by Jose Echevarria and Adalynne Souders 1/14/25

The Grammys aren't until February and the nominees were announced not too long ago. With the year ending, it's a great time to reflect and look at the music we've experienced throughout 2024 that may win their Grammy. But these songs that have blown up this year wouldn't exist without their new breakout artist putting emotion and voice behind these tracks. 

The nominees for Best New Artist are: 

Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, Raye, Chapell Roan, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims

Their most notable songs in order of the artists listed are "Beautiful Things", "Espresso", "DENIAL IS A RIVER", "A Love International", "Genesis", "Good Luck, Babe!", "A Bar Song (Tipsy)", and "Lose Control".

Each artist has seen commercial success this year, and we listened to their most recognizable song and made predictions for the ranking.

Benson Boone started his music career in 2022 utilizing TikTok and Instagram. He released his first debut album, Fireworks and Rollerblades, in 2024 which topped the Billboard Charts top 100. His husky voice and the base in his songs make him stand out from other artists in the pop-rock genre. After listening to "Beautiful Things", we were convinced that Benson Boone deserves to be nominated for Best New Artist.

Sabrina Carpenter has been under the spotlight most of her life, from child actor to musical artist. After her time on the Disney Channel, Sabrina climbed her way up through the music industry, topping the charts with her latest album, Short n’ Sweet. Released in mid-2024, it topped the Billboard Charts for five consecutive weeks with the song "Espresso". Her music has been described as soft pop, setting her apart from many other artists and convincing us she will win the award.

Doechii hasn't released a studio album yet; however, she is rising through her 2020 debut EP, Oh the Places You'll Go, and her 2024 mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal. Her rap style is described as quirky and animated, with a unique delivery of her rhyme scheme and beats. Her music is not as popular and played as the other artists, so we see no chance of her winning the award.

Khruangbin translates to airplane in Taiwanese, and the Texan musical trio makes classic rock and soul music. They released their debut album, The Universe Smiles Upon You in 2015. The nomination for their Grammy comes from their fourth album, A La Sala which was released this year. 

Raye has been a songwriter since the mid-2010s and has recently worked on just her singles. She didn't release a full album until 2023 with My 21st Century Blues, quickly gaining success. Her nomination was mainly earned through her three-part project Genesis, an amazing unique blend of genres that allows a nice relaxing listening experience.

Chappell Roan gained fame through her song "Die Young" released on YouTube in 2014. After years of working on her 2023 debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, she has been a supporting act on Olivia Rodrigo's Guts Tour, with glowing performances at Coachella and Lollapalooza. Her nomination was solidified with the widespread success of her single "Good Luck Babe", an amazing and catchy song. Great popularity and a sudden burst of fame gives Chappell Roan a great chance of winning the award.

 Shaboozey burst out of nowhere with his 2024 song "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," which spent 19 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, tying with Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" as the longest-lasting Hot 100 number-one song ever. His hip-hop country style is recognizable and has gained many fans nationwide.

Teddy Swims started by releasing covers on his YouTube channel in 2020. He then released his single, "Lose Control," in 2023, which gained him massive popularity and propelled him to the top of the Billboard Top 100 this year. His amazing voice on his debut album, I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) has been featured on multiple media pieces, including EA Sports FC 25. 

by Taylor Rodriguez

With the basketball season on the horizon, the Red Land Patriots have been putting in countless hours over the offseason to prepare for their regular season opener against Mechanicsburg this Wednesday. 

Coach Slayton said, “Our preparation for the season really started in May. We were in multiple summer leagues and tournaments, as well as a team camp at Washington and Jefferson College in July.” 

Junior Colton Rose added, “Coach Mike and all the other coaches got us ready with all the tournaments, scrimmages and open gyms.”

The team is looking to have a big season this year and want to build momentum as the year progresses. Coach Slayton explained, “We have high expectations for ourselves. I know outsiders expectations are down compared to last year. We graduated 4 starters, lost a lot of athleticism and height, but we like our guys and have raised our standards to where we can reload rather than completely rebuild.” 

Head Coach Mehaffey echoed Coach Slayton’s sentiment. “We want to build off the last two seasons and improve every week,” said Mehaffey. 

A good team doesn’t come without good chemistry. Most of these guys on this team have been playing with each other from such a young age and understand each other extremely well. “All of us have been playing basketball together since we were probably around six years old. We know how to work with each other, and it’s a fun time doing it,” said senior Cole Collier, on the chemistry of the team. 

Coach Slayton stated, “They take a tremendous amount of pride in being able to represent themselves and Red Land High School as a competitive, scrappy group of guys, who are willing to put individual glory aside for the benefit of the team.” 

There are many matchups the team is looking forward to this season, but more specifically the league games, said Coach Slayton. “Every game in the Keystone is a rock fight.” 

Point guard Colton Rose added, “Cedar Cliff, Hershey, games like Mechanicsburg, Milton Hershey, any league game is going to be highly anticipated, but definitely Cedar Cliff.”

With the loss of many seniors last season, the team will need players to step up to the occasion and fill the void left by the seniors of last year. Coach Mehaffey said, “We have good depth this year and anticipate different players stepping up throughout the season. Early on, Cole Collier has really done a nice job with his leadership and contributions.” 

“We’re going to need a group of people, not just one individual, and so, rather than just one being able to fill all those roles, we need a group of them to be able to do so, because we certainly graduated some very talented kids,” Coach Slayton explained.

by Garrett Herzog

Over one million high school boys play football each year, according to ncsa.org (Next College Student Athlete). Football is not for the weak. Fans and players love this intense and physical game; however, it does not come without risk of injury. 

Some of the most common football related injuries are ankle sprains, knee and wrist injuries, hamstring, quad, and groin strains, and concussions, according to the UPMC Medical Center. However, concussions–the most dangerous and serious of injuries for a football player–may last long after their high school career is over. Repeated head injuries are a serious risk factor for a brain disease known as CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). CTE can greatly affect a person’s behavior such as aggression, depression, suicidal thoughts, memory, mental health, and may eventually lead to dementia. 

Using up-to-date equipment, such as football helmets with thicker padding and tighter fit, and practicing better tackling and landing techniques can be used to reduce head impacts. 

At Red Land we use many different tactics to avoid injuries to our players during the season. According to Red Land Athletic Director Tom Peifer, every year, every coach has to take a concussion course. The players are told to tell a coach if they feel sick or dizzy. Additionally concussion prevention includes having trainers there to care for a player who might get injured during a practice. Helmets need to be certified each year, and after five years of use, it needs to be replaced. 

Researchers with the Boston University CTE Center confirmed and diagnosed CTE in 345 of the 376 ex-NFL players tested. CTE can only be confirmed after death. Not all CTE suffers are NFL players, it can also affect college and high school players. Although 92% of the ex-NFL players studied had CTE, the frequency of CTE among current and living former NFL players is unknown. CTE isn’t common for the regular Joe, but in the sport of football, players appear to be at a higher risk. 

 The youngest known case of CTE was found in a 21-year old named Owen Thomas, as cited by the Concussion Legacy Foundation. He played football in high school and college before sadly killing himself. From Allentown, PA, Owen was the first non-professional football player diagnosed with the disease. At some point during his football career, the head trauma he received while playing football contributed to his development of CTE. His friend said that he had “a vibrant smile, was a gentle giant, and smart,” keeping a 4.0 GPA through high school; however, family and friends noticed changes in his behavior. 

