by Sophia Way - Writer - Feb 28, 2026

Third quarter is a difficult time for many Eastview students as winter drags on, classes pick up, and AP testing draws near. But for every student, this time of year means one thing: registration. However, something that has certainly drawn attention this registration cycle are the new class options offered for next school year, especially for AP students. Here is what you need to know. Starting last year Eastview high school, following a new rule from District 196, switched its curriculum. Now, instead of students taking a government course for social studies in 9th grade and world history in 11th grade, the courses would swap. This posed a unique question, though: what classes will students seeking higher course rigor through AP courses enroll in for their Junior year? The solution Eastview’s team has landed on is a new class, 

AP Government and Politics. This new course, only a semester long, can be taken with AP Microeconomics or on-level Economics either during quarters 1 and 2 or quarters 3 and 4. Like with most advanced placement classes, the class will count for college credit-depending on the university-if a student earns a score of 3 or higher on the AP exam. Beyond this, Eastview will now offer AP African American studies, AP Human Geography, and AP Pre-Calculus. 

Beginning with the class of 2028 seniors will have the option to enroll in AP African American studies, which is a full year course. The college board advertises the class as an interdisciplinary course which teaches students an accurate perspective on the impact of black Americans on the creation of the U.S. The course stretches from early African kingdoms to contemporary challenges and achievements. As of late 2024, only 498 universities across the nation accept exam scores as credit for this class, compared to over 2,000 for AP U.S History. 

Eastview will also have AP Human Geography as a semester-long course offered for 12th grade students. Human Geo. is a class defined by the college board as one in which students “investigate population trends, explore diverse cultural landscapes, and identify spatial patterns.” At most colleges and universities across the nation, a score of a 3,4, or 5 will count towards college credit. 

Eastview is not only expanding its social science department, but math as well. AP Pre-Calculus-a course only slightly altered from the formerly offered Honors Pre-Calculus-will prepare students for further calculus, whether at Eastview or beyond graduation. One thing to note about this course however is that most universities (such as the University of Minnesota, St.Thomas, and all University of Wisconsin schools) don’t currently accept the class as calculus college credit but may count it towards other credits. Make sure to keep an eye out for these new classes at EVHS starting for the 2026-2027 school year and talk to your counselor with any inquiries.

by Arantxa Miranda Morales - Editor - Feb 27, 2026

Across the country, legislatures are constantly debating what changes to make to a school curriculum to better meet the needs of students today, in response to data and expert testimonies.

Minnesota’s latest statute updates reflect this growing push to equip students with real‑world skills the moment they graduate. Recently, bipartisan support pushed to require a personal finance course in order to prepare students for responsible financial independence in borrowing and saving money. Citizenship and Government classes are also required to be taken in the 11th or 12th year of high school for students to retain civic knowledge when they are closer to reaching the voting age. Representative Dean Urdahl led this change in the Minnesota legislature, contending that more Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 can name an “American Idol” judge than their own U.S. senators. 

As a result of this change, Eastview students in the Class of 2030 will face a new onset of course requirements. Students are required to take one quarter course of Personal Finance in grades 10, 11, or 12. Students are also required to take at least four quarter courses in Physical Education over the course of high school, with one of the courses being Fitness Foundations 1, featuring the familiar heart-rate monitor tracking and weightlifting training.  Moreover, at least four quarter courses in the Arts, throughout high school, need to be taken to meet graduation requirements.

Quarter classes of Wellness 1 (Grade 9), Wellness 2 (Grade 10), and Wellness 3 (Grade 11 or 12) are still required. Mathematics and sciences still require three years to graduate, and four in English. The other significant change from previous years involves social studies courses, as four years are required of the following: World History (Grade 9), U.S. History (Grade 10), a semester of Government/Citizenship (Grade 11), a semester of Economics (Grade 11), plus one additional year of choice.

As curriculum standards continue to evolve, these changes reflect a growing commitment to aligning education with realities students will face after graduation. Following these changes, Eastview students can walk away with a greater sense of how to handle monetary and civic responsibilities.

By Safiya Mohammed and Alexis Johnson - Editors - December 10th , 2025

These past couple months, there have been so many fun holidays, and many more to come. Everyone celebrates in different ways, and we can see the diversity of our school in their holiday traditions. Lux Meyerink, a sophomore at Eastview, says, “Well, I am not religious, but I do go and see family on the typical Christmas dates and over winter break and we celebrate with food and togetherness.” Followed by an anonymous student who says, “For Sankta Lucia, I make saffron bread by myself and serve it to my parents with coffee in bed.” Hannah Brink, 10th grader, says, “I love going to Christmas church service with my family and then going back home and having a nice meal together.” What does your family do on holidays?

We conducted a short survey with approximately 20 students at school, collecting some data about their favorite holiday dishes, movies, and more. Overall, coming in at 76.2%, our peers' favorite holiday would be Christmas, which is soon approaching (and so is winter break!) Some dishes they like are macaroni and cheese followed closely by mashed potatoes (but the order should be switched). 95% of the people we asked said that they like to spend the holidays with family, which is the perfect time to do so. Also, during the holiday seasons, student’s favorite movies are Home Alone, and then ELF, which rightfully are on top.

We asked 20 students at Eastview, if there is one holiday tradition they could invent what would it be? Some common responses were watching a certain movie every year, matching pajamas, board game night and going ice skating were some of the common ones. Another idea was a gathering of family and friends, all making different food (chaotic, but filled with entertainment). Doing a service project a week after Christmas is a great way to help society and bond with your loved ones. Someone in your family dressing up as Santa and standing on a bridge while singing sounds unsafe, but if you’re committed. These are all ideas and could be your next family tradition! 

Charts: See attached charts

By Arantxa Miranda Morales - Writer - December 10th , 2025

What is HOSA? 

HOSA (Future Healthcare Professionals) is an activity that explores healthcare opportunities. The club features workshops, volunteering, and competitions. Moreover, the activity is represented by District 196, Eastview competes alongside Apple Valley, Eagan, and Rosemount.

What is the Fall Leadership Conference (FLC)?

The Fall Leadership Conference on October 31st featured a series of workshops and exhibitions, presenting a multitude of career opportunities such as pediatrics, surgery, pharmacy, organ transplant, healthcare technology, and emergency services. Several speakers came from the state of Minnesota, including Katie Webster from Fairview Southdale Hospital, Mitch Von Ruden from the Mayo Clinic, and Jeanne Rasmussen from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Homeland Security.

What does future scheduling look like for HOSA?

There are three main events in the season for HOSA. The Fall Leadership Conference in October, the Mid-Winter in January, and the State Leadership Conference in March. The post season includes the International Leadership Conference, based on those who qualify from State. All these events feature networking and learning opportunities with workshops and presentations. Although the FLC does not feature competitive events, Mid-Winter and the State Leadership Conference do. 

What are competitive events in HOSA?

Competitive events in HOSA vary significantly, and there is a lot of room for students to choose an event that resonates with them. Individuals can compete on a team, on their own, or both depending on how many and which events one does.

• Categories include demonstrating clinical skills like CERT, CPR, and and profession focused testing events on phlebotomy, biotechnology, pharmacy, pathophysiology, medical terminology, surgical technology, dentistry, nursing, and sports medicine. 

• Public speaking events include prepared speaking, research posters, and extemporaneous writing. – Teamwork events include a HOSA bowl, biomedical debate, public service announcements, social media, health career displays, and much more. 

Individuals study and prepare for these events leading up to the conferences.

How can students join if they are interested in HOSA?

Students can join at any point throughout the year. You can join the Schoology Group at MN53-DZNT-RBM53, contact the Instagram @evhs__hosa, and join the GroupMe once you receive the information. The advisor of HOSA is Todd Breuer and meetings are usually held in his room B128 once a month on Wednesdays with sessions available both in the mornings and afternoons.

By Pranya Duvvuru - Editor - October 10th, 2025

One of the main priorities of the second Trump administration has been cracking down on D.E.I. programs (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in all aspects of American life. As part of that agenda, they have taken aim at a crucial area: K-12 education.

In a letter sent to state officials in April 2025, the Department of Education threatened to withhold Title I funding from any school that didn’t eliminate D.E.I. programs. What counted as D.E.I. was left ambiguous, but what was made clear was that the punishments would be stringent.

Schools across the country, including Eastview High School, receive Title I funding in order to support education for low-income students, specifically for hiring additional teachers or support to help struggling students. Title I grants are some of the only funding that schools receive from the federal government, and the threat to eliminate that funding is serious. It raised questions among students at Eastview about what changes could occur as a result of the threat. In one government class, a student asked, “What happens to Black Student Union?”

Eastview has a wide range of cultural clubs and activities, like Black Student Union, Jewish Student Union, and Muslim Student Association, among others. It raises the question: do these count as “D.E.I.” programs? Dr. Franchino, the activities director at Eastview, says no. 

“District 196 has a mandate to provide equal access to student-led spaces, even if they are tailored toward specific cultural or ethnic groups. Cultural clubs like Black Student Union and the Muslim Student Association all qualify as being part of the equal access mandate,” Dr. Franchino said. “These clubs are student-led and wouldn’t be affected by the new mandate from the Department of Education.”

That doesn’t mean, however, that Eastview no longer has to worry about changes. As part of the rollout of the new D.E.I. policy, the Department of Education also challenged the Minnesota State High School League’s longstanding policy of allowing transgender athletes to compete in sports consistent with their gender identity. “This is something that needs to be figured out at the state level, but if this policy succeeds, this could have effects on athletics at Eastview and the district at large.” Dr. Franchino said. 

As of now, it’s unclear where these new policies will lead. For now, students can know that cultural clubs at Eastview will not be affected. The effect on athletics, however, remains to be seen. 

By Sophia Way - Writer - October 6th, 2025

     Eastview Highschool-like many public schools nationwide-invites its students to stand and recite the pledge of allegiance each day. It’s stated in the District 196 student handbook that, “individuals who wish to opt out of saying the pledge of allegiance due to personal beliefs will be permitted to do so and staff and students must respect another person's right to make that choice.” So, why is it that some students choose to take a stand by taking a seat, while others proudly pledge? 

       To understand this, we must first examine the history of this patriotic school staple. Although it was originally written in 1892, the version we’re familiar with today wasn’t widely recited in schools until recognition by the government in 1942. In its original form, the pledge notably didn’t include the statement “under God,” which was later added to emphasize opposition to the atheism of communism during the Cold War. The pledge’s mandatory recitation, before and after the added reference to God, has been the site of controversy at times, with critics arguing that it’s in violation of First Amendment rights. To some however, the pledge represents national unity, pride, and ideals of freedom and equality. 

      Today, due to the state of Minnesota’s legislation, Eastview's diverse student body gets to choose if they participate in the pledge. When questioned, a student and staff member shared mixed feelings. Sophomore Maheder Elias, after being asked whether she stands for the pledge, stated that, “I don’t. I mean personally it’s because I feel like this country has a lot more faults than good. I think that a lot of students stand simply because they’re used to it, or that-you know-we’re in America and it’s an American thing to do.” Mr.Daubenberger, a U.S. history teacher at Eastview, responded to the same question with, “I try to stand and keep my hand over my heart, and I ask that students remain quiet if they choose to sit.” However, Daubenberger shared that he stands more out of respect for students who wish to pledge, rather than on the basis of his own beliefs. When asked if there had been a noticeable shift in the number of students pledging their allegiance from when he attended high school, Mr.Daubenberger recounted that, “I think so. I think a lot of it is laziness, rather than any sort of ideological stance. For them, it’s easier to do nothing than it is to do something.” The laziness factor seems to be an underlying theme, with Maheder also sharing that, “I think most kids mainly don’t stand for the pledge just because they’re lazy.”  

     So, Eastview, what does the pledge mean to you? Do you choose to stand, or sit-why? Always, always remember: it’s crucial to look through a critical lens at the systems in which you exist.

By Abby Tranter - Writer - October 6th, 2025

    If there’s one change in school policy this year that has spurred conversation, it is the introduction of the digital hall pass system. The program was first piloted last year in a few select classrooms. Now, it has become the official method for students to request to travel to the  bathroom, learning commons, or any other location around Eastview. Students must request a pass via Infinite Campus; then, a teacher needs to input a specific code to grant said hall pass.  If there are too many students in the hallways, or if somebody from the student’s class is already using a pass, access may be denied. Once the hall pass is given, students get five minutes before their pass expires.

 The aim of the new system is to improve monitoring of students through the hallway by informing faculty of exactly who is out of class, and at what time.  Mr. Arrale, an administrator and one of the main enforcers of the new process, explained in an interview that “the digital hall pass system helps us track student movement during class time, reduce unnecessary time out of class, and make sure hallways are safe and not overcrowded. The main goal isn’t just about preventing students from roaming—it’s also about accountability, safety, and supporting a focused learning environment for all.” Furthermore, the cap on the number of students  allowed into the hallways can reduce the strain on teachers and faculty who constantly need to find people who are leaving class without permission. Mr. Arrale said, “for teachers, the digital hall pass has brought more consistency, accountability, and fewer requests to leave the classroom…Overall, it’s helped teachers focus more on teaching and supporting students, instead of monitoring if students left classroom without permission.”

       Students, on the other hand, have had some  complaints.  Some argue that the system’s bureaucratic nature can be irritating. Yusuf Farah, a junior and avid hall pass user, noted “[the new hall pass system] does take some extra time, which isn’t extremely frustrating, but it is just an extra step.” Moreover, students often forget to sign out of their hall pass once they return to class. Case in point: I forgot to end mine and the office called my teacher to tell them, which was mildly embarrassing. Despite this, Mr. Arrale argued that “like any new system, there are challenges—students are still adjusting, and sometimes technology can have small glitches.  But overall, it’s been working as intended.”

Other common concerns with the hall pass system are its short time limit, and its cap on the number of students allowed to use it. This occasionally creates a situation where students are unable to step outside of class until the bell rings. At the end of the day, however, some students still acknowledge our school’s efforts to keep people in class and engaged. Farah concluded “I think it may make people more focused…[now] you can’t use the bathroom as an excuse to just dip out of class.” Eastview may just have to wait to see the future of this new process. Will it stick, or will it be ever-changing like the many other policies that have emerged over the past few years? 

by Alexis Johnson - Writer - October 3rd, 2025

“Feel The Rhythm.” That is the title of the 2025 Eastview Marching Band show, and as you watch it, you really feel it. Eastview Marching Band is in the midst of their season right now, and they are currently hard at work with in and out of school practices. Believe it or not, their season started early July and they’ve been working ever since.

The show this year has four movements, which is typical. These four movements each have different music and drill (which are the people’s spots on the field) to go along with it. The list of music includes features of some well-known songs/music like Sing Sing Sing, APT., In the Air Tonight, and many more.

You might've even seen them at the home football games. At these games, they play in the stands playing show tunes like Spottie and playing some show music. At halftime, they are one of the featured events who performs their whole show for everyone to see. Usually, the day after these football games, the band performs at an actual competition. This scheduling occurs for five, (mostly sequential), Saturdays into October. At these competitions, there are one or two rounds where they compete the show for a score. They also competed in a parade on day two of the Minnesota State Fair, and will compete in one in Waseca.

At the date of September 19th, they had already done their home show and competed in the Rosemount competition. Their home show consists of them doing an “exhibition” performance, which means they don’t compete but show off what they’ve done. At the Rosemount show, they placed 3rd in Preliminaries, and also 3rd in finals. They also plan to compete in a Waseca competition, one in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Youth in Music at the Vikings Stadium.

When asked about the competitions this year so far, an anonymous band member says that “Our competitions have been going really well this season and we still have a lot more improvements that we can make in these next few weeks.”

Also, a comment from a student who attended Eastview’s home show and watched their performance said, “This year's show is incredible, from the choreography to the music you can see how much effort and time they put into it.” The marching band is expected to have a good rest of their fall season and hopes to place well in many of the next competitions. Go cheer them on!

By Chloe Larson - Editor - May 26th, 2025

With the rollout of hybrid exams this year, the College Board has seemingly moved into the modern era. While some students appreciate the changes, others find themselves disillusioned.

About this year's hybrid exams, students said:

• “It was honestly not as stressful as I had expected to manage my exam time since typing is a lot faster than writing.”  - Safiya Mohammed, 9

• “Being online was weird because in class we practiced on paper and it was difficult to use the formula sheets for AP stats, but otherwise I'm glad I got to take one of the first tests to go completely online. - Rayne Kahnke, 10

• “Having to do online tests when I  usually get paper tests in my AP classes was a bit of a burden. It helps me to mark up the questions and excerpts when I’m taking tests, but with the online version, it’s hard to do that. I am happy that the college board seems to be making some adjustments, though. For example, we got our reference sheet on paper for the AP Computer Science Principles test. I hope they keep listening to student input in the future. - Amelia Tranter, 10

I, too, hope they consider student input in the future, but as a disillusioned senior myself, I doubt it.

• “I felt like it was a lot more convenient and the essays were a lot easier for classes like Euro, World, and Lang. Bubbling in answers on paper was tedious, so obviously online testing made this easier.” - Rohan Saarang, 11

• “I think that typing was a big improvement. Writing all of them by hand would have been way too much. - Anna Rezcallah, 11

Let's hear from our seniors:

• “The AP Psych test was a disaster, and they received very unhappy feedback from me.” - Leila Dunfee, 12

• “It’s a great idea because it makes the tests much more efficient, but the fact that the College Board charges for the tests, has the schools supply the labor, and still couldn’t get it together nor have a backup plan when it goes wrong (besides make up tests) is outrageous and embarrassing.” - Norah Brusco, 12

• “I think the hybrid tests are a happy medium where schools can’t cheat and see the tests ahead of time like in previous years, but typing essays was a disaster. - Emily Brewster, 12

These quotes reveal a disturbing pattern: 12th-grade students at Eastview are no longer willing to bow down to the College Board, while juniors and underclassmen seem to hold at least some hope for the future.

