Term 1 Edition
8 November 2023
8 November 2023
By Ally Jacques and Mandy Foote
We are proposing a sports study, similar to the one that already exists for work study as an option for Norton High School student-athletes. The requirement to get a work study is to have a minimum of ten working hours per week. If this is an option for students, we believe there should also be an option of a study for athletes who participate in an after school sport for a minimum of 15 hours per week, because, for some, their sport is like a job. This is an important opportunity because student-athletes can have much needed time to get work done and focus on their studies. We took some perspectives of faculty, coaches and students to see how this change might impact our school.
A major point addressed was the lack of sleep for student-athletes. A Junior varsity cheerleader exclaimed, “After practice I get home late, it’s 10 PM and I still have homework, and I have to sleep, eat and take a shower.” A competitive gymnast said, “I rely on Celsius to get me through the day, and I have to take a lot of melatonin to sleep. I’m up until 1 AM doing homework every night.” This is the reality for many student-athletes at our school. It is not a rare sight to see a Celsius or RedBull in the hands of these athletes because of the lack of sleep they get. Turning to energy drinks and sleep aids can result in negative health effects and long term issues with sleep and heart health. Not only does lack of sleep affect one's physical health, but it also can affect mental health. Sleep deprivation damages our overall cognitive health and can lead to depression and anxiety.
One huge benefit of adding the option of a sports study would be increased performance of studies. When competitive athletes spend their afternoons and nights at practices many of them grapple to complete all of their homework. One athlete said, “I have to drive an hour away [for practice], so it takes about 30 hours of my week. It is basically another school day every night which is more than some jobs.” This shows just how much of a time commitment sports are to many student-athletes. Additionally, some athletes struggle with the decision of what classes they want to take, because they fear if they take higher level classes they will not be able to complete all of the assigned work, even though they have the academic ability to take the class. We asked a teacher her thoughts and she said, “It would make it a lot easier to have a work life balance if they had some time in school to do school work.”
At a job, high school students learn valuable skills, but a teacher exclaimed that athletes “are also learning a lot of the same skills like leadership and work ethic so I feel like they have earned the same privileges that students doing a job would have.” Another valuable point made was that, “Sometimes athletes can’t have a job because of how time consuming it is, so they wouldn’t be able to participate in the work study.” Overall, high school students are deserving of a sports study because of their hard work and time put into it, while learning many skills similar to a job.
The universal conclusion was that, “It's a good idea because we have a study for the work aspect so this is just another perspective of it.” It is clear that student-athletes either have to sacrifice sleep or not complete their homework because they simply do not have the time. This is detrimental to their mental health, physical health and grades. If students had this opportunity, this would help the overall environment of our school and our student-athletes would be able to perform better in all aspects of their lives.
By Ryley O'Rourke and Mandy Foote
As high schoolers we have all experienced freshman year – whether we are going through it currently or have gone through it in the past, and all of our experiences have been different. For some of us it was the year coming back from Covid, and for others, it was just another year. To compare the differences between the upperclassmen and current freshmen's first year of high school, we asked some students a few questions.
When talking to the freshmen, many of them had common answers and opinions. Even though it’s only been the first few weeks of high school, the majority of students we interviewed believe that they’ve already gained a lot more freedom. This, in turn, has made many of the freshmen more mature because now they have more responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities include more and harder work in school. This has made many of them feel stressed and they have a lot less free time. Overall, the freshmen seem to find high school much more enjoyable than middle school.
On the other hand, upperclassmen feel that there are both pros and cons when thinking of your junior and senior year. The pros include more freedom and opportunities such as a variety of classes, internships, clubs, sports, and events. Even though there are so many pros there are also many cons; some of these include more work, harder classes, college preparation, and more stress, none of which crosses your mind as a freshman. From freshman to senior year you get to not only watch your friends grow as a person, but you also get to watch yourself do the same.
Some advice that upperclassmen said they would give to the freshmen is use your resources and do not be afraid to ask for help. Asking for help and using the resources that teachers provide for you will help you be more successful in high school. Also, do not be afraid to go to social events and try new things (such as clubs and sports). These things will be the things you remember when looking back on your high school experience and are the best part of high school. Overall, make these four years as enjoyable as possible because this will be a time in your life you will never forget.
By Emma Lehan and Liz Lehan
Celsius is a popular energy drink that was first ever sold in Sweden in 2009. Ever since then, it has become increasingly popular as it is one of the only energy drinks that is completely vegan, kosher, free of carbohydrates, and contains only natural coloring. Celsius is also shown to have many benefits including many vitamins and minerals. It also provides the necessary caffeine to increase performance, productivity, and energy levels to power through daily tasks. Its taste is also extravagant and has so many different flavors to choose from. These days, it is almost sold everywhere, so it is a really easy choice when it comes to choosing what energy drink effects.
Many popular influencers and medical professionals have shamed this energy drink, showing only the negative sides of it. They have claimed that it is increasing people's blood pressure, heart rate, and putting many at risk for heart diseases in the future. Critics are also concerned for those with mental health struggles, because Celcius can cause insomnia and increase symptoms of anxiety and depression. Drinking it once a while is okay, but drinking more than two a day is not healthy. The FDA suggests that adults should not consume over 400 mg of caffeine in a day which is equal to two Celcius drinks.
