Issue 23 by The Tower Newspaper

TOWER the

Wednesday, April 27, 2016 Volume 88 Issue 23 thetowerpulse.net

A WEEKLY TRADITION SINCE 1928

@thetowerpulse

Gross e Pointe S outh, 11 Gross e Pointe B oule vard, Gross e Pointe Far ms, Michigan 48236

Lead, copper testing at 130 sites comes up clear after third test

CA T W

These sites have since been addressed, with faucets being replaced in all of these locations, said Community Relations SpeComing back with cialist Rebeconly 10 samples gives ca Fannon via me the impression that e-mail. this is not a systemic All samples retested problem, nor a source on Saturday, problem. April 16, fell DR. GARY NIEHAUS within allowSUPERINTENDENT able levels, Fannon said. These samples were taken from the Administration Building, which was previously untested, Pierce Middle School, Defer Elementary School and Ferry Elementary School. Sites with replaced faucets have been retested as well, with results due in three weeks. The initial 130 samples cost $8,000, with faucet and repeat testing expenditures adding on to this baseline cost, Niehaus said. Testing occurred exclusively on non-school days to preserve the integrity of the samples, Niehaus said. “Because we’re doing this in a scientific manner, we didn’t want water disturbed in the middle of testing,” Niehaus said. “Having it Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of Spring Break gave us a chance to get first and second samples without students coming in and out.” At a Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) meeting, Niehaus learned Grosse

MADELEINE GLASSER ’17 // Staff Writer This Thursday, the Mother’s Club will host its annual fashion show and luncheon fundraiser. The event will be held in South’s main gym from noon to3 p.m. At the show, students will walk the runway, modeling clothes from various Grosse Pointe businesses. One of the students walking is Eve Voci ’17. “My role in the show is to model an outfit from Village Palm,” Voci said. “I am excited to help out.” The fundraiser goes towards college s chol arships for students, projects and activities that help the classroom experience and preserve the historic landmarks regarding the school, accord-

AL K

Annual Mothers’ Club Fashion Show tomorrow from 12 to 3 p.m.

Pointe is one of approximately 14 out of a total 33 neighboring districts to sample. He said GPPSS has tested the greatest number of samples, but that the district is also one of the largest. AP Environmental Science teacher Shawn McNamara said that the danger of lead contamination is that health effects Lead action do not emerge for years after exposure. levels or the “Neurological disorders and cognitive disorders won’t show up until after high school, perhaps colsafe amount for lege or beyond,” McNamara said. “Then it’s hard to lead and 0.015 point the finger and say when it happened.” milligrams/ However, McNamara said he doesn’t think a Liter. Here are student or parent could pursue litigation because the schools that as time passes, linking the illness to a water source within the district would become impossible to exceeded the prove. level. “Especially considering how proactive the district is being, I doubt they could be found negligent,” McNamara said. “This is the opposite of reactive.” One of the biggest differences between the Flint crisis and the GPPSS water situaG) M tions is that Flint’s water originated from a 0 .07 natural source, the Flint River, which is 0 ( already a corrosive source, McNamara ES N said. The district’s water stems R G/L) BA .044 M from treated municipal water 0 ( E C DEFER (0.0 PIER sources. 21 MG/L) Moving forward, the district intends to repeat water testMG/L) KERBY (0.022 ing annually, Niehaus said, ) /L G M MAIRE (0.016 to eliminate any potential risks before they GRAPHIC BY LIZ BIGHAM ’16 emerge.

ing to the Mothers’ Club website. “The show is a good way to help raise money for the school,” Voci said. “Hopefully we’ll raise enough to make a big difference.” Addison Enders ’17 is also modeling Lilly Pulitzer for Village Palm. “The fashion show is one of the major fundraisers for the Mother’s Club, and the money raised can really help South,” Enders said. Tickets are $40 per person and are on sale now at www.mothersclubgps.com In addition, a regular table for 10 can be purchased for $400, or a premium table for 10 can be purchased for $500. Raffle tickets will also be sold at $20 for five.

april

LINDSAY STANEK ’16 // Copy Editor fter months of interdepartmental development this year, the Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) initiative is slated for implementation during the 2016-2017 academic year. The US Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) established PBIS through Congress’ amended The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1997. Originally intended for use in lower-level institutions, in recent years it has been adapted for inclusion in high schools, with thousands nationwide currently taking steps to implement it and its attempt to correct the historical exclusion of those with The main point disabilities, according to PBIS.org. of the initiative is For South the PBIS to improve our committee sees impleclimate and cul- mentation as a way to ture here at the make the school better outside of academics, school according to Assistant STEVEN WOLF Principal Steve Wolf. ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL “The main point of the initiative is to improve our climate and culture here at the school, so that we can better support our students and also support our staff in helping kids to be successful,” Wolf said. South has a committee of approximately 12 teachers, counselors and administrators working on creating and implementing strategies, interventions and support for students, Wolf said. Beginning next year, select students will sit on the committee as well, though the committee has not yet determined how said students will be chosen. See NEW POLICY TO UNIFY SCHOOL, page 3.

THIS WEEK AT SOUTH SA & Class Senator Elections in the Auditorium during both lunches and after school.

