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By: Rhea Bhooshanam As the school year comes to an end, most students look forward to summer break as a time where they can reset before the new school year. Students have more free time, but a question arises: What should I do with all this free time? Discovering fun activities, whether it is indoor or outdoor, will keep you engaged throughout the summer. The weather is prone to change during the summer, which can call for a change in plans. Indoor activities can be just as fun as outdoor activities. Watching a movie can be a cozy night with family and friends. You can make popcorn and lie down with a blanket, which is calming. Another calming activity can be painting or drawing. One may consider painting nature, or drawing a self portrait. If either of these activities aren’t intriguing, reading may be another option. Reading keeps students prepared for the incoming school year, so that they don’t fall behind. Summer brings good weather as well, which means most activities will occur outside. The most common summer activity is to go to the beach or pool, which are great options. You should probably check the weather before going, to ensure that there won’t be any problems at your destination. The fair also occurs every year and is a classic summer activity. The rides are always super fun, and there are many vendors selling food. Both these activities require a car, and someone may not be able to drive you. So, you could take a walk outside or go on a bike ride. Spending time alone can also be enjoyable. Summer is a time to have fun and explore new things. However, while we do these things, we shouldn’t lose sight of school. Summer should be a balance between academics and fun activities.

By: Craig McPherson Ne Zha is a 2019 Chinese animated film. The film revolves around Ne Zha, a boy accidentally born from the Demon Pill, an orb of powerful, yet dangerous energy. Not only is he cursed to die on his third birthday, but he is also feared and despised by the people of his community, Chentang Pass. Taiyi Zhenren, a disciple of the Supreme Lord of Heaven, was partially responsible for the accident. To try and repent for his mistake, he attempts to mentor Ne Zha, shaping him into a hero for his community. Can the aggressive, impulsive Ne Zha become a hero before he is destined to die? The way Ne Zha’s story is told can be described as a typical misunderstood hero’s journey, similar to other films like Wreck-it-Ralph or Megamind. As a matter of fact, one of the main flaws of the movie, as a whole, would be how it feels like a more basic version of the type of plot these movies would have. More specifically, the hero, due to their background or origins, is shunned by society and labeled a villain, so they behave like one. There is also a lack of trope subversions, where most plot points are played completely straight. Not to mention, the humor is mostly very crude, potty humor. Personally, I don’t feel the comedy is a complete failure, since there were a few moments that can be amusing, but it’s an overall mixed bag. Despite these flaws, the story undoubtedly has some great qualities. Whenever there is a fantastical confrontation, there is always an engaging action scene. These standout moments are achieved through some great directing and cinematography. However, one of the greatest things about Ne Zha would have to be its themes of destiny and identity, as well as some equally emotional moments. The emotional core of Ne Zha is certainly strong enough to keep itself engaging, focusing on Ne Zha’s plight, as well as his relationships with those he cares about. The greatest aspect of Ne Zha would undoubtedly be the animation. The animation on the characters has some very nice variety, where more eccentric, divine characters like Ne Zha or Taiyi are generally more cartoony. While the more emotional, grounded characters like Ne Zha’s parents are more realistic. The settings, as well as backgrounds, are very grand and picturesque. They effectively capture the places described in Ancient Chinese folklore. It is also because of the visuals that the action scenes manage to be as appealing as they are. Elements such as fire, ice, or lightning are very well rendered, and the animation on the characters becomes much more exciting. The absolute peak of the visuals would have to be the finale, where the use of effects, character animation, and world building all work together to craft an epic, emotional finale. The characters are what carry the strong emotional core. Ne Zha may seem like a malevolent brat who constantly lashes out, but he lives a tragic life. He has very little time to live, and most people around him often shame him for something that wasn’t his fault. Deep down, he just wants to be accepted. The other characters who contribute to the film’s heart the most would have to be his parents; Li Jing and Lady Yin. They are both highly respected members of the community, but Ne Zha’s chaos often causes problems for them. Despite this, they love their son, and want him to have a good life. There is also a twist involving Li Jing during the climax, which is possibly the most emotional part of the whole story. However, I feel that the other major characters are written at least somewhat weaker. There is Ao Bing, who was born for the Spirit Pearl, a more benevolent counterpart to the Demon Pill. They befriend each other about halfway through the film. However, due to their origins, they are tragically destined to be sworn rivals. I feel he was simply not developed enough, or was introduced too late, to be an effective conflicted antagonist. Additionally, there are also his father, Ao Guang, and Shen Gong Bao. They are the main antagonists of the film, who want to see to it that Ne Zha dies and that Chentang Pass is destroyed. They have their own, restive, complex motives for this, but the film gives them insufficient attention, which causes them to feel like nothing more than the standard villains who want to kill the hero. While it may not be perfect, Ne Zha is still a strong piece of Chinese Animation. The story can be a bit basic, and the humor can be unappealing. In spite of these aspects, it still has incredible action, world building, and heart. I would have to give Ne Zha an 8/10.