Congratulations to these exceptional students for being named Student of the Year in their respective disciplines:

Adaptive Physical Education - Abigail Loch

Business and Marketing - Grace Johnson

Center Based - Anthony Dyakin

Dance - Piper Murray

English Language Development - Medardo Villalba Reyes

English/Language Arts - Ashton Abram

Family and Consumer Science - Himani Mondal

Fine Arts - Sahiti Atluri

Instrumental Music - Sarvesh Anandhaganesen

Mathematics - May Tang

Performing Arts - Katherine Opstad

PhyEd/Wellness/Safety Ed. - Kaia Churness

Science - Kartik Saravanapandi

Social Studies - Max Huberty

Special Services - Braydan Kangas-Spears

Technology - Lindsay Mello

Visual Arts - Aevyn Nguyen

Vocal Music - Ryan Kamano

Work Program - Kendale Love

World Language - Maggie Xu

Additonally, congratulations to Jack Bauer, Mason Gillis, Keira Peiterson, and Gracie Puit on Scholar Athlete of the Year and Nicholas Zylstra on Scholar Artist of the Year. 

by Norah Brusco- Editor- May 16th, 2025

After 40 years in education, Mrs. Sherwin is stowing away her calculators and saying goodbye to the classroom. Her husband and fellow coworker, Mr. Sherwin, said that Mrs. Sherwin comes from a long line of teachers and planned on being a teacher when she went to college. While she spent time as a Dean of Students, she will be finishing off her career as a math teacher at Eastview.

Mr. Sherwin described his wife’s best trait as her work ethic. He described the hours she would spend, often until 10 or 11pm, working on school. He adds that she worked so hard because she loved to see her students succeed and wanted to provide them with the best possible math education.

Perhaps Mrs. Sherwin will be missed most by her students. Kassidy Zak says that “Mrs. Sherwin always make sure everyone understands and pushes every student to try their best in class.” Shriya Yalamanchili says that she “has amazing outfits and always tries to lighten the mood during the class.” Chase Hake writes that “Mrs. Sherwin is very sweet and I always loved her class.”

Even students who were not in Mrs. Sherwin’s class felt her positive impact. Nathan Schroeder writes that “Mrs. Sherwin was always very kind to me and talked to me even though I did not have her in class. I hope she enjoys retirement.”

The staff at The Lightning Press wish Mrs. Sherwin the best in her retirement and thank her for her steadfast dedication to making Eastview a better place. 

by Ava Johnson- Writer - May 4th, 2025

We can square dance, we can list all the state capitals and phases of the water cycle, but can we as students balance a checkbook? 

Turns out, most of us probably can’t. According to a study conducted by Professor Annamaria Lusardi of Stanford University, only seven per cent of 18 to 25-year-olds are sufficiently financially literate. Furthermore, two-thirds of American adults can’t pass a basic financial literacy test, according to a 2016 National Study by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. While this might not seem like a big deal, it absolutely is. Says Lusardi, “Being financially literate is just as important as knowing how to read and write." Being able to deal with finances is critical in continuing on to higher education, as many students end up taking out loans. Without proper financial education, students may make uninformed choices that can land them in serious debt. Luckily, Eastview has introduced a new graduation requirement starting with the class of 2028: Personal Finance. 

The Eastview website states that the personal finance course will “equip and empower students to make informed financial decisions in an evolving world, with an intentional focus on each student’s individual experiences, cultures, values, and goals.” Excited by the promise of gaining practical and useful skills, freshman Addison Johnson comments, “I think the class will be really helpful because I don’t really know that much about finance. Being able to be taught about how to make good choices with my money is definitely a skill that’s going to help me when I get older.” 

Eastview’s course is designed to focus on six essential skills: Financial Psychology, Earning and Income, Financial Systems, Credit and Debt Management, Risk Management, and Budgeting and Investing. Mastering these skills empowers students to take control of their financial futures. By understanding how emotions and behaviors influence money decisions, students can make smarter choices when it comes to saving and spending. Learning about how to make money and navigate complicated financial systems gives students practical strategies to manage credit and debt, while risk management techniques help with resilience in the face of unexpected challenges. Lastly, budgeting and investing skills help to lay the groundwork for long-term financial stability, making these fields directly applicable to the everyday experiences and future goals of Eastview students before and after graduation. 

By being required to take this course, Eastview students are directly set up for better outcomes. “The costs of financial illiteracy – of ‘being bad with money’ – are apparent,” says Keith Hall, the Assistant Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia. “Those who go through life making poor financial decisions will inevitably end up with a far lower standard of living than was otherwise achievable.” We should be grateful that our school cares enough to look beyond graduation and invest in our futures. Through their guidance, we are not just graduating, but stepping into the real world as capable, resilient, and ready individuals. 

by KaiMing Peterson - Writer - April 1st, 2025

In spring of 2023, the district office approved a plan to build the Eastview Activity Center. This center will lead to big changes in student life, from parking to new practice spaces. As construction is expected to start in early April and last for 16-18 months, students are going to have to adjust quickly.

The Eastview Activity Center is going to bring new opportunities for sports and physical education classes. The center will have courts for basketball, volleyball and badminton courts, areas for baseball, softball, track, and lacrosse, as well as a new weight room. The old weight room will be replaced with a new dance room. In addition, there will be a couple new classrooms for subjects such as Wellness and First Aid. The new facilities will have better equipment for training, including an oval track made of rubber rather than the current square track and improved, multipurpose weight room machines. This will allow athletes to improve their training experience.

But before students can benefit from this new facility, they’re going to have to endure the building process. In order to create such a large space, construction crews will be using an estimated 50 to 75 parking spots for construction vehicles and materials. This will mean that less spots will be available to students in the main lot, and the school will be selling less parking permits. On the bright side, the district will make up for this loss by ensuring they build more spots than they remove. 

The Eastview Activity Center is currently expected to be finished in January of 2027. This means that current juniors and seniors will graduate before its completion, but current sophomores will have the opportunity to use the facilities near the end of their senior year. This completion date could change in the future due to unexpected construction obstacles such as extreme weather, but the district is hopeful that the project will stay on track.

The new activity center is going to bring many benefits to the Eastview community, although there will be some short-term effects on students. Hopefully, students will be able to access the new facility in two years.

by Anna Rezcallah - Editor - February 11th, 2025

The Eastview Girls Basketball team has had an extremely successful season so far. With a season record of 14-3, it is evident that their hard work and skill is paying off. Eastview’s basketball department has built a reputation in the past few years, being some of our very successful sports teams, and the 2024-2025 girl’s team is no exception. 

Just a few weeks ago the team played in their Senior Night home game against Farmington. They won 55-39, a great way to celebrate the team and a special game. Eastview Girls Basketball has five seniors and two senior managers, and senior night games for sports—along with fun events and meaningful team rituals—honor the hard work, team spirit and dedication of the senior players. Their contributions are impossible to miss, and they will leave large shoes to fill next year. 

Unlike most sports, who’s senior night game is usually one of their last, the girls basketball team still has nine games in the regular season to go. There is no doubt there will be many more wins along the way! Their competitive success has also guaranteed them the opportunity to play at the section game in the postseason, an incredible feat!

Eastview Girls Basketball has done an incredible job representing the Eastview Athletics department in the first half of their season. As they gear up to finish the second half on a strong note, the student body will be cheering them on!

by Norah Brusco - Editor - February 11th, 2025

It’s that time of year again, folks. The time of year where seniors only want to graduate, but all of the other grades have to make important decisions about which classes they will or will not take the following year. Considering that all the information needed about registration can be found in the (boring) advisory presentations or the school website, I’ll spare you the finite details. What I will offer is a unique perspective on which classes are a must, and which classes you should stay away from. I’ve divided my opinions into six categories: electives, world languages, math, science, social studies, and English. 

Electives:

With a variety of electives offered, you really can’t go wrong in picking one. Choir and band are fabulous options, but only if you are artistically inclined. Be wary of FCS courses being considered an ‘Easy A,’ they can kick your butt if you’re not careful. For a resume builder, the business and finance classes are great. Though, most of the knowledge acquired during finance classes is also readily available on the internet or free online courses, so keep that in mind. I have to add a special shout-out to Keyboarding classes A-D, some of my favorite memories were made in those computer labs. Overall, be wary of the ‘Easy A’ classes, but still explore outside of your comfort zone.

World Languages:

Take them, take them, take them. Not only do you need to fill the graduation requirements, but many colleges prefer to see a minimum of three years of a language. It doesn’t matter which language, each one offers unique opportunities. Take them, take them, take them.   

Math:

This category is tricky, and I may be a bit biased in favor of math classes. In my opinion, math classes can make or break a year, so choose wisely. It isn’t always the best idea to do something super difficult, but make sure you still challenge yourself. The math classes you take will teach you valuable lessons no matter their level. 

Science:

The science path at Eastview is fairly straightforward. One big stickler is which year to take honors chemistry. It’s up to you, but be warned, AP biology is not for the faint of heart. And if in junior year you decide not to take it, you’ll end up in a class full of sophomores. Special shout-out to Mr. Meyer here, he is one of the best science department teachers there is. Try and get in his honors chem class if you can. 

Social Studies:

You essentially have two options here. You can take on-level which is a perfectly acceptable route, or you can do AP History. Be warned, if you take AP History, your life may become a series of lengthy textbook readings and study guides. That being said, the lessons learned from history courses are invaluable. Plus, if you can get through APUSH, you’re basically set for life.

English:

The English route at Eastview is fairly straightforward. If the level is appropriate, I would highly recommend AP Lang (goated teachers). For seniors, CIS PS is well loved, and for readers, AP Lit is enjoyable. CIS Composition, is, well, a challenging and sometimes frustrating course in my experience. On-level English courses are good too, and have beloved teachers. 

Overall, whichever courses you select, make the most out of your remaining years of high school. Choose classes that will allow you to find balance and set you up for success. 

By KaiMing Peterson - Writer - November 5th, 2024

It’s official! Eastview High School will start using digital AP tests from now on.

There are many reasons behind this change. According to Trevor Packer, the head of the Advanced Placement Program, digital AP tests are much more secure and easier to use. Last year, numerous scores were canceled after several tests were leaked. Digital tests would prevent this in the future, as tests won’t be sent out to all schools weeks in advance. Packer also stated that the testing process will become quicker and easier as there will be “no more lengthy bubbling and labeling of paper materials before testing can start.” 

While some of these benefits sound nice, not everyone is happy with the changes. Senior Emily Brewster believes that switching to digital tests will disadvantage students, “A lot of people have trained to take these tests with paper and pencil.” Students will have to be prepped on how to take these tests online and will not be able to use common test-taking strategies. For example, senior Norah Brusco believes that it will be “difficult to mark up the test when it’s not on paper and navigation will take more time.” Students who have used these test-taking strategies for years will have to go without them. For these reasons, the change to digital testing isn’t ideal for everyone.

With this being Eastview’s first year of digital AP tests, it’s hard to say how things will go. One thing’s for sure, students are going to have to make significant adjustments to their test-taking strategies.

By Chloe Larson - Editor - November 5th, 2024

The Lightning Speech season has officially started, having had their first meeting of the year this week. Of course, some speakers have already been practicing, and others will not begin until December. Either way, excitement for the season is high!

“I am so excited for speech this year!! I love spending time with my teammates and getting to do what I love most: perform! I’m super looking forward to diving into my piece this year with my coach and getting to share it with others! I also cannot wait for speech parties and Team Talks!” - Tess Douma, 11

“I’m really excited about seeing everyone in speech and to be performing in varsity this year!” - Taylor Lyke, 10

“This season I’m really excited to join the traveling team. Since I’m now competing in a national category, I’m able to travel to tournaments like Harvard and Emory and see speakers from all across the country.” - Nina Galindez, 11

They also have some advice for anyone thinking about trying out next year:

“No matter your current skill level or confidence in speaking, the most important thing is taking this first step. Eastview has such an amazing coaching team that can help you improve, so don’t worry!” - Nina

“The community is so nice and speech tournaments are so fun! Plus the speech parties are awesome.” - Taylor

“I would say to make BIG CHOICES and BE YOURSELF. Having that confidence and spark that makes you you is so valuable.” - Tess

By Prayna Duvvuru - Writer - October 19, 2024

Are you interested in science? Do you want to work in a hospital one day? Do you want to study a medical field in college? Then HOSA may be perfect for you. Future Health Professionals (previously known as Health Occupation Students of America) is a club at Eastview that offers essential resources and support for those interested in entering the medical field. Led by seniors Sumana Sadineni and Aneela Mahbub, Aneela describes it as being “DECA for people who want to go into healthcare.” They have meetings where they connect with people who already work in healthcare, along with tournaments, public speaking events, and volunteer opportunities, all of which look good on college applications and resumes. According to Aneela, if you have a busy schedule, “you can choose your level of commitment.” HOSA meets every month (usually on a Wednesday), in B127.

By Leila Dunfee - Editor - October 9th, 2024

Eastview students, we are now more than a month into the school year. Homework loads are growing, exams are increasing, and extracurriculars are in full swing. The fall is a hectic time of year and can get extremely stressful, so here are five tips for going back to school: 

1. Get Enough Sleep. Our brains do not work properly when they are not getting enough sleep at night. Naps can be helpful (sometimes), but to be successful during the school day, you must get enough sleep at night. Technically, high school students should be getting 8-10 hours of sleep each night, but our lives are busy so making 7 hours of sleep a night a goal is ideal.

2. Use a Planner. To-do lists get extensive, activities pile on one another, and exams are happening more frequently, so getting a planner to keep track of everything is incredibly helpful to ensure you don’t miss a deadline or forget to study for a test. There are physical ones that you can get from Target, Walmart, or Amazon, but also many templates provided by Notability that you can download and use digitally.

3. Try Different Study Methods. There are countless methods and techniques for studying, you just have to find the one that works best with you and your time. An example of a study method would be the Pomodoro Technique, where you study for a certain amount of time (ex: 45 minutes), then take a break for a shorter amount of time (ex: 10 minutes), repeating this cycle until you complete all of your work. However, this is just one example out of the hundreds that you can find by just a quick Google search.

4. Connect With People In Your Classes. And not just for the sake of friendship (although that is a bonus). By making connections with others, you have people you can contact if you are confused about a topic, missed a day of class, or want someone to study with. Teachers can get busy, so having other people to rely on ensures that you won’t be left with unanswered questions.

5. Limit Screen Time. Yes, it is much more appealing to doom-scroll on Tiktok instead of doing homework, however, that’ll only make the homework pile grow taller. Instead, limit the amount of time you are spending on your phone, especially with social media, and when you need a break from working, read a book or do something else that is relaxing, but still good for the brain.

You likely will still feel stressed at times over school, but using some of these tips may help ease some of that stress. Remember, your teachers are there to help you succeed, and more often than not, the people in your classes are always there to help you figure things out.

By Max Huberty - Editor - October 9th, 2024

Eastview has been a trendsetter regarding phone policies in schools. Three years ago, we switched from rules about phones being determined by individual teachers to a mandated system of phone caddies in every classroom. This policy, while largely seen as a nuisance by many students, has been effective in reducing distracting electronics use during classroom instruction. Across the country, stricter phone policies are being discussed as new research has revealed that “97% of kids use their phone during the school day, for a median of 43 minutes a day” according to Common Sense Media in association with C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan. 

As of September 2024, nine states have made legislation to implement new rules regarding phone usage in school, but these policies vary widely. Five states—Florida, Louisiana, Virginia, South Carolina, and Indiana—have banned phones in classrooms. Louisiana has taken a more hardline approach, fully banning phones from school grounds. Other states like Florida and Indiana have only banned phones during instructional times, and students can still carry phones with them throughout the school day. Ohio, Connecticut, and Alabama have passed laws encouraging the reduction of phone use throughout the school day. Lastly, Minnesota passed a law requiring school districts themselves to adopt phone policies, although there are no specifications for what these phone policies must be. 

Laws like these are expected to become more widespread as phone policy has, interestingly, become a bipartisan issue. Legislators have crossed the aisle, citing improved learning environments and a reduction in cyberbullying as reasons for this change. Thus, states and schools are rushing to eliminate phones from schools. Compared to some extreme policies, Eastview students should be grateful that at least we can bring our phones onto school grounds. I say #HappyfortheCaddy!

By Abbey Zila - Writer - October 9th, 2024

Since the school year has begun, many new students might struggle to pick what clubs, sports, and after-school activities they would like to get involved in at Eastview. Whether you’re a freshman or a returning student, you might want to consider trying something new. While many of the fall activities sign-up dates have passed, there are still tryouts for theater on September 17th in the choir room from 2:45-8:pm. If you aspire to perform your favorite shows, this activity is for you! 

If you are less interested in the musical world, then maybe speech and debate would be a good fit; more information on both can be found on the EVHS website. If you like dancing, you can join Dance Tech (a class offered to grades 10, 11, & 12) or wait until next year to sign up for Color Guard. If you are looking to hype up the crowd at sports games, maybe consider cheer; they perform at football and basketball games and have their own competitions as well. If you play an instrument and missed the opportunity to join band or marching band, consider taking it as a class next quarter. It offers a fun and engaging experience sure to teach you about your instrument and music as a whole. 

But maybe you don’t want to take a sport or an extra class, well you’re in luck! EVHS has many student and teacher-led clubs for you to join! They include and are not limited to: Chess Team, Chinese Club, DECA, Diversity Club, French Club, German Club, etc. With all of these options, there is sure to be one for every student in this school. If you have an idea not yet available as an official club, just talk to a teacher about starting one if enough people are interested. More information on all of these activities can be found on the EVHS website. 

By Ashton Abram - Editor - October 9th, 2024

If there is one constant in the world, it is changes in Eastview’s tardy policy. Just as policy changes came down hard on tardies last year, the 2024-2025 school year has come with changes of its own to keep in mind.

So, what are the changes? Well in contrast to recent year's tightening restrictions over phones, absences, and passes, the changes this time around actually loosened regarding tardies. Now students earn their first detention after five tardies, compared to the previous three, with additional detentions earned every subsequent three tardies thereafter.

