News

Summer Jobs

Noelle Dreisch '25  Staff Writer
​ Oanh Nguyen '25  Staff Writer

Not going anywhere this summer? Pretty much broke? Desperate for money? If this sounds like you, go get a summer job! If you're looking for a job outdoors, Columbia Association is always looking for more lifeguards (must be 15 years of age). If you’re not looking forward to sitting in the scorching hot sun, there are different jobs within CA to apply for, such as an indoor lifeguard and sports attendants...

​Expectations for Next Year

Esther Olojo '23   Staff Writer 
​Elena Webster '24  Staff Writer
As the school year is coming to an end and more uncertainties arise, it is natural for us to seek out a somewhat clear view of the future. You may be wondering what changes or improvements are being made for next year. Principal Novak explained that next year, he hopes to implement more initiatives that help staff and students feel more connected to the school and each other, having dealt with the challenges facing the pandemic and various adjustments to in person learning...

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Elon Musk Buys Twitter

 Liliana Soler '22   Staff Writer
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​On April 14, 2022, billionaire Elon Musk made an offer to buy Twitter. Musk submitted bank commitments just one week later, on April 21st, and has offered $44 billion for the social media platform. One of Musk’s biggest challenges was convincing banks to fund his purchase. He had to show banks that Twitter produces enough cash to be a worthwhile purchase and that he would cut down the costs surrounding Twitter. Musk told banks he would slash salaries for positions such as board directors, which could eliminate up to $3 million in costs...​

School Year Wrap

​ Eris Madachy '22  Copy Editor
The 2021-2022 school year was an action-packed year. The first year back after an isolating virtual school experience was bound to be interesting, and this year was anything but boring. The year started off in the midst of COVID, with everyone readjusting to being in school in person. Social distancing and masks became a part of a normal school day...

Pride 2022

Rudy Gifford '23  Op-Ed Editor 
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The first Pride was a riot. What does that mean for Howard High students today? Although the Stonewall Riots are credited with catalyzing the LGBTQ+ rights movement, gay Pride manifested in its own ways in every city across the country, including our very own Baltimore...


Depp v. Heard 

Alyssa McGuigan '23   Features Editor 
Whether you are keeping up with ABC news live streams, social media, or gossip, the case of Depp v. Heard has taken some very serious twists and turns. The court case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is taking place right now in Fairfax Country, Virginia...

Midyear 2022

Matt Allen '22   Staff Writer
​Every year, Howard High School holds a seniors only event known as Midyear. This year, Midyear was held at Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville, Maryland on March 18...

College Checklist

Gabbi Rabold '22   Staff Writer
Sydney Corley '22   Staff Writer
​It is almost that time of year when seniors become freshmen again! Although they will be at the bottom of the food chain, exciting times are coming for our seniors...

Prom & After Prom Preview

Grace Khai '22   Staff Writer
​Eris Madachy '22   Copy Editor
​Prom is quickly approaching! Howard High School’s prom will be held at Martin’s West in Baltimore from 8:00-11:00 pm on Friday, May 13. Tickets are $75 and will be on sale online for juniors and seniors from April 1st through April 22nd. There will also be tickets available to buy at lunch from April 19-22...

Senior Spotlight: Kiara Betanga

Sarah Rezavi '25   Staff Writer

Senior Spotlight: Viola Yu

Shenell Logan '23   Staff Writer

Senior Events 2022

Sydney Logan '25   Staff Writer
​Oanh Nguyen '23   Staff Writer
            It is almost the end of the school year, where everybody is busy and schedules are packed. Especially for the seniors! The upcoming months will be special, celebrating the events that were made for seniors and helping them create great memories of the last year of their high school time...

Auditorium Fiasco

Caroline Starvou '22   Staff Writer
The Howard High School auditorium was spotted collapsing during the end of January this year. The school had construction professionals come in to assess the building and it was determined that performing any further in the auditorium this school year was unsafe. The problem lies within the hanging tiles that are suspended from the ceiling above the audience. The stage portion of the auditorium is safe. Clue, the musical theatre production, was performed on only the stage...

MD Youth Senate

Jasmine Wilson '22   Managing Editor
Traditionally, administrators and adults have been responsible for making the decisions that will impact the youth. Recently, however, students have become more active participants in these decisions and have sought a say in their own lives and futures. Two students from Howard High School, seniors Peter Banyas and Lucia Denmeade, have achieved opportunities to continue this change...

SAT Changes

Noelle Dreisch '23  Staff Writer
On January 25th, College Board made an announcement that the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) will go digital in 2023. The digital SAT compared to the current one is supposedly easier and more relevant. It will still be scored out of 1600, but will be shorter and will take roughly around two hours instead of three. Test takers will have more time for each question with shorter passages in the reading section. For the math section, calculators can be used for all parts of it. In addition, instead of waiting for months to get your scores back, it will take just days to receive them. “We’re not simply putting the current SAT on a digital platform...

Tardy Table

Wesley Ding '23   Staff Writer
​The tardy table is stationed in the lobby, which is an area at the main entrance where car-rider students wait for their rides after school. In the morning, students that arrive late go to the tardy table to check in with an administrator...