New committee sets out to improve student unity, behavior

No school for all grades and the Mothers’ Club Fashion Show begins at 12 p.m.

may

LAUREN PANKIN ’16 // Supervising Editor In light of the toxic water contamination which rocked Flint this winter, the Grosse Pointe Public School System (GPPSS) voluntarily tested drinking fountains and sinks for copper and lead from March 29-31--the first time in the district’s history a sampling of this scale has been taken. Of 130 samples tested in the district’s 15 schools, 10 exceeded the maximum amount of lead or copper deemed acceptable by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, said Superintendent Gary Niehaus at a press conference on April 18. Locations considered unsafe were retested using flush samples, in which water runs at the source for exactly 120 seconds before the sample is taken. “When we’re living in buildings that are 50 to 90 years old, I thought that there might be more samples (above the action points),” Niehaus said. “Coming back with only 10 samples gives me the impression that this is not a systemic problem, nor a source problem.” Locations initially deemed unsafe included a faculty lounge sink at Barnes, classroom and employee lounge sinks at Brownell Middle School, a kitchen preparation sink and drinking fountain at Defer Elementary, a kitchen sink at Kerby Elementary, a kitchen sink at Maire Elementary and two drinking fountains at Pierce Middle School, according to a district press release. Because initial sampling was taken without direct district oversight, Niehaus said he speculates that samples were taken from older porcelain fountains which have been rendered obsolete by newer, adjacent drinking fountains.

The National Honor Society Spring Induction is 7- 9 p.m. in the auditorium.

opinion // 2

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

GPPSS takes proper measures to test water for lead and copper levels, makes steps towards ensuring safety

his past spring break, Grosse Pointe Public School System conducted tests for lead and copper in all of its 15 schools around our community. GPPSS is one of the first districts in the state to voluntarily test the water for lead and copper in light of the Flint water crisis. We see this as a good move from the district, and hopefully districts around the state will follow the same path. However, concern in the community has risen because some of the lead and copper numbers at select middle and elementary schools were above the safe amounts set by the EPA. Lead action levels or the safe amount for lead and copper are 0.015 milligrams/Liter and 1.3 mg/L respectively. From the firstdraw tests, meaning the samples were taken directly from the source immediately, schools that broke both of these levels include Barnes (lead- 0.070 mg/L, copper- 1.6 mg/L) and Pierce (lead- 0.044 mg/L, copper- 1.9 mg/L). Schools that only surpassed the lead levels were Defer (0.021 mg/L), Kerby (0.022 mg/L) and Maire (0.016 mg/L). These numbers show that these schools had water over the action level, but not by a significant amount. In comparison to the Flint water levels, where many samples were either at or above 0.1 mg/L for lead contaminants, the difference of the lead content in water for our school system and the epidemic-like levels in Flint is considerably wide. This doesn’t means the district should not act upon these findings, but it should be reassured that the Grosse Pointe community is not nearly in the same situation as Flint. For the district to voluntarily test its water showed caution for students and staff. Fountains that came up with the lead and copper levels that

were too high have been shut off, and new fixtures or filters will be put in place soon. It was only isolated fountains and sinks that came up with high numbers, which should reassure the community that not the entire school’s water was unsafe to drink. We see changes such as a move in the right direction toward EPA-approved water. In addition to these changes, to ensure that lead and copper action levels are kept at appropriate levels, the district plans to test its water every year moving forward. We see the district’s response to these findings as showing the care for all the people who come to and from our schools every day. If testing in the future wasn’t promised, these same problems could reoccur and possibly come back as a bigger threat to student and community health. We also see this incident an important lesson that even an affluent community like Grosse Pointe can have water contaminants just as Flint did. Had these levels not been checked at the time they were, the safety of the staff and students in the district may have been put in jeopardy. We applaud the precautions taken by the district for our safety and hope to see new infrastructure changes including getting rid of all old drinking fountains and sinks and putting in filters on all existing and new drinking fountains. After seeing how the situation in Flint was handled, we see a major issue was poor communication between the people and the government. Similarly, we would like to see open and continuous communication between the district and its staff, students and parents that may have concerns in the future. What the district has done so far shows tremendous steps in the right direction.

OUR VIEW // EDITORIAL

Prince’s legacy promotes defiance of easy categorization

CARTOON BY JEN TOENJES ’16

HUMANS OF SOUTH

The deaths of musical legends, from Lemmy Kilmister to David Bowie, all renowned artists in their Anton Mikolowski ’17 own right, all appreciable beyond belief, make 2016 a bad year for folks who love good music. Yet none of their passings hit me harder than that of Prince. I grew up with Prince. I remember the first time I heard “Raspberry Beret” and “1999.” I remember seeing “Purple Rain” and being engrossed by The Kid. I’ve always loved “Let’s Go Crazy” for its super fast and ridiculously corybantic pace. And without the man himself, none of those phenomenal works would have been possible. As we mourn Prince internationally, let’s take a moment to admire him beyond the outcry and hashtags. Prince wasn’t just unique; he transcended categorization completely, whether that be in regards to music, sexuality or race. He didn’t color within the lines or stick to the straight road; he was a blur of anything that he wanted to be. His music was an amalgamation of genre. It was never definite and nobody ever knew what to expect from the man, which was why his rapid release of albums, particularly in the ’90s, captivated music-lovers across the globe. Prince’s style was so unidentifiable that Miles Davis once likened him to an otherworldly blend of James Brown, Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Sly Stone and Charlie Chaplin. Though he never advocated for it, Prince was the symbol for a free world without regard to gender, sexuality or any orientation. He was androgynous to all extents, and he loved it. He bore no care for his attire, and when asked about it, he would only describe it as what he was feeling. He dressed how he pleased. He walked like he pleased, and he acted like he pleased. He didn’t make a fuss about it, for Prince felt that every human had that same right to any convention. Prince broke beyond the boundaries of race. He never considered himself white or black, just as he felt that nobody was white or black, but merely humans. Prince embodied the best in humanity. He embodied the truest ideals of self-determination, and he should be remembered for it. The world has lost one more individual, not a man, not a woman, not a black, not a white, not a pop star or a glam rocker, but a person, a person of vibrant colors: the only colors that suited him, the only colors he wanted to suit him. Let’s take something away from Prince in this stage of mourning, Prince would have wanted us to love ourselves, he wanted us to show our colors, just as he did, and he would have wanted us to be the individual that we want to be.

