Article

The Clash | “London Calling”

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

 By Kerrick Shaw 

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

The Clash, nicknamed “The Only Band That Matters,” formed in 1976 and quickly rose to the top of the 70s punk movement, second only to the Sex Pistols. Swimming in the musical movement of 1974, The Clash was surrounded by bands like Television, The Ramones and The Damned, all jumping from garages to the stages. 

Formed by guitarist Mick Jones, the band, then named Weak Heartdrops and Psychotic Negatives, was made up of Paul Simonon (bass guitarist) and Terry Chimes (drummer). In search of their missing piece, the energetic and rough lead singer they needed, Joe Strummer left the 101’ers and completed the puzzle of The Clash. 

They were considered the most political band stemming out of the U.K., however they thought of themselves more as social, having focused their music on the hardships they saw in people’s everyday lives – serving as a look into the world of the less fortunate.  

Their explosive debut single “White Riot” and first studio album “The Clash,” both released in 1977, were kept on the shelf in America until their eventual, and late, releases in 1978.  

In 1977, Chimes had left the band due to their chaotic nature and he was then replaced by Nicky “Topper” Headen, who went on to play with the band until 1982. 

With their self-titled release considered too raw and disorderly for American audiences, their second album, “Give ‘Em Enough Rope” (1978), was overseen by an American producer in an attempt to make it more appealing for that potential audience. 

Regardless of their efforts, The Clash didn’t make their big breakthrough in America until the release of their third studio album, “London Calling,” which was released in 1979 in the U.K. and 1980 in the U.S. 

The album dips into multiple genres, stacking songs of blues and jazz on top of ska and dreary punk. Although the combinations may sound overbearing, they managed to make each song go together perfectly. To work around their controversially literal lyrics, “London Calling” displayed their growth in writing through hiding clever metaphors in the stories of each song.  

After reaching their definitive peak with “London Calling,” The Clash tried replicating the same feel with the following album, “Sandinista!” which came out in 1980. Unfortunately, it failed to spawn the same reaction. Their next release, “Combat Rock,” released in 1982, the last album featuring Jones as the lead guitarist, thankfully included “Rock the Casbah,” one of the band’s most popular songs today. 

However, they only put out one more, poorly received, album before disbanding in 1986. 

Although The Clash had a rough ending to their story, “London Calling” stands today as one of the most recognizable and popular punk albums, especially with its iconic cover: a photo of Simonon smashing his bass guitar. 

To throw a little spice into the album, some songs feature organ and piano (“The Card Cheat,” “Wrong ‘Em Boyo” and “Clampdown”), as well as horns poking through, especially noticeable on “Rudie Can’t Fail.”  

“London Calling” is essentially a greatest hits, only missing a few songs from their debut and future albums, such as “Should I Stay or Should I Go” from “Combat Rock.” 

Regardless of the many different attributes I’ve explained for individual songs, a full listen through is the only way of understanding the level this album is on. As per usual with the albums I review, this one is another go-to pick when I need an album to play at room-filling volume. In my opinion, although The Clash aren’t at the top of my list for the best punk bands, “London Calling” is one of my favorite punk albums of all time.   

Mock Trial Recap 

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By Samarah Guy  

Photo Courtesy: Mr. Zilli

GS’ Mock Trial team placed 3rd during the State Championships in Harrisburg.  

On March 24th, the team earned 1001 points by the end of the second trial, placing 3rd out of the 14 teams in the championships.  

“We were the only team in our district to go to states, and we had the third most points out of everyone there,” Mock Trial Advisor Ms. Kristen Solomon said.  

Mock Trial is an organization that gives students the opportunity to take part in the courtroom and understand how the court system works while also competing against other schools. 

“Mock Trial is a program where students can actually try to participate in a ‘mock’ trial and have an experience similar to a real trial,” Ms. Solomon said. 

The main goals are to score more points than the opposing team and to win the case with strong evidence. 

“They are given a case, and the students are either attorneys or witnesses,” Solomon added. “They also have to write open and close directs and cross examinations to present at the Mock Trial.” 

