CHS Chilli-Chatter #8

by Claire Ripley

It's hard to stay awake and alert for an eight-hour school day, but having caffeine in your system may help at keeping your eyes open during a lecture. Some high school students drink energy drinks, others soda, and for some...coffee. Coffee's main goal may be to defeat sleep deprivation, but not only does coffee wake you up, it boosts your mood, provides alertness, helps with good memory, and visual attention. According to a Google survey, 61% of students at CHS say that they are coffee drinkers: 72% of those students make their own coffee at home, but 12% get their coffee at Hy-Vee and 16% from Caseys.

We have all hoped and prayed for a drive-through coffee shop and it is finally, just around the corner. A new business, Missouri Coffee Company, may be thrilling for those students that drink coffee. Missouri Coffee Company is owned and operated by Lea and Andy McLean and will be located at 610 Park Lane (near Orschelns) in Chillicothe. They will be serving everything from coffee, frappes, boba teas, and even flavored energy drinks such as Red Bulls. They will also be serving kolache, muffins, various fruit bowls, and to-go lunches. Missouri Coffee Company is hoping to open by the end of April; you can see their menu now on their Facebook page. High school students may be a big hit for this business as 57% of students said that they would stop by and visit.

by Leah Lourenco

Walking through the halls of Chillicothe High School in the spring of 2021, it is clear that we have changed in the past year. It is not just the masks or the general distance between us, but I know that our friendships and personalities have been largely impacted by the conditions of the Coronavirus pandemic. With a separation period of nearly five months, we were forced to live with ourselves. Following that time, life still did not resume as normal; a general sense of distance ensued. The Chilli-Chatter staff has addressed many of the impacts of Coronavirus...whether that be the specifics of school events or student interactions, but I want to explore the lessons that CHS students have learned from this pandemic.

I sent out an email in mid-March asking the student body for stories or lessons they learned from being socially distanced for so long. Although a limited number of students responded, there seemed to be a general consensus. We learned that we have to be independent and be capable of holding ourselves accountable. No one can make us successful; that is up to us. I completely agree with my peers, and I understand how social distancing taught us that. For a period of time, there was no one controlling our day-to-day lives. The school schedule that we were accustomed to disappeared, and we had to rely on only ourselves to be productive and motivated enough to do something with our days.

Some days that was easier said than done. It goes without saying that the pandemic has tested the mental health of the entire global population. That being said, technology made possible distanced communication like never before. Snapchat, TikTok, Zoom, and many more allowed for at least some form of communication. In fact, TikTok was able to form communities of people of all demographics and interest groups.

Today, in the halls of CHS, I feel like we have all matured. From my perspective, it seems that perhaps the period of isolation has led to a stronger sense of community. We learned to live without so many social connections, and now we understand their value so much more. The friendships that survived the pandemic have more meaning, because even in a period of isolation, people stuck together. The pandemic served to teach us many lessons of the importance of family, friends, and determination, which will surely continue to define our generation moving forward.

by Emma Rule

This week on Binge or Bust is Raya and the Last Dragon. Raya can be seen in movie theaters near you or on Disney+ with Premier Access for an additional $29.99. It will also be available on Disney+ for free with a membership after June 4th. This animated movie follows the life of a young girl named Raya on a quest to find the last dragon so she can set the world right again after it has been ravaged by sinister monsters called the Druun. Along the way, Raya makes some unlikely friends and learns some valuable lessons.

While Raya and the Last Dragon makes up for it in heart, the initial cost of thirty dollars is hard to look past. Once you do look past it, however, Raya and the Last Dragon is a movie full of beautiful colors, a riveting story, intense heart and emotion, and much-needed Asian-American representation. The story and action are nice and level throughout, but still have the big, dramatics that we are used to from Disney.

One of the best things about Raya and the Last Dragon is the hidden gems. The main theme of the story is learning to forgive and trust one another even through past mistakes. It is a story of people from all over and of different backgrounds coming together to save the world and unite people through their actions. Also, it isn’t every day that both the heroine and antagonist are powerful, strong women. Still, however, Disney does fall into the trope of pitting female friends against each other and there being no resolution to the relationship.

