Volume 45 Issue 1 Student Newspaper Of Shaler Area High School November 2018 Stage is set for a trip to Wonderland by Stephen Adametz This weekend, the Shaler Area Performing Arts department will debut its first show of the year, “Al- ice in Wonderland”. The fall play, directed by high school English teachers Mrs. Anne Loudon and Miss Kristen Susany, will feature Taryn Nasiadka as Alice. “Alice in Wonderland” will be the fourth play Nasiadka has been in since her freshman year. Also starring will be Isabella James as the Mad Hatter, Zoey Babbit as the Queen of Hearts, and Kelsey Marshall as the White Rabbit. One of the aspects of the play Loudon is most excited about it seeing Nasiadka as Alice. “No matter what part she got, she always her heart into it. Now that she’ll get that moment where she’ll get to walk out on stage for her curtain call and be the very last one and take her bow, I’m so excited tastical elements in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, duction. “It’s amazing,” Martin said. for that,” Loudon said. but this year, “Alice in Wonderland” will require a “It’s crazy and very involved. It’s probably one She also said she did an excellent job memo- much more fantastical element. of the most intricate sets we’ve ever had.” rizing all 300 of her lines.To do this, Nasiadka and One way they are trying to make Wonderland Leading up to the show, the cast has been doing a Loudon both said it took a lot of practice. come to life is with the utilization of old playground very good job at having their lines done. In the weeks “It was kind of hard. I rehearsed at my house a pieces, picked up from Shaler Area School District’s before the show, getting the set right has been the lot,” Nasiadka said. Building and Grounds department. focus of a lot of energy. Aside from Nasiadka, who has been involved in Slides, monkey bars, and a teeter totter will help The cast has been able to start practicing with the many Shaler plays and musicals, Loudon and Susany make things possible that otherwise could not be developing set. are welcoming a high number of new actors, many of done on stage. Along with a bubble machine, they “We are adding stuff with the set and starting to whom are seniors. There are also a lot of freshmen. are hoping it adds an element of fun as well. practice off book,” Nasiadka said. Daniel Horgan, one of the new seniors, will One of the key things to help the directors and “Alice in Wonderland” will be Loudon and Su- be playing the role of the Caterpillar. Molly Mc- stage crew get through a set they’ve never done be- sany’s ninth show together. Although they’ve never Donough and Maddie Martin will also set foot on fore is keeping an open mind. done “Alice in Wonderland” or something quite as stage for their debut senior year. Despite, it being her They have been willing to change things once fantastical, they’ve been having a lot of fun. Not only first year in play, Martin got the role of a supporting realizing something else might look best for the au- will the playground equipment from Rogers get one lead, as the Red Queen. dience. Senior Julie Powers is one of the stage crew last run, it will be a show the whole family can be “It’s been moderately difficult because I was managers working to make the set feasible for the brought to. never the center of attention in musicals so it’s a new show next month. “We really wanted to stretch the students’ imagi- experience I’m not used to,” Martin said. “It’s going to be hard to incorporate all the play- nations and creativity,” Susany said. All cast and Apart from “one of the best casts we’ve ever ground pieces,” Powers said. The set also requires crew had to learn to think above, below, outside, and had,” Loudon is excited to see the set unfold on multiple layers. inside the box. stage. Last year, the directors incorporated some fan- Visually, the set is expected to enhance the pro- “I’m really excited to do this show,” she said. School officials happy with lockdown, evacuation drill by James Engel sure everyone was there, and no one was left behind in the school during the chaos of mass evacuation. On Wednesday, October 17, Shaler Area performed its first mock intruder Spiker did say that he appreciated the feedback and even though the evacua- drill. In previous years, the school has had students and staff lockdown in their tion to Biles Field was planned, he used student feedback as another moment to classrooms, but with the growing frequency of school shootings, Pennsylvania present a “what if” scenario. has begun to pass laws making intruder drills mandatory. “If you were to be on the turf during a situation (and you were being attacked The high school administration, primari- there), what are you gonna do? Are you just going ly Assistant Principal Tom Misko and School to take it?” Resource Officer Frank Spiker, spent quite “Times have changed, we have Spiker encourages everyone to mindful of some time developing and designing this to adapt, we have to overcome surroundings and to take a vigilant “what if” ap- drill for students to gain a sense of what their proach when one is in a classroom, gym, cafeteria possibilities are in such an event. these challenges. So, how do we or even outside. Mr. Misko estimated that it was, “A good When asked of further drilling, both Spiker month or two of planning to come to the ac- do that? We drill.” and Misko agreed that further drills would occur. “It might be every month you see a drill,” tual day it happened.” -- Officer Frank Spiker Administrative response to the drill was Spiker said. Future drills are already being pre- very positive. pared. “I have no negative reports of students One drill similar to the October 17 exercise during the drill,” Spiker said. that drew criticism took place in the Bethel Park School District where actors The general feeling towards the event seem to be mostly positive, and the used blank rounds to simulate real gunfire in and around the school buidling. evacuation out of the building seemed to flow smoothly and orderly. Mr. Misko does not expect Shaler to perform anything this live, but added, Even though it was done well, the evacuation to Biles Field became one of “Nothing is off the table when it comes to school safety.” the prime criticisms from students, with many saying that if an event like this Everyone involved in this drill noted that it is unfortunate that this drill had to were to occur, students would not simply walk together to the turf. take place, but it is a step towards a safer, and more prepared school in the event In the event of an actual emergency, the safest and quickest route out of the of an actual intruder. building should be taken. The Biles Field turf only served as a reunification point “Times have changed, we have to adapt, we have to overcome these chal- during this drill for attendance and accountability purposes, essentially to make lenges. So, how do we do that? We drill,” Spiker said. Page 2 The Oracle November 2018 OPINIONS Politics in need of more leaders like McCain by Eddie Sheets On August 25 of this past summer America lost a war hero, a political ideal- ist, and a man who stood his ground for what he believed was right. For many democrats and republicans alike, his death was a national tragedy that moved the country into a state of mourning. The flags flew at half-staff, a sign of respect even the president adhered to. But the man behind the legend, despite his status and reputation, was willing to reach out to ordinary people. About fifteen years ago my father, a die-hard democrat, wrote a letter to the conservative John McCain. My father appreciated the U.S. Senator for his bipar- tisanship and his high moral code of being straightforward with the system. Not only was he willing to collaborate with politicians of the opposite party, but he outright refused to be involved in any cooperation within his own party that he considered undemocratic. Unlike the vast majority of modern politicians, whose hands are tied to the party that they support, McCain voiced what he felt was best for the American people, not what was best for his party. The cost of this idealist quality was that a shelf next to the television in our basement. The man reminds us of the im- McCain’s ratings from his party were not always favorable, but he was willing to portance to be willing to work out problems together and make compromises to endure the cost if it resulted in a better government. ensure a solution that is best for everyone. In McCain’s own words, “Nothing in Despite his image in the eye of the public, his reputation never went to life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that his head. McCain responded back to regular people who wrote to him, as my encompasses you but is not defined by your existence alone.” dad learned. When my dad reached out to John McCain and commemorated In an era where everybody wants to be heard, but nobody wants to listen, this the Senator, at the end of the letter he mentioned if he could receive an auto- is an important philosophy to keep in mind.