All photos by Liliana Castellanos.
Culinary arts bakes sweet treats to start the year
Category: Features
Red Devils welcome new school year with annual Community Pep Rally
Students, Community come together to collect school supplies and display school spirit
All photos by Magdalene Conrad.
International Showcase gives students the chance to share their cultures
the auxiliary gym. Photo by Gabrielle Watkins.
The Last Word: Innocence to Reality
Editor’s Note: Journalism I students who have published on the Hyphen website this school year were given the opportunity to write and publish a final message to readers on a topic and with a style of their choice.
by Ayianna Maddox
To be naive once again.
The world out here is cruel.
To not see crystal clear, but to see a cartoon.
To see the world bright and colorful again, instead of bland and dull.
How I miss hearing the ice cream truck’s tune.
Now I wake to a snooze alarm.
To not have a care in the world.
To yearn for the newest toy, not an extra 5 minutes.
The years passed by, believing they’d last forever.
The memories slip away, but small fragments of nostalgia remain.
Excavated memories and treasures.
Innocence to reality.
The world has never looked the same.
Looking back is realizing that every day that naive child is still present.
That naive child lives in my heart, where she’s always been since the start.
Review: The Doors’ debut album achieves perfection from top to bottom
by Tyler Conley
Before the release of the first album, way before the legacy and creation that The Doors became, no one, not even the band themselves, would realize the lasting impact they would have on the music industry and rock and roll as we know it today.
The Doors first got their kicks of being a band in 1965, playing small venues, with nervous frontman Jim Morrison turning his back on the audience as he sang to avoid stage fright. Also included were Ray Manzarek at the helm of keyboard bass and organ, Robby Krieger laying down chords and bluesy solos, and John Densmore putting down rhythms unmatched and unheard of at the time. This lineup would stick together until the eventual breakup of the band.
When 1967 struck, it was time to record the first record. For 10 thousand dollars a 4- track recorder was purchased. With the help of Paul A. Rothchild, the band began their sessions for their self-titled debut. Rehearsal outtakes were recorded of songs that would appear on later records, but the first actual songs recorded were “I Looked at You” and “Take It as It Comes.”
With the combined power and input of all band members, the band completed recording. “Light My Fire” became an instant success, reaching #1 on Billboard charts, along with “Break on Through (To the Other Side.)” At the time The Doors arrived, rock was in absolute infancy, especially when compared to today’s standards for what “rock” is. With a mixture of blues, soul, rock, and everything in between, this album is a gem for anyone a fan of those genres.
Morrison’s lyricism is a big factor in what makes the music magical. His outlook on life, his expressions of feelings and ideas are perfect. The final song on the record, an 11-minute epic, details fighting past trauma and getting over the past. Most of the love songs the Doors would write on this record and many more are about Morrison’s longtime girlfriend, Pamela.
Over Morrison’s life, controversy has played a big part in how people perceive him. People label the singer as a drunk, and stupid. But behind those bad, vulnerable moments is a person who was caring and compassionate. Back in the 60s, mental help wasn’t as easily accessible as it is now.
This album changed my life when I first heard it. The beautifulness of “The Crystal Ship” And “End of The Night,” and the killer tunes of “Break on through (To the Other Side)” and “Twentieth Century Fox.” These songs, and much more, make up one of the best debut albums of all time.
And if that alone isn’t enough to pique your interest, artists like Jay-Z and Lauryn Hill have sampled The Doors’ music in their works. The Doors are respected by every genre, and heavily influential.
The Doors are engraved into the heart of rock and roll, and the music industry as a whole. Jim Morrison, and all members respectively, are like cosmic brothers, and their music is there for the listener whenever they need it. When people are strange, music will always be waiting with open arms, and this album is no exception. Top to bottom, perfection.
Music calms students, teachers as they complete academic work
by Sophia Waldridge
In the world of music there are many different genres; many favor R&B or hip hop, while others strive to have the emotional connection with music that will make them relate to the artist, a song where they feel the lyrics on a whole new level.
English 9 teacher Eric Watson said music always resonates emotionally when it expresses situations the listener has been through, and a lot when it has an “inherently empathetic expression.”
Watson’s co-teacher, Michelle Houchin, agreed and said emotional music helps connect people and relate them to each other, it can help someone feel happy when they’re sad or they can express themselves through having a good cry over a breakup while listening to sad music.
