Stolen

A poem by Kasey Senatore,

From Frankenstein's monster to his creator

Unstoppable

Infallible

Insatiable

The perfect man

You made

The strongest

And the coldest

Stolen breaths

Filling stolen lungs

Feeding a stolen heart

Which has already died

You’re using borrowed time

The perfect man you created

Stronger, faster, harder, colder

Isn’t this what you wanted?

Snapping necks under my thumb

Sending chills from a single glance

Shotgun shells useless on my lifeless skin

Isn’t this what you wanted?

When you stole my heart

From an aging grave,

How could you expect me

To feel compassion?

My heart has already died.

You gave me life

And I’m already dead inside.

Here’s your monster, Frankenstein.

Isn’t this what you wanted?

Experiencing a Student Teacher by Amanda Sangalli

Not most classes will get student teachers so not everyone knows what it's like to have one in a class. Luckily our class has been fortunate enough to actually get to see what it's like. At first, it was a little weird to have another person in the classroom, let alone another person teaching. Because it is already January, this whole school year we've been adjusting to Mrs. Kopp's teaching styles/habits and we have just become so used to having her teach us. Of course it was a little unusual to have someone else teaching us and just having Mrs. Kopp sit back and listen just like one of us students, but the experience of having a student teacher has helped a lot. It helps us get a better understanding that not everyone we have as a teacher is going to teach the same ways we're used to. It was nice to see a variety of teaching styles first hand from day to day. Also, most high school students never really have a teacher that's right out of college so we were able to see the difference between a brand new teacher and someone whose been doing this for years. Although it was a little awkward to answer questions or get situated with the change, it helped us learn new things in a different way that we are used to. Thankfully, we had a student teacher that was eager to teach us and passionate about what he was doing and not just someone who doesn't care. Having a student teacher in the classroom was kinda awkward at first, but once we opened up to the idea of it, we were able to realize how much this experience will end up benefiting us

Negative Space

by Nuriel Rozenberg

There is a hole in some amazing works of art
Enhancing the piece
Letting light shine through
Her world was filled with this hole
But it never seemed to let light shine through

The positives of Student Teachers in the classroom By Cameron Riley

For most of my life in school, I haven’t had a student teacher help students and teach us in class with the main teacher. Other classes in elementary and middle school had a student teacher, but I was never put in one of those classes. So I was very interested to learn that there was a student teacher coming into our English class to do their requirements to one day become a teacher. I researched the topic of student teachers and found mostly positives about having these teachers in the classroom for the student and the teacher.

People who go through the student teacher program are trying to receive a Bachelor of Education or Master of Education degree in college. This experience can prepare them for the teaching stage at whatever grade they assist in teaching for a one or two week period. Maria Sweeney a curriculum coordinator in Chicago asked student teachers in her district about what they had gained attribute wise. Attributes such as focusing on their own teaching skills, being aware of communication in the classroom and a better understanding of the role of a teacher.

Students can also benefit from this experience, the student teacher is a student in college and has more knowledge of technology than maybe some other teachers do. Technology is now a modern day tool to try and teach young students by having them get used to modern day technology. Students also can learn what the experience of becoming a teacher is about and have a spark of interest in the job later in life.
Overall, student teachers have a great effect on the classroom and the process is beneficial for both the teacher and student.

The Importance of Musical Theater by Lomaani Ranasinghe

For a majority of my life I’ve been used to hearing Broadway musicals being played in the car. The way the music is expressed and performed is truly special and makes Broadway unique compared to other types of music. Whether it be classical musicals such as Les Miserables, or modern musicals like Hamilton, the way the story is seamlessly portrayed brings light to how important musical theater is and how amazing an entertainment source it is.

From early civilization, plays and theater were always an important part of society. As we learned in class while reading The Iliad, theater was often the only source of entertainment within early civilization. Unfortunately, throughout the rise of new technologies, theater has been of less importance in modern society compared to the movie/tv industries. However, following the opening of Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, modern Broadway shows have made quite a buzz on social media.

There are multiple reasons as to why musical theater is important to not only society but to any individual who decides to indulge in the journey a show will take them. Musicals have the ability to bring light to difficult topics. Many shows also take place in different time periods and can help one to learn and understand different historical events. From personal experience, the amount of times I’ve been able to reference Hamilton during history class is perhaps a bit annoying, but the musical itself has helped me to enjoy (otherwise slightly boring) historical events. From the French Revolution to the Vietnam War, it’s hard to find a era not portrayed in a Broadway musical.

Going to see a live Broadway show is much different to watching a movie. When you watch something on a screen, there’s often a disconnect between the audience and the actors. Seeing actors perform in real time creates a special atmosphere and a bond that cannot be created inside a movie theater. Many are hesitant to go watch a show on Broadway because they may not like the "musical" aspect of it, but Broadways are so much more than musicals. They are stories and characters you can't help but fall in love with. They are time periods you feel like you're reliving, they are moments you experience with the characters. Broadways provide anybody with a great experience. So what are you waiting for? Sit back and enjoy a show. You won't regret it!

New Year's Resolutions | by Samantha Patino

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…

Hands shoot up in the air, confetti flies, and noise makers whirl as the world waves goodbye to another year.  Everyone moves towards each other in one fluid motion, and they begin to hug and kiss, celebrating the end of one year, and the beginning of a new one.  As the celebration dies down a thought always seems to come creeping into everyone’s brains; “What do I want gain this year? And, who do I want to become?”  Mainly people condense those two questions down into three words; New Year’s Resolutions.  Resolutions vary from wanting to eat healthier to wanting to think more positively.  And sometimes it takes longer to decide what it is that you want to take out of the new year, while other times you have known what you want for the past two months.  Five days have already flashed by in this new year, and it took up until now to think of a resolution that I want to commit to.  Each year I make my resolutions very vague and I’m never able to follow them through.  They always seem to be forgotten after the first month, and by the end of the year I no longer remember what my resolution was in the first place.  This year, I plan to treat every night like New Year’s Eve, and make a new resolution for myself that I will carry out the next day.  It will force me to reflect on my day and help me decide what I want to take out of the next day.  Eventually, I hope that this resolution will help me evolve into an overall better person.  Although I did waste a couple days thinking of how I wanted my year to go, at least I finally found a resolution that will not wear off until next December 31st.  

Sophia Oelkers- Time

Time

New for one second

And then the next old

It will always be with you

To have and to hold

What is made of it lies within you

And some will be foolish

Take it for granted too

It's abundance is never ending

And it's plethora is great

It's all we've got

It will soon determine all fate

It's your chance to get out there

And open your horizon

There is no time for hasting

After all, time is wasting