Join The Vault in 2021!
By: Claire Wasem
NORTHRIDGE - NHS’s Viking Vault newspaper staff currently consists of 19 students. Of those 19, however, nine of them are seniors and will be retiring from the staff in Spring of 2020. Many of the students, especially seniors, would advise underclassmen to join the paper next year.
Shelby Yorde (‘20) says, “The school paper will have a lot of spots to fill next year because we are graduating so many seniors.” She continues to explain, “I would definitely advise underclassmen to join the paper because not only is it such a fun class, it also looks great to colleges when you are involved in school activities.”
Another Senior, Darian Dick (‘20), agrees, saying, “When I applied for colleges and scholarships, many urged you to list activities you took place in while in high school. I was able to list the newspaper as one of my activities, but not only list it. Being able to say you met deadlines on a project with a staff of your peers on a regular basis and even edited really looks good for communication and leadership skills. This looks very impressive to most colleges.”
Not only does being a part of the school newspaper look good to schools you could attend in the future, it is “such a fun environment as well,” says Sydney Koker (‘21). She continues by saying, “The newspaper class is such a tight knit group. We are like one big family. Even when one of us is having trouble coming up with a story, we are able to bounce ideas off of each other and make sure everyone has a story to write!”
When asked what her favorite part of the class was, Koker responds, “Everytime we publish a Newspaper we plan a big party where everyone brings food! Most of the time people bring desserts and sides like brownies, cookies, buffalo chicken dip, and pasta salad. But we have some type of main dish too! We have so much fun,” Koker says.
Yorde (‘20) explains that when you join the staff you are given a job that you have to perform for each issue. “I am the print editor, so I lay out where the stories will go on the print issue and choose which pictures will be displayed along with my assistant print editors (Ali Zigo and Claire Wasem).” Yorde (‘20) further explains, “There are many jobs to choose from on the staff, so everyone will have a purpose!”
Although joining the Viking Vault is fairly simple, you must take Journalism before you are officially a part of the staff. “Journalism is just a semester course,” says Sports Editor Alex Hook (‘20). Hook continues, “Journalism is necessary because it teaches you the basics for how to write a good story. I would take it as soon as possible so you can be on the Newspaper staff longer.”
The 2020 Newspaper staff would highly recommend joining The Viking Vault Family 2021!
By: Claire Wasem
NORTHRIDGE - NHS’s Viking Vault newspaper staff currently consists of 19 students. Of those 19, however, nine of them are seniors and will be retiring from the staff in Spring of 2020. Many of the students, especially seniors, would advise underclassmen to join the paper next year.
Shelby Yorde (‘20) says, “The school paper will have a lot of spots to fill next year because we are graduating so many seniors.” She continues to explain, “I would definitely advise underclassmen to join the paper because not only is it such a fun class, it also looks great to colleges when you are involved in school activities.”
Another Senior, Darian Dick (‘20), agrees, saying, “When I applied for colleges and scholarships, many urged you to list activities you took place in while in high school. I was able to list the newspaper as one of my activities, but not only list it. Being able to say you met deadlines on a project with a staff of your peers on a regular basis and even edited really looks good for communication and leadership skills. This looks very impressive to most colleges.”
Not only does being a part of the school newspaper look good to schools you could attend in the future, it is “such a fun environment as well,” says Sydney Koker (‘21). She continues by saying, “The newspaper class is such a tight knit group. We are like one big family. Even when one of us is having trouble coming up with a story, we are able to bounce ideas off of each other and make sure everyone has a story to write!”
When asked what her favorite part of the class was, Koker responds, “Everytime we publish a Newspaper we plan a big party where everyone brings food! Most of the time people bring desserts and sides like brownies, cookies, buffalo chicken dip, and pasta salad. But we have some type of main dish too! We have so much fun,” Koker says.
Yorde (‘20) explains that when you join the staff you are given a job that you have to perform for each issue. “I am the print editor, so I lay out where the stories will go on the print issue and choose which pictures will be displayed along with my assistant print editors (Ali Zigo and Claire Wasem).” Yorde (‘20) further explains, “There are many jobs to choose from on the staff, so everyone will have a purpose!”
Although joining the Viking Vault is fairly simple, you must take Journalism before you are officially a part of the staff. “Journalism is just a semester course,” says Sports Editor Alex Hook (‘20). Hook continues, “Journalism is necessary because it teaches you the basics for how to write a good story. I would take it as soon as possible so you can be on the Newspaper staff longer.”
The 2020 Newspaper staff would highly recommend joining The Viking Vault Family 2021!
- Claire Wasem (‘20) is assistant print editor of the Viking Vault.
