The Norwood Silhouettes danced and sung hard again this weekend, taking home third place in the small mixed choir division at Loveland's Showfest.
Among these students, senior Olivia Jones was awarded best performer. If you see these students please make sure to congratulate them on their weekend. Hoping 2020 will be legendary for the silhouettes. |
Source: Consumer Reports
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By Destiny Lortos
November 25, 2019 Everyone stuffs their face with all kinds of warm, delicious, hearty foods during Thanksgiving day. Do you know the nutritional cost of your Thanksgiving meal? The average American consumes up to 4,000 calories during their Thanksgiving celebration according to consumer reports. There are ways to lower this count in such easy and simple ways. Here are a few solutions to have a healthier and more mindful Thanksgiving dinner. First off, don’t skip breakfast. You may think by eating, you won’t be hungry later, but I can assure you, as long as it’s a light breakfast you will be. When we skip breakfast and go straight to the Thanksgiving meal, we tend to overeat thinking we have to accomodate for the calories and meal. However, your stomach is the same size and there’s no need to “make up” anything because once you’re full, you're full. Secondly, skip out on side dishes that you don’t like a whole lot or aren’t your favorites. If you tolerate stuffing or yams, then skip them. Only put on your plate your favorite. If you have to have mashed potatoes then don’t be afraid to have them, just exclude everything else that’s not necessary. Lastly, just be mindful when making your plate. There’s no need for this great, large dinner plate to fill up. Instead use a smaller plate and fill that up. Studies have shown that using a smaller plate and filling it up makes people think they are getting about the same amount of food. But most importantly, just listen to your body. If you're full, then stop; there’s no need to push anything. Save yourself a plate for later when you are hungry. Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t need to be a drag -- you can still have a filling and yummy dinner, just without those extra pounds. |
By Emily Betts,
Nallisa Segrist-Bellamah & Raegan Lewis September 6, 2019 On Friday, Aug. 30, The Norwood cheerleaders were invited to the Warm 98.5 radio cheer contest The cheerleaders arrived at the radio station early that morning, very excited and ready to win! The Norwood cheerleaders won last year and are hoping to win again this year. They had the chance to say something to a family member and/or friend before they did the cheer, which was exciting for them. Lots said “hello” to their mothers or fathers. Thousands of people were listening on the radio and watched the video posted on warm98.5.com. The rules for this competition were: you need to create a cheer including warm 98.5 and the hosts names, which are Jim and Amanda. The Norwood cheerleaders created a cheer that blew them away with excitement. The hosts were ecstatic about how the cheer looked and sounded. The Norwood cheerleaders have received amazing feedback so far. They are very excited to soon see who wins the $1,000 . Go Norwood cheerleaders! |
What Prom 2019 Trends Are On Your Radar?By Lilith Rose
April 22, 2019 Shown below are four styles that are trending for this year's prom. First up is the illusion dress, which pairs embroidery with sheer or nude fabric to create the illusion of a strapless or otherwise barely-there dress. Second is the fun two piece dress, which shows just a sliver of midriff and allows for many different looks. The third pictured showcases the heavy use of glitter and metallic fabrics in trend right now. All three of the previous looks have featured a mermaid cut, flaring out at the knee. Finally, the last dress combines the ballgown look with a large floral print. Other trends are the high-low dress, sequins, rose gold, and embroidered flowers. Snapshot: AP Gov Courthouse FieldtripAP Government students roaming downtown Cincinnati with government teachers Devin Lawler and Rick Robisch. They visited both the Hamilton County Courthouse and the Federal Courthouse, sat in on arraignments and a hearing, as well as toured both facilities and spoke with judges in both courthouses.
Sneeze No More: Dealing with Pesky Allergies
By Lilith Rose
April 15, 2019 Along with pretty buds and warm weather comes the irritating pollen those with allergies can’t handle without puffy eyes and runny noses. So, who are the culprits of this annoying pixie dust and how do those with allergies best enjoy the season though it seems like mother nature has a personal vendetta against them? First, let’s discuss how allergies work. An allergen, such as the pollen rampant during spring, comes into contact with your eyes or enters in your nose. The body believes that since the allergen is foreign to your body, it must be harmful and so tries to flush it out. This is what causes those irritating symptoms of runny eyes and noses. This season in Cincinnati, mold and pollen levels are very high, even higher than average. The pollen that is invading your sinuses predominantly come from maple and hornbeam trees, with other flowers mixed in here and there. The molds that cause issues aren’t dangerous, even though that sounds intimidating. The first step to avoiding triggering allergens is to look at forecasts for the day to gauge how much time you should allow yourself to be exposed. You can use a local service, or if you’re curious you can see how the rest of the country compares. Of course, it sometimes can’t be avoided, but keep in mind that The Enquirer: Cincinnati recommends that you avoid outdoor activities from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., which shouldn’t be a problem for most of us. If your parents want you to cut the grass first thing in the morning, your allergies are a valid excuse for sleeping in. A big part of escaping the allergies is to make sure your home is a safe space from the pollen and molds. Turning your AC on helps filter the air, but also things as simple as making sure your windows are latched and wearing light jackets kept away from living spaces to act as “smoking jackets” for the allergens. Taking showers right when you get home can help rinse any lingering intruders as well. If needed, don’t be afraid to take allergy medications using the correct methods and dosages. Even certain foods could help, so try adding probiotic yogurts, baked fruits, spices, apples and berries. These foods can have anti-inflammatory properties and boost your immune system. Bringing an awareness to the situation should help you find ways that you can lessen the damage to your spring season from annoying allergies, and these strategies will help you win the battle. Here’s to taking in the sights through un-puffy eyes. A sample of student’s artwork for Norwood Highschools upcoming artshow on April 14.
