November 2014 - WildeLake.com

THE PAW PRINT
An Independent Publication of Wilde Lake High School
•5460 Trumpeter Rd. Columbia, MD 21044 • Volume 42, Issue 1 •
Gallup Day Response To Student Poll
Considered a welcomed day off by students, Gallup Day was an initiative to improve hope, wellbeing, and engagement.
By Misbah Farooqi
Managing Editor-in-Chief
O
n September 26, students came into
Wilde Lake to discover that they
wouldn’t be attending their normal
classes. Instead, they had to report to their
designated location, whether it be the JRT
or outside on the track for “Gallup Day,” a
program created in response to the Gallup
Poll results from last year.
At Wilde Lake, the results of the Gallup
poll came as a surprise to many. According
to the poll, only 47 percent of students said
they felt “hopeful” about the future, 39 percent said they were “engaged” in school and
extracurricular activities, and 57 percent
said they were “thriving.”
Mr. Channel, the school psychologist,
believes there are many factors involved in
the results coming out as they did.
“Students who are uncertain about the
purpose of learning and [are] struggling
to feel engaged could certainly have less
hope for the future. Economically, students
would struggle to feel hopeful when family
and friends may have difficulty finding or
keeping jobs that provide enough income
to support their families,” said Channel.
However, these results may not be an accurate representation of the student body,
according to Mr. Crouse, assistant principal. The administration felt as though some
students didn’t take the test seriously and
the wording of some of the questions confused students.
Even then, the administration felt it important to be responsive to the results, so
they formed a school improvement committee of teachers who discussed what
could be done, and from those discussions,
Gallup Day was created.
During Gallup Day, students rotated
After team-building activities, students participated in the Homecoming pep rally (Photographs by Ben Townsend).
from classroom to classroom with their
English class and engaged in activities that
dealt with “R.O.A.R: Relationships, Opportunity, Attendance, and Responsibility.”
For students, it was a welcomed day off.
“It was fun, interesting, and gave students a chance to have a day off of school
work and stress... We came together as a
school. I, personally, really enjoyed it,” said
freshman Zuha Wasti.
“I believe it was successful,” says Mr.
Cox, a teacher on the school improvement
committee, “If one student saw something
positive from the day, then it was a success.”
According to Cox, the school improvement committee isn’t finished yet, as they’re
still discussing other ways to increase hope,
wellbeing, and engagement.
Currently, many other programs have
been implemented, including the Positive
SGA Runs Food and Clothing Drive For The Holidays
By Misbah Farooqi
Managing Editor-in-Chief
Starting from November 17,
the SGA will be running a food
and clothing drive. The food drive,
conducted through the Maryland
Food Bank, is being run to help
hungry families during the holiday season.
“We want to make a difference
by helping to feed [families],” said
SGA President, Mariam Catherine.
As for the clothing drive, not
only will the SGA be helping
those in need, but for every pound
of clothes donated, the SGA will
earn 10 cents. The clothing drive
is run through the Clothing and
Shoes Recycling Center, which reuses, repurposes, and recycles the
clothes, according to Ms. Compofelice, the SGA advisor.
There will be a bin on Main
Street where students can donate
food and clothing items, instead
of bringing the items to their first
period classrooms, like in past
years.
Behavioral Interventions and Supports
(PBIS) program, which focuses on praising
students and awarding them with positive
office referrals or student of the month.
The committee also plans on surveying students throughout the course of the year to
find out how they’re doing.
The Gallup Poll is a survey conducted
in all Howard County high schools, and it
measures the hope, wellbeing, and engagement of the students. It was implemented
by Superintendent Dr. Renee Foose, because her belief is that if schools can identify how students feel in regards to these
factors, then schools can create a better
learning environment.
Foose believes it would lead to a deeper
learning experience, to a higher graduation
rate, and to students being better prepared
for college and the workforce, according to
Cox. Other teachers on the committee include Mrs. Volinksy and Mrs. Caporaletti.
But according to Channel, it’s not just
about a day off.
“It’s about building more honest and
sincere relationships amongst educators
and students. Wilde Lake staff certainly believes that hope, wellbeing, and engagement will be improved if students feel
that they are known and cared for by their
teachers,” said Channel.
“If one student saw
something positive
from the day, then it
was a success.”
-Mr. Cox
New Electronic Visitor Sign-In System Installed For Safety
By Anjali DasSarma
News and Features Editor
Walking into any Howard
County high school, visitors no
longer have to sign in with pen
and paper. Instead, they are greeted by a new electronic method:
LobbyGuard.
LobbyGuard is a measure taken by the county to ensure student
safety. The company advertises a
“visitor management system” that
“sends a message to all visitors
that safety is a top priority.”
The LobbyGuard system uses
the visitor’s driver’s license to keep
a record of who is in the building
and then monitors the visitor, according to Ms. Brennan.
The system’s website adds that
the LobbyGuard scans national
sex offender databases on the Internet, and then snaps a photo of
the visitor and prints out an official-looking sticker with the visitor’s name and picture.
Not only is LobbyGuard for
parents coming in and out of the
building, but it is also for building
services employees, people from
the central office, and anyone
coming into the building.