By: Craig McPherson A 2026 GMC Terrain parked directly in front of a GMC dealership (Credit: Hendrik Buick GMC Cary.) The SUV, or Sport Utility Vehicle, is arguably the most popular body style for a car. Not only can they be high performance with off road capabilities, but they are also very spacious. Of course, every major automobile brand has attempted to craft their own version of the SUV. But among them all, there is no SUV quite like the GMC Terrain. The story of the Terrain would begin with the end of General Motors’ Pontiac division in 2010. This would mean the loss of the Pontiac Torrent, meaning that the company’s roster of models, at large, was one SUV short. The Torrent’s replacement would be the original Terrain, first revealed to the public at the 2009 New York International Auto Show. This original terrain included a backup camera, a contemporary AM/FM/CD/MP3 radio system, and as well as a V6 engine with about 264 horsepower. In 2013, the Terrain gained a special Denali trim package. It had a honeycomb pattern grille, and an ornate chrome design for the stereo. Not to mention that the engine was upgraded to have 301 horsepower. The Terrain’s first significant makeover would be in 2016. One of the most significant changes would be that the front and rear of the car’s exterior were completely redesigned. The interior also had a widened variety of different types of fabrics and leather colors. All models at this point also had the same chrome exhaust pipes as the previous Denali. The CD player was also discontinued at this point, so a new storage compartment was added in its place. The next year, in 2017, the Nightfall edition was introduced. The Nightfall has a glossy, black exterior in place of the elegant chrome. It was also only available in 4 different colors; onyx black, graphite gray, summit white, and crimson red. The second generation of the GMC Terrain began in 2018. The three different engines it could have were all 4 cylinders with turbo, one of which being a diesel. All trim options now had LED lights. However, the new Terrain was also three inches shorter, yet this somehow didn’t compromise its cargo capacity or legroom. The technology installed in this version of the Terrain was also much more like that of the tech in cars of today. Such as a touch screen navigation system that was compatible with both iPhones and Android phones. In 2019, the Terrain also gained adaptive cruise control. This allowed drivers to maintain a steady speed more easily, and adapt to the speed of traffic more easily. It also had a 360 degree camera. The next year, the diesel engine for both the Terrain and the Equinox was discontinued, due to a decline in demand. The same would also happen to the 2.0 liter turbocharged engine in 2012, also because of a lack of popularity. The only engine for the Terrain still in production at this point was the 1.5 liter engine. The exterior of the Terrain was redesigned once again in 2022, with more color options and a new front and rear. It was also around this time that the AT4, a new variant, was introduced. It was made to be more ideal for off-road driving, designed with Goodyear Sport Terrain Tires, special black rims. The third, and current generation of the GMC terrain began in 2025. The exterior now had a more rugged appearance, reminiscent of a truck. The new design for the grille also resembled GMC’s trucks. The Denali could also be sold in a two-tone paint job, a true rarity in the modern automobile industry, the roof could be black or gray. This newer Terrain also has a camera with as many as eight different camera angles, and 5G Wi-Fi. Not to mention a special grid on the windshield that can help melt ice away. Still being made today, it seems that it can only be speculated what new features or cosmetic changes the GMC Terrain will develop in the future. From two tone paint jobs in this modern era, to being a sort of hybrid between pickup trucks and SUVs, the Terrain truly is one of a kind. As Vice President of GMC sales and marketing, Duncan Aldred, said, “GMC’s strong growth over the past decade is due in large part to Terrain. The all-new Terrain builds on that success, leveraging GMC’s proven premium SUV experience to shake up the largest vehicle segment, with a strong blend of design, functionality, and engineering excellence.”

