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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
Taylor Close

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief

Hi! My name it Taylor Close, and this is my fourth year here in journalism. This year I am in charge of our online magazine called The Leaflet along with my other half Sydney Evans.

I can’t believe that it is already senior year, it feels like yesterday I was roaming the hallways getting lost.

I have learned so much through this program, from how to write within a time constraint to how to design and use infographics, and I have found a love for graphic design along the way.

In my free time I love to be outside on hikes or just enjoying nature in general, listening to music, or reading/watching anything Harry Potter related.    I was devastated when I didn’t receive a Hogwarts acceptance letter, but I guess Sycamore isn’t that bad either.

Last year I took AP Biology and absolutely loved everything about it, so I am hoping to study biology in college next year.

I am interning at a neuroscience lab on University of Cincinnati’s campus and it is showing me just how much I love field and lab work.

I also love traveling and seeing the rest of the world and what it has to offer.

I enjoy photography and the creativity and self expression that comes along with it. I love spending my weekends in different parks with friends and my camera just goofing around and taking photos.

All content by Taylor Close
Inspiring quotes from fictional characters

Inspiring quotes from fictional characters

Taylor Close and Harsimran Makkad
May 24, 2018
My favorite field trip was...

My favorite field trip was…

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
May 18, 2018
Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
May 10, 2018
30 Day Mindfulness Challenge

30 Day Mindfulness Challenge

Taylor Close and Aidan Noble
May 4, 2018
From flaws to flawless

From flaws to flawless

Adhiti Chundur and Taylor Close
May 1, 2018
Why is it so easy to remember song lyrics?

Why is it so easy to remember song lyrics?

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
April 13, 2018
Earth Day

Earth Day

Celebrating vibrant, diverse world we inhabit
Adhiti Chundur and Taylor Close
April 12, 2018
How do we predict the weather?

How do we predict the weather?

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
April 9, 2018
Climate change in media

Climate change in media

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
April 6, 2018
EXPLORING. The students had time to walk around the cities that they visited themselves. Many chose to wander around the city instead of spending their time in the shops, getting to see the different types of architecture and lifestyle. In Mont Saint Michel, several students walked along the narrow streets, climbing higher and higher. Photo courtesy of Taylor Close.

French students embrace new cultures

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
April 5, 2018
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
March 27, 2018
The Regeneron Science Talent Search is one of the nation's most prestigious math and science competition. Every year thousands of students across the country submit projects, and only 40 finalists travel to Washington D.C to present their projects to a panel of judges. This year some of those finalist projects included topics from behavioral and social science as well as cellular and molecular biology.

Indrani Das

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
March 26, 2018
Allen Crimmel, 10

Allen Crimmel, 10

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
March 26, 2018
Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse Gases

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
March 23, 2018
SUCCESS. Chloe Kim was joined by her US teammate Arielle Gold on the podium in the bronze medal place. The silver medal went to Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu. The US won 23 total medals, nine of them gold.

Chloe Kim

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
March 22, 2018
Stephanie Hong, 12

Stephanie Hong, 12

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
March 13, 2018
Cost of climate change

Cost of climate change

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
March 12, 2018
Spring Ahead

Spring Ahead

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
March 10, 2018
Spring break trip tips

Spring break trip tips

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
March 5, 2018
PARTICIPATE. DeRay Mckesson is a part of multiple activist associations. He not only works to get attention for the Black Lives Matter and Campaign Zero, but he is also a part of the LGBT community and has spoken at the GLAAD Gala. He urges people to speak up and out and to expresss themselves.

DeRay Mckesson

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
February 27, 2018
BEAUTY. When people think of national parks, they usually imagine the breath-taking views and amazing trails. They do not think about what happens behind the scenes. The National Park Service Advisory Board makes sure that the parks remain clean and work to improve the visitors experience while protecting the environment. Photo courtesy of Taylor Close.

National park advisory board resigns in protest

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
January 30, 2018
SKI TIME. Students in the Ski and Snowboard Club either bring their own equipment or rent equipment at the slopes. They usually board the buses around 3 p.m. and get to the slopes around 4 p.m. They can ski through dinner and meet back at the buses by 8:15 p.m. and get back to school around 9:15. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Hong.