According to the front desk
staff, visitors support the implementation.
The office staff expressed their
approval of the LobbyGuard system, as it frees up time for them,
as well.
When the system is not working or when the Internet is down,
the front office staff simply reverts
back to the paper and pen method.
2
NEW TEACHER FEATURES
Jessica Nichols
2
Chris Panzarella Claudia Martucci
Lauren Walen
Jessica Nichols brings enthusiasm back to Wilde
Lake (Photograph by Natalie Varela).
Chris Panzarella might be new to Wilde Lake,
but with several years of tutoring and martial
arts instruction under his belt, he isn’t new to
working with students (Photograph by Natalie
Varela).
Claudia Martucci, the new Italian teacher, brings
a new culture to Wilde Lake (Photograph by
Natalie Varela).
Lauren Walen embraces the diverse culture at
Wilde Lake, and she is excited to teach at the
school (Photograph by Natalie Varela).
By Gabby Christopher
Staff Writer
By Alex Moon
Staff Writer
By Carmen Freeman
Staff Writer
By Rachel Lazris
Staff Writer
J
I
C
L
essica Nichols, a History, Government,
and Psychology teacher, welcomes
her classes everyday with a bright smile.
Although this is Nichols’ first time as a
full-time teacher, she was at the Lake last
year, teaching History classes as a longterm sub. By the time the year was over,
she had fallen “in love with Wilde Lake
and its diversity,” which inspired her to
come back this year to teach.
nspired by his time spent tutoring at the
Boys Hope Girls Hope charity, Chris
Panzarella left his old job to pursue a
career teaching Math. He teaches Algebra I across the hall from his high school
Geometry teacher, Mr. Kent. Panzarella
hopes to use his past experience as a martial arts instructor to begin a stress-relieving Tai Chi club.
laudia Martucci’s love for teaching
sprouted from her own experiences
as a student in Italy. After moving to the
United States 27 years ago, she became
an Italian teacher at Howard Community
College. “I genuinely enjoy teaching; it
was such a big part of my childhood,” said
Martucci. She hopes to use her background to start an authentic Italian club.
Jessica Hopkins
Erin Carpenter
Jessica Hopkins has used her passion of teaching
to influence the lives of those in South Korea and
is now influencing her students at Wilde Lake
(Photograph by Natalie Varela).
Erin Carpenter may have left Howard County as
a student, but now she has returned as a teacher
giving back to the community she grew up in
(Photograph by Natalie Varela).
Megan Shea engages and impresses students
with her background as an energy engineer
(Photograph by Natalie Varela).
Enkelejda Spiro exhibits her passion for the
performing arts through teaching (Photograph
by Natalie Varela).
By Michael Casey
Staff Writer
By Alex Moon
Staff Writer
By Michael Casey
Staff Writer
By Anjali DasSarma
News and Features Editor
J
T
M
E
essica Hopkins began teaching earlier
than most, but she found a passion she
would continue into adulthood and even
use to change the lives of others. She studied at Towson University, then travelled
to Haksa, South Korea to teach English.
When she returned, she began working
towards her Masters Degree at College
Park and started teaching English at Wilde
Lake.
eaching at Wilde Lake is an opportunity to return home for Erin Carpenter. Born and raised in Howard County,
Carpenter graduated from River Hill
before leaving for University of Maryland
and teaching at Herndon High School in
Virginia. Now, she is teaching Biology and
Biology GT and is looking forward to labs
and teaching the genetics unit.
Megan Shea
auren Walen, ninth grade class sponsor
and Social Studies teacher, decided
to move to Wilde Lake after eight years
of teaching to be part of a more diverse
community. “There are many different
cultures, and people really embrace them.
I want to help [students here] achieve,”
said Walen.
egan Shea always had an interest in
engineering, but she didn’t really
know what engineering was until college.
Out of college, she became an energy engineer, but she wanted a more active occupation. After six years of being an engineer,
she began her teaching career here at
Wilde Lake. She is teaching in the Project
Lead the Way program and coached one of
the schools’ Pumpkin Chunkin’ teams.
Enkelejda Spiro
nkelejda Spiro, Wilde Lake’s orchestra
conductor, can remember the moment
at age thirteen when her passion for teaching began. Although she got her major in
performing arts, she moved to the U.S.
from Albania and began teaching again
because she felt that her life had changed
course. She plans to create an after school
orchestra program to “get to know the
community.”
3
3
NEWS
Jokester Charlie Boulton Turns Scrooge
By Anjali DasSarma
News and Features Editor
Charlie Boulton, known for his clever
personality and joking mannerisms takes
a deep breath before reciting his main line
in this year’s production of A Christmas
Carol: “Bah Humbug!”
He took the stage this November in an
adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Boulton played Scrooge, the miserable,
bitter old miser who miraculously changes
his ways after three ghosts haunt his home.
The show was a smashing success, with
all four shows selling out.
The atmoshpere created by the closeknit mini theater, which allowed the actors
to move among the audience, helped
transport people to the time period of A
Christmas Carol.
