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Disney used to be a classic. Bundling up with your family and a bucket of popcorn to watch Cinerella or Cars. It did not matter what it was, it was perfect. Walt Disney’s dream was to bring wonder to everyday life. It all started in 1937 with a classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The 87 year old movie was recently reprised starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. The movie has been out for a little over a month and has received more backlash than ever expected. From casting to costumes to music it has all been under scrutiny.
While most think of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as a story about a young girl who runs away from her evil step-mother. The first thing that comes to mind is not the so-called love story. While she does end up happily married to the Prince that saved her life, it is a minor part of the story. So when Zegler attacked the original in a 2022 interview with Extra TV saying that there is “a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird! WEIRD!” More slander came when she called the original “dated” referring to the princess cooking and cleaning for the dwarfs. Zegler was not media trained, referring to “an individual who has received training and guidance on how to effectively interact with media outlets.” The movie was not only a nightmare in the public’s eyes but backstage Gadot and Zegler weren’t exactly the best of friends. Politically the two actresses did not agree. The Israel-Hamas War broke out in October of 2023 and the movie got caught in the crosshairs. Gadot served in the Israel Defense Forces and has been outwardly pro-Israel. While Zegler is the opposite, even describing herself as “pro-Palestine.” In a post on X (previously [and rightfully] twitter) where she reposted the Snow White trailer she signed it “and always remember, free palestine.” Zegler has made it difficult to sell this movie to the public, constantly dragging down the original. Some fans have even gone as far as boycotting the movie. Out of all the live action Disney remakes, this is by far the most hated. All in all, watch the movie at your own risk
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Sexual assault. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is the “illegal sexual contact that usually involves force upon a person without consent or is inflicted upon a person who is incapable of giving consent.” But victims know what it really is. It is trauma, violation, isolation.
Victims of SA are not affected only once. It is a daily struggle, a mental fight. Their body is no longer theirs. It is not what they were wearing, not the child’s nightgown, or the suit, not the cheerleading uniform. Not the pink sundress or the military uniform or the diaper. No. Not even the miniskirt. It was not what they said or how they acted. It was not the smile or maybe the glare they gave. It was nothing other than what it is. Abuse, criminal horrible, abuse. Assault, deadly traumatic, assault. A look or an outfit does not imply consent. Consent is a word and it is also a need. The dictionary defines consent as “permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.” Sexual Assault doesn’t happen that much though, right? Wrong. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), nationwide, 81% of women and 43% of men experienced sexual assault in their lives. Those closest to you, those meant to protect you can be the ones that hurt you the most. Not only does it hurt the victim mentally and physically there is an average cost of $122,461 per victim, according to NSVRC. One of North Cross’ clubs is Help Save the Next Girl. Led by Fiona Parnell ‘26, Emma Votta ‘26, Millie Chopski ‘26, Brandon Carey 26’, Mason Bibby ‘27 and Margaret Bass ‘28, on April 17, HSTNG dove into the scariest possibility we all face: sexual assault. A heartbreaking realization hit when we were asked to stand if we knew a survivor or if we were a survivor. The majority (only seven remained seated) stood up. Then, when we were asked to stay standing if it was reported, the number of people dramatically decreased. Why? Two words:victim blaming. Victims hear so many things implying that they deserved what happened to them. “It was probably that top…” Was it the top or the criminal that took something from their victim that they can never get back? “Well, you didn’t say no…” But did they say yes? Were they in the position to say yes? Or did their attacker make that decision? If you or someone you know has been assaulted, reach out to a trusted adult. If you are a North Cross student, Upper School counselor Sarah Cocowitch is always an available resource. If you do not feel comfortable reaching out to someone you know, RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is an anonymous helpline where you can chat with trusted professionals. There is no causation for sexual assault. It is not your fault, not your mannerisms, and not your choice. It was a tragedy, it ruined the whole town. How could this happen? They were so young. Oh, and the girl, that dear girl has to live with it.
