The Wooster Blade, Volume XX, Issue 13

GRADUATION: The Class of 2020

Art by Emma Yoder

Inside the May 22, 2020 Issue

p. 4 Wooster City School District levy passes

p. 11 Senior Section: The Class of 2020

p. 21 Teacher reflects on end of school year

ON CAMPUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 2

AP testing moves online ZACH BREWSTER staff writer As the world undergoes stay-at-home orders and quarantines, all of the endof-year AP testing has moved online.

In order to accommodate this major change, many adjustments were made by the College Board.

Earlier in 2019, the College Board announced their decision to move AP test registration to the start of the school year.

According to Jim Jump on insidehighered.com in an article titled “Ethical College Admissions: AP Registration,” the College Board made the change as they believe it motivates students to do better through the year.

AP Environmental Sciences teacher Shelly Silvaggi said fall registration is, “too early for students to make a properly educated decision.”

AP testing is regularly done in school classrooms or facilities but in 2020 has been moved online for students to take at home for the first time ever.

According to an article titled “AP Exam Changes for COVID-19” on prepscholar. com by Christine Sarikas, AP testing usually takes around three hours with a break in the middle. Now, online AP testing will be 45 minutes long.

The multiple choice section was removed, and the testing only consisted of free-response questions. For tests that require a portfolio, requirements have been reduced and the submission date has been pushed to late May. Sarikas details that the content of the testing solely focuses on what was taught in class through the beginning of March to accommodate for the struggles of online learning.

Students also have the option to use notes during the test.

Silvaggi said, “Preparing an

LUKE POMFRET staff writer

WCSD celebrates 2020 graduates

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, WHS principal, Tyler Keener says seniors are, “are deserving of a graduation,” and commencement this year and also says the ceremony will be quite untraditional.

As of May, 12 official plans for an indoor or outdoor ceremony, depending on weather, were released by the district. Seniors will pre-record their moments, which then will be collectively put together to air June 7 at 2 p.m.

Sara Crooks, associate principal , explains the actions

entire year with the immense scope and depth of our content, to only be tested using two extended response questions, personally makes me nervous.

But, we have many courageous students who are up for the challenge.”

According to Sarikas, the tests are available to take online on a computer, tablet or smartphone.

The testing allows for students to also handwrite their answers on paper and submit a photo of it. The last five minutes of the testing period are given for students to upload each section.

Because cheating is much easier for students at home, the College Board introduced software to detect plagiarism.

Test questions are also written to be difficult to share and copy answers.

While testing was moved online, it is still taking place throughout May. Students also have the choice to take the tests on the alternative dates in June.

Many students have expressed concerns that colleges would not accept scores from this year’s testing.

However, according to the College Board, they have worked with colleges to ensure scores would be counted.

being taken to help recognize WHS seniors.

“We have recently put signs in the yards of graduating seniors to recognize them. We also have tried to create a virtual experience, and a scaledback in-person experience that retains the pomp and circumstance of the traditional graduation ceremony while maintaining compliance with the health order directives,” Crooks said.

Crooks also wants to comfort seniors during this difficult time.

“To our seniors, I miss you all and know that despite an unexpected end to your k-12 school experience, that these

Were you scheduled to take AP tests at the beginning of the year?

92%

8% NO

YES

Are you scheduled to take AP tests now?

87% YES

13% NO

Are you satisfied with the changes in the modified AP test?

82% YES

18% NO

On May 12, 68 students were randomly polled via their AP Google Classrooms. Poll conducted by Sydney Ebin.

“TO OUR SENIORS, I MISS YOU ALL...

THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL SERVE TO UNITE YOU AND SERVE YOU IN WAYS YOU MAY HAVE NEVER EXPECTED,” CROOKS SAID.

circumstances will serve to unite you and serve you in ways you may have never expected, but will be revealed as you navigate your next steps from Wooster High School,” Crooks said.

Superintendent Michael Tefs reminds students to look at the positive aspect of this situation.

“Everyone wants a traditional ceremony… but disruption drives innovation, and at the end of this, we might have some new ways of highlighting graduation for future years… we have to look at this through an optimistic lens,” Tefs said.

The live stream virtual graduation will air on June 7 at 2 p.m.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 3

Accepting the new norm:

Members of the WCSD learn how to work under shifting circumstances

WHS teachers adapt to online teaching platforms JACK VENEY staff writer The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred all classes and teachers to go online with their learning and teaching. This change has caused many teachers to reevaluate how they do their class structure, many moving to going with live videos on Zoom or Google Meet.

Science Dept. member Eric Heller said he tries to make himself available to his students at least once a week.

“My goal was to see each class or at least make myself available to each class a minimum of once per week… like office hours. So, I did that more for AP Chem, where I mostly just made myself available… I would say from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m I’m available.

Pop in, ask me a question or just talk, because, you know, I miss people and sometimes people just want to talk because they’re stuck in their houses,” Heller said.

Virtual learning has given teachers different ways to engage their students by trying out different online platforms aside from Google Classroom.

English Dept. member Chad Bever said he uses Commonlit. org and Flipgrid among others to engage his students.

“Everything is obviously on Google Classroom, but for the past two months I have tried to mix it up as much as possible by assessing students in different ways, while visiting different resources/platforms...

I’ve used Kahoot; an article analysis website (commonlit. org); instructional youtube videos (videos made from my

own channel and videos from others); Flipgrid responses, and also instructional flipgrid ‘shorts’,” Bever said.

Virtual learning has also given the opportunity for teachers and administrators to assess their teaching styles. Principal Tyler Keener states, “We’ve looked at ways to engage the student differently as a result of this. We’ve learned to look at teaching. How do we teach students best? How do we assess students best in an online virtual learning platform?”

The entire pandemic is a world of unknown for everyone. Heller said he tries to have a positive attitude every day.

“We’re all making this up one day at a time. As a world, I mean, nobody has ever lived through a pandemic before unless you’re like, over 100

years old. So, I’m just trying to take each day with the attitude of what can I do and not what can’t I do,” Heller said.

Although virtual learning is a substitute for the time being, Bever states it will never be a replacement for face-toface learning. “As a district, I think it’s amazing what we’ve been able to provide for our students: food, computers, a virtual learning experience utilizing a variety of resources, and much more. This couldn’t have been done 10 to 20 years ago. However, I also think that if anyone thought that online learning exclusively would be the wave of the future and would replace face-to-face instruction, this debunks that theory because there’s nothing more powerful than physical, in-person classroom instruction experience,” Bever said.

Elementary students miss hands-on assistance from teachers ELLIE SNIDER staff writer While high schoolers at WHS are turning in final projects and studying for AP tests, the majority of elementary students are excited for the beginning of summer.

Lila Witter (1) cannot wait to finally be able to hang out with friends when the self-isolation is over, and is excited for summer to begin.

Like their older peers, online school has been difficult for elementary students to adjust

to over the past two months, with the amount of schoolwork remaining high despite the pandemic.

“I have a lot of stuff for independent reading,” Lila Witter said.

It is also harder for students to find the correct answers online without the help of teachers, according to Tyler Gordon (3).

Although finding answers to problems is more difficult to do online, teachers have been doing their best to provide the same level of schoolwork that

they previously had. “I think my teachers have done really well with adapting to online learning,” Liam Van Doorn (4) said.

Outside of schoolwork, the inability to see friends and classmates is the hardest thing for elementary students to get used to over the past two months. “The hardest part about online school is that I’m not allowed to play with my friends,” Gordon said.

Naomi Van Doorn (2) agrees with Gordon’s sentiment.

“The worst thing about online learning is that we don’t get to see our friends and actually say goodbye to our teachers,” she said.

Despite their struggles, elementary students are still finding the positives in the situation. For Gordon, online school is easier because it takes less time than school would.

“Using Google Classroom[was easy] because we had already learned about it a lot before schools closed,” Liam Van Doorn said. The extra preparation that

students had from classes like Computer lab helped students be ready for the unexpected quarantine.

Elementary students also have their favorite subjects and activities. Lila Witter enjoys doing “word work,” while Liam Van Doorn enjoyed social studies the most.

In any case, elementary students, just like their high school classmates, are ready for a time when the pandemic is over and they can enjoy their summer and their friendships.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 4

Students recognized as National Merit Finalists

SYLVIE SHAYA staff writer Annually, 1.6 million high school students participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program and are awarded a total of $31 million, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website.

Of these students, 15,000 qualify as finalists, and in the 2020 competition, four Wooster High School students have been recognized as finalists, according to a press release by the Wooster City School District.

The four WHS finalists include Rheanna Velasquez, Owen Holt-Frank, Olivia Dal Pra, and Sophia Dal Pra, all seniors at WHS who were selected due to their high standardized test scores from their junior year.

Approximately 7,600 winners will be selected from the finalist group and notified of the scholarships they recieve between March and mid-June based on academic achievement, recommendations, activities and an essay.

Recognizing NMSC as a prestigious program, Owen Holt-Frank (12) described receiving the award as an honor.

Rheanna Velasquez (12) also expressed gratitude at the opportunity to become a National Merit Finalist and Scholarship recipient.

“It is an honor to join this community and be recognized together with students across the nation who share in their dedication to learning and passion about engaging in our respective schools, communities and society at large,” Velasquez said.

“WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD TO HAVE FOUR NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FINALISTS REPRESENTING WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL,” KEENER SAID. Sophia Dal Pra explained that for her, the recognition is, “a symbol of how hard I’ve worked… [but] for future participants, I would say don’t worry - it’s just one test and there are many other ways that you can display your achievements.”