Women's History Month

Alyssa McGuigan '23   Features Editor
​Tuesday, March 1st to Thursday, March 31st signifies Women's History Month. Originating from “Women's History Week” in 1981, this is a celebration of Women’s History and the many hardships that have been conquered and overcome through the years...

The Wordle Craze

Claire Madachy '22   Copy Editor
Wordle has gained immense popularity in the past couple months. The daily word game has about 300,000 daily players, and that number is growing every day. “I like playing Wordle because it gives me a way to kind of relax,” says junior Melody Giannini. Senior Maggie Kreig agreed, saying, “I just like word games.”

Quarantine Procedures at Howard

Grace Rumsey '24   Staff Writer
Recently, there has been a peak in Covid-19 cases at Howard, and attendance has been at an all time low with the amount of people having to quarantine.​..

Everchanging COVID Variants

Esther Olojo '23   Social Media Manager
Viruses become variants when their genes are altered or mutated. Since December 2020, several new variants of COVID-19 reported by the news media have been identified and are currently under investigation. Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classify coronavirus variants into distinct groups...

Seasonal Depression Makes Students’ Return to School Difficult

Liliana Soler '22   Staff Writer
The upcoming winter season is exciting for some. They look forward to holidays, snow, traditions and spending time with family and friends. But for others, winter means less sunlight, bad weather and seasonal depression...

Novak Addresses Devious Lick Trend: ‘Use Disciplined Decisions'

Ruby Gifford '23   Op-Ed Editor
On September 30th, Principal Novak gave his second announcement addressing the increase in vandalism at Howard following the “Devious Lick” Tik Tok trend where students record themselves stealing school property. “I’m returning once again to that Tik Tok challenge discussion. Why? Because we’re heading in a new month and there’s new challenges coming up..."

Hallway Behavior and Howard's Response

Bobby Smith '22   Staff Writer
Kamryn Tinsley '25   Staff Writer
It was Monday, October 18, 2021. The morning announcements came on, and from the speakers came the voice of Mr. Novak, the principal of Howard High. He had come on to Howard 360 4 times to address the unruly behavior of some students, condemning it, and saying that  behavior such as fighting, inappropriate language, bullying of any sort and disrespect in general is not what Howard is meant to represent...

Getting a Jumpstart on College Applications

Sydney Corley '22   Staff Writer
As the college application season begins to peak, underclassmen may begin to feel the weight of college pressure on their shoulders...

COVID-19 Vaccination Update

Wesley Ding '22   Staff Writer
The COVID-19 vaccine is constantly undergoing changes. Pfizer/BioNTech has reduced its dose for 5-11 year olds, and it has recently received authorization from the FDA. Parents that have kids within this age range are very concerned about the release of the new vaccine for kids. Reported cases within elementary and middle schools are increasing, and many parents want to vaccinate their children as soon as possible...

Masks and the Negative Effects on the Environment

Oanh Nguyen '23   Staff Writer
       Since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, masks are an essential commodity that everyone carries with them. COVID-19 is an extremely deadly virus that can be contagious through the mouth, nose, eyes and even ears. COVID-19 can be stopped by wearing a mask, which is required in many public places. Masks are vital to the ending of this deadly virus, but not everybody has the same opinion...

Back to School with Dr. Saunders

Jasmine Wilson '22  Managing Editor
As the new school year begins to gain momentum, many students struggle to start strong. The majority of the freshman and sophomore classes have never stepped foot in the building, and the upperclassmen are still recoiling from an underwhelming 2020-2021 school year. Luckily, assistant principal Dr. Saunders has some advice for any students who may still be acclimating to the new environment...

Fall Fundraising Review

Grace Rumsey '24  Staff Writer
​Nicole Dreisch '24  Staff Writer
​The Fall Fundraiser was a fun event for Howard students to meet up with friends and family. The festival was held from 12pm - 4pm on the football field on September 18th. There were booths from clubs with fun games, music and other cool activities...

Club Schedule 2021-2022

Sydney Logan '25   Staff Writer

Cicadas' Facts

Bobby Smith '22    Staff Writer
After 17 years, a new generation of cicadas, also known as a brood, has emerged from the ground. This new brood of cicadas has been referred to as Brood X. A brood emerges in a different region of the United States each year. There are 17 total broods; one for each year of the cicadas’s cycle. This brood is the 10th and most widespread of them all...

Trade Schools

Sara Kindbom '24 &  Rodney Miller '24     Staff Writers
Trade schools, or technical schools, are educational institutions that focus on teaching job skills for a specific skilled or mechanical trade career. Skilled trade refers to the skills necessary to complete a job, while a mechanical trade refers to the building or operating of a mechanical system. The aspect that separates trade schools from other types of education is the focus on hands-on training that allows students to learn unique skills in a quick manner. Some trade schools include several types of training programs, while other institutions will specialize in only one field of study...

Asian Hate Crimes

Lilia Shahal '22     OP-ED Editor
ATLANTA, Georgia, March 16, 2021 — 8 people, six of them being of Asian descent, were killed at three Atlanta-area spas and massage parlors. 21-year-old gunman Robert Aaron Long was charged with eight counts of murder; however, the Atlanta Police Department claimed that the bout of fatal shootings was not a hate crime nor racially motivated. ​

Hybrid School Model

Jasmine Wilson '22     Copy Editor
For the past year, Howard County students and teachers have been required to adapt to a virtual learning environment as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. As a hybrid model approaches realization, many have mixed feelings...