Mud and progress
Campus construction update
By: Hadley Stermer
NORTHRIDGE - Northridge still has big plans of opening the new elementary school in the fall of 2021. With the continued construction toward the rear of Northridge’s central campus, many students are wondering what is going on and what is going to happen next.
Of course, everyday students see the construction in the student parking lot. Some students have already had to move where they park, and others are wondering when this will happen to them. Superintendent Scott Schmidt said, “The temporary parking lot is almost ready, which means we’re going to have to make some shifting in parking and that will probably happen by the first of February.” Many students and staff will have to move where they park to this temporary parking lot near the intermediate school playground.
As of right now, Schmidt said that, “Some of the initial mass grading work, which is moving dirt and getting things ready for construction, is underway.” The actual construction of the building and the beginning of seeing things like concrete trucks is scheduled to begin on March 1st. Since construction has started there have been a few delays due to the rain and mud, but Schmidt said “the project is still on schedule.”
Maintenance Supervisor Dave Liggett said, “The only concerns are getting to the soccer field and the softball field in the spring.”
The new elementary building being built is huge for Northridge, but the construction project involves more than just that building. There are many changes that are going to happen in the high school building as well. Schmidt said, “This summer, the plan is to create an updated and new parking lot out in front of the high school.”
Another big change is going to be increased security and new doors to create what is called a secure vestibule. Currently, visitors are able to walk right into the hallway, although they still have to sign in. In many other schools they have their visitors enter straight into the office for increased safety. Schmidt said, ”Visitors will have to go to the office and check in and there will be a new door leading out of the office.” This makes it much safer when visitors come to Northridge.
Many people are involved with this big project and are putting a lot of time into it. Schimdt said, “We have two to three meetings a week as we are planning the construction project, and we are looking forward to the summer to see some of the work that will be happening.” There are a lot of big plans and many deadlines to meet with the construction. Liggett, who is also heavily involved in the plans, said, “I mainly assist with the design of the new building and a lot of the site work.”
As students leave for the school year in May, construction will really take off during the summer. Many changes will be seen as students come back for the 2020-2021 school year.
Campus construction update
By: Hadley Stermer
NORTHRIDGE - Northridge still has big plans of opening the new elementary school in the fall of 2021. With the continued construction toward the rear of Northridge’s central campus, many students are wondering what is going on and what is going to happen next.
Of course, everyday students see the construction in the student parking lot. Some students have already had to move where they park, and others are wondering when this will happen to them. Superintendent Scott Schmidt said, “The temporary parking lot is almost ready, which means we’re going to have to make some shifting in parking and that will probably happen by the first of February.” Many students and staff will have to move where they park to this temporary parking lot near the intermediate school playground.
As of right now, Schmidt said that, “Some of the initial mass grading work, which is moving dirt and getting things ready for construction, is underway.” The actual construction of the building and the beginning of seeing things like concrete trucks is scheduled to begin on March 1st. Since construction has started there have been a few delays due to the rain and mud, but Schmidt said “the project is still on schedule.”
Maintenance Supervisor Dave Liggett said, “The only concerns are getting to the soccer field and the softball field in the spring.”
The new elementary building being built is huge for Northridge, but the construction project involves more than just that building. There are many changes that are going to happen in the high school building as well. Schmidt said, “This summer, the plan is to create an updated and new parking lot out in front of the high school.”
Another big change is going to be increased security and new doors to create what is called a secure vestibule. Currently, visitors are able to walk right into the hallway, although they still have to sign in. In many other schools they have their visitors enter straight into the office for increased safety. Schmidt said, ”Visitors will have to go to the office and check in and there will be a new door leading out of the office.” This makes it much safer when visitors come to Northridge.
Many people are involved with this big project and are putting a lot of time into it. Schimdt said, “We have two to three meetings a week as we are planning the construction project, and we are looking forward to the summer to see some of the work that will be happening.” There are a lot of big plans and many deadlines to meet with the construction. Liggett, who is also heavily involved in the plans, said, “I mainly assist with the design of the new building and a lot of the site work.”
As students leave for the school year in May, construction will really take off during the summer. Many changes will be seen as students come back for the 2020-2021 school year.
- Hadley Stermer (‘21) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault
The Bear That Wasn’t a Bear...
By: Shelby Yorde
ALEXANDRIA - Recently, there was a post by someone on Facebook claiming that a bear was spotted around Reeves Farm… or in other words… RIGHT BY OUR SCHOOL! A teenage boy was riding his bike on the bike bath when, half-way through his ride, he was reportedly chased by a bear.
The incident was reported to police who then reported it to Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). After many days it was finally announced, also on social media, that this was, in fact, not a bear.
