The official website for the Oak Hills High School student newspaper
3200 Ebenezer Road, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Top 10 Reasons to Visit The Cincy Reds
by Emma Supe & Bailey Garcia
Thursday, May 2nd, 2019
1. Joey Votto. Enough said. He is the Reds first baseman and has been with the team since
2007. Besides his amazing baseball skills, he is a very attractive man and makes the games
much more fun to watch. So get some good seats near first base and enjoy.
2. 150 years of the Red Legs. The Cincinnati Reds are celebrating 150 years of being a MLB
team. To celebrate this anniversary, they are bringing back 15 throwback uniforms and rotating
them during games. These range from the 1902 uniforms and go up to the 1999 uniforms.
3. Martin (Marty) Brennaman is retiring after this season, so you have to go witness one of the
last games with a legendary sportscaster. Marty has been with the Reds since 1974 and is
retiring after the 2018-2019 season. He has been to almost every game for 45 years, minus
a few away games so he could have a few days off. You should definitely go watch a game
while Marty is still announcing over the radio!
4. Ballpark food. You have to go to at least one game to enjoy all of the fattening food the stadium has to offer. Pretzels, hotdogs, nachos, and all of the good stuff in between.
5. The Reds Hall of Fame. Right outside of the ballpark is the Reds museum/Hall of Fame. Inside, there is a wall filled with Pete Rose's all-time record of 4,256 balls that make up the number of home runs he hit in his career. There are also past uniforms on display that date back to the first year of the Red Legs. The exhibits change often so there is always something new to see!
6. Updates to the stadium. There is a new team store near first base and the new Kids Zone has also been redesigned to be mobile. There is also a new shaded bar area in the Fan Zone. All of these new updates make the ballpark even more fun than it already was.
7. Seeing little kids at the game with their mitt waiting to catch a foul ball. There isn’t anything cuter than seeing a toddler with a big mitt waiting for a ball to fall into their glove.
8. Baseball music. Listening to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is an American classic and it’s a great song to sing along to and bring you back to your childhood. Also, the National Anthem is always better to hear in person from an amazing singer.
9. Pete Rose. One of the biggest names in baseball was apart of the Reds. He is a legend in baseball and his number, 14, has been incorporated into the stadium so his legacy will live on forever.
10. The atmosphere. Baseball is America's pastime. And with summer coming up, it’s the perfect season to watch a game, enjoy the weather, spend time with friends and family, and watch some baseball.
Prom King and Queen
by Emma Supe
Monday, May 6th, 2019
Congratulations to the 2019 Prom King and Queen, Jacob Berkemeier and Athena Caneris! Both students exemplify what it means to be hardworking student athletes and and all round good people. Jacob Berkemeier is in multiple AP and honors classes including APES, AP Calculus and AP Chemistry. He also plays football, basketball and track and has had many accomplishments with sports including GMC athlete of the week multiple times, and has set many records. Jacob is heavily involved with Oak Hills, and is always friendly to everyone. Athena Caneris is another amazing senior. She is involved in so much along with a vigorous class schedule. Some of her classes include, Honors Humanities, Hon Entrepreneurship, Hon Physics, and many others. She is also in NHS, scot squad, Spanish National Society, student council, class officers, and she is the varsity goalie for the girls lacrosse team. Both of these students will be greatly missed next year, and they will leave their legacy here at Oak Hills for years to come. Congratulations on king and queen; you earned it!
Prom Court 2019
by Emma Supe
Wednesday, April 24th, 2019
Katrina Applegate
Why should people vote for you?
“Who else do you know that can sing the ABC's with their mouth closed... exactly.”
What do you think is your best trait?
“Come on I am supposed to sound humble.. but everything.”
What Oak Hills staff member has had the biggest impact on you?
“Everyone already knows this answer, my bestie Liz Kelly.”
What is your most embarrassing high school moment?
“April 9th, 2019! I spilled my coffee all over myself, and it looked like I peed my pants.”
CJ Wilke
Why should people vote for you?
“Because they should.”
What does your ideal date look like?
“A scooter that will support my crippled leg.”
What do you think is your best trait?
“My dashing handsome looks.”
What has been your favorite dance you have gone to at Oak Hills and why?
“Senior Homecoming because it was just a grand time.”
Mattison Fisher
What’s your favorite thing about your prom court partner?
“His amazing magic skills.”
What are you going to miss most about Oak Hills?
“The wraps.”
What does your ideal date look like?
“Jordan Peddenpohl.”
Why do you want to be king/queen?
“Disney really set me up wanting to be a queen.”
Sam Herzog
What’s your favorite thing about your prom court partner?
“Her bubbling enthusiasm.”
What does your ideal date look like?
“A casual movie night with a nice, handsome, relatable guy.”
Why should you win?
“Because my last name translates to "Duke" in German, so I'm basically royalty already.”
What sets you apart from others?
“My utter lack of social media. I get all of my information by carrier pigeon.”
Marge Grote
Why should people vote for you?
“I´d bribe you but Idk I have like $3.”
What do you think is your best trait?
“I remember all the lyrics to 50 nifty and the preamble. I also kinda look like Billie Eilish
in the right lighting.”
Why do you want to be king/queen?
“I’d like to add to my tiara collection.”
What is your most embarrassing high school moment?
“I had a song written about me- s/o to cVanny.”
Carson Lewis
What sets you apart from others?
“My vascular calf muscles.”
What do you think is your best trait?
“The way I wear ankle socks.”
What does your ideal date look like?
“Maddie Otten.”
What clubs/organizations are you involved in?
“NHS, Student Council, Robotics.”
Michael Cable
If you don’t win who should?
“Manny Zig- however you spell and say his god forsaken last name.”
What are your plans for the future?
“My mom's basement or your mom's basement am I right? Or college.”
Why should people vote for you?
“Because they should all feel bad for me because I got cut from the basketball team.”
Why do you want to be king/queen?
“I would love to be the first ever male Queen, cause I already am one."
Pieper Buckley
What color dress/tux are you wearing?
“I don't have one yet. Yikes, I'm really behind huh?”
What’s your favorite thing about your prom court partner?
“Sam Herzog is a man of many talents, and he is actually a great singer (which I think
is ICONIC).”
What are you going to miss most about Oak Hills?
“Honestly, the lunch ladies. I feel like no one has ever been as nice to me as they are.”
What are your plans for the future?
“Okay well given that I don't even have my prom dress…”
Athena Caneris
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
“A princess, so far it's been working out.”
Why should you win?
“I have a really good pageant wave....I'm being too humble, it's an excellent wave.”
What has been your favorite dance you have gone to at Oak Hills and why?
“My favorite dance was homecoming this past year because I had a leopard print
dress.”
What is your most embarrassing high school moment?
“Almost running over our principal, Mr. Hunt, due to a misinterpretation of hand
gestures.”
Karlee Shay
What are your best qualities?
“Backflips.”
Why should people vote for you?
“I've never got out in Nerf Wars.”
What has been your favorite dance you have gone to at Oak Hills and why?
“MORP! When we accidently set off the fire alarm…”
What Oak Hills staff member has had the biggest impact on you?
“Who would have guessed... Mr. Shay.”
Balor Appiarius
What sets you apart from others?
“The Head Honchos and I live in the moment, let the good times roll.”
What is your most embarrassing high school moment?
“First day freshman year I sat through half of an AP Physics class before I realized it
wasn't Geometry.”
What Oak Hills staff member has had the biggest impact on you?
“The Mr. Bobby "Clutch" Klotz.”
What are your plans for the future?
“College football. Law School. Job. Boom wife and kids.”
Brody Boone
Who is your hero?
“Elon Musk for hosting meme review.”
What are your plans for the future?
“I hear this music thing is going alright so far.”
What is your most embarrassing high school moment?
“Quitting drumline to play soccer.”
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
“I wanted to be a dolphin, I’m crushed.”
Grace Aug
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
“A mermaid (specifically, Ariel).”
Why should you win?
”Cause if you ain't first, you're last -Ricky Bobby.”
What does your ideal date look like?
“Chris.. or Liam Hemsworth, why not both??”
