The Lions' Den

By Emily Frazier

GS was buzzing with energy as Homecoming festivities took place. Sejah Franklin was crowned Homecoming Queen, SCA hosted events, prizes were won and memories were made.

“Homecoming is a time for alumni to reconnect with Greensburg Salem,” SCA Sponsor Mr. Christopher Gazze said. “For current students, it’s a way to celebrate school spirit and connect with the school community.”

Approaching the Homecoming game, SCA held a spirit week, bonfire and pep rally. The themes for spirit week were Pajama Day, Country vs. Country Club, Holiday Day, Decades Day and Whiteout Day. The winners were announced at the pep rally.

At the bonfire, there was a pie eating contest, numerous competitions and games, a blow-up obstacle course, marching band and cheer performances, varsity athlete meet and greets and a Homecoming Court announcement.

“In addition to the cheerleaders, band, and varsity athletes, we had numerous clubs sponsor tables,” Gazze said.

The scene was filled with people from all over and of all ages.

“We marketed our bouncy house for elementary students, and that’s getting them involved early on and encouraging them to come to events so they’re excited in high school to join SCA,” SCA Senior Class President Keegan Murtha said.

It was an event the entire community was able to be involved in.

That Friday, a pep rally took place during school. The marching band and cheerleaders were present to hype up the crowd.

There was also “tug of war, a free throw game, a relay race, a spirit screaming competition,” and more for the students to participate in, Murtha said.

The senior class won the competitions overall. A lion statue with a beaded blue necklace stands in honor of their win.

“I think everyone was super lively ‘cause it was leading up to our football game,” he said. “Everyone was just having fun and having a good time.”

At the game, seats were packed, and the field was lined with people as they waited to see the Homecoming Court ceremony. Dressed in their best, the Court rode to the field in their lavish cars and took their seats, anticipating the big moment. As halftime arrived, excitement filled the air. Each girl and her escort was announced on the field.

“Everybody was very supportive of each other,” senior Sejah Franklin said.

Escorted by Joey Costello, Franklin stood proud as she was crowned this year’s Homecoming Queen.

“Everybody was screaming and applauding,” she said. “It was kind of a shock.”

Coming back to school, she could feel the respect from her friends and peers and is ready to fill the role.

“It was a great feeling being recognized for everything,” she said.

According to many of her peers, Franklin is known for her spirited personality and constant kindness.

“She came in happy and with positive energy every day,” Gazze said. “She helped create the atmosphere in the class and made it one I will always remember.”

Alongside the Homecoming Court, alumni were represented at the game. Cheerleaders, marching band members, family and more returned to experience the Friday night lights once again.

“It was nice to hold all of the events for the first time in a few years,” Gazze said.

By Emma Helmick

Students scramble to grab their brown and gold gear and head to every school event SCA has planned.

Student Council Association is a club that represents the student body. SCA organizes some of the school affiliated activities for all students and sometimes families.

“We plan events throughout the year and participate in various community and service events,” SCA co-advisor Mr. Christopher Gazze said.

The group sets events up including the homecoming bonfire, Mr. GS, powderpuff, prom and more. The members put in time to create occasions where everyone can come together to socialize and have a good time.

“I am hoping that this year we can get the elementary schools more involved in Student Council events,” senior Rachel O’Bryan, Student Council President, said. “After all, the elementary students will take the place of high school students, so we want to positively influence the kids the best way we can.”

SCA comes together to plans things for the school’s students and staff, but also the community. They find different ways to include the whole district to help the younger kids get more involved with the school.

“Student Council is always looking for new ideas and activities to add to the calendar,” SCA co-advisor Mrs. Sue Glowa said.  “It is a club that plans events and activities for the whole student body.”

It impacts the students who the events are being planned for, but it impacts the members as well.

“Just join it,” senior Lilly Gatons, Senior Class Secretary, said. “Signing up will not hurt. If you do not want to end up participating in events, you do not have to, but IT truly will improve your high school experience.”

The students have a voice this way and a say in what activities their classmates will take part in.

