Harbinger November 2025

the

HARBINGER Zionsville Community High School

November 2025

Vol. 59, Issue 2

Multilingual Mentorship pg. 6

Also Inside Lockdown, Lockdown, Lockdown pg. 4

Game On pg. 12

STOPit pg. 15

table of

CONTENTS 11 09 12 10 04 Lockdown, Lockdown, 09 The Wheel Deal Lockdown

Amid rising concerns over school safety, new lockdown technology aims to bring ZCHS peace of mind, faster protection

05 Lost in Translation

From Google Translate to ChatGPT, World Language classes adapt to rampant technology use as state requirements change

Zionsville teens build friendships, plans for future careers through the community’s growing car culture

10 Eagles on Ice

As the only girls on Zionsville’s hockey team, sophomores Gleason, Jovonavich prove that skill, determination matter more than gender

13 Write an Article About AI

AI use in school has negative effects on academics, mental health

14 Christmas Time is Here

The benefits of celebrating Christmas before December

06 Multilingual Mentorship 11 Circle City of Champions 15 STOPit Peer ML class allows English speaking students to tutor English learners, helping them navigate school, life

08 Making More of MAP

NHS begins tutoring program during MAP

2

With major playoff runs, record-breaking seasons, Indianapolis sports teams are giving fans a reason to believe again

12 Game On

First year of the ZCHS esports team brings struggles with technology but their communication, teamwork helps them persevere

Patronizing posters, poor advertising turn a useful safety tool into a joke among students, damaging the STOPit app’s credibility

16 Harb Highlights

Looking ahead to events coming up, looking back on past student events

Editorial Technology, diploma changes send wrong message about the importance of learning foreign languages

A

irPods, captioning glasses, Gooshowed “the brains of successful learngle Translate and Indiana’s new ers had undergone functional changes, high school diploma all seem to the brain was better integrated.” suggest that learning a new language Beyond the mental strength these isn’t worth the effort. Improved brain classes provide, the large emphasis they function and problem solving skills: a have on learning the culture is the best waste of time. Understanding world cul- part. They introduce ways of life from tures and practices: a waste These learning around the world more of time. Unique educational impactfully than a history experiences: a waste of time. opportunities class can. Students learn In the new Indiana not only about the past, but increase emCore 42 Diploma, World about the everyday lives of Language classes have been pathy, respect, people in places they may lumped into a larger general understanding of never visit. elective category for current world politics and These learning opportufreshmen and all future nities increase empathy, grades. Instead of requiring reduce prejudice, respect, understanding of four credits of a language to characteristics world politics and reduce graduate, students now need prejudice, characteristics 12 credits from this group, that every Zions- that every Zionsville graduville graduate which also includes Fine ate should possess.

Arts, Performing Arts and should possess.

They also create real conCareer Technical Education. nections with others that On the surface, it sounds like speak the language. Whether through more choice, but it risks sending the foreign exchange programs, pen pals, message that learning another language travel or local events like the Chinese doesn’t matter.

National Honor Society’s Chinese New This change shouldn’t be seen as a Year celebration, students connect with reason to skip World Language classes people and cultures beyond their own. that seem difficult. In reality, those While technology may translate challenges make them worth taking. sentences, it can't replicate those expeBy middle school, where these riences. Learning another language is classes are introduced, it feels like every more than a class on a list of options, other class builds upon the last. But it is about connecting with and underwith language classes, we’re given the standing another culture. We shouldn't chance to start something completely let new requirements make us forget new. Their difficulty creates problem that. Learning a foreign language isn’t solving and critical thinking skills in a a waste of time. Choosing not to learn way no other subject can. one is.

In a 2014 Penn State study, subjects learning Chinese vocabulary words

Follow us on Instagram! @zchsharb Cover: Checking in with Paula Vasquez Suarez (10) on her grade form on Oct. 23, Taite Dalberg (12) and Maddie Reyes (12) help her keep on track with her academics while becoming close friends. Vasquez Suarez has lived in the United States for three years since moving from Venezuela and is working hard to acclimate to an English-speaking school. Photo by Lilly Steele

Harbinger

Staff

Editors-in-Chief Lilly Steele Ellie Vanderbur

Print Editor Srinithya Basireddy

Photo Editor Addi Smith

News Editor Ariana Spence

Feature Editor Brody Brown

Sports Editor Ant Farrar

Perspectives Editor Luke Kouns

Reporters Colin Adam Addy Cieciek Dhani Miller Izzie Paino Gia Villarrubia

The mission of the Harbinger is to provide timely, relevant and interesting content, while handling topics with respect, objectivity and accuracy. Harbinger aims to reflect the diverse nature of the student body of ZCHS by including those of all walks of life in the publication. The Harbinger is student-run and opinions in the magazine do not necessarily represent those of ZCHS or Zionsville Community Schools.

3

Lockdown Lockdown Lockdown

Amid rising concerns over school safety, new lockdown technology aims to bring ZCHS peace of mind, faster protection

By Ariana Spence, News Editor, with additional reporting by Laine Dickerson

R

ight before the end of the school day all the kids to the high school, and then we on Sept. 10, sophomore Samantha went on lockdown because nobody knew Calibo and her class huddled in the what was happening,” Byrum said. “But when darkest corner of their classroom, watching we were on lockdown, they didn’t tell us the red light flashing on the ceiling. anything about what was going on.”