That’s what everyone was saying. Not to my face, what they said to my face was, “Hallie! You’re so strong!” I guess you could say that. I didn’t do much except slam into the airbag that was deployed when we crashed. Zach was the real hero; he was the one that called 911. Zach was always prepared and cautious. That made it even more shocking when we ran off the road. It was Valentine’s Day. We had gone over to Layla Mason’s house to see the rest of our friends. It was dark when we left, around 10 I think. He took the back way to my house, the way through the woods with all the twists and turns. He was a safe driver. I was never worried. We would laugh and scream the lyrics to whatever song was playing. We always had the windows down. I would look outside most of the time, maybe if I had been looking at the road… It would not have changed a thing, at least that’s what the cops told me. “No, you don’t understand,” I sobbed to the detectives in my hospital room after the crash. “He would never.” “Miss Armstrong, I know you're upset right now but can you think of another reason?” The taller of the two detectives asked me. “What do you mean another reason? I can think of plenty. Deer, maybe even a bear! We were in the middle of the woods!!” “He was also 17, maybe he just… Lost control.” The short one said solemnly. Needless to say I didn’t talk to the cops much after that. Zach’s parents were in shambles. His older brother and I were talking at his funeral. “Hallie, I just don’t think I can go back to school with them like this.” Mark, Zach’s older brother, told me. “Mark! You have to, it’s what Zach would want. He was so happy you finally got out of this town, he always said you were meant for bigger things,” I tried my best to console him. “To be honest I don’t know how I’m going to get past this,” I knew exactly what he was saying. Zach wasn’t just my boyfriend he was my best friend. I had no clue how my life would look with him not in it. Monday came too quickly. Weeks passed, then months. Next thing I knew it had been a year. A year since my world ended; a year since life changed forever. It was hard waking up everyday. For a moment in the mornings I would forget that he was lost to me. In reality I was the lost one. The pain was too much, he was my life. One day everything was torn from my grasp. I wish I could end this happily but I don’t think I know what happiness is anymore.  Kill ‘em with Kindness: If you Google kindness, it is a noun that is “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.” However, in reality kindness can mean different things to different people. That’s why I decided to ask our students and staff what it means to them. As you read their answers, think of the commonalities and differences. What do your peers think kindness is?
“Kindness to me honestly means standing up for what you believe in,” Spanish teacher Zoe Mullins said, “and giving other people the kind of treatment that you would like yourself.” Mullins seems to think of the Golden Rule. Who better to ask about kindness than our beloved Director of Student Life Stephen Belderes? “The first thing that pops in my head has got to be the golden rule.” Hmm, this sounds familiar does it? “That’s what overall kindness is. (...) The golden rule. Period. That’s what it is.” Well, it seems that some people have made up their mind: The golden rule, no question about it, but some students found different ways to define its meaning. Freshman class treasurer George Lugar 28’ “Kindness means respecting others and treating people how you want to be treated.” Maggie Bibby ‘27 says, “Kindness is being honest and thoughtful.” Huw Wente ‘28 thinks kindness is: “Greatness, because I think it brings all the world together.” So kindness is a way we can all connect? A way for us to be unified in trying times? Kindness and unity go hand in hand. Touching on this fact, DEI Director Debbie Taylor thinks it’s important to celebrate World Kindness Day, “Because the world we live in right now, we’re so self-absorbed, and so many people are doing so many unkind things. It’s just one day everyone can stop all around the world and just focus on kindness.” So, how have these people that shared with us their definition of kindness see it around them? Well, let’s see. Wente thinks “It’s huge when people open the door for other people at this school.” “Recognizing that people exist. The smile, the wave,” Acknowledgement is key for Mullins and it seems like she agrees with Wente, it’s “the simple things.” Sharmithaa Bhaani Maheswaran 26’ “People here, cause I just moved here and people have been really nice to me.” This ties in with Mullins' idea of acknowledgement, so is that the real act of kindness? History teacher Dr. Daniel Hood “A major act of kindness I like to see is when there is a student sitting by themselves, or all alone and another student goes up to them and invites them to join in the activity.” Now we have a picture of what kindness means, treating others how you would want to be treated and a sense of unity. And a picture of acts of kindness, acknowledging others and the little things that let them know you care. Our school starts promptly at 8:00 am in the morning. Roanoke city schools start at 8:45 am, and the county schools start at 8:20 am. This feels very early for most, if not all of us. The information being taught to us this early in the morning is important. Our lives depend on the grades we get from those classes. The information we retain from the classes we take may lead to the colleges we get into. Do we need to start so early?