But don’t be fooled by all these comments, because there are many beneficial sides to the drinks as long as you do not overdo it. For instance, these drinks can speed up metabolism, help burn body fat, and give people the essential energy to power through their workout or even their school or work day. Celsius is also a healthier choice compared to other energy drinks as it has no artificial preservatives as well as no high fructose corn syrup. So in the end, there are a lot worse beverages you can drink.
Ms. Morse had a few aggressive yet agreeable comments on Celsius. She explained, “Celcius is good… but you need to be careful, especially if you're looking to become a D1 or D2 athlete because you will test positive for benzos and amphetamines. So if you're looking to go and get a scholastic and athletic scholarship, you should probably limit that.” It’s true: the NCAA has banned Celsius across college sports due to its contents coming up on drug tests, so make sure to keep these facts in mind, especially if you are looking to do sports in college.
Ms. Tonelli explained why she is an ex-Celsius drinker: “So I used to drink Celsius a lot. I drink a lot of caffeine but I found an article about how people can test positive for amphetamine and other substances by drinking Celsius, which is kind of crazy. I understand why students drink caffeine, but maybe we should make a healthier version that is not so crazy addictive.”
Mr. Langmead explains why he sees the benefits and the harmful effects to the drink: “My wife drinks Celsius. She likes it a lot – it helps her because of the caffeine boost. I am not so sure how healthy it is, from what I understand it is not very healthy. And we did have a student athlete that came back from playing basketball in college and she said was not allowed to drink it because some of the chemicals in it are not allowed by the NCAA… so if you plan on playing college athletics, you better watch out.”
By Isabel McKinnon
When looking for places to eat in Norton, there’s often a pattern of eateries: Dunkin, pizza place, Dunkin, pizza place. There’s the occasional bakery or breakfast place, the infamous GOAT City Pub, but when looking for anything other than American food, your options are slim to none. Norton’s charming qualities of a small town offer many benefits to growing up here, but I find that frequently, it lacks in diversity-- especially in what we eat. This is why I was super excited to see that Yai’s Kitchen-- the tiny Thai restaurant across from the library-- was opening last March! My dad and I decided to go for their grand opening, and we were surprised to see the limited, yet authentic menu. We only tried a few items then, I specifically remember loving the bang bang wings (crunchy, spicy, perfectly cooked) and the fresh rolls (also crunchy, fresh, and served with a delicious peanut sauce), but I really wanted to dive deep into what Yai’s serves.
As a Thai food lover, I find that one of the best ways to figure out if a restaurant is worth it is to try their green curry. It has all the classic characteristics of a good thai dish, with contrasting flavors and a comforting feel. Yai’s has my favorite green curry of all time. It’s uncomplicated, with only pieces of chicken thigh and thai eggplant in the curry. I had never had thai eggplant before trying the green curry from Yai’s, and I think it’s what makes this curry super special and authentic. It is sweet and creamy from the coconut milk, yet still spicy, and is perfect served over rice. If you love Thai food already, I’d recommend getting this dish!
Although my friends and I frequent Yai’s, we tend to only favor one item. The classic: pad thai. Their pad thai is simple, yet offers depth of flavor and is the perfect gateway dish into thai cuisine. The one at Yai’s is sweet and bright, served with a wedge of lime and is well-rounded due to the peanutty flavor profile. The crushed peanuts on top serve as contrast to the chewy, thin noodles and tender chicken, with the long pieces of green onions providing a freshness that surprises while eating. What you expect is what you receive, it’s not a life-changingly new experience, but it’s comforting and familiar. If you want to try a noodle dish that is less popular-- I’d suggest Yai’s pad see ew. It has a completely different flavor profile than that of their pad thai, it’s deeply savory and not at all peanutty, made with wide rice noodles that completely absorb the sweet black soy sauce. The noodles are soft and super chewy, but my favorite part about the dish is the vegetables that they serve with the vegetarian version-- baby corn, chinese broccoli, sliced white onion and more. The cook on them is perfect, tender and yet they offer a welcome crunch to the overall very soft dish. If you want a noodle dish, it’s a choice that you won’t regret.
One of my favorite aspects of Yai’s is that they have a specials menu that changes every couple of weeks. It ranges from curry to dessert, their newest addition being pho, a rarity to find anywhere close to here. I decided to try the chicken pho, which was a little bit of a curveball in my review. The broth was light and salty, but a little underwhelming. It came with bean sprouts, raw and cooked onions, thai basil, and rice noodles. I do wish they included lime and hoisin sauce, but it was decently flavorful without it. It’s not my first choice of pho to order, but I do think it would be a delicious, warm soup for a snowy winter day where you want something warming and light!
Overall, all the dishes I tried from Yai’s were really comforting and flavorful! I think the restaurant itself is a humble yet charming place, with really nice and helpful staff. I’d recommend Yai’s to anyone who wants to try something new, and has an open mind to try some authentic dishes. I hope they have a long life in Norton, and hopefully it will inspire more ethnic cuisines to come to our town.