All across the school, classrooms were In order to prevent unsafe situations from silent, with the doors barricaded going unstopped and to limit misand the lights off. But panic communication, this school year set in especially for CalZionsville Community Schools Fire arms are the implemented new Centegix seibo’s class when the lockdown first initiated, curity and lockdown systems leading cause of with no teacher present in order to better prepare death among chiland no knowledge of students and staff for the dren and teens in the situation. possibility of an intruder.

“It was chaotic,” Each ZCS school now has the U.S., according Calibo said. “People silent, flashing warning to the Center for were panicking, and it devices located on the ceiling was not a calm situation.

Disease Control. of almost every classroom, We were all scared out of our bathroom and hallway. minds wondering if there was a Each teacher’s computer screen real shooter or not.” also displays a warning message to alert the Although there wasn’t an actual intruder school silently of a lockdown. in the school, and the lockdown was only iniTeachers are also now required to carry tiated inadvertently after a medical emergena badge that can call for help or initiate a cy, Calibo and her class were still fully aware, lockdown. The badges can instantly contact and scared, of the possibility of a threat administration, start a silent lockdown or within the school. contact authorities, depending on the number At nearby Herron High School, a gun was of times the button on the badge is pressed. brandished by a student on Sept. 11 and an“It’s a true game changer in making us a other student’s life was threatened. Westfield lot safer and putting us in a position to react High School was also placed on lockdown in a way that’s vastly improved from what on Sept. 29 when a student claimed to have a we would have been able to do in the past,” weapon, although there was no gun present. assistant principal Jared Williams said.

In 2018, this possibility became reality, The new systems haven’t replaced the when a 13-year-old student at Noblesville West previous lockdown systems such as the ALMiddle School (NWMS) shot and injured an- ICE procedure. The new systems are merely other student and a teacher. Matthew Byrum, an add-on to better prepare students for an a current ZCHS math teacher, was present at intruder situation.

NWMS when the shooting occurred. “[The new lockdown system] helps all the “After the shooter was cleared, they moved staff to be on the same page quickly in case

by Ellie Vanderbur 4 - Feature Designed Graphics by Ellie Vanderbur

an intruder is in the building,” Calibo said.

According to the New York State School Board’s Association, lockdown methods like ALICE have had average success rates consistently over 85%. New lockdown systems going up all over the country are only expected to make these numbers rise.

Most school security systems and lockdown protocols haven’t been around for very long, and although more ways to protect students and staff are being put into place, the number of school shootings per year has been increasing substantially.

In the past two years, the rate of gun deaths among children has gone up by over 50%, and in 2025 alone, as of Oct. 1, there have been 184 mass shootings on K-12 school grounds that resulted in at least two injuries or deaths, according to a database from the University of Missouri.

Before lockdown systems had been majorly implemented in schools across the nation, the few school shootings that occurred were much more deadly because of the lack of prevention efforts and the lack of preparedness for what could happen during a shooting.

This causes a drastic difference in casualties between schools now and schools in the past with less security.

According to Williams, the new security system has been tested several more times since the initial unplanned lockdown.

“It’s our job to just have the best course of judgment and additionally keep everyone safe,” Byrum said. “At the end of the day, it’s about the students, not about us. So it’s whatever we have to do to kind make sure that happens.”

Lost in Translation From Google Translate to ChatGPT, World Language classes adapt to rampant technology use as state diploma requirements change

By Brody Brown, Feature Editor

I

ndiana’s new high school diploma no longer requires two years of a world language, instead opting for world language courses to be completely optional.

This removal was replaced by allowing students a selection of 12 elective credits.

These courses are also offered under the category of “World Perspectives” where students can choose between a world language or a “world-focused social studies courses.”

“I fear the new diploma’s lack of emphasis on world languages will diminish their importance in the eyes of students and families,” Spanish teacher Lindsay Alessandrini said.

This sentiment isn’t exclusively held by faculty either.

“I think it’s a bad look for the degree since it’s devaluing [languages],” junior Colin Graninger said.

Graninger is trilingual, speaking English, Spanish and French and currently is in French 4.

“I’m very passionate about French,” Graninger said.

“I’ve always loved it, I love the history and I’ve

always felt like I’d like to expand my language [skills].”

Also affecting world language classrooms is the changing artificial intelligence landscape. The reality for world language teachers and students at Zionsville has been to adapt.

“I think there are pros and cons [to AI], and it depends on the level of your language proficiency,” Chinese teacher Shu-Chun Tseng said. “When you get to a certain level, AI will definitely help you enhance your skills. I’ve implemented it in different ways. I’ve used [it] to help create real life scenarios that we can apply to the skills we are learning in class.”

Even with its positive uses, there isn’t a definitive way to spot cheating other than the tells that come with the technology.

“AI is never going to be perfectly punctuated for the circumstance… you can tell sometimes it’ll use grammar above the level the kids are at, that’s the number one [way people are caught],” Graninger said. “We started doing [checks] about actual knowledge on recent speaking assessments. Our teacher would ask us questions about it, making sure we actually knew what the words meant.”

