QS Issue 1 - October 2020

Q
S
Winner of the
2020 Hoosier
Star Award
Plainfield High School
1 Red Pride Drive,
Plainfield IN 46168
Volume 9 Issue 1
October 2020
“Write boldly and tell the
truth fearlessly.”
- Joseph Medill
MASK UP!
Tackling COVID
In 2020
INSIDE:
• AThletes
in action
• SAT/ACT
scores on
way out?

QWinner of
the 2020
Hoosier
Star Award
S
“Write boldly and tell the
truth fearlessly.”
- Joseph Medill
Plainfield High School
1 Red Pride Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Volume 9, Issue 1
October 2020
317-839-7711, ext. 1114
www.plainfield.k12.in.us
Enrollment: 1,763
MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose of the production and
distribution of the Quaker Shaker student
newsmagazine is to report news to the
student body of Plainfield High School.
This magazine aims to inform, entertain
and educate our readers, as well as
sharpen their ability to think and make
informed decisions. The mission of the
staff of the Quaker Shaker is to present
information in an accurate, balanced,
clear, factual, interesting and professional
way in as timely a manner as is possible in
a quarterly publication.
Another function that the Quaker Shaker
serves is to be an outlet for both student
submissions and student opinions through
a variety of avenues. In addition, the
Quaker Shaker also serves as a training
ground for those students who want to
pursue a career in professional journalism.
Views expressed in letters to the editor,
editorials, opinion pieces and student
submissions do not reflect the views of the
Plainfield Community School Corporation.
The Quaker Shaker is associated with the
Indiana High School Press Association,
the National Scholastic Press Association,
Quill and Scroll National High School
Honorary and the Journalism Education
Association.
Quaker Shaker Staff
Natalie Stapleton, editor-in-chief
Staff Members:
Ian Bertoncini
Dylan Cuatecontzi
Joey Dickinson
Evan McGuire
Sri Nattam
Liza Petersson
Bryn Planker
Madeline Polizzi
Kadence Roehm
Kyle Stout
Elizabeth Taylor
Lana Wooley
3
5
7
9
12
15
17
FEATURE
Is TikTok’s
time up?
SPOTLIGHT
Fashion &
Textiles class
SPOTLIGHT
Logan
Eddington,
12
SPORTS
Fewer fans
in the stands
COVer
Masking
up, social
distancing
News
Death of
Justice
Ruth Bader
Ginsburg
REVIEW
Rolling
Stones
re-release
“Goat’s Head
Soup”
FEATURE
Small
businesses
battle
Covid-19
NEWS
SAT/ACT
scores for
admission may
be thing of the
past
SPORTS
Athletes in
Action
Sports
Season
updates
ISSUES
Students
speak up
on current
events
SPOTLIGHT
Braden Kline,
12
Opinion
E-learning
4
6
8
10
14
16
18
Ellie Shoultz, ad designer
Michelle Burress, adviser
Carrie Cavanaugh,
business manager
19
EDITORIAL
Voting
Cover model: Hannah Haynes, 12
Photo by Natalie Stapleton

TikTok: Time MAy be up
TikTok may be banned after company Oracle buys out U.S. assets
What if TikTok was banned?
How would it affect you as a creator?
Follower Count:
1,154
“The TikTok ban would
be disappointing. I
will definitely say that
TikTok takes up a lot
of my screen time. I
use TikTok to spread
positivity and make
people smile; so if it
were banned, I would
continue to post content
on my other social
medias.”
Abigail Young, 12
For You: Following TikTok
TikTok has 800 million
active users, and is the
most sold app on the
Apple App store,
with 33 million
downloads.
TikTok has become
aN OVERNIGHT
sensation, here
are some facts
about how big it
has gotten ...
On average, users on
are on TikTok for 52
minutes per day.
TikTok has more adult
users now than ever,
in 19 months, the adult
user base has grown
5.5 times.
Follower count:
16.5k
“With the possibility of
a TikTok ban, we can
never be for sure if it’s
going to happen. I mean
there’s been scare after
scare after scare and it
keeps not happening.
But at the same time,
creators have to take
it seriously every time,
because one of these
times, it could be real.
It affected me as a
creator because I was
helping my friend with a
merch line and we had
to release it way sooner
than expected. “
TikTok is available in
152 countries.
Source: www.oberlo.com
Braeden Craig, 10
T IK T OK
TIMELINE
2014
On November 9, 2017,
it was reported that
Musical.ly Inc. had
been sold to Bytedance
Technology Co.
2018
On September 3, 2019,
TikTok and the U.S.
National Football League
(NFL) announced a multiyear
partnership
2020
Restrictions on
TikTok are supposed
to be put in place on
November 12, 2020
The first version of
Musical.ly was officially
launched in August 2014
2017
On August 2, 2018,
Bytedance consolidated the
user accounts of Musical.ly
and TikTok, merging the two
apps into one and keeping
the title TikTok
2019
TikTok was
supposed to be
banned from
downloading
on app stores
September 20
2020 (TBD)
PAGE 3/FEATURE
Page by Kadence Roehm and Joey Dickinson

Shutdown, changes caused by Covid-19 result in struggles
Small businesses Feel squeeze
When Covid-19 struck, schools closed and quarantine became the new normal for most of the
world; it is likely that things will never return to quite the way they were before. While some may
say that Plainfield seems to be on the road to recovery from the pandemic, some businesses
and families are still struggling to get back on their feet. For small businesses, adapting is
absolutely vital to their survival. This is especially difficult for some students because these
places serve as escapes from their lives and teach them work ethic/social skills.
For junior Lauren Gee, her family’s business (Gee’s Nice Cream) has become
a huge part of her life. She has learned how to make ice cream and how to
communicate and make connections with customers. Most immportantly, Gee
has enjoyed getting to work with her family. Despite this, Covid-19 restrictions
have affected her family’s livelihood. “The masks make it very hard to hear
customers sometimes and the gloves get stuck in the ice cream scoopers a lot,”
said Gee. “The actual business itself has slowed down a little bit because a lot of
people are still very cautious about going out and like to keep it to only essential
trips.” Gee said she hopes that as the journey back to normal progresses, things
will start to pick back up.
When it came to adapting, senior Riley Heltsley’s family pottery business
(U-Paint) had a plan. Before the virus, the U-Paint studio was an area where
customers could have social events and comfortably paint their creations. In
order to reduce contact, they began “Pottery-To-Go.” “This is a process where
customers can order online,” said Heltsley, “and we will have the pottery with
paints bagged up for the customer by the door, ready to pick up with no contact
necessary.” Customers are still welcome in-person; however, in addition, virtual
pottery/painting classes are offered on their Facebook page. “We do this so that
everyone has the opportunity to take part in our classes, whether that be in-person or virtually,”
she explained.
Likewise, freshman Connor Burress’ father was forced to make other
arrangements. “Before Covid-19, people were able to come into the store (Rock
Bottom Treasures) and shop,” said Burress. “Now, my dad has to do all of his
business online. He closed his storefront business. He can’t sanitize records
and other things like that, so he had to move to Facebook sales.” Burress thinks
that small businesses were treated unfairly during the pandemic because larger
companies were allowed to stay open. “Some of them [small businesses] have
shut their doors for good. Some long-time family businesses simply could not
make enough money to support the expenses of the business. People lost [their] jobs. They
could barely pay for their own expenses and run a business at the same time.”
He added, “It was just really unfair to shut small businesses completely down because there
was no reason to do so. Small businesses are such an important part of communities. Small
businesses are the ones who donate to school’s fundraisers, buy ads in the yearbook and
support the community. They never should have been closed. It just killed a lot of them.”
Story by Elizabeth Taylor
Map It Out
U-Paint Pottery
Page by Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Wooley and Natalie Stapleton
Gee’s Nice Cream
PAGE 4/FEATURE
How can
YOU help?
• Buy gift cards for
yourself and family/
friends. This assures
small businesses
that you will resume
being a customer in
the future and it helps
them financially since
you are making a
purchase
• Promote them on
social media. By
giving them shoutouts,
you are
showing support and
spreading the word
of their business to
others. This helps
keep them active and
visible during this
hard time.
• Engage with their
online marketplace.
This includes leaving
reviews, to-go orders
and keeping up-todate
with events/
sales.
Lots of local businesses to
support, including:
• African Plum
• Milk & Honey
Bakery
• Paw Street
Bakery
• Unique Culture
• Earth Wear
• The Real Food
Shoppe
• Two Chicks
Whisky
Business
• The Frigid Frog
• Flowered
Occasions
• Plainfield Florist
• Six Strings Down
• Toy Buzz and
Fizz
• Shirt Tales
• Remy’s
• Goody’s
• Gear Up