What is your most embarrassing high school moment?
“Stuttering on the announcements.”
Jacob Berkemeier
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
“I wanted to be 6’8, have cornrows and be in the NBA like my favorite player Carmelo
Anthony.”
What are your plans for the future?
“Not sure yet I think I’ll sleep on it.”
What do you think is your best trait?
“I think my best trait is my ability to recite rap lyrics, it’s a nice tricks for the ladies.”
Why do you want to be king/queen?
“So I can carry on Hamza’s legacy’s from last year and he can present the crown to me
and we can finally reunite.”
Tommy Combs
What color dress/tux are you wearing?
“All of them.”
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
“A princess.”
What does your ideal date look like?
“Anyone besides Marge.”
What is your most embarrassing high school moment?
“Talking to Marge.”
Khady Thiero
Where are you going to dinner this year?
“Not sure but anywhere with rats, restaurants that have rats just hit different.”
What’s your favorite thing about your prom court partner?
“His hourglass figure.”
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
“The fifth Cheetah girl.”
What Oak Hills staff member has had the biggest impact on you?
“Mr. Kinkley - thanks for trusting the vision.”
Zachary Moeller
What color dress/tux are you wearing?
“Birthday suit.”
What’s your favorite thing about your prom court partner?
“Her brother.”
What are your plans for the future?
“About that......”
What does your ideal date look like?
“Liv Lang.”
Emmanuel Zagorianos
What is the number one song you want to hear at prom?
“Creamy Salad by T Diddle.”
What are your best qualities?
“Being tall, and I can sing all the parts to Bohemian Rhapsody at the same time.”
Why should you win?
“Because if I win, we’ll start a Greek dancing circle and show everyone how prom is
done the Mediterranean way.”
Who is your hero?
“Shaquille O’Neal, a man who can do it all from professional basketball, being a DJ,
to designing a clothing line for big dudes.”
Thalia Georges
If you don’t win who should?
“Athena because Greeks have to stick together.”
Where are you going to dinner this year?
“The lamb roast in my backyard.”
What’s your favorite thing about your prom court partner?
“His girlfriend.”
What does your ideal date look like?
“I'd have to say April 25th because it's not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light
jacket.”
Kayla Javorsky
What color dress/tux are you wearing?
“Once I get one I'll be sure to let you know.”
What’s your favorite thing about your prom court partner?
“The fact that he broke his foot playing nerf wars.”
What are your plans for the future?
“Might mess around and get my college degree, I bet my old man will be so proud of
me.”
What is your most embarrassing high school moment?
“After my Calc semester exam, I was so relieved that I was jumping around in the
bathroom and ended up falling on my back from slipping in a huge pile of toilet water.”
A Sprint to New Beginnings
by Elysia Sturm
Thursday, March 14th, 2019
Mr. Kinkley is one of Oak Hills’ greatest teachers. He teaches Intro to Psychology, American History,
as well as the EOC Test Prep Course. More importantly, he has also been well involved in our
school’s athletics, being track and field, and cross country. The past 3 years he has been the head
coach for boys cross country and coached the track and field team alongside Coach Hageman,
and Coach Continenza. Although, just recently Mr. Hageman was offered the opportunity to be our
school’s new AD (congrats to you, Mr. Hageman)! This then left some shoes to fill. Mr. Kinkley was
then asked to be the new head coach for the team. I spent the time to ask him a few questions to
see the insight of how he thinks of this new position.
I asked Mr. Kinkley how he felt when he received the news of Mr. Hageman’s new role in the school
and he said, “When I found out Coach Hageman would no longer be coaching I was excited for
him and his new opportunity, but a little disheartened because he was one of those people that I
have been learning from. Thankfully, he didn't move too far away and we have an extremely
experienced and capable staff with a wealth of knowledge that I can lean on as well.” I am very
close with many student-athletes who have been on this journey with Coach Kinkley and it’s safe to say, they have no doubts that Mr. Kinkley will lead them to success with their upcoming season, considering he has been involved with track since he was in fifth grade.
I asked Kinkley more about his own personal experience with track and field, where he said that as he grew older and progressed through his career, he realized track was something he did not want to let go of and figured he might as well spread his knowledge regarding it. Mr. Kinkley attended Memorial High School in St. Mary’s, Ohio. Depending on the meet, he said he competed in the 400, 200, 4x200, 4x400, High Jump, and Long Jump. In college, he then attended Ohio State University and competed in the High Jump. I then asked what most valuable lesson he took away from his personal experience with track and he responded with, “No matter how good you become, there is always someone else out there that is just as good if not better than you. Once I realized that it allowed me to push myself and work harder than I ever had. As a result, I have learned to surround myself with people who are better than me and I can learn from them to keep growing in whatever I may be doing.” It is evident that Mr. Kinkley cares immensely for his athletes as well as students. I, myself, can even vouch to this. My junior year I was assigned to Mr. Kinkley’s course for Government and it was genuinely one of my favorite classes. He was always extremely helpful inside the classroom, as well as outside. He wanted nothing but the best for his students inside and outside of the class and made sure he did whatever he could do for us to feel as such.
I decided to ask a couple of our school’s track and field athletes to get their personal insight into Kinkley as a teacher and coach. Senior, Kaycee Barnett was asked to describe Mr. Kinkley as a teacher and coach and she answered by explaining her friendship with him. “As a coach, Kinkley is very supportive and is willing to do whatever to make sure you do what you need to do. I haven’t had him as a teacher, but I have sat in his classroom for study hall the past three years if that counts! I’m very excited to have Kinkley as head coach this year and I am confident this will be my favorite season of track yet.” I then proceeded to ask Kaycee to reflect on what she feels Mr. Kinkley’s does best as a coach. She immediately responded without any thought, “I think Kinkley’s best quality as a coach is that he’s very approachable. Myself, Carissa Sartor, and Jacob Berkemeier (two fellow seniors on the track team) are constantly in his classroom talking to him about track, school, any issues, etc. He never cares to listen and helps us with whatever problems we come across. He also pulls in his own experiences from when he was a jumper at THE Ohio State University, so he’s kind of a big deal.” I then asked senior, Carissa Sartor for her reflection of how Coach Kinkley influenced her experience in track, where she easily responded with, “He has always pushed me to try new events that I never imagined myself being able to do. He stayed by my side every time I doubted myself when running a new distance, or talking me into trying high jump.”
It is clear how big of an impact that Mr. Kinkley has on Oak Hills as a school as well with athletic performances. I have no doubts that he will do big things for years to come, especially when it comes to athletics. I asked him what his goals were for the upcoming season and confidently he responded with, “Right now, our goals for the team are to continue getting stronger throughout the winter and to build a good base for the outdoor season. We will have a good mix of experienced athletes and young underclassmen looking to make a name for themselves. It will be fun to watch them all develop and realize that the hard work they are putting in now will lead to success for themselves and the team as a whole this spring.” Mr. Kinkley is definitely perfect for this new position as head coach and I am excited to see how well they do! The first meet is to-be-determined but practice and conditioning has already begun. I would like to personally thank Mr. Kinkey for always being such a positive influence and role model from myself and on behalf of his students and athletes!
Nerf Wars
by Jessica Johnson
Thursday, April 4th, 2019
*queue the music* “It’s the most wonderful time of the yeeeaaarrrrr”
Just kidding, but not really; Nerf Wars is just around the corner! Nerf Wars is an up and coming trend amongst friend groups, sports teams, and schools where students form a team and work together to get the others out and win. These prizes consist of a glorious trophy, and the best, bragging rights.
Some kids wake up at the wee hours of dawn, even as early as 4 in the morning, to wait outside of an opponent’s house. If you see any strange cars around your neighborhood, do not be alarmed. Good chances it’s just a fellow Oak Hills Nerfer camping outside. Also, don’t be frazzled if a high schooler is sprinting into their house or out to their car. They’re most likely running to avoid an opponent. It is taken very seriously amongst players and can be a great workout.
