The final issue of the 2017-2018 school year is out now! It is made completely by the Wingspan Team for the 2018-2019 school year. Find the issue here:
https://chswingspan.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/wingspanvol41iss6final.pdf
Words: Maggie Ju
June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, highlighting inner diversity. Centennial’s LGBT students, particularly members of the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), could not be more enthusiastic about it.
“I’m going to do everything gay,” declared sophomore Lauren Aylaian. She is already well on her way to achieving her goal — the first weekend of June, she attended a concert featuring Hayley Kiyoko, a pop singer nicknamed “Lesbian Jesus” by her fans.
Many students in the GSA, Aylaian included, plan to attend D.C. or Baltimore Pride, festivals to celebrate being out and proud.
Sophomore Eduardo Luiggi Rosa said, “It’s all about being able to celebrate who you are, no matter what you are.”
“There’s so many people out there who are ashamed of who they are just because of their sexuality,” said sophomore Jayden Bolden. Many queer people are hesitant to disclose their orientations or identities, fearing backlash and ostracism.
Bolden continued, “They really shouldn’t be because your sexuality is who you are, and you should be proud of yourself.”
Despite the parades and festivities, LGBT people are often erased from media and popular culture. The small percentage of gay and transgender characters in shows and movies are usually played by actors who do not identify as such. Centennial’s LGBT students want to increase visibility and representation of their community.
“Gay pride is like, ‘Actually, we exist!’” said one student.
Luiggi Rosa agreed. “We’re here, and we’re queer,” he said.
Aylaian hopes that in the future, LGBT youth will not face pressure for being minorities. She explained, “They don’t get to be themselves for so long, so to be able to have a month just to express themselves fully … that’s what gay pride is all about.”
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Words: Shawn Kruhm
With the school year winding down, students of Centennial have begun preparing for finals. A full week of tests from every class stands between students and their summer vacation.
It can be challenging for students to balance homework, extracurricular activities, and finals. To manage their finals, students must put time aside from their daily activities to study.
Junior Peyton Sites said, “I study about three hours a day and review all of my subjects.”
Being aware of quarter and midterm grades is important. If students know their grades, they can figure out the classes in which they need to dedicate more of their study time to.
Using the point system, students can calculate their final grades. Often students are grade locked, meaning their grade is already decided. No matter what they earn on their final, their grade will not change.
Performing well on midterms can benefit students later on in the year, taking away some of the stress from finals.
Sophomore Sully Beck-Winter said, “I have to prepare more for midterms because most of my grades are already locked at this point so I think midterms set the standard.”
Finals week is very stressful and time consuming for all students regardless of their midterm grades. Good luck to everyone testing this week!
For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.
Words: Natalie Keane
The year is finally coming to a close, and it’s been hectic, shocking, and beautiful in the world of entertainment. From late-2017 to mid-2018, these are some of the cinematic highlights of the season.
Coco – November 22, 2017
Winning Best Animated Feature Film at the 2018 Oscars, Coco, directed by Lee Unkrich, tells the story of young Miguel, an aspiring musician, who enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great grandfather and lift a curse on music from his family tree. While highlighting beautiful Mexican traditions, this movie tells a story of discovery, family, and courage through stunning Pixar animation.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi – December 15, 2017
Directed by Rian Johnson, the iconic Star Wars saga continues with The Last Jedi. The well-known heroes from The Force Awakens take part in an adventure to fight for the prosperity of the galaxy, while unlocking age-old secrets of the past and shocking revelations from the original Star Wars trilogy.
Lady Bird – February 15, 2018
Directed and written by Greta Gerwig, high-school senior Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson clashes with her similarly strong-willed and opinionated mother, who is working as a nurse to hold her family together as she is now the only source of income for the family. Lady Bird is told that she is ungrateful for what she has, and through her personal journey of self-reflection, this movie touches upon the struggles of leaving adolescence behind and what we truly define as home.
Black Panther – February 16, 2018
This influential black-led major motion picture, directed by Ryan Coogler, dominated in the first quarter of 2018. In total exceeding $1.34 billion at the global box office, in four weeks this movie became the highest grossing Marvel Cinematic Universe movie domestically, second to only The Avengers. This action film, set in the fictional land of Wakanda, still has the power to change the film industry permanently with its diverse cast and powerful storyline.
Love, Simon – March 26, 2018
Based on the 2015 novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, this romantic comedy surrounds the life of high-school senior Simon Spier who wants nothing more than for people to understand him. This movie, directed by Greg Berlanti, marks the first ever major motion picture in history to feature a gay teen protagonist.
A Quiet Place – April 6, 2018
Directed by and featuring John Krasinski, the suspenseful thriller A Quiet Place depicts a family of four as they’re forced to live their lives in complete silence after strange creatures threaten to ruin their lives. This fast-paced and packed movie holds the audience on edge at each moment as you’re taken through this post-apocalyptic world.
Avengers: Infinity War – April 27, 2018
The Avengers series, ten years in the making and an iconic part of Marvel Cinematic Universe, has its most intense and thrilling installment of all with Avengers: Infinity War, directed by siblings Anthony and Joe Russo. To defeat Thanos, the Avengers and their team must sacrifice everything they’ve ever known to protect the well-being of the universe. As of May 27, Infinity War has topped $1.9 billion at the global box office in a span of just over four weeks, making this hit one of the biggest domestic earners in American cinematic history.
For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.
Words: Maggie Ju
According to a public document released by the Howard County Public Schools Board, Cynthia Dillon has been announced as Centennial High School’s new principal for the 2018-2019 school year. Dillon is the current principal of Patapsco Middle School, where she has worked for eight years.
As stated in a Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) press release on March 5, 2018, Dillon has been an HCPSS educator for 25 years.
This spring, she was named the 2018 Maryland Middle School Principal of the Year by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals. A dedicated administrator, she has been commended for inspiring her students to be thoughtful, responsible, and kind.
Dillon has a Masters of Education in Supervision and Administration from Loyola University in Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Maryland, College Park.
For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.
Video: Julia Stitely / Photo: Kelli McDonough
For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.
Words: Eliza Andrew / Photos: Minah Mubasher and Harshitha Sayini
At the end of every school year, the hallways are decorated with the most captivating art pieces created throughout the school year. Mrs. Collins, Mr. Hansen, and Ms. Elliott have collected the many amazing pieces crafted by each art class, to show off their phenomenal talents. These art pieces are on display in the hallway on the walls next to the cafeteria, as well as outside of the auditorium. The display truly embodies the amazing talent that lies within the walls of Centennial.
For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.
