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Volume 42 Issue 7 Student Newspaper Of Shaler Area High School May 2016 Teachersby Kayla Snyder see iPads as both useful andThe distractingargument that the iPad benefits certain “With any tool, there are certain content areas more than others has also been At the start of the school year, Shaler Area applications or instances where it’s discussed. In Science classes, it may benefit implemented a 1:1 initiative in the high school students more to be able to view a simulation coined Project ACE that allows each student to okay, but it’s not a one size fits all, via an application whereas in an English class have his/her iPad. The administration pitched the benefits may be limited. the idea that the iPads would provide students magic carpet ride through learning.” “When you have a book, you can’t flip the with an accessible tool to help them become -- Mr. Chris Gaul page and see what’s going on your tap baseball more technologically advanced. game or who’s gone ahead and Instagrammed According to the Shaler Area Middle ELA Department Chair you. People who sell apps want you to use apps School iPad handbook, where iPads were first so they make them as engaging as they can.” distributed, “The integration of iPads as an tool and we need to understand that it’s a tool,” Gaul Unlike Shaler Area, Fox Chapel has decid- instructional tool will provide teachers and students said. “With any tool, there are certain applications or ed to give up on its 1:1 initiative at the high school access to information, creativity, collaboration, and instances where it’s okay, but it’s not a one size fits level. Intermediate/program principal Dr. Daniel functionality with one device.” all, magic carpet ride through learning.” Lentz said that there was no significant evidence that Superintendent Mr. Sean Aiken said that the However, the device can quickly become a dis- students learn better when they have a personal de- iPads would help students compete in a global mar- traction for the student. vice. ket place. “Like any other tool, students have their own “We agreed that it would be nice for our students “The more experience and exposure our students system, students should be able to use the tool as they to have their own device available to them and would can have now to technology that’s available, puts our see fit,” said history department chair Mr. Matt Hi- definitely prepare students for the real world,” Lentz students in a more competitive place,” Aiken said. serodt. “But with that freedom comes a lot of abuse said. “Without evidence that it was going to raise stu- “Moving forward our students and teachers need to too. The amount of non-school related work I see stu- dent achievement, we decided against it.” grow with the use of the iPads and technology.” dents doing on these things is pretty ridiculous.” However, coming previously from schools that Now that the initial introduction of the iPads has At first, teacher opinions were more optimistic have 1:1 initiatives in place, Aiken feels the initial become a thing of the past, both students and teach- about iPads because the theory and rationale make shock will eventually wear off and students will be- ers have become more accustomed to them, several sense, however, there are many underlying issues gin to use the iPads properly in the future teachers have found both positives and negatives to which make the iPads difficult in the classroom. “Initially the iPads may be a distraction because the devices. “In an ideal world, where [both faculty and stu- there is a novelty of having a device with you at all English department chair Mr. Chris Gaul said dents] were knowledgeable about its use and where times,” Aiken said. “At first it’s a distraction, but you that when used properly, the iPad can be an important it was used for academic purposes, that would work, have to work through it to become a functional tool and useful for the student. but we don’t live in an ideal world,” said science de- where teachers use is more often and students use it “The biggest thing about the iPad is that it’s a partment chair Mr. Dennis Dudley. more appropriately.” Fashion Showby Kim Yurasits fiasco Seniors dominate at In Honor of prom, the Art Honor Society here at Shaler has been planning a fashion show to showcase prom dresses to help inspire some of the students. The Japanese competition show is scheduled to take place on May 22, which is less than a week before the by Alyssa Wohlfarth Prom takes place. “NAHS is a great organization. People have enjoyed many things the club Recently, the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania and the University has had to offer like tie-dying and painting sessions, as well as our face-painting of Pittsburgh’s Asian Study Center hosted the 2016 High School Japanese booths like the one at Homecoming. But, I’ve always felt as if it was too routine. Speech Contest. Three of Shaler Area’s seniors all placed in the most advanced NAHS hasn’t ventured outside of these types of activities and it was time for category of the contest, the Advanced Plus level. something new and exciting,” Shayla Nguyen, Art Honor Society President, said. To get into this contest, all contestants had to write and perform a five-min- This year for Art Honor Society, the officers tried to shake it up a bit, but it ute speech about friendship and its role in human relationships all in Japanese. did not work out as expected. Seniors like Nick DeBortoli, Zach Hughes, and Nick Harn all competed in Officer Leah LeBrew was approached in January by David’s Bridal about a this competition and placed in this advanced level. donation of prom dresses for a fashion show. They had worked with her in the Nick DeBortoli placed third in the competition. He also received a book to past to try and organize a different club’s fashion show and wanted to know if she continue his practice with writing Japanese characters. would like a donation for another one. “Not only did all of my hard work pay off, but I also felt of proud of my “Leah presented the fashion show idea to all the other officers and sponsors school district,” DeBortoli said about his placement at the contest. and we were all extremely excited about putting this together,” Nguyen said. He plans on continuing learning Japanese independently after graduation. As it turns out, planning full events for an honor society is extremely diffi- Hughes placed second in the competition and was awarded with the same cult. David’s Bridal, while very helpful, could only provide a certain amount of book to practice his Japanese characters along with a cloth that Japanese peo- dresses. Also, as the group did not have a set date for the event, other stores were ple use to wrap everyday items in. apprehensive about giving dresses for the event. “The students from our school were very well prepared and the other stu- After the group finally had a tentative date, set in late April, a request for a dents in the advanced plus category were skilled as well, so it was very stiff permit for Gym A was put in. However, a dance recital was already taking place competition,” Hughes said. on that day so the permit was denied. Hughes also plans to study Japanese independently after graduation and The group tried again for May 14. Everything seemed to be well and good hopes to study abroad in Japan during a summer in college. but due to a mix up the date was moved to May 22, five days before prom. Harn placed first in the Advanced Plus level. He received an engraved There were also many issues getting volunteers for the show. It took four award, an electronic English-to-Japanese dictionary, Japanese flash cards, a meetings before the amount of volunteers that were needed signed up. Now, mug, and some candy. there are 50 members who have volunteered which really helped with moving “I was overjoyed when I found out that I won. I knew that competition the event forward. would be stiff this year,” Harn said. “One major problem was getting the word out to everyone in the club. It was Harn plans on continuing studying the Japanese language and culture at really hard getting everyone together in order to tell them, especially since we the University of Pittsburgh. have such a huge amount of members,” Nguyen said. ”I was really proud of them. To be able to do what they did is impressive, At this point, all fingers are crossed that everything else runs smoothly on and I feel it is not something many other people could do. It felt good to see May 22. their hard work pay off,” Mr. Balsomico, a Shaler Area Japanese teacher, said. Page 2 The Oracle May 2016 OPINIONS Minimum wage issue more complex than just a number by Antoni Miladinov least ensure a larger amount of mon- ey per paycheck. Minimum wage is something At my job I make on average that our generation is experiencing between $10 and $14 an hour. As the effects of firsthand. Whether opposed to the average McDonald’s you work in a clothing store or a worker who takes orders at the cash restaurant, the money you make register and hands people their food plays a massive role in developing and drinks, I’m constantly running your independent life.

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