World Language teachers have seen this kind of technology change in years past in the form of Google Translate.

“I remember when Google Translate was first a thing and everybody thought, ‘this is great,’” French teacher Jenna Engelhardt said.

“But you have to learn how to work with it.”

Google Translate’s function was to translate a phrase or word from one lan-

guage to another. However, Google Translate’s lack of context for languages puts a cap on its usefulness for students.

“I feel like [AI] can be very helpful for learning, it can actually understand what you’re trying to get,” Graninger said. “[For] Google Translate you just put a word in and it gives it to you translated.”

Despite the growing popularity of AI, there are still limitations to the technology.

“There’s still cultural norms, there’s still slang, there’s still lots of things that AI is probably not going to be great at,” Engelhardt said. “Also just having spent time and lived in the culture, there’s so many little niche things to learn about that your AI best friend isn’t always going to know or be able to give you that personalized experience.”

An important piece of world language classes is learning about the culture that the language comes from.

“Learning a language is not only being able to understand people, it’s the whole culture and it’s the whole different identity,” Graninger said. “You speak different, you act different, you have different thoughts.”

This is where educators have the upper hand on AI and the benefits of world language come out. “ You’ve got human interaction, that’s what makes kids passionate about things is their ability to connect,” Engelhardt said. “If you’re connecting with a computer there’s not a lot of emotion there.”

Even with the new diploma moving away from World Language classes, teachers still believe that it’s important for students to learn new languages.

“Kids should learn another language and about different world cultures, even if they don’t become completely fluent,” Alessandrini said. “Beyond learning how to put words together, learning a language is about understanding how other people think, communicate and live.”

Designed by Brody Brown Graphic by Srinithya Basireddy

News - 5

Sharing candy with Zaicheng Wang (12), Peer ML tutor Sanraj Singh (12) finishes giving a lesson about appropriate AI usage on Oct. 9. Photos by Dhani Miller

Multilingual Mentorship

Peer ML class allows selected students to tutor English language learners, helping them navigate school, life 6

By Jasleen Kaur, Guest Reporter

J

ust four years ago, ZCHS had only one part-time Multilingual Learner (ML) teacher. Fast-forward to today, there’s a full-time teacher and nine students consistently engaged in enriching the experiences of students learning English and adapting to an English-speaking school.

These nine students are a part of the new Peer ML class, a class period in their schedules dedicated to helping around 30 ZCHS English language learners feel included by showing care and giving assistance. The development of the class came from a crucial need for academic support for non-English speakers at ZCHS. “People think you need something more profound or that you need to speak their language and you don’t,” ML teacher Lisa Geimer said.

Geimer said that it’s not necessary for a peer tutor to know the English language learner’s native language. The main requirements for the class are having a GPA of at least 3.0, being a student in good standing, and being fluent in English.

Peer tutors realized many students needed more than homework help, also providing assistance for bigger challenges. Tutors step in to guide students through these challenges, regardless if they don’t speak the same language. The tutors act as guides, helping with

everything from finding a classroom and checking emails, to navigating Canvas.

“I have never seen a group of American students be excited and want to be so involved with students that speak other languages,” Geimer said.

Lorena Irizarry-Rodriguez created the idea for ML students to be tutored by peers to create a sense of belonging and help Geimer.

Irizarry-Rodriguez also is one of these peer tutors and already sees the rewards of investing time with multilingual learners. She recently helped a student with his personal narrative for English class.

“He really trusted me with his story and him emigrating from Honduras,” Irizarry-Rodriguez said. “It was a wonderful thing to be able to read it and be able to help him put everything he was saying in his mind into words and to English.”

Peer tutors in this class contribute to the student’s growth, both in educational and social situations. Geimer said the classroom is a place where the students “can go to feel safe.” Over time, this helps new English learners become more comfortable in a space that once seemed scary.

“Having someone who’s their own age being there with them, showing up and staying dedicated to their educational growth would encourage them to keep growing,” Irizarry-Rodriguez said.

“I have never seen a group of American students so excited and want to be so involved with students that speak other languages.”

- Multilingual Learning teacher Lisa Geimer

As part of the Peer ML coursework, tutors complete self-paced lessons focused on learning about English language learners and proper tutoring techniques.

Geimer said her true goal for the future of this class is to “help build a more integrated community.”

“We have the magical unicorn school that you can actually do this in,” she said.

Geimer said all students can contribute to this inclusive community building by connecting to ML students during their day.

“They don’t get talked to very often. Just being interested in who they are at all, that’s enough sometimes to open them up,” Geimer said.“

Handing out a paper, Maddie Reyes (12) checks in with students in the class on Oct. 9.

The Peer Proposal “L

Lorena Irizarry-Rodriguez proposes ML Peer class after personal experience with ENL program

ast year when we had our APUSH Project Based Learning fair, my group and I really wanted to work with the ENL program. At first it was just going to be tutoring, helping them out. Then I realized this could be a way to get a class going. I talked to the administration with one of my group members, and they were really responsive to everything we wanted to do and that’s how we got the course made.

