Senior Football Season

Senior Football 

By Sinan Lal

Husky Herald Report

   With the end of an extremely memorable 8-2 season, Port Huron Northern’s football team hopes to come back next year even stronger. 

   A huge part of the recent success of the program has been the prominence of the athletes from the class of 2020. Arguably one of the greatest classes of athletes PHN has ever had, this graduating class will certainly leave some very large shoes to fill in the next few years. 

   Even though they’ll be moving on to bigger things, our class of 2020 athletes looked back on their past few seasons with fondness and left some advice for the next generation. 

   James Delong (‘20), star receiver and corner for the Huskies, noted that he’d remember some of the stunning plays he made this past season for a long time. “My favorite memory this season had to be beating PH in the regular season and keeping the Brick here at PHN. My 60 yard punt return and then touchdown with that crazy two point conversion is definitely something I’ll remember for a long time,” said Delong. 

   Despite the final loss of the season coming to Port Huron, Delong put on a show with one of the most memorable interception catches Memorial Stadium has ever seen. 

   Luke O’Hare (‘20), linebacker and team captain, also reflected on this past season with thoughtfulness. “The best parts of this season were the bonds we formed and how well we worked together, on and off the field. As a senior and a captain, it’s great to see how much we have impacted the football program for the better over the last few years,” said O’Hare. O’Hare anchored the defense his last two years, and was also the receiver on that unforgettable two point conversion against Port Huron.

   PHN’s star quarterback for the last three years, Seth Klink (‘20) simply acknowledged the feelings and nerves surrounding each game. “I’ll never forget the nerves that you feel before a game in the locker room, listening to music with the team. Channeling that energy into a good game and a win, game in and game out, is something that no other feeling can compare to,” said Klink. Klink’s graduation will leave a huge hole in the offense and leaves massive shoes to fill. 

Attendance Policy

 Attendance Policy 

 By Montana Wesley

 Husky Herald Report

 Good attendance at school is something that is necessary in order to have academic excellence and an understanding of what is happening at school. 

   However, the students at Port Huron Northern have not had the best track record of coming to school. 

   In recent years, students, especially seniors, made a habit of not coming to school at all when they didn’t feel like it, or sometimes ended up just skipping a class or two. One reason was a lack of serious consequences.

   However, this school year, the administrators are trying to put an end to the lack of attendance from some students. By implementing a new attendance policy that causes students to lose credit for their classes, administrators are hoping students will think twice about not attending their classes.

   The new attendance policy gives students only 11 absences, excused or unexcused, per class per semester, and if they go over these absences, they end up losing credit for whatever class it is in. This does not include absences that are excused by doctor’s notes, school businesses, or anything that has been pre-approved by whatever administrator is deemed appropriate. 

   In order to get back the credits that they are missing, students are to go in front of a panel of teachers, who are unknown at this point, and appeal. The teachers decide what it is the students must do to restore their lost credits. 

   Principal Mr. Mossett said the school needed a policy. “We had a similar policy years ago and that policy was changed to what we used to have and, quite honestly, kids weren't coming to school and that’s a problem. I think they were finding reasons not to come to school,” Mossett said.

   However, administrators tried their best to design a policy that would not hurt students. “We wanted to design a policy that would encourage kids to come to school. But for kids that have challenges that make it difficult for them to come, it would still allow for that, as well as kids that have a bad start to a semester with attending school can still have a chance to improve and receive credit,” said Mossett.

   Students have varying opinions on this new policy. Most students are against this policy, but there are some students who like this new policy. 

   Junior Nolan Michalik (‘21) has experienced both the new and old attendance policy. 

   “I don’t think it’s that bad of a thing; it encourages people to go to class. I don’t really miss that many days so it doesn't really affect me as much,” Michalik said.

    Aimee Radatz (‘20) feels that it is unfair that seniors in the past have been able to skip classes without consequences.

   “If it was my choice, I wouldn't make any changes to the policy. Seniors always miss a lot of days and it's unfair that our class is getting punished,” said Radatz.

   This new policy has many positives that can be beneficial and help combat attendance issues. However, it is inevitable that there will be some backlash or dislike from students. 

Good Studying Habits

Student Life

By Ayaan Rajabali

Husky Herald Report

   High School is an important four years of anyone’s education. High school is where we all gain a vast majority of the fundamental knowledge a person needs in order to thrive in an adult world.

 In order for a student to succeed in high school and obtain all the knowledge he or she can, they need to have a healthy and productive study ethic. This means that one must practice ways to study that help them advance in school in the most efficient way.

  According to Sylvan Source, an educational website, there are a few studying habits a student can effectively practice:

  Getting organized is the first thing to do. Students have many extracurricular activities along with academic assignments, having a planned out schedule for time for schoolwork around activity schedules can help.

  Designating a study area is another good habit to have. An ideal study area would be a quiet area with no distractions at all, a large flat surface to place books, laptops, stationary, etc.