Dal Pra added that she did not think she would qualify based off a single test score, but was excited when she did.

“We are extremely proud to have four National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists representing Wooster High School,” said WHS Principal Tyler Keener in the WCSD press release. He explained that the recognition is a demonstration of the hard work that these students have shown throughout their high school experience.

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WCS operating levy passes with newly counted ballots ANNA NACCI cover editor In a video message to the Wooster City School District on May 18, Superintendent Michael Tefs announced that the operating levy that was on the March 17 ballot passed.

The news of the levy passing comes after an April 29 announcement that it had failed. This confusion was caused by a mistake that left 3,279 ballots uncounted, according to an article entitled “‘Glitch’ leaves 3,000 Wayne ballots uncounted,”published on May 5 in The Daily Record and written by Emily Morgan.

The 6.5 mill levy will go to operating costs, including salaries for faculty and staff, curriculum funding and equipment like books and computers, according to WCSD School Board President L. Sue Herman. In essence, “This takes care of our people,” Herman said.

The original plan for the levy was to raise monthly taxes on a sliding scale depending on property value, according to the

WCSD website.

However, in lieu of financial problems Wooster residents may be facing due to the pandemic, the tax increase will be delayed by six months. “The first half of collection (January 2021 to June 2021), will be deferred on behalf of those who find themselves unemployed or otherwise hurt, financially, by the Coronavirus,” Tefs said in his announcement.

Herman adds that the delay of the levy is to give back to the voters, saying, “Hopefully that says to our people, to our taxpayers who were generous, that we appreciate the sacrifice they are making.”

After the confusion about whether or not the levy passed, Herman is grateful for those who helped pass the levy. “We worked so hard to get the levy passed. It was our people, our employees and parents, who worked so hard to see this pass...And I just so appreciate the work that went into it,” she said.

This was the first levy asked for in ten years, compared to the average of four years, according to Herman.

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Wooster City School District says goodbye to retiring staff Responses compiled by Sierra Dewald

Stanley Burris WHS Intervention Specialist

Stanley Burris has been an intervention specialist with WCSD for the past 37 years and has also coached various sports, including junior high track, junior high boys basketball and boys and girls tennis.

What has been your favorite thing about your job, and why?

“I really like to break things down to help kids understand what may have been a difficult concept initially. I like to teach and, hopefully, be helpful.”

How will you pass the time in retirement?

“Hopefully, I will be able to visit my new grandson Brix more frequently once the pandemic runs its course. I will continue to play tennis and hope to learn to be a better golfer. I also like the idea of not always being behind on household chores.”

What words of wisdom would you like to pass on to current WCSD students and/or colleagues?

“As things change, stay confident that you will be able to keep moving if you keep working. Trends repeat, but people look at things in new ways each cycle, so good things continue to happen. The key for me is to remember that change is not always progress. Progress means a better end result for the people involved. Work for progress.”

Jon Arnold

Jon Arnold has been head custodian at Edgewood Middle School for 40 years.

EWMS Custodian

What has been your favorite thing about your job and why?

“Helping all the kids, teachers and administrators in some small way. I will miss talking to everyone the most!”

Words of wisdom?

“Try to finish what you start without getting sidetracked by things that are less important!”

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 5

Jane Hider

EWMS Grade 7 History Teacher

Jane Hider has been with WCSD since 1988 and has taught seventh grade Social Studies and World History for the past nine years, as well as serving as the National Geographic Geography Bee Adviser at Edgewood for the past seven years.

What has been your favorite thing about your job, and why?

“Working with young people is always the best part of the job. I’ve always loved the challenge of finding interesting ways for students to learn about the world. You have to realize that when I came to Edgewood there was still a ‘ditto’ machine in the workroom that cranked out papers using transferred ink. Now, we have iPads and virtual tech, so I have had to learn right along with the students how to navigate this world of technology. Also, working with the greatest staff ever! I’m so proud of the people I’ve worked with over the years. Their professionalism and compassion are just unbelievable.”

How will you pass the time in retirement?

“When the time comes, I want to be able to travel. Nothing big, just exploring the USA and possibly Canada. I want to have more time to dedicate to my church, to volunteering with the Miss Ohio program and to the service organization I belong to, the Ohio Jaycees International Senate. And of course, time to spend with family and friends, doing the things we love like biking, hiking, genealogy and enjoying one another’s company.”

Joyce Barker Littlest Generals Preschool

Joyce Barker has been with WCSD for 24 years and has worked as a specialized Paraprofessional in Littlest Generals Preschool for the past 10 years.

What has been your favorite thing about your job, and why?

“The best part has been working with the little ones. I love to watch them learn so many new skills in their first years in school.”

How will you pass the time in retirement?

“I plan to, hopefully, do some volunteer work and spend much more time with my kids and grandkids in Columbus and take some time to travel.”

What words of wisdom would you like to pass on to current WCSD students and/or colleagues?

“I would like to share with my colleagues, enjoy your years in the school system with these amazing kids and know that we DO make a difference!

Time goes by way too fast!”

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 6

Taking a look at the 2020 Jazz Band, Diane Adams’ resignation

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CRAIG FRENCH

The 2020 Jazz band spent nine weeks working on music that they will never get to perform. Above is the Jazz Band preparing for their Jazz Night concert with guest composer, Bobby Selvaggio. At the right, is guest composer Bobby Selvagio working on his song, “Concentric Circles,” with the band.

JACK VENEY staff writer The Big Band Dance has been a staple of the WHS Jazz Band long before any of the directors came to Wooster. However, due to COVID-19, the Jazz Band was not able to host the dance this year.

WHS Director of Bands Craig French said the most disappointing part of not getting to perform with the Jazz Band this year was that they worked extremely hard on music, but did not get to share that music and that work with the public.

“We worked really hard on a bunch of music. We had a guest composer [Bobby Selvaggio] in residence, and the group sounded really good. It was fun. We had worked on a ton of music and we weren’t even

halfway through the semester yet when we left. It’s just not getting to share that with other people and not getting to see students experience the exhilaration of performing what they’ve worked so hard on is the most disappointing thing,” French said.

Music Dept. member Diane Adams has helped with the Big Band Dance for 29 years, starting the first year that her husband and former WHS band and orchestra director, Dan Adams, taught in the district.

Adams describes that since she started helping with the Big Band Dance, it has grown.

“That was the first year it was held at Wayne Center for the Arts, previously it had been in the cafeteria at the old high school. It was held at the Art Center until the new school was built and then moved to

the Commons because it had outgrown the available space,” Adams said.

According to Adams, planning for the Big Band Dance this year began before the building closed, and although she was not playing an active role in planning, Adams stated she was looking forward to attending the dance this year, but instead, ended her career of helping with last year’s Big Band Dance.

After 18 years of teaching in Wooster, Diane Adams is resigning from Wooster City School District.

French said he is going to miss Adams. “I’m going to miss her expertise and her wisdom, I think that is the first thing. I mean, there’s a couple of things I’m going to miss. But, that’s the first thing that comes to mind. Secondly, she’s a really

great role model for me as a teacher in terms of treating students fairly and with compassion,” French said.

Adams stated that in leaving WCSD, there are definitely some things she is going to miss. “The best part about working in Wooster City Schools is the students. As a band director, I get to work with students starting in fifth grade continuing through their senior year. I enjoy getting to know the students and watching them grow up. I’ll miss seeing the students and the sense of accomplishment when they learn a new skill or have a performance,” Adams said.

Music Dept. member and director of choirs Emily Patterson said she has enjoyed seeing the energy and creativity Adams puts in her teaching.

“Mrs. Adams has a wonderful energy about her. She works very hard at creating successful plans for music students, but she’s playful when the occasion calls for it… Getting to be around her energetic personality has made me feel like part of our department, our school and she has reminded me to bring dedication and passion to teaching. I will miss her hard work and kindness... she is so thoughtful and caring to all students. She reminds me to have patience and be kind. I hope I can continue the things she has taught me and bring a level head and hard work ethic to my future time at Wooster.

She is a wonderful teacher and I will miss her greatly,” Patterson said.

In her retirement, Adams will be moving to Cape Cod to be with her husband.

A&E

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 7

Final arc of Star Wars series delivers

ZACH BREWSTER staff writer Star Wars: The Clone Wars has recently completed its seventh and final season.

The series was canceled in 2013 before it could be properly finished, but was revived due to popular demand.

Set between Episode II and Episode III of the Skywalker Saga, the series focuses on main characters from the films, such as the Jedi duo Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, while also having its own original characters such as Anakin’s apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, and the clone Captain Rex. The final season consisted of 12 episodes divided into three, four-episode arcs.

The “Bad Batch” arc, which focused on Anakin and Rex rescuing a missing clone, was a good start to the season. The arc was in production before the series was canceled, so it was reanimated with new software to look better than we have ever seen.

The second arc, “Ahsoka’s Walkabout,” was a disappointment. Also produced before the cancellation, the episodes centered on Ahsoka being captured by a crime syndicate while unknowingly helping mechanics smuggle drugs. The episodes are

repetitive and boring and serve no purpose other than planting seeds for the final arc.

The final arc, “Siege of Mandalore,” is not only the greatest the show has ever been, but also some of the best Star Wars content we have ever seen.

