• 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

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
My favorite field trip was...

My favorite field trip was…

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
May 18, 2018
Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mother’s Day

Taylor Close, Leaflet Editor-in-Chief
May 10, 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
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 nations 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
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

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

Taylor Close, A&E Chief
March 2, 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
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
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

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
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
Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
March 17, 2016
Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
February 23, 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 bands 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
Music for the soul (and brain)

Music for the soul (and brain)

Taylor Close, Staff Writer
December 11, 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 groups 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
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
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

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
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