  Developing a study plan consists of knowing when tests occur, due dates for assignments, and content covered in the class. In addition to this, students should set goals for study sessions and start with the hardest subjects and with easier subjects.

  Create a study group. While studying alone is beneficial, sometimes working with a group of friends can help get extra opinions and perspectives on the topics in discussion.

  While these tips are very helpful, some additional personal tips shared by some upperclassmen at PHN that may be found helpful to other underclassmen students looking forward to the rest of their high school years.

  Lauren Luke (‘19), a senior at PHN, says, “I turn my phone off and hide it away so that I don’t get distracted.” Luke adds that Quizlet.com is very helpful when studying. This app/website provides students the ability to make and learn flashcards in various ways.

  Another PHN senior, Neehal Tumma (‘19), shares his studying habits, “Self study the material.” Sometimes, if concepts covered in class by a teacher are not comprehensible by students, they may try teaching it to themself using a plethora of techniques: re-reading textbook, researching addtional sources of information, Khan Academy, and reading review books for that particular subject.

  By following these various studying habits used and promulgated by successful students at PHN, other students may also because successful in high school and obtain a great amount of knowledge.

Vaping Issues In School

Student Life

By Grace Stein

Husky Herald Report

 Vaping is one of the biggest issues facing adolescents in the United States. At the high school level, vaping is a widespread problem for students.

  According to the Center on Addiction, vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling vapor, which is produced by an e-cigarette or similar device. E-cigarette products are filled with liquid that oftentimes contains nicotine.

   It has been reported a 900% increase in e-cigarette use by high school students from 2011 to 2015. In 2016, the National Youth Tobacco Survey noted that 1.7 million high school students said they had used e-cigarettes in the previous 30 days.

  There are many negative health effects along with the unknown effects of vaping, yet an innumerable amount of people participate in it. “It’s not all about the nicotine, however, it does relieve the stress I get from school. My biggest concern is that I’m going to be breathing from a tube one day,” said a Port Huron Northern senior.    

  Studies found by CNN show fine and ultrafine particles, harmful metals, carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines, volatile organic compounds, carcinogenic carbonyls and changed gene expression. Students do not comprehend the true cost of using these products, in terms of  health issues.

  “Monthly I spend around 45 to 60 dollars on products, and I know this can lead to many bad health effects but we are all going to die one day,” said a Northern junior.

   The resource officer at PHN, Officer Huisman, said, “Vaping is just as popular as cigarettes were back in the day, but vaping is more accessible, and harder to detect.”

  It’s hard for administrators to create an effective way to distinguish students that use these toxic products.

   Students vape in the bathrooms around the school during class, lunch, and passing time. Vape products are becoming more advanced, and have specific features in order for the cloud to dissipate faster, as well as the smell.

   Overall, vaping is a highly addictive habit that is present among students attending Port Huron Northern High school. The faculty and the resource officer at the school are trying effective methods to reduce or completely eliminate the use of various forms of e-cigarettes inside the school building.

Marijuana Legalization

Opinion

By Delaney Frantz

Husky Herald Reporter

  For individuals 21 and older it is now legal to smoke marijuana and carry up to a certain amount of it. The process took place on November 6th, 2018 when Proposal One, the legalization of marijuana, was put on the ballot, and the measure was approved.  

  Proposal One made Michigan the first state in the midwest to legalize the possession and use of recreational marijuana for adults ages 21 and older.

  Individuals are permitted to grow up to 12 marijuana plants in their residences. The measure created an excise sales tax of 10 percent, which was to be levied on marijuana sales at retailers and micro-businesses.

  Many individuals were against the passing of Proposal One. The only ones that were really for it were the Millennials and Generation Z citizens. Even though Generation Z citizens are just of the age of 18 and most cannot vote, it still has become an obsession for these students.

  John Heilman (‘19) is not of the age to vote, but if he had the chance to he would have voted yes to Proposal One. Heilman would have voted yes for many reasons, one of them being, “it would free up room in jails because so many people are arrested for possession of marijuana”, the second reason being because “it was available already and now you won’t get in as much trouble for it if you are underage,” he said.

  It is true that if an individual over the age of 21 is pulled over the officer cannot search the car if he/she smells marijuana. For individuals under the age of 21, the possibility of a MIP would be issued to you.

  It is not a guarantee that a MIP would be the only thing you would receive; many cities in St. Clair County are creating their own city laws to protect their people.

  One out of five students at Port Huron Northern said they would have voted no on Proposal One if they had the chance due to the dangers people under the influence could cause for themselves and others while driving, working, or doing regular day to day necessities.

  Mr. Mossett, principal at Port Huron Northern, doesn't believe that the process of the legalization will affect the school and its students even though it will be more accessible. Mossett said, “It's certainly not legal for any of the students who attend the school.”

  Within the past few years Mossett said that Northern High School has never had a big problem with students being high or in possession, the number of cases is really a ballpark and not too big of deal.  