The show received high praises for
its stellar acting, costumes, and makeup,
which brought it to life.
Boulton worked hard and came a long
way to make it as the lead role.
Boulton had no previous experience
in theater when he auditioned for the fall
play his freshman year. He didn’t make
it into the production, but persistence
proved to be an ally when he tried out for
the spring musical. He scored a speaking
role after a passionate and partially joking
audition.
“For the spring musical I joked around
and did a super passionate ‘Stand By Me’
[performance] which included falling to
the ground and pretending to cry. I got
a part in the only speaking scene in the
show which was otherwise all singing,”
said Boulton.
The reason he made it, he said, is because he didn’t pull back.
“Putting yourself in the moment is the
best thing you can do. It’s fun when you
reach that moment when you can let go,”
said Boulton
After finding his place on the stage, he
gave tech crew a spin during Godspell his
sophomore year, and he found a home
there as well.
“I love [tech crew]. Once you make
something, you get to be proud of what
you’ve created. It’s really rewarding,” said
Boulton.
After beginning drama his freshman year, Boulton has worked his way up to the lead role in this year’s play, A Christmas Carol (Photograph by Natalie
Varela).
His influences in theater, Bill
Marks and Tracy Adler, helped to
shape his experience in both tech
crew and in the production.
“Almost everything I do is
influenced by them because I
want to impress them and not let
them down. They put [in] a lot of
time and effort for me, so I feel
like I have to prove to them that
I do care and [that] they make a
difference,” said Boulton.
“Bill is still equally as scary as
he was my first year, but now I
know [he] is caring and genuinely wonderful,” said Boulton.
Boulton says that theater has
taught him values about how taking
the stage can teach people about
themselves.
“Personally, theater has taught
me to be more open, especially with
people I’d normally not hang out
with, [and] I’ve grown to really enjoy
and appreciate [them]. Being in the
drama department is pretty much
natural, and I do it because it’s a place
I understand and enjoy being in.”
Boulton plans to act or participate
in theater after he graduates and
hopes to further his acting career
over time.
Chesapeake Bay Project Combats Pollution
The Chesapeake Bay Drainage Project was scheduled to be finished in August but bedrock caused it to be
pushed back to early November, according to Mr Crouse (Photograph by Natalie Varela).
“
Once you make
something, you get to be
proud of what you’ve created. It’s really rewarding.
-Charlie Boulton
By Anjali DasSarma
News and Features Editor
“They even had to look into explosives,”
said Mr Crouse, 11th grade assistant principal, when asked about the Chesapeake
Bay Drainage project.
The Chesapeake Bay Drainage project,
part of Howard County’s Watershed and
Restoration Program, started in June to improve water quality and reduce stormwater
pollution.
For the project, the county will create
four water quality structures and over 600
feet of pipes for water storage. This will
provide approximately 23 acres of drainage
area, which is about 17 football fields, with
pipes located beneath the athletic fields.
”
The county is committed to stormwater management, as stormwater runoff accounts for over 20 percent of the pollution
impacting the Chesapeake Bay, according
to the Howard County government.
“Projects like this continue our effort to
protect the Chesapeake Bay, by minimizing
the impact stormwater pollution has on
this important estuary,” said County Executive Ken Ulman, according to a news
release by the Howard County government
earlier this year.
However, the project, which was supposed to be complete by August 15, faced
delays due to bedrock, and was forced to be
continued into the school year.
4
4
NEWS
New Village Center To Bring Letterman Raise $400 in
Businesses and Apartments Spare Change for Grassroots
By Ola Alli and Mya Askew
Staff Writers
Starting summer 2013,
Kimco Realty began redeveloping a new and improved Wilde
Lake Village Center. They are
building a CVS Pharmacy, a
new David’s Natural Market,
and 250 new apartments. They
are also renovating pre-existing
stores to create more appeal.
In 2006, after the Giant
there closed down, business
slowed at nearby stores.
Last year, Crowns Gas Station shut down because it
wasn’t included in the new reconstruction plan.
The plan replaces Crowns
Gas Station with the new
CVS Pharmacy, which hopes
to bring more business to the
area, according to the Wilde
Lake Village Center manager
Kristen Shoulder.
Shoulder plans on opening
CVS on November 23. Vice
President of Acquisitions and
Development, Geoff Glazer,
says that the new CVS compliments David’s Natural Market
as a grocer for residents.
The relocation of David’s
Natural Market has also
brought attraction to the
area. Instead of the market being secluded from
the rest of the Village
Center, the reconstruction has allowed it to be
brought into the light.
The goal of the reconstruction is to bring
more people to the area,
boost employment rates,
and do something different with Columbia,
says Shoulder.
When asked how
consumers view the new
Village Center, Shoulder
said, “Clearly, they see
the Village Center to be
attractive.”
“I think we are on the
verge of doing something different,” says
Joyce Ardo, another
manager of the Village
Center, according to
the Baltimore Sun, “We
have an opportunity to
revitalize and rediscover
Wilde Lake. I’m very excited about that.”
Kimco Realty’s architectural drawing shows its plans for
the village center (Photography by the Wilde Lake Community Association).