By: Craig McPherson This coming school year will see some significant changes for students. One of the biggest would be in their schedules with a brand new calendar. While there are a number of holidays that students now get days off for, such as Eid al-Fitr, which is important to Islamic culture, as well as the Wednesday after Memorial Day. However, to make up for these no longer being school days, the new calendar makes certain days of the year that otherwise would’ve been days off school days. These would include the days of the week in November that students previously got as a vacation. But why is this change happening, and how do students feel about these changes? The main reason that the school calendar is seeing any of these changes at all would be because of the wants of certain people in the community. Some that are of certain religions or nationalities have advocated for having school closed for certain holidays that school would have still been opened on previously. However, it is required by state law that the school year is composed of at least one hundred and eighty school days. In order to compensate for these new holidays away from school, the board has had to make additional changes so that the quote can still be maintained. This includes the first day of school being earlier, and the last day of school being later. As well as, mentioned before, the removal of the week off in November. When asked about these changes, Junior Sophia Verrios said, “I think they are for the worst, because they take away our fall break. Instead we get random holidays. These are breaks that students and teachers need. They won’t make summer break longer or anything like that either.” She feels that both students and staff of the school depend on longer breaks like the one we previously had in November for the sake of their well being. She also feels that the individual days off for other holidays do not make up for this. In conclusion though, one may disagree with these sentiments. Some may think that these changes are for the better, and prefer having more, separate days off. Whether or not these changes are for better or worse depends on the personal preferences of the individual.

By Medha Annam I hate glitter. Just putting on a glittery dress manages to get glitter all over my carpet, and no matter how hard I clean, the glitter trail lasts for months. But I love the sparkle, and I’m willing to deal with glittery crime scenes for a nice dress. With prom season coming around, I’m sure many of you have had to deal with your fair share of glittery dresses. Maybe you’ve been spending months looking for the perfect dress, one that lights up your face every time you wear it. Or, maybe you’re still undecided and need some tips. Well lucky for you, that’s exactly what I’ll be giving. According to Ladivine, corset dresses with structured shaping allow for a more extravagant look. Mermaid and trumpet styles are also in, as they offer a “dramatic impact.” As Ladivine says, “The focus is on clean lines with intentional drama.” (Picture to the right is from ALINANOVA). For fabrics, satin, silk, stretch velvet, glitter tulle, soft organza, and lace are perfect if you want something comfortable, that looks great, and photographs nicely! For colors, jewel tone prom dresses, neutral prom gowns, and metallics like gold and silver are a sure way to shine at prom. (Picture to the left is from STACEES). When asking students what they thought about prom dress trends, a majority said tight dresses and sparkly dresses were common, but that they also liked the look of flowy dresses as well. Fellow students also shared their excitement about prom, and how they were “excited to see everyone in their pretty dresses.” Others shared another view, saying how they moreover are excited about “getting ready for prom with my friends and taking pictures.” In the end, no matter what dress you buy or who you go with, don’t forget to bring one thing: confidence, because no dress is any good unless you act like it. Make sure you truly enjoy prom with the people you care about, whether that be while getting ready, or on the dance floor!

