By: Elyse Tatar and Reagan Gossard

January 14, 2026

Mini-THON is a nationwide event that fundraises and supports pediatric cancer patients emotionally and financially. A long night of cheering, dancing, playing games, and constantly standing isn’t just for the enjoyment of Red Land students- it unites the school, giving hope and strength to affected families.

Red Land High School students come together for a powerful cause during March or April of every year, dedicated to children who endure cancer at a young age. The gym environment is filled with bright colors, positive energy, and an immense amount of school spirit while continuing to highlight compassion and commitment of the community. Typically Mini-THON includes a variety of activities such as line dancing, raves, bounce houses, sporting events, and swimming. In the school year of 2023-2024, a popular event included Zumba dancing with a hired instructor in the gym. Many students hope to see similar activities that keeps them awake throughout the night in the near future.

Fundraising is a very important part of the Mini- THON event. Oftentimes, you will see many committee members canning at football games and basketball games. In the 2023- 2024 school year, Red Land fundraised $28,702.80. Every event, we hope to increase this goal, even if it is just by a little bit. Recently, Red Land decided to have a Mini- THON every other year to save money and allow for the next event to improve. Every dollar raised goes towards pediatric cancer research, and helping families face the financial and emotional challenges of treatment. Every dollar counts, no matter the amount. 

Mini-THON faced financial challenges which resulted in a gap year between events due to difficulties with fundraising and limited awareness. Some students felt that without consistent events and strong advertising, it was harder for the school community to stay motivated and engaged for raising money. A sophomore at Red Land High School, Harper Gossard, stated, “I have never really experienced Mini-THON myself, but I feel like with the gap year last year, there was not really much advertising for what else the school was doing” highlighting how the lack of promotion affected student involvement. Smaller events throughout the year to raise money and awareness for these events could help maintain momentum and ensure Mini-THON continues to receive strong support even outside of the main event year.

Ultimately, Mini-THON here at Red Land reflects the school’s dedication of the students, staff, and community to make an impact. Despite setbacks like the gap year, the continued support of everyone and ideas for the future shows that Mini-THON continues to be an important event. With increased involvement, Red Land can continue to strengthen the support to fight against the overall battle against pediatric cancer.

By: Matt Peffer

January 12, 2026

The West Shore Marching Band has had a history of excellence, winning the 2023 state championship and placing 2nd at USBands National Championships two times in a row in previous years to this one. What challenges were they faced with this season and how did they overcome them? What is the formula behind their success? Are they satisfied with the results they got this year even though they do not compare the same with past years? What is next for the band?

This year, 2025 WSMB received a 91.450, taking 8th place in USBands Group 5 Open Class National Championships at Met Life stadium (usbands.org). Anna Swintoski, woodwind captain and senior at Red Land, was a bit disappointed by the results because it was her last year, but she was proud of the overall progress they made throughout the season.

 Along with the challenge of teaching young new marchers, the band got their music late this year, which affects how fast the drill can be written and learned. This delay set back the learning process, allowing less time to tighten loose screws on the performance. 

Regarding this past season, West Shore has been a top competitor in the area. Anna said, “Not focusing on beating other groups, but focusing on beating your previous performance, and focusing on your own individual job before others” is a key part behind the band’s success. They also focus on getting the most repetition as they can out of the material. The more repetition, the more consistently better their performance gets. 

The band is prepping next year already by having open gyms/”try it out” nights in the spring to recruit new members for the marching band, and a chance to blow the dust off for veteran members. The goal is to recruit as many members as possible to maintain the West Shore’s recognizable strong, full sound. 

Looking forward, the West Shore Marching Band is trying to build on their previous success for future years by focusing on everyone as a whole and preparing for  future challenges.

by Ciya Liverman

January 9, 2026

This year, Red Land High School welcomes several new teachers to the Red Land community. A few returning, and a few new.

Brandon Michael, a new Science teacher, David Butler, the new cooperative education teacher, and Chad Moore, the tech education and engineering teacher, are all new teachers to the Red Land Community. Some new, some returning. Let’s take a look at how they are settling in. 

Mr. Chad Moore said, “Well, I taught here 20 years ago. I was here for 4 years before I transferred to middle school then to Cedar Cliff, and I came back. So I've been in the district for 20 years and I had a great impression of Red Land, Cedar Cliff, and Crossroads.” Others like Mr. Michael started their student teaching here and were offered the job as a long term sub and took it. As for Mr. Butler, he’s quite familiar with the district as his mom worked here when he was a kid. He was an admissions counselor for higher education for a little before he came here. 

They are settling in or back in very well. Mr. Michael, who is quite new to teaching full time, says, “I would say it’s very comfortable. Everyone [here] is very supportive, I love the staff here, and the administration is awesome.” During our interview, Mr. Moore discussed how he loves the students and all he wants to do is see them succeed in this great department he has. Mr. Butler had a similar thought. He too just wants to help as many students as he can while still trying to learn and adjust to this new environment. 