Spring Has Sprung Into ActionBy Nevaeh Downs
April 11, 2019 Spring has sprung into action and so has Norwood. Over the next month, keep an eye out for these upcoming events and mark your calendars. April 14 is when the Fine Arts expo will be held at Norwood High School from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It will recognize many different works of art from a variety of students. This also includes the senior showcase which will feature seniors: Micah Bush, Sophie Issacs, Maggie Allen, Caitlin Bientz, Alex Endsley, Jacob Moore, and Frida Mendez-Reynoso. April 17 at 7 p.m., the parents of new National Honor Society members will be invited to watch their children get inducted during a ceremony held in the middle school auditorium. The following day the ceremony will be repeated at 9:30 a.m. for the staff and students at Norwood. They will be recognized for their outstanding academic achievement, community service, and school involvement. April 19 is the day seniors will be honored and recognized. They will be awarded several different scholarships from the Norwood Scholarship Foundation. Family is welcomed to come watch and the students will also attend to see what the future could look like. A huge day for the seniors is on May 2, which is senior signing day. This is when they will commit to the college of their choice with friends and family. Representatives from the colleges will come out to join the students and celebrate their decision. The seniors say goodbye to high school on May 13. It’s the day they’ve all been looking forward to and it isn’t that far away. This day will include their senior picnic, which is held in the gym, along with their senior solos. The senior solos will be performed in the middle school auditorium for all their peers to watch. Seniors aren’t the only ones being recognized, on May 9 the underclassmen have their chance to shine. The academic awards assembly will be held to showcase all their hard work and accomplishments. Assistant principal Tina Acres says, “This assembly gives staff the opportunity to recognize outstanding students in content areas.” The school year is coming to an end on May 24 so don’t miss out on any of the fun. 23-year-old Man Lies About Being Missing Boy By Emily Saul
April 11, 2019 Timmothy Pitzen, from Aurora Ill., has been missing since 2011, when he was just 6-years-old. He was last known to be on a road trip with his mother, but she was found days later dead in a hotel room in Rockford Ill., believed to have committed suicide. She left a note behind saying Pitzen was safe and with people who love him, but would never be found. On April 3 a man asked a woman in northern Kentucky for help finding his way home. He told her he had been kidnapped and traded through a number of people. The man claimed he was Pitzen, also stating the boy’s correct birth date and middle name. Unfortunately, it turned out this was a false claim after a test showed their DNA did not match. The man turned out to be 23-year-old Brian Rini, from Medina, Ohio. Rini is an ex-convict and had been in and out of prison for years. When he was asked why he would lie about being Pitzen, he told the investigators he wanted to get away from his family. He had seen Pitzen’s story on an episode of the news show 20/20 and wished he had a father like Pitzen’s. Rini is facing charges of lying to federal agents and could face up to eight years in prison. On April 9, Rini appeared in court and federal magistrate Karen Litkovitz ordered him to be detained while his trial is ongoing because she believes he is a flight risk. According to WCPO, attorney Ben Glassmen said there were many reasons as to why Rini was detained: he had no stable residence, no reliable employment, no one he could stay with and a long criminal record. According to Cleveland19, Brian Rini’s brother, Michael Rini, said Brian has a long history of mental illness: Asperger’s, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD and more. He says this is still not an excuse for what he did. According to nbcnews, James Pitzen, Timmothy Pitzen’s father, said the moment he found out a man was making up the entire story, it was like “ripping off a scab.” The Pitzen family says it was like he disappeared all over again. J. Pitzen believes his son is still alive and hopes he is living as close to a normal childhood as he can. He also hopes the publicity surrounding this story will generate new leads and will help bring him home. Inside the Largest College Admissions Scam in HistoryBy Starr Brock
April 10, 2019 As spring arrives, many seniors are checking off the last of their high school to dos: work hard in school. Check. Take the ACT. Check. Apply for college. Check. Prepare for a life full of money and enlightenment. Double Check. While this is the route many college bound students take, others have found a shortcut, leaving the rest of us feeling outraged and hopeless. Actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman have been the star figures at the center of a recent college admissions scandal, but they are only two of the dozens of celebrities and leaders of the business world who have been caught in the ongoing federal investigation into what is one of the biggest college admissions scams in history. So, how far did Aunt Becky and the rest of these parents really go to ensure their children a spot in some of the most elite colleges of their choice? Potential prison time wasn’t the only cost these parents had to pay. According to NBC News, some of the parents spent between $200,000 to $6.5 million. The ringleader of this scandal was William Rick Singer, CEO of what was thought to be a college admissions prep company, The Key. Singer orchestrated two types of fraud. One was to help the students cheat on their ACT and SATs to ensure a great score. The second was to use his connections with college coaches at these elite schools and bribes sent by the parents to the students into school with “fake athletic credentials.” Singer used his false college admissions prep company to funnel money into accounts from the parents which he used to bribe college coaches into recruiting these students, despite the fact some had never even played these sports. Along with bribing coaches, Singer sent money to Mark Riddell, a Harvard graduate and former director of college entrance exam and preparation at IMG Academy (ironic), to perfect and sometimes even take the ACT and SATs for the students, which also required Singer to bribe test administrators too. So what exactly was Singer’s goal? He says it was to “help the wealthiest families in the US get their kids into school.” This statement especially has caused even more outrage in parents across the country. It was bad enough they bribed their way in, but it’s even worse that the goal was targeting wealthy families, which denied spots for those students who are harder working and less privileged. The amount of trust in the college admission process is now next to nothing, which is unfortunate for those students who are now in the process of choosing where they will spend the next years of their lives. It’s difficult to determine what changes will be made just yet, but many are hopeful there will be big changes coming to ensure a better and safer way to go about such an important process that determines a lot of students’ futures, especially for those that don’t have financial advantages. For more information visit: Fox News and The New York Times May Flowers are Here EarlyBy Lilith Rose
