BRYNN FOR THE WIN!

 BRYNN MCCURRY ACHIEVES 1,000 POINTS

BY: KELLY GROOME

On Wednesday, January 19th, junior, Brynn Mccury achieved the 1,000 point milestone. The girl’s basketball team faced off against the Chatham Cougars in an NJAC Division Game. The team scored an 83-41 win. 

For the past three years, McCurry has been a starting varsity player on the basketball team. Despite the loss of 15 games during the 2021 season, McCurry was still able to achieve the 1, 000 point milestone, a great moment to remember in a basketball player’s career. 

The three-pointer shot to make 1,000 points came from a pass by teammate Ally Sweeney. McCurry is the first-ever junior to reach the milestone in Sparta High School history. 

The girl’s basketball team has a current record of 9-3. The next game is scheduled for 1/29 against Red Bank Catholic.

No Longer the Pits!

 RENOVATED ORCHESTRA PIT AT AUDITORIUM

By: Shea Harrison

Previously known as the dark abyss below the stage at Sparta High School, the pit area has undergone renovations so it can once again be used during plays and concerts! Thanks to the work of the wonderful custodial staff, this project was successfully completed. As explained by Sparta High School’s orchestra teacher, Ms. Bach, this work included fixing the water damage. The new pit will be used during this Spring’s production of Newsies, with a group led by Mr. Lopez, and will be contributing to many more performances to come. 

EXTRA! EXTRA!!!

 Spring Musical Rehearsals are Underway!

By Hayley Lane 

Students of SHS’s spring musical, Newsies, continue to make way with weekly rehearsals. The main cast has been choreographing and memorizing lines with Ms DeLuccia over the past few weeks, and the ensemble rehearsals have begun this week. Mrs. Lopez began by helping students rehearse the lyrics and notes for “Carrying the Banner'' and Ms. Lucas began choreographing “The World Will Know.” 

Rehearsals will transition from virtual to in-person soon, and the cast cannot wait to put on a fantastic show in a few months! 

SCHOOLS CLOSING ACROSS THE COUNTRY OMICRON CASES RISE FOLLOWING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

 

Photo Credit: whyy.org

SCHOOLS CLOSING ACROSS THE COUNTRY

OMICRON CASES RISE FOLLOWING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

By: Kelly Groome

Over the past few weeks with Omicron cases on the rise and schools shutting down, for many, it feels as if history is repeating itself. Schools first started closing due to the Coronavirus in the Winter of 2020 and remained closed for the majority of the following 2020-2021 school year, when Covid rates were their highest. 

This September, as Coronavirus rates began to decrease, many districts around the country began the school year by opening their doors.

However, since the Holiday season has arrived with a new and rapidly spreading variant of the Coronavirus, Omicron, rates have since been spiking. Schools around the world have once again begun to close their doors as teachers and students contract the virus. 

In the New York Public District, a total of 877 classrooms have shut down and returned to virtual learning, the Today Show reported. According to NBC News, Prince Goerge´s county in Maryland was the first major school district to move to remote learning since the major surge in cases.

Not only on the East Coast, but throughout the country schools are following similar paths. In Missouri, St Roch Catholic School decided to move to virtual learning and return after Winter break has ended.

On December 17th, the Biden Administration released a new ``Test-to-stay” policy to help keep children in classrooms. The new strategy allows close contacts of students to remain in school if they are to test negative. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky remarked on the strategy stating, ¨Test to stay is an encouraging public health practice to keep our students in school.¨ 

Hopefully with the implementation of this new strategy and following safe Coronavirus guidelines, students will begin to return to classrooms following a decrease in the Omicron surge. 

A FRESH START TO THE NEW YEAR

 A FRESH START TO THE NEW YEAR

COVID-FRIENDLY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION IDEAS 

By: Noelle Hanek

With a brand new year starting up, now is the time for new goals and resolutions! Let’s start 2022 off strong as a year of achievement and self-improvement! To give you some ideas, here are some of the staff’s resolutions:

Noelle is going to eat better foods and get more sleep. She is also going to be more organized! 

Hayley is going to get back into reading, and try a new instrument!

Kavya is going to learn how to play the Ukulele, have a consistent sleep schedule, and be on top of her gift-giving this year! 

Below are some more resolution ideas, many of which are COVID-friendly!

• Do more fitness (a gym membership is not needed, you can perform at-home workouts or go on runs around the block!) 

• Focus more on academics

• Read more books

• Learn a new instrument

• Learn a new language

• Perform more acts of kindness 

• Volunteer and/or donate to those in need

• Learn a new hobby you always wanted to try (singing, writing, a sport, cooking, etc.) 

• Join more clubs 

• Try to make new friends

• Spend more time with family (which includes talking on the phone for COVID-friendly purposes) 

• Practice self-care techniques such as meditation and/or spa days

• Get a job or side hustle

Following our resolutions can be a great experience and very rewarding. They are great ways to motivate people to accomplish their long-anticipated goals. However, while setting goals can be easy, actually following through with them can be difficult. If this ever happens, never get discouraged because it is never too late to continue trying to reach our goals, and a new year is a great place to start! 

Happy 2022 from the Oracle! 

Image from unsplash.com