“Overall SCA is just a way to get every grade and even community members involved with the school,” Gatons said.

SCA is responsible for making most of social occasions that bring this school together.

“When I leave Greensburg Salem, I hope to leave the school knowing I left a positive influence,” O’Bryan said.

By Ksena Spencer

Please note: This is an Editorial written by a member of The Lions’ Den staff and does not necessarily reflect the views of the School District or Administrators.

Being a woman who has gotten her period isn’t easy; it changes your daily life.

Female students who are on their period in school have to use menstrual products for longer periods of time, which can cause higher risk of cervical cancer, toxic shock syndrome and other health issues resulting from product overuse.

 Going to school during your menstrual cycle can be difficult when every woman has different amounts of pain, cramps and other negative effects caused by periods.

“Periods 100% affect girls’ daily school life,” junior Giavanna Rosensteel said. “Speaking personally, I get extremely bad cramps that I have to miss school monthly for and I know many other girls who do, too.”

When girls are at home, they are able to change their menstrual items often and have enough items at their house so they don’t run out.

 At school, girls may have products in their bags. The problem is when girls don’t have the necessary items to use. Some girls just go to the nurse to get products, but often they will ask a friend for a pad or tampon.

“Right now, I know that Miss Salak, Mrs. Seitzinger and myself have maxi pads and tampons in our closets for girls who may request them from us,” GSMS English teacher Mrs. Barb Garofola said. “This was Miss Salak’s idea. She gave them to us, and we have them for those in need.”

Period products should be available for free in all women’s bathrooms throughout the school. Doing this would make having to go change a product easier for girls.

“I think people make it out to be something gross or almost like it should be a secret,” sophomore Elanor Swanson said. “This is not the case though, it is natural and should be normalized. We are expected to be in varying levels of pain throughout the day and act like we are perfectly fine, and this should not be normalized.”

Some girls are embarrassed or afraid someone will see them take a product to the bathroom so they might try to hide it in their pocket or their sleeve while going. They will often try to be quiet while unwrapping or opening the product while being in a bathroom for females only.

“Yes, periods affect the young ladies in our building,” Mrs. Garofola said. “Some girls get sick, some have pain, some have their clothes ruined. All of this weighs on the minds of these adolescents, and this could interfere greatly with their daily learning.”

Toilet paper, seat covers and hand soap are offered for free in public restrooms. These things could be considered “necessities” for anyone. Tampons and pads are a necessity for all women. These products aren’t even offered in all public restrooms, let alone offered for free.

“We are the wealthiest country in the world; we should be able to have free hygiene products for young women,” history teacher Mr. Robert Lehman said.

Attending school as a woman who is on her period can come with all sorts of pains and discomforts. Not having products available to you when you need them is difficult. Our school district would benefit by having free menstrual items in the bathrooms.

“Periods can happen unexpectedly, and even adult women can find themselves unprepared,” English teacher Mrs. Mary Logan said. “That can be a traumatic experience for a teenager, and it’s something I would hope we can find a way to avoid as a compassionate community.”

By Mia Saraceni and Ari Case

The GS library holds hundreds of books that span a variety of genres, but it can be nothing short of daunting trying to figure out which one to pick. This column is here to offer some help in the form of recommendations and opinions so that maybe a new favorite is found.

Mrs. Carrie Vottero, the GS librarian, always has a plethora of ideas on what one should read.

When it comes to non-fiction, Mrs. Vottero strongly recommends the memoir Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard, the owner of the major clothing company Patagonia. The story is about his view on running a business and while that might seem boring, it’s a refreshing glance into the mind of a giving and unique man.

“He’s giving away his company to save the world, and I think that’s pretty awesome,” Vottero said. “The story is just really cool. He has a whole different kind of mindset on how to run a business.”

If non-fiction isn’t your cup of tea, another one of her favorites is The One-Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin. This story features 17-year-old Lenni and 83-year-old Margot who form a beautiful friendship. These two are terminally ill and decide, after having an art class together, to paint 100 portraits of events from the century they lived.