His story brought national attention to head trauma and safety in sports. Since his death 13 years ago, safety regulations and helmet technology has been improved. 

The story of Aaron Hernandez, former star Tight-End for the New England Patriots, illustrates the drastic impacts of CTE. Aaron suffered many head injuries throughout his football career, from high school to the pros. Unfortunately, Aaron’s life would take a major turn with his involvement in a murder and ultimately being sentenced to life in prison. In the documentary, Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, his wife and family acknowledged his changes in behavior and paranoia. While in prison, he committed suicide. His wife had donated his brain to science where it was discovered that he had severe CTE. 

Researchers continue to study CTE and hope to identify better means of diagnosing and treating this disease. Still other research is going into education and prevention, with improvements to safety equipment, changing tackeling rules at all levels, and updates to the concussion protocol. 

by Rachel Sechrist

The recent Wicked (2024) movie starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande has certainly gathered talk amongst anyone on the internet; however, it is not the first musical-to-movie adaptation that has been made. Among films of this nature in recent years, namely, Mean Girls (2024) and Dear Evan Hansen (2021), movie producers have attempted to recreate the musicals in the film form, but these movies were not received all too positively among the original musical fans. What made the new Wicked film different?

Marc Platt, Wicked's producer, told NBC Universal “We decided to tell the story over two films to give each character, each storyline, the justice that it deserves.” Anyone who watched the 2024 film will see that the filmmakers were focused substantially more on developing the characters than simply regurgitating the plot of the already beloved musical.

With the first act of the musical (running around an hour and a half) turned into a 2-hour and 40-minute movie, the viewers get to see much more into each character’s backstories. For example, one element added to the film was the insight into Elphaba’s childhood, where the audience sees that her bear nanny, Dulcibear, practically raises her. This helps explain even further Elphaba’s passion for animal rights throughout the film which is, ultimately, the reason for her descent into “wickedness.”

Another difference that adds much more depth to the character is the fact that contrary to the musical, Elphaba is not planning to enroll at Shiz University at the beginning of the film. She is told to stay to look after her sister while she is dropping her off by her father. Eventually, she becomes overemotional and outbursts, using the magic she possesses to push objects away from her in the courtyard, leading to Madame Morrible becoming interested in her ability. Additionally, this drives a further wedge into the already icy relationship between Elphaba and Glinda, because of Glinda’s jealousy, making their eventual friendship even more heartwarming.

This is precisely the reason why Wicked did so well at the box office: instead of simply putting stage to screen like in past adaptations, the producers sought to add something new to the story. 

Another major influence on the film’s success, as well as many other films in recent years, is, of course, the movie’s popularity on platforms like TikTok. With trends featuring songs from the movie, people dressing up as the characters, and others of the sort, the film gained significant popularity for months before the premiere.

However, compared to a movie of similar popularity on social media, Mean Girls (2024), the Wicked movie received much more praise in the theaters. Once again, Wicked was likely able to achieve this because of its commitment to telling a story that viewers hadn’t heard before, while still staying true to the original integrity of the movie. In contrast, the musical version of Mean Girls which came out earlier this year, was a simple recreation of the stage production with only a few new elements. 

This all being said, there is certainly excitement among viewers to see Wicked Part Two, released in November of 2025, and follow Elphaba and Glinda to the end of their stories, both plot-wise and regarding their newly developed characters.

By: Kyla Barker-Hewlett and Abbie Crain 11/8/24

The Patriot, our school mascot, “represents things like honor self-sacrifice for a cause greater than yourself, commitment, courage, fighting for liberty and freedom over tyranny,” Mr. Torchia said ardently.

We’ve had the Patriot statue for roughly 10-15 years. Prior to 2020, he stood guard in the lobby, and now he lives behind the back gym after being moved due to social distancing regulations from COVID-19. Mrs. Herbert is looking for a new place to put our Patriot statue.  

Our Patriot statue, made of paper mache, is very fragile, and its current case is too big to resume its old home in the lobby. 

“He was right, smack dab in the middle kind of where the circular chair system is at the moment,” said Mrs. Herbert, our school principal, and supporter of our statue, “ so we moved him out to accommodate seating and put him back there [behind the back gym].” 

The temporary move has been in place for four years, “but the seating in the lobby has been such a positive impact.” Mrs. Herbert noted. With the circular seating and coffee shop in the lobby, the Patriot statue cannot go back to his original home without disrupting the flow of traffic

With a recent wave of emotion from the staff for our Patriot’s return, Mrs. Herbert has begun to search for a new place of honor for our Patriot. She is encouraging anyone with ideas for our Patriot statue to contact her. 

“I know we can get it moved,” said, Red Land graduate and history buff, Mr Peffer. 

Article by RL Journalism Staff

In front of a sea of gold, the Red Land Patriots scooped up their first win of the season against the Hershey Trojans for the 2024 homecoming game on Friday with a final score of 20-13.

“I think we just wanted it more than Hershey,” said running back Brady Seyler. “Mentally everyone changed their perspective knowing it was homecoming, and we needed to win.”

Quarterback Quinlin Shearer, who has been sidelined all season with an injury, could feel the shift in the team’s morale. “We just kept playing and didn't give up--we kept playing. It was lucky and we played as a collective whole.”

Although the Pates have seen a tough season, support from the Red Sea helped to fuel their victory.

“Everyone was just kinda slumped, but as soon as we came through the locker room and I saw what they were, what we were dealing with, and the crowd we had, it kind of just turned on a switch for everyone,” said kicker Chase Piazza. 

Defensive tackle Jake Owen agreed. “The crowd was loud! Louder the crowd, better team,” he said. “We went out and played our best. We had nothing to lose.”

The Red Sea, bedazzled in gold glitter, infected the team with their positive attitude.

“I thought that we were going to win because the student section was full the whole night,” said Izzy Cline.  

“It was the biggest student section that we had for this season,” said AubreyYovivich. “It was very packed and loud.”

With one more home game left in the season, the Patriots look to finish strong, and will need the continued support from their fans. 

Red Sea member Stephanie LeFebvre said, “I plan to go to the next game because my brother is going to play, and the student section was everything.¨

“It’s a lot of fun getting ready for the theme and watching the game, said Ramiya Reed, “and hopefully we will win our last home game.”

by Lauren McVitty 12/10/24

What is an axolotl?

Axolotls are a species of salamander found in Mexico. They are known for their unique regenerative abilities and ability to stay in their “tadpole” stage forever. The World Wildlife Organization even calls them the “Peter Pan of salamanders” because of that agelessness trait. When first hatched, axolotls lack limbs, so it takes a few weeks to grow their legs in. Other than that, they won’t change much since birth, except their size which can be up to 18 inches, but lately, they have been growing to 9 inches.

The name “axolotl” derives from the name “Xolotl”, the Aztec god of fire and lightning. You might not think the name to be relevant, but Xolotl was said to be able to take the form of dogs or salamanders. Furthermore, the Aztec word for water was “atl”, so the name axolotl can translate to “water dog” or even “water monster”.

Axolotls are typically a dark brown or greyish-black color in the wild. Still, after years of breeding and careful selection, there have been many results such as pink ones, white ones, yellow ones, blue ones, and even some variants with two colors split perfectly down the middle. An example of this strange dual-color trait can be seen in the picture below, a black and white variant.