Ski Club slides through winter

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
January 15, 2018
ROARING CROWD. The Killers are going on a 2017-2018 tour around North America and the UK to promote their album ‘Wonderful, Wonderful.’ The tour began in August with Lollapalooza in Chicago and will end in February, with the band touring for over seven months. Tickets for the concerts can be found on Ticketmaster. Photo courtesy of MCT.

Killers’ new ‘Wonderful, Wonderful’ album debuts on top

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
October 9, 2017
Mixed Greens try tumbling

Mixed Greens try tumbling

Jenna Bao, Natalie Brinkman, Adhiti Chundur, Taylor Close, and Sydney Evans
August 11, 2017
HOME RUN. The Reds play in the Great American Ball Park stadium and this is where the concerts will take place also. The two concerts that fall on fridays will be followed by the usual friday night fireworks. They will begin 20 minutes after the game finishes.

New Reds’ season offers dual entertainment

Taylor Close, A&E Chief
March 30, 2017
WRITE. Bao works on one of her ongoing stories. She tries to write as much as she can, but finds it hard while being a full time student. She and a friend have tried to fix this by sending at least two stories to each other each month.

Write on

Creativity a-bao-nds
Taylor Close, A&E Chief
March 16, 2017
CREATE. Sophomores Christine Zou, Valerie Timofeyev, Samruddhi Ubhe, and Anushri Menon make their own masks and enjoy some traditional Mardi Gras King Cake. After everyone finishes their masks, Mrs. Lesley Chapman, the french teacher, holds a contest to find the best and most creative ones. This year sophomores Ellie Armstrong and Menon won the contest, winning a Toblerone bar each.

Unmasking culture

French Club celebrates Mardi Gras
Taylor Close, A&E Chief
March 2, 2017
Human shirts

Human shirts

Hannah Lee, Taylor Close, Allyson Bonhaus, and Nathan Colliver
February 27, 2017
GOODBYES. Obama gives her final speech as first lady on Jan. 6, 2017 to a group of school counselors as a part of her Reaching Higher Initiative program. Throughout her eight years in the white house, she has worked to empower and encourage young people to improve the world. This speech was no different, with her reminding them that the country is theirs and with hard work and a good education they can do anything.

Michelle Obama

Taylor Close, A&E Chief
February 8, 2017
Mixed Greens try bubble tea

Mixed Greens try bubble tea

Jenna Bao, Adhiti Chundur, Sydney Evans, Natalie Brinkman, and Taylor Close
February 7, 2017
Mixed Greens Intro

Mixed Greens Intro

Jenna Bao, Adhiti Chundur, Sydney Evans, Natalie Brinkman, and Taylor Close
February 7, 2017
Diversity Week 2017- Spread The Word To End The Word

Diversity Week 2017- Spread The Word To End The Word

Taylor Close
February 3, 2017
CHANGE. Bunbury has two main stages, Sawyer’s Point and Yeatman’s Cove, and two smaller stages, River stage and Pavilion stage. These stages are different from the original six stages set up around downtown Cincinnati. The change happened in hopes to make it more easily accessible to concert-goers to get from one stage to the next in less time.

Bunbury festival lineup released

Taylor Close, Creative Projects Director
February 2, 2017
Perfect North has a total of 23 trails and 2 terrain parks, and covers 100 acres of skiable land. It has been open since 1980, and didn’t allow snowboarding until 2002. It is known for being the place where Olympic bronze medalist Nick Goepper got started.

Ski club slides into new season

Taylor Close, Creative Projects Director
January 13, 2017
Ask a grown teacher: Mr. Vore

Ask a grown teacher: Mr. Vore

Sarah Horne and Taylor Close
December 16, 2016
Ask a grown teacher: Mr Seiple

Ask a grown teacher: Mr Seiple

Sarah Horne and Taylor Close
December 16, 2016
Ask a grown teacher: Mrs. Ferguson

Ask a grown teacher: Mrs. Ferguson

Sarah Horne and Taylor Close
December 16, 2016
Maroon 5 had to reschedule their show at the U.S Bank Arena on Sept 29th to Mar. 3rd due to the birth of Adam Levine’s baby. The show was one of seven shows that were rescheduled for the new year. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres helped name Levine’s daughter, Dusty Rose Levine, over a text message.