“It’s a beautiful story about how they build this friendship and how they help each other live,” Vottero said. “It’s just really great.”

Mrs. Vottero’s final recommendation is a book of poetry named And We Rise by Erica Martin. This collection of poems follows the events of the Civil Rights movement and how black communities are still facing some of those same struggles today.

“It’s a really cool book about civil rights issues that are in the world today,” she said.

Mrs. Vottero’s GoodReads Page  has even more books, along with her reviews and ratings. While she is able to offer a million different book choices, there are a few she didn’t mention. The Lions’ Den staff has some recommendations for you as well.

You may know American Psycho, the popular novel by Bret Easton Ellis, but have you heard of Ellis’ follow-up novel Less Than Zero? Less Than Zero is about societal impacts and the truth about how it can mold people. This novel features an 18-year-old Clay Easton, who comes home to Los Angeles from college on the east coast. The book explores Clay’s relationships, family life and mindset while being swept up in a culture full of drugs and nihilism.

The Hazel  Wood by Melissa Albert is another thrilling book with an adventure that never stops surprising you. Just when you think you understand, the rug is pulled out from under you and the story is flipped on its head. This novel has just the right amount of spookiness to unsettle you but not enough to cause nightmares. Albert weaves a wonderous story, and it’s definitely something worth checking out.

The final novel recommendation is a phenomenal story of a young boy, called Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Author Jonathan Safran Foer paints the picture of a young boy named Oscar and his adventures through New York City to find the sixth borough. This sixth borough adventure is nothing short of a metaphor for Oscar finding himself and coping with a terrible loss. While it may sound simple, this book is incredibly intricate and provides a mass of symbolism, side-stories and even drawings. Everything in this book means something, and if you think something is one-dimensional, you’re wrong. If you’re looking for something to completely engross yourself in, this book is for you.

There are tons of books waiting in the GS library, so don’t forget to stop by and check them out.

And if you’re a reader, consider joining the GS Westmoreland Interscholastic Reading Competition (WIRC) team. The team has casual meets starting in October to discuss what they’re reading off of the curated 2023 WIRC book list. There is one competition day in the spring when each team from each school has several rounds of questions on the books on the list.

“The point of the day is to celebrate the fact that reading is glorious, and that we love to do it,” Vottero said. “And that here’s a roomful of 500 people all who love reading, [and] that’s a cool thing. But it’s fun to win too. [That’s] WIRC and so anybody that’s willing to put some time in just reading some great books can be on the team.”

By Ari Case

For years, students have been flashing their beloved chihuahua passes at Mrs. Vottero during advisory, gaining entry to a research center and sanctuary for all students.

On Friday, September 6, though, things changed.

A flood of freshmen clogged the hall waiting to gain entry to the library, something that they couldn’t do at the middle school.

“There were probably 150 kids in the hall trying to get in here,” librarian Mrs. Carrie Vottero said. “That’s not the point of advisory, and [it’s] not what I want for the library in advisory to be.”

Mrs. Vottero said that “it happens every year at the beginning of the year.”

As new students discover the opportunities at the high school, like the Java & Script café counter in the library, traffic in those areas increases.

“It’s nuts because they know that it’s here, and then it kind of tapers off, loses its novelty and newness,” Vottero explained. “And I do think that’s eventually what would have happened with advisory. It’s just it was so many kids this time that it was just too much.”

She also said that this year there were far more students than usual.

“Those kids couldn’t have come into the library,” she said.

Even though it wasn’t a first occurrence, she was surprised by the mass of kids. She didn’t keep track of the number of passes she wrote and hadn’t expected that many students at once.

High School Principal Mr. David Zilli happened to be walking through the second-floor hallway at the time. There were so many students outside the library that he couldn’t get through the hall.

“There was a huge influx of students over the past several days prior to that case on that day who were attempting to go into the library,” Mr. Zilli said. “Due to the sign in process, the line took over 15 minutes. That’s a safety concern. So anytime there’s a safety concern, I need to stop and say, ‘Whoa, what’s happening and what can we do differently?’ That’s a safety and learning concern.”

