the appleton north NOCTILUCA Appleton, Wisconsin December 2013 Vol. XIX Issue IV North clubs get into holiday spirit By Nora Ptacek for the community,” said An- As the holiday season rolls drea Bryson, senior. around, many members of Ap- The Drama Club spreads pleton North’s clubs will get holiday cheer by singing into the giving spirit by donat- Christmas carols at nursing ing their time and money. homes. They also collect do- National Honor Society nations for kids at the Harbor is active in the community House. North Drama students throughout the year, and bell then deliver the toys dressed ringing for The Salvation up in costumes from previous Army is a way they get in- North shows. volved for the holiday season. “I think it feels really great NHS members are also help- seeing the smiles that you ing Santa by responding to let- make on people’s faces, espe- ters written by first and second cially during the holiday sea- grade students in elementary son,” said Drama Club Officer schools throughout the dis- Katie Hackbart. trict. The officers and advisors of some of the clubs at North that give back to the com- HOSA will also be bell They are also doing Adopt- munity. Many of the members donate time and effort to help out the community ringing, and during one of the A-Family where they buy and over the holidays. Photos by Nora Ptacek, Elizabeth Floodstrand and Megha Uberoi days Thrivent will match the wrap gifts for families recom- amount of money raised. They mended to them in the Apple- Council also has a lot on their helped start something and “I think it feels will be organizing a penny war ton district. agenda. organize something and then really great seeing where all the money raised will “We have over 200 mem- They helped out at a soup it took off so I feel accom- most likely go towards Adopt- bers so we try to put in at least kitchen, volunteered at the plished.” the smiles that you A-Family. HOSA members a couple thousand hours help- North craft fair and rang bells “I know that last year we put on people’s will be writing holiday cards ing the community a year. We for The Salvation Army. Stu- donated 75 boxes of cans so faces, especially to patients at St. Elizabeth’s have people so we’ll try and dent Council turns their big- I know that it helps them get Hospital. go out and help people,” said gest community project of the through the holiday season during the holiday “It’s rewarding to see that Mrs. Roberta Baker, the advi- month, the canned food drive, when they see the most people season”. helping out a family who isn’t sor for NHS. into a school-wide competi- in The Salvation Army,” Stu- -Katie Hackbart, in the greatest times its benefi- NHS secretary Lexi Woer- tion. dent Council Advisor Mrs. Drama Club cial, so it’s good,” said HOSA ishofer said, “It’s cool from Student council officer, Teri Berlowski said. Officer Dan Heimerl. an officer standpoint working Maddie Kordyban said, “Per- North’s Key Club is helping Officer HOSA advisor Mrs. Kelly with all the members and then sonally it always feels nice out over the holiday season by Camber said, “Of course dur- seeing how grateful everyone doing something like that, just wrapping gifts for a local radio pitals. ing the holidays everyone else is that we do the work.” benefiting others but then to station. The station collects the “It’s fun because you go wants to celebrate and enjoy NHS is not the only club see as a school to do it there’s gifts, and Key Club members with a group of people that the holidays, so since we have putting in hours to help bet- this sense of accomplishment wrap them. The gifts are then you know, and it’s also a way some extra money, why not do ter the community; Student because you know that you distributed to shelters and hos- to get to know them. It’s good something nice.” Revised nutrition policy bites into school sweets By Katharine Hackney changed to the extent of the Some students are not con- Changes to the school dis- amended version, so no drastic vinced on how helpful this new trict’s nutrition policy will changes are foreseen. policy will be on school-wide mean fewer cookies and can- Any food sold on school nutrition. dy for North students during grounds that does not meet the “This whole thing sounds school. AASD student nutrition stan- nice in theory, but just because As student nutrition is a dards is banned. This includes people are given healthy op- prime focus of the Appleton the food sold in the school tions doesn’t mean they’ll take Area School District, the nu- store, according to the policy. them,” said Molly Biskupic, trition policy was revised on “The school store can no sophomore. Oct. 7, 2013 from the original longer sell slushies or choco- On the other hand, Kayleigh policy made in 2003. late chip cookies,” said Mrs. Leach said that she is thrilled According to the student nu- Dechant. The nutrition policy about the policy since “regular trition policy set by the School does not affect anything that physical activity and a nourish- Board, the AASD promotes students themselves bring to ing diet is the key to a fulfilling Students get school lunches from the cafeteria. The healthy schools by supporting school, only what is sold at life.” wellness, good nutrition, and school functions. Many details are still being revised nutrition policy will affect what students can regular physical activity as a The standards in the policy sorted about the policy in or- buy to eat in school. Photo by Elizabeth Floodstrand part of a total learning environ- are as follows: per portion der for the entire school to be teacher at North, said that al- Overall, the purpose of this ment. packaged or served has to have up to the standards of the nu- though “excellence is its own policy is to provide a suitable Effects of this nutrition pol- 200 calories or less, 30 percent trition policy. Since it doesn’t reward,” instead of candy as school environment in order to icy have already been imple- of total calories from fat or less, meet the requirements, candy prizes for class activities, she develop and practice lifelong mented, but changes and addi- less than 10 percent of calories is banned. would now give stickers, small healthy habits, to encourage tions are still being discussed from saturated fats, zero trans Candy prizes for games, for toys, extra points on home- students to participate in physi- for the future. fat, 35 percent or less of calo- example in foreign language work, or healthy food from a cal activity, and to support aca- The food being sold in the ries from total sugars, and 200 classes, will have to change. Hispanic culture that meets the demic performance, according commons has already been grams or less of sodium. Mrs. Linda Meyer, a Spanish requirements of the AASD. to the policy. NEWS Appleton, Wisconsin December 2013 Volume XIX Issue IV Page 2 What’s new at North? A redesigned school website By Erik Bakken Appleton North has made What’s community. changes in its online presence “We’ve been getting a lot of with a newly designed web- good feedback about the new site. Instead of a blue list of website,” said Mr. Herman- links, there is clearer organi- sen, and that is exactly what zation to the site that may be the organizers wanted to get more appealing to viewers. for the new changes on the The old website had been website. in place for about four years, at North? Students have had troubles created by students at North. in the past accessing what While it was functional, the ganization made information they needed to on North’s orchestrators of the changes to hard to find, and so the of- website, such as information the website wanted something fice would get a lot of calls for senior pictures and more. with a more professional ap- from people who couldn’t Now the new website seems pearance. find what they needed,” said to be getting more positive The organizers of these Mr. Hermansen. “We wanted initial feedback from stu- changes were retired North to create a more user-friendly dents. math teacher Mr. Bob Hilles- site.” “I really like how organized tad, social studies teacher Mr. “We think the new website the site is, and how easy it Johnny Steinbeck uses the new North website. Many Joel Hermansen, and North’s has a very appealing design, was to find what I was look- people have been offering positive feedback about Principal Mr. James Huggins, and is easier to navigate,” Mr. ing for,” said freshman Sofie the new website. Photo by Elizabeth Floodstrand all who saw a need for a bet- Hillestad said. Druckrey. ter, professionally designed The website was also cre- According to Mr. Herman- as if the new and improved as well as the community at website because of many dif- ated to be a place where infor- sen, parents and those outside website will be a strong asset large find the North website ficulties that had arisen with mation can be easily accessed the North community have to Appleton North. a very useful and informative the old website. by a parent or student, or even been offering their positive “We hope the students and component of school commu- “The old website’s disor- someone outside of the North feedback as well, so it seems parents of North High School nication,” said Mr.