Taking place concurrently with Episode III, the arc focuses on Ahsoka and Rex helping the Mandalorians capture Maul, and then surviving Order 66.

The arc was built from the ground up after the revival, which allowed the animation team to have far better character movement, camera angles and more, compared to the first two arcs, which were limited by how they were produced in 2012.

The storytelling is phenomenal on the grand scale, while also including many tie-ins to other Star Wars media without feeling forced. Many of these are ties to Rebels, the indirect sequel show to The Clone Wars, both of which were executively produced by Dave Filoni.

Overall, the final season was a good ending. The first two arcs were too long and not the best choices, given that the producers could only greenlight three of them.

Some other canceled arcs from 2012 such as “Dark Disciple” and “Son of Dathomir” have been faithfully adapted into books and comics, but many other arcs left back, such as “Crystal Crisis,” would have been better choices for the final season.

However, the shortcomings of the final season will be forgotten when the fantastic “Siege of Mandalore” is all that is remembered.

Money Heist a steal during quarantine

TYLER KEATING staff writer One of the few silver linings to quarantine is that people now have the opportunity to catch up on shows that they have fallen behind on or never got a

chance to watch.

Recently, I discovered the Netflix series Money Heist, following a group of thieves that take the Royal Mint of Spain hostage. Throughout the course of the heist, relationships between the thieves fray as they spend days inside the Mint, surrounded by police.

I was immediately hooked by the developing interactions between the group, as well as the real, gritty, emotional feel on both sides of the situation, as the show not only follows the group in the Mint, but also the police inspector working against them and the Professor,

the mastermind of the heist running things from the outside.

As the show was originally filmed and aired in Spain, the original audio is in Spanish, so the actors’ lips do not always line up with the dialogue, but it is not hard to get used to.

With four seasons already available on Netflix, and a fifth season seeming likely, the show’s potential to binge is through the roof.

I loved Money Heist, and would recommend the show to anyone who needs another series to watch during this quarantine.

Never Have I Ever breaks down taboos

SKYY KHOUNBORIN sports editor Never Have I Ever, created by Mindy Kahling, was released on Netflix on April 27.

The protagonist, Devi Vishkumar (played by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), takes viewers along the journey of being a first-generation IndianAmerican teenager.

The TV show series is composed of 10 episodes, each one depicting the hardships

and lessons Devi goes through since the passing of her father; each episode beginning with the phrase, “Never have I ever….”

What I really like about the show is the diversity. When you think about the stereotypical high school movies and shows, there is not much diversity among the cast. However, in the case of Never Have I Ever, the entire cast is representative of different ethnic groups, from the protagonist being Sri Lanken/Tamil, to the leading male actor being Japanese/ Swedish, to the minor details of making Devi’s two best friends being Chinese and African American/Hispanic.

I enjoyed seeing the representation of different minority groups because there are not many shows or movies where the main cast is

composed of minorities.

The show also touches on the topic of homosexuality, with Devi’s best friend coming out as gay after being pushed to date a boy in order to gain popularity.

The way that this topic is discussed throughout the movie is so casual and because of that, I like the message it creates: being able to discuss your sexuality should be no different than any normal conversation and it should be more casual rather than a big taboo.

I would recommend this show for anyone looking for a good laugh, but also to those who have an open mind. I would not say this is a show to which it is easy to relate, but there are many topics that challenged the way I think; however, that is what makes the show more entertaining.

FOCUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 8

Malabar Farm offers an easy, uncrowded hiking trail

SOPHIE GAMBLE cover editor Although Malabar Farm is a 40 minute drive from most parts of Wooster, it is worth the drive as the hilly farmland with winding roads only adds to the experience as a whole.

Malabar does not only consist of hiking trails, but also serves as a working farm. Other parts of the farm were closed due to Covid-19, but the trails are open to public use.

I have been going to Malabar for my whole life, so I can attest to the fact that the rest of the farm is also worth a visit.

I was surprised to only see one other group of people while hiking, but this is yet another reason to visit during this time.

We decided to hike the Jungle

Brook trail. To get to the trailhead, you have to walk about a mile on a dirt path, past cows, calves and fields. The trail itself is exactly one mile long and mostly flat, making it accessible for people of all ages.

The view is lush, with trillium, skunk cabbage, and wild roses all around the trail, which is partially raised on a boardwalk.

We also discovered that someone has built fairy houses into a few of the trees.

There are trails that suit any type of hiker that are also worth discovering: Butternut, Doris Duke and Pleasant Valley Bridle Trail.

Overall, I would recommend the hiking at Malabar to anyone willing to make the drive. To end the day, I recommend driving up to Mount Jeez for a view of the whole farm.

Clearfork Valley Scenic Trail:

Hemlock Falls Spur offers great trails with stunning Spangler Park offers paths of varying scenery all around SOPHIE GAMBLE

The Jungle Brook trail at Malabar Farm State Park, located in Lucas, Ohio, offers a flat, one mile hiking trail with views of different animal fields and lush flowers and grasses for people of all ages all to enjoy.

difficulties for all ages of hikers ELLIE SNIDER staff writer Spangler, also known as Memorial Park, is the perfect place to go hiking without traveling far from Wooster.

Located just outside of Wooster, at the intersection of Jefferson and Silver roads, the park encompasses 422 acres and 11.2 miles of trails, according to the Friends of Wooster Memorial Park website. Trials range from .2 miles in length to just over two miles. Additionally, the trails vary in difficulty, so there is a path for every person.

The beautiful park includes wooded valleys, sunny fields, and Rathburn Run, the stream that snakes through the park.

Spanger trail, named after the founder of the park, is one of the most popular paths, crossing over the Run 6 times, and containing 1.5 miles of trail. While this trial is likely to be crowded, the more hidden trails are almost empty.

Spangler Park has become a widely popular place to hike, especially during these weeks of isolation. However, it is easy to avoid other hikers by going earlier in the morning or when it is cooler outside.

My family and I have gone on many hikes over the past two months. The closeness to Wooster and the beautiful scenery makes the park one of our favorites and by going on the outer paths, we have avoided the majority of the other visitors.

Overall, Spangler Park is the perfect local park for families that are looking to get outside more in these coming weeks, satisfying young children, the elderly, and everyone in between with its diverse trails and beautiful scenery, particularly as the trees begin to bloom.

ASHTON DUNLAP staff writer

On May 3, my family and I traveled 45 minutes to Mohican State Park to hike the Clearfork Valley Scenic Trail.

The Clearfork Valley Scenic Trail offers trails through 600 acres of preserved land in southern Richland County. The trail system also offers multiple access points and trails ranging from one to five miles.

The particular trail my family hiked was very short and only highlighted some of what the Clearfork Valley Scenic Trail has to offer, but it still gave us an idea of what the area was like. It was accessed off of Pleasant Hill Road.

We hiked the Hemlock Falls

Spur of the trail system, which is a short hike that ends with a stunning view of Hemlock Falls. The trail traveled through a beautiful, old-growth forest that provided an amazing selection of trees, plants and flowers.

The trail was very accessible and provided no major obstructions or difficult features.

At the end of the spur is Hemlock Falls, one of the best waterfalls Ohio has to offer.

The waterfall is 30 feet high and is best viewed from a wooden bridge that sits adjacent to the falls.

The Clearfork Valley Scenic Trail and especially the Hemlock Falls Spur are great trails to hike and offer much stunning scenery.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 9

How COVID-19 has impacted seniors’ future plans RHEANNA VELASQUEZ co-editor-in-chief As schools at all levels within the United States have shuttered their doors, some high school seniors are encountering new challenges in planning for the future.

Andrea Marshall, who will be graduating from Chippewa High School and Wayne County Schools Career Center, aims to become a medical

assistant but explains that the career technical school shut down just as they started phlebotomy training classes.

Marshall initially planned on working as a phlebotomist, sorting blood samples for medical procedures, to help offset college costs.

Although Marshall expressed disappointment that she was not able to complete these certifications, she remains optimistic, sharing that she still aims to “get a job as a medical assistant and do what I’ve

always wanted to do, which is help people.”

For Ashley Good, also a graduating senior from Wayne County Schools Career Center and a Wooster native, the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic on future plans are less pronounced.

Good, who describes planning to enter the hospitality industry, says, “I made it through. But at the same time, it made it more stressful because of the whole COVID19.”

For other seniors, the pandemic has even acted as a force further strengthening their resolve to pursue their future goals. Such is the case with Andrew Moneypenny (12) of WHS and WCSCC, who described his aspirations of becoming a certified EMT/ Paramedic and firefighter.

“My foster mom works in the medical field, so I’ve grown a bond with helping people, and I’ve volunteered at a fire department before. Once I walked through the doors, I

just knew this is something I know I was meant to do...with the current pandemic that we are all facing, I believe it has influenced [me] even more because I wish I could be out there helping them as we speak, but I can’t,” Moneypenny said.

Moneypenny expressed special appreciation for those “out there all the time no matter what, helping and taking the risk of getting the virus.”

“They deserve something extraordinary,” he said.

Examining COVID-19’s impact on local businesses LUKE POMFRET staff writer

RUMEN ZdRAVcHEV

The new normal of shopping - both the customer and cashier wearing masks for protection.

While families isolate and healthcare workers work long hours, small businesses are keeping their doors open and trying to remain open.

Mike Dewine issued a stay at home order on March 23, which has been extended to May 29. This order required all businesses deemed nonessential to close as of March 23.

On May 12, retail stores were allowed to reopen in Ohio, and on May 15, restaurants, barbershops, salons and spas may open.

