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Published by The Chronicle, 2017-04-04 17:17:40

Edition 2.3

Mason in the Middle published on April 8.

April 2017 Mason in the Middle, a partnership with The Chronicle, the Mason High School student produced newspaper.

M In today’s issue

Mason in the Middle Nintendo just released
its newest console; The
powered by The Chronicle Nintendo Switch. What
do you think?

See story, page 3

When your face is the canvas

Expressing creativity with make-up

See story on page 6

Photo by Abby Fulton

2 M April 2017
News
Our Policy
Photo by Meredith Turner
Mason in the Middle is an affiliate
of The Chronicle, the official student Principal Tonya McCall reviews the blueprints for the upcoming renovations at Mason Middle School.
newspaper of William Mason High
School. District set to begin massive renovation project

Mason in the Middle promises to re- Andrea Forero | Staff Writer nally ready to move forward with the have some type of solar panels or some
port the truth and adhere to the jour- Natasha Jha | Staff Writer plan. type of renewable energy,” Mills said.
nalistic code of ethics through online Meredith Turner | Staff Writer “I know it’s a huge undertaking and
and print mediums. “This wasn’t new,” Carson said. “We probably not going to happen in the
Summer 2017 will kick off with a dis- had a facility plan since the early next two years, but I do think it would
Mason in the Middle is produced trict remodel to help the growth of Ma- 2000s. We were part of this program all be nice to start small, possibly using
by high school students enrolled in son students and to provide flexibility along, but in 2012, we started having rain barrels in court yard areas then to
Journalism I, II and III in collabora- for the coming years. community discussions about what water flower beds, garden spaces and
tion with middle school writers and was the best plan about moving for- our grass areas. As a science teacher I
editors. The remodel will begin with the dis- ward. The middle school will be a to- feel that using reusable resources and
trict’s elementary schools, followed by tal renovation. Things like our HVAC green ideas are crucial at this time and
Editorials reflect the staff ’s opin- Mason Middle School. Students will system, which is the heating and air age.”
ion but do not necessarily reflect the be moved to other district buildings conditioning, need [to be] completely
opinions of the school administration while the project is in progress. Mason replaced.” McCall said that these renovations
or the Mason City School District. City Schools (MCS) is working towards will help the school do things that
making the district a better place to Although renovations will require were impossible before, such as having
Mason in the Middle does not yet learn by creating safe, technology- temporarily moving to another build- spaces that allow students and teachers
have a publishing schedule. Call ready, innovative learning spaces and ing, Principal Tonya McCall embraces to collaborate and learn together.
398-5025 ext. 33103 for information fixing structural components such as the opportunity to make improve-
regarding advertising in Mason in the AC system, pipe works, and roof- ments that will benefit everyone. “Where are spaces that we can have
the Middle. Mason in the Middle re- ing. larger numbers of students at one time
serves the right to refuse advertising “I would love to figure out how we so we can have some more flexible
it deems inappropriate for a middle MCS took part in a district fund- can enlarge the cafeteria, so that we groupings?” McCall said. “If two teach-
school publication. ing program which will help fund can have three lunches instead of four ers want to work on something togeth-
the project. The funds came from the lunches,” McCall said. “We know that er, they can take their kids to this space
As an open forum for students, let- Ohio Schools Facilities Commission, it’s going to be inconvenient for folks, to be able to do it. It’s not just about
ters to the editor are welcome, but are funded by state tobacco settlement for hopefully one year, as we transi- having a nice looking classroom; it’s
subject to be edited for length, libel, funds. MCS is required to begin using tion to something new. Now that we’re what will that new space allow us to do
obscenity, clarity and poor taste. Let- the money from the funds before this moving and have an actual timeline of that we can’t currently do.”
ters to the editor may be dropped off coming spring or else they will lose when (the renovation) is going to take
in room 444 and must be signed. the state funding. place, we’re even more excited about Carson said the renovation will en-
the possibilities.” sure a better future for the Mason stu-
The Chronicle is a member of The Public Information Officer Tracey dents.
Columbia Scholastic Press Associa- Carson said the building renovations Seventh grade science teacher Eliza-
tion, The National Scholastic Press have been part of a facility plan for beth Mills said she wants to include re- “(We) are going to ensure that we
Association, Quill and Scroll Inter- many years and that the district is fi- newable features as part of the school have great spaces for our students to
national Honorary Society for High rebuild. go to school in the next 50 years,” Car-
School Journalists and the Ohio Scho- son said.
lastic Media Association. “Of course it would be amazing to