Direct and cross-examinations come at the beginning of the trial, providing information on the case. The performance and content of the examinations, as well as the attorneys’ performances are graded on a scale of 1-10. The opening and closing statements are also scored on the same scale. At the end of the trail, all the points are added up, and that number is the team’s final score. 

“There’s a ballot that has everything that happens in the trial on it,” senior Lea Kasmer said. “There’s opening and closing statements from both prosecution and defense, along with six witnesses who each have a direct and a cross examination on the ballot. The judges and jury will score it on a scale of 1-10.”  

Mock Trial helps students see and understand the court system firsthand. This group can help set students up for their futures in law, and it also helps form bonds. 

“To me, Mock Trial is not only about building cases, but it’s really important to have a relationship with your team and communicate with everyone,” junior Katie Shea said.             

FCCLA State Leadership Conference and STAR Event 

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By Kerrick Shaw 

Photo Courtesy: Mrs. Morgan Ferczak

GS FCCLA members were rewarded for their efforts in the State Leadership Conference and STAR Event. 

On March 20th, Students were recognized for their achievements and proficiency in chapter and individual attributions such as projects, leadership skills and career preparation. 

“FCCLA means ‘Family, Career and Community Leaders of America,’” Dr. Tiffany Smietana-Lysell, GS FCCLA Advisor of 5 years, said. “It’s a leadership organization for grades five through twelve … it focuses on personal development with students while doing community service and planning for their future.”  

They participated in the STAR state competition, which stands for “Students Taking Action and Recognition.” 

State leaderboard placements are determined using a point system with 90 through 100 earning Gold, 75 to 89 earning Silver and the remainder earning bronze. The more points a student earns, the higher up they are on the leaderboard. 

Three students qualified for nationals, each earning Gold in their respective categories: junior Lisa Leeman in National Programs in Action, junior Karma Schall in Chapter Service Display and junior Brenna Kohl in Chapter Service Display. 

Photo Courtesy: Mrs. Morgan Ferczak

“It’s given me the opportunity to be more involved in the community, helping me with paying more attention to what other people need,” Kohl said. “We all try to tag team helping out in any way that we can.” 

Juniors Emily Ruggeri and Azreal Franklin earned Silver in Event Management and Professional Presentation, respectively.  

Along with them, junior Thomas Kohl was awarded for student timekeeper and voting delegate. 

All preparation and work that comes before the competition is primarily done outside of school, with their efforts being just as rigorous as what senior projects bring, according to Dr. Smietana-Lysell. 

Although everything is student led, the Advisors are able to keep them going in the right direction. 

“As Advisors, we act as guides and a resource for our student leaderships and officers,” Mrs. Morgan Ferczak, GS FCCLA Advisor of 3 years, said. “We work with our administration to do fundraising and events; we also make sure we can get in contact with our state and national representatives.” 

Students who made nationals will be attending the National Leadership Conference in Seattle this summer from June 29th through July 3rd.  

The conference is an opportunity for them to work with other members and Advisors from across the nation, as well as working with industry experts to further explore their career paths.    

“They did amazing, all placing Gold and Silver,” Dr. Smietana-Lysell said. “Azreal took third place in the whole state. … Karma and Brenna made second place … and Lisa got first in all of Pennsylvania. It was all absolutely remarkable.” 

David Bowie | “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” 

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By Kerrick Shaw

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

David Bowie, born in 1947, was not one to take criticism to heart. He was able to switch personas as quickly as they came to him, allowing himself to express his creative mind to the absolute fullest. 

He managed to make the world more diverse and more accepting of those who were unique; with his flashy makeup, glitzy costumes and ambiguous sexuality, he inspired fans to be confident in who and what they were. Affecting the lives of hundreds of millions, Bowie literally – and figuratively – changed the world. 

The influence he spread throughout the music industry can be found within just about any genre. His work was sampled by Hip Hop artists such as A Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy and Dr. Dre. He accumulated an incredible list of collaborations with artists like The Rolling Stones, Queen and Iggy Pop.  

He never stopped making music, continuing to record into the 21st century, releasing “Reality” (2003), “The Next Day” (2013), and his final album, “Blackstar” (2016), just two days before his death from cancer.  