April 8, 2019 While usually the saying is "April showers bring May flowers," there are many buds that are popping up through the autumn leaves. While we will soon have those showers, and are experiencing some humidity now, try to bring some awareness to your day by finding the first patches of sunshine growing up in some perhaps unexpected places. Spring Brings SportsBy Hannah Robinson
April 5, 2019 Spring brings flowers, rain, allergies, and sports. Basketball season isn’t completely over yet, as March Madness is entering the last rounds of the tournament, but it’s not the only thing fans should be excited for this time of year. The Cincinnati Reds just kicked off their season with a 5-3 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates, which was unexpected to say the least. Most teams around the country are hopeful for a successful start also, just like the Norwood Lady Indians softball team. With a roster full of first time-players and veterans, the Lady Indians are ready to take on their rivals. Their first game against the Saint Bernard Titans was a close one, but the Lady Indians came out on top with the same score as the Reds, 5-3. The girls aren’t the only ones who are playing the dirt, as the Norwood Indians baseball team is kicking off their season with a 1-2 record. In their game against Clark, they won with a shutout score of 12-0, with junior John Cole playing one heck of a game. Cole pitched a 5-inning no hitter with nine strikeouts, with an additional triple he hit. “I’m optimistic that we will do well this year. The team is young, and they have a lot to learn, but they are eager to learn,” says math teacher Joel Ward. Ward has been the coach for the Varsity team for a couple years now and is excited for their upcoming games. The springtime weather often leads to walking down the street and almost being trampled by a group of joggers. Norwood Indians track team is also getting their running on, as their season has just begun. Track and field requires a skilled athlete, as it consists of ten different events. Sprints, relays, hurdles, two mile run, one mile run, high jump, long jump, pole vault, shot put, and hammer throw. Each individual member has specific events they participate in. Track meets consist of three schools or more competing with each other for each of these events. Whoever has the most success places first, which Norwood is anticipating to take in their first home meet against Riverview, Lockland , C.C.S., C.C.P.A., Seven Hills, Taft, and Roger Bacon on April 10. It’s also senior night, considering it’s Norwood’s only home meet. Out of all spring sports, the most vigorous has begun as the Norwood Indians and Norwood Lady Indians tennis team are excited to be getting their racquets out. The teams welcome new members such as juniors Lily Peter and Paityn Rudd, who are both eager to get their Sabrina Williams on at their upcoming season opener on April 3 against Summit Country Day. Bats, batons, and balls are all introduced once the sun shows itself and radiates actual heat, not just sunshine and coldness. Coaches and umpires alike are prepared to take heat from the crowd. A new season of sports has barged it’s way into 2019, and Norwood athletes are ready to take it on. Learning the Fun WayBy Madison Anderson
April 4, 2019 Not very long ago, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor introduced her very own government-affiliated video game to the public. Without ever seeing or playing a video game, O’ Connor managed to create ‘Win the White House’, which has been played by over a quarter million people. She created iCivics, a nonprofit educational group and together they have produced many animated games. The games have a lot to do with conflict and resolution. Players try to find the best way to come about a dispute that may be happening in the country. A scenario will occur and players have to find the right way to fix it. If the conflict is solved correctly, points or money can be used to buy more land or furniture, which allows more clients to appear and gives the chance to gain more points. Government teacher Devin Lawler says, “iCivics games show the students situations that really do happen in the world and it’s up to them to fix it. It gives them control.” iCivics games have been played by over three million students across the nation since the games have been created and are expected to be played by even more. New games are added all the time. The purpose of playing one of the games is to get young people familiarized with how the government is set up and to show them that it is actually more complex than it appears to be. No matter what, there’s always going to be someone who opposes something the government created. It’s normal. People challenge the law all the time. It gives the people the upper hand over the government, but creates more conflict at the same time. In the real world, the students are the people. In the game, the roles are reversed and the students act as the government. They have a sense of what it takes for the government to run a strong nation and how complicated it can be sometimes. iCivics is a great educational tool that pinpoints the most common disagreements between the people in the country. Norwood Teacher of the YearBy Starr Brock
April 3, 2019 Science teacher Leslie Hadaway won Teacher of the Year for the Norwood City School District. Superintendent Kathy Sabo says Hadaway "serves as the epitome of a model teacher," which she will be recognized for at the Hamilton County Celebrate Excellence Educator Recognition breakfast in May. You'll "40-Love" the Spring Tennis TeamBy Lilith Rose
April 2, 2019 Spring has finally arrived, slowly melting winter away with gusts of warm breeze. This mellow weather is perfect for hitting the courts with a tennis racket, as the players on Norwood’s Spring Tennis team know. This season several girls are joining the team, making it a co-ed experience that is fairly uncommon in other schools. Juniors Lily Peter and Paityn Rudd are able to play on the condition that they played a fall sport during the school year, according to the Ohio Athletic Association’s rules. This gives them the opportunity to play tennis for Norwood during the same school year without sacrificing their favorite fall sports, as Peter played volleyball and Rudd was a cheerleader. Coach and math teacher Brad Hunt, who started coaching boys tennis in 2007, expects lots of personal growth and fun times this season. Senior Elijah Keyes sees this potential too, saying he “just has to work on some strategy and making faster serves.” The first match of the season was a scrimmage with Finneytown on April 1, and Hunt says everyone was able to play. The highlight of the scrimmage was when Peter won a set 6-0 during her first tennis match ever. Hunt says, “I don’t even think she’s picked up a racket until last March.” The team has 12 players, more than needed for the 3 singles games and the 2 doubles games in a match. Hunt says he rotates positions, giving a fair chance to play both doubles and singles during the season. The team started practicing in March, starting with serving drills and then playing matches against other teammates. Most are newbies to tennis. Only Seniors Jack Zimmerman, Ahmad Odeh, Alex Endsley and Elijah Keyes are returning players. Zimmerman and Odeh are starting their fourth years as Endsley starts his third and Keyes enters his second. Zimmerman is feeling very upbeat, saying, “I’m really excited and so is the rest of the team. The tennis season is always fun. There is never any fighting amongst the team and everyone gets along. We can’t wait to get the rest of the season going.” In addition to Peter and Rudd, the team will be welcoming seniors Jamie Canada, Jaden Kuhlman, sophomores Justin Mackey and James Rettig and freshmen Mitchell Grubbs and Hayden Simpson. If what Zimmerman says holds true, it is sure to be an enjoyable season. Another Reminder of Why to be PreparedBy Abby Privett
