Romeoville High School SPARTUSSPARTUSSPARTUSFebruary, 2018 Vol. 54: #4 Home of the SPARTANS A Simple Question In our continuing quest to turn off the reality show that is America, and to turn the focus back to all the things that made us great as a country, and make us noble as human beings, we focus on the one thing that can help each of us to, as Lincoln said, ‘listen to our better angels.’ And so, in honor of the month of February, we ask the simple question: “Love is __________?” Alexis Lee (12) - Keeping pinky Meleena Perez (12) - When just promises. being together is enough. Maddi Weaver (11) - Love is a way of Mrs. Wicyk (staff) - Laughing at Sofia Ceballos (12) - Putting your living. It’s beautiful, pure, and natu- stupid things together. loved one before yourself. ral. You cannot force it, or push it Joseph Anderson (9) - Giving Warren DeKire (11) - Is uncondi- because it only comes with time and backrubs. tional. trust. Love is when you look so deeply Laura Salazar (12) - When you smell Brittany Osborne (12) - A forever into someones heart that you feel like food from grandma’s house. bond that two people share. it’s your own. Gisselle Palma (12) Coming home Ease on Down, Ease on Down to The Wiz and having my pets excited to see By Bryan Croce me. Come on and ease on down find out if these four friends, along Jocelyn Larios (12) - Being able to the road with your fellow spartans at with the help of the Good Witches like someone else’s flaws. this year’s spring musical, The Wiz. (Sierra Crownhart and Emma The Wiz centers around the Mager) can work together and help Matt Bauman (11) - Love is worth it. original movie The Wizard of OZ get Dorothy back home this time Mary Ridderhoff (11) - Love is being (based on the book by Frank L. around. able to laugh with someone until your Baum), this time told in more mod- Mark your calendar for ernized way full of crazy dancing and March 1, 2, 3 and 4. Show times are stomach hurts one day, and then soulful music. 7:00p, except for the Sunday matinee crying with them on another. The story you know: Dorothy at 2:00p. Tickets can be pre-pur- (Madeleine Diliberto) arrives in Oz chased online at www.showtix4u.com. and accidentally kills the Wicked General admission will be $10, Malik Tifah (12) - A feeling - some- Witch of the East. Her sister, the students with an ID $5, and senior thing that cannot be described with Wicked Witch of the West (A.J. citizens tickets $7.50. In addition, all words. Justalero), is not happy. The only pre-ordered tickets are assigned Laura Salazar (12) - When your thing Dorothy wants is to get back seats. All tickets at the door on the home to Aunt Em (Marienne Go), day of the performance will be $10. friends give you food - for free. but to do so she must see the great Sam Koeppl (11) - The acceptance and powerful Wiz (Ryan Hurdle). of all immigrants. Along her journey down the yellow Alena Hood (12) - Love is “I’m so brick road, she meets some new tired but I’ll pick you up anywhere, friends, a brainless Scarecrow (Carver Miller), a heartless anytime. Tinman (Bryan Croce), and a cow- Renee Tran (11) - Love is what ardly Lion (Ian Varquez). Come makes us human. Jada Perry (11) - Love is life. HOME PAGE 2 Editorial: Coping With the Dog Days By Evan W. Lee / Editor-in-Chief In my experience, RHS in the homework late in the night and losing month of February is not always the sleep. SPARTUSSPARTUS Editor-In-Chief most energizing place to be. It’s sort In my book, personal hygiene Evan Lee of that lull in the year. The weather is relates directly to happiness. During Assistant Editors cold all of February, and there isn’t the month of February it is flu season, Assistant Editors Ryan Hurdle much hope for the future because it’s so I enjoy brushing my teeth extra Alexis Lee cold all of March, too. So as you sit in well because it makes me feel fresh your desks and breathe in dusty RHS and clean. Reporters air(the building is almost 56 years Another thing I enjoy doing is Jennifer Adame, Anthony old), try to find things to keep your- exercising, whether it be at basket- Adauto, Jonathan Aguilera, self positive. ball practice or on my own. Getting a Bryan Croce, Marilyn Darko, To make the month of Febru- good sweat in usually makes me feel Charlotte Doyle, Daniel Ford, ary a better month, I like to eat good less tired and gives me more energy. Gregory Guillen, Joshua Lee, food. Typically eating fruits and One thing to be wary of though, if you Valerie Loehman, Abagail Lopez, vegetables gives me energy