While their appearance may be especially odd, with their often deemed “permanent smiles” and their almost cartoonish look, they also have abilities straight out of X-men comic books. According to San Diego Zoo research, axolotls can regenerate limbs five times perfectly, with no scars or deformities, and can regenerate organs nearly countless times with full functionality, even parts of their brains. With this, they can regenerate bone, cartilage, skin, muscles, and even stem cells in their limbs if one were to be lost. There was also one ability that struck many scientists with interest: axolotls are 1,000 times more resistant to cancer than mammals.

What makes them so popular?

Axolotls have become an absolute internet sensation over the years, even being included in merchandise and video games. Known for their expressive faces and cute appearance, they have influenced many people to get them as pets, buy axolotl-themed shirts and hoodies, and plenty more. 

There was also an addition to the widely known game Minecraft, featuring these little creatures in five variations: pink, white, yellow, brown, and a rare blue variant. 

According to Game Rant, axolotls were actually added to Minecraft to raise awareness of their endangered status in real life, and this quickly drew in the attention of millions of consumers who play the game.

According to CNN News, Minecraft’s addition of axolotls in 2021 had actually started the whole pop culture explosion with axolotls. Written by Kate Golembiewski, the article includes two sentences that sum up why these salamanders are so appealing: 

“Take one look at an axolotl, and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. With their wide eyes, upturned mouths and pastel pink coloring, axolotls look cheerful and vaguely Muppet-like.”

Even the news has been involved in several cases with the axolotl bloom in pop culture, such as what has been quoted here from CNN. Axolotls have captured the attention and hearts of millions of people worldwide, many of whom have exclaimed about their cuteness—I know I have.

Axolotls as pets

According to Spruce Pets, axolotls in households should be handled with care. Their bodies are mostly cartilage rather than bone (the material that makes up human ears and part of the nasal passages), and should have minimal direct handling if possible, or at least careful and gentle handling. Axolotls are actually found to be perfectly comfortable in captivity, moving around while being watched or getting closer to the people that might watch them.

Though they seem all innocent and cute, they really are not sociable creatures, and do not require tank companions. Axolotls even can become cannibalistic towards each other, and should really be monitored in case one axolotl is constantly losing body parts.

Another thing to consider is their needs, it is recommended that axolotls are kept in a 15-20 gallon tank, preferably with a lid in case it tries to jump out of the tank. These salamanders are fully aquatic, so they do not need a land spot in their enclosures, and it is best that they have as much room as possible while still having a hide and vegetation.

Water temperatures should also be kept in a range of 57 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Spruce Pets, and should not get above 75 degrees for any reason. The tank should also be away from sunlight, and does not require special lighting. Black lights are sometimes used, and these are not harmful to axolotls, it does however sometimes make them appear to glow. More details on how to care for them can be found on Spruce Pets’s website under axolotls.

Axolotls are truly one of the many amazing animals in this world, and we don’t even know everything about them yet. Hopefully, these smiley little salamanders won’t go extinct any time soon.

by Jayla Hutchison and Savannah Nelson 11/20/24

Thanksgiving is for families to celebrate what they are thankful for.  Adalynne Sounders who celebrates friends giving said,“Friendsgiving is like bringing your family together. Friend groups are like family so we treat it like it. It's just a big get together with food and laughter.” 

Some people don't have the gift of family and celebrate what they are thankful for with their friends and chosen family. “Sometimes we feel like our friends are more of a family than our actual families, so we treat it as such.” Adalynne Sounders said.

Friendsgiving consists of the same general activities you would do at Thanksgiving. Friendsgiving is about including others and growing in friendships. Normally during Friendsgiving every participant should be bringing at least one dish. Friendsgiving is typically celebrated before Thanksgiving or instead of a traditional family Thanksgiving. It is not required but it is kind to bring the host a present, a sign of respect and gratefulness, says according to The Pioneer Woman. 

 Friendsgiving is a newer concept, dating back to only 2007. But since, according to Merriam-Webster, it has been transcripted into many shows such as Friends, Gilmore Girls, and The Office. Most people credit the show Friends for originating “Friendsgiving” because in the show they celebrate Thanksgiving with their “friends.” 

Friendsgiving is an informal event, but, according to The Pioneer Woman, one could make it formal. There can be formal invitations, elegant house decor, picnic setup outside or on your living room floor, or lastly a party. There are many games you could play as well. For example, Turkey toss (Think corn hole, but turkey themed), Pin the hat on the turkey, Fall themed bingo, Charades, and Blind karaoke. Adalynne Sounders said, “We of course eat, but we play games, do karaoke, things like that.” 

Friendsgiving is a fun way to feel included during the holiday season especially for people that may not have a joyful holiday with their biological family. Friendsgiving is about being thankful for friends. When Adalynne Sounders was asked, “What is the most memorable part of Friendsgiving,” she said, “Being with everyone.” Friendsgiving is about spending quality time with the people you care about and celebrating not only friendship but chosen family.

by Adalynne Souders & Jose Echevarria

Vaping has rattled our generation of young adults and students. Many of us ask the question, “How can we stop it?” But before we can ask this, students must see the bigger picture.  

The vaping epidemic has left students annoyed and addicted. Interviews with students revealed that many of them were dissatisfied with the amount of vaping that happens in the bathrooms, and even during instruction in the classroom. We asked Kyle Smith, a senior, how vaping affected the student body. He said, “Lots of people probably tend to cut class to go and vape in the school bathrooms, would be my guess.”

Many Red Land students are fed up with the vaping epidemic because of the constantly crowded bathrooms. The stench of flavored air any time a step is taken in the general vicinity of the bathrooms causes discomfort and irritation.. Although bathroom passes are monitored, students still find a way to get into the bathrooms, creating a conflict for those who have a bathroom pass and value class time. 

Vaping has blown up as a trend in the past couple of years, with an ignorance of consumers' health. The FDA has updated concerns with new known health conditions. This can include but is not limited to asthma, cancer, early addiction, increased blood pressure, depression, or anxiety. 

Vaping has become a part of the younger generations' culture and has been catering to children's habits with new types of devices and flavors to keep consumers interested. Vaping can start anywhere between 13-16 years of age, causing early addiction within teenagers as the prefrontal cortex is still not fully developed. Researchers from The Journal of Consumers Affairs claim that close to 23% of the adolescent population uses e-cigarettes and vaping devices. “People think it's cooler than smoking or less dangerous than smoking,” Master Sergeant Collier commented.

Vaping in the classroom affects not only students' health but also their classwork and grades. Impacting academics in the classroom can have detrimental setbacks for students. "They're missing tons of the instruction that's going on in class. and especially math, right?” -- “You'll see a decrease in grades, you'll see missing assignments,” said assistant principal Mrs. Jackson.  Teachers and administrators alike are coming together to realize the risk affects not only the adolescent's body, but their mind as well, with more kids failing due to addiction.

While asking about how to stop vaping within the school body, Master Sergeant Collier said, “I'm not sure that there is a really good way to crack down on it because people always figure out a way to get around [the rules].” 

Mr. Jones agreed, adding “It all starts at home.”

Supporting that if parents are unable to supervise what their children do affects not only their child, but whomever their child comes into contact with. Peer pressure is a leading cause of teenage smoking and vaping, so parental supervision and communication is key. Teaching children the consequences of vaping and monitoring their behavior as well as where students' funds are going might help to deplete some teenage smoking. 

