SHS Save the Date

 By Hayley Lane

With Spring approaching, Sparta High School has a lot of upcoming events within the next few months. Here’s a brief list of them that we know you won’t want to miss: 

Outdoor Orchestra and Choir Concert: 

• When? May 19th (rain date: May 21st)

• Where? Cassels Field

Outdoor Band Concert

• When? May 25th (rain date: May 26th) 

• Where? Cassels Field 

National Honors Society Induction Ceremony: 

• When? June 2nd at 7pm

• Where? Cassels Field

Sparta High School’s Extraordinary Playlist: 

• When? June 4th and 5th

• Where? Cassels Field

Senior Prom: 

• When? May 27th 

• Where? The Brownstone in Paterson

Junior Prom: 

• When? June 9th

• Where? Perona Farms in Andover Township

International Column 3/26: Algeria and Andorra

 This week in the International Column we will be traveling to 2 different places!

First we go to Algeria, located in North Africa along the Mediterranian coastline and Sahran desert interior. While the majority of Algerians are Arabs, the country has a significant french influence within their language and culture. Listed below are the top 9 facts and some pictures about Algeria's rich culture and interesting people.

1. Algeria is the tenth largest country in the world!

2. The Fennec Fox is Algeria's national animal!

   

3. Algeria is only 12% of landmass, as 90% of the country is the Sahara Desert.

   

4. Surprisingly, most Algerian women contribute more to household incomes than their male counterpartst. 

   

5. While, in other countries, eating all of what’s on your plate is a sign that you enjoyed your  meal. In Algeria, it's tradition to leave a little of food on the plate at the end to signify to your host that they were able to amply feed you. 

6. Travelers to Algeria are traditionally greeted with a gift consisting of dates and milk.

7. Algerian people tend to be formal and courteous and do not appreciate when people are direct and frank when speaking.

8. Algeria has the highest cost of living compared to all other African countries. 

   

9. The Algerian flag’s colors are representative of the Islam faith (Green), Purity (White) and Spilt blood to gain independence (red)

The second country being introduced to the International column is Andorra! Andorra is a very tiny located country situated between France and Spain alongside the Pyrenees mountains. Andorra is famous for its ski resorts and it’s tax haven status. It’s capital, La Vella, features plentiful boutiques and jewelers within several luxurious shopping centers. Listed below are the top 7 cool and interesting facts of Andorra! 

1.  Andorra is the world’s only co-principality, meaning two princes co jointly run the country.

2. Andorra is the only country with Catalan existing as its official language.

   

3.  Andorra is a pacifist country, they haven't been in a war in almost 1,000 years. 

   

4. Andorra currently does not have a national bank nor their own currency.

5. Alondra holds the 8th highest life expectancy title in the world.

6. Alondra has the highest amount of tourists per capita in the world. 

   

7. Andora is known to be one of the safest countries in the world!

Support Sparta NHS & Key Club’s Miss Chocolate Fundraiser!

 By Noelle Hanek

Interested in purchasing some spring holiday goods while giving back to the Sparta community at the same time? Then check out the 2021 online spring fundraiser for the Key Club and the National Honor Society! Held on the Miss Chocolate website, the fundraiser contains a wide selection of items available to purchase, including but not limited to: candies, nuts, kitchen supplies, magazines, jewelry and candles! With every purchase, all proceeds will go toward the clubs, allowing Sparta students to continue giving back to their community in various ways. These items can make perfect gifts for Easter or Mother’s Day... or for yourself! If you cannot make a purchase, you can still contribute by spreading the word to family, friends, and neighbors. All help is greatly appreciated! 

Directions on how to shop: 

1. Go to misschocolate.com and then “Online store” or click here 

2. Go to “If you have a Seller ID # and are ready to shop - SHOP NOW” and click on “SHOP NOW.” Enter the Seller ID 434272 and select “CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING.”

3. You can invite family and friends to shop online at our personalized website to help raise money for our local community!

The fundraising drive starts on Thursday March 18th, and ends on April 14th, 2021. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kopp at at danielle.kopp@sparta.org

SHS’ First One Act Festival!

By: Kavya Kamath

Theatre is an invigorating enterprise. Theatre during covid almost seems counterintuitive. How can an art form that requires close, truthful, intimate interaction between people be played out across a computer screen, much less provide entertainment to an audience? Well, let the thespians of Sparta High fear not—Spart High’s annual Fall Drama of the Drama Club will be happening… just with a slight twist! Replacing the Fall Drama for the 2020-2021 school year is a One Act Festival!

So what exactly is a one act festival and what exactly will it showcase? The festival will show five different one-act-long, student-written, student-directed plays all centered around a theme of “Sometimes Life Doesn’t Work Out.” It will be a true celebration of student talent! Though recorded via zoom, all plays include curated writing, talented actors, costumes, video editing, and all other hallmarks of theatre that can exist/be translated digitally. The plays you’ll see are:

Wrong Number (by Cassidy Pry):

Already in high school, Carli is ecstatic to finally have a cell phone of her own, now that her father could afford to buy her one. It's everything she'd dreamed of and more. However, when she begins receiving calls from people having breakdowns and telling her their life stories, she realizes that perhaps her new phone doesn't have a new 

number....

