NOCTILUCA February 2017

Inspire from Within teaches athletes to become leaders

Before-school program encourages mental grit By Ally Price

When training for a sport, any athlete knows how impor- tant it is to train yourself phys- ically, but what many athletes neglect is the mental strength required to succeed. Through a program called Inspire from Within, several North students are learning mental skills to help them succeed as athletes and leaders. “Inspire from Within in- volves strengthening our men- tal focus,” said Kylie Beecher, Appleton North junior and participant in the program. “We’ve talked about confi- dence and victorious moments in our sporting careers, and It was a week of cultural awareness here at Appleton North, and for one particular student, Saul Roselaar, Global Week was an opportunity to share the numerous lessons he learned while traveling through Israel this summer. Roselaar, now a senior at North, was selected to be a fel- low for BYFI, the Bronfman Youth Fellowship in Israel, an organization focused around a five week seminar in Israel con- necting 26 North American ju- niors each year. Roselaar spent his summer studying Jewish texts, politics, and social issues. “BYFI is a pluralistic fel- lowship, the goal of the fel- lowship is simply to connect diverse Jewish youth,” said Roselaar. “There was no intent to convince the fellows of any particular view, in fact, many of the educators fundamen- tally disagreed with each other. While some fellows returned more sure in their faith, others returned highly cynical of even the idea of God.” He also had numerous opportunities to meet Appleton North students prepare presentations By Sophie Plzak

Inspire from Within leader Lucas Jadin and student Ari Holzem help mentor students with special needs at an Inspire Event. Photo by Asher Edwards

why we play the sports we do.” The program, which is simi- lar to what League of Lead- ers was in the past, is lead by

Lucas Jadin, a teacher at Ka- leidoscope and cross country and girls basketball coach at Appleton North, and Mat-

thew Hechel, an Appleton North teacher and football, powerlifting, and track coach. Through its focus on sports

psychology, brain science, and student leadership, Inspire

North students raise money to help females in need through Days for Girls organization By Fatima Ali See Price , page 2

Global Week provides students with opportunities to learn about culture

When joining Gender Equality Club, senior Sophie Plzak never imagined that she would become part of an- other organization, one that would help girls, not just in America, but also around the world, especially in under- privileged countries. After researching many charities and talking to the workers at the Harbor House, Plzak started generating many ideas. “One day, I watched this video of how homeless wom- en in inner cities have to make their own tampons be- cause the drug store brands are too expensive for them, and there aren’t many ways to obtain free tampons and pads,” Plzak said. After looking through the Days for Girls website, Plzak found a multitude of resourc- es, in order to organize an Appleton North High School chapter of Days for Girls. “So many girls through- out the world have to miss school, since they physically don’t have any materials that can help them deal with the blood. In this organization,

Saul Roselaar, left, meets with Ali Abu-Awwad, Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, and Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld through the Bron- fman Youth Fellowship in Israel. Photo by Isaiah Milbauer

we help create products that are reusable and easy for these women to carry around in a backpack so we can help restore a woman’s dignity and keep them from feel- ing shame brought on by the stigma.” After Plzak presented this idea at a Gender Equality Club meeting, many mem- bers started exploring the Days for Girls website, so they could get started on cre- ating a DFG (Days for Girls) kit to send to these countries. The website gives a descrip- Sophie Plzak, Raven Wilson, and Yasmeen Ashour are con- tributors to the Days for Girls program at Appleton North. Photo by Brennan Arnold

with important Jewish and non- Jewish leaders, including gov- ernment officials, authors, and social activists. His favorite quote of the sum- mer was from Rabbi Schlesing- er, who said, “a lie is a part of the truth masquerading as the whole truth.” “Bold claims are made about every group” said Roselaar. “And usually these claims are true a vast minority of the time, it is important to see the larger picture.” He also explained oth- er ideas he elaborated on during the presentation, including the political climate of Israel, the perceived relationship between religion and morality, enlight- enment philosophies impact on

religion, and what could be con- sidered highly heretical views on religion. Roselaar’s presenta- tion, though specific to his own experience, reached many areas of culture relevant to students here at North. Roselaar’s presentation wasn’t the only one to bring global awareness to North High School. Exchange student Ai- nie Tabua presented about her home country the Philippines. There were also presentations on the orchestra trip by Nina Landowski, Lexi Asare, and Kate Peregrine, Machu Picchu by Collin Squier and Senora P. Meyer, and performances by

See Plzak , page 2

See Ali , page 2

NEWS Appleton, Wisconsin February 2017 Volume XXII

Issue IV Page 2

from Within teaches its two major lessons, the science of achievement and the art of ful- fillment. “We want to give kids the knowledge and skills to flour- ish mentally,” said Jadin. “They grow closer to the pur- pose that they want to achieve and help people in the commu- nity to do the same.” Participants in Inspire from Within include a sophomore, junior, and senior from each sport offered at North who are nominated by their coaches. They meet twice a month be- fore school to do activities and learn mental skills that are per- tinent not only to their sports but to all aspects of their lives. “The things I have learned have really helped me to be- come more aware of what I do, say, and why I do or say it, which has in turn lead me to an- Jazz Band. Life Skills presented a song and dance. Their goal was to educate regular educa- tion students on what their abili- ties are, and teach students to understand that they are more alike than different from other students, according to Madame Klein. Other clubs and indi- viduals that presented were La- tino Club, Girl Up, and Officer Enriquez. These presentations were held on Jan. 30 and 31. Plzak, Global week, from page 1 Price, Inspire from Within, from page 1

