Onondaga Central
ConThis year, senior year was nothing like many imagined nor what they never would of hoped for. For many seniors, the year fell short of what it could have been, what memories could have been made, and what goals could have been achieved. However, this does not demean the great achievements of Dylan Price and Nicole Dooley. Dylan Price, the Onondaga Class of 2021 Salutatorian will graduate with an average of 99.63. In the fall, he will go onto college, majoring in Business Administration or Finance. Dylan has been accepted to Cornell University- Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management, University of Virginia, Villanova University, Fordham University and Seton Hall University. What excites him most about college is to have “more opportunities to prepare for a successful career, taking new classes and meeting new people.” At OCS, Dylan has taken numerous College and AP classes and is currently taking AP Psychology and A.P. Government. In the past years, he has completed A.P. U.S. History, A.P. World History earning a 5 on both exams. As a senior, he took a Financial Accounting class at OCC. Since this class was not available at OCS, Dylan spoke with Mr. Ciereck and arranged to take this class and learned a lot. Dylan strongly recommends that “If there is a class you want to take in a subject that OCS does not offer, talk to Mr. Ciereck about taking it at OCC.” History is Dylan’s favorite subject, having enjoyed all the classes. In addition, he also enjoyed A.P. Psychology, College English, and OCC Financial Accounting. He also liked Earth Science. Dylan suggests for students to take Public Speaking, Creative Writing with Mrs. Ferris, and Modern American History as electives since they were valuable classes and taught important life-long skills. Adding that “They will complement your other classes and teach skills you will need in life.” When Dylan is not working hard academically, he is working hard on the mat and running hard, participating in Cross Country, Track & Field, and Wrestling. While Dylan qualified for Classes last track season in the 200 M, 400 M, 800 M, 1600 M, and 3200 M, his favorite races are the 800 M and the 1600 M. By winning Classes in the 800 M, he advanced to State Qualifiers in that event. In Cross Country of his Sophomore year, Dylan qualified for States, running against hundreds of runners. At States, Dylan was a member of the Section III State Champion team. Although Dylan was successful in running, his main sport was Wrestling, achieving a total of 169 varsity career wins, winning 14 tournaments, 4 League Championships and 3 Class Championships. But his achievements did not stop there. He joined the varsity team as a 7th grader and placed 3rd in Sectionals. He continued to place 3rd at Sectionals in both 8th and 9th grade. In 8th grade, Dylan was a State Qualifier at 113lbs, earning a wildcard. In his Sophomore year, Dylan Price became the Section III Division II 132lb champion. At 138lbs, he won Sectionals again his Junior year, earning the title of Two Time Sectional Champion. Also in his Junior year, Dylan broke the Onondaga School record for wins of 164. As a Junior, Dylan placed 4th at the New York State Wrestling Tournament which was his favorite high school memory and proudest high school accomplishment because “it is a culminating moment of hard-work”. In addition to wrestling since he was five years old he explains that it is his favorite sport because, “wrestling is the most rewarding of the sports I do since I have to not only work-hard but sacrifice to achieve my goals. In wrestling, there is also a lot of freedom. You can pick and choose what moves work for you and what you like. Most importantly, you are the only one on the mat. There is no one else to blame or fall back on. You have to be self-reliant. Self-reliance is an important American value” Wrestling all these years has taught him “, dedication, grit and hard-work,” invaluable life lessons that will stick with him for the rest of his life. If Dylan had to describe himself in word it would be determination. Dylan plans to be four sport athlete his senior year having participated in cross country, wrestling, football and planning on track next season. On top of academics and athletics, Dylan Price participates in countless extra-curriculars, performing duties that help OCS and the community become a better place. Dylan has been Student Council President since 10th grade. Along with being Student Council President, Dylan has been Key Club Co-President since 11th grade. In Key Club, he has organized the ornament fundraiser with IIP, as well as helping with the Food Drive and Christmas Card drive for troops. IIP, also known as the International Internship Program, was founded by Dylan Price after attending the summer program at Georgetown University. Since 10th grade Dylan served as IIP Team Leader, he has “worked with the International Internship Program and learned a lot of valuable international business skills.” Dylan has worked with a range of business partners from a fish farmer, a motorcycle repair shop owner to a welder. Another contribution Dylan made to OCS was founding the Model UN team, saying that “As an 8th grader, Ms. Delgado was looking for a way to help students learn more about history. I attended a Model UN camp a few years earlier and thought it would be a good idea to start at OCS. We would meet weekly to develop solutions to global issues and everyone would represent a country and we would vote on the proposal.” Furthermore, Dylan was Marketing Director SECNY Tiger Branch, Class President in grades 8-10, and is currently a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Club, a Peer Mentor/Peer Tutor and was Class President for three years. Besides sports, Dylan’s favorite extracurricular was “working at SECNY Tiger Branch and serving as Student Council President.” Dylan encourages “all students to either become a member at the Tiger Branch or work there.” As a sophomore and Treasurer of Junior Honor Society, Dylan organized Operation Shoebox to get donations for troops serving overseas. Dylan has been a major contributor to Onondaga’s newspaper, while serving as Editor-in-Chief starting an online website for the paper, starting the usage of a consistent format, increasing the number of editions with the addition of more content and increasing viewership. Even with Dylan’s busy schedule, he makes time to work at Sollecito Landscaping Nursery. This year will be his third year working there. At Sollecito, he “learned a lot of valuable information about horticulture, improved sales skills, and develop leadership skills.” Dylan has a “variety of duties that include sales, training new employees, tracking inventory, watering the plants, pruning, weed control and any other needed tasks.” This ties to one thing many people do not know about Dylan. He is very knowledgeable about plants and can answer any landscaping questions. To fulfill his political interests and fight for his values, Dylan has worked on several campaigns. For three election years, including 2016, 2018, and 2020, he assisted the John Katko for Congress, making phone calls and going door knocking. Other campaigns were Bob Antonacci for State Senate in 2018 and Matt Beadnell for County Comptroller in 2019. In high school Dylan says