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The Student News Site of South Forsyth High School

The Bird Feed

The Student News Site of South Forsyth High School

The Bird Feed

The Student News Site of South Forsyth High School

The Bird Feed

Carmel Yonas

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter

Carmel Yonas is a senior at South Forsyth High School, and is so thrilled to be starting her final year in journalism as the Senior Reporter for The Bird Feed. In her free time, Carmel loves to read, write, and draw cartoons. She's obsessed with the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series as well as murder/mystery novels such as One Of Us Is Lying. Carmel is also a huge fan of the TV show Friends, and enjoys binge-watching anime on the weekends. When she's not doing one of her favorite hobbies, she runs for the Cross-country and Track team, and hopes to win the Cross-country state title again! You can contact her at [email protected].

 

Sophomore Thomas Lichtenwalner, Sophomore Ben Winn, Junior Adam Zorko and Senior Ben Bergey stand for a group photo after running the 4x800 relay. The boys broke a 15 year-old school record and all split under 2:06 per 800.

Going the ‘Distance’: SOFO Varsity Boys Break 4×800 School Record

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter March 14, 2023

On Saturday, March 4, parents and relatives arrived at Lambert High School for the 10th Annual Longhorn Stampede. Schools from all over the county and beyond gathered their best runners, throwers and hurdlers...

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Korean student Hailey Yeon changes her birth name to Western one when she moved to the U.S. Yeon has used this new name for nine years of her life.

We Don’t Need Your Westernized Names

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter February 9, 2023

I dread the days my real teachers aren’t in class.  When they don’t show up, that means we have a substitute teacher. And having a substitute teacher means the following question: "Is it Car-mul...

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Meet of Champions. Sophomore Ben Winn races his final meet of the season and places 39th with a time of 16:45. On Saturday, November 12, South Forsyth's varsity boys competed at the Meet of Champions invitational.

Ben Winn Leads the XC War Eagles Through an Exciting Season

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter January 5, 2023

In the sport of running, there's never a guarantee someone will rise to the top. Even if they run Monday through Sunday, lift weights three days a week and eat healthy, not every runner is successful in...

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Infographic describing statistics of young voters during the 2022 Midterm Election.

Becoming an Adult in America: Voting is the Best way to Ensure Democracy Thrives

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter December 14, 2022

Voting for the first time felt surreal. As I stood in line with my mom, I couldn’t help but feel like an adult. In my early teenage years, I had a preconception about elections - that the process...

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Many Stories, One Democracy: A Look at First-Time Voting

Many Stories, One Democracy: A Look at First-Time Voting

Diya Maheshwari and Carmel Yonas December 5, 2022

First-time voting can be a scary yet exciting experience for people of all ages. The feeling of actively participating in the government and letting your voice be heard is something that words cannot capture....

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Student at library. As students all around the nation head back to school, many still struggle with comparing themselves to others and obsessing over academics. Students believe that acceptance into the top schools can only come from being one step ahead of their peers. As a result, many students that left high school have permanent damage to their mental, physical, and emotional states.

Don’t Let ‘High Achieving’ Students Make You Feel Anything Less

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter October 19, 2022

Out of everything that causes stress for teens—whether it's their home life, peers, academics, or health—school can be the most anxiety-inducing. This anxiety is only compounded by our culture's...

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On Wednesday, Oct. 5, protestors rally in the streets of Stockholm, Sweden, many holding up pictures of Mahsa Amini. Similar protests have erupted all over the globe against the Iranian government's response to and possible involvement in Amini's death.

‘Women, Life, Freedom’: Death of 22-Year-Old Mahsa Amini Sparks Global Protest

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter October 15, 2022

On Friday, Sept. 16, in Tehran, Iran, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after an allegedly violent encounter with the country's morality police. Before her untimely death, Amini was at the mall with her...

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South time trial. On Saturday, August 13, South Cross-country members gather at Windermere Park to host the annual 2 mile time trial. At the end of the run, South coaches announced who each runner's Big and Little's were. Junior Isabel Yonas and sophomore Wyatt Longstreth smiled for a photo as they are each other's Big and Little.

New Year, New XC! The Eagles Prepare for First Meet at Pickens

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter August 19, 2022

Scorching Summer As school comes to a start, South’s Cross-country team returns from their busy summer full of 10-mile runs and tough workouts. The Eagles endured 7 a.m. practices (three days a week)...

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Black hairstyles. Three black women proudly display their distinct hairstyles. The ladies represented different types of hairstyles that show Black culture within the Black community.

Let Your Hair C.R.O.W.N: Senate to Vote to Ban Hair-Based Discrimination

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter April 12, 2022

In the United States, a place supposedly full of diversity, the Black community not only suffers from discrimination and prejudice regarding their race, but also in how they present themselves to the world....