Alliances are often made during the Wars, but most of the time, it is every man for themselves. Past stats have shown that truces and alliances have been broken. I advise not doing this for the sake of your and your team’s safety. I also advise not competing with people that are levels ahead in skill and speed. From experience, you WILL get out, no matter how hard you try (Thank you Chris Guy).
There are over 50 teams and 350 players participating in the Oak Hills Nerf Wars this year, the highest participation rate in history! More people means more targets, and also more predators. May the odds be ever in your favor, or should I say, it’s Nerf or Nothing.
OHHS Annual Walk
by Elysia Sturm
Wednesday, March 13th, 2019
As a part of Student Council’s Executive Board, we would like to invite you to this year’s 10th annual Walk. The Walk will take place on Thursday, April 18, the day before a four day weekend. All grade levels can participate; it only requires a minimum of $25 in donations. We urge you to try to raise this money instead of asking your parent/ guardian to write you a check. Donations submitted by Friday, March 29 will earn you the opportunity of getting a free Walk t-shirt. The final deadline for turning in money is Tuesday, April 16. Any student planning on attending must have a completed EMA form, as well as their Walk Donation envelope which is available in room 304.
All donations will be given to a group of local organizations, listed below.
-
Anderson Ferry Food Pantry - Donations to feed the homeless, lower-income families, veterans and single parents. Providing them with clothing, household items, and food.
-
Delhi Township Senior Center - Provides a living space for the elderly, also an event hall that can be rented for special occasions.
-
Green Township Senior Center - Living center that provides responsive, efficient and high-quality services to maintain a welcoming environment.
-
OHHS Feed a Highlander Program - Program here at the high school that allows donations to provide lunch for those students who are unable to afford it.
-
Honor Flight - Donations to support our veterans and their trip to Washington DC in respect for their service. Funds go towards travel expenses.
-
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Donations dedicated to helping fund research, finding cures, as well as ensuring access to treatment for blood cancer patients.
The Walk comes with a lot of great opportunities. Students will be given the choice to pick whom they want in their groups, giving them access to walking with their friends, and spend the day with them. Each student will be assigned a group and given a set time of when they will begin their walk. While waiting for your assigned time, there will be intramural activities held in the new gym as well as the wrestling room, so there is always something to do to pass time. This event also offers coverage for unexcused absences/ tardies. Students who raise a minimum of $25 can make up 3 tardies or one unexcused absence. Students can donate as much as they would like, as we are offering prizes for those who raise the most. For instance, those who raise a minimum of $100 are eligible to choose the prize of an Oak Hills parking pass for next year (2019-2020) or an Amazon Firestick. If you raise at least $200 then you are eligible to receive either 2 tickets to prom (April 27th, 2019-- JUNIORS & SENIORS only), 2 tickets to next year’s Homecoming, or a FitBit Alta. Those who donate a minimum of $300 are given a choice of a free parking spot with a personalized sign and pass for 2019-2020, or a 40” Insignia LED TV. If you are a senior, you are also eligible for 4 saved seats at graduation. With that, you are also given the choice of athe second prize of either two tickets to next year’s Homecoming, an Oak Hills Sports Pass for 2019-2020, a FitBit Alta, an Amazon Firestick or if you are a junior or senior, you can get two tickets to this year’s prom.
As you can see, the Oak Hills walk is a great opportunity to give back to our community. You can spend the day with your friends while supporting a variety of great organizations at the same time. If you are interested and have not yet received a form, there are plenty available in room 304. We hope to see you there!
Teacher Superlatives Part 1
by Ciera Franke
Wednesday, February 27th, 2019
Acts The Youngest - Mr. Murray
Most Spirited - Mr. Martin
Best Personality - Ms. Book
Best Dressed - Mr. Klotz
Best Hair - Mr. Dunkle
Life Of The Pary - Mr. Seiler
Most Creative - Mr. Groh
Most Athletic - Mr. Continenza
Mrs. Vandewalle, Not Your Average Teacher
by Jess Johnson
Wednesday, February 20th, 2019
“Don’t wait to be great!” is the quote her students think of when Mrs. Vandewalle comes to mind, as she ends every video for her students with this saying. If you don’t know who she is, she is a teacher here at Oak Hills High School. Vandewalle teaches all Chemistry classes, including AP Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, and Honors Organic Chemistry, and has been teaching for 25 years. She first started teaching math classes at a small school at Indiana, but only taught there for two years. “Everyone knew everyone there, but Oak Hills has a lot more electives and the student body is diverse, and that is extremely important,” she claims, and she is not wrong.
She started out at Purdue University majoring in Chemistry, and they needed a teaching assistant, so she took the job. Vandewalle ended up loving the job and the idea of teaching, which led her to pursue a career in teaching. She is a very successful teacher and has helped students for their future in many ways. “She has prepared me for the classes in college and taught me how to prepare for things such as tests and projects,” former student Tim Doyle states.
One of her most effective teaching methods is her Flipped Classroom. This is a method where she records her SmartBoard notes and talks over the processes and teaches her students what certain things mean. “We’ll have time to talk over things in class with this, and she’ll answer any questions we have,” AP Chemistry student Tiffany Miller claims. Vandewalle also lets students help each other with these notes and allows them to communicate with each other when they have problems.
Many of us students think teachers have no life outside of teaching, but when it comes to Mrs. Vandewalle, our stereotypes are way off. Despite her avid love for Chemistry, she loves to read and travel with her kids in her free time. Vandewalle has been to almost all 50 states, some European countries, and on quite a few cruises. She also mentioned many stories about seeing old students while on her vacation. (Picture on the right: Mrs. Vandewalle, on the far left, with some students she coincidentally reunited with on her cruise.)
As Mrs. Vandewalle began to talk about her passion for teaching and the memories she’s formed, she got tears in her eyes and a permanent smile on her face. She truly loves her students and genuinely wants them to learn. When she was diagnosed with her autoimmune disease back in the 2016-2017 school year, her AP Chemistry students each bought an addition to a gift basket and gave it to her. “One student brought a David Hasselhoff chocolate bar, and another brought seeds so I could plant things,” she describes. “That is when I knew I made a difference in their lives, and it meant so much to me.”
One of the first things Vandewalle told me is that “Chemistry was, and still is my first love.” We both laughed, but this love and passion she has for teaching this subject clearly show how much she enjoys it. I have never met a teacher more passionate about teaching than Mrs. Vandewalle. Many students of hers claimed she helped them not only love Chemistry but loving school and being more motivated to succeed in life. She brings such a good reputation of Chemistry to Oak Hills, and I am so glad to have had her as my teacher.
Advancements in Breast Cancer
by Bre Luca
Wednesday, February 27th, 2019
Hearing the word “cancer” is different for every person. Some people have fought through it themselves or have seen some of their loved ones fight it. There are some lucky people who have never been in contact with someone who has cancer. No matter what, no one knows everything about every cancer. There are so many little advancements that go unnoticed because of other news. While these advancements in breast cancer may not have cured the disease completely, they still deserve to be heard.
Various researchers are studying ways to use computers and statistical methods to estimate the odds that a woman’s ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) will become invasive. They ask a woman with DCIS questions that help her decide which factors (such as survival, preventing recurrence, and side effects) she considers most important in choosing a treatment. In DCIS, the abnormal cells are in the milk duct and have not grown outside the duct. In some women, DCIS turns into invasive breast cancer, or sometimes an area of DCIS contains invasive cancer. In other women, though, the cells just stay within the ducts and never invade deeper or spread to lymph nodes or other organs. The uncertainty about how DCIS will behave can make it hard to choose the best treatments. This is only a fraction of the research devoted towards breast cancer alone.
There are new lab tests that have come to surface as well. Researchers have found that in many women with breast cancer, cells may break away from the tumor and enter the blood. These circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be detected with sensitive lab tests. Although these tests can help predict which patients may have breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast (metastatic disease), it isn’t clear if these tests can tell whether the cancer will come back after treatment or help patients live longer. Some studies are looking to see if these CTCs can be removed and then tested in the lab to determine which specific anticancer drugs will work on the tumor. This is a great achievement for breast cancer research and it opens up a whole new path of studies to help contain the illness.