goal of his presentation, saying ] Nicaragua—Juan Altamirano Orchestra Trip: Wales, Ireland tion on what the organization does, where these products are sent, and how exactly mem- bers can run their own chapter of this organization. Many volunteers have al- ready started selling cookies, brownies, doughnuts, and oth- er baked goods in order to raise money. Blue Moon Emporium has also donated 100 dollars to help facilitate this organiza- tion’s goals. Plzak said that they ultimately want to raise $500, and right now they have raised almost half. At the end of the year, the members want to have created 50 kits to send to different countries. Eventu- ally they want this activity to continue year long for as long as possible. For more information on how to help, visit www.days forgirls.org or talk to Sophie Plzak about donating to the or- ganization. Meetings are held weekly at Copper Rock. Ali, Days for Girls, from page 1

alyze if my actions are benefit- ing me and other people,” said Inspire from Within participant and Appleton North senior Jo- siah Vandenberg. “Through this new knowledge, it has changed me for the better and enhanced my character as I strive not just for success for myself but also for the success of others.” Next year, Inspire fromWith- in will be transforming from a before-school program to a credit course offered at Apple- ton North. The course, which is known as Mindset Mastery, will allow students to gain more depth into the subjects being touched on this year. “Mindset Mastery will help student athletes to clear their mind from any outside fac- tors and focus on their mental state,” said Beecher, who will be taking the class next year. The class will be a full credit but will only meet once every two weeks, with the rest being online coursework to be com- pleted between meetings. This will allow kids to fit the course into their schedules more eas- ily, but real-life activities will still help make the experience meaningful. On Feb. 1 through Feb. 3, North’s foreign language class- es viewed a foreign film in the quad, titled “The Nightin- gale,” a story about a man and his granddaughter who walk through the forest with a caged bird. This film was produced by French and Chinese filmmak- ers and is spoken in Chinese. In 2013 it was selected as the Chi- nese entry for best foreign film at the Academy Awards. Mme. Klein explained that she and the group of teachers in charge of Global Week’s or-

choose what they really want to spend their time on.” Both the current program and the future class focus on helping students improve their mental health and leadership, working to strengthen skills that are important not just in sports but in all aspects of life. “The material makes you think differently about who you are, what you do, and why you do it,” said Vandenberg. “It applies to all of life as you go in depth into what makes suc- cess, positivity, prosperity, and overall abundant happiness and contentment.” Above, Josiah Vandenberg swims the butterfly, and on left, Kylie Beecher goes for the shot. Photo above by Ron Page and on left by J.D. Sieg Spain Summer Exchange—Will Scheffler Girl Up Philippines—Ainie Tabua Bahamas—Genevieve Frank India—Hersh Pareek California to Wisconsin—Nacho Enriquez with North students on issues

Hopefully you’ve been able to meet some of the short-term goals that you’ve set for the year! Remember to keep up with your long-term goals in extracurriculars and aca- demics as meeting them will help you the most in the future. If you took the practice PSAT in Octo- ber, the results are now in! Although you won’t be using these scores directly in your college application, how you scored can tell you what your strengths and weaknesses are early, helping you prepare for future tests like the ACT Aspire this spring and beyond. “Through the class, students will have a chance to men- tor kids with special needs, learn from mentors in their own lives, and explore men- tal health in their own lives,” said Jadin. “Opportunities are fairly open-ended, so they can ganization reached out to com- munity members and foreign exchange students to share their experiences with North students, and educate students on cultures they may not hear about otherwise, such as Rose- laar’s experience. “So much of what I talk about is applicable to all major reli- gions, philosophies, and cul- tures,” said Roselaar. His mes- sage to students was much more than a recap of a vacation — he shared valuable lessons and thought provoking questions

Global Week Presentation

Machu Picchu—Collin Squier, Paula Meyer Israel—Saul Roselaar Disabilities Awareness— Janeal Lee Hmong Club Life Skills Latino Club

Jazz Band Indian Club

relevant to all parts of life. Roselaar elaborated on the

“I wanted people to come out of this respecting nuance.”

9 10 11 12 Now that you’ve College preparation advice for your second semester By Erik Bakken

In February and March, you will be taking the ACT with writing and the ACT Work Keys tests, which are important deci- sion factors for colleges and workplaces across the country. Starting to study for these tests now is recommended, and if you’ve already begun studying, try to increase the studying that you’re doing up to full section tests to pinpoint your strengths and weakness- es. And, now that the PSAT results are back, using these preliminary scores can help you fo- cus your studies for both the SAT and ACT.

Most, if not all, of your col- lege applications are likely completed by now, so you’ve cleared one of the biggest hurdles of your search pro- cess. If you still have applica- tions left, try to submit them as soon as possible so that you have more time during second semester for other items such as searching for scholarships. Once you’ve been accepted, one of your primary deciding factors will be the financial aid that you receive from the school and outside sources. Now is the best time to apply for other scholarships, so make sure to pick up the updated schol- arship list in the guidance office.

chosen courses for next year, continue to investigate your opportunities at North both through extracur- riculars and classes. You have another semester ahead to learn more about your interests, so make sure that you are ac- tively involved as soon as possible. Although your college applica- tions seem a long way off, demonstrating consistent involvement and interest since your freshman year will be a major asset in your résumé.

Each month, the Noctiluca will provide college advice for each grade level at Apple- ton North in the “Noctiluca University”. Advice will be specifically tailored to each month in order to provide the most timely help. Juniors and seniors: pick up a copy of college readiness timeline in the guidance office for more in-depth information regard- ing the college application process.

