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The Villager

Volume 7, Issue 9 | Date: March 22, 2024
Season Endings Meet Season

Beginnings

By: Aiden Booth

Over the weekend of March 1, Carson Klase, Grace Bundy, and Jack Reckard competed in the indoor track and field meet. Carson Klase competed in the mile run and placed third with a time of just four minutes and nineteen seconds. With this time and his placement, it
earned him all-Ohio honors. He will soon compete at nationals.

IN THIS ISSUE MHS Sports - Page 1

MHS Sports, Elective Options - Page 2

Elective Options, Slice of Life, McDonald

Briefly - Page 3

McDonald Briefly, Editorial - Page 4

Outstanding Staff, Music Review - Page 5

People on the Street! - Page 6

Top 10 List, Book Review - Page 7

Back Page Pics - Page 8

The cheerleaders also competed on the weekend of March 1 at the state level. Despite some tough judges, which caused some controversy in the scoring, they were able to place fourth and just shy of third by a point. They put on an amazing performance and their families, friends, and coaches are all proud of them!
I spoke with senior cheerleader Lily Cappuzzello about how things went and she said, “We felt amazing as a team and we did the best that we could. We all felt amazing and we all were proud of ourselves as we walked off of that mat. This was a great experience and I am so grateful I got to perform with this team.”

The girl's cheer team this season makes it to state!
Photo Credit: McDonald Sports

Photographer John Pippin

The boys’ bowling team also competed at State on March 1 and did very well. They placed tenth out of sixteen teams and only missed advancing to the top eight bracket by forty-nine pins.
I spoke to senior bowler Jaret Sypert and asked him how he felt about the season and the state meet. He responded, “We were off to a rocky start during the state meet, but we were able to turn it around, just a little too late. I had a great experience, though, and I enjoyed hanging out with my teammates. This season has been great and only got better as it went on. I had a wonderful time bowling with every one of my teammates and I
wish them the best of luck next season.”

STAFF LIST

EDITOR STAFF: ANNABELLE SMITH

STAFF WRITERS: AIDEN BOOTH, SOPHIE JOHNSON, MCKENZIE ORLANDI

EDITOR IN CHIEF: MR. BACKUR

March 22, 2024

Continued... The boy’s basketball team had their second playoff game on Friday, March 1, against Western Reserve. It was a battle throughout the whole game, however, in the end, Reserve was able to pull away just barely winning with a score of 40-36. It was a great season for this team, and they end with a record of 12-12 overall and 7-7 in the conference.
Senior captain and point guard Wyatt Wolford said, “I think we had a great season; we fought hard every game. We won some and lost some but in the end, we had fun. Western Reserve is a good team and we wish them luck as they
continue their season. I enjoyed my team and teammates and

The boy’s bowling team after hearing

they qualified for state

had a great last season.”	Photo Credit: Mrs. Averell

The track team will begin their season with their first meet on Saturday, March 23. With winter training

over, practices have begun and these boys and girls have been working hard. A bright season for this team awaits and I I’m excited to watch them perform soon.
Both baseball and softball seasons are coming up and the boys and girls have been preparing for great seasons. Practices have begun, winter and spring training is over, and they are ready. Our teams are looking forward to a great season and cannot wait to see their hard work this off-season pay off.
Spring training for golf has begun. Every Thursday after school, the golf team will have optional practice throughout the spring. If you want to golf this season, I recommend going to these practices as it is a great opportunity to shake off some rust from the off-season or build your skills.
Creative Elective Options By: Sophie Johnson

Many students throughout the district show interest in technology and fine arts. We have many electives to choose from that fit those interests. For those who love to use technology, 3D printing may be a perfect fit.
3D printing is becoming more and more prevalent and popular in more than just the workforce. Students interested in using 3D printing as an elective can expect to learn design skills to create 3D printed objects and
apply the design topics to everyday items.

