THE WOOSTER BLADE
WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • MARCH 1, 2019 • VOLUME XIX, ISSUE 10
A reflection of pop culture and the affects it has on its audience Photo taken by Haley Balas
INDEX
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 2
Swimmers and diver go to state Pg. 3
FRONT SECTION ON CAMPUS COW hosts LARPing Club Pg. 14
FOCUS TRENDS
Robotics teams qualify for state competition Pg. 15
SPORTS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
COVER
ARTS FEATURE VIEWS
THE WOOSTER BLADE Editors-in-Chief John Gorman, Alexa Mitchell • Webmaster Jacob Gooch • Graphics Managers Jacob Gooch, Catherine Strong • Business Manager Anna Nacci • On Campus Editors Clara Lee, Gina Van Lieu • Investigative Feature Editor Alexis Florence • Focus Editors Henry Gamble, Emily Jewell, Rheanna Velasquez • Sports Editors Reece Mitchell, Griffin Murphy • A & E Editors Skyy Khounborin, Melina Mera, Catherine Strong • Trends Editors Molly Schneider, Corinne Wiles • Cover Editors Maddy McCully, Holly Miller, Rachael Schmidt • Views Editors David Cheng, Alec Pauley • Feature Editor Anna Nacci • Staff Writers Keifer Dilyard, Maeve Florence-Smith, Sophie Gamble, Mason Garcia, Madison Helms, Julia Hootman, Jacob Nurse, Korbin Reed, Leo Riley, Paulina Salazar, Bryn Savidge, Mya Vandegrift, Theresa Wendell, Lena Wiebe • Head Photographer Maddy McCully • Photographers Grace Brownson, Alexis Florence, Jacob Gooch, Maddy McCully, Reece Mitchell, Rachael Schmidt, Theresa Wendell • Artists Haley Balas, Catherine Strong, Corinne Wiles • Adviser Kristi Hiner The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The paper is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established in a district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the right to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Wooster Blade is printed in cooperation with Wooster’s The Daily Record. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade staff can be contacted at 330-345-4000 ext. 3210. The newspaper can also be found at thewoosterblade.com
ON CAMPUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 3
Swimmers and a diver qualify for states ALEXA MITCHELL
co-editor-in-chief After a long season, four swimmers and one diver from the WHS swim and dive team went to state. On Feb. 21, at McKinley High School, Brooke Balas (9) placed 22 out of 24 with only one other freshman diver competing at state. Balas said she has been training by practicing every day in Perry for two hours, but she was still nervous. “I was very nervous once I
got there, but my expectations weren’t too high considering I have a lot less experience than everyone else,” Balas said. Thomas Matthew (11) placed eleventh in the 100 free and eighth in the 200 free. Matthew said he felt great with how he swam and is very happy with how the season went. “I felt great going into it, super excited and so honored to be there and just be able to swim against hard competition,” Matthew said.
Matthew was also a part of two relays, along with Kyle Ward (11), Jaden Boucher (10) and Andrew Glasgow (9). In the 200 relay, Wooster placed 22 and in the 400 relay Wooster placed 21. Jaden Boucher said he is proud of the season and he would not want to have it any other way. “We pushed each other every day to the limits, and I’m very proud of all the guys,” Boucher said.
JACOB GOOCH
From left to right: swimmers Andrew Glasglow, Kyle Ward, Thomas Matthew, Jaden Boucher and Tim Fritts as they are clapped-out. Chris Matthew, the swim and dive team coach, said she is proud of all members of the
team and said that all who qualified improved their ranks or times at state.
WCSD administrators and police hosts second safety summit webmaster
On Feb. 20, the Wooster City School District hosted their second safety summit, which was advertised in the winter issue of the WCSD newsletter as a panel discussion which would look at last year’s summit in terms of: what has been done to improve safety and security in the WCSD, next steps for the district to take in safety and security and a Q&A with the panel on safety and security. At the summit, superintendent Dr. Michael Tefs first led a presentation addressing the changes made in the district in the past year. One was the creation of a safety and security
committee, chaired by Thomas G. Maurer, geared toward reviewing a report done by an outside agency on the security and safety circumstances of the district. On the topic of the report, Maurer stated at the meeting, “Dr. Tefs made it very clear [to the authors of the report] that no building was more important than another.” Tefs also showed retrofitting done to the high school, which separates the community access to the building from the students. This separation was accomplished through the construction of two walls in the main hallway of the high school and the rear hallway of the gym. Tefs also stated that more physical changes are to come.
At the meeting, Tefs explained a new piece of software to safeguard students, VisitU, a platform that is present at all district locations. The software
Graphic by Corinne Wiles
JACOB GOOCH
POLICE
runs a background check using drivers license information and notifies district staff of their guest’s arrival. In addition to this software, the district also
advertised their safety hotline, marketed online as, “See something. Say something. Do something.,” with both phone numbers and an online form available. The district has invested in mental well-being as well, with OHuddle and Boys and Girls Club of Wooster to provide students with a support system, as well as access to mental health services provided by district staff. Christine Lindeman, Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club of Wooster, said membership at Edgewood has grown, allowing the participating students the ability to, “claim their stake in boys and girls club, and have a second home.” Lindeman
also noted that the program provides a support system for many students. Mental health services in the district have also been strengthened with Tefs reporting greater access to guidance counselors for students, with five-counselors at the high school, two at Edgewood and two that float between other elementary schools. In the questioning segment, Tefs remarked in summation, “Finding solutions that work within all of our buildings is challenging and it [securing our buildings] is an ongoing process.” Tefs commented that he felt the district was moving in a good direction, but as stated, “it is an ongoing process.”
