the appleton north NOCTILUCA Appleton, Wisconsin February/March 2014 Vol. XIX Issue VI Behind the scenes of Love Struck week By Katharine Hackney more singing telegrams were by DECA, a total of 14 heart Before the first day of Love sold in comparison to last year. shaped balloon-grams were Struck Week, Student Council “Last year felt much more lax, sold for the same purpose by spent roughly an hour Sun- but this year we were constant- HOSA. day night setting up what they ly bustling around,” Long said. The GSA bought about 500 fondly call “Heart Attack.” Sophomore Nolan Lo- wrist bands to sell; club mem- Appleton North High stacco said that “the Singing bers created and sold origami School’s main staircase and Telegrams were a pleasant hearts and flowers during lunch adjacent walls were covered and welcomed distraction to hours in order to increase funds with about 1,700 paper hearts, class.” Math teacher Mr. Ter- for future club activities. The one for every student. Student rance Wittmann buys singing origami hearts and flowers took Council is one of the main par- telegrams for the entire math four to five hours to complete ticipating clubs in Love Struck department every year, so dur- and $95 of profit was made, Week; the poster that hung in ing this year’s pep rally as pay- according to Elizabeth Flood- the main staircase was cre- back the math department sent strand, senior Alliance officer. ated by Student Council, the him a little surprise in the form Students had differing opin- pep rally was assembled and of singing students. Mr. Wit- ions in regards to Love Struck organized by North’s Stu- tmann was serenaded by the Week. Senior Tone Yu was dent Council. The dress up voices of David Gansen, Liza disheartened about all the days were decided by Student Long, Molly Sina, Allie Frank, hype that occurs around this Council during one of their and Katie Hackbart. Among week every year: “there are so meetings, any member was the other singing groups that many other more meaningful free to suggest a dress up day, Members of North’s Drama Club deliver a singing delivered the abundant singing holidays that actually revolve then it was put to a vote. The telegram to Kenady Duesterhaus during Spanish telegrams were Fourte, a Bar- around an important cause. I dress-up days were finalized class. The Drama Club sold 150 singing telegrams to bershop Quartet made up of just don’t feel that Valentine’s based on staff approval, said deliver to students on Feb. 13. From left: Liza Long, juniors Joey Krohlow, David Day deserves this much atten- Student Council officer Mal- Allie Frank, David Gansen, Emily Vandenberg, Katie Fischer and Alex Hasse, and tion.” lory Goggans. Hackbart, and Molly Sina. Photo by Mrs. Linda Meyer senior Alex Vechart. In contrast, Sarah Deltour In addition to the contribu- Throughout the week quite said that there wasn’t enough tions made by Student Coun- year and were a big hit among around the school Thursday, a few different “Valentines” build up and excitement to cil, Drama Club sought to the students. Drama Club offi- Feb. 13 delivering the sing- were sold in the commons the week. “This year’s Love make this year another suc- cers held auditions for the sing- ing telegrams to the recipients. during lunch hours: Flower- Struck Week just didn’t seem cessful one. Singing telegrams ers that performed the Singing- Liza Long, one of the singing- grams were sold to students to as exhilarating as last year’s,” were in high demand again this Telegrams this year. They went telegrammers estimates that 50 give to their special someone she said. Winter Olympics shines spotlight on Russia By Erik Bakken Commentary The world’s foremost win- ter sporting competition came sia’s iron fist and the still again in February as the world forceful government in place. watched their favorite athletes Also, the Russian Olym- from around the globe com- pic Games caused contro- pete for the gold, silver and versy with the rather strident bronze medals in the Winter anti-gay policy in place in Olympics. the former Soviet country. And again, threats of terrorist groups caused rigid security “What better measures to ensure safety for all athletes and spectators to way to put Sochi the games. on the world stage Even throughout all the than to host the controversy that surrounded Scenes from the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics being held in Sochi, Russia. Before the Winter Olympics, Sochi as a city was experiencing a decline Winter Olympics. the Sochi Games, the front man of the Olympic efforts in tourism. The Winter Olympics have put this city back into the