Immediately, Zilli decided that something had to be changed.

“To think about the purpose and the vision of advisory, it is to increase students’ success,” he said. “Whether it’s using time flexibly to get help, to use some time to do homework [or] to collaborate [and] have club meetings. So, when we have 15 minutes—50% of advisory—where a large number of students are standing in the hall, we had to do something different.”

At the time, he decided that from that moment on the library was limited to silent research. Initially, he had even prohibited reading in the library because students could simply do it in their advisories.

“My point was just because you can’t get in the library doesn’t mean you can’t do those other things,” he explained.

Freshman Veta Scherff said she used the library almost every day during advisory. Most days she studied with a few friends for her most difficult classes, and occasionally had a few minutes to read.

“I have friends who say that they’re struggling in certain classes, and they want help studying,” Scherff said. “I want to offer help, but I can’t offer it after school [and] we can’t do it in classes. So advisory would be the best time to do it. And we don’t have the same advisory, so the library was our best option.”

Many students use the library as a place to study with peers for classes that require it. For a lot of students, their advisories aren’t productive places for studying alone or with other people.

“Advisory can be really loud sometimes for some people,” Scherff said. “Or certain people aren’t in your advisory and you need them to be [there] to help.”

Even though it isn’t the intention, advisory commonly turns into a social time for a lot of students. What this can mean is that students who need to study can’t focus on their advisory.

Following the incident, Zilli and Vottero found a balance. It was important to Mrs. Vottero that students be allowed to work together and use the space however they needed as long as they were engaged.

“I think libraries are a sanctuary and a place to find a little calm and comfort,” she said. “And that sanctuary can be a place for you to work, a place for you to sit quietly, a place to meet with a friend, a place to have a little drink and relax [to] get ready for your next class, a place to prepare for a test or an assignment, find a book [or] look around. That’s what the library is for.”

It was crucial to Zilli that they found a way to maximize the benefits of the time.

“I knew that that was not maximizing learning time and that’s something that I feel very strongly about,” he said. “If we’re going to have that time, it has to be in order to benefit learning. I mean, that’s our goal for being here.”

Now, there is a limit on the number of students allowed in the library—40—and a new pass is required every day. Any activities a student wants to do in the library, be it reading for enjoyment or studying for an exam, is allowed. Importantly, talking is allowed as long as it is library appropriate.

“I’m here to increase learning,” Zilli said. “And part of that can be a social emotional piece. But I think we have to do that with a focus on our mission as a district. When we think about academics being one of our major problems, the social emotional pieces—you know, kindness [and] respect—[are] valued as well.”

The main goal for Zilli and Vottero is that students are engaged during the time.

“It’s not for kids to just hang out at the table and be loud and laugh and giggle and make all kinds of noise,” Vottero stated. “We don’t do that. It’s not a silent place, but it’s not a loud [and] crazy place, either.”

She explained that the 40-student maximum hasn’t even been reached yet, partially because the new rules aren’t completely clear. But it’s largely because those students who really want to be in the library were a minority among the previous masses.

The students who continue to return “were never the problem,” she said.

Some of those who loved using the space the right way are still upset about the changes to their safe space, but the students who caused the problem haven’t shown much aggravation.

“The kids that don’t care are the ones that we probably shouldn’t have down here to begin with,” Vottero said. “And they said nothing, absolutely nothing.”

Some dedicated library students did make a statement, though.

A group of students who used the library most days as a meeting place were upset with the changes.

The next day of school after the event, small signs of protest were put up around the school. A picture of the beloved chihuahua pass stamp was captioned “Bring Back the Library for Advisory!”

Many of them have been taken down, but some still remain.

“My initial reaction was a smile because I think it’s sweet that kids love the library and coming here that much,” Vottero said.

Both Zilli and Vottero said they respect the students who put them up and have no problem with the way it was handled.

“I certainly believe in civil disobedience,” Vottero said. “[And] I think it was done in a respectful way. I don’t think it was in any way inappropriate.”

The small acts of rebellion taken by those students were driven by the loss of something they cared about.