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THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 4
Administration discusses power issues at WHS ALEC PAULEY views editor
Graphic by Catherine Strong
Elementary book fairs provide opportunity to promote literacy LENA WIEBE staff writer On Feb. 25, groups of parents trickled into Melrose Elementary School with their children to attend parentteacher conferences. Many stopped by the school’s library to browse the cardboard pop-up exhibits filled with everything from Judy Moody books to Harry Potter pens and Pokémon stationary because the Scholastic Book Fair was there, and it would stay there for the duration of the week. Matt and Amy Holmes, both volunteer at the book fair and are parents to a kindergartner at Melrose, agreed book fairs are beneficial. Matt Holmes said, “You get to meet other parents… they coincide it with parent-teacher conferences. We got to meet one of our son’s friends’ parents just now.” In contrast, Amy Holmes said she believes the book
selection was especially helpful in increasing access to reading books and reading materials. “A lot of people can’t go to the big bookstores that carry all these things,” she said. Matt Holmes said the fiction book options and products like
“A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN’T GO TO THE BIG BOOKSTORES THAT CARRY ALL THESE THINGS,” HOLMES SAID. specialty pens and erasers are especially popular among the children. Melrose principal, Kaylee Harrell, agrees that book fairs are a matter of access. To her,
the priority of the book fairs, is simply “...To get books into kids’ hands… any opportunity that kids can get access. This year we did a Trunk or Treat, and all the kids got to listen to themed books. In the winter, we did Cozy Up With a Good Book, we did read-alouds. I think it’s important to just get the books into the hands of kids, so they can walk away with a book.” Harrell said when buying books at the book fair, parents can opt to round up their purchases to the dollar and donate that sum to the school, and notes that Scholastic will match the donations. Thus, when Melrose holds its third book fair, every child will receive a free book. “Anything we use from the book fair, we use to purchase more books,” Harrell said. The book fair comes to all of the elementary schools and Edgewood Middle School at the times of parent-teacher conferences.
On Feb. 8, WHS was closed due to a lack of power in a large portion in the second story academic wing. Michael Foore, WCS Manager of Buildings and Grounds, said the electrical issues on the second floor and the reason for school closing on Feb. 8 was because, “The underground conduit has failed and the wiring has been compromised.” The reason for the failure was due to the material used when wiring was first installed which, “is not uncommon in buildings of this age with slab on grade construction. Our remedy will eliminate this as a future recurring issue,” Foore said. Foore says that to fix the electrical issues, the ground workers will be replacing the service feed. WCSD superintendent Dr. Michael Tefs says it is unknown how much these repairs will cost thus far. Foore says the materials necessary for the repair have
been ordered and should arrive within the 10 days. But, even once the material arrives, Foore describes the electrical issues as, “a large repair and to do it properly and permanently will take a few weeks.” Though there is not a set date as to when the electrical problems will be fully and permanently fixed, Foore says, “there are no issues that are limiting or inhibiting any academics now or during this process [of repair].” WHS Principal Tyler Keener explains that teachers have been asked to refrain from using items such as refrigerators and microwaves in their individual classrooms to conserve power. “Other than the missed day and the day we lost power, our teachers have not needed to change any of their teaching practices based upon our electrical situation,” Keener says. The electrical issue will be fixed roughly within the next month, but until it is, Keener notes it will not interfere with the academic process.
Upcoming WCSD Events to Watch Cornerstone Right to Read Week March 4-8 Kean Carnival March 8 from 5:30-8 p.m. Edgewood Student Dance March 14 from 6-8:30 p.m. WHS Jazz Night March 19 at 7:30 p.m.
FOCUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 5
Technology & Teens:
Best age for child to receive phone remains puzzling
Phone and applications create usage conundrum Speaker promotes safe social media usage SOPHIE GAMBLE staff writer Digital citizenship and social media safety speaker Josh Ochs from smartsocial.com will be visiting WHS on March 4 to speak to students in grades 5 through 12. The same night, parents and other adults will be invited to the PAC to hear Ochs speak from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Ochs travels across the country to speak to 30,000 students per year, according to the website referenced by Ochs, smartsocial.com. The presentation will focus on the positive and negative
aspects of social media, for example how students can use various social medias as a personal portfolio for college applications, according to the WHS website. Smartsocial’s goal is to keep the student body safe and to, “give parents a proactive way to start a dialog with their kids about being smart on social media,” according to their website. Rebecca Furlong, WCS Director of Technology, hopes to help parents work with their children to navigate proper and safe use of social media. She was also involved in planning Ochs’ visit to WHS. “We want to provide that
education to parents to help them feel more comfortable talking to their children about the topic and making decisions as a family on the rules for device use,” Furlong said. Furlong hopes to help students learn how to use social media in a positive way so that they can create a digital footprint that promotes their accomplishments. A main focus of Och’s presentation will be how to keep a positive image online for colleges and future employers. His website states that he believes that social media can be used to brand people in a positive way for the future if it is used properly.