By: Medha Annam Green usually isn’t my color, but every March 17th it is. If you want to avoid a pinch to the arm, I’d suggest you do the same, for March 17th is Saint Patrick’s Day! While it may not be a federal holiday in the U.S., people here find the pinching tradition quite entertaining. The holiday is however a public holiday in Ireland, and many businesses and schools are closed on this day. There was a law until 1960, that required pubs to be closed on this day. However in 1995, the Irish government used St. Patrick’s day to encourage tourism and teach people about Irish culture. The holiday honors St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle while he was alive in the fifth century. Originating from Roman Britain, St. Patrick was kidnapped and served as a slave in Ireland when he was 16 years old. He was able to escape, however returned to Ireland, where he would spread Christianity. One legend says how he explained the Holy Trinity of Christianity (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of the shamrock. (Photo Credits: St. Patrick, stained-glass window in the Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California). From the 9th or tenth century, the Irish observed a Roman Catholic feast in St. Patrick’s honor. However, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade was in fact not in Ireland, but in North America on March 17th in 1601, in the then-Spanish Colony, St. Augustine, Florida. It had been set up by the colony’s Irish vicar, Ricardo Artur. The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in America was in 1762, when homesick Irish soldiers serving for the British military marched in New York City. From there, more and more big cities became excited to celebrate the day. As Irish patriotism grew, Irish aid societies developed, like the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the Hibernian Society. The societies held yearly parades that would have bagpipes, drums, and so on. In 1851, several of these societies combined their parades to create one official New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This parade is today one of the oldest civilian parades in the entire world, and the biggest in the U.S., with more than 150,000 participants and almost 3 million audience members. (Photo Credits: Kate Lord/New York University). So how did St. Patrick’s Day grow in the U.S.? Well in 1845, Ireland was struck with what is known as the Great Potato Famine, that resulted in about 1 million poor and uneducated Irish Catholics coming to the States. However, the immigrants were alienated from society because of their beliefs, and finding jobs was difficult for them. When Irish Americans celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in public, newspapers depicted them as drunk, violent monkeys. However, Irish Americans flooded politics due to their large immigration numbers. St. Patrick’s Day parades then became a symbol of strength for Irish Americans, and events that politicians would attend. In fact, in 1948, President Harry S. Truman attended NYC’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, showcasing the acceptance of Irish Americans after years of prejudice. As we know, St. Patrick’s day has many traditions across the States. For example, Chicago partakes in a tradition where they dye the Chicago River green in honor of the day. Originating in 1962, the dyes used to be used to trace illegal sewage discharges. However, they soon discovered that the dye would be a fun way to honor St. Patrick’s Day. People also celebrate with food, such as Irish soda bread, corned beef, cabbage, and colcannon (mashed potatoes with green onions, butter, and milk). (Photo Credits: Peter O'Toole/Shutterstock). Now, I'm sure you guys are curious about the oh-so popular leprechauns, and why you haven’t found that pot of gold yet. Well the Irish name for leprachauns is luchorpán, which translates to “small-bodied fellow,” and they stem from Celtic beliefs in fairies. They were known to be cranky figures that would mend the shoes of fairies. They also were infamous for their trickery, that they would use to protect their treasure. So…looks like that treasure will be hard to find. All-in-all, whether you celebrate or not, make sure you wear green…and that you don’t irritate any leprechauns. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all who celebrate!

By: Rhea Bhooshanam On April 17th, 18th, and 19th MTHS put on an excellent musical, known as Grease! Grease is a romantic musical that was released in 1978 about two teenagers, Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson, who fell in love over the summer. The musical includes many songs, dancing, and comedic portions. For our school musical, Danny was played by Peter Piccini, and Sandy was played by Emily Cuigini. Both actors shined in their roles and made the musical more interesting to watch. Every actor had their own wardrobe that made the audience feel like they were transported back to 1978. The makeup, hair, and costumes enhanced every character's role. The musical took place in the PAC, and lasted for about 2 hours and 30 minutes. One major item that Grease is known for is the car. The school musical had a red car that was a huge supplement to the play, being important in scenes like the movie drive in. The school musical also had interesting parts, that included waiters taking orders on roller skates, and a hand jive competition with phenomenal dancing. Each song of the musical would make you want to get up out of your seat and start dancing. Every scene of the musical was one you didn’t want to miss. With amazing actors and props, this musical will leave a lasting impression on you.

