Sparta Lights Up Cassels Field

Written by: Emma Sears 

Despite the fact that all Sparta schools are currently learning online, this did not stop the Spartan administration from exhibiting some much needed school spirit! 

Monday, April 20th, at 8:20 p.m.- Mr. Stoner, Athletic Director, illuminated Cassels Field, the center of Spartan Pride, to honor not just the Class of 2020, but all Spartans, as we push through these uncertain times. Even though seniors are being deprived of some of the most quintessential high school experiences, we are all thinking of them! The school district’s determination to unify the community reminds us to keep working hard. 

Source: @shs_athletics_ on Instagram

To further demonstrate school spirit and celebrate the strength, resilience, and positivity of the Sparta High School Senior Class of 2020,  Sparta Athletics will be illuminating Cassels Field for 20 minutes and 20 seconds every Friday night at 8:20 (20:20 military time) -beginning May 8, 2020. 

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An Open Letter to the Class of 2023

As a freshman, this has been a whirlwind of a year for me, as it was for most of you as well. Coming into an entire new school to start off the year isn't easy. I, like many of you, faced many obstacles, such as not knowing where to go, what to do, etc. Aside from that, my time at SHS was off to a strong start, until COVID-19. 

When the coronavirus first came about, most of us didn't think much of it. That changed very quickly. What I personally believed was a big media stunt became a global pandemic. Within moments, we were all locked into our homes, imprisoned by an invisible disease. At first, I was scared. I didn't know what I was going to do with my life for the next few months stuck inside. We were panicking, we could not go out in public, and we had no plans.

But, as time moved on, we pushed through. Waking up at 9:30 rather than 6 is my personal favorite feature of this quarantine. I've been more productive than ever before. I was able to focus on myself more since I had no other distractions. 

In my eyes, the coronavirus was a wake up call to the entire world. It was a wake up call to let our Earth breathe and recover to what we done to it, especially in this century. For example, China saw its first blue sky a couple of weeks ago, due to the otherwise unheard of lack of pollution. The water canals in Venice, Italy, are almost crystal clear because of COVID-19 protocols. These environmental changes have been an eye-opener in times like this. 

In my opinion, the coronavirus has brought us good and bad. I would not be surprised if  history teachers incorporate this pandemic in their lessons fifty years from now! However, always remember to stay safe and stay home. It's the only way to prevent COVID-19 from spreading even further. 

- Eric Dau, Class of 2023. 

An Open Letter to the Class of 2022

The Sparta learning community is in the midst of a challenge: online schooling. For some, this may be a blessing but others may find this time off difficult to adjust to. This new experience took us all by surprise, and took Spartans a while to adjust. Over time, however, it seems that students and teachers are becoming well accustomed to it. As a sophomore myself, I have come to find that there are many advantages and disadvantages of online learning. 

For one, we have collectively declared our relief in no longer having to worry about being late to school. There is no need to force ourselves up early in the mornings and rush in order to make it to school on time. This increase of sleep has provided many of us with a burst in energy level and motivation for us to tackle our school work. 

Nonetheless, we're finding it hard to use our time wisely under online schooling. We've found ourselves needing to make schedules and plan ahead with our classes. Otherwise, we'll fall behind. In addition, a lot of us stay up until late at night anyway because there is no need to wake up early! Many of us have learned the hard way that it takes responsibility in order to succeed. 

We may find it easier to learn when we are behind a screen because there are limited distractions We may be more immersed in work considering we are right in front of the screen and cannot talk to classmates during the lesson. Many of us grasp concepts much faster this way. This does not mean there are no distractions at home however. It is more tempting for us to go on our phones when there is no teacher monitoring us. In addition, our families are all home at the same time, making it difficult for us to work. We must create a workable space to complete schoolwork. 

In some situations, it may be harder to teach a lesson without certain classroom resources such as the whiteboard and a projector.  In a classroom one can argue that the teacher can better engage with their class in person. In addition, teachers have limited time to teach their classes. Some of us may find it easier to ask certain questions in a classroom setting. Luckily, it is easy for us to speak up and ask questions just like in a classroom. Our ever-supportive teachers make themselves available as much as they can through virtual office hours and we are grateful. We can stay involved, participate enthusiastically, and stay ahead of the game. 