Graduation Day (by Brianna Conlon): 

Everybody dreams about their Graduation Day and the moment they walk across the stage, it's the most exciting event for any highschooler. However, things quickly get out of hand at highschooler Mae's graduation when her childhood best friend Logan decides to confess his love for her in front of the whole school, even though she already has a boyfriend…

Customer Service (by Adam Osle):

     A man tries desperately to get refunded on purchases he made for a failed birthday bash. In the process he lies and cheats his way through multiple customer service calls. Will he get his money back, or will it all blow up in his face?

Missed Opportunity (by Alex Fontes): 

A worker is purposelessly stuck in a job they’re uninterested in… with a boss who expects more from them. When circumstances become dire, a dark and ironic shift forces everybody to consider what really matters.

College Quandary (by Kavya Kamath): 

With college right around the corner, high school senior Jospehine is desperate to attend Penn State. After a mishap at work, her ability to pay comes into question, forcing Jospehine to grapple with what’s most important in her life. Will she re-evaluate her priorities or throw away herself in the process of pursuing her goals?

The finished and polished recordings will be distributed digitally in April and premiered via the SHS Drama Club instagram (@shsdramaclub2021), which will also be providing updates and hosting a virtual opening night! Don’t miss this opportunity to view SHS’ very first One Act Festival!

March is National Women’s History Month. Why Should We Celebrate it?

 By: Noelle Hanek

For centuries, women have significantly contributed to our society in every arena. In recognition of women, the month of March is known as “National Women’s History Month” and March 8th is known as “International Women’s Day”. Although it is an important event, some may not fully comprehend the importance of the month of March. According to history.com, women’s history month is “a celebration of women's contributions to history, culture, and society.” This event affirms their outstanding achievements throughout history and acknowledges the importance of looking back and recognizing to see how far they have come. Additionally, this month was meant to inspire all people to consider the future generations of women and encourage them to recognize their great worth. 

Rosie the Riveter- aimed to recruit female workers into the workforce during World War II

The history of the United States demonstrates many instances of women making a difference. On August 18th, 1920, the 19th amendment was enacted, granting Americans the right to vote without sex discrimination.  Leading up to this monumental day, strong and determined females, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B Anthony, and many, many more,  advocated for this right, and to have their voices heard. Despite experiencing male opposition, these persistent women carried on. Their strength and will throughout the movement was the reason behind its success. 

During WWII, women leveraged themselves in society even further when they took the jobs of their male counterparts who went to fight in the war. Here, women were given the opportunity to be in the workforce rather than the homes as they were expected to be. This was a major development since women revealed their capabilities as successful workers in society. 

1913 Women’s Sufferage Parade

International women’s month is a designated period of time to celebrate the past accomplishments and future accomplishments of women. They have continued to fight against oppression and make breakthroughs in nontraditional fields. Despite the obstacles they may have faced, millions of women have made a name for themselves in commonly male-dominated work fields, such as politics, science and medicine, mathematics, business, and much more. While this month recognizes how far females have come, it also reminds us that there is still work to be done as women pursue their dreams and recognize their power and worth as individuals.

International Column 3/11: Albania

 By: Sawsan Srour

Introducing Albania, the second country featured in the international column! 

Albania is located in the southern area of Europe alongside the Balkan Peninsula of the Strait of Otranto where the southern entrance is the Adriatic Sea. The people of Albania refer to themselves as shqiptarë, translating to the“sons of eagles'' and they speak Albanian. Highlighted below are the top 5 most interesting and fun facts about the increasingly popular tourist destination, Albania.

1. As the rising sun descends down, the people of Albania come out for a nightly activity known as xhiro. Xhiro is an official walk where every resident comes out from their homes for a catch up with the neighbors and gets a stretch in. Xhiro is such a common practiced tradition that in many towns the roads are closed for hours to ensure the safety of residents walking around. 

2. Now I warn you this next fact will confuse you: in Albania, when agreeing with you people will shake their heads and nod if they disagree with you.      

3. Despite being a European country, Albania houses a 70% majority muslim population while Christianity comes in second with 17% . The other 17% others are atheist or undeclared.  

4. When in Albania, you're likely going to notice a high number of scarecrows in odd places. This is done to ward off envy from neighbors where construction is underway. Teddy bears can be used to serve the same purpose.

5. The final fact for Albania is that there are more Albanians living outside of the territory than inside of it.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   

Our Voices Engaged: Addressing the Question of “How do we heal?”