Sew Together
Fashion and Textiles class teaches teens sewing, thrifty skills
HOW
TO SEW A
SIMPLE STITCH
Get the tools: needles,
scissors, measuring tape,
and thread.
Thread the
needle: Pull the
thread through the
needle so that the thread is
a few inches away from the
end of the thread. After that
put a knot in the longer
side of the thread.
Double
threading: Thread
the needle through the
eye, but instead of one side
being longer than the other
both sides of the thread are
equal. Knot the thread
closest to the spool.
Running
stitch: Purple thread
-- Bring the needle
through the fabric from the
back until it gets to the knot.
The next step is to make
a stitch to the left or right
depending on where
your thread came
in.
Basting stitch: Pink
thread -- Same thing as a
run stitch but you make the
stitches longer.
“I took my first Fashion class in
college to become a FACS teacher. I
took a break, then I actually got back
into sewing and fashion when I came
back to teach at the high school the
last three years. The students have
taught me as much as I have taught
them.
Each week, we learn a new skill. I
will teach them the in’s and out’s of a
process, and then they will use that on
a project. Fashion and Textiles is very
project-based and hands-on.
Sewing is a life skill, so it is
something students can use from here
on out -- especially machine sewing
because sometimes machine sewing
can be a little intimidating; but once
they get on the machines, they find
that it’s actually more rewarding than
anything. Students really enjoy taking
the class.
I think that males also need to learn
these skills because, just like females,
we all wear clothing every day and
sometimes it rips or tears or we buy
something and it doesn’t fit quite right;
so having the skill set to be able to fix
that would be really valuable. I would
recommend that students definitely
try and fit the class in their schedule.
It is really fun and engaging. I think
all the classes we teach in the FACS
department are important because
they are all life skills -- all things that
you can take from high school and
actually apply and use.
There are so many jobs and careers
in the fashion industry. From being
a designer to being somebody who
works on the sewing machines. We do
a unit about careers where we look at
different options.
Sewing is something that has
evolved; machines have gotten more
savvy with what they can do, but I feel
like in 10 or 20 years, the foundation
and the basics are going to be the
foundations and the basics -- like
learning how to stitch and re-hem or
sew a button on. I think it will advance
machine-wise, but I think it will still kind
of look similar, if not the same.”
Gabby Lewis, 11
Yazmin Taylor, 9
“From Fashion and Textiles, I have used the skills to fix or
repurpose old clothes and make my own masks to wear. I’ve
also learned how to better style clothes and outfits.”
Riley Bolton, 9
“I’ve been using my new skills for a variety of things. I have
learned how to hem things to make them have smoother
(or shorter) edges. I also reverse tie-dyed (bleached dark
colors) a sweatshirt to make it more fun and cute. There are
so many other projects that I am planning to do in that class,
like repurposing jeans to make an ID holder or bag. I very much
enjoy that class”
Sydney House, 9
“In my family, we go through clothing pretty quickly; my younger siblings
are growing and my brothers are tearing holes in nearly all of their shirts.
Normally, we would replace the clothes with something new, but due to
Covid-19, we haven’t been able to really afford new clothing;
so learning how to take old clothes and recycle them into
something new has been really useful. I can take something
and shrink it down for my little siblings and use the extra
fabric to make masks, or I’ll take apart an article of clothing
completely and turn it into something new. For example, we took an old
pair of jeans and turned them into an overalls dress.”
Jocelyn Muehlenkord, 11
“I already liked sewing, so I do a lot of it at home. My siblings
often ask me to fix their stuffed animals. I really want to make
a dress; I have made one in class already.”
Alishia Phelps, 11
Photos by Elizabeth Taylor
Backstitch:
Green thread --Take
the needle through the
backside of the fabric until
you hit the knot, then make
a small stitch the left or right
and make it right next to
the first stitch.
The
finishing knot:
The first option is to cut
the thread right before the
eye of the needle. With the
two tails of the thread tie a
standard knot.
The second
option is to loop the
thread around the needle
counterclockwise after that
there should be a beginning
of a knot to tighten it, guide
the loop down the fabric
and tighten.
The
third option
needs to be on the
backside of the fabric.
Take the needle under
the thread to form a loop,
guide the needle through
the loop and tighten, this
might need to be done
multiple times.
Alyssa Hummel, FACS teacher
PAGE 5/CLASS SPOTLIGHT
Page by Evan McGuire and Liza Petersson

