep children believing. What we begin to appreciate later in life, after we have stopped believing, is our parents’ love. It does not stop at a small elf. Driving around to see Christmas lights, baking cookies, writing letters to Santa, not to mention the gifts and foregone credit for Santa’s present(s). That’s what Santa stands for, a sort of bank of appreciation for our parents. Sure Santa existed for years before our parents became parents, but it’s their effort that made him real to us. They might not have gotten the same from their parents, or maybe they did, but whichever the case, they wanted us to be happy.
A large amount of our enjoyment from Christmas as kids came from the presents. The time with family was, at least at a young age, secondary. Being materialistic as a kid is forgivable- sometimes
a kid just wants toys- but eventually, those priorities swap places. Receiving presents is great, but what’s greater is the feeling of giving one. Maybe our parents felt less joy when we opened presents from Santa and thanked him instead, but felt conviction in their hearts knowing that, one day, we will thank them for more than the presents.
Santa means more than gifts once you have matured- realizing the truth about him feels disappointing, but necessary in truly understanding what Christmas is about. What our parents did to keep us believing is appreciated after that realization- Santa Trackers on Christmas Eve, an Elf On the Shelf, leaving the cookies eaten and milk drank come Christmas daytheir effort is so meaningful now. Maybe it seems as though they lied: “Why would they let me believe in something fake for so long?” but Santa does not have to be real in order to teach us what Christmas means. Not receiving, but giving, purity of heart, and childhood innocenceSanta lives as an idea, and as long as we believe in gift-giving, childhood, and unconditional love, Santa is real to us.
TheBest
This recipe makes four
Ingredients:
1½ cups sifted all-purpose
1 teaspoon baking
1 teaspoon ground
1 cup (2 sticks) butter,
½ cup frmly packed
1 cup granulated
1 large
1 teaspoon vanilla
1½ cups old-fashioned
1 cup semisweet
Steps:
Mix together four, baking
Beat together butter, brown sugar, speed until light and fufy.
At low speed beat in four mixture chocolate chips. Cover with plastic
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place prepared baking sheets. Flatten
Bake cookies until lightly browned minutes. Transfer cookies to
four dozen cookies
iday Cookies
Ingredients: all-purpose four baking soda
ground cinnamon butter, softened packed light brown sugar granulated sugar
large egg
vanilla extract
old-fashioned rolled oats chocolate chips
Steps: baking soda, and cinnamon. and granulated sugar at medium fufy. Beat in egg and vanilla.
mixture until blended. Fold in oats and plastic wrap; chill for 1 hour.
Fahrenheit & grease 2 baking sheets. Place cookies, 2 inches apart, on Flatten each cookie slightly.
browned around the edges, 10 to 12 to racks to cool completely.
Christmas Can Wait
By AVERY MASSIE Staf Writer
Snow globes, tree toppers, Christmas lights, and hot chocolate; All of these can be found in stores starting as early as September. Even walking into Bath & Body Works at the beginning of October, scents such as ‘Tis the Season, Vanilla Bean Noel, and Snowfakes & Cashmere are already on the shelves, replacing the few fall scents that they had out. While there is nothing wrong with celebrating the winter season, at what point is it too early to do so?
In terms of the calendar, fall commences on September 22nd, and ends on December 21st. However, many people will agree that December is a winter month and therefore does not feel very much like fall. And, in Arizona, Phoenix does not start to feel the effects of fall until about mid-October. So, that leaves half of October, and then November, as the tentative ‘fall months’ that Arizona experiences.
The thing with considering November a fall month is that many people have conficting beliefs about when to put up holiday decorations. It is not uncommon to see Christmas decorations up by the end of November, but it is as though people forget that Thanksgiving is an autumntime holiday.
It seems like as soon as Halloween is over, people are ready for Christmas. They often overlook the entire month of November that falls in between, even though that holds two important holidays: Veterans’ Day and Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is arguably one of the most important traditions that the United States upholds, and it has been taking place since the 1600s. It should not be glazed over and forgotten amidst the Christmas festivities that people are in such a rush to get done.
Every year, people are more and more eager to put up their Christmas decorations without allowing the fall ones to stay up for as long as they should. Stores start to replace their autumn scents with their Christmas stock before their customers are even given a chance to get into the fall mood.
A reason that companies may want to push the Christmas season to start early is due to them wanting to make more money.
Consumerism can drive these businesses to push for the Christmas season to start after Halloween, which is why many fall favors and scents start to get pushed away for more wintery ones so soon.