sophomore year was his favorite year since it was a full school year and he excelled at the higher level in all three sports he participated in. One thing Dylan will miss about high school is his daily politics update with Mr. James. When asked what Dylan does in his spare time, he said “I don’t really ever have spare time” but if he does he likes to hike and read. One of the greatest influences in Dylan’s life has been his mom since “she was a stay-at-home mom I spent a lot of time with her and she helped get me where I am.” Most importantly, Dylan wants to thank his family: mom. dad and sister ,Natalie for all the support that have given him. Fast forward ten years from now, Dylan wants to have started and be running his own company. His advice for underclassmen is this: “Don’t be lazy. There is nothing worse than mediocrity. Set goals. Work-hard and keep fighting to achieve them. “ After being accepted to Binghamton University, Nicole Dooley plans to attend there. At Binghamton, she will major in biomedical engineering, saying that “I knew I wanted to be in the medical field, but after volunteering at Crouse Hospital I realized I did not want to do patient care but rather go down the research route. As time and technology move forward the field will always be changing, so always room for new innovations.” The STEM field interests Nicole because of the hands-on research and the ability to work towards inventing new technology that will help others. Her dream is “to be able to help improve an already existing technology and to make it more accessible to people who are less fortunate.” Nicole loved attended a small high school, knowing everyone, and being apart of a tight-knit community. However, she feels it will be a “nice change to meet other students with different backgrounds.” Since college is a new experience, Nicole is most scared about the classes she will have to take, saying that she has done well in high school due to teachers walking us through processes and answering all questions. She is aware that college will have larger classes, removing one on one time with a professor, fearing this will “take a toll on my performance.” Nicole Dooley will graduate 5th in her class having a GPA of 98.95. She took College and AP classes throughout high school. Her favorite class was the Global Environment and Human Interactions through ESF taught by Mr. Mauro. Although Nicole was “a bit skeptical” when she discovered only one other person was in the class, she enjoyed it. The small size allowed them to talk about environmental topics “more comfortably” and “freely.” This class inspired her to be a lot more environmentally conscious. Nicole especially loved the support from her teachers in high school. “Throughout high school, I could not even count the amount of times I would stop into Mr. Melfi or Mr. Miller’s room when I was confused about the content. They never turned down my questions and I never left feeling confused.” When it came to applying to college, she was able to talk to Mr. Sharpsteen and Mrs. Kurucz, making her more comfortable with college. Her favorite high school memory was the last rehearsal for The Little Mermaid. Although the show was never shown, “I was able to see the final product and see how hard my new close friends had worked to make that happen.” Nicole believes she will miss high school more than she thinks. She will miss the team bondings and relationships she developed through sports. The proudest moment of her high school career was when she was applying to colleges. “Besides one, I know I had a very strong chance of going anywhere I wanted.” She worked tirelessly every day for three years to reach this moment and “participated in countless activities and went above and beyond the requirements.” Nicole’s advice to underclassmen is this: “Try to make the best of it. It's six years of your life. If you have the tiniest interest in a club but are unsure just join. Clubs and sports are a great way to make friends. Having a common goal in a group has a good way of bringing people together.” Beyond academics, Nicole was a three-sport athlete, running track and cross country along with playing basketball. In track and field, Nicole was a distance runner. As for her position in basketball, she plays post. Out of these three sports, her favorite is cross country since “everyone is so supportive, even other teams.” Nicole also loves her basketball team because she feels like “we are a small family.” As a student at Onondaga, Nicole was extremely involved in extracurricular activities, being a member of the Key Club, Class Officers, Student Council, Newspaper Club, International Internship Program, National Honor Society, Drama Club, Environmental Club. Not only is Nicole Vice President of the Class of 2021 and Student Council, she is also President of Key Club. Nicole’s role in Key Club included volunteer opportunities such as the salvation army Gift Drive and introducing the Angel Stockings drive. In Newspaper Club, Nicole is most known for her recipes. Although she doubted them at first, thinking they were a “bit stupid”, but after skipping an edition, she received multiple messages on social media asking where her recipes were. Nicole continued to say “I love sharing the recipes I make with my family so others can have those experiences as well.” Her favorite recipe is cinnamon rolls. Even though they are very time-consuming, baking relaxes Nicole, giving her time to “really focus on what I am doing.” Not to mention the “end result is delicious.” Baking allows her to introduce her family and friends to plant-based food, proving their favorite desserts can taste the same without animal products. Nicole eats plant-based since it is better for the environment. Nicole stresses that “I don't pressure anyone else to follow that as I know it is difficult which is why when I do introduce it to them, it is with sweets.” When Nicole is not running down the court or studying, she works at Green Hills. Being employed has taught Nicole “how to take some heat and be less sensitive.” One thing many people, with the exception of her closest friends, is that she is quite goofy. Nicole said that in class “I can be a bit uptight sometimes or quiet, but I am quite easy to talk to.” One of Nicole’s hobbies is walking her dog daily because “it is very relaxing to me and allows me to clear my head.” Nicole also loves hiking with family and friends whenever time permits. In her spare time, she enjoys driving with her friends and spending quality time with her mom since that time with her is always meaningful. Her mom has influenced her the most, even if it is a “cliche,” but she “really inspired me.” This is because her mom “has been taking care of mentally ill individuals for over thirty years and seeing how her work impacts those individuals lives made me want to do something that helped people.” Her mom is why she is pursuing a medical career, one that will “positively impact someone's life someday.” In ten years, Nicole hopes to see herself at a “starter job where I would be pursuing biomedical engineering,” staying true to her dreams and preserving through any hardships. She plans to “be in a starter home and maybe have a pet, who knows?” Congratulations Dylan and Nicole on all your accomplishments! Good luck pursuing all your future endeavors!
