NEWSPRINT Newsprint presents a special Christmas King edition of... ? MERCY HIGH SCHOOL | 29300 W. 11 MILE ROAD, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48336 | Volume 73 | Issue 04 | 12.16.19 2 | INDEX | 12.16.19 7 online 9 4 online 6 5 9 Index Editors Editor-in-Chief Isabelle Sawicki FEATURES 4-5/6-7 OPINION 10 Associate Editor-in-Chief Julia Canty Bye bye Baker A promise you can’t keep Associate Editor-in-Chief Caitlin Flynn Christmas King Design Editor Lydia Giroux ENTERTAINMENT 11 Photography & Art Editor Dunya Kizy LIFE 8/9 Star Wars Copy Editor Lauren Krill Embracing different Copy Editor religous holidays LAST LOOK 12 Carrie Jefferson Coffee and cram Delve into the decade Web Editor Bella Aprilliano Social Media and Promotions Editor Keiley Black Staff Advisor Delilah Coe Lynn Waldsmith Check out our website Clare Jones Newsprintnow.net for Megan Mallie more stories! Rachael Salah Madeline Sullivan Follow Newsprint and keep up with our daily posts! Abby Shaw Twitter @mercynewsprint Emily Walugembe Instagram @mercynewsprint Snapchat @mercynewsprint Saanya Zaidi Facebook @mercynewsprint 12.16.19 | INDEX | 3 IC Letter from the P S Editor I Dear reader, H As you probably know by now, Newsprint releases T Can you think of a a new issue each month. One day, copies appear in funny caption for this your adviser group and you are asked to take one. E photo? To have your But what is very much unknown to the student body is the hard work and passion that goes into M caption featured in the creating every paper. E next issue, go to www. This staff is a very special one. We are newsprintnow.net and extremely dedicated to producing the best M paper possible for all of you, the students and comment on the “Meme staff. Newsprint encompasses writing, editing, This Pic” story under photography, design, creativity, and hard work, the entertainment tab! but most of all, we are a group committed to the Mercy community. We put in extra work to try to Photo by Dunya Kizy highlight as many students as possible throughout L the building to provide an in-depth look and AS analysis of life at Mercy. T This issue, we highlight the life, legacy, and impact M Mr. Baker has had on the Mercy community. We also O celebrate the end of the semester and the annual Christmas When you JUST N dance (formerly A-Ball) with Newsprint’s Christmas King T tradition. This issue is just a glance at the many amazing H people, places, and events of Mercy that we highlight walked in and you ’ s throughout the school year. When the staff starts a new cycle to create the next issue, get jugged for W we go through many face-to-face interviews with an array I N of people, and take hundreds of pictures. Their stories are wearing a coat N told through ours. Our storytelling is what shares the small, E but important, details of a person’s life, the depth behind Submitted by: Annabel Shammami R their appearance, and celebrates the people who have came, left, and impacted Mercy High. Additionally, Newsprint analyzes national or world events and how they impact the school community. It is a great outlet to understand the connection between your own life and the world around you while becoming more aware of the events heavily affecting all of us today. It’s true that all of us are busy. We get that. But this is your newspaper, so we encourage you to read Newsprint and tell us if there are more stories that need to be told. During CAIT’S TOP 8 Christmas break and this Associate Editor-in-Chief Caitlin Flynn dives into her top eight favorite albums of this decade. time of new beginnings, the Newsprint staff 4. invites you to become 1. 2. 3. more immersed in Mercy Melodrama by channelORANGE by Paramore by Flower Boy by through your paper. And I Lorde (2017) Frank Ocean (2012) Paramore (2013) Tyler the Creator personally ask all of you (2017) to read and learn more about the stories of the diverse student life that 5. 6. 7. 8. Newsprint communicates Apricot Princess by Bambi by Hippo Ardipithecus by Drive North by to you. Rex Orange County Happy Holidays, Campus (2019) Willow (2015) SWMRS (2016) Isabelle Sawicki (2017) Editor-in-Chief 4 | FEATURE | 12.16.19 12.16.19 | FEATURE | 5 Bye bye Baker Closing his final chapter at Mercy Mercy bids farewell to a school legend STORY: ABBY SHAW STORY: CLARE JONES wenty-two year old Larry Baker stepped into said McClorey. “I am grateful to him for instilling into his character when we are reading out certain s Associate Principal of Operations, Mr. excellence through the use of innovative technology the school’s technology with student learning, she the doors of Mercy High