Mr. Moore has extensive prior teaching experience. The other teachers also have a working past. Mr. Michael has actually been here at Red Land for a bit. He student-taught for Mr. Brown, became a sub, and now is a full-time teacher.  As for Mr Butler, he has some unique work experience here. When asked if he had any teaching experience in the past, he says “No, not really. Really just college and career counseling, working in higher education for a little as an admission counselor. I've been coaching since I graduated from undergrad.”

Like most of us, some of our beloved teachers had their own dreams. Mr. Moore actually wanted to be a conservation officer like a park ranger, or a teacher. Regardless of his dreams, his two goals were to help people and see how people grow. Others like Mr. Butler always wanted to be in education, just wanting to help people. Believe it or not, did you know Mr. Michael wanted to be in the health field? “I actually saw myself as like in the health field at first. I was actually going to be a cardio thoracic surgeon because I wanted to do heart surgery.”

With these teachers having some sort of experience with Red Land before, they share some of their favorite memories and moments. Mr. Moore's favorite moment is just realizing kids actually want to engage in his class and are willing to learn what he teaches. Others like Mr. Butler and Mr. Michael share that they just enjoy helping out the students. Mr. Michael also shares his first impressions trying to adjust to this environment and new classrooms.

In conclusion, as the new teachers make their commitment to our school, let’s give them a warm welcome in their first or returning year here at Red Land.

By Sydney Maneely

January 9, 2026

As the season changes and the semester is nearing its end, the thoughts of Red Land High School student’s thoughts drift to midterms and finals. Students and teachers give their opinions on the upcoming tests while also touching on their thoughts of the new midterm and final policy. 

The new policy regarding midterms and finals states that all classes must give a midterm and final, no matter past practices. Semester-based classes may need to add in finals. Some full-year classes might need to start looking into a solid midterm plan.

It is unclear why this new policy is kicking into place now. Several classes have gone strong for many years in the absence of a midterm or final. Many creative electives have no need or plan for a big exam. On the flip side, there might be a grade issue or a disproportionate amount of exams being given that caused the administration to change the policy.

As you might have guessed, students aren’t really excited about midterms and finals. In interviews, a few students touched on the fact that they don’t feel midterms are necessary and are a big stressor.

Ciya Liverman, a 12th grader, adds, “They just give me a lot of anxiety.”

Most students haven’t gotten a lot of information about the midterms and finals. Students are feeling uninformed about these exams even as the time for these tests is rapidly approaching. 

Alyssa Lingenfelter, a senior, comments, “No one’s even talked about midterms in any of my classes.”

If students are unaware about the test, they are even more in the dark about the new policy. Everyone interviewed had no knowledge of the policy change. After hearing what it entails, this is their response:

“I don’t think it makes much sense especially for some classes, specifically like gym classes. Some classes don't make sense for them to have midterms and finals.” Clara Bierach, a senior, says. She continues to say, “It makes more sense for the teachers themselves to choose whether to do the tests or not.”

One of Red Land’s English teachers, Dr. Joanne Martin, discusses how it will be a struggle to add in a midterm for some of her classes. She says, “. . . It really restricts me and puts me under a lot of pressure to grade immediately,”

She goes on to say, “I don’t think cumulative tests are fair. I really think they are unfair.” Teachers are looking out for the good of their students. Some are worried that the pressure of cumulative tests is unfair and that the new test policy will affect students negatively. 

Opinions are mixed on the benefit of cumulative tests. The Faculty Focus, an outside source, writes that cumulative tests are unpopular with students, but do have benefits in long term retention. Another source has a different opinion, The Daily Wildcat, discusses that cumulative tests are overwhelming and stressful for students. It also talks about how these types of tests require students to remember content from months prior which adds to the stress of students. 

Finally, a small policy change regarding midterms and finals is possibly the kickoff to a grand series of events. There is no official announcement, but rumors have been circulating that next year it is likely that the school schedule will change, which might affect the midterm and final schedule as well.

By Broch Rambo

November 21, 2025

The winter concert is coming up on December 15, 2025, at 7pm, so it is a good time to see what song each music group will be playing this year and we also will be seeing what song they'll be playing when all three groups play together.

This year for the winter concert the band, choir, and orchestra will be doing a joint session learning the song “Do You Hear What I Hear” together. They do a joint play every once a year, so this year’s joint play will be at the winter concert because they haven't done a joint winter concert in a while. 

The school's band class will be playing “Santa Clause Is Comin’ To Town” to keep in that holiday cheer. With​ the concert choir they will be singing “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” and “Candleglow.” Then the men's ensemble will sing “Here We Come A-Wassailing” and the treble choir will be singing “Auld Lang Syne.” The Vocal Octet will sing “Linus and Lucy” and Chambers is singing the “Hodie.” And the Combined choir will be singing “White Christmas.” 