STAFF NEWSPAPER

TOWER the

There aren’t a lot of things I hate in the world. I’d consider myself a pretty tolerant person, most of Juliana Berkowski ’16 the time. And usually when I write a column it’s for a good reason which allows me to joke about my life. Except now, when I’m forced to do something I hate to address another thing I hate. Being serious is something I’ve never liked or been very good at. Just ask my mom or my friends, and they’ll tell you. For the first time in my Tower column-writing career, I will attempt this concept of seriousness in order to combat a worthy cause. A few days ago, one of my friends sent me pictures of text messages some girls in her grade were exchanging. In them, they were discussing a person in their grade who they thought was gay. The way they were discussing this person was disgusting. There was so much hate in their messages. I was dumbfounded but not surprised. Almost two years ago, somebody very close to me, a family member, came out as gay. After the Supreme Court ruling this year legalizing gay marriage, when I thought this person would be celebrating, I learned a harsh truth. One new law doesn’t solve the discrimination gay people face in their everyday lives. These text messages I saw only solidify this reality. If one of these girls met my family member, what would they think of him? Would their opinions change once they knew he was gay? This hateful mindset is everywhere in Grosse Pointe. It’s on social media, overheard in the hallway, discussed at lunch tables, written on bathroom stalls and preached at the dinner table in many families. Sometimes, this hatred, this old-fashioned thinking, is exposed. People are punished, a lesson is learned for those who are guilty, and the rest of us continue to live our lives, unchanged. But in most cases this bigotry happens behind closed doors and nobody faces repercussions for their actions. Such is the case with these text messages. The senders won’t face five-day suspensions, like those who posted the racist Instagram, or have to sit out of their sports games for their ignorance. I guess, in the end, they will face more serious consequences such as spending their entire lives believing and preaching hate. I’ll never be able understand why people think this way. No Bible passage or reasoning would be able to convince me of this non-acceptance. I’d like to ask the members of this group message to imagine somebody they love coming out to them as gay. Would you want them to face discrimination, to be hated on in a group message or be bullied for a small part of them that has no impact on the kind of person they are? I’d hope not. Why should we let hate control our lives? I hate the fact that I even need to write about it.

MY VIEW

“Last night I asked my son what he did at school, and he told me he went into the play village and this other kid hit him. That was the highlight of his day. He then showed me a scrape on his knee from when he fell and tried to blame it on the kid, so I called him out for it.” - Ryan Wheaton, math teacher

“The only D I’ve ever gotten was in seventh grade art. The teacher was really nice, and I got all of my work done on time. I guess my work was just plain bad. On the bright side, I made friends in that class that I’m still close with.” - Debra Nischik ’16

Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Maiorana* ’16

Photo Editor Jennifer Toenjes* ’16

Associate Editors Brenna Bromwell* ’16 Emily Fleming* ’16

Business Managers Alexis Motschall* ’16 Asst. Mackenzie Harrel* ’17

Supervising Editors Gabi de Coster* ’16 Haley Vercruysse* ’16 Lauren Pankin* ’16 Sydney Simoncini* ’16

Online Editors-in-Chief Allyson Hartz* and Olivia Baratta*, both ’16

Page Editors Maggie Wright* and Zoe Jackson*, both ’16 Claire Yeamans*, Erykah Benson* and Jack Holme*, all ’17 John Francis*, Liz Bigham* and Ray Hasanaj*, all ’18

Online Section Editors Scarlett Constand* ’16, Adam Cervone* and Ariana Chengges*, both ’17 Riley Lynch* ’18

Copy Editors Hannah Connors*, Julia Fox*, Juliana Berkowski* and Shannon McGlone*, all ’16 Rachel Harris* ’18

Those with hateful mindsets should be aware of harm they cause

Online Associate Editor Preston Fossee* ’16

Online Copy Editors Lindsay Stanek* ’16 Lily Kubek* ’17 Online Social Media Directors Emma Andreasen* and Zoe Evans*, both ’17

Staff Writers Blair Shortal, Brendan Cauvel, Callie Zingas, Christina Ambrozy, Elizabeth Coyle, Gennie Martin, Griffin Brooks, Hailey Murphy, JD Gray, Jessica Whitney, Jon Theros, Katharine Kuhnlein, Lily Patterson, Lindsey Clark, Mac Cimmarrusti, Madeline DesNoyer, Olivia Frederickson, all ’16 Anton Mikolowski, Cam Francis, Charlie Denison, Claire Hubbell, Emma Russell, Gillian Eliot, Jack Froelich, Jack Roma, Mac Welsher, Madeleine Glasser, Mary Grace O’Shea, Michael French, Olivia Sheffer, Sydney Stann and William Muawad, all ’17 Abigail Due, Arianna Pagenette, Brennan Zihlman, Cameron Smolen, Chase Clark, Elena Rauch, Evan Skaff, John Standish, Kaitlin Nemeh, Katherine Bird, Lauren Thom, Maren Roeske, Margot Baer, Mollie DeBrunner and Liam Walsh, all ’18

Adviser Rod Satterthwaite “The Tower” is the weekly publication of the Advanced Journalism classes at Grosse Pointe South High School. It has always been a designated public form of student expression. The Tower is located in room 142 in Grosse Pointe South High School. Please contact us at 313-432-3649.

