ARE YONDR POUCHES THE SOLUTION OR THE PROBLEM?

 By Abi Lenze and Izzy Goodnite

In April 2024, Ohio’s Governor, Mike DeWine, passed a bill to limit students’ use of phones during the school day. Set to take full effect in January 2026, schools have started to put prevention and repercussions in place to ban phones. While some schools have requested that phones not be brought on campus at all, others have implemented Yondr pouches —a secure bag used to store an individual’s mobile device or devices— which are magnetically locked and unlocked during the day. 

Yondr Pouches provide a seemingly simple solution to a complex issue, but what are the concerns from the student body and parents? What are the benefits pointed out by the staff and students in support?

Mr. Harsh, Southeast High School’s Assistant Principal, stated, “The good thing about Yondr pouches is you can always rip them open,” when asked about safety concerns regarding the pouches during an interview. He, along with most members of the staff, are clearly in support of Yondr pouches, and are willing to address any concern about them. Students should remember, your phone is not gone, you are being given a tool to help you follow the law.

CLUB SPOTLIGHT

By Alexis Crum and Leila Evans

For this week’s post we are proud to shed a beam of light on our leo’s club and our pep club! 

LEO’S CLUB

Leo’s club is an organization in which young individuals come together to make a difference in the world.  Leo’s club has operated within 140 countries, often collaborating with other Nations to complete impactful projects. Their mission is achieved through community service, following their core values revolving around Leadership, Experience, and Opportunity. Leo’s club meets once a month during advisory and once a month after school. Led by Mrs. Tarka, this club is an amazing and easy way to get service hours and to work on fun projects with friends! Genevieve Brown, president of the club, says that she loves working on small projects to make a big impact on our community. Talk to Mrs. Tarka or Genevieve about joining!

 PEP CLUB

Have you seen the class posters on the walls of our gym and wondered who made them? It’s Pep Club! Led by Mrs. Edwards, pep club is a fun and artsy way to get involved here at SHS. They make the run-through banners for football games, posters for spirit week themes, and sports posters. Pep club president, Alyssa Wallace, said that her favorite part of being on pep club is working with others to boost school spirit. If you aren’t super artistic, don’t worry, there are other jobs that you can do! Pep club meets once a week during advisory, and occasionally after school depending on the sports season. It’s not too late to join! You can ask Mrs. Edwards or Alyssa Wallace about joining.

EVENT OF THE YEAR

By Caden Dillon

This year’s off and running at Southeast High School, and we’re coming up on the first big event of the year: homecoming. Whether the game or the dance, homecoming is one of the most anticipated events of the season. From sequins to lace, the girls have already chosen dresses, and hoco proposals have been in full swing since the beginning of September. The football team has been putting in the hours on the practice field to prepare for one of their biggest games of the season. Homecoming is going to be an unforgettable experience.  The homecoming game is on October 3rd this year, and it will be a contest between Southeast and Champion. The game should be competitive and entertaining to watch. Senior Joe Sharish will be trying to lead the football team to a victory. The theme is Pink Out. Come ready to represent! The homecoming dance is taking place Saturday, October 4th at 7 pm in the high school gym. The theme  is “Under the Stars”. The homecoming court is consisted of the freshman winners Eva Corll and Seth Dillon, the sophomores Natalie Campbell and Alaunté Massrock, the Juniors Isabelle Goodnite and Nathan Muccino, along with Leila Evans and Cohen Richardson, and the Seniors Abdallah Alrawahneh, Savannah Bailey, Genevieve Brown, Logan Bruderly, Daisy Zinz, and Dylan Evans. Join us on October 3rd for the homecoming game and to see who wins homecoming King and Queen.

THE ULTIMATE HOMECOMING GUIDE:               EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

By Kristen Dillon

Everyone knows that Homecoming is a special annual celebration in American high schools for grade 9-12, often featuring a football game, spirit week, and pep rallies followed by a semi-formal dance. For the dance, the girls usually wear a short gown, while guys often wear a suit, a blazer, dress pants, and a button up dress shirt, with a tie or bowtie. Here are a few trends to note while shopping. 

A few places to take pictures are Towners Woods Park, Glamorgan Castle, Silver Park, and the Mckinley Memorial. Some places to buy dresses are Windsor, Dillards, Henris, Maggies, Macy’s, Universe Bridal And Prom, and The Winner. Homecoming will be one of the most memorable events of high school, so make sure you live it up and have fun!

SHS SPOTLIGHT

By Jocelyn Nowak and Ava Lenze

This month we have chosen to highlight people who are not as known for their accomplishments and involvements and deserve the recognition for what they have done. Two of the people who deserve the spotlight are Ashley Tilley and Elizabeth Dills. 