“I listen to emotional music when I am upset. It helps me feel seen and I can have a personal concert and sing what I relate to the most. As an adult I think this music is more popular than before but it does help some people.”
Some students feel the benefits of this music, too. They just want to put their headphones in and relax at school, as not only adults have bad days and need an escape from reality with some jams.
Freshman Mahalia Smith said emotional music could help people realize what emotion they’re genuinely feeling if they’re confused.
“Sometimes being alone is all you need when you’re feeling down and music can always help,” she said. It can be a good distraction to just help people feel safe enough to let out a good cry or even a happy song that they can sing along to in private and make themselves feel better.
“Finding a song that you relate to by an artist you know is a very cathartic experience,” said Algebra Honors Teacher Cory Densford, He listens to music with emotion, but between happy or sad depending on his mood. If it’s been a bad day he uses happy music to turn his day around.
“The main thing I feel while listening to music I relate to is that it helps me feel like I’m not alone with my feelings, and I’m grateful I have an outlet for some of my negative emotions,” said Densford.
Freshman Gracie Harder thinks R&B music is more soothing and gives people the opportunity to have calm background music like slow blues or a good rhythm. She listens to hits in her free time when she needs to think or she’s doing homework.
“I listen to R&B mostly because it gives me a calming feeling and a quiet place to think when I’m stressed.”
JHS engages students by offering diverse experiences
by Ayianna Maddox
JHS is home to 2,130 students. Within those 2,130 students is a diverse community, each with different perspectives of a regular day at JHS.
Sophomore David Perez explains that his school day is “rather boring, but it gets me out of my house.” During lunch, he “pops into Radio and Broadcasting” to do any project he has.
“Radio and Broadcasting is, in fact, one of the most engaging classes because it’s hands-on, and it puts you out there. If you’re a talent, it gives you airtime. If you’re behind the scenes, it puts you to work on the technical side of most of our events,” Perez said confidently.
JHS is like a community itself. Social interactions are at an all-time high and are never dull.
“JHS’s hallways depend on the day. Most of the time, they’re chill, sometimes crowded, but chill. I meet up with friends quite frequently throughout the day, whether it’s before a period or after a period,” freshman Izzy Wemes explained.
“The halls are crowded. It sucks because people sort of just stand there or group together, or walk right where I’m going to walk. It’s pretty hard because they walk slowly, and there’s no opening,” said sophomore Cary Anderson Rospigliosi.
Engagement levels in classes can fluctuate throughout the day.
According to a study made by Gellis in 2011, as cited on the National Library of Medicine, “As school engagement declines during adolescence, sleep quality and duration decrease.”
With a decline in engagement at school, followed by sleep deprivation, academic skills could be next.
In fact, according to junior Siri Murphy, “It can definitely fluctuate a lot. I think some teachers tend to talk at students more than they teach, per se, but I do think that a lot of times, if the subject materials at least have something interesting, then it can really make a difference.”
Patton creates connections in a comfortable classroom environment
by Viviana Chavez Gonzalez
“If you’d like to head to the lab area, we can get started,” begins health academy teacher Charles Patton.
After being in the health services industry for many years, a job opportunity came up for Patton — teaching high school students different health classes. This was a big change for Patton, having no personal experience teaching students before.
“I never really saw myself becoming a teacher, but I have many role models growing up, making me believe that I could do things above what I felt I could,” he said. “In college I had professors that also helped me see that there’s a lot of different ways to think about things than just what you read and interpret and take them to the next step further and do some other research and see what other people say about a certain subject.”
While it may not have been planned, Patton illuminates his newfound care for the education profession and his classes.
“I’m not a huge believer in divine intervention, or things happening for a particular reason, but I think this particular job did happen for a particular reason. It put me where I was supposed to be.”
Even though becoming a teacher wasn’t exactly what Patton envisioned, students have grown fond of their new health teacher, boasting over the comfortability of the classroom environment.
“One of my favorite memories was the week before break and he had bought us all popcorn and he made us laugh the entire class,” said sophomore Laela Rudicel. “We just got to tell stories, talk, watch movies and do whatever. We got to draw on the walls with paint markers. Everytime I see those drawings it’s a cute reminder of how much fun and comfortable the environment is. I just feel like every day in that class is my favorite.”