New COVID Variations

Chijoke Agbam '21     Staff Writer
The Coronavirus has been in the U.S. for almost a year now and scientists have been able to develop a vaccine, but a new variation of COVID-19 may put the release on hold. Recently, scientists have discovered that the coronavirus has started to evolve.

HOCO Food Bank

Chris Mann '22     Staff Writer
The Howard County Food Bank is a food distribution center for people that may not be able to afford their own food, so they rely on donations from community members...

Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

Abigail Warwick ‘21      Opinion & Editorial Editor
​ On January 20, 2021, the 46th President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, was sworn into office. Biden’s administration is historically diverse, especially with the first female, first black, and first Asian-American Vice President: Kamala Harris. Unlike years past, the attending crowd was kept to a minimum because of COVID-19 concerns. Given the events at the nation’s Capitol on January 6, there were heightened security concerns for Inauguration Day...

Covid Vaccine Brings Hope, Questions

​Alexis Maokhamphiou ‘21   Staff Writer
​Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have constructed COVID-19 vaccines that have been FDA-approved. As the vaccine is being administered around the country, the possibility of preventing the spread of COVID-19 grows; however, the vaccine has not been around for long. Do you trust it enough to get vaccinated?...

Standardized Testing Changes

Jessica Menk '22   Staff Writer
​Standardized testing is a familiar routine in public schools; however, since COVID-19 shut down in-person learning, the way in which schools assess students has drastically changed, including standardized testing. Although many people assume that standardized testing will be canceled, it is currently still planned to be administered, with some alterations...

A New Day to Live in Infamy: January 6, 2021

Miles Bell '22    Staff Writer
January 6 was an unforgettable day, with numerous events unleashing a wide range of unsettling emotions in the short span of 14 hours. It began with Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock winning their Senate races, resulting in the Democratic party gaining control of the Senate. Following the announced wins, the preplanned rally to “Stop the Steal” moved from the White House ellipse to the Capitol Building, and moved from rally to riot...

​Cyber Attacks target Hebrew School, Baltimore County

Amanda Silver '21    Staff Writer
 On December 14, North Shore Hebrew Academy High School, located in Great Neck, New York, was caught by surprise when their school website was hacked. Students and parents were sent emails encouraging them to look at the school’s updated website. According to a Jewish News Syndicate article, “The North Shore Logo was changed to a swastika; the background image was modified to show a Nazi concentration camp; and the school name was changed to North Shore Hebrew Concentration...

Students Struggle to Achieve in First Semester

Michaela Wall ‘23    Staff Writer
​The 2020-21 school year has undeniably looked different for everyone. Teachers, students and administrators have all had to adapt to a new way of teaching and learning. Expectations for students, however, have stayed relatively the same as in years past. While teachers have been more understanding during this pandemic, the grade book has been showing some worrisome results. A Washington Post article by...

Graduation 2021: Still More Questions Than Answers

​Hailey Gardner ‘21      Staff Writer
​Unfortunately, Howard High’s graduation for the class of 2021 will not look the same as it has in previous years. COVID-19 will likely impede the number of guests each student can bring to Merriweather Post Pavilion, where graduation is usually held. With COVID-19 evolving, there could be a chance of having a completely virtual graduation...

Homeschool v.s. Virtual Learning

S.P. Singh ‘24    Staff Writer
​While some may think there is little difference between homeschool and virtual learning from home, there are complex factors that separate the two. Perhaps some students or parents might be at a crossroads when trying to decide between public school and home school; knowing the trade-offs between choosing homeschooling or virtual schooling will help in deciding what is right for each student. It is especially helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand the intricacies of homeschooling and how a student’s study performance can be affected by switching to homeschooling...

First Responders of COIVD-19

Chijioke Agbam '21    Staff Writer
 Since its inception, COVID-19 has put many people’s lives at risk, but the ones that risk their lives every day are doctors and nurses. Doctors and nurses have served as very important people throughout history. They have eradicated many diseases that have threatened our safety, such as smallpox. Now, we need them more than ever to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and contain it...

2020 in Review

Edward Calkins '22     Managing Editor 
The year 2020 was shaped around thrilling events, stunning deaths, entertaining specials and irksome masks. On January 1, the headline for the New York Times read: “IRAQ PROTESTERS ASSAULT EMBASSY AFTER U.S. STRIKE.” 322 days later it read: “ANOTHER VACCINE APPEARS TO WORK AGAINST THE VIRUS.” A preliminary outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) in China expanded to become a world-wide pandemic. Living in the shadow of the virus, social distancing and face masks became the new normal...

Blood Drives in the Pandemic

​Abigail Warwick ‘21      Opinion & Editorial Editor
​As hospital beds continuously fill up, blood has become one of the most detrimental shortages brought on by the novel coronavirus. The increasing number of patients flooding hospitals worldwide have resulted in less blood to use — and a higher demand for donations. Blood is not only used for coronavirus patients; it is also implemented in the surgical procedures that have continued since the pandemic put them on pause in the spring. There is always a need for blood donations, but since more ICU beds are being filled, the need has increased...