OPINIONS Appleton, Wisconsin February 2017 Volume XXII

Issue IV Page 3

Noctiluca Editorial

Misleading news propaganda must be eliminated

fights to inform and empower every man and woman), Presi- dent Trump demands that the American people have ears only for his words. There is no call more dangerous. And the justification for officials’ alter- native facts is unprecedented; projecting objectively false information to the American people as a sort of truth enables the government to continue to procure misinformation while officials carry out different ac- tions. We cannot simply trust the word of one man. We must perpetually search for truth in news and support independent journalism. This predicament surround- ing the promotion of mis- leading propaganda must be eradicated. Recent political de- cisions, discussions, opinions and actions have been heav- ily influenced by this misin- formation, particularly during the presidential election and President Trump’s inaugura- tion. In order to develop well- informed opinions and gain re- alistic comprehensions of the state of American society, we must learn to sift through the pseudo facts and identify val- id sources. This is easier said than done. How can you pin- point who is providing the hard facts, who is incorporating bias into their reporting or who is simply procuring false infor- mation and presenting it as re- liable news coverage? At first glance, it is difficult to come to a solidified conclusion, but

thus antithetical to education and learning. However, this cynicism inevitably collapses on it- self, because the production of knowledge is only useful insofar as it improves the hu- man experience. If final tests are allowed to invade the cel- ebration of the New Year (or other associated holidays), they become a barrier to our ability to fundamentally en- joy our lives during a time when we should enjoy them the most. This would be an unfortunate oversight in our learning experience. I do not know who decides when the term dates are, but whoever you are, I entreat you to let students and educators maximize their enjoyment of winter break by ending the term before it starts, however possible. I cannot imagine a scenario where those two ex- tra weeks make so much of a difference. Moreover, our beliefs must monitored as we read news; we must be conscientious of our inherent biases. Material that aligns with our opinions may not be correct, but we could easily be manipulated into be- lieving misinformation simply because it supports an idea we support. Think about this: it is significantly easier to believe your cat broke your lamp if you are a dog person and have developed a closer connection with your dog. We must re- main conscientious of our per- sonal and implicit biases as we strive for a progressive society. We must eradicate fake news, discourage alternative facts and seek objective information in an effort to establish rights for all. if you take the time and read articles published from both political perspectives, objec- tive facts can be obtained. Of course, it is never exactly en- joyable when perusing through the opposing viewpoint. But is that not one of society’s is- sues, as well? Polarization has become rampant within America and has increased the vulnerability of people with rigid political categorizations. We need to be more tolerant of diverse thought because (if we value theAmerican institutions of our rights to the freedom of speech) everyone is entitled to their own opinion and it chal- lenges us personally to be more conscientious of our individual rationales.

Having the end of the term two weeks after winter break obviates the utility of an ad- ministratively scheduled break; a bit like how drinking a can of soda thirty minutes after you brush your teeth is counterproductive to dental health. Most of the discussion around the timing of finals relative to winter break usu- ally centers around its impact on test-taking. Everyone has his or her own philosophy; for every student who prefers to relax on break without a week of testing looming on the ho- rizon, to “get it over with” so to speak, there is another who sees winter break as an oppor- tunity to prepare for his or her Communion must be the focus of intermissions Social media has become increasingly integrated into so- ciety, which is simultaneously a bane and a blessing. Objec- tively speaking, there has not been a time when communica- tion on a scale this grand could be as efficiently accomplished; the potential to perpetually learn has never been as ac- cessible. It is through online communication that most in- dividuals receive their daily dosage of news; how else can you obtain viable information regarding, say, Syrian refugee health or ethnic crises in South Sudan? State, national and global news highlight the condition of society and illuminate the areas for progressive reform. (Simi- larly, how can a patient address her illness if she is uninformed about its strengths and weak- nesses?) So misleading propa- ganda must be avoided at all costs. As a society founded on progressive values, we must be conscientious of fake news and alternative facts and sift through proclaimed “facts” to discover the concrete and justi- fiable realities of our world “in order to form a more perfect union.” Fake news has been procured People must avoid fake news and alternative facts By Mac Bagwell

Social media communication mediums, such as Twitter, are propagating fake news. Photo illustration by Maeve Salm

tests. In this respect, the entire discussion is moot because it collapses into a clash of per- sonal tastes. However, it would be naive and reductionist to analyze this issue through the narrow framework of grade optimiza- tion. Winter break is a cultur- al institution more so than it is an academic one. The weeks leading up to and including the start of the new calendar year are recognized and celebrated by almost all cultures across the globe, al- beit each in their own differ- ent ways. Celebration of the new year dates back to the Babylonians around 4000 BCE, and thou- sands of years of tradition exist around the celebration of the winter solstice, as can be seen through the dates of such holidays as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Winter break exists so that we can take time to observe with diverse intentions which primarily include: illuminating the malleability of opinions, gaining monetary benefits or fueling partisan divides. An interview conducted by NPR provided the inside story of Justin Coler, a fake news pro- ducer, which explained his rationale behind promoting fake news. His objective was to portray how quickly false news could spread. In ten days, one of his pseudo-news pieces obtained over 1.6 mil- lion views. He commented to NPR, “The people wanted to hear this. So all it took was to write that story,” exemplify- ing the current polarization of American politics. Through ad views on his pages, Coler made anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 a month, which

highlights the concern for the influence of economic prof- its on the production of fake news. Likewise, Coler, who claims the monetary benefits do not influence his participa- tion in this industry, believes the economic incentive would encourage money-seekers to produce fake news. Unfortunately, fake news is not the only misleading infor- mation propagated; alternative facts are frequently spewed from the mouths of current government officials. With President Trump’s rampant claims that objective news sources have become biased falsehoods, legitimate news re- porting is now being demeaned and disregarded. Instead of looking to well-established and independent news (which