Errors Factual errors will be corrected on the opinion page or in news briefs written upon request and verification.

Letters Letters to the Editor are encouraged and will be screened for libel, irresponsibility and obscenity. The Editorial Board may edit or shorten letters as long as the meaning is Opinion Pieces unchanged. All letters must be signed and Editorials represent the majority opinion of include a telephone number for confirmation. the Editorial Board and are left unsigned. Request to withhold the writer’s name Columns represent the opinions of individual from publication for good reason will be staff members and outside contributors. considered. Letters can be sent to the above email address, or dropped off in “The Tower” Editorial Board Room. An asterisk * denotes Editorial Board editors. Advertising Display advertising is sold at a rate of $7 per column inch, with discounts for large or frequent advertisers. Advertising may not advocate illegal activities or contain libelous, irresponsible or obscene material.

Professional Associations Member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll, the Society for Newspaper Design and the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.

feature // 4

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

IDENTITY: WHO DETERMINES IT?

Michigan guidelines stir controversy over the rights of transgender students LILY PATTERSON ‘16 & CLAIRE HUBBELL ‘17 // Staff Writers After North Carolina passed a law mandating transgender people to use the public restrooms that match the sex on their birth certificate rather than their gender identity last month, the debate has spread to Michigan with the state board of education releasing a draft of suggested guidelines for schools in dealing with transgender students. These voluntary guidelines were first outlined on Feb. 23 in a memo and recommend schools call transgender students by the name of their choice and allow them to use the bathroom of whichever gender they identify with. However, many Republican legislators, upset with what they see as a state board of education attempt to legislate morality, have threatened to take funding from state board of education members because of these guidelines. “School districts do have a lot of leeway in terms of what they do in their particular district,” government teacher Mike Rennell said. “I think the bill just opens up the way for school districts to apply it if they feel they want to.” These guidelines have sparked a debate over whether students have the right to dictate their own preferences, Rennell said. “It would fall more to the parents than anyone because they are the ones who have custody of the child,” Rennell said. “If the parents are

identifying the student as one gender, that are a large part of these guidelines, it is also what the school should be doing.” also outlines the bathroom rights of the However, gender fluid student Noah students, saying that it would give trans Elam ’18, said students should be the one students the option to use whatever to tell the school their preferences because bathroom corresponds with the gender while a student might be “out” to their they identify with, according to the Detroit peers, it is not always a guarantee that Free Press website. they’re “out” to their parents as well. Chairman of the School Board Policy “If a parent doesn’t know, and they’re Committee Dan Roeske said South telling a teacher that you have to use this currently does not have a specific policy certain name, then that’s going to make when it comes to this issue. their child feel awful,” Elam said. “So I “Anything we do have would be in think that if your child compliance with knows how they want current state law,” I don’t think they Roeske said. to be represented and have ever really identify, then they The current should be the one to tell addressed the issue. I policies of the Grosse people who they are.” hope they do because Pointe Public School Currently, Elam said include people shouldn’t feel System teachers risk causing anti-harassment, uncomfortable and problems if they refer to n o n d i s c r i m i n at i o n scared to be themselves, a student by the name and access to especially at a place they equal they wish to be called educational have to go to every day. opportunity policies if the student’s parent is unaware. that apply to NOAH ELAM ‘18 “One thing that a transgender students, teacher told me is that he Roeske said. Though could get in trouble if my Elam identifies as mom didn’t know that he was calling me genderfluid and would prefer to use the by a different name,” Elam said. male restrooms, he currently uses the Elam said he knows a few teachers female restroom. For him, it isn’t as bad as at South who are supportive in letting he would think, but he said it’s different for transgender students choose what they each person and how they identify. want to be called. Friends of Horan have had varying Even though there is no current experiences when it comes to school legislation outlining transgender students’ bathrooms. rights at school, Elam said he would “Some of my friends have been like, recommend other transgender students ‘I’ve gone into the girl’s bathroom and tell teachers their preferred pronouns gotten some weird looks, but no one and names if it is important to them. has been like ‘get out!’” Horan said. “You should feel comfortable at Elam said gender-neutral school,” Elam said. “I think that for bathrooms would be beneficial to the most part, teachers at South would make students more comfortable. be pretty cool about it. I don’t think “I think there should be a separate that they would want to purposely make bathroom for specifically trans someone feel uncomfortable.” students because it can be awkward and Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) President uncomfortable if they aren’t comfortable Shannon Horan ’17, said that a student in that situation,” Elam said. shouldn’t have to suffer more just because Rennell also said a gender neutral their parent isn’t accepting of their identity. bathroom could be beneficial for While pronoun and name preferences transgender and gender fluid students.