By: Craig McPherson The last ever Bentley Mulsanne built, for none other than the late Queen Elizabeth II herself (Credit: autoevolution). When it comes to British Luxury, Bentley, while not quite as popular as Rolls-Royce, is still highly beloved. For over a century, they have been innovating in luxury and speed. One of their most important models is also one of their most interesting. This is none other than the contemporary limousine; the Bentley Mulsanne. While it was discontinued in 2020, it would spend most of its run as the “flagship” model for Bentley. This is the story of the Mulsanne. Development of the Mulsanne first began in 2005. Early design concepts were created at the Bentley Design Studio in Crewe, England. It would have a completely new exterior design, powered by Bentley’s signature twin-turbo 6.75 liter V8 engine. The project was referred to as “Project Kimberley”, named after the Kimberly Diamond in South Africa. The result of this project was the original Mulsanne. The name Mulsanne comes from the Mulsanne Corner of the famous Le Mans race circuit, first introduced to the public at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2009. Production and sales would begin properly the next year. The Mulsanne stood out due to its steel monocoque, aluminum doors, fenders, and bonnet. The mighty, elegant body was created through a unique process called Superforming. This is when aluminum panels are heated at 500 degrees celsius, and the shape is created through air pressure afterwards. The variety of customization offered by the Mulsanne was truly obscene. Not only did it come in more than 100 different colors, it also had 24 different interior colors and 9 different types of wood for the interior. After 2 very successful years, Bentley would create the first upgrades for the Mulsanne in 2012. These special features would culminate in a sportier variant known as the Mulliner Driving Specification, where it had 21-inch alloy wheels, flying “B” wing vents, and a diamond-quilter leather trimmed cabin. They would also offer large tilt-opening tinted glass sunroofs and electric bottle coolers. In 2015, another variant would be introduced; the Mulsanne Speed. The Speed had a dark tint finish on the matrix-style grille, and more distinguished headlights. It was also Bentley’s first model to have a directional-style wheel and tire set. The wheels could rotate in a specific direction, improving speed and handling. In 2016, the Mulsanne was redesigned yet again. This time, it was given an extended wheelbase to add approximately 10 extra inches of legroom in the backseat area, as well as extending leg rests and a new sunroof that could be controlled by either the driver or passengers. 2019 would be the centennial anniversary of Bentley. To commemorate this, they created the Mulsanne W.O. Edition. This design was named after Walter Owen, the founder of the company. The design itself was inspired by Owen’s own car; a 1930 Bentley 8 liter sedan. Only 100 were made, and a measly 20 of them were sold in the United States. Unfortunately though, the Mulsanne’s time would come to an end by 2020. It would also be the final ever Bentley model to use the 6.75 liter engine, which they had been using since 1959. The Mulsanne’s lifespan may not have been the longest, but it certainly made its mark in the world of Bentley, and the greater world of British Automobiles. As the president and CEO of Bentley, Mark Del Rosso, said: “It is a slice of history in the truest sense, and a very special way of incorporating a genuine part of Bentley’s heritage into this very special car.”