3D Printing students playing with their 3D

printed slinky

Some of the student 3D printing creations are located by the office and include giant
Lego blocks and golf putters

Currently, students are working to design new hall passes to replace some broken passes. Students have designed many creative and fun objects in the past. 3D printing instructor Mrs. Ross says, “Students have created containers with hinges and screw tops, keychains with their initials and a fun project of a slinky. Kids get to make these items and then take them home.”
Mrs. Ross’s drone racing team also design and 3D print the drones they will use during the competition.
Sophomore Preston Ficeti said, “The innovation of it, it's freeing when we get to make whatever we want.” He said his favorite project they did was a revolving snowflake.
For students who may not be interested in technology, Intro to Ceramics might be a good fit. Students who love to create things through art may find ceramics fun and rewarding.

March 22, 2024

Continued... Students who take ceramics can expect to learn how to manipulate and care for clay, along with learning how to create things like sculptures and various other ceramics like cups and plates. Ceramics instructor Mrs. Mills said, “In the past students have created their own characters or animals as their final projects and many students had taken a liking to that project.”
Students are currently working to create slab bowls. This technique is called slab building, which, according to Tustinceramics.com, is “a method of making pottery in which a thick, flat plate, or slice of clay is cut out into shapes which are joined together to form an object.”
Slice of Life

By: McKenzie Orlandi
High school can be a challenging transition from junior high with more challenging

classes, but also the opportunity for more electives and opportunities such as going to TCTC. However, the goal is always to graduate with a diploma. While it may not seem like it, freshman and sophomore years are strong foundations for success as an upper classman.
Freshman grades matter because freshman year sets a foundation for the rest of high school. Good grades in freshman year can lead to more opportunities in the future because colleges and universities often look at all high school grades when
considering admissions.

Unfortunately, not every freshman thinks too much about grades during the year or don't realize that

their grades matter that year. Good strategies for freshmen are to build foundational skills now like consistent study habits and always putting effort into their work.
If struggling, it’s never too late to get help from teachers or classmates to finish the fourth quarter strong and raise your overall final grade.
Sophomores should think about what they want to do for their future careers. TCTC has a lot of different programs and classes to choose from and electives here at McDonald such as Publications, Forensics, and Psychology allow students to pursue interests for their futures.
TCTC offers hands-on training and prepare students for future careers with more hands-on learning in a realistic trades environment. TCTC also has a variety of programs to choose from such as nursing and auto collision.
But, not everyone knows what they want to do for their careers and that’s ok. Some options that could help you could be self-reflection, thinking about your interests, skills, and values, and thinking of what you enjoy. Think about what you are good at, and what matters to you in a career.
Once you have a plan about what you are looking for, research different areas and universities or trade schools, depending on what type of career you would prefer. To get a good idea of what the career offers, connect with people who work in field or volunteer to gain hands-on experience. These ideas can help you explore different career paths and build valuable skills.
Finding the right career takes time and exploration. Don't be afraid to try new things and follow your

passions. Your future self will thank you!

McDonald, Briefly

By: Annabelle Smith
Last month on February 13th Mrs. Palmer hosted a Galentine’s Day event for

both the 7th and 8th grade girls. This event was meant to teach junior high girls self-love and self-care. They talked about how to have a positive mindset through the use of affirmations and words of empowerment. At the celebration, girls got to decorate cookies together and were given a gift bag full of self-care products courtesy of Limitless Ambition. Some goodies included in the bags
were scrunchies, makeup remover, and cloth spa headbands. The girls had a
great time and were able to learn how to love themselves for who they are.	March 22, 2024

The junior high and high school students at the pep rally
Photo Credit: Mrs. Fabian

At the end of the day, on Thursday, February 29th, the school held a pep rally to celebrate many different sports making it to state, including the cheerleaders and the boys' bowling team. The bowling coach, Jim Getz, gave a speech to the students to get them excited and share the school spirit. The cheer team performed their program that they later performed at state, and the band performed many of their songs after coming back from the elementary school with the cheerleaders. Congratulations to all student
athletes who went to state as well as the band!