Some colleges no longer requiring scores for admission
need for SAT/ACT dwindling
Explain the effect you think that some
college no longer requiring SAT/ACT
scores will have on students applying
for college
“The purpose of colleges moving to a test-optional
policy is to provide more students an opportunity
to apply to their institution. Colleges are wanting
to remove a barrier that might have prevented a
student from applying to their institution. I believe
this could increase the number of colleges our
students apply to. I can see students feeling more
comfortable applying to colleges knowing that a
specific college does not require a standardized test
score as part of their admission process/decision.”
Describe how colleges may be different now that
SAT/ACT scores are not required
“I think it’s important for students to understand that while more
colleges are moving to test-optional, not every college has
adopted or will be adopting this policy. Also, even if a college is
test-optional for general admission into their institution, specific
schools on their campus
Should ACT/SAT scores be
required to get into college?
NO: 64%
YES: 36%
“No. You shouldn’t
base someone’s
ability to get into
college based on
one test. People
might be better
at things besides
taking tests.”
Xander Straw, 11
Source: Student poll, 389 students, 9/9/2020
College and Career
Advisor Travis Reber
talks about this new
trend colleges are
trying out.
“Yes, it should be
required because
some people work
hard for college.
By requiring these
scores, the people
who earned it get
in.”
Kaitlyn Smith, 11
may still require an SAT
or ACT score in order
to be admitted directly
into their programs.
This is one of the
reasons why we still
encourage students to
take either exam and to
also check admission
requirements for the
academic programs
students are interested in
pursuing. For example,
IU-Bloomington has
moved to test optional;
however, students
still need to submit
an SAT or ACT score
in order to be directly
admitted into the Kelley
School of Business. So
while a student could
be accepted to IU-
Bloomington without a
test score, they could
PAGE 6/NEWS
miss out on being
admitted into the
Kelley School of
Business because
a test score was
not included with
the student’s
application.”
What, if any,
consequences
could arise
because of
this?
“I believe
students can put
themselves at
a disadvantage
when they hear
‘test-optional’
and automatically
assume that not
taking an exam is the best option for them. Students really need
to research what ‘test-optional’ means for the colleges they are
considering
A VERY QUICK look through an SAT study guide helps senior Colin
Bigelow prep a little for the test. Though he didn’t spend a lot of
time studying, he was confident he would score well. “I think there
is good and bad to many colleges no longer requiring SAT/ACT
scores for admissions,” said Bigelow. “On one hand, it shows basic
knowledge and good character, while on the other hand it doesn’t
determine the intelligence of a person.” Photo by Connor Burress
because each
college handles
Cornell
this differently.
Students could
miss out on
scholarship
opportunities,
the ability to
be directly
admitted into
their major and/
or not being harvard
eligible for an
honors college/
program
without test
standardized
test scores.”
Could this
potentially hurt students?
MIT
Colleges going optional
“No, this cannot hurt students. Oftentimes, when I meet
with students, they do feel stressed and overwhelmed when
applying to colleges and I completely understand. I always try
to remind them that colleges are looking for reasons to admit
you into their institution and they’re not trying to find a student’s
flaws. Even if a student submits a test score, that is just one
piece of the admission puzzle that colleges review. If the score
happens to be lower than what they prefer to see, they’ll review
and consider the other academic information that is available to
determine if a student can be successful at their institution.”
Page by Ian Bertoncini and Dylan Cuatecontzi

Renaissance woman
Senior Logan Eddington sings, dances, does it all
“When I first heard about show choir, I honestly wanted nothing to do
with it. I was finishing my eighth grade year on a competitive dance team
and I had no interest in leaving the familiarity of dance for an activity I
barely understood. My mom made me promise that if I made it into either
Belles et Beaux or Femmes Fatales, that I would quit dance and commit
to the choir program. I was content thinking neither group would accept
me and I could go on with my life as usual. I ended up being one of three
freshmen accepted into Femmes Fatales that year.
At first, I was very shy and kept to myself. I lacked confidence, so I just
focused as hard as I could being the best performer I could be. I missed
dance, but I slowly started to adjust to this new
environment.
My sophomore year I was accepted into Belles
et Beaux as well as Femmes Fatales, and became
the Assistant Dance Captain of Belles et Beaux.
Being in both choirs was a lot; and even though I
knew I could handle it, I was
terrified at the idea of being
in leadership. I was forced
to step out of my own bubble
and interact with others.
Throughout the season my
confidence grew, and by the
end of the year I was named
Dance Captain. Junior year,
we had a new choreographer
and our season did not go as
planned at all. It was my first year as a dance captain, and since I had to
lead practices, I finally had to confront my fear of public speaking. It was a difficult year; but I can
easily say, looking back, that I have become a much stronger person because of it.
Show choir has grown to be one of the most important parts of my life. Through the program
I have grown from a shy, nervous kid to someone who presents confidence and competence.
Though I am sad we are not able to rehearse like we usually would be able to, I am very thankful
that the adults are working as hard as they can to make things as normal as possible. Rehearsals
are still fun and I am still very excited to perform however we can.
If I was not involved in show choir, I would probably still be dancing competitively and I may
have even gone out for the dance team. There is a good chance that I would be just as busy as I
am now, just with different activities.
I genuinely love doing everything I involve myself in. It is much easier to get out of bed in the
morning when you know you are passionate about what you are working toward. Getting to go to
after-school rehearsals and my favorite classes is what keeps me going. My motivation to keep
busy is simply my love for what I am busy doing. Even though the rest of the year is uncertain, I
am glad that this is how I will get to end my senior year.”
•
•
•
•
4 time management pointers from Logan
•
Do not
multitask
or it
could
diminish
your
work
Page by Madeline Polizzi and Natalie Stapleton
2020- 2021
Invest in
a daily
planner
Do as much
of your
homework
in school as
possible.
Give yourself
time for breaks
PAGE 7/STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Logan Eddington, 12
TEACHING
TIP
Describe
your
teaching
process in
show choir.
“In order to
effectively
assist
others with
choreography,
I have to first make sure I am
doing each move to the best of
my ability. I am naturally good
at memorizing movement;
so when we receive new
choreography, I pay very close
attention to the specific way
our choreographer does each
movement.”
Friend
Perspective
“When I hear
Logan’s name,
the first word
that comes
to mind is
unstoppable.
Logan works
hard in
everything she
does. I’ve seen this so many
times through her performances
and the way she reacts to
challenges. Because she
provides so much energy in
her performances, she inspires
others around her. And although
Logan carries such strong
energy and excels in whatever
she does, she never boasts.
Whether singing a solo, dancing
on center stage or playing a
lead in a play, Logan is always
humble. She is someone her
teammates can depend on to
help clean a dance move and
provide helpful feedback and
encouragement. If anything,
she’s working her hardest to
help those around her. It’s
this unstoppable energy and
humility that I think of when I
hear Logan’s name.”
Carli Breedlove, 12

Athletes
in action
IN BATTLE against his opponent, freshman
Connor Clark goes for the ball in the first
home junior varsity game of the year. “I
started playing soccer because of the shape
it can get me in, such as getting stronger and
faster, as well as the ability to get my mind
off the stressful things in life,” said Clark.
“My favorite aspect of soccer is probably
the competitive side of it; going all out and
showing everyone what I can give.” Clark
said that he bonded with his teammates
by showing them respect, being kind and
encouraging them to work hard to be better
soccer players. Photo by Connor Burress
PAGE 8/SPORTS
POSITIONED DIRECTLY under the incoming
ball, sophomore Noah Hessong gets ready
to make a vital catch during the first home
game of the season. “The way I feel in the
game is like no other,” said Hessong. “You are
in a moment where everything else in your
life goes away. Stress from school and other
aspects of life aren’t there.” Hessong said
that because of Covid-19, the team was not
able to practice like they normally did in the
summer. Photo by Loren Martin
SERVING UP what she hopes to be an ace,
senior Jadyn Ross competes with the varsity
team in the Plainfield Volleyball Invitational. “I
am a perfectionist when it comes to volleyball,
so I try not to think much when I am playing,”
said Ross. “That just helps me make less
mistakes and enjoy the moment.” Ross added
that her older sister inspired her to start
playing volleyball because of the fun she said
she had and the friendships she made during
her time on the team. Photo by Elizabeth Taylor