Many of our stress levels have lowered significantly during this time off. We rarely have scheduling conflicts and we can clear our heads when focusing on our academics. We have discovered a more flexible learning schedule. One downside to note is that we may get accustomed to this learning style. We must remember that eventually we will need to go back to normal schooling. As fluctuant as this uncertainty may seem, sooner or later we'll be back in the all-familiar classrooms. 

Like many of you, I miss seeing my friends in person each day. I miss interacting with not only my friends, but people in general. This is definitely a huge change we had to get used to! Learning with others around makes school a fun environment, which cannot be replicated by online school. 

Online learning is a huge change for Spartans, but so far we have been going on strong, and we will continue to never stop learning and succeeding, whether we are in the classroom or in our homes. 

Wishing everyone safety and support, 

Noelle Hanek, Class of 2022. 

An Open Letter to the Class of 2021

We’re told that our junior year will be the most important year of high school because it's when college mania begins. It’s the last full year to get grades up, it's the year when most kids start to take SATs or ACTs, start to tour colleges, start college essays. Quite often, there's a bombardment of schoolwork that goes along with it.

Now, as the world has seemingly come to a halt, things are a little different. Standardized testing has been cancelled, meaning that many juniors will go without having SAT scores until September at the earliest. College campuses have been shut down, which means no in-person tours. Sparta High School’s final exams have been cancelled, completely transforming the weight of our marking period grades. Our sports, our shows, our concerts have been cancelled, some of which could be pivotal in our transcripts or just in boosting our moods.

Not everything in quarantine is bad. Accomodations made by schools and by the College Board have made things a little easier to manage. AP testing is online and is modified into a shorter test. A new SAT date in September has been set in place to help more students get their scores quickly. Many colleges have been hosting virtual tours and open houses, which could include personal interactions with professors and students over Zoom. Additionally, Sparta’s cancellation of finals is really meant to relieve students of review and extra stress. 

As of right now, the future isn’t super clear. There's a possibility that Sparta juniors could start their senior year online. The best thing to do is keep our heads down and continue on. Stay safe, work hard, and be #SpartanStrong.

-Liv Canova, Class of 2021

An Open Letter to the SHS CLASS of 2020

Dear Class of 2020,

Of all the high school movies we’ve watched throughout our childhood, nothing could

prepare us for this. Troy and Gabriella never bursted into song about the rules of social

distancing, or the importance of wearing a face mask in public. In the wake of this

pandemic, we find ourselves asking, what about prom? Water Wars? Our final choir,

orchestra, or band concert? Senior Walk? Graduation? You must prioritize, we are told.

People are sick, really sick. There are worse things in the world.

Without any real time to process the possibility of a quarantine, our childhood dreams have

been stripped away. Truth be told, we’re worried because we know we don’t have enough

time. Come August, we begin to disperse across the country in pursuit of our own journeys.

We knew that from the very beginning, but now the hourglass continues to shift as we are

unable to see the familiar faces we have grown up with since kindergarten in our tightly knit,

non-regionalized school district… Our infamous “Sparta bubble”. 

Class of 2020, our feelings are valid. We must remain compassionate for the many

affected by the virus, and for each other, for there are those among us who have lost loved

ones as a result. However, please know that our feelings of frustration are completely

warranted. To not don a cap and gown to cross the stage and receive a diploma; to not

proudly wear our college gear to school on decision day; to not have one last school dance

with our friends... In a society that glorifies the American high school experience, and

notably the iconic senior year it leads up to, how could we not help but feel a sense of

betrayal? We aren’t ready to say goodbye. It may have taken a global pandemic to realize it,

but we took even the simplest things such as human interaction for granted. While we are

uncertain of the future that lies ahead- we must remain hopeful. Should we all continue to

actively adhere to social distancing guidelines, we may not have to bid farewell to our long-

awaited senior year traditions; Even if they must occur a few weeks later than originally

anticipated.