Governor Dewine’s order

has caused many businesses to keep their doors closed for close to two months, but the Wooster community is ready to see their businesses thrive again. According to The Daily Record article “Local Economy eager to get back to work as Dewine unveils reopening details,” Justin Starlin, president of the Wooster Chamber of Commerce says, “Gov. DeWine’s announcement today is the first step in the right direction of supporting the thousands of local lives that have been affected by furloughs, layoff, or business cease orders…

We are optimistic that the resiliency of our businesses will result in a strong and swift rebound to

better times that we remember before this pandemic.”

Action is being taken at the federal level to help aid small businesses such as the passing of the CARES Act, which included $349 billion in the Paycheck Protection Act, providing forgivable loans up to $10 million for small businesses who pledge to spend at least 75 percent of the proceeds on the payroll.

According to Richard McGhaey, economist and reporter for Forbes, in his article “Will Small Businesses Survive the COVID Recession,” McGhaey analyzes the economic downsides to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is no question we

are entering a deep and sharp recession, unfamiliar to economists.

Unemployment claims skyrocketed by over 16 million in the past three weeks… Projected damage varies by industry. Overall, 38% of the small firms think they would still be open after a six-month crisis, but that drops to 27% for tourism and lodging firms, and only a 15% survival rate for restaurants. And, as the authors note, entrepreneurs are notoriously optimistic, so true survival rates may be even lower,” McGhaey said.

The Wooster Chamber of Commerce is offering resources for small businesses to take advantage of during this uncertain and troubling time.

This issue of The Wooster Blade is sponsored by Buehler’s

TRENDS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 10

Graphic by Madison Helms

Despite quarantine, Positive attitude assists people during isolation online thrifting continues LACKING SOCIAL SOPHIE GAMBLE cover editor

MADDY MCCULLY co-editor-in-chief As was asked of rapper Macklemore, “Can we go thrift shopping?”

Unfortunately, at the moment, no, you can’t.

Fortunately, with the continually evolving online marketplace, there are numerous options to buy second hand goods.

One popular option is the app Depop, created by Simon Beckerman. Utilizing a similar interface to Instagram, users are able to make their own profile page and follow clothing pages that interest them, with the ultimate goal of buying and selling clothes.

One person that utilizes Depop is Shae, known as @ babytrees on the app, who has a following of 18,000 followers.

Shae discovered the app through Youtube, and has been selling thrifted clothes through it ever since. She loves the profit she is able to make while still being in school, and says, “it has given me a creative outlet and I love picking up unique pieces.”

For those who like the element of surprise, Bulk Vintage Warehouse is a great option. According to their website, their business goal, “is to provide vintage clothing (“used” clothing, meaning at least 20 years old) in large quantity, and good quality, to our Industry Customers.”

Consumers have the option

PHOTO COURESY OF M-SQUARED

Molly Schneider (12) and Madison McCoy (12) pose in their own clothing. To buy their collection, visit @msquaredddd on instagram to buy items by the pound, in bundles, or individual pieces, and there is also the option to go to the warehouse in Philadelphia, Pa., every first weekend of the month.

If consumers decide to buy in bundles or weight, the warehouse will randomly bundle clothes in the clothing category that they choose.

Another place to online thrift are instagram accounts that are selling their used clothing.

One option is @msquaredddd run by WHS students Molly Schneider (12) and Madison McCoy (12).

The account sells their used clothing, and also includes clothing they have designed.

The m-squared original clothing includes a tie dye collection with tank tops and t-shirts. The prices of their

used items vary, and their tank tops sell for $10 and t-shirts sell for $15. Schneider explained their initiative for creating the account saying, “Ever since we were young, we have envisioned ourselves working together to create a business.

Because of quarantine, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to start m-squared and be creative within our brand.”

McCoy says her favorite part about their business is, “seeing how many people love what we do...It’s great to see people we know supporting us in our business as well as meeting new people in different places.”

Even with the limitations set by quarantine about going to stores, there are still plenty of options to buy thrifted pieces online.

“We are all dealing with this for the first time,” says Elizabeth Ladrach, counselor in the Student Wellness Center at the College of Wooster. “Please remind yourself that it’s okay to be having a difficult time with coping,” she added.

Covid-19 has thrown off the life and routines of many people as the state of Ohio has been under a stay-at-home order since March 24.

Lacking social connection is something that accompanies following physical distancing guidelines; feeling alone is normal right now, but it can cause mental health and physical concerns, according to Ladrach.

For the time being, there are still ways to feel connected to others and motivated to do school work, exercise and to set a routine.

Some important ways to stay positive are regulating the news you take in, spending more time on mindfulness activities, becoming physically active, prioritizing sleeping and drinking plenty of water and finding ways to make meaningful interactions with others, according to Ladrach.

In terms of school/regular work, Ladrach points out that people need to adapt to the situation in which they are living. Working in a home environment has more distractions than in an office or school.

Breaking up work, making a comfortable work space, and rewarding yourself for

CONNECTION IS SOMETHING THAT ACCOMPANIES FOLLOWING PHYSICAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES; FEELING ALONE IS NORMAL RIGHT NOW, BUT IT CAN CAUSE MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL CONCERNS, ACCORDING TO LADRACH.

completing tasks are some good ways to stay motivated, says Ladrach.

“Give yourself some space and some grace in finding daily positives,” she added.

In addition to this information, the WCS district website notes that they are partnering with several local mental health agencies. Two free 30 minute mental health consultations are available through Anazao Community Partners, OneEighty, and The Counseling Center of Wayne and Holmes Counties.

More information can be found on the district website.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SENIOR SECTION | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 11

Class of 2020

Where the sidewalk ends

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SENIOR | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 12

LOVE-LOVE

Playing off the power of perspective

RHEANNA VELASQUEZ co-editor-in-chief Playing tennis has taught me this: you hit some, you miss some.

Of course, this goes for anything really, from sports to academics to striving for larger life goals.

Some chances will connect, and others will not. But, you will learn from your mistakes just as much, if not more, than you will from your achievements.

As with tennis, keep moving.

Keep swinging. Work on building the skills and refining the habits that enable you to play more fully on the court.

And as you play, evaluate your perspective. Are you still able to laugh with trick shots and missed swings? Are you still enjoying the sensation of sunlight (or sunburn) on your skin? Are you able to see the team around you? The people behind you?

Are you able to walk away from the court and leave it

LIVING LIFE, LIKE PLAYING SPORTS, IS NOT AN EVENT BUT A PROCESS. ENJOY IT FULLY. behind you?

Even as we focus on a single ball, a play, a game, a match, there is always more present at the court and more present beyond the court than we can see. So, keep an open perspective and a flexible mindset. Living life, like playing sports, is not an event but a process. Enjoy it fully.

Extracurriculars promote collective growth

REECE MITCHELL co-editor-in-chief During my senior year, I got to look back on my past years of everything I have gotten to experience and go through.

And, I think the best thing I got to do was to be diverse in the activities in which I involved myself.

I was so fortunate to have

been in so many different things that were different from each other. In being a part of the BLADE staff for three years, playing basketball and being the leader of the Frontline I got to experience and see tons of different people thrive in different areas. I have found that the only thing better than seeing yourself grow throughout your years, is seeing the people you started with grow right along with you.

That is what makes high school so great: the people around you who have been with you since the start. In being in so many different activities, I have gotten to be around a lot of different great people. I have gotten to see so many people thrive in their

Steering clear of the pitfalls of perfectionism

own ways and take their own paths. Looking back, that is what high school was about: finding what you want to do and who you like to be around and learning what kind of person you want to be.

High school, for me, was finding out how to be the best I could be at what I wanted to do and finding out what I wanted to be. It was not about finding the work I wanted to do or the degree I wanted to obtain, but finding the person I wanted to become and grow up to be.

I think that what is so great about my high school experience is that I have gotten to do so many different things and that I have gotten to expand my horizon on the things I could do in life.

MADDY MCCULLY co-editor-in-chief For all you perfectionists out there, this one’s for you.

It is okay to get a B. Let me make this clear: I am not saying to aim low or put in minimal effort. There is an imperative need to set high standards and study hard, but as long as you are trying your best, contrary to popular belief, a couple of B’s won’t ruin your chances of getting into college.

Throughout high school, I sacrificed fun for studying.

In order to achieve my high standards for grades, I would skip hangouts with friends and skip high school games.

Although studying and doing homework is important, I have learned there needs to be a healthy balance of both school and fun.

Unless you are the next Albert Einstein, the stress of trying to achieve perfect grades is: one, unrealistic and, two, incredibly stressful. I saw, time and time again, the toll that stress took on me and my friends who just needed that A+. Running on four hours of sleep to finish homework, the headaches, the anxiety...the list goes on.

So, with that being said, I urge you to set high standards for yourself, but make sure those

standards should not solely be based on achieving perfection.

Even when I would achieve my academic goals, I would still be disappointed knowing I could have done better which showed me that aiming to be perfect all the time is such an unrealistic goal and will only lead to disappointment and feelings of defeat.

Instead, I urge you to strive to find a healthy balance between studying and doing homework, and enjoying life and hanging with friends. Find your study habits that work well for you, and indulge in things that you enjoy.

