14wePhilCousino (1986-2001)rememberclearmount continuedstood against the wall, or in the hall or in the corner. Cursive, spellingwords, multiplication and the Preamble to the Constitution. Drugawareness and grandparents’ day. Elections and morning announcements.Music class, art class, gym class. Broken glass. Learning rooms. Bigballoons. Carnival, Festival. And sometime in our years at the “nicest” ofall elementary schools, we learned to write in complete sentences.It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. It’s a place weknew and loved—with a killer playground.And like so many of the entries in my fifth grade yearbook read,though I have taken a little poetic license, “I hope your [future] is liketoilet paper—long and useful.”northwood continuedOpening Mike’s locker, Kari was shocked. Underneath his Starterjacket and gym shoes Mike kept a suspicious bag of black powder.“Could this be cocaine?” Kari and most of the other recent D.A.R.Egraduates in Mrs. Riske’s class thought. As the gossip spread throughoutthe hall, Mrs. Riske eventually heard that magic word “drugs” andthought it was time to step in. She walked with Kari to Mike’s locker,found the bag and picked it up. It is at this point that I can assume sherealized it was definitely not cocaine. <strong>The</strong> powder was black, after all.But out of curiosity, or to humor us, she smelled the bag and quicklysmiled. Tossing the bag in the trash, Mrs. Riske laughed, “<strong>The</strong>y areOreo crumbs!” It was a letdown, but funny at the same time. WhenMike returned later that day, he was informed of the “drug bust” andhis girlfriend’s true loyalties–or lack thereof, and we all learned that ifyou have cocaine in your locker, don’t let Kari Ringer see.In the summer of elementary school, things were a little morehumdrum. However, the neighborhood surrounding <strong>North</strong>wood neverceased to bring fun times. To begin, there was generally one big slumberparty at Callan Russ’ home. <strong>The</strong>re, we would sing Spice Girls’ songs,jump on the trampoline, have water fights, do hair, play street fighter,run and hide from Monica Prasnal and eventually end up watchingCallan fall asleep first in front of the scary movie of her choice. <strong>The</strong>culmination of the party, however, was in the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls(or orange rolls for those adventurous kids) and the tired goodbyes,knowing that maybe someone would have a birthday in June.Really, I could fill this whole issue with memories upon memories ofthe tiger’s den, flag football games, scooter clubs, choreographeddances and clog–flinging recess games. Instead, I’ll leave them all upto the imagination or memory of those reading this. I have no doubtthat my time at <strong>North</strong>wood was special and as perfect as it could havebeen. I only hope my classmates feel the same.•<strong>Issue</strong> Design: Amy King and Christine Strawn•Staff photographers who contributed to this special issue includeChelsea Crofford, Amy King, Emily Kuhn, Shannon Pifer, CathySamara, Beth Simmerman, Christine Strawn and Lindsy Wise. <strong>The</strong><strong>Viking</strong> <strong>Views</strong> would also like to express appreciation to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Viking</strong>Yearbook, Lifetouch, the Cousinos and the many students whoshared their pictures with us.greentown continuedillusion posted on her desk to entertain us while in line.Like just about any other kid on the entire planet, my favorite partof the day was recess. It was not just a time for us to burn off energyand give the teachers a much needed break–it was so much more.Recess was a chance to let our imaginations run wild, not to mentionfind out which boy liked which girl by who he picked for his footballteam. <strong>The</strong> revolution of girl domination was led by Ashley McLauglin,who could be spotted making boys cry all across the playground. Weplayed four-square, kickball and basketball. Those of us who wererebellious enough even ventured into the forbidden woods, althoughthose rebels usually ended up spending part of recess on the wall forbreaking the rules. Recess was our time.It’s all the little things that the school did that made my time thereso wonderful. Those first few years of school are what mold and shapeus as people, and the staff knew that. <strong>The</strong>y prided themselves onthat.Whether or not living in Greentown makes us all farmers is still upfor debate, but the memories we have from that little school just northof here will always be a part of what bonds each of us and makes uswho we are.orchard hill continuedassignment out on the playground. It was at recess where the POGScraze exploded, but I questioned what kind of fun was hitting plastic“slammers” on cardboard circle cutouts. I was busy playing four-squareand getting married, divorced, then married again to my friends onswings. I remember the day we were ecstatic to find an outline of amap painted on the newly paved ground. Forget playing the game ofrunning aimlessly around and tagging members of the opposite sex,which we creatively titled “chase,” it was all about “state tag.” That is,until we realized we only knew about 15 of the 50 states and most ofthem were on the East Coast.What some may feel was their most humiliating, awkward orinsignificant days of schooling, I believe were the most fun. <strong>The</strong>re wasno drama of relationships because the only couple I can even recall isBrittany Collins and Richard Neading, and I believe they “dated” becausethey walked to school together. <strong>The</strong>re were no responsibilities exceptto feed the crayfish, but even if we didn’t, it was okay. <strong>The</strong> biggestform of punishment was standing on the wall for what seemed likehours at recess, and it was actually somewhat of an honor becauseyou had an impressive story to tell afterwards. No need for teachersto worry about kids skipping class or wandering the halls because wewalked in lines everywhere we went, and we were totally fine withthat.To me, elementary school days were ideal. Now that high school isalmost over, I wake up every morning like I did each morning of mydays at Orchard Hill–full of excitement. Now we stop caring again likewe did when we were 10 years old, and we can make every last secondof our time together count. We’re not only full of excitement to leave, butwe reminisce about good ol’ days when we had not a care in the world.
who we are91 2 <strong>13</strong> 4711 12252720191622 23105 68<strong>13</strong> 14 152129nowCreated with EclipseCrossword — www.eclipsecrossword.com2428261817Puzzle by Adele Vergisacross1. Can solve the Rubik’sCube5. Tore both ACLs playingsoccer8. Principal cellist ofCleveland YouthOrchestra10. Received athleticscholarship to playgolf at Cleveland State11. Loves the Steelers12. Treasurer of FEA16. His alter ego is RawEvil18. Has a photographhanging in a museumin Israel19. Worked with JeremyFetzer on CD “Two”20. <strong>The</strong> self-proclaimedgreat Americanoutdoorsman23. Three-time State MockTrial qualifier24. 2004 Lit Mag poetrycontest winner25. Student Councilsecretary26. Adapted “Black LikeMe” for the stage27. Knitting Club founderand president28. Loves sharks29. <strong>The</strong> only girl in theengineering anddrafting classdown1. YMCA without the Mand A2. Eagle Scout3. Bowling team varsitycaptain with Patty Film4. Has a really long rightarm6. Won 2nd Place at CaseWestern ReserveScience Symposium7. ASL Club President9. Mini-Golf President<strong>13</strong>. She is always smiling14. German Club president15. Made FSHSTX Car inAutobody17. Alias fanatic20. Began ultimate FrisbeeClub with Drew Bayer21. She always matches22. <strong>May</strong> Fiesta participantfor nine yearswe thank you for following all the rules. Thank youfor keeping your shoulders covered, for using a blueor black pen, for always having a pass, for keepingyour hair color natural, for sitting down until the bellrings, for not checking your e-mail during schoolhours, and for not going up the down stairway...15<strong>The</strong> <strong>Viking</strong> <strong>Views</strong> senior staff: (1st row) CathySamara, Jamie DiEugenio, Kyra Schloenbach,Emily Kuhn; (2nd row) Lindsy Wise, SarahUpperman, Beth Simmerman, Chelsea Crofford,Christine Strawn; (3rd row) Jeff Wallick, DannySavage, Adele Vergis, Amy King, Sean Bhagat.break free...but it’s time to
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