and help exercise at the school, is to wear a Joel Lopez, Gisselle Martinez, me focus. I also drink a lot of water. sweatshirt or something warm, Madison Massaro, Aaron Novak, Usually, if I do not drink water I get because it is cold at the school and is Clorissa O’Brien, Paula Ornelas, headaches. uncomfortable to be dripping sweat Joseph Otchere, Kofi Owusu- ansah, Joshua Pineda, Mary During school, and some- one minute then the next be freezing. Ridderhoff, Paulina Sledz, James times after, I enjoy reading books Another thing I enjoy doing is Smallwood, Michael Spillman because books are a good rest for the spending time with my siblings. Photographer mind. I usually like reading books We’ll usually talk or watch cartoons Mary Ridderhoff about politics, but I do enjoy a good together. It is healthy for the mind to story. I also like to play phone games communicate with others on a daily Advisor because they are good for relieving basis. On warmer days I enjoy going Mr. Chuck Niebling Literacy Administrator stress after taking tests or hard outside. It is always motivating to see Ms. Kristin Augle quizzes. the sun when it is the middle of Department Chair After school I like to do my Winter. Ms. Elizabeth Birmingham Special Thanks to homework and eat snacks. Doing my As February and March pass, The Print Shop homework right after school usually and we wait for Spring and warm helps me have a good understanding weather, remember to keep yourself The SPARTUS is the student of the material because I can take my positive . and to hydrate. <3 newsmagazine of Romeoville High time. It also stops me from doing my School and is published for the students, staff, and residents of the RHS atten- dance district. Editorial content is solely the opinion of the staff and does not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, or any organi- zations other than the SPARTUS. As the SPARTUS is an open forum, letters to the editor, independent features, and guest editorials are invited and encouraged. They can be given to any SPARTUS member or placed in the mailbox outside room 42. Names must accompany all submissions; but, they can be withheld on request. 3 NEWS & NOTES The Facts and Warning Signs Associated with Suicide By Valerie Loehman What might come to a them is contemplating suicide. For A lot of people are scared to surprise for most people is a very example, if you see that a person’s tell someone when they think a friend heartbreaking static, suicide is the mood has drastically changed - such or classmate is going through these 10th leading cause of death in the as losing interest in things he/she type of emotions and thoughts and United States and each year the once enjoyed, overreacting to situa- that’s where people make a mistake. problem becomes more and more tions, and talking about giving up - or Even if you have a slight feeling you serious. a change in the way they talk. A should contact an adult or even the Suicide takes the lives of person battling suicidal thoughts police if necessary. For those who are more than 44,000 people in the often has a tendency to talk a lot having any types of suicidal thoughts United States each year(about 123 about how their life is pointless and or are feeling uncomfortable there is a suicides each day), and for each how they don’t see their purpose in 24 hour Suicide Prevention Hotline person who commits suicide, 25 the world. (1-800-273-8255).They are avail- people have attempted to. According able 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to to the American Foundation for Suicide The Debate Continues help people and to just listen to what Prevention, in 2016 the highest age By Alexis Lee a person is going through and what group to commit suicide was people Among the many things that they have to say. from the ages of 45 to 54. Females of have come to a recent end—Obama’s all ages are more likely to have America, our hopes and dreams, Take Care of Yourself suicidal thoughts and attempt optimism for the future—Planned By Michael Spillman suicide, but the highest percent of Parenthood may soon join that group. From October of 2017 to Janu- suicide deaths are middle aged white It’s well known that Republi- ary, Influenza has spread like wildfire males; they account for 7 of 10 sui- cans are typically against abortion, throughout theUnited States. For the cides. More than half of suicide which pushes them from supporting first time in 13 years, all 50 states are deaths are by firearms, then next was Planned Parenthood.