These consistently changing policies are all a part of the schools ongoing battle with “chronic absenteeism,” a status defined by students missing more than 10% of the school year, or about five days per quarter. About 86% of Eastview students stay outside of this status, but still, administration is constantly searching for the best way to keep students in the classroom. While it may be easier with digital classwork for students to communicate with teachers and keep up with homework assignments independently, nothing can make up for missed lectures and class activities, not to mention the wasted time and disturbances for all students when someone enters class late. For this reason, the school has been consistently adjusting to find a policy that balances understanding for students’ circumstances that inevitably lead to late arrivals and missed days, and ensuring students are incentivized to come on time.

All said and told, these changes shouldn’t make a large difference for most students, but for all students it's a good sign to see administration trying to find a balance between heightening restrictions and understanding for student experiences. Keep coming to class on time and who knows, maybe this new tardy policy will actually stick around.

By Ashton Abram - Editor - May 30th, 2024

To many, math class may seem like a drab place of boredom and numbers, but to Eastview’s Ms. Hoffman, just the opposite is true. Just one look inside her classroom covered in posters of manatees and papers for their adoption can tell you all you need to know about the kind, intelligent, and caring teacher that we will dearly miss this next school year.

For 21 years now, Ms. Hoffman has been a math and statistics teacher here at Eastview, and one of the very best teachers students could ever ask for. Former student Cabrini Fouts remembers how she “cared more about us succeeding than she did about any grade,” recounting that “she’s super funny and made class worth going to” every day. Maggie Xu shared how “Ms. Hoffman exudes a positive energy that motivates all of her students to succeed” and how “the way she taught AP stats was the best,” with “hands-on activities that actually made math fun.” 

Ms. Hoffman's legacy at Eastview will be one of a teacher who truly inspired her students to succeed, and cared for each and every face that entered her classroom. In the end, as Maggie concludes, “she was our real stats fairy.”

By Chloe Larson - Editor - May 28th, 2024

Sometimes, teaching may seem like a mundane career. In my opinion, Mrs. Carberry proves otherwise. Her dedication to her students day in and day out for over 35 years is nothing short of extraordinary. Whether in Honors 9th Grade American Government, 10th grade American History, or what is many students first AP class, AP US History, Mrs. Carberry is a keystone teacher in preparing her students for the rest of high school. Her students really say it all:

Gracie S says, “She’s actually funny. She’s got a good humor. She makes learning fun.”

Emily H said she loves “how she takes time to build relationships with all her students.”

Leila D shared that “she was always very interested in what people had going on. She’d always give shout-outs to people who had achievements in their extracurriculars.”

Ashton A agreed saying, “She cares about her students. She was really good about genuinely wanting to get to know us.”

KaiMing P said that "she created an atmosphere in the classroom that felt comfortable and fun. She would have us do these activities that helped us get to know our classmates, and that helped build a sense of community where I felt like I could talk to anyone. Not only that, but she genuinely cared about our answers and would use the information from these discussions to connect with her students."

Emily B remembered that “she always made me look forward to coming to class, whether it be through her teaching material, or just her personality and the way she interacted with students.”

Colleague Ms. Thomas says, “She’s great, I like a lot of things about her. Her joy, her positive attitude, her work ethic, her learning mindset, her willingness to support new teachers, change and grow, say yes to anybody at any time, and find what’s kind and just for everyone.”

I couldn’t agree more. Mrs. Carberry loves on everyone she meets and builds genuine connections with her students. She will be dearly missed here at Eastview, and her legacy is one of kindness and generosity that we all strive to emulate.

By Leila Dunfee - Editor - May 28th, 2024

The Spanish department at Eastview has hosted countless of wonderful teachers over the years, one of them being Sra. Harens. Known for her warm presence, kind soul, and encouraging teaching strategy, she will be greatly missed as she retires at the end of this year. She taught multiple levels of Spanish over her many decades of teaching and has become very proficient in her field. KaiMing Peterson remembers a time when she had Sra. Harens for Spanish 2 recalling that “it was my first time doing oral exams and she made me feel very comfortable” and “she was always very encouraging.” She also was very kind with her own peers. Fellow Spanish teacher Sra. Rudd says that she’s a “pleasure to work with” despite never having taught with her. Overall Sra. Harens is a very warm individual whose presence will be missed here at Eastview. Let's wish her the best as she transitions into retirement and the next phase of her life!

By Max Huberty - Editor - April 10, 2024

NHS elections are quickly approaching with votes being cast on Thursday, April 11th. This election determines the officer positions for Eastview’s NHS chapter for the 2024-2025 school year. Ten offices are up for election, shown below: 

• President 

• Vice-Presidents (2) 

• Secretary 

• Treasurer 

• Dialogue Directors (2) 

• Historian

• Service Officers (2) 

For these positions, candidates rank their preferences for what positions they want. So, votes are not actually being cast for specific positions, but rather for people to be put in the positions they requested. The voting will be done on google forms after each candidate gives a 20 second speech. Also, candidates have written short essays explaining their motivations for becoming an officer and potential service opportunities they would like to implement which will be published prior to voting. 

All junior NHS members get to cast five votes. Notably, each vote is not worth the same amount of weight in determining positions. A person will have a vote #1 that is worth 5 points, a vote #2 worth 4 points, a vote #3 worth 3 points, etc. The current senior officers also get to vote for candidates. These cumulative points are all calculated to determine the candidates who received the most votes who then become next year's officers. 

Again, votes will be on a google form after the Thursday meeting on April 11th at 7:10 AM in C350. Juniors make sure to come and vote!

By Norah Brusco - Editor - April 9, 2024

It’s no secret that Eastview students have entered the doldrums of April. With AP tests, the ACT, and college decisions, students are struggling to stay afloat. Luckily, students just came off one of the longest breaks of the school year: spring break. But how did students and teachers spend it, and how would they rate it?

Ms. Hanson, AP Language and Composition Teacher

Activity: Stayed home and graded english assignments. Also organized drawers.

Rating: 5/10

Other comments: “It wasn’t fun, but it felt good to be productive.”

Leila Dunfee, 11th Grade Student 

Activity: Went to Key Largo, Florida.

Rating: 10/10

Other comments: “It was very nice to be able to relax and not think about school for a week (minus my math homework).”

Madeline Link, 11th Grade Student

Activity: Attended the AP European trip to Europe.

Rating: 9.5/10

Other comments: “I got sick but it was gnarly.”

Mr. VandeBerg, AP World History Teacher

Activity: Cleaned the basement and got sick. 

Rating: 10/10

Other comments: “I went to Florida… parking lot at the Mall of America.”

Peyton Lecher, 10th Grade Student 

Activity: Went to visit the Gulf Shores in Alabama.

Rating: 7/10

Other comments: “Weather was not great.”

Clearly, students and faculty had mixed emotions about this spring break. Eastview’s next break will be summer break beginning June 6, 2024.  

By Ashton Abram - Editor - April 4th, 2024

Starting next year at Eastview and high schools across Minnesota, freshmen are going to be exploring uncharted territory. With new educator guidelines passed by state legislators, starting in the 2024-2025 school year, all freshmen are going to have to wait until their 11th or 12th grade year to take a mandatory civics and government class. This means at Eastview, the classic freshmen to senior year social studies route is being completely flipped. Freshmen will not come in taking government, but rather a world history class instead.

With such a sudden change, it is fair to wonder why this is happening at all. Well, according to the legislators who passed the law, it all comes down to preparing students for political action. Many think that right now, there is too much time between when students learn about American government and actually get to put it to use. The hope with the new policy is that taking government classes later in high school will make sure students are better prepared to take part in elections and other civic responsibilities.

This law will create an interesting situation for Eastview’s social studies department. For the next two years, there will be absolutely no government classes being taught at Eastview for the first time since the school's founding. During this time, both freshmen and juniors will be taking world history at the same time, although hopefully still in separate classes for everyone's sake. And while there is a lot to predict now, at the end of the day, those who are at Eastview will just have to wait and see how these changes social really turn out.

By Evie Swenson - Writer - April 4th, 2024

There’s no doubt that Eastview has an overwhelmingly talented pool of female 

athletes. Just in a mere 27 years of being open, there have been 10+ female individual state champions, and countless numbers of section and conference champions. The Athena Award honors outstanding high school senior female athletes from St. Paul and surrounding schools for their athletic achievement. The award is “based on excellence in individual sports or for participation and accomplishments in team sports” (St. Paul Athena). This year’s Athena Award winner, Emily Percival, is known to Eastview as an incredible athlete and student. 

Emily Percival has been an active participant in Cross Country, Nordic Skiing, 

and Track and Field ever since her 7th grade year. She has earned 18 athletic letters in her career. In Cross Country she is a 3X Captain, 5X All-Conference Selection, 5X State Meet Participant, Team MVP, Outstanding Academic Athlete, All-State Academic and holds the 3rd fastest 5K time in school history. In Nordic Ski she is 2X Captain, 5X All-Conference, 6X State Meet Participant, 2X All-State, 2X All-State Academic, Team MVP, has won 13 SSC Individual Races, 2X SSC Individual Pursuit Champion, 2X SSC Individual Sprint Champion, 2X SSC Team Sprint Champion, 2X SSC Overall Individual Champion, 5X SSC Team Champion and named 3X to Midwest Junior National Team. In Track and Field she is a member of this year’s Leadership Council and a 5X Section Team Participant.

Eastview is honored to have Emily Percival as a student of this school. 

Students describe her as hard-working, intelligent, kind, and always willing to lend a helping hand. She will be recognized at the St. Paul Athena Award banquet on April 17. Congratulations to Emily and all Athena Award finalists for this year. 

By Tanisha Senapati - Editor - February 22, 2024

As the time for college applications winds down, there's a noticeable change in the choices made by Eastview High School's class of 2024. Over 100 students from Eastview have shown a strong interest in applying to the University of Wisconsin-Madison this year, and the reasons for the surge are pretty clear. 

The first big draw for Eastview students is UW-Madison's commitment to offering top-notch classes. The university has a wide variety of programs led by experienced teachers. Students get to use modern facilities and learn in creative ways that help them think critically. Besides the classes, UW-Madison is also known for its lively and inclusive campus life. There are a variety of clubs, events, and groups for different interests. This makes a close-knit community where students not only grow academically but can also make lasting friendships. The energetic atmosphere adds to the overall college experience, making UW-Madison a favorite for those looking for a mix of studies and social life. One Eastview senior summed it up, saying, "I want to get into Madison because of the lively atmosphere, the cost, and the location." 

Many students feel the same way, attracted to UW-Madison not just for its good classes but also for the overall experience it offers. The increase in Eastview High School students applying to the University of Wisconsin-Madison reflects the university's focus on great classes, research chances, a lively campus, and supportive alumni. More students are realizing the importance of a well-rounded education, and UW-Madison stands out as a place that provides just that. The Eastview Class of 2024 seems ready to become part of the UW-Madison community, embracing the unique opportunities the university has to offer.

By Norah Brusco - Editor - February 2nd, 2024

A bat, a stuffed cow, or a bike lock: all things that have been distributed in years past for a bathroom pass. Eastview High School has historically faced criticism for its lack of sufficient passing time. A mere 5 minute period is allotted for an EVHS student to report to their next class, use the bathroom if needed, place their phone in the caddy, and prepare for the following class. 

Recently, the school has implemented a new policy where the only valid bathroom passes are lanyards issued by the school. Additionally, students are not allowed to use the bathroom during the first five or last five minutes of class. School administrator Mr. Habeck noted that this new system was teacher-implemented as a way to provide consistency, decrease hallway clutter, and decrease missed class time. But has it done the job? 

Some teachers certainly think so. Mr. Haugh, a math teacher at EV, notes that the new guidelines have “helped reduce the number of missing passes” and “reduced the clutter in the hallways significantly.” Although more kids are getting to class on time, tardiness levels have not decreased accordingly. Mr. Habeck attributes this to teachers becoming more diligent with tracking tardiness. These successes are not felt equally across the school, however. Emily Brewster, an 11th grade student, says that the administration will “take any opportunity to limit our autonomy.” Backing up her claim are Eastview’s stricter plans for after school activities, phone caddies, and student ID usage. Other students have expressed that it causes them to miss more class time. Most teachers don’t begin instruction for a few minutes after the bell anyways, so students argue that the first five/last five rule results in more missed class time. Emerson Block, an 11th grade student, added a fiery comment stating that “some classes simply aren’t relevant enough for me to be there the first five minutes.” She added, “[the new system] is just silly. I’m 16 years old and asking if I can go to the bathroom. How ridiculous.” Clearly, not every student is pleased with the changes. 

Regardless of the varying opinions, it seems the new system is here to stay. Hopefully teachers, students, and administrators will find a way to work together in promoting a productive learning environment. 

By Rhea Saarang - Editor - January 31, 2024

This past Classic Debate season was definitely one to be proud of, and very bittersweet. As a senior who’s been on the team for the past four years, debate was definitely an activity I enjoyed, despite its challenges, and the community that’s grown has been incredible. This past debate season itself was certainly memorable.

As a team, we had much success throughout the season. With multiple first place finishes during the regular season in the novice and varsity division, the team was definitely very strong all around.

This year, the varsity team was definitely close knit. While we had our fair share of struggles (because mastering debate is essentially impossible), we also managed to have a lot of fun in the process. Towards the end of our season preparing for state, we managed to truly have fun with one another. In the end, it was clear how much everyone on the team cared about the activity and in learning new information as well. Some of my favorite 2023 highlights include scouring the internet and emailing myself and my partner legal journals during our English class, talking to friends from rival schools, and especially senior Harini Vinod continuing to research and file evidence for teammates in elimination rounds (this is a whole new level of dedication). In addition, we also had some awesome success in every division at the state tournament: 

In the novice division, sophomores Rohan Saarang and Madhav Narayan were semifinalists, and freshman Amelia Tranter and Sadhna Patlola were runner-ups!

In the JV division, sophomores Joseph Panikkar, and Sai Reddy as well as sophomore Jones Kanjirkatte and junior Leila Dunfee were octafinalists! Sophomores Anna Rezcallah and Matthew Vengal were STATE CHAMPIONS!!

In the varsity division, senior Arkhya Arikkath and junior Sahiti Atluri were quarterfinalists! Seniors Emily Hering and Rhea Saarang were semifinalists and 3rd place finishers!

In addition, there were eight All-State members this year, four of them being from Eastview! Congratulations to Rhea Saarang, Emily Hering, as well as juniors Max Huberty and Ashton Abrams on a stellar season!

Debate has been an extremely rewarding activity to be a part of these past four years, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering joining!!

By Madeline Link - Writer - January 31, 2024

Eastview Highschool is home to a variety of extracurricular activities. One example that you may have seen around the school is FCCLA, Family Career and Community Leaders of America. FCCLA tends to focus on service and volunteerism, but also provides many gratuities to the Eastview community. You may recall at the end of the first quarter, when therapy dogs were available to students and faculty after school. That was the work of FCCLA. AP test treats, desserts for teacher conferences, and free child care during teacher conferences are other perks that FCCLA contributes to the Eastview community. In terms of larger community service, FCCLA often volunteers at Feed My Starving Children, the children's museum, and collects donations for Toys For Tots. 

The other main aspect of Eastview’s FCCLA is STAR events, which stands for Students Taking Action with Recognition. Norah Brusco explained STAR events as a competition where “you do something really cool and then talk about it for 10 minutes”. To compete in a STAR event, you must first choose a category of interest. Categories range from baking and pastry, to website design, to service project display and portfolio. Participants present their project to judges who grade their presentations against other presentations in their category. Each category has a specific rubric which tells the competitor what they need to include in their project to get the highest score possible. “For categories such as service and public policy, you’re not so much scored on how much your project helped people, but more on how established it was” Brusco explained. She used her STAR event as an example. Brusco is competing in the public policy category, where she and her partner Avani Marahatta picked an issue they saw in the community, and came up with a solution in the form of a public policy. 

Brusco and Marahatta chose vape waste; they discussed the environmental impacts of vape waste and created a policy that would fix the problem. The pair then met with Pat Garafalo, Erin Maye Quade, and Robert Bierman, who are representatives that Brusco and Marahatta advocated their policy towards. Brusco and Marahatta competed in the regional STAR event competition earlier in January, and will compete in State in March along with the rest of the FCCLA members.

By Grace Johnson - Writer - January 29, 2024

With registration time right around the corner, a question is likely ruminating in the minds of countless Eastview students: “Which AP classes should I take?” With numerous options available to students at Eastview, the choice can quickly become overwhelming or confusing, but the truth is, you can’t go wrong with any of them. The good news is that AP classes are for everyone, and with over 20 AP course options available to Eastview students, there's undoubtedly a spot for everyone willing to take on the challenge, but which of them is the right fit for you? When it comes to deciding which AP classes will be suitable for you, there are a few questions to consider: first, what subjects are you interested in or passionate about? What do you want to spend your time studying post-graduation? What subjects fall under your category of strengths? Secondly, consider how it will affect the overall rigor of your schedule, as maintaining a level of balance in your schedule is equally as important as challenging yourself.

As far as the classes themselves go, senior Ella Holm gave me a little insight into which AP courses she views as most valuable. Of all the AP classes Ella has taken throughout her high school career, the two she recommends as the most valuable are AP Microeconomics/ Macroeconomics and AP Euro/World. She has found AP Econ to be an incredibly interesting course that has taught her valuable skills she will take into her post-grad studies. Additionally, Ella recommends AP Euro/World (a recommendation numerous students have agreed with when asked this very question). She said, “It's a fascinating class,” and many agree that it's a course that provides students with enhanced critical thinking skills, cultural awareness, and a deeper understanding of historical complexities worldwide. Junior Piper Murray agrees but for a different reason. She views it as a great course as it allows you to get two AP credits for the price of one class! While students have their recommendations for what AP classes to take, the truth is you can't go wrong with any of them, as at the end of the day, the AP classes you should take will all depend on where you find your interests lie!

By Chloe Larson - Editor - January 18, 2024

This last December, riders of Bus 347 were saddened to hear that their beloved bus driver, Mrs. Heidi Carston, would be retiring having just received a diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer.

Speaking from personal experience, she was an incredible bus driver. She is one of the most attentive and caring people I have ever met and it was so clear that she strived to make every bus ride the best it could be for every student on board.