First semester finals should be scheduled before winter break

Zoe Throop and Lexi Tierney study for their AP Physics and AP Psychology finals. It would be more advantageous to schedule finals prior to break than after as it would allow students to enjoy needed relaxation. Photo illustration by Maeve Salm

this most integral and historic part of our humanity: our cul- ture. Final tests have no such tradition. To say that winter break is a good time to review for finals is literally an insult, however microscopic, to the

human experience as it is un- derstood everywhere. Cynics may dissent, how- ever. They will say that edu- cation and learning are acul- tural, and to draw upon the power of culture in the dis- cussion of academic terms is

OPINIONS Appleton, Wisconsin February 2017 Volume XXII

Issue V Page 4

The lost art of communication and its influence

Noctiluca Mission Statement The Noctiluca and north noct.com are the student-run news sources of Appleton North High School. Noctiluca and northnoct.com are designated public forums for student expres- sion. Student editors make all content decisions. Noctiluca’s mission is to publish information relevant to its readers and its community. Its goal is to maintain high ethi- cal standards and provide a des- ignated public forum for free and responsible expression of views. Appleton North High School 5000 N. Ballard Road Appleton, WI 54913 Phone: (920) 832-4300 Mr. Ramponi, staff advisor, at: ramponiaaron@aasd.k12. wi.us.

Conversation quality is diminishing, we need conversation

five minute passing times and loud lunches are not ideal for sharing life goals or dissecting each other’s opinions. However, we seem to find a way to make time for the things important to us, and I hope authentic conver- sation will become one of those priorities. But first we must move from skeletal communi- cation to artful conversation. Conversation truly is an art— a lost art to be specific—the ability to engage, to listen, to share stories, to interact. We all know the people that we want to talk to—the people that make us laugh but also make us think. We all know the conversations we like to have—when words and facial expressions are in sync, and it never seems like there’s enough time to say all that wants to be said. So, why is it that these moments with these people have become so rare? By definition, conversation is the “informal exchange of ideas

by spoken words.” Conversa- tion is not just the sharing of words, it’s the sharing of ideas,

her facets. Water is addressed like so: We give thanks to all the wa- ters of the world for quench- ing our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms- waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greet- ings and thanks to the spirit of Water. Now our minds are one. Water is so integral to Native American, specifically Haude- nosaunee, spirituality. It is im- portant for this aspect of the Dakota Access Pipeline’s story to be told. The humanitarian implica- tions of having contaminated or restricted drinking water is clear to all people, whether they are at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation or in Wash- ington D.C. The spiritual and traditional aspects of the access pipeline has been a story less told. It is important to keep in mind the activism and protests seen in Dakota as not just an act to maintain health, but to save a way of life, predating oil use by thousands of years. Although the USACE and the Obama administration made the decision to stop fur- ther building of the pipeline, as other routes are explored, this does not reflect the intents of the current administration. As executive power was trans- ferred, this story is farther from conclusion than apparent. Water is life. Atuné·tlsa tsyuKhiya·wíheˀ ne·n ohne·kánus. Mni Wiconi. Communicating—the mere exchange of words and infor- mation—is clearly different than conversing. “Let us make a special effort to stop commu- nicating with each other, so we can have some conversation.” Mark Twain’s eloquent yet sim- ple words put it so perfectly: we need to stop staring into screens waiting for a sense of closeness and instead, start a conversation. ideas discussed, walking away changed. Texting someone cer- tainly does not evoke this same kind of change. Yet most of our communication is through our screens—empty words that can be misinterpreted due to the lack of body language and facial ex- pression. By relying on texting, we have taken the emotion and receptiveness out of conversa- tion, and eventually we will have taken the importance of real conversations out of our daily lives.

By Annessa Ihde “hey” “what’s up” “nothing much, hbu?” “same”

“cool” “yeah”

After months of activism, protesting, and lobbying at Oceti Sakowin, the Standing Rock Sioux gained a major victory on Dec. 4, not only for their tribe and its people but for all Native American tribes. This victory however was short lived as the current Presidential administration works to negate this success. Under Obama’s administration, the USACE de- nied the access of the Energy Transfer Partner’s permit for constructing a pipeline through lands near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation that would contaminate the drinking water of this tribe and disrupt cultur- ally sacred lands. The Dakota Access Pipe- line was planned to run from North Dakota to Illinois, car- rying 570,000 barrels of crude oil, of which is the dirtiest in the world. This pipeline not only would have transversed through our country’s bread basket, but it would have cut through the ancient, sacred Sioux burial sites, and the Missouri River, which if pol- luted would cut off the water of 10,000 Native Americans on the Standing Rock Reserva- tion. Although the Texas-based corporation denies the poten- tial catastrophe waiting to hap- DAPL conflicts with Native American culture and sanitation You may have laughed at this pathetic attempt at a conver- sation, but there’s also a good chance you have texted these very words. The truth is, in- teracting face to face with oth- ers on an intelligible level has become a rarity. Before you argue…I know we DO talk, but after the obligatory “Hi, how are you” and “Good, how are you,” there are few meaningful words uttered. That said, I realize that By Carter King