LEO RILEY staff writer It is undeniable that phones have become a major part of our lives, especially in recent years as nearly everyone has their own phone from adults to children, with the national average being down from 12 to 10 years old, according to a 2016 study from influencecentral. However, the question of when children should actually get their first phone has never truly been answered in a way that has been generally accepted, leaving parents to decide on their own. Unfortunately, this decision of when children should be allowed a phone is just as important, and potentially dangerous, as many have thought. An article titled “We Need to Talk About Kids and Smartphones” by Markham Heid, freelance writer and journalist, further explores the dangers of technology on the adolescent brain. Heid informs readers of the growingly apparent link
between youths’ obsession with devices and depression, including one girl, Nina Langton’s, struggle with depression and suicide. The article shows that even people who are not victims of cyberbullying can be negatively affected by excessive use of phones and social media. Langston notes that “Part of what made my depression so difficult was that I didn’t understand why I was feeling so sad.” After going to a therapist, Langston worked out that it was body issues caused by exposure to Instagram models. A separate article by The New York Times titled “What’s the Right Age for a Child to Get a Smartphone?” confirms that there is no correct answer yet, in regards to the title of the article. Although experts do believe in the concept that ownership later for children is better when it comes to smartphones, “The longer you keep Pandora’s box shut, the better off you are,” said Jesse Weinberger, an internet safety speaker from the aforementioned article.
Poll demonstrates students’ opinions on social media and technology
What social media platform is the most detrimental to your well-being?
What age should kids receive their first phone? 8-10 years old: 16% 11-13 years old: 61% 14-15 years old: 12% 34.9%
21.7%
11.6%
3.9%
27.1%
On Feb. 26, 129 students were polled by Molly Schneider, Catherine Strong, Mya Vandegrift, Grace Brownson and Korbin Reed during academics assists and study halls. Graphics by Jacob Gooch, Alexa Mitchell and The Wooster Blade Archive
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 6
Burke and Stansifer qualify to Akron Beacon Journal Regional Spelling Bee JACOB NURSE staff writer Sixth grader Aiden Burke and seventh grader Jackson Stansifer of Edgewood Middle School, both recently qualified to The Akron Beacon Journal’s regional spelling bee that will take place March 9, according to a press release on the Wooster City School District website. The regional meet will consist of middle school students from Medina, Summit, Portage and Wayne counties, all competing to make it to the national spelling bee held in Maryland, according to spellingbee.com. Any Edgewood Middle School student who took the initial test was eligible to compete, and for Burke, doing the spelling bee
never occurred to him until then. “I hadn’t really thought about it at first, but then our teacher gave us the test and I was pretty good at it, so I gave it a shot,” Burke said. Stansifer, who also never participated in the spelling bee, felt the same way as Burke after he found out he did well on the test. “I got top three in our class, and I had a chance to compete, and I thought it would be fun,” Stansifer said. Burke tied for second in the district spelling bee and Stansifer tied for fourth. Burke attributes his success to his good memory and to writing down harder words so that he will remember them better. “My teacher said if you write a word down seven times, you
will usually get it,” Burke said. Other than tips, it is entirely up to Burke and Stansifer to prepare for the regional bee. “I do not meet with the students to help them train. They are on their own to study for the bee,” said Cynthia Beeman, who is a computer and technology teacher at Edgewood and runs the school’s spelling bee. Burke said he is fairly confident he will do well in the regional meet if he keeps practicing French, German and Slavic languages. “I think he will do well because he is a very conscientious student and always takes time to study and always tries to do his very best and takes it seriously,” says Burke’s mother, Jennifer Burke, who admits that Burke is a much better speller than she is.
“Progress over perfection”:
OHuddle motivational speaker visits WHS RHEANNA VELASQUEZ focus editor
“Embrace progress over perfection. You can get better than you’ve ever imagined,” said motivational speaker Dan Owolabi, addressing the crowd of WHS students in the PAC. Owolabi, a Wooster local
and Executive Director of the leadership development ministry Branches Worldwide, took center stage in conjunction with mentoring organization OHuddle’s OHuddle Hour, an initiative promoting positive school culture and youth wellness. “I used to be a high school history teacher, so I really
love high school students. The potential is crazy high. If you can get in early and invest in a student, then you can help them change their life,” Owolabi said, describing the importance of outreach to high school students. Adria Lemmon (10) described Owolabi as very inspiring. “My personal takeaway was to
JACOB NURSE
Jackson Stansifer (left) tied for fourth place while Aiden Burke (right) tied for second at the 63 annual Wayne County Spelling Bee on Jan. 29. Stansifer and Burke will advance to the regional spelling bee in March. Burke said he hopes to do very well in the regional meet and Stansifer said he
is aiming to place within the top five, although he admits it would be nice to win.
keep moving forward, to have a growth mindset and to improve and try something rather than just giving up,” Lemmon said. In his speech to students, Owolabi emphasized understanding the value of a growth mindset over a fixed mindset. “A fixed mindset is a mindset that says that either you are born with it or you’re not... A growth mindset is different. It’s where you put yourself in a position and you recognize, ‘I can grow up. I can get better. I might not be good today, but I can be better tomorrow,’” Owolabi said.