Vaping must be taken seriously, not only by administrators but also by parents, other students, and ourselves. As a generation, we are wrapped up in a smoke stick instead of thinking about our lives ahead.

by Xavier Ambush and Caden Douville 11/19/2024

Cancel culture is an act that has been developed over the last couple centuries from back when people were being tarred and feathered to now where people are being “called out” on social media in such a way that can shun/remove them from public consciousness as a punishment of sorts. Cancel culture is social justice renamed for the modern era and has resulted in the exposing of many popular people such as streamers, artists, musicians, etc. In order to understand cancel culture it must first be understood how it affects the mind, society, and the implications of being canceled.

Following previously stated info, cancel culture is something that lays in the back of many people’s minds when interacting with anyone or anything on social media. Many people observe or have observed people being canceled and are now implicitly/unconsciously cautious of what they post within their thought process such as the idea of presenting oneself in a positive light with people halfway around the world instead of saying how they actually feel because of the negative social repercussions. 

As Mel Stanfill, a UCF assistant professor of texts and technology, “I think cancel culture can reflect awareness that people are not willing to accept things that they used to accept or have not been able to resist in the past, but in some ways it’s a moral panic.’” cancel culture, as much as it may seem, is not a surface level issue that can be brushed off for tomorrow and procrastinated on since people’s minds internalize what others think of them so heavily. So when searching through the impact of cancel culture the main things that tend to come up when talking about people who have been canceled usually are what the person did, how people received it, what was done, and what the person is doing now. A lot of the time a person usually recedes from the internet and stays radio silent in a manner of speaking or they try to fix what they’ve done wrong in the public eye. There are outliers, like Andrew Tate, Lil Darkie, Mario Judah, Kanye West, and Travis Scott who choose to ignore the backlash of their media. 

Furthermore, society is like a thirsty sponge, always drinking up what is produced by people whether that be good or bad. In such cases, cancel culture has changed modern justice from the law into the virtual hands of the people. Cancel culture has allowed people to demean and drain the social presence of others online such as companies like Urban Outfitters, Aunt Jemima’s, Amazon, etc. The impact that cancel culture has had on society is like that of soldiers walking the streets to prevent “crimes” and actual crimes. One such example is that of Bob Parsons, founder of GoDaddy, who  shot an elephant and posed with its corpse. Society, online at least, was outraged and as such people took action and so the internet,”saw the hosting company lose 70,000 domains in a single week,” according to Enzuzo writers. They also wrote that Bob Parsons stepped down in 2018 (it isn't clear whether Bob being canceled was the reason or if there was something else), which is where the implications of being canceled come in.

To elaborate, people being canceled has been a concept for the last decade and the repercussions of such have affected people around the globe. The people who have been canceled often report feeling anxiety, depression, and a sense of social isolation according to Therapy Group DC. These feelings stem from the fact that in a moment when a person or people are canceled they tend to be isolated so that everyone can direct the hammer of social justice on the right people and so the implication of being canceled tends to be that it is associated heavily with social justice just as it has been throughout this article. The punishment side of being canceled tends to be a net loss of either income, consumers, partnerships, sponsors, etc for a person or group that get canceled until either they right their wrongs or they ultimately accept what has happened and move on in a positive way. YouTubers Chrissy Teigen, Lori Levine, Tanya Cook, Nathan Miller, etc. are all celebrities who have made public appearances to apologize and redeem themselves for situations that occurred with them in the past. The implications of cancel culture tend to be that a person receives social justice and redeems themself through some sort of public apology, or they are still canceled and are suffering their punishment.

by Chayton Rudy and Curran Williams

With the release of ChatGPT in November of 2023, artificial intelligence has exploded in popularity. AI has slowly been increasing and advancing over the years, going from simple tech like a bot used for checkers to what it has become today. Mr. Zwatty, Red Land’s tech IA, said it is a pending topic for the district and will be implemented at Red Land one day. “It’s a huge shift in education,” he said, explaining why integrating these powerful tech tools takes time. 

Some teachers already use AI, though it still needs to be implemented building-wide. One teacher-centered AI is “Magic Teacher,” which develops lessons and designs assignments. The website also claims to save teachers 10 hours a week. Prompts and reading material can also be rewritten for reading levels. Teachers can save significant time by using AI for lesson planning, and by using AI to assist students with tutoring, enabling the classroom to run much more smoothly and fluidly, helping the curriculum move faster and the people learn efficiently. This could help teachers being forced to stay late or work unpaid overtime, making it more pleasant for both the student and the teacher.

Another AI program for learning, recommended is Khanmigo. Khanmigo is a learning AI made by Microsoft and Khan Academy to expand learning AI. It costs 4 USD a month and is only for Khan Academy. It can personally tutor kids and give them immediate advice for their work. But Khanmigo focuses on not telling the students directly, instead giving them suggestions and examples and walking them through the process. If you want to learn more about this more information is on their website.

If we teach the kids how to use AI in earlier computer classes, they may learn how to learn effectively and in tandem, save time for the teachers. AI is the “calculator of our time,” said Mr. Zwatty, noting that learning to use it responsibly is the only challenge.

by Callista Hayden and Alyssa Chace

When people initially think of the West Shore School District and the two high schools, Cedar Cliff and Red Land, most would say we are rivals. For sporting events the largest game of the season is when the high schools play each other, and there are paint wars before the game for the student sections of each school and lots of “smack talk” between the teams. However, after some research we have found that we might be more like sisters than we thought; with Cedar Cliff having the “big sister” role and Red Land being the “little sister”. 

To start off with, the two schools are actually in different conferences for PIAA Sports. So, although the rival games are the biggest games of the year, they do not influence  the conference standings. Cedar Cliff plays in the higher conference due to them having a larger student body, an example of them being the “big sister”.  Our big sister also has more privileges like open campus and open flex policies.

Mrs. Norton, who was an assistant principal and a phys ed teacher at Cedar Cliff and is now an assistant principal at Red Land recognizes the differences. “CC no longer utilizes e-hall passes; students do not have a time limit that they are allowed to leave class or certain amount of times they can leave a day and so on. They also have an open flex policy which means students are able to go to any flex teacher or another location in the building.” said Mrs. Norton. Also, all juniors and seniors have access to open campus during their lunch/flex starting at the beginning of the school year, unlike at Red Land where juniors can earn it for their second semester with good grades, attendance and limited tardies. Cedar Cliff open campus students also have a larger variety of places to go due to their geographical location. They are able to walk to Sheetz, McDonald’s, Jersey Mikes, Chipotle, Cedar Cliff Pizza, Sweet Frog, Starbucks, CVS and Dollar Store just to name a few, while Red Land does not have any options within walking distance. Even though these  benefits might make it seem like Cedar Cliff would be the better option, Red Land also has many positive features as well. 

From our research it seems that Red Land has a higher expectation of their students both academically and emotionally. Red Land has all of our freshmen through juniors enrolled in a flex period, unless they are taking a music elective such as chorus, band or orchestra. During this time, students are required to meet with their flex teacher once a week to discuss their current grades in all classes and any other obstacles they may be facing and need help with. At Red Land we also have some flex classes that have a smaller number of students and more one-on-one conversations and help from their flex teacher. Core subject teachers also make tutoring available throughout the cycle days during flex for any student to attend if they are struggling. Due to all of these offerings, it seems that Red Land has a higher academic focus for our students than Cedar Cliff. 