During the modernist era of the 1960s, Bowie released what’s considered the kickstart of his career, “Space Oddity.” Although it made its way to the Top Ten in Britain in 1969, it, as well as his first two studio albums, failed to make his name a radio staple.  

“The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” (1972) was what truly placed Bowie in the center of the dance floor. Using the boundaries of rock as a starting point and pushing past their limits with the flamboyant fashion and his seamless blending of genres, he transformed into what he is remembered as today. 

Although it may not be his best album in a technical sense, meaning others were more compositionally groundbreaking, none, in my opinion, sit on the same level as “Ziggy Stardust.”  

Kicking off with “Five Years” – one of my favorite songs of all time, let alone off the album – should immediately capture the ears of the listeners. It immerses you with its gloomy piano melody and simple drum beat and pulls you along as Bowie’s vocals and instrumentals build up to a sweeping end. 

The melodramatic feeling of the first track is carried throughout the album with “Starman,” “Lady Stardust,” and the fantastic album closer “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide.” However, showing the power of his genre fluidity, the album also had rockers of the highest order like “Suffragette City” and “Moonage Daydream.”  

Anybody can describe the sounds of the songs, but I see it best to solidify their greatness. Any time I’m packing for trips across the state, “Ziggy Stardust” manages to always find its way into my hands. 

There are countless introductions to recommend for the 70s rock era, but no matter what, “Ziggy Stardust” has to be one of the first. There is Old Wave, there is New Wave, and there is Bowie.  

Pros & Cons of AI  

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By Samarah Guy  

Photo by: Samarah Guy

Teachers and students are torn on deciding whether or not AI will prove to be beneficial for today’s society. 

Artificial intelligence is a form of computer science that uses human intelligence to do everyday tasks like reasoning, generalizing, discovering meaning and problem solving.  

“I think AI has some good things about it, but I also think it has bad things about it because people come to rely on it more than human creativity,” technology education teacher Mr. Matthew King said.  

Artificial intelligence isn’t always used ethically. Students tend to use it to get quick answers for homework, but this is actually causing a lack of comprehension because no new information is being taken in.  

“I think people need to realize that ethics is also in control of the user,” Mr. King added. “Don’t use it as a substitute for learning, use it as an enhancement.”  

Students use AI as a substitute for their own abilities, resulting in their dependence on technology. It’s less likely for those relying on AI to develop certain skills further such as critical thinking. 

“The most important thing is to not hide from it, but to learn how to use it as a tool,” English teacher Mrs. Mary Logan said.  

Some teachers may even use AI to help make plans for upcoming classes, as well as for referencing when they need a quick and direct answer.  

“I have used artificial intelligence predominantly to generate things that I used to have to come up with on my own,” Mrs. Logan said. “For example, if I want to play a game … with vocabulary words, now I can go into chat AI and say, ‘give me sentences for each word using context clues.’”  

Students can also use AI in beneficial ways like checking over answers, receiving direct answers to questions or even to study.

“I use it as a search engine whenever I have a really specific question that google can’t answer,” senior Aryana Galdo said. “… once it can be integrated without completely diminishing a system, I think it could be capitalized on.”  

Artificial intelligence has the potential to be beneficial for everyone without negatively affecting some; however, it still has kinks that need to be ironed out before it can get to that point.  

“It’s meant to be help to you not the reason you get it right,” math teacher Mr. Matthew Sofran said.  

The Doors | “The Doors”

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

 By Kerrick Shaw 

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

The Doors, officially formed in 1965, are one of the most quintessential Rock and Roll bands of all time. With the frontman, Jim Morrison, being one of Rock’s mythic figures, it is nearly impossible to avoid his troubled life and where it led the band. 

Ray Manzarek (keyboardist), then frontman of Rick & the Ravens, immediately wanted Morrison in the band after hearing a poem of his, which later became “Moonlight Drive.” After one month of Morrison’s overshadowing role in the group, drummer John Densmore joined as well. Before the year’s end, the remaining two members of Rick & the Ravens had left, then being replaced by guitarist Robbie Krieger.  