While dialogue about transgender students’ rights remains prominent in state governments, Elam wishes there could be more local discussion about the topic. Due to the lack of attention to transgender students’ rights, he sometimes feels unrepresented and voiceless in the school community. “I don’t think they have ever really addressed the issue,” Elam said. “I hope they do because people shouldn’t feel uncomfortable and scared to be themselves, especially at a place they have to go to every day.” From Elam’s point of view, this bill is a step in the right direction but not a permanent solution to ignorance and judgment, especially in high school. Rennell said these issues are of enough importance to reach the Supreme Court. In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, Rennell said people’s views on issues of sexuality and identity are changing and similar issues will continue to arise in the Supreme Court. Horan said she also thinks representation on the matter has been changing for the better recently. Elam said that this is an issue that needs to be talked about more openly. “If it doesn’t directly affect your life in a negative way, and it could make a lot of people happy and comfortable, then I don’t see a problem with it,” Elam said.

Student Association, class elections today in the auditorium OLIVIA SHEFFER ’17 // Staff Writer Student government elections for Student Association(SA) and all the Class Councils are to take place today. I think that what The elections are for makes a good senator senator positions for is someone who brings next year. a lot to the table. The Class Councils Someone who is flexible each work to and works well with fundraise for their own individual others. proms, as well as LOGAN CHOLODY ’17 hosting events such as the annual date auction hosted by the senior class. SA organizes events such as the canned food drive and dodgeball marathon. Both work together, each playing a separate role, in the organization of homecoming. “Senators attend all of our Tuesday morning meetings and are a part of our committees they can also chair specific e v e n t s ,” S t u d e n t Ass o ciation advisor and

math teacher Laura Distelrath said. S t u d e n t Association meets Tuesday mornings at 7 a.m. in room 164, and each class council has its own separate meeting times. People who make good senators for the Student Association are responsible, flexible with time, creative with ways to change up their events and make them more UNITED WE STAND// The Student Association shows off their school pride on Unity Day, an exciting, and be event organized every year during Spirit Week. comfortable with communicating elected as a senator position and you still want to be involved to the student body, Distelrath said. in student association continue to come to our meetings,” “I think that what makes a good senator is someone who Distelrath said. brings a lot to the table. Someone who is flexible and works Students can vote during both lunches and after school well with others,” 2016-2017 SA President Logan Cholody ’17 today in the auditorium. said. “We have so many people that are running even if you aren’t

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news // 3

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Detroit-themed party raises money for choir EMMA ANDREASEN ’17 // Pulse Social Media Coordinator The choir booster club is preparing for its second Detroit Classic event, taking place at Sinbads on April 30, to raise money for South’s choir. “As choir boosters, we support the choir and what we raise offsets the expenses they have, which include their costumes, choreography and technicians- anything that goes into supporting their performances, that’s what the funds raised will go towards,” Fundraising Chair Lisa Thams said. To raise money, the Detroit Classic includes activities such as a live auction, a silent auction and alternate bingo games, all with multiple winners, former President and creator of the event, Maurya Kay said. Winners of bingo also receive prizes. “One of the things that is particularly

fun about the bingo aspect of this is the prizes, you get white elephant type of prizes. There’s fun in the gag gifts and getting a reaction from the guests.” Thams said. Another source of attention is the guests, who will be attending in costume. The theme of the event is

Come dressed as your favorite Detroit icon or Detroit gear

Spring r i o

GRAPHIC BY JACK HOLME ‘17

efit Ben

Price: $40 in advanced, $50 at the door

April 30, 7 p.m.

GPS Ch

Live and silent auctions

Detroit, and the dress code is either all-Detroit gear or dressing as a famous Detroit icon. Last year, the winning costume was a Kid Rock representation. The menu is also Detroit-based, including Coney Island and Better Made potato chips. Along with food and bingo, there is also surprise-featured entertainment. The year before, five of the moms dressed up in the girls choir dresses and performed “Stop in the Name of Choir”- which was a highlight of the first Detroit Classic, Thams said. “We get ‘off color’ with our commentary,” Kay said. But that’s half of the fun. Whatever it takes to keep guests donating. “It’s difficult to think of an original fundraising idea, and I think this one works really well. I love the whole dynamic of the event, it’s really fun,” Thams said.

Location: Sindbads, 100 St. Clair Street, Detroit

South implements new policy to unify school CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The program’s primary focus as of now is to establish clear expectations for student behavior, Wolf said. These include what he called “no-brainers” such as driving safely in student parking lots, as well as the new tardy policy. “Together, as one whole staff, we’re able to create greater unity and consistency, so as to develop what our expectations are across the board, in every part of the day, in every part of the building, so kids know exactly what we expect of them,” Wolf said. Though some new rules may develop as a result of the program, the overall focus is not on discipline or punishment but rewarding and encouraging

positive behaviors. Any new rules that do develop would do so from the committee’s identification as an area as opportunity to improve, Wolf said. The initiative offers a way for student concerns to be directly addressed, with the overall philosophy behind it not being discipline, but a way to more quickly identify what supports students need and how the school can help. “I think that it’s a very powerfully positive plan that capitalizes on student’s good behaviors,” parent Jeanne Poleski said. “Though it may originally start with needing some external rewards, the hope is that will turn into intrinsic motivation, with students doing what’s right because it feels right.”