Overall, it seems that Cedar Cliff and Red Land are more like sisters than rivals. Just as real sisters do not always get along and are not always treated equally, when it comes down to it, they know they are part of the same family – The West Shore School District. 

by Ariana Wallace, 20 Oct 2024

People enjoy watching scary movies with their friends every Halloween, but sometimes, they struggle to find a good movie. Below are some recommendations from fans of classic horror movies. 

Why should you start watching scary movies? These movies are a big part of the Halloween culture and are known to be a fun but frightening experience. Watching scary movies can also allow one to examine the “dark side” of humanity, says Haiyang Yang and Kuangjie Zhang of The Harvard Review. Junior Izzy Van Dyke says, “I like the psychological part about it, as well as the mystery and thriller.” 

It can even help you prepare for worst-case scenarios. Most people believe that horror movies are all fiction, but that isn’t always the case. Braden Kauffman, a RL grad, said, “I like horror movies because of how the producers align the horror stories with the plots.” Movies such as the Conjuring series are based on true stories whether you want to believe them or not.

Watching a horror movie can stimulate the mind and body “both mentally and physically in opposing ways,” said Zhang and Yang. While watching a scary movie can make you terrified, it can also release adrenaline into your system, which allows people to enjoy the movie a lot more since they feel almost “physically involved” while watching it. Junior Ace Robinson said, “I enjoy watching horror movies because they are interesting to watch and I like the thrill in watching scary movies.”

 Why do people enjoy watching horror movies? Some find it fun to be frightened or scared while watching a film because they can distinguish between positive and negative types of fear, which allows them to know when they are safe. Evelyn Marrero says, “I like the suspense of it–I like being afraid.” Junior Abigail Hayward says, “I enjoy watching scary movies due to the thrilling element of being on edge.”

Here is a list of some classic horror movies that you must watch:

• The Conjuring series (In Order):

• The Nun (Taking place in 1952)

• Annabelle - Creation (Taking place in 1955)

• The Nun 2 (Taking place in 1956)

• Annabelle (Taking place in 1967)

• The Conjuring (Taking place in 1971)

• Annabelle Comes Home (Taking place in 1972)

• The Curse of La Llorona ( Taking place in 1973)

• The Conjuring 2 (Taking place in 1977)

• The Conjuring - The Devil Made Me Do It (Taking place in 1981)

• Texas Chainsaw Massacre

• IT (1 & 2)

• Terra

• Michael Myers Series

• Nightmare on Elm Street

• Friday the 13th + Series

• Insidious series

• The ritual

• The Bye-Bye Man

by Chayton Rudy 1/17/25

Most people consider aliens a mystery, while others consider them a fantasy. If you think aliens are real, well, you might be interested in the fact that the U.S. Air Force and the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) have acknowledged evidence to support their possible existence or at least the existence of flying saucers. 

In June 2001, the U.S. Air Force declassified papers for Project 1794, a project conducted by the U.S. and Canadian governments during 1957-58. Project 1794 was about creating a saucer-like vehicle to take off vertically and fly at supersonic speeds. This aircraft would resemble an alien flying saucer. The initial funding for the project was around 1,483,847 Canadian dollars. The project itself has blueprints that are available to view. The saucer is meant to hover by utilizing a turbine and internal-external and lower wings. 

The AARO, which was created in July of 2022, aims to address the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (UAP). A quote from their website explains their purpose: “the U.S. government’s efforts to address Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) uses a rigorous scientific framework and a data-driven approach. Since its establishment in July 2022, AARO has taken important steps to improve data collection, standardize reporting requirements, and mitigate the potential threats to safety and security posed by UAP. We look forward to using this site to regularly update the public about AARO’s work and findings and provide a mechanism for UAP reporting.” In other words, there was enough concern about UAPs that they made a group to research and document them. The AARO has multiple videos and reports of these UAPs, which shows how in-depth this research on these aliens is. 

Most videos and blueprints from the AARO and Project 1794 are an interesting mix of aliens and human ingenuity. The reports from both sides show what could be alien-like tech mixed with the creative genius of the U.S Air Force. All declassified information is tricky to navigate as pieces of the truth are normally left out. The AARO has multiple unexplained UAPs.  One of the many resources on the website is the declassified Kona Blue project, an advanced threat detection system focused on the biology of non-human organisms. This threat detection is headed by the Department of Defense and has an undefined use.

The AARO has sponsored several tests for research on an unidentified metal object. This specimen was taken from the U.S. Army and has been researched. The item is made out of zinc and magnesium. The subject was from a UAP found in 1947. This is one of the small pieces of proof that the AARO has given us that aliens are real. The government and these classified documents have given us a small insight into the possibility of aliens. The evidence given to us should be enough to say aliens are real yet all government sources deny their existence. 

Project 1794 and the AARO both have involvement with either alien tech or just finding them. The existence of aliens was mostly considered a joke, but research might say that we were wrong, and everyone who said they were real got the last laugh.

by Carter Jordahl

One doesn’t have to spend much time reading the news to notice that global conflicts dominate the headlines. Along with my peers, I believe that we are at risk of going to war, so I sat down with Colonel Shimandle to get his perspective on what he believes will happen and how it might affect the United States. 

Although there are very large problems in the Middle East and the conflict in that region seems like it has never entirely diminished, Col. Shimandle says that .. D.I.M.E is what the government uses to determine if we should get involved. D, means diplomacy I, means information sharing M, is military and, E, is economics. Colonel Shimandle believes that the wars in the Middle East are threatening none of these values. 

Colonel Shimandle said, “On the planet, the country of the USA is not at risk of all-out war due to our military and our connections all over the world.” “In the rare case that we were to go to war,” Colonel Shimandle said, “I believe that the USA is not at risk of failing in war efforts.” He also explained that Middle Eastern culture is based on family and work, which is why if we were to go to war to help them, it would be difficult to alleviate problems.

That ties into October 1st, 2024 when something unexpected happened in Lebanon. Israel decided to invade Hezbollah's territory using pagers and walkie-talkies to soften them up for the coming invasion. The leader of Hezbollah said, “Israel crossed all red lines in these attacks.” This has caused an increase in anxiety due to people being worried that another major war could be on the brink of happening. Colonel Shimandle said, “If the war were to escalate in Lebanon, it could be the start of WW3”. This sentiment is felt by citizens worldwide, who are also worried about the potential of war.

Iran’s involvement in the Israel and Palestine war was already well known. Although people figured that Iran would retaliate, they didn't expect what they did. They sent a 2-hour missile barrage targeting Israel's major airports and bases. Out of the 200 missiles they sent to Israel only a couple made it. The rest of the missiles were shot down or failed during the launching process. The missiles that did make it over didn't injure any Israeli citizens or bases, although there was a Lebanese man who was injured during the attacks.

After the attacks on Israel, Israel decided to retaliate and send missiles over to Iran targeting airbases and other places of importance. They did not target any civilian locations or towns. It was specifically strategic bombing to retaliate against Iran for bombing them prior. In all that confrontation between the two powerhouse countries, Israel made a big move in the war with Palestine and assassinated the leader of Hamas. Since then tension has risen in the area due to the uncertainty of the leader's capability to lead the countries to peace. Along with the rest of the things happening, Syria's prime minister had just been kicked out of office by Syrian civilians, and the citizens of Syria were relieved that they could finally start rebuilding their broken country.