FIND A HEALTHY BALANCE BETWEEN STUDYING AND DOING HOMEWORK, AND ENJOYING LIFE AND HANGING WITH FRIENDS. Take those AP, CCP, and honors classes, but also make sure to not overwhelm yourself with too many. Be sure to take classes that you thoroughly enjoy, seem fun, and set you up for your future. For me, the class that unexpectedly allowed me to discover new passions was crafts, where I was able to have a break from the typical class environment and have the opportunity to felt and make jewelry.

Remember, high school only lasts for four years, so make sure to take the time to enjoy it.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SENIOR | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 13

Value your individuality

CORINNE WILES co-graphics manager

Your high school years are one of the best times to discover yourself.

However, being a teenager is also the most insecure time, which at times can make it difficult to be who you truly are. Other people’s opinions can change the person you are becoming, especially at a time when your K-12 years consume your entire life.

My advice to other students is to not allow these judgments to influence your individuality.

As hard as it may be to ignore others’ influences and you may lose track of yourself, there is always hope for further self discovery. The most important thing is to surround yourself with people who encourage your interests and support your values and dreams.

Finding self confidence is key, even if you do not feel that way, exerting confidence can help you believe in yourself. Do not let others’ words or actions bring you down, dress the way you want, speak the way you speak, be passionate about your interests regardless of what they will say.

At the end of the day, finding yourself and your own happiness depends on you. Do not seek validation from others in friendships or relationships, find a way to validate from within in order to be yourself unforgivably. If your moves are making people uncomfortable, you are doing something right.

Strive for spontaneity

BRYN SAVIDGE trends editor “What’s the worst that can happen?” I asked myself as I stood outside of the choir room doors waiting for my number to be called. I was auditioning on a whim for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, my first ever Drama Club audition, with little idea of the profound impact my

spontaneity would have.

I received the role of Helena, a self-conscious young woman who pines at a man who refuses her. From the moment I opened the script to the last curtain call, I learned from Helena.

Although Helena and I were similar in some aspects, we contrasted greatly. For one, Helena never would have auditioned for a school play at the last minute, because she is so analytical. She spends the entirety of the play thinking about why no one loves her, that when her love is no longer unrequited, she is unable to enjoy it. Helena serves as proof that when our thinking becomes too analytical, we are unable to experience the

Senior reflects on growing from mistakes Boy, was I wrong.

There was a point in high school where I really hit rock bottom. I was dealing with a lot. I lost my sense of self and really had no idea who I was anymore. I was more focused on the artificial things and pleasing those around me, instead of dealing with my own issues head on.

I changed into someone I did SKYY KHOUNBORIN not want to be. sports editor Since that moment, I knew I could no longer be afraid There is a Chinese Proverb to grow; standing still and that says: “Be not afraid of continuing to self-deteriorate growing slowly; Be afraid only would only set me up for more of standing still.” and more failure in the future.

Now, I am not Chinese, but I began to follow an unmarked that is beside the point on path to figure out who I was. which I would like to focus.

From the poor choices to the I would say that personally, good choices, each served as a high school was a big fat reality learning curve for me. I joined check for me. I went into high a bunch of clubs to broaden school thinking that I knew my horizon, I branched out of who I was as a person and my friend group, I even picked knew that I was who I will up some new hobbies (call me always be for the rest of my life. crazy, but jigsaw puzzles are confidence and joy unexpected opportunities can bestow.

In short, Helena lacked spontaneity.

High school works in a similar way. Our schedules and classes are so prescribed and every assignment, event and accomplishment is part of a linear path. We often struggle to find space to be spontaneous. Yes, schools need long-term plans and structure to effectively teach the thousands of students that pass through the building, but if I have learned anything, it’s that students need to make space for spontaneity.

Unlike many subjects at school, spontaneity is not something we can learn; it is something we often repress and forget. In school, being spontaneous means that you act in the spur of the moment

without being instructed to do so. You do not try a new opportunity to get a good grade, but to stretch yourself, to purposely deter from the path, to stop walking and start dancing. When I decided to audition for the play, I had no calculated reason to do so. But looking back, I realize how that one, almost random decision opened up new emotions and initiatives that I would have otherwise continued life without. Even in our lives outside of school, just a small amount of spontaneity might lead us to try new hobbies, allowing us to learn and grow without even realizing.

We are rigid when we rely on schedules and hard work to prevent confusing, intimate, or intense moments of life, arriving at school every morning only to return home

amazing).

I would be lying if I said I am a whole different person since then, because I am not. But, what I can say is that I have grown a lot since then. You might be thinking, “Um isn’t that the same thing?”

The answer to that is no.

I am still the person I was then, but I have a lot more growing to do, a lot more to discover about myself and a lot more mistakes to make.

But, life is about learning.

There is no age limit for learning. I mean hey, I taught my 70-year- old grandpa to use an iPhone.

Learning from your mistakes and growing from them is what shapes you into a better person.

If I were not willing to grow from my mistakes, I would never have been able to pull myself out of rock bottom.

So my advice to you is: do not just go through life, GROW through life. without giving the day any real meaning. We rarely move out of fear of making a mistake.

But what is the worst that can happen? High school is such a small fragment of our lives that we can and should be able to relax our muscles and let them hang more loosely. Pay someone a compliment, ask new questions in class and see what happens. Use order and logic, but then allow for new and exciting moments, knowing not everything is at stake.

It feels very safe to avoid risk, but the real risk is to live without ever expressing spontaneity. As a new class graduates, it is a crucial time to welcome new opportunities with a smile. We should allow ourselves to turn our lives a little upside down from time to time, and trust that they will be interesting at the very least.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SENIOR | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 14

Students should aim to romanticize the small details of high school

MADISON HELMS co-graphics manager I am not a writer. However, as I stared at my blank screen, trying to draw something to capture my years at WHS, I realized that while a picture may be worth a thousand words, that is still not nearly enough to even scratch the surface of one’s high school

experience.

I think the most effective way to capture and share one’s high school experience is through film.

In 2017 Greta Gerwig’s movie Lady Bird was released. This movie follows a high school senior, Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, through her final year of high school as she works through finding herself, investing in her future through

college and navigating her rocky relationship with her mom.

This movie resonates with thousands of students, not only through the story, but through the visuals as well. Lady Bird takes everyday scenes, Christine’s bedroom, a local cafe, the school parking lot, and portrays them in such a simple yet beautiful way.

While I am not

expecting you to film every moment of your high school career or hire a professional cinematographer to make sure the color scheme of your life is aesthetically pleasing, your high school experience is still your own personal coming of age movie, so bask in the glory of the everyday.

Decorate your backpack with pins advertising your favorite TV shows. Notice the contrast of your yellow sneakers against the grey linoleum of the school hallway. Curate your playlist to make it the perfect movie soundtrack. Romanticize the little details of your life in high school. Because this is your coming of age movie, and you can be the main character.

Fair use photo courtesy of IMDB, graphic by Madison Helms

Joining extracurricular activities helps students get involved

ANNA NACCI cover editor During social distancing, I have had a lot of time to think about my high school experience.

COVID-19 provides a unique opportunity for reflection for the class of 2020, as we are experiencing the regular nostalgia of graduating, but three months earlier than any class ever has. Having the end of my high school experience be effectively cancelled helped me realize how great of an experience it has truly been.

Of course, high school has its fair share of stress, pressure, and exhaustion, but it would be inaccurate to say that any of these things defined my time at WHS. What defined

my high school career were the great friends, mentors and experiences I was able to gain.

There are two important lessons I learned over the last four years that I would like to share.

The first piece of advice I would give is to not take yourself too seriously. I always wanted to take the most intense classes, and be the best at everything I do, which are not bad things to want, on their own. What is dangerous, however, is making the goal of excellence, academic or not, a crucial part of your confidence or self-worth. When I was younger, I would sob every time I got a B on something.

While this sounds insane, I know I was not alone in this reaction. While growing up, we are taught by our parents and teachers that we must work hard in school in order to get into college, and have a successful future. While this is definitely true, we somehow have warped this guidance to mean that anything less than perfection will result in any future success being completely

out of reach. We put so much unnecessary pressure on ourselves, and we are much better off without it.

So, I am telling you now, in case you are feeling how I used to: you are going to be fine.

Having below a 4.0 GPA and 36 ACT is not going to destroy the possibility that you will get into college or have a successful adulthood. Yes, caring about school is really important and valuable, but when absolute perfection is the goal instead of doing your best, you are destined to be miserable.

The other thing I found to help is to get involved. I did a myriad of different activities, ranging from multiple sports, music, teams and various clubs and organizations. WHS has a wealth of options for students to express themselves and have fun, so there is something for everyone.

Yes, high school is about getting an education, but being involved allows your knowledge to expand beyond what you learn in the classroom. While I am so thankful for everything I have

learned from my teachers, the classes themselves are not what I will miss the most. My extracurricular activities have given me something to miss about high school.

I made so many friends and had the most fun I have ever had being part of a team or club, and I cannot even imagine the last four years without these experiences.

My time at WHS was great because of those who were there to support me. I cannot thank my teachers, especially Mr. and Mrs. Hiner, Ms. Coppola, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Mealey, Mrs. Silvaggi, Mr. and Mrs. Adams and Mr. Bennett enough for guiding me through the last four years. You are all not only amazing teachers, but mentors as well. I felt so comfortable talking to you about my problems, whether relating to school or not, and I will miss you all greatly.

One of my favorite parts of high school was competing on the Speech and Debate team, and I want to thank Mrs. Custer, Mr. Franck, Mr. Klein, and Mr. Rogers for allowing me

to discover an activity I love, and assisting me in growing as a competitor.

