Cry of the Hawk

2025-26 Sport Recap

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:11:46 +0000

Little Hawks Preschoolers Take Their First Big Step

Danielle Martinez, Op-Ed Editor — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:08:31 +0000

Smiling proudly in tiny caps and gowns, dozens of preschoolers celebrated their graduation from The Little Hawks preschool in May, marking an important milestone in their early education. North Harford High’s CDA portfolio students worked hard to make the experience unforgivable for both the preschoolers and the parents. From the green and gold decorations to the superlatives, the students worked hard making every detail count. Throughout the 2025-2026 school year, the students worked closely alongside Child growth and development teacher Mrs.Fries to plan,prep, and teach. The preschoolers were taught basic building skills needed for the beginning of their academic careers, like art, science, math, reading, and more. Mrs. Fries stated “Working with preschoolers is a challenging task. As students are constantly growing and learning, they should continue to use these experiences to evolve as educators”. In coming students often suffer from getting used to the layout and cycle that comes with joining the CDA program. Mrs. Fries states “Incoming students primarily struggle with the workload and the transition into a leadership load”. During graduation, juniors and seniors worked hard to finish their final capstone project. The two years they spent working with the preschoolers came down to this moment in which they would finish their journey with the children and lead the way for incoming students. Having experience with children before becoming a teacher helps you understand their behavior, learning styles, and how to communicate with them effectively. It also builds important skills like patience, confidence, and classroom management. Overall, it prepares you for the challenges of teaching and helps you decide if the career is right or not. Mrs. Fries says “Participating in this program allows high school students to determine if this is a career path they wish to pursue before investing in college courses. It provides a comprehensive look at teaching, including lesson planning, preparation, adhering to guidelines, active instruction, and behavior management.” Whether its wanting to go into the teaching field or working with children in other fields, having the opportunity to work on creating bonds with children allows for that extra time to grow and learn how and why children act the way they do, and helps students have time to see what it would feel like to work with children in a preschool setting. Junior Liz Gizinski states “ I think my group did very well, as well as the entire class did as well, and we got what we needed to get done efficiently.” she continues “ we got our goals achieved, my group was mainly in charge of the superlatives and flowers.” Although graduation went really well, some students thought there might be room for improvement. Junior Kate states “ I feel like everything went very well, the only thing I would add on would be to have a practice run with the kids, so they weren’t breaking down and crying beforehand.” Gizinski states “ probably practicing the graduation walk through with the preschoolers, because there was a lot of improvising as they were walking on stage to get their flowers some didn’t know they were supposed to walk on the bridge.” Junior Danielle Martinez states “I think everything went perfect, although some things could have been done a lot better like maybe decorating, overall it was perfect. I will miss girls Emma Casey and Delilah Rittershofer”. Overall, graduation was the final goal, and they accomplished it as stated by Mrs. Fries “ I felt incredibly proud. I am proud of the high school students who have shown immense growth in their confidence and abilities as student teachers over the last three years. They successfully took on the challenge of hosting the graduation through consistent hard work. I am also proud of our preschoolers, who have demonstrated significant development from the beginning of the year to the end.”

We Are Living for the Post Instead of the Moment

Adriana Ebberts, News Editor — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:06:22 +0000

Imagine going to a concert. The lights go down, the music starts, and thousands of people pull out their phones. Instead of singing, dancing, or simply enjoying the experience, many are focused on recording it. The question is no longer, “Am I having fun?” but rather, “Will this get likes?”

Social media has transformed the way we communicate, learn, and connect with others. It has allowed people to stay in touch across continents, discover new opportunities, and share their voices with the world. However, while social media offers many benefits, it has also quietly changed the way we experience our everyday lives. More and more, people, especially teenagers are living for the post instead of the moment.

One of the biggest problems is the pressure to present a perfect life. Scroll through any social media feed, and you’ll find carefully edited photos, exciting vacations, expensive purchases, and seemingly flawless friendships. What is often missing are the ordinary moments, the struggles, and the imperfections that make up real life. As a result, many young people compare their behind-the-scenes reality to someone else’s highlight reel. This comparison can create feelings of insecurity, anxiety, and inadequacy.

Social media has also turned experiences into performances. A sunset is no longer just a sunset, it is content. A meal is not simply eaten, it is photographed. Instead of fully participating in our lives, we sometimes become spectators of our own experiences, constantly thinking about how they will appear online. While sharing memories can be meaningful, there is a difference between capturing a moment and missing it entirely

Although social media is not the sole cause of these issues, it can amplify them. Constant exposure to other people’s achievements, appearances, and lifestyles can make users feel as though they are falling behind. The pressure to maintain an online presence can become exhausting, turning what was designed to be a tool for connection into a source of stress.