Covid-19 puts a dent in the student section with limits on tickets, attendance
MISSING: fans in the stands
Football
Coach Brian
Woodard
weighs in on
the situation
Q: Are the football games different with less fans and a
socially distanced student section?
A: “Very much so. It feels like a practice more than it does an
actual game. It’s always such a neat experience for our players to
play in front of a large crowd and a big student section.”
Q: With the game flow being different, would you say there
are more or less momentum swings?
A: “Once the 7 p.m. kickoff takes place, it’s about football and
thus it’s a normal game from that perspective.”
Q. Do you think the games are more equal with less fans and crowd noise?
A. “There are certain teams that naturally play well at home no matter what; but at the high
school level, there really isn’t that great crowd noise advantage/ disadvantage. I think at the
college football or professional football level that you could argue that crowd noise has a
greater impact.”
The view from the field:
Fans crowd the student section in the bleachers during a 2019 game, compared
to the stands this year. Students are required to wear masks and socially
distance themselves, making for a totally different fan experience.
2019 2020
Cheering
with Coach
Michelle
Cheek
“Cheering is
extremely different.
After four months
of handling our new
normal, we are finally
finding a sense of
normal. During our
transition to cheer, we were not permittied to
spot tumbling or perform stunt skills on a regular
basis. Additionally, we have to be cautious to
take breaks and follow appropriate hygiene
procedures to ensure safety of our athletes
and staff. With shortened spring and summer
season, we have noticed a slower progression
to achieving elite skill levels for stunts and
tumbling. However, the same level of spirit and
drive is evident in our program members.
I am very
cautious
to keep
my own
distance
without
causing a
detriment to
the manner
in which I
instruct or
correct. I
have also
created
a Google
Classroom and uploaded all practice material.
This is the best way to share information to
those who that have been absent or need to
review before game day.”
It can be difficult to bond with my cheerleaders
because with our sports we are used to viewing
knowledge and showmanship on the faces of
our cheerleaders. We also had to eliminate our
common team bonding activities to avoid close
contact and taking off masks. We are hopeful
to incorporate new activities as our season
continues to help our squad members bond.”
Senior
cheerleader
Grace
Blacketer
shares her
thoughts
Q: How is the experience of
cheer different now than it was
before?
A: “As cheerleaders, our job at
the school is to get students and
the crowd involved. The biggest
difference this year is trying to be
loud enough to get everyone’s
attention and trying to get people
happy and excited in this time
when everyone is focusing on the negatives.”
Q: Is cheering at football games different with less
fans and everything spaced out?
A: “Yes, it is very different. It isn’t the same fun ‘Friday
Night Lights’ feeling that is created with the united student
section singing and cheering along the whole game.”
Page by Kyle Stout and Sri Nattam
Q: Is the experience of soccer different pre-
Covid-19 than it is now?
A: “Yes, mainly due to the 6-feet guideline. We do not huddle on the sideline as
close as we normally would, and we do not huddle at all as players on the field;
so that is a big change.”
Q: Is there more to appreciate this season, since the season could shut
down at any time?
A: “Of course, you have to play each game like it’s your last. Not knowing if you’re
going to get to step out on the field again has really
changed the way we all have played.”
Q: Is it different at all having less fans, and the fans
being spread out?
A: “It is definitely different having the fans spaced out.
There isn’t as much noise coming from the fans and that
has changed the atmosphere of games a little bit.”
PAGE 9/SPORTS FEATURE
Sophomore
Kasey
Davis on
the soccer
situation

“My team would like to first win the Conference and
then make it to Sectionals. If an underclassman
were to ask me about playing soccer at PHS, I
would simply tell them to have fun, have a good
attitude and don’t worry about what any of the
upperclassmen are saying about you. It worked for
me. Just go play your game.”
Ariyana Edwards, 9
Photo by Hannah Haynes
“The opponents the team wanted to beat specifically
were Franklin and Perry. We have not beaten
Franklin in years and Perry and Franklin are our
Conference rivals. [For me,] the best part about
playing for the Plainfield volleyball team is that I get
to play with my friends every day and represent our
school.”
Ella Scott, 10
Photo by Ellie Shoultz
“I think our cross country team can improve a lot if
they keep up with their honest effort and always do
their best. They are amazing and talented people,
and are totally capable of improving when they
give it their all. As a friend to my team, I want to tell
them that they are all amazing, they always make
me smile and laugh and to have a great end of the
season.”
Rachel Foley, 12
Photo by Connor Burress
“I’d say most people don’t know how much work our
program puts in. Our season starts in the summer
before school starts. We practice every day for two
and a half hours, and when we get to the weekend
there is always an 18-hole match on Saturday. I
don’t think a lot of people know or understand all
the work our team usually does during the season
and out of the season.”
Sierra Benge, 12
Photo by Anna Buckrop
“It hasn’t really been any different combining the
Dance and Cheer team. We both still do our own
things, we just share the track now. The biggest
challenge the team faces when it comes to a smaller
audience due to Covid-19 is we don’t have as much
enthusiasm because we don’t have all the students
to cheer back at us or as many parents to get
involved in the cheers.”
Paige Riddell, 11
Photo by Briana Pace
SPORTS: SEASON UPDATE
“We are hoping to win Sectionals this year
and go undefeated in the regular season. My
recommendation is to cherish the moments. The
school years and soccer seasons go by so fast and
they will be gone before you know it.”
Will Dixon, 12
Photo by Carli Bruner
“Teamwork is important in all team sports, especially
football. Coaches always preach, ‘Do your job.’
As simple as it sounds, it is what is necessary to
win. Every individual on the team has a job and it
is up to them to fulfil it. Every year, we have a new
slogan that everyone tries to buy in for the course of
the season. Coach Woodard came up with ‘Adapt,
Adjust, Overcome.’ With Covid-19 being a big factor,
we have tried to take nothing for granted because
we don’t know when our last time together will be.”
Jackson Beebe, 12
Photo by Loren Martin
“I want to stay in the top five on varsity. I have
worked since 6th grade to try and get on varsity and
I want to contribute to my team. I want to be one
of the reasons why my team wins the Conference
race. Seeing your teammates get better and better
every meet is a joy to watch.”
Ryan Holsapple, 11
Photo by Connor Burress
PAGE 10-11/SPORTS
“I expected us to come out and have a good
season. We have a very young team that lacks
experience, but we definitely have the skill to
compete. Some goals I had personally were to win
most of my matches and to help make the team
better.”
Photo by Connor Burress
Andrew Hummel, 11
“The best part of
being on Dance Team
is the cheers from
the crowd during a
performance and
getting the student
section hyped.
This year though,
we barely have an
audience at all to
dance for.”
Caitlin Scalf, 12
Photo by Hannah Haynes