A consistent bright spot in my last four years was sports, and I thank Mrs. Pope, Mrs. Gasser, Mrs. Doup, and Mr. Cerniglia for creating welcoming environments where I was able to grow as both an athlete and a person.

I also want to thank all of my closest friends, including: Madison Helms, Mya Vandegrift, Emily Ramseyer, Emma LoGiudice, Julia Hootman, Lena Wiebe, Ellie Snider, Sierra Dewald and Sam Carmel, as well as everyone I have met along the way for making my high school career so special. You all provided me endless fun and laughs, and I will miss you so much.

Lastly, I want to thank my parents and my sister, Maddy.

The amount of support, guidance and advice I have received helped me become who I am today. Your strength, knowledge, and kindness inspires me everyday, and I hope to become as great as all of you are.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SENIOR | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 15

School groups help students pursue passions Students must focus on

EVE NORRIS artist I have never been too keen on the idea of regret, so looking back on the past four years I like to refer to my “regret” as something else: no hesitation.

I have spent the last four years consciously isolating myself from opportunities that I have realized will never come again. I spent countless hours obsessing over the question, “How can I make myself happy while I’m at school?” And finally, although a little late in the game, I found my answer.

I desperately want to reach

out to underclassmen and stress the necessity of including yourself. Fear should never get in the way of your passions, especially in an educational environment. Had I realized that not everyone is out to get me and that there is nothing to be afraid of, I could have included myself way more than I actually did the first two years of my high school career.

Had I not joined BLADE, or Speech, or embraced my passions for art and music, I would have left WHS sad and terrified. The only reason why I have come to terms with losing the last part of my senior year is because I finally let myself have fun, even if it was a little late in the game. However, instead of harboring this heavy sense of regret, I love to think of these four years as something I can look back on and think: next time, there will be no hesitation.

Underclassmen, join the

Speech and Debate team even if it’s just for a year. Play in the band, audition for Drama Club, answer questions in the classroom, laugh loudly at the lunch table. We spend too much of our time letting ourselves be consumed by the fear of being seen when we are in the classroom setting.

Now, I go off to college and I have never been more prepared to show off what I have learned and to let myself have fun while I can.

And to my underclassmen friends: I love you. You are so fun, so never be afraid to show it. There is nothing to be scared of here. “and when we speak we are afraid / our words will not be heard / nor welcomed / but when we are silent / we are still afraid / So it is better to speak / remembering / we were never meant to survive.” Audre Lorde.

played lacrosse. My senior year, I made the decision to join the BLADE staff, as well.

This spring, I had a busy schedule lined up. I was preparing for one of the lead roles in the spring show, Clue.

I had just finished up a fairly successful speech and debate season. I was going to play my first real varsity season of lacrosse. I was prepping for our first concert of the year with the rest of the Jazz Band. Finally, I had AP testing and final projects coming up.

Then, Covid-19 hit, and almost all of those activities were gone.

As someone who is not used to free time, I now had more free time on my hands than ever. I realized that many of my classmates and peers also lost important experiences, whether or not they were seniors.

A couple of weeks into quarantine, it started hitting me how much I was missing. Those

were a rough next few weeks for me. Almost all of the things with which I used to identify myself were gone.

However, I realized something else as well.

No matter how upset I was that I was missing things, I never regretted the things that I had the opportunity to do. I missed some good memories, but I made countless other ones. I remember the cast trips to Applebee’s, the bus rides home from tournaments, the Big Band Dances, the fun the JV lacrosse team had at our preseason scrimmages last year. I realized that the missed memories do not outweigh the ones we already have.

So as a message to everyone missing out because of Corona, and especially to my fellow seniors: hold onto the good memories, because compared to those, the things we are missing are nothing.

Memories of school activities bring comfort

TYLER KEATING staff writer High school is a great opportunity for people to learn and grow. One of the many ways for a student to express themselves is through the activities they join.

I have always been a joiner.

As soon as I got to high school, I immediately was in as many clubs as possible. Over my four years, I was in the band, Jazz Band and Drama Club. I also competed on the robotics team, the speech and debate team and

the present in order to enjoy their experiences

ALEC PAULEY on campus editor Being a senior in the first class to spend five whole years at WHS, I will most certainly not be the first person to tell you to make the most of the time while you have it.

Having an extra year in the building gave me a better chance to appreciate the opportunities presented to me, but if there is absolutely anything I would recommend to other students, whether they are younger and have yet to experience as much as me, or are older and have not realized it yet, it is to not take for granted this part of our lives, but to also not think of them like the “glory days.”

There are few that would argue that life gets less complicated and easier the older you get, but as you gain knowledge and experiences with age, do not live life as if like it “all goes downhill from here.”

It is important to cherish every part of the younger years and not to dread the future, and as I come toward the end of this senior year, I can most certainly say that I will miss a few things such as the big band dance,

marching band, the tennis season and other yearly events, but this does not mean I am letting those feelings take away from the future ahead of me.

I ask that all who are reading enjoy all of their years as though they are the glory years because every moment should be seen this way.

Dreading the future, though it may be harder and more complicated in many ways, only takes away from the experiences you are able to enjoy now.

In a time like this, where the class of 2020 is missing out on senior trips, dances, sports seasons, and many, many other things, it hurts to have to say that my last memories of high school are spent in my bedroom, away from all the people I am used to seeing on a daily basis. But, in an attempt to heed my own knowledge, I am spending this time meeting new people online, keeping in touch with friends through social media, and finding new indoor hobbies in which to partake.

I say all of this about not wasting time or dreading the future because I think many simply need to be reminded, all years can be the glory years as long as they are spent enjoying yourself and having a good time, no matter what that entails.

Do not let the worry of the future stop you from enjoying yourself now, as the future will always be there, but the present will soon become the past. So, go take advantage of it and make the best of the situation at hand.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SENIOR | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 16

Students must enact change

MAEVE FLORENCE-SMITH feature editor KKK slashed into the wall of a girls’ bathroom stall; swastikas, sexist, and homophobic comments carved into school desks; Black Lives Don’t Matter and black people = monkeys written on a chalk board; a racist innuendo about Asians on a morning announcement; racist slurs shouted in the hallways. Wooster High School has a problem.

After over a year of requesting help from the high school administration, I sent emails to the superintendent and then went to the school board to advocate for change.

After making my public plea, I never heard back from the superintendent, nor the school board. Based on the administration’s statements to the newspapers, they have concluded the hate-speech investigation. They found that the desks were old. The chalkboard writing was an incident of adolescent error.

There was no hate speech because none of the words were intentional. Wooster High School has a problem addressing issues.

I faced consequences when I addressed the issue with the school board. After it hit the newspapers, when I would walk into my classes, students would stop talking or start whispering. It felt like I was in a movie. I felt like I did the right thing and followed the

right procedures and then was criticized for standing up and speaking out.

Teachers told me I just did not understand how much I had hurt them and damaged their careers. Students glared at me as I walked down hallways.

One teacher even told a class that if the levy did not pass, it was my fault; students from the class were so concerned that they came to tell me what was said. Several of my friends said they did not know what swastikas and homophobic comments looked like, and they asked how I even knew what hate speech was.

Before school every day for quite a while, I felt like I was going to throw up. Now, I am afraid for my little brother, that my decisions will dictate the next five years of his life, and people will hate him because of me.

For one and a half years, I worked alone in order to address the problems I saw at WHS, and no change came of it. I was silenced. I have come to realize that a single student voice does not matter. I should not have followed their procedures, waited so long for their response, and trusted in their goodwill. I should have gathered friends to help me.

So now I ask those of you reading this to raise your voices when you see or hear racist comments at WHS. The school’s environment will not change unless we work together to change it. Right now, it is an environment where learning does not feel safe for everyone, where classrooms do not feel like safe spaces, and students are ridiculed for their differences.

Please, join together and raise your voices to make a chorus for change.

Disclaimer: All personal opinion columns, which are bylined with the writer’s name and photo, represent the views of the writer; they do not necessarily reflect the views of The Wooster Blade.

OLIVIA DAL PRA artist

High school offers a diversity of experiences

STUART COURSON staff writer I am going to start this column with this statement: life sucks.

One moment, you are on top of the world, thinking everything is going amazing, and you could not be more grateful with everything going on in your life, and then the next moment, you are hitting rock bottom because quite simply, that is ife.

This is a common phrase I have heard throughout high school, and as a student of the class of 2020, who will put on his big shoes and enter adulthood, I have also had this phrase come out of my mouth as well, especially during these hard times.

Believe me, I have experienced my fair share of ups and downs. One moment, I feel like the definition of success because I was either getting good grades, or I was finding success in the activities in which I participated, or my friends were becoming a more close and strong-knit bond.

However, other times, I feel like the definition of failure, which is how I am feeling at the moment of writing this column.

I have lost a memory in my brain of who I am because of one inconvenience, and quite frankly, the common phrase nowadays that is supposed to help us all, “We are all in this together,” is not helping me, nor anybody else.

Isn’t it crazy how that part of your mind works?

And, what makes this phrase even more crazy, is that the majority of high schoolers feel like this.

The biggest thing I have noticed in high schoolers nowadays is that while we definitely have our greatest days, we also have our worst

days. And those are the days that wash out any other day we have had, not because we are not grateful for those days, but because in the world of a pandemic, it is hard to focus on the good in life. I know I cannot be the only person who feels like this.