Amid this devastating news, it seems that the Eastview, and broader 196 community, has rallied to do what we do best: show kindness and generosity.

“I truly was touched by all the gifts, cards, and letters from everyone on the Eastview route. So many students on all the routes I drove were incredibly generous with their gifts. If it wasn't for all of you, I would not be feeling all this love and push to fight this cancer. I think of you all each and every day, and miss you all as well,” Heidi said.

For more information, see how KARE 11 covered this story featuring a Black Hawk student’s fundraising efforts: Beloved bus driver overwhelmed by students' support

Mrs. Heidi Carston passed away on August 27th, 2024. May she rest in peace.

By Tanisha Senapati -Editor- November 14, 2023

Earlier this school year, we welcomed new students to the Eastview community. Eastview has had a long standing relationship with the Eleonorenschule Darmstadt and through the GAPP program, 20 students were able to come from Germany to the United States for two weeks to learn more about American culture and our schooling. They started off their trip in Chicago, where they explored several tourist spots such as The Bean, Willis Tower, and the Art institute of Chicago. While also tasting the infamous Chicago Deep Dish Pizza (yet the reviews weren't the most positive). 

After spending two days in Chicago, they came to Minnesota, where they spent the rest of their visit. While in Minnesota, they lived with Eastview students and went to their classes to see what the American education system is like. They got to see the wide range of unique classes that we offer at Eastview. One of the German Exchange students shared how she really liked the psychology classes and how she wished that it was offered at her school. They luckily came during Homecoming week so they got to experience traditions like the pepfest, the homecoming football game, and of course the homecoming dance. One of the exchange students commented on how different our school system is to theirs, they said that “In Germany, our school is more formal, so we don’t have activities such as football or dances, it was nice to see this because we have seen stuff like this so many times in American movies and I really wanted to experience it.” 

Throughout the week, both the exchange students and the hosts showed them a lot of fun things to do in Minnesota. They all went to a bonfire where they tried smores for the first time. They went to the Mall of America several times during the trip and got to go on the rides, and finally we took them to try traditional American diner food which was a hit among the exchange students. Over the summer, several Eastview students will be going to Darmstadt to experience German culture and meet up with the students. 

By Morgan Brown - Writer - November 13, 2023

This year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  is being changed. This program is one of the main ways seniors planning to attend college receive government aid. Understanding these changes will be important for anyone planning to attend college this next year onward.

The FAFSA has been changed in three main ways: streamlined federal aid information, the switch to the student aid index, and changes in eligibility. The FAFSA is now directly linked to the IRS and will input tax information automatically, saving families time and eliminating any room for error. For clarity, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), one of many determinants to your aid eligibility, has been renamed to the Student Aid Index (SAI). This eliminates confusion on the purpose and meaning of the FAFSA, as the program isn't meant to directly instruct decisions like family contribution. Finally, the department eliminated the consideration of the number of children in college when calculating student aid.

Why should we care? Senior Tanisha Senapati says that the biggest impact for her is the change in considered factors. Previously, families with more than one student attending college would receive more aid, but now that consideration has been removed. This means that families with multiple children in college will no longer receive more aid, a change that will directly affect every FAFSA applicant. 

The changes to the FAFSA also mean significant delays on the form's opening, a whole two months from the first of October to the first of December. This will have impacts on timelines for decision making and results across the college application process. Tanisha added that, “Colleges won’t release financial statements until later, which impacts final decisions.” 

All of the changes to FAFSA probably won't do much to ease the stress of senior year and college applications, but knowing what is different can help simplify the process and make for an easier transition through senior year and beyond.

By Leila Dunfee - Editor - November 13, 2023

This fall, the Lightning Dance Team had a fun and successful weekend at the Miss Dance Team event held here at Eastview. At this event, hundreds of dancers from many high school dance teams compete as soloists against other dancers in their grade, and the seniors compete for the title of “Miss Dance Team.” Dancers who do exceptionally well are given the opportunity to be a part of Team Minnesota where they travel to California and compete against teams from other states. The results are as follows:

9th grade

• 7th Ashlynn Rustad 

10th grade

• 2nd Ava Wood 

• 7th Adrianna Crawford 

• 10th Isabella Crawford 

11th grade

• 2nd Ainsley Hicok 

• 8th Maya Schmidt 

• 11th Nico Kruger 

• 14th Holly Varner 

          Every school is also allowed one duet or trio entry. For Eastview, twins Adrianna and Isabella Crawford competed in a stunning duet that placed 5th overall.      

         Other dancers who represented Eastview include: Lorelei Dunfee, Claire Gertonson, Peyton Lecher, Genevieve Anderson, Addison Hedrick, Jasmine Dewane, and Ellie Ulland. All of them did exceptionally well.

         The talent brought to this competition was truly incredible. Each dancer had put hours upon hours of work in and were giving 150% of their effort. They all deserved their spot on that stage. Dancers who made Miss Dance Team Minnesota are eager to start. Ava Wood (10th grade), who placed 2nd says, “I’m super excited to be able to experience Miss Dance Team Minnesota this upcoming spring and to experience a new culture and create relationships with dancers all over the state!” With many of Eastview’s dancers placing in the overalls and being invited to be a part of Team Minnesota, it’s safe to conclude that our dancers had a great weekend!

by Emily Percival - Editor - October 10, 2023

Eastview hosted its 12th annual Tackle Cancer Fundraiser from September 18th-22nd. A week full of fundraising money to donate to the Randy Shaver’s Tackle Cancer Foundation. Mr. Kelly, a history teacher at Eastview and the Director of Eastview’s National Honor Society states that, “Before COVID, NHS always hosted a dodgeball tournament. In 2021, coming out of COVID, Ms. Sherwin proposed the idea of dodgeball tournament for Tackle Cancer as the traditional Battle for the Apple (against Valley) football game was no longer regularly scheduled and they wanted to keep the fundraiser alive as it is for a great cause.” The dodgeball tournament was a great way to get students actively involved in raising money for the Tackle Cancer Foundation.

Since 2021, the dodgeball tournament has grown immensely. On Wednesday, September 20th, 40 teams gathered in the gym to compete. The tournament began at 7pm and was a typical single elimination style bracket. Congrats to the Jokers for winning. A massive thank you to all of the volunteers and participants who made this event possible. Mr. Kelly mentions that there were “about 40 NHS members who helped set up the event” and “Ms. Trejo and Mr. Prax generously agreed to help as they both believe it to be a great cause”. Eastview raised over $5200 for the Randy Shaver Tackle Cancer Foundation.

by Arantxa Miranda Morales- Writer - October 10, 2023

With the immense amount of clubs available at Eastview, it can get difficult to decide on a club that’s right for you. However, if you enjoy going on long walks or beautiful hikes in the forest, then Hiking Club is the place for you.

     Established as a student-led club by Claire Swanson last Spring, the Hiking Club has been a space for hikers from both Eastview and the School of Environmental Studies alike to come together and hike around various trails in the Lebanon Hills outside the visitor center. The beautiful scenery along with great people creates a fun and welcoming environment for anyone to join.

     Hiking Club is a great way to meet people with shared interests and have fun. Mira Engelking, a sophomore and member of the club says “We go hiking together with a small group, talk, make new friends, and sometimes do fun activities such as swimming in lakes, hiking barefoot, etc…” The club is very flexible with your schedule, and you don’t need to hike a certain amount of miles, you can go at your own pace. The club welcomes anyone with any hiking experience, regardless if you’ve hiked all your life or are just starting now.

     Meetings usually take place at Schultz Lake every Thursday at 3 pm. Everyone is welcome.

     Contact 803210@apps.district196.org or Claire Swanson with any questions

     Follow their Instagram to stay updated: @evhs_hikingclub

by Chloe Larson - Editor - October 10, 2023

On Monday, September 18th, Superintendent Mary Kreger sent out a message that school resources officers (SROs) from the Apple Valley Police Department (AVPD) would be removed from schools. Later in the week, another statement said, “We value our relationship with the Eagan Police and will always work together to provide a safe learning environment for students and staff. SROs provide prevention, build relationships with students, and provide a sense of safety and security for everyone in our schools." Kreger added, "We heard today that state leaders are close to resolution of this issue and look forward to having SROs back in our schools as soon as possible."

This change came as a result of a new law regarding what sorts of holds anyone employed by the school are allowed to use. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a legal opinion that said the law doesn't limit the types of force used if they are utilized to prevent bodily harm or death. However, a physical hold must be considered "reasonable." He went on to say that if there is no threat of bodily harm or death, then the school staff or agent should refrain from using any physical holds.

This statement prompted the AVPD to pull SROs in an effort to get the law changed. They said that this law would prevent SROs from being able to intervene in potential situations before they become violent, and would put officers under legal scrutiny. The biggest problem with the wording of the law is that it says no physical holds should be used if there is no “threat of bodily harm or death.” This line leaves far too much room for interpretation and puts officers at risk of criminal charges for attempting to de-escalate situations before they become violent.

Negotiations are ongoing and some advocates are looking for the law to be changed in a way that protects SROs. For the time being, Eastview and other schools in the district will not have officers in the building.

by Ella Lambert - Editor - May 31, 2023

Each year, Eastview recognizes students with achievements in academics, athletics, and arts. These students work hard all year for this recognition in the form of Student of the Year. Faculty members work together to pick the students most deserving of the award. The following list is composed of the Eastview kids who earned the honor of Student of the Year in their respective subjects. 

Business & Marketing student Fionna Liew is president of the Business Professionals of America and is also involved in Chinese Honor Society, DECA, and the Asian Student Association. Fionna plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall. 

Center Based student Thomas Christopherson goes above and beyond in class, engaging with his assignments and teachers as well as always having a positive attitude. Thomas plans to attend Transition Plus in the fall.

Dance student Peyton Arntz is a part of the Lightning Dance Team, Dance Tech, BRAVO!, and manages the Boys Dance Team. She is a student who goes above and beyond in all aspects at Eastview. Peyton plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall.

English/Language Arts student Bahja Cumar is an extremely talented writer with a strong work ethic. She volunteers with the Rosemount Mosque Food Drive, providing meals for underserved communities. Bahja plans to attend Loyola University Chicago in the fall.

English Language Development student Samsam Nuure is a dedicated multilingual student who exhibits self-discipline and preparedness in learning. She is involved in the Muslim Student Association. Samsam plans to attend Normandale Community College in the fall.

Family & Consumer Science student Emma Longacre is a member of FCA and Developmental Psychology and has a passion for working with kids. Emma plans to attend the University of Northwestern-St. Paul in the fall. 

Instrumental Music student Mary Kotrba is a 2 time All State Band clarinetist, the clarinet section leader for the EV Marching Band, involved in BRAVO!, and plays numerous instruments. Mary plans to attend the University of Iowa in the fall.

Mathematics student Nathan Elango is a top math student at Eastview, involved in math team, participated in the All State Math Team, and is a recipient of the Bailey Mathematics Scholarship. Nathan plans to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in the fall.

Physical Education student Tyler Wanous is one of the top Class AAA golfers in Minnesota and plays pickleball, badminton, and tennis, exhibiting athleticism in all of his activity classes at Eastview. Tyler plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the fall.

Adaptive Physical Education student Deshawn Collins is a member of the Dakota Hawks and demonstrates respect and hard work everyday in class during activities. Deshawn plans to attend Transition Plus in the fall. 

Science student Sami Tesfaye took every single honors/AP science class that Eastview offers, started the Health Occupations Students of America chapter, is a Debate captain, and is a National Honor Society member. Sami plans to attend Gannon University in the fall.

Social Studies student Allie Nathan is a speech and debate student, member of Best Buddies, volunteer, Spanish tutor, and took AP/CIS/Honors courses all 4 years at Eastview. Allie plans to attend Dartmouth College in the fall.

Special Services student Karen Rodriguez shows dedication and integrity inside and outside of the classroom and has been a member of Eastview girls soccer for 4 years. Karen plans to attend Normandale Community College in the fall.

Technology student Mady Leick was named Minnesota Journalist of the Year and is a member of the Flash, producing/co-producing over 15 stories for the Flash in the past two years. Mady plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the fall.

Visual Arts student Hannah Zacher exhibits courage and problem solving in all of her classes at Eastview. She is extremely artistic and a member of the Storm Step Team. Hannah plans to attend the Minneapolis College of Art & Design in the fall.

Vocal Music student Wesley Granger is involved in performing ensembles, BRAVO!, Choir Council, football, and track, as well as co-curricular choirs. Wesley plans to attend Minnesota State University-Mankato in the fall.

Work Program student Jordan Johnson is a dedicated student who embraces challenges and opportunities. He is a part of Dakota Hawks soccer, hockey, and softball, and competes in the Special Olympics. Jordan plans to attend Transition Plus in the fall.

World Language student Walter Barlow has mastered how to learn a language in his Japanese class. He is involved in band, National Art Honor Society, and J-Quiz. Walter plans to attend the Minneapolis College of Art & Design in the fall.

Eastview High School also recognizes two students for the MSHSL Triple ‘A’ Award. Recipients of this award are students who exhibit talents in the arts and athletics, and have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Nathan Buckley has a 3.9 GPA and is a Summa Cum Laude with Honors graduate. He is also involved in band, cross country, and track and field. Nathan plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall.

Sophia Wang has a 3.98 GPA and is a Summa Cum Laude with Highest Honors graduate. She is also involved in band and varsity soccer. Sophia plans to attend Northwestern University Chicago in the fall.

Students of the Year and Triple ‘A’ award recipients have worked extremely hard to achieve these honors and should be recognized for these achievements. Eastview High School is proud of each and everyone one of these students.

by Emily Hering - Editor - March 19, 2023

Our favorite time of year is approaching- standardized testing! Whether you are taking the Pre-ACT, the actual ACT, MCAs, or AP tests, spring is when many Eastview students find themselves frantically filling out bubbles and trying to remember what they learned in 9th grade Earth Science. It’s safe to say that these tests aren't the best, but there are some things you can do to help ensure you reach the score you're capable of getting, especially on the Pre-ACT.

The best advice I can give is to get plenty of sleep and eat a good breakfast on test day. While this is true for every school day and is hopefully (though not realistically) part of your everyday routine, however; it is especially important on testing days. If you are tired or hungry during the test, chances are you won't get a score as high as you are capable of. 

The second thing I advise has to do with an actual test-taking strategy on the pre-ACT, and that's to answer every question! While this may seem obvious, the test goes by faster than you think it will. If you still have questions left when you hear the test proctor give a five-minute warning, fill in the rest of the questions all with the same letter. This will maximize your chances of getting some right. Then simply erase those filler answers as you try to answer a few more questions. Whatever you don't have finished when time is up will at least still have answers filled in.

This leads me to my third point- the timing situation is not ideal. Pre-ACTs are taken in classrooms, so right when you get there try to make sure you can see a clock. The proctor is only instructed to give you a timed call for five minutes remaining, everything else must be self-timed. Try to do your best to stay on pace, but if you can't, just make sure you answer all.

Finally, the last thing I’ll leave you with is that it’s okay to not meet your goal on these tests. There's a lot of pressure put on students to get high scores or try to get scholarships from these standardized exams, and while that is a goal you want to reach, it's not the end of your life. You can still be extremely successful and happy without scoring a perfect on the test. So if you find yourself in a situation where you're really tired, you forgot to answer some questions, or you can't see a clock, instead of panicking try to remind yourself that this is just practice. Do the best that you can, and go from there.

by Tanisha Senapati - Editor - March 15, 2023

On January 20th, Eastvivew’s NHS (National Honors Society) partnered with the Red Cross which is a non-profit organization that helps people in need by providing various types of humanitarian aid, including blood and blood products to host its first Blood Drive of 2023. Many people showed up to donate blood, with around 86 present donors NHS was able to get 77 units of blood beating their goal of 74 units by three. A whopping 23% of those who showed up were new donors which contributed heavily to reaching the NHS's goal. Several NHS participants came in early in the morning of their day off to help set up for a successful blood drive. Junior Nandini Ghadge commented, “I was shocked by the number of donations we received. I went into the gym and saw boxes on top of boxes of Granola Bars, Chips, Fruit snacks, and Gatorade. It's amazing seeing how much NHS members care about donating to this good cause.” Unfortunately, 9 students and parents were turned down when they came to donate blood. As the Red Cross writes on its website “There are three main reasons why people get turned away from donating blood including Personal factors such as not enough sleep, Medical Examination like low blood pressure and finally Medical history.” Luckily just because you get turned away once doesn't mean you can't donate blood permanently. A junior at Eastview shared how they were turned away at the Blood Drive in June, but was able to successfully donate blood at this one. NHS is planning on hosting its next Blood Drive in June so look forward to more information on that, and coming out to donate if you can!

by Clare Murray - Writer - March 14, 2023

Eastview is becoming more and more reliant on technology. Online programs like Schoology, InfiniteCampus, and the electronic hall pass system make our daily lives at school easier to navigate. This year, though, sporting events are also moving toward an online ticket system. Theater events at Eastview have been using Vanco Events for a while to reserve seats. However, for events like football games where seats aren’t reserved, how beneficial is online ticketing? 

In the past, student tickets were only $5 at the football stadium entrance. The online ticket system adds a processing fee. Though the fee isn’t much, buying two $5 tickets adds an additional dollar for the processing fee. Outside of football, Vanco Events was used for this year's homecoming tickets. One limitation was that students had to buy tickets beforehand and many were unable to get in when the dance reached a capacity of 1200 students. 

How do students feel about this shift? One junior I spoke with about the change said, “I like the online tickets for sporting events, but for homecoming, I wasn’t even able to go to the dance because they ran out of tickets. I think we should’ve been able to pay upfront”. Anna Singh, a senior, agreed that online tickets are convenient and overall more efficient, but it can be difficult when you only have cash. 