Contact Information
The Chronicle
William Mason High School
6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd.
Mason, Ohio 45040
(513) 398-5025
Mason in the Middle Staff
High School Editors
Jacob Fulton
Ashton Nichols
Ria Parikh
Alekya Raghavan
Delaney Turner
Staff Writers
Betsy Areddy
Nora Binkis
Caroline Bishop
Kiera Doran
Desiree Downing
Lincoln Edsall
Abby Fulton
Andrea Forero
Natasha Jha
Riley Johansen
Hannah Lohmueller
Mariah Norman
Scott Reckers
Yahma Sami
Shreya Vemula
Braedon Vrooman
Abby Walton
Advisors
Dale Conner
Rachel Young

April 2017 M 3

Coding and robotics teacher Martin Fish uses the Switch in the TV and handheld modes Photos by Jason Fish

Are you making the switch?

New Nintendo Switch allows for versatile gaming

Scott Reckers | Staff Writer with my Playstation I couldn’t play the games other ones. 1-2 Switch I’m not too excited
Braedon Vrooman | Staff Writer I wanted to because I wanted to let others use about, but I think that it will only be a mini
the TV. So this way I get to play the games I’m party game for game nights with friends.”
Nintendo is proving itself a major player interested in, away from the TV.”
in the game with the release of the Nintendo If gamers want other controlling options,
Switch. The main method of control for the Switch they can pick up a Switch Pro Controller for
comes in the form of the two Joy-Cons. Even $69.99, which is essentially a switch controller
The video game giant is revolutionizing the though they can fit in the palm of your hand, that has more of a traditional controller feel-
gaming industry with the release of its new Nintendo has managed to fit a whole lot of ing. The Joy-Con grip comes with the con-
console and handheld hybrid, the Nintendo content into them. Both Joy-Cons include ac- sole, this is a similar feel to the pro controller
Switch. Available since March 3, the Nintendo celerometers, gyro sensors, and the new HD but is included. Another difference with this
Switch allows gamers to play games wherever rumble feature, which can convey highly re- and the pro controller is the Joy-Cons go on
and whenever they want. alistic feelings such as ice cubes in a glass. and off the grip so this is interchangeable not
Some features are exclusive to either the left like the pro controller. The Mario Kart wheel
What makes the Nintendo Switch Unique or right one. The left includes a screenshot is the last currently available grip. The wheel
is its ability to switch between the different button and the right one includes an IR Cam- is simple, it is just a steering-wheel shaped
modes: TV mode, handheld mode, and table- era, the home button and a scanner for Nin- mold that holds a Joy-Con each, pick up two
top mode. While on the go, people can play on tendo’s interactive figurines, Amiibo. for $15.00
a screen size of 6.2 inches. In handheld mode,
attach the Joy-Con controllers to both sides of Eighth grader Sumner Nelson has been a Seventh grader Max Keck, a Nintendo cus-
the screen. In tabletop mode, simply detach Nintendo fan for a long time and has high tomer said that the console is innovative, but
them and flip out a built-in kickstand to play. hopes for the console. Nelson said that he is will most likely not provide competition to
At home, slide the screen into the included very optimistic about the Switch, especially other consoles, like the Xbox or Playstation.
dock to play the system on a TV. the first year game lineup.
“I think the console is new and innovative,
Seventh-grade coding and robotics teacher ”The lineup is really strong,” Nelson said. and people will probably like it,” Keck said.
Martin Fish is an early Switch owner and said “It’s doing almost as much in this first year “Some will say it is gimmicky and not like
that it meshes extremely well with his day to as the Wii U (did) in its entire lifetime, with it, but it will be received well overall. I don’t
day life. it having a main series Zelda game, the main think it will compete directly with (other con-
series 3D Mario game, and Splatoon 2, the soles). It won’t be an Xbox, but it will be a
“It already fits better than any other con- new (Intellectual Property). It’s got a bunch completely new category. While the Xbox is
sole I’ve ever owned,” Fish said. “The reason of indie games at launch. I know it has Super meant for only one kind of play, the Switch is
I was excited about it was because it allowed Bomberman R, Binding of Isaac, and some very versatile and can be used in lots of situ-
me to play console quality games away from ations. ”
the TV. I don’t always have access to a TV so