March 19, 2019 A headline that’s becoming all too familiar: “Mass Shooting, Multiple dead / injured.” When you think of a mass shooting, many of us may think of school shootings, which isn’t always the case. Sure, schools are a large majority, so here’s Principal Brad Winterod's advice on what we should do if these things were to ever happen in our surroundings. Unfortunately, schools aren’t the only place these tragic events happen. They happen everywhere, ranging from a grocery store to a place of religion, such as a church or mosque. Winterod says if a shooter was to enter our building, we would immediately attempt to go into lock down. The staff has no kind of code words, they will straight out say that we need to go into lockdown. The call may not only come from Winterod himself. He says the call may come from whoever reaches the phone first. Winterod also says we need to start taking drills more seriously. While walking through the halls, students can be heard talking and making other noises during drills which can create an extremely dangerous situation. Taking drills seriously also includes using the appropriate language. Winterod warns not to use language about guns or bombs if you don’t want to be expelled. “It’s always important to be aware of your surroundings,” says Winterod. Students should know by this point to be quiet because we never know when it is a drill or when it is real. There should be no doors propped open and if a student seeks danger outside then they should immediately take shelter in the nearest restroom. It is recommended that you stand on top of a toilet seat so the attacker cannot see your feet if they enter the room. Sometimes they take place in religious settings like the recent one at a mosque in New Zealand. 50 individuals were killed last week during this shooting in two different mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern refuses to name the killer as she says, “He is a terrorist, he is a criminal, he is an extremist. But he will, when I speak, be nameless.” The shooter even went as far as live-streaming his attack and his actions before the attack. The social media network didn’t even know the video had happened until about an hour after the attack. These things happen everywhere and while our world may never be completely safe, we can learn how to protect ourselves and each other during these events. Silhouettes Place Finals for the First TimeBy Madison Anderson
March 19, 2019 The Silhouettes wrapped up their season at the Fairfield Crystal Classic, which holds the spot for the second largest show choir contest in America. 54 show choirs from all over the United States came to Fairfield last weekend to compete. Junior Kamal Nicely was awarded Best Performer and senior Connor Williamson won Best Male Soloist yet again in their division. To top it all off, the Norwood Silhouettes landed themselves in finals for the first time in history! Bad HabitsBy Sophie Isaacs March 19, 2019 Although some bad habits might not have noticeable or dangerous effects, other ones can be temporarily rewarding killers. A study done by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that avoidable, damaging behaviors were the underlying cause of half the deaths in the year 2000. These behaviors include; tobacco, inactivity and other unhealthy lifestyle choices. So why can't we stop? Why is the draw from a cigarette or the delicious cholesterol from a Big Mac so intoxicating that we don't care about the long term effects? According to Managing Editor from Live Science Jeanna Bryner, it ranges from innate human defiance, to a mental inability to actually the understand the risk of what you’re doing. Whether you believe you’re young and going to live forever, or you really just don't expect anything bad to come from it, you should reconsider. According to Bryner, our outlook on life can cause us to rationalize our unhealthy habits. Cindy Jardine from the University of Alberta explains people's opposition to considering the risks, stating, "We have found that people aren't changing their behaviors...we tend to sort of live for now and into the limited future—not the long term." On the chemical side, Author Charles Duhigg says every habit starts with a psychological pattern named a “habit loop.” The loop starts with the cue, then continues with the routine and the reward. This cue instructs the basal ganglia of the brain to go into automatic mode. Whether your habit is harmful or helpful, your brain rewards you for completing it, and prompts you to repeat it again in the future. While biting your nails or tapping your pencil might not lead to depression and anxiety, a subtle and common habit of indulging a negative thinking pattern can. It can lead to panic attacks caused by our brains flight or fight system, making us think we are in danger when we’re not. Clinical psychologist Lisa Firestone elaborates on this negative voice inside your head, saying, “It is an internal dialogue that drives rumination, self-blame and self-loathing. It mocks us, shames us, scares us and lures us into self-limiting or self-destructive behavior. It tells us not to trust the people we love.” Although it's called a habit for a reason, remember that it's still in your control. To beat your bad habit, you have to find out the source and what triggers it. Fine yourself for everytime you perform the habit, and go start trying to practice being more mindful. BelievelandBy Moe Daabes
March 15, 2019 Besides Lebron, there isn’t really much you can think about when it comes to Cleveland, but grab your soda and popcorn because Cleveland has some new weapons. The Cleveland Browns record hasn’t been a real show stopper in the last few years. In 2016 their record was 1-15 and a year later they didn’t show any improvement with a record of 0-16. Fans even took the streets and through a parade for what they called “the perfect season,” when in reality they were making fun of their own team. Players and staff members from the Browns organization said that what the fans did was not cool and actually really embarrassing. Browns Defensive End Emmanuel Ogbah tweeted, “ That parade is a joke don’t call yourself a true Browns fan if you go to that thing! Going 0-16 was embarrassing enough as a player. That is like adding fuel to the fire and it is completely wrong!” Many other player reacted negatively toward the parade and expressed their feelings on social media. On top of it all the Browns fired their head coach Hue Jackson in the middle of the season due to major losses. Recently the Browns have been making big moves and trying to improve their roster. Last year they drafted Quarterback Baker Mayfield out of the University of Oklahoma with the #1 overall pick, and that's what really got things moving. Making those moves improved their record this past year from 0-16 to 7-8-1. After seeing their progress and what promise they could have, the Browns decided to go really big and trade for the 2015 rookie of the year and 3x pro bowler Odell Beckham Jr. He will reunite with his best friend and former teammate at the university of Louisiana, Jarvis Landry, who was Mayfield’s biggest target this past season. This trade took the sports world by storm. No one expected one of the best receivers in the NFL to be traded, especially to a team that's been getting made fun of the past 4 years. In fact, the browns super bowl odds went from 25-1 to 14-1 immediately after the trade. The same fans that had the ‘perfect season’ parade are ecstatic about the new-look offence. Not only Cleveland fans but also other sports fans seem to hop on this bandwagon. Do you believe? Will the Browns capitalize with their new weapons or will there be more sad parades coming? Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes MysteryNorwood Welcomes Hope SquadMaliyah Mabry