Another classmate, junior Amaree Smith, also described the classroom atmosphere as a close knit relationship between the students and Patton. She illustrated the family-like relationship they have grown over the year, shining a light on how important he has become in the students’ day-to-day lives.
As time continues more students have grown to love his class and enjoy learning with him, much like Smith and Rudicel.
Sophomore Kaniyah Woodley demonstrated how she feels in her third- period class with Patton, describing how inclusion and attention from teachers is important for students.
“He’s a great teacher. I’m not afraid to ask Mr. Patton questions in his class because he’s very kind and doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable or bothersome I guess. Like when we’re doing a lab or something similar, you can ask him and he’ll demonstrate it for you. He’s very good at making you feel comfortable and it’s not like you’re being left behind.”
Continuing the notion, sophomore Camden White detailed the importance of student-teacher relationships, stating, “I feel like compared to other teachers, Mr. Patton just understands on a deeper level, and he understands that the connections are really important. He wants to be involved and really help us understand our subjects. There’s some teachers who don’t really explain much and who aren’t very into it. They don’t understand us and what we need or how we need to learn.”
Moments like these with a welcoming environment and engaging activities can be critical for students and their learning pathways. All students are different and they may require unique conditions in order to be successful in the classroom. This may come as a difficulty for some teachers, especially with the new generation and their views.
Despite this, Patton enjoys the challenge. He described how interesting it is to see how sometimes the most unexpected events lead to something even greater.
“To be able to impact a whole classroom of students that are locked in and interested in what you’re saying. It’s a different feeling than I’d ever really experienced. And I think it’s those moments that keep me centered in and knowing that this is the right choice for me.”
With a new look on life and new experiences, it’s exciting to see how as people we can grow. A huge part of students’ lives is meeting new people and making connections, and for the students of Patton this is a key part of building a healthy learning environment.
Sophomore Arianna Adams shared her personal experience as well, illustrating the guidance she is able to receive from Patton.
“I really like his teaching style because I feel like I could ask any questions and he explains it to me in a way I can really get it. Usually if I have a problem teachers kind of want me to figure it out by myself but he understands and helps me figure it out instead of just sending me out lost.”
It’s Patton’s teaching style that helps him connect with his students.
“The best part of teaching is when you all lock in, you get to actually see what you’re trying to teach, take hold and make sense. That really is it, when I can stand up here and see what I’m saying, connect with you guys, that’s the best part of teaching.”
Students believe Patton’s personality is what makes their connections with him so powerful.
“He’s himself which I feel like being himself and being funny and natural is what helps us connect with him so well. It helps us have an understanding of each other. We get to have a lot of fun doing nice sections in different labs, and those are always a good time working together, laughing, and joking around,” continued White.
Being a teacher is difficult, but isn’t it worth the hard work when it’s for the students? To be able to see lessons come to life and inspire those around you.
Rudicel illuminated the relationship between Patton and his students.
“He truly cares for us as we are his own children. He all makes us happy. I like how understanding and kind he is. Most teachers could care less about what’s going on or what’s happening to make you feel bad or upset but Mr. Patton cares. Today I was super tired and drained and he came up to me and I ended up laughing. He just makes the day better, I believe he is a true teacher.”
For many students, music is the soundtrack of their lives
by Aaliyah Flowers
From the rhythm of a heartbeat to the melodies of a symphony, music is fed into the very souls of human existence. Music impacts our language, culture, emotions, shaping memories and influencing our behavior in ways we often don’t realize.
But how exactly does this seemingly art have such a profound influence on us?
“Music is my life. I listen to music everywhere I go no matter how I feel. I never thought about how the lyrics can affect me as a student. I tend to listen to rap and the words aren’t the best, but they are very catchy,” said sophomore Josiah Whisenat.
These catchy beats and rhythms in music can overpower lyrics.
“As a person who loves music and even got into playing an instrument myself, it does have an influence on my everyday life. I’m constantly listening to music, whether it be while working during class, in the car on my way home, or just while practicing playing the guitar. Music is all around the world and one of the most popular forms of entertainment and escape. Music has always been my favorite hobby to do,” said junior Ubaldo Pille Jaremillo.
Music is a part of people’s lives and has a hold on them.