4M April 2017

Photo by Desiree Downing Personalized
learning
Seventh grader Kylie Corcoran questions the cloudy water found in the school drinking fountain. implemented in
classrooms
Students shy away from drinking cloudy water
Kiera Doran | Staff Writer
Desiree Downing | Staff Writer to your mouth because there said that she thinks the water can- Yamha Sami | Staff Writer
Abby Walton | Staff Writer could be types of bacteria or not be due to air bubbless and that
funguses growing in the pipes the water fountains are not fully Independent. Self-paced. Teacher-
Unclean pipes, dirty spouts, leading people to possible illness- clean. free.
negative judgments. es,” Moore said. “I think that they
clean them, but I don’t think that “I don’t think that water can Personalized learning has become
Mason Middle School students they use proper cleaning materials have air in the water because that a learning trend at Mason Middle
are starting to believe that the wa- because the rust and mold around makes no sense,” Corcoran said. School that was implemented at the
ter is unclean and unsanitary due them (the water fountains) should “The lakes and oceans have air beginning of this school year, hop-
to the white or cloudy color found not be there if they did.” in them, but they aren’t white. I ing to give students a more tailored
in the water fountains. also think the janitors clean the learning experience. with personal-
Many people think that the water fountains just not the spout ized learning, the students would
Less and less students are drink- white water residue is due to the because it is a hard place to reach.” teach themselves, with the teacher
ing from water fountains, and one water having extra minerals built being the advisor.
of the causes is the white, cloudy up in the spout or in the pipes. In order to ensure safe drinking
water. Seventh grader Nicholas Seventh grade math teacher Mika water, Mason Middle School anual- Eighth grader Erica Fennimore, is
Hawk believes the water has no Snider said that the white water is ly tests the water, and tests always not a fan of this trend, as she prefers
point being there if no one will strange. come back safe for consumption. a teacher to instruct the class.
drink it. Head custodian Paul Cunningham
“I find it (the white water) said the water isn’t actually cloudy “I don’t like it because I need
“I feel like it’s unsanitary,” Hawk interesting and weird and I don’t but that some minerals do end up someone to give me instructions, or
said. “Also I feel like nobody re- drink out of the water fountain,” in the pipes. directions, or else I’ll get distracted,”
ally wants to drink the water so Sinder said. “There are probably Fennimore said. “I need a really
it’s kind of a waste. It’s not bad to just some minerals that are built “A lot of times there is an strict guideline to follow, and some
have, but it’s a waste to have water up in it I’d imagine, though I’m actuator in there and it’s really kind of authority.”
that nobody’s going to drink.” not sure.” not cloudy water,” Cunningham
said. “It’s all tiny little air bubbles. Personalized learning is used
Some students believe that the White water can occur when lots (The water is) very good quality, mostly in science classes, but eighth
pipes are the problem. Eighth of tiny air bubbles make the water sometimes the city flushes the fire grader Maryam Shinwari said she
grader Tori Moore said that the white. However, some students hydrants which causes the pipes would prefer it also being integrated
cloudy water is due to the un- think the white water cannot be to rattle around and then we get into math.
cleanliness of the piping. due to” too much air in the pipes”. some sediment in there, but it
Seventh grader Kylie Corcoran goes away within a day.” “I think math would be good for
“I just think they need to clean personalized learning because some
out the pipes that leads the water kids are naturally good at math and
they might pick up things fast,”
Shinwari said. “So they could just
keep moving forward with personal-
ized learning.”