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Forsyth County. In the 4x100 meter relay A team, Junior Chris Nelson speeds through the finish line. He positioned as anchor and held his first place spot all the way to the end.

SOFO Track and Field Preview: Wrapping up the wins at Wolverine Invitational

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter March 23, 2022

On Saturday, March 26th, West Forsyth invited South Forsyth along with other teams such as Lambert, Central, North, East, and more to participate in a small meet. As teams prepare and practice their events,...

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South and Lambert. In the 1600, junior Carmel Yonas runs in front of junior Bella Cammarota as they race for first place. In the end, Yonas won by .54 milliseconds and sophomore Isabel Yonas placed third.

Track and Field Boys Lace Up and Tie for First Place

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter March 16, 2022

On Thursday, March 10, South Forsyth High School participated in the Track and Field County meet with the following Forsyth County high schools: Denmark, North, East, Central, Lambert, and West teams....

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Black History. Martin Luther King Jr gives a speech to the Black community in Montgomery. He spoke with important leaders such as John Lewis, and Malcolm X.

Diligent, Daring, and Determined: A Celebration of Black History Month

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter February 15, 2022

From February 1st to March 1st every year, the United States, Germany and Canada celebrate Black History Month - a time of paying tribute, remembering and celebrating Black lives. The purpose of Black...

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Track and Field. Junior Carmel Yonas races against her opponents in the 3200. On March 6th, 2021, South competed in the 8th Annual Longhorn Stampede.

SFHS Track and Field Line up at the Start of Their Season

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter February 2, 2022

From pasta dinners and early bus rides to pole vaulting and late-night meets, the Track and Field season finally begins. Runners and field event participants get back on the grind of routine and coaches...

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Coronavirus. This picture portrays a microscopic version of COVID-19. On March 4th, 2020, the CDC created an illustration of the virus severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) as they displayed the spike-like proteins found within the virus.

CDC Changes Isolation Guidelines in Response to Omicron Variant

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter January 17, 2022

On Monday, December 27th, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced updated COVID-19 guidelines. Based on research surrounding the latest Omicron variant,  CDC health experts...

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The best Christmas activity is no secret

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter December 21, 2021

Only real fans of the Christmas season know Secret Santa rules over White Elephant. Sure, White Elephant is engaging and interactive, but isn't it even more exciting when you read the slip of paper determining...

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The battle of Christmas traditions. Both Secret Santa and White Elephant are beloved Christmas activities that many partake in during the season. However, many people often have a superior game preference that trumps all holiday games.

Point-Counterpoint: Secret Santa v.s. White Elephant

Maggie Craig and Carmel Yonas December 21, 2021

With Christmas just around the corner, many students are planning Christmas parties with their friends to show their appreciation during the festive season. Christmas parties are great for several reasons:...

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Arrakis. Dune, otherwise known as Arrakis, is a planet far into the galaxy home to the Fremen, rulers of the desert. Over the course of the movie, the Atreides Empire moved into Arrakis, and began to manage a spice (Melange) trade crucial to the Fremen's survival.

Rising Actor Timothée Chalamet is the Chosen One in New Space Epic Dune

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter November 14, 2021

In the critically acclaimed movie Dune, fans (myself included) marveled over the young and talented Timothée Chalamet in his prominent role as Paul Atreides, the heir to a family of powerful intergalactic...

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Varsity girls. As the varsity girls get ready to run, their teammates hold up signs to cheer them on. Junior varsity (Jv) runners along with returning alumni helped make signs for each varsity runner.

SOFO Cross-country Heads Into Another State Championship

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter November 10, 2021

On Saturday, November 7th, South Forsyth High’s Cross-country team officially made it to the Georgia High School Association state championships and competed in Region 7A events. The sunny and windy...

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War in Tigray. Tigrayan citizens are leaving the region because of military forces occupying the village. A young girl carried her infant sibling out of the village and fled to Sudan.

The Devastation In Africa: War Between Ethiopia and Tigray Disrupts Millions of Lives

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter November 1, 2021

Ethiopia is currently in a state of chaos, and its citizens are facing political upheaval, humanitarian issues, sexual violence, and imbalances between the Tigrayan and Ethiopian governments. The factions...

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Boys varsity meet. Junior Ben Bergey leaps to the finish, leaving Nate only a few seconds behind. Bergey excitedly pointed his fingers up, and showed the sign for number 1 milliseconds before he crossed the line.

Pickens Preview XC: Sofo takes the dub

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter September 8, 2021

On Saturday, August 21, the South Forsyth Cross-country team arrived at the bus early in the morning with their eyes struggling to stay open. As they departed from school, excitement and uneasiness filled...

