• No School - Spring Break - Mar.14 - Mar.18
  • No School - Spring Vacation Day - April 15
  • HS Theatre Spring Show - April 8-9
  • End of 3rd Quarter - Mar. 31
  • HS One Act Plays- April 13 at 7pm
  • No School - Prof. Development Day - April 25
The student voice of Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio

The Leaf

The student voice of Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio

The Leaf

The student voice of Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio

The Leaf

Allyson Bonhaus

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief

Hello! My name is Allyson (Ally) Bonhaus and this is my fourth and final year on the staff of The Leaf. This year I am the Editor in Chief, which means I oversee everything that goes on basically and gives me an excuse to learn about managing a paper and a website, drawing people to read your material, and much more. I am fueled by my desire to publish the best paper, but also by the inspiring individuals on staff who make up a better staff than I could dream up. Last year we won the National PaceMaker Prize and have been a SNO Distinguished Site for many years running. I have been taught how to be a part of a functioning team, as well as become versed in using Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. My experiences as a part of this stellar staff have taught me many things about myself and the world. Before entering the hollowed door of room 115 I did not concern myself much with current events and now a day is not complete without checking the news. Through this class, I have developed my sense of the world and my passion for being an involved citizen. My convictions in politics and social issues was found and grew in room 115. These passions were further cultivated at Women Writing for a Change. This organization sparked my personal growth as a feminist and helped me grow into the adult that I am today. Graduating the Young Feminist Leadership Academy (YFLA) last year was a huge growing moment for me into my identity as a feminist and leader. Taking part in YFLA with some of my role models was a great experience on my path of intersectional feminism. Furthermore, as you may guess from the title of Women Writing for a change, my interests in writing extend past journalism. I have been pursuing creative writing since I was a child. As for my other interests, I would be remiss without mentioning mock trial. I have been a part of the team since my freshman year, serving as both witness and attorney. At the start of this school year I competed in the Empire Mock Trial competition in Atlanta, Georgia which was an emotionally trying time but also some of the most fun I have had with my fellow mockers. Mock trial has been a third parent (or maybe fourth after journalism) helping me in public speaking and understanding complex cases and case law. Trying to fill the most enormous shoes, I am President of Book Club, which the last Executive Editor founded (aka the person with huge feet). Through this experience I have learned (and am learning) how to entice people to read with food. (It was also the founder of this club who taught me that Chipotle is excellent to pair with sending the paper to the publisher.) Through my high school years, this club has broadened my taste in books and my overall knowledge as we dealt with some heavy reading. I have learned, not unlike a teacher, how to prompt discussions along and stretch horizons with books out of the norm. I would include some of my favorite books but then this profile may never end. Additionally, I am a part of the Ambassadors Club (we volunteer at school events) and National Honor Society. Finally, I have learned, as you might expect in the publishing business, that “success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill’s words ring even in room 115. Thank you and congratulations to all who reached the end of this profile.

All content by Allyson Bonhaus
Anushri Menon, 12

Anushri Menon, 12

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief
April 29, 2019
John Elder Robison

John Elder Robison

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief
April 8, 2019
Teddy Weng, 12

Teddy Weng, 12

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief
March 28, 2019
BANG THE GAVEL. Pictured are the two teams from last year, both of which moved on to the quarterfinals. “I am excited about our opportunity to give an oral argument to a judge, especially about a topic as interesting as the second amendment,” said Teddy Weng, 12, Moot Court member.

Future lawyers look to appeal

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief
March 22, 2019
STRIKE A POSE. English teacher and Varsity AQT coach Mrs. Laura Newton poses with her plaque declaring her the GMC Coach of the Year for AQT.  Newton looks forward to seeing the team compete on April 6 at Regionals. “It was exciting… I like coaching AQT so I don’t really need the accolades but it was fun,” Newton said in response to her reaction to winning the spot.

What do you know?

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief
March 13, 2019
READY TO CHANGE THE WORLD. Senior Shayna Kling puts in the effort to help her community at every turn, from Ambassadors Club to National Honor Society as well as outside of school, she does whatever she can. “She wants to make the most of every minute of life. She just feels like if shes not doing anything that she’s not living up to her full potential,” said Ms. Rose Mitchell, SHS counselor.

One from 95,000

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief
March 4, 2019
Nandita Kulkarni, 12

Nandita Kulkarni, 12

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief
February 19, 2019
Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison

Allyson Bonhaus, Executive Editor
February 15, 2019
Swati Bhageria, 12

Swati Bhageria, 12

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief
January 11, 2019
WHOSE CHOICE? Multiple other states have tried to pass and enforce heartbeat bills and their lawsuits are pending on their constitutionality. With a conservative-leaning Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade is in danger of becoming void. “In my opinion, there should be less strict regulation on the timeline of abortions considering it’s the mothers’ own body and her own choice,” said Lydia Cooke, 12.

Ohio House Bill 258

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor-in-Chief
December 17, 2018
CONCENTRATE. Sophomore Arvind Prasad focuses on the board as time winds down. He is Board One and was his freshman year too, though team members are allowed to challenge each other to get a higher board number. “The seasons going pretty well. It’s crazy that this is my last year of chess because I’ve played it all four years of high school,” said Nandita Kulkarni, 12.