When I first got here, I was also in the ENL program. I was only in it for four months. I got here when I was in first grade. I wanted to be able to give help to someone that was like me when I got here. I love doing that. The other people I did it with was Maria Vasquez. She was also in the ENL program when she first got here and Delia Stoian; she’s from Romania. She wasn’t in the ENL program in Zionsville, but she did have another first language other than English when she first got here.

Being able to give back to people who are like us, that’s probably the most rewarding part. Coming in as high schoolers, it’s really hard to learn English, even more so than coming in at an elementary school level. Giving them both social support and educational support is what we love to do.”

Designed by Brody Brown

Feature - 7

Making More of MAP National Honor Society begins MAP tutoring program

By Mackenzie West, Guest Reporter

W

ith each teacher having over 100 students, it’s hard to give each student the one-on-one time they may need. To offer students more one-on-one support, the National Honor Society (NHS) is offering tutoring during MAP to provide free academic help to students.

NHS sponsor Ann Bender oversees the tutoring program with four NHS members serving as tutors in her classroom.

Working through math problems, Jacob “There is a lot of time inLaboe (11) helps Sammy Applegate (9) volved,” Bender said. “But I feel during NHS tutoring during MAP on like I’m giving back to students Oct. 8. Photo by Dhani Miller in the school and community.”

NHS members can volunteer a wide variety of subjects and earn service to help tutor students who need help in hours through tutoring.

“I try to match them based on who wants them and then who has the ability to help them,” Bender said.

Junior Jacob Laboe is a NHS member who spends his MAP period in Bender’s room, available to tutor. He has tutored several students so far, primarily in math.

“Every student learns different,” Laboe said.

Although they earn service hours, the NHS members still need to learn to be effective tutors.

“I’m patient,” Laboe said.

Laboe said he helps by walking the students through the problems, letting

by Srinithya Basireddy 8 - Feature Designed Graphics by Srinithya Basireddy

them get a feel for how it is, and then has them try it on their own so they can practice learning independently.

This resource enables students to get personalized help. Bender emphasized the program’s focus on addressing a student’s immediate needs.

Because of this, the program is still being improved to make it more effective.

Bender said she got a call over the summer about the MAP tutoring program.

Between administration and Bender, the tutoring program is now functional and benefiting other students. “[The administration and I] kind of work shopped a few things and then came up with what we’re working with right now,” Bender said.

There are two different types of tutoring available, student-led tutoring in Bender’s room W313 and the teacher-led math and science tables some students are assigned to during MAP. NHS members can help with both types of tutoring.

Not only does tutoring get NHS members service hours, but Laboe said it helps to add to academic scholarship applications and looks good on college applications. It also doesn’t require out-of-school time like some other service hours.

All of the work put into the tutoring program to get it up and running has paid off.

Students are getting the help they need while the tutors are getting any service hours they need. Ideas have continued to evolve through the work of administration, Bender and the tutors themselves.

“Personally, I love it when students come up with things because I think it has more weight,” Bender said. “But I love it when it comes from wherever it comes from if it benefits the student body.”

The Wheel Deal

Zionsville teens build friendships, plans for future careers through the community’s growing car culture

Photos submitted by Media at Graham Rahal Performance

By Ant Farrar, Sports Editor, with additional reporting by Aaron Steichele

T

he car scene in Zionsville is steadily growing, especially among high school students. It has become not only a way to connect with others, but it also creates new opportunities and life lessons.

Junior Crew Carmichael has always been around cars, and he now works at Graham Rahal Performance (GRP) detailing luxury and high-end cars.

“I first got into cars from the day I was born,” Carmichael said. “My dad’s always had a big passion for cars, so I’ve just grown up around them.”

For Carmichael, the job has given him many opportunities to learn more about the field.

“It’s definitely taught me a lot more about cars, not only in detailing, but the mechanics, how they work and different types of cars,” Carmichael said. “I’ve gotten really good at it, and I think owning my own shop one day would be really cool.”

Nick Payne, the Operations Coordinator at GRP, thinks that student involvement has had a great impact on the dealership, as well as the community.

“We are definitely a big sponsor and advertisement for the car community and the car culture around here,” Payne said. “Especially with our Cars and Coffee events every single month, where we see teens come in. Just getting clients in the door to show them why the

car scene is amazing, just the way it is.”

Payne also notices that the youth in Zionsville have become more involved in the automotive industry and are increasingly showing up at the dealership, eager to connect in some way.

“I can tell teenagers are getting invested when they apply for jobs here, or they come in to take photos, or just stopping one of us to ask about the cars,” Payne said. “Some know even more than Graham, which is very few, but when they do, you can obviously tell.”

Payne believes that the car culture is loved by the youth due to the sense of freedom.

“The automobile, when it was first invented, was to give freedom to people instead of having to ride horses,” Payne said. “That freedom is shown throughout generations, through new enhancements in the cars.”

Senior Bennet Clayton has taken his passion for this freedom to the next level leading him to create the ZCHS Automotive Enthusiasts Club.

“I wanted to lead a group of people that shared the same passion as me and who are able to go out and do fun things together as a community,” Clayton said.