Following the Pandemic
Masking up, social distancing
The race for a vaccine
As the world copes with personal dealings such as
cancellations, unexpected quarantines, masks, and social
distancing, the medical world is working tirelessly to
develop a vaccine to relieve some of the turmoil created
by Covid-19. Although this task is vitally important, it is not
easy. To make sure that a vaccine is both safe and effective,
there are many steps in order to get it administered to
the public. There are five phases in this process, with 41 companies currently working
through these phases. Only 11 of these companies are in the third phase, which is administering the drug
to a group of thousands of people to test its effectiveness. Many experts have said that until a vaccine is safely
administered to the general public, the world’s state will not go back to the normalcy from a year ago. According
to theguardian.com, this is estimated to happen around mid-to-late 2021.
While the thought of a vaccine comforts some people, others are skeptical. In the eyes of senior Ellie Shoultz,
a vaccine would not be safe to get. “I would not get the vaccine because there is no data on the long-term effects.
The vaccine would be so new there is no way of knowing if there are any negative side effects or detrimental
effects.”
Senior Caleb Weigel had a different outlook on it. “If a vaccine came out, I would first let high-risk people get
ahold of it before I did. Elderly and autoimmune people need it the most. Once the vaccine was mass produced
and I know everyone who needed it received it, I think I would get it”.
Shoultz acknowledged the need for a vaccine, but still expressed reservations. “I think that everyone would
assume that the virus is gone completely (if a vaccine was approved), but I think it would still be prevalent. I think
that people would go back to life as usual, which is a bad idea because the virus is still there and not everyone
will get the vaccine.”
Story by Liza Petersson
If You Had to Choose...
What type of mask is your favorite?
“My favorite type of mask is
the one you hook on your
ears. It’s easier to take on
and off. It also is the most
comfortable.”
Gabi Montoya, 10
Page by Liza Petersson and Evan McGuire
84%
4%
8%
Source: Student poll, 375 students, 8/26/20
10%
3%
“I like lots of masks, but
I prefer gaitors because
they are easier for me to
use during football.”
Koirx Teamer, 10
PAGE 12-13/COVER STORY
“Six feet.
One Mr.
Schwanekamp
apart.”
Q: Compare a normal day before Covid-19 to
now
A: “I miss seeing smiles. I think that’s the biggest
difference. I miss that interaction and certain
verbal queues. I think wearing a mask and socially
diistancing is impacting our ability to interact as
people. Whether that’s at school, in the grocery
store or wherever.”
Q: Describe what rules are difficult to enforce.
A: “This is crazy to say, but they have all been really
easy to enforce. And, I think ‘enforce’ isn’t really
the best word to use because the rules have been
easy to follow. Our student body has done such
an awesome job. Our teachers have also done
an awesome job of implementing and following
protocols.”
Q: Explain the imortance of following Covid rules.
A: “The rules are really important because they
allow us to have school; if we don’t follow them, we
wouldn’t be allowed to be here. We’ve put a lot of
protocols in place to keep everybody safe, and those
protocols stem from how we get to school to what it
looks like in the classroom, the hallways, lunch time,
and even after-school activities.”
Q: What is your favorite type of mask?
A: “I really like this one that Mr. Rodkey bought me.
It feels more breathable, it is not as hot and heavy
as some of the other ones. I have a really big
head, so getting them to fit just right is tricky. I like
adjustable ones, for sure.”
Q: What do you think the one-week of e-learning
after Fall Break will look like?
A: “The idea of having that E-learning week after Fall
Break serves a lot of purposes. It is going to take
some work from our teachers to have good lessons
and things prepared. It is going to take work from
kids. Students are just going to have to be pretty
dedicated.”
MASK production
Q: Describe why you wanted to start making masks
A: “I wanted to start making masks when I realized there
was something I could do to help people, because at the
beginning of the pandemic, masks were in very short
supply. I began with making them for my family, but over
time, I decided to start selling them to make some money.”
Q: Explain how you make your masks (equipment,
process, etc.)
A: “In order to make my masks, I need the fabric, elastic,
sewing clips, an iron and my sewing machine. Making
masks is actually a very simple thing to do. I start by taking
two 6x9 inch pieces of fabric right sides together with elastic
across the short end and sewing all the way around the
edges except for a small hole to flip the mask inside out.
I then iron the creases in
the mask and sew around
three edges to hold the
creases in place and close
the hole.”
Q: In what way has your
life changed since you
started making masks for
people
A: “One way my life has
changed has been that I now realize at least some part of
what it’s like to run a business. You want to make sure your
product is desirable to a customer, while also being at a
price that will make people buy the product.”
Q: Compare your workload before and after you started
making masks.
A: “There was a while where making masks was the only
thing it felt like I was doing. Before making masks, I only
really sewed things that I would like, but after, masks
are the main thing I make now. I have gotten it down to
a science, and I pre-cut fabric and elastic to make the
process go a lot smoother. For a while, I would just sit and
watch TV while going through the motions of making a
mask.”
Q: Give an example of your favorite memory making
masks.
A: “My favorite memory from making masks would be when
I made masks to match my
best friend and my Prom
dresses so that we could
still wear masks and match
our dresses. I took excess
material from our dresses
and used them to
create the masks.
It made for some
really great
photos and was
worth the time
it took to make
them.”
Alexa Kinnamon, 12