Some may argue that social media simply reflects society rather than shaping it. While there is truth to this idea, it ignores the enormous influence these platforms have on behavior. Social media algorithms are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible. They reward attention-grabbing content and encourage constant interaction. The more time people spend online, the less time they often spend engaging with the world around them.

This does not mean that social media should be abandoned entirely. In fact, it can be an incredible tool when used intentionally. It allows people to raise awareness about important issues, stay informed about current events, and build communities with others who share their interests. The problem is not the existence of social media itself but the role it has begun to play in our lives.

The solution starts with awareness. We need to become more mindful of how and why we use social media. Instead of reaching for our phones at every opportunity, we should challenge ourselves to be fully present. At a concert, listen to the music. At dinner with friends, focus on the conversation. During a beautiful sunset, take a moment to appreciate it before thinking about posting it online. Memories are often more meaningful when they are experienced firsthand rather than filtered through a screen.

Technology will continue to evolve, and social media is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. However, we still have the power to decide how much control it has over our lives. The greatest moments are not always the ones that receive the most likes, comments, or shares. They are the moments that make us laugh, learn, grow, and connect with the people around us.

If we want to build healthier relationships with ourselves and others, we must remember an important truth: life is not meant to be performed for an audience. It is meant to be lived. The sooner we stop measuring our experiences by their online value, the sooner we can start appreciating them for what they truly are—a collection of real moments that no number of likes can ever replace.

Bring back the iPod

Adriana Ebberts, News Editor — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:04:18 +0000

I know this might sound ridiculous in 2026, but I genuinely think we should bring the iPod back.

Every year, phones become more advanced. They can stream movies, run countless apps, and connect us with people around the world in seconds. But while all of those features are impressive, I think we’ve lost something important along the way: simplicity.

When I listen to music on my phone, I’m almost never just listening to music. A text message pops up. A social media notification appears. Suddenly I’m checking Instagram, watching videos, and completely forgetting about the song I originally wanted to hear. My phone constantly demands my attention, and I don’t think I’m the only one who feels that way.

That’s why the iPod was so great.

An iPod had one job: play music. That’s it. It wasn’t trying to sell me something, send me notifications, or keep me scrolling for hours. It let me focus on the music itself. Looking back, that seems surprisingly refreshing.

Some people might argue that carrying a separate device is inconvenient. I disagree. We already carry things like earbuds, chargers, watches, and laptops. Having a small device dedicated to music isn’t unreasonable, especially if it helps reduce screen time and distractions.

I also think music felt more personal during the iPod era. People carefully chose the songs they downloaded and organized their playlists. Today, streaming services give us access to millions of songs, which is amazing, but sometimes having endless choices makes music feel less meaningful. Instead of appreciating an album, we often skip through tracks after only a few seconds.

Most importantly, bringing back iPods could encourage people to disconnect. Teenagers today spend hours on their phones every day. While technology isn’t necessarily bad, I think many of us would benefit from having one thing in our lives that isn’t connected to social media, notifications, or endless scrolling.

I’m not saying we should get rid of smartphones. They’re useful and necessary in modern life. But I do think there is room for a device that does one thing and does it well. In a world where everything competes for our attention, the iPod offered something rare: a chance to just listen.

Maybe bringing back the iPod isn’t about nostalgia. Maybe it’s about realizing that sometimes simpler really is better.

Teachers Academy of America,

Elizabeth Tompkins, News Editor — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:02:35 +0000