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By Noor Almaliki Focus, dribble, score! Just a few more points and Macey Deordio would be the first person on the OCS girls varsity basketball team to join the 1,000 points club since 2010 during her senior night basketball game. Macey has been playing basketball since she was six years old. She first played on the varsity team in 10th grade, but started getting serious about scoring a thousand points at the end of her 2020 basketball season. When she first started playing, she never even thought the chance of scoring 1,000 would be in reach. Little did she know, she would be the first to do it in 11 years. She says that when she first scored her thousandth point, it didn’t seem real and it still doesn’t seem real to her. Her family kept her motivated throughout all her years and her steps to achieving the goal. She says she did it for them. When asked what was the best thing about scoring 1,000 points, she says, “The best thing was being able to share the special moment with not only my teammates, but my family as well.” She also says that she will hold on to this huge milestone forever; however, it doesn’t change her plans about college and her future. Avianna Baker had twenty-two points down and one more point to go by the end of her first half of the game. She happened to score her thousandth point in the second half of her last highschool basketball game. Although she has been playing basketball since sixth grade, she started getting serious about achieving her goal of scoring a thousand points this year. She says she stayed motivated because of her uncle who, unfortunately, passed away. She was in disbelief when she scored her thousandth point, and she says it still hasn’t hit that she really achieved her goal yet. It changed her perspective because it made her realize that anything is possible. When asked what was the best thing about scoring 1,000 points, she says, “Definitely making history with Macey!” She adds she couldn’t have done it without her coaches. She states, “Thank you so much to Czarny, Culver, and Demarco for working so hard for me to reach this achievement. I’ll never forget it.” Coach Demarco has a lot to say about these two remarkable athletes. She is very proud of both of them for reaching this milestone. She explains that it is very rare for teammates to reach this goal in the same season. This goes to show a lot about their chemistry, unselfishness, and teamwork. Demarco was happy that Macey was able to have her family there since it was her senior night game. She was also happy for Avi because Avi and Macey both overcame ankle injuries a couple games before. They powered through together to be able to accomplish this incredible goal. She says that Macey and Avi both had a strong work ethic and dedication which helped get them to the point where they are now. She mentions that both were constantly in the gym, even during their off season, to improve their skills. Demarco says, “The way this group supported each other on and off the court was truly remarkable.” When asked if she had anything to say about Macey and Avi, Demarco says she can’t say enough about their work ethic, leadership, and character. She also states, “The two of them have given a lot of young athletes in our district something to look up to which is so special. They overcame a lot to get to this point, and I cannot say enough how proud I am of them. I have been lucky to have coached these two for the last few years, and I am definitely going to miss them next year.” Congratulations to both Macey and Avi and best of luck in your futures! Wrestling is not for the faint of heart and it is most certainly not for the weak. In wrestling, there are not time outs, no subs to replace you when your feeling tired, not pads to soften a takedown, and no time to reset after getting knocked down. Because in wrestling no matter how many times they take you down, you always try to get backup. Onondaga senior, Dylan Price has had great success on the mat. In his sophomore year, Dylan achieved his 100 wins, a feat many do not achieve until senior year, or not at all. In his Junior year, Dylan earned 150 wins. At States in Junior year, Dylan broke the school record of 164 wins, one set by Don Cummings. Congratulations to Dylan, Macey, and Avi for breaking records and setting career milestones! Student Council hosted Spirit Week with many new and improved additions in February. The results are below.