When the Christmas season lasts for over two months, it can start to feel
watered down. Making it all about money begins to take away from the true Christmas spirit that is supposed to be felt, and it doesn’t seem as special.
In Arizona especially, it is very diffcult to distinguish fall from summer as temperatures often stay very high even through October. It is important to allow a proper commercial fall season so that people can at least pretend that it is that time of year.
Any date before December 1st is too early for Christmas decorations. With Thanksgiving being the last Thursday of November, it is ridiculous to see any winter decorations up before or during that celebration. Decorations for Christmas can be left up for all of December, and that should be plenty of time to enjoy and show them off.
Each holiday deserves a separate amount of time dedicated to it before the next holiday takes over. There should be no reason that a shopper cannot fnd fall scents when walking into a store at the beginning of October.
Most holidays fall on the same date every year, and they always will be. There is no need to try to skip and rush past other seasons just because they may not seem as important or because they are not as exciting as others.
Behind the counter: the lunch ladies of OHS
By RUTH MIOC Design Chief
At OHS, the dedication of the cafeteria staff extends far beyond meal preparation. For the lunch team, each day is an opportunity to engage with students, create memories, and cultivate a sense of community.
With diverse backgrounds, from Zumba instructors to former New Yorkers, all individuals have a unique story. Many of those working behind the lunch counter also have a personal connection to OHS that led them to their involvement in the lunch program.
“My mom just said I should go do it. My mom also worked in a kitchen way back when and she said it was the best nine years of her life… My daughter went here and that was part of the reason that I picked O’Connor,” said Judy Kimball.
Every staff member contributes their warmth to the cafeteria’s atmosphere. Familiarity with students’ preferences and routines develops a sense of belonging.
“For me, every day, what I make is the same: orange chicken, chow mein, teriyaki. But I like to do that because some kids show up every day. They are happy when I remember their order,” said
Takako Kunikane.
There is a continuity attached to the job. The lunch ladies see the students every day, allowing them to witness adolescents growing and evolving throughout their time in high school.
“I just started this job but I’m so happy that I can see one kid for four years until they graduate. I like the cycle,” Kunikane said.
The lunch team shows compassion that extends beyond meal preparation. Their efforts in supporting students has a meaningful impact.
“We’re always friendly to them…. You don’t know what’s going on at home and they might not have money for lunch, and I know I always give them something whether I charge them or not. It’s not a big deal because that’s just what I do, I’m not going to let anybody go hungry,” said Elaine Pagliuca.
Student’s attitudes can also make a difference to the staff in ways they may not realize. Small gestures do not go unnoticed.
“Some kids don’t, but almost every kid says ‘thank you, please, how are you’, and that is so nice,” Kunikane said.
The lunch ladies also strive to foster community through interaction and conversation.
“I don’t talk to them like
elementary kids. I talk to them like adults… It’s also a two-way street. I get a lot of compliments out of them. When you have them oneon-one, and you’re silly with them, they’re silly back, and respectful, you get a really good rapport,” Pagliuca said.
Behind the scenes, the job is more challenging than it may appear. The demands and numerous hours are often overlooked.
“They just think it’s serving. It’s a lot. It’s a hard job. It’s a very physical job. A lot of lifting, a lot of walking, you’re never sitting, because it’s always something,” Pagliuca said.
There is a strong sense of teamwork and unity among the crew. They are committed to uplifting each other and achieving their common goal of ensuring that the cafeteria runs smoothly.
“If I fnished making my burgers and somebody fell behind preparing their hot dogs, we’ll just go to each other and help out,” Pagliuca said.
There is a great deal of thoughtfulness that goes into creating a menu. However, there must be a balance between variety and restrictions.
“We try to change the menu a little. Being a manager, I have to stay within the guidelines of the [United
States Department of Agriculture] and the district. I try to incorporate new things, things that I think are trendy with kids,” Kimball said.
While preparing food, the kitchen is lively. Music plays on speakers as light-hearted inside jokes are made.
“Everything has to be baked in the oven. But we do have a new oven that we started using last year… She has a name, it’s Consuelo,” Kimball said.
The occasional criticism that the cafeteria food receives is noted by the cooks. Nevertheless, the fault should not be placed on them.
“We truly care for what we’re doing. We’re not trying to serve anything that’s not good. Unfortunately, our
hands are tied. We have a big volume of food that we have to make. It’d be great if we could make it all fresh, but there’d be no way to get all that done and serve it. We try to make it as fresh and the best that we can,” Kimball said.