School Lunch

Feature

Tyler Tidwell

Husky Herald Reporter  

  According to the USDA, moderately active boys between the ages of 14 and 18 require anywhere from 2400 to 2800 calories each day. But the one meal we eat at school is very overlooked and is too small for the average teenager; this often leaves people very hungry throughout the rest of the day and can lead to decreased productivity.

  Spencer Gould (‘20) had a very strong opinion about the size of lunch; he feels the lunches are too small for him, especially because he doesn't like to eat breakfast.

  “I often feel tired at school and I am always hungry, but when we eat lunch it just isn’t enough,” said Gould.

  Tyler Bajis (‘20) is a very active teenager and has to eat extra meals just to keep up with his body's needs and he also feels the school lunches are too small.

  “I eat about six meals a day to be able to do all of the activities that I do each day and the school lunches are way too small. I usually spend money to get the extra entree because the base lunch is barely anything” Bajis said.

  Nolan Odom (‘20) feels the lunches are so small that it is almost required to get an extra entree if you want to feel satisfied with how much you ate at lunch.

  “On pizza day and on bosco day I get the extra entree because one piece of pizza or two bosco sticks is barely any food. I eat two to three pieces of pizza at home which is enough food for me, but one peice is nothing,” Odom said.

  Food is essential in everyday life; it gives people the energy they need for the day and keeps people focused on staying productive. If we don’t get enough food in the day it leads to less work being done which is not good for grades or any type of learning environment.

  The school needs to increase the amount of food at school lunches; this would make many of the students happier during the day and would leave people less hungry during the day.

  

2018 Fall Sports

Sports
By Adam Godinez
Husky Herald Reporter

    Fall sports have concluded, which brings disappointment for some athletes, but joy to others. High school basketball has begun!

  The Port Huron Northern basketball team has started their season and look forward to another season under head coach Brian Jamison. “This will be another great year of coaching here at Port Huron Northern,” Mr. Jamison said.

  The Huskies will have a tough schedule this year which will include some really close score lines. “Those games are my favorite,” Joshua Ward (‘19) said.

  Multiple games a week especially those that go into overtime or are down to the wire in the fourth quarter are draining mentally and physically. “You have to prepare yourself for these tough games down the stretch,” Maurice Powell (‘19) says.

  Basketball is a unique sport because the momentum of the game can switch back and forth instantly. You have to be on your toes and be ready for the next step or decision of the game.

  It is a game you can watch film for and prepare for, but the endless scenarios of in-game action leave some players baffled at the maneuvers performed by the opponent. Carter Stoner (´20)  says ¨I love taking kids one on one and putting on a move or two.¨

  The season is a long, tiring dedication. With the night practices and at least two games a week, the student athletes really appreciate the help of our trainers and coaching staff to make sure they are 100% before and after games.

  ¨Mrs. Amy Nelson plays a big role in my ability to play at a high level,¨ says James Delong (´20). The team needs the correct application of physical training in between contests as well as a good plan to deal with any uncomfort in their muscles.

  With football ending for some of our basketball players, there is already a bond between some of the teammates. Students who played varsity football this year but are on their first year of varsity basketball have incorporated themselves well into the team, making it easier to coach a great group of guys who understand the game of basketball well and understand each other well.

Considering Return of Home Economics

Feature

By Ethan Proctor

Husky Herald Reporter

 Home Economics classes teach students basic life skills that many young people lack.

 Things such as cooking, parenting, doing taxes, or even a course on how to buy a house are often a part of Home Economics courses--vital things to know and understand before leaving high school.

  Many students are unaware of all of that and as soon as high school is over fall flat on their face in the “real world”. A Home Economics class would help to prepare us for the outside world and snap students into reality.

  Learning the basics of life and how to live is a very important skill that is neglected until students are required to do it, and sometimes these life-skills are inadvertently done incorrectly.  

  Home Economics courses were taken out of Northern’s class choices in 1999 because other classes were changing and more requirements were needed for graduation, which left out “Home Ec”.

  Many students say they are unaware of how to do things like taxes, cook food, or do basic household repairs like electrical work and/or plumbing.

  “Students need to know these simple life tasks to grow and flourish outside of school. I can tell you right now that a home economics class teaching modern day issues would probably be a filled out class,” said Aiden Horn (’20).

  Some students say that they would prefer to take a class that teaches them how to be a “functional U.S citizen” by learning how to do necessary everyday tasks.

  Caleb Vincent (‘20) said, “A Home Ec class would be a great transition point for senior year before we graduate, so we understand the basic fundamentals of living. If I had the chance to take Home Ec, I would.”

  Mrs. Kearns, a teacher here at Northern said, “I think having Home Economics should be a necessity. It shouldn’t be optional. Many kids lack two parents in one home and don’t get taught the basic skills they need to know.“

  In all consideration, a home economics class would be a great addition to Port Huron Northern’s required curriculum.