Concerts to hit stage in 2017

Taylor Close, Special Projects Director
December 15, 2016

Arts & Entertainment

Strokes of genius
Taylor Close, Creative Projects Director
December 13, 2016
France is famous for their breads and varities of different cheeses. Some of the most well know french cheeses are Camembert, Brie, and Boursin. The french club has a diverse selection of food at every meeting, especially at their picnic meeting.

French Club chews chocolate, cheese

Taylor Close, Associate Editor
November 18, 2016

Political Demographics

Taylor Close, Creative Projects Director
November 4, 2016

Hillary Clinton

Jenna Bao and Taylor Close
November 4, 2016
In the past couple years, Gaga has branched out from her music, appearing on the FX show ‘American Horror Story’ in season five. She co-wrote a song, ‘Til it Happens to You’, that was a part of the documentary, ‘The Hunting Ground’, which is about sexual assult, continuing her theme of deeper meanings behind her songs. You can find the new album one several platforms such as iTunes, Spotify, and Pandora.

Still (Ga)going strong: Lady Gaga’s new album excites fans

Taylor Close, Creative Projects Director
November 3, 2016
According to Billboard, Horan is the first artist to debut at number one on the Social 50 chart since it was created in 2010. This is even better than Malik’s single ‘Pillowtalk’, which peaked at number two. And with only one day of sales, the track made the Billboard top 100 at number 63.

‘This Town’ receives outstanding praise

Taylor Close, Special Projects Director
October 12, 2016
Lead singer Ryan Tedder talked to Wonderland magazine about how there is an absence of humanity in many songs today, with them sounding like they came straight from a laptop instead of an artist. The album ‘Oh My My’ still has that aspect of humanity though, with the listener being able to hear each human voice and individual instrument instead of electronic sounds. To promote the album, the band performed at the iheartradio festival on Friday Sept. 23, 2016.

They will not need to ‘Apologize’ for keeping ‘Secrets’ much longer

Taylor Close, Creative Projects Director
October 4, 2016
Bastille has two studio albums now, “Wild World” and “Bad Blood”, but they also have a couple EP’s, “Haunt” and “VS.”, and a reissue of their first album, “All This Bad Blood”. They went on a North American tour for “Bad Blood” in 2014, stopping at the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati on Oct. 17. So far there are only six shows in North America for this upcoming tour.

Bastille’s album creates ‘Wild World’

Taylor Close, A&E Chief
September 15, 2016
The Canadian rapper’s career started when he debuted as a character on the Canadian show, Degrassi: The next Generation for a total of 138 episodes. After leaving the show, he released his first album, called Thank Me Later, in June 2010, four months after the original release date. In 2015, he released two mixtapes, If You Are Reading This It’s Too Late, and What a Time to be Alive, both hitting number one on the Billboard top 200 and making Drake the first rapper to have two hit albums in one year since Jay-Z in 2004.

Views takes the world by surprise

Taylor Close, A&E Chief
August 21, 2016
The Killers are the headline for Fri., along with artists like X Ambassadors, The Wombats, The Mowgli's, and Pvis. On Sat., Ice Cube, The Neighborhood, Oddisee, Umphrey's McGee and more will perform. And on Sun., Florence and the Machine will perform, along with Of Monsters and Men, Coleman Hell, Grimes and more.

Artist lineup for festival released

Taylor Close, A&E Chief
April 19, 2016
The album is predicted to be a step beyond what their first one was, although the warm and quiet feeling of the Lumineers is still present. The song 'Cleopatra' was based on a personal experience Schultz had with a taxi driver. The album cover features a version of Cleopatra portrayed by actress Theda Bara in the 1917 film, Cleopatra.