OHuddle Executive Director Sara Reith described Owolabi’s progress over perfection message as consistent with the mentoring organization’s name, “Odyssey Huddle.” “We believe that life is a journey, and you should surround yourself with those who motivate you to be your best self,” Reith said. Owolabi visited on Feb. 19, presenting his motivational speech during students’ Academic Assist periods. Owolabi was the first school-wide speaker under the OHuddle Hour initiative, according to Reith.
TRENDS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 7
The Keto 10 day challenge is a diet in which an individual can not eat carbs or artificial sugar. This was popularized by celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez and Hoda Kotb. During my 10 day experiment participating in this challenge, the only divergence that I had was consuming natural sugars from fruits and vegetables, and most meals consisted of little to no carbs. Here are some different foods that will make this challenge a little easier and some different emotional side effects.
Cauliflower is a good replacement for bread at any meal. Cauliflower can be made as rice, crust or just as a cheesy side dish. However, cauliflower in these forms still tastes like cauliflower, not like the food for which it is standing. Seeds, specifically pepitas or pumpkin seeds, are a great snack, even off the diet. They are crunchy flavored seeds that can replace chips during lunch. Even though they can get boring, especially after eating them day after day, they add a great boost of flavor to a meal. All meats, especially chicken, are necessary when eating on this diet. Any non-processed, and even some processed meats, have no carbs and are very filling. Meat can also be spiced up and be served in different forms like being grilled or shredded.
10 Day Challenge: NO CARBS
AND SUGAR
This diet is a good way to experience different lifestyles and to build up mental strength. Initially, I found it very tempting to eat carbs, but staying strong will build up toughness when it comes to choosing different meals, which is something I experienced. It is also a good way to lose weight because your body begins to burn fat, instead of carbs, since there is none taken in by the body. On the first day on Keto, most people quickly start to go through withdrawal. For me, this was, however, the worst on the second and third day. This diet also makes people hungrier throughout the day because there is such a limited menu wherever you go, and I found it difficult to find places that had a good variety. Most people have to do a lot of research when it comes to picking and choosing food to eat throughout these 10 days. Additionally, without carbs, much of the food intake on these diets are primarily made up of fats, which is not necessarily the healthiest option.
5
2 Feb. 5
2 Feb.
Graphics by Catherine Strong
24 . b e F 23 . b e F Blurbs and pictures taken by Molly Schneider
COVER
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 10
POP CULT URE
This issue, the cover section aimed to briefly examine the effects of popular culture on our lives. Literature, music, apps, television and films all take up a significant amount of free time for people and shape how they view the world.
The importance of
reading remains despite technology interference
BRYN SAVIDGE staff writer In an age of smartphones and social media, reading may seem like an ancient practice to many people. More specifically, today’s youth. Jill Coppola, English Dept. member, comments on the disconnect between teenagers and books, saying, “There is a big difference between this school year and even as recently as five years ago. I used to see students who just devoured books in a series, like Harry Potter, Hunger Games or
Divergent... I don’t see that so much any more; it’s just not as common as it used to be.” Now, even students themselves have noticed the lack of connection. Kaitlyn Drown (10) suggests that people just do not consider reading to be fun, but rather boring. She also adds that reading outside of English class is challenging with participation in extracurricular activities. Moreover, the lack of reading may have to do with technology’s role in distracting teenagers from picking up a book in the first place. As
the American Psychological Association reported in 2018, “less than 20 percent of U.S. teens report reading a book, magazine or newspaper daily for pleasure, while more than 80 percent say they use social media every day.” Coppola observes that “students also want to read more on their phones now as opposed to reading actual books.” Bekah Barnett (11) furthers the idea, stating people today are finding other outlets of entertainment. “Even though it [technology] created a way to access books
with a touch of your finger, people choose to download Netflix instead of a book,” Barnett states. However some are finding ways to encourage reading habits. Coppola suggests students can keep a list of books to read in the summer or to try reading before bed instead of spending that time on a phone. Whenever Drown finds herself playing on her phone or watching television, she tries to read instead. Additionally, Coppola states that members of the WHS English Dept. agreed to require
summer reading to encourage students in grades 9-12 to pick up a book outside of school. “We all have classroom libraries of all different kinds of books that students can borrow. I think most of us incorporate into our lesson plans projects that offer students choices of books in order to try to pique their interest in reading,” Coppola says. Although teenagers may not be as interested in reading as they were in the past, students and teachers at WHS are active in encouraging and helping others understand its importance.
