Academics

Half Way There

Students reflect on the second nine weeks

By: Reagan Smith 11/12/2025

As if time hasn't flown by so fast, it is hard to believe that it is already the middle of the second nine weeks. It is hard to believe that we have come this far into the year, and just yesterday feels like the first day of school. In this article, I will be talking about what students feel about time going so fast, what some good ways are to keep your grades up, and what you can do to make time feel like it is actually going slower.

Students are rushing by to get their work done, and some of them are not. Marlie Mills, a student here at DAHS, has said in an interview, "I feel like it’s a bit jarring to think about how fast this year has gone by. I feel like people can already feel the changes they have gone through this year so far. And we still have a long way to go.” Mills is a freshman here at the school and believes that taking a little time out of your day to get your work done makes a difference in the long run. Another way you can stay on top of your grades is by rewarding yourself. For example, if you study for a good amount of time each day, you can reward yourself with a coffee, snack, or something else that you like to make you want to study more. If you do this, you can train your brain to understand that if you study, you can get a reward and get better grades.

You might be asking yourself, “What are some ways I can keep my grades up?” Well, studies show that there are many ways to study better. Examples include staying organized - if you have an organized study space, it will be more likely that you will have an easier time remembering the things you are studying, rather than worrying about the clutter around you. Breaking up study sessions: You don't want to cram all the information in at once, so do one part of the study, take a break for about 5-10 minutes, then go back to studying. If that doesn't work, try a shorter break time, as long as you still get your breaks.

If you think time is going by faster, here are some ideas to try to slow it down. If you are feeling bored, you might be watching the clock, which feels like every second is an hour. But if you distract yourself with some notes, a book, or something you like doing (e.g., drawing, writing, sketching, reading), you can do those, and time will feel like it's going slower, but moving by quickly too. If you want time to go faster, then just focus on something that you really like doing - reading, writing, etc - and time will fly past. But don't forget to focus on your studies and on the other important things happening in class. If you pay attention, take notes, and actively participate in your classes, then time will go by faster.

In this article, you have learned about different ways to make time feel like it will slow down or speed up, how to stay focused when studying is hard, and what kids already feel about being halfway through the second nine weeks. You have also learned different ways that will help you keep your grades up and stay focused when you need to get ready for a test. Please use the study methods to your advantage and for their intended purpose, not just to get out of doing your homework.

Photo by da.lisbon.k12.oh.us

Janet Lane’s 8th-9th Period Progress in 1st 9 Weeks

Dear Math, We’re Growing Up To Solve Our Own Problems

By: Sara Mayer Oct. 21, 2025

Janet Lane is a 7th-grade math teacher at DAHS. In middle school, Math and English periods are both 2 periods long, which equals about 80 minutes instead of just 1 period, which is 40 minutes, so they have more time to learn and grow. Lane also likes to teach more than just one way. The reason she teaches more than one way to do something is that she enjoys helping her students. She believes that the more ways someone can learn something, the more it will help them. Lane also enjoys playing songs for the kids to help them learn about math. She usually picks catchy songs that some find annoying, but she chooses them because she feels her students can relate to them. Two of her students were interviewed to learn what they thought of her class and how it helped them learn in the first 9 weeks of school.

The first student who was interviewed is Gunther Hanna. He was asked a few questions about his thoughts on Mrs. Lane's class. He was first asked what he liked about her class, and he said, “We try different things with most teachers. You have to do it the way they want, she teaches you like five different ways to do one thing.” He also states, “I like that we get to write it because almost all the other classes you are on the computers all the time.” Finally, he was asked whether the fact that she has multiple places to sit helps him concentrate better, and he replied, “Yes, especially the standing table or the tall one because it’s a little comfier.”