In “Part I: Can AI Replace Teachers?” We dived deep into teachers’ impact on social skills. However, there is more to answering this question. How are students mental, soaffected? What are implications, and limitations to AI integration? Photo Credits: Arizona School Adopts AI to Replace Human Teachers.” TeckNexus, 20 Dec. 2024, tecknexus.com/arizona-school-adopts-ai-to-replace-human-teachers/. Human teachers are crucial for the social and emotional learning of students, and it’s irreplaceable by artificial intelligence. Dr. Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and an endowed chair in Social and Emotional Learning at the NoVo Foundation. She emphasizes the importance of teachers and their role in the social aptitude of students, “Teachers are the engine that drives social and emotional learning (SEL) programs and practices in schools and classrooms, and their own social-emotional competence and well-being strongly influence their students. Classrooms with warm teacher-child relationships support deep learning and positive social and emotional development among students” (Schonert-Reichl). Human teachers excel in developing a proper environment for students to learn social and emotional skills. This has a high impact on a student’s social aptitude as it fosters the initial development. Dr. Robert F. Murphy, PhD holder from Northwestern University in Human Development and Social Policy, and the head and owner of LFC research, discusses the complexity of teaching and how AI is incapable of replicating the same effect for students. “At the same time, teachers need to be able to think logically and apply common sense, compassion, and empathy to deal with the everyday non-academic issues and problems that arise in the classroom—abilities famously lacking in even the most advanced AI systems. In addition to providing students with opportunities to develop narrow procedural knowledge and skills across a range of content areas (something that AI is particularly good at), schools and teachers must support the development of the whole child and provide students with rich opportunities to develop higher-order critical thinking and communication skills, as well as important social and emotional skills and mindsets (such as interpersonal skills, self-efficacy, and resiliency)” (Murphy). AI is incapable of supporting a student’s development in their social aptitude, such as communication, interpersonal, and social skills. AI is also unable to replicate human-like social characteristics that are crucial for a learning environment, such as empathy and compassion. Specifically, when teachers have to handle non-academic problems with students in social environments, such as relationship issues and miscommunication. Therefore, artificial intelligence’s inability to create a social and emotional learning environment will hinder the development of a student’s social skills and altogether negatively impact their social aptitude. The possible replacement of teachers with artificial intelligence negatively impacts the social aptitude of students in America by hindering students’ ability to form relationships and insufficient social and emotional learning. Artificial intelligence as teachers would reduce the number of social interactions students have, ultimately impacting students' personal relationships and their ability to form connections. AI is also unable to replicate human-like social characteristics such as empathy and compassion, which is significant in a learning environment. AI is incapable of supporting a student’s development in communication, interpersonal, and social skills, which all make up their social aptitude. Overall, artificial intelligence greatly affects students’ social aptitude negatively. To ensure artificial intelligence benefits students, “Both humans and AI need to adapt to ensure the successful integration of technology in education” (Fitria), as stated by Fitria, English lecturer and academic researcher at ITB AAS Indonesia. Artificial intelligence isn’t at the current stage to replace teachers, as the negatives outweigh the benefits. Moreover, artificial intelligence is incapable of replicating a social and emotional learning environment, possesses and leverages human-like social characteristics, and supports a student’s ability to form relationships. Artificial intelligence needs to develop greatly before it can support a teacher’s job, taking into account relationship building and creating a suitable social and emotional learning environment for students. Likewise, humans must adapt to artificial intelligence integration to ensure success in the learning environment, specifically in developing the students’ social aptitude. However, the path for smooth integration is still new and widely unknown. Overall, Artificial intelligence negatively impacts a student’s social aptitude, and AI requires great development to support the education of American students. AI may be helpful in many aspects of life including education. However, human teachers are essential to help students grow socially throughout school. What is your take on AI’s ability to replace teachers? Fitria, Tira Nur. “The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED): Can Ai Replace the Teacher’s Role? | Epigram.” Research Gate, Oct. 2023, jurnal.pnj.ac.id/index.php/epigram/article/view/5711. Murphy, Robert F. Artificial Intelligence Applications to Support K–12 Teachers and Teaching: A Review of Promising Applications, Opportunities, and Challenges. RAND Corporation, 2019. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep19907 Schonert-Reichl, Kimberly A. “Social and Emotional Learning and Teachers.” The Future of Children, vol. 27, no. 1, 2017, pp. 137–55. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44219025.