Musicians spread social and cultural messages to listeners PAULINA SALAZAR staff writer Music is a universal experience with its many genres, artists and albums. In this new age of technology, music is more easily streamed and shared, becoming more readily available to everyone. Of course, like everything, music comes with an impact on society by bringing us together and aiding in social development. Artists often try to get a social
or cultural message across with their music. There have been songs made to bring awareness to many things, including police brutality and mental health issues. In 2018, Childish Gambino’s song “This is America” raised awareness to the many social and political issues facing the United States, focusing specifically on racism. Songs and albums like these and others are often are used to connect to others and to help those who may feel isolated or
alienated from others. Logic’s 2017 song “1-800-273-8255” brought mental health issues to a spotlight and reminded many they were not alone. A study, “The importance of music to adolescents,” found in ResearchGate by A.C. North, David J. Hargreaves, and Susan A. O’Neill in 2000, found that teenagers use music in order to aid themselves in forming their identities. There is also a different impact music has on society. Music also ties us all together both
culturally and socially. The Beatles managed to create a phenomenon fueled by diverse fans’ love for their music that still exists to this day. “Unraveling the mystery of music: Music as an evolved group process,” published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 2013 by Chris Loerch and Nathan Arbuckle, studied the relationship between music and group activities and how music brings us together despite the possible cultural and social
boundaries. “We demonstrate that people’s emotional responses to music are intricately tied to the other core social phenomena that bind us together into groups,” states the study. Music has a great impact on society because it has the power to unite people, as explained by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, “in a world of diversity where often values clash, music leaps across language barriers and unites people of quite different cultural backgrounds.”
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 11
2018 Top Apps:
These are the top five apps from apple.com in 2018. Apps play a role in affecting popular culture and greatly influence their users.
Youtube Average session: 40
Total number of daily active users: 30+
Million
Facebook Messenger
Snapchat
viewing
minutes (rises 50% every year)
Stats collected from Omnicoragency. com and expandeddrambling.com by Holly Miller
Number
of
Snapchats
created
everyday:
Billion Instagram Number of daily active users: 500
Million
Number of photos shared to date: 50 Billion Number of businesses on Instagram: 25 million
Average number of messages sent monthly:
3
8 billion Facebook
Number of daily active Snapchat
Million
users:
188
Facebook’s
like
has
used
been
Number of emojis sent button
daily:
5 billion
1.13
trillion times Accounts for over 42% of monthly social media visits
Graphics from The Wooster Blade archives
Television impacts Gen Z lives
JULIA HOOTMAN staff writer Generation Z are people born in the mid 1990s to early 2000s, often mistaken for, and born right after, millennials. Television and film has been prominent in entertainment for all of Gen Z kids lives. Movies, specifically, are advertised everywhere and are often created to make a point or to influence. According to statistics by the Motion Picture Association of America, 12 through 17 year olds go to the movies more than any other age group. Gen Z teenagers and adults influence and are influenced by movies and television. Movies can provide an emotional outlet for those who love them,
especially teenagers. For some, high school is a place full of harsh realities and stressful situations. Television and film are most influential among teenagers because as movie-loving WHS student Rebecca DiScipio (10) puts it, “Television and film provide a good way to escape from reality.” While stressed out teens can benefit from that escape, oftentimes certain movies and their topics can hit a little too close to home. Plot in film or certain characters in film can affect a teen with related personal issues in one of two ways. In a negative light, the movie can serve as a way to further trigger an already emotional person, or in a positive light the movie can help to comfort them. It could give them a sense of security or a feeling of belonging during a hard time. Television and film create interest, provide common ground among teenagers and young adults, and give an escape from reality. Movies and television are an unavoidable part of life in today’s day and age, regardless of whether they have negative or positive effects.
A&E
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 12
New releases in the arts:
MADISON HELMS staff writer
GRIFFIN MURPHY sports editor
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is the final, and quite possibly the best, movie in the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. This series of movies has also been accompanied by a TV series, and then following that, a Netflix series. The TV series and Netflix series take place between the movies to help build to the culmination of the story lines that reach their final end in a grand fashion. This movie takes a new spin on the common issues the Berkians, the people trying to coexist with the dragons, faced throughout other movies, while still adding new depths to the characters and new challenges they must face, such as a new breed of dragon and a new drug their enemy uses to knock out the dragons. The movie follows Hiccup, the protagonist, and Toothless, his dragon, who face a new enemy who is trying to capture the dragons with trickery and cruelty that Hiccup and Toothless have not yet faced. Hiccup must accept the challenge of facing this new enemy, while still keeping up with his chiefly duties on Berk and keeping his people happy and safe. Overall, this movie is an amazing combination of action, emotion and loss that will keep viewers invested for the entire time, wishing for more, but loving every second we are given.