“It’s that sort of freedom of expression type of thing and I can understand that something was taken away that maybe students have had and maybe they even had that last year,” Zilli said. “It seems like it’s faded somewhat. And I would think that some of those people who maybe felt like they couldn’t go in there still can go in there.”

Since the initial change, though, a more reasonable restriction has been placed: as long as students are engaged, there can be up to 40 students in the library per day, but students must get a new pass every morning before advisory.

“Now I think it’s pretty much back to what we’ve always loved about the library,” Vottero said. “And that’s just a place where kids come who really love the library and it’s where they choose to spend that free time that they might have. Long live the library.”

by Emily Frazier

With a bonfire, spirit week and pep rally approaching, GS is in for some fun.

In honor of Homecoming, many activities will be taking place, welcoming back alumni and bringing the community together at the same time.

It’s a time when “students can get away” and “socialize and have fun” GS alumna and last year’s Homecoming Queen Angela Kobuck said.

Every year, high schools across the country nominate a Homecoming Court and eventually vote for a Queen.

“The senior class does an outstanding job of nominating the Court,” SCA Sponsor Mr. Christopher Gazze said.

Each girl who is nominated is a “good representative of what a Greensburg Salem student should be,” Gazze said.

Girls on the Court are usually heavily involved in the school and are all-around inviting people.

“Most, if not all, the girls were extremely kind to me at one point,” Kobuck said. “Whether that was helping me with sports or classes, or simply saying ‘hello’ in the hallways at school.”

Having a senior Homecoming Queen sets an example for the underclassmen.

“It encourages students [and shows] who has made an impact,” 2022 Homecoming nominee Sejah Franklin said.

Every girl on the Court this year has been involved in some way.

“You want people to be involved,” Mr. Gazze said. “I think it’s a good opportunity for the underclassmen to look up to them.”

To celebrate this tradition, the week of September 19-23 holds SCA-run activities leading up to the big football game.

“Homecoming brings a lot of people together,” Franklin said.

The first activity is Spirit Week, when students can dress up based on the theme for each day. Past themes include pajama day and decades day. Winners are chosen at the end of each day.

“We look based on participation, like who went all out that day,” SCA Senior Class President Keegan Murtha said.

Wednesday, September 21, there will be a bonfire in the high school’s gravel parking lot. Food, drinks, yard games, contests, music, club booths, an inflatable obstacle course, a meet and greet with varsity athletes and an appearance by the marching band and cheerleaders will be at the bonfire according to SCA’s monthly newsletter, which can be found on their Linktree.

On the day of the game, there will be a pep rally during school.

Murtha said that not only will there be performances by the marching band and cheerleaders, but there will also be “something that the crowd can get involved in.”

In the past, class competitions, relay races and an obstacle course took place for the students.

“The band and the cheerleaders knew how to fill the student body with energy and excitement,” Kobuck said. “After each pep rally, I couldn’t wait for Friday night lights.”

At the game, there will be a parade down Main Street featuring the Homecoming Court and alumni alongside the current marching band and cheerleaders.

“The crowd’s always a lot bigger for homecoming week,” Gazze said. “Everyone wants to go down and see the convertibles.”

Alumni will flood the stands, catching up with family and friends.

“Having the opportunity to go back is cool especially when you can see people that you knew from school,” he said.

At halftime, there will be a ceremony where the Homecoming Queen is announced.

“I cannot wait and I am so excited for all of the girls on the Court,” Kobuck said.

One thing that isn’t making a return again this year is the Homecoming Dance. For the past two years, there has not been a dance due to Covid-19 restrictions, but this year is different.

“[The] SCA executive committee collectively decided [not to have a dance this year],” Gazze said.

He claimed there had not been enough attendance or excitement for the dance recently, and the students believe the Winter Dance is more worthwhile.

On the contrary, Franklin said the Homecoming Dance was a fun way to “bring the whole school together.”

Because of the festivities traditionally held for Homecoming, this time of year is one of the best times for the students and community.