And the beautiful orchestra will be playing “All Is Bright” by Steve Parson at the winter concert. This winter concert has lots of great songs being played and its timing is even better for a time to come together and be with friends and family.

By​: Kylie Kitner and Emily Ritchey 

January 16, 2026

On January 19th, the second semester of the 2025-2026 school year at Red Land High School begins. During the second semester, students battle sickness, being drained, and working through long weeks in school without any big breaks or big events to look forward to. This drop of energy affects the entire school: the students, the teachers, and most of all academics, especially with the most work being given out during this time. Students and teachers were sent a quick survey to get accurate information and opinions about how they feel and the differences that present themselves during the second semester. 

This survey was sent to four 10th graders, asking them to reflect about their freshman year. All of them  had similar responses. They all expressed how they felt the adjustment to the second semester. Their first experience with a high school rigor in the second semester was one of the hardest things to get used to. However, some responses said that they felt more prepared for the future. Sophomore Riley Temple expressed that leaving her freshman second semester felt like a relief, but also made her feel empowered for her future years. Commonly, this year's tenth graders felt the same as Riley did, much like Esmeralda Toro, who stated “I feel like freshman year may have been the hardest, but then this would prepare me for years where I understand how to deal with it”. Statistically, the 3rd marking period is often the heaviest workload of the year. We also talked to the sophomores about this statistic too. They told us that many of them felt overwhelmed or surprised by the workload given in the 3rd marking period. Vivenne Valdez stated, “My workload was honestly a lot.” Vivienne also had a hard time because she had gotten sick a lot her freshman year, causing her to fall behind. However, on the flip side Jaden Hass felt strongly in the opposite direction, saying “It honestly wasn't too bad compared to my sophomore year so far. I was able to get it done in a couple of hours max.”

 The survey was then sent to four 11th graders to see what their experiences were like. Most of the 11th graders here at Red Land mentioned that the overall biggest source for their stress was the fact that they had so much work to do. It seemed like the workload was not spread out evenly throughout the semesters. Maddie Achey found herself feeling both her sophomore and freshman 2nd semesters were “Unreasonable, with lots of busy work” as well as Olivia Keiser, who described it as “A lot more work to do other than the first semester and honestly overwhelming.” We found it interesting that all juniors agreed unanimously with the statistics of the 3rd marking period. This raised many questions as to what was different for Sophomores and Juniors. This is when we sent a survey to some staff members to get their opinions on the matter.

Responses from the staff were more overwhelming with their opinions on the work load. Both Mr. Ford, a history teacher, and Mrs. Cubbler, a chemistry teacher, find their workload unchanged between semesters. However, the answers to a question about external factors for the students, is what intrigued us more. All four teachers answered with something along the lines of seasonal depression and lack of real social connection. Mr. Ford leaned more towards the lack of true connection stating, “Students in general don't involve themselves in the total school experience anymore - clubs, sports, dances and events “ and Mrs. Wiggins said “Seasonal depression - its dark ALL THE TIME and the month of February feels like 100 days -- for teachers too!” Answers like these were expected; however, not from staff. When students were questioned on external factors, just as the staff was, no one mentioned such feelings. This data is what drove the original questioning. Do students feel more down and depressed in the 2nd semester? We turned to the seniors of Red Land to see how more experienced students feel.

Upon sending the survey to the seniors, we got some interesting responses. Of 6 people it was sent to, only 3 responded. These people answered; however, it was almost cryptic. Regarding external factors, Samantha Ely said, “In the end of junior year I knew I was getting the opportunity to do co-op my senior year. This made me motivated to keep up with all of my stuff because I didn't want to lose my eligibility.”  Seeing as so many seniors have different opportunities, we wanted to try and get as many different views as we could. Senior Cali Wolf mentioned how the school’s long breaks made her feel like she was “out of routine”. Cali, unlike most others, felt more prepared for the workload she was given in the 2nd  semester. Given all of the responses we received, we came to the conclusion that for the most part, teachers and students alike suffer from the  "second semester slump” and seasonal depression causing more mental health struggles and the vigorous workload for the students, making it harder for them to complete.

By: Elyse Tatar (Junior)

December 18, 2025

Trends, generations, genres, and styles change throughout the years- and the students of Red Land High School represent this with a variety of music choices emphasizing their taste, personality, emotions, and current interests. From country to rap, students’ playlists reflect both individuality and trending culture.

When interviewing students at random, most peers simply replied with the genre of their liking. Some of the most commonly mentioned genres included country, pop, R&B, hip hop, and rap, exemplifying the wide range of musical interests across the student body. These distinct categories of music scale from laid-back, slow, and emotional moods to energetic, lively, and upbeat tunes. The different vibes and emotions that resonate with the numerous genres of music highlights the originality and impact that music can have on a student’s daily routine.