Pep Rally: Battle of the Classes Classes were divided into Group 1: Grades 7, 9 & 11 and Group 2: 8, 10 & 12. The two classes that won in their group advances to the Finals. 1. Knockout: · Between 7, 9 & 11 the 7th grade won · Between 8, 10 & 12 the 10 grade won 2. Pie Eating: · Between 7, 9 & 11 the 9th grade won · Between 8, 10 & 12 the 10th-grade won 3. Egg Toss: · Between 7, 9 & 11 the 11th grade won · Between 8, 10 & 12 the 12th grade won 4. Sack Racing: · Between 7, 9 & 11 the 9th grade won · Between 8, 10 &12 the 10th grade and 12th grade tied 5. Tie-Breaker- Who Can Do the Most Push-Ups in a Minute? · In the Tie-Breaker between the 10th grade and 12th grade, the 10th grade won to advance to the Finals. 6. The Championships/Finals were between the Sophomore and Freshman– Bottle Flip · The Spirit Week Battle of the Classes was won by the.. . Sophomore Class! To watch the Pep Rally Battle of the Classes go to https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TnV1Vl3hNBn5PsuhJUXacrZih__NoAgn/view Kahoot Trivia Results: On Tuesday and Thursday homeroom, there were Kahoot games with Onondaga Central Trivia. The winners from each homeroom were: · Emma Rumney · Ellie Southard · Katie Gunter · Chaslyn Bass · Aiden Ryan · Ethan Miller · Teresa Senn · Angela Riker · Zach Johnson · Nick Toomey · Mr. Miller If you would like to play the OCS Kahoot trivia games use the links below: 1) https://create.kahoot.it/share/spirit-week-2021/4a0808da-bd6b-45f4-b415-4a544a416f3b 2)https://create.kahoot.it/share/onondaga-central-trivia/59746808-88d0-418d-81c7 804782b88d87 Free-Throw Contest: This year for Spirit Week students had the chance to go to the gym and see how many baskets they could make in a minute. The class that made the most baskets won. This year's… Free-Throw Contest Champions were the Seniors! For all the winners' prizes are on the way! Super Bowl Prediction Contest:
In January, Student Council hosted its annual Super Bowl Prediction Contest. The winning score of the contest was 31-24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The two most commonly predicted scores were 31-27 and 28-24. 62.5% of students and staff predicted that the Kansas City Chiefs would win, while only 37.5% predicted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win. Staff was more likely than students to predict the correct winner, Tampa Bay. March Madness: Student Council is hosting its first-ever NCAA March Madness bracket contest. There are three categories: student, staff, and class, competing to see who can pick the most accurate bracket. See the next edition of the Tiger Prowl for winners. Senior vs. Faculty Dodgeball Game: Student Council is planning the annual Senior vs. Faculty Dodgeball game. This annual tradition is a fan favorite. Student Council is looking into Mondays this Spring to host the game. All seniors are eligible to participate. It will be recorded or live-streamed for those interested in watching. Student Council is exploring in-person pep rally options, before Tiger Day to celebrate OCS athletes. Tiger Day: Student Council is looking to plan Onondaga's traditional Tiger Day. We are also looking to add some new activities this Tiger Day or the preceding week such as laser tag, inflatable hamster balls for people like at the NY State Fair, or a dunk tank. Medallion Hunt: Student Council is planning to have the long-held Medallion Hunt Tradition the week of Tiger Day. Be prepared to find the medallion! New Members: Would you like to help plan events for the school? Join Student Council! Student Council is open to new members contact Dylan Price or Mrs. Ferris to join. Imagine going to high school in 1939. If you were a graduate of the Class of 1939 and graduated at 18, you would be turning 100 years old this year! One Onondaga Central alumni and graduate of the Class of 1939, Frances Pegula, is turning 100 years old. In the high school library, there are yearbooks dating back decades, telling the stories of past grades and classes. I was asked by the OCSEF to find information about Frances in these yearbooks for her 100th birthday celebration. This inspired me to explore and dig deeper into what was life like here at OCS in 1939.
The Class of 1939 had 27 graduating Seniors compared to the Class of 2021 that has 77 seniors. In the 1939 yearbook, there was only one group photo of the entire class and no individual photos like our current yearbook. In 1939, Onondaga had the following athletics: soccer, varsity basketball, junior varsity basketball, baseball, girl's volleyball first-team and second-team, archery, and cheerleading. At the beginning of the yearbook, there is a Foreward by the Board of Education that explains that the N.Y. State Legislature cut education by 10%, but Onondaga Central was able to avoid increasing taxes and cutting services due to increased enrollment leading to a greater proportion of aid. The end of the Foreward also encourages parents to come in and observe classes. The next section is the faculty, which consisted of only 19 members, including elementary school teachers, as Wheeler was not yet a school. After this section, there is a part of the yearbook highlighting certain departments such as Homemaking and Agriculture. The Homemaking Department stated its goal was to help girls learn the skills to be mothers or homemakers such as cooking, cleaning, sewing, and parenting. The Agriculture Department stated its goal was to help boys learn the skills necessary to operate a farm. Under the heading "Extra-Curricular Activities, 1938-1939" several informally organized clubs listed including Chess Club and Library Club which focused on learning how to run a library. Onondaga Central had chapters of national organizations such as Future Farmers of America and Boy Scouts of America mentioned. The Dramatics Club is also talked about, which would now be known as Drama Club at OCS. The next section with extra-curricular activities has group photos with all the members. The first extra-curricular highlighted was the school newspaper "Central Speaks." The staff was composed of 27 students and published a newspaper every first and third Wednesday. They covered district-wide events and school activities. The only other organization to have a photo was titled Musical Organizations. The musical organization mentioned in the description below the photo was Grade Chorus, which had 60 members. The music department had five divisions, including an orchestra, and was described as rapidly growing in the first line of the description. The Girl's Glee Club and Boy's Glee Club were also described. After clubs, the next section is the Alumni Register. This portion of the yearbook was dedicated to highlighting where students of past graduating classes are. This included several students attending Cornell University. There were also some students listed attending Syracuse University and one attending St. Lawrence University. Other students were working, stay-at-home mothers, or attending secretarial school. The next section is Athletics. The only team with a photo is cheerleading or as labeled in the yearbook spirit characteristic of Onondaga Central Athletic Teams. There are six female students in the photo. The rest of the teams are listed with all the members. The heading underneath the photo states that Onondaga's girls’ teams have had particularly outstanding seasons. The next and second to last page is the school calendar for the upcoming 1939-1940 school year. The first day of school for the 1939-1940 school year was September 5. Their first day off was Columbus Day, October 12. Then, instead of Veteran's Day in November, OCS students had Armistice Day off on November 11. Congress replaced Armistice Day with Veteran's Day in 1954. Instead of President's Day on February 22nd, they had Washington's Birthday, only had one vacation day as opposed to the week vacation that we get now. Ironically, the graduation for the Class of 1940 was held on June 25th, the same day as graduation this year for the Class of 2021. This class was one of the last to graduate before the start of WWII. Maybe someone in 2103 will look back at an Onondaga Central yearbook to explore what our life was like and write a school newspaper article!