The ZCHS Automotive Enthusiasts Club gives students a place to connect over their love for cars, whether they own a car or not.

Clayton strives to shed a positive light on the car scene through his work with the club.

The automotive club has not only been a good way to share interests, but a valuable lesson in leadership and communication for Clayton.

“I didn’t think it would be as big of a deal as it actually is,” Clayton said.

Cars don’t always have to be about style or speed, but they can be a passion for people to chase if they get involved early.

“It’s fascinating to learn that cars are not just things that take you from A to B,” Clayton said.

“They’re much more than that, and not a lot of people realize it.”

Designed by Srinithya Basireddy Photo by Ant Farrar

Feature - 9

Battling for the puck, Mary Gleason (10) and Nicole Jovonavich (10) practice at the Carmel Ice Skatium on Oct. 7. The team prepared for their first tournament of the season happening that weekend.

Eagles on Ice

As the only girls on Zionsville’s hockey team, sophomores Gleason, Jovonavich prove that skill, determination matter more than gender

By Addy Cieciek, Reporter ost Hockey teams are traditionally seen as a team of all boys. But for the Zionsville Hockey Club that is almost the case, except for two players.

Mary Gleason and Nicole Jovonavich are the only girls on the team, but to them it’s their team.

Gleason and Jovonavich are both sophomores and forward wingers on the team, contributing energy, skill and determination that helps the team through every practice and game.

While it may seem Gleason and Jovonavich stand out, the team and coaches are very welcoming and focused on skill and determination above all else.

“The team is all very connected and the people you meet all become your friends,” senior and teammate Spencer Krug said.

For Gleason, the beginning of her hockey journey started with inspiration from her brother.

“I started playing hockey because my

M

10 - Sports Designed by Ellie Vanderbur

older brother played it and it always looked “At first it was hard warming up to them so fun when I would watch his games,” and a bit awkward,” Gleason said.

Gleason said.

Through this shared experience, Gleason Jovonavich has also always felt connected and Jovonavich have become close friends. to hockey and has known that it would be “We’ve really built our friendship off her sport. of hockey and gotten really close,” “I have always “Hockey is where Gleason said. wanted to do hockey Hockey has been an important I feel the most and I joined the club part of their lives and has given determined and because I wanted to them a place to challenge themselves play for my high the most. a place where school,” Jovanaich “Hockey is where I feel the most I push myself said. determined and a place where I push Both players bring the most.” myself the most,” Jovonavich said. something unique Being the only girls on the team - sophomore, and different to the hasn’t been without its challenges. ice even though they forward winger Sometimes other players or oppoboth play the same Nicole Jovonavich nents will underestimate them at position. first, and they have to prove them“I bring a lot of positivity and determina- selves through hard work. But through these tion to the team every day,” Gleason said. difficulties Gleason and Jovanovich have Jovonavich says she brings “technical grown and learned to lean on each other. skills and motivation,” something she has “At some points in the game we just have been working on throughout the each other and that has really bonded us,” years.

Gleason said.

Running drills, the team Outside of hockey these girls Throughout the years both players said inhances their agility on Oct. balance school, homework and they have grown not only as players but as 7. Photos by Addy Cieciek other activities. teammates.

“In my free time I like to read “I’ve learned how to be more confident and hangout with friends to take in my skills and team,” Gleason said. the stress away from school and These girls hope to have their story hockey,” Gleason said. inspire others who might be nervous to join Before every practice and a male dominated sport like them. game, Gleason and Jovonavich “My advice is to go for it because it’s get ready in the locker rooms really fun and has provided me with a lot of together before they go out and good opportunities,” Gleason said. join the rest of the team.

Circle City of Champions

With major playoff runs, record-breaking seasons, Indianapolis sports teams are giving fans a reason to believe again

By Dhani Miller, Reporter

F

rom the Pacers’ NBA finals appearance, the Colts best record in 16 years, to the Fever reaching the semi-finals for the first time in a decade, to IU’s recordbreaking undefeated football season, Indiana sports teams are thriving.

“Loyal fans have been waiting for decades to feel what fans are feeling now, winning!” sports marketing teacher Gil

At the IU football game against UCLA, Harper Hyslop (12) and Hudsyn Hyslop (10) pose for a photo on Oct. 25. IU beat UCLA, 56-6, maintaining their undefeated season.

Photo submitted by Ha. Hyslop

Meeting sports commentator Ernie Johnson, Sam Longenberger (11) attends Game 3 of the Conference Finals on May 25. Photo submitted

by Longenberger

Speer said.

The Indiana Pacers had an incredible playoff run, reaching a crucial NBA Finals game seven. Star Tyrese Haliburton led them though the playoffs and scored several game winning shots. He suffered a devastating injury in the first quarter of game seven, and the Pacers struggled to keep the momentum going without him. The team fell short of the win, narrowly missing their first NBA championship, but got the closest to earning the trophy in team history.

The Indiana Fever had the number one draft pick two years in a row, picking up stars Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. Despite numerous season-ending injuries this year, including Clark, the Fever had their best season in 10 years, not only making the playoffs, but reaching the semi-finals before dropping the series in a heartbreaking game five loss to the Las Vegas Aces.