Another question that was given to the students displaying a variety in opinion and taste includes their favorite or most listened to artists. Several artists were named repetitively with Drake appearing most frequently (making Headlines for great reason) followed by popular artists such as Sam Barber, Olivia Rodrigo, Chris Stapleton, Noah Kahan, SZA, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Luke Combs, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Kanye, Lil Wayne, Gunna, Mac Miller, Lil Tecca, and Tate McRae. This combined mix of artists touch on many genres, personal connections, as well as sounds, themes, and overall production.

Students also shared a wide variety of their favorite songs or songs they currently have on repeat. A diverse set of tracks that students mentioned included “Straight and Narrow”- Sam Barber, “Nice For What”-Drake, “Hours in Silence”-Drake, “All the Parties”-Drake, “Starting Over”-Chris Stapleton, “Prom”-SZA, “SKITZO”-Travis Scott, “Making the Bed”-Olivia Rodrigo, “DOGTOOTH”-Tyler, the Creator, and “500lbs”-Lil Tecca. Many of these songs display the personality of its listeners, whether they tend to enjoy chill music or hype music. 

Many students explained that the lyrics, beats, production, background instruments, and overall tone is the key to appealing songs and music artists. Seth Harris, a junior at Red Land, shared that Christmas music stands out to him because “it gets you in the Christmas spirit around the holidays.” A junior at Red Land High School, as well as a Tate McRae fan, Makayla Boyd, shares that “this type of music puts me in a good mood.” Both of these students enjoy positive vibes and mood-setting music to brighten their day.

For others, the creativity, energy, and background beats were the deciding factors for some of their favorite tracks. Ian Bailey, a junior, referenced Gunna’s music and how his specific song “let that sink in” stands out as “it hypes you up and has a good beat and production.” Harper Gossard, a sophomore at Red Land, listens to SZA’s Ctrl album hit, an upbeat, energetic song called “Prom.” Harper stated, “I like the beat and lyrics, as well as the background music.” Another student, a senior named Alia Williamson, highlighted the creativity of rap, stating, “I like the beat and creativity in the lyrics when it comes to rap music,” referencing her favorite artist, Drake, and some of his top hits.

Overall, Red Land High School students’ music tastes show a blend of emotion, personality, and interests. Whether students plan to relax, motivate themselves, express their feelings, or learn a catchy tune, their playlists reflect their personal choices and the influence that trends can have.

By: Alena Imamovic

December 17, 2025

With the holiday season coming up, finding the perfect gift for Red Land High School students can be a challenge. But have no fear gift-givers! I’ve got the latest news on what’s topping the wish lists of Red Land students this year, with insights into the most wanted items for both gals and guys.

For Red Land’s female students, popular clothing, such as the Superpuff from Aritzia, tech accessories, and money are emerging as top contenders for the most wanted gifts this holiday season. To start, Red Land Junior, Brooke Howard, stated that she wanted “sweatsets.” To add on, both Kamryn Payne, a junior, and Kenzie Daldo, a senior, said that they want the “Superpuff” from Artizia the most for Christmas. Reagan Gossard, a senior here at Red Land High School, just simply said that she wanted “Clothes” this holiday season. This indicates that new attire has to be near the top of a Red Land female’s Christmas list this year. Some other popular Chrsitmas gift contenders for the ladies include many different types of accessories. According to Carly McClure, a sophomore, she said she wants “New Beats headphones,” and another sophomore, Cydney Leukus, stated her top gift is “New AirPods.” Music devices are another popular trend this Christmas! Yet, the most wanted Christmas gift for girl Red Land students is money. Three students: Juniors, Grace Updegraff and Annabelle Stonesifer, and Alia Williamson, senior,  all said that money is their top wish for Christmas. While these gifts top the wish lists for many girl students, it will be interesting to see how the desires of guys in Red Land compare as Christmas comes close. 

Now for the males, clothing, tech accessories, and money were also the top wishes this Christmas. Jessie Ickes, senior, Cole Myers, senior, and Charles Daman, sophomore, all stated that they mostly wanted “Clothes” for Christmas this year. According to observations, most male Red Land students wear, Nike, Gymshark, and mostly athletic attire. This has to imply that many teenagers here at Red Land High School have to have new clothing near the top of their Christmas lists. In addition, tech accessories were another gift trend that stayed the same compared to gals’ wish lists. Geno Mateo, a sophomore, said that he also wanted “New AirPods,” and his buddy Tanner Myers, also a sophomore, stated that he wanted “New shoes.” And just as predicted, money was another popular gift the men wanted. Both juniors, Anthony Piazza and Levi Greene, announced that they want “Money” for Christmas. Now, with the preferences of both guys and ladies in mind, let’s explore the most wanted gift among both female and male Red Land students this Christmas. 

This year, the halls of Red Land seem to be echoing with a unified wish this Christmas: new clothing. Many students here at Red Land, including both gals and guys, have all stated that they want at least some type of clothing this holiday season. Whether that was a sweatset, a puffer coat, an athletic Nike sweatshirt, tor simply just clothes, clothing seems to be the winner for being the top most wanted gift on several Red Land students’ wish lists. This could be because new chic clothing is being made in popular stores that is catching their attention, or they want to stay cozy and warm this snowy winter. Who doesn’t want to look snug in the Artizia Superpuff this Christmas? With clothing staying number one on many wishlists, finding the perfect gift for teenagers may be easier than what most people think, but if more specific ideas is the desire, then read on.