Editorial: Choosing Your Future - How Do You Know?
By: Annabelle Smith

Recently, I have been extremely stressed out about what I am going to do for the rest of my life. I know that many of my peers have had this feeling too, as making such life-changing decisions can be very difficult, especially for teenagers. As we get older, we are expected to know exactly what we want to do in the future. Sadly, most of us have no idea what we want to do or even what steps we would take to do it.
Students have many options available to them. You could go into a trade, go to college, or join the armed forces. Personally, I am not very athletic, so I ruled out going into the military as an option. For students who are very athletic or would like to serve our country, this may be a good option. Serving in the military can also help pay for college for those who would like to go.
I also do not see myself going into a trade. I am not really interested in any of the trades that I have researched such as plumbing, landscaping, or becoming an electrician. Going into a trade is a great option for those who are mechanically inclined, as you do not have to go to college and you may be able to start an apprenticeship right after high school.
For me, college seems like the best choice. This also might be a good choice for those who enjoy learning or have a specific career in mind such as becoming a teacher, journalist, or many other different professions. If you do decide to go to college like I have, there are even more options and choices you have to make. For example, you have to figure out what college you want to go to, if you want to stay in state or go out of state, what you want to major in, if you are staying on campus or off campus, and so much more. Luckily, we do not have to decide all of this right away.
Honestly, one of the best ways to try and figure this big mess of decisions out is to talk to people who do different jobs. Visit colleges, talk to people who have been in the military, or ask someone if you could shadow them for a day. This may help you decide as you get to see what your life may look like later on.
For freshmen and sophomores, going on the TCTC trip is a great idea. You get to talk to people who go there and see all of your options. Even if you think that you have no interest in going there, still go on the trip. You may change your mind or find something that you unexpectedly really enjoy. The TCTC field trip is a really great way to see what your options are early on and get a head start on some of these decisions.
Although we may think otherwise, we do have time to figure out what we want to do. Some people may already know what they want, and that’s great. Others may not know at all, and that’s okay as well. Sometimes these big decisions take time, and trying to rush yourself can lead to you making the wrong decision. This is your entire future, so gather all the information you can and don’t rush into something you are not ready for.	March 22, 2024

Outstanding Staff: Mrs. Lobaugh By: Sophie Johnson Mrs. Lobaugh is the high school secretary and has worked in this position for 10 years. She had no prior

experience in this field and took a class at TCTC to learn how to navigate Excel and Word. To get this job she had to have six interviews and two tests that consisted of doing many tasks. Mrs. Lobaugh said of her favorite part, “The kids. I think if I didn't work here surrounded by youth I would think, dress, and act older than I do.”
Mrs. Lobaugh was a hairdresser for 33 years before working at McDonald. She said she loved the creative and social aspects along with being able to make her hours. She added, “I wanted to do something in education with kids in a school, but just not in a classroom setting.” She also shared that she considered
being a stand-up comedian and says that dream still has not died.

Mrs. Lobaugh loves being able to help students out whether it be with

Mrs. Lobaugh showing off

the new spring decorations in

locating a class or giving them medicine to help with a headache. Some tips she has for students to succeed in high school include, “Advocating for yourself, be more connected with the world, ask for help if you’re lost, don't just sit there. You have a voice. Use it. Don't wait until you’re buried in work.”
Outside of school Mrs. Lobaugh shared that her favorite things to do are reading, being with her kids and grandkids, and making heart-healthy meals.
Senior Grace Srock says the main thing she loves about Mrs. Lobaugh is her kind and caring personality. She said, “She is always bright and
cheery and is always willing to talk to everyone about anything.”

the office

Music Review: Country Music Singer Ella Langley

By: Aiden Booth
There are many new emerging country music stars this year, however, Ella Langley is nearing the top.