First Poms Team To Perform At
Basketball Games This Year
By Kate Glaros
Sports and Arts Editor
Social studies teacher Ms. Volpe wanted to create a team to give performers a
chance to be a part something other than
cheerleading and dance company, so
she turned to a combination of the two:
Poms.
A Poms team is a competitive dance
team, and they practice on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. Volpe allows the students to
be creative in the ways they prepare for
performing. They learn leadership by assisting her in choreography and instructing each other on how to complete certain parts of routines.
“My role as a coach is to facilitate
group unison,” said Volpe. She believes in
students working together, a belief that is
displayed through her job as coordinator
of the Green and Gold Academy, which
is a program that allows seniors to work
with freshmen the summer before their
first year of high school.
The team hopes to perform during
the half-times of this winter’s basketball
games and compete with other teams in
the county.
“I want to go out and do really well. I
hope that we become a competitive force
in Howard County,” said Volpe.
The first time the Poms team will perform in front of an audience is in December during a boys basketball game.
Ms. Volpe hopes the team will help
add spirit to the school, and she has high
hopes for its future.
“I hope [the team] brings one more
thing students can do at school,” said
Volpe.
Social Studies teacher Ms.
Volpe gives students a chance
to perform on the newly developed Poms team (Photograph
by Natalie Varela).
By Jenny Lees
Copy Editor-in-Chief
Three Howard County high school
students died by suicide last year. For
Howard County, that number is about average for the past three years, according
to Cathy Smith, who intends to bring that
number to zero.
Cathy Smith is the Youth Coordinator of the Grassroots Crisis Center and
Homeless Shelter, which offers counseling
and runs programs aimed to help those
in distress. This year, Wilde Lake’s Letterman raised $400 entirely from Wilde
Lake’s spare change to support that campaign.
Grassroots is a crisis center that never
closes. It offers around-the-clock counseling to those in any kind of distress situation, but it has recently directed most of
its focus towards mental health and suicide, especially in teenagers.
Wilde Lake’s Lettermen ran a fundraiser as part of the “Change Matters” program. The collections took place through
teachers, during lunch, and at football
games, which raised awareness as well as
money.
“It’s a pretty labor-intensive initiative
to run the program because it’s student
led. It was the Lettermen that actually had
to learn about the program, figure out
how they were going to implement it, and
then actually implement it,” said Smith.
The program taught Lettermen about
the center’s work, and raised awareness of
the problems that the center combats.
“There needs to be more awareness.
Suicide is ignored compared to other
things,” said junior Letterman Sara Shemali.
Though most people are aware that
suicide is a problem in today’s society, especially in the teen population, they are
often too detached from the issue to help
someone in need, said Smith.
“Grassroots gets about 26,000 anonymous phone calls from those in need of
help each year,” said Smith.
“People think ‘this won’t happen to
people I know,’ but it can,” said Shemali.
And it does.
Smith says mental health and suicide is
an extremely relevant topic for teenagers.
“High school is mentally one of the
hardest things you’ll ever have to face.
You’re trying to balance schoolwork,
friends, a social life, and job responsibilities. It’s also when people find out who
they really are, which is hard for many to
do,” said senior Letterman Julianna Kaiser.
Grassroots recognizes these struggles, as they were the inspiration for the
Change Matters and similar programs,
which take slightly different approaches
to helping those in distress.
“Grassroots is sort of like the one-stop
shop for help. If Grassroots can’t help you,
they can certainly get you connected to
the resources or organizations that can,”
said Smith
Grassroots will use the money it raised
at the school to remain dedicated to its
mission of improving life quality and
continue to teach teenagers about mental
health and warning signs of suicide.
“The resource is out there,” said Shemali, “and you don’t only have to call if you
are considering suicide. You can make an
anonymous call for anyone who needs
help.”
Grassroots Crisis Center and Homeless Shelter
6700 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD 21044
Hotline Number: 410-531-6677
Girls’ Soccer Defeats Atholton
By Ashleigh Cameron
Staff Writer
Wilde Lake’s varsity
girls’ soccer shocked the
county when they defeated
Atholton in a 1-0 game and
went on to play River Hill
in the playoffs.
“Nobody expected us to
win. In the newspaper, it
was said that the River Hill
vs. Atholton game would
be the game to watch,” said
Rachel Lazris, one of the
junior captains.
Lazris also said that
the highlight of the season
was the moment that the
whistle was blown and the
team realized they won the
game.
“We were the underdogs of the county, so it
felt like a really big accomplishment to defeat
Atholton,” said Lazris.
When asked about the
team captains and their
performance, right midfielder Sahar Zoghi said,
“They helped motivate us
and they kept us focused
throughout the game. They
kept pushing us to play our
best.”
Ali Mallo, a senior captain said that the highlight
for her was bonding with
her teammates.
She said that without
bonding and becoming fa-
miliar with one another’s
skills, the team wouldn’t
have been able to surprise
the county and win the
game.
Alyssa Bialek, also a
senior captain, played
throughout her high
school career, and said
that her experience as a
captain helped her gain
leadership skills and motivate her teammates
during games.