Diving into a teenager’s wishlist can unlock many gift possibilities, but here are some suggestions based off of what Red Land students had to say. Clothing takes the lead spot for a good Christmas gift for Red Land students. The great thing about clothing is that there are many different types. Since it is winter, scarves, gloves, puffer coats, and wool hats could be a solid gift option. A pair of warm boots would pair nicely with this winter attire as well. Red Land students also seem to want money for Christmas. A gift card to their favorite store or restaurant could give them a smile on Christmas morning. Ultimately, the key to a successful Christmas gift for Red Land students is understanding their individual style and preferences, and ensuring that a present is not just another item, but a memorable addition underneath their tree.

By Levi Greene and Anthony Piazza

December 17, 2025

In the past, winter break here at Red Land has lasted around 10 days, where we typically return the day of or the day after New Years. This year, though, it is from December 20th to January 4th, that’s a whopping 16 days! Students and teachers alike are excited to relax and recharge while maintaining their academic ability.

Jordan Hill, a junior here at Red Land, believes that this extended break is beneficial because it allows him to “focus on other things other than school.” Also, seniors at Red Land, like Quinlin Shearer, are prepared to sleep in and hit the gym. Teachers are ecstatic too, like Ms. Jamie Miller. When we asked this amazing gym teacher how she felt about the upcoming lengthy break, she expressed, “I love it!” 

This extended time for winter break could lead to worry about how it will affect students and teachers in the classroom. The anticipation leading up to the break could result in some lack of focus; however, time management over break could help maintain the information that students will need when returning to school on January 5th. Looking over notes periodically during break, and maybe even asking your teacher to provide optional practice for your current unit, could help students exercise their knowledge and therefore maintain it. 

An article on the website CollegeRaptor, written by Catherine Gallagher, “School Winter Break: How Students Can Make the Most of Their Time Off”, brings valuable information on how to benefit from winter break. In order to make the most of winter break, Catherine Gallagher recommends, “Set small goals like finishing a book, learning a new skill, or starting a project.” Making plans for your break can make it more organized and make you feel more accomplished, even if you just make small plans for the break. 

Keeping this in mind, an extended winter break can relieve some student stress while maintaining their academics, as long as they manage their time well and set goals for themselves over break.

by Levi Greene

November 18, 2025

We’ve all been in that place. You have to…go.  You fill out that dang e-Hallpass and walk into the bathroom wondering what monstrosities lie in the porcelain palace. While many terrifying ideas may cross our minds, the question remains: Is the bathroom really all that bad? Did we just have one bad experience years ago that led us to come to this belief? Has the high school matured enough that the bathroom is no longer a warzone, but a place of peace? After interviews with the school janitors and a random selection of students, the truth has been revealed. I asked several students to rate the Red Land bathrooms on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best. Senior Cole Myers said, “There are always so many people in there, it’s also kind of dirty…I would give it a 3 out of 10. Definitely dirtier than the ones at home…” While the older generation speaks of the bathroom as if it's a forsaken sanctuary, the youngsters have a different opinion of the place. Freshman Carter “Moose” Peffer expresses, “Uh the bathrooms… seven…cause I walked in there and people were vaping…but that was only once so it's pretty good…and…cleaner! Definitely cleaner. Less paper towels and [mess] on the floor.” Could it possibly be that in the past, the bathrooms were not as well kept, but with the new janitorial staff things are now much better? Was it possibly last year's seniors that made the bathrooms so dirty? I decided to interview the janitors myself, and they had this to say about the current state of the bathrooms: “The students do a better job keeping the bathrooms clean themselves, this year especially more than last year. The bathrooms are in good condition…for the most part. But if something is broken, we can just send in maintenance.” So, things are going good for now. But, it’s up to us, the student body, to keep this place clean so that we can continue to use it. After all, using the bathroom is a basic human function, just as simple as something like eating or drinking. So, next time you go to the bathroom, remember: Things are better now. Let’s all work to keep it that way!

By: Emily Ritchey and Kylie Kitner

November 21, 2025

On October 23, at Red land High School, the student body participated in its 7th annual Career Day. The day included different career development options for each grade level. The event included team building and adulting for freshmen, career cluster rotations for sophomores, PSAT/ASVAB testing and college readiness rotations for juniors, and job shadowing/college visits for seniors. Additionally, there was a career fair open for all grade levels. Students of Red Land seemed to have many different opinions on this event.