The second student that was interviewed is Aubree Keys, and she was also asked a series of questions about her thoughts on Mrs. Lane’s class. First, she just states, “I like that if we know how to do it a different way than we learned in class, she doesn’t make us do it the way we learned it in class.” She was then asked if there was anything she liked about the class, and she replied, "Yes, I like the class." “ She doesn’t just give us a video and expect us to learn it from that; she actually stands up in front of the class and teaches it to us.” Aubree was also asked if there was something that Mrs. Lane taught her that has really helped her, and she says, “ I think she taught me not to be upset to come to come to school, now I’m not upset anymore because I know we are actually going to do something, not just sit on our computers.” The last question she was asked was whether she had any other thoughts on Mrs. Lane's class, and she answered, “I just like her class, just in general, her class feels homie, and she has different places you can sit.”

After talking to the students in the class and being in there to see how things work. It’s safe to say that her students really do love her and her class. I hear good things from the students, and I always hear laughter from her room, along with jokes cracked by the students and Mrs. Lane.

Second Quarter

By: Hannah Sprouse

As we enter the second quarter, it’s a good time for students to set their expectations for themselves, whether in academics, sports, or personal goals. Quarter 2 is the time to take your work seriously and have enough time to complete it. You can prepare yourself for bigger projects and assignments. It’s a checkpoint for you to see where you are and see what you can improve on.

Quarter 2 is a time to take a breather and relax after finishing a stressful quarter 1. You should learn which classes take more time and how to manage your time for sports, clubs, or other assignments. This is a fresh chapter for the students; it’s time for them to prove to themselves what they have learned from the first quarter. Many teachers recommend staying organized and staying ahead. Some examples include using a planner or calendar to track assignments and deadlines, scheduling weekly check-ins with yourself to ensure you're on time, and breaking down your assignments into sections.

Our mental health counselor, Jasmine Black, states that “In school, having a good support system is important because mental health can affect you in all areas”. Our staff wants students to know that they are here for you. Whether it is about an assignment or personal information. Someone is always here to talk about things with you, no matter what. Remember that the sun will always rise tomorrow and that you are heard.

Star Students Shining In David Anderson!

Article by: Reagan Smith 10/22/2025

When you hear of a star student, you probably think of someone getting chosen to be the best in the grade or the class. Well, that's not really what it is. In this article, you will learn what the star student really is, who the star students are for their grades, and what will happen next for the star students this month.

The star student is a student from grades 6-12 who the teachers believe deserves recognition for their helpfulness and kindness towards their peers, classmates, and everyone in between. According to Mr. Bing, the vice principal at DAHS, “teachers are asked to nominate a student or two per grade, so we asked every teacher to nominate, but not everyone does.” Mr. Bing also said in an interview who the nominees are, but that will be announced at the end of this article.

What happens next for the star students is a question many students might have. They will be announced over the PA later this week or early next week. The actual announcement date has not been decided yet. When they are announced, the star students will go to the lobby and get their picture taken, get a t-shirt, and eat pizza with the other students who have been nominated. Then they will return to their respective classes knowing that their good works of the month have been earned.

The star students of September 2025 will now be announced. 6th grade: Karston Boyd and Baker Naughton, 7th grade: Aubree Keys and Stefan Shaw, 8th grade: Delaney Davidson and Gavin Jackson, 9th grade: Trinity Wells and Maddox Llewellyn, 10th grade: Autumn Jaques and Aidan Ramgeet, 11th grade: Aidan Davis and Morgan Gough, and 12th grade: Hunter Ford and Hannah Sprouse. Congratulations to all of the star students, and good job on getting this award.

In this article, you have learned about what the star student is, what they will be doing, and who the star students are. Again, congratulations to the star students for September 2025. They will be announced, and for the next month of star students, the same students will NOT be picked again. Good luck to whoever would like to be a star student, behave in class, and respect others —you will have a good chance! Good luck and congratulations again to the ones who got picked.

Photo by Freepic

Show Up And Chow Down

Article by: Reagan Smith 10/30/2025

When someone wakes you up, you might say, “I don't wanna go to school today!” And they might respond, “You need to!” Well, now you really need to. They are running a contest where the student who attends school the most will win a free extra item from the cafeteria. It's either a brownie, a cookie, ice cream, or whatever you would like. In this article, you will learn what it is, how to do it, and when you will see the changes.