spotlight. Photos It would put Sochi in Russia, the Prime Minis- from USA.gov back in the inter- ter Vladimir Putin, pushed to with frequent construction But in order to do this, Wisconsinite, won Team USA national spotlight have Sochi in the spotlight. and rebuilding. Russia has spent over $50 a bronze medal in the sport of and bring finan- The Olympics are both a Sochi, the unofficial Rus- billion (a record breaking men’s skeleton. He is a gradu- huge financial benefit to the sian “summer capitol”, was in amount) on stadiums, hotels, ate of Prairie du Chien high cial success to the hosting nation and a gargan- a tourism decline and needed and virtually giving the entire school. Matt Antoine was the struggling city.” tuan financial investment, and a boost. town of Sochi a makeover for first U.S. athlete to medal in this is what Putin had been What better way to put the Games. the skeleton since Jimmy planning for. Sochi on the world stage than With an average of 22 mil- Shea’s gold in 2002. Hosted in Sochi, Russia, Sochi was becoming the to host the Winter Olympics. lion viewers nightly in the While the games ended on a Black Sea resort town, the declining resort city of Rus- It would put Sochi back in U.S. alone, this enormous fi- Sunday, Feb. 23, spectators games were to be controver- sia as people flocked to other, the international spotlight and nancial investment may just have the 2016 Summer Olym- sial from their conception due cheaper resort towns on the bring financial success to the pay off for the Russians. pics in Brazil to look forward to the harsh history of Rus- Black Sea and Sochi was left struggling city. Matt Antoine, a fellow to. NEWS Appleton, Wisconsin February/March 2014 Volume XIX Issue VI Page 2 Thai movie stars visit North In Brief By Caroline Duncombe Appleton North. The actors Author event were supposed to come in On Jan. 20, two movie November, but due to another to take place stars walked the halls of Ap- concert booking in Minne- pleton North. sota they had to postpone the at North Xa Thao, actor/direc- meeting until January. Want to better understand tor from Thailand, and Chia “We were upset when we the anxious mind? Appleton Yang, an actress from Thai- didn’t see them the first time, author Lisa Klarner will pres- land, made a stop at Appleton but happy when we got to see ent Understanding the Social- North to visit Hmong students them later on,” Kaila Lor said. ly Anxious Mind. here during their concert tour The Hmong students at This event is based on her in the U.S. Appleton North were very book, Releasing the Secret They have both starred excited to see Xa Thao and Pain: Moving Beyond Social in numerous movies such as Chia Yang come in and speak. Anxiety Disorder. The event Xa Thao and Chia Yang visited North on Jan. 20. They Plam Ib Vuag and Tij Laug The students got to hear them takes place on April 8 from spoke to the Hmong students about the differences Xab, which have a distinct talk about life in Thailand and 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Appleton style from that of American how it is much different from between life in Thailand versus the United States. North. Photo by Mr. Thai Lee movies. “Hmong movies are life in the United States. One The event is designed to based off of real life, but they of the main differences is how help raise awareness of so- are also comedic and can be cold Wisconsin is compared cial anxiety disorder (SAD) romantic,” explained Kaila to Thailand. by educating on the disorder, Lor, a student at Appleton After performing two understanding the causes, and North. These two movies are songs from their concert tour, gaining insight into effective popular Hmong movies. the actors left the students therapies. Dr. Salad Vang sponsored with a good piece of advice: Xa Thao’s and Chia Yang’s students should study hard four month tour in the United because they have the oppor- States. The actors plan to tour tunity to receive a good edu- Poetry Slam events from Wisconsin to California cation in the United States. to happen at to celebrate the Hmong New In Thailand many children do Year, which was on Nov. 20. not get the opportunities that Harmony Cafe Mr. Thai Lee, a teacher of students have here. Mr. Thai Lee set up the opportunity for Xa Thao and one of the Hmong Literacy The experience was enjoy- Poetry Slam is an event classes at North, was able to able for both the actors and Chia Yang to visit Appleton North. His Hmong Lit- created to practice the art of set up this opportunity to have the students as they got to eracy Class posed for a group photo with the movie performance poetry.