To get a variety of opinions from the different types of rotations and moving parts, interviews from all four grade levels occurred. The freshman seemed the most receptive to the activities on Career Day. Freshman, Gretchen Reich, expressed that Career Day for her was very helpful. She said she felt more prepared for the future, when asked what she saw most useful she stated "Adulting was beneficial by learning new things to be independent when I'm older. The fair helped me find colleges for the career paths I want.” After talking to Gretchen and hearing how Career Day helped her, we were hopeful to hear more good feedback.  

One of the questions that we asked 10th grader, Greta Strawser, was "what improvements could be made to Career Day?”  Her response was, “there could have been more fun games and activities, and while Career Day was beneficial it could have been a little more entertaining.” Other sophomores had similar feelings. Although, there were some no-shows for the sophomores' rotations most likely resulting in their lack-luster outlook. Their day ended with team-building activities, which hopefully raised their spirits a bit.

Junior, Livia Donley did the PSAT in the morning and she said that finding out what her scores are (soon) and where she needs more help was the most beneficial to her. When asked if she felt more prepared for her future she said, “Not really it was just like another test followed by lessons we have in personal finance." Overall Livia felt the day provided her an opportunity to take the PSAT, which was beneficial. 

We looked toward the seniors. Marleigh Laird, a senior who decided to do a job shadow, stated, “The thing I valued most about Career Day was being able to put myself in someone else's shoes and see the things they do every day. I thought this was valuable because this is something they do on a daily basis and they like doing”. Another senior, Willow Grim, had a different senior perspective because had the chance to take the ASVAB. Willow told us “It was just a test, they gave us the sign-in paper and kind of just let us go. It was just very straight forward.” Willow found Career Day easy because all she had to do was take the ASVAB; however, the chance to take this test is helpful in building evidence toward graduation requirements. 

After talking to students of Red Land about how they felt about Career Day we decided to get more information from the people who helped make Career Day possible. Mr Moore, the guidance counselor for 12th grade, sat down with us and answered a couple of our questions about Career Day. Mr Moore stated that the process seemed a bit disorganized for seniors and the information that the seniors needed for job shadowing was, unfortunately, not sent out until the day of, which causes disorganization. However, he thinks it was a productive event and did its intended purpose. He also felt that despite the hiccups in the day, Career Day is still an event Red Land takes pride in to help their students.

By T’Oni Mack and Willow Grim

November 12, 2025

Cell phones today are unfortunately a big distraction in high school classrooms due to a lack of effective self control. Social media and screen time in our generation has caused many people’s attention spans to decrease; therefore, it’s difficult to focus steadily on daily activities, and most importantly, schoolwork.  Parents may be able to restrictions on phones during school hours, which takes the choice out of student hands. However, this isn’t enough, so many schools, including Red Land, had to change the rules.

Some teachers and principals tend to be adamant about student use of their cell phones. Many schools, including Red Land, have posters laminated around the building and classrooms that state “No cell phones allowed in class.” Students often disregard those rules and sneak on their cell phones anyway, secretly sneaking them under their desks, under tables, and even behind their iPads and laptops. Many teachers are unaware of this tactic because their attention is focused on teaching the rest of the classroom rather than focusing on students who don’t show effort to do their work or be involved as a student. These cell phone policies tend to make students more wary and sneaky about using their phones, which leads to them getting in trouble. When students are caught, it's either a write up or warning. Not only are cell phones a problem, but some teachers see airpods and headphones as a problem as well. However, there are teachers who tend to let students listen to music depending on the circumstances, like taking a test and during free time. 

Students get caught up being on cell phones specifically because of social media and friends messaging them which gives them the urge to text back whenever a teacher may not be looking or steps out of the room for a second. This is a perfect example of why cell phones in classrooms are highly distracting. The phone policies that the school board has in place don’t seem to be enough and there could be better solutions. 

Many students feel that it would be more beneficial if teachers required students to put their phones in a basket for the class period. This way the students wouldn’t be distracted every time they get a notification and their focus would be on their work rather than social media and notifications. If more teachers added this rule to the school’s phone policy, students being on their phones wouldn’t be major problem.

Although many teachers and staff may think the phone policy is needed, others may not. For instance, It would be important to respond back to a family member if there’s some kind of medical emergency going on. Another reason would be if a friend just needed someone to be there for them if they aren’t comfortable talking to someone else. Many students feel that teachers don’t always understand the circumstances of why they may need to make a quick text or phone call. 

These policies get more strict over the years. A few years ago, teachers would mostly only give out warnings. Today, it’s write-ups and trips to the office.  Learning to wait until the right time to respond to people or even letting the teacher know that it’s important, can resolve many problems.

By Elyse Tatar and Alena Imamovic

November 17, 2025

Red Land High School students are trading in Chromebooks for iPads that are now the new educational tool, marking an important change towards more efficient learning and digital creativity in the classroom. 