Eighth grade science teacher Ali-
son Sears said there should be a bal-
ance between personalized and tradi-
tional styles of learning.

“Both practices have benefits for
student learning,” Sears said. “I be-
lieve some concepts need more
teacher direction and others can be
personalized to give the ownership
of learning to the student.”

Seventh grader Kennedy Rader
said personalized learning is having
a positive outcome for both students
and teachers.

“I think it’s a lot easier for the
teachers because they don’t have to
focus on the entire class and they
can focus on the students who aren’t
understanding what they’re learn-
ing,” Rader said. “Then they can let
the students who do understand the
topic move ahead, and do what they
need to do.”

April 2017 M 5

Students use College Credit Plus to get a head start on high school

Lincoln Edsall | Staff Writer really pressuring kids. Their parents already on the students and adding
As the Mason school district grows, are pressuring them to get better college classes on top of that is un-
harder work and more challenging grades and take harder classes.” necessary at this age.
class options are available to middle High School freshmen Leon Chang “I’m not fond of (college credit
schoolers. This empowers students to partook in College Credit Plus as a plus),” Schubert said. “I feel that
expand their knowledge and creativ- middle schooler and agreed with Van we’re already putting too much
ity, but it may also cause them harm. Neste about feeling pressure from pressure on middle school kids, and
College Credit Plus is a program others. I think a lot of kids aren’t ready for
that enables students in high school, “Of course I feel that pressure,” that pressure, aren’t ready for that
and now in middle school, to take Chang said. “The herd mentality of level of academics. Their growing up
college classes. This and similar pro- Mason is a huge pressure. If you don’t too fast.”
grams that allow kids to take harder take a certain path, it’s very easy to Guidance counselor Lindsey Sweat
classes may add pressure to students feel left out and behind.” said that is important for kids to
at a young age and keep them from Chang also said that College Credit have a balance between their school
doing other things they enjoy. Plus can be worth it, but you must lives and their social lives.
Seventh grader Colin Van Neste make sure it is class that is really “I think it’s important to have a bal-
said that lots of kids are putting worth taking in the long run. ance because you should challenge
school before being kids after seeing “If you really want to take it, make yourself academically, I think that’s
their parents’ accomplishments and sure it’s worth your time,” Chang really important,” Sweat said. “But I
degrees. said. “I took Chemistry because it is a think it’s also important for kids to
“What pressures (students to take prerequisite to AP Chemistry, a class develop themselves socially through
harder classes) is their parents work- I really want to take.” extra curricular and spending time
ing at such big companies like P&G,” Even if it is worth taking, the with family. I think it’s really impor-
Van Neste said. “With their scientific pressure is still there. Seventh grade tant for kids to find a balance, but
and with their academic degrees, it’s language arts and social studies thethCathcaarntebreSrcehaolloy ltsoPurgohgfraormthSetmat.”e Photo by Lincoln Edsall
teacher Melissa Schubert said that at Educational Agencies grants
Seventh grader Colin Van Neste prepares to

the middle school a lot of pressure is join College Credit Plus program at M.M.S.