There have also been new imaging tests that scientists have been able to implement to hospitals. Scintimammography (molecular breast imaging), a slightly radioactive drug called a tracer, is injected into a vein. The tracer attaches to breast cancer cells and is detected by a special camera.This technique is still being studied to see if it will be useful in finding breast cancers. Some doctors believe it may be helpful in looking at suspicious areas found by regular mammograms, but its exact role is still unclear. Current research is aimed at improving the technology and evaluating its use in specific situations such as in the dense breasts of younger women.
In order for research to be devoted to finding a cure, scientists have to know what they are fighting against. Breast cancer, much like most other cancers, has many different ways of forming and spreading. While these advancements may not seem like much, they are steps in the right direction. Every advancement is helping doctors take care of their patients better. There are the temporary solutions such as chemo, oncoplastic surgery, and targeted therapy drugs that are able to help people for different periods of time. Every person with cancer has a unique type of tumor and not everyone can get the same treatment, this is a bump in the road towards finding a solution. One day in the future, hopefully, the scientists find a cure for this illness but until then, these little baby steps are helping people live their lives.
Stress & Anxiety In High School Students
by Guest Writer Audrey Busker
Saturday, February 9th, 2019
Many high school students deal with stress and anxiety. Like myself, I’ve dealt with stress and anxiety all through high school and I’ve found a few ways to cope with it. According to suicide.org, 30% of teenagers have some form of anxiety and the majority of them don't seek help or even understand what it means to have anxiety. There are many causes of anxiety and stress, but there are also many ways to deal with your stress.
There are many high school students that are involved in several extracurricular activities, such as, sports, clubs and work; add all of those on top of 3-4 AP classes and you are in for a serious amount of stress. In high school, many students feel like it is their time to get involved and participate in all of these clubs and sports and AP and honors classes. This is a great time to do that, but you have to know your limits. Not everyone can handle being a varsity soccer player, an NHS member, have 3 AP classes and have a job. If you can, that's wonderful, but if you can’t, that’s okay too. You have to know your limits and know what stresses you out and causes you anxiety.
Another big factor in teen stress and anxiety is social media. High school students love to be on their phones and scroll through Instagram and Twitter for hours and hours on end. As fun and relaxing as that may seem, it's actually causing you more harm than you think. When you are on social media you're constantly comparing yourself to others. You’re comparing how many likes they get, how many friends they have, how nice their clothes are, and you probably don't even realize you are doing it. All of this comparing is lowering your self-esteem and causing you so much stress and anxiety. You also feel like your social media has to reflect your life and you want people to think you have your life together and have such a great life, and that is entirely too much pressure to put on yourself.
Coming from a person who has bad anxiety and stresses about every single thing possible, I have found some coping mechanisms and tips. Taking care of yourself and taking care of your health really helps with stress. Eating healthy and eating less sugar really helps with feeling good both mentally and physically. Exercise is a huge one for me. If I’m ever stressed or worried about something, I’ll work out or go for a run. Exercise or any other physical activity produces endorphins which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and also improve the ability to sleep, which is why it reduces stress. Alyssa McRoberts who is a fellow high school student also deals with stress and anxiety. Alyssa says “Whenever I’m stressed or nervous about something I will draw and listen to music”. Drawing and Listening to music is a great way to calm down and get your mind off of something that is causing you stress. According to the Center for disease control and prevention, talking to someone about your stress and anxiety is also a good thing to do. Even if it's just a friend or your parents it can help. Talking about your problems is a great way for you to get it out of your system and get it off your mind. High school and life, in general, are stressful, but it’ll get better if you utilize some stress relieving strategies.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions At Their Highest Point
by Guest Writer Maggie Stewart
Friday, February 8th, 2019
Within the last few decades, as temperatures have slowly started to increase throughout all world regions, government leaders have been questioning the existence of climate change and if there is even a realistic solution to it. Now, in 2019, carbon dioxide emissions within just the first week of the year are as high as the worst point within 2018, according to The Denver Post.
CO2.earth, the nation's leading website on carbon dioxide emission, has been collecting statistical evidence on the releasing of fossil fuels within the environment since 2006. According to their “2015 Global Carbon Budget”, fossil fuel and cement emissions have risen by about 1.432 GtC(gigatonne of carbon) between 2006 and 2014. Though for the three years after 2014 up until 2018, emissions were at a steady pace of decline. That is until 2018 which holds a 3.4% increase in carbon dioxide emissions after these three years of decline. Energy Manager Today reports that the emissions within 2015 and 2016 were at -2.7% and -1.7%. The decreasing held off a bit in 2017 with only a reduction of 0.8%, but 2018 came rolling in with a 3.4% increase, even with the large boom in coal power plant retirements.
Unfortunately, there was already an environment changing global climate agreement that the United States subsequently decided to withdraw from back in 2017. On June 1, 2017, President Trump announced that he wished to be the only country that had remarkably joined and then left the Paris Climate Agreement, because of “the draconian financial and economic burdens the agreement imposes on our country” as he controversially made the greenhouse gas emission rates gradually become worse over the years by declining this global deal.
Not only did carbon emissions worsen with the United States, but also in large industrial countries like China and India. Earth System Science Data found that China was the largest emitter per country and even experienced a large spike within the last ten years. However, the United States is still extremely far above any of the other severe carbon emitters in relation to emission per person. This simply means that each singular American and their personal carbon footprint is partially responsible for the large increase in emissions. Electricity, transportation, construction, and deforestation are all human based actions that contribute to global climate change and the heavily polluted atmosphere.
Looking to reduce your personal carbon footprint? Even the smallest things like introducing recycling to your household, planting a tree, or reducing the amount of paper that you print can make a HUGE difference in the environment and just how much carbon/fossil fuel emissions are released into the atmosphere. If no one makes a change, serious repercussions are expected to hit by the year 2050, according to CO2.earth. Here are some life-changing steps that you can take to save the planet from climate change and increasing carbon emissions:
-
Stop Eating Meat: Greenhouse gas emissions from various agriculture businesses can have an even larger effect on the atmosphere than fossil fuels and, especially, red meat which produces five times more emissions than its counterparts.
-
Drive Less: Most Americans are aware at this point in time that most modern forms of transportation are not the most eco-friendly. Fortunately, many cities have invested in the appropriate infrastructure of sidewalks to make car and bus alternatives like biking as well as walking much easier for the average civilian.
-
Try Line Drying: According to the World Wildlife Foundation, drying machines use five times more electricity than washing. Byline drying clothes, Americans could save a significant amount of electricity and prevent excess emissions.
by Kyra Lough
Wednesday, January 23nd, 2019
The Engineering Elite of OHHS
Mr. Wandsnider: The Mysterious Legend
by Bailey Garcia
Monday, January 28th, 2019
Oak Hills High School is home to many unique and wonderful teachers. Some are funny, some are weird,
and some are crazy in their own way. One teacher in particular, Mr. Wandsnider, is a well-known,
well-liked teacher amongst many.
Wandsnider has been teaching here for about seven years. Before residing at Oak Hills, Wandsnider
taught at Colerain High School, and North Lincoln High School in North Carolina. Here, he teaches
legal issues, government,and sociology.
Throughout school, Wandsnider was the wrestling legend. He broke countless records and was known
across the state and Mid-West region. When it came time to college, Wandsnider decided to go to a
school in Tennessee t participate in Division I wrestling. However, after a few years, he decided to move
back to Cincinnati to be with his girlfriend (and yes, they stayed together). Upon arriving back at his beloved city, Wandsnider welcomed his first of
five kids into the world. He might not have been at the top of the class, but he was able to go to Mount Saint Joseph University to continue his academic (and athletic) career.
Wandsnider claims that this teaching gig “just kind of happened.” His main goal wasn’t to become a teacher, but he realized he wanted to impact kids just like his coaches impacted him. In order to coach wrestling and make a good living at the same time, Wandsnider knew he had to be a teacher. It would be the easiest way to influence kids the way he wanted to.