One of the many benefits that come with the new iPads according to Red Land students are the styluses that give students the creativity to efficiently work on electronic devices using this tool. A Red Land senior, Reagan Gossard, stated, "Completing work is more efficient with the stylus because it makes taking notes more enjoyable as well as efficient.” Styluses are simple to use and easily accessible as they are sold in Red Lands’ School Store at an affordable price. Students also expressed that they are helpful in some of their art classes so they can draw and color on them with their stylus. Lillian Rosenberger, a junior at Red Land, voiced, “I can draw in my art class and use my stylus to complete work.” This highlights the effectiveness of the stylus that is used with the iPad for students to write notes adequately and have the creativity to craft drawings and color in many of their art classes.

Many students have also commented that the network loads more quickly on the iPads compared to the previous Chromebooks where it was normal for lagging to occur. According to Dylan Winkowski, a junior, “They tend to load faster and Safari as well as [other] apps are more accessible.” Students have also pointed out that battery life lasts much longer than the Chromebooks, displaying the productivity of the iPads and how this supports the advantage of the network system. 

The iPads are also much easier to carry around from class to class compared to the Chromebooks. Lydia Maurer, a junior at Red Land High School, “It’s lighter and doesn’t make my backpack heavier.” There have been less complaints about backpacks being very heavy since the Chromebooks, which highlights a major benefit from the iPads. A junior, Kamryn Payne, quoted, “They are easier to transport and navigate because they are smaller.” This represents the simplicity of the new electronic devices and the convenience it provides to make school easier for both students and teachers.

Furthermore, the iPads are able to become more personalized to students, rather than the previous Chromebooks. Students have the option to change their wallpaper, take photos with friends, and change the cover of apps to their liking. Along with this, students are able to download school-approved apps and games of their choice on an installed app called Self Service. Many people use this app to their benefit for schoolwork and personalization. 

Essentially, the new iPads have many beneficial impacts on students compared to the Chromebooks. Students can use styluses to work more efficiently, the  network works quicker, they are easier to transport, and they can be personalized to students. Annabelle Stonesifer, a junior at Red Land High School, “Overall, I feel that the iPads are beneficial to my learning experience, and I wouldn’t trade them for the Chromebooks.”

By Brianna Gilbert

November 18, 2025

When Red Land decided to swap out student Chromebooks for iPads over this past summer, many expected a smoother, more modern learning experience. However, the transition left students with much to be desired, sparking debates about how iPads limit productivity and complicate schoolwork that was previously much easier. We interviewed individuals from grades 10th–12th, as they didn’t have iPads in middle school like the new freshmen. 

Red Land’s administration made the decision to switch to iPads before the 2025–2026 school year, eradicating the use of Chromebooks completely. The switch to iPads was a painstaking process for both staff and students, requiring a great deal of frantic communication in a short period of time. Along with the mandatory handing over of the iPads, students also had to turn in the original charger given to them with their chromebook. Not having this charger would incur a $10 fee. This caused students major distress, especially upon starting the school year and discovering the misgivings yet to be known. 

10th, 11th,and 12th grade Red Land students were asked questions about their opinions on iPads, their ease of access, and what they felt could be improved in order to make iPads a better tool for learning. Unlike the incoming freshmen for the 2025–2026 school year, these students didn’t have iPads before coming to the high school. These incoming freshmen had ample time to troubleshoot and customize devices to their liking, while 2024–2025 RLHS students worked on Chromebooks a majority of their school career until that point. 

Many points of criticisms are present in these interviews, many of which overlap. 12th grade RLHS student Isabelle Robinson remarks that “[The] iPads are too small, the keyboard messes me up, and I don’t like how [it’s] touchscreen and a separate keyboard…[it] makes everything harder.” While another student similarly remarks distaste for the keyboard in general, and that the screen sensitivity is difficult to get used to. 

Another 12th grade student, Talon Werner, remarks that while the iPads are a step up from our Chromebooks—in terms of both speed and functionality—the iPads still lack the functionality required to efficiently aid students in successful completion of school work, and limit other resources previously available on the Chromebooks. Students of all grades express dissatisfaction towards the iPads due to the GoGuardian site blocking system. Students have observed tags that automatically block sites including them, such as the word “gaming,” which may unintentionally block important sites. All students—especially those present at RLHS before the 2025–2026 school year—detail the system that prevents them from downloading specific apps, especially those that college-bound students need access to in order to meet deadlines for applications and other work.

While older kids strongly disapprove of the choice to switch to iPads, 2025-2026 freshmen have less negative attitudes toward the devices. As previously mentioned, they had time to adjust to the devices that older students didn’t. Many opposing positive opinions include portability, a better battery life compared to malfunctioning Chromebooks, and the accessibility of artistic programs being functional with a touchscreen. 

When students were asked how they felt the usage of iPads could be better, there were many overlapping replies as well. A majority of students mentioned more controlled website blockage, access to more Google apps without the use of Safari, and a different keyboard. Many students also express that the school’s budget could have been put to better use, like buying better Chromebooks for students instead. 