the staple of the pre-Columbian diet, they intertwined support- ing one another relying on water. The three sisters helped solidify long term agriculture in tribes, sustaining large popu- lations from one harvest to the next. Canoeing for fish, game, and as highway connection be- tween other tribal lands served as another pillar of life. Water lay the way for food, travel, and communication in a way, which is largely unnoticed. Not only is there traditional impor- tance of water in Haudeno- saunee life, but there is incred- ible spiritual importance. Water plays a large part in Native American creation sto- ries. In many of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) cultures, the Earth was all water, where life existed only below the sur- face. The secrets for creating land and prosperous life lay below, guarded by the water’s surface, where only the best swimmer, amongst animals, had to retrieve it from the ocean floor. The water drums played a crucial part in ceremo- ny and dance. Drums laid out the heartbeat of Mother Earth, and the tones, the water in the drums created, a cry to Mother Earth; water was used in a way to communicate with the inner- self, Mother Earth, and the Creator. In the Kanehelatúksla (pronounced: Gā’nĕdū’slŭ), or the thanks-giving address, wa- ter is directly respected. Different from the holiday Thanksgiving, as it is a literal giving of thanks, prior to any business or meetings, used to appreciate Mother Earth and opinions, and beliefs; the prac- tice of getting to know someone and better yet, being known is fulfilling. A true conversa- tion is marked by all parties walking away thinking of the Students engaging in tech- nological pursuits instead of fostering healthy conversa- tion. Photo illustration by Maeve Salm

Editorial Staff Senior Editor-In-Chief Nora Ptacek Junior Editor-In-Chief Jake Zajkowski Managing Editor Kate Bennett News Editor Ally Price Opinions Editor Maeve Salm Features Editor Henry Ptacek Centerspread Editor Salma Abdel-Azim Olivia Molter Copy Editor Fatima Ali Advertising/Social Media Rachel Sina Graphics Editor Henry Ptacek Online Editor Kate Bennett Investigative Editor Erik Bakken Webdesign Editor Sarah Fleming Advisor Mr. Ramponi Contributors Salma Abdel-Azim Fatima Ali Culture Editor Maddy Schilling Sports Editor Maddie Clark Photography Editor

Dakota Access Pipeline interferes with Native water

pen, recently the Belle Fourche Pipeline leaked 176,000 gal- lons of similar crude oil only 150 miles from the site; along with the roughly 3,300 other pipeline leaks in the United States since 2010, according to PHMSA. Clean water is im- perative for self-care and hy- dration. Even if we, as a coun- try, were to ignore the looming humanitarian crisis, water has a large cultural importance to Native American Tribes. Observing water, or ohne·kánus (pronounced: ō’nĕ- gā’no̅o̅s), as the local Oneida Nation’s language would dic- tate it, from a cultural perspec- tive is key to understanding why these protests are resound- ing so loudly in Indian Coun- try. Both the Oneida and the Standing Rock Sioux believe that water is incredibly sacred. Water has always been integral in daily life, of which occurred between fishing and agricul- ture. The self-sustaining three sisters, corn, beans, and squash, Carter King explains the ben- efits of the Dakota Access Pipline win for Native Ameri- cans . Photo by Salma Abdel- Azim

Nolan Arnold Mac Bagwell Erik Bakken Kate Bennett Maddie Clark Adison Cole Jack Heimerl Kyle Hoffenbecker Annessa Ihde Carter King Addisyn Kohlbeck Devon Lehman Olivia Molter Sophie Plzak Ally Price Henry Ptacek Nora Ptacek Gabe Retzlaff Maeve Salm Maddy Schilling Raven Wilson

FEATURES Appleton, Wisconsin February 2017 Volume XXIII

Issue IV Page 5

Pets help students de-stress for finals

Appleton North students spend time with Bernie during finals week. Photo by Olivia Molter

Humane Society program brings therapy dogs to people under pressure

By Nora Ptacek

– the tree walker coonhound. Watson was a rescue from Mis- sissippi. He arrived in Wiscon- sin via the Bark Bus which, according to the Fox Valley Humane Association’s website, “travels to overcrowded shelters in 15 of the Southern United States to pick up homeless dogs. These dogs, with otherwise un- certain futures, are brought back to Wisconsin where they are assured to find their loving for- ever families.” Watson is one of the dogs who found his forever family. Although Bernie, Stan- ley, and Gus are experienced therapy dogs; some working in the airport, at elementary schools, at the mall, and with the Boys & Girls Club, Watson and Barkley are relatively new to the profession. In fact, Barkley’s visit to Appleton North was one of his first few times working. But one would not be able to tell which dogs were long time therapy dogs and which were just getting started because each is as kind as the next. It is these gentle dogs that really brighten student’s days. “This has been the best day of school I’ve had in four years,” said senior Vincent Olson as he pet one of the dogs.

Did you notice the furry visi- tors at Appleton North during fi- nals week? From pugs, to golden re- trievers, dogs of all sizes from the Fox Valley Humane As- sociation’s Therapy Dog Pro- gram were in the Career Center to help students during finals through an event organized by DECA. Bernadette (Bernie for short), Watson, Barkley, Stan- ley, and Gus all visited during the first two days of finals. But spending time at North isn’t all these therapy dogs do. Many work at multiple events from reading with kids in elemen- tary schools to visiting airports – these Therapy Dogs are hard at work. Although they work though the Fox Valley Humane Association’s program, they all have loving homes. Many, like Bernie, Watson, and Barkley are rescue dogs who went through the Association’s three part training and certification pro- gram. To enter into the program, dogs should be at least 1 year old, know basic commands, and have a calm demeanor. And if there is one trait all these dogs possess it is a gentleness that

Bernie’s kind face eases stu- dents’ stress. Photo by Addisyn Kohlbeck

More online For more pictures from the event, see www.northnoct.com.