Since teaching, many students have appreciated the way that Wandsnider teaches and what he’s all about. Senior Hailey Seifert claims that she learned from him that “there is always a grey area in life”. Throughout his classes, Wandsnider always tries to make sure that his students are filled with examples from his life.
With these examples, students are able to see that everyone faces their own kind of hardships. As real as he can be, Wandsnider enables a personal connection with each of students in hopes of influencing them as well as his coaches did when he was in wrestling.
Another senior, Sierra Dance, comments on Wandsnider saying that “He cares so much for you and your grades! He truly wants to see you succeed!” Sometimes, some of the people in his classes end up taking them because they need the class or it sounded like a cool option for one of their electives. Besides this, Wandsnider always strives to make sure that he cares individually for each person sitting in his class.
Now although all of this seems super serious, it doesn’t shed a light on how a class is actually like with Wandsnider. Most times, it’s filled with laughter from his remarks or positive energy from the open space that he allows his classroom to be. Many students (including myself) really love the fact that Wandsnider uses a flip-phone still. And the best part? He really could not care what others have to say about it. Senior Alex Kidd comments on this, claiming that he showed her that “it’s okay to have a flip-phone while everyone else uses an iPhone.”
Along with his phone from the ages, Wandsnider loves (I cannot stress this enough), loves the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Not to point out the obvious, but not a lot of people go around ranting and raving about this band, but never fear, Wandsnider does just that.
Wandsnider doesn’t plan on leaving any time soon either. He thinks he’ll be here until he’s about 57 because that’s when he can properly retire. But he probably won’t retire fully. I have a good feeling he will ride his bike and coach wrestling until he takes his last breath.
With all this being said, I truly mean it from the bottom of my heart that Wandsnider is one of the most down-to-earth, open and accepting teachers I know. The atmosphere that he creates in his classroom allows him to be able to connect with students just as he wishes to. As great of a personality that Wandsnider has, he weirdly claims that he “likes to be the mysterious guy.” Contrary to the majority, once you get to know Wandsnider, I think this all changes. But maybe, just maybe, he really is the mysterious legend he claims to be. I guess we truly will never know.
Oak Hills High Schools is remarkable when it comes to opportunities for its students. Clubs and extracurricular activities are open to anyone who wants to participate. One of the many activities open to students is Oak Hills High School’s Robotics Club. Since 2012, this group has been building and inventing new robot designs for competitions year round. Even just within these few months of the year, they have built, competed, and fundraised for themselves. Once you get to look at the entire club, you get to see that they are a family bonded by a similar passion: Robotics.
What exactly does Robotics Club do? Well, for starters, they compete quite often. Coach Mr. Dunkle, who is also a Physics teacher at Oak Hills, indicated that the students compete throughout the whole school year. “We’ve
had 3 preseason competitions so far this year.” The earliest competition they
had was in Columbus, but they sadly missed the playoffs. Their second
preseason competition was the Purdue BoilerBot, where they placed as
Semi-Finalists. The most recent one was the Battle for the Bluegrass, and
they made Quarter Finalists. Their ultimate goal is the FRC (FIRST Robotics
Competition), which will occur later in the year.
This club is very successful on the field, but they are also successful as a group
when at home base: The Lab. This room is used for many classes, but it is
where they Robotics crew runs its operations. They design, build and test in
this space. A couple of students admit that it’s almost never fully clean. However messy it can be, this is home for Robotics students.
Many around Oak Hills are familiar with the stickers placed on the covers of students’ laptops.
“Scot Bot 4284” is the name of the Robotics group, and is a popular phrase to see when walking
around the school. Just the recognition alone shows how large they have grown.
More students and people in the community have become aware of the Robotics Club. Just this year, they
have raised $5,884 on their SnapRaise alone. But to be fullyfunctional, they must raise tens of thousands
of dollars themselves, seeing as they are not funded by the school. Mr. Dunkle says, “Oh yes, we raise
$40-$50k every year on our own.” The sheer amount of dedication to Robotics Club is the only way
it is able to run.
Last year, the team became larger than they had in a few years. The Seniors last year truly encouraged
students of all ages and educational levels to participate. Now, they have 34 student
members from Freshman to Senior and 3 coaches (Mr. Dunkle, Mr. Boles, and Mrs. Wells).
One of the ways they gain new members is through the Activities Fair at the beginning of
every year. They are most well-known for controlling the robot from the year before. They
love to encourage everyone to join in of the fun. It is a sight that brings people together
and shows them what Robotics Club is truly about: Family and fun. Mr. Dunkle described
some of their most memorable moments being, "Team social nights, the rebuilding of last
year’s robot, and the team campout at the Red River Gorge before our Kentucky competition."
Even as they place in competitions and work together to build their masterpiece, it seems that
just the team bonding moments are enough to keep them going strong.
Robotics Club is great for everyone. They are accommodating and encourage new prospect
students to consider joining. Connor Taylor (senior) is one of the students helping lead the other
students to success with his knowledge passed down to him. He said that “Robotics is such a great experience, and I am always looking for a way to improve it.” Currently, Taylor has made it his project in AP Research to design a platform to help teach students the ins and outs of robotics. Even in other studies, this club has made an impact on student’s passions.
However, Robotics Club is not their work, but they have involvement in the Oak Hills community. Beyond that FRC, they built storage units for the CO Harrison band rooms, a staff holiday gift, a robotic deer for Archery Club, Chromebook repairs for Vartek, COSI and Enrichment Days at the elementary schools, and general repairs for teachers’ classrooms. Passions drive these students, and they are always willing to help out in whatever asked of them. Robotics is such a major part of the building, and luckily, people are finally beginning to see that. This devoted club will keep expanding, and students of the future, present, and past will always remember the impact Robotics Club had on them.
The Man Behind The History Department
by Ana Holleman
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019
Who is Mr. Klotz? Mr. Klotz is a Humanities, AP European History, and American History teacher, he is the head of the history department. While in his homeroom and observing him teach, I noticed that he is a very friendly and supportive teacher. He is known for caring deeply about his students, constantly pushing each and every one of them to try his or her hardest. I have a memory of sitting in Mr. Klotz’s homeroom as he's collecting money for one of the charities put on at school. I watched as he put his own money in the folder to start us off, pushing each of his student’s to do the same. I also remember getting donuts in homeroom every year to thank us for turning in papers and coming to CCP meetings. Just something as little as that can change how a student’s looks at a teacher. This shows that Mr. Klotz's is a passionate teacher. He interacts with his students, makes time for them, holds study sessions in the morning and meets with kids after school to ensure that each of his students meet their goals. If they don’t he gives them every opportunity to get them there, offering extra credit for watching movies that tie into the subject, holding study sessions in the morning and in the afternoon instead of going home.
During class, Mr. Klotz is known for his quirky attitude. He loves to play music during class and is known to sing along. While watching him teach, you’ll see that he doesn’t stand in one spot, he interacts with student’s, sits next to them, moves around, always engaging his students in a discussion that relates to the lesson at hand, using modern examples to further an understanding of the content. In class there’s no tension, his teaching environment is relaxed and inviting. When walking into the class you can normally hear music playing in the background and smell coffee, his walls are covered in student made, movie posters and copies of art in an array of colors, that either tie in directly to what he teaches or to one of his students. He’s supportive of each of his students, noticing when a students colors or cuts his/her hair, knowing whether or not they are athletes or sing, whether they enjoy to draw or cheer, bringing that into the classroom and praising them for a good job. He has a passion for this school that shows through his teaching, the care she shows his students, the pride and time he has given this school, and all of the hours he has spent working with every one of his students and this school in general. He loves this school and has pride in it, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for this school, including delaying his retirement; not that him not retiring is a bad thing, right? His students love him, either for his loud speaking voice, quirky attitude, or fun lessons, I know Oak Hills will gladly keep Mr. Klotz around.
Mrs. Steele: Always There
by Morgan Butts
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019
Oak Hills High School teacher, Kathryn Steel, does a lot to help and be there for her students. She teaches throughout the day and stays after to help host a few clubs. She is always there for her students and would do anything to help them with any problems. “Don’t be afraid, there is always someone to talk to.” I have Steel as a Tartan Time teacher and it’s one of my favorite places to go during the school week. Her classes are always fun, as well as educational.