“The Doors,” their debut album, released in 1967, immediately gave the band their reputation for pushing the boundaries of what rock was, both musically and lyrically. With his poetic nature, alluring voice and the popularity that came from his traits, Morrison embraced his role of the wild artist. 

With the continuous spotlight on him during live performances, the other members leaned back and watched the magic happen. However, with no precautions to help him, “Mr. Mojo Risin” quickly succumbed to misfortunes of his own making.  

After leading them through fire and ice over their six-year drive, Morrison joined the infamous 27 club in 1971. This “club” consists of celebrities, such as Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain, who all coincidentally passed at the early age of 27.  

His many troubles with the law and his blackout concert performances stemmed from intense drinking and drug habits, one particularly famous event leading to no less than five misdemeanor charges and a felony charge to boot for public profanity and exposure during a show in 1969. He unashamedly lived the reckless rock ’n’ roll lifestyle until the end. 

“The Doors” is, in my opinion, their strongest album. Filled from start to finish with absolutely iconic songs, some of which being their most popular, I’d consider it one of the greatest debut albums of all time. It managed to reach the number two spot on the Billboard 200, beat by The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” 

The opening track, “Break on Through (To the Other Side),” has consistently been my favorite Doors song since my first time listening. Other songs off the album, such as “Light My Fire” and “The Crystal Ship,” hold high rankings as well. 

The sound varies from the Chicago Blues, with “Back Door Man,” to German Opera, with “Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar).” A majority of the songs were birthed from poems written by Morrison, bringing an unmatched, almost mesmerizing feeling to each one.  

If you’re looking for not just an entrance into the world of The Doors, but also a lead into Classic Rock as a whole, “The Doors” is the perfect place to start. 

Winter Sports Wrap-up  

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By Samarah Guy  

The Greensburg Salem winter sports season has come to an end.  

The winter sports include boys’ and girls’ swim, boys’ and girls’ bowling, wrestling, boys’ and girls’ basketball and hockey. 

Boys’ Swim  

The boys’ swim team didn’t have winning in their favor this season, but they tried to beat the odds to win.  

“The guys usually lose because there are only five of us,” sophomore Austin Flora said.  

The average high school swim team usually has 15-20 members, so the GS team didn’t have as great of a chance of winning.  

The biggest issue the boys’ swim team has ran into was the quantity. Gaining more members could help the team majorly, and they could even win more meets next year.  

Girls’ Swim 

The GS girls’ swim team has done well this season, and they’ve pulled their weight when they couldn’t win.  

“In the athletic aspect we’re doing really well,” senior Emily Lehman said.  

After a long journey of working hard and trying their best, Lucy Giovannelli, Emily Lehman, Riley Reese and Allison Stinnett made WPIALs.                     

“We were very close all season and we couldn’t get it until our very last meet, and we surpassed the qualifying time by like 4 or 5 seconds,” Lehman added.  

Boys’ Bowling  

The GS bowling team had an amazing season, winning almost every match they’ve had, but they did face a few challenges in the process.  

“Hempfield has been our biggest challenge this season,” junior Dylan Megliorino stated.  

Trying to beat your biggest rival is very gut wrenching, but the bowling team didn’t stop. During their practices, each member tried to beat their last score and become better so they could beat the challenging opponents.  

The boys’ bowling team qualified for regionals. Dylan Megliorino, Justice Payne, Brandon Semoni and Anthony DeMine qualified individually for WPIBLs, but only Dylan made it to states placing 9th.  

“We all can work on our spares and mental games,” Megliorino said.  

Girls’ Bowling  

The GS girls’ bowling team placed third in sectionals, and they went to regionals as well this season.  

“The girls have improved a lot as a whole by bringing our average up to around 680,” senior Shelby Frick said. 

Trying to achieve better spares is something the team had worked to overcome.  

The whole bowling team made it to regionals, while Paige Gaughan and Shelby Frick qualified individually.  

“For me, bowling isn’t just about high averages and wins, it’s about the connections, friends, and support you make along the way,” Frick added.  

Wrestling  

The GS wrestling team tried their best to win each tournament and become better wrestlers all round.  