 By: Kavya Kamath

Attention Sparta Community!! Have you heard of Sparta High School’s club We Are the Dream? What about their anti-racism vlog project, intended to share racialized experiences students of color have experienced here in Sparta? For an educational, enriching, informative, and all-around needed experience, attend “Our Voices Engaged,” a community zoom event that will be held this Thursday, March 4th, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm to raise awareness and begin the healing process to a real race issue we have in this community. Maia Albuquerque, student founder of We Are the Dream, has stated her hopes for the event as this: “to spread the correct message about the racism that exists in Sparta, and that we need to make change and need to grow as a community.” To her, this event is the first step towards “inspiring an accepting community where everybody is treated the same, where our people aren’t treated as less.”

So what’s the agenda for the evening?

First, District Coordinator for the Sparta Diversity Council Scott Kercher will begin with a few opening remarks, hopefully to promote the understanding that the event is not intended to polarize, divide, or separate us as a community. Instead, its goal is to lay our problems bare, so that we can address them constructively and together.

After this, the vlog, titled “Our Voices United,” will be presented for everyone to view. A long time in the making, this vlog is the culmination of months of work from We Are the Dream, a club at SHS intended to promote diversity, inclusion, and understanding at Sparta High School and within the Sparta Community. The vlog, which features the direct testimony of SHS students and community members, was created to spread awareness about things that have happened in this town and give voice to a collective of experiences that simply weren’t being heard. (Note from the author: though I do my best to remain a third party in these articles, this vlog brought me to tears. Even as a student of color at SHS, watching it changed my perspective and will undoubtedly change yours.)

After the presentation of the vlog, there will be a panel discussion with individuals who have supported the vlog, diversity council, and overall goal of increasing racial awareness in Sparta. Dr. Susana Maiztegui (a district parent who’s story is shared in the presentation), Ms. Courtney Law (2014 alumna and drafter of a letter in support of the project signed by 400+ alumni), Dr. Saskia Brown (Director of Student Services and facilitator of the Sparta C3 committee focused on school culture and climate), and Mrs. Angie Hawthorne (a district parent who has been an active member of the planning and coordination of the Vlog project) will all answer a column of pre-screened questions. They will address important questions like “How do we most effectively address racial equity in a district with lower levels of diversity?” and “Why do we need to use our voice to meet this challenge?” Students, parents, and community members alike are looking forward to the insight these panelists will provide.

Next, there will be a short intermission where all participants will be put in breakout rooms to process and discuss their thoughts, feelings, and ideas about the vlog, panel discussion, and most importantly, the question “How do we heal?”

Finally, the evening will close with some closing remarks from Scott Kercher and a recitation from “How to be an Anti-Racist” (by Ibram Kendi) from We Are the Dream students. Chosen by SHS educator Brent Rivers, the excerpt will end the night with poetic food for thought and reinforcement of the goal of “Our Voices Engaged”—starting the process of healing and healing together.

As for Mr. Scott Kercher himself, I’ll let him describe his connection to the event:

“Recently I came across a quote by Frederick Douglass: “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” Although Douglass was speaking about the abolition of slavery in 1857, there is a lot of truth we can take from this statement today. This statement brings me hope. That although having sensitive conversations can be awkward, uncomfortable, scary or contentious… it is only through this “struggle” that we can find resolution and common ground. Too many communities have not been strong enough to engage in a truthful conversation about race. I hope that this event and the vlog proves to the town that Sparta is a strong community. That Sparta is a community of leadership and leaders willing to do the difficult and challenging work when called upon. I also hope that the current students and the recent Alumni that have called us to this task feel supported and encouraged by our action to continue to be advocates for the change that they want to see in their world.”

The Sparta High School community would also like to thank the Sparta C3 District Climate and Culture Committee, the Racial Equity Taskforce, and the Sparta Diversity Council for making this vlog and event possible. Generally the C3 committee works on issues of diversity and inclusion from the school community outwards and the Sparta Diversity Council helps to bring diversity resources and programs into Sparta’s schools and classrooms. The Racial Equity Taskforce is a workgroup of the C3 Committee and its goal is to provide opportunities for engagement in open and honest discussions that provide insight, support and resources to the community. Though each group has its separate missions and leadership, all three work together to make positive steps towards change in this community.

A link to “Our Voices United” can be found below, along with a link to register for “Our Voices Engaged.” Sparta High School hopes to see you there.

“Our Voices United” Vlog: https://youtu.be/NNDXsM9HgHg

“Our Voices Engaged” Event Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScq9xEQjH337L9kONMSrej4vdBe-1aAS4OJLQGt0ALo2238YA/viewform

“Our Voices Engaged” Event Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bxQ5D_et6ZUBCNaKVFr-kGDYTSC4z7uH/view?usp=sharing

Marching Band and Color Guard Virtual Open House!

 By Hayley Lane

Have you ever dreamt of being one of the performers at a SHS football game halftime show? Well SHS is excited to announce that Marching Band and Color Guard will have their virtual open house and season kick off on Thursday, March 18th at 7 PM. Anyone interested in joining is encouraged to attend! Winds and Percussion members range from 9th-12th grade, and color guard members range from 7th-12th grade. Click here for a short video about the marching band experience, and click here for the virtual open house link!