Steel is mainly an English teacher, having a few classes with freshman and sophomores. She also is the Speech teacher/advisor. The Speech team participates in after-school competitions that require extra time put forth and she is always there to cheer the team on. Steel also taught Mythology as a class in previous years, but couldn’t continue this year. Even though I haven’t had her as a teacher yet, I can only assume her classes are as fun and peppy as she is. While she does have her bad days, just like every other teacher, she tries to still remain calm and happy for her students. She is always being the best teacher that she can be.
Mrs. Steel’s Tartan Time has always been a place I’m happy to be in. Whether it be a testing day or a two-hour class at the beginning of the year, it’s a fun time. While we still do some of the lesson pre-made for each class, we always put our own spin into it. Testing how something would affect us in real life or playing a game with it, we learn and enjoy it. We have thrown multiple ‘parties’ during her classes, having snacks and listening to music. Typically at the end of the year as a way to say goodbye. Steel also has brought in donuts more than a few times for us to eat during Tartan Time. As other students say how much they hate tartan time and want to cancel it, I can’t wait to go to Mrs. Steel’s class every Thursday.
There are a few clubs that Mrs. Steel advises after school, including Gay-Straight Alliance and Magic Club. She also has the Speech team, though it is considered one of her classes. With these clubs, she gives students a place to express themselves. Gay-Straight Alliance is a club that anyone can join. Students who are afraid of coming out or being judged can come and be whomever they want to be without any judgment at all. Steel is proud of the club that she is running because it’s for the students and they feel safe there. The Magic Club was just created this year for one of her tartan time students to be able to teach magic to anyone who wanted to learn. So far, it has been successful.
In conclusion, Mrs. Steel is one of the best teachers at Oak Hills High School. She is always available to help and will give you her own spare time in order to help. Even though she has a separate life at home with two children and a new puppy, she will always find a time to be there for you. Mrs. Steel will be one of the many teachers I will miss as I graduate and move forward in life.
Fiona The Miracle Hippo
by Jess Johnson
Friday, January 18th, 2019
Fiona, the backbone of not only our Cincinnati Zoo but the nation. After
Harambe’s tragic death on May 28, 2016, everyone was in distraught.
Thousands of memes were made around the nation paying tribute to
Harambe, and the zoo faced lots of backlash. As a result, the zoo lost a lot
of fans, and business as well. This lasted for months, until about eight months
later, on January 24, 2017, our beautiful hippo was born. She is not just an
ordinary hippo though.
The average hippo weighs about 50-100 pounds when born. Fiona was
born to mother Bibi and father Henry at 29 pounds. This is 25 pounds lighter than the lowest recorded weight for her species. Zookeepers were afraid she would not survive such a premature birth, and they could not face another death in the zoo family. To overcome this, the Cincinnati Zoo invited caretakers from Children’s Hospital to help take care of Fiona. For weeks, the doctors, and the nation were worried about her survival.
After a few weeks, she was on her feet, exploring her surroundings. Everyone fell in love with this pure and tiny creature as she grew into her skin. As of now, Fiona weighs well over 1000 pounds and is caught up with hippos at her age and height physically and mentally! Unfortunately, Henry passed away in September of 2017, but Bibi has been a strong and loving mother to the baby hippo.
The Cincinnati Zoo’s Twitter account posts videos of her almost daily, and these tweets reach hundreds and even thousands of retweets from Fiona’s forever fans. They also remind their audience that she can only be in the viewing area when it is 45 degrees or warmer outside, so she cannot be outside during this time, but will be during the spring and summer!
Fiona’s second birthday is coming up, and she is thriving in her zoo environment. They had a big celebration for her first birthday, but no word has been received on a second birthday celebration. I am sure Fiona would appreciate a birthday shoutout, or even sporting her spiritwear, just make sure to recognize this queen on her birthday!
Aaand Action!
by Jaden Thompson
Monday, December 17th, 2018
Mrs. Cook has taught the Theater Arts class, along with several other freshmen and
sophomore English classes and electives, for the past seven years. Mrs. Cook’s favorite
part of teaching the class is the relationships she is able to develop with her students.
“I adore the time I have with my drama kids. I love watching them stretch and grow and
face their fears.” Theater Arts is her seventh bell and to her, it is the best way to end the day.
Teaching a class for seven years, Mrs. Cook obviously knows what she’s doing, and her students agree that she is the perfect fit. “Mrs. Cook is a great Theater Arts teacher and knows a lot about the class,” states Carlos Rodriguez-Macau.
I decided that I wanted to attend the class itself and see it in action. The class has such a positive feel to it and you don’t even have to be in the class to know it. Sophomore Emma Crull took Theater Arts with Mrs. Cook last year and has returned as a student aid. She comments on the class saying, “everyone is super accepting,” and “it really opens you up.” Others can agree with her as well. “My favorite thing about the class is all of the different types of people in it. I love that everyone bonds together to create a positive environment,” freshman Grace Smith said.
They start out with warm-ups that get them in character for that day’s lesson. A couple activities they do are called face bomb and what’s in the bag. Both are super fun games that prepare them. Freeze tag, another game they play, is a big hit in Theater Arts. “Whenever we play Freeze Tag, some people come up with funny scenes and whatnot,” says Hannah Snider, a freshman. A twist on the game where two people create a scene, freeze, and start a new scene, to put it simply.
The class has just finished working on the art of pantomime, a difficult art to master. Pantomiming is done through dramatic gestures to represent something. Performances are held to reflect the students’ skills over what they have learned. Family and friends are invited to see them in action. I have been to a couple of performances and I am always delighted by them. The class presented four scenes, each with a group of students. The groups had to think on their feet about what they would do. And with a full audience, the pressure is on.
The four scenes that took place were: A Day At The Beach, The Emergency Room, Worst Wedding Ever, and First Day Of School. The whole point of pantomiming is to make the audience believe the objects they create are truly there and they did a really good job keeping it consistent throughout the scene. Each scene had its own unexpected turns from the groom flirting with the ring bearer in Worst Wedding Ever to chopping off a leg after a disastrous game of hopscotch in The Emergency Room, not literally, of course.
Overall, it was very obvious how hard everyone worked and it shows in their amazing performances. You never knew what was going to happen, the twists the story took were both surprising and humorous. Not to mention how well everyone worked together. An audience member, Allison Lipps said, “I thought it was great! I think that it was a good representation of the art.” If you love the arts or are just unsure of what classes to take next year, then Theater Arts is the class for you!
Für die Liebe des Deutsch
by Jaden Thompson
Monday, January 14th, 2019
You’ve probably seen Herr Vaske around the language hallway or even had him in
class yourself. He teaches German 2, 3, and 6 which is a newer class for students
who what to continue in the language and have already taken AP German. He also
runs the Academic Team, German National Honor Society, and is a part of the
Veterans Day Committee where he calls all 500-plus veterans. Outside of the
school year, he is a part of the 3-week Dingolfing exchange program.
Herr Vaske has been to Germany, as he states, “many, many, many, many times”.
The first being for six weeks in the summer of 1987 where he got the chance to stay
with two different families, giving him a new perspective of Germany. “Ever since
then, I was hooked!” He took another trip in college where he stayed for an entire
year, again for an exchange program in Hamburg for nine months, and then for the
Dingolfing exchange program. When he worked for Delta Airlines, he went every
free weekend for two years. In total, Herr Vaske has lived in Germany for about
three years!
Herr Vaske has been teaching for a total of seven years all at Oak Hills, but before
he was a teacher he had a career in a construction company and had also worked at Delta Airlines. For Herr Vaske, teaching was a second career. But what lead him to choose to teach? “I don’t think that there is anything that leads to you, you just kind of have that feeling,” he states. “I’ve always had that feeling but never had the opportunity to do it.” After his job at the construction company, he had to think of where he would go next. With his wife’s help, he was able to go back to school and get a degree in teaching. While in school, Herr Vaske was asked to watch “the German guy” and see what he thought about it and ever since then he knew that he could do it. He says his favorite think about teaching is the relationships he is able to build with his students and also the teaching process itself. “I love watching things grow and develop from when they come in on day one and not be able to do anything and then the development of ability for them to speak [German] by the time its all over with.”