“Individually yea, each one of us is doing well,” freshman Elijah Miller said.  

Each wrestler did well individually, but that doesn’t always mean they win each tournament.  

Ethan Miller, David Peters and Keegan Young qualified individually for WPIALs.  

“There is always room for improvement, you never reach perfection, but that’s what you aim for,” Elijah added.  

Boys’ Basketball  

The boys’ basketball team had a bit of a rough season, but they were still optimistic and tried to find ways to better themselves to win.  

The biggest issue that the team had to overcome is their communication according to sophomore Lucus Collins.  

Basketball is a team sport that requires everyone to talk and understand what they will be doing in the game. Teamwork was another issue preventing the boys from winning.  

“Our players need to work together better,” sophomore Lucas Collins said.  

The greatest win was a 59-50 victory against Indiana Area Senior High School on January 26th.  

Photo Courtesy: Adison Poole

Girls’ basketball  

The girls’ basketball team was 16-9.  

“We had a really hard section and I think we competed well against every team,” junior Blessing Gantt said.  

The girls had a 43-20 victory against Hopewell in the first playoff game, but they had a 62-36 loss against Highlands in the second game.  

“We just have to work hard and stay consistent in order to win next year,” sophomore Mya Heasley said.  

 Hockey  

The GS hockey team was 13-5 this season.  

“This year we are doing pretty good, but we can always do better,” freshman Jacob Fink said. 

The hard work the team put in this season took them to the playoffs. The boys had a 5-1 victory against Plum during the first playoff game, and they had a 2-0 victory against Quaker Valley during the second game. After advancing to the Penguins’ Cup Final, they lost a hard-fought game to Chartiers Valley.  

“Our goal is to become the team that Greensburg deserves to have,” Fink added.   

The Beatles’ “1962-1966” (The Red Album) and “1967-1970” (The Blue Album) 

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By Kerrick Shaw 

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

 Made up of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, The Beatles are arguably the most famous and inspirational band to ever exist.  

After forming the band in 1957, McCartney and Lennon played shows around their hometown of Liverpool, working with various bandmates before eventually adding Harrison by the end of that same year. Starting out with names like “The Quarrymen” and “The Silver Beetles,” they were soon picked up by record label Parlaphone.  

After searching for a drummer to best complement their sound, Starr became part of the group in 1962, replacing Pete Best. As a result of numerous appearances on British television and their rise in popularity, the term “Beatlemania” came to fruition.  

Despite their only seven-year run, the Fab Four managed to release 12 studio albums, some popular releases being: “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (1967) and “Abbey Road” (1969). All four contributed their vocals to the songs, each using a variety of instruments while exploring new and unique studio techniques that separated new releases from their previous work. 

 “1962-1966” and “1967-1970,” more often referred to as the red and blue albums respectively, are collections perfectly encapsulating their magic. The red album consists of the poppy, simple, love-filled Beatles music prior to their transition into the ‘60s hippie movement represented with the blue album.  

With a combined total of 54 tracks, they serve as the definitive Beatles collection. Being that they’re filled with the absolute essentials, and that most Beatles songs are fantastic, it’s hard to choose standouts.   

From the red album, a few favorites of mine would be “All My Loving,” “Yesterday,” and “In My Life.”  For the blue, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and “Across the Universe.”  Both tracklists bring such a uniquely joyful feeling that no other band is capable of, moving me to twist and shout with the music. 

Similar to The Cure’s “Staring at the Sea,” these are the best recommendations for anybody looking to begin their journey down the long and winding road of The Beatles, as well as being perfect for any Beatle-fanatic. 

GSHS Outdoor Classroom Project

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By Kerrick Shaw

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

A change in scenery will be implemented by the start of the next school year for students and teachers to enjoy time learning in the sun. 

On top of renovating the pond and landscaping, the school board is moving forward with a pavilion project for classroom purposes, building on top of the cement slab outside of the science wing. 

“There used to be a greenhouse that sat outside by Mrs. Harper’s room … when that got taken down, that cement area was just left there,” GS Superintendent Dr. Ken Bissell said. “A lot of the science teachers still use that outdoor space … the science department really took the lead on deciding how to renovate it.” 