This will be the year that shapes our generation. In the demise of what we have been

dreaming of, not all is lost if we can salvage one thing: Conscious appreciation. May we

move forward with a great sense of thankfulness for human interaction, and rely less on

technology and social media to fulfill us. May we relish in every last ray of sunshine, every

last bite of food from our favorite restaurant. May we raise our children to be kind to all

service workers, medical staff, and other people-regardless of occupation. May we be

encouraging to our sons and daughters who may be hesitant to try out for the sports team,

or go to the school dance...Because high school doesn’t last forever. And no one

understands that better than we do. Most importantly, may we take this hardship as an

opportunity to become better people. 

We are compassionate. We are resilient. We are the future. We are Spartan Strong.

-Lauren Groff, Sparta High School, Class of 2020

Robotics Making a Difference During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Written by: Olivia Giralt 

The coronavirus has made its way all over the world, prompting increased reliance on robotics. The current situation has proven that robots are capable of carrying an essential role in keeping humans healthy. The coronavirus epidemic shines a light on the extremely prevalent and positive use of robotics that will forever change the public's perspective. 

Source: XAG 

Disinfection bots are used to clean public areas that are often crowded. In Hong Kong, vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) robots can be found disinfecting rail cars. The company UVD Robots has provided disinfection robots to heavily infected areas including China and Italy.

 Source: Reuters 

The fast spread of the virus has evidently overwhelmed hospitals all over the world. To help out the hospital staff, automated systems aid medical professionals to complete efficient testing to diagnose patients as soon as possible. When testing patients, medical staff have no need to be in the room, preventing them from additional exposure to the virus. 

Source: UAV Coach 

Although this technology is not so new, robots also help limit human to human contact by replacing humans in jobs such as delivering goods. Deliveries have been performed by technology such as drones. A Terra Drone Company called Antwork has helped by using drones to transport medical supply throughout China. Limiting human contact further prevents the spread of the coronavirus.  

Source: Temi

Robotics helps out with social distancing in places like nursing homes and hospital waiting rooms. As shown by the telepresence robots, robotics can be used to observe a patient’s condition, provide video chat, and monitor patients. In a busy hospital, such technology can make a big difference in limiting human contact while helping get work done.

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The Oracle Staff's Top Ten Films

Written by: Kanita Tariq 

We've recommended books and T.V. shows, now it's time for movies! Check out these ten films on our watchlist during this time off!

1. Knives Out 
Recommended by Ms. De Luccia, Advisor

A detective sifts through a list of suspects after the murder of a famous novelist. Available on YouTube, Vudu, Google Play, and Amazon Prime. 

Source: IMDb

2. Big Hero 6 
Recommended by Olivia Giralt, Staff Writer 

This beloved Disney film follows the relationship between a plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax, and young Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of heroes. Available on YouTube, Google Play, iTunes, Amazon Prime, Vudu, and Disney+. 

Source: Amazon

3. The Fundamentals of Caring 
Recommended by Emily Opresnick, Staff Writer 

A man experiencing family troubles learns a life-changing lesson in caregiving. Available on Netflix. 

Source: IMDb

4. The Wedding Singer 
Recommended by Lauren Groff, Staff Writer 

Adam Sandler plays an unlucky-in-love wedding singer who crosses paths with a waitress left on the altar by her fiance. Available on iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, and Cinemax.

Source: IMDb

5. 10 Things I Hate About You 
Recommended by Liv Canova, Staff Writer 

This classic rom-com is about a teenage girl whose strict father won't allow her to date until her independent, no-nonsense sister does. Available on YouTube, Google Play, iTunes, Amazon Prime, Vudu, and Disney+. 

Source: IMDb

6. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 
Recommended by Emily Fitzgerald, Staff Writer + Kanita Tariq, Editor-in-Chief

In 1946 a London-based writer finds a penpal on the island of Guernsey, which was German-occupied during WWII. After visiting, she not only learns of their secret book club, but also of life during the occupation. Available on Netflix.

Source: IMDb

7. Paul Blart: Mall Cop 
Recommended by Emma McNamara, Staff Writer 

Kevin James stars as a mall security guard to fight off a gang of crooks. Available on Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play. 

Source: IMDb

8. Rocky (film series) 
Recommended by Eric Dau, Staff Writer 

This beloved series follows the career of fictional boxer, Rocky Balboa, starring Sylvester Stallone. Available on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime, iTunes, and Vudu. 