Middle School teachers want to #make language arts great again

Teachers hope innovative techniques will
motivate language arts students

Shreya Vemula | Staff Writer “What was turned in I editing worksheets to expand
deemed to be less than ade- grammar and cognition skills.
Photo by Shreya Vemula Donald Trump isn’t the quate work,” Carraher said. “I Seventh grade Language Arts
only one who can make had a 20 minute to 30 minute teacher Eric Schatzle said that
Seventh grade Language Arts teacher Joseph Carra- things great again. rant on what I believed needed the weekly editing and read-
her instructs students at Mason Middle School. to be done differently for you ings have improved students’
#MakeLanguageArtsGreat- to live up to your potential in grammar and ability to under-
Again-- it’s a hashtag meant terms of Language Arts.” stand complex texts.
to connect with students and
invigorate interest in lan- Seventh grader Colin Camp- “He has seen some great
guage arts with a humorous bell supports #MLAGA and things happen with that so I
front. Started in November, said it became necessary due have started that process as
seventh grade Language Arts to the lack of effort on the stu- well,” Schatzle said.
teacher Joseph Carraher’s dents’ part, and that it will help
#MLAGA has given him a students take more a genuine Carraher said that he tells
new way to connect with his interest in Language Arts. students to pretend that their
students about the progress work will be seen by the en-
of Language Arts at the Ma- “It’s good that he’s promot- tire world in order to motivate
son Middle School. ing something to make Lan- them to work hard.
guage Arts great again,” Camp-
Carraher said that it was bell said. “Some kids don’t “If you want to be viewed
the absence of endeavors and really like it and it makes kids as sort of sloppy and don’t re-
underwhelming scores for want to do Language Arts.” ally put forth that much ef-
the Research Assessment that fort, then that’s how you’ll
brought forth #MLAGA. He Carraher has started using be perceived if you give me
said he was frustrated with news articles from Common- something like that,” Carraher
the lack of effort and hopes Lit, Newsela, and the New York said. “But if you want to be per-
that #MLAGA will motivate Times Upfront magazine to ceived as diligent, hardwork-
students to turn in work of a provide students with rigorous ing, and intrusively motivated,
higher quality. text and comprehension ques- then you’re going to give me
tions. He also added weekly something worthy of that.”

M6 April 2017
Feature

Makeup used as tool for self expression and creativity

Abby Fulton | Staff Writer was pretty comfortable in saying, ‘This is me, take people or trying to keep up, I think that’s a differ-
Hannah Lohmueller | Staff Writer it or leave it.’ ” ent reason.”

Powder isn’t the only thing being pressed into Seventh grader Brady Billhorn said that girls Johns said that she likes seeing more guys
a mold. can sometimes wear too much makeup, but it doing makeup as an outlet for their creativ-
doesn’t affect him. ity.
Students at MMS have been feeling the pres-
sure of society’s expectations, resulting in a “I feel like they wear too much makeup some- “I’ve been seeing more (guys wearing
stronger push to wear makeup. In a 2012 study times,” Billhorn said. “It doesn’t really makeup) recently - - I think it’s cool that
conducted by the Renfrew Center Foundation, 38 more people are discovering makeup as an
percent of girls start wearing makeup between bother me very much, they can if they want to.” art form,” Johns said. “I love to see people be
the ages of eight and 13. These girls feel the need Some girls feel pressured to wear makeup, yet creative with it and make new looks. I think
to alter their features for the purpose of better fit- guys who want to wear makeup feel pressured not that it’s cool that more people are discover-
ting American beauty standards. to. Even though this might be the case, it’s becom- ing it.”
ing more common to see guys wearing makeup.
Eighth grader Isabella Johns said that she wears Eighth grader Mayank Naik said that he only Naik said that other boys who are self-con-
makeup because it makes her feel better about feels self-conscious wearing makeup around peo- scious or have an interest shouldn’t be afraid
her appearance. ple that aren’t his friends. to wear makeup.
“I feel judged by guys mostly because it’s not a
“It makes me feel more confident in the way I normal thing,” Naik said. “I usually get called out “From my experience I’ve been made fun
look,” Johns said. “It’s mostly my choice - it’s just for something if they know, so I usually don’t tell of,” Naik said. “But if you’re a guy, it’s nor-
something I like doing and I want to do. If I want- people about it.” mal to wear makeup and you shouldn’t feel
ed to, I wouldn’t wear makeup.” Shaffer said that it’s fine for both boys and girls scared to wear makeup in public.”
to wear makeup as long as they are doing it for
Health teacher Kimberly Schaffer said that she the right reasons. Johns said that it’s important to understand
was confident in her appearance when she was in “If they have skin problems or they’re trying that wearing makeup is your decision, not
middle school. to cover some kind of blemishes, people can be- others.
come very self-conscious,” Shaffer said. “If people
“I was pretty comfortable in my own skin,” do it to make themselves feel better, that’s one “I don’t think it’s a decision of when you
Shaffer said. “I didn’t feel the need to cover my aspect of it. If they’re doing it to impress other should start wearing makeup,” Johns said.
face or hide from certain aspects of who I was. I “It’s mostly when you want to start wearing
makeup and when you start to find interest
in makeup.”