AOC is Among Us

​Chijioke Agbam ‘21     Staff Writer
​On October 20, 2020, exactly two weeks before election day, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez streamed the popular social deduction game, Among Us, on Twitch. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known for her initials AOC, is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district. She has served in this position since 2019 and was recently re-elected during the 2020 election. After the election, she continued sharing her gameplay, streaming Among Us on November 28 with new streamers such as Félix “xQc” Lengyel and Seán William “JackSepticEye” McLoughlin...

​HCPSS Bans Swastika, Confederate Flag

​Kenny Ling ‘21     Staff Writer
​“Promoting hatred” is never a welcoming sight to see, especially on school grounds. On October 8, the Board of Education unanimously approved a ban that prohibits images or symbols that promote hatred, intimidation or harassment. This ban includes — but is not limited to — the Confederate flag and Swastika. These hate symbols are no longer allowed on HCPSS property, which encompasses clothing, vehicles and school-related events. The approved ban was initiated through the modification of the school system’s bullying, harassment and intimidation policy and the student code of conduct...

Time Management Tips: Online School Edition

Megan Otchet '22    Staff Writer
1. Use a physical calendar- Writing down different events or assignments will help you remember them. Use a calendar to plan ahead and know when breaks are in order to schedule different tasks that come up. 
2. Keep a routine- A basic routine...

Virtual Band/Orchestra/Choir

Hailey Gardner '23     Staff Writer
During virtual learning, Howard High’s band, orchestra and choir have been keeping their skills sharp to prepare for future concerts. While the prospect of in-person performances being held in the near future is slim, the students are still working hard in these courses to further their musical knowledge. In a typical virtual orchestra class, students practice sight reading, rhythm and technique by listening to a composer and analyzing his/her music piece. After discussing the piece as a class, each student is placed in a breakout room with their assigned section to break down the technique of the composer and consider how to incorporate the skills in their own performances...

2020 Local and National Election Results

​Bryce Banghart '23    Staff Writer
Sydney Corley '22      Staff Writer
On November 3, 2020, Americans all over the country began casting in-person ballots for the 2020 Presidential Election, along with a plethora of mail-in-ballots cast and mailed before election day largely due to COVID-19. Until November 7, a winner of the presidential election between republican candidate President Trump running with Vice President Mike Pence and democratic candidate Joe Biden running with Kamala Harris for Vice President had not been declared. However, as more mail-in-ballots and absentee-ballots were counted, Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election...

Phase Three Reopening

Stephanie Samsel '21     News Editor
Meghan Yunkun '23     Staff Writer
Since September 4th, when Maryland’s Stage Three of Reopening began allowing indoor theaters, outdoor venues, retail and religious facilities to operate at an increased capacity, customers and employees alike have approached this new step toward a semblance of normalcy with both excitement and trepidation. However, only the latter consistently witness firsthand the various attitudes towards these new allowances. These employees facing the challenges of reopening include a significant number of teenage workers...​

COVID-19 Timeline

Sydney Corley '22     Staff Writer
January 27th: As the virus spreads to the United States, the first Marylander to fit the testing criteria tests negative. 
March 5th: Three residents in Maryland test positive for COVID-19; the first in MD. All three positive COVID-19 cases come from Montgomery County: A resident in his or her 50s and a married couple in their 70s. Governor Larry Hogan declares Maryland in a state of emergency
March 12th-16th: Governor Larry Hogan announces...​

2020 Presidential Election

Bryce Banghart '21     Staff Writer
Chijokie Agbam '21     Staff Writer
With the 2020 election approaching, it is very important to know where the candidates stand on issues that affect our country. President Donald J. Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have different stances on health care, taxes, law enforcement and, most importantly, how they plan to combat COVID-19 in the future. They discussed all of these issues during the first presidential debate on September 30, 2020...

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The Virtual Fall Semester

Shenell Logan '23     Staff Writer
On July 16th, 2020, a message was sent out to the Howard County Public School System announcing the approval of distance learning for students until the second semester. Along with the announcement of students going back to a virtual classroom, a new 4x4 schedule was introduced. Students are to take four classes a semester — a total of eight classes for the year — instead of the usual seven...


The Earth’s Response to Quarantine

Holly Larson '23     Staff Writer
Michaela Wall '23     Staff Writer
 On March 12, 2020, the lives of those in Howard County and all over the world changed. On this date, the world was in the beginning stages of lockdown. Seven months later, global environmental health has improved. As seen on the World Air Quality Index Project official site, the amount of poor air quality days in 2020 have decreased substantially when compared to 2018 and 2019. According to Ms. Danaher...

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Colleges Respond to COVID

Amanda Silver '21     Staff Writer
Since the coronavirus pandemic, colleges have been changing to adapt to quarantine and to keep students safe. These new guidelines are being shared with students through emails, posters around the campuses and social media posts. Colleges are having to make weekly changes due to the effects of the pandemic...