According to Mr. Percival, Eastview’s Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Athletics, there were several factors that went into the decision to switch to online ticketing. The switch to cashless payment due to COVID definitely played a large role as many people don’t carry cash. Transporting cash boxes also complicates events for volunteers and it can be difficult to ensure complete accuracy with cash, which is not a worry with online tickets. By just showing a code and not needing to count cash, people get into events much quicker and lines have been significantly reduced. As for homecoming, “In years past it would’ve been an eyeball test of where we were at in terms of how many we could really handle in an event. We know what our fire code is and we exceeded that number, so we wanted to make sure that someone who bought their ticket in advance would be able to get in” Mr. Percival explained. For other sold-out events like basketball games and Bravo, it was helpful to sell tickets in advance so no one was waiting in line without receiving a ticket. He added that Eastview is still looking to improve the system to include Apple Pay and other adjustments to make getting tickets even easier. “We know our system works better than Ticketmaster selling Taylor Swift tickets, we do know that”, he joked. 

Students and senior citizens still get free admission to many sporting events (besides football), so there’s no need to worry if you don’t have a form of online payment!

by Rhea Saarang - Editor - March 14th, 2023

Winter is in full swing, and the looming question everyone seems to be asking is “why did we not get a snow day?” I mean, I know that I’m not the only one who was angry about coming to school on December 15th. Superintendent Mary Krueger granted District 196 a two-hour delayed start on Wednesday December 14th, but many, including myself, did not see the point in it. There was barely any snow on the ground and the delay seemed unnecessary. However, after that, everyone I talked to was under the impression that the next day, there was going to be a boat-load of snow, so there would definitely be a cancellation. I was over the moon for a snow day, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up too fast, so I still completed all of the homework that was due for the next day. Still, in the back of my mind, I was really, really hoping for a snow day. I am not exaggerating when I say that I woke up at 4:30 am, 5 am…and 5:30 am that cold Thursday morning to check the District website to see that big banner proclaiming we had a snow day. 

Imagine my disappointment, and the disappointment of many others when that banner never showed up. I went to school that day, in a bad mood, listening to dozens of people complain about the same thing I was angry about. 

So, the following Monday, I was at Speech Practice listening to Mr. Prax as he talked about how the windchill was going to be horrible on Thursday the 22nd, so school will most likely be canceled. All I could think about was how much I didn’t want to get my hopes up like I did the previous week, so I tried not to think about it.

Did we get a snow day on December 22nd? I am very happy to say that we did, and hundreds of people in District 196 were finally satisfied with Superintendent Krueger, and her decision. 

With that happy ending for the students at Eastview, and the other three highschools, I hope everyone enjoyed their extra day of winter break, and had a great holiday!!

by Chloe Larson - Writer - February 15, 2023

Many Eastview students feel as though spring break can’t come fast enough! But luckily there’s still time to plan a vacation. Here are some popular destination spots that some Eastview students are going to this Spring Break. 

May Tang is going on the Eastview band trip to Greece this spring break! In addition to hanging out with her friends, she’s looking forward to admiring and sightseeing the really old and interesting European buildings.

Madeline Link is heading to Spain and says “The thing I’m most looking forward to on my trip to Spain is the rich culture and the traditional Spanish foods.”

Momo Lee is headed to Japan over break and is most looking forward to shopping! She especially is looking to shop for makeup, and it’s even more fun in the small shops with unique items, not to mention lower prices.

Max Huberty is also going to Japan and is eager to experience a new culture and enjoy some authentic Japanese food!

Gracie Stifter said the best place she ever went to was the Dominican Republic! She went to a wedding and also loved the weather and the resort they stayed at.

Aaliyah Wrobel says the best trip she ever took was to the Philippines! While she enjoyed the food, getting to see family was the best part.

Gracie Puit says the best trip she went on was to South Dakota for a race! She loved getting to run with 2,000 other people, including Olympic athletes!

Mrs. Tommerdahl has planned a rather unique trip for this year, to Jamaica! The whole family is going to rent a house and stay together. She’s most looking forward to spending time with her family, as well as enjoying the beach and warm weather.

With all of these recommendations, here are some key themes to keep in mind when you’re planning your next trip!

First and foremost whom you travel with, and whom you meet on your journey is of the utmost importance. Whether it’s friends in your favorite sport or activity or “long-time-no-see” family members, the people are what make the trip.

And if you’re going to be spending time in another place, (especially outside of the US) be sure to enjoy the different weather, delicious food, and unique culture you can’t find anywhere else!

by Tanisha Senapati - Editor - February 22nd, 2023

The National Honor Society (NHS) is an organization for high school students in the United States. It recognizes and honors students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. For current sophomores and juniors at Eastview, you may have seen the posters around the school advocating for you to apply. With the application deadline of March 24th being a month away here are some tips and tricks for the NHS application process.

1. Do not procrastinate

While the deadline is March 24th, don’t wait till the week before to start writing your application. It is important to write quality responses to the questions since they are read by a panel of teachers when deciding whom to let in. Procrastinating might lead to rushed responses which will take away from the message you are trying to share. 

2. Focus on having strong service/volunteering hours

NHS focuses a lot on volunteering and giving back to the public. One thing they look for with the applications is that you have strong volunteer experience and that you like to give back. Showcasing what you like to do in your free time and that you are volunteering at places you enjoy will help you through the NHS application process. That being said, make sure that you are being honest about your hours. While the signature verification has been removed due to COVID-19,, there are occasions when the panel looking at the application confirms your volunteer hours. 

3. Create good relations with your teachers

While GPA and courses are one of the first things asked in the form, the application panel also tells teachers that you have to get a better understanding of what kind of student you are. Establishing a strong relationship with your teachers and making sure that they have good things to say about you will greatly benefit your application.

4. Reread your application and make sure it's grammatically correct

Making sure to double-check your grammar and spelling (even though not required) is the best way to make sure your application is easy to read and well-written. Since NHS applications are read without knowing the applicant's name, this could be the first impression the reader has of you, and if your application is hard to read, it could make it less appealing. Using software like Grammarly to check it and having a peer review it so it makes sense helps a lot through the process.

by Nikolai Musolf - Staff Writer - January 10th, 2023

In December of 2022, Eastview High School put on the musical entitled Suessical. This show features lots of high energy, colors, songs, and “found object” props. It is based on the many children’s stories of Dr. Seuss but was a show worth seeing for all ages. 

Seussical featured students from all grade levels, and several had their input on the show. Gracie Stifter, an actor in the musical said that "my favorite part about Seussical was all the people there and all the new people I met and became friends with. I enjoyed how high energy it was, making sure there was never a dull moment in the show!". And high energy it was, with songs like “Amazing Mayzie”, “How Lucky You Are”, and “Oh, The Thinks You Can Think” featured.

Although the actors played a big role in the show’s production, there were also many people behind the scenes that made sure Seussical ran smoothly. "As a technician my favorite part is being behind the scenes and learning about everything that makes a show what it is. I also love all the friendships I've created through tech and theater,” says Ava Lockhart. Even though technicians, costume crew, and instrumentalists may not be at the front of the show, they play just as important of a role as the actors do.

The actors and tech behind the scenes worked tirelessly to put on the performances of Seussical in Eastiview’s Performing Arts Center. Performing is something that Eastview theater students enjoy and are very passionate about, meaning that the productions are always high quality and interesting. Eastview’s Bravo will be coming to the stage in the spring as well as the One Act Play. Consider supporting Eastview theater by participating in a production or inviting your friends and family to come and watch.

By Claire Vanorny - Staff Writer - January 8th, 2023

For many students, the holiday season is one of the most joyful and memorable times of the year. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Boxing Day, it can be nice to take a break from the daily routine to celebrate these holidays. But how exactly do Eastview students celebrate the holidays? 

There are over 2,200 students at Eastview and no two students celebrate the holidays the same, that's what makes this question so interesting. Many students have family traditions that make the holidays special. “Me and my family like to drive around and look at the pretty Christmas lights,” said freshman Hannah Sinkinson. The holidays are also a time of appreciation and gratitude, and some students may show this by donating to organizations or people in need. Many students said that spending time with family and friends is their favorite part of the holidays. “I surround myself with happy and joyful memories that I can look back on and that’s what’s so special about the holidays,” said junior Gabby Pasquerella.

For some students, the holidays are also a time of reflection. Students reflect on their accomplishments from the past year, but also what they want to achieve in the coming year. Making New Year’s resolutions can be a fun way to set goals for the coming year. “My New Year's resolution is to be more organized,” said freshmen Lucy Hogan. Other popular resolutions that students have made for 2023 include going outside more, spending more time with family, and to start working out.

  As you can see, there are many different ways that Eastview students celebrate the holidays. Even those who don’t celebrate a holiday can enjoy a break from their regular routine. But within the diversity of these celebrations, Eastview students can unite over the holidays being a special time of the year.

by Claire Vanorny - Staff Writer - November 9th, 2022

Eastview is known for its diverse buffet of clubs and activities, but with so many posters lining the walls of Eastview it can be hard to pick out what clubs are actually worth joining. Fortunately, many of these posters are for the amazing student-led clubs of Eastview. Eastview offers students an opportunity to join existing clubs, as well as create new and exciting student-led clubs. Throughout the years, these student-led clubs have made up a large portion of Eastview's array of activities and continue to play a huge part in the culture of Eastview. 

          Student-led clubs allow students to express themselves by focusing on topics that interest them and often bring awareness to underrepresented topics, but what motivates students to start these clubs in the first place? When asked this question, 3D printing club founder Ethan Christiansen responded, “I want to be able to introduce more people to a big hobby of mine.” Student-led clubs bring together students with similar interests and help educate others on exciting topics. Students often start these clubs with a small group of friends, but then expand to new groups of students. “Overall it's just fun and a great way to make new friends,” said Dungeons and Dragons club leader Jayden Bloodgood.

          Next time you are walking to class or hanging out around Eastview, take a moment to look around at some of the student-led club posters hanging on the walls. Who knows, you might just discover a new hobby, join a welcoming community, or make a lifelong friend.

by Grace Swenson - Editor - November 19th, 2022

The process for applying to college can feel very overwhelming. Colleges require a variety of elements in order to get a general sense of who students are before accepting or denying them. The different deadlines and moving parts are easy to forget or lose track of. Here is a simple guide for the college application process: 

1. The Deadlines 

○ Most schools offer three different application deadlines: early decision, early action, and regular decision. Early decision deadlines are binding contracts and usually are due in November. Each student only can apply early decision to one school. If accepted, they enroll in that school. Early action deadlines are also usually in November, but they are non binding. Students can apply early action to as many schools as they desire. Regular decision deadlines are usually in early January and are usually the last deadline for applications. Regular decision applicants can expect to hear back from the college in March or April while early action applicants can expect to hear back by the end of January. 

2. Common App vs. Direct to the Institution 

○ There are various platforms for applying to college. Most students will use the Common App if they are applying to many different colleges. However, if applying to only a few schools, it may be easier to simply apply directly to the college. The Common App tends to be more in depth, however, it prevents students from having to waste time filling out basic information on applications. Additionally, some schools such as California state schools and Georgetown University aren’t on the Common App. 

3. The Key Components of an Application 

○ The first part of an application is generally personal information. These are questions regarding a student's school, family, and background. Most schools also require a transcript or self-reported grades. Other key components include an essay, letters of recommendation, and standardized test scores. Standardized test scores are optional at most schools, however, many students still choose to submit them. 

4. Application Fees 

○ There’s no set price for an application fee. They generally range from $50-$90 though some schools require over $100. Other schools don’t require any fee at all. The price is set by the college and prospective students should check college websites to determine the price.

by Leila Dunfee - Staff Writer - November 4th, 2022

As Covid-19 restrictions are being lifted, people are given the opportunity to spend more time with their families in-person. With Thanksgiving coming in the next few weeks, many Eastview families are returning to their fun Turkey Day traditions. Taking a look at Thanksgiving traditions found throughout Eastview, there are many to be found outside of the typical dinner. Max Huberty, a 10th grader, has an unique Thanksgiving as his family doesn’t center their Thanksgiving around food like most do, but rather they focus more on doing activities together. He describes how they typically have a bonfire and play games together, but then they still have dinner with the traditional Thanksgiving foods. Kaiya Daley, also a 10th grader, celebrates with her family by having a potluck style dinner with her grandparents where everyone is bringing a different dish to share. One food she is excited for is the krumkake, a Norwegian dessert her grandparents make. Mr. Meyer, a teacher at Eastview, says that his kids in college will be coming home for Thanksgiving dinner, and they plan on going for a hike together either before or after their meal. His favorite food that will be served is the cranberries that his wife makes. These are just a few of the many Thanksgiving traditions Eastview families have to celebrate the holiday. No matter the tradition or food being served, students and teachers are looking forward to spending time with their family and friends while giving thanks to one another.

by Emily Percival - Editor - September 30th, 2022

Maura Hewitt graduated from Eastview this past June and is now a freshman at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. She was accepted into the Naval Academy last spring after a long process of applying, including a nomination from a US Senator or US Representative from her congressional district, many academic requirements, and a fitness test. She left at the beginning of June for a summer of long training days that pushed her to the limits, mentally and physically. The summer basic training is designed to not only set up the freshman for their next four years at the Academy, but also five required years of service after graduation. At Eastview Maura was involved in cross country, lacrosse, debate, FCA, and band. She was an excellent leader in and out of the classroom. Her biggest advice from her 4 years at EV, “pushing yourself academically and trying challenging classes are all things I’m really glad that I did, and that EV gave me the opportunity to do”. She is now wrapping up her first semester at USNA and looks forward to the next stage of her life serving our country

Greta Riedl • Staff Writer • Feb 2, 2022

The spring and summer of 2021 proved to be successful for Eastview High School athletics. Our shiny new turf fields are finally here after their highly anticipated arrival. Thunder Field and Lightning Stadium have already been put to use by both varsity athletic teams and students recreationally. Sam Cairns, Eastview senior, has made use of Thunder Field many times in the fall. “The turf is really nice because there’s no dirt and it has better traction so you don’t slip often,” he says. Senior football player Cole Frost agrees. “I love the turf,” he says, “it’s a lot better than the grass because it won’t get ripped up and it’s a lot easier to maintain.” The permanent markings on the field allow for easy pickup football or other games like soccer, spike ball, or even frisbee. While the fields aren’t usable now, they will be with spring sports are just around the corner. 

Eastview was the last of the four high schools in District 196 to install turf fields. With each high school installing two fields with lights, the total cost of the project is estimated at around $17 million. After its first approval on April 13 of 2020 and a long spring and summer of construction, Eastview finally has its turf fields, and they are being put to good use already. The new addition of the turf fields at Eastview has, no doubt, brought students together. From big events, such as the homecoming football game, to small get-togethers, like pick up football. Spring sports is ready to take the Eastview Thunderfield by storm in just a few short months.

Tanisha Senapati • Staff Writer • December 20, 2021

Lately a new trend has popped up at Eastview. Eastview Instagram pages have blown up with a great variety: including the Bad Parking page and the Elevator fan page, or even the more extreme ones with pictures of hands and arms of Eastview students. These pages are definitely making an impact on Eastview students. Some of them are quite enjoyable. Some favorites are the bad parking page, which gives students a mood boost when they see the parking fails, and the fit check page, giving great outfit inspirations. However, with the increase, many believe that it has gotten a little out of hand. One student is quoted as saying “In the beginning it was really fun, however, after people started making more and more it just got weird.” This seems to be a common idea shared between Eastview students. Many have shown their distaste for these pages on Snapchat and other social media. While the social aspect of these pages with the comments and captions is very funny and exciting to read, the random increase of these pages, with most of them being made for the weirdest things, has led to many Eastview students disliking them. A poll conducted with around 100 students found that 90% said the pages have gone way too far. However, one thing is for sure: the posture of Eastview students has been getting better from the constant fear of being posted on the Eastview posture page.

Emily Hering • Staff Editor • December 20, 2021

     As Eastview has gone into its 25th year, we have teachers at all different spots in their careers. Some have been working here since Eastview opened, some are starting their first year, but what’s really interesting is we have multiple Eastview graduates who have come back to teach at Eastview.

     Ms. Thomas, a sophomore English teacher at Eastview attended Eastview for her four years of high school. She thinks of it as a chance to give back to the school and the community, but it also challenges her in a unique way. “Eastview gave me a lot of gifts as a student, it made me a really strong writer, it made me care about learning, and I had really positive experiences with my teachers, and so in that sense it made me want to replicate a lot of what I saw and experienced because I had a really great experience,” she said, “but then it also challenges me to think more creatively than I otherwise would because I’m working in a system that I’ve been in for years and years, so it's really easy to just follow the status quo, but good teaching happens when we are constantly re-evaluating the status quo. So it challenges me to think more creatively. In some ways, it's been good because I have a strong support system, but it's also been challenging”.

     After 24 years, Eastview has definitely changed a lot, and Ms. Thomas sees things she wishes they had when she was here. “There’s a ton more groups and students and staff who are interested in talking about their cultures and their identities than there was before, and we didn’t have things like a Black Student Union when I was a student, at least that I was aware of, and now we do and I think that’s great. There seems to be more awareness among the staff and students of the changing times that we are in and that’s ultimately probably been pretty healthy for the student body,” she said.

     “Eastview gave a lot to me and so it's nice to give back to it and get to be part of some of the changes I think are important,” Ms.Thomas concluded. It must be strange to return to your old high school, but ultimately it was a positive experience for her. Giving back to Eastview is important, and Ms. Thomas found a pretty unique way to do it.

Anushka Chaudhari • Editor-In-Chief • Nov. 16, 2021

The 2021-2022 school year is off to a great start with minimal Covid-19 cases. Now that we’ve started to make a transition to a normal school year, we can analyze the school’s efforts to minimize the spread of Covid. But, how exactly is District 196 doing compared to other schools around Minnesota and the United States? 

If we compare District 196 to the Rochester Public School District, we can see that Rochester is doing a lot better than us. Currently, Rochester Public Schools has a total of 39 positive cases in the last week. This is almost half as many cases we currently have in District 196. The current number of Covid cases in District 196 is 68.  I asked students in Rochester a few questions about Covid mandates at their school. 

1. What mandate does your district have? 

RPS (Rochester Public Schools) has a strict mandate that says everyone is required to wear their masks indoors. But, once you go outdoors or leave the premises, masks are optional.

2. Are students actually following the mandate? 

Everyone has been doing a decent job about keeping masks on. Sometimes, though, there are students that have to be reminded that the masks go over the nose. 