Nostalgia from past trends connects teachers and students

Betsy Areddy | Staff Writer participated in that fad,” Mills said. “If I see certain being remembered and appreciated once again,”
Caroline Bishop | Staff Writer games or the clothing or the types of music that Layton said.
were popular a long time ago, it makes me nos-
This time, we’re going back to the past instead of talgic and think back to those memories and it
“Back to the Future.” makes me happy.”
Seventh grader Valerie Allen said she has seen
Crazes from the 1990’s are coming back to Ma- hairstyles from the 1980s in the halls of MMS.
son Middle School and making a booming state- “I see girls wearing super high ponytails ev-
ment in classrooms. Students are bringing these ery day and I know that they were popular in
trends back in different ways. Converse shoes have the 80s,” Allen said. ”I started to see high po-
become a fashion statement, and fidget toys are nytails come back around the middle of sixth
reminiscent of Rubik’s Cubes. The trend resurfaces grade. There are definitely many similarities to
when students see it around their school again. 80’s ponytails because they are very high up on
Seventh grade language arts teacher Sierra Paine your head and you normally poof out your hair
said she witnessed the return of Converse shoes. around your ponytail which is the same as in
the 80’s. The differences I think are that people
“(Converse) started off when my mom was grow- nowadays don’t wear them to the side as much as
ing up and they came back when I was in high they do right on top.”
school,” Paine said. “I was in high school (during Eighth grader Vehda Rastogi said that she
the) 2000s and now they’re back again.” would pick Converse over regular sneakers any
day due to their popularity.
Seventh grade math teacher Chad Layton said “I have Converse and I get shoes based on the
he remembers trends from when he was in middle brand,” Rastogi said. “If there was a normal pair
school. of sneakers v.s. Converse, I would get Converse.
Probably (just) because they’re converse.”
“Going to middle school dances, we always used Students have gotten to see forgotten fads of
to get together and get dressed,” Layton said. “We past decades through these returning trends, and Photo by Caroline Bishop
would put on our Zubaz pants and tight roll them have a chance to see the value of them. Seventh grader Valerie Allen plays with a Rubik’s Cube.
and put on our Eastlands before we (left).”
“It’s like a piece of history that’s coming back and
Seventh grade science teacher Elizabeth Mills
said seeing returning fads makes her have memo-
ries of when the trend was popular. “