“As a teen, I usually listen to worship. Not many people, let alone teenagers, listen to worship, but it gives me peace. The words are always so powerful and meaningful. It makes me better as a whole,” said freshman Chelsie Jean.
Listening to music with meaningful lyrics can impact people as a whole, especially since music taps into people’s memories.
“Music is a memory reminder for me. There have always been songs that remind me of special times of life. My family loves to listen to music everyday in our house. Music transports me back to specific times and places in my life. It rekindles memories and emotions that might otherwise be lost,” said junior Ashly West.
Music has always been art in some way; it just depends on how the artist makes it.
“I listen to Rap and RnB on a daily basis. I don’t really listen to the lyrics, but the way it sounds is what I like about it. Now that I think about it, when I sing my music it’s not so good,” said freshman Marcus Baker.
Paying attention to the lyrics in the music we listen to could change our perspectives. So, the next time you listen to your favorite song, take a moment to appreciate the profound impact it’s having on your mind, body, and soul.
Music is more than just entertainment; it’s the soundtrack of our lives, shaping who we are and how we experience the world.
Spring break can alter teen sleep schedules
by Viviana Gonzalez Chavez
What time did you go to bed last night?
For most high school students this can be around 11 p.m., and while many set a bedtime for themselves on school nights, what about the days they know they don’t have school in the morning? It is widely known how drastic our sleep schedules may change during interruptions like seasonal breaks.
According to the National Institutes of Health, there have been studies done that prove that a good night’s sleep enhances learning and problem-solving skills. It also improves focus, decision-making, and creativity. Additionally, research indicates that sleep deficiency alters activity in certain areas of the brain.
It’s commonly known that a certain amount of sleep is required for humans to fully function with the utmost ability, but just how much should students and teachers be getting?
According to sophomores Arianna Adams and Kaniyah Woodley, the general difference in students’ sleep habits over break is very minimal, they believe students actually get more sleep. They conclude that with the extra hours of free time, many students and teachers alike choose to spend it by sleeping, whether that be by naps or during the night.
It’s recommended that the average teenager from the ages of 14 to 17 years should receive around 8 to 10 hours of sleep. A similar guideline is placed for adults ranging from 18 up to 64.
While these guidelines are put in place for better health, there are times when life becomes difficult with external factors. Matters like school, sports, extracurricular activities, and jobs all affect the times people go to sleep and when we wake up.
“It’s kind of hard to improve my schedule with sports like track and soccer, it’s everywhere and it changes randomly at times,” said sophomore Laela Rudicel.
And while most of the time students are busy with their own lives, they tend to forget about teachers and their personal lives as well.
Health teacher Charles Patton detailed his own routine during breaks. “I am not as consistent as I would want to be, it heavily depends on Charlie, my 16 month old. When she’s ready to go down that’s when I go down, and so we try for it to be at a certain time, but that’s rarely the case.”
Many factors go into what times everyone goes to bed; thankfully however, during seasonal breaks students and teachers alike are graced with more time in their days.
Thanks to this break from school, many students take the extra time to sleep in a couple more hours each day.
“If I didn’t have a job, best believe I would be home everyday sleeping by 8 o’ clock,” stated junior Amaree Smith.
Junior Francisco Martinez, agreed, stating, “During spring break I think I get more sleep because I wake up early since I already usually do, but then I’ll take a nap in between the day, something I can’t do normally.”
And while this seems to be the case for most students, not everyone agreed.
Rudicel described her own drastic changes during school breaks, saying, “I definitely stay up really late at night, because it’s just easier that way and I sleep in a lot during breaks. During normal weekdays I get at least six to seven hours of sleep and I’m in bed by 10:30, but on the weekends I’m in bed by 4 a.m. and I wake up at 9:30 … basically around five hours of sleep.”
Although this may seem a bit extreme, many students go through similar phases in which they sleep during the day and stay up through the night.
Smith also recalls a time when her schedule was once just as bizarre, “Like two days before school started in the summer I was staying up till 10 o’clock in the morning and going to sleep then waking up at 5 p.m. It’s hard; it is very hard to revert or fix your schedule. The thing is, you try to stay up the whole day to restart, but you never make it through the whole day, so it’s really difficult.”
As she mentioned, fixing the sleep schedule can be very difficult and takes lots of time.