3. What do you think could be done to further prevent the spread of Covid? 

More or less, continue with the strict mask mandate and make sure everyone gets the Covid vaccine. I would make sure that everyone is washing hands and following social distancing orders in schools because those seem to have fallen over time. 

Now, let’s compare District 196 to the Austin Public School District in Texas. Currently, Austin has 29 positive Covid cases from this week alone. In District 196, we’ve seen that there are 68 positive cases in Covid. The difference is astonishing, especially since Austin has a much larger school district than District 196.  I reached out to a couple of students in Austin and asked what their thoughts are about the mandates and how students are treating them. 

1. What mandates does your district have? 

Our district had zones. We were in the red zone for a while and masks were required inside school and at any school gathering. Now, we’ve entered the yellow zone where masks are recommended but not required. I didn’t ever see an actual mandate in the school districts. 

2. Are students following this mandate? 

Most students wore masks but there were always 1-2 students in each grade who didn't wear masks, even when we were in the red zones. 

3. What do you think could be done to further prevent the spread of Covid? 

Masks should be mandated. We still aren’t fully out of the pandemic yet. Desks should be sanitized and we should continue to avoid large gatherings. We should also make vaccines mandatory. 

The opinions regarding masks are pretty uniform across the United States. Many people prefer that we continue to wear masks until we are very sure that this pandemic is over. But, I would say that, compared to other schools across the country, Eastview High School is doing a fairly good job at keeping students safe from Covid. However, there are a few things that students would like to change about the enforcement of masks. I asked a few students at Eastview what they thought the school could do better. 

What do you think Eastview could do to ensure the student population is protected from Covid? 

• Ask teachers to tell students to keep their mask over the nose.

• Make sure that every student has received a Covid-19 vaccine. 

• Enforce the mask rule instead of just saying that it is there.

Overall, the number of positive Covid cases is a lot higher in Minnesota schools rather than across larger districts in the nation. Until we can address these high cases, we need to continue keeping our masks on and doing our best to prevent the spread of Covid.

Thomas Nelson • Editor-in-Chief • November 16, 2021

The 2021-22 school year is a very special one for Eastview. It is the school’s 25th year in operation, and the quarticentennial was at the forefront of this year’s Homecoming Week celebrations. That’s not the only reason this year’s homecoming was historic, though; going into the week, the class of 2022 were two-time defending Homecoming Cup champions. The possibility of the first three-peat in the cup’s history was in sight. Buzzing with joy and excitement,  Eastview geared up for a series of events that nobody got to experience last year due to the pandemic.

Over the course of the week, students showed up in large numbers to several after-school events. On Tuesday, students gathered in the Commons for the Sandwich Project. Their goal was to make 2,500 sandwiches to be delivered to the homeless, in honor of Eastview’s 25th anniversary. The following night, after a cancer awareness color theme for Spirit Week, the gym hosted a Tackle Cancer dodgeball tournament. Lots of teams signed up, and many students showed up just to support their friends in the tournament. The event was especially relevant to us this year, as it was dedicated to Mr. Pasquerella, a beloved band director who passed away from esophageal cancer last year. Mr. Berggren gave a moving speech in Mr. P’s memory, and Randy Shaver of KARE 11 news spoke as well. At the end of the night, lots of money was raised in this fundraiser, 100% of it going to cancer research.

Every student who attended one of these events, or any of the varsity sports games throughout the week, earned points for their class toward the Homecoming Cup. There were ways to win points during the school day as well. During lunch, each class stacked their own Jenga towers, competing to see who could get the highest each day and over the entire week. The seniors set a new school record for tower height, pushing them ahead in the Homecoming Cup standings. The boost was much-needed after the Indoor Medallion was found by a freshman on Tuesday morning, giving the class of 2025 an early lead. Students also showed their spirit by dressing up each day. Monday was PJ day, Tuesday saw students donning college apparel, Wednesday was, once again, cancer awareness day, and Thursday was decades day.

Finally, on Friday, the week was closed out by a pepfest. Only the second pepfest since our return to full-time in person, the mood was even more raucous than the first. As students wearing their grade’s colors filled into the stands and cheered, Eastview’s national merit semifinalists and commended scholars were announced. The dance team and the competition cheer team both performed. The show was closed out by the Eastview marching band, who gave a lights-out performance of the final movement from their field show, “Electrified”. Students left the gym at the end of the day hyped for the football game later that night, at which the winner of the cup would be announced.

The football game also was very special for our students, since it was the first time fans were allowed to attend the homecoming game since 2019. What’s more is that it was the first home football game in Eastview’s brand new turf stadium, after earlier home games this season were played on Eagan’s field. Despite the bitterly cold weather, turnout was strong, with the student section filled to the brim. Although there was a lack of offensive momentum for Eastview during the first half, fans stayed, waiting in anticipation for the presentation of the Homecoming Cup. After spectacular encore performances by the dance team and the marching band at halftime, the results were announced. Eastview’s seniors cemented their dominance with the highest Homecoming Cup score in school history, a fitting tribute to the historic nature of the night as the school emerged from the pandemic era. And the future seems strong too: the freshman class came in second place, after maintaining a lead over the seniors for a short while at the beginning of the week.

The week ended on Saturday night with the Homecoming dance, a lively affair that served as a capstone to the exciting week that had preceded. After 25 years, the last one and a half of which were spent under pandemic restrictions, Eastview’s student body proved that our school spirit is stronger than ever.

Anushka Chaudhari • Editor • March 19, 2021

Technovation. Many people haven’t heard of it, but it’s an incredibly important part of the future. Technovation [MN] is a non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage young girls to get more involved in STEM. There are few women in technology, and Technovation hopes to change that. So, what does Technovation do? Technovation hosts a challenge globally. They challenge young girls to build an app that solves a problem in their community. They create a pitch video, business plan, demo video and a functioning app. This is all presented to judges who decide which team moves on to the next level. This is what we, as a Technovation team, are doing. 

Our Eastview team found a great problem in the United States. Many immigrants struggle with finances. We created an app that will educate and guide the users, allow them to track the inflow and outflow of money, and provide them with an easy-to-understand budgeting format, while keeping their financial goals in sight. This app called Juno Moneta, will be available for download on the Google Play Store in the near future. 

The current team consists of Siri Froehlig, Annu Malarvannan, Laney Schwartz, and Anushka Chaudhari, Now for a few questions. 

Q: What made you interested in this topic? 

A few members on our team have parents who have migrated from India. We have seen how guidance would have made them more successful. After researching the topic more, we found out that this issue is a lot more prevalent than we expected. We decided that creating an app would be the best way to provide a solution. There aren’t many apps that do the same thing as Juno Moneta does. If there are, you have to pay money to participate. 

Q: How long have you been developing this app? 

This app took a lot more effort and time than expected, so roughly two years. The app had many components that we did not know how to code, so it took a lot of time to research how to code those components to maximum efficiency.

Q: What has made you join Technovation? 

We decided to do Technovation because it provides us with a great opportunity to give back to our community. We also would like to inspire other girls to pursue a job in STEM and Technovation promotes that idea. 

Q: Who are your target users? Is the app free? 

Our target users are immigrants, but this app works for any individual who wants to expand their financial literacy. This app is free because our goal is to spread knowledge. 

Q: How can I download this app? 

We are working to figure out the best way to distribute this app. But, our goal is to distribute it for use. 

Well there you go! Visit https://qrypticqoders.weebly.com/get-involved.html for more information!

Julia Prewitt and Akshara Molleti • Editors In Chief • 19 March 2021

Over the summer, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, and the following Black Lives Matter protests, many Eastview students became more and more aware of the inadequacies within our own school. Many banded together to write a BIPOC letter, which urged (among other things) for Eastview and the District to have a more diverse staff. This is a goal that the administration has taken on and is working towards as well, but we have to ask: how do they go about this? We interviewed Eastview principal Bruce Miller for more insight into the process, and the school’s moves to help achieve equity and equality for all students.

At Eastview, the hiring process is based on class registration. Once they know how many students are interested in various classes, they use that information to determine the number of teachers they need. They then post job opportunities for these specific positions and wait for people to apply. Being an attractive school district to many teachers, they typically will get quite a few applicants. The next step is looking through all the applications and narrowing candidates down to a pool of interviewees. There is not any identifying information listed, like race. This means that all potential hires are judged solely on skill and ability to fill the job. 

This method of hiring is good to minimize bias, but can also make it hard to find BIPOC teachers. When you can’t specifically judge applicants based on the racial or ethnic background (which is a good thing), it also means you cannot specifically hire someone just to make sure you have a representative staff. Prospective teachers don’t always apply to Eastview, because it is typically viewed as a very white school. BIPOC teachers not only want to feel like they’re helping kids who look like them, and need it the most, but also want to make sure they feel accepted and safe amongst the staff. Being one of the very few minorities on staff is not appealing to many people. 

As students, we know that EVHS is not as predominantly white as many may think. According to Mr. Miller, 39% of our school is non-white. While this is not as diverse as many may wish, and there are still issues with diversity in specific classes at Eastview, our school is not as white as perceived. However, changing the perception of Eastview as a school with diverse students who need more representation in their staff is a challenge. 

Eastview is constantly working to hire teachers that will increase the teaching staff as a whole. One of the main ways they do this is at an annual hiring fair. At this event, Eastview gets to set up a booth and tries to attract new teachers that are people of color. Since this is one of the only steps in the hiring process where they get to see the applicants, this event can be extremely important in finding teachers that will represent students more.

When hiring staff, the school has several goals in mind. While the main priority is to find someone that can fill in a teaching gap, the school also looks at how an applicant may contribute to the school in different ways. For example, if the school needs an English teacher, they will look for someone that has good experience with this responsibility. But on top of that, if the school needs a theater director, for example, the school will choose an applicant that can do both tasks than someone who may only be able to do the teaching aspect.

One of the ways Eastview is also working to increase diversity is to encourage students to eventually come back and teach. There are several members of the teaching staff that are previous students of the school, and EV is working to increase that. They do so by fostering a positive environment for students and make it clear that this is a welcoming place for them to grow and thrive. Hopefully, people will become inspired by everything the school does for them and hope to uplift more people in the future at EV. While this is an ongoing effort, there are many hopes that it will also increase the diversity of the staff. While there is often the belief outside of Eastview that we are a predominantly white school, the student body becomes more diverse each year. By convincing more students to come back and teach, hopefully, the staff will eventually better represent the student demographics in the future.

Outside of hiring, Eastview and District 196 have been making strides towards change as well. One recent and prominent action is the hiring of a Director of Equity and Inclusion for District 196. Virgil Jones will be working to ensure district schools are fair, inclusive, and equitable, while also addressing the systemic racism that prevails in almost all schools around the country. 

Eastview staff have been working to better their knowledge and responsiveness to student issues such as these by discussing racial or ethnic issues and perspectives during their weekly Wednesday staff meeting. While not every staff meeting focuses on these subjects, there has been a sharp increase in the number of discussions on these topics amongst Eastview staff.

Our school has also taken steps to create an equity action group, which will include student representatives, to keep tabs on issues within the school. They are planning to make a video announcement about the group in the coming weeks or months with more information. 

Eastview also has a variety of cultural family advocates, who work to bridge gaps between staff and families of various cultural backgrounds.

Overall, it is clear to see that Eastview is taking direct steps towards hiring more diverse staff at the school. While there were a record number of hires this year that were People of Color, it is also apparent that there is still a long way to go if we want to have a more diverse teaching staff. As students, we can all continue to push for the school to establish this as a concern and continue to take concrete steps forwards that allow us to have a more diverse workforce. Eastview is on the right track, but the path to equality, diversity, and inclusion is long and hard, so we all must continue to work towards it.

Greta Riedl • Writer • 1/21/21

After three months of distance learning, District 196 middle and high schools are heading back to hybrid! It’s no surprise that there are several changes that have been made from the fall hybrid model, as everything during this pandemic changes constantly. Mr. Miller, Eastview’s principal, was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to sit down with me and talk about the new hybrid model. Here is a rundown of our conversation:

When asked about the differences between our upcoming hybrid model and the fall one, Mr. Miller explained several changes. The biggest change, and the one I am personally excited for, is the shortened, 7 class schedule. We will get to see our teachers twice a week for 38 minutes instead of once for 70 minutes. The other major change affects the Cohort C students, or the full time distance learners. They will now be able to zoom in to each of their classes throughout the day, so they will now get an equal amount of teacher instruction as their peers in hybrid. While explaining these changes, Mr. Miller described why such changes were being made. Every decision the administration made, including the earlier start and shortened passing time, was aiming to keep students in the classroom for as long as possible. While we can’t have our regular 50 minute class periods, 38 minutes is pretty close. The only period that isn’t 38 minutes is 5th - though advisory and lunch are included. Advisory is a new addition to the Eastview schedule this year, and even more changes are being made to it for this next hybrid model. Previously, students had a specific advisory teacher, one that they had for class sometime throughout the week. In this new model, students advisory teachers will switch to their 5th period teachers. This new situation makes it easier to fit in as much learning time as possible during the shortened days. With so many changes, the Wednesday support time is available and strongly encouraged. The staff at Eastview is there to support kids as both students and people, and Wednesdays are a great day to get either general or one-on-one support. 

In addition to these schedule changes, several new COVID-19 protocols have been put in place. Eastview now has a COVID testing site for teachers - teachers simply go to the south gym, test, and their test will be mailed in to get a result. The teachers at Eastview are also getting their vaccinations! This is a big step in the right direction, as it helps teachers and students feel safer returning to school. Along with getting vaccinated, the staff will now be wearing face shields over their masks. Adding a shield can make voices even more muffled, so microphones have been ordered for each teacher to make listening easier. Lastly, an air filter/purification system has been added to each classroom. With these new protocols, it is still expected that students and staff sanitize often, maintain a safe distance, and stay home if they are feeling sick.

As an end to the interview, I asked Mr. Miller what he was most excited for in regards to the return of hybrid. There was zero hesitation when answering, “having the kids back, definitely!” This new hybrid model is sure to bring lots of energy and positivity into the spring.

Vikash Giritharan • Co-Editor-In-Chief • January 20th, 2021 

Attention Seniors!! Only 4 days left to apply for EVHS Community Foundation Scholarships!

It’s almost the end of the college application season for Eastview seniors. But, as we make our way towards March and April, when decisions are announced, the financial component of college will be much more important when making the final decision. So, why not try and lower the financial burden? The Eastview Community Foundation Scholarship is a great way to start applying for scholarships (free money!!) for your upcoming college tuitions. The Eastview Community Foundation has awarded over $1,523,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors in our community since 2000. And this year they will be awarding over $108,000 and 124 scholarships to well-deserving applicants. 

Seniors!! You literally have nothing to lose. With dozens of scholarships available to apply to, each one allows a unique opportunity for those in certain activities, interests, or hobbies to earn money for their college tuition. Furthermore, the process is fairly easy to complete. There are a total of four essay prompts to choose from that vary by scholarship. While there is no word/character limit, Ms. Horton, Eastview’s GT/College Planning counselor, has advised students to aim for about a page per prompt. So, up to 400-500 words should be enough. But, if you still have questions, the Eastview Counseling Department is more than willing to help out. In some cases, you may be required to submit the front page of your FAFSA (Student Aid Report PDF) and/or a letter of recommendation. So, it is important to look through the list of available scholarships HERE. Once you have picked the scholarships to apply for, complete the corresponding prompts and submit using the following Google FORM. For all Class of 2021 students, the “Eastview Class of 2021” Schoology Group has all of these links and more for scholarship resources.

Additionally, the Schoology Group and Scholarship Description page has a list of scholarships beyond the EVHS Community Foundation Scholarship. For instance, students who live in the city of Eagan are eligible to apply for the Eagan Community Scholarship HERE. 

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the DEADLINE to apply for EVHS Community Foundation Scholarships is this SUNDAY, January 24th at 8pm CST. So Eastview Seniors, with limited time to spare, act fast to earn some money towards your upcoming college tuition.

Vikash Giritharan • Co-Editor-In-Chief • December 13th, 2020 

It is no doubt that the pandemic has devastated the world in a variety of ways. And while some areas fare worse than others, our very own Dakota country is experiencing record-high rates of infection, affecting some of our closest friends and family. The Eastview community is no different. After halting the hybrid schooling system and switching to full-time distance learning for the past month, several students continue to test positive even with limited social exposure. As a result, it is imperative that we examine the effect that it has had on their educational experience.

I had the opportunity to interview a few of my senior peers, who arguably have the highest levels of stress and pressure during the pandemic. And while they didn’t exactly know they had COVID-19 until they were tested, their experiences reflected the toll that the virus had on both their emotional and physical wellbeing. Senior Aishu Vinod expands on the topic by stating that “COVID-19 didn’t affect my learning experience drastically. Thankfully, my symptoms weren’t too extreme.” Fortunately for Aishu, she was able to continue to complete her assignments and study for exams in a timely manner. Even though the switch to full-time distance learning, Aishu attended most if not all of her Zoom classes and her health did not take as much of a toll as she had originally thought. That being said, Aishu went on to say that “the workload I got from school wasn’t too much during that time period either. If anything, I felt slightly lethargic and I had to push myself a bit more than the usual to get my school work done on time.” These examples shed light on the crucial changes that COVID-19 has brought to different Eastview students.

Furthermore, we can turn to another Eastview senior, who preferred to stay anonymous during the interview, “COVID-19 affected my learning experience by making it harder for me to stay focused during class. Mostly because, to be honest, I wasn’t feeling very good all the time.” Time and time again, students have seen their energy levels deplete at an all-time high due to COVID-19. Even with the additional pressures of being a student in the midst of the pandemic can be hard, but a positive infection may make things worse! She later goes on to explain “my biggest symptom was my tiredness and difficulty to get homework done after my classes since I was so exhausted. I also had to work on debate during this time period as well, making things much worse!” For students in other extracurricular activities, COVID has clearly made things much more difficult to stay on task while managing a tight workload.