Though the senior
captains are graduating
this year, they are proud
of how far the team has
come and wish them luck
in the future.
5
SPORTS
Ms. Williams Returns, Coaches
Volleyball Team to Third Round of
Playoffs
The Wilde Lake varsity volleyball
team finishes off a successful season
(Photograph by Natalie Varela).
By Carmen Freeman
Staff Writer
This year, Ms. Williams came
back ready to go from maternity
leave and led the varsity volleyball team to its second 11-5
season in a row.
Getting further into the playoffs than they have in the past 15
years, the team eventually lost to
Glenelg in a hard fought 3-1 loss
in the section finals.
The varsity volleyball team
also lost to Centennial, Reservoir,
Glenelg, and Marriotts Ridge in
the regular season.
However, they had many
successes.
Kelly Surkovich led the team
in kills and digs with 261 kills
and 80 digs, Carmen Freeman
assisted the team with 246 kills,
and led in aces, with a total of 44.
Rebecca Chamblee led the team
at the net with 67 blocks, while
Meghan Morales contributed 329
sets.
These players helped bring the
team to many victories throughout the season.
This year, the team won
against schools that the seniors
had never beaten before, such as
Mount Hebron, River Hill, and
Howard.
“This is the strongest team
that I ever played with,” said
Co-Captain Kelly Surkovich.
The team worked hard for
Transfer Shane Nelson
Is Standout Player
their victories, as they had to
overcome many challenges to get
there.
Key player, Faith Leslie,
stepped up to the plate after
setter Meghan Morales tore
her ACL, MCL, and meniscus
playing against Marriotts Ridge,
ending her high school season.
“I got a lot of support from
the coaches, but Meghan was
my main supporter and I was
very grateful for that, especially
because it was such a big change
for me,” said Leslie.
For Coach Williams this
season brought some changes as
well.
“Being a mom has shifted
the way I think,” said Williams,
“I think I’m a lot more patient,
tolerant, and understanding.”
She is hopeful for future
seasons, and excited for what the
future will bring.
“I think we had a solid group
of girls, with both skill and
chemistry,” said Coach Williams,
“and I am looking forward to a
great upcoming 2015 season.”
Bonsu Leads Team At Forward
By Ali Mallo
Sports and Arts Editor
Junior Philip Bonsu was the leading offensive player for
boys’ varsity soccer this year. (Photograph by Natalie
Varela).
5
At the top of the field stands a single player in a Wilde
Lake jersey. The defenders tower over him, but he takes
no notice. A ball is sent up towards him and it’s off to the
races. His legs fly as he turns and heads towards the goal.
A shot rockets off, the goalie dives but misses. And, Philip Bonsu scores for Wilde Lake again.
This season Bonsu scored 6 times with 4 assists. Fans
wondered where he had been in the past seasons as they
watched him score game after game. He was on JV, but
he was a midfielder instead. The newcomer took a different position on the varsity team, giving him more responsibility and influence on the team.
Bonsu aimed to help to lift up his team this season and to not finish with a losing season, which was
a goal he accomplished. The previous two seasons had
been challenging, with few wins and many losses. Bonsu helped reverse this, and the team had a strong finish
with 7 wins.
On the field, Bonsu doesn’t let any player be better
than him. He goes in for every tackle and fights for every
ball he can get. When he’s supposed to run, he does, no
matter how tired he is.
“It is a lot of responsibility. You have to give everything you have for your team and you have to depend on
your teammates,” said Bonsu.
Cheers erupt from the stands when he stands up and
walks up to the half line, ready to enter the game. The
fans know how hard he works, how determined he is,
and how important he is to the team.
With his work ethic as a player, Bonsu has a very
bright future ahead of him.
Shane Nelson brings his hard work and determined spirit from the
Calvert Hall Cardinals to the Wilde Lake Wildecats (Photograph by
Natalie Varela).
By Michael Casey
Staff Writer
“Calvert Hall is just a team,
but at Wilde Lake we’re a family,” said Shane Nelson, the
new kid from Calvert Hall,
who has gained instant fame
as the star receiver for the
Wilde Lake varsity football
team.
Nelson attended Calvert
Hall, one of the top private
schools in the state of Maryland, but decided to relocate
his senior year to Wilde Lake.
Nelson was the leading receiver and top scorer on the football team.
Though Maryland private
schools are more successful in
giving players college recognition and success, as shown by
the number of Maryland private school alumni at top colleges and in the NFL, Nelson
made the decision to move to
public school.
“All the players and coaches help me improve to get to
the level I need to reach,” said
Nelson.
With the second most receiving yards in the county,
and the sixth most in the state,
Shane Nelson has become one
of the best receivers in the
state. Nelson has 540 receiving yards on 33 targets, with
an impressive 16.4 yards per
reception. In addition, he has
tacked on 8 touchdowns so far
this season. Nelson also has
2 interceptions, both in the
team’s win against Atholton.
“His game is very selfless,”
said Coach Burke, “he’s all
about the team and working
to benefit the team, not just
himself.”
Nelson’s selflessness and
hardworking attitude has
made him known as a leader
by his coaches.