views on
NEWS
Student opinions on current events
Describe how you feel about
being able to vote in this election.
“I am happy to vote this year
and take that civic duty seriously. I
wish more young people voted, as
historically, the youngest voter bracket
has the lowest voter turnout by
percentage.”
In what way do you think
voting is or isn’t important to
upperclassmen?
“Voting is important to
upperclassmen, because whether or
not they meet the age requirement to vote, they are affected
by the outcome of voting. Upperclassmen have jobs and pay
taxes, and so have just as much stake in our society as other
voters.”
What do you think about mail-in voting?
“I do not have all the answers, but I feel that making it easier
for absentee voters to apply for mail in ballots will enfranchise
those confined to their homes because of Covid-19. However,
universal mail-in voting is different,
as all people would receive ballots
in the mail regardless of application
for absentee voting. This influx of
available ballots would allow for too
many fraud attempts”
Why do you think some people
are against mail in voting?
“Fear of voter fraud. It is a valid
fear, and I do believe universal mailin
voting would result in voter fraud
like our country has never witnessed
before. However, it is still important to
note that historically, voter fraud has
happened at astronomically low rates,
which have 0 impact on elections.”
If Covid-19 wasn’t a factor, do you
think mail-in voting would still be an
issue?
“Yes. It has historically been an
issue, starting back in the Civil War
when mail-in voting was introduced
because soldiers weren’t in their hometowns during
elections. There will always be controversy in methods/access
to voting, as legislatures continue to use policy to either
increase voter fraud or suppress legitimate voters.”
Give an example of a situation that you think requires
someone to participate in mail in voting.
“First to come to mind is an elderly person or ill person, too
vulnerable to Covid-19 to leave their home.”
What do you think will be different for students this
year, voting wise, as student voters?
“Covid-19 has affected student life in every way, so it is not
unlikely that it will affect student voting as well. Perhaps there
are student voters who will choose candidates more likely to
support stimulus packages that the student thinks are needed,
or maybe the pandemic has impacted certain students so
severely that they are not immediately concerned with voting.”
Source: nationalgeographic.com
Some states
require a valid
reason, such
as an illness
or being out of
state, to request
an absentee
ballot. Currently,
30 states don’t
require this.
There are actually
two different
types of out of
person voting.
Absentee ballots
are for those who
physically can’t
vote, and vote
by mail is for
everyone.
Lyric Allen, 12
“I personally think that the juniors and seniors deserve to
have the Cafeteria, but I understand why the freshmen and
sophomores do. I think that the juniors and seniors should
get the Cafeteria because we have been here longer and
should get the benefit of being closer to the Quaker Corner
and have the ability to sit in the Senior section.”
Samuel Bryan, 11
TABLE TALK
“I agree with the freshmen and sophomores having
the Cafeteria, while the juniors and seniors have the
Fieldhouse because it is a good way of social distancing.
This set-up also makes tracking easier if necessary.
Having fewer people in the same room every day is a
good safety caution during the virus.”
Samantha Stapleton, 9
COVID-19
Since December of 2019, the virus Covid-19
has been making its way through the United
States. According to the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention, the symptoms of this
widespread virus include, but are not limited to:
fever/chills, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle/body
aches, headache, new loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion/runny nose,
nausea/vomiting and diarrhea.
While being the new kid on the block, Covid-19 is still fairly similar to other
diseases, like influenza, and has seemingly changed how diseases of this type are
viewed. “I think it has made us more aware of how our actions can affect others
in a significant way, and I think it has made some of us feel the need to treat all
diseases with the significance of Covid-19,” said senior Mallory Helbling.
While similar to influenza in its symptoms and mode of transmission (droplets
from coughing, sneezing or talking), Covid-19 is different from the flu in a few
key ways, such as different lengths of time between infection and developing
symptoms; for the flu, a person develops symptoms one to four days after infection,
but with Covid-19, a person typically develops symptoms five days after infection
(though it could be anywhere in the range of two to 14 days).
Another difference would be the time in which a person is contagious. For
the flu, one is contagious for about a day before showing symptoms and can be
contagious during the illness for seven days or more. Covid-19, on the other hand,
(while still under investigation) is said to be able to spread for two days before
showing symptoms, and then remaining contagious ten days after symptoms start
to show or ten days after one tests positive.
With all the symptoms that Covid-19 brings -- taking into consideration its mode
of transportation -- many states have created regulations on how to prevent its
spread, including mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing of at least six
feet. “I agree with the current regulations,” said Helbling. “I believe [in] doing
everything possible to protect vulnerable individuals.”
Covid-19 has been one of the biggest problems this year. Helbling agreed,
noting, “I believe that we now view disease as a more personal foe rather than as a
random affliction.”
Story by Joey Dickinson
NATIONAL News
As of October 2, 2020, according to cnn.com, it has been
confirmed that President Donald Trump has contracted the
Covid-19 virus. What this means for the future of the country is
unclear; matters could be complicated by the upcoming election,
according to political experts. In addition, Trump might face
additional health problems, as the virus tends to be more severe in
people of Trump’s age and weight class, according to webmd.com.
In light of this news, some experts, such as CNN Chief Medical Correspondent
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, agreed that it was a good idea for candidate Joe Biden to be
tested for Covid-19 because of his proximity to the president during their first
debate (Biden tested negative.)
Since the news broke, other people on Trump’s staff have also tested positive.
PAGE 14/CURRENT EVENTS
Page by Joey Dickinson and Kadence Roehm

The life
of
ruth
Bader
GinsbURG
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Supreme
Court justice appointed by
President Bill Clinton in 1993,
passed away on September 18 after
battling pancreatic cancer. As the
second female justice to be appointed to
the Supreme Court, Ginsburg fought for
work and gender rights, LGTBQ+ rights,
voter rights and many other causes
that have benefitted a wide variety of
Americans. Her death
has left a spot open on
the Supreme Court, and
many political experts
believe that the filling
of that spot could have
long-lasting effects on
Supreme Court rulings
for decades to come.
One of her
most notable
accomplishments on
the Supreme Court was
her decision in United States v. Virginia,
the case based on the fact that women
weren’t allowed to attend the all-male
Virginia Military Institute. Because of
the out come of this case, women were
granted the right to an equal education
with their male classmates.
Another notable accomplishment by
Ginsburg was her input in Obergefell v.
Hodges. This case legalized same-sex
marriage in all 50 states. Widely known
as a champion for rights of minorities,
Ginsburg also directed the Women’s
Rights Project of the American Civil
Liberties Union. According to aclu.org,
The Women’s Rights Project of the
Ginsburg’s
Possible
Replacement
American
Civil
Liberties
Union is a
project that pushes for change and
systemic reform in institutions that
perpetuate discrimination against
women.
Having graduated tied for first in
her class at Columbia Law School,
Ginsburg worked hard
for her position on the
Supreme Court facing
obstacles, due to both
her gender and Jewish
faith.
Sharing her thoughts
on Ginsburg’s
Supreme Court tenure,
sophomore Jenna
Whaley said, “RBG
fought for giving me
a better and brighter
future [in which] women can have equal
rights, equal pay and equal power. Her
acts have taught me to fight for what
I believe in and to fight harder. She
never gave up and fought for everyone’s
rights. Her acts on the Supreme Court
have given me hope for the world in
which everyone is treated equally no
matter their race, gender or sexuality.”
As Ginsburg rose to success, she
opened doors for many others to pursue
dreams they couldn’t before. One of her
most well-known quotes endures: “Fight
for the things that you care about, but
do it in a way that will lead others to join
you.”
Story by Sri Nattam
“Her acts on The
Supreme Court have
given me hope for
the world in which
everyone is treated
equally ...”
Jenna Whaley, 10
Steps she took to be on
the Supreme Court
Enrolled at Harvard Law
Transferred to Columbia
Law School and earned
her degree there
Started teaching at
Columbia Law school
President Carter
appointed Ginsburg
to the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the District
of Columbia.
She was appointed to the
U.S. Supreme court by
President Clinton.
Amy Coney Barrett
• Notre Dame Law School Alumna
• Taught as a member of the law school faculty since
2002
• Confirmed as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the seventh circuit in 2017
• One of Trump’s finalists for the Supreme Court
nomination in 2018, but the seat ultimately went to
Brett Kavanaugh
Source: www.law.nd.edu
PAGE 15/NEWS
Source: www.history.com
“If Judge Barrett, the
conservative-leaning
nominee, is placed on the
court, she could affect
Supreme Court decisions
by swaying them toward
a conservative viewpoint.
Conversely, a conservative
appointee could affect the court’s decisions
by making current moderate justices lean
toward more liberal interpretations. Chief
Justice John Roberts, who has been called a
‘swing justice,’ could side with liberal justices
in an effort to prevent political leanings from
affecting the court.”
Bianca Cortez, 12
“I don’t really think that it
will have much effect on the
Supreme Court. They take
an oath that doesn’t allow
them to let their political
beliefs affect their rulings
in the court. Also, our past
judges have done a pretty
good job of balancing out
the rulings and keeping it pretty fair. There
will always be a bad case, but for the most
part, I think it will have little to no effect on the
rulings.”
Lucas LeClerc, 11
“With RBG’s death and
the nomination of Judge
Barrett, I think the Supreme
Court’s decisions on the
majority of cases will sway
a lot more to the right. A
majority of the Supreme
Court justices are already
conservative and with Barrett joining, there
will be more right-leaning decisions made
by the court. Rumors saying that she will
overturn Roe v. Wade are exaggerated;
however, she may tighten up rights and
tax dollars going toward birth control and
contraceptives and will probably only support
abortion in extreme cases. She will also
stand very firmly on the Second Amendment
and gun laws. Overall, the death of RBG
was a loss to everyone, right- or left-leaning
and the nomination of Barrett will impact the
Supreme Court drastically.”
Aleeza Khan, 10
“I think this will affect the
decisions of the Supreme
Court. When Ruth Bader
Ginsburg was on the
court, there was a good
balance between liberal
and conservative. If there
becomes a new court that
is conservative, the decisions may be more
conservatively-based.”
Matthew Haberkorn, 9
Page by Sri Nattam