On Jan. 18, singer Dodie Clark shared with the world her music, as well as gave fans a closer look inside her mind with her album, Human. Dodie Clark, more commonly known simply as Dodie, has been making music since 2011, often sharing her music on YouTube. Human consists of seven pop songs, all filled with stunning vocal and emotional lyrics, touching on topic matter from mental illness to dealing with a crush. While some of these songs were new for the album, others have been seen formally on Dodie’s YouTube channel. The album, overall, has a very soft and vulnerable mood, which Dodie achieves by having mostly acoustic songs, such as “Human” and “She.” Dodie is unique as an artist because of her absolute honesty and vulnerability. Known for speaking up about her depression and bisexuality on various social media platforms, Dodie continues that trend in this album, sharing her most intimate thoughts with her listeners. Human is a beautifully thought out album whose gentle sound and honest lyrics can be appreciated by many.
thank u, next by Ariana Grande
Human by Dodie Clark
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Recent music and film releases spark positive reviews
REECE MITCHELL sports editor
Ariana Grande’s album thank u, next is a very impressive album. The album was released around five months after her album Sweetener was released, so to produce the quality of music in that short time is very impressive. The three songs “7 rings,“ “thank u, next” and “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored” are all of my favorite songs on the album with all of them being in the top three on the billboard hip hop top 100 charts at one point. Those songs boomed in popularity and soon became three of the most popular songs around the world. The album was good because it portrays a good feeling, it is very upbeat and has a happy rhythm to it. Grande has found a way to show her emotions through all of her songs, while also adding a twist in the music video of, “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored”, having a lot of people shocked at the end of it.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World movie cover fair use courtesy of howtotrainyourdragon.com. Human by Dodie Clark album cover fair use courtesy of dodie.co thank u, next by Ariana Grande album cover fair use courtesy of www.arianagrande.com
THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 13
ATTABOY: musicians aim to deliver a positive message through performance ANNA NACCI feature editor Recently, WHS students flocked into the performing arts center and as anticipation built, the number of available seats quickly waned. On Feb. 12, all 8, 9, and 10 graders, as well as Stand Together Against Narcotics and Drugs (STAND) members in grades 11 and 12 attended a performance by the band Attaboy during the school day. There was also a second concert held later that evening. Attaboy was brought to WHS in part by Wendy’s, according to John Karamas, assistant director of STAND.
Along with WenCo, STAND and Fellowship of Christian Athletes also helped to bring the band to WHS. Attaboy addressed making healthy choices in life during their concert, according to Ryan Payne, lead singer of Attaboy. The band’s message fit with STAND, as, “The overall purpose is just to have our students make healthy life choices,” Karamas said. The band’s message reached its audience, as Neena Shell (10) who attended the concert, said, “I think the concert will affect my decision making.” The concert was well liked by many students in attendance, as Zoe Chamberlin (10) said she believed the atmosphere of the
Ashland High School students perform West Side Story
RACHAEL SCHMIDT & ALEXIS FLORENCE cover editor & investigative feature editor If you know anything about the musical West Side Story, then you know it is all about the snapping; Ashland High School’s production of West Side Story receives five out of five snaps from these gals. As both of us are members of the WHS Drama Club, we try to see other high school and professional performances whenever the opportunity is
presented to us. We encourage others involved in theater to do the same. From the very first note, the opening scene was filled with impressive, exciting dance moves from the whole cast. The clearly talented pit orchestra and actors seemed perfectly synchronized with each other. The complexity of the dancing reigned far superior to most
concert showed that the crowd was enjoying themselves. Shell also agrees with Chamberlin’s sentiment. The audience was not the only group enjoying themselves, as Payne added, “Wooster had a super fun and engaging group of students during the school assembly and during the evening concert.” At both the daytime and evening concerts, there were competitions held for students, where the prize was a free CD. While STAND does not have any more concerts or assemblies planned for the school year, the club advisers plan to continue incentive Fridays, as well as a pizza party, Karamas said. high school productions. From cartwheels in heels to complicated partner work, the cast obviously dedicated countless hours to practice and rehearsal. Furthermore, the costumes were both accurate to the era of time in which the show takes place, and were vibrant, and stylish, utilizing a welldesigned color palette. The actors rocked the costumes by accentuating their every move and facial expression. However, the most stunning aspect of the show was the incredible voices of the actors. Freshman Aidan Chandler, who played the role of Tony, portrayed a difficult role and exceeded our expectations for vocals, especially for someone so young. Maria, played by Leah DeBracy, maintained a lovely vocal blend with the rest of the cast, despite her powerful voice and enchanting vibrato. Genevieve Wesner, playing Anita and Luke Blackley (who played Bernardo) also held strong in the depiction of their
SKYY KHOUNBORIN
Lead Singer of Attaboy, Ryan Payne, performed in the PAC on Feb. 12. Payne said their band strives to communicate positive, unifying messages. Attaboy began playing in 2004, and has rotated members, but has kept the current group for about five years, according
to Payne. Both the daytime and evening concerts also included DJ Code as their opening act.
challenging roles, captivating the audience with their vivid emotions. Although the actors and instrumentalists did a wonderful job, at times it was hard to hear the singers over the pit orchestra. For those who are not familiar with the show, it would have been really hard
to figure out what the actors were saying and how that dialogue affects the plot. The show, overall, showcases Ashland’s dedication to all aspects of theater from the technical aspects to the performance, and most importantly, brings people together to appreciate the arts.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ISSAC COFFY
Producer of the show and English Dept. member at Ashland High School, Rich Wasowski, in character, reprimands the gang members at the dance.
