He Talon Gripping News
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he Talon Gripping News Volume III Issue IV Onteora High School Boiceville, NY 12412 May 2021 New Learning Spaces at Onteora By Sophie Frank While students spent the past several months adjusting to pandemic life, the Mobile furniture allows for different set‐ school library went through an extensive ups for different kinds of learning. he renovation. new furniture includes wingback chairs, high-top tables, and study carrels. With he renovation has been in the works for everything being mobile, the library is a a while, with middle school Principal Jen more active learning space, one that will O'Connor wanting a more organized always be growing and evolving to serve space and librarian Amy Weisz wanting students' needs. a professional circulation desk. But the project was deemed too expensive and In addition to being a space for teaching put on the back burner until recently, and studying, the library is a place for and audiobooks for those who prefer cared for and loved. when it was inally approved and com‐ fun, and it now has a Nintendo Wii to be reading digital books over printed ones. pleted last summer. used during free periods. Ms. Weisz said her favorite part of her he library unites many aspects of workspace has always been students, and he renovation updated the furniture Also, Onteora has a subscription to Ea‐ school life, such as learning, having fun, she said that she has "been waiting in an‐ and layout of the library. Everything is gle Crate, a book subscription service, and coming together--the new design re‐ ticipation of sharing the new and im‐ mobile: including tables, chairs, and and a new Online Public Access Catalog, lects those aspects. proved space with our students and shelving units. his was done so that which makes it easier to access the li‐ staff." classes using the library could arrange brary's online database. Learning and comfort are the two most their space as they see it. important things that were taken into As life gets back to normal, the library he Catalog helps the library become consideration when planning the reno‐ will be there for students as it always has, Additionally, classes will ind new mo‐ more inclusive. It allows students to vation, and the new space helps address but with some wonderful updates. bile teaching spaces scattered through‐ search for certain kinds of books such as and bring together these two important out the library. LGBTQ+ themed books, iction books, considerations. and noniction books, as well as eBooks he space is "sleek, modern, and efficient," Ms. O'Connor said. It's more conducive to learning than the old li‐ brary, as it was designed with active learning in mind. Both Ms. O'Connor and Ms. Weisz say that the space is now more cohesive, and they mentioned the merit of having active learning spaces. Additionally, the new space takes into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic and people with disabilities. he Wii al‐ lows students to have fun together while being socially distanced, and the new furniture and organization of the space is compliant with regulations designed to help people with disabilities. When asked what her favorite part of the new library is, Ms. O'Connor said she loves that when students walk into the li‐ Courtesy of Amy Weisz brary they ind a beautiful space that is 2 May 2021 LGBTQ+ News Roundup By Elijah Salazar-Garris state, or depression and other mental health conditions. Many of us are aware of legislation around the country targeting transgen‐ On top of that, those already on treat‐ der people, but there is more LGBTQ+ ments will physically suffer from the news going on that not many people are negative and sudden change of chemicals discussing. Here is a round-up of global and hormones in the body. news regarding LGBTQ+ people. In Florida, a bill has been passed to allow genital inspection if they suspect a fe‐ Transphobic bills: male athlete is trans. his is a bigoted and disgusting invasion of privacy. here have been a scary amount of anti- trans bills introduced and passed that are And for those thinking "But what about threatening the wellbeing of so many physical exams?" those are to determine trans people, youth included, in this if it is safe for an individual player to country. play a sport. he genital inspection is trying to exclude trans women from Arkansas has made it illegal for trans sports. Florida claims that they are try‐ Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Sadly, there are more bills out there af‐ "We deserve to exist regardless of what fecting trans individuals. I highly en‐ Texas: courage looking into this issue to see any law says." what is happening across the country A few months ago, a gay student in Texas and what you can do to help. was suspended for painting his nails. Re‐ teens to get hormone treatment, puberty ing to even out the playing ield, even cently the policy was changed to be more blockers, and more. though there is no proof that trans ath‐ inclusive by allowing males to wear letes perform better than their cisgender Russia: makeup and nail polish. his is a win for he suicide rate among trans people is peers. self-expression and LGBTQ+ students. already disproportionately high com‐ In Russia, same-sex marriage and trans‐ pared to the rest of the population, and In Arizona, schools will now allow par‐ gender adoption was banned. A com‐ twice as high as the LGB in LGBTQ+. ents to opt their children out of discus‐ mercial showed a boy being adopted by Kellogg's: he ability to medically transition and sions about sexualities and gender ex‐ two men, one dressed up in poorly ap‐ use hormone treatments has been pressions. his bill also prevents discus‐ plied make-up, which was clearly a he popular cereal brand released a rain‐ proven to lower the risk of suicide in sion of HIV and AIDS, a largely LGBTQ transphobic portrayal of a trans woman. bow heart shaped cereal featuring mas‐ trans people. + issue. Removing these topics from the cots from Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, classroom discussion will make LGBTQ I can only imagine what it must feel like Fruit Loops, and more. For every box he state claims these bills protect the + students feel excluded and unimpor‐ for gay people in Russia right now. Imag‐ bought, $3 will go towards GLAAD, an youth of the trans community, but this tant. ine not being allowed to marry the one organization that works for inclusive me‐ will only lead to more suicides in their you love. Putin says that the country is dia entertainment and the rights of doing this for "religious reasons." LGBTQ+ people. Alaska: Conclusion: In Alaska, same-sex couples will now get It's clear the negative LGBTQ+ legisla‐ equal beneits from their employers. tion and representation greatly out‐ hey have been excluded from employee weighs the positive steps right now. his beneits for a few years now, so it's about shows the ight for equality is far from time that's changed. his is a positive over. step. For those who wonder why we need a pride month, this is why. We deserve to Ukraine: exist regardless of what any law says. We go through unnecessary struggles and Ukraine has a history of being a very ho‐ hate everywhere every day to be our‐ mophobic country. However, it is now selves. We deserve a chance to shine and allowing gay people to donate blood. we will get it no matter what. To understand why this is so big, you Editor's Note: his article is part of a se‐ should know that here in America, gay ries of articles written by Gender and people can't have intercourse for 3 Sexuality Alliance club members. he months before giving blood (lowered GSA seeks to provide a safe space for from 1 year in 2019). his is obviously a LGBTQ+ students or allies, and we work reaction to HIV/AIDS, but to force peo‐ to make our school a safer, better place. ple to alter their behavior before giving blood because of their sexuality is deeply wrong and dehumanizing. he fact that Courtesy of Tahlula Potter Ukraine took this step is huge. May 2021 3 spread and inevitably kill individuals We are reaching the home stretch of When Will who may not be vaccinated or are too Covid-19's pandemic status, but we must susceptible to infection. It's completely not allow that to inhibit our ability to act true that as herd immunity is with diligence and cognizance towards Covid-19 be established, life will begin to feel normal. Covid-19 and other diseases, many of However, our society will never fully re‐ which have the potential to become a Over? Experts vert back to resemble pre-pandemic life. pandemic, in the future. Instead, annual Covid-19 shots, more say: Probably frequent trips to the doctor, and wearing masks during a hypothetical "Covid-19 season" may become commonplace in a Never post-pandemic/endemic society. Gender By Shane Stackpole We have been living with endemic dis‐ eases for our entire lives, so while this Inequality in As thousands of Americans roll up their answer may not resemble the one we had sleeves and hints of normalcy begin to anticipated, it's actually more hopeful Sports glimmer into view, health experts are than you would think-Covid-19 will just providing answers to the question that simply be another disease that we learn has been looming over our heads for to live with.