“Fall’s just getting started,” Gazze said. “I think it’s just really that time of year when people like to get together and do outdoor activities.”

by Ksena Spencer

Donated items of clothing flood the racks of GS Threads as the school advertises free clothing for all students.

GS Threads is a program run by the National Honor Society to help students have the opportunity to get clothing donated mainly by families from GS for free.

“New clothes can be very expensive and impact the environment using water and electricity, so the reuse of clothing makes so much sense,” NHS sponsor Mrs. Cheryl Harper said.

Providing students with free clothing that will be reused benefits the environment as well as the kids who take items from GS Threads. According to Sustainability (galaxy.live) making one pair of jeans produces the same amount of greenhouse gases as driving a car more than 69 miles. Recycling clothing by donating them to programs like GS Threads contributes to the earth’s environment in a helpful way.

“Last week, in four days, over 90 items were taken,” Mrs. Harper said. “I’d say typically it is at least 10 items per day.”

GS Threads maintains clothing racks full of donated items such as pants, jackets, short sleeves, tank tops, dresses and sweats. Along with clothing, GS Threads offers hats, belts, shoes and other accessories, that are available for any and all students to stop by and take.

“It’s also just fun for people who enjoy thrifting or might need a certain piece of clothing for a theme,” senior Kayla Wright said.

Members of the GS community donate articles of clothing or items that could be reused to help GS Threads succeed.

Harper explained that every reused item that is donated makes quite the impact.

Thousands of kids struggle with coming to school due to the lack of clothing accessible to them or the quality of their clothes. Having poor quality clothing may be why some students don’t come into school if they only have a few good shirts and pants to wear.

“I think that GS Threads does make a difference,” senior Elizabeth Houston said. “It’s a way to help our school community by providing free clothing when people need it.”

Students who struggle with these kinds of disadvantages may not want to admit that they need help. GS Threads is a great way to help all students. This program is also useful for when a student has some type of accident regarding their clothing, whether that is a rip or stain. Students can easily grab something to change into without being embarrassed or worried about their clothing.

“I love seeing people smile when they find an item that they love,” Harper said.

by Emma Helmick

For the first time in two years the cubs were placed with the lions because there are no longer Freshman only advisories.

The Class of 2025 was the last that had a Freshman only advisory. The students as well as some of the staff thought that putting everyone together would benefit the Freshmen more.

“The 9th graders get to see some job shadowing, some career exploration and also get to see some of the senior projects and really learn from the older students,” High School Principal Mr. David Zilli said.

After only two years of experimenting with a class that had only 9^th graders, the school has returned to normal. Upperclassmen felt strongly about having mixed advisories. The Freshmen had a chance to see what they work on and know what to expect in the upcoming years. There is more mentoring done this way and a better opportunity to adjust and get used to the school and the environment.

“I think it can probably help them in the initial phase because there are really all Freshmen together, but at some point we have to transition them into being high school students where they are exposed to the entire student body,” Mr. Zilli said.

Introducing the Freshmen to the upperclassmen through advisory is a way to get them more comfortable with their learning environment early on.

“I wish there were more Freshmen, maybe not all Freshmen but at least some,” freshman Tanner Schmidt said. “I only know around two or three people in my class.”

Being in a classroom with people they do not know will allow the new kids to recognize some friendly faces from around the building and get them more aware of the older students around them.

“I recall that there were some people that definitely did not like having all Freshmen,” science teacher Mrs. Rachel Sassani said. “I think I was fortunate because my group in particular was a really nice group. There were no problems, but sometimes when you have the Freshmen with the upperclassmen at least at first, they are less likely to be silly goofy Freshmen so yeah, I do hear from some teachers that they did not like having Freshman advisory.”

Mrs. Sassani also said that last year it was a “little boring” because she did not have a lot of different things to talk about with her class. Both students and staff did not care for this plan.  

by Brianna Campagna

Although many colleges have become test optional when applying, students still feel the need to do well on the SATs.

“For college, I have more options with the schools that I can go to,” senior Rachel Leo said. “Although most schools are test optional, it really matters to show your academic level.”