“It just brings up memories that I’ve had when I

April 2017 M 7

aking up inds
their

Students debate merits of public and private high schools

Riley Johansen | Staff Writer Photo by Riley Johansen
Students are educating themselves when it
Eighth grader Trevor Tiemeyer discusses options for high school with counselor Linsdey Sweat.
comes to their education.
As the end of the school year approaches and path. Eighth grade sisters Katrina and Ainsley sand kids in seventh and eighth grade? So, here
Scheidler are among the ones deciding to stay. probably more people will be willing to do it, and
Mason Middle School’s eighth graders are decid- Katrina Scheidler said that they feel Mason is the so there’s more opportunity for people to be able
ing where those defining years will take place, better choice for them, offering the same, if not to have that club and be a part of something re-
some are choosing to migrate from Mason’s pub- better, opportunities. lated to their school.”
lic school system to private schools.
“Education wise, I don’t really see much of a Sweat said exploring your options, learning
Eighth grade counselor Lindsey Sweat said that difference,” Katrina said. “I feel there is a better more about the decision, and being comfortable
students often approach her with questions about opportunity for education here, and this is where with the choice is an important key to making the
selecting the right educational path for high all my friends are. I feel like there are the same, best choice that will define you in the most posi-
school. or more opportunities at Mason than there is at a tive way.
private school so why move?”
“I hear tons about ‘is this the right path for me?’ “I think it is (important) to explore your op-
and ‘should I take honors?’ I always tell the stu- Ainsley Scheidler said she enjoys the size of Ma- tions,” Sweat said. “Go shadow, if you can’t decide
dents, if you think it’s too much, it’s probably too son because of its ability to offer more ways to get at first, go twice, go three times, talk to kids who
much,” Sweat said. “I get stuff about the amount involved in the school and create memories. were there. It’s an important decision, but worse
of honors and electives, some kids about deciding comes to worse, you can always come back, you
to go to private school or go to Mason, and even “If I want to have a choice to go to private school can always go to another school if it’s not working
about extracurricular activities.” or Mason, I will still choose Mason because of all out. I think it’s really just about exploring your
the clubs that you can join and be a part of some- options. It’s whatever is the best fit for that child.
Deciding where to go to school affects not just thing so big and beyond you,” Ainsley said. “For I don’t think there is a clear cut say that a private
the student, but the family as well. Eighth grader example, here we have Cupcake Club, and there or public school is better, and I think it really just
Faye Cuasay will be attending Cincinnati Hills may only be one person at a private school want- depends on the child.”
Christian Academy (CHCA), a Christian private ing to do it versus here there is what, two thou-
school, next year.

Studies show 79 percent of private high school
students attend a school with a religiously based
curriculum, and Cuasay said this factored into her
parents’ decision about her education.

“My parents wanted me to go to a private school
because they are very religious,” Cuasay said.
“When they lived in the Philippines, they grew up
in a very religious church and family, and they
want the same type of background for me.”

Eighth grader Trevor Tiemeyer is attending
Saint Xavier, a Jesuit school, starting freshman
year. Tiemeyer said his brother impacted his de-
cision on where and how he will spend his high
school years.

“My brother is an alumni from (Saint Xavier)
and he graduated last year, which is a reason I’d
wanted to attend because he thought it was very
beneficial,” Tiemeyer said. “But when my brother
went to Saint X he cut off all relationships with
his friends so he didn’t have any friends outside
of Xavier and hockey. I have been trying to keep
those relationships with my friends so I can still
have some of my old friends before entering a
new school year.”

While some decide to leave for private school,
other students choose to stay on the public school

M8 April 2017

Finstagrams bring honesty to students’ social media

Mariah Norman | Staff Writer often than they usually post,” Hurley said. Photo by Mariah Norman
“If they post too often or things that no one Eighth grader Lauren Statzer poses for a selfie.
An Instagram account made to be fake may really cares about (then I unfollow). Like
be the realest you’ll ever find. someone posted their ‘food of the day’ and I “On your regular account you can’t post (all
(unfollowed because) I don’t care what (peo- the time), so a spam account is to express
In 2010, Kevin Systrom, the creator of Insta- ple are) bringing to lunch.” yourself a little bit more. But still, a lot of
gram, created a massively diverse platform of people think your posts (on the spam) are
over 600 million accounts created for differ- Hurley said that although she enjoys view- weird. Maybe there really isn’t a safe place on
ent reasons - including spam accounts. Spams ing spam accounts, she wouldn’t make one of social media.”
or fake Instagrams (finstagrams) are created her own.
to post genuine personal content for close
friends to enjoy, typically at a higher frequen- “I just don’t think I’d want people to know
cy than a regular account. what I’m doing every second of the day,”
Hurley said.
Seventh grader Jose Rodriguez said he be-
gan being interested in spam accounts once Eighth grader Lauren Statzer said that
he started noticing other students creating though some people use their spam accounts
them. to escape drama, it follows wherever they go.
“I’ve followed spam accounts, but I don’t
have one,” Rodriguez said. “My friends started “There’s been a lot of drama,” Statzer said.
making them and it kind of caught on.” “If you post something and your friend
thinks it’s about them, they’ll text you when
Eighth grader Ashley Hurley said that it’s not really about them. But then they have
though they can be a fun way to express hard feelings towards you.”
yourself, spam accounts often run the risk of
irritating followers. Statzer said that no matter where you post
on social media, there will always be judge-
“(It’s) fun for people to share their life more ment.