You might be wondering, “What even is this?” Well, this is a contest where, for each grade, whoever has the most students attending (for example, 8th grade has 46% attending, while 11th grade has 84% attending), everyone in that grade will win something free from the cafeteria. For example, they could get a brownie or a cookie. Or even some ice cream. Students from the winning class will be able to get it for free. Officer Hewitt will move the race cars that represent each grade. After 2 weeks, whoever is the farthest will win.

The way you can participate in this is by attending school as much as you can, and you will be able to get a reward for it. For example, you can attend one week of school, miss 2 days the next week, and have the rest of your classmates attend, and that will be a higher percentage than another grade where only 3/4 of their classmates attend. According to Marlie Mills, a student at DAHS, regarding the poster and how she feels about this, “I think it’s a good way to promote a good level of attendance.” Mills also stated that she believes that this would be a good way for students to be appreciated for attending school, rather than just saying “Good job! You’re here for the whole week! Gold star!”

You will see the changes from this event in a few days or by next week. There is no definite time when it will begin, but it will be soon. So, be ready to attend school and be prepared to get hungry for the treats you will get. They will also choose one student who has been attending school for the entire 2-week period, who will receive a $20 gift card for whatever they want. (PlayStation, Xbox, Amazon, Walmart, etc.)

In this article, you have learned about what the contest is about, what other people think about it, and what the prizes of this contest will be. So, attending school is always a good thing, but now you get free food for coming. Attend school, make sure your classmates do too, and get free snacks from the cafeteria. Again, if someone attends the entire 2 weeks, they will be chosen to receive a gift card. For more information, please talk to Mr. Bing (vice principal of DAHS).

The End Of The First Quarter

By: Hannah Sprouse 10/14/25

For most students, the first quarter is the most intense part of the school year. The freshmen are just starting high school, excited for their next four years, while the seniors are finishing their last year, excited just to be done. Hunter Ford says, “It is going by very fast, I am excited to see what the future will hold for me”. New routines, subjects, teachers, and classmates are applied. At the end of this quarter, students set goals for themselves and reflect on their accomplishments.

Beyond students' grades, the end of the nine weeks offers teachers and students opportunities to improve, whether through new sports or a new way of teaching. Students seem to better understand their strengths and weaknesses as the quarter progresses, which gives them time to set realistic goals for the next three quarters.

With the seasons changing and the quarter ending, mental health is just as important as academic success. The first quarter can be an emotional rollercoaster for some; recognizing that it is okay to ask for help is key. All of our students should know they are not alone; there are teachers, counselors, family members, and friends who care and support them.

Always remember that no one has to face challenges alone, with the combined support of school staff, family, and friends. Make sure to have hope, keep your head up, and have confidence in yourself. It is also important to have mental and emotional check-ins. Teachers and staff work hard to create a safe, comfortable environment where students feel free to express their struggles and successes. Remember, you are seen and heard.

Readieness Assesment

By: Hannah Sprouse 10/09/25

Readiness assessments are convenient for teachers and school administrators to see how well-prepared students are for upcoming courses, lessons, or tests. This ensures that learning starts at the right level for each student. These assessments also help identify each student's strengths and weaknesses that require improvement before moving on to new topics.

We conduct readiness assessments because they help build strong knowledge for learning. These assessments also give students a chance to reflect on their own understanding and prepare mentally for what is ahead. Instead of teaching the same way to every student, teachers can use readiness assessment results to provide extra support where needed or to offer challenges for those who are ready to move ahead. Reagan Smith says, “I thought that they were very challenging for me, and I believe that it does help the teachers know what they should teach me”.

Jr LCC

By: Logan Sturgeon

Jr LCC had its first meeting on Wednesday, October 8. You might be wondering what Jr LCC is and what it does. Jr LCC stands for Junior Leadership Columbiana County. It is a program that takes high school sophomores and juniors and teaches them to become better leaders in and out of the classroom by identifying their strengths and weaknesses and showing them how to surround themselves with people with whom they can work well.