The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is a measurement of a student’s preparedness for college through a timed test. It tests a student’s abilities in sections such as reading, language and math.

“If you’re trying to get into competitive programs, or you want an academic scholarship, it’s used as a benchmark,” Guidance Counselor Mrs. Laura Klipa said.

In 2021, Katlyn Swierczynski graduated from GS. She currently attends North Carolina State University, and the SATs helped her get to where she is now.

“From my SAT score in consideration with other aspects of my application, I was able to receive a half ride for tuition at NC State, my dream school,” Swierczynski said. “If not for this scholarship I would not be in North Carolina today.”

 Connor Herrington graduated from GS in 2022. He is currently attending Georgia Tech to study Biomolecular Engineering. His drive for SAT success was to prove himself to competitive schools.

“I had some reach schools that I really wanted to get into, so that drove me to improve my score,” Herrington said. “I wanted the best chance possible to get in.”

Herrington retook the SATs twice. He said that the free materials that Khan Academy provides are a “lifesaver.”

The College Board and Khan Academy are directly linked to each other, providing authentic studying materials that are free for anyone to use.

“The practice tests and questions that are on Khan Academy closely resemble what you will see on the actual SAT in terms of format, difficulty and different types of questions,” Leo said.

Many students use Khan Academy as their main source of studying materials.

“The first two times I took the test I only used the College Board exercises and practice exams, which really helped a lot with learning the style of questions and time layout of the test,” Swierczynski said. “I was able to simulate as many tests as I wanted to before my exam day, and if I did not understand a problem, a step-by-step explanation was included. They also provided quick daily exercises to practice SAT style questions every day leading up to the test.”

After taking the PSATs in eleventh grade, students receive an access code where College Board personalizes practice for each individual based off of their strengths and weaknesses.

“Your access code will give you free SAT prep, so it will help personalize the areas that you need to focus on and take some time to kind of get used to the format,” Klipa said.

Other than Khan Academy, students hire tutors to improve on certain subjects.

“If you can find an affordable tutor for a certain subject, they can be very beneficial to improving your score in that section,” Herrington said.

When registering for the SATs, the College Board offers students the opportunity to purchase The Official SAT Study Guide, as well as the SAT question-and-answer service.

“I purchased something for $16 where College Board returns your test results with a breakdown of each question to show what your strengths and weaknesses are,” Leo said. “That was helpful because it links directly back to Khan Academy.”

The SATs cost $55 per test. Upcoming SAT dates for 2022 include October 1, November 5 and December 3. Registration is live at the SAT Suite of Assessments on the College Board website.

“The more you practice, the more your strengths will show,” Klipa said.

Ari Case

Upon returning to GS for the 2022-2023 school year, students and teachers alike were shocked to learn that the controversial vending machines were to be closed during school hours from 7:30 in the morning to 2:45 in the afternoon.

In years past, the student lounge area outside of the cafeteria—home to the most often used vending machines in the building—has been a congregation spot for many students. Even now, students gather there before classes start every morning.

The most common time students used the vending machines in years past was advisory, and teachers on the first floor experienced the change more so than others.

“It does affect this advisory,” social studies teacher Mr. Robert Lehman said. “As far as people being late, because they [would] be hanging around the vending machines.”

The change was a shock not only for students, though. Most teachers did not find out until the in-service day before school, according to Mr. Lehman.

Reactions amongst the student body vary, but staff members expected students to be upset.

“It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be,” Lehman said. “There were not as many complaints as I thought. I was surprised by that because I thought for sure people would [be outraged].”

While the students in Mr. Lehman’s advisory may not have been upset, other students were.

“I was quite disappointed,” senior Paytan Henry said. “It was truly devastating, and I think they should be [brought] back.”

Henry said that she used them nearly every day during advisory last year, common for many students.

“Advisory is the best time to go,” sophomore Alice Wilkinson said. “That’s when everyone eats.”

Wilkinson said she was surprised to hear about the change and has missed using the machines during the day. Students were not given an explanation, though many have made their own assumptions.

