Living with Mental Illness – an Unseen Battle
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Appleton North’s Lauren Sassi completed her first official comic book! For more information about her comics, visit northnoct.com. Appleton, Wisconsin February 2016 Vol. XXI Issue I Living with mental illness Megha Uberoi – an unseen battle Senior Editor-in-chief By Nora Ptacek re you aware that some North students are living with a mental illness? Being a teenager is Awareness: Ahard. It is; we all know it. But being a teenager with a mental illness is even harder. Even so, one student is willing to share her story because she wants other people to know they’re Why it is not alone. Though she might not know you; she cares about you and she knows what you’re going through. The student (who was willing to important speak with the Noctiluca anonymously) was first diagnosed with de- By Megha Uberoi pression and anxiety at the beginning of her junior year. School was hard, and a bullying incident sent her on a downward spiral that she is The best way to show that still trying to come back from. Ever since she could remember she’s had anxiety- you are interested in some- -they used to call it being shy, but it was much more than that. Almost thing is to pay attention to every student turns to their peers or a teacher when they need help. it. Real, undivided attention. Whether it be a quick question about a math problem or details of Giving a person eye contact an assignment, we’ve almost all sought assistance at one time. without any distractions (doo- But it wasn’t like that for her. The anxiety made asking a ques- dling, texting, or gaming on tion feel like a terrifying and daunting task that took hours to the chrome) is becoming rare mentally prepare for. but it is the highest compli- “I have a lot of worries. I worry that other students will judge ment you can pay someone. me if I speak, I worry that teachers will judge me if I go It has become the norm to and ask them for help. And yeah I can “multitask” on everything we get past it and yeah I can paste that do. People will be texting and fake smile on but my heartbeat doing homework. Texting and will start going faster, my hands talking to friends. Texting and will start sweating, I will prob- taking notes. Basically texting ably start shaking. And I’ll just when doing anything. act like I’m cold but I know I am definitely guilty of this what it is,” she said. as are many of my peers. That is why being aware is sort of a Many Appleton North Graphic foreign concept to us. With so students face immense by Morgan pressure. Sometimes it Stuedemann many distractions and so much comes from our Sometimes it to do rather than pay attention, comes from our parents, teach- why should we? ers, or classmates. But a lot of Being aware is not just the times it comes from us. In a polite thing to do, it’s ben- Youth Risk Behavioral Survey eficial to us as well. When we listen and look at what’s going See Ptacek page 5 on around us we often learn something. It does not neces- sarily even have to be learning Appleton North’s Noctiluca is online in a scholarly sense. By listening and looking Are you aware that Appleton www.northnoct.com at what is going on around us, North’s Noctiluca went online this Featuring polls, photo galleries, we can learn so much about year? The editorial board worked over sports updates, and more, the student other people and from other the summer to launch the website. Us- newspaper hopes to keep students in- people. Even taking the time ing Student Newspapers Online, or formed about their school community. to have a real conversation what we call SNO, the staff created All printed articles can be found on the with someone with no distrac- the format and learned how to edit the mobile friendly site following publica- tions is so much more concrete website. This new website offers im- tion. If you would like to contribute mediate access to current school news please find us on social media or come for students and staff. to one of our meetings. See Uberoi, page 2 ARE YOU AWARE? Appleton, Wisconsin February 2016 Volume XXI Issue I Page 2 North student population exceeds 1,700 By Erik Bakken in staff members, as more Are you aware that Apple- teachers and support staff are ton North’s entire student required to maintain a feasible population has exceeded 1700 ratio of students to staff. this year? This figure includes Along with these changes students from the Appleton and challenges, there are more Career Academy, Renaissance opportunities open to North School for the Arts and Tesla students because of the student Engineering Charter School. population growth. In the past, The fluctuating size of the stu- advanced courses such as AP dent community at North has Physics, AP Calc BC and AP generally grown due to many Statistics were not able to run factors, producing both chal- every year because of a lack of lenges and benefits for stu- students to fill classes. Now, dents and staff. with a larger student body, There are several factors more classes are recurrently behind the surge in student available and full. Staff have population at North, the most expressed their excitement for prominent being the increased the increase in curricular op- open enrollment at North. portunities. More students who live in “It’s definitely positive that boundary areas are choosing This bar graph depicts the number of students for all grades at Appleton North, a greater number of students to come to North for region- Appleton Career Academy, Tesla and Renaissance. Growth in the number of stu- means a greater number of ally acclaimed programs such courses for students,” said Mrs. dents has caused scheduling conflicts and opportunities. Graphic by Erik Bakken as music, theater and sports. Baker. In general, North receives the gym and PFM have become As for North’s future stu- most open enrolled students of North’s Student Population more difficult to secure a dent population, it is not en- the high schools in the AASD. Data as of Sept. 18, 2015. place in, and class sizes have tirely clear as to whether it will Another external factor in- North ACA Tesla Renaissance sometimes swelled in required continue to grow. If so, city fluencing the growth in student Freshmen 414 37 1 6 courses. “The PFM courses that school boundaries may even- population is increased preva- Sophomores 410 24 2 4 I teach have become more full. tually be modified in order to lence of businesses such as Juniors 376 27 3 6 I would say that they’ve grown equally distribute students at Kimberly Clark and Thrivent Seniors 414 23 2 10 in size from around 25 students each of the three Appleton high in the community since North to around 30 students,” North schools. opened, drawing more families PFM teacher Mrs. Roberta Additionally, if the city of into the Appleton area. of the greatest challenges per- same courses, scheduling has Baker said. Appleton grows significantly, a Because of the growth in tains to scheduling conflicts become more rigid in many Similar growth is evident fourth Appleton school may be North’s student population, with many students. “Because cases,” associate Principal across many required courses constructed in order to curb the some challenges are posed to there is a greater number of Dave Pynenberg said. at North. The student growth influx of students attending the both students and staff. One students who want to take the Required courses such as often translates to an increase three existing high schools. Uberoi: AASD seeks new Awarness importance, public bus policy from page 1 By Ally Price than a conversation interrupted There are many different Related Editorial by tweets and updates to your ways that Appleton North stu- Creating a public bus line snapchat story. dents get to school every day. that serves all students This is partially the reason Some drive themselves. Some equally, Page 5 why the staff of the Noctiluca walk. Some take the school Talks have resumed between Valley Transit and decided to dedicate a whole is- bus. And some take the city school at 3:10 p.m. AASD Assistant Superintendent Ben Vogel. Photo by sue to awareness. We collected stories that (we feel) students bus. The fact that the bus is a Katharine Hackney should be aware about ranging Taking the Valley Tran- peak stop rather than a regular from student features to policy sit city bus is an option at stop can be problematic for stop. The bus stop is seen school and doesn’t come back changes. all three of the major high kids who rely on the city bus means that students who rely by many as something that Giving these stories the schools across the city as well for transportation to school. on it for transportation can’t would greatly help students in coverage they deserve is hope- as at the middle schools, but “Because the bus only comes take part in after-school ac- poverty or with mental health fully a small step towards be- the bussing system makes twice a day, if someone who tivities, whether it be a sport, and attendance issues, since a ing more aware. Awareness it much harder at Appleton relies on the bus to get to a club, theater, or even attend- majority of students who rely will make us more compas- North.