Vincent Olson, left, and Nathan Anderson welcome Bernie, a 6-year-old Vizsla, to North during the Fox Valley Humane Asso- ciation’s Therapy Dog event during finals week. Photo by Addisyn Kohlbeck

true to Bernie. “She is always by my side,” Peterson adds as she describes Bernie’s attach- ment. The Petersons adopted Bernie when she was 2.5 years old and she has been with them since. Although the dogs do a great job of remaining calm they do get a little excited to see each other. Bernie hadn’t seen the two pugs, Stanley (8) and Gus (12) in over a year so the dogs were allowed to greet each other for a few minutes before being asked to slow back down again. Wat- son and Bernie are good friends because Peterson’s daughter, Jennifer Kitzman owns Watson She received coaching and practiced almost every day, and was eventually accepted onto the Fond du Lac Blades, a synchronized skate team. Algera traveled around the country with the Blades, competing in competitions. In 2015 Algera went unde- feated in her freestyle com- petition. “If you put in work and re- ally just make sure your mind is set on achieving your goal, you can do it,” Algera said.

wards off stress. “She’s been calm ever since we met her,” Pam Peterson, Bernie’s owner and partner said. The program started with a dog named Gizz- mo, who unfortunately passed two months ago, but now the program has about 45 teams of dogs and owners. For many students, these vis- itors are an opportunity to lift up their day or decrease their stress levels, but for others it’s an op- portunity to challenge some ner- vousness around dogs. No mat- ter the reason, all the dogs will show them love. “She’s very Sophomore Joanna Algera recently became a United States Figure Skating gold medalist. After years of practice and work, she accomplished her goal of earning a gold medal in the ice skating test event “Moves in the Field” held in Eagle River. “Moves in the Field” focus- es on the performer skating in certain patterns on the rink rather than jumps and spins, By Henry Ptacek

very gentle, the worst she would do is lick your hand,” Peterson assured. Bernie – who is, de- spite the greying snout, only 6.5 years old, loves to lick hands. She can catch students in a gig- gle as she runs her soft tongue across their hands. As if in af- firmation of the pets, she raises her paw, a request her owner explains, for a belly rub. Bernie is a Vizsla which is a Hungarian pointer dog. The Vizsla’s are af- fectionately nicknamed “Velcro dogs” because they always want to be with their owner, a nick- name Peterson confirms to be although Algera is no strang- er to freestyle events which include technical spins. She was tested through eight stages of patterns to earn her gold medal. Only three percent of peo- ple in the event even make it to the last stage, according to Algera. Algera started ice skating in Michigan, but when she moved to Appleton at age 12, she really began to put in a substantial amount of work, she said.

Figure skater Joanna Algera brings home gold in Moves in the Field event

Joanna Algera poses with the scores that earned her gold. Photo courtesy of Joanna Algera

Joanna Algera competes with the Fond du Lac Blades. Photo courtesy of Joanna Algera

Mr. Eastman By Ahmad Abdel-Azim

As a psychology teacher and advisor of Psych Club at Ap- pleton North, Mr. Eastman has beneficial insight on mental wellness. When most ponder about mental wellness, they think of mental illness, anxiety, and depression. However, Mr. Eric Eastman says that mental wellness regards the posi- tive components in a person, like high self-esteem and an overall optimistic view on life. Good mental wellness begins with three things: a good night’s sleep, regular ex-

Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in youth ages 10-24 National Alliance on Mental Health

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ercise, and healthy eating. Nevertheless, how does one really know if they have mental wellness issues? There are plenty of signs for substandard mental wellness, such as not thinking rationally, feeling “down in the dumps”, having a hard time sleeping, suddenly having a difficult time getting up in the morning, and starting to dislike things that used to bring about joy. If one believes they may be experiencing some of these symptoms, there are many things to do to receive help. Essentially, one should seek the closest people in their life to sup-

port them. Appleton North also offers great support system for students. Students can always go talk to and share their issues with our two counselors, Mrs. Strick and Mrs. Davis or simply any teacher who they trust. As Mr. Eastman said, “It (mental wellness) is not something you want to mess around with.” Ultimately, he wants all students who struggle with mental wellness issues to know, “that it does get better.” Mr. Eastman suffered from OCD, depression, and anxiety issues in middle school and is proof that one can go back to feeling normal again.

Mrs. Strick By Sarah Fleming

Being a friend is very tough. Being a friend of someone with a mental illness is even tougher said school social worker Mrs. Debbie Strick. She stresses the importance of listen- ing to someone with a mental illness. She says you should never give up on them,

and you should never ignore them because of their condition. Your friend might become very solitary, and they might refuse your invita- tions to hang out; even if they never accept your invitations, don’t stop inviting them. It will make them feel left out, Strick says. Strick also mentioned that your friend with a mental illness could be more irritable, so try not to get distressed if they upset you. If you fear your friend is going to hurt themselves, never ever ignore the situation. Instead, there are multiple ways to help your friend. If you can, make

Mental There are many ways to i are some students and st share their recommendatio a better mental state and t health Designers of th Salma Abdel-Azim, Henry Writers of the Yasmeen Ashour, So Abdel

sure you tell an adult about your concerns. Whether it is your counselor or a parent, a trusted adult will at least have an understanding of what to do next. If you fear your friend is in immediate danger, you can call the police, who will send a specially trained officer to your friend’s location, you can call a crisis hotline at 1-800-273-8255, or text HELLO to the number:741741 at any time. The Fox Cities community, as well as Appleton North, has many different resources for people who have a mental illness. This includes some support groups that are run through the counseling office, and a NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) support group that is held at the Boys & Girls Club. “Teens feel like this is it and it can’t get better,” said Strick. It’s important that you realize that you aren’t the only one struggling with a mental illness. Don’t struggle alone.