“I think [it was] because people were just kind of roaming the halls,” Wilkinson explained. “And saying they were going to the vending machines.”

For those who participated in activities over the summer, the machines were working all day. In extracurriculars, using the vending machines was commonplace.

“If it wasn’t every day, it was every other day,” freshman Ian Smith said.

Smith plays in the marching band and was at the school throughout summer for rehearsals. He said the change was disappointing for him and other kids in his position.

“With middle school, you don’t have much freedom and choices,” he said. “I felt that even just adding something as small as a vending machine was the difference between being an eighth grader and a ninth grader. It was having that sort of choice.”

Now, Smith buys snacks and drinks in the cafeteria line during lunch like many other students. A misconception within the school is that the cafeteria is responsible for the change, based on this information. It would make sense if they wished to increase their sales.

“We sell the same,” Director of Food and Nutrition Mr. Scott Hudak said.

Mr. Hudak is the Regional Chef for GS through the Nutrition Group, contracted with the district for the last nine years.

The cafeteria’s sales have not increased, according to Hudak. The decision was also not his to make.

“We don’t put the rules out there,” he stated.

He went on to explain the rules and regulations behind vending machines in schools in detail.

According to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) memorandum sent to Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators, “items sold to students on campus throughout the school day, including those sold in vending machines, must comply with Smart Snacks in School requirements,” even if they are not meal replacement items.

The FDA memorandum cited several dozen regulations and limitations on food and drinks allowed in school vending machines, almost none of which are met by the machines at GS.

Hudak said that an inspection is approaching that would decide funding for the school food programs.

“Your school district gets reimbursed from the government a certain amount of money,” he said. “To make up the difference in what [students] pay for lunch and what the government will fund the school to pay the other half.”

At GS, breakfast, lunch and dinner are free—meaning the reimbursements are crucial for the district.

Previously, the FDA regulations still applied. The companies that fill vending machines do not follow the guidelines because it would cost them significant profit. There has not been an inspection in several years, as they are usually every three-to-five. This and COVID-19 complications led to the vending machines being left as they were.

“They just kind of let it slide,” Hudak said. “But now everything’s back to the strictest [requirements].”

Now, with the renewed restrictions, things needed to change.

“I don’t really have a decision as to whether or not I can choose to break the rules,” High School Principal Mr. David Zilli said. “It wasn’t like we made a conscious decision to break the rules. The interpretation in the past was that they could not be on during lunches.”

Mr. Zilli said he became aware of it shortly before the school year and that it was a district decision. He acknowledged that the vending machines provided benefits, but they needed to be turned off nonetheless.

Unfortunately, there are more problems than hungry students during advisory. The Student Council Association (SCA) gets an important part of their funding from the vending machines.

“My initial reaction was ‘Oh, we’re gonna lose money,’” Senior Class Treasurer Sam Spigarelli said.

Spigarelli explained that each month, SCA makes a commission from the machines. He said the company that supplies them cuts SCA checks for a decent part of their total profit.

He also noted that it was a surprise to SCA that they would be losing that area of funding.

“From my understanding, we found out they were going to be shut off during the school day the week before school started,” he said. “It was very last minute.”

Though that could be seen as a lack of communication, the decision was short notice for everyone, including administration.

Zilli said he “got an email on August 23^rd” only a week before the first day.

Now, SCA is looking at other ways to make up for that loss. The loss of funding, if not balanced through other means, will likely raise the price of dance tickets for the year.

“That’s not really an option that we have, whether we lose money or not,” Zilli said. “We have to abide by the rules set for us.”

Spigarelli explained that one method of funding SCA was looking at was sponsorship opportunities. He urged students to reach out if they could help.

“If you know somebody who has a company or has a business and they want to sponsor SCA events for the whole year, then they should reach out to an SCA representative or Mr. Gazze,” he said.

While it was a shock to students and teachers—and not a good one for most—there are alternatives that will hopefully work out for everyone.

“I can understand how it would be a disappointment for students who were used to it, since it was a surprise,” social studies teacher Mrs. Beth Simone said. “But I think everyone should be able to adapt.”