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The Response to Systematic Racism in our Schools

Ruby Gifford '21     Feautures Editor
On June 10, a 105-page petition titled “Addressing Racism in Howard County” was sent to the Howard County Board of Education. In light of the recent Black Lives Matter protests happening across the country, former HCPSS student Victoria Owens created this petition with specific demands to HCPSS regarding how to address racism in their schools...


​Howard Student Wins SMOB Election

Erin Smith '21     Social Media Manager
Zach Koung, a senior at Howard High School, is representing Howard County students as the Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) for the 2020-2021 school year. He replaces Reservoir High graduate Allison Alston. Koung has been interested in student government for a while; he served as Class President for Howard High School’s class of 2021 during his sophomore year and decided to run for SMOB during his junior year. Not only is Koung interested in school government, but he is genuinely interested in politics and wants to continue studying it after graduating high school​...

2020 Election

Kennedy Offley '20     Features Editor
Maryland residents who are U.S. citizens and at least 18 can register to vote at the polls on election day or at early voting with a government ID (such as a driver's license) and valid proof of residence. Registration is also available online and by mail; the deadline is 21 days prior to the general election. 

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The Struggles of Distance Learning

Edward Calkins '22     Staff Writer
In January, nobody could have imagined needing to wear a mask to go outside, having class once a week for less than an hour and getting tired of watching Netflix. However, after two months of social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19, those situations are the reality for Howard High students.

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Vaping at Howard

Sam Seliger '20     Copy Editor
Since first being identified in Sept 6, a mysterious lung illness related to e-cigarette use has spread across the country, causing over 2,000 illnesses and 34 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Cases have since been identified going back to at least March 31, and possibly earlier.
    The disease, referred to as EVALI (E-cigarette, or Vaping, product use-Associated Lung Injury), presents symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath and gastrointestinal issues. EVALI often requires hospitalization, and can cause severe permanent lung tissue damage similar to that caused by mustard gas.

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Maryland Minimum Wages

Edward Calkins '22     Staff Writer
as 2020 settles in, Maryland has raised the minimum wage. Under a new law which took full effect Jan. 1, the wage went from $10.10/hour to $11.00/hour. Governor Larry Hogan had vetoed the bill last year, claiming that “a mandated increase in the minimum wage would make Maryland less competitive and could cause low-wage workers to lose their jobs.” But a day later, the Assembly overrode the veto, reversing Hogan's decision. 

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Disney+ Update

Carter Smith '20     News Editor
Disney launched its highly anticipated streaming service, Disney+, on Nov. 19th, 2019. Since then, the platform has undergone multiple changes to its selection of movies and shows, leaving many viewers with uncertainty.

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Democratic Debate

Ellen Church '21    Sports Editor
The seventh debate of the primary campaign was held on Jan. 14th in Des Moines, Iowa. The seven candidates focused on foreign policy in the wake of tensions between President Trump and the Iranian government, all agreeing that tensions in the Middle East, specifically Iran, must be de-escalated in order to keep Americans safe.

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Transphobia in Howard High

Madeline Buchman '2020     Editor in Chief
For the first time, Howard High School recognized National Transgender Awareness Week, from November 13-19th. Howard 360 played a series of educational segments, and pronoun stickers were offered in the front office to encourage positivity and support from students and staff. Surprisingly, the week was met with disapproval, and hate speech targeting transgender individuals. Several anti-trans incidents occurred, many of which were on the Howard High School Snapchat story.

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It's Academic!

Michael Cheruyiot '20     Staff Writer
Hosted by Dr. Charles Boling, this trivia centered club is Howard’s chapter of the TV game show ‘It’s Academic’. The show sets three schools against each other in a game show format who compete for the chance to advance. Spearheaded by John McAdoo, Tyler Nguyen and Johnathan Kim, Howard’s twelve-person team is one of the most active in the Baltimore-DC area.

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Macbeth Performance

Edward Calkins '22     Staff Writer
On November 7th, the Class of 2022 watched a performance of William Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Macbeth. The play was performed by the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory in Howard's auditorium. One of the most impressive parts of the performance was that the play was only performed by three people: Kaitlyn Fowler, Matthew Crawford and Marshall Bailey. They played a total of 63 combined speaking roles. The play’s director, Bethany Malo, commented on the first show, saying, “Opening is always a really interesting time. ​

AP New Policies

Edward Calkins '22     Staff Writer
Most Howard County high school students end up taking at least one Advanced Placement (AP) class throughout their high school career, ending with an exam in early May. According to The Baltimore Sun, 68.2% of Howard High School students who took an AP class passed the corresponding AP exam last May. In the past, the registration date for the exam was early third quarter. 

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Gap Years

Carter Smith '20     News Editor
A gap year after high school can have overwhelming benefits for young students entering adulthood. The Gap Year Association defines the experience as, “a semester or year of experiential learning, typically taken after high school and prior to career or postsecondary education in order to deepen one's practical, professional and personal awareness.” Gap years can offer teens a path of clarity in an otherwise uncertain period of their lives.

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Climate Change 

Samuel Seliger '20     Copy Editor 
A new report in the journal Nature Communications predicts that rising sea levels due to climate change will displace around 150 million people worldwide by 2050, three times the amount forecast by older, less advanced studies. This estimate, published on October 29, used satellite readings and artificial intelligence to calculate land elevation, allowing for a more accurate simulation of what land will be lost in the next three decades.