The lunch ladies’ presence goes beyond the OHS cafeteria, affecting students in ways they will carry with them long after they leave the lunch line.
“I enjoy interacting. We can’t make it very long because of the time, but we do try to make a bright spot in their day… I fgured if I made somebody laugh and smile, that’s my biggest accomplishment,” Kimball said.
How other students perceive OHS
By AVERY MASSIE Staf Writer
With fve high schools in the district, 112 in the county, and 1,003 in the state, Arizona is flled with schools containing different curriculum, students, and organizations. Among those, OHS stands out as one of the best, and many students are aware of it.
Whether it is on the court or in the classroom, OHS produces the best scores. With sports teams that win state championships, and clubs that bring home gold, OHS does it all.
“They [OHS students] are a great example of what we want our kids to do and be, whether that’s on the athletic feld, in the theater, or out in the community,” said Dr. Curtis Finch, Superintendent of Deer Valley Unifed School District.
OHS students recognize their school’s achievements as well. While many of them discuss academics, people often think of sports when they hear the name ‘O’Connor”.
“The frst thing that comes to mind when I hear ‘O’Connor’ is sports because our sports teams are always winning,” said Preston Buhl, junior.
In fact, OHS’s sports are so strong that it is even what other schools know it for.
“I always think of [OHS’s] football. Our [Mountain Ridge’s] rivalry is so strong, so I think of the game we play against each other every year,” said Marissa Rodgers, student at Mountain Ridge.
Whether it’s in volleyball, basketball, or even esports, OHS achieves greatness. However, sports aren’t the only strong extracurriculars that OHS is known for.
“I immediately think of their choir and theater program because it’s very elite, and there’s a lot of good opportunities, people, and actors there,” said Trinity Di Cosola, student at Barry Goldwater.
Other than just activities and organizations, the high school is known to have a great environment.
“When I think about O’Connor, I think about the culture. There are a bunch of different things that happen at O’Connor: clubs, sports, and there are lots of people from different backgrounds,” said Will Mordka, freshman.
OHS students are not the only ones who acknowledge the culture within the school, as students from other schools also have very positive interactions with the OHS
population.
“I think you guys are very friendly people, when you come to our schools you are respectful, and when we go to your school, you’re respectful. It’s a good environment,” said Japneet Kaur, student at Boulder Creek.
The campus itself also plays into that image, with many acknowledging how clean and orderly the school is.
“When anyone else talks about our campus, they usually say it’s really nice compared to theirs,” Buhl said.
Some may think that while there are positive aspects about OHS, there must be
some negatives to it as well.
A common negative aspect that students think of is the misconception that OHS is flled with people who are a bit stuck up, as they are assumed to have come from money.
“I think people think O’Connor kids are rich,” said Caiden Willis, junior.
This seems to be a common misperception of OHS students, as other schools say similar things.
“I have some friends at Deer Valley who don’t think of us very highly because they think we’re [supposedly] stuck up,” said Symone Mitchell, junior.
People can believe what
they want to believe, but OHS continues to prove themselves time and time again. In terms of their own school, OHS students think highly of themselves.
“I don’t have anything bad to say about it, because if I had something bad to say I might as well just transfer,” Mitchell said.
Overall, OHS has a high reputation among itself, as well as other schools. District wide it is known to be the best, for the best, and it will continue to hold that status for as long as it can.
“When I think of O’Connor, I think of excellence,” Dr. Finch said.
PHOTO BY AVERY MASSIE
View looking onto the Performing Arts building from the parking lot at OHS.
Judy Kimball, lunch lady, serves food to students.
PHOTO BY RUTH MIOC
Freedom is due for the Menendez brothers
By AMAYA KELLY Sports Editor
The story of Lyle and Erik Menendez is a wellknown case that still remains relevant in today’s society despite its occurrence 35 years ago. Two brothers with wealthy parents, a mansion in Beverly Hills, and an Ivy League education waiting for them would have no reason to kill their parents... right?
The Menedez brothers have spent nearly 35 years in prison with no possibility of parole until recently this past month, with their case being reopened. During their trial, the brothers gained a tremendous amount of support from people who believed they should be free despite the crime they committed.
With the production of many TV series and documentaries re-telling the life of the Menendez brothers,
the public has been able to see their story told through many different perspectives.
Most recently following the release of Monsters: the Lyle and Erik Menendez Story created by Ryan Murphy and The Menendez Brothers documentary, a new light has been shone on the case, as social media broadcasted the tale of the brothers.