“They (students) will go to sleep later, but they’ll wake up later too so it probably equals out in the end but I think it depends, their sleep patterns get worse. Then when you try to revert that sleep schedule, it doesn’t go back, like you have to have at least a week and a half to revert your sleep schedule back to normal,” continued Patton.
So then, if it is so difficult to fix your schedule, why do people practice these habits?
Many studies show that bad sleep hygiene comes from stress, depression, poor eating habits, or sleep apnea. While resetting their sleep schedule may take a bit, many students would agree that committing to a good night’s rest each day is for the best.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute described good sleeping habits as regulating the scheduled hours of sleep, being consistent with habits, and even setting aside extra time before bed to quiet down and relax.
So what will you do this upcoming spring break? Will you stay up late or will you catch more Zs during the week off?
Social media can have negative effects on teens
by Layla Anderson, Isabella Murray, and Lola Mays
Social media impacts many people, but severely influences teenagers due to their generous use of time on social media.
One of the most popular apps among teenagers is TikTok. The Pew Research Center states, “…94% of teens say they use social media, with 46% of all teens saying they use it almost constantly.”
Social media is one of the contributing factors to the increasing poor mental health of teenagers. Yale Medicine states, “Over the last decade, increasing evidence has identified the potential negative impact of social media on adolescents. According to a research study of American teens ages 12-15, those who used social media over three hours each day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety symptoms.”
French teacher Dana Schenk agreed, saying, “It can be a potent influence on their mental health because they do not have the tools to protect themselves when it comes to things that make them depressed or sad or unhappy with their lives. They do not know how to find resources in themselves to move on and not pay attention to all that.”
Talkspace therapist Cynthia Catchings said on September 2023, “Mental health can be affected by social media when there is no clear understanding of how it works. Although teens know that not everything on social media is real, they may still be influenced and experience negative emotions that create feelings of worthlessness or low self-esteem.”
Teachers over the years have been seeing an increase in poor mental health in teenagers. But, poor mental health isn’t the only danger of social media. The influence of social media is alarming. Teenagers are being pushed to do all kinds of things, good or bad because they see someone online doing it or want to be like another person on social media.
A very common social media influence we see in teenagers is body image. Teenagers are driven to want to have this “perfect” body because they see someone online have it.
English 12 teacher Emmaly Rose said, “Teenagers are influenced the most by body image standards, materialism, and social validation. Social media platforms often prioritize beauty, wealth, and social status, which creates unrealistic expectations of what is ‘normal.’ Teens may feel pressured to conform to certain trends or viral challenges.”
When students feel badly about themselves, studies show that students project it onto other students and pick on or even bully their peers to make themselves feel better.
“Social media is one of the main contributors that we see when students are being picked on. Social media makes it easy because people can hide behind it. Sometimes they don’t even know who the identity is, which means it’s really hard to monitor inside and outside of school, and it’s very hard to control,” said assistant principal Jennifer Gohmann.
Social media isn’t just a problem online. It also brings in problems inside the school. If students argue over social media they will bring those problems into the school.
Rose said, “These outside problems can create a hostile or stressful school environment, making it harder for students to focus on learning. It can create tension in school hallways, among peers, and even in the classroom.”
Misinformation is also a result of relying too much on social media rumors.
“Some things to be wary of is: becoming isolated and not learning in depth. A lot of times we don’t verify the information. Believe everything you see. And nobody questions it if you have too much information. How do you sort through all that to make sure it’s from a verified source? Make sure you’re not following somebody that is giving you dangerous ideas and promoting bad things,” Gohmann said.
Just because there are some bad influences on social media doesn’t mean they can’t be good ones too. Some common good social media influences are better communication, finding your voice, growing businesses, building communities, connecting with new friends, and many more.
“You have a lot of very interesting people posting stuff on social media because it’s a platform for everybody, so as long as you have that good part and good influence that you have that you follow things that can teach you something and make you a stronger person or more understanding person or that you learn something, then it could have a very good influence,” Schenk said.
Teenagers can protect themselves by distancing themselves at times from social media distractions.
Schenk said, “Set a timer, be economical with your time, be greedy with the quality of what you’re watching. Always think of ‘Did I learn something today?’”
To read senior Franki Jones’s opinion column on social media and body image, click on the link below:
thehyphennews.com 