March 14, 2019 Have you ever suffered with depression? Do you need someone you can share your thoughts and feelings with? The Hope Squad is there for all of those reasons. Mental illness impacts 1 in 5 adults in the U.S., with the onset of 50 percent of lifelong mental illness cases happening between the ages of 10 and 14, according to WLWT 5 news reporter, Alexis Rogers. Hope Squad started in Utah by a man that goes by the name of Greg Hudnall. Hudnall is very experienced with this topic. He has been involved with suicide prevention for the past 20 years and has personally been involved with over 25 suicides as a first responder. Although it originated in Utah, it is now spreading across the world. The first Ohio school that Hope Squad began at was Lakota East High School. Student Alyssa Longworth from LEHS was who introduced it to her school. Her mom and other supporters from the school all flew to Utah to receive the required training needed to start Hope Squad. Longworth was more than determined to bring this to Ohio because she had unfortunately experienced her own uncle going through depression with a successful attempt. Along with her best friend being hospitalized with an unsuccessful attempt. “Before Hope Squad, I felt like I couldn’t do very much. Now that we have this awesome resource where I know what to do, it helps me through the process. It is a lot when one of your closest friends or a family member is going through it,” says Longworth. The Hope Squad is a group of students from the high school who are chosen by their peers. You are more likely to be chosen if you have the following character traits: kindness, helpfulness, compassionate, trustworthiness and dependability. You are expected to always spread nothing less than positivity. Bringing others up is this groups biggest goal. A few other schools in Ohio just began Hope Squad at their school. These schools include: Lakota West, Mason, Summit Country Day and many more. Norwood High school is glady welcoming the Hope Squad to the 2019-2020 school year. Norwood thinks this will have a great impact on our school. This group of students that are chosen to be a part of Hope Squad are there for other students in their time of need in “hopes” of preventing suicide and bringing nothing but positivity when needed. Spring Fashion TrendsSource: myschooloutfits.com
By Madison Anderson
March 14, 2019 The weather in Ohio is unexplainable, it could be winter today or summer tomorrow, but all I know is that it’s been feeling warm out for the past couple of days. If it suddenly becomes cold after this is posted, you can blame me for jinxing the weather. Alongside that, it probably isn’t the best feeling to be wearing thick sweaters and sweatpants. Good news for you, winter is almost over, or at least it should be. Birkenstocks started getting popular about two years ago and are definitely still trending. These double-strapped sandals look presentable with almost any outfit, such as: ripped jeans, leggings, dresses and skirts. Apps like Wish, FashionNova and Zaful offer wide varieties of clothing and accessories that fit almost any young adult’s sense of style, but online shopping isn’t for everybody. Even though online ordering makes shopping more convenient, a lot of young people tend to shop in stores to seek confirmation from themselves on whether or not the outfit or shoe fits the way they expect it to before purchasing. Rompers, jumpsuits and overalls have been more in demand over the past couple of years, and are typically paired with a pair of sandals or heels. According to Steff Yotka from Vogue, “non-gender clothing is on the rise,” and that actually makes perfect sense if you really think about it. Almost everybody you meet most likely owns a flannel shirt, a pair of joggers or some plain white t-shirts. There’s been an uprise in the sale of brands like Champion, Fila and other sports brands lately as well, which are also gender neutral. As for makeup, soft shades of orange and yellow are both compatible eyeshadow colors for the spring theme. Junior Kayla Combs says her favorite eyeshadow color to wear in warm weather is orange because it makes her blue eyes stand out. Due to the humidity and sudden weather change, spring usually turns into a time when women tend to start putting their hair up. Braids and messy buns are really fashionable during this time of year because nobody really wants their hair in their face when it’s hot outside. After all is said and done, and the Norwood weather decides that it actually wants to stick to one season for a few months, I’m sure some of these trending outfits will end up in your closet if they aren’t already. Snapshot: BGSU TripNorwood Students visit BGSU with Gear-UpWho wore it Best?Norwood Students say Lingardo (Right)!Spirit for Small Business ManagementBy Holly Borgemenke
March 11, 2019 Have you ever dreamed of joining a class that covers finance, marketing, merchandising, and managing? Not only can this class teach you these areas, but you learn about security, small businesses and preparation for the real world. If this somehow isn’t enough to entice you to join, you are even able to work with your peers to sell spirit wear at school and school events. Small Business Management is a class taught by teacher Allison Burch that utilizes the skills required to run a small business. This class provides students with the opportunity to run the Norwood Spirit Store, giving each year’s students a chance to put their own twist on spirit wear. To take this class you must have a teacher recommendation, be approved by Principal Brad Winterod, and it is recommended that you have taken accounting. When asked what her favorite part of teaching the class was, Burch said she enjoys seeing students take pride in managing the store. In this class, students learn different departments, including finance, management, marketing and merchandising. In finance, students keep track of money and sales. The marketing department creates flyers, promotions, and is able to show their artistry by painting the window of the spirit store in creative ways. The merchandising department gets the opportunity to create new products and take inventory of the store when needed. The managers of the class get the chance to watch over the other departments, call guest speakers, and provide help whenever it is needed. Students are able to switch departments throughout the year, and learn more about small businesses by doing this. This year at the spirit store, students have created new hoodies, all-weather jackets, crewnecks and tee shirts. They have also helped create holiday themed cards for staff members, paint the display window, learn how to fill out a purchase requisition and much more. Burch even took the class to BlueBird Cafe for an office celebration. Burch spends time during the school day for the store and also spends time outside of school by working at sporting events, special events, making phone calls and deposits to the bank. All of this time put in makes the store as successful as it is today, and students should join if they plan on helping Burch in any way they can. Senior Clinton Iorfida, who currently takes the class, says, “this class is a great learning experience that can help prepare you for the real world.” Have Class Rankings Become a Thing of the Past?By Nevaeh Downs