The Seniors celebrated their 100th day to graduation on Friday, March 19 in the afternoon. Students received ice cream which also served as their reward for winning the Student Council Spirit Week Free-Throw Contest. Events included graduation themed Word Scrabble, OCS-themed Bingo and watching March Madness basketball games. Thank you to Mrs. Cummings and Mrs. Ferris for organizing this event! Student Council Treasurer, Natalie Price, created a display in the auditorium hallway of the high school for Women’s History Month in March. Both sides of the tan cinder block walls were adorned with colorful fliers showcasing the “Women Who Changed the World” and the “Women Who Built America.” Women’s History Month has come and gone, but that does not make the impact of these women any less meaningful. Worldwide, there are thousands of women who have made their mark on the world and changed it for the better. Meanwhile, right here in the United States of America, there are hundreds of women who have touched our lives in so many ways and continue to do so daily, whether you realize it or not. Sadly, there are many whose great works go unnoticed. Some of these women- famous, hidden gems, or otherwise, are highlighted below:
The Women Who Built America: Mary Edwards Walker, Colonel Anna Mae Hays, and Loretta Walsh: the first women to defend our great nation. Walker earned her medical degree at Syracuse University and thereafter became a surgeon in the Union Army, even though women were considered unfit to hold such a title at the time. Walker became the first U.S female surgeon in the military. After crossing enemy lines to heal wounded soldiers numerous times, she was captured as a spy and became a prisoner of war. After her release, she was awarded the Medal of Honor, the only military award during the Civil War. She was one of only 8 civilians to be awarded this, as well as the first and only women. Loretta Walsh enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1917 as the USA was on the brink of joining World War I. Walsh became the first woman to serve in the military, performing duties other than medical responsibilities. Colonel Anna Mae Hays, born in Buffalo, NY, served as the 13th chief of the United States Army Nurse Corps. Hays was the first woman in the United States Armed Forces to be promoted to a General Officer rank, paving the way for many strong women to come. Laura Ingalls Wilder was an American pioneer, forging the way in writing and for progress in the United States, being awarded the John Newbery Medal and the Children’s Literature Legacy Award. Her works of the Little House on the Prairie series are tales of an unforgettable, inspiring journey and adventure for all past and future generations to come. Madam CJ Walker and Carly Fiorina may have been from different eras, but both of these women demonstrated that business is not only for men. Walker was the first female self-made millionaire, creating her own company of hair care products, instilling confidence in African American women. Fiorina was the first woman to be the CEO of a Fortune Top 20 Company, running Hewlett-Packard for six years. Not many people become the CEO of a Fortune Top 20 company and this time, one of them was a woman. Victoria Claflin Woodhull, Susana Martinez, and Tulsi Gabbard may each be from different decades and have different views. However, these women are political figures that have failed to be noticed. Woodhull, after overcoming a harsh childhood, rose to the occasion, becoming the first woman to run for president of the United State, doing so before women even had the right to vote. Martinez, served as New Mexico’s governor from 2011 to 2019, earning the title of the first Hispanic female governor. Gabbard, as many may have heard of as she put her name into the ring for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, is less known for being the first female combat veteran elected to Congress, along with being the first American Somana voting member of congress. The first female doctor in the United States, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, overcame the obstacle of sexism and earned her doctorate degree at Upstate Medical University. As a physician, she emphasized hygiene, something she believed many male doctors overlooked. With the help of her friends, Blackwell opened her own clinic to treat poor women. Not only was their mission to give women access to good medical attention, but also to provide positions for female physicians. Amelia Earhart and Bessie Coleman flew farther and higher than all the others, soaring into new heights, clearing the tarmac for thousands of future aviators to come. Along with setting other records, Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She played an instrumental part in the formation of the organization The Ninety-Nines, a female pilot organization. Coleman was the first African American woman and Native American to hold a pilot’s license. She also was the first African American to earn an international pilot’s license. Antonia Novello was the first woman and Hispanic Surgeon general of the United States, appointed under the leadership of George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Dr. Novello was born in Puerto Rico, but through hard work and determination, made her way to Capitol Hill, becoming the first woman to hold such a poised position. Phyllis Schlafly most famously known for helping President Ronald Reagan be elected President, forming the advocacy group Eagle Forum, wrote numerous best-selling books, and successfully advocating against the Equal Rights Amendment and Communism. Schlafly believed, as did her followers, that the vague language of the Equal Rights Amendment would revoke rights, protections, and privileges women enjoy, including protections for elderly women, the elimination of government programs that benefit mothers such as WIC, and force women to be drafted in the event of a war, and protections for pregnant women. She is credited with launching the modern conservative movement. Elizabeth Dole and Condolezza Rice represent paramount positions held by women for the first time. Rice was the first African-American female Secretary of State as well as the first woman to be National Security Advisor, two critical positions for the security of our nation. Dole was the first woman to hold two different cabinet positions in the administrations of two presidents. Under President Reagan, Dole was first female U.S. Transportation Secretary and under George H.W. Bush she was U.S. Labor Secretary. Though her tenure in Presidential Cabinets, she focused heavily on improving public safety and workplace safety, health and reducing drunk driving. Dole worked for six different presidents, achieving many “firsts.” She was the first female executive of the