Allison Hammond By Sonia Tallroth

Depression, called major depres- sion or clinical depression, is a mood disorder which causes the person effected to be in a consistently low mood. It can also cause a loss of interest in usually enjoyable activities and an increase in low self-esteem. As of right now, we don’t know

the exact cause of depression, but we do know that life events and having other family members with depression increases the chances of getting it. This mental illness is one of the most com- mon in the United States, and according to National Institute of Mental Health, 12.5 percent of adolescents ages 12-17 have de- pression. In talking to Allison Hammond, who was diagnosed in 6th grade, I learned more about how it can affect people’s lives.

“It’s affected me since about 4th grade. It’s made focusing on school extremely difficult.” In asking about how she copes with it, she said that she really doesn’t. “I guess I just try distracting myself with dark humor.” However, depression doesn’t just affect a person’s mood, it also makes socializing a very draining task, according to Allison Hammond. “It has also made socializing an absolute chore. Who can worry about keeping friends happy when you can’t stay happy yourself?” With any mental illness, there are stereotypes and misconceptions, and when asking her what she wished people knew about it, she responded with, “[For people with depression], social- izing is honestly so exhausting, and being depressed is so much more than just being sad.”

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Raven Wilson By Yasmeen Ashour

Love for poetry, music, and art are known pieces of RavenWilson, but there are things she did not know about herself that she had to recently come to terms with. “At first I didn’t think there was anything weird because I have always just been that way and people have always made comments about both my negative behavior and high energy. All of the judgement and assumptions people made about me gave way to a heavy depression, and I attempted suicide in middle school. I just didn’t know anything about mental illness as a whole let alone everything in between,

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just all that gray area.” Her expedition began with a concerned teacher suggesting to her mother that she get tested for ADHD, but nothing was ever medically confirmed. She was encouraged to test for Bipolar dis- order instead, which is a “mental disorder marked by alternating peri- ods of elation or depression.” This terrified her, and she tried to move past it. It was easier to do so because following the first tests, she went through a long period of happiness. Soon, this would subside and she felt inadequate again. “I make it such a priority for others to take care of

themselves and I don’t really do that for myself...I go through periods where I don’t want to let myself think about it... But then it hits me in the face that it’s just not realistic to pretend anymore. I want to get better for my loved ones and...for me. So as of now, I am working through, with the support of my peers, learning about myself and how to take care of myself.” Raven Wilson is described by everyone as one of the most compassionate and enthusiastic people in and out of the classroom who has never been held back from her passions. She has many aphorisms but the one that she uses most is “You get out of life no more than what you put into it. If you stay strong and con- tinue to put out positive energy, you may just end up happy.”

Skye Iwanski By Yasmeen Ashour

Her diagnosis is Misophonia, but her name is Skye Iwanski. Misophonia is a strong dis- like or hatred for specific sounds that could result in panic or rage. Also known as Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome, it starts with a trigger, which is typically a sound made orally like heavy breathing or whistling but can also be a small repeated sounds, like rustling. A mild reaction could be anxiety or discomfort, but a major reaction could include panic and overall emotional distress

ellness prove mental health. Here ff at Appleton North who s and solutions to achieve eir experiences with mental issues. Center Spread: Ptacek, Ahmad Abdel-zim enter Spread: ia Tallroth, Ahmad Azim

that could result in suicidal thoughts or tendencies. “It manifested in my sophomore year and I had no idea where to even begin to describe what was wrong and I couldn’t accept myself because I didn’t know...” Although she never acted on thoughts of self harm, emotional self harm was prevalent and the extreme desperation resulted from not being able to mentally justify her feelings. She actually discovered Misophonia on a Tumblr post depicting mental illnesses as fantastical creatures. “First I was apprehensive and I didn’t see how treatment could help me... It

was more a quieter and longer coming to terms with myself.” When asked about over- coming obstacles in school and everyday life, she said, “I have wonderfully supportive parents and the influential words of my counselor. Surrounding myself with supportive and positive people helps me to get through a difficult day.” Misophonia has made her no less capable of remarkable things. Skye Iwanski loves to read, write and learn, and it is easy to recognize her for her accomplishments rather than Misophonia that is only a part of her.

Kenady Duesterhaus By Yasmeen Ashour

“I was walking in the hallway at school my junior year... All of a sudden I just couldn’t breathe ...I tried to like, deep breathe and then just after I was looking back on it and I knew it was a panic attack.” Kenady is a senior at North, living with a disease called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is a physical ailment that not much is known about other than that it is extreme exhaustion worsened by mental and physical activity. The diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

or more commonly known, ME drove Kenady into an easily depress- ible state, closing her off to her friends and family and making her less motivated. “I think the worst was when they finally diagnosed it. I just sat in my house and cried for the whole day. Because people really don’t know anything about it, I felt like there was just no way I could get better. I was just looking at this whole process and thinking, there has to be an end game and then when I realized there wasn’t, that coupled with being overall sad and tired it devastated me and

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I was kind of immobile.” She was pulled out of this state of desolation by her mom telling her, “You have one day to cry and be sad and then you have to move on.” This impacted her so much that she did get past it. She is an excellent student, friend, sister and daughter despite the challenges accompanying her physical and mental illnesses. She goes through a therapy process where she talks through everything she thinks about and feels in the day with a counselor. Her message for others, struggling or not, is to talk about it. “You don’t expect people to understand or relate to it, but somehow they do…people want to help. There are so many more ways to get help and support if you just talk about it. You are never alone.”