March 8, 2019 Norwood is taking big steps in the right direction for our biggest and brightest students. The Class of 2020 will be the first class that does not have a Valedictorian or a Salutatorian. It is one of the latest trends happening in schools all across the country in 2019. Only 50 percent of schools still rank their students. According to the student handbook, Norwood will be recognizing students who graduate Summa Cum Laude (G.P.A 4.0 or higher), Magna Cum Laude (G.P.A of 3.8-3.9) and Cum Laude (G.P.A of 3.5-3.7). According to Guidance Counselor Tom Muenchen, the difference between being Valedictorian or Salutatorian could be as little as a thousandth of a point. This is complicated by the fact that it is based on weighted G.P.A, so some classes are “worth” more than others. For example, if one student took choir and another student took an honors or AP class instead, the person who took the core class would have a higher GPA even if both students got the same grade. Munchen says, “I have seen students stress over this in ways they shouldn’t. If they want to take a certain class that they will enjoy, then they should rather than taking the class that they are supposed to take.” Muenchen also points out that the new process includes more people recognizing all high achievers rather than a select few. Some of you may be thinking, what will replace the Valedictorian and Salutatorian speeches at graduation? Muenchen says students will compete for the opportunity. Students who are interested will write and present speeches to a select group of decision makers, and the winner will deliver their speech at graduation. To some, a class rank is not a direct measurement of a student’s achievement. Top students will continue to be top students even after their journey at Norwood has ended. They will continue to thrive in college, military branches and life in general. Don’t let class rankings affect you and how you see yourself as a student. A report card won’t always determine where your future lies. Micha the TeguBy Abby Privett
March 8, 2019 Have you ever heard of a tegu? Did you know there was one in our school? Secretary of Athletics Alle Barber works not only at Norwood High School, but also works at the Cincinnati Zoo, and she has a huge tegu named Micha in her office. Micha is a Black and White Argentine Tegu native to South Africa. She has her own enclosure in Barber's office. She is currently in brumation, which is the fancy term for hibernation, so she is hidden a lot. But usually, cold blooded reptiles such as Micha can be found basking in any warmth they can find. Barber says tegus usually live to around 15 in the wild, which is around the same age as Micha is now, but she hopes Micha will live longer since she is so spoiled. She doesn’t have to worry about things like hunting or predators since she is in captivity. She also has the advantage of going to the vet whenever something goes wrong. Tegus are pretty easy to take care of but are by no means a beginner animal. She may have been in captivity her whole life, but she still has some of those wild instincts and can become food aggressive, just like a dog would. Barber says “Basically, a tegu needs good socialization to be an animal that you can handle. The socialization aspect will help the animal recognize when it is feeding time and when it isn’t. But once you socialize them properly, they become big teddy bears!” Micha can sometimes be found on the couch with Barber and her cats at home, and sometimes she will curl up in her lap under a pillow and take a nap. Micha is an omnivore- meaning she enjoys plants and meat. Some of her favorite foods include mice, rats, bananas and hard-boiled eggs. However, she also loves strawberries, mushrooms, sometimes lettuce, etc. Something very important for Micha is her heat light. It not only provides her with warmth so she can digest her food, but the light also provides her with UVA and UVB rays which mimic the sun. Those special rays help to ensure she has good bone health and is crucial for her to survive inside in winter without any natural sunlight. Barber said she sometimes even makes toys for Micha. Usually these toys include her food, though. For example,She likes putting a mouse for her inside a toilet paper tube. She works so hard to get the food out, and in the process she shreds and destroys the paper towel tube. According to 65% of Norwood Students, Mr. Heinz wore it Best.Super Strings, Super Concert
Newest Internet Trend: The Momo ChallengeBy Emily Saul
March 7, 2019 The internet was invented mainly for entertainment and communication purposes. But there have been many times where it has caused more harm than good. Many dangerous challenges have gone viral, like the “Tide Pod Challenge” and the “Salt and Ice Challenge,” which have caused a lot of injuries. When these types of things are trending, they are televised and broadcasted as a warning to not attempt them, but unfortunately, this makes the situation more popular and appealing to try them for the attention. One of the most recent and confusing internet trends has been given the name of “The Momo Challenge.” People have said there’s a video out there where a strange thing that relatively looks like a human, but with huge eyes, an extremely wide smile and long, dark hair, tells children to harm themselves, and if they were to tell their parents about the video, Momo would come for them. A lot of people are still not sure if this is a real issue because it’s hard to find any evidence on this actually happening. People have often rejected this to be true, but the thought of this being a real thing terrifies parents because children today are able to easily navigate the internet. A video has recently been uploaded showing what, supposedly, is the "real" video. At first it seems like a normal version of the children's show Peppa Pig, but then it changes into a picture of Momo, and a computer voice comes on. It tells children to hurt themselves so their parents won’t see her. The video ends with the voice saying, “beware of me,” which leaves children terrified that she will show up at any moment. However, it’s very possible someone may have made this video after hearing about the challenge to scare people. This trend has been called a hoax by many because there are no reports of any children hurting themselves. It wouldn’t have been difficult for a random person to scare people for no valid reason. The description of the challenge includes all the keywords that could grab anyone’s attention: children, self-harm, challenge, scary. Also, the picture of Momo has existed for a very long time and it was not made for any purpose that it has been used for. In fact, Momo is an art project made by Japanese sculptor Keisuke Aiso. Aiso told a reporter from a British newspaper The Sun, “The children can be reassured Momo is dead. She doesn’t exist and the curse is gone.” He also says he’s thrown out the artwork. It’s true that you shouldn’t believe everything you see on the internet, but it’s also important to keep an eye on what children are viewing online, because people can be insensitive and post just about anything they want. Maybe the Momo Challenge is a hoax, but that surely doesn’t mean that something like it can’t ever exist. |
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ACT Boot CampThe Junior class participated in an ACT Boot Camp arranged by Gear-up on Thursday, February 28, 2019. This allowed them to learn some tips and tricks to get the score they want!