Raya and the Last Dragon delivers everything we want from a wholesome Disney movie and then some. There is massive character development throughout all of the characters while still remaining lighthearted and funny. The cast is spectacular and the graphics are a sight to behold with a story that will leave you all warm and fuzzy on the inside. My word of wisdom to you would be to spend the thirty dollars on a movie that will bring you joy and that you can watch over and over again to your heart’s content.

by Lexie Walker

Are you looking for a fun class to fill your schedule next year? Look no further! Material Science & Technology--MST for short--has been offered at the high school for quite some time now, and what better way to earn a science credit than to spend an hour doing labs and experimenting with various materials? Mrs. Samantha Yoko, first time teacher of both MST I and II, describes the class as being “a really cool class” for those who might not be extremely science-minded but enjoy the creativity and hands-on experiences that come with this course. Other perks--there is virtually no homework and all the tests are open-note. Among some of students’ favorite labs in MST I are the Metals Stations lab and Lost Wax Casting rings. Students learn different properties of various metals through hands-on experiments and eventually go through the process of designing, molding, and pouring a metal ring of their own. Mrs. Yoko went on to suggest that if you really, really dislike labs, this class is not for you; however, a class like this offers an opportunity to try something new that you might not otherwise get to after high school.

As a student currently taking MST II, I can attest that it is one of the most exciting classes in my schedule this year; I never know what type of experiment will be happening when I walk through the door, but it is always interesting. Because MST II is usually a relatively small class, it widens the lab opportunities and creates a more laid-back classroom environment where students are comfortable exceeding their comfort zones.

Looking to the future, Mrs. Yoko hopes to streamline the lab process and pack as many projects throughout the year as she can. This way students get a more complete idea of what material science truly is. She says it is important to her that students know that a career in STEM does not exclusively mean a doctor, engineer, or chemist. There are countless areas of science that are often overlooked or unadvertised. MST can offer students a fun hour to do experiments and come away with cool projects, but it can also be a scientific awakening to more unaccredited aspects of the science and technology field.

by Draya Shady

Brock Ward, a junior at CHS, currently has an Instagram account set up for many football-loving fans. At this time, “NFC East Report” has nearly 49,000 followers for an account that he made to pursue his own passion for football. The account consists of four NFL football teams including the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ward decided to create this account when he was just beginning the 7th grade, ironically while watching the Eagles play in August of 2016. His intentions were to keep his account up until the end of that school year and then it “blew up” or became popular to the public. He had 1,000 followers in just the first three days. He felt like he had to continue.

Football fans are not the only ones who interact with his account. During the summer of COVID-19, Ward was posting as much as he could. He caught notice of the Eagle’s Corner agent, Cre’Von LeBlanc. LeBlanc reached out to Ward and asked to interview him. Ward agreed and they went on to discuss over an Instagram live. This is one of Ward’s big achievements on his account.

Keeping the Instagram current is a time-consuming process. He spends over an hour each day updating his posts when any major event happens involving his teams. This type of information can be when a team member gets traded or injured such as a recent post about the Dallas Cowboys release of a player, Fullback Jamize Olawale. Ward has considered going into sports journalism, but is still unclear in his decision. This Instagram account could wholeheartedly adjust his future plans.

by Dimitri Dickerson and Kadence Shipers

Five teachers will bid farewell to CHS at the end of this school year to head to retirement. These teachers will be dearly missed and we would like to thank them for their contributions to our school and lives. Mr. Brad Cavanah, Mrs. Pam Constant, Mrs. Lila Moore, Mrs. Annette Shipp, and Mrs. Nancy Thorne were interviewed to get a glimpse of their time and impact at CHS.

