​Ambassadors of DEI and GSA clubs host a LGBTQ+ table celebrating important events and people in history.

On Oct. 25 the DEI club and GSA had many tables outside of Willis Hall. These tables were not open to the whole school rather just the Upper school. 
A question wheel with historical questions about LQBTQ+ was run by me, Jacob Johnson ‘25, Kayleigh Johnson ‘26, Caroline Welfare ‘27 and Abby Landry ‘26. After answering a question correctly, students won a pack of Skittles. 
 
Many people praised the cake pops from History teacher Hannah Ewing, who worked at the table with GSA Club members asking students to answer trivia questions in order to win a cake pop. 

The majority of the DEI crew contributed to the success of the tables. 
“The LGBTQ+ table was successful,” DEI coordinator Debbie Taylor said.
 “We had students playing games and taking an active interest in learning. One ninth-grade student playing trivia said, ‘I am learning,’ and students with whom I had a very in-depth conversation about acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community two years ago, came over and played trivia. That makes me happy. Those are highlights for me. Some of our football players stopped by to play the game. Our students are becoming more accepting and willing to learn.”

For the prize of a shirt supporting the LGBTQ+ community, there was a choice between two questions: 1) Q: The Stonewall riots took place in which New York City neighborhood?” The second asking,Which contemporary TV show features the longest running queer character in TV history? (Dr. Callie Torres Grey’s Anatomy) Even teachers felt stumped. 
One person on the table and walls of the Upper School took most students  by surprise. Many people didn’t realize that the famous singer songwriter who produced masterpieces such as “Blond(e)” and “Channel Orange",” Frank Ocean, identifies as bi-sexual. 

“I really didn’t know about Frank,” Chris Carter ‘25 said. “I never really got into his music, but I definitely know his work.”

“We are in the business of teaching here at North Cross and in the DEI program about acceptance and kindness towards everyone”, Taylor said. “We are a community that has space for everyone regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.”

New student, Kaleb Robinson ‘26, drives to the basket against Patrick Henry High School.                 Kaleb Robinson is a new addition to the NCS community bringing his astounding height standing at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds. Robinson was previously a student at      Christiansburg, where he played basketball. First getting involved with the NCS summer league Robinson began building chemistry with his future teammates.  Coming in and putting in hard work and efforts to get ready to have a promising season with other  NCS basketball players Jaziel Hart ‘26, Siah Haynes ‘27, and fellow new student Daven Reed ‘28.  Kaleb claims to being confident in the potential they hold for a great season “It’s hard to describe, he’s good at everything. He has a center size but can handle like a point guard, and I’m excited for his first season.” JV basketball player, Hanchen Ou claims.
   “Really it was for basketball and also a better opportunity to go to college because Christiansburg, my previous school, wasn’t really great at that,” Robinson said when asked about the reason for his transfer. As it did with many students who transfer into NCS, it was a big change for him. Most students, especially ones who transfer after going to another highschool, show signs of not so smooth adjustments.“It [the transfer] was very tough for me, especially with the 45-minute drive from Christiansburg to here,” Robinson said. “Also just the expectations that are way higher. Everyone here is on another level from public school. Definitely the drive is the toughest.” A s school is only a few weeks in, Robinson has already immersed himself into a handful of activities. Robinson has begun attending many meetings with the African-American and Latin X affinity group. Also he has been doing offseason training with head boys’ basketball coach, Jamiel Allen. “My previous coach was not reaching out to coaches for me,” Robinson said, “and it’s better for other coaches to reach out. And Coach Allen would have done that. With him doing that, it would give me a better college opportunity,” Kaleb said when asked about expectations from the basketball team. Many have different opinions about NCS and the way the community is run. “The people have been very welcoming, the environment, and the teachers are very personal,” he said. “I like how teachers give you breaks because they know you have vigorous work and they’ll work with you.” Another controversial topic is the phone policy. “It’s not a problem for me because my mom makes me keep my phone at home and gave me a flip phone for emergencies,” Kaleb said. Meanwhile, Robinson has high hopes for the athletic teams. “Im expecting NCS to go far in the playoffs for all sports,” Robinson said with confidence.

Attempting to overlook the fact that this is our last time together, this picture across the street from the NCS dorm collects a sentimental last moment between separating friends (Aren Barranco ‘26 on the left and former NCS Gabo Ramirez-Lugo on the right). This was the night I stayed at the NCS dorm before they closed for the summer. This experience was needed because Gabo had told us just weeks earlier that he was transferring to a school in Connecticut for a better chance and getting far with soccer. “It’ll be okay, this isn’t goodbye but just see you later,” Gabo told me before he got on the bus the morning of the dorm closing. That night we did everything together, making sure we wouldn’t be able to say we wish we would have done this or that. As I watched that bus take the best friend I’ve ever met, my brother, drive off to start a new separate life, I tried to fight the feeling of sadness as I realized he’s gone.

I wouldn’t say smartphones are dangerous, but I would say depending on the uses, they can be harmful in ways. I say this because if used for just connection and necessities, phones are not a dangerous or harmful thing. On the other hand, if you use your phone for entertainment, which I must confess I am guilty of, it can be harmful. Like the article said, ”By the time that smartphones  and social media were becoming omnipresent, in the late two thousands and early twenty-tens, children were also spending less and less time engaged in unstructured, largely unsupervised play with their peers.” I believe less engagement with peers in the real world actually doing things can lead to a decrease in physical and mental health and even social skills. A decrease in social skills can cause an increase in anxiety when in a social environment. I say this from experience., I get anxious in big crowds especially aroundof people I don’t know. So to circle back to the question depending on the use, phones could possibly be harmful to kids, young adults and even adults.