Jennifer K. Mertz, DDS, MS

In addition to parenting children Carolyn Poleski ’16 and Christopher Poleski ’19 and Kerby fifth grader Catherine Poleski, Jeanne is also the principal of Avalon Elementary School in St. Clair Shores, where the PBIS program has been in place for nine years. “What we’ve realized in looking at our data is that not only are office discipline referrals and suspensions reduced, the whole positive climate and culture the program creates in a school leads to increased academic achievement for students,” Poleski said. She said she hopes to see it put into place with students, staff and parents working together to

choose a problem that needs to be addressed, as well as starting with educating the community on the research supporting PBIS. The first clear effects of the program will soon appear at South, with any students with perfect attendance or no tardies being rewarded at the end of this current school year. Although rewards haven’t been officially determined yet, one idea is S-lot parking spots, committee member and commercial foods teacher Patricia O’Hare said. Wolf said, “The intent of PBIS is to put in supports to prevent problems from even happening, not in a disciplinary or punitive way, but in a full, supportive way.”

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mai-guitar.com

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

D-DAY:

feature // 5

Seniors to wear college or university shirts on April 29

set from ‘I’m not good enough’ to understandRAY HASANAJ ’18 // Page Editor College decision day, also known by its ing where there is going to be room for them to moniker “D-day,” falls this Sunday, May 1. Be- succeed,” Walsh-Sahutske said. Even though College Resource Center adcause it falls on a weekend, South seniors voted to hold it this Friday, April 29th. This is the day viser Elizabeth Naporano said she is not directwhere most seniors must commit to universi- ly involved with helping students with their colties. Failure on the part of these seniors to put lege choice, she said she does help guide them down a deposit by this deadline means losing to try to reduce their stress as well. “I make sure that all their paperwork is cortheir admission to a school. Ample time is given for seniors to make rect and everything in Naviance has been input their decisions and fill out their applications, CJ correctly, so that the counselors can send off Lemanski ‘16 said. Any last-minute stress is re- their applications, their transcripts and letters of recommendation,” Naporano said. ally the fault of the individual student. Naporano says she also “I could have made a deciplans College Night and sion months ago, but I didn’t When making your other college activities want to rush it,” Lemanski college decision, just re- throughout the year. said. “I just thought about it ally think through what “It’s nice to be helpful. It a lot and kind of meditated school will make you takes a little bit of the workon it.” the ... best version of you load off the counselors, so I Counselor Beth Walsh-Sathat you want to be. am also helpful to them as hutske sides with Lemanski well,” she said. on this issue. CJ LEMANSKI ’16 The college process can “In some ways, more time be stressful and overbearing, can be a problem, because it’s just kind of good to say ‘OK, that’s it. We’re Walsh-Sahutske said. It also puts the students in done,’” Walsh-Sahutske said.“In terms of need- a vulnerable position, asking for acceptance. “When people risk themselves by laying it ing more time, sometimes it’s just such a beautiout on the line and are saying, ‘Will you accept ful thing when students actually make their decision, and then it’s done. It’s a big weight that’s me?’ it makes you very vulnerable, and there’s lifted off their shoulders, and you can actually power in that vulnerability because we grow see them walking a little taller because it’s so from it,” Walsh-Sahutske said. In the midst of the college application promuch pressure.” She said many students approach her, look- cess it is important to enjoy senior year, Lemaning for help in reflecting on their options and ski said. “Don’t get caught up too much in applicatrying to make a decision. Her words of wistions. When making your college decision, just dom to stressed seniors are to develop a different mindset in regards of getting accepted by a really think through what school will make you the best person, the best leader and the best college. “It’s not really a matter of ‘I’m not good version of you that you want to be,” Lemanski enough for that school,’ just shifting that mind- said.

BENNA AMES ‘16

CJ LEMANSKI ’16

I think generally kids have a really good idea about where they are going. I know that some take longer to decide. But most people I know have decided.

When making your college decision just really think through what school will make you the best person, the best leader, and the best version of you that you want to be.

Emory University

MARSHALL VYLETEL ’16 Brown University

I thought i did a pretty good job sectioning it all out. I did a pretty good amount of work over the summer to actually make sure that my common app part was ready so that when i actually needed to go and do supplemental essays for colleges. It made the whole process a lot smoother.

Baylor University

RYLEY KERIK ’16

University of Colorado Boulder It doesn’t really matter if you don’t have your college decided by May 1. It’s not the end of the world if South’s decision day is May 1 because at the end of the day if you’re waiting to hear from your top choice, that’s all that matters, not whether or not you get to wear a t-shirt when everyone else wears a t-shirt.