Lyle and Erik Menendez had what seemed to be the perfect family. However, in emotional interviews and vulnerable statements given in court, the brothers revealed that their parents were incredibly abusive physically, sexually, and emotionally. Their father
Jose Menendez made them victims of sexual assault on multiple occasions and would threaten the brothers with their lives if they told anyone of his unspeakable actions.
Kitty Menendez, the boys’ mother, knew about this sexual abuse and chose to not report her husband or protect her children from him.
After years of torment and abuse, the brothers began to believe that their parents might try and murder them, so they decided to take action. In the argument of self-defense, the brothers shot their parents on August 20th, 1989 while they were watching TV one night in their living room.
Even after everything the Menendez brothers have been through and the fact that they are convicted murderers, they still have a large fan base that provides them with unwavering support and preaches that they should be freed from jail.
Lyle and Erik were extremely young when they committed this crime, but despite most people’s beliefs that their act of violence was for monetary gain or out of complete psychotic behavior, the brothers were clearly afraid for their lives and were victims of serious abuse. Seeing no other way out, they pulled the trigger. While this ended their abuse and
fear of their parents harming them, it gave the brothers a lifetime sentence in prison and excessive amounts of trauma they would have to learn to cope with.
The idolizing of Erik and Lyle Menedez has become inappropriate and excessive, but at the core of the case, they are just two brothers who were looking for a way out of a seemingly neverending cycle of mental manipulation and violent sexual abuse.
The murder committed
by the Menendez Brothers was justifed and necessary to save their own lives and ensure they would never be victims again. Despite the charges against them they are human and should not be behind bars for life.
Our society should recognize their crime, but they have been punished long enough and they deserve a chance to walk around unshackled from the burdens of their past with an opportunity for a brighter future.
The dark side of hip-hop’s party monster
By EMERSON LIHN Features Editor
Sean “Diddy” Combs–one of the faces of hip-hop–has been an infuential fgure in pop culture for the last few decades. As a rapper, producer, businessman, and party host, he is a leading individual within a multitude of industries. Combs is the founder of Bad Boy Records, a clothing line, and is behind the , now infamous, “Diddy parties”. Before the food of allegations shed a darker light on Combs’ reputation, the Diddy party was an event that all of Los Angeles and those within the music industry yearned to attend. Frequent attendees of the Combs’ events have also begun to be questioned due to Combs and what took place, ultimately revealing the dark side of the music industry.
Recently, Diddy has faced serious accusations from former artists, employees, and personal acquaintances who allege exploitation, manipulation, and violent behavior. One of the frst to come out with their story was Cassie Ventura, an R&B singer who was in a personal and professional relationship with Combs for over a decade.. Ventura accused Combs of physical,
sexual, and emotional abuse, including forcing her to take part in “freak-offs,” where she nonconsensually participated in sexual activities under Combs’ command. Multiple other women have backed Ventura and come out with their own claims. Even Combs’ roommate, Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, alleged that he was groped by Combs.There is an undeniable pattern among Combs’ allegations. His victims are rising stars who he has claimed to be a mentor towards.
Having coined the term “modern-day Gatsby,” Combs used his lavish parties in order to mask the music industry’s corrupt side. Icons in the music industry such as Justin Bieber, Beyonce, and Jay-Z have been most commonly linked with the alleged lists of involved celebrities.
As social media feeds off of numerous accusations, an increasing number of celebrities face serious allegations of involvement with Combs. For instance,Royal Family princes Harry and William have been alleged attendees of Combs’ “white parties”.
An ex-publicist of Combs, Rob Shuter, confrmed that the royals never accepted any invitations from Combs, but that Combs was allegedly “obsessed” with them and the
idea of royalty attending his parties. According to People Magazine, Combs invited them to various parties “over 10 times,” but the two British princes never accepted.
Justin Bieber, a name that pops up many times in the media when Combs’ allegations and “freakoffs” are discussed, was a young rising star when Combs’ party era was at its peak. Many on social media claim Bieber to be either a sidekick to Combs, or a possible victim. As rumors continue to stir over social
media, conspiracies behind Bieber’s song “Yummy” and how the lyrics and music video could possibly relate to his experience as a young kid acquainted with Combs.
Additionally, a song titled, “I lost myself at a Diddy party,” has surfaced on TikTok and been alleged to be a leaked Bieber song, although it has been said to likely be made with Artifcial Intelligence software.