As of Sunday, December 15th, 2024, Israel has mobilized troops in Syria. Israel has been bombing Syria with a video going around on social media showing the “earthquake bomb” that was so big that it was ranked on the Richter scale.

by Sophia Gross, Dec. 2024

Playing a significant part of fall and winter fashion, sweaters make a cup of hot chocolate just that much better on a cold day. The cozy material mixed with chilly weather and turning leaves of fall begins the most comfortable time of year. Sweaters are pulled out of people's closets all over the world giving warmth and comfort. Whether they are functional, comfortable, or popular, sweaters have been styled by many people making it a necessity. 

Celebrities, musicians, and the media influence fashion and how the public wears it. Taylor Swift, for example, famously known for her cardigans, features themed cardigans for each album of her music. Mister Rogers from the television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was widely known for his iconic bright red sweater. More recently, a song released in 2013 called “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood “experienced a resurgence in popularity due to it being used on the social media platform TikTok. The song gained over 5 million on-demand streams on Spotify within the month of November 2020,” stated Wikipedia.

Sweaters also have a long history of keeping people warm. It wasn’t always known for its style. Eva Winters and Phoebe Derk are both fans of sweaters and commented how comfy they are to wear. The original purpose, used as a way to keep athletes playing and practicing in colder weather, was sweaters. Britannica, a fact-checked encyclopedia said, The sweater we know now was originally based off the jersey produced on the English Channel from the islands Guernsey and Jersey. Britannica added, “In the 1890s it was adopted by athletes in the United States and called a sweater.” It began to spread from athletes to stylists as famous designers adopted the sweater. Britannica added, “By the 1920s designers such as Jeanne Lanvin and Gabrielle (“Coco”) Chanel introduced sweaters into their collections.” This made sweaters the popular winter garment that we know today. 

From ugly sweaters to weather protection, functionality takes a huge part of clothing. Sweaters come in all shapes and sizes with all different kinds of materials. Olivia Magaro remarked, “I wear them very frequently. They are very cozy, it’s almost like you are wearing a blanket in a shirt form.” Sweaters differ in functionality especially with all the changes and progressions made over the years. In an article called “From Athletes to Streetwear: the History of the Hoodie”, Printful said that hoods and pockets were added to the sweater by various small manufacturers in 1930 creating the first sweatshirts. 

Some sweaters were created for special occasions like winter holidays. The ugly sweater, a very festive and funny element to the holiday season, really gives people a way to celebrate. “Originally coined “Jingle Bell Sweaters,” long-sleeved sweaters were typically adorned with the usual Christmas symbols -- snowmen, Santa, angels, snowflakes, jingle bells, etc.” states uglychristmas.com. Others are made of heavy wool to keep people warm in harsh weather conditions. As the days get colder, sweaters become hotter in fashion.

by Rachel Sechrist

As young people ages 14 to 18, this generation hasn’t experienced the deaths of many of its favorite childhood stars. Liam Panye’s tragic death feels close to home for several students at Red Land. 

One Direction was popular throughout the 2010s, a pivotal time in maturing for current high school students. Even if people haven’t listened to One Direction in a long time, many have fond memories of the band shaping their childhood.

“I grew up listening to One Direction,” said junior Kayla Friend, “The death will be a big loss for the community.” 

Students also bring up their shock at the sudden death, as the singer was only 31 when he died.

“At first I thought it was like a tabloid, you know what I mean?” Abbie Crain, a junior, said., “I thought it was one of those, ‘The aliens are real!’ kind of things.” She said she knew it was real when she saw CNN’s article.“I did not know how to feel,” she said.

Not only is the mere fact of his death hard for students to believe, but the way he died is also unsettling to fans of the band.

“I mean, he fell off a balcony,” senior Saige Gruver said, “That’s crazy.”

The news of his death also brought back memories of the band for students who grew up listening to them. Alyssa Greene, a freshman, told of how she listened to the group’s discography for hours on end after hearing about the death.

By: Abbie Crain & Kyla Barker-Hewlett

Photo from: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-witch-trials-175162489/ 

If you were in American Lit. 1 or AP Lang, you would have read The Crucible. But, how truly accurate is this timeless play? Were the deaths, people, and situations real? And, just how can we learn from this play in the events today? It comes down to two parts, the facts and human weakness. 

The Facts

After reading through the original court documents of the Salem Witch Trials, it was apparent that the trials themselves were surprisingly close to what Aurther Miller wrote in The Crucible. However, the details of their lives were very separate from the play itself.

According to the Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project, in Salem, Massachusetts 1692-1693, people were accused of “certain Detestable Arts called Witchcrafts and Sorceries.” The accusations came from the same people each time: Elizabeth Parris, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam Jr., Elizabeth Hubbard, Mary Walcott, Mercy Lewis, and Mary Warren. Frequently the girls expressed that they didn’t know who they were ‘afflicted’ by until during the examinations, when they could see the person they were accusing. With people being found guilty, the rise of hysteria grew. They were accusing people of witchcraft with evidence of “crimes” that happened before the first accusations, such as staying with someone and shortly after leaving, a cow died. They began by targeting the outcasts, and by the end they were accusing people with higher social standing than before. As a result of the higher social status, the accused’s neighbors began writing petitions for their release, saying that they didn’t believe the accusations could be true. Even with the petitions and records in which some of the girls admitted they “did it for sport, they must have some sport” they still believed the accusations against them. 

Arthur Miller did a lot of research into the Salem witch trials and it was evident. Mr. Washburn, AP Lang. and American Lit. teacher explained, “The names are historically accurate and the people—the way they went about the accusations– that's historically accurate.” The play follows the lives of some of the accused people and focuses on the accusation of the Coreys, Proctors, and Rebecca Nurse. Miller changed the personal lives of the accused for dramatic reasons.  For example, John Proctor never had an affair with Abigail Williams. The real Abigail Williams was 11 years old, and John Proctor, then 60 years old and married to his third wife, had eighteen children. Miller kept the names, how the accusations spread, and how the trials worked true to real-life events. Miller wrote this play in the 1950s to show us how similar we still are to the people who were making the accusations and who believed the accusations were true. Miller explored themes of human weakness, how our personal motivations shape the decisions we make, and the risks of greed and power. 

Human Weakness

It’s no secret that the Puritans were not so pure. Every human has at least one weakness. From genuine fear to a lust for power, it is evident that there was more than just a trial in Salem. The court records that were found clearly show accounts of bias and misinformation for all to see. “The victim is always right,” expressed AP Lang student Jace DiGeronimo. This was the case for the trials. 

The Crucible shows that everyone believes the girls, or the “afflicted,” because of who was accused. If you look back on the play, Reverend Parris mentions to Judge Hawthorne how Rebecca Nurse was,” No Bridget Bishop.” Bridget Bishop historically was known for her flamboyant lifestyle, public arguments with husband #3, and owning a tavern. She was seen and condemned as a witch because she did not meet Puritan standards. “Humans are just dumb creatures who react instead of thinking things through,” explained Mr. Washburn. “They don't use their brains, and so they're reactionary. That still happens today.” 