Source: Wikipedia

9. Murder Mystery 
Recommended by Kanita Tariq, Editor-in-Chief 

A couple heads to Europe in a last-ditch effort to save their marriage, but end up being framed for the murder of an elderly billionaire. Available on Netflix. 

Source: IMDb

10. The Breadwinner 
Recommended by Kanita Tariq, Editor-in-Chief

An eleven-year old girl living in Afghanistan under the oppressive rule of the Taliban must dress up as a boy to support her family. Available on YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix. 

Source: Wikipedia

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15 Books The Oracle Staff Wants YOU To Read

Written by: Kanita Tariq 

On the lookout for a good book to get you through social distancing? Check out what books The Oracle staff picked out for you to choose from! 

1. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummings

Recommended by Ms. De Luccia, Advisor 

American Dirt is about the trials and tribulations of a Mexican woman who had to walk away from her life and live with her son as an undocumented immigrant in the United States. 

Source: Wikipedia 

2. Still Me by Christopher Reeve 

Recommended by Noelle Hanek, Staff Writer 

Still Me is an autobiography about the life of actor Christopher Reeve, the making of the Superman films, the accident that resulted in his quadriplegia and how it impacted his life. 

Source: Wikipedia 

3. The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives  by Dashka Slater

Recommended by Noelle Hanek, Staff Writer 

The 57 Bus follows two polar opposite teenagers who share one thing in common-- their bus ride home. Because of a single act, the two are thrusted into the spotlight in a case against each other. 

Source: GoodReads 

4. 1984 by George Orwell 

Recommended by Noelle Hanek, Staff Writer 

1984, set in an imagined future, the year 1984, is about a world that has fallen victim to perpetual war, omnipresent government surveillance, historical negationism, and propaganda. 

Source: Amazon

5. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah 

Recommended by Noelle Hanek, Staff Writer 

Born a Crime is comedian Trevor Noah's memoir detailing his experiences growing up during the apartheid era. 

Source: Wikipedia

6. The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler 

Recommended by Chloe Maher, Staff Writer 

The Future of Us is the story of two teens who find themselves stuck in and grappling with different versions of their futures. 

Source: Wikipedia

7. Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds 

Recommended by Chloe Maher, Staff Writer 

Opposite of Always is the story of a boy who uses time travel to save the girl he fell for-- only to realize that his actions have deadly consequences. 

Source: GoodReads 

8. When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger

Recommended by Lauren Groff, Staff Writer 

When Life Gives You Lululemons follows the life of Emily Charlton, first assistant to The Devil Wears Prada's Miranda Priestly, now a successful image consultant who’s just landed a megastar client. 

Source: GoodReads 

9. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Calahan

Recommended by Emily Opresnick, Staff Writer 

Brain on Fire follows Calahan's own struggle with a rare form of encephalitis, an autoimmune disease, and her recovery. 

Source: Wikipedia

10. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Recommended by Liv Canova, Staff Writer 

Ready Player One is a dystopian novel that follows protagonist Wade Watts on his search for an Easter egg in a worldwide virtual reality game.

Source: Wikipedia

12. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut 

Recommended by Fiona Sipple, Staff Writer 

Cat's Cradle explores and satirizes issues of science, technology, the purpose of religion, and the arms race. 

Source: Wikipedia 

13. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Recommended by Emily Fitzgerald, Staff Writer 

The Great Gatsby follows the young and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his passion and obsession with the beautiful Daisy Buchanan.

Source: Wikipedia 

14. Cemetery Girl by David Bell 

Recommended by Eric Dau, Staff Writer 

Cemetary Girl is the story of a missing teenager and her parent's quest to avenge her.

Source: Wikipedia

15. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Recommended by Kanita Tariq, Editor-in-Chief 

Rules of Civility, set in New York City in 1938, tells the story of a lifechanging year in the life of an uncompromising and purpose-driven twenty-five-year-old named Katey Kontent.

Source: GoodReads

Don't forget- you can use your SHS Audible account to catch up on any reading via audiobooks!