Senior takes gap year to explore options and opportunities “I really like the conservation aspect of the learning and the home stays with ARCC and the advenCHRISTINA AMBROZY ’16 // Staff Writer While her peers at the University of Michigan are cramming for finals and stressing for straight A’s, ture excursions such as visiting Machu Picchu and white water rafting,” Reiber said. “I also really wantMary Reiber ‘16 will be reconstructing a libraries in Ecuador, teaching English to children around the ed to take the time to travel before I went off to college then graduate school.” During the second semester, Reiber is searching for an internship in either the medical field or STEM world, collaborating with biologists to protect nesting turtles, and volunteering at orphanages across field. The locations of these programs range from Thailand to Croatia to South Africa. This opportunity Peru. will help Mary narrow down her career options in time for fall of 2017 when she will To become more globally aware, contribute through service projects and discover attend U-M. and select her true major, Reiber chose to take a gap year before attending the Uni“I did not know at all what I wanted to major in so I thought I really needed to versity of Michigan (U-M) and eventually, graduate school. It gives you a whole take some time to investigate the options and learn what I really might be interested Reiber will be attending her gap year through a semester long program called Addifferent perspective on in,” Reiber said. “I also did not have a gut feeling on any college and it gives you time ventures Cross Country (ARCC), which sends a group of eight to twelve students life and allows you to to decide what you want to do before jumping into undergrad and wasting a heat of from around the world traveling through Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru to do service approach it in a whole college credits that you may not need for your final major.” projects alongside culture and language education. different and more satisJoan Reiber, Mary’s mother, agrees and said that taking a gap year has many ad“I want to improve my Spanish, and I also want to go on my gap year to help me vantages that Mary can develop such as cultural broadening and assimilation, new decide what to major in and become a more globally aware person,” Reiber said. “I fying way. experiences, building relationships from all corners of the globe and narrowing down really want to get out of the bubble, so to speak, and get some real world experience.” her interests. MARY REIBER ’16 Currently living with Reiber is Fanny Segers ‘16, an exchange student from Bel“This gap year will help Mary have greater clarity regarding her career ambitions, gium who is spending her gap year at South. Segers said that she took a gap year as well as enhance her future independence,” Joan said. “Mary has a lot of interests because she wanted to discover a new culture, meet new people and go away from her and enjoys many subjects, so narrowing down her career focus has been challenging.” comfort zone and speak English. On top of focusing on her academics and expanding her global knowledge, Mary said that she will “When Reiber said she wanted to take a gap year I was surprised but not that surprised because I also understand the privileges that she has versus the situations that other people in the world face. knew she was the kind of person who would like to do it and I am really happy,” Segers said. “It gives you a whole different perspective on life and allows you to approach it in a whole different In-between community service and projects, Reiber has the opportunity to travel and experience and more satisfying way,” Mary said. new countries along the way.

Trade school provides lucrative alternative to college South. She said that growing up, she was encouraged to pursue her booming, providing incentives for interested students to try out a LAUREN PANKIN ’16 // Supervising Editor When Donovan Dunham ’16 first picked up welding at Boy Scout passions, and she views her son’s decision to attend trade school in the trade. The trades industry fluctuates based on the strength of the economy and number of workers in a limited number of positions. summer camp, he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with same light. Meaghan said it was initially a difficult decision “With the economy right now, the situation is really ideal because a torch in his hand--a career pathway which guarfor their family not to advise Donovan to enter an we have so many people that are currently in the trade force who are antees him post-graduate employment with 80 percent less time in school than a traditional degree, As you work as a weld- associate’s or bachelor’s program. But, these op- retiring or preparing to retire,” Walsh-Sahutske said. “What that means tions were ultimately not as relevant for Donovan’s is that there will be a lot of job openings in skilled trades.” he said. er, your education can choice. In Nov. 2015, Walsh-Sahutske said she helped bring trade schools “It’s just you and the machine and the metal,” only improve, you get “This (welding) is something that no one can to South for informational sessions, and around 12 students attended. Dunham said. “I know that is some kind of Conmore and more practice, ever take away from him,” Meaghan said. “If it takes Both Walsh-Sahutske and Donovan said the average age of weldfucius-sounding Chinese bull, but you get it in your so you can only better him into a career, awesome. If it doesn’t turn into a ers is nearing 50, in keeping with an aging Baby Boomer population. hand and you start welding … you know that what career, he will have a marketable However, even before these workers retire, there you are doing is dangerous. You could easily get yourself. skill for the zombie apocalypse.” will be a need for welders. third degree burns. You could easily get electrocutWith the economy DONOVAN DUNHAM ’16 Stigmas surrounding trade “Unless they stop making things out of metal or ed by the machine, but as long as you are careful and right now, the situation school are slowly vanishing, Mecreate fully functioning human-shaped robots that respect it … it’s equivalent to art.” is really ideal because aghan said, mostly due to the ashave our brain capacity and agility, they are not As an Eagle Scout, Dunham said he took the going to be getting rid of welders anytime soon, as brand new welding merit badge, and fell in love with its beauty. The tronomical debt some students are shouldering for we have so many potentially unusable degrees. next summer, he taught the badge himself. people that are currently long as they continue to make things that are strucData taken from the final issue of last year’s editurally sound,” Donovan said. Now, he plans to learn every type of welding over the course of in the trade force who On average, welders make $36,000 annually, aca 9-and-a-half-month program at the Hobart Institute of Welding in tion of “The Tower” shows that Grosse Pointe South are retiring or preparing cording to career research website Glassdoor. But Troy, Ohio. According to this vocational-technical college’s website, is college-oriented high school: for the Class of 2015, to retire. 89 percent of students planned on attending a fourmilitary contract welders can make upwards of six classes are offered for over 20 types of welding. figures per year, and $50,000 is a common salary for “I decided that I didn’t have anything specific ‘smart-wise’ to do in year college. This is 23 percent higher than the naBETH WALSH-SAHUTSKE welders straight out of trade school, Donovan said. college; I’m not going to be an accountant, I’m not going to be an En- tional average of 66 percent, according to the NaCounselor Donovan said, “As you work as a welder, your glish teacher,” Dunham said, “and this just seemed like a very fun and tional Center for Education Statistics website. However, the tides are changing, counselor Beth education can only improve, you get more and different thing to do that would financially secure me.” His mother, Meaghan Dunham, is in fact an English teacher at Walsh-Sahutske said. Currently, the job market for skilled trades is more practice, so you can only better yourself.”

sports // 6

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

From the ice to the turf:

Hockey goalie tries her hand at lacrosse

Girls varsity lacrosse coach Alycsa Valentine said Mikesell has ad- and that’s something that I need to work on, and clearing,” Olivia said. ALEXIS MOTSCHALL ’16 // Business Manager “Clearing the ball out to defense From the ice to the turf, Olivia Mikesell ’19’s hockey experience has justed to the game of lacrosse quickly. “Olivia makes big saves when she needs to and really gets the team to get the breakout going down.” led to success as a goalie in her first year of lacrosse. She has been a longOlivia has learned how to fix Mikesell has played hockey for nine years and has been goalie for fired up to play their best,” Valentine said via e-mail. “Her calm and time hockey player, but five or six, she said. Mikesell played Tier I AAA. She played hockey consistent presence in the net carries through to her teammates, too. her mistakes by improving her we have seen her really This really helps the team as a whole stay calm in pressure situations.” ability to coach herself, Valentine throughout the fall and winter and trained over the summer. blossom and come to Olivia said the team has been very supportive of her. said. “Olivia has unbelievable demands on her time with a AAA Tier I love the sport of la“It’s a lot different playing with juniors and seniors, but they’re a “My favorite moment involvhockey schedule that requires extensive travel,” Olivia’s mother, Laura ing Olivia this season happened crosse over these last Mikesell, said via e-mail. “One of her best qualities is being able to bal- really nice group of girls. They’re really welcoming,”Olivia said. Olivia’s positive presence and drive are what motivate the team to at one of our first practices,” Valance the demands of her homework with her many hours of practice.” several weeks. entine said. “Olivia got hit with a Next year Mikesell plans to play prep-school hockey at the Deer- play their best game, Valentine said. LAURA MIKESELL “In our game against Ann Arbor Pioneer she made some unbeliev- hard shot during a shooting drill, field Academy in Massachusetts. OLIVIA’S MOM “I was at the USA National Development (hockey) Camp this sum- able saves at the end of the game and she ended up winning the game and the smile on her face got bigger. She is truly a goalie at heart, through and through.” mer and met a lot of girls who go to prep school and play prep school for us,” Captain Elizabeth Rauh ’16 said. Olivia said one of the things she wants to improve on includes stepOlivia said her parents and grandparents are big supporters and go hockey,” Olivia said “They said that they loved it and that it was a great ping towards the ball. to as many games as they can. opportunity for colleges to look at you.” “That (stepping towards the ball) is a big fundamental of goalies, Olivia’s father played hockey and football for South which has Olivia said she applied to six prep schools including: Berkshire, created an allegiance to South Williston, St. Marks, Kent, Groathletics for the Mikesell family, ton and Deerfield. Laura said. “I chose Deerfield because it “We are both proud when she has an amazing history, the camcomes in smiling from games or pus is beautiful and surrounded practice in her Blue Devil gear by mountains, the facilities are just like her dad did,” Laura said. second to none, and there was a Olivia said that she is both sad great sense of community,” Olivia and excited about the move. said. “I will miss friends, family, my Before attending Deerfield lacrosse and hockey teams, and Academy, Olivia wanted the just the feel of Grosse Pointe in chance to play a sport at South general,” Olivia said “But with the before she left, she said. move come exciting opportuni“My friends really wanted me ties.” to play (lacrosse), and they were Olivia wants to play college like, ‘Oh yeah, lacrosse needs hockey, but said she would play goalies,’ so I was like, ‘Alright, lacrosse if it didn’t work out. I mean I get to play with my “Our hope for Olivia is that friends for one year,’” Olivia said. she finds her perfect place in high As a lacrosse goalie, getting school and/or collegiate athletics in front of the ball and staying in either or both of those sports,” square to the shooter are funLaura said. “She has been a longdamentally very similar to the time hockey player, but we have movements of a hockey goalie, seen her really blossom and come Olivia said. It felt natural for her to love the sport of lacrosse over to get in the net and make saves. these last several weeks. She takes “I hear a lot of goalies step her practice and games very seriinto the net, and they just can’t TRANSITIONING // Olivia Mikesell ’19 (top left) takes her stance as a goalie in lacrosse practice. (Top right) Olivia guards her ously, and we have hope that that do it because the ball is coming at post while playing goalie for her Tier I AAA team, “BelleTire.” (Above) Olivia poses for a photo with her new teammates on hard work will pay off in the long them,” Olivia said. “I’m not really the varsity lacrosse team. Olivia was a hockey goalie for five to six years before she tried lacrosse. PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIVIA MIKESELL ’19 run.” afraid to stop the shot.”

SPORTS UPDATE

SPORT // Girls tennis Record: 2-0 Captain’s Quote: “We have had a great start to the season, and we are hoping to continue to perform well in our upcoming matches and tournaments.” -Maddie Paolucci ’17 Team traditions: Pasta parties the Friday before tournaments.

SPORT // Rowing Record: 1-0 Captain’s Quote: “Our goal for the season is to qualify as many boats for nationals as we can.”Bella Strickler ’16 Team traditions: They throw their coxswain in the water after they win races.

SPORT // Boys track Record: 0-2 Captain’s Quote: “Our season is going OK; we’ve had a lot of improvement from last year. We lost some seniors, but we are working hard to have a strong team and hope to compete this year.” -Matt Wholihan ’16 Expectations for season: Make it to states.

INFORMATION COMPILED BY, MADELEINE GLASSER ’17, OLIVIA SHEFFER ’17 AND CALLIE ZINGAS ’16 PHOTOS COURTESY OF SASHA SZURA ’17, MADELEINE GLASSER ’17 AND OLIVIA SHEFFER ’17