Shawn Corey Carter, known professionally as Jay-Z, has been accused of being Combs’ right-hand man, along
with
his wife and “Queen Bee,” Beyonce Giselle KnowlesCarter. Both have been seen alongside many other big names in the entertainment and music industry in graphics of pyramids alleging the “leaders” and “manipulators” within the seemingly opportunistic hiphop music industry. With an increasing number of allegations, the infamous Sean “Diddy” Combs has unleashed a very possible “dark side” of the hip-hop industry, and the music industry in general.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGELA WEISS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX
Song reviews: Winter 2024
“Snowman” by Sia captures a modern take on typical Christmas songs. The track can match any feeling. Simultaneously encapsulating both the joyful spirit and a more sad appeal, Sia’s voice, mixed with the amazing production, brings out a feeling listeners don’t experience often. “Snowman” does not use traditional “Christmas” instruments throughout its runtime, making it leave a lasting impact on the listener due to its production by Greg Kurstin that sets itself apart from traditional Christmas songs. Even though this song was released in 2017, it will live on as a Christmas classic, making it an essential addition to every winter playlist.
“We
By DANIEL YOHANNAN Staf Writer
“Linus and Lucy” from A Charlie Brown Christmas is a staple listen all year with its upbeat piano and intrinsic nostalgic value, but during the holiday season, it transforms into one of the best Christmas songs of all time. The instrumental base, which is the focal point of the song, makes listeners feel like they are little kids once again running to the Christmas tree to see what presents they got. This song may have no lyrics, but means so much regardless. This song allows listeners to think back to watching Charlie Brown or other old Christmas movies, capturing memories which may have been forgotten outside of its threeminute runtime are recaptured.
“Christmas in Hollis” offers a unique take on Christmas from a song describing the holidays in Queens at a park on Christmas Eve. This song takes on a rugged beat, while using jingle bells to carry the cadence, giving the whole song an energetic yet festive appeal. In the song, Run DMC comes across Santa’s wallet flled with millions of dollars. Run DMC feels conficted about buying a ‘boat’ or a ‘mansion’ but realizes that stealing from Santa is not right and returns the wallet. For this act of kindness, Santa puts him on the nice list rewarding him with presents the next day. This song uses its unique storytelling to show what a magical Christmas in New York might look like.
“You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch” is a classic in the Christmas genre for anyone in the holiday spirit. The track paints the picture of how evil the Grinch is. The song’s descriptive lyrics mixed with the deep voice of the singer, Thurl Ravenscroft, gives not only the essence of Christmas, but a feeling that is like no other holiday song ever made. As a song made for the intro of the movie, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, it serves its purpose of setting up the Grinch as this larger-than-life evil character that hates anything holiday-related. All of these perfectly crafted elements come together to make this song just as iconic as the Grinch himself is.
Live in Time”: a revival of romantic cinema
By ASHLEY PERERIA Photography Chief
As decades progress, movies have become more accessible than ever. However, fnding a quality flm with a strong plot alongside a stellar cast has become rare. It is safe to say that “We Live in Time” has brought back hope for romance movies in the 21st century.
The drama-flled story follows characters: Almut, played by Florence Pugh, and Tobias, played by Andrew Garfeld. These two characters are strangely brought together after Almut accidentally hits Tobias with her car, which leads to their all-consuming romance unraveling over time.
Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfeld’s palpable chemistry brings a refreshing and exciting look to the portrayment of modern love stories shown through flm. Their performances capture the complexity of relationships, showcasing both the joy and the struggles that come with love in today’s world.
The couple encounters many challenges that test their commitment and resilience. Disagreements about getting married, diffculties trying to get pregnant, and, most importantly, a cancer
diagnosis. All of these themes cast uncertainty that enriches the narrative’s depth.
Since the movie’s plot is based on the importance of human connection, the characters are intricately developed, leading the audience to grow attached to them personally and feel empathy towards their experiences.
Simple details such as Tobias always having a stopwatch around his neck
and the meticulous process Almut takes when cracking eggs encapsulate the utterly raw human experience.
The nonlinear storytelling helps unfold three intersecting timelines throughout the couple’s relationship together. Although this approach may initially confuse some of the audience, this unique choice ultimately helps the viewers piece together insightful moments in the character’s relationship.
Director John Crowley also used cinematic skips to block out traumatic scenes, ultimately making the flm easier to digest. A scene is presented to have Almut and Tobias explain to their child that Almut has cancer but immediately cuts before an explanation or the child’s reaction. If crucial moments like this were shown, many would fnd it a tear-jerker rather than a love story, which is why this movie
stands out.