Students agree that Herr Vaske’s teaching style is an amazing mix between fun and getting stuff done. Andrew Rhoton is a sophomore in German 2 and says, “I really like his form of teaching. It's always a new adventure in the class and it does help my understanding.” When asked to describe the class in three words, he says es ist fantastisch (it is fantastic). Another student, Katelyn Rieder, is also a sophomore in German 2, comments on the class saying, “My favorite thing about German besides actually learning has to be Here Vaske’s constant humor with us. He’s truly one of the kindest teachers I’ve ever had.” Katelyn first decided to take German because of her German heritage and plans to continue her love for learning the language next school year.
With every class comes an inside joke, and for Herr Vaske, it is in his final class of the day. “This kid told me that he doesn’t name his fish!” he says. As a part of Herr Vaske’s seventh bell, I can speak for all of us when I say that it was probably one of the most memorable moments of the year.
So if you’re looking to take a foreign language, or maybe you’ve already got your language credit, then für die Liebe des Deutsch (for the love of German), take German! And if you have Herr Vaske, be prepared for more than just learning the language but for all the laughs you’ll share and relationships you’ll build!
I’d like to start out with a small explanation of the disease that is currently
a major part of my life. Multiple Myeloma is a blood cancer in which
forms as a white blood cell called plasma cells. These cells help fight
bodily infections by creating antibodies that fight such germs and infections.
This type of cancer roots within bone marrow in an attempt to block out the
healthy blood cells. The cancerous cells produce abnormal proteins that can
cause further health complications. To date, there is no cure for Multiple
Myeloma, the most that can be done is a series of treatments in hopes of
reaching remission.
What brings me to write about this awareness is rather unfortunate news. In 2015 my mother was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma Cancer. February 2015 was the month-long journey of her stem cell transplant. My mom was sent to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where she stayed in the hospital-hotel for 30 days. Those days felt like an eternity. No more getting off the bus and running straight home to tell her about my day. No more surprise notes are hidden in my lunch bag; I felt empty. Fortunately, for my sake, my older siblings took on the parental role while she was gone, so I was never alone. My mom is a single mother of 6 kids, and when I tell you that she is genuinely the strongest person I have ever met, I mean it. Amidst her struggles, she managed to hide her pain and worries behind a smile. If you were to ask her how she was doing (regarding her illness) her response would be, “I’m good!” Yet, no one knows what goes on behind the scenes. In April of 2016, the results finally came back; she was in remission. The words echoed in my ear, a feeling that couldn’t be beaten.
You thought that was it? I wish that were the case. This past Mother’s day, she sat me down and the words were spoken again. The cancer grew back in both sides of her jaws and ribs. In life, highs and lows are inevitable. This was one the lowest lows. Just recently it was decided that my mom would be sent to The Mayo Clinic for round two at the beginning of January. This time she is scheduled for a 6-7 week stay, following the same exact process as last time. Her arms were my safe place, but for the first time, I did not receive the sense of reassurance I usually had. For those who have witnessed family or friends going through chemo, I am sure we can agree that it’s heart-wrenching to watch. My mom became so thin and her bones became seemingly visible. It got to the point where eating was her biggest obstacle; even getting pills down. Some days were unbearable, instead, she’d rather lay in bed all day and try to sleep off the pain, but we knew that wasn’t going to happen. Each day she found a little more energy within herself, where soon enough she was back to tidying up her hotel room and making random gift shop visits.
Considering my mom is a single mother working a full-time job, that means her work hours will come to a pause. She will be out of work for a total of four months, which causes a disruption in finances. My siblings and I now ask something my mother is not completely comfortable with- a GoFundMe campaign has been started in support of my mother and my family while she is away. We ask with the utmost gratitude if there’s anyone willing to donate to her cause. Any donations received will be put strictly towards medical/utility bills, flight tickets, hotel/hospital stay, as well as living expenses. If money is not an option, please offer up any thoughts and prayers you have as they are most welcome and needed. We would like to thank each and every one of you, simply for taking the time to read this in the first place. Any help after that is beyond appreciated, and updates will be posted with her journey through this treatment. The link will be attached below for anyone interested.
Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart as well as my family’s.
by Ellie Sturm
Monday, December 17th, 2018
#IgniteJenniesFight
After being a teacher for the past 14 years, seven years at Ross High School and going into her seventh
year at Oak Hills, Amanda Tuchfarber has it down. Oak Hills High School knows her well as the advisor
of the Tartan and teacher of AP Language and Composition and English 2.
In high school and throughout college, Tuchfarber was an above average student, getting A’s and B’s in
her classes. At McAuley high school, she was a cheerleader for Lasalle and participated in gymnastics and
dance outside of school.
Though she did not start out thinking of being a teacher, it was basically fate. She attended Ohio University.
Going to Ohio University was a great experience for her, when asked how she liked it she responded, “Yes! I loved OU!”. where she started out studying journalism; a passion of hers for as long as she can remember. Being an active member of her high school newspaper, Tuchfarber knew she loved writing and that journalism was the way to go. But while in college, she realized that she needed more out of life than just being a journalist. Tuchfarber explains, “I went to college to be a journalist and it wasn't enough, I felt a need to be in the classroom, I really like reading and writing and I want other people, my kids, to like it as much as I do.”
Tuchfarber’s senior year AP Literature teacher, Mrs. Heile, was one of her major influences in becoming a teacher. Heile impacted her both as a person and as a teacher, from the way class was run to the way she presented herself. Tuchfarber also stated that even now she is able to find teachers now, specifically her coworkers, influence her because of how they run their class or their relationships with students.
When asked if she would ever choose another profession the answer was a confident “no if I ever chose another profession it would still be in the education environment.” She said that if she were to ever not be a teacher she would still stay around schools as a counselor or administrator. Besides that, if teaching had not worked out in the beginning, she would have probably written for a newspaper.
Most, if not all, students have nothing bad to say about her. When asked, Bailey Garcia, a senior at Oak Hills, said “I love the atmosphere in her class. She makes sure that everyone understands completely and fully what he or she are to do, and if a student doesn’t, she always goes above and beyond to help. She loves to give feedback and advice to anything she can, and I love learning from her both as a teacher and as a person.” Tuchfarber is a teacher that most students hope to have, hearing great things about her class atmosphere. In this interview, Tuchfarber was asked how much longer she would be teaching; she responded with “I don’t see an end in sight if I stop being a teacher I will still stay connected with the school.” We all hope that remains true.
An amazing teacher and person, Amanda Tuchfarber has made a positive impact on almost all of her students and everyone she has met throughout her life. There are those that leave a mark on her, and she will never forget them as her past students will never forget her or her class.
“Every year I have a favorite group. Do I have those that stand out, yes.”
by Ciera Franke
Thursday, December 13th, 2018
Profile Feature: Mrs. Tuchfarber
by Kyra Lough
Wednesday, December 12th, 2018
Christmas Traditions Around The World
Santa Clause, decorated trees, stockings, and lights are a few of the traditions we celebrate Christmas here in the United States. But do you know how this global holiday is celebrated in other places in the world? Here we will take a look at 8 Christmas traditions around the world!
Philippines
Giant Lantern Festival
This festive festival is held every year on the Saturday before Christmas Eve. San Fernando- the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines” attracts visitors from all around the world. There is a competition to build the most elaborate lantern. They are made from different materials, have grown from around ½ meter to 6 meters in size, and are lit by a light bulb. These beautiful lanterns are sure to take your breath away!
Sweden
Gävel Goat
A 13-meter-tall Yule Goat has been build up at the center of Gävel Castle Square in Sweden since 1966. But it isn’t just the building of this monumental animal that has become a tradition - people try to burn it down. Since this all started, it has successfully been burnt down 29 times, the last time being in 2016.