To future classes: please understand that this roller coaster you are embarking on is going to be the craziest, most jagged, and most of all, the most life-changing roller coaster on which you will ever ride. There are going to be moments where you are at your peak, and other moments where you are at the bottom of life. Understand that it is almost inevitable to feel like this, and it becomes toxic when you do not realize those ups and downs.

Realize them, because we are all under the notion that life sucks. And, it is okay for us to go through these ups and downs, as long we strive for the better, and understand this phrase that nowadays may be repetitive and annoying, “We are all in this together.”

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SENIOR | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 17

Glowing Up:

Seniors share their first day of school and last day of school pictures along with their favorite high school memory.

Nathan D eRodes

“I think my favorite high school memory was the lip dub, walking out to the stadium with everyone screaming with spirit and having a good time.”

“Senior year soccer season.”

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uffman

c Alexi Lea

Kelci Ka

“High school was a blur, but probably lunch with Reagan and Shelby junior and senior year.”

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hello

Aiden Ca

Anna Cic “I wouldn’t say I have one favorite memory, instead I would say it’s a collection of memories of all the times I got to spend with my friends throughout high school. Whether that be during classes, sports, or outside of school.”

“In 2017 at the Cheer OCC competition, Wooster cheer took first in the freshmen, jv, and varsity division. Also cheering Friday nights.”

Pictures and memories compiled

by Skyy Khounborin

VIEWS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 18

DELAYED ACTION, DEEPER DISAPPOINTMENT

Government’s response to COVID-19 pandemic leaves much to be desired

SIERRA DEWALD staff writer In a March 2020 article

by Peter Baker, entitled, “Presidents Forge Their Legacies in Crises,” and published in The New York Times, Baker writes that people look to their leaders more than ever during moments of crisis like the COVID-19 outbreak, and it is the response to such moments of crisis that will define the legacy of a president and their administration.

In the Trump Administration’s response to the outbreak, steps have been taken that have lessened the impact of the virus.

Travel bans and a nationwide shutdown have reduced the spread of COVID-19, and things are better than they could have been without such measures.

However, many have labeled these steps as too little, too late.

According to the Google News Coronavirus Tracker, at the time of writing this article, the United States makes up 4.25% of the world’s population, yet accounts for 32% of confirmed cases and 28.5% of deaths from COVID-19.

The first cases of COVID-19 in the United States and South Korea were identified on the same day, yet as of May 19 the United States has 139 times the amount of confirmed cases in South Korea and 345 times the amount of deaths, despite

having only 6.5 times the population of South Korea.

Though nationwide opinions vary on the success of the Trump Administration’s response, with 45.9 percent of the country approving of how the virus has been handled as of April 24, per Geoffrey Skelley’s article, “Americans are Largely Unimpressed with Trump’s Handling of the Coronavirus Pandemic,” as found on fivethirtyeight.com, looking at the statistics makes it difficult to call the United States’ initial response to COVID-19 anything but an incredibly costly failure.

In the Guardian article, “The missing six weeks: how Trump failed the biggest test of his life,” by Ed Pilkington and Tom McCarthy, they explain that the Trump Administration was behind from the start, having disbanded the pandemic response unit of the National Security Council in 2018.

Reuters, in the March article, “U.S. slashed CDC staff inside China prior to coronavirus outbreak,” adds that in the two years leading up to the COVID-19 outbreak the Trump Administration cut staff by twothirds at the Beijing office of the CDC, intended to monitor and help respond to outbreaks in China.

These instances highlight how the United States, under Trump’s leadership, was wholly unprepared for a pandemic.

Once the first case of COVID-19 was identified, response at the federal level continued to be delayed.

Trump’s claims that the outbreak was under control and tendency to dismiss worries about the seriousness of the threat were indicative of the initial federal response.

According to the

aforementioned Guardian article, it took six weeks for the Trump Administration to allow laboratories and hospitals to conduct their own COVID-19 tests, a step that South Korea took within a week, allowing them to succeed at identifying and containing the virus where the U.S. has failed.

Those six weeks have since been labeled a missed opportunity to ramp up testing, enact quarantine and shutdown measures, and get ahead of the outbreak rather than responding in a way that William Schaffner, an infectious diseases specialist at Vanderbilt University, describes as, “playing reluctant catch-up.”

By comparing the United States’ numbers to those of other countries who took stricter and earlier preventative measures, it would seem that the delayed federal response cost tens of thousands of Americans their lives.

Even now, as Meyer of The Atlantic writes in his May 8 article, “There’s One Big Reason the U.S. Economy Can’t Reopen,” the country is behind.

Meyer explains that in order to properly respond to the outbreak, the U.S. should implement the same strategies other countries have successfully used, meaning it must“test widely to find infected people; trace their contacts, who might themselves have been infected; and isolate that potentially infectious group from the rest of the susceptible population.”

Meyer continues that experts say there are still too few people are being tested, and in order to get COVID-19 under control the U.S. must at least double or triple the number of daily tests, yet there is no clear

national plan to achieve this goal.

Beyond failure to take practical steps, Trump’s personal response to COVID19 has been disheartening.

Disregarding policy differences and previously established opinions on Trump’s character, one would hope that a national crisis would bring out the best in our country’s leaders.

And yet, Trump has continued to tell lie after lie, from initially dismissing the virus as a hoax despite evidence to the contrary, to later backtracking and claiming he has always taken COVID-19 seriously, to inflating the effectiveness of U.S. response by making false claims, including that anyone can get a test for the virus.

Emily Singer’s April 18 Courier Newsroom article, entitled, “The 59 Worst Lies Trump Told About Coronavirus in the Past Month,” documents a sampling of claims Trump has made at COVID-19 briefings that have been labeled false by fact checkers or contradicted by health experts.

During times of crisis, in which the consequences of one’s actions are potentially life or death, the words spoken by those in positions of power matter. There is no explanation for repeated false claims by the leader of our country except a disregard for the truth in favor of political gain or simply cluelessness, neither of which are encouraging.

More than anything, what Trump seems to be lacking is empathy.

In an April 6 New York Times opinion article by Frank Bruni, entitled, “Has Anyone Found Trump’s Soul?

Anyone?” Bruni highlights the difference between Trump’s

response to the crisis and that of past presidents, writing, “In Trump’s predecessors, for all their imperfections, I could sense the beat of a heart and see the glimmer of a soul. In him I can’t.”

Bruni continues to talk about how Trump’s demeanor and areas of focus suggest that he is unaffected by the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans, continually blaming anyone but himself and tweeting about things like high television

DURING TIMES OF CRISIS, IN WHICH THE CONSEQUENCES OF ONE’S ACTIONS ARE POTENTIALLY LIFE OR DEATH, THE WORDS SPOKEN BY THOSE IN POSITIONS OF POWER MATTER. ratings for his daily briefings and lamenting state governors for not praising him and his administration enough, while the world is facing a deadly pandemic that has affected so many.

If presidents forge their legacies in crisis, it would seem that the legacy of the Trump administration will be one of a costly failure. The impact of COVID-19 has been felt throughout America in heartbreaking ways. Certainly, preventative measures were taken, and things could have been worse - but they also could have been a lot better.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 19

Sexual assault allegations raise critical questions for Democrats

LENA WIEBE focus editor In Sept. 2018, Christine Blasey Ford testified in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, alleging that thenSupreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers.

The story came in the wake of the MeToo movement, in which many powerful public figures were accused of sexual assault and misconduct, inspiring victims of sexual assault across the country to come forward.

The hearing felt like a watershed moment to me. My mom and I livestreamed the hearing over lunch, listening raptly to the accusations.

Maybe it was unfair, but the hearing became representative of more than just Ford’s allegations to us. Here was a man soon to become one of the most powerful political figures in the country, and when someone had the courage to speak up against him, the country listened.

Kavanaugh’s confirmation was disappointingly predictable: partisan politics seemed to yet again triumph over the country’s brief recognition of the vast scope of the abuses of power that litter workplaces, homes, Hollywood and politics.

In the past several weeks, Tara Reade’s accusations of sexual assault against presumptive Democratic nominee for president Joe Biden have found the public spotlight, sparking

Progress toward athlete compensation overdue

ASHTON DUNLAP staff writer

On April 29, the National Collegiate Athletic Association took a major step toward allowing their student-athletes to get paid for their name, image and likeness.

In a release published April 29, the NCAA announced their Board of Governors supported rules that would allow athletes to receive compensation as early as 2021. Board chair Michael Drake says allowing

heated debates about the nature of the 2020 presidential election, leading to accusations of political double standards and forcing a further examination of how we treat allegations of assault, the accusers and the accused.

Reade, who has accused Biden of sexually assaulting her when she worked for him as a Senate aide in 1993, has forced Democrats to reevaluate just how far they are willing to go when they call to protect women.

Democrats have been quick to point out perceived inconsistencies or flaws in Reade’s allegations: other Senate aides to Biden from the time deny remembering her or her allegations, Reade once wrote of her admiration for Russia, her story has expanded from claims of sexual misconduct and harassment to rape over the years, the police report Reade filed at the time does not mention Biden, and neither does a recording that Reade claims to show her mother calling Larry King asking for advice after her daughter had been assaulted by an unnamed Senator.