The Indianapolis Colts have also assembled a talented roster and added quarterback Daniel Jones in the offseason, which has led them through their very strong start.

Although the team isn’t anything with-

Along with friends and family, social studies teacher Bob Brennan uses his Colts season tickets. Photo submitted by Brennan

out the players, it all begins with something much bigger, more than just a skilled roster and coaches.

“It starts with the ownership of the organizations,” Speer said. “All of the families have done a great job.”

As a long-time Colts fan, social studies teacher Bob Brennan has also noticed the impact that the ownership has on the team.

Colts owner Jim Irsay passed away last spring, which saddened many players and fans. But his daughters have taken over his spot, and many fans are grateful for their continued excellence as they follow in the footsteps of their father. The team has been embracing their new “Win for Jim” mantra and wears patches on their jersey with Irsay’s initials for the 2025 season, which shows the impact the renowned owner had on the team.

“It’s terrible about Jim Irsay passing,” Brennan said. “But I think his daughter is really energetic about the team, is involved and is wanting to win.”

The fan base also plays a huge role in the success of teams because anyone can be a part of it. More attention helps the sport grow and become more competitive. Home court/field advantage also becomes a huge benefit when the stands are packed.

“We call it the bandwagon effect, where people really aren’t fans, but now that they’re winning, everybody is on board,” Speer said.

The facilities that Indianapolis has to offer is also a huge draw for large events and has helped the city become a hub for sports fans.

“I know that coaches and owners like to come here because everything is accessible downtown,” Speer said. “Restaurants, hotels, meeting places. Indianapolis has done a great job. I don’t think it’s going anywhere.”

Designed by Ellie Vanderbur Graphics by Ellie Vanderbur

Sports - 11

First year of the ZCHS esports team brings struggles with technology but their communication, teamwork help them persevere

Preparing for the first game of the year, Connor Byrum (12) plays Valorant on Sept. 29. As the team's captain he made sure the team was ready by practicing with them. Photos by Colin Adam

By Colin Adam, Reporter

“E

rror code 63,” the screens read as they froze. ZCHS’s esports team lost their first match of their inaugural season not to the opposing team, but to technology.

The club, which currently uses old teacher laptops and the school's Ethernet connection, is eager to expand. The club startup this fall helped many students learn more about computer software through the computer problems they faced. Because of these issues, the team has not been able to play all of their weekly matches as they intended. Through

these challenges it has become clear how teams are apart of, to compete against other strong their communication and teamwork is high schools in the state. while working through these difficulties.

“Within the next couple of years, we're “We're hoping to have at least five newer planning on increasing the amount of games PCs so we can run most games and begin to to allow more people to join,” Vaida said. work on ourselves rather than the comput“This can allow the club to be more respected ers,” vice president and sophomore Aarush and seen as more than just video games.”

Vaida said.

Currently, the club runs weekly matches These struggles along with with two different games, Valo“Whether the team's inexperience has rant and Super Smash Bros. made managing the team no sports are digi- Ultimate. easy task for head coach and “Whether sports are digital tal or physical, or physical, students have to science teacher Jared Adley. students have “The problem with find a way to work together,” some of the equipment we to find a way to Adley said. “It might look difhave now is that it's not up ferent in athletic sports, where work together. to the level of gaming on you make physical plays, but Communicaa competitive level across it’s the same idea. Communithe state,” Adley said. “This tion is key if cation is key if you want to win is a newer club, so it's competitions.” you want to win going to take time to get Similar to traditional that kind of funding from these competiathletes, esports athletes use the sponsorships skills they develop through the tions.” or donations.” sport to accomplish their goals As the club grows, skills - Head coach beyond high school.

Picking his fighter, Aarush Vaida (10) plays Super like teamwork and commu- Jared Adley “I've heard of many Smash Bros Ultimate with other members on Oct. 1. nication can become more students from other school The team fine tuned their skills as tech problems preimportant in team dynamics. districts, large and small, getting scholarships vented them from competing like expected to that day.

“I've been proud of how to play esports at colleges such as Ball State," willing everyone is in the Adley said. "Students can definitely benefit With Vyas Somarowtu (10) and Aarush Vaida (10) watchclub to try and figure out from being in esports and being a part of a ing, Ilgar Demir (10) practices for their first Valorant game on Sept. 29. Demir, who started playing Valorant this year, solutions to our technologi- team.” was excited to meet others with similar interests. cal problems,” Adley said.

With growing recognition of esports Neighboring schools and scholarships nationwide, this can allow like Carmel and Noblesville students to turn their passion to something have teams with over five more. As the season continues, the club is years of experience each. It gaining experience and adapting to the presis clear there is a growing sure of competition representing their school interest in and out of in every single match. schools for esports.

“Esports is not a club that's only meant The ZCHS team joined for people who only like video games,” Adley the Indiana Esports Netsaid. “It's meant for people who just want to work, a group 170 different give it a shot and see how they like competing

by Ellie Vanderbur 12 - Sports Designed Graphic by Ellie Vanderbur

Write an Article About AI AI use in school has negative effects on academics, mental health

By Gia Villarubia, Reporter

A

t ZCHS, a poll of 183 students found that 40% use Artificial Intelligence daily and another 25% use it at least once a week.