“Shane is one of the most
hard working players. He’s
very committed to improving
his game,” said Coach Penn.
Nelson made some standout plays to set him apart
from the rest of the county.
This past season, Nelson recorded an impressive 91-yard
touchdown against the Howard defense and a leaping
touchdown catch over two
Marriotts Ridge defenders.
Nelson has made a lasting
impression on the Wilde Lake
football team, even in just one
season with the team. With
his talent and dedication,
Shane Nelson made his mark.
6
FEATURES
6
Voices For Change Encourages Making a Difference
By Gabby Christopher
Staff Writer
Every other Tuesday, in the
Howard County Parks and Recreation building, Sandy Queen,
leadership consultant and keynote speaker, begins the meeting
for Voices for Change, a group
that helps teens have a voice in the
community.
Voices for Change, also known
as V4C, is a youth-based organization that is open to 8th-12th
graders and focuses on finding
solutions to issues affecting youth
in Howard County, like poverty
and bullying.
Queen and Meg Mekelburg
established this group in 2005 to
give teens interested in making a
difference in the community leadership and speaking skills.
Not only does V4C give young
people a voice, it also gives them a
chance to change their community. The group strives to empower
young people to take action and
create positive changes in Howard
County.
Every year, V4C organizes an
annual summit where representatives from every high school
in the county come together to
discuss issues, learn how to solve
those issues, and create positive
change.
Earlier this year, the annual
V4C summit was held at Bridgeway Community Church. The
focus of this years’ summit was
homelessness, spreading positivity, and suicide prevention.
In the past, V4C has dealt
with issues like bullying. Stand
Up HoCo, which is a campaign
against bullying, resulted from
the efforts of V4C members realizing that bullying is a problem
that needs to be fixed.
V4C surveyed students and
found out that the majority of
students see bullying in school,
but fail to address or confront the
issue.
From these findings, V4C
wrote about possible solutions,
and, according to Mt. Hebron senior Kylie Zuiderhof, this resulted
in teachers having to learn how
to properly deal with bullying in
schools.
Currently, V4C members are
planning their ideas for the upcoming summit. They’re planning
to discuss mental health, time and
stress, and saving and planning
for college.
“Voices for Change has given
me many different opportunities
to be apart of my community, and
to make a change. I thought it was
just another organization, but it’s
got something more,” said Seeda
Williams from Wilde Lake, “It’s
got a talented, hopeful, and different group of youth and adults that
inspire me.”
“Voices for Change
has given me many
different opportunities
to be apart of my community, and to make
a change. I thought
it was just another
organization, but it’s
got something more.”
-Seeda Williams
The Science Behind Ms. Schulman Homecoming Princess Kate Glaros Is
From Scientic Patents To “Schulmaneze,”
Schulman Keeps Students On Their Toes
No Stranger To High Expectations
Kate Glaros Commits To Play Lacrosse For Marquette
By Rachel Lazris
Staff Writer
By Caitlyn Brosnan
Staff Writer
It sounds like something from a science
fiction novel: Ms. Shulman’s patent, the
Intercalation Inhibition Assay for Compounds that Interact with DNA and RNA.
Her patent is a method that gave a purpose to a previously useless machine. It is a
way to study how various substances bond
and interact with DNA and RNA, without
the use of radioactivity.
Schulman has been teaching at Wilde
Lake for 28 years, and her class is a memorable one to most. She is famous for her
“Schulmaneze” and amazing Halloween
shows. She teaches chemistry to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
However, few are aware of her scientific past, including her patent, which was
granted to her in 1981.
Schulman was 22 years old, working as
an analytical biochemist at Meloy Labs in
Springfield, VA. There was a machine from
Japan in the lab for which no one could
find a purpose, however, Schulman surprised everyone with a solution.
“I was at home blasting Herbie Hancock,
annoyed I couldn’t find a solution, when I
suddenly got an epiphany,” said Schulman,
and she quickly wrote it down.
Schulman, who had not yet earned her
Masters Degree, went into the lab the next
day and asked her boss if she could experiment with her idea. The boss thought it was
funny but let her work on it. It impressed
everyone when the young scientist’s idea
was successful.
Later, Schulman was offered a job at Mt.
Sinai Hospital School of Medicine, in the
department of neoplastic diseases, when a
professor witnessed her in the lab explain-
Greater expectations, added pressure, and stress-levels through the
roof. All of these are common obstacles in the lives of juniors across America. Add in two sports, a rigorous class
schedule, winning homecoming princess two years in a row, and four accomplished older siblings, and you’ve
got Kate Glaros.
Though junior year has added some
stress, balancing sports and academics
and dealing with pressure from siblings is nothing new to Kate. She has
played soccer for thirteen years and lacrosse for eleven. She averages twelve
hours per week on the field for soccer
alone.
“The soccer schedule actually keeps
me organized because it forces me to
get my homework done in a certain
amount of time,” Glaros said.
The concept of time management
is nothing new to the Glaros family,
as all six kids are or were student athletes. When asked if she feels pressure
to live up to her older siblings, Kate
said “Y.E.S, in capital letters. I have
an older sister who plays lacrosse for
Maryland and three very intelligent
older brothers, and I try to live up to
their expectations on the field and in
the classroom”.