ODNR Division of Wildlife’s Assistant Wildlife Manager Karen Norris said the alleged sighting “was just a misidentification.” While she knew it wasn’t a bear for sure, Norris was unable to tell me what the animal actually was.
Despite the less-circulated social media announcement following Wildlife’s involvement, many people claimed to have seen this bear. Kathryn Nicks (‘21) says, “The owner of the horse barn my sister goes to insisted he saw it in the yard multiple times.” After being asked if she still believes there is a bear near Licking County she said, “I believe it … anything is possible.”
Darian Dick (‘20) says, “My mom said that there is a really big black dog that runs away all the time and that maybe that is what everyone is seeing?” Dick says she, too, thought the bear report was real.
Many people live around the place the bear was spotted, and the initial report left a lot of Northridge students worried. Kennedy Neumeyer (‘21), worried about her dog, said, “I’m glad it wasn’t a bear … I was afraid it was going to eat Benny!”
Sarah Moore (‘21) says she wishes it were a bear. “I really wanted it to be a bear because nothing exciting ever happens around here.” Her sister, Ally Moore (‘22), says she knew there was no bear all along. “There is no way there would’ve been a bear in Alexandria … I knew that someone had to have seen something wrong.”
Jared Yorde (‘21) says he is intrigued by the whole situation. He says, “I’m not sure what was seen that is big enough to resemble a bear … but there are definitely a lot of animals on the bike path.”
The Division of Wildlife reports there actually are between 50-100 black bears in Ohio, but they are mostly in the eastern and southern areas of the state. Though it isn’t impossible for one to wander into Licking County, it would be rare. And it’s not uncommon for people to report bear sightings after mistaking other animals for bears. Standing at roughly three feet at the shoulder, black in color, and between 100-400 pounds, black bears can be confused with very large dogs or, according to one Montana report, a “bear-looking llama.”
Though unlikely, if you do spot a bear here near the Ridge, contact a Wildlife Officer at 614-902-4214. Before making the call, Wildlife recommends you follow these steps to stay safe:
By: Shelby Yorde
ALEXANDRIA - Recently, there was a post by someone on Facebook claiming that a bear was spotted around Reeves Farm… or in other words… RIGHT BY OUR SCHOOL! A teenage boy was riding his bike on the bike bath when, half-way through his ride, he was reportedly chased by a bear.
The incident was reported to police who then reported it to Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). After many days it was finally announced, also on social media, that this was, in fact, not a bear.
ODNR Division of Wildlife’s Assistant Wildlife Manager Karen Norris said the alleged sighting “was just a misidentification.” While she knew it wasn’t a bear for sure, Norris was unable to tell me what the animal actually was.
Despite the less-circulated social media announcement following Wildlife’s involvement, many people claimed to have seen this bear. Kathryn Nicks (‘21) says, “The owner of the horse barn my sister goes to insisted he saw it in the yard multiple times.” After being asked if she still believes there is a bear near Licking County she said, “I believe it … anything is possible.”
Darian Dick (‘20) says, “My mom said that there is a really big black dog that runs away all the time and that maybe that is what everyone is seeing?” Dick says she, too, thought the bear report was real.
Many people live around the place the bear was spotted, and the initial report left a lot of Northridge students worried. Kennedy Neumeyer (‘21), worried about her dog, said, “I’m glad it wasn’t a bear … I was afraid it was going to eat Benny!”
Sarah Moore (‘21) says she wishes it were a bear. “I really wanted it to be a bear because nothing exciting ever happens around here.” Her sister, Ally Moore (‘22), says she knew there was no bear all along. “There is no way there would’ve been a bear in Alexandria … I knew that someone had to have seen something wrong.”
Jared Yorde (‘21) says he is intrigued by the whole situation. He says, “I’m not sure what was seen that is big enough to resemble a bear … but there are definitely a lot of animals on the bike path.”
The Division of Wildlife reports there actually are between 50-100 black bears in Ohio, but they are mostly in the eastern and southern areas of the state. Though it isn’t impossible for one to wander into Licking County, it would be rare. And it’s not uncommon for people to report bear sightings after mistaking other animals for bears. Standing at roughly three feet at the shoulder, black in color, and between 100-400 pounds, black bears can be confused with very large dogs or, according to one Montana report, a “bear-looking llama.”
Though unlikely, if you do spot a bear here near the Ridge, contact a Wildlife Officer at 614-902-4214. Before making the call, Wildlife recommends you follow these steps to stay safe:
- Stay calm; do not run
- Be firm and loud, warning the bear you are near
- Back slowly away and raise your hands over your head to make yourself appear larger
- Exit the area
- Shelby Yorde is the chief print editor for the Viking Vault. [email protected]