The program first met at the CCTC for a guest speaker who used an activity and a slideshow to help participants identify their strengths, how those strengths could help others, and how they could help them. From there, they took a bus to Baker's Golden Dairy Farm, where they learned about the process for making products such as milk, ice cream, and butter. While at the farm, they had another guest speaker from OSU's agriculture department teach them about how important Columbiana County and Ohio are to the U.S. agricultural system. To top it all off, everyone who went to the dairy farm got a little sweet treat at the end, made in-house.

Bridgett Newbold was one of the attendants at Lisbon High School. Newbold was asked, "What did you find most interesting about the dairy farm?" Newbold responded, “I thought it was very interesting how much technology is used in the farm. I didn’t realize it helped them make decisions on healthcare and breeding. I also thought it was so smart to use the technology to track their health and where they are.” The following question was asked: What did you learn about Ohio's agriculture industry, and how important is it to not only Columbiana County but also Ohio as a state? Newbold said, “I learned that Ohio is ranked top 10 nationally for eggs, milk, soybeans, and corn (if I remember correctly.) Everything the farmers produce contributes a lot to our local economy and to Ohio as a whole. I also learned that the agricultural industry provides a lot of different jobs that you may have never heard of before.” The Jr LCC plans to meet next month.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Hope Those Interims Looked Good!

By: Sara Mayer & Sydney Trimnel Sept. 23, 2025

On September 25, 2025, Lisbon David Anderson Jr. Sr. High School will be holding parent-teacher conferences from 3 pm to 9 pm. To attend the conferences, parents had to call ahead and speak with the secretary, Mrs. McCoy, so she could schedule the conference. The reason for calling to schedule and not just showing up is so that the teachers know which students' parents are coming and at what time they will arrive. It would be quite challenging for teachers if parents showed up all at once and then had to wait for the teacher to be available, as there was no schedule.

All of the administrators we interviewed agreed that parent-teacher conferences are a valuable resource and are very important. We asked Mr. Edenfeild why he feels parent teacher conferences are important he stated, “I think parent teacher conferences are important because as an educator you’re always trying to engage the families so it’s a night dedicated to opening the building up, making the families feel welcome, and letting them come and talk in person with the people who are educating their children.” Here are some of the things that the teachers had to say about the conferences; Mr. Haulady believes “First and foremost it’s a chance for the teacher to meet the students parent and vise versa” we followed up with asking why that is important and he responded by saying “ It’s one thing for a student to be like this is what it’s like to be in Mr. Haulady’s class but another to put a name to a face.” Mrs. Lane states how she feels about parent teacher conferences by saying “ Parent teacher conferences are one of my favorite times of the year because I get to meet all the parents of the beautiful children I have in my class, I really enjoy talking with them about the things their kids are enjoying about school, maybe what they are struggling with, I also like how they tell me stuff about their kids I need to know that the child is to shy to tell me.” Mr Joy was also asked about his opinion on parent-teacher conferences, and he said, “ I think they're a good opportunity for parents and teachers to communicate effectively with each other.”

There will also be a Spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm during the conferences to help attract more parents. This is for anyone who attends and would like to make a donation to the Lisbon cheerleaders. Lou Pezzano made her famous spaghetti, and her birthday coincided with both the parent-teacher conferences and the spaghetti dinner. Mrs. Marshalek said, “Also, my birthday is that day, so if you don’t have time for spaghetti, at least stop in and say happy birthday.” The cost $12 for adults and $8 for kids, so hopefully everyone stopped out to get some spaghetti.

During the conferences, we interviewed some parents who came to talk to their students' teachers, and they had some things to say about them. Ashley said, “I like to interact, and it keeps me up to date because I feel like my kids lie to me.” Kyle Bing also shares some of his thoughts about parent-teacher conferences, stating, “Parent-teacher conferences are great to offer; it’s a time when community members and parents can come into the building and meet the teachers.” Alice Davis also shared her opinion on parent-teacher conferences, saying, “I feel parent-teacher conferences are important so you can communicate with the teachers and your student, to make sure everybody is on the same track.” Ashley Mills also had a similar answer to Alice’s. Mills said, “It’s good to know what’s going on in the world of school because it’s very different now.” The parents had some positive experiences by being able to talk to their students' teachers and learning more about what was happening with their children while they were at school.

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