Bavaria
Krampus
A creature that roams the streets, frightening children and punishing the naughty ones. You have likely heard of Krampus before. St. Nicholas’ evil partner does the opposite. On December 6th, St. Nicholas goes around and rewards the good children, while Krampus goes around and captures the naughty children in his sack. Within the first week of December, young men will dress up as Krampus and frighten children with the clattering noise of chains and bells. Make sure you are behaving, or you may be getting a visit next year!
Japan
KFC Dinner
One tradition my family has begun is to eat the traditional Christmas meal of another country. A couple of years ago, we chose Japan. Turns out, they celebrate with the Christmas Day feast of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Yes, in recent years, Christmas tables have been filled with KFC. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it?
Iceland
The Yule Lads
In the 13 days leading up to Christmas, Iceland has 13 troll-like characters come out and play. Children leave out their best shoes by the window, and a Yule Lad (jólasveinarnir or jólasveinar) go around and leaves gifts for the good children and rotting potatoes for the bad ones. They travel around and create mischief all across Iceland, as their names suggest:
-
Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod)
-
Giljagaur (Gully Gawk)
-
Stúfur (Stubby)
-
Þvörusleikir (Spoon-Licker)
-
Pottaskefill (Pot-Scraper)
-
Askasleikir (Bowl-Licker)
-
Hurðaskellir (Door-Slammer)
-
Skyrgámur (Skyr-Gobbler)
-
Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage-Swiper)
-
Gluggagægir (Window-Peeper)
-
Gáttaþefur (Doorway-Sniffer)
-
Ketkrókur (Meat-Hook)
-
Kertasníkir (Candle-Stealer)
Norway
Christmas Witches
Now, this is very different. In Norway, people will hide their brooms come Christmas. There is an interesting backstory. Centuries ago, people believed that witches and evil spirits came out on Christmas Eve and looked for their brooms to ride upon. The tradition of hiding brooms to keep away the witches and spirits has carried on to even today, as they are put into the safest place in the house to prevent them from being stolen.
Venezuela
Rolling to Church
As Christmas is a Christian holiday, many attend Church frequently during the holidays. In Venezuela, they attend Church frequently too, but they roller skate to get there. Every Christmas Eve, the residents head to Church in the morning, but for reasons I cannot explain, they do so on roller skates. The roads are even closed to cars to make sure everyone is safe as they skate. What a way to wake up!
Toronto
Cavalcade of Lights
A little closer to home, the annual Cavalcade of Lights marks the official start of the holidays. Since 1967, City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square are lit with over 300,000 energy-efficient LED lights from dusk to 11 pm until the New Year. On top of that, there is a fireworks show and ice skating to enjoy. What a beautiful way to celebrate the season!
Land of Open Graves Talk by Dr. Jason De León
by Kyra Lough
Tuesday, December 11th, 2018
Everyone will have their own opinion about immigration policy and the United State’s actions to counter illegal immigration. I am not trying to convince anyone of my opinions or Dr. León’s opinions. That being said, I am also not trying to argue against anyone and their beliefs. You are entitled to your opinion and I will not attempt to change it. To me, this talk taught me much about migrants and their side of the story. With recent events, I wanted to talk about what I took away from Dr. León’s book and talk.
On October 18th, 2018, I was invited to listen to a lecture at Miami University in Oxford. Called Land of Open Graves, author Dr. Jason De León describes his books and journey discovering the challenges migrants from Central and South America ace when crossing the US/Mexican border. All I knew going in was that he is a brilliant Archeologist and doing a lecture on his new book. What I didn’t expect were the tear-jerking stories I would witness in words and images.
Death is normal for humans. We are all aware that we will one day die and leave our legacy behind us. For most of us, we dream big and focus on ways to boost yourself in society. For many people, they are trying to escape the harsh conditions of poverty and persecution. A life without freedom is a life we can’t imagine without experiencing it. I don’t pretend to be able to relate to any migrant. The hardships they face are worse than I ever knew, and I doubt you knew either.
Due to the recent migrant caravan, I decided to write this article about the messages I received from the lecture.
To start, Dr. León had to talk about his experience. He saw death first hand and
realized the struggle it truly was just to walk through the natural environment. He
discussed “Prevention Through Deterrence,” which is the system used today to try
and prevent illegal immigration. The US deliberately funnels immigrants into the
Sonoran Desert where humans and natural causes will do the border patrols’
“brutal work.” Going in, they have no clue the parallels that will have to face,
leaving them open to heat stroke, dehydration, diseases, animals, and more. The
weather, heat, terrain, and floods alone are enough to kill thousands every year.
Many end up missing and their bodies are never recovered. To help each other,
migrants set up supply camps and towns to help anyone who passes by replenishing
their supplies. Other than those few places, they are on their own. Because of the lack
of preparedness, death is a normal occurrence on the path north. But that doesn’t deter
the desperate.
As he traveled around, he got to know the people and their stories. The accounts of Memo and Lucho, people he met during his time by border towns/cities, shocked him and contributed greatly to the discoveries made. Previously, Homeland Security used a “catch and release” system where illegal immigrants were immediately deported, whereas now, they use Operation Streamline, a no tolerance program. Memo and Lucho were able to cross the border and lived in Arizona. From their stories, Dr. León became more aware of the personal trauma migrants face. He uncovered the typology of the migrant process. Places migrants would camp, rest, practice religion, trade, get picked up, get arrested and die were uncovered in his expeditions. It helps to identify the timing and locations of events, as people search for their missing loved ones.
That’s just it isn’t it. Many of the people that attempt to cross the border don’t make it past the Sonoran Desert. They will likely remain there, either confirmed dead or missing for years. As Dr. León and his students cross the paths, migrants themselves take, they came across the body of a woman that had experienced necroviolence. While this term may be misconstrued, Dr. León developed the term necroviolence to describe the mistreatment of a body. He says that the Department of Homeland Security's “Prevention Through Deterrence” embodies necroviolence and all of its heartbreak. The emotions he and his students felt were harrowing and showed them that no matter how much it sickens them, they must continue to investigate because that is what they are doing. If no one else will search into just what happens to migrants, then who will?
After identifying the body as Maricela from Ecuador, Dr. León’s team gets in contact with Maricela’s family, one of whom is a migrant living in Queens, New York, Christian. He never wanted her to cross due to the horror and difficulty that he experienced. They also contacted her family in Ecuador. They told the team that they too warned her against going. She had left in hopes of providing more for her three children. When they brought her body back home, it remained close casket. Dr. León didn’t want her family to see what had happened to her. The horrific events that her body told the family and the team were just the beginning of the story. When someone dies, his or her body is scavenged and lost within days. The clothing and belongings become scattered, dehumanizing the body. But this isn’t the only instance of dehumanization. Necropolitics puts all of these deaths, including Maricela’s into a number. Sovereignty is used to justify the deaths. It also sends a message to the living. A message that many ignore in hopes of a possible better future.
A Q&A session followed the talk. I was one of the few lucky people to be able to ask my burning question. Seeing as I wasn’t a student taking notes for an assignment, a professor attending with their students to learn more, or an attendant with a personal connection to migration, I asked a fairly general question. I asked him: “With the current political controversy over immigration and the upcoming election, what would you say to the younger generations that are preparing to vote in the coming years?” Beng 17 myself, I will be voting in the next election. I knew that the audience was filled with college students getting prepared to vote in a couple of weeks. While the election is over, I feel that his response is still important to remember. Dr. León told me that he wants everyone to be more aware. He never once attempted to implement is political views on me or anyone else. While I could easily distinguish them, He only wished that people would be more conscious when they vote. The people have the power to make the change and express their opinions. The younger generations are different, and as they start to participate more in government, they will need to prepare themselves with information. Necroviolence and necropolitics are ignored parts of the immigration debates, and everyone should be more aware of what happens at the border and the United States’ current policies being implemented.
If there is anything I hope someone can retain form this, I would want them to be more aware of the migrant issue at the border. But it isn’t just this issue. Americans are generally ignorant about societal and political issues. If we were all more attentive, the government would likely run more functionally, and the United States could truly be the free refuge. Let us set an example for everyone and give everyone the equity he or she deserves.