Tilley is a new teacher here at Southeast teaching Algebra 1 & 2. We found that she is adjusting well to the environment here at Southeast. As she has been settling into her first year, she’s found a great amount of support from both the students/staff. When Tilley was growing up, she was on a competitive jump rope team (in which she has won many world titles) and would spend her youth traveling, coaching and competing against other teams. In her free time she loves to go on runs, jump rope, read, drink coffee and spend time with her family and friends. She is a nanny in the summer and is the head cheer coach at Norton High School. Before she started teaching here at Southeast, she graduated in 2023, spending her first two years after graduation with a circus company. This was her dream since she was eight and she got to live it. Spending time in the circus was a huge dream to Tilley, but overall, she states her biggest accomplishment to this day is becoming a teacher. “Nothing feels as good and fulfilling as being with my INCREDIBLE students here at SHS everyday” says Tilley. Tilley is a firm believer in trying to find joy in everything she does. She feels very thankful that she gets to wake up each morning and do something she truthfully enjoys.

Elizabeth Dills is a freshman this year, but she is already very involved in our school. She participates in volleyball, basketball, choir, student council, FCS, pep club, and leo club. She is very involved in music; on top of being in choir, she plays flute, violin, and piano in her free time. She also enjoys volunteering and participating in things at her church, Edinburg United Church. Her favorite part of her freshman year so far is all the home volleyball games, and she says that playing varsity has been her biggest accomplishment this year. Overall, Dills says, “My freshman year has been less overwhelming”. She is a great example of making the best of high school by getting involved and staying on top of it. Keep up the good work.

THE ROCKY ROAD TO VICTORY

  By Bradley Dillon

The Southeast football team is coming off of a three and seven record last year with a win to Mathews, Newton Falls, and Champion. This year they kicked off the 2025-26 season with a home opener against Akron Garfield. The Pirates lost that game 21 to 18. In the pirates next game they faced the tough Grand Valley team where the Pirates were outscored by the Mustangs 25 to 14. In a change of fate, however, the Pirates outscored Cuyahoga Falls 29 to 8. The next week Southeast was picked by the Cleveland Browns for the ‘Browns Give Back Game of the Week’. The Pirates cruised past Newton Falls winning 53-28. This win gives the Pirates $3,000. The Pirates next opponent was a very strong Crestview team. The Pirates were outscored by the Rebels 42 to 0. In my interview with Alaunté Massrock he said that, “In order to win we have to score more points”. When asked a question about his new offense, Alaunté said, “I like it because it helps distribute the ball evenly among all our skilled players”. In my other interview with Tyler Shaw he said, “The rest of the season we have winnable games on the schedule so it should be fun”. The rest of the season should be good for the Pirates. Good luck to the Pirates!  

STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM: BOYS SOCCER

By Cali McPeak

With a roster consisting of only one senior, four juniors, seven sophomores, and three freshmen, the boys soccer team has faced its share of challenges and setbacks this season. With eight losses, the team has had to navigate the highs and lows of competition while simultaneously learning valuable lessons about teamwork, resilience, and determination. However, despite these setbacks, the team experienced a thrilling victory that showcased their growth and potential. The 12-0 win against Garfield was a standout game that highlighted the team’s capability. The players worked hard with seven different athletes scoring for the pirates. These athletes were Bradley Dillon, who scored four times, Cole Bruno, who scored twice, Rigoberto (jr) Flores, who scored twice, Ethan Brittingham, who scored one, Daniel Allen, who scored once, Jackson Oyster, who scored once, and Jakob Schaffner, who scored once. This game was a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication. Throughout the season the team has shown significant growth, both individually and collectively. Senior Danny Allen has provided leadership and guidance, while juniors have demonstrated their skills and experience. The sophomores; especially goalkeeper Garret Davis, have shown impressive development. Plus, the freshmen have brought new perspectives and energy to the team. As the season progresses, the team will continue to face new challenges and opportunities. They will need to draw on their strengths, work on their weaknesses, and support each other through thick and thin. With their 12-0 win as a benchmark, they have shown that they are capable of greatness, and will continue to grow and achieve more. 

PIRATES OFF TO A RED HOT START: GIRLS SOCCER

By Alaunté Massrock

The girls soccer team is off to a hot start winning 7 of their first 10 games mainly led by Grace Wheeler and her 15 goals as well as averaging 1.7 goals a game. This is significant because they are coming off a hot season last year winning the Mahoning Valley Conference. Unfortunately grace suffered a injury and is out for a extended period of time which is a detrimental loss however the lady pirates have multiple weapons at their disposal. Sarah Craver who is second in goals scored and first in assists and with graces absence the senior will be forced to take on a big role however she is not the only weapon the pirates have. Cali McPeak is the team leader in saves with almost 4 per match making her a top player in the conference. Other notable players are Riley Diehl, Destiny Longgood, Natalie Campbell, Leah Mesaros,Bailey Morris, Paige Hart, Alexi Richmond, Alexis Hurd and Reagan Haney. The soccer team is expected to have a big season and make a push in the playoffs this year. Good luck pirates and have a great season.

