inside this issue...
MAKING A CHANGE
TARTUFFE
Haven’s affinity clubs seek to improve school
PANTHERS IN THE PLAYOFFS
Photos from Haven’s fall drama.
A review of the football team’s season as
climate for all individuals.
they advance to the next round of playoffs. >> Page 6
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PantherPress
Photos from Jess Farhat, ‘23 and Kai Lincke, ‘22 ~ Designed by Aaron Loving , ‘22, Graphics Editor
Getting into the Groove Student Council speaks to current plans and future goals Oliver Stockman ‘22 Opinions Editor
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t its worst, it is a nontoxic, political club used to make others feel cheerful and included. At its best, it stays groovy. Since the start of this school year, Student Council has planned weekly video announcements, spirit week, a pep rally, and the homecoming dance. Now that homecoming has passed, Student Council is looking to concentrate on milder events, as well as their yearly goals for Strath Haven that officers emphasized in their campaigns for Student Council last spring. Many identified International Day as the primary focus moving forward. President Sawyer Bock credits the idea to Asian Haven leaders Zach Suico and Joyce Huang, as well as Officer Aashna Pandey. He explains that the collaboration between Asian Haven and Student Council will likely take place in early December, if approved, and that it will comprise performances, speeches, and an educational fair with the cultural clubs of Strath Haven. Pandey identifies the event’s purpose as “to increase appreciation and respect for our diverse student population,” underlining that International Day would be the first of its kind at the school. “I want to see more respect and
appreciation for students of different cultures, religions, races, and sexual orientations . . . As a Hindu and an Indian, I know what it is like to have my beliefs and background made fun of, and it’s so frustrating to see other students disrespected simply for who they are,” said Pandey. She believes that educational opportunities like International Day that cultivate awareness are the solution. In addition to International Day, Bock highlights promoting events like the Haven Helps food drive on the announcements and reopening the school store, while Officer Natalie Caputo hints at the possibility of upcoming dances. Regarding the goals of each official, a shared theme is improving the experience of Strath Haven students. Vice President Ryan Doherty voices the importance of “bringing back all the great things we have missed over the last couple of years.” He cites the outdoor homecoming dance as an example of their commitment to “[achieve] these goals by any means necessary.” Bock concurs with Doherty, hopeful to bring back a school-wide Unified Bocce game that promotes the inclusion of students with disabilities. He and his team hope to expand Student Council beyond solely
concentrating on planning events and spreading information. Their hope is to make the club a governmental body of student representatives that facilitates communication between the administration and student body. Officer and Activities Coordinator Tyler Debusschere hopes to implement “frequently surveying the general population of Strath Haven High School personnel for feedback.” He also hopes to better involve the student body in event planning. Bock highlights the Student Council General Assembly as an opportunity for any interested student to influence decisions. The council agrees that a crucial element of improving the student experience is reducing stress. Vice President Geena Seflin hopes to accomplish this by improving student morale. “Fun activities during lunch, after school, and every once in a while during class will greatly boost the spirits of many students. [These activities] combined with our meetings with Dr. Marseille, in which we can give our input as students to the superintendent, can greatly help alleviate stress,” Seflin said. Officer Sadie Herr agrees, viewing the prevalence of stress in the student body as harmful to students’ mental health.
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The New Normal: Homecoming Edition School dances return in an outdoor setting Jillian Thomas ‘24 Staff Writer
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undreds of students lined up in the parking lot of Strath Haven High School on Monday November 1, turning in their tickets and getting wristbands to enter homecoming, the first all-school dance since before the pandemic. Despite the cold weather, students who arrived for the dance were clearly excited that things were returning to normal. The student council managed to put together a great event, with the help of school administrators including Dr. Hilden. He praised the student council for their efforts. “¨Student council was heavily involved in the planning because it’s a student-run activity so their input was essential,” he said. Dr. Hilden considered students’ desire to hold a dance, no matter how untraditional, and listened to the student council’s desire to have as close to a traditional homecoming as possible. “¨It is important to us as an administration to provide as much as possible,” he emphasized. Both the school administration and the pandemic planning team worked to prioritize the opinions of the student body and ensure that students had a safe, enjoyable experience In speaking with students across the grades, it is clear that no one was disappointed by the way the school handled homecoming during the pandemic. People knew homecoming was not going to be the same as it has been in past years, but junior Rhys Hals says she was pleasantly surprised with the dance. “¨It really exceeded my expectations; I think they did a really good job of using the outdoor space,”¨ she said.
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