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Netflix Changes

Kennedy Offley '20     Staff Writer
​Lindsey Nelson '20     Staff Writer
There have been some radical changes recently made to Netflix. To begin, Netflix eliminated user reviews due to the little interaction with the reviews. There will also be ads promoting other shows on the platform in between streaming, despite having to pay for the service. In good news, this November, a variety of beloved TV shows and movies have been added to Netflix. Recognizable movies like Grease, The Matrix, District 9, and American Son are being added throughout the month.

Disney +

Mychael Ussery '20     Staff Writer
The new streaming service Disney+ will be available for download on November 12th. This new service will be the rival to Netflix, HBO Go, and Apple’s new service. Currently you can pre-order on the website for $6.99 a month or $70 for a whole year, which is cheaper than Netflix.

Culture Fest

​Michael Cheruiyot '20     Staff Writer
The Howard Lions Culture Fest is an event hosted annually to celebrate the diversity of the student population. Held on October 24th, the 2 hour long event held in the cafeteria, had a whole world of colors and different cultures on display. The premise of the festival is for students to learn about other walks of life by experiencing a look into each other’s heritage. ​

BSAP Night

Brianna Barr '22     Staff Writer
BSAP (Black Student Achievement Program) Night recently took place and it was a way to show Black students and their parents the resources that Howard High provides so everyone can reach their maximum amount of success. There is an evident achievement gap between Black students when comparing them to their non-Black peers. According to the Baltimore Sun when referencing test scores in Howard County, “Black students scores went up about two percentage points, bringing both demographic groups into the high 20s. That leaves a roughly 30 percentage point gap between those students and white students.” ​

Gas Explosion

Carter Smith '20     Staff Writer 
On early Sunday morning, August 26th, an intense natural gas explosion rattled a Columbia shopping center.
An hour prior to the explosion, firefighters were called to the premises due to reports of people smelling gas. Firefighters investigated the scene and subsequently evacuated the building upon finding a dangerous natural gas deposit.

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Policy Changes

Kennedy Offely '20     Staff Writer
Last year and over the summer, the Board of Education made highly anticipated policy, including for homework and dress code changes, which went into effect for the 2019-2020 school year. Now, students have more freedom over what they wear to school and more opportunities to reach academic success. 

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New English Teachers: Mrs Seker, Mr Taylor and Ms Panczenko

Jasmine Wilson '22     Staff Writer
Amy Seker teaches Foundations of Technology and Biology, both regular and GT, at Howard.

Q: Have you enjoyed your first few days at Howard? If so, what made them so great?
Ms. Seker: “Yeah, I have enjoyed them a lot. I think we have a really, really great science team here. So that’s been really awesome. And then also meeting the kids.”

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Dual Enrollment

Muhammad Rammani '21     Staff Writer
Students at every high school in Howard County can earn college credits through the program Jump Start, a partnership between HCPSS and Howard Community College (HCC). Students can even begin an early college program in ninth or tenth grade. ​

New Special ed Teachers: Ms Brunett and Ms Dean

Kenny Ling '21     Staff Writer
This year, Howard High has three new special education teachers: Carly Brunett, Erica Dean, and Kimberly Mims.


Ms. Brunett
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of school?
Ms. Brunett: “My favorite hobbies are coaching lacrosse and going on vacation”
Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?
Ms. Brunett: “My biggest pet peeve would have to be when people aren’t willing to try something, and shoot down ideas.”

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New ESOL Teacher: Brauer

Kira Flowers '21      Staff Writer
Howard’s world language department has one new addition this year: Spanish teacher Kendal Brauer.

Q: So, can you tell me about what you teach?
Ms. Brauer: “I teach Spanish. This year I’m teaching Spanish 2. I’m part of the World Language Department, so they could ask me to teach any language, but ... Spanish is the most popular language.”

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Better Together

Edward Calkins '22     Staff Writer
Welcome back Lions! This school year promises to be exciting and memorable, as Principal Nicholas Novak has introduced our new theme, #BetterTogether, to help Howard High grow as a community and inspire students to excel.
But, the Howard community cannot grow without every student’s participation. Every student’s contributions, whether playing on a sports team, going to Homecoming or just meeting new friends will help Howard become #BetterTogether. 
 

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Teacher Goodbyes

Chijoke Agbam
As the school year comes to a close and the seniors leave, we are also sad to see that some teachers will be leaving Howard High.

Some will move to new locations, and some will retire, such as Mrs. Lawrence, the English teacher who has taught 9th grade honors, 11, and 12 AP while working at Howard for 30 years. Since her first day here, she knew that she would stick around to collect her pension and have fun doing it.

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College Planning

Elisabeth Eastridge '20     Features Editor
As school comes to an end, students are ready to sit back and relax, but for juniors it means that college is one step closer. To avoid being super stressed next school year, it is important to get ready for applications and due dates.
    By now, juniors should have a general list of schools that they are interested in and will apply to. Over the summer, this list should be finalized and each school should be categorized as safety, match, or reach.