By Jacob Johnson
New Spanish international student, Cesar Suarez Cuenca ‘25, went to my grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving and ate Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. 
Cesar came to my house after the last day of school for Thanksgiving break ready to experience something new, relax, and play video games. Little did he know just because NCS stopped doesn’t mean my house stops, we kept going like a runaway train at full force.
Eating Thanksgiving dinner for the first time, Cesar indulged in turkey, stuffing, dressing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a multitude of other things. 
“The food at Thanksgiving was really good”, Cesar said. “The idea of the whole family and no problems of who’s there and not having enough food, because there’s so much.”
Cesar went from overindulging in amazing food to being dragged down to Norfolk to visit someone he didn’t even know. My mom, dad, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandfather, Cesar and I traveled four hours to Norfolk in two cars to see my uncle. It was obvious when on the way to our destination his favorite part was the sights he saw.
”I loved it. It was amazing because it was my first time out of Roanoke,” Suarez said. Seeing his reaction to driving over where the boats pass out of the naval base stationed in that part of Norfolk was a great experience in its own because it amazed him and for someone who’s grown around that, I kind of took it for granted.
To finish the eventful trip My dad, uncle, Cesar, and I were packing up to go to the notorious wing restaurant, Hooters, but due to the pay-per-view fight, we couldn’t get in due to the up-charge they wanted. Although we left the hotel with intentions to go to the adult restaurant, we ended up in Buffalo Wild Wings. 
“I was excited but it was not that deep so no problem,” Cesar said when asked how he felt about the ending of that night. “But I would have liked to go to leave with the experience,” 
Photo by my father

By Jacob Johnson​

Arriving in October as a new attacking midfielder from Puerto Rico, Gabriel “Gabo” Ramirez-Lugo ‘25, had a total of three points: one assist and one goal this season. 
“Even though joining a new team mid-season and not really knowing anyone and even speaking a different language, I feel I had a great overall season,” Gabo said. 
Even though he came in the middle of the season it was obvious that the connection with the team on and off the field was instant. 
“I had a great debut, like my first game, I had 17 clips [highlights of the game] in 30 minutes and even an assist,” Ramirez said. Gabo’s first game with the Raiders was Oct. 5.  In that same game North Cross took the victory over Virginia Episcopal School 3-2. In his first game the only other people to get an assist were Maddox Haskins ‘24 and Hunter Basile ‘25.
Gabo came to NCS late due to the fact former NCS  student, Mika Droste ‘25, left for his home in Germany to begin working. Gabo took the opportunity to join the school through the help of the agency for the international students.   
Even though the season ended in an unfavorable manner with a loss in the state semifinal, the team still had an amazing run this season. 
“Well, the result of course wasn’t expected,” he said. “We hoped to put up a fight with a positive mindset after the quarters, but the other team outperformed us and took advantage of their many opportunities.” 
“I definitely felt like we should’ve done more,” Gabo said, “but at the end of the day, there was nothing left but to wish the best for the other team in the final.” 
”Losing happens,” he said, “it’s what makes the sport so beautiful, just have to move on and focus on what the future may bring.”
As they walked off the field, there were very strong emotions headed back and a lot of disbelief. “Just seeing the environment even though we lost I mean there were a lot of sad faces and I can’t blame them cause I was one of them,” Ramirez said. “There was a lot of  ‘What happened?’ and ‘What needed to happen?’ from our guys.” 
“There are a lot of seniors now, but it was still really good and fun,” he said. “And in the end, there’s always next year. We’ll come back stronger.” 

By Jacob Johnson


Throwing a PR of 37.3 ft in shotput and running 7.3 in the 55 meter dash marked Sander Frogner’s debut for the indoor track team after leading the state champion Raider football team defense in tackles and earning first team all-state honors. 
Frogner ‘25 came from Norway this year to expand his chances for playing in college and maybe one day professionally.
Wanting to expand his already undeniably great talent, he asked football and track coach Shannon Taylor how he could improve. 
“I needed to be faster with the sprinters and stronger with the throwers and ST told me,” Frogner said. 
 He walked in with a good feeling of confidence on track Jan. 11 at Roanoke College. For his first track meet the champion middle linebacker planned on throwing and running the 55-meter dash with the guidance of Coach Taylor. 
“I don’t really feel nervous, but I feel like I want to beat Eason at throwing,” Frogner said with humor, showing his competitive drive with his fellow outside linebacker.
Even though this was his first time trying track, Frogner set on the big prize, qualifying for states. 
“Eason throws 38 at meets and I throw a little shorter, so probably 30-35,” Frogner said, “My goal before the end of track is to qualify for states in at least one thing.”
The qualifying mark for shotput is 34,7. So he already achieved his goal of qualifying for states by practicing with throwing coach Brett Jones.
At the Bulldog Invitational meet in Lynchburg on Jan. 27, Frogner ran 7.17 in the 55 meter dash.so now he is set to compete in two events at the state meet at St. Christopher’s on Feb. 18.