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3200 (2 mile-8 laps). On Friday, March 12, freshman Isabel Yonas takes on the mile and battles through the intense competition. Yonas achieved a PR (personal record) of  11:40, and finished first with no hestitation.

Welcome to the Ranch! South’s 5th Track and Field Meet

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter April 29, 2021

South Forsyth’s Track and Field athletes competed in their fifth meet at Lanier High School on March 12. This meet consisted of only eight teams, which raised the bar of competitiveness for South athletes....

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4x8 (2 laps: 4 people run) relay. Senior Ansley Rogers is sprinting down the last 100m straight as she competes in the 4x8 relay. Senior Madi Butler, Senior Katelyn Mclean, and Sophomore Emily Barnes competed with her as well.

South starting Track and Field season strong at Archer Invitational

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter April 13, 2021

The first Track and Field meet of 2021 took place on February 27th at Archer High school. Out of 15 schools, South placed third. However, it wasn't easy to celebrate the victory, the earliest meet began...

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Black Lives Matter. Over the summer of 2020, a student from South Forsyth participates in a Black Lives Matter protest near the Forsyth County Courthouse. They advocated for freedom, and a revision in America's justice system. Throughout the protest, a large gathering of diverse individuals, congregated in Cumming.

The Reality of Racial Inequality Towards the Black Community

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter April 2, 2021

I can still vividly remember my mom turning on the news to the last seen footage of George Floyd. As I locked eyes with the CNN correspondent, I couldn't help but feel beyond enraged. There aren't enough...

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A tale as old as time. A person meets a person, and sometimes it feels as if all the pieces fall together. Developing feelings was a challenge every couple had to navigate at some point in their relationships.

Behind the butterflies: why we develop crushes and how to deal with them

Maggie Craig and Carmel Yonas February 11, 2021

When you see them, your palms grow sweaty. You try to stabilize yourself, but your knees begin to wobble. Your stomach twists in knots. This person makes your throat dry, and you struggle to find the proper...

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On January 23, 2012, the anniversary of Roe Vs. Wade, anti-abortion activists and the National Organization of Women protested outside the Supreme Court. The pro-life supporters held up signs against Planned Parenthood, advocating for the Supreme Court to de-fund the organization.

Supreme Court Ruling on Mississippi Law may Overturn Roe v. Wade

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter January 1, 2021

On Wednesday, December 1, 2021, the U.S Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding a 2018 Mississippi Law which seeks to prohibit abortion after a pregnancy reaches the 15-week mark. Debating a Standard Challengers...

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South boys cheering. In Carrolton, Sebastian Elisan(senior), Chris Wilusz(senior), Devin Schmuckal(senior), Aadi Jain(senior), Sam Gullo(senior), Andrew Wilson(senior), Ben Bergey(sophomore), and Josh Wilson(freshmen) surround the finish line. They screamed at the top of their lungs for Carmel Yonas(sophomore), and motivated her at the last 100 meters.

SOFO XC State Championships 2020

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter November 30, 2020

GHSA State Championships finally arrived for SOFO nation. On November 7th, they attended a statewide meet in Carrollton with Georgia’s best teams in the region. Every year, the chance to stand up on...

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Varsity girls at start line. Carmel Yonas(sophomore), Isabel Yonas(freshmen) Emma O'Connor(senior), Madi Butler(senior), Molly Hanlon(freshmen), Janisha Patil(sophomore), and Siena Brennan(sophomore) are preparing to begin their race. The girls stretched, and did strides before they jogged to the start.

Georgia’s best of the best XC: Meet of Champions

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter November 30, 2020

On Saturday, November 14th, only the best runners from all regions in Georgia arrived at Meet of Champions. That's right, not everyone is invited. This race is what distinguished great runners from elite,...

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Celebrating Hispanic cultures. South Forsyth students and teachers honor their Hispanic peers during Hispanic Heritage Week. Faculty and students had the opportunity to participate in multiple events and presentations.

SFHS celebrates the Hispanic Heritage

Shree Delwadia, Maggie Craig, Carmel Yonas, and Naisha Roy November 9, 2020

This year, the month of October is dedicated to celebrating Hispanic Heritage. Hispanic Heritage Month commemorates the cultures of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Throughout the month, many organizations...

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A community comes together. During the height of the social justice protests of summer, hundreds of people gather at the Forsyth County courthouse to protest. Forsyth County residents felt it absolutely necessary to voice their anger over recent killings of Black people. “It really helped me to feel more understood and valued in the community” said a SFHS student who wants to remain anonymous.

Social Justice in Forsyth County: A conversation with Patrick Phillips, author of Blood at the Root

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter August 24, 2020

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this piece belong solely to their respective author(s). They do not necessarily represent the opinions of South Forsyth High School or Forsyth County Schools. Over...