All students were taken into consideration during the decision making for this project, keeping it available to all classes rather than exclusively sciences. 

“It became, ‘can we have an area that any class or any student can use?’ with the pavilion and seating,” Environment and Ecology teacher Mr. Angelo Testa said. “Everything from science classes, obviously, to art classes, English – just anyone who wants to go outside will get to have this space.” 

Students have shared excitement for the space, agreeing that it will be beneficial for everyone. 

“I think the introduction of an outdoor classroom will be a great addition to the school, especially with the ecology classes,” junior Aiden Carota said. “… many students will be happy to get out of the building for some fresh air.” 

The School Board will be voting to move forward with a contractor and will then be able to map out the full timeline of the project. 

“I am hopeful for the pavilion to be done before summer,” Dr. Bissell said. “However, for the whole project – pavilion, pond, landscaping – I’d like that all to be ready for the next school year.” 

The staff involved are eager to provide this designated spot for outdoor learning. 

“There’s a certain energy that comes out of it,” Principal Mr. Adam Jones said. “It’s like: ‘Aw man!’ That’s what I hope it becomes, ‘Hey, let’s go use the outdoor classroom.’” 

Teen Issues  

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By Samarah Guy  

Resources can be found in the guidance office for further help with various teen problems such as bullying, low self-esteem and social anxiety.

Bullying  

Bullying is something that may never be stopped, but understanding what it is and why people do it is important.  

People bully for many different reasons, some of which being to feel a sense of power, to become popular, home issues, wanting attention or out of boredom. Some may even bully as a form of revenge for being bullied in the past.  

Dealing with bullying can be very difficult, but putting an end to it is more important. Avoiding engagement with the bully, staying positive, distracting one’s mind, talking it out with the bully or seeking higher authority are some of the most helpful ways to handle the problem.  

“It’s mostly verbal, I think, at this point,” French teacher Ms. Laura Hoffer said.  

Bullying can be physical, verbal, online or prejudicial. Physical bullying happens in person, and it involves someone assaulting another person. Verbal bullying is when one may use words to hurt someone’s feelings. Bullying that occurs online is called cyberbullying. Prejudicial bullying is when someone bullies another person because of their age, gender, religion, disability or sexual orientation.  

“I think it’s hard to get the bully’s words out of your head, especially at an adolescent age, so talking to someone is going to help a lot,” Ms. Hoffer added. 

When trying not to be a bully, one should think before doing it, remove oneself from the bullies around, change one’s perspective, stop being a bystander or talk to a professional.  

Low Self-esteem  

Low self-esteem is when one has a very negative opinion of themselves.  

There are many causes to low self-esteem, but the main causes are social media, peer pressure, bullying, parental influence or social interactions.  

“Surround yourself with positive people who will boost you,” Guidance Counselor Mr. John Manley said. 

After having low self-esteem, most people tend to gain anxiety, eating disorders, emotional distress or panic disorders.  

“Try not to focus your energy on the things that you can’t do, but focus your energy on the things that you can do,” Mr. Manley added.   

To help with one’s self-esteem one must encourage trying new things, encourage physical activity, find positive thoughts about oneself and simply just be positive. Talking to a friend, family member or professional is another way that can help.  

Social Anxiety  

Social anxiety is when one fears being social or has a lot of anxiety when in social environments.  

Social anxiety can look different for many people. Normally one will have few friends, avoid talking to people, especially strangers, avoid going out, feel embarrassed after being social, be self-conscious, be anxious about being around people, lack engaging with others or simply just be shy.  

“Just keep in mind that no one’s judging you and stay positive,” health teacher Mrs. Alyssa Lukatch said. 

To help someone suffering with the disorder one can offer breathing exercises, encourage therapy, congratulate the little accomplishments, be supportive or just listen when it’s needed. To ease one’s social anxiety, deep breathing, facing fears, fighting negativity or talking to someone are the most common ways to help.   

“You also want to be positive in who you are, and know that most people have social anxiety too,” Mrs. Lukatch added.