There are many theories about what exactly caused the girls to experience the ‘afflictions’, but the most common is Ergot poisoning for the ‘afflicted’ and hysteria for those who believed the accusations. Ergot is a fungus that grows on old wheat and can cause convulsions, muscle spasms, vomiting, hallucinations, and gangrenous pain–the very symptoms the girls expressed. With the rising accusations and the girls being consistently ‘afflicted,’ the witch hysteria ran rampant in Salem. They were afraid they would be accused or the people around them were witches. Fear is a powerful thing if harnessed properly. To use and manipulate hysteria and fear to your advantage is a powerful move.

Having the most property and ownership was power in the Colonial Era. There were many specific motivations for starting the Witch Trials, namely greed and power. When reading the court records, we found an unsurprising pattern of accused and accusers. The Putnams, the main accusers, targeted their neighbors. Many believed that they used Ann Jr, their daughter, who was one of the afflicted girls in the court, to get rid of the main competitors. Rebecca Nurse, George Jacobs, and other lesser-known people were hanged because of Ann Jr’s accusations. Both Nurse and Jacobs were very prominent in Salem society. And, when a person who dies or was executed had a bunch of property, then it would go up for sale. This would have been very beneficial to the Putnams because they could swoop in and grab the land. This shows greed for wealth and a lust for power in the “Pure Society” of the Puritans.

We are humans and will truly never change, no matter how hard we try, there will always be judgment in the back of our minds. Judgment creates paranoia, and the people of Salem were the perfect example of mindless following out of fear.

by Rachel Sechrist 11/18/24

Historically, libraries are thought of as quiet places. Media depicts characters having conversations in libraries and promptly being “shushed” by the librarian or background characters. However, Red Land students experience a variety of atmospheres, depending on the time of day. 

During period 1, for example, a student works quietly in a fairly empty space to complete his or her assignments; however, during period 4c, the same student struggles to focus amid a rambunctious atmosphere of constant chatting.

As students require multiple conflicting environments to serve their needs, what should be done about the library?

A poll was sent out on students’ last remote day asking what atmosphere they wanted for the school library. In total, 259 students completed the survey, 26 of which said they enjoy the chattier space. Only 33 students responded that they would like the library to be a fully quiet, studying space, and the remaining 200 students said they would like a mix of a louder and quieter library. Furthermore, 98/259 students (about 38% of the population polled) said they prefer a quieter space to lots of background noise. 

Mrs. Angela Kaufman, the current librarian at Red Land who took over last September, has already made changes to the library since. She shared some of her opinions and observations about the space and how it should function.

“I’m trying to bring it back as an academic space,” Kauffman says, recalling how she came in observing the library as strictly a hangout environment, “I feel like [the library] should reflect what the majority of students need, but it also needs to not hinder anyone else. So it’s kind of a fine line.”

She also shared that she feels the library should be quieter and “students should be able to regulate themselves based on what is happening in the space.” 

Additionally, Mrs. Kauffman added that the library is functioning more as a typical library–one in which people check out books. She shares that students have been checking out books daily, as opposed to a student once or twice a month like last school year. 

Changes seem to be in the works for the library at Red Land, such as possibly changing how the library is lit or getting more comfortable furniture. At the end of the day, Kauffman made it clear that she wants the library to serve the students and what they need for the space.

by Abbie Crain, Kyla Barker-Hewlett, and Sophia Gross 11/13/24

The West Shore Marching Band had success at their National Competition at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey on November 2, 2024.

After reporting to their last practice of the season, they set off to their national performance of Vertigo. 

They scored an impressive 95.9 points and captured the 2nd place Silver Medal for the second straight year. Brass captain and senior Jesse Del Gaudio said, “Oh, it's good being so consistent. I would have liked to have won, of course, but I'm still super satisfied.”

After a season of hard work, multiple football games, and competitions, they left everything out on the field for nationals. Addison Weber, a 5th-year color guard member, noted that it was a big accomplishment for their team.

As the marching band season ended, students gained many strengths from their time in the program this year, Tobias Berninger, a 1st-year member added, that the program improved his playing and technique.

by Kyla Barker-Hewlett

Join Red Land Theater as they put on the production of Once Upon A Mattress on December 6-8, 2024.

“The backline is basically Princess and the Pea. And it's a really fun show, at least I think that it is because there's just a lot of color, a lot of activity, love, dancing and whatnot. And, singing and the songs this year are amazing, and I just really enjoy it this year. It's awesome. It's come together” said student director Allison Walker.

The cast has seen the show and all the comical plot lines come together over the last three months.

‘“It is such a funny show,’ is honestly what I see in the look of everyone. It's just a really fun show and I really do hope everyone comes and sees,” said Aiden Lee, who plays Prince Dauntless.

The talented cast has spent countless hours on the show and is excited to share what they’ve been working on.

“I love being in this show because every scene is just so much fun! There are so many ridiculous plot lines, and I genuinely think it is such a funny show, no matter what age. All of the stunts I do in the show are my favorite part–like I have to do gymnastics on a bed that is 8 feet tall, fall off the back of the stage, do a kickstand and so much more! It's been such a blast to be a part of,” said Rachel Sechrist, who plays Princess Winnifred.

“So the more the merrier,” said Allison Walker, who noted that a sold out show would make the cast's and crew’s day. 

Get your tickets at https://redlandtheatre.ludus.com/index.php 

by Callista Hayden

At 9PM last year, only 10 attendees remained. The dance floor was empty and teachers and chaperones sat waiting for the event to officially end. With this mind, the seniors implemented several changes to the upcoming prom. 

Mrs. Wolfe said that it was the senior class that decided to make the changes to prom, not the administration. The most significant change is that prom will last for only 2 hours and everyone who buys a tickets will be required to stay the entire time. 

“It costs around $250,000 for prom,” said Mrs. Wiggins. With this new plan “students can get their money's worth,” she explained. “It makes sense with the ticket price, the outfit cost (if that is a dress or a tuxedo), shoes, and if applicable hair and makeup costs” to have students stay at prom. 

Rachel Sechrist, senior class vice president, said, “To be respectful to staff time so they aren’t sitting the rest of the time they shortened it. So everyone gets their money's worth, we, as the senior class officers, decided to make everyone stay the whole time.”

Senior class advisors and students also addressed other complaints regarding prom. Mrs. Wolfe said, “We can not get a new/different catering company because the cost of the catering company that they provide is included in the cost of the space.” They also shared that this year the space will be decorated with gold and silver uplighting, black table cloths, gold table runners, and tall flower centerpieces to match the theme Great Gatsby. The senior class did get a new dj this year, the same DJ as homecoming, who people liked, and he is open to all music on radio edits. 

by Addy Deitrich, Jan. 2025

Tragic and depressing news stories flood our feeds every day. When you read those harsh headlines or just hear about them, it can really affect your mood. So why do kids immerse themselves in these negative narratives? 

Social media has negative effects on mental health, schooling, self image and so on. Students aren't on social media because they want bad stuff to happen. They are on it because there are positive things on it as well.

The Dodo, an animal channel that is on both Instagram and Youtube is a prime example of this. It features “feel good” stories about animals. On their website they explain their goals as a channel: ”Daily Dodo serves up emotionally and visually compelling, highly shareable animal-related stories and videos to help make caring about animals a viral cause.” 

https://www.thedodo.com/daily-dodo

Another channel, momentaryhappiness on Instagram posts uplifting quotes that students can repost on Instagram. When you are feeling down it is very helpful to have quotes to read to help brighten up your day.