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2019/2020 School Calendar

Kira Flowers '21      Staff Writer
With every school year comes a wave of changes to the academic calendar, the latest of which came when Governor Hogan decided to move the first day of school to after Labor Day. Proponents of this change claimed that it would generate more money in Maryland’s popular tourist destination of Ocean City, thus boosting Maryland’s economy. Hogan’s new start date was not without opposition, though.

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Pride Month

Maddie Buchman '20     Staff Writer
Pride month is here and the rainbow flags are on display! “Pride for me means being comfortable with my identity and not a bit ashamed of it. It means being happy with who I am and glad to be part of such a wonderful community,” says the president of the Gay Straight Alliance club, Payton Carroll. During the month of June, there are many things everyone can do to celebrate pride month.

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HCPSS Budget Crisis

Dameon Hairston '21     Staff Writer
The new changes in the budget for the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) brought with it some unforeseen consequences. With talk of increased class sizes, surplused teachers, and questions about funding the increase in teachers’ salaries, many stakeholders have become concerned, not knowing what’s to come.

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Abortion Law Changes

Maddie Buchman '20     Staff Writer
2019, a year of political and cultural shifts, has now been challenged with yet another controversial subject: Abortion laws. Initially, the issue was resolved in the 70’s in the Supreme Court with Roe v Wade. Roe v Wade is a landmark case that deemed all state laws that ban abortions “unconstitutional.” Recently, this case has been challenged with the creation of the strictest abortion laws this country has seen since 1973. On May 15, 2019, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law a ban on all abortions after a heartbeat is able to be detected (also known as the Heartbeat Bill). Since the passing of this law, Alabama has acted as a catalyst for other states to follow in its footsteps. ​

End of Year Schedule

​Mychael Usserey '20     Staff Writer
Since the 2018- 2019 school year is winding down, many people want to know the schedule of what is going to happen. With finals, will there be any activities? The last month of school, there will be many half days and many end of year meetings for clubs and associations.

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Our Howard Day

Gabriela Lacerda '21     Social Media Manager
Our Howard Day was an activity conducted by the student government on April 12th to help create a better environment at Howard. It took place after second period and lasted an hour and a half. During the event, two sessions took place: One where students answered questions about improvements we can make to the school, and the other where students attended a TED talk-style assembly. Afterward, seniors completed surveys regarding improvement at Howard, late work policies, and avenues for better receiving student feedback.

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LGBTQ Community

Ben Fader '21     Staff Writer
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and people of other gender identities are part of a community that struggles far more than people that identify as heterosexual and cisgender. The Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) at Howard High school is a group of people that want to help. LGBTQ+ members suffer from bullying, misunderstanding, and discomfort.

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Government Shutdown

Cesar Llanos '19     Copy Editor
On January 13th, 2019, the 2018-2019 United States federal government shutdown reached its 22nd day, passing the previous record of 21 days held by Bill Clinton in 1995, and continuing for another 13 days before finally reopening on the 25th. The government’s moratorium stemmed, as per usual, from a disagreement between President Trump and Congress; the president refused to sign any appropriations bill that did not finance the U.S.-Mexico border wall, and Congress refused to allocate the $5.7 billion in federal funds demanded by Trump. Unable to reach a compromise, nine executive departments employing 800,000 workers were furloughed, costing the American economy an estimated $11 billion, and leaving millions of employees across the country without pay for 35 days.

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College Board Journalism

Cesar Llanos '19 Copy Editor
College Board recently announced new changes to their policies regarding their AP exams, which, while providing additional resources for teachers to further prepare their students, also moves the registration date from March to November. College Board has remained firm on the positive results of their initiative, which is set to take effect on August 1st of this year.

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Snow Days

Chijoke Agbam '21     Staff Writer
     Snow days; a lot of us cherish those days that have saved us from upcoming tests, project due dates, homework assignments, and much more. As we start to ascend into the beautiful weather that comes with March, the chance of a snow day becomes smaller and smaller. We all either love snow days because it’s one less day that we have to go to school, or you hate snow days because of the backlash at the end of the year. For whatever reason you love or hate them, the 7 snow days that we have had are going to affect how soon we get out this year.

Extended School Year

Ali Rizvi '20     Staff Writer
From the first week of March to Spring Break, Howard County Public Schools have no scheduled days off. In stretches like these, many students resent the how the current school calendar is set up. Ideas like year-round school start to pop up because of the dissent throughout the community.  Also called an “extended school year,” year-round school includes multiple week-long breaks throughout the year rather than a 10-week summer vacation.

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Madi Wine '19     Editor in Chief

No Zero Policy

Chijokie Agbam '21     Staff Writer
     Several counties in Maryland have adopted a new approach to combat bad grades on assignments: A “no-zero policy.” The policy prohibits teachers from giving students a grade lower than 50% on any assignment, as long as the student made a reasonable attempt at completing the work. This approach emerged in the last decade, and many individual schools and whole school systems are considering it. ​

PARCC / MISA Changes

​Ben Fader '21       Staff Writer
Kira Flowers '21     Staff Writer
     With PARCC approaching rapidly, students and teachers are wondering: Are standardized test results a truthful depiction of the student’s abilities? Howard High School test organizer Ms. Sheeley thinks not. When asked if she thought standardized tests accurately represent student intelligence she said, “To be completely honest with you, no, because of when the students take it, they haven’t gained that much knowledge on the subject.”