By Nova Maliszewski

December 11, 2025

Last year during 2024 to 2025, there was a variety of different meals for food to pick out for lunch or breakfast in Red Land High School that didn't cost money. Although starting the years 2025 to 2026, lunch is now starting to cost money; however, students feel that the food portions are not the best and that it hasn't changed from last year. Some students believe that lunch should be free as well as breakfast. This could possibly reduce money load stress on the students and parents and improve their overall well being. 

If more options for food were put out in not only Red Land High School, but also other schools within the United States, then it could influence their drive to learn and do their schoolwork. Not only that, then most students will feel fulfilled from the meals that they put money into. Based off of a survey in California for middle and high school students by nourishca.org. that provides information as to why some students will skip their school lunch, and what change could make the students eat the meals more often. According to the survey,  “students say that if meals tasted better (69%), they were offered more food choices (64%) or there were shorter lines (55%), they would eat school meals more often.” This same type of survey is similar to how Red Land students feel about the school food, meaning this same issue is recurring throughout the US. If students decided not to eat their meals at school, then this could play a really big effect on how they grow. Coming from food-guide.canada.ca, "children spend a large portion of their day at school. Making healthy food choices while at school is important because school lunches and snacks provide children with the energy they need throughout the day, and are a major source of the essential vitamins and minerals they need to grow and develop.” Not only do the people in our country want to make sure all students are provided with healthy food, but the people in Canada, our neighboring country, also believe healthy food is an important thing for a student in any country. 

Without decent meals for kids that don't pack a lunch all the time, they wouldn't be able to grow and develop as well as students who always pack a lunch. Based on the information given by “The Nutrition Standards and Meal Requirements: Description and Topics Relevant to Their Revision” on ncbi.nlm.nih.gov , the required nutrition elements for a lunch include “protein, iron, calcium, Vitamin a, and Vitamin c”. If students aren't provided with a decent proportion for lunch then they could either experience malnutrition. According to Richard Attias, an advocate for managing obesity as a life altering medical problem and a chairman, from a F11 institute executive committee “A multidisciplinary approach to the management of obesity. | The BMI” from bmj.com, without decent proportional sizes and quality, this adds how “obesity is a problem that nearly every nation in the world is facing, but there is much that we can do to fix it.” If there are kids that are struggling with obesity within the schools, then there should be programs that help with that. It's not necessarily the school's fault for a student being obese, but if there is a way they could help that student be healthier, then they most definitely should be programs that help people out with getting exercise and choosing a correct meal plan for the amount of calories they need. But just because there are a lot of kids that are like that in the US doesn't excuse the fact that there should be decent portions that taste good.

Ultimately having more enhancing options for food would help students improve their drive to learn and be physically healthy. Students shouldn't have to be forced to pack their own lunch or waste gas to go to another spot or go to the school store to eat just because they don’t like the quality of the food. The teachers, and all the staff in all schools should guide students and provide students with the things they need like clothes, food, equipment for school, just as their own guardians at home would. Schools in the US could improve their food by giving better options of food and providing the same amount of portions each day so kids can feel full for the rest of the day.

By Carter Jordahl & Caden Douville

November 19, 2025

There is a belief that music can affect the way people act, dress, and perform. One of the authors, Caden, thinks that music can have his own mood changed by the music he listens to such as when I listen to mellow music I’m calm, when I listen to more upbeat music I can be more happy, or relaxed, and finally when I listen to rap or more “aggressive” music, I become more agitated and “hype”. 

Carter’s perspective of music is similar to Caden’s. For example Carter’s way of listening to music is based “on the day” and the use of music can change his mood and or make his mood more prevalent. Another example of this is when he listens to R&B he said he tends to be “More relaxed and focused” meanwhile if he were to listen to 80’s punk or rock he tends to be much more “riled up and unfocused.”

We also asked English teacher Lynda Dorsey her perspective on how music affects her students, she stated, “I think music is a heavy influence. I think it is an escape for some students. She also said “I find that a lot of students, when the noise in the classroom is too much, they tend to just want to put on music and kind of drown out the other noise.” We asked her if she assumed what kind of music people listen to based on the way they're dressed. She said “ that was more prevalent in the 80's, certainly the 90’s and early 2000’s for sure.”

We also interviewed Red Land Student Ciya Liverman, on her perspective on how music affects her and the students around her. She stated “I believe that music does affect the way that students act and carry themselves, I don’t believe that it affects the way that they dress as much, but it definitely affects the way they act and stuff.” We asked her if music affects her as an individual, she stated, “Music helps me get from day to end basis. Music helps me calm down a lot, and helps me just get things done and get through the day.”

Our conclusion is that music does affect students at Red Land both positively and negatively. We believe this because multiple people at Red Land state that it affects them and the students around them. “Music helps me get from day to end.” stated Ciya Liverman. Mrs. Dorsey said “I find that a lot of students, when the noise in the classroom is too much,they tend to just want to put on music and kind of drown out the other noise”. So, music can help students get through their day, but it can also be a distraction from doing their work all together. We believe music is good for students' mentality, but it can result in some cases as a drop in their productivity.