Copyright
Copyright 2021-2022 by FHHS Publications. Content printed in this paper cannot be used or resold without the express permission of FHHS Publications. A complete media policy is available in room D118.
Lorde bombarded the internet, June 10, when she dropped her first single after three years, "Solar Power." The song is upbeat, and even made its own appearance on Tik Tok with the lyric, "Can you reach me? No, you can't," with nearly 82,000 videos. Finally, after three long years of hiding, trav- eling, and trying to rediscover herself, the wait was over when Lorde dropped her third studio album, Solar Power, Aug. 20. Similar to her first two albums, Pure Heroine (2013) and Melodra- ma (2017), this album falls under the alterna- tive/indie genre. However, it tells the beautiful, sad story of growing up and growing out of things adults used to love as children. While Lorde was away, she took a break from songwriting to think about herself. She was inspired in Antarctica, and wrote her songs about life, and how there aren't always going to be perfect days. Fans received an album full of emotion, which was what they were least expecting after listening to the debut single. While critics think of Lorde's lyrics on Solar Power as terrible writing and basic lyricism, they miss the point that her unique words are much more than that to teenagers today. Lorde writes about the personal times in her life, especially those that relate and pass advice along to her target audience, both the teenagers finding her for the first time, and those who also listened to her album Melodrama and grew up with her. Solar Power creates the perception that listeners are going through this change of growing together. Teens relate to songs such as "Secrets from a Girl (Who's Seen it All),"and "Stoned at the Nail Salon," which are songs written about growing out of things you love. Lorde sings "All the music you loved at sixteen you'll grow out of," making "Stoned at the Nail Salon" hit home for many teenagers. Her lyrics in "Stoned" tell the story of how growing up comes with a lot of dif- ferent changes. No matter how old, everyone is always growing apart from things they used to love, and in that is an inherent sadness. Reaching just over 1.6 million streams on Spotify on release day, Solar Power soared to number two on US streaming charts, showing that Lorde's current release should reach the heights of its prede- cessors. Lorde's music is familiar yet different, just how life feels with every passing year. For fans of Lorde, the album is well worth a listen.
Lorde's third studio album, Solar Power, delivers the feels
With a mask-optional start, it feels as though the pressing issue of COVID-19 fades and memories of the quarantines begin to drift.It isn't over though. Two weeks in and there have been 10 students as well as two staffmembers who've tested positive. On top of this, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has confirmed that the new Delta Variant is more than twice as contagious as the previous variants. This better adapted version of COVID-19 is even more of a threat than last year, yet with a lifted mask mandate, this leaves dangers for all students, but mostly the ones who have not been fully vaccinated. As dangerous as this variant is, being fully vaccinated is the best way to prevent the possibility of high hospital bills, permanent disability, or even death. Most students 16 or above are able to get the COVID-19 vaccine with a guardian's approval, and those above 18 do not need permission and can sign themselves up. As of now all vaccines (Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer) are free and there are many vaccination sites available, including Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart pharmacies. Where it can be argued that the vaccine lacks in preventing the spread of COVID-19, it's proven vaccinations greatly reduce the number of cases that result in hospitalizations with fully vaccinated people making up as little as .1% of hospitalized cases. Those who choose not to get vaccinated can limit the dangers for themselves and others by wearing a mask in public, which helps reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. Where earlier strains of COVID-19 targeted older adults, more and more younger people have become sick with the Delta variant. With their heightened risk of being infected and spreading the virus to a dangerous degree, the district should return to a mask mandate to keep students as safe as possible. As the district is not doing enough to protect its unvaccinated students, students must protect themselves. The best way to do this is to wear a mask and get vaccinated.
Grace Sutton reviewer
More care needed for safety
Spotlight Francis Howell High School fhhstoday.com Vol. 51, Issue 1 Sept. 2021
2 OPINIONS
Delta dilemma
Staff Opinion
MISSION
"Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..." --The First Amendment The Francis Howell Spotlight is the official student newspaper at Francis Howell High School. The Spotlight began as a Francis Howell publication in 1971. The Spot- light believes it is essential to preserve the freedom of the press in order to preserve a free society and its purpose is to inform, interpret, and entertain through accurate and factual reports. Therefore, this school newspaper will serve the best interest of the students of Francis Howell and keep itself free from any other obligation; the staff of the school newspaper will accept guidance from its adviser, but will make its own editorial decision; only the editorial board may veto any material intended for publication, judged to be in violation of the FHHS Publications media editorial policy; and this school newspaper will vigorously resist all attempts at censorship, particularly prepublication censor- ship; the school newspaper will serve as an educational laboratory experience for those on staff; the school news- paper will run as a designated public forum; the goal of the school newspaper is to cover the total school population as effectively and the staffwill strive to be impartial and responsible in its coverage of issues. The full media policy is available at fhhstoday.com. at this time.
SPOTLIGHT
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All letters to the editor should be sent to Mrs. Dunaway in room D118. All letters must be signed, be under 400 words, and contain appropriate material. Material will not be printed if content is obscene, or if it invades others' privacy, or if it encourages physical disruption of school activities and/or if it implies libel. The editorial board has the right to have letters edited for length, grammar, punctuation, clarity, etc. The school newspaper will only publish one letter per author per issue and all letters become the property of the school newspaper upon receipt and will not be returned.
STAFF MEMBERS
We are one converged staff, in one publication class hour, and we publish four issues of the Spotlight newspaper, FHHSToday.com, the Viking Report broadcast, and the 304-page Howelltonian yearbook. We serve 1,855 students and 163 staff by distributing a free paper during 4th hour. The publication or adviser is a member of JEA, CSPA, NSPA, MIPA, MJEA and JournalismSTL. Spotlight Staff: Cooper Traluch, Editor-in-Chief (second year); Anna Rausch, Photo Editor (third year); Libby De La O, Web Editor (second year); Mariah Schaffer, Editor Elect (second year); Ada Pipkins, Yerbook Editor (third year); Megan Clark, Lifestyle Editor (second year); Bea Schneider, Staff(second year); Grace Sutton, Staff(second year); Abby Struble, Staff(first year); Alexander Richardson, Staff(first year); Ally Meyer, Staff(first year); Avery Mattingly, Staff(first year); Kendal Abeln, Staff(first year); Maya Nordeen, Staff(first year); Owen Sikorski, Staff(first year); Tyler Rauser, Staff(first year); Zach Jones, Staff(first year); Will Thessen, Staff(first year); Michele Dunaway, Advisor (19th year).
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Kendal Abeln, cartoonist
lorde.co.nz
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