Mechan cally m nded:
Senior Braden Kline’s love of older cars finds him
up to his elbows in engine parts and grease
Explain what interests you most about older cars.
“My favorite thing about old cars is all the cool designs and styles
that you would never see in a modern car.”
Describe the process of getting the parts for the
Thunderbird.
“I ended up getting my parts online, a lot from places that sell old
car parts like Rock Auto and Mac’s Auto Parts.”
Compare refurbishing the Thunderbird to refurbishing the
Model A that you did.
“The Model A is almost completely original, so it just takes general
maintenance to keep it original. Contrary to the Model A, the
Thunderbird is not completely original. The engine is not original,
so I did not have to worry about keeping it all original; I had more freedom to do whatever I
wanted, like make the engine have more power and putting newer parts in it.”
How has building things like engines affected you?
“It has taught me skills that many others would never know.”
Why would you recommend olders cars compared to the cars of today?
“I like to work on older cars because they are easier, in my opinion. Modern cars use many electronics and
others things that take extra knowledge, so it is generally easier for me to work on older cars.”
What interested you most about the Thunderbird, leading you to getting one?
“I wanted an old car and the Thunderbird happened to come up at the right time.”
In what way was building/refurbishing the Thunderbird interesting/fun?
“It has been fun because I had freedom to do whatever I wanted and I have something that
is an interesting conversation starter. I like the feeling of accomplishment that I get whenever
things get done on the car.”
Give an example of an obstacle you faced when putting the vehicles together.
“There have been times when something has gone wrong and I had to completely take the
engine back apart.”
What do you think are the three hardest things when putting an engine together?
“I think the hardest things are staying organized enough, remembering the steps in the
correct order and trying to figure out what is wrong through trial and error whenever
something doesn’t work.”
Braden Kline, 12
Fast facts
The Thunderbird was
a Ford Motor company
invention which was
first produced in 1955.
One main reason for
the car’s production
was the fact that the
Ford Motor company
thought that they
needed a car that
could match the new
Corvette by Chevrolet.
The Thunderbird was
mainly produced
for the luxury class
of society. The
manufacturing for
the car was ended in
1997.
Photos courtesy of Braden Kline
Braden Kline’s
Thunderbird that
he has restored
LUCKY 7
According to discountrebuiltengines.com, there are 7 main parts that go into building
an engine. The first part is an ENGINE BLOCK, which is the main part of the engine
where combustion happens. Next, PISTONS are required to make the energy that the
transmission moves to the tires. Third, a CYLINDER HEAD is required to prevent the
loss of different types of gas. Another part that is used is the CRANKSHAFT, which
is used to convert energy from reciprocating to rotary. Then there is the CAMSHAFT
,which is what opens and closes the valves. In turn, the VALVES regulate the airflow
while it intakes and exhausts fumes. Finally, the OIL PAN is where the oil is stored.
PAGE 16/STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Sources: https://www.history.com
https://www.discountrebuiltengines.com
Page by Dylan Cuatecontzi and Ian Bertoncini

Goat’s Head Soup remastered album release
STONES ROLL BACK IN
Goat’s Head Soup by the Rolling Stones contains many classics from when the band first released it in 1973. Because of the
remastered album release, these previous hits have been exposed to the spotlight yet again with other unreleased tracks. The
album had many great tracks, but it also had some mediocre songs as well. I ranked these songs on a scale of one (worst) to five
(best), based on lyrics, emotions and the general vibe I got from the songs.
- Natalie Stapleton, editor-in-chief
It’s Only Rock n’ Roll but
I Like It... or Do I?
Source: hivoltagerecords.com
Add to Playlist ASAP
“Scarlet” (ft. Jimmy Page)
Rank:
“Silver Train” (2020)
Rank:
“Angie” (2020)
Rank:
Consider It Later
“Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo
(Heartbreaker)”
Rank:
“Winter”
Rank:
“Coming Down Again”
Rank:
“Goat’s Head Soup”:
Yay or Nay?
Don’t Bother Adding
“100 Years Ago”
Rank:
“Can You Hear The Music”
Rank:
I would recommend listening to
this album, especially the top three
Yay! songs I selected. There are a
variety of instrumentals, speeds of
the music and overall vibes from
the songs that can fit most people’s favorite
type of music. There are also a few “Rolling
Stones” classics in this album, which are
definitely something to listen to.
Songs on the album
“Dancing With Mr. D”
“100 Years Ago”
“Coming Down Again”
“Doo Doo Doo Doo
Doo (Heartbreaker)”
“Angie”
“Silver Train”
“Hide Your Love”
“Winter”
“Can You Hear The Music”
“Star Star”
“Scarlet”
“All the Rage”
“Criss Cross”
+ Including multiple live
versions of the same
songs, along with other
classics
The rolling
stones
No filter
What is the best
Rolling Stones song?
“I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” -
30.5%
“Sympathy for the Devil” -
24.7%
“Start Me Up” - 23.5%
“Angie” - 12.2%
“Gimme Shelter” - 9%
concert,
2018
Source:
www.billboard.com
RElease dates
of most
popular
rolling
stones songs
June 5,
1965
“I Can’t
Get No
Satisfaction”
June 1,
1968
“Jumping
Jack Flash”
July 4,
1969
“You Can’t
Always Get
What You
Want”
April, 23
1971
“Can’t You
Hear Me
Knocking”
August
20, 1972
“Tumbling
Dice”
May 7,
1966
“Paint It
Black”
December
6, 1968
“Sympathy
for the
Devil”
December
5, 1969
“Gimme
Shelter”
June 12,
1971
“Wild
Horses”
August
20, 1973
“Angie”
Background source: www.amazon.com
PAGE 17/REVIEW
Source: Student poll, 344 students, 9/9/20
Background source: www.freesvg.org
Sources for photos: www.
amazon.com, www.discogs.
com, www.udiscovermusic.
com, www.rollingstone.com
Page by Natalie Stapleton and Madeline Polizzi