FAST AS LIGHTNING: CROSS COUNTRY

  By Garret Davis

Boys XC

The Southeast boys cross country team has been working extremely hard. The XC team is coached by Monica Kiskadden, and the team’s top five consists of Cohen Richardson, Caden Dillon, Seth Dillon, Dylan Evans, intermixing Mason Dix and Noah Croston into the top spots. The team is led by C. Dillon who has been a top finisher every meet so far this year. C. Dillon says that, “The team has been the best we have had in a long time”. This shows that they have had great strides and are going to continue to grow because it’s still a young team. The Team has only one senior which is Evans and he has improved a lot each year. Good luck to the Southeast XC boys!

Girls XC

The Southeast High School girls’ XC team hit the ground running this year! Julia Dillon is the head coach for the girls’ XC team, and the team leaders are Julia Wheeler and Jenna Canale, and they are the team’s top finishers. The fastest time this year is by Wheeler with a 19:08. The team’s other runners are Jullian Shaffner, Emma Smith, and alternating the 5th spot between Anastasia Sutliff and Eva Corll. The girls have been working hard and even started running in June before practices started to get in top shape for the year. Coach Dillon said, “The girls’ season has been very successful”.  She hopes they continue their great season with more top finishes. Go girls’ cross country!

Homecoming Proposals: Fun or Forced?

By Emma Wood

Every fall and every spring a phenomenon that has taken over high schools everywhere springs up again: proposals. Not the kind with a special ring and a special couple, no, a kind with big posters, sparkles, glitter, balloons, flowers, and music. Maybe it is done as one treks to another’s house in pursuit, maybe it is at a football game, or one’s work… But it is all the same idea: a dance proposal. At first glance, these are adorable and fun! What girl doesn’t want to be swept off her feet with cheesy pick up lines on a big poster for everybody to see? Who doesn’t want to post that memory on their social media? Truly, who doesn’t want such a sweet gesture asking them to the biggest dances of the school year? But… is it actually as ‘fun’ or ‘adorable’ when it is not really a choice anymore to ask the girl out this way, but more like an obligation? 

When an anonymous student at Southeast High School was asked if she expected an elaborate proposal to a dance, she responded with a wince, and said, “[She] feels it goes both ways, yes some girls, even when dating, expect this big thing from their boyfriend, but when dating, it should just be a given that you would go together”. She also had claimed that, “The promposals are such a normal thing it is just meh, I disagree with it”. She seemed genuinely disgusted with some behavior used with these expectations.

And while I will be the first girl to tell you that you should be as confident as ever, and truly be yourself, expecting a guy to do all of this not for a sweet moment, but rather for a post on social media… It is not having standards, it is not receiving princess treatment, it is searching for validation from people you barely know who might scroll past and say, “Hey, I wish I was like her and got a guy like her”. 

Girls, I speak from my heart when I say this, but there should not be an unspoken expectation that we deserve this kind of show, as if a simple, heartfelt ask is not enough. That pressure leaves guys scrambling, not only to find a date, but to find a way to put on a performance that will impress not only that person but all their family, friends, and acquaintances online. It is less about sincerity and more about spectacle. Plus, let’s be honest: a lot of guys will look up puns and whatnot and just do that. That is not sincere, it’s not sweet. It is actually the opposite. 

Of course, there are a lot of positives too! Promposals can be fun, lighthearted and creative! They make people feel special, noticed, and appreciated! But when the tradition shifts from being a choice to being an obligation… It loses its charm. It is like buying a girl flowers. Girls, most of the time, do not expect that behavior, so when it happens, they get all giddy and happy and think about it constantly, at least I do, and I know for a fact that most do as well. However, when you expect it, on a special night or something where you know it is going to happen, it is suddenly not as special. 

Plus, proposals for dances are starting to look a lot like proposals for marriage. If somebody puts on so much of a show just to ask somebody for homecoming… What is left for the ACTUAL big question later in life? Isn’t that supposed to be the most meaningful, surprising, unforgettable moment? If the standard for “just a school dance” is roses and glitter , how do you top that when it comes to marriage? 

Maybe the question we should be asking around this time is: do we really need promposals? Wouldn’t it mean more if the invitation to the dance was about the person and their love, rather than a performance? Because at the end of the day, the best memories are not made the moment someone holds up a poster. They are made out on the dance floor, surrounded by friends, celebrating all together as one.

MEET OUR CREW

Writers:

Abi Lenze, Ava Lenze, Cali McPeak, Alexis Crum, Emma Wood, Jocelyn Nowak, Izzy Goodnite, Kristen Dillon, Bradley Dillon, Caden Dillon, Tyler Shaw, Garret Davis, Alaunte Massrock

Photographers:

Kristen Dillon

Editors:

Kristen Dillon, Mrs. Dillon