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15 TV Shows The Oracle Staff is Binge-Watching Right Now

Written by: Kanita Tariq 

1. Hunters
Recommended by Ms. De Luccia, Advisor 

Hunters is the story of Nazi hunters living in 1977 New York City who discover Nazi war criminals conspiring to create a Fourth Reich in the U.S. Available on Amazon Prime. 

Source: IMDb

2. The King of Queens 
Recommended by Emma McNamara, Staff Writer 

The King of Queens, starring Kevin James, is a sitcom about a working-class couple, Doug and Carrie, living in Queens, New York, along with Carrie's irritable father. Available on Philo. 

Source: Amazon

3. Grey's Anatomy 
Recommended by Emily Fitzgerald, Staff Writer 

Grey's Anatomy is a medical drama about a group of young doctors working at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital. Available on ABC, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo, and YouTube.  

Source: YouTube

4. Gilmore Girls 
 Recommended by Kanita Tariq, Editor-in-Chief + Emily Fitzgerald, Staff Writer 

Gilmore Girls is a classic comedy-drama about the relationship between single mother Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter, Rory, set in small-town Connecticut and complete with many colorful characters. Available on Netflix, Philo, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu. 

Source: Amazon

5. All American
Recommended by Kanita Tariq, Editor-in-Chief + Sarah Riley, Staff Writer + Emma Sears, Staff Writer + Chloe Maher, Staff Writer

All American is about a rising high school football player plucked away from his hometown of South Crenshaw to play for a high school football team in Beverly Hills. Available on The CW, Netflix, YouTube TV, fuboTV, YouTube, and Vudu. 

Source: The CW

6. Love is Blind 
Recommended by Emma Sears, Staff Writer 

Love is Blind is a reality TV show about single people attempting to fall in love without seeing each other face-to-face. Available on Netflix. 

Source: IMDb

7. Cheer 
Recommended by Emma Sears, Staff Writer 

Cheer is a docuseries following the Navarro College Cheer Team as they prepare to compete in the national cheer competition. Available on Netflix.  

Source: Common Sense Media

8. The Umbrella Academy 
Recommended by Liv Canova, Staff Writer

The Umbrella Academy is about a superhero team comprised of seven members born under inexplicable circumstances. Available on Netflix. 

Source: IMDb

9. Avatar: The Last Airbender
Recommended by Olivia Giralt, Staff Writer 

Avatar: The Last Airbender takes place in a world where human civilization consists of four nations: the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads. Only the Avatar is the master of all four elements. Available on YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, and Amazon Prime. 

Source: Amazon

10. Modern Family 
Recommended by Eric Dau, Staff Writer 

Modern Family is a hilarious account of a large, diverse, multigenerational family. Available on ABC, Hulu, YouTube TV, YouTube, iTunes, and Vudu. 

Source: Modern Family

11. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness
Recommended by Lauren Groff, Staff Writer 

Tiger King is about big cat breeding and its bizarre underworld, complete with eccentric characters. Available on Netflix.

Source: Forbes 

12. On My Block 
Recommended by Chloe Maher, Staff Writer 

On My Block is about four street-savvy friends who are navigating their way through high school. Available on Netflix.

Source: Wikipedia

13. The Office 
Recommended by Noelle Hanek, Staff Writer 

The Office, another cult classic, is a mockumentary about the typical office workday with a motley crew of eccentric and iconic characters. Available on Netflix, fuboTV, Philo, YouTube, iTunes, and Vudu. 

Source: NBC

14. Lucifer
Recommended by Emily Opresnick, Staff Writer 

Lucifer follows the life of the fallen angel who abandons hell for Los Angeles, serving as a consultant to the LAPD. Available on Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu. 

Source: Fox

15. Hart of Dixie
Recommended by Kanita Tariq, Editor-in-Chief 

Hart of Dixie, known as the Southern version of Gilmore Girls,  follows the life of a New York-based doctor, Zoe Hart, as she accepts a stranger's offer to work at his practice in Bluebell, Alabama, only to discover the stranger had died and left the practice to her in his will. Available on Netflix, iTunes, YouTube, Google Play, and Amazon Prime. 

Source: TV Guide