American Red Cross since its founder, Clara Barton. Also, she was the first serious female contender for the Republican presidential nomination and the first female senator of North Carolina. Maya Lin, an Asian American designed the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C., gaining national attention to the work of art that would be viewed by millions. Lin stood behind her design even as she was attacked for her race. Sandra Day O’Conner is strikingly important to where women stand today, yet all the focus went to Ruth Bader Ginsberg who followed in her footsteps over a decade later. Nominated by President Regan, O’Conner was the first woman ever to be appointed to the Supreme Court. There, she is most famous for advocating the protection of human rights, civil rights, and voting rights. O’Conner is recognized for her strong leadership to preserve judicial independence and for her temperate, yet diligently-researched opinions. Sandra Day O’Conner was a deciding voice in numerous high-stake court cases. Susan B Anthony, a well-known women’s suffragette and abolitionist, worked alongside renowned men and women such as Fredrick Douglass and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Equality was instilled within her at birth, as she was born into a Quaker family. Although it was seen as improper for women to give public presentations, that did not stop Anthony from giving passionate speeches about abolition. It was not until 1851 that Anthony met Stanton, and together, for the next 50 years, they would stand shoulder to shoulder to gain rights for women. Anthony risked imprisonment for expressing her views publicly, but she pushed forward, advocating for the rights we now, today, take for granted. Oprah Winfrey and Laura Ingraham have forged new paths in the entertainment industry, as Oprah, a self-made millionaire, is one of TV’s most influential and successful. Laura can be accredited for being the highest-ranking female radio host. Oprah has a net worth of $2.7 billion and is the founder of OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network. Laura formerly hosted a nationally syndicated radio show for 3 hours before gaining a TV show. Mae Jemison, Ella Ochoa, and Sally Ride all looked down on Earth and saw it revolve around the sun. All three of these women were the “firsts” for outer space. Jemison was the first African American woman to travel into space, working as a specialist on the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Ella Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman flown into space, serving nine days on the Space Shuttle Discovery. But the woman who really launched American women into space for the first time was Sally Ride, who worked the robotic arm of her space shuttle to put satellites into space. Katherine Johnson may not have looked down on Earth, nor was she launched into space in a shuttle, but her mathematical intelligence helped send the first manned spacecraft to the moon, as well as many other manned shuttles. During a time when African American women’s mental strength was challenged by many, Johnson, along with Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson showed the world their power by allowing the USA to win the Space Race. Wilma Rudolph is a name many may never hear, but Rudolph made tremendous strides for awareness of women’s sports. Literally. Wilma was a track star, becoming the first American woman to win three gold medals in Track and Field at the Olympics, earning her the title of the fastest woman in the world. Her speed on the track sped up the future phenomenon of women in sports, proving that not only men can be great athletes, but women too. The fight to preserve women’s sports is still ongoing. Women Who Changed the World: As women were raped, murdered, and mistreated in every way by ISIS terrorists, the Women of the Syrian Revolution did not cower and hide. Instead, they fought back. When ISIS was defeated in 2017, these women revealed themselves, showing their faces and identities, removing and then burning the traditional Islamic clothes ISIS had forced them to wear, not letting any man stand in their way. In that very same year, these women constructed homes in Jinwar, a village for children and women in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Jinwar is based on the principle of self-sustainability, aiming to give women a safe place to live, free from oppression and violence. In Kurdish, “Jinwar” means “women’s land” or “women’s place” These women are inspirations to all, defeating oppression, suppressing the shrouding of their identity, and overcoming assault so their daughters, granddaughters, and friends could all live to fight another day. Junko Tabei may seem like a common Japanese woman, an author, a teacher, and a mother. But beyond her exterior appearance, Tabei was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, becoming a famous Japanese mountaineer instantaneously. Not only did she hike Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, Tabei was the first woman to hike the Seven Summits, reaching the zenith of the highest peak on each of the seven continents. Instead of breaking barriers for women, she climbed them, and in every instance- she reached the top. Marie Curi and Rosland Franklin made groundbreaking revelations in the scientific field during a time when women’s intellect was highly underestimated. Curie was the first woman to win Nobel Prizes. In 1903, she won the award for physics, and in 1911, she won it in chemistry. The first Nobel Prizes in chemistry and physics were awarded in 1901 and since then, only ten have been to women, one of those being Curi, known for her trailblazing research in radioactivity. Franklin is to thank for our understanding of the double helix of our DNA and the understanding of other molecular structures such as RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. Margret Thatcher, also known as “The Iron Lady,” lives up to her nickname as the first female British Prime minister. A Soviet journalist dubbed her the "Iron Lady," a nickname that became associated with her unwavering politics and leadership style, standing her ground no matter what or who stood in her path. Thatcher won three landslide elections, revived the British economy, lowered inflation rates, even survived an assignation attempt, proving that no one can stop the Iron Lady. Florence Nightingale was not just a social reformer, but the founder of modern nursing. She came to distinction while serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War, in which she organized the care for wounded soldiers at Constantinople. Jane Goodall is a primatologist most known for her long-term study of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania For generations, women young, old, and anywhere in