We all know that sleep is important to our overall health, but according to Teens and Sleep,, “Experts recommend that teens between the ages of 13 and 18 get 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night?” Let’s dive deeper into why. We all know as students and educators that grades and our performance in school is important.We also know that extracurricular activities look great on our college applications and enrich our lives. So, we’ve been encouraged to take some, and then some turn into a lot, and then next thing you know you're getting home at 11:00 pm exhausted. The worst part is you still have homework. It all piles up and sleep goes on the back burner. After all, we can sleep when we’re old, after we get into our dream school. What I’m here to tell you is the more you sleep the more likely you are to get into that school. In 2022 the Columbia University Department of Physiatry did a study on “How Sleep Deprivation Impacts Mental Health.” They found that, “Sleep helps maintain cognitive skills, such as attention, learning, and memory.” Therefore, if you get more sleep you will be able to pay more attention in class. More sleep will also help you retain the information you learn. Not only will it help your grades but it will also help your mental health. CDC statistics say that 40% of high school students are feeling sad and hopeless. Just for context there are 25.7 million teenagers in the United States and 40% of that is 10.28 million. 10.28 million teenagers are at risk for suicide. Eight percent of teenagers have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder. Anxiety can affect how students learn. Sleep is directly connected with mental health. According to the same Columbia study, “Poor or insufficient sleep has been found to increase negative emotional responses to stressors and to decrease positive emotions.” This does not directly relate to school though, right? Well, it can. Inside Higher Ed released an article in 2022 discussing student suicides and the impact grades have on their mental health. In this article it was stated that, “we have strong evidence to suggest that grades are making students physically, emotionally and psychologically unwell.” Not only that but it also said, “the stress children, teenagers and college-age students feel about grades along with the pressure they experience from parents and teachers are directly linked to the widely reported mental health crisis in these age groups.” As a student I can confirm, whether they mean it or not, there is pressure from our family and teachers. They want the best for us. However, that could just be my opinion, so I asked around. Most students responded that the pressure comes from their family, not their teachers. The pressure however might not be a bad thing. Spencer Britton ‘27 said, “There can be added stress to it, but in the overall thing, I think that it's a positive thing.” Camden DeMoss ‘28 was asked the same question and he said, “It can, but it doesn’t affect me all the time.” Clinically, there is a noticeable difference but can students and teachers notice? Yes. Not only did the students say they felt a difference they also said they knew their teachers knew it too. AP World History teacher Dr. Daniel Hood said he “definitely” thinks students need more sleep. Not only that, he said “‘I have students who’ve fallen asleep in class and they miss vital material that shows up on tests and they miss that material.” This is a hit to our grades that could be prevented. U.S. History and AP Comparative Government teacher Ryan DeMarco said, “Students who come to class tired tend to either fall asleep in class or not perform as well.” He said he can tell when a student is well rested depending on their test grades as well. Not only do we feel it in our own school but, according to Inside Higher Ed, “88 percent said they (13 to 17-year-olds) feel either ‘a lot’ or ‘some’ pressure about grades.” Now all of this is just statistics, just numbers. They don’t mean anything to you specifically. Right? Wrong. I asked Upper School Counselor Sarah Cocowitch about her view on mental health, sleep, and extracurriculars as a professional. When I asked her how important it is for students to get the required amount of sleep, Cocowitch said, “Sleep is not only critical for mental health, it's also critical for learning. It not only directly impacts our mood, frustration tolerance, and emotional reactivity, but it also affects our ability to focus and retain new information. So, yes, I think getting the recommended amount of sleep for teenagers should definitely be a priority!” So how important are extracurriculars really?,“Extracurricular activities are important for many reasons:” Cocowitch said, “building social connections and friendships, allowing for creative or artistic expression, and having a physical outlet to move and expend energy after a long day of sitting in class.” Britton and DeMoss said they don't make it home until 5:45 daily. I asked them if they would be unhappy without their activities.r“I would be unhappy if I didn’t have them.” DeMoss said. Is she saying we should give up our outlet for better cognitive skills? Not necessarily, “The challenge is finding the right balance and managing time well so that sleep isn't sacrificed in the process.” Are we as a student body succeeding in balancing our sleep with our sports practices or art or music classes? “Too many North Cross students are trying to ‘do it all,’ in my opinion,” Cocowitch said, “sometimes risking their health and well-being due to lack of sleep and stress.” So, no. We have not found our balance. That being said, does she think starting school later would help students finish their extracurriculars and get the recommended amount of sleep? “I think the research shows that later start times for high school students are a good idea in that it improves sleep, academic performance, and attendance,” the Upper School Counselor said. ”But I wonder how that would work for our sports teams that have to travel at length to play away games. Would they have to miss more class time if the day runs longer? Would they just get home later and stay up later as a result? There are many other options that might help but none that make as much sense as starting school later. I asked seven students and one faculty member if school should start later, and the results were anonymous. Yes.  Viktoriia Iarkova ‘25 receives appreciation from her coaches, teammates, and host family on Senior Night. Iarkova has been playing volleyball for two years, this is her first year receiving a varsity letter. “Viktoriia has developed into a great blocker over the last year,” Michela Hendrix, assistant coach, said, “and currently leads the team in total blocks for the season.” Going into the conference playoffs, Iarkova had 12 blocks and 10 kills. Iarkova is dedicated to her team and wants the best. “She keeps positive energy on the team,” Kamen Petkov ‘25 said. “She cares about her teammates and tries to be the best for her team.”