Debut of Lumineers latest album

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
April 8, 2016
To promote his new album, Zayn appeared on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on Mar. 24, the day before the album was officially released. Then he performed at the Honda stage of the iHeartRadio Theater in New York, and also talked about the album with host Elvis Duran. To further promote the new album, Zayn is getting ready to go on tour, with dates to be released soon.

Anticipated album achieves ambition

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
April 5, 2016
Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
March 17, 2016
Grande has had multiple chart toppers in the past, with her song ‘Bang Bang’ being nominated for a Grammy in 2015. She has also won awards for her acting roles, such as a Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice award for Best TV Actress in 2014. ‘Dangerous Woman’ is currently number 2 on the iTunes top 100 charts.

Grande is becoming a ‘Dangerous Woman’

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
March 16, 2016
Last year's performers included hometown bands Twenty-one Pilots and Walk the Moon, along with Bleachers, The Black Keys, Snoop Dogg, and many others. It was the fourth annual music festival, making this year the fifth. It was also the first year with a new setup of stages based in Sawyer's Point and Yeatman's Cove.

Countdown begins: Bunbury lineup released

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
March 7, 2016
The Green Initiative

The Green Initiative

Caroline Gao, Hannah Loftspring, Taylor Close, and Max Torem
February 25, 2016
The Grammys will be held on Feb. 15, the first time airing on a Mon., taking advantage of the President's day weekend. It will air on CBS and is at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Kendrick Lamar is nominated for the most Grammys this year at 11 and Taylor Swift and the Weeknd are tied for second with seven.

Faulty commercial endorses inaccurate performers

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
February 24, 2016
Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
February 23, 2016
All of Sia's singles from the upcoming album can be found for free streaming on Spotify. Her other six albums, ranging from 2003-present are also available for streaming. You can pre-order the album on iTunes for 10 dollars.

Sia’s new album looks to be ‘Unstoppable’

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
February 4, 2016
The single is out for streaming on Spotify, as well as for purchase on iTunes for $1.29. There is also a music video that includes model Gigi Hadid as the love interest. It also includes many colorful kaleidoscope-like pictures throughout.

Zayn surprises Directioners

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
February 4, 2016
The album is available on Spotify, where you can find the band's previous albums too. There, you can listen to the entire album without having to purchase it, and can even pick and choose different songs. It is also available on iTunes for 10 dollars.

Album causes Panic! (at the Disco)

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
February 4, 2016
So far the only chairs to be open are the green chair and the blue chair, which have only green beginner runs available. The green chair goes to either Broadway or Ski Wiz, which are the next step up from the carpet hills like Call Back. The blue chair goes to The Meadows and the Audition Terrain Park, but only The Meadows are open off that chair.

Perfect (North) conditions for the winter

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
January 8, 2016
Music for the soul (and brain)

Music for the soul (and brain)

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
December 11, 2015
At night Perfect has begun blowing snow because the temperature has been at a sustainable level to retain the snow in the morning. With the foreseeable forecast showing temperatures not reaching about 55º F, the opening of the resort is anticipated by ski and snowboarding fanatics. Last year, the Ski Club went out on Tues. Dec. 2 and there had already been a snow day for the district, so this year’s mild weather has winter sport athletes begging for below freezing temperatures.

Winter wonderland, where have you gone?

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
December 7, 2015
Perfect North typically opens once the weather gets cold enough to blow snow onto the slopes. This is usually around the end of Nov. or early Dec. The Ski Club will go out every Tues. unless the school is on break or has a snow day, although they can still go out on those days by themselves.

Ski club prepares to elect new officials

Taylor Close
December 1, 2015
You can buy the new releases at iTunes, Target, or listen to them for free on Spotify. The website, which is sort of like Pandora with the ability to choose the songs, has become more popular with over 75 million users as of June 2015. You can make a free account where you get to choose your songs and playlists on computers, but need a subscription to be able to choose on a mobile device and not just shuffle.

Friday the 13th popular in music industry

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
December 1, 2015
Madame took the day from teaching her normal class to talk to her students about what was happening. They also had the chance to sign the banner with condolences that they made up themselves or with help from Madame. Some of them said things like "Nous sommes avec vous" (we are with you), while others recited the phrase that seems to be everywhere, "Liberté, égalité, fraterinté".