Baskerville Comes “Holmes” to NorwoodBy Lilith Rose
March 5, 2019 Any theatre production, be it a play or musical, is an intensive labour of love from all fronts. After many months of anticipation, the Spring Play will debut Fri., March 15 and Sat., March 16. A cast of 5 will put on Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Story, a play with mystery, laughs and comical romances. The spring play had a rocky start, originally being the fall play but delayed due to restoration and construction efforts. During the delayed time, the cast met with Play Director Pat Hodson for acting lessons and character exercises, a treat for the small cast. Hodson has directed many productions, and says she enjoys her experiences at Norwood. The producer of the play is none other than English teacher Ashley Martin. Martin and Hodson worked together to pick out the production and cast the show’s actors and stagehands, using their extensive experience in showbiz. In a fun twist, Sherlock Holmes will be played by senior Hazel Mersch, giving a feminine take on the classic hero of mystery fiction. She will be accompanied by junior Henry Mattingly as the role of Doctor Watson. The rest of the cast all play several roles, as many as 12 for senior Liz Dunker, with senior Jaden Kuhlman playing 4 and freshman Ian Davis playing 10. Be on the lookout for the sixth actor; AP Gov teacher Ricky Robisch is playing the "conwict" Victor. These many roles require lots of well-planned quick changes: costume changes that occur during the running of the show. In Baskerville, the quick changes aren’t limited to backstage, to the delight of the audience. The set is also fluid, with quick scene changes while actors are on stage. All this motion requires a talented stage crew, manned by students and lead by Stage Manager Clara Rollins. Rollins worked last year’s Legally Blonde: The Musical and has been working hard to supply the production with props and train the new stage hands. The theatre fam of Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Story invite you to be the final piece of the puzzle by attending the show in the Norwood Middle School Auditorium on March 15 and 16 at 7 p.m., for $8 at the door for a ticket. There’s no mystery to it; you’ll be glad you came. Teacher By Weekdays, Gallivanter By WeekendsBy Hannah Robinson
March 1, 2019 Even though he may not look it, English teacher Donald Deems has been teaching at Norwood High School for the last two and half decades. He is your classic bookworm, who enjoys down-time and parmesan cheese. He seems like a stereotypical teacher, until you learn about his hobbies. Deems is not only an English extraordinaire, he also travels often and judges marching bands. There are judges in two categories; music and visual. Deems judges the movement and design, which both fall into the visual category. He has literally traveled the world, visiting around 20 countries and all 50 states in the U.S.A. Out of all of the states he’s traveled to, 40 of them were for judging marching bands and color guard teams across the nation. This may seem like quite the expensive taste for a hobby, but luckily with Deems being the chief judge of Tri State Marching Arts, he gets to travel without the price. His status earns him a free plane ticket and hotel room. Judging isn’t the only thing on Deems’ schedule when he finds himself out of Ohio. Deems enjoys the outdoors and any activity that consists of nature, he will participate in. He travels to Maine every summer with his family and goes adventuring with them. Being an outdoorsman isn’t his only traveling trait. “Any place with a beach is always fun,” Deems says. With 30 years of experience under his belt, being a judge is almost second-nature to him at this point, but he wasn’t always the one judging others. Deems was a band member himself for eight years. He began in seventh grade playing the saxophone and sousaphone, and continued until his last year of college at Miami University. He is usually a lone sightseer, but enjoys traveling with his husband. The pair take a trip every couple of years to visit Deems’ brother, who lives in China with his wife and two children. The plane ride is around 30 hours, so Deems spends his time grading papers. Slaving your life away to teaching is a myth, especially when it comes to Deems. He may seem serious, but once you have a sit-down with him he’s quite the hoot. This goes to show that even though someone is professional, they can still have loads of fun. College Tour GaloreBy Madison Anderson
February 27, 2019 Deciding what you want the rest of your life to look like at such a young age is not an easy thing to do. There are so many different career paths, and what you are interested in now, may not be the same thing you’ll like in five years. However, you can make your choice a bit easier by attending a college tour. By going on a college tour, you learn about the different career paths that particular colleges offers. Lucky for you, Gear-Up provides you with a chance to visit colleges that you might be curious or hesitant about. If you do decide you want to take a trip to a college with other Norwood students and the Gear-Up staff, all you have to do is fill out a form with the permission of a guardian. Typically, a Gear-Up member will come into your advisory a couple of weeks in advance to let you know what upcoming tours are being provided. When you arrive at the school, more than likely there is a student that is going to be giving you a tour of the campus. The tour guide will show you some of the most beneficial places on the campus, such as the library, the different styles of dorm rooms and the dining hall. Asking questions about ACT scores and acceptance rates are a good way to find out if you are able to get into that particular college or not. Engaging with the tour guide actually helps more than you would think. They can give you insight to what their college life is like and that will once again give you an idea of the kind of college you may want to go to. On top of going to a college tour, you can also attend a college fair, which could be much more help considering that you have a wider variety of options. On March 26, Xavier University will be holding their 19th annual college fair with over 160 colleges in Cincinnati at the Cintas Center from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. To make it even easier on your end, some schools will actually come to Norwood to give you information about the school and give you advice about your future if you aren’t too sure. At the end of the day, no matter if you go on a college tour, fair or visit, you will benefit from it in some way, even if it isn’t the college you end up going to. Source: Plexuss.com
Who wore it better?Classes Collaborate for Spring Play ProjectStudent Feature: Paicey WestBy Abigail Privett