“Social media has standards,” Statzer said.

Vibrant hair dye becoming new trend among middle schoolers

Nora Binkis | Staff Writer having it colored because when you wake up keep your hair healthy and you use protein
you can brush it out and people will be like, treatments and everything like that, then it’s
Teenagers are dyeing to fit in. ‘oh your hair is so cool because it’s dyed.” just as healthy as all over color.”
Middle schoolers are now trying to express
themselves through their hairstyles and col- Laura Vaughn, a cosmetology instructor at The major cause of hair breakage/damage
or. Dyed hair could significantly impact a per- Aveda Fredric’s Institute, said as long as your is through chemical hair treatments such as
son’s physical appearance, but is unique to a scalp and hair are healthy, it’s okay to dye dyeing and straightening, according to kid-
person and can express who they are. your hair, even at a young age. shealth.org. Eighth grader Molly Shields said
Orchestra teacher Kristen Thiel said decid- hair dying can be damaging, but when dyed, it
ing to dye hair takes time and consideration. “I was ten (when I first dyed my hair), so I adds to your look.
“It does require quite a bit of upkeep as you think it just depends on when you can take
can see your roots grow out and then it looks care of your hair,” Vaughn said. “Really you “I (have dyed my hair) purple, yellow, orange,
bad,” Thiel said. “Make sure it’s something can get it colored at any time. It depends on red, blue, dark blue, and turquoise,” Shields said.
that you really really want to do. But it’s awe- the scalp. You need to make sure the scalp “I think (hair dyeing is) just something different
some once you have it-- it’s really fun.” is healthy, but if the hair’s healthy, typically or something new just to add on.”
Middle school students are dyeing their hair people go about 3-4 weeks between colorings,
to embrace their fun side in a fashionable way. so I think that’s okay.” Thiel said that with hair dyeing, people can
For seventh grader Isabel Frischhertz, a first express themselves with their hair and still be in
time hair dyer, it was a hard decision to color A new trend is dying hair more vibrant/ fashion.
her hair because of the daily upkeep, but she candy colors rather than natural colors. Ce-
loved the pink-color it gave to her hair. lebrities such as Katy Perry and Kylie Jen- “I think it’s another way of expressing your
“You have to know what you’re getting into, ner have dyed their hair vibrant colors from uniqueness,” Thiel said. “Fashion has been go-
it takes a while and it’s harder to maintain mint green to cotton candy pink, which is ing through phases--it always has. And the way
than normal hair,” Frischhertz said. “If you influencing teens’ color choices. According you dress expresses your personality a lot too, but
have a certain hairstyle that you do every day to Vaughn, vibrant colors don’t damage your fashion is also very either you’re in or you’re not. I
like a braid or straight hair, it’s much easier hair more than natural colors. feel like dyeing your hair is just a different way of
saying okay, so I’m kind of fitting in, but I’m also
“(The color) doesn’t really matter; it just de- doing my own thing as well.”
pends on how healthy you keep your hair,”
Vaughn said. “So if you do highlights but you


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