Mr. Brad Cavanah has invested 26 years of his life as a teacher, spending more than half (14 years) of his time at CHS. When asked why he became a teacher, Mr. Cavanah stated, “I did what was expected of me.” Teaching runs in his family as his parents were both teachers, his brothers became teachers, and he went on to marry a teacher. Mr. Cavanah has taught a wide variety of students from grades 6th through 12th and subjects varying from English, geography, and current events; however, he spent most of his career teaching freshman-level English. Mr. Cavanah said one of his fondest memories at CHS was “watching his daughters grow not just as children, but as students as well.” He also enjoyed seeing the “uniqueness” of the classes he taught and how they changed since he taught them. When Mr. Cavanah first started teaching, older peers talked negatively about their students and teaching as a whole. He vowed that he would never think like that of his peers, but as soon as those thoughts made way in his mind, he decided it was time to step back and move on to something else. Mr. Cavanah plans to continue working after retirement, even if he has to go back to school or get a license for the project(s) he decides on.

Mrs. Pam Constant has spent her life teaching for approximately 22 years and contributed 17 of those years to CHS. Mrs. Constant originally planned to be a lawyer, but her parents requested that she have a back-up plan in case law school did not work out. Mrs. Constant has taught grades 7-12 and a variety of subjects: English, speech, and applied communications. Mrs. Constant enjoyed all her time at CHS, but will never forget the time she was Junior Class sponsor and got to decorate for the “007” Prom theme. She said she was exhausted, but it was well worth it. When asked about the reason for her retirement she said, “I love the kids, but hate grading papers.” She plans to take it easy after retirement and spend time with her family, friends, and a lot of books. Mrs. Constant will miss her students and the staff of CHS tremendously, but will enjoy time she does not have to spend grading.

Mrs. Lila Moore has worked 21 years as a teacher and spent her last 4 years teaching at CHS. She claimed that she had always loved art classes and that she wanted to inspire her students in the same way that her teachers inspired her. She has taught varying levels of art classes ranging from preschool to high school. She stated that her favorite memory at CHS couldn’t be limited to just one, but she has always loved watching her students grow. When asked why she wanted to retire, her response was that she wanted to take time to build a business with her daughter. During retirement, Mrs. Moore plans to open a design business with her daughter, where her daughter will handle the interior design and Mrs. Moore herself will handle the outdoor. On a final note, Mrs. Moore wanted her students to know that she loved working at CHS and she will miss it dearly.

Mrs. Nancy Thorne has spent 32 years working as a teacher with 24 of those years being spent at CHS. She realized that she wanted to teach while in 6th grade when she was given the opportunity to help teach the kindergarten class. After that experience she knew teaching would be her career. She has taught a wide range of science classes including physical science, biology, anatomy, and physiology, as well as 7th and 8th grade science. Mrs. Thorne lamented that there were far too many good memories from CHS for her to choose just one. She responded that the reason she wanted to retire is because 32 years seemed like enough. She enjoyed working with the students but grew tired of the other things that entailed. Once retired, she plans to continue working for Launch, an online school program. Otherwise she will spend her time doing whatever she wants. She will miss the staff and the students, but she definitely won’t miss the Covid.

Mrs. Annie Shipp has been working for 30 years with 24 years at CHS. Her inspiration for becoming a teacher was remembering how much she struggled with math classes when she was learning. She wanted to help students who were struggling with the same things she used to. Mrs. Shipp has taught every math class from 7th grade math to calculus for high school students. Mrs. Shipp reminisced about one time a student was struggling with a subject they were covering in class. She had come in several days for extra help and finally the test rolled around. After the student saw her score for the test she jumped up and hugged Mrs. Shipp. Her reason for retiring is just that “it is what comes next.” She plans to work at a bank after retirement. She wants her students to know that one of things she will miss the most is the laughter she heard from her students every day.

CHS says goodbye to five remarkable teachers, who not only taught, but transformed students as well. We thank you for all the time and effort you put into CHS and appreciate all that you have done for the students and staff. We wish you all the best and will never forget the impact you had on each and every one of us. Here’s to one last school year and no more grading.