between have looked up to the works of Louisa May Alcott. Her stories are sensationalized throughout the world, being rewritten dozens of times in abridged versions for younger readers to enjoy, along with dramatizing her novels into TV shows and movies on numerous occasions. Little Women, one of her most famous books, has captured the attention of millions and inspired us all. First written in two volumes in 1868 and 1869, Little Women, a coming-of-age novel, follows the lives of four resilient sisters. The story follows the March sisters, including Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, and details life’s precious moments and life lessons. By 1880, the two novels were issued into a single book. Sequels included Little Men and Jo’s boy, all of which carry on many vital themes. One moral is that self-sacrifice will bring happiness to others, ultimately bringing happiness to you by creating a balance between family duties and personal desires to flourish. Alcott teaches her readers that true sacrifice is rooted in love, compassion, charity, and selflessness. To young girls, Little Women teaches them to stand up for what they believe in and that their future has no limits because of their gender. The title, Little Women, refers to the period where young childhood and elder childhood are overlapping with young womanhood, proving war can cause one to have to grow up too fast. Little Women is set in Boston, during and directly after the Civil War. Mr. March has enlisted in the war, making the ultimate sacrifice for his country. The novel begins on Christmas Eve when all the characters are introduced. Throughout the novel, the four sisters struggle to survive amidst a war and through poverty. The eldest is Meg, the poised, elegant, beautiful daughter, seeking to be the perfect woman. Then there is Jo, a talented writer and notorious tomboy, and her sidekick Beth, a tragically frail, timid girl, and a musical prodigy. The youngest is Amy, spoiled and immature in the beginning. With father being off at war, each sister must pull their weight to help Marmee put food on the table and keep them warm and sheltered. Jo, not being one to shy away from anything or anyone, meets Laurie, the shy neighbor. Laurie and Jo hit it off, instantly becoming friends. Laurie is thrown into the March’s home, becoming family to the sisters. Mr. Laurence, Laurie’s grandfather, feels a gravitational pull to the sisters, particularly Beth. As the family's lives intertwine, new characters enter into the scene, causing heartache and even heartbreak for the girls. As time progresses, the girls endure hardships unlike any they had had in the past, but together they can get through any storm that crosses their path. The novel covers a wide plot, spanning from minor, intimate details of the March’s lives, to years of aging and growing up. Little Women is a classic story with timeless lessons for women of all ages. Personally, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars, but most certainly recommend the unabridged version. If you are a fan of the book, Little Women has been adapted into film six different times, the latest being in 2019. “Watch and pray, dear, never get tired of trying, and never think it is impossible to conquer your fault.”
- Little Women Have you ever tried to sow a plant, but it didn’t work the way you wanted it to? Well, here are a few tips and tricks to make sure you have a visually appealing garden this spring.
1. Get quality soil or avoid cheap potting mix. Getting bad soil could have a detrimental effect on the growth of your plant(s). There are many great places to buy soil and fertilizer locally, ranging from $10-$30, depending on the quantity and quality. 2. Plant something that’s native to your region. Planting something that’s from your area typically grows better than if you were to get a foreign plant. You can grow wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and most vegetable garden seeds you see in stores. 3. It’s best to plant things that are in season. You’ll definitely have more of a challenge attempting to grow something that’s not in season, it almost never ends well. In my experience, plants almost never grow after their season, and you’re very lucky if it works out. Instead of hoping it’ll grow, give it a better chance by planting it when it’s supposed to be planted instead of starting too early or waiting until it’s too late. 4. Figure out the plant(s) you want before starting anything. If you’re making a vegetable garden it’s good to find vegetables you enjoy eating before growing anything because there’s no point in growing something that won’t make you happy. However, if you decide to grow flowers instead, grow flowers you like looking at so it can be very visually appealing to you and others! 5. Know how to take care of your plant(s). Researching growing directions for your specific plant can make a huge impact on if it will grow or not. Reading into it can be a great idea because it’s more personalized for the specific plant and can give the plant a higher chance of growing. Things tend to grow faster and healthier when they’re planted in the proper location. This could mean more or less sunlight and more or less water. Everything tends to depend on the type of plant and its needs. 6. Avoid digging or planting in wet soil. Research shows that wet soil is tightly packed together and this can lead to less room for oxygen to penetrate. Tight soil is also difficult for plant roots and gardening equipment to move through so it’s always good to plant in dry soil. 7. Provide a proper watering system and schedule . When it comes to watering your plant, you don’t want to drown it or not give it enough water. Everything depends on how much water intake your plant desires but in most cases water doesn’t have to be given on a daily basis. Instead, spread out watering times so it has a better chance at living. 8. Do not get discouraged when it doesn’t work out. Not everything works out the first time, especially when it comes to plants. Growing things could take many mistrials and practice until you finally find your growing-groove. Even though planting can seem difficult, after you get the hang of it all, it’ll be so soothing and calming that the struggles will all have been worth it. Who knows, maybe with practice you’ll be a master gardener one day. Moxie is a comedy-drama film rated PG-13 and was released on March 3rd, 2021. It was directed by Amy Poelher and it was based off of the novel written by Jennifer Mathieu. It’s only available to stream on Netflix. This movie features Amy Poelher, Clark Gregg, Josie Totah, and Hadley Robinson. I would personally recommend this if you’re interested in feminism and attempting to make a change for a better future. It’s definitely different and I would give it 5 stars.