Can AI replace teachers? If AI does, what are consequences? Let’s dive into the real implications and consequences of AI teachers and possibly a solution to this future issue? Photo Credits: “Can Ai Replace Teachers? We Finally Know the Answer.” eSpark, 1 Feb. 2024, www.esparklearning.com/blog/can-ai-replace-teachers-we-finally-know-the-answer/. Social skills, as defined by the APA Dictionary of Psychology, are “a set of learned abilities that enable an individual to interact competently and appropriately in a given social context. The most commonly identified social skills in Western cultures include assertiveness, coping, communication and friendship-making skills, interpersonal problem solving, and the ability to regulate one’s cognitions, feelings, and behavior” (APA Dictionary of Psychology). Social skills are learned through daily interactions and context, which is highly influenced by schools, specifically teachers, in America. Teachers shape the social aptitude of their students and create sufficient environments to develop them. Artificial intelligence is sufficient in providing concise information, and having procedural knowledge across different fields. However, artificial intelligence is incapable of replicating an environment to support the development of social skills of students like human teachers. The social aptitude of students in America could be negatively impacted by the possible replacement of teachers with artificial intelligence because it hinders students’ ability to form relationships and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills for students. If students learn from artificial intelligence instead of teachers, it can hinder their development of their social aptitude. As discussed by Tara Garcia Matthewson, an investigative journalist and a Spencer Fellow at Columbia University, “Seeking human help doesn’t only leave students with the resolution to a single problem, it gives them a connection to another person. And that person, down the line could become a friend, a mentor, or a business partner”(Matthewson). When students interact with humans in an academic setting, they form lasting relationships that extend beyond the solution to a question. These relationships shape a student’s social aptitude and skills. The connections could significantly help, impact one, or hold great power in one’s life, such as future mentors or business partners. Matthewson also cites Dr. Daniel Chambliss, retired sociologist from Hamilton College, coauthor of How College Works, and PhD holder from Yale University, who believes AI isolates students from social interactions, “AI-driven chatbots make it too easy to avoid interactions that can lead to important relationships. As students increasingly turn to artificial intelligence for help and even casual conversation, Chambliss predicted it will isolate people even more: ‘it’s one more place where they won’t have a personal relationship’” (Matthewson). If artificial intelligence were to replace teachers, it would reduce the number of social interactions students have, ultimately impacting students' personal relationships and their ability to form connections. This isolation prevents students from interacting with their mentors or teachers, which leads to important human relationships. AI gives a platform for students to avoid social interactions, ultimately hurting their personal relationships. Blanka Klimova, professor and researcher at Univerzita Hradec Králové, also discusses that AI negatively impacts social skills and interactions, “Over-reliance on AI for communication, especially in recreational contexts, may reduce face-to-face social interactions, negatively impacting interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. Students may become more isolated and less adept at real-world social interactions and teamwork, which are critical to their overall social well-being and development” (Klimova et al). As a result, if AI replaces teachers, it would minimize student-teacher connections and peer relationships. The reduction of social interaction also negatively impacts their emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, which are crucial in forming relationships, their social aptitude, and are necessary for teamwork and real-world connections. However, students are unable to practice forming relationships and interacting with others in AI teaching environments. In all, AI teachers negatively impact students’ ability to form connections, which altogether negatively impacts their overall social aptitude. We dived deep into teachers’ impact on social skills, but there is more to answering this question. Want to learn more about the implications and limitations of AI integration, read part II. “APA Dictionary of Psychology.” American Psychological Association, 19 Apr. 2018, dictionary.apa.org/social-skills. Garcia Matthewson, Tara “AI Is Helping Students Be More Independent, but the Isolation Could Be Concerning.”, The Markup, 16 July 2025, https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/3248343402. Klimova, Blanka, and Marcel Pikhart. “Exploring the Effects of Artificial Intelligence on Student and Academic Well-Being in Higher Education: A Mini-Review.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 16, no. 16, 3 Feb. 2025, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11830699/,https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1498132