I know you’ve already heard this a billion times, but we truly are living in unprecedented times. Wear a mask, social distance when possible, and stay safe Eastview! Make the investment now for a brighter, COVID-19 less future. #EastviewTogether

Akansha Kamineni • Co-Editor-In-Chief • November 15, 2020 

This year has presented us with our fair share of challenges. We’ve learned self-sufficiency during COVID and survived another presidential election. Perhaps the most important matter brought up this year, however, is the fight against systemic racism in the United States.

The year has been filled with turmoil as a result of racial bias. The killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor prompted Black Lives Matters protests not only across the nation, but across the entire world. People from all backgrounds gathered together in order to fight the injustices that have occurred in the past, and prevent them from occurring in the future.

These tragedies have sparked activism within Eastview as well. Students have participated in peaceful protests at the capitol, and the Black Honors Association held a donation drive for families affected by the protests at the end of last school year. Over the summer, Eastview students, both current and former, took it a step further, aiming to change the culture within Eastview itself through the BIPOC letter.

The BIPOC (black, indigenous, and other people of color) letter began as a way for underrepresented students at Eastview to get their voice heard about the issues that they face at school each day. Senior BHA leader Joaquina Lawson describes how, “It originated over the summer when an alumni named Nita came to us with the idea. She wanted us to really be able to connect with administration as honors/AP kids to express how students of color felt with the racial tension and issues at school. This was really important to me because I think Eastview has been so oblivious about inequality in our school for so long that it was time to speak up about it and create real change.”

The letter addresses issues ranging from microaggressions from peers to the lack of diversity within the teaching staff, counselors, and administration. The creators wanted to draw awareness to the prejudice against students of color, especially against those from the black community, and find a way to educate and create change in not only our peers, but also our staff. Senior BHA leader Hazel Myers expands on the purpose of the letter, saying, “Some actions it called for are more conversations on minority-related issues, staff should be educated and have an understanding of issues P.O.C face, taking student’s complaints into greater consideration and act appropriately, and athletic code and conduct should hold racial and sexual harassment as the same level of severity as drugs and alcohol.”

Though it began as a way to enact change within Eastview, the letter has transformed into something bigger for the students involved. Myers continues, “What it means to me is changing the unconscious bias not only at Eastview but in other schools as well. We wanted to set this example of change so that other schools may also try to do the same. Unconscious and conscious racism flows throughout the walls of Eastview and we felt like the administration was doing nothing about it. We thought that by receiving signatures from peers and alumni, we could actually be heard and a change could be made at Eastview.”

The BIPOC letter has quickly gained traction among Eastview alumni and current students as more sign it and raise awareness about the bias that occurs within schools. Arie Moussougan, another senior BHA leader says, “I am relieved and excited that issues faced by people of color at our school are finally being discussed. This letter, however, is only the beginning. We must keep fighting against injustice at our school in more ways than just this letter. As the BIPOC letter has made clear, it starts with students—it starts with us.”

The issues addressed by the BIPOC letter have not simply disappeared, nor has the systemic racism within our country. Activism is more than a simple social media post. It requires raising awareness within our communities and our country, and begins with checking ourselves and our families when making racist comments or furthering racial bias, even if it is a “joke”. It takes time to see real change, but together, we can create a better future. To view the BIPOC letter, click here.

Allison Champ • Staff Writer • 15 October 2020

The modern book scene is dominated by huge franchises and flashy YA novels. Thousands of brand-new books come out every year, and it begs the question: are classic novels, the To Kill a Mockingbirds and Little Womens of the book world, losing relevance? In a rapidly changing world, do their messages still ring true? That’s what I set to find out as I took a look at Eastview’s newest club, The Eastview Classics Society.

But first, what exactly is the Eastview Classics Society? The Eastview Classics Society is a student group, founded with the goal of reading classic novels and “[to] discuss...and apply the significance and themes to our lives,” according to senior and founder Thor Reimann, who adds that discussion about the relevancy of the novels “makes the overall experience so much more fun.” Reimann acknowledges there were definite challenges to starting this new club, recognizing that “it is hard to get people interested, frankly, because people see the word ‘classic’ and panic.” However, he then goes on to say that “...the books we are reading are fairly simple reads, and they are super interesting. Once people give it a shot, I think they will find it’s a great time.” 

This brings us back to one of those beginning questions: are classics still important? Are their messages even applicable to our society’s current landscape of ideas? To Reimann, the answers to both questions are resounding yeses. He accentuates that “classics are so important because we are a generation of instant gratification. Social media gives us mindless hits of dopamine, and despite some benefits, we really end up wasting so much of our lives staring at a screen.” Reimann’s vision of the club was to create a way to counter this effect, and that “rather than looking at superficial fluff, [classics] are a way to sit down and truly get invested in a beautiful work that often makes you think pretty deeply about these transcendent human values and themes”. Reimann also stresses that it is vital for our generation specifically to begin to read the classics, emphasizing that it’s time our generation gets off TikTok and starts being “inquisitive, exploring these human values with our little time on this planet and trying to soak in as much as possible, rather than being a mindless cog in the wheel of the internet.” 

Now, many teenagers (including myself at times) stay away from classics because we feel as if we can’t relate and that their messages no longer hold up in a modern world. However, Reimann believes that this is simply not true. Although it does depend on the book, he underscores that some classics can have surprisingly poignant messages that resonate in today’s world. Take The Plague by Albert Camus, for example, the Eastview Classics Society’s first and most recent read. The book details (you guessed it) a plague that befalls a society, similar to coronavirus today. “Throughout, the book explored philosophical themes, like Camus’ belief that although suffering is inevitable, we should resist it for as long as we can and try to live with joy in spite of the universe,” Reimann says, going on to say that “[the classics] can be...depressing sometimes, but especially in The Plague, there were so many ideas relevant to today that was shocking to read, as it was written in the 1900s.” 

Overall, Reimann’s reason for starting this new club is simple: to “try and get more teenagers to be thinking critically about our world, and to explore the human experience.” Thus, the Eastview Classics Society was born!

If you’re interested in joining the Eastview Classics Society, the club’s Instagram page is @eastviewclassicssociety, which you can contact for more information. The classic for this month is The Color Purple by Alice Walker. 

Happy reading!

Clara Smith  • Staff Writer  • 14 November 2020

One of the biggest questions students around the country asked nearly three months ago — what does school look like during a pandemic? We all weighed the benefits and casualties of a hybrid versus a digital model, but teachers sustain both models. What could that even look like? To get a better sense of a teacher's new work week, I spoke with Mr. Dettmer who’s been teaching honors and on level English 9 at Eastview for 22 years.

I first wanted to know how a teachers preparation for class changed. When teaching Cohorts A and B, the same lesson is essentially taught over and over again all week. For digital academy students, this isn't practical. If students attend multiple of the zoom sessions, a new lesson needs to be prepared for each. While there are more classes, each one is shorter. Teachers are constantly prioritizing material in order to fit it into such a small time frame and have a greater need to be aware of time, as it passes so quickly. Because of all these pressures, teachers end up presenting material for a much larger portion of class time than most would like.

With so many added concerns in teaching, how do freshmen teachers bridge the gap between engagement from the lack of in person learning? Especially when they also have to reduce the rigor from middle to high school curriculum? Digital academy and hybrid classes essentially function like a college course with less class time and more individual work. This kind of learning for 14 — 16 year olds is not often intuitive. Mr. Dettmer finds that this “accelerates independence and maturity” and depending on what the individual is developmentally ready for, this can be something great or something harmful. 

It can especially be harmful to students who haven’t built up time management and screen management skills (freshmen or not). Now that all of our screen time has skyrocketed, how have you noticed your mind responding? It’s even harder to put that phone down — and if you can’t do that, what time do you have for homework? Freshmen teachers combat this with intentional time to build relationships in class. Engagement really is the key. Focused and involved students learn more efficiently, digitally or in person. Community matters to new high schoolers, often fueling our in class engagement. Where would all of us upperclassmen be without challenge day — or our first pep fest or play? 

So what can we do as digital academy students to thrive in a vastly new environment? Activate your video — this forces you to have at least some level of engagement and accountability with your class. Develop a daily routine that your body and mind thrive on. As Mr. Dettmer said, “you really have to fool yourself into thinking that you’re going to school every day”. Take advantage of extra opportunities to learn and build community — we all need it right now. Take time out of your Wednesday to join an extra zoom or walk outside with a friend. And lastly, get involved with extracurriculars. You always learn better when you're engaged in the school community as well as in your classes. 

Some of my advice? Be gracious with your teachers. As much as this is new and challenging for you, it is more so for all of our school staff. Remember how lucky we are to have teachers who care. “All you can do as a teacher is try to do the best you can with the time that you have, and really let them know that you care about them” - Mr. Dettmer. 

Thor Reimann • Co-Editor In Chief• October 19, 2020

We’ve all been there. The first day of school pep-fest. With Mr. Gullickson hyping up the crowd, the seniors chomping the freshman, too timid to properly yell their class cheer, screams echoing everywhere, it’s a pretty memorable experience. We’ve all been there -- except for the freshman, that is.

One thing that many among the Eastview student body have failed to consider is the freshman experience that has now been turned on its head. Freshman year is generally the year where kids try every activity under the sun. I, for example, did all four theater productions, jazz, speech, marching band, and more. Freshman year is the year to try it all. 

But this year, it doesn’t seem to be the same. For the sports that are now active, freshman may be deterred by the lack of constant reminders of try-outs, or the close contact that would prove a decent health risk for just trying it out. Eastview activities are more of the same. The lack of a constant presence at school for all students, hybrid or otherwise, is potentially affecting a lack of freshman involvement, and certainly, a lack of school pride.

Think about it. We are approaching six weeks in school now. Normally, freshmen would be settled in with all of their classes, making friends left and right, and enjoying the ‘high school experience.’ But, students have still only seen their teachers less than ten times, effectively keeping their relationships to the same level that they would normally be in the second week of school -- and it’s almost November. To many freshmen, the school year has felt like a bi-weekly visit to some neutral location, missing the allure and appeal that high school normally does for freshmen.

More than just this, though, freshmen are being cheated out of the opportunities to make new friends. When I was a freshman, first quarter I sat next to a bunch of people who I had never seen before, and I immediately started branching out from my middle school friend group. But, that isn’t happening this year. The social barriers of face masks and social distancing have proven to help keep Eastview safe, but have also proven to make once normal social interactions, now kind of awkward. Plus, hanging out with new friends outside of school has transformed from a great social experience into a risky dare.

In the end, while freshmen certainly are experiencing some differences from middle school, just like the class of 2020, they are being cheated out of a true freshman year. Now I don’t know about what course this pandemic is going to take. But hopefully, at least, they will get a true freshman year experience, and a true freshman year pep-fest. Even if it comes when they are sophomores.

Akansha Kamineni • Co-Editor-In-Chief • October 18, 2020

The first few weeks of a new school year are usually filled with frenzy. Freshmen get their sea-legs, so to speak, while seniors stress about college applications and take on new roles of leadership. Now all of this still holds true, but there’s one thing that makes this year quite different from the past: COVID-19.

This year, we’ve taken to a new school model. There are those who choose to learn from home during the week, similar to the end of last year, but most students choose to come to school, even if it is just twice a week. Of course, there are pros and cons to hybrid-learning. For me, spending less time at school means more time to sleep and more time to work on other things, but it has also presented its own set of challenges. Learning on your own is hard for everyone, but Eastview students have found positives in our new environment. Junior Yonis Hashi says, “The first few weeks have been great, getting to see my friends while still learning at home feels different but better than last spring.”

Other hybrid students have different experiences. Senior Thor Reimann switched out of Digital Academy, but instead of being placed in Cohort B, he was placed in Cohort A. Reimann says, “Orientation went swimmingly. I am so happy with my decision to move to Cohort A from digital academy. It is kind of hard to balance the workload on days that we are in school, but it is so good to see all of my teachers again.” As for building routines, he told us, “The first few weeks have been fun but I’m really not in a routine yet, so as soon as I accomplish that, it will be even better.”

Building a routine that works for you is the most important thing to do in order to succeed this school year. Follow plans that your teachers set for you and don’t be afraid to work ahead. Most importantly, however, find good friends to work through lessons with, and don’t be afraid to reach out and ask your teachers for help!

Alli Hering • Editor • October 19th, 2020

As we navigate this new and unprecedented school year one of the benefits that students have discovered is that the hybrid schedule allows for more time outside of the classroom to designate to other parts of their day to day life. While this schedule does present high schoolers with a unique opportunity to create their own schedule, it also can create a problem: it doesn't help to establish a everyday routine for students. Having a routine isn’t just another way schools are trying to control your life, routines are actually scientifically proven to promote healthy habits, such as a consistent diet, getting enough sleep, maintaining social connections, and better stress management. 

When we are in school everyday it's easy to develop a routine. You go to the same classes, the same lunch, get to and from the school the same way, and oftentimes have extracurriculars at the same time every day or week. Outside of school it's much harder to create a routine because there's less structure to your day. Students can wake up at whatever time they want, can start homework whenever they feel like it, and eat and sleep when it conveniences them. I surveyed 95 high school students and 47% had a routine they follow compared to 53% who didn't. Those who answered yes elaborated sharing their own individual routines including, “waking up early and getting to bed early”, “using a planner to plan my day the night before” and “resting in the morning before starting to tackle my homework at night”.

 It’s truly not about having the same routine as everyone else, it's just about creating some sort of structure for your day and sticking to it. Creating a routine especially in the hybrid model is difficult because everyday you get different assignments and are in a different location. Trial and error is inevitable when you're trying to find a routine that works for you and your own personal schedule. For some students the very idea of not having any routine, is all the structure they need, but for others, a routine is a must when trying to create long term productive habits.

While I personally don’t have all the answers about how to create a routine in this new and overwhelming school year, I have collected tips from others on how they have been able to find a routine. Using a planner/google calendar to organize your schedule ahead of time increases productivity for many students. Planning a specific time to wake up and go to bed helps students feel like their day has more structure. Finding time during the day to do some sort of self care routine has been mentioned as a way to maintain a healthy routine and lifestyle. Creating a once a week meeting time with friends or family to destress and just hang out is also one of the ways many students are incorporating fun into their routines. It's clear to me that developing a routine can create an overall healthier individual and as we start to settle into this school year consider developing a routine that works for you. 

Thor Reimann • Opinion Editor • May 7th, 2020

Now that school is officially at home for the remainder of the spring, many sports, activities, and clubs are having to close down shop for the season. Including, to some extent, Bravo!. The beloved musical extravaganza was set to have a theme of “British Invasion” this year, and featured chorus numbers by quintessential British musicians- both modern and past- including, but not limited to, the Beatles, Sam Smith, the Spice Girls, and One Direction.

However, Bravo! was not immune to the impacts of COVID-19, and like many other school activities, was forced to cancel shows. Physically, that is. The directors of the yearly show decided that, although the experience of a glamorous Bravo! the show couldn’t be replicated online, the spirit of the show could still live on.

 Now, seniors of the cast (and a few juniors for choral balance) are learning “In My Life,” the Beatles song, as a way to pay tribute to the show that was certain to blow socks off. The students will send in videos of them singing their part, which will be mixed together to create a virtual choir. Eventually, this video will be available to watch, and will hope to carry the spirit of a traditional Bravo! Show. 

Many seniors in the cast are grateful that they are being given a final chance to say goodbye to the show that, for many of them, was a highlight of their careers here at Eastview. However, despite the performing that will continue digitally, many students who would normally be backstage are left with nothing. Tech crew members, costumers, and members of the jazz band have virtually no way to do anything digitally. So for them, the goodbye to the show they had been in for many years was taken away more abruptly. Senior Tech Crew Member Bre Duffy even posted a picture that was meant for the closing night of the show on her instagram, thanking the theater department and the Eastview stage for giving her so many opportunities to grow. 

Despite the limitations of a virtual performance, it is far better than no performance at all. And although the goodbyes for the seniors were too abrupt, too soon, and too fast, the impacts that Bravo! has had on them will undoubtedly last far past high school. And to all of us underclassmen, let it serve as a lesson. That we don’t know how good we have it, until it's gone. 

Julia Prewitt • News Editor • 21 April 2020

Life in quarantine is often described as boring, dull, dreary, and utterly lacking any ounce of fun. However, without our typical opportunities to entertain ourselves during this quarantine, EVHS students have been picking up a number of new hobbies to occupy their time. 

For many, quarantine has presented the perfect opportunity to work on their health. That means going on daily runs, working out, and doing activities like yoga. Thor Reimann, a junior, says that “I really enjoy yoga because it is a good way to center and calm down, while also doing something decently active. It has been rewarding to see my flexibility increase over the past few weeks, and I hope to make yoga a part of my life even when quarantine ends.” Others have turned this break into a sleepathon, using their time to catch some much needed Z’s. 

Electronics have also offered a unique opportunity for escape. For many teens, Tik Tok is uniquely alluring, and can eat up a few hours of boredom. Others have turned to TV and movies, making their way through the catalogs of various streaming platforms. Video games have found a spot in many of our lives as schedules have opened up. Jac Warner, junior, says that while video games have always been a part of her life, with her busy school schedule, she rarely has time to play the games she loves. Jac says “ It’s relaxing to be able to immerse yourself in a completely different world and to be able to forget about the world that you’re in just for a little while.” Having an escape from the stress can definitely be helpful, especially in times like these. Some are exploring new platforms to keep busy, such as junior Akansha Kamineni, who has been utilizing Apple’s Garageband to create unique music. She says that she “used GarageBand a ton before, but [she] started doing it more because now [she has] time to do fun stuff that maybe isn’t all that useful since [she doesn’t] need to focus on other extra activities.” Without other activities clogging up our schedules, we have a lot more time to pursue our interests and other fun activities. 

Having unlimited time on our hands has also enabled us to tap into our artistic side. Some have taken up sewing, painting, coloring, or drawing. A unique craft that has occupied junior Peyton Jensen’s time is needle felting. This involves using a special needle, stabbing it into wool, and ultimately forming a new shape with it! Music is another creative escape many have turned to. Surely most people who are on Instagram have seen the “30 Day Song Challenge” trend on everyone’s stories - but others are actually making their own music. Junior Hannah Scholen has used this chance to learn new skills and techniques on piano and guitar. Many are finding ways to create something new via food. Lots of people have turned to baking or cooking to keep busy and working while feeding themselves. Sophomore Bashir Mohamed says that baking is “easy and fun to do, and is a very malleable hobby”. With our spare time, finding new ways to be creative is key. 

