READING HAS COME FULL CIRCLE- ALPINE AND SHS PARTNER IN LITERACY

 First Meeting of the SHS Literacy Project!

By Kelly Groome 

The first meeting of the SHS Literary project successfully took place this past Monday! 

During lunch, kindergarten students from Alpine Elementary listened and watched as Ms. Deluccia read aloud this week's book, Swimmy by Leo Lioni. The story of Swimmy centers on the project's theme for this week, leadership. 

Throughout the meeting, SHS students were gathered around the screen and helped weigh in on what traits make a good leader. Alpine students also contributed by offering their thoughts on leadership and asking SHS students questions about high school. 

The next meeting will take place Monday 2/13 where SHS students will read The Little Blue Truck to the Alpine students. Any and all students are welcome to join the project which will tentatively take place every Monday during lunch.

POP-UP ART FUNDRAISER!

 National Art Honor Society Pop-Up Popcorn Sale!

By Olivia Flanz 

Like popcorn? Know someone in the National Art Honor Society? Starting Thursday, February 9th, at 3:00 pm, art students in the national society will be selling popcorn through the Double Good app. This sale will go on for 4 days, ending on Monday, February 13th. You can order the popcorn by obtaining a link from a NAHS member. All money made from the sales will go towards the honor society. The popcorn will be shipped within 1-2 weeks from the time the order is placed. 

JUST KEEP SWIMMING- an Interview with Molly Engelhart

 An Interview with a Sparta Swim Team Captain

By Lily Hoffman

Sports is such a huge part of the Sparta High School Community. Students come in droves to the football games, basketball games, and volleyball games alike. One sport that many don’t know about is the fantastic Sparta High School Swim team. I had the opportunity to sit down with one of the Sparta swim team captains, Molly Engelhart. 

How long have you been swimming? 

“I’ve been swimming for 9 years.”

How long have you been on the team?

“I’ve been on this team since freshman year.”

What is your favorite part of being on the swim team? 

“I love the community, the friends you make are long lasting.”

What is your favorite memory from your time on the team? 

“My favorite memory would have to be one of the pasta parties we had, where the entire team stayed up way too late and just hung out and ate pasta.”

Do you have any advice for fixture Sparta swimmers? 

“For future Sparta swimmers, I'll just have fun. Our team is very casual so you don’t have to worry about making the cut. Just enjoy the friendships you make and the exercise you get from the sport.”

What is your favorite event?

“My favorite event is the 200 free, it’s awful to swim but it feels great when you’re done.”

Do you plan on continuing swimming after high school?

“Yes, I plan on swimming on a collegiate level. It’s such an over encompassing part of my life I couldn’t imagine my day to day without it.” 

SCIENCE MAKES HISTORY

 A Comet That Hasn’t Been in the Sky Since the Stone Age

By Olivia Flanz 

From February 1st to February 2nd of 2023, the Green Comet was able to be seen in the sky with just the naked eye. This comet was last seen 50,000 years ago, during the Stone Age. While this comet is ancient, it was only discovered last year by astronomers at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego California. It was founded by Caltech, a world-renowned science and engineering institute. 

Named the “Green Comet” because of its coma - the gassy cape that surrounds the comet's nucleus- which is green, due to the diatomic carbon it contains. The Green Comet could be found by looking South of the Big Dipper. Once the North Star was located, the Comet was directly South of the Polaris. The best time to observe the comet was early morning, less than one hour between moonset local time and when dawn begins. According to NASA, that was when the comet was at its brightest.