The NRAS ( Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences) is not the only magnet program at North Harford Highschool that draws attention. While the NRAS program definitely gains more students due to its broad advertising, many branches and distinct attractions such as the animals and barn, the TAM program is just as outstanding in its own niche. The TAM program at North Harford, run by Mrs.Goldberg, is an outstanding program for high school students meant to teach them every step in becoming a future educator. It is a four year program with four key courses and a final closure class in senior year similar to capstone for NRAS students in 12th grade. Students in the program spend lots of time throughout their first three years of high school building internships in 12th grade which is a placement with a teacher at a school in the system, with their grade of choice. This gives them real life experience and is the cumulative preparation for the program’s future educators. Shelby Fisher, rising Junior, and student at North Harford that is a dedicated member in the program here, shared, “As a member, I would recommend being in TAM. Even if you don’t know what you want to do, that’s okay, but if you want to work with kids, I suggest TAM because it shows how our brain works in and out of the classroom. Being TAM has helped me make new friendships, grow and challenge myself, and learn how to speak in public. TAM has also taught me to succeed through pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.” enthusiastically. Fisher has been involved in the program for its 9th grade class “Human growth and Development”, and its 10th grade class, “Teaching as a Profession” as she heads towards the 11th grade class “Foundations of Curriculum Instruction”, before 12th grade internships. Students Brooke Raab and Mackenzie Sample-Thomas are also members in the program and rising juniors at North harford who have loved the program so far, and have acquired advice to share for any interested or upcoming student’s. Raab states, “I would recommend it if you know you want to be a teacher, and if you’re really dedicated because once you join you’re committed for the four years… this is usually a career path many follow who are interested in learning how to be a teacher” as Sample-Thomas exclaimed how, “Teaching builds the great minds of the United States for centuries to come. So it is important that people who join are truly dedicated” with pride. The TAM program here at North Harford may be niche to many, but it certainly is not laid out to have a niche impact. Students who enter the program at North harford, and its program at Harford tech Highschool as well as Edgewood Highschool are truly the future of America as they are the educators that shape minds of generations to come.

Across Oceans,

Adriana Ebberts, News Editor — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:01:10 +0000

This year, North Harford High School welcomed exchange students from around the world, giving students and staff the opportunity to learn about different cultures and perspectives. Two of these students, juniors Mira Koch from Germany and Remember Mesiun from Liberia, shared their experiences of living in Maryland and attending an American high school.

For Koch, arriving in the United States was both exciting and overwhelming. “It was at the airport and it was pretty chaotic,” she said. Despite the busy first impression, she quickly felt at home. “My host family is super nice and I really like this school and everything, and I think it was really a good experience.”

One of the biggest surprises for Mira was Maryland’s unique culture. She laughed while describing the state’s famous seafood and unpredictable weather. “Maybe the crabs and the weather. It’s like bipolar weather,” she said. She also discovered a love for American foods, especially peanut butter and crab cakes. “Peanut butter is the best thing ever,” she added.

School life in America was also very different from what she was used to in Germany. Koch noted that locker policies, dress codes, and even bathroom passes were unusual compared to her home country, where students can simply ask their teacher to leave the classroom. When asked about her favorite part of the experience, Koch didn’t mention a specific place or event. Instead, she focused on the people she met. “Everyone is so nice and friendly, and it doesn’t matter where you’re from. You’re part of the community,” she said. She also praised North Harford’s teachers, calling them “really cool.”

Although she is excited to return home and enjoy German food again, Koch knows there are things she will miss. Maryland’s crab cakes top the list, and she says the experience has changed her perspective on life. “It changed my personality and gave me a different perspective because you’re exposed to so many different things.” She hopes to return to America someday and says she would “definitely” come back.

Mesiun, an exchange student from Liberia, had a different journey but shared many of the same positive feelings. Before arriving in the United States, she tried not to form too many expectations. “I knew we were going to experience some culture shock,” she said. “I was just praying to God to take control over everything here.”

One of the first things that stood out to Mesiun was the level of development in Maryland. “The way people build houses and how everything is accessible here” surprised her because conditions in Liberia are very different.

School in America also presented many new experiences. Unlike North Harford, schools in Liberia do not typically have lunchrooms, lockers, or class changes throughout the day. “We just have our backpack to school every day and we don’t change classes,” she explained. Mesiun’s favorite memories include playing basketball and spending time with her host family. She especially enjoyed traveling around the region, including trips from Maryland to Delaware.

When Mesiun returns home, she looks forward, “To see my family and friends in good health and to share my experience with them and tell them about America.”

There are also parts of American life that she knows she will miss. Pancakes became her favorite American food, saying, “I’m going to miss pancakes” and basketball was her favorite activity. “I’m really going to miss playing basketball too,” she said.

Like Koch, Mesiun believes the exchange program helped her grow as a person, saying, “It really changed me a lot because it helped me do a lot of new things and meet a lot of people from new countries.”

The experiences of Koch and Mesiun show the value of cultural exchange programs. While they came from different countries and backgrounds, both students found welcoming communities, new friendships, and opportunities to learn. Their stories remind us that learning can happen both inside and outside the classroom, and that sharing cultures helps bring people together.