FEATURES Appleton, Wisconsin February 2017 Volume XXIII

Issue IV Page 8

North students Kala Lones and Milly Figueroa were re- cently recognized as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebra- tion speech contest winners. While many applicants had hoped to obtain this honor, North students recognized at MLK Day Celebration speeches for all of those who attended the MLK celebration at the Lawrence Chapel. Lones focused on her expe- rience as an African Ameri- can woman. Creating a very personal feel to her speech, she used examples of her con- fidence and how her race af- fected the way she thought of herself. Figueroa also shared some experiences she had, provid- thoughts for the future, and said that education and successes have nothing to do with race. She stated that she will proceed to attend a university, and she will get the job she has worked hard for. The MLK day celebration featured Leonard Pitts as the keynote speaker, an esteemed columnist who was able to see the skill in both Lones and Figueroa. Both Lones and Figueroa received a standing ovation for their speeches. The Lawrence Chapel was full despite the icy roads and rain. Kathy Flores, the woman behind the curtain, is stepping down as chair of the celebra- tion. This past celebration was the last event that she would be leading. By Henry Ptacek Lones and F i g u e r o a had the op- portunity to present their ing some impac t f u l e x amp l e s of the dis- crimination she has felt. She also relayed her

Noctiluca newspaper earns General Excellence The Wisconsin Newspaper Association named the Ap- pleton North Noctiluca one of three winners in the state of the First Place General Excel- lence Award in the 2016 Bet- ter Newspaper Contest. The contest is a statewide competition in which high school newspapers submit to judges three issues from throughout the year that they think represent their best work. There are many differ- ent categories of awards, but the top award is the General ExcellenceAward, which con- siders multiple factors such as quality of writing, overall ap- pearance/design, and use of photos and artwork. Judges are professional journalists working in their fields. The Noctiluca has won this award three times in the past four years, earning the award in 2013, 2014, and now again in 2016. The paper won sec- ond place General Excellence in 2015. “I’m really proud of the Noctiluca staff and all of the hard work that they put into our issues because it really paid off,” said current Senior Editor-in-Chief Nora Ptacek. With the General Excel- lence Award, Noctiluca re- ceives the $1,000 William E. Branen Scholarship. The scholarship is named for the former publisher and presi- dent of the Burlington Stan- dard Press, a newspaper lo- cated in southeast Wisconsin, according to an article written by Julia Hunter, the Member Services Director at WNA. In 1953, Branen became the youngest editor in Wisconsin, and is also a former president of the Wisconsin Press Asso- ciation. Along with the scholar- ship, Noctiluca members are invited to the Wisconsin Newspaper Association an- nual convention on Feb. 24. In past years, the Nocti- luca has used the scholarship to buy a DSLR camera as well as launch in 2015 the website northnoct.com. By Ally Price

DECA ‘shows up,’ brings home awards at District competition DECA members pose for a photo after participating in the District Four Competition, where they brought home 54 event medals, had 19 Top 4 finishers, and advanced 8 Automatic State Quali- fiers. Photo by Erik Nelson

By Kate Bennett

Applications to Quick Serve Restaurant Management. Each event is comprised of different assessments: a writ- ten exam and two separate role playing scenarios that are evaluated by judges. Levi Werlein, the Wiscon- sin DECA Vice-President of Membership Development individually took First Place

in the Marketing Communi- cations Event. All together, Appleton North DECA brought home 54 event medals, had 19 Top 4 finishers, and advanced 8 Automatic State Qualifiers. All those who advanced will have the opportunity to compete at the state level in March.

For some people, arguing just comes naturally; some of these people you may know. Maya Labinski, Zoe Plzak, Forrest Bomann, and Anant Kaushika are four students here at North who are going to be participating in Debate Nation- als. They will be competing alongside other members of the Appleton North Debate Team. I asked the two dynamic duos what kind of work they had to put in to get to the point where they are today. The common theme among the debaters was research and a lot of individual work. Plzak said that it was important to think about arguments that no one else necessarily would have. Kaushika also stated that he was very conscious about being a cooperative partner, af- ter all it is a team activity, he said. Bomann and Kaushika have been friends for years and have grown to be successful Debate Team heads to Nationals At the District Competition, students had the opportunity to compete in a large variety of events, and medaled in everything from Accounting By Henry Ptacek Appleton North DECA had a strong showing in the Wis- consin DECA District Com- petition Jan. 14 at Bay Port High School in Green Bay.

Member of North’s Debate team, including from left, Anant Kaushika, Forrest Bomann, Helen Zhou, and Macalister Bag- well, qualified for the National Speech and Debate Association tournament. Photo courtesy of Forrest Bomann

on the debate stage. Bomann said along with going to de- bate practices at school, it re- ally helped him and Kaushika to attend as many tournaments as possible. That is how they gained real experience. These debaters share a pas- sion for public speaking and are generally interested about many aspects of debate. They believe that debate sets you up for your future, they said. La-

binski said one of the reasons she was interested in debate was meeting so many new people. “The national tournament allows us debaters to chal- lenge ourselves on a whole new level of competition, go- ing up against debaters from around the country. It’s a learn- ing experience and is always something to look forward to,” Kaushika said.

Kala Lones reads her essay for the MLK Celebration. Photo by Nora Ptacek

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