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#Me Too

Cesar Llanos '19          Copy Editor
​Kira Flowers '            Staff Writer
In October of 2017, actress Alyssa Milano tweeted, “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.” The tweet received widespread sympathy and support and is credited for igniting the #MeToo movement that addresses the often disregarded issue of sexual harassment in the United States. Over a year later, the #MeToo movement has tectonically shifted the national attitude towards the severity of non-consensual crimes.
The movement has motivated policy changes in businesses, schools, and Congress, designed to better prosecute 
perpetrators. It is the general consensus, however, that the movement’s proudest achievement is bridging the discrepancy between sexual assault that is reported versus unreported. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reports 7,609 cases filed with them thus far in 2018 - already more than the 6,696 filed in 2017.

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New Clubs

Carter Smith '20          Staff Writer
     Are you interested in digital music production, but don’t really know how to begin?  Have you ever wanted to produce music like your favorite artists? At Howard Music Producers club, creators are able to make music in a relaxed environment. Students of all different skill levels are encouraged to join, and with the help of proficient music producers, you can get advice or help with any of your songs.  Eleventh grader Garland Crosby, the founder, answered a few questions.

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Election Updates

Grace Mardock '19          News Editor
     Major statewide elections are on the top of the ballot. In the Governor race, incumbent Larry Hogan (R) is running against Ben Jealous (D). This governor will be in office through 2022. Because the 2020 census falls within this term, the sitting governor will be able to redraw the congressional lines in Maryland. This has major implications as Maryland congressional lines have been in legal turmoil for extreme gerrymandering. The Supreme Court ruled that the Maryland Congressional lines have been unfairly drawn to favor democrats.

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"Our Howard"

Carter Smith '20          Staff Writer
     At the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, Principal Novak and the administration team introduced a new initiative called, “Our Howard.” What does this mean exactly? You may have heard Mr. Novak talk about it on the morning announcements, or perhaps seen one of the many posters located around the school and classrooms. Their goal is to promote academic excellence, improve student behavior, and to be more inclusive of students. In addition to this, Howard launched P.R.I.D.E. 2.0. As part of the “Our Howard” initiative, the school released a vision statement: “We seek to create a Howard community engaged in life-long learning, that ensures equity and respect for all, while cultivating relationships and celebrating diversity in all forms.” But what does this mean?

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ELLIOTT CITY, MD - Sept. 10, 2018 Natalie Gobell and Karl Quist-Therson meet up in the hallway on the way to class, showing the friendships that are built in #ourHOHS. AARON LEONG/ LIONS TALE

New HHS Teachers

Ms. Young

Dena Thompson '19                Staff Writer
     Describing herself as kind, caring, and a team player, Ms. Young, one of Howard’s new Special Education teachers, is excited to be teaching at a high school level again and broaden her experiences. Previously teaching at an alternative school for students with severe disabilities and conduct disorders, Ms. Young hopes to help her students become independent. Learning from the relationships she has made and the impact she’s had on her student’s lives’, she believes that to unite the Howard Lions we must accept one another and be willing to get involved.

Mrs. Papadeus

Kile Johnson '19          Staff Writer
     Mrs. Papadeus is a new counselor at Howard High. She has just finished a graduate program at the University of Maryland, doing one of her internships at Hammond Middle School and Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Prince George’s County. She likes Howard High a lot so far and aims to help the students form a great sense of community and to be confident and successful in whatever path they choose. Ms. Papadeus became a counselor because she always wanted to help people and work with others so that she can see them be the best version of themselves.

Mr. Evans

Gabriela Lacerda '21          Staff Writer
     Mr. Evans is new at Howard High and currently works with the Black Student Achievement Program. He previously worked at Centennial and River Hill High. He also lived in Europe for more than 12 years. He decided to work with the B.S.A.P. because he realized that most students just need someone to talk to, who will put them on the right path. His vision for Howard is for it to be as inclusive as possible. ​

Ms. Clausen

Kira Flowers '21         Staff Writer
     Ms. Clausen is a new special-education and math teacher here at Howard with a great vision for the school. In her words, “I want to have an impact on students in their academics, and I want them to be as successful as they can be.” She is excited for all that this year will hold.

     Ms. Hammond is a new part-time special-education teacher here at Howard. She shares the same vision as many Howard teachers, to improve the academic lives of students in and out of her class. She agrees that the student population of Howard is full of many hardworking students. Even though Ms. Hammond is here only two days out of the week, she puts in 100% effort when helping her students.

Dr. Saunders

Dena Thompson '19     Staff Writer
     “Our differences are our strengths,” explains our new assistant principal Dr. Saunders. Previously working in Prince George’s County before coming to Howard County, Dr. Saunders has also worked at three other Howard County schools. His focus is now the future of Howard High. He spoke passionately about diversity benefiting young minds and how differences give opportunity. Instead of focusing on where we lack unity, he believes that we should appreciate our differences. Dr. Saunders’ high school experience gave him the confidence and the opportunity to believe in himself and to reach for his dreams, and he believes that Howard’s students should feel inspired to do the same.