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3 varsity girls. On August 22, Carmel Yonas (Sophomore), Emma O'Connor (Senior), and Isabel Yonas (Freshman) finish the race smiling as they take a group picture. The girls wore a green ribbon in memory of Trevor Lockhurst who went to South, and was on the Cross-country team.

South’s 2nd Cross-country meet: Cherokee County Classic

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter August 22, 2020

On a Saturday morning in late August, the sun glared down and humidity filled the air. Despite the oppressing heat, South was full of energy and anticipation for Cherokee Country Classic . Cherokee Classic...

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South girls. South Forsyth Cross- country girls warm-up, and are getting ready to race. Seniors Megan Milstead and Madi Butler hype the team up with music, and get in the groove of racing in South's first meet. This past weekend, the Lambert Tri-meet was hosted at Chattahoochee Pointe Park.

South’s First Cross-country meet of 2020: Lambert Tri-meet

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter August 15, 2020

On Saturday, August 15th, Lambert High School gets ready to host the first cross-country meet of the season, the Lambert Tri-meet. It’s early in the morning, and Chattahoochee Pointe is packed with cars...

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Senior students at last year's graduation file up along one another, eager to finally be able to claim their diplomas. Ms. Duff and one of her former students, Jamal, took one last photo together as she wishes him only the best for his future career ahead of him.

South honors their 2020 Senior Graduates

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter July 31, 2020

Senior year, a time of excitement and laughter, but also exhaustion and anxiety too. It's the year of opportunities, life-changing decisions, and a chance to enjoy the little bit of high-school left. As...

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South's final meet of the season ended with excitement and good vibes. They worked hard all the way from start to finish for the team and always worked together.

Track and Field 7th Annual Longhorn Stampede

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter March 26, 2020

On March 7th, 2020, Forsyth county track teams prepared to run with the sun shining above them. Teams warmed up side by side and coaches talked with their runners before events started. Longhorn Stampede...

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Bella Rhone, Emma O'Connor, Carmel Yonas, Sophia Baker, Sydney Copeland, Madelynne Cadeau, and Caroline Patterson sit together covered up. On the morning of state on a Saturday, varsity girls warm themselves up to be ready for the race. They are determined to do well and are going to rely on all the training they've had to prepare for state.

GHSA State Cross-country Championship

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter December 19, 2019

South's runners walked onto the field, already hearing applause and cheers early in the morning for State Cross-country Championship. The day consisted of cold weather and layers of clothes. Tension filled...

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Runner's High. Foot Locker’s southern regional championship was held on Saturday in Charlotte North Carolina. Runners competed in a team and individually for a chance to get first place.

Foot Locker Cross-country championships

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter December 19, 2019

Foot Locker is a well-known championship race in different regions of the United States. On November 30, 2019, in Charlotte, North Carolina on a Saturday, races took place early in the morning and ended...

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Bundle up. Mark Martin, Ansley Rogers, Emily Barnes, and Ashley Hunt cuddle up in the pouring rain. October 19th on a Saturday, runners from  South take on the speediest course and dominate it. The day being a mixture of rainy, and windy didn't stop them from running their hearts out on this meet.

South takes the lead in Area 3 Championships

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter December 6, 2019

Area 3 championships excites the South Cross-country team every season because of how well they do. This year, everyone was pumped up and ready to hit the course, knowing that a real show was about to...

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Varsity girls awards. on Saturday October 23rd, parents stood and snapped photos of everyone together after awards. Each runner led the team to a third place win. This pre-state race only adds to South's excitement for the state meet in November.

FSU Invitational Cross-country

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter November 8, 2019

On Friday October 11, South runners prepared for the FSU invitational in Tallahassee, Florida. Races started on Saturday at 7:50 in the morning and continued all throughout the day. Teams from all over...

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Girls team gathers around. On August 24, Saturday, South wins 3rd place at Saucony Battle of Atlanta. "Even though our outcome wasn't the way we wanted, we still kept our heads high and continued throughout the season. I was proud of the effort we all put in, " Emma O'connor stated. (Used with permission by Sara Aylay)

War Eagle Cross-country takes the lead in the season

Carmel Yonas, Opinions Editor & Senior Reporter October 22, 2019

The War Eagle Cross-country team lines up at the start while their peers gather around to support them. As the gun is fired, the runners take off. Parents and friends stand around the track, cheering on...

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Colors in remembrance. Students at SFHS dress up in honor for 9/11. The Spanish National Honors Society encouraged their members to wear red, white, and blue in memory. "I am dressing in support for both the society and 9/11," freshman Angelica Conde says.

Dressing for the memory of 9/11

Naisha Roy and Carmel Yonas September 13, 2019

South’s very own Spanish National Honors Society dressed in patriotic colors to commemorate the September 11th attacks on the Twin Towers. As part of the Spanish National Honors Society [SNHS], students...

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