There are lots of uplifting stories out there that we can immerse ourselves in. A random sampling of 30 students reflects that 84 percent of students at Red Land gravitate towards the positive posts and tags on social media, and 73 percent also say they are on it to communicate with friends.

People gravitate towards these channels because just one video or post can make them laugh or smile.“Each like, tag, or positive comment provides immediate social rewards in the form of dopamine and serotonin (the happiness hormones),” says Brandon Laxton from Five Towns College. The hits of serotonin make social media so rewarding. Students need this kind of light during their day and it is what makes social media so addicting. 

Penn State also has something to say about what memes can do on social media. According to researcher Jonathan F. McVerry from Penn State, “Viewing memes online may increase positive emotions which, according to Penn State researchers, can help improve one’s confidence.” 

Although parents and guardians tend to view social media in a negative light it doesn't mean that students see it that way. It can be a helpful tool for students when life seems a bit gloomy.

by Jayla Hutchinson and Savannah Nelson 11/15/24

West Shore School District school board created a policy that prohibits students from using any devices to, “...record, transmit, or receive any unauthorized communication during class time.” The policy  prohibits the use of any electronic devices by any student during instructional time during the school day. Despite the clear policy, teachers dictate their classroom rules and phone usage varies from class to class.  

When principal Mrs. Herbert was asked to explain the thought process behind the board writing a stricter phone/device policy, she expressed how the schools are having issues with kids recording, texting, and filming when they should be learning. Mrs. Herbert said if she could change anything about the policy, she suggested locking up phones until the end of the day. Mrs. Herbert said, “People are obsessed with their phones and can't put them down.” Mrs. Herbert feels phones are distracting and make kids unable to focus.

Every teacher at Red Land High School has a different phone policy in their own classrooms. Lots of teachers have phone bins, where students  put them in the bin and get them back at the end of class. Mr. Stevenson teaches  psychology, sociology and world history  at Red Land. He  has made his own system: if kids get their phone out in class while he is lecturing, everybody gets a strike. Once the class  gets to three strikes, everyone puts their phones in their bags and puts their bag to the side of the classroom, out of reach. Mr. Stevenson explains how when you get a strike, it's a form of  social consequence which teaches kids how misbehaving can affect a social setting. Students at Red Land explained how his system is more effective at keeping phones under control while learning. “[Mr. Stevenson] has a sense of morality, he has a sense of life, he feels there's something to live for and other teachers just throw work at you and call it a day,” said Juliana Anderson.

Comparing whether or not a teacher's leniency in a classroom is affecting how well students can pay attention in a classroom, Juliana Anderson has a preference on which phone policy she sees as more effective. She liked Mr. Stevenson's “3 strikes rule.” Juliana said, “I do more work in his class than any other because I'm not distracted.” 

Regardless of the policies stated, many students have expressed the accountability in a classroom for getting phones out during instructional time is more effective in their overall learning.

by Rachel Sechrist 1/14/25

Once students arrive at their final year of high school, the pressure begins to enroll in a university, enlist in the military, or be employed by the end of their senior year. A problem arises: a majority of students don’t know where to start when it comes to applying for college.

First of all, seniors should know that there are two main options for applying to college. The first includes applying directly to the institution, done through their website. If you are only planning to apply to one or two colleges, this may be your best option because it likely won’t take as long as the second option: the Common Application (more commonly known as “Common App.”)

The Common App, one enormously long application, may take up to an hour or two to complete fully; however, the benefit of submitting virtually the same application to up to twenty schools shortens the application process significantly.

Once you have completed the application, you will need to request a transcript from your guidance counselor. This can be done through Naviance, accessed through the Clever portal. Under the tab at the top entitled, “Colleges,” there is a drop-down section called “Manage Transcripts.” From here, you can request transcripts for your guidance counselor to send directly to these institutions. 

After that, some schools may require you to have one or more letters of recommendation from either teachers, counselors, or other mentors in your life. You can send out these requests in a similar fashion: by, again, accessing the drop-down “Colleges” menu and then selecting the “Letters of Recommendation” tab. On this page, you can search for teachers in the district and indicate that their recommendation letters be sent to the schools you want. If you wish to have a letter from someone outside of the district, you may need to send those letters directly to an application. 

Additionally, simply requesting a letter of recommendation from a teacher without meeting with them will not grant you a response, most of the time. Teachers expect to be asked in person because asking for a recommendation letter means asking them to spend around an hour of their time for you. Propper etiquette means speaking to your teachers in person, asking them to write a letter for you, and giving them a list of your involvement and extracurricular activities to include in their recommendation. Otherwise, some teachers may not send you a response at all.

Other aspects of your application may include an essay and/or a short answer section that you write before submitting. You should look over your applications thoroughly before submitting them, whether through Common App or directly to the institution, because once submitted, it cannot be altered, in most cases. You may make changes to your Common Application for future applications, but everything you submit becomes set in stone. Be sure you are finished with your application before you decide to turn it in. Good luck to all seniors who are taking the step to apply for further education!

by Callista Hayden 

Nov. 2024

Last year FBLA had 30 active members, but this year it boasts a huge increase to 115 active members. We sat down with the FBLA leadership to find out why students have become so engaged in this club designed to inspire and prepare students to become effective leaders and responsible citizens in the business community.

What is FBLA? 

“FBLA or Future Business Leaders of America is an organization that prepares students for their futures through academic competitions, leadership development, and educational programs. It offers opportunities for students to enhance their business skills, network with professionals, and gain real world experience through various activities and events,” stated Vice President, Jaiden Bainey. 

It also is “an organization dedicated to enhancing students’ personal and professional growth, equipping them for life beyond their k-12 education. The mission of FBLA is to unite business and education through various leadership development initiatives. At Red Land, FBLA provides members with a range of opportunities, including conferences, competitive events, partnerships, community service activities, awards programs, and the chance to build friendships and develop leadership skills, among other benefits,” explained Mrs. Wiggins.

The Increased Membership

Mrs. Wiggins, President Taylor Updegraff, and Vice President Jaiden Bainey all believe that FBLA has such a big increase in membership because of the way they marketed it, being more active on social media, going to the middle school to try to get the 8th graders to join for this school year, and everyone finally getting out of the Covid slump and wanting to be involved again. Employing their business savvy and marketing skills, Taylor and Jaiden went to Crossroads last school year in the spring to advertise and recruit 8th graders that became 9th graders this year. Jaiden is also in charge of FBLA’s social media platforms, so she is marketing on Instagram and Tik Tok. They did a lot to try to recruit new members and not only make the club sound important and fun. but make it something that students didn’t want to be left out of. 

What is FBLA doing this year? 

They are doing a couple things differently now that there are so many members. They are making sure to stay organized with all the paperwork, documents, forms, rides for field trips, etc. They are also having more meeting times instead of just 4A and 4C, now they are offering one during every 4 on the second Thursday of every month. They are also doing a newspaper that goes out to all club members and their parents/ guardians so they are also informed and know what their money is going. They have also increased community events such as offering gift wrapping for parents/ guardians that either don’t have the time, don’t like wrapping presents or can not afford the wrapping paper or other supplies. They are doing this completely free of charge, but donations are welcome. They are also going to elementary schools in the spring to help with field day and going to the middle school and offering the event “So you want to get a job?” This event, offered to 7th through 10th graders, will teach how to fill out resumes, how to act/ what to say in a job interview, how to get their workers permit, and how to open checking and savings accounts.