Nous sommes avec Paris

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
December 1, 2015
The boys released a book last Oct. after the release their first album, 5 Seconds of Summer. Inside, there are personal accounts of the group's first practice, gigs, and even their childhood before 5 Seconds of Summer existed. You can buy the book on amazon, along with their CD’s and other band merch.

Album ensures band’s vision

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
October 28, 2015
Perfect North is about 40 minutes from the school in Lawerenceburg, IN, and is the closest resort to Cincinnati. Every year they have competitions such as the Big Air Competition, which is towards the end of the season. People of all ages and all abilities can enjoy the facility, with its smaller and larger hills, as well as various tubing hills too.

Skiers and snowboarders prepare to suit up

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
October 20, 2015
It is good to also take your board out ahead of the season to make sure it still fits. If it has gotten too small or is broken there are multiple ski swaps around the area. It is here that you can buy new (used) equipment and sell your own old gear. Perfect North has one in early Nov.

Snowboarder’s get their head in the game

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
October 12, 2015
The workers who sign up to be apart of Halloween Haunt have to go through an interview process in order to be able to scare the park’s guests. If they pass that, then they will become one of many monsters that terrorize people who walk by. Although no person under 16 years of age can apply for an interview, for various safety reasons.

Ride or die

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
October 12, 2015
At the concert, since it was a hometown show, the duo played a medley of some of their older songs. This was big because they were not supposed to play any of their music from before their record deal with Ramen records. Although the fans enjoyed the throwback and could be heard singing along all throughout the stadium.

Twenty-One Pilots return to their hometown

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
October 12, 2015
Members of the French Club will likely carry baguettes like these in the parade. While it is a French stereotype that the French eat baguettes all the time, they do have baguettes quite often, just maybe not every day. Baguettes are normally eaten with cheese or a Pâté, which is French for “paste”.

French Club walks to victory

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
October 12, 2015
Pop-star Taylor Swift tweeted Troye promoting his EP on Sunday night. This lead many of Swift’s fans to check out Sivan’s music and music video, apparent through the various comments of her sending them there on his video. Sivan replied with his own tweet of speechlessness later that night. Photo courtesy of Taylor Close.

Youtube star gets Wild

The new schedule plan
Taylor Close, Staff Writer
October 12, 2015
Pop-star Taylor Swift tweeted Troye promoting his EP on Sunday night. This lead many of Swift’s fans to check out Sivan’s music and music video, apparent through the various comments of her sending them there on his video. Sivan replied with his own tweet of speechlessness later that night.

Youtube star gets Wild

Taylor Close, Columnist
October 2, 2015
On Spotify, ‘Stressed Out’ is the bands number one played song, with ‘Tear in My Heart’ in second. On iTunes it is the number one album. You can buy the album for $9.99.

Twenty-One Pilots ‘Ride’ in on a high

Taylor Close, Columnist
May 26, 2015
To honor the seniors, all art and photo classes had a Senior Art Show on Fri. May 8, 2015. Each student had to submit five paintings, drawings, photos, or online cartoons that would be put on display. “My favorite part of the art show was right after we finished setting it up. I got to sit back and see all the work my classmates had done and I honestly just said, ‘Wow we’re good,’” Senior Lisa Ruffin said. All photos by McDaniel's Photography.

Seniors set down brushes, hang up work

Taylor Close, Columnist
May 8, 2015
The StickNFind is a quarter-sized device that helps you locate an object from almost anywhere. Produced by StickNFind, the device is only $49.99.

[Photo] Sticking to the point

Zachary Milliken, Staff writer
April 22, 2015
The bands previous album, Babel, was released on Sept. 24, 2012. It can be purchased on iTunes for $12 and $15 deluxe. It includes singles ‘I Will Wait,’ ‘Lover of the Light,’ and ‘Whispers in the Dark’.

The Wombats album Glitterbug is on iTunes for $9.99. Their singles “Your Body is a Weapon” and “Give Me a Try” are available for $1.29. “Greek Tragedy” is available for $.69.

The Wombats get glitterbugs anticipating upcoming tour

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
April 17, 2015
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