FEATURE
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 14
COW students express creativity by participating in LARP Club LARPing, or live-action role playing, is an activity where participants create characters, then practice problem-solving using situations that involve their characters. The LARPing Club at College of Wooster meets weekly and aims to provide a place for exercise, as well as creativity and relaxation. The club was created in 2014 as an outlet to cope with the stress of finals testing. MAEVE FLORENCE-SMITH staff writer According to John Martin, current president of the LARPing club, The College of Wooster’s Live Action Role Play club, or LARP club, began in 2014 when a past senior, Jacob Beckstead, created some swords from pool noodles and PVC. Originally, the club was formed as an outlet of sorts to allow Jacob, and a few friends, to fight and deal with the stress of the IS program. It began to change to follow a story, however, the LARP club remains a preserved form of Medieval fight club. According to the COW website, “LARP Club is designed to give students and other community members a
“LARP CLUB IS DESIGNED TO GIVE STUDENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS A COOPERATIVE CREATIVE OUTLET.” THE COW WEBSITE SAID.
cooperative creative outlet.” The members goal is to organize and run a weekly LARP session where members play as characters they have created and work on their problem solving. The COW website states further, the purpose of this group is to provide a fun and creative place where students and community members can blow off steam, exercise and have fun. Martin stated when asked about community involvement, “Our guiding philosophy on the LARP Roundtable, or leadership, is that the more people we can get involved, the better…In order to make sure our activity is as safe as possible, we have a number of measures including: a leadership position dedicated to the policing and upkeep of boffers [foam swords] to ensure they meet our safety standards, multiple members of the group are certified by the Red Cross to administer CPR and staunch bleeding, there is a permanent stock of medical supplies kept in the club transport bag at all times should the need arise, the first thing anyone new to the group is taught is the command ‘hold’ which is the signal to immediately freeze, no matter what is happening. Despite these measures, there are real concerns about liability were someone to participate who is
under the age of eighteen.” The LARPing club understands that creating a character can be difficult but Martin says, “Currently, while I encourage people to design characters which appear with consistency, I have also reconciled the difficulty of tracking specifics such as names or abilities in the context of a pitched battle. As part of that... characters have set names and might even have preset personalities....” The club meets every weekend for one to one and a half hours, except for certain weekends including weekends leading up to finals and those weekends immediately before breaks and just before graduation. The clubs place of meeting is weather dependent; sometimes they meet on indoor track and courts sometimes, however, they meet in the Scot Center before moving out to the wooded area between Kauke and Ebert. According to Martin, they never meet in the town because they do not want to be disruptive. Martin stated that the LARP club is a laid back ground and that anyone is welcome to participate as much or as little as they would like. Martin said, “In general, the themes presented in LARP club are relatively tame...If it was a video game it might be rated
RACHAEL SCHMIDT
Members of the COW LARPing Club participate at the club’s weekly meeting. The club was created in 2014 as a way to relax during testing. “teen” for fantasy violence, as well as occasional profanity.” The current plot that the LARP club is following involves a horde of undead bringing about the end of the world. Occasionally, according to
Martin there are one-shot adventures. For example, the LARP club had a one-shot adventure where they teamed up with the Thanksgiving turkey to take down Santa Claus.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 15
State Bound:
Five robotic teams qualify for championship KORBIN REED staff writer Each of the five WHS robotics teams have now qualified for the 2018-2019 state tournament. Project Lead The Way Engineering teachers, Dylan Ruff and Jacob Melrose, serve as the robotics coaches with Melrose being in his first official year as the head coach. “Mr. Ruff and I volunteered our time after school last year. We believed our students would be successful if supported and encouraged,” Melrose said. “I think many of our teams have the potential
to be successful at the state tournament and advance to the VEX Worlds competition in Louisville, Kentucky,” Melrose said. Ruff and Melrose have been there every step of the way for the robotics team, according to team member, Jeffrey Manson (10). Manson is on team RawrWoo for his first year on the robotics team. “I think robotics is a good program for Wooster because it invites the kids to do hands on work and learn a lot of new stuff,” Manson said. One of the teams state qualifying teams is team 44691X: The Blonde Boiz.
The team is comprised of Orin Selby (12), Sam Carroll (9), Hayden Frank (10), and Tyler Strand-Fox (11), and has qualified for the state tournament five times this year. Selby says that robotics is one of the best ways to do hands on work. “We program the bots and build custom parts to fix any problems that we run into,” Selby said. Another state qualifying team is 44691B. Luke Frantz (12) has been on the team for two years and loves competing at the state level; although, it is a big challenge. “The state level is extremely hard because it’s such a
THERESA WENDELL
Robotics team 44691T: Wooster Robotics- General Disappointment members Ben Cornelius, Tyler Keating, and Kristina Sayre use a robot to shoot at flags. The team is practicing running their autonomal program. strategic game and you have to be so good at it or else someone will beat you,” Frantz said. According to the coaches, the robotics team members are becoming more successful and
hope to do well on March 2 at the Ohio VRC High School State Championship and to qualify for the Vex Robotics World Championship from April 24-27 in Louisville, Ky.