New Class debuts at North Harford

Sarah Summerfield, Chief Editor — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:59:54 +0000

Starting next school year, a new class will be debuting at North Harford. The Career Connections Learning program (CCL) is preparing for an exciting year as students take on the challenge of running a real, student‑operated business. Designed to blend classroom learning with hands‑on experience, the program gives students the opportunity to build workplace skills while still having the support of a classroom teacher. Since this is the first time the class will be available, it is only being piloted with agriculture students or marketing students. Floral and plant science teacher Mr. Todd Stewart and business teacher Mr. Eugene Liebel are partnering up to mix their skills together.

Liebel explains exactly what his role will be next year. “Mine and Mr. Stewart’s role is basically being the supervisors of an active business. But it’s also to mentor students and make business decisions to get this business up and running.” He anticipates that through real‑world customer engagement, students will learn how to communicate effectively, understand what drives sales, and practice marketing strategies that help the business grow.

Because the business is brand new, challenges are expected. Liebel acknowledges that the team will likely face obstacles they can’t predict yet, but he sees this as an important part of the learning process. “Since [the program] is brand new, we’re going to run into roadblocks that we don’t even know are out there yet. But that’s part of running the business as well. You can’t really predict the job until you start doing it.”

On the other hand, there is lots to be excited about when it comes to this next class. “I think it’s going to be great to get customer interaction,” says Liebel. “It helps students learn how to interact with customers and how to market to new customers and increase sales.  ”

By the end of the year, the goal is for the business to become profitable, but profitability isn’t the only measure of success. The true purpose of the program is to give students meaningful, hands‑on experience that builds confidence and teaches them how to work in a professional setting. Stewart and Liebel hope that by the time students complete the program, they will walk away with practical skills and real‑world knowledge that will benefit them long after the school year ends.

North Harford Hawks leave the nest

Sarah Summerfield, Chief Editor — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:57:52 +0000

On May 29, North Harford seniors left the hawks nest. Graduation was held in Harford Community College’s arena, and was the 11th HCPS school to walk the stage. Students receive their diplomas and prepare to head off into a new chapter.

First, during graduation, students entered and sat in their assigned place. After a greeting from Principal Mr. Micheal Quigg, the Senior Class President, Patrick Green presented his prepared speech. A few remarks later, Co-valedictorians Angelina Ramos and Kendall Chandler. Salutatorian Samantha Hawk led the tassel turn.

Ramos in particular, knew exactly what she wanted to say when up on stage. “When I started writing [my speech], I could only really think of the people who made it all possible for me to succeed,” she starts. “I decided to dedicate it to my parents since they were the ones to inspire me.” Her counterpart Chandler also has a pretty clear vision of what she wanted her speech to look like. “I knew I wanted to talk about my Lord and savior Jesus Christ because I would not have made it through high school without Him,” she shares. “ I also knew that I wanted to be honest with everyone, not just sharing cliches but being vulnerable and speaking words of truth and life over the audience.”

While reflecting on the day as a whole, graduates share their favorite memories. “One of the most enjoyable parts from that day was taking pictures with everyone before and after,” explains Ramos. “I loved seeing everyone!” Chandler agrees that being surrounded by friends made the day extra special. “My favorite memories from the day were all really sweet moments of getting to pray bold prayers with people who have impacted my life significantly—one of my best friends from FCA drove to my house while I was getting ready for graduation to surprise me.”

Now that seniors have officially walked the stage, the majority are taking a second to reflect on what they learned throughout high school. “I think high school has prepared me well academically for college because I maintained a challenging course load throughout my four years which will hopefully make the transition to college classes smooth,” says Chandler. Outside of academics, Ramos is grateful or the friendships that she will take with her. “high school taught me consistency and gave me some of my best friends,” she remarks. I know [they] will continue to cheer me on even when we aren’t together.”

Now that seniors have officially walked the stage, majority are taking a second to reflect on what they learned throughout high school. “I think high school has prepared me well academically for college because I maintained a challenging course load throughout my four years which will hopefully make the transition to college classes smooth,” says Chandler. Outside of academics, Ramos is grateful or the friendships that she will take with her. “high school taught me consistency and gave me some of my best friends,” she remarks. I know [they] will continue to cheer me on even when we aren’t together.”

Baseball team hopes to continue success

Sarah Summerfield, Chief Editor — Tue, 26 May 2026 12:37:36 +0000

Nearing the end of the season, North Harford baseball has positioned itself firmly in winning territory. After last year’s memorable “blonde brigade,” the Hawks are hoping for another deep postseason run — ideally without the bleach this time around.

Senior Collin Kight is confident the team can keep its momentum. “I hope that we can get to regionals again, and maybe even states too,” he says. Junior Nathaniel Burd shares that ambition. “I’m looking forward to [making] another run deep into the playoffs but trying to get a state championship this time.”