Although the story itself is not particularly groundbreaking in its themes-love, loss, and the complexities of relationshipsthe unique and nonlinear storytelling combined with nonverbal acts of love portrayed throughout elevate “We Live in Time”, making this a must-see flm for anyone seeking a heartfelt exploration of modern romance.
“Snowman” by Sia
“Linus and Lucy” by Vince Guaraldi Trio
“Christmas in Hollis” by Run-DMC
“You’re a mean one, Mr Grinch” by Thurl Ravenscroft
PHOTO COURTESY OF A24
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEEZER
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPOTIFY
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPOTIFY
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISCOGS
Arts & Entertainment
“Mean Girls”: OHS theater is so fetch !
By ALYSSA BUCKNER Staf Writer
A fresh start to a new school year at OHS brings many promising events from clubs, sports, and more. The OHS theater department, for one, fascinated crowds yet again by putting on an excellent production of the musical “Mean Girls”.
Following the extensive rehearsals everyone involved in drama went through, opening night for “Mean Girls” was on October 23rd and continued until October 26th. All of the hard work and diligence put into the musical surely paid off.
“There’s been a lot of planning involved,” said Mandy Hoglund, sophomore. “From the advertisements, to the set making, to the choreography; everybody’s really played a major role in it.”
Even though a signifcant amount of time and thought went into the creation of “Mean Girls”, the theater community persevered forward with the help of each other and the adults present.
“We’re capable of running through things on our own, but we obviously have the adults to help guide us through it,” said Madison Fulmer, junior.
Karson Cook, the theater teacher at OHS, in particular, is thought of by many as an outstanding director, and is frequently recognized for his contributions to the process of successfully putting the musical together.
“Mr. C is an absolute source of light through all of our days…he’s very supportive, he’s very understanding, and he’s just a wonderful person and director,” Hoglund said.
New and vital technological improvements were also
During the production of “Mean Girls”, OHS students perform a scene that
present in the theater department this year, and it immensely upgraded the performance.
“We were able to get a huge update at all of the campuses,” Cook said. “It’s been great, we have brand new speakers, brand new mics, brand new everything.”
These new improvements were extremely accommodating to everyone; from the audience’s overall experience watching the musical to the actors who had to quickly change in between scenes.
“I’m actually obsessed…in the dressing rooms I can hear them singing,” said Bryce Bartel, junior. “It’s really helpful because last year they didn’t have that so if I had
to do a quick change I would just run and hope.”
The entire cast of “Mean Girls” did a wonderful job at portraying the iconic characters, and many were immensely excited to play the roles they were cast as.
“Karen is one of my dream roles…I even dyed my hair blonde for it, you know, why not?” said Madelene Salisbury, junior.
The students at OHS take their theater passions seriously, and they strive to do the characters they perform justice by being as similar to them as possible.
“Regina George being super blonde is not as prominent I feel like as the dumb blonde stereotype that Karen really embodies,” Salisbury said.
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Because the characters from “Mean Girls” are so well-known and iconic, it was nerve-racking for those who played major roles in the musical.
“This time I got nervous because Damien has high notes, but we’re good now,” Bartel said.
Each show usually comes with a little tension but the theater department is great at overcoming those nerves.
“You’re always a little nervous going into it… but it’s fun to be up there performing,” said Savannah Nielsen, senior.
Everyone who is a part of theater at OHS strongly believes that by being involved in drama you not only get to perform, work
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backstage, and do various other things, but that you get to additionally learn valuable lessons that can be applied in many aspects of life.
“Professionalism is really important in theater and that’s what I’ve been taught,” Bartel said. “It teaches you how to be social, and professional, and it teaches you how to speak right.”
The theater community works together daily for hours on end when preparing to put on performances such as “Mean Girls”.
“I mean you’re with these people for hours every day,” Nielsen said. “But it’s really fun because you’re creating a show.”
Although the students in the theater department tend to be with one another for long periods of time, it does not deter from the positive and kind environment that they create with one another.
“I love everybody that I’ve interacted with throughout this whole process; they’re all so kind,” Fulmer said. “As much as it’s like ‘oh drama club!’ it’s actually dramafree.”
The positive environment goes hand in hand with the escapism that theater provides the moment everyone steps into character.
“No matter what kind of day you’ve had, you’re immediately transported into another world…you get to play out someone else’s life,” Salisbury said.