Alice Noble Hosts ASPO Game
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GRACE BROWNSON
On Feb. 23, The Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio held a sled hockey charity event at Alice Noble Ice Arena. The photo above is from the first game, where local celebrities such as Secretary of State LaRose, several state representatives, and business owners from the county played against the ASPO’s Wildcats. The Wildcats won 7-0, according to Brett Followay, ASPO’s program manager. In the following game, the Wildcats scrimmaged each other in an inter-ASPO scrimmage. Proceeds from this event go to support the Wildcats’ team.
VIEWS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | MARCH 1, 2019 | PAGE 16
OUR VIEW
District remedying upperclassmen assembly inclusion issue On March 4, social media expert Josh Ochs will visit WHS in order to provide students with greater knowledge of how to use social media responsibly. The social media assembly will take place in the gym, and all WCS students in grades five through twelve will be required to attend. Additionally, there will be an evening presentation at 6 p.m. that is open to the public. However, originally, students in grades 11 and 12 were not included in attendance at the assembly during the day. According to WHS Principal Tyler Keener, changes have been made to ensure that all students will attend the social
media presentation. At the district’s safety and security summit on Feb. 20, Dr. Tefs, Superintendent of the WCSD, stated on the topic of the exclusion of upperclassmen, “it just came down to capacity [in terms of seating space compared to number of students].” The Wooster Blade Editorial Board emphatically believes it is important that all students are taught about responsibility on social media and commend the WHS administration for finding a path forward with the inclusion of upperclassmen. The National Center for Health Research reported that 78 percent of 18 through 24
LETTER TO THE EDITOR So, you’ve probably noticed all the boxes outside of each home room asking for dental hygiene supplies as donations. However, something you might ask yourself is, “What the heck does Cataratchos mean?” Allow me to explain: Cataratchos isn’t a place, but rather a people. Often shortened to Catrachos, Cataratchos is simply just another name for people from Honduras, or Hondurans. And they need your help! There’s a major shortage of dental supplies in Honduras, so much so that some of the richest families in the country share a single toothbrush for the whole family. Simple things that we take for granted here, like the extra dental supplies that goes unused from the dentist, could make a world of difference to a
child in Honduras, considering that most of the children in the city of Santa Rosa require false teeth before the age of 15. To help this cause, my peers and I are collecting donations of clean, unused toothbrushes, any size toothpaste, dental floss, bars of soap, and gallon sized Ziploc bags to create care packs that will be sent through a separate organization in Orrville. Any supplies will help! There will be a competition via academic assist until March 22 to see which class can collect the most donations, and whoever wins will receive a pizza party the following Monday. Please considering helping our cause, spread the word, and thank you in advance! Katie Lake
year olds in the United States use Snapchat, while 71 percent use Instagram and 68 percent use Facebook. In addition, 94 percent of 18 through 24 year olds use YouTube and 45 percent use Twitter. It is essential that all students be included in the assembly. However, March 4 would not have been the first time upperclassmen were excluded from events at WHS. On Feb. 12, WHS welcomed Attaboy, a band, for a concert to promote healthy life choices. All students in grades eight through ten were required to attend, whereas the only upperclassmen permitted to attend the concert were those who are members of STAND, WHS’ voluntary anti-drug program. According to Keener, the decision to include only students in grades eight thru ten was solely due to capacity and, “this was established as the band could only do one
concert by our agreement during the school day. As the band was brought in by STAND, we looked at the majority members of the STAND group and the underclassmen, by far, are the majority members of the group.” Though The Wooster Blade Editorial Board is appreciative of the effort to bring in more guest speakers discussing important topics, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes students of all grades should be allowed to attend such assemblies. In order to promote inclusion, as well as the positive and influential messages these events aim to convey, WHS must work to make the inclusion of upperclassmen a priority. Moreover, according to a poll conducted at WHS on Feb. 25 and 26, given to 47 students in grades 11 and 12, 70 percent of those polled believe it is unfair
that upperclassmen are left out of school assemblies and guest speakers. However, 57 percent of those polled said they would not have attended the Attaboy concert if permitted, while 62 percent of those polled said they would not like to attend the social media assembly on March 4. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board acknowledges that not all upperclassmen may be interested in going to these assemblies, but it is important that all students are still exposed to important topics, such as social media safety. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board acknowledges and appreciates the districts effort to bring in more guest speakers to further educate students on topics that do not always fall into the classroom curriculum. Furthermore, the Board also thanks the WHS administration for their effort to include all students in these events.
70% of students polled said its unfair they couldn’t attend the concert 62% want to attend the social media assembly 57% would’ve attended the concert if given the opportunity during school Polls conducted by Corinne Wiles, Anna Nacci and Madison Helms. On Feb. 25, 47 upperclassmen polled during academic assists and study halls.
Graphic by Alec Pauley