This suggests that over a thousand students across the school turn to AI for help with their work.

What started as a tool to help students learn has quickly turned into a shortcut for skipping the hard work. This growing dependence can cause students to lose focus on their work and fail to learn the curriculum.

Overusing AI is also affecting students’ mental health. Spending long hours on screens and relying on AI can lead to stress, anxiety and mental fatigue. A study by the National Institute of Health (NIH) shows that constant interaction with these digital tools can increase emotional strain and make it harder for students to take breaks or relax after school.

“You still need to feel uncomfortable, you still need to do the hard work, because the learning comes from all of that,” assistant principal Katie Willour said.

While AI can make completing school work faster, it also stops students from thinking independently. Getting quick answers from AI means students spend less time solving problems or coming up with their own ideas.

According to the NIH, the overuse of AI can weaken critical thinking and reduce the motivation to learn, since students depend on technology to do the hard work for them.

“You can’t depend on it to do skills for you, it’s not always correct, dependable or complete in its thoughts,” Willour said.

In the long run this could make it harder for students to succeed in higher level classes or future careers.

“I think that it poses a really big risk for learning in the future,” senior Aren Summers said.

Students are also noticing how AI affects creativity. When assignments are completed with help from AI or writing tools, there’s less space for original ideas and personal style. Over time, this can make creative thinking feel harder, such as in classes like art or English.

“It makes people less creative,” Summers said.

“As people use it more, they really quickly become less able to come up with ideas on their own. It’s a downward spiral.”

Additionally, research shows that the benefits of AI use in schools might not be as strong as people think. According to the NIH, small improvements in certain skills like speaking have been found, yet students who used AI for essays scored 6% lower than those who didn’t.

While AI can be helpful for research, tools like Google Gemini or ChatGPT sometimes give answers that are inaccurate and misleading as supported by the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications.

In school, this can be a big problem as some students turn to AI generated content for homework or projects without realizing it’s wrong.

If students don’t know how to check sources or verify information provided by AI, they can accidentally include incorrect facts in their work.

Over time, relying on AI for answers without double checking can make it harder to learn how to research properly and recognize trustworthy information.

"I think we need to embrace it, but have standards and criteria expectations that it has to be your work,” Basic Skills teacher Alex LeBoeuf said.

If care isn’t taken when using AI, students come to rely on it to write essays, create projects or complete classwork. They aren’t just skipping steps, they’re also misrepresenting their abilities.

Over time, this can weaken students’ sense of honesty and fairness, making it harder for them to understand the value of doing their own work.

Relying on AI in this way can teach students that cutting corners is acceptable, which hurts their personal ethics and decision making both inside and outside of school.

“If you use it to do something for you, in terms of a skill or a final product for a class, that’s not your own work,” Willour said. “That’s not ethical and that’s not the truth.”

Designed by Ellie Vanderbur Graphic by Ellie Vanderbur

Perspectives - 13

Christmas Time is HERE!

The benefits of celebrating Christmas before December

By Izzie Piano, Reporter

T

he secret to more joy, time for holiday traditions and less stress around the holiday season is simply celebrating Christmas early.

With fewer hours of daylight during the day, people start feeling down during the fall and winter. For those who celebrate, starting the celebration of Christmas right after Halloween can brighten the spirits.

During Christmas people focus on family and gift-giving. It’s a time of year where the community comes together to give presents to loved ones, the less fortunate and those in need. There are food banks and toy drives that people can volunteer for to help families, kids and individuals during the holiday season. People also volunteer at hospitals and nursing homes to spend time with residents, sing carols and to help with holiday crafts.

Think of it like Halloween is the beginning of the season getting everything started, hanging out with friends, going to a party, going Trick-or-Treating or handing out candy. Then when Thanksgiving comes

around, it’s time to think about all that you are thankful for.

Some people argue that you should start celebrating Christmas after Thanksgiving, but starting early doesn’t take away from the meaning of Thanksgiving. It’s message of being grateful and appreciative fits right in with the idea of Christmas spirit and helping others.

Every family has their own Christ-

by Luke Kouns 14 - Perspectives Designed Graphics by Srinithya Basireddy and Ellie Vanderbur

mas traditions that they have carried on year after year. The extra time also gives you a chance to make some new ones. Whether it’s sharing meals together, exchanging presents, baking treats, decorating the tree, attending a parade or sending Christmas cards, each one is special and brings together the family.

If you cram in the shopping, cooking and planning events all into one month, you will never get to actually enjoy the holiday. When you spread things out and start celebrating early you have more time to enjoy the fun parts, like spending time with family, watching Christmas movies and baking cookies.

This time allows you to start thinking about shopping after Halloween so you can make the right decision and avoid the stress of the last-minute choices.

You are also able to get the Christmas lights up on the house before it’s freezing cold and there is snow falling.

By starting the Christmas season early, you get more time to spend with your family while enjoying the season and not being stressed by planning events and shopping for presents, making the best time of year last even longer.

STOPit

Patronizing posters, poor advertising turn a useful safety tool into a joke among students, damaging the STOPit app’s credibility

By Luke Kouns, Perspectives Editor

“B

ullies make me sad. Friends make me happy.”