 Senior Indira Weed receives recognition for a well played career. Her parents join her on the court for pictures and words from her coach. She has been playing volleyball for five years. Of those five she has earned a varsity letter for three of them according to coach Emily Gaston. “She is a wonderful teammate,” Faith Johnson ‘28 said. “Indira is so uplifting and always has high spirits on and off the court. Her smile is contagious and we will miss her so much next year.” Weed makes time for volleyball while leading the Compass yearbook staff.
Remember that time? Yes you! Do you remember when you were at that theme park? Or was it a mall on Black Friday? Or that hike on the beautiful fall day where the wind had a sharp edge and the leaves were just a bit more colorful than normal? When you went with your family on a fun adventure? It seems like a distant memory but when you bring it to the forefront of your mind you are there again. The feelings are vivid, everything crystal clear in your mind. It seemed like any other day it always does. You got ready as you normally would, brushing your teeth, getting dressed. Then your mom, or was it that one aunt, your grandma maybe, came in and asked if you wanted to go out. Sure, why not? you said to yourself. After all, what's the worst that could happen? Little did you know when you agreed what would happen.
After everyone finished getting ready, you hopped in the car, nothing out of the ordinary… yet. Once you got there you noticed how busy it was, abnormally busy. The people had nothing suspicious about them, so why should you worry? You and the small number of people you came with, cousins, or maybe it was your siblings, got out of the car. You strolled around leisurely, just joking and having a good time. You observed what’s around you. Your surroundings were bustling and interesting. You walked with your people and a growing daze came over you. You started to lose yourself in your loud surroundings. You kept moving, you didn’t want to get lost. Oh no, now that would be horrible. You snapped back to your senses, but there was that nagging feeling to get lost in the noise again. You pushed it away just in time to catch up to your group. Thank goodness you snapped back. They were almost lost into the abyss of the crowd, seemingly growing larger all around you. You managed to stay out of your mind, to fight the growing temptation to lose yourself to the noise. No. Snap out of it. You need to keep up. Your cousin, your sister, your uncle, reached over, “Are you all right?” You nod your head and plaster on a smile. A bit tired, yep that makes sense. “I’m just a bit tired but I’m fine.” Your smile returns, reassuring and bright. They smile and squeeze your hand before going back to the conversation. After a brief break, lunch or maybe a game, you get that feeling again. What’s the harm? It’s just noise. You let the daze come, the satisfaction washes over you like waves on a seashell. Keep walking, I can’t get lost, you remind yourself. Everything seems so interesting, the snippets of other people’s conversations. Who is Jim anyway? Why did he make those people mad? You giggle as silly reasons come to mind. Your time in your head, just enjoying your surroundings, never causes your pace to falter. You bring your eyes forward expecting to see that blue jacket of your little brother, of your grandfather. When the gray sweatshirt of a stranger is what you see, concern plants its seed in your stomach. Don’t worry, they haven’t gone far. You're very optimistic. How wrong you are. You look around checking anywhere they could have stopped. They’re probably looking for me too, I should get back to where I was before. Oh yes! That’s a good idea, but where exactly was that? The concern grows to panic. Suddenly the noise all around you isn’t alluring, it's frightful. It’s the reason you're in this mess and now it’s the reason you can’t get out. What if they forget about me? The possibility seems all too real now. The tears pricking your eyes make it harder to look for them. You start to breathe heavily when you feel a hand on your shoulder. The tears have made it too blurry to make out faces, but you can recognize that blue jacket.  Students or actors? In the session, Baskerville Mystery - Dramatic Group to solve a case, nine students are asked to act out a mystery of their choice. English and history teacher Brett Odom, our session leader, gave us two options: “The Hound of the Baskervilles” or “The Purloined Letter.” Fortunately, we had enough time to do both mysteries. Pictured above Odom showed our group the props that were provided. “You all are such good actors,” Odom said with a touch of sarcasm.
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I am miaI'm in the class of '28.I enjoy volleyball, reading, and spending time with my friends. I really enjoy making contributions to the school paper. Nothing can explain the feeling of seeing the finished product of hard work. Archives
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The StaffCo-Editors-in-Chief .....................................Lauren Boone ‘25 and Jacob Johnson ‘25
Digital Publishing Editor ................................................................Anna Ciccozzi ‘26 Copy Editor.....................................................................................Aadeetri Pandey ‘26 Opinion Editor...........................................................................Mason Bibby '27 Staff Writers.........................................................Hanchen Ou ‘26, Fiona Parnell ‘26, Nola Daninger ‘27, Dara Kerman ‘27, Victoria Real ‘27, Margaret Bass ‘28, Luke Cocowitch ‘28, Joaquin Downey ‘28, Mia Esposito ‘28, Akali Koeda ‘28, Monica Koene ‘28, Shree Patel ‘28, Kaitlyn Perkins ‘28, Isla Whittle '28 Advisor......................................................................................Robert Robillard P’35 |
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