The theater community is very devoted to their art and it shows throughout the outstanding musicals OHS provides. The camaraderie encourages theater students to continue following their passions.
“It’s really that close niche community that always keeps everyone who does theater coming back,” Cook said.
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captivates the audience.
The Pogues return: Outer Banks season 4
By ABIGAIL BRYAND Staf Writer
The Pogues are fnally back for another wild adventure in season four, and the stakes just keep getting higher for the group of rebellious teenagers.
Three seasons deep, Netfix’s Outer Banks established a hierarchy of status with the Kooks and Pouges coexisting, oftentimes not peacefully. The two groups always fnd something to fght over, ranging from hidden treasure to family issues. Jumping into the fourth season, the divide between the two groups is as prominent as ever.
Even though the Pogues have historically been the poorer of the two classes, six teenagers- JJ, Sarah, John B., Kiara, Pope, and Cleo, were able to break that stereotype after they found the lost gold, and now have more of a positive reputation.
Their story picks up with an upbeat tone, the teenagers seemingly having moved on from the heartbreak and losses of their previous expeditions. Now they are back home, using the money they earned from their gold to build a shop.
Not surprisingly, their good fortune is only momentary and disaster begins to creep up on them once again , demonstrating that the Pouges can truly never catch a real break. Also not surprisingly, JJ continues to make bad decisions that get him and his friends into serious trouble.
The strength of the bond between this group of six teenagers is prominent in the new season. Whenever someone slips up, the group always comes back together in the end even if it causes a momentary divide. Whether this is due to their friendship, or survival instincts, depends on the situation they are put in.
After the frst few
episodes, a new expedition is established for the Pogues. Several irrational decisions deep, the group is now in desperate need of money, and they are willing to do almost anything to keep their newfound paradise afoat. They decide to take a sketchy deal and are hired to hunt for Blackbeard’s treasure, rumored to be the end of a curse haunting a mysterious family.
Once again, the Pogues have everything stacked against them, and people that
want them dead. The Pogues’ history with a group of rival Kooks, including Rafe and Topper, begins to resurface again, despite efforts to keep the peace between them. The wounds inficted by each group seem to run too deep to be mended properly.
The frst fve episodes do a phenomenal job of raising the stakes for the Pogues, and there is much to look forward to in the second batch of episodes. There will undoubtedly be countless adventures, reckless
decisions, and fghts to look forward to. Now that they are on a new journey, there will be different challenges to face that will keep viewers on the edges of their seats. Overall, Outer Banks is a unique show that attracts an audience of all ages. From the attractive characters to the thrilling plotline, almost everyone can fnd something that they enjoy about it. Fans were ecstatic when the frst part of season four came out, and are now patiently awaiting the second round.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX
Fall sports review: another dominant season
By COLIN ROBISON Equipment Manager
Even though the 2024-2025 fall sports season came to an end, the success of OHS athletics during this time won’t be forgotten.
Boys Beach VB:
Boy’s beach volleyball had the tough task of trying to be successful in their frst season at the school, but this factor did not stop them at all.
“I would say [the season] was a success. We practiced everyday and we walked in with confdence,” said Ashton Betts, junior.
Even though boy’s beach volleyball went undefeated, the team still believes there are components they need to improve on.
“[We could’ve improved] on team support. We won but we didn’t connect that great,” Betts said.
The team credited their success to not getting down on themselves and maintaining a positive attitude.
“Never go down on yourself…things are going to go wrong but just stay confdent and you’ll keep
winning,” Betts said.
While the team didn’t end up winning it all they still had a great season unfortunately losing in the playoffs.
Flag Football:
Girls fag football ended with massive improvement with only losing one game.
The whole team at the beginning of the year talked about how they wanted to be more of a family and they certainly implemented that
this season.
“We’ve done really good… our team is defnitely a family which makes it way easier,” said Bella Wolf, junior.
Flag football also believed they had room for improvement and that there was still work to get done.
“We have a really close team dynamic but when someones struggling we probably need to pick them up a little better,” Wolf said.
The team gave a lot of credit to their coaches for helping to encourage high spirits and keeping them on track.
“I think we all put our heads down when we make a mistake but our coaches drill into our head that the next play is what matters,” Wolf said.
The team unfortunately lost in the frst round of the playoffs to Mountain Ridge.
Girls VB:
With girls volleyball coming off of an undefeated season and a championship last year, they were looking to continue their complete domination.