Much can be said about these objections, and the merit of

Reade’s allegations themselves: two of the three Senate aides that deny the allegations denied knowing Reade at all, though they almost certainly worked with her, Reade considers herself to be a staunch Democrat, an essay on Russia should hardly disqualify her accusations, remembering and disclosing more detailed accounts of sexual assault over time is common among survivors, and the several corroborating sources Reade has disclosed, including her brother and neighbor, who recall her telling them about the alleged assault after it occurred all make Reade’s allegations, in some ways, more credible than Ford’s were.

More troubling than the debate over the merit of the accusations, though, is the way that the media and general public have treated the allegations as an inevitable part of the political process.

In an opinion piece published in The New York Times by Linda Hirshman titled “I Believe Tara Reade. I’m Voting for Joe Biden Anyway,” Hirshman writes that, even though she, as a longtime feminist, believes Tara Reade’s allegations, she will vote for

Joe Biden as a purely utilitarian choice.

Hirshman claims that a Biden presidency will objectively do the greatest good for the greatest number of people, including for women’s issues.

Hirshman may not be wrong, but Democrats have forced themselves needlessly into a false choice. The primary process is not yet over, and it should not be until a thorough and objective investigation of Reade’s claims has been conducted.

There are countless young, talented politicians in the Democratic party, many of them young women or people of color, many of whom have similarly relatively moderate views to Joe Biden.

The second wave feminist movement famously coined the phrase “the personal is political,” and the casual cruelty of the decision to discard our principles for political convenience shows that we have lost sight of what feminism should be about.

If Democrats want to continue to claim to advocate for women, let alone win the presidential election, they will have to reckon with what exactly they want to stand for.

compensation for athletes would be an unfamiliar task for the NCAA. “Throughout our efforts to enhance support for college athletes, the NCAA has relied upon considerable feedback from and the engagement of our members, including numerous student-athletes, from all three divisions.

Allowing promotions and third-party endorsements is uncharted territory,” Drake said.

The fact that athlete compensation is an unfamiliar topic to the NCAA goes to show how overdue the concept is. For years, college athletes have become household names,

yet have been barred from making money off of that name.

Recently, high school basketball players have been provided with much more enticing and affluent options for their post-high school careers. Certain players have the option to play professional basketball in another country like LaMelo Ball or play in the NBA’s development league (G League) like Jalen Green. Both players are currently making money, unlike their collegiate counterparts. Green will make $500,000 for a season in the G League, a very desirable number for top high school prospects.

Yes, allowing student-athletes

to make money will most likely turn out to be a tumultuous process for the first couple of years, but this recent proposal is ultimately a long overdue step.

Most likely, a standard will have to be set by Congress that will deal with specific rules and technicalities. This law will disallow individual states from making their own laws on the matter.

The support from the NCAA Board of Governors is an important step in allowing student-athletes to be paid, but the motion is long overdue, and a law should be in place regarding the topic sooner rather than later.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 20

Reflecting on the end of school year KRISTI HINER newspaper advisor Years ago, I remember hearing the statement that people never realize what it is like to be in times like these, until they are in times like these. I am unable to recall the context in which it was said, but I can certainly better understand the sentiment behind it in reflecting on this past year.

I am sure most teachers feel the same way, but every year, as the final days of school come to a close, I get a bit reflective and yes, probably a bit nostalgic. It is hard not to do so and this year, the end of my 26thyear of teaching, I find it a little more difficult to do because this is a year lacking in end of year traditions.

The student anticipation of summer, which begins with the first 60 degree day of spring, the planning for Prom, the Fine Arts Festival, the final bows for the spring show, the painting of BLADE senior blocks, the closing of one page in order to begin the opening of another book, these are all moments in time that provide a checklist of closure.

And this year, we, as teachers and students, do not have those moments to remind us of the path we are finishing in order to begin that new path, regardless of what grade we are leaving or where we are going next.

It has been a time for great reflection to say the least.

Teaching is such an amazing profession in the fact that we have the privilege of being inspired, challenged, motivated, and reflective every single day (sometimes this happens in a single period).

However, that interaction, that daily discussion with students is where, for many of us, our joy is found.

If anything, this time also serves as a reminder of the value of that daily interaction and engagement with our students and with our colleagues.

As the adviser of a biweekly publication, I find a great deal of joy in our last newspaper and magazine issues because this is the time in which, for some students, three years of work on staff culminates in such a creative and reflective finale. The final issues are, quite often, my favorite because students get to see that portfolio of work, those 14 issues of the newspaper produced that school year, those three issues of a magazine that we do just because it has become our passion project.

And this year, our finale is a bit different; however, it is not diminished by the distance.

I have taken a great deal of pride in seeing BLADE students continue their collaboration, reflection and dedication. They have questioned, they have brainstormed, and they, for the first time in The Wooster Bladehistory, have produced not one, but two newspapers on an entirely remote platform.

They never thought we would just stop working, they just embraced the challenge and decided to do the work they always set out to do: to produce a student newspaper in which the school and community can take great pride.

It is that determination, enthusiasm and dedication that makes this time much more bearable.

A senior student recently shared with me that she is

“ If aNyTHINg, THIS TImE alSo SERVES aS a REmINdER of THE ValuE of THaT daIly INTERacTIoN aNd ENgagEmENT WITH ouR STudENTS aNd WITH ouR collEaguES. ” really struggling with the fact that she does not get to say goodbye to her teachers and offer them the thanks that she would like to be able to do in person. I understand her frustration a great deal.

Even though every year, we, as teachers, say goodbye to a senior class, there is always something special about that particular class at that particular time that we will never forget. This year is no different.

So although I am not able to speak for all teachers, I can speak as one of them when I say thank you, students, for letting us be a part of your life, at this point in time. Although our traditions of closure differ this year, this has been a time in which we have embraced challenges and can now begin reflecting on what we have learned and where we can go from here.

After all, we never know what we can learn in times like these until we are in times like these.

Senior Shoutouts: Underclassmen recognize some of their favorite seniors

“Corinne Wiles! She’s going to do big things, and I’m forever thankful she took me under her wing!”

Lauren Crum (11) “I would like to shout out Audrey Carlton for her integrity, compassion and hard work she has brought inside and outside of WHS. The Pomfret family wishes you well at WVU!” Jack Pomfret (9) “My shout out goes to Emma LoGiudice and Tanisha Steele. They have made my freshman year better.

Being able to play lacrosse with them was so fun, and I will miss them. Good luck at college!”

Alexis Miller (9) Quotes compiled by Rheanna Velasquez

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | MAY 22, 2020 | PAGE 21

Co-editors-in-chief share final thank yous Rheanna Velasquez Thank you to my parents for their constant support. Thank you to The Daily Record, the WHS administration and our wonderful adviser Mrs. Hiner. Thank you to the local businesses that have invested in this incredible opportunity and experience for students. Our efforts would not be possible without your continued generosity.

Thank you to my siblings who have spoiled me, the friends who have supported me and the teachers who have challenged me. Ms. Coppola and Mrs. Mealey, thank you for all of the book recommendations. Mrs. Wright, thank you for all of your guidance and dedication to Wooster High School’s students. Mr. and Mrs. Adams, thank you for always making me smile. Mr. Heller, thank you for reading us “Quantum Physics for Babies” and for making sure the children are fed. Mr. Cerniglia, thank you for our walks and for entertaining my random visits. Coach Railsback and Mr. French, thank you for believing in me. To Scotti, Mr. Worth, Sra. Matthews, Coach Burris, Mrs. Williams and Mr. Egli, thank you! I have been ever grateful for all your assistance, positivity and care.

Maddy McCully Thank you to the entire staff of The Wooster Blade and of course, our awesome adviser, Mrs. Hiner. Without everyone on staff collaborating, there is no way this paper would be possible. Thank you to my friend group who always stayed goofy and who turned into my second family. Thank you to my parents and brother for the constant love and support. Finally, thank you to the teachers of WHS. Your constant support and patience helped me become the student I am today.

Reece Mitchell

Graphic by Corinne Wiles

As the year ended in a fashion that no one really expected, there are still so many things to be thankful for. Our amazing newspaper was only possible because of our amazing sponsors and our adviser, Mrs. Hiner. As our BLADE staff was phenomenal this year, I would just think to thank our entire staff and everyone who helped make our paper possible.

editors-in-chief Rheanna Velasquez, Reece Mitchell, Maddy McCully head photographer Grace Brownson graphics managers Corinne Wiles, Madison Helms business managers Sophie Gamble, Leo Riley, Bryn Savidge, Rheanna Velasquez on campus editor Alec Pauley focus editor Lena Wiebe sports editor Skyy Khounborin a&e editor Leo Riley trends editor Bryn Savidge cover editors Sophie Gamble, Anna Nacci views editors Paulina Salazar, Mya Vandegrift feature editor Maeve Florence-Smith staff writers Jensan Bauman, Zach Brewster, Stuart Courson, Sierra Dewald, Ashton Dunlap, Sydney Ebin, Eve Norris, Sierah Pilson, Luke Pomfret, Sylvie Shaya, Ellie Snider, Molly Snyder, Jack Veney artists Eve Norris, Olivia Dal Pra, Emma Yoder photographers Tyler Keating, Hannah LoGiudice, Maddy McCully, Theresa Wendell, Rumen Zdravchev adviser Kristi Hiner

The Wooster Blade is a free, biweekly student publication printed in cooperation with The Daily Record. 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. Editorials represent the viewpoints of The Wooster Blade’s Editorial Board and not of the Wooster High School administration, faculty or staff. All personal opinion columns, which are bylined with the writer’s name and photo, represent the views of the writer. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691.

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.

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