With last year’s success still fresh, expectations are high. “There is a set standard that we will go all the way,” Burd adds. Junior Jedd Carll remains optimistic despite the pressure: “It will all be okay in the end.”

For many players, the best part of the season has been the team chemistry. Kight says his favorite thing is “playing and having fun with the team.” Carll agrees, simply adding, “Having fun with the team.” Burd values the atmosphere the most: “The team atmosphere and when all the boys are getting along, on and off the field.” Junior Luke Gantt echoes that sentiment. “I enjoy the team connection that we have, and it makes it fun every day going out on the field,” he says.

Gantt, a new addition to the varsity roster, has quickly made his mark — including one of the lowest ERAs in the state. He explains what the season has been like so far as a new pitcher. “My experience has been really good. Going to middle school at North Harford helped me already get to know all the players.”

Looking ahead, several Hawks hope baseball remains part of their future. Burd says his motivation comes from what’s next: “[What motivates me is] what’s ahead. My goal is to go to college baseball one day, so I will keep working to get there.” Gantt shares a similar vision. “The compassion I have for the game motivates me, and since I really like baseball I hope to continue playing in college.”

Although there are a lot of other strong high school teams in the state, NH players have the drive to not let that get in their way. “We have nothing to worry about,” says Carll. “We rock!”

FFA Career Development Events,

Elizabeth Tompkins, News Editor — Tue, 26 May 2026 12:36:39 +0000

On Saturday, March 28th, North Harford FFA ( Future Farmers of America) members competed in many Career Development Events at the Maryland Spring Judging of 2026. All of the teams were very accomplished, and two teams, Food Science ( Blakley Jackanicz, Khloe Buettner, Shane Whaley, Kayla Chewing, and Bonnie Parker) and Nursery/Landscape (Sammie Hawk, Auna Walker, Jack Miklos, and Emilie Coogan), placed first for North Harford. Other major accomplishments, such as individual high achievers for the state include Eirabella Tapia, on the Vet Science team, who placed sixth in the state individually, Grayson Whaley who placed eighth in the state as an individual on the Milk Quality and Products team, on the Meat Evaluation team Emily Troyer who placed sixth individually in the state, and Maddi Thomas that placed tenth individually in the state. On the Nursery/Landscape team, Sammie Hawk placed first individually in the state, while Auna Walker placed second, Jack Miklos placed third and Emilie Coogan placed sixth. Finally for the Food Science team, Blakeley Jackanicz placed first individually in the state, while Khloe Buetter placed fifth, and Shane Whaley placed tenth. All of the performing teams accomplished outstanding ranks, and teams who earned first place will have the opportunity to compete at National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in the upcoming fall season. Senior this year, returning competitor food science member of the Food Science team and second time achiever of first in the state, Blakeley Jackanicz, shared how, “CDE stands for Career Development Event and is one of the 2 main competitions our FFA competes in, the other is LDEs (Leadership Development Events) which are public speaking events. To prepare for Food Science specifically, we practiced general knowledge of food processing and the science behind it, math for calculation of things like calories, serving sizes, nutrition labels etc. as well as identifying different scents…” To know all of this knowledge takes lots of preparation, and that they did. While Jackanicz won a spot in nationals among many others, she decided to give up her spot for, “ our individual (Khloe Buettner) to have the opportunity to compete on the team and nationally, she came in 5th place and was the 2nd highest rank for North Harford!” she exclaimed. Being on a team means not only winning as a team but accomplishing as one and a decision such as this is just a part of what makes all of North Harford’s FFA competitors winners no matter rank as individuals. Sophomore, and sixth place individual winner on the Vet Science team, Eirabella Tapia stated, “this is my first time competing in a CDE, and honestly my first time competing in a competition of this scale in general. I honestly really enjoyed my experience, and I’m super proud of myself for having scored so high! I know I’ll be shooting for a higher placement next year though,- top five here I come!” From a new competitor, Tapia worked so hard to study and prepare for this accomplishment and it was worth it overall for her, not only academically. “For me, { what I loved most} was probably just getting to know new people. I usually don’t talk with new people unless they interact with me first, but CDEs worked as a good icebreaker for me since it didn’t feel as awkward- we were all on the same team together, might as well get to know each other and have fun, y’know!” exclaimed Tapia. Overall, many accomplishments occurred academically and socially from this competition and more is yet to come as many travel to nationals later this year. FFA competitions such as these not only show how bright and hardworking North Harford’s students are but also open doors to meet new people and grow as individuals, and as teams, which is an accomplishment for them no matter what in the end.