NOCTILUCA March 2018

NEWS Appleton, Wisconsin March 2018 Volume XXIII

Issue IV Page 2

Clark , Celebrating, from page 1

does in National Honor So- ciety to remind himself and others of the reason we edu- cate ourselves, to better our society as a whole. However, these four stu- dent volunteers are not the only ones volunteering to better our society and edu- cate themselves. There are many students at Appleton North and so many people in the Fox Cities community that could be volunteering each week and some of them are not getting the recogni- tion they deserve. How can we recognize these volun- teers for the amazing work they do? Celebrating Volunteers is an event based in the Fox Cities that was created by the Community Foundation and the Post-Crescent. This event recognizes local vol- unteers and was started af- ter Paul and Elaine Groth, a couple who volunteered of- ten throughout their life, died in a car crash in 1997. After much consideration, a group of their friends created the event to honor their memory and those who volunteer just as they did. There are eight award categories with one award sponsor each. This sponsor donates $5,000 to the charity of the honoree’s choice with the exception of the Youth Volunteer Award. The Youth Volunteer Award recipient receives a $1,500 scholarship as well as the ability to donate $1,000 to a charity of their choice. This award not only allows a va- riety of local Fox Cities vol- unteers to be recognized but Appleton North student vol- unteers as well. Volunteering can benefit the community as well as lead to personal growth. “It gives me self-worth, know- ing I was able to put a smile on someone’s face,” said Kimball. So take an hour or two out of your busy week to go talk to seniors at a re- tirement home, help out at an event going on at North, or simply donate blood. No matter how small the act, do- ing these acts can start the passion of volunteering that Hendricks, Bomann, New- man, and Kimball or anyone recognized by Celebrating Volunteers experiences. Go to the Celebrating Volunteers event on April 26th and see the people changing the Fox Cities community in any way they can, and go volunteer to help bring change to the community just like these volunteers do day in and day out.

say that I have the heart of a servant because I am always looking for ways that I can volunteer, at least as much that I can fit into my sched- ule,” said Newman. Another North student volunteer is junior Emma Kimball. Not only does she regularly volunteer through National Honor Society by working at swim meets, but she also volunteers for her church, St. Paul Lutheran, where she helps out with their Vacation Bible School and National Night Out. She is also an Ambassador for the Milwaukee Children’s Hospital and helps out with their Dance-A-Thon, Celeb- rity Golf Outing, and gives presentations to scoliosis patients just like herself. Her family also helps out the Salvation Army by ring- ing bells during the holidays. Kimball volunteers for many reasons, one of those being making connections. “I vol- unteer because it allows me to make connections with ones that you may never had taken the time to get to know in another situation. It helps me expand my social well- being, which enables me to gain perspective in others’ struggles they may be facing and help make a difference in their day. It is a good way for me to network with oth- ers which may aid me in fu- ture career paths. I may gain a better view of social and political issues surrounding me,” said Kimball. She con- tinues to volunteer not only to make these important con- nections, but also to bring smiles to someone’s face. Forrest Bomann, a junior at Appleton North, volun- teers for National Honor Society but he does not just volunteer to get hours in. “Through students’ aca- demic studies, ever obsessed with grades and viewing these figures as complete representations of success, I often have found myself and others losing sight of the ul- timate goal of education -to enhance our understanding of individuals with experi- ences different from our own and to further our collective ability to improve societies. Every subject, in theory and to the most pragmatic effect, is meant to promote positive societal reform, but too often is studied simply for the sub- ject’s sake,” said Bomann. He uses the volunteering he

New toiletry dispensers installed in bathrooms The new paper towel and soap dispensers are better for the environment with the soap having a green label on it. Photo by Maddie Clark

replaced. So they went and redid all of our custodial paper product vendors and suppliers. This is the one we chose,” said Martin Hintz, Appleton North’s Facilities Coordinator. The new dispensers are more environmentally friendly, with the new toilet paper made of recycled pa- per that is unbleached and the soap having a green la- bel on it as well. However, the boys’ bathrooms didn’t receive new paper towel dispensers and there are still hand blow dryers in the boys’ bathrooms. You are probably wondering why this change occurred. “I came here in 2001 and they expand and people who want to know more reach out and get the information, which is awesome. We also push for all students who want to learn and be informed,” said Freeman. He does this by “We continue to do work but we also try to put that in the minds and hearts of our students...” - Kempton Freeman writing Black History Month newsletters and running Black History Month Minute on Instagram. Additionally, Lor helps bring cultural re- sponsiveness by advocating for students and their fami- lies who are misunderstood for cultural differences and

were in here when I came. When I asked the question, it is because [the boys] kept destroying the hand towels. So it is for vandalism pur- poses and no one has ever changed them back,” said Hintz when asked about the discrepancy. You can also expect some new changes in cleaning products as well. “In the fu- ture, we will be looking at our cleaning products; the products we use for soap, cleaners, and solvents. That will be the next thing we look at and do some compar- ing with different vendors and see what they have to offer,” said Hintz. What are the goals of the Multicultural Team? “I want to continue to create oppor- tunities for our students, and continue to support staff in any way possible whether it’s building perspective and connecting with students and families,” said Lor when asked about her goals. Fur- thermore, Freeman wishes to the team to be a voice of change for the Appleton learning community and keep information that will benefit the cultural respon- siveness of the community flowing throughout the year so the students can see the growth and change in a posi- tive light. So take that extra step to learn about new cultures, and stay informed on how to be culturally responsive. participating in Achieve- ment, Community, and Eq- uity meetings.

When you came back from the short break after finals, you might have noticed a small change in the bath- rooms. Recently, the toilet paper, soap, and paper towel dispensers were changed in the school bathrooms found across the district. “Periodi- cally, we review the costs and these are more cost ef- fective for the quality of paper that we are getting. The older dispensers were starting to show their age and starting to have to be District-wide change uses environmentally friendly products By Maddie Clark “It’s something I feel should be a no brainer of treating people with dignity and respect no matter the color of the skin is something I strive to continue helping with year in and year out,” says Freeman, when asked about why being culturally responsive is important. What is the Multicultural Team doing to bring cultural responsiveness to AASD? “We continue to do work but we also try to put that in the minds and hearts of our stu- dents because they don’t un- derstand a lot and with that comes a disconnect and its identity crisis. It’s something that’s not pushed in the dis- trict a lot but it continues to Clark , Group, from page 1