Spark

Senate Shake-Up

Senate Bill 1 has already made a huge impact on local colleges and will affect high school seniors around the nation.

Will Huelskamp, Editor-in-Chief • July 17, 2025

When I received that letter, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and that I really did belong at Ohio State,” East senior Kya Smith told Spark. The letter Smith received was a scholarship...

Capital Comeback

After a five year hiatus, the tradition of the eighth grade field trip to Washington D.C. has returned.

Addison Stallsmith, Culture Editor • July 14, 2025

For seven hours and 46 minutes, 54 eighth grades are crammed on a bus heading from Liberty Township to a city on the Potomac River teeming with monuments, national government buildings, and history. After...

Serving Tradition

The Cone, a local ice cream shop, has been passed to new owners, Mike and Beth Heydt, who are committed to preserving the original legacy left by The Cone’s founders, Ken and Louella Wren.

Joselyn Duff, Opinion Editor • July 14, 2025

The Cone opened on April 4th, at 12 PM, but uniquely, unlike any other seasonal opening of the local ice cream shop, there are new owners: Mike and Beth Heydt. Before ever founding The Cone, Ken and...

Teaching in Tandem

For the 2024-25 school year, two CP Biology teachers adopted a unique co-teaching strategy for their classroom. Together, they are working to create a space where every student feels comfortable learning and asking questions.

Annabelle McCarty, Culture Associate Editor • May 18, 2025

East teachers Hannah Huseman and Stacey Lane love teaching College Prep (CP) Biology. This year, though, they decided to shake things up. Instead of having their own classes, they decided to bring their...

Summer Fun

On February 24th, the yearly Summer Fun Fair held at East displayed over 90 organizations.

Emaan Moien, Staff Writer • May 18, 2025

Parents and kids explored the halls of East on February 24 to find programs to join at the 12th annual Summer Fun Fair. The Summer Fun Fair consisted of 90 organizations including youth activities, camps,...

A Family of Fitness

Local gym CrossFit Ironside owned and operated by husband and wife David and Melissa Anguiz creates a strong sense of family and community through high intensity workouts.

Sophie Schaller, Feature Editor • May 18, 2025

The clang of barbells hitting the ground echoes through the open space, as high fives and cheers fill the garage at CrossFit Ironside. Open since 2013, CrossFit Ironside is a local gym located right...

Behind the “Burn Book”

For the East theater spring play, the cast and crew produced a high school rendition of “Mean Girls” through teamwork and perseverance.

Sydney Alderman, Business Manager • May 18, 2025

Cady Heron, played by East sophomore Reina Ryan, stood at the top of the lift in front of the other girls. She turned around, looked up at the ceiling, and without another thought, she fell back into the...

Welcome

East held the naturalization of 46 applicants representing 27 different countries. The ceremony was held in the East main gym on March 18.

Caden Powels and Will Huelskamp • May 18, 2025

The boisterous bass drum filled East main gym as hundreds of students, staff members, board officials, and city representatives collectively celebrated the naturalization of 46 applicants representing...

Lakota Litigates

The Lakota Local School Board of Education voted to join