Moxie takes place in modern times and is about an anonymous writer, Moxie, who points out all the things that are wrong with Rockport High School (sexism, double standards, transphobia, homophobia, racism, etc.). It’s a whacky movie portraying what it’s like growing up in today’s society and how taking a stand can make a positive impact. Vivian, a girl who never does anything wrong, starts to notice all the messed up problems at her school. When a list goes around saying horrible things about people, she finally decides to speak up. One day, she gets fired up and makes pamphlets of the messed up things at school and leaves them in the girls bathrooms. Along with the help of her newly-found-friends, the Moxie members, Vivian decides to spread different movements to show everyone’s support. The catch is that no one knows Moxie’s identity and Vivian plans to keep it that way. However, the stakes begin to rise when Rockport threatens to suspend any person associated with Moxie and Vivian has to decide whether she should continue to speak her mind or abruptly end the Moxie movement. Earth Day has been celebrated worldwide on April 22nd every year since 1970. Gaylord Nelson, former politician and environmentalist, created Earth Day when he was working as a U.S. senator. He was motivated by the fact that the issue of pollution wasn’t being recognized and considered important. The main purpose of Earth Day was and still is to bring awareness and persuade people to act to fix the issue. Earth Day also raises awareness about climate change. Roughly 20 million Americans celebrated the first Earth Day in 1970. Now, almost a billion people celebrate Earth Day each year as they come together to help preserve the Earth. People do all sorts of things to help our environment on Earth Day such as pick up trash outside, plant trees, etc. Since pollution is an enduring issue we face today, you should try your best to help not only on Earth Day, but also every day by changing small habits. Simple things such as using the reduce, reuse, and recycle method can help. Planting trees is beneficial to the Earth because trees improve our air quality by filtering harmful dust and pollutants, giving off oxygen, and providing shelter to some animals. Conserving water by turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth, or showering for a shorter period of time is also very helpful. Choosing reusable bags, containers, etc. is also beneficial because as of 2018, the world produces about 380 million tons of plastic waste each year. Earth Day has been very successful and even caused environmental laws to be enacted in the United States. For example, Earth Day led to laws such as Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Ask yourself how you can help make the earth a better place this Earth Day! Save the date for May 22-24 to watch the OCS Drama Production of Mama Mia.
The Class of 2023 will have a food truck fundraiser on May 22 of the production. Stay tuned for more information! May 18th: Budget Voting Day– Support the Class of 2023 are get lunch or dinner at the annual Doug’s Fish Fry food truck parked at the high school. Spring Sports begin April 19, 2021ge Visit the Book Wranglers Virtual Book Displays through OFL at: https://oflvirtualbookdisplays.weebly.com/ Attention Seniors: Look out for google forms for the coming editions for spotlights for Seniors in Tiger Prowl! Treat People With Kindness By Vanessa Woolery Like adding water to a flower Kindness has the same power A nice thing to say, or an action of good Not all would appreciate it, but most people would Yes, it’s important to express this to family and friends But also to strangers, or those on other ends You never know a person until you walk in their shoes Which is why at the end of the day, it’s kindness you should choose It isn’t that hard, so as members on this Earth we should start To show kindness to everything and everyone, to take part If you try to live your life this way, I think you will see That you will live a happy life, and others around you will also be So come on everyone, join in, jump into the pool Let’s all come together and follow the golden rule Treat others the way you want to be treated Join hands everyone, though there's evil in this world, we can beat it Work together, bring others into the light, cure their blindness It’s really that simple, just treat people with kindness A Poem by Anonymous Darkness spreads, Trees looming and grabbing the sky, The ground as hard as thoughts and soft like threads, A path leads in the black abyss, Mesmerized by the curves, The path splits into left and right, Which way to go but which one is right, The left seems odd but the right seems particular, The paths look to be stretching and stretching, Like a line that someone is sketching, Steps in a direction lead nowhere, The mind, the soul and the body are trapped, In the eternal hollow, There is no escape, No relief of stress or comfort, Just an eternity with your thoughts, In the blackness called eternal hollow "A True Friend" | By: Noor Almaliki
A true friend is as strong has a flood, but as soft as a flower bud Gives you love, hope, and care this gift is so rare A true friend gives you giggle and positive thoughts this friendship is tied up in so many knots A true friend wipes our tears as our friendship has grown over the years How we love each other like a sister and brother A true friend is as strong as a flood but as soft as a flower bud A true friend |
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