Growing up as one of six children
wasn’t always easy for Kate. “I’m kind
of the middle child, so it’s sometimes
hard to get attention,” Kate says, “Plus,
whenever I set up for dinner I always
have to put out a lot of plates”.
Instead of becoming lost in a tradition of Glaros student-athletes, Kate
Chemistry teacher Ms. Schulman settles down
from her scientific carreer to teach her students.
(Photograph by Natalie Varela).
ing the purpose of the machine.
Eventually, Schulman decided she wanted to spend time with her baby and take a
break from her impressive scientific career.
She quickly began to miss science and still
wanted it in her life so she decided to teach
chemistry in high school. She had a blast
teaching and stuck with it.
“I love the students”, says Schulman, “I
find teenagers amusing and fun to work
with.”
Kate Glaros flashes the same smile that won her
Homecoming Princess two years in a row. (Photograph by Natalie Varela).
is venturing out. “My older siblings have
all attended college in Maryland and are
pursuing careers in technology.” Kate says
“I have committed to play lacrosse at Marquette, which is in Wisconsin, and I’m not
interested in technology”.
When asked why she chose to commit
to Marquette instead of following in her
siblings’ footsteps, Kate said “It’s a beautiful school and I really connected with
the coaches there. I feel like it’ll be a good
place to spend four years of my college
life”.
7
7
OPINIONS
Wildecat Time is Wasted Time
Every other Wednesday, students await
the bell after second period indicating the
start of Wildecat time. Once the bell rings,
students are seen rushing to club meetings
or to help sessions with a teacher, but the
majority wander aimlessly around the hallways, socializing with friends they run into
on the way.
Since there is no authority during this
time, students, even those who need to
work, often choose their friends over productivity.
Even for students that are able to resist
distractions, fifteen minutes is not enough
time for them to receive adequate help
from teachers or for clubs to cover all that
they need to.
But how can the administration change
that?
By having a structured and controlled
environment during Wildecat time.
Yes, some students are able to accomplish all that they need to during the current Wildecat time, but changing the system would not hurt their productivity. It
would simply allow more students to join
in their success.
The lack of structure is not only the
cause of a lack of proper use of the time,
but also of the Wildecat time fights that
became a major problem last year. Overall,
Wildecat time isn’t productive, but there is
a solution.
Study hall.
Instead of having a break every other Wednesday for fifteen minutes, there
should be a once-a-week, full-period
study hall where students would be situated in assigned classrooms to productively
spend their time completing homework
and studying. Students would be permitted
to obtain a pass allowing them to leave to
meet with a teacher for help or to attend a
club meeting.
Time during the school day to participate in activities will increase the number of students involved, as the reason for
some lack of involvement is the inability for
students to attend meetings with clubs or
teachers after school.
They either cannot find a way home or
have a previous commitment to an activity,
like sports.
Without a solution, these students will
continue to struggle and lag in extracurricular participation.
Other schools, like River Hill and Centennial, two of the top schools in Howard
County, have already implemented successful study halls.
By opening up time during school, a
study hall would decrease stress, increase
sleep, improve grades, and increase club
participation.
Since the administration is working to
improve the school and make it a positive
place for students to learn, why not start by
implementing a study hall?
Instead of having a
break every other Wednesday for fifteen minutes,
there should be a oncea-week, full-period study
hall where students would
be situated in assigned
classrooms.
(Pretend) Violence is Normal
By Alex Moon
Staff Writer
Halo, Call of Duty, Grand Theft
Auto. What do they have in common?
They’re staples in the game industry
that target a younger male demographic. Year after year, they rake in money
hand over fist. They also all prominently feature guns.
Like most other males my age, I
spent a solid chunk of my childhood
glued to the TV screen with a controller in my hands. At age eight, I bragged
about being the only kid in the school
to own God of War, the most graphically violent game of its time. And apparently, based on the amount of games
being sold, I’m not alone anymore.
Violent video games, TV shows, and
even music have become a widespread
part of our culture. We live in an age
where games centered on murder and
crime can become record-breaking,
multimillion-dollar successes. Previously traumatizing images of gore and
mutilated bodies are nothing more
than a Google search away. When
something like a shooting happens, the
first scapegoat is often videogames.
Eventually, people have to realize
that someone didn’t decide to commit
unspeakable acts of real-world violence because they copied what they
saw or heard in a game, show, or song.
The times have changed, and
games, along with violent shows like
The Walking Dead, may show violence, but it’s become so saturated
in our culture that it is easily distinguished from real life.
Video games don’t kill people,
criminals do. Take some time away
from the couch to spend time with
friends and go outside, but don’t feel
guilty about shooting a few zombies
online the next time you’re bored.
Eventually, people have to
wake up and realize that someone didn’t decide to commit
unspeakable acts of
real-world
violence because they copied
what they saw or heard in a
game, show, or song.