This seems obvious, doesn’t it? It’s the kind of thing you would expect to find on a TV show made for little kids, not something for high schoolers. But this isn’t a quote from the newest Disney Channel original, it’s from the inside of ZCHS, on a patronizing poster advertising a potential “solution” to a serious problem: an anti-bullying app.

According to the ZCS website, the district utilizes a mobile app called STOPit App as “an additional layer to monitor and report safety concerns.” The app allows students and parents to anonymously report incidents to their school’s administration and is one of the many tools Zionsville uses to effectively ensure a safe learning environment.

But the way the STOPit app is advertised renders this noble effort ineffective and to some extent counterintuitive. The posters placed around the school, which were provided by STOPit, were obviously not meant for a high school audience.

Most of the advertisements are overly childish, obnoxious and barely explain what the app even is. Because of this, they can come off as demeaning and patronizing, leading students to ignore the actual message.

No high school student is willing to seriously consider downloading any app when it’s accompanied by a cape-wearing toddler.

This horrible advertising not only fails at its job of promoting the STOPit app, but actively works against it. When confronted with advertisements this bad and patronizing, people tend to align against whatever is being marketed. This had led to the STOPit app getting a rather negative social reputation.

This phenomenon is described by a concept called reactance. According to the National Institute of Health, “Reactance is an unpleasant motivational arousal that emerges

when people experience a threat to or loss of their free behaviors.

It serves as a motivator to restore one’s freedom.”

And to me, there is no better threat to free behaviors than being treated like a child and told “Lets cheer, bullying is not accepted here!” With this in mind, is it not logical that the student body of ZCHS doesn’t want to follow the recommendations of a school supported, degrading organization, no matter how important the issue is?

This negative outlook is further proven through the app’s reviews. The app only has 1.6 stars on the Apple App Store, largely due to most of the reviews being jokes or gags. Very few reviews take the product seriously, and the ones that do typically complain that downloading the app only leads to more bullying.

In the “Most Helpful Reviews” section, serious reviews explain that the STOPit app is “a laughing stock among every student” and how the app “allows bullies to report other students and get away with it.” Other reviews mock the app, pretending it is a game where you report random students or creating stories where the app fails to prevent historical tragedies.

The real tragedy here is the fact that the negative stigma caused by these childish posters stains what is ultimately a good idea.

The way our school implements the STOPit app is fairly understandable and well managed, and it gives students and parents a way to reach out when they are

afraid to do so in person. I believe the app could be a real force for good if the administration changed the way they advertise it.

Administration would be better off redsfdfs removing the posters entirely. Instead, they should focus more on advertising the app on their own, something they already do a bit of in newsletters and during the beginning of the year assembly.

Eliminating the negative influence of the posters will make the STOPit app more effective as a whole. Students will take the concept more seriously and be willing to give it a shot, if they need it. So I ask all students that care about anti-bullying initiatives or even those that just don’t want to be treated like a child: tell the ZCHS administration to “be the hero you were born to be”, and take down the STOPit posters.

Designed by Luke Kouns Photos by Luke Kouns

Perspectives - 15

Harb Highlights Event Experts Ellie Frobig

Nov.

13 Shooting Guard

Unscramble the headlines, follow and DM the @zchsharb Instagram with your answers to win a prize, winner announced on 11/14!

dwclonko ntlsnariota

When: 13-15: 7 p.m.

16: 2 p.m.

Where: PAC

Nov.

Dylan Acquaviva

13 Plays Danny Zuko

What’s What’s next? next?

Dates, times and locations are subject to change.

Nov.

Boys Basketball

Nov.

Thanksgiving Break Begins

Nov.

Zionsville Holiday Parade

Nov.

Orchestra Holiday Concert

25

strcimhas

29

nsmcahpio

Dec.

tcarlie

Grease Musical Begins

“It’s a great way to experience live performance on stage, especially if you haven’t gone before. ‘Grease’ is a really memorable show.”

Marching on the field, Julia Sáenz (10) and Ethan Rooks (12) play the saxophone on the football field during marching band practice on Oct. 23. This was their last practice before they won state finals that weekend. Photo by Ariana Spence

Headline Scramble

VS. Warren Central When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Warren Central

“We have talent in many aspects of the game. Everyone contributes something different and everyone contributes a lot. That makes it really fun to watch.”

Dressed in Halloween costumes, the Green Jazz Band performs at the annual Boone Village Halloween Party on Oct. 23. The event featured vendors, trunk-or-treating and a costume contest.

Photo by Brody Brown Performing a guitar solo during the Beetlejuice theme song, Theron Stockwell (12) plays in the Fall Band Concert on Oct. 13. Stockwell’s impromptu costume choice made his performance all the more memorable. Photo by Luke Kouns

Girls Basketball

09

VS. Carmel When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Varsity Gym

When: 5 p.m.

Where: Main Street

Winterfest Makers Market When: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Main Street

26

26 Dec.

06

When: 7 p.m.

Where: PAC

Swim/Dive Hall of Fame Classic When: 10 a.m.

Where: Center Grove