To sum it up: There’s a lot that you could be doing in quarantine, we just have to find creative ways to keep ourselves occupied. I’ve included a list of some hobbies below for inspiration. Remember to stay strong, Eastview! We’ll get through this together ⚡

• Physical Activity

  • Running

  • At Home Workouts

  • Yoga

• Tech

  • Gaming

  • Garageband

  • Social Media

  • TV and Movies

  • Video Games

• Arts & Crafts

  • Writing

  • Sewing

  • Needle Felting

  • Painting

  • Drawing

  • Coloring

  • Playing music

• Baking and Cooking

• Connect with friends (online!)

Rhea Rajvansh - Staff Writer - April 21st 2020 

For many people in the Eastview community, COVID-19 has taken our daily lives by surprise. From missing school, activites, and friends, it is difficult to adjust to a new way of living. However, through times of difficulty and distress, it is important to understand that there are still ways to give back to your community.

For instance, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has come into short supply in Minnesota. Governor Tim Walz has turned to the people of this state to meet the demand of healthcare workers. Because the N-95 masks are typically used in Hospitals, every day citizens are turning to new ways to protect themselves and their loved ones. Right here in our very own community, such efforts have not been lost upon us. 

Take for instance, senior Megan Beyer, who has been working with her mother to sow masks using regular linen and coffee filters. “My mom and I are starting to make masks and order the materials to do so. If you go online, you can find directions on how to make such masks, and even where to drop them off in our community.” The masks that the Beyers and other families have made can be dropped off at local fire stations, who eventually give them to front line workers.

Others in our community, such as Eastview Parent Anu Kshetrapal, have a more personal reason to give back. Kshetrapal’s main focus has been to make masks for healthcare workers in her clinic. Kshetrapal works at a senior citizen house and she is making masks out of regular linen and cloth bands. Her masks are more unique than others since they are two-layered, which are shown to be more effective. Masks are crucial, especially for those working in senior living homes, so they don’t spread the virus to elders who are more susceptible to the virus. 

Although homemade masks don’t offer as much protection as normal masks, data shows that homemade masks can be effective in capturing the virus. In fact, in China, kids are making face masks out of oranges! So whether it be oranges or cloth take out some time from your day to make masks and give back to your community!

By Thor Reimann • Opinion Editor • April 15, 2020

Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity

On a normal day at Eastview, you might walk by the Band Room during 3rd Hour and hear Bach ringing through the hall, or you might wander by the Choir Room to hear beautiful voices singing four-part harmonies. You might go after school to see the Speech Showcase, or to watch Bravo!, the musical extravaganza. But these aren’t normal days. 

Our performing arts programs and activities are impacted by distancing learning as much as the rest of us- forcing them to come up with inventive and new ways to create art together, at a responsible distance. 

I sat down (over FaceTime) with Junior Wind Ensemble Baritonist Arie Moussougan to see how the band department is taking on this challenge. She said that “Mr. Pasquerella is doing his best to make sure that we are on top of things, and that we are still playing everyday.” The band program is using an app called Smart Music, where teachers can assign music, and the band members have to play into their iPads to get credit. “This is my first time using it,” continued Moussougan, “but it's a really cool app.” However, due to technical limitations, bands won’t be able to do any sort of joint rehearsal. Moussougan noted, “Right now, a virtual meeting with the band isn’t going to work out because of things like timing disparities.” While band kids are playing into their iPads, choir kids are planning for what is coming next. 

I talked to Junior Olivia Beach, a member of Concert Choir, who noted that “choirs were finishing up their assessments, so singers had to submit recordings of themselves singing rudiments for choir placements next year.” The Concert Choir was in the midst of listening to new music, to choose as a choir which songs they wanted to sing next. For private lessons, zoom lessons and recordings are the way to go. But for many, choir was home, just one that can’t be quarantined in. Beach noted, “Choir was a good community, and it's sad to not be there.”

It is hard to imagine an activity more impacted than isolation than a group that speaks to large crowds competitively. I FaceTimed Senior Campbell Bernstein, Speech Captain, to talk about how ‘speechies’ are still competing. She described how some tournaments were going virtual: “The national speech and debate community is opening tournaments up to virtual tournaments. We will record ourselves performing, and submit one video that will be viewed by judges up until how far we advance.” She noted that “it’s not the same experience, but I am trying to reframe it as an opportunity to keep performing.” 

Finally, one activity that is dear to many hearts is Bravo!. Due to distance learning, obviously Bravo! performers can’t meet up for rehearsals. But, they are finding ways to keep practicing. “As of now, Bravo is still on. We are still practicing our dances and listening to the songs,” Olivia Beach said. When I asked her what she missed the most, she told me, “I know this super cliche, but probably the people. It’s just fun.” Many who are in the show are hoping to return to school, so that the musical extravaganza can continue- especially the seniors, for whom this will be the last of their four Bravos. 

Thanks to the power of the internet, many performing arts programs here at Eastview are able to continue playing, singing, performing, and dancing. And while making art alone at home may not hit the same, it is better than no art at all.

Akansha Kamineni • Feature Editor • April 14, 2020

As the coronavirus continues to spread all over the world, more people have had to step up in order to keep everyone as safe as possible. Quarantining at home, we may not see how COVID-19 has impacted families, but there are millions of people who are expected to go to work everyday. Some of these essential workers are healthcare professionals who need to provide care for those who are sick. They put their own safety on the line in order to prevent the spread of the virus and help those who have already been affected by it. It may seem difficult to find a way to contribute to the community as the fight against the virus continues, but there are many ways that we can help them stay safe while they do their jobs.

The shortage of masks is dangerous for those who work in healthcare. Oftentimes, they find themselves wearing the same mask shift after shift despite the risks that come with it. This is why many families have started making their own masks at home for personal use and for donation. Sewing is a great way to make a mask. Although cloth masks aren’t recommended for use around patients who have tested positive for the virus, they are still critical for daily use. You can find more information on how you can make your own hand-sewn masks here. Some hospitals have guidelines on what materials should be used for the masks, so if you’re planning on donating them, make sure you are familiar with the regulations.

The Eastview Robotics team has been doing their part by 3-D printing masks that can be used in hospitals. Sophomore Anthony Brogni started printing out a few masks because a family friend who worked in healthcare reached out for help after realizing she had “limited access to masks at work”. Soon after, another coach was asked to 3-D print masks for a friend at HealthPartners. From there, it turned into a much larger project. Team members who have their own 3-D printers work on printing the masks while other members pitch in by donating money for the materials needed to print the masks. The design of the masks was also considered while printing the masks. Brogni says that he printed a pre-made design out of PLA (a plastic filament) so that they could be “sanitized and reused multiple times”. Junior Sage Magras chimed in about the design which was “based on what healthcare professionals requested and tested out to see what felt the best or was the most effective”. Time and the size of the 3-D printers were also crucial factors to consider. The masks needed to be made quickly and in bulk which is why they decided to print the masks out in pieces which could be assembled later. This allowed them to ultimately create more masks from a single print.

Magras says that “the community can help by printing the masks, should they have a 3-D printer”. For many, this is not a feasible task, but he continues saying that “people can donate filament (the plastic used) or money to many nonprofit 3-D printing groups/organizations online” like the one found here. He also encourages reaching out to members on the robotics team to send materials to or for more information on 3-D printing marks. You can find more information on how to donate masks here and here, but there are many ways that you can get involved, so don’t be afraid to look for other opportunities as well.

Andrea Wallick • Staff Writer • April 7th, 2020

Usually, April is a bustling time of year for high schoolers, with students studying hard in their classrooms, participating in spring sports, and beginning to anticipate summer break with warming weather. Now, the world is entirely different. School is canceled and all are expected to stay home unless they are doing essential activities. Students are left searching for a new normal and are grieving for lost games, dances, and even graduation.

With the coronavirus pandemic, districts and schools across the world have been challenged to find a method of teaching to ensure maximum benefits for both students and teachers, and different regions have implemented different teaching styles. Some schools are using synchronous online learning, which means teachers meet with their students at scheduled times just like school was in session, but District 196 has chosen to use asynchronous online learning.

With this type of learning, school days consist of daily updates from teachers and occasional Zoom meetings, but how are these teachers ensuring they are continuing student  learning in the best way possible? Steve Meyer, an honors and AP chemistry teacher at Eastview High School says “students have grown in their ability to manage their own learning, so this is a great opportunity [for them].” Independent learning is a beneficial skill for life, but seeing our teachers in the classroom is key. Todd Beach, an AP European History teacher, in a letter to students and parents, shares that for him, “seeing [students’] faces every day and expressing my genuine care for who they are as people has always been just as (if not more) important than my responsibility to teach [history].” In his classes, Dr. Beach always engages with students in meaningful ways. Most enjoyably, Dr. Beach often asks students if they committed any crimes the night before. All of these little back-and-forth conversations are purely for fun, but they truly add camaraderie to the classroom. Now it is impossible to share with others in this way.

Teachers enjoy the consistency of in-classroom learning, and they began their careers intending to help kids learn in the best way possible.  The uncertainty of online learning has been apparent for them. Michael Haugh, a high-level math teacher, states that “the whole relationship piece with students is really hard to maintain with distance learning. I’ve taken my own online classes through graduate school and never once saw a teacher. You have to be really organized to be able to get through a week…You have to plan it out really well, and some kids just can’t do that.” Mr. Haugh’s online learning plan consists of video lessons and Zoom meetings daily. The lessons that he provides are helpful, but one of the best parts of his class in school was the interaction between him and his students. Mr. Haugh is hilarious in the classroom, and while his students learn math, they joke about it too. With asynchronous learning, this cannot happen. Mr. Haugh realizes he may never see some of the students he has taught for years, and these relationships may be lost.  

District 196 has been thorough with their guidelines regarding online learning, and teachers have expressed thankfulness for their plan of action. As the daughter of Michelle Wallick, the founder and director of Cyprus Classical Academy, a private elementary and middle school, I have seen the immense amount of effort required to create a synchronous online learning environment. It is as daunting of a task as creating an entirely new school system, so it is understandable why District 196 has decided to use an asynchronous learning program. The problem with asynchronous learning is that students must be highly organized to complete their work independently, and the spirit of classes is definitely missed by every teacher.

I am speaking for the student population at Eastview when I say that we are grateful to the effort, care, and time teachers have put into providing an exceptional education for us, and we are grateful to the staff members who have shown support for us during this time, but asynchronous learning is not beneficial for everyone at Eastview. Teachers want to provide the best education for students, which requires in-person communication in a classroom. Obviously this is impossible with the current state of the world, and synchronous learning requires a vast amount of effort which the district is unable to provide in time. While this education plan is not ideal, teachers are the sole reason it is functional due to their immense effort. Thank you to the Eastview teachers, your work and attention do not go unnoticed.

Nikhil Kapur • Editor-in-chief • April 7th, 2020

As Spring has shifted into full gear, grappling with daily life can be difficult as we deal with the effects of the Coronavirus which is sweeping the globe. For many High School upperclassmen in particular, COVID - 19 has impacted a traditionally joyous occasion: Prom.

It comes as no surprise that the commonly held school dance, Prom, has been postponed or outrighted cancelled for many schools across the country. The CDC has suggested cancelling all events of more than 15 people for the next two weeks, a message that shouldn’t be taken lightly. As a result, schools from California to Kansas have held off on the popular yearly gathering. 

While Eastview still hasn’t made an official decision on whether or not to hold its Prom this year, students are hoping for the opportunity to celebrate with their friends. Senior Jack Vandeberg is still optimistic, noting that “this would be our last hurrah as a Senior class and I think if at all possible they should hold any form for us kids to get together”. For some, Prom has been on their minds since the beginning of the year, and many have already invested in formalwear for the event. As a result, students have started to discuss holding their own informal “Prom” with close friends. As Senior Campbell Bernstein explains, “[she] was planning on dressing up, taking pictures, and maybe going to a friend’s house, if Eastview cancelled its Prom”. 

Nevertheless, Bernstein understands that the administration is also under a lot of pressure. That’s why she continues that, “students should be willing to accept any version of Prom that the school can provide, even if that means that it is just held in Eastview itself.” It is now down to administrators to weigh the risks of holding Prom this year. While they still must announce a final decision, students are grappling with the risks as well. Junior Olivia Beach explains that “I'm really torn about the issue. My mom has a compromised immune system, so I am very cautious about where I go. However..I think it would be a good opportunity to celebrate making it through this time. But of course, I think health and safety should come first.” 

By: Claire Vanorny - Staff Writer - January 8th, 2023

For many students, the holiday season is one of the most joyful and memorable times of the year. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Boxing Day, it can be nice to take a break from the daily routine to celebrate these holidays. But how exactly do Eastview students celebrate the holidays? 

          There are over 2,200 students at Eastview and no two students celebrate the holidays the same, that's what makes this question so interesting. Many students have family traditions that make the holidays special. “Me and my family like to drive around and look at the pretty Christmas lights,” said freshman Hannah Sinkinson. The holidays are also a time of appreciation and gratitude, and some students may show this by donating to organizations or people in need. Many students said that spending time with family and friends is their favorite part of the holidays. “I surround myself with happy and joyful memories that I can look back on and that’s what’s so special about the holidays,” said junior Gabby Pasquerella.

          For some students, the holidays are also a time of reflection. Students reflect on their accomplishments from the past year, but also what they want to achieve in the coming year. Making New Year’s resolutions can be a fun way to set goals for the coming year. “My New Year's resolution is to be more organized,” said freshmen Lucy Hogan. Other popular resolutions that students have made for 2023 include going outside more, spending more time with family, and to start working out.

          As you can see, there are many different ways that Eastview students celebrate the holidays. Even those who don’t celebrate a holiday can enjoy a break from the regular routine. But within the diversity of these celebrations, Eastview students can unite over the holidays being a special time of the year.

By Leila Dunfee - Editor - April 11, 2024

Quarter 3 is already over which means that AP tests are just about a month out. As someone who has taken an AP test before and will be taking more this year, I thought I would give some tips that could help anyone to succeed in these rigorous exams on test day. 

• Wear layers. The tests typically are taken in large gymnasiums, where the temperature is rarely consistent. You want to be prepared for if the room is chilly or if you sweat under stressful conditions. 

• Bring a good snack. Most tests have a break time where you can go out in the hall and get something to eat. Bring something that you know will keep you full for the remainder of the test as it’s very difficult to work on an empty stomach. Additionally, if it’s a snack you like, that gives you something to look forward to during the first half of the test.

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Not to the point where you have to go to the bathroom during the test (because that takes up precious time), but your brain needs water to think clearly.

• Remember your #2 pencils and blue/black pens (if your exam requires it). Now, do not stress out if you forget them on test day, someone will certainly have something for you to borrow. But you will feel much more relaxed and prepared if you have the needed materials.

• Study hard the few weeks before, rest up the night before. Despite what you may think, pulling an all-nighter the night before your exam will not help you. The weeks prior to the test are when you should be putting in those long hours for studying, anything you do the night before will not help you on the test. Giving yourself enough sleep is what will benefit you the most.

• And finally, remember that these exams will affect little to no aspects of your life moving forward. Yes, getting college credit is great. But these exams don’t affect your college acceptance, grades, jobs, etc., so don’t stress about what you get. As experienced AP test taker Norah Brusco explains, “Once the test is over, don’t try to figure out what you did or what you got right, just move on with your life and don’t think about it again until July 5 [when scores are received]”.

          You’ve been preparing all year for these tests, so trust that you are ready. But as long as you put in your full effort, it doesn’t matter what score you get as you know that you learned a lot this year and tried your best (also you can always lie if you don’t want to tell someone what you got, they’ll never know). 

By Sophia Way - Writer - October 6th, 2025

     Eastview Highschool-like many public schools nationwide-invites its students to stand and recite the pledge of allegiance each day. It’s stated in the District 196 student handbook that, “individuals who wish to opt out of saying the pledge of allegiance due to personal beliefs will be permitted to do so and staff and students must respect another person's right to make that choice.” So, why is it that some students choose to take a stand by taking a seat, while others proudly pledge? 

       To understand this, we must first examine the history of this patriotic school staple. Although it was originally written in 1892, the version we’re familiar with today wasn’t widely recited in schools until recognition by the government in 1942. In its original form, the pledge notably didn’t include the statement “under God,” which was later added to emphasize opposition to the atheism of communism during the Cold War. The pledge’s mandatory recitation, before and after the added reference to God, has been the site of controversy at times, with critics arguing that it’s in violation of First Amendment rights. To some however, the pledge represents national unity, pride, and ideals of freedom and equality. 

      Today, due to the state of Minnesota’s legislation, Eastview's diverse student body gets to choose if they participate in the pledge. When questioned, a student and staff member shared mixed feelings. Sophomore Maheder Elias, after being asked whether she stands for the pledge, stated that, “I don’t. I mean personally it’s because I feel like this country has a lot more faults than good. I think that a lot of students stand simply because they’re used to it, or that-you know-we’re in America and it’s an American thing to do.” Mr.Daubenberger, a U.S. history teacher at Eastview, responded to the same question with, “I try to stand and keep my hand over my heart, and I ask that students remain quiet if they choose to sit.” However, Daubenberger shared that he stands more out of respect for students who wish to pledge, rather than on the basis of his own beliefs. When asked if there had been a noticeable shift in the number of students pledging their allegiance from when he attended high school, Mr.Daubenberger recounted that, “I think so. I think a lot of it is laziness, rather than any sort of ideological stance. For them, it’s easier to do nothing than it is to do something.” The laziness factor seems to be an underlying theme, with Maheder also sharing that, “I think most kids mainly don’t stand for the pledge just because they’re lazy.”  

     So, Eastview, what does the pledge mean to you? Do you choose to stand, or sit-why? Always, always remember: it’s crucial to look through a critical lens at the systems in which you exist.