learning in the digital age
E-learner shares her experiences
Due to the current
pandemic and the
educational dilemma
it has caused, I was
met with the choice to
either continue going
to school in person or
to complete my work
online. Attending school has always been
a challenge for me and my mental health,
so when faced with this decision, my
choice was very clear. I have been doing
E-learning since the start of the school
year and I can confidently say I made the
correct decision.
Because of the amount of freedom that
comes with working online, I have had
much more time to myself. E-learning has
also opened up my day enough to work
more hours at my job.
Before beginning e-learning, I was
extremely apprehensive about the
workload and the amount of help and
resources I would have access to, but after
almost two months into it, I have yet to
have a problem. All of my teachers have
been supportive and easily accessible and
the workload has been very comparable to
what it would be in person.
For me, e-learning has completely
changed the way I do schoolwork for the
better. I have developed a daily schedule
that I stick to, along with a neat and
organized space to complete my work.
I really appreciate how I can work as
far ahead as I want on the Plato classes,
because it lets me move at my own pace
and customize my schedule to what works
best for me.
Moving forward, I hope e-learning will
continue to be an option for students who
seek more independence in their own
education.
Bryn Planker, 11
A new take on education
“Over 2.7 million students across the United States
are participating in digital learning.”
“The worldwide e-learning market is projected to
be worth $325 billion in 2025.”
“In 2017, approximately 77% of U.S. corporations
used online learning, but 98% planned to
incorporate it in their program by 2020.”
Sources: https://www.elearn2grow.com/2020/06/16/elearning-stats/; https://techjury.net/blog/elearning-statistics/#gref;
https://techjury.net/blog/elearning-statistics/#gref
Infograph by Bryn Planker and Natalie Stapleton
Bryn’s
TOP tips for
5e-learning success
1. Start your day early
“While doing e-learning, I have come to realize
that I am much more efficient in the morning,
and when I wake up earlier, I get my school work done earlier, which
means I have the rest of the day to myself.”
2. Never do your school work in bed
“When you wake up in the morning, I would always recommend
getting out of your bed and relocating before logging on to school.
Separating your work and relaxation environment promotes better
work and sleep habits.”
3. Stay caught up
“Doing school work can be extremely stressful and draining,
especially when doing it alone; but not completing work only causes
more stress and exhaustion. Stay caught up, and if you’re struggling,
don’t be afraid to reach out to a teacher.”
4. Take breaks
“Taking breaks is extremely necessary when completing large
amounts of screenwork. When you don’t give yourself a little time to
relax, your motivation and efficiency will burn out much faster, making
school work even harder to finish.”
5. Make a neat workspace.
“Making a neat and customized workspace is key to being successful
online. Be sure to locate your workspace in a quiet, clean area. Being
organized and having everything you need in one place is extremely
important when working from home.”
PAGE 18/OPINION
Page by Bryn Planker and Natalie Stapleton

^
Every vote matters
the power of the polls
OUR POSITION:
Voting is an important right granted to
citizens that everyone who is 18 years of age
or older should take advantage of.
It’s October, which means carving
pumpkins, haunted houses, costume picking
-- and the beginning of voting season.
The air is cool, yet heavy with anticipation
as a group of people stand
ready to cast their ballot in
the 2020 election. Take a
look at one first-time voter
as she stands in line at an
early voting location.
Eighteen-year-old Mia
is standing in line with the
others, anxiously waiting
her turn. However, her
anxiety is not because she
is eager to cast her vote:
it is because she doesn’t
see the point of voting, so
she’d rather not be here
at the polls. She can’t help
but feel conflicted about
her vote, when everyone --
from the media to her close
friends and family -- seems
to be in disagreement about
which candidate will better
represent their views. With
so much debate around how
the election will work and
what the outcome may be,
Mia wonders if her vote will
even matter.
This is an issue that many
new voters are facing as they
take to the polls in 2020. It
is easy for them to feel overwhelmed when
it comes to making a decision on not only
who to vote for, but whether or not to even
vote in the first place. For many people, the
right to vote is something that they can’t
imagine not taking advantage of. However,
a lack of voter turnout is actually a huge and
conflicting issue that has been plaguing the
ballots in recent years. In 2016, only 50% of
the eligible voters aged 18-29 even voted in
the presidential election, according to www.
census.gov.
For some first-time voters, one potential
problem they see is that they live in a
predominantly Republican or Democrat state,
so they feel that if they vote for the “opposite
party” or even a third party, their individual
vote wouldn’t really count because the
majority vote in their state
was already determined.
However, this mindset
is flawed. The youth vote
occupies a considerable
size of the population; and
if its value is recognized,
then students have the
power to make changes
that they wish to see. Some
might even go so far as to
say that young voters could
be viewed as a political
force to be reckoned with.
Another reason that firsttime
voters feel hesitant
to vote in this election is
2016 Election Stats
139 million
total votes
^
60% of all
eligible
citizens in the
USA voted
9 million for
Trump
*18-29 year-olds
^
Cartoon by Kadence Roehm
23.7 million
youth* votes
50% of all
eligible youth*
citizens in the
USA voted
13 million for
Clinton
^
^
cast 19%
of total
votes
Source: cnn.com, businessinsider.com, circle.tufts.edu
PAGE 19/EDITORIAL
that there is speculation
about the vote-counting
system being flawed;
young voters are worried
about their votes not
being tallied correctly.
Again, this myth has
been debunked, as
several states have
already performed mailin
voting, and little to no
problems have occurred.
The bottom line is,
if you are eligible, you need to exercise
your right to vote. It counts. It matters. You
need to do your research and decide which
candidate best represents your point of view
and your set of values. Then, take an Uber,
ride your bike, call a friend -- whatever you
have to do to get to your voting station. Vote.
If you don’t, you have no one to complain
to but yourself on November 4.
Students
SPEAK UP
“Eighteen-year-olds
should definitely vote if they are
able to. By not voting you are not
letting your voice be heard on the
issues that really matter. However
whether 18-year olds should be
able to vote is aother question
entirely.”
Spencer
Springs, 9
“I think that 18-year-olds
should vote because it helps them
get their opinion out there and feel
like they are making a difference
early on. Voting at a young age
is beneficial because it gives you
experience for the future and helps
you to feel as if you are making a
difference in the things you care
about.”
Grant
VanWanzeele,
11
Abigail
Truax, 10
“No, 18-year-olds shouldn’t
vote because I think they’ll just
vote based off of their parents’
opinions, not based off of their
own.”
“I think that 18-year-olds
should vote, as long as they’re
informed. Of course, you can’t
make anyone vote, but I think it’s
important because it helps
you build a sense of
responsibility.”
Morgan
Klein, 12
Page by Lana Wooley and Elizabeth Taylor