Written by Aryan Srinivasan Co-Edited by Srujan Patil On December 5th of the ‘25-’26 school year, the MTHS PLTW Honors Engineering Capstone Class held their mid-year presentations in the school cafeteria. A total of seven teams presented in front of a panel of judges that consisted of Executive Board Members from the district and Monroe Education Foundation, professional engineers, professors, and MTHS alumni. These teams put in the hard work to identify, research, and validate a problem of their choosing over the course of three months. The result? They compiled months of research, including past patents, professional advice, and real-life observations, into one presentation that summed up their justification for developing their product and attacking their problem. After presentations concluded, the judges commented their thoughts on the various problems and advised each team on how to improve for the end-of-year presentations held in June. Currently, all teams are preparing for this June presentation by developing and testing their actual prototypes, which will be showcased to professional judges at the end-of-year presentations. MTHS students presented the following presentations in order starting at 8:30 AM on the day of the event: The Asphalt Effect Rolling Remedies Countertop Conundrum Don’t Go the Distance Project Protheon Project Struct-Secure Umbrella Pandemonium Not only were the projects innovative, but they were incredibly promising. The next generation of engineers are being crafted at MTHS, by these students right here. The event turned out to be very successful, with outstanding turnout from professionals in the industry, MTHS alumni, current students, and district administrators and supervisors. MTHS was able to secure a distinguished panel of judges for this event, and the PLTW Honors Engineering Capstone class pays a special tribute to the following attendees: Mrs. Gazala Bohra (Monroe Board of Education Member) Mr. Steven Riback (The President of the Monroe Education Foundation) Mr. Frank Bannon & Mr. John Katranksy (Engineers from Nokia Bell Labs) Mrs. Lavanya Komala (Software Engineer) Shaan Jabbal (MTHS Alumni & Mechanical Engineering student at Rutgers) Dr. Thomas Bennert (Rutgers CAIT) The judges played a significant role in assessing the presentations and providing unique feedback to help the groups improve before the end-of-year presentations. District advisors also showed up to the event to support MTHS students. Acting superintendent Dr. Adam Layman, Director of School Counseling and Student Support Services Dr. James Cernansky, and Director of Innovative and Community Programs, Equity and Careers Technology, Mr. Zachary Morolda were all present at the teams’ presentations. For a comprehensive review of the event, check out the link below and show support to your fellow MTHS students! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrqG2K0z8gY Overall, the MTHS PLTW Honors Engineering Capstone mid-year presentations served as major progress for the aspiring engineers in the class and a huge success in innovating solutions to growing issues in modern day. The participants pay a special thanks to Mrs. Vanitha Gaurishanker for facilitating the class and the presentations. To support your classmates further, stay tuned for the end-of-year presentations where the participants will share their working prototypes with a distinguished panel of judges on June 15, 2026!

By: Rhea Bhooshanam New Flowers will bloom in the new season! (Photo Credit: https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/home-lifestyle/gardening/g35511393/spring-flowers/) Spring is coming up and there are mixed opinions about the upcoming season. With the new weather it brings new opportunities and beginnings, but it also brings more tests and soon, finals. Many students are looking at the positives of spring, which is the warmer weather and spring break. This past winter has been long and extremely cold, bringing snowfall almost every week. With the warmer weather students can get out of the house and participate in outdoor activities. Although 2 days of spring break have been removed due to the inclement weather, students are looking forward to having free days or even going on vacation. But with the change in weather brings the end of the school year, which means finals and more tests. Teachers are beginning to start the last few topics of the year which means students need to start studying for the final test of the year. Students aren’t looking forward to this part of the year because it means more studying which isn’t a favored task. All in all, spring is a time for new beginnings. We can get out of our house and participate in many activities but also, focus and study hard for the last stretch of this school year.