This year’s team featured a lot of underclassmen, which came with success but has also created new team dynamics.
“It’s been a struggle having a lot of underclassmen so maybe by connecting with them more, it could’ve helped develop the team,” said Avery Sheets, senior.
The seniors have tried their best to be leaders and help build up the future of OHS volleyball.
“All of the seniors have tried to embark on the captain role and just making sure everyone’s there and present,” Sheets said.
The team eventually lost to Mountain View in the second round of the playoffs.With this being the last season for the seniors, they all want to leave their mark at OHS.
“I left that legacy [and showed] this is how we run O’Connor volleyball,” Sheets said.
Winter sports preview: the start of a successful season
By SKYLER FREEMAN Staf Writer
With the cold weather and the holiday season approaching, OHS athletes are ready to bring high energy to all of the winter sports.There has been excitement and anticipation among students for the start of basketball, soccer, and wrestling’s new seasons.
Basketball:
The OHS basketball teams never fail to impress, and this season is expected to be nothing short of memorable.
“I am excited for this season and the wins coming our way,” said Brody Colegrove, senior.
The boys are very confdent and excited to start their season off strong. They have been training and putting in the work to lead their teams to victory.
“We have been training very hard for this new season so we are prepared for what challenges come our way,” Colegrove said.
The boys and girls basketball teams have continued to build very strong relationships off and on the court.
“Friendships are important to value because teamwork and communication is extremely important in basketball,” Colegrove said.
Soccer:
After a successful season last year, soccer is back better than ever. The girls are ready to give it their all and reach several goals this year on and off the feld.
“I’m really excited for the new season and winning our games,” said Nicolina Klauer, junior.
After a year of wins and bonding, the boys and girls soccer teams are ready to carry that momentum with
them this winter.
“I’ve been doing club soccer before high school so that really prepares me for high school [soccer],” Klauer said.
Strong friendships are extremely important for the overall success of a team.
“My favorite part about soccer is the relationships I have with the girls,” Klauer said.
Wrestling: Boys and girls wrestling
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Through the times they spend practicing and performing together under the guidance of their director, marching band creates a comfortable yet energetic environment, as well as benefcial opportunities for students.
“At the end of the day, it’s just one big family. Everyone loves each other; everyone knows each other, and it’s just a really comfortable place to be,” said Chase Norton, senior.
There are even traditions created by this tightly knitted community that create lasting memories within students, allowing them to enjoy it even more.
“My favorite part is defnitely after we’ve performed… no matter what the score is we always do a tradition, we always go like ’band, ten, hut, pride.’
It’s just really cool and we hold hands before the score is announced,” Wells said. “[After the competitions,]
has rolled around again, and OHS is excited to see them bring our school to victory.
“I’m excited for the season, there are a lot of talented wrestlers,” said Zoe Rinaldo, senior.
Wrestling is a sport that takes both mental and physical strength, which is a very hard skill, but the OHS team has proven how talented they are.
“The team prepares in and
out of season, working hard and getting a lot of matches in,” Rinaldo said.
These athletes never fail to prove how passionate they are about their sport, and the hard work and dedication displayed is inspiring.
“My favorite part is being with my teammates and practicing with them, we all have a lot of fun making memories and becoming a family,” Rinaldo said.
marching band
everybody has so much energy and likes to sing songs on the bus. We had an exhibition on Tuesday and we sang Christmas songs on the bus, the whole ride back.”
Like the students, the director plays a major role in shaping the environment. Not only does he promote a positive culture, but Cilone tries to be a role model for students in need of support.
“Regardless, if they’re in the school walls or not, it’s someone that they can lean
on to be helpful. If they’re scared, I can help them be brave. If they’re sad, I can help them be happy. So I hope that’s what they think of when they think of Mr. Cilone, not some mean, scary, over-caffeinated person,” Cilone said.
Marching band is a community beyond just creating good music. Along with other programs, it builds character within and outside the school community.
“It’s always great to be
a part of something that’s bigger than just you. Like I said, when you’re working with friends for a common goal, it makes you a stronger person. And that doesn’t matter if you’re part of the marching band, or the football team, or the dance team, or the spirit line. It’s all about being a part of a combined effort to try and make those things happen… the fact that we also sound good is just a bonus,” Cilone said.
PHOTO BY CINDY GARRAWAY
Bella Wolf, junior, tracks down the ball on defense.
The seniors on OC girls soccer are excited for their last season.
PHOTO BY COLIN ROBISON
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