Why is it important to consider the historical context of this 'conflict'?
By Norah Stewart
MIDDLE EAST - In the past few weeks, we have seen many events unfold in the Middle East, particularly in Israel and Palestine. On October 7th, the Palestinian political group known as Hamas launched an armed attack on Israel. The ambush has taken the media by storm, but not many people seem to know the full story.
On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution stating that Palestinian land be home to both the settler-state Israel, as well as Palestine. Thus, Israel was established in May of 1948 as a safe haven for Jewish people after WWII. Most Jewish people did not not support the establishment of Israel since they had empathy for the colonized Palestinians. Backed by National superpowers such as the United States and Britain, Israel quickly became one of the most powerful nations in the world.
In protest of the foundation of Israel, five Arab countries - Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria - attacked Israel. Having one of the most powerful armies in the world, Israel won and colonized more Palestinian land than was first given in the UN resolution. This is known as al Naqba as over 750,000 Palestinians were murdered or removed from their homes by Israeli apartheid.
In the next couple decades, Israel committed many atrocities such as shooting around 5,000 Palestinian refugees trying to cross the border, and blowing up entire villages.
In 1964, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed in response to Israel’s atrocities.
The Six-Day War erupted in 1967 after Israel bombed Egypt. After only six days, Israel defeated the Arab countries again, and murdered/displaced over 300,000 Palestinisans. This was known as the Naksa.
There was another war in 1973, but it wasn’t as significant.
Yasser Arafat - founder of PLO - addressed the UN General Assembly in 1974 after they were labeled as terrorists. Speaking against this false notion, he stated “otherwise the American people in their struggle for liberation from the British colonialists would have been terrorists; the European resistance against the Nazis would be terrorism.”
In 1987, after an Israeli settler crashed his vehicle into and killed four Palestinian workers, the first Palestinian resistance began. It was a series of nonviolent, peaceful protests that ended in the Oslo-Accords.
Hamas was also formed in 1987. They held the strategy of armed resistance as opposed to PLO’s nonviolent approach. Hamas is a political organization, and it holds the political ideology of Islamism - not to be confused with the Muslim faith. Islamism is incredibly anti-semitic. They don’t represent the whole of Palestine, contrary to popular belief.
The second Palestinian uprising occurred between 2000-2005. This was more violent than the last revolt. 1063 Israelis were killed, and 4878 Palestinians were killed.
In 2017, Israel sieged more of Palestinian land. Donald Trump - President of the U.S. at the time - recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, much to the dismay of Palestinians and their allies. After this theft of land, Palestinians only resided in the territories of Gaza and the West Bank.
For the past fifteen years, Israel has trapped 2.4 million people in Gaza, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Since nobody can enter or leave Gaza, it is considered an open air prison. Hamas is the primary political party of this region, and its armed attack was in response to years of mistreatment. Many of the Palestinians that live there don’t agree with Hamas’ ideology, but Hamas is the only hope that Palestinian people have since they have no army.
Since the attack on October 7, 2023, Israel had restricted necessities from the people of Gaza such as food, water, and electricity. The settler-state has guided Gazans to flee, but then bombed the only way out. They have been dropping around 40 bombs per hour, destroying countless buildings, including homes and hospitals. Israel has also been exposing the Palestinians in Gaza to white phosphorus and other chemicals. In the last few days, Israeli troops have had Gaza city surrounded.
There have been many devastating videos coming out of Gaza, but one of the most prominent pieces being photo’s of 22 year-old journalist Plestia Alaqad’s diary, which look shockingly similar to the Diary of Anne Frank.
Though the leaders of world powers - England, France, The United States, etc. - have shown their unwavering support of Israeli apartheid, the citizens have taken to the streets to protest. There are various different protests in all major cities, and even on college campuses such as the walkout at University of Massachusetts - Amherst. One of the most noteworthy was the shutdown of Grand Central Station in NYC by anti-zionist Jewish People. One of the banners read “Never again for anyone”, indicating how they have empathy for the Palestinians since they have also experienced the savage act that is genocide.
By Alex Hinckley, Maddie Regan, and Lily Farquharson
After asking students around school questions about either their life or life in general, we asked Varsity Basketball Captain Shawn Clary the following questions:
Lancer Lowdown: How is your life going to be different in a year?
Shawn: In a year, I see myself being able to drive, making life easier by getting to school and practice by myself. I will be more focused on college and selecting the right school for me. Overall, I see my responsibilities growing and planning more ahead for life after college.
Lancer Lowdown: How do you balance your school work, sports, and friends in high school?
Shawn: By focusing on one thing at a time. I like to use LLB to get most of my work done for school and use after school time for practice. On the weekends, I focus on friends while the school week is more focused on school and sports.
Lancer Lowdown: What are some of the most important lessons you have learned through your life?
Shawn: I learned that having confidence really makes a difference, especially in basketball. If you do not have confidence you will not be able to succeed as easily. Sophomore year I feel like I had no confidence and once I fixed that I was able to go out on the court and focus on the game.