She is continuously releasing new hit songs. While she has yet to release a full album, she has plenty of songs and an album is something we can certainly look forward to. Ella Langley was born in Hope Hull, Alabama and tirelessly gigged in bars and at local festivals before relocating to Nashville in 2019. Now she sings on the big stage with big names.
Some of her songs include “Paint the Town Blue,” “That’s Why We Fight,” “Country Boy’s Dream Girl,” and “Could’ve Been Her.” If you turn on any country music station in the car, you will hear at least one of these songs. As she continues to write more hit songs, her fans grow, and more people have begun to know
the name Ella Langley.

The only thing about Langley I do not like would be the fact that

most of her songs are centered around relationships. I would love to hear more songs about her childhood and growing up, or something outside the lines of relationships. Other than that, her music is great and I enjoy listening to it on car rides.
Overall, I would recommend you listen to Ella Langley’s music. She has great songs that have great beats and catchy lyrics that'll have the songs in your head for quite a while. All ages can listen to her music as well which makes her more likable and adds to her fanbase. As a country singer, I would rate her music an 8/10, only because I would still like to see some more variety in the topics other than relationships. Next time you are in the car and you go on Spotify or
Apple Music, look up Ella Langley. You never know, she may surprise	March 22, 2024 you.

People on the Street By: Sophie Johnson

Would you rather sound like a leprechaun or only be able to speak in rhymes and why?

Sophomore Luke Frederick: “Only be able to speak in rhymes
because it’d be funnier.”

Senior Mariah Bregar:

“I’d rather be a leprechaun because I could have my own holiday, create
rainbows, and have lots of gold.”

Freshman Kayleigh Hagerty: “Only speak in rhymes because it’d be
more fun and have more personality

around it.”

Senior Wyatt Wolford: “Speak in rhymes because I would
be a crazy rapper.”	March 22, 2024

Top 10 List: Ways to Help Your Grades By: McKenzie Orlandi

1.Stay organized by using a planner to help you keep track of assignments 2.Take good notes and actively listen in class
3.Manage and prioritize your time.

4.Seek help when you don’t understand the assignment. 5.Develop good study habits such as practicing a little each night 6.Stay engaged in class instead of sleeping during the lesson.
7.Stay motivated or find something that will keep you motivated for class 8.Break the task into smaller sections if you don't understand the work 9.Take care of yourself: Get enough sleep, eat well.
10.Review and organize notes after class.
Book Review: The Six Olympians

By: Aiden Booth

The Six Olympians, written by Maria Alarcon, is a fictional book with quite a plot and storyline. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, and Hestia all wake up one day at the age of seven in a foster home called Cornwall Hall. After several years pass, they find out they have these unexplainable powers and one day cause the whole foster home to collapse. Throughout the novel they find out their main goal is to overthrow their father, but not before finding Demeter, their sister who was not placed in Cornwall Hall with them.
This book is very good and has so much potential for anyone who reads it. I love how the characters are portrayed as teenagers, which is very relatable in their thought processes and things like that. The author, Maria Alarcon, does an amazing job of describing characters and scenes as well as the commentary and making it feel like you are right there in the book fighting off evil godly creatures. It is truly a very good book and has so many cool parts and I promise if you do pick this book up, you won’t put it down until you
are done reading it.

The only thing I would say that I don’t like about this book is that the author has

the characters using foul language in a few moments. However, these are situations that would be acceptable, I guess, for a foul word to be said because, let’s be honest, even if we don’t say them, sometimes, we all think about saying them in certain situations. However, with that being said, it is not needed and I feel the author could do away with it for sure.
Overall, I love this book and I would rate it a ten out of ten. This is one of those books that just seems like it is alive and never leaves your thoughts once you have begun reading it. It has a great plot, setting, and amazing characters that tie the whole book together. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially teens, because these are teenagers who happen to have a crazy life and backstories and I am sure many teens could relate to that fact alone. Take some time one day and give this book a shot. It might be your next favorite book you’ve ever read, too.

March 22, 2024

Backpage Pics! By: McKenzie Orlandi

Photo Credit: Mrs. Fabian