School in 1975 and my own passion for reading.” plays,” said senior Lily Beasley. Laurence “Larry” Baker, walks the halls of that provides students a progressive learning also praised Mr.Baker’s podcasts featuring past Tnever looked back. Straight out of college Of all the English courses and books Mr. Baker Beasley is currently in Mr. Baker’s class, and Mercy High School, he feels a sense of both experience. He also developed the iWizards program Mercy graduates. after receiving a degree in political science and has taught, one class in which he taught the novel enjoys his teaching style and his sense of humor. A sadness and excitement about his upcoming retirement that uses students to help integrate Apple technology “He’s been able to take different tools with English at the University of Michigan, he entered Great Expectations, stands out. He taught the She and the class always look forward to the in- at the end of this semester. During his tenure of into Mercy’s curriculum. For example this year, technology and apply them in the appropriate way,” the job that changed his life. Mr. Baker considers students to love the novel, and they decided to depth conversations and laughs from Mr. Baker. nearly 45 years, Mercy has grown to be very near and the iWizards are focusing on designing a more Ms. McMaster said. “He learned how to podcast and himself fortunate to have been offered a position as celebrate in style. “He makes every class fun with his hilarious a full time English teacher and Varsity basketball “We had a Charles Dickens party and we all got dear to his heart. When those familiar with Mercy functional app for the school. Junior iWizard now reaches out to alum to record interviews that observations of certain plays and sonnets, and hear his name, they immediately think of him as an Aisling Heaphy said “the group will continue coach at Mercy. into costumes for a day,” said Mr. Baker. “Everyone pieces of information which you would never think feature amazing things.” Now in his 45th year as an integral part of the got so into it and we were all enjoying the novel by of,” said Beasley. “Every time we’re reading a English teacher and administrator. But Mr. Baker’s to grow without his presence because he has Through his podcasts, Mr. Baker is able to engage Mercy community, he plans to retire at the end of living it in costume.” play or sonnet and we come across a funny word, contributions to Mercy mean so much more. established a solid foundation of training with others listeners with Mercy alum as they share their career this semester, leaving behind his beloved legacy His ability to immerse his students fully into Mr. Baker explains what it means and usually the Along with his love of literature, Mr. Baker spent in the administration.” paths, community involvement and other interesting as an English teacher, basketball coach, and meaning is just as funny as the word.” many years as the school’s basketball coach, leading “We have really strong leaders, and they will help facts. administrator. He has contributed so much of his Not only has Mr. Baker created a fun and the Marlins varsity basketball team to the Michigan us to continue the advance in technology,” Heaphy Going forward, Mr. Baker hopes to see time to Mercy, which can be seen through the lives entertaining environment for his students, but he has High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state said. “We will have Mr. James and Mr. Janush … technology and learning intertwined in the of students and staff members who he has impacted. also broadened their horizons and provided them championship finals five times, while capturing two they’re obviously very well versed with technology classroom to help students create strong critical Mr. Baker fell in love with Mercy on his first “Mercy with wise lessons for their futures. Class A titles in 1977 and 1982. Mr. Baker shared and prepared to guide the iWizards to continued thinking skills. visit, and from that moment on, he knew it would be “Mr. Baker is and always will be a piece of his future home. that coaching the basketball team is one of his success. Overall, I think the Wizards will continue “My greatest hope, which has already started Mercy,” said Beasley. fondest memories, particularly during the second to thrive without him, but he will be greatly missed.” with iExplorer… is using technology to make “I was amazed by the college prep curriculum,” has been a Mr. Baker also began teaching American championship game played at the University of he recalls. “When I made my first visit here, I was Government in addition to his English classes.