February 20, 2019 Walking through the halls of Norwood High School is senior Paicey West. A high school student who works upwards of 40 hours a week when needed. Most of us think this is insane. I’m not sure how she does it honestly. She not only works her scheduled shifts, but she also will take shifts if she’s asked sometimes. West is already taking care of herself sometimes even though she just turned 18 in January. Her mom will occasionally leave for a few days to go on vacation while West stays at home alone. It doesn’t bother her much though, since she enjoys the freedom of having the house to herself. She also has her dog that she adores to keep her company. West may be busy, but she doesn't let her obstacles get in her way. She has actually ridden her bike from Norwood to Hyde Park to get to work on time. She also has to make a mile trek to and from school if she can’t get a ride, or she will ride her bike. She is still able to balance everything though with it being this way. West is able to work all these hours and get herself back and forth to work, and still maintains good grades and fashion. Superwoman, am I right? If West isn’t working, she’s asleep. That’s just how she rolls. She truly works more than any other teenager I’ve ever seen and she's still able to handle everything in her life. I will never understand how she can get pulled in all these different directions and keep her mind straight but I give her props nevertheless. The most amazing thing is she never complains about her situation. West is truly the adult we all aspire to be. Sometimes, I even feel bad for texting her to ask a question that I really should know the answer to because she is always so busy. I feel like if she can juggle everything she does and remember due dates, I should be able to actually remember dates. But I don’t, and she saves me. She’s truly an incredible teenager, and I think we can all learn a little something from her. Boys Basketball/Cheerleading Senior NightNorwood Wrestling
Loveland ShowFestBy Chris Marple
February 11, 2019 Norwood High School Silhouettes competed at Loveland ShowFest this Saturday. Senior Connor Williamson won both Best Performer and Best Male Soloist. The choir took home the Heart Of Loveland award, which honors the judges and audience choice for favorite performing group. If you missed the competition, you can catch the show choir at Hamilton High School on Feb. 16 at 8:30 a.m. Bowling Seniors Get the Ball RollingBy Lilith Rose
February 19, 2019 If you’re looking for a sport to try next winter season, the Norwood Bowling team is a warm and inviting group. The teammates and their coach showed their bond on Senior Night, which was celebrated on February 7 during their match with Clark. As a senior myself, it was entertaining to watch my classmates hit the alley, catching up with some who attend Scarlet Oaks. The sport itself is entertaining, as the players used the curve of their ball to line up shots with much more skill than needed in Wii bowling. Before the match, coach Jake Lengerich called for the seniors and their families to line up together with red carnations to receive goodie bags and recognition. Many cameras were up as Lengerich called the name of the senior player, their plans after graduation, and recognized those who stood by them. Parents and siblings smiled by their loved one as they posed for pictures. The bowlers’ dreams spanned from pursuing a career in Nursing here in Ohio to studying Mathematics in California, and straightforward paths into the careerforce from those attending Scarlet. The seniors from the girls team lived up their night, enjoying hyping each other up and laughing. Senior Rhyan Arthur lead a group huddle before the match, jokingly telling Lengerich that she’s got the girls and he can go take care of the boys. Seniors Nelletia Segrist-Bellamah and Bre Winchester helped get the girls focused for a night of wins and memories. The boys bowling team cheered on seniors Elijah Keyes, Christian Keyes, Tyler Carter, and Jamie Canada. Elijah Keyes won his first game with a total of 247, so close to a perfect game. Many of the Norwood bowlers played well that night, showing talent to spare. The girls team won their game together, with Arthur bowling last, winning the match for Norwood. Still, the last home game of the year does not mean the end of the season for these high achievers. The team met up on Valentine’s Day for their tournament, loving the outcome as they finished in 2nd place out of 28 teams. This victory has put the Norwood team into districts, giving them even more chances to pin down the competition. The Norwood seniors of the Bowling team have had a great season filled with fun and success, with a promise to stay in the alley and out of the gutter beyond high school. Senior Night for the Bowling Team
Snapshot: Freshmen Ignite FunIgnite mentors led freshmen advisors in a Valentine's Day themed Kahoot game. History teacher Thomas Hale's advisory took the win art teacher Terri Viltrakis not far behind in second place. The freshmen all enjoyed this fun Friday game. All students received candy at the end for great participation.
Silhouettes Bring Home the BaconBy Madison Anderson
February 19, 2019 The Silhouettes put on another strong show this weekend at Hamilton’s “HH” invitational. From roughly 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., sixteen choirs competed in three divisions in hopes of scoring 1st place. Sophomore Tyler Leverenz brought home the Best Performer Award and made the showchoir family proud. In addition, the Silhouettes scored higher than ever before at HH and awarded with Second-Runner-Up in the small mixed division. Norwood's show choir has many more performances to come. This is just the beginning. Art School VisitsBy Emily Saul
February 8, 2019 Gear-Up has planned many trips to different colleges and education programs. With their and the NHS art teachers’ help, some students took a trip to University of Cincinnati’s Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) and to the Art Academy of Cincinnati on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. Both schools have good art programs, and it was a great opportunity for students who are interested in any type of art major to see what they may want to do with their future. During this trip, students took a look at the campus and learned about the schools’ programs and how the schools work in general. At the Art Academy of Cincinnati, a tour guide showed students around and presented different artwork. He also told them what it would be like if they went to that school. At DAAP, the students were shown the different programs and how each year would be if they were to go there after high school. Students also took a look at the Scholastic Art Awards when they were visiting DAAP. Senior Alex Endsley and sophomore Hope Striker both recently won a Gold Key Award, which is the highest rank in the contest. Striker says it was exciting to see people’s reaction to her art and to see other art too. DAAP is ranked one of the most prestigious design programs in the U.S. and in the world. It consists of four different schools: Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. The School of Design includes programs of Fashion Design, Fashion Product Development, Graphic Communication Design, Industrial Design and Master of Design. The School of Architecture has two programs, including Architecture and Interior Design. The School of Art has Art History and Fine Arts. It also includes postgraduate programs, which are Art Education, Art History, Fine Arts and Certificate in Museum Studies. The School of Planning’s programs are Urban Planning and Urban Studies, and the postgraduate programs are Community Planning and Regional Development Planning. The Art Academy of Cincinnati is located in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Its student body consists of about 200 undergraduates and 10 graduates. It grants degrees of Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Arts in Art Education, and Associate of Science in Graphic Design. Gear-Up helps students access more information about college and what they need to do in order to be successful after high school. Students are fortunate to be able to go on field trips that support their passionate interest in the arts like this one has. |