Chess season hits timer

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor-in-Chief
December 3, 2018
Ginevra Pascale, 10

Ginevra Pascale, 10

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor-in-Chief
November 27, 2018

KEEP A TALLY. Senior Theodore Weng snaps this photo during the watch party for Aftab Pureval. Though Pureval lost the seat to incumbent Republican Steve Chabot, the first district includes parts of Hamilton and Warren County, tilting the district red. “I think its unlikely for a Democratic candidate to win the first district until 2022 when gerrymandering is supposed to be fixed. Aside from that, I do think Aftab did a good job rallying the Democrats in Hamilton County,” Weng said.

Winner!

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief
November 19, 2018
LET’S STAND TOGETHER. Supporters of both sides of the District One race, those for the incumbent and winner Steve Chabot and for the Democratic challenger Aftab Pureval. Some SHS seniors volunteered to run the election polls like Lydia Cooke. “It was fun to be involved in the election even though I can’t vote. But also it was a huge waste of 15 hours of my life but I guess it was worth it,” Cooke said.

Country comes to no consensus

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor-in-Chief
November 7, 2018
GRIEVING. Cincinnatians (including SHS students) are taking to social media to give an outlet for their feelings after the violence Thurs., Sept. 6. As with many other shootings, people are trying not to give the shooter any attention, as that is a common motivation for shooters. “Finally, people are starting to realize that the aggressor in these situations is the subject of most news reports, so the hashtag shows that we are giving our attention to the victims, as we should,” said Claire Minton, 12.

Cincinnati tries to recover

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief
September 12, 2018
Miriam Chowdhury, 12

Miriam Chowdhury, 12

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief
September 11, 2018
Emma Brown, 11

Emma Brown, 11

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
September 6, 2018
Senator John McCain passed away from brain cancer at the age of 81 on Aug. 25, 2018. He was disabled from his five years as a POW. McCain was known for challenging the Republican mold, famously turning tail on the party to block the proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). “I was surprised and upset when he died because he was a great leader and he served our country,” said Sia Sindhwani, 10.

Nation honors John McCain

Allyson Bonhaus, Executive Editor
August 31, 2018
Coffee fanatic drinks in city

Coffee fanatic drinks in city

Allyson Bonhaus, Editor in Chief
August 30, 2018
VOTING AGE UP FOR DEBATE. Some SHS students are able to vote their senior year. These students are able to register to vote. Registration is taking place during lunch on May 7 and 8.

[Photo] U.S debates voting age

Sydney Weiss, Social Media Director
May 7, 2018
PLAN IT. Dr. Temple Grandin’s designs for livestock facilities are used throughout the world. In 2017, Grandin was inducted in the National Women’s Hall of Fame for her work in education, science, and humanities. “You see, autism is an important part of who I am, and I wouldn’t want to change a thing and get cured,” Grandin said, according to “LA Times.”

Temple Grandin

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
April 24, 2018
Sia Sindhwani, 9

Sia Sindhwani, 9

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
April 18, 2018
SHOW YOUR TALENT. Gerald Franklin finds autism to be his asset, as it helps him create a website that people with special needs can find a job on. As the lead website developer, he allows those with special needs to post videos highlighting their skills. The website connects these potential employees with prospective employers.

Gerald Franklin

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
April 11, 2018

Activists contact legislators

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
March 25, 2018
PROTEST. The school enforced that there be no political posters, with teachers lining the upper bus ramp to execute the ban. A few students did carry posters during the walkout, carrying such messages as “Am I next?” “We are walking to honor these victims and to finally make sure that this kind of tragedy doesn’t happen again,” said Jennifer Lu, 11.

Grief calls for action

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
March 21, 2018

Feminism embraces difference

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
March 13, 2018
Simran Bhola, 11

Simran Bhola, 11

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
March 9, 2018
EXPLORE. Sabrina Pasterski’s work in quantum gravity seeks to explain gravity in context of quantum mechanics. Her studies delve into some of the most complex areas of physics. “Physics itself is exciting enough. It’s not like a 9-to-5 thing. When you’re tired you sleep, and when you’re not, you do physics,” Pasterski said.

Sabrina Pasterski

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
March 2, 2018
Mallory Comerford, 11

Mallory Comerford, 11

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
February 15, 2018
PLAN IT. Bayard Rustin was the central organizer of the March on Washington, which he only had two months to put it all together. Around 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial, the event was for jobs and freedom.

Bayard Rustin

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
February 15, 2018

GIVE. The blood drive is an annual event that gives the student body the chance to help their whole community. One donation of one pint of blood can save three lives.

Students save lives

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
February 14, 2018
RAISE YOUR VOICE. Ella Baker never sought recognition for herself, instead promoting on the ideals she sought to make a reality. She wanted to cultivate a new group of leaders, so she focused on creating civil rights movements in colleges. “I found a greater sense of importance by being a part of those who were growing,” said Baker, according to “Time.

Ella Baker

Allyson Bonhaus, Feature Chief
February 12, 2018
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