Girls Aren’t Always
Strutting The Catwalk
By Misbah Farooqi and Anjali DasSarma
Managing Editor-in-Chief and News and Features Editor
Walking through the hallways at any high school, the sounds of
wolf whistles, cackles and snickers fill the air.
Unfortunately, this is an everyday experience for some girls.
As shown in a video by Stop Street Harassment (SSH), a woman in
New York City, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt experienced this type of
sexual harassment more than 100 times within 10 hours.
According to a study conducted this year by the SSH, 65 percent
of women have been sexually harassed on the street. Almost half of
harassed persons were harassed by age 17.
Although these statistics
pertain to street harassment,
the same issues pertain to the Don’t be afraid to speak up, turn
school hallways. As girls walk around, shout back, and show
through the hallways, even the catcallers who’s boss. Don’t
here at Wilde Lake, they are
vulnerable to the same harass- let them get to you, and match
ment as out on the street.
them by sending a snarky comTo men, catcalls are often
ment their way.
considered a joke or a game.
Reasons for catcalling range
from having friends who catcall and peer pressure to using catcalling as a form of entertainment,
and even because catcalling often results in positive responses.
However, catcalls are more than that.
They’re a serious problem, and they degrade girls.
Not all girls feel this way, as responses to catcall vary from girl to
girl. Girls either smile, but think nothing of it, ignore it, become angry,
or even respond back in a joking manner.
But, girls shouldn’t degrade themselves to respond positively to catcalls, because it only encourages the guys to keep doing it.
Instead, girls should respond to prevent future catcallers. They
should speak up, and let the catcaller know that they have no right to
say that to a girl, and if a girl sees another girl dealing with a catcaller,
she should intervene.
Don’t be afraid to speak up, turn around, shout back, and show the
catcallers who’s boss. Don’t let them get to you, and match them by
sending a snarky comment their way.
If you aren’t comfortable with those tactics, not to worry, there are
other solutions, such as walking in a group of friends or even pulling
out your phone and snapping a photo of the catcaller, to let them know
that they don’t scare you.
So next time you see or experience catcalling, speak out and stand
up for others, because no girl deserves to be treated like that.
The Paw Print
Wilde Lake High School
5460 Trumpeter Road -- Columbia, MD 21044
Volume 42, Issue 1
The Paw Print is published by the Journalism Class. The views expressed are not necessarily those of
the staff, the students, the administrators, or the school board. Letters to the editors are encouraged.
The Paw Print reserves the right to edit any submissions.
Managing Editor-in-Chief..............................................................................................Misbah Farooqi
Copy Editor-in-Chief...............................................................................................................Jenny Lees
News & Features Editor.................................................................................................Anjali DasSarma
Sports & Arts Editors ........................................................................................ Ali Mallo, Kate Glaros
Business Manager....................................................................................................De’Quantai Edwards
Photographers..........................................................................................Ben Townsend, Natalie Varela
Writers..............................................................................................Ola Alli, Mya Askew, Caitlyn Brosnan, Ashleigh Cameron, Michael Casey, Gabby Christopher, Carmen Freeman, Rachel Lazris,
Alex Moon
Faculty Advisor..................................................................................................................Ben Townsend
8
8
OPINION
Respect Matters In School And The Real World
By Gabby Christopher
Staff Writer
Everyday, I see some sort
of disrespect from a student to
a teacher or an administrator
whether it be cursing, not following class rules, or using cell
phones. I understand it’s fun
to hang out with your friends
and not do any work but, it’s
important to remember that
actions have consequences.
There could be a bigger
reason for your disrespect.
Maybe you’re having one of
those days where everything
seems to go wrong. Maybe it’s
normal for you to be in a bad
mood. But, it’s probably a bad
idea to aim that anger towards
people, in particular, teachers.
Disrespecting your teachers will have immediate and
long-term effects that could
prevent you from excelling in
school and in life.
The reality is that teachers
are human too and eventually
they will get fed up with their
treatment. Your grade in that
class may go down because
“As minor as it might seem, respect matters not
only in high school, but in the real world too. You
should be respectful and considerate to everyone
you come across because you have no idea how important that person could be later.”
they’ll start to believe that you’re
not attentive or you don’t really
care. It doesn’t take research to
show that students who pay attention and follow the class rules,
are inclined to get help on assignments, lenience with grading, and
a better classroom experience.
But there may be long-term
effects too. If your bad behavior
continues, what’s to stop teachers from talking to other teachers
about how disrespectful and rude
you are? You then might develop
a bad reputation following you
through your classes without your
knowing it.
College may seem far away,
especially for underclassmen, but
you should start thinking about it
now. Being disrespectful to even
one teacher in high school could
potentially make it harder for
you to submit applications later.
One day, you may need a teacher
recommendation, and you don’t
want a bad high school experience to affect your recommendation and your future.
As minor as it might seem,
respect matters not only in high
school, but in the real world
too. You should be respectful
and considerate to everyone you
come across because you have
no idea how important that person could be later.
Do you like to write?
Do you have opinons?
Do you cartoon?
Do you like to take pictures?
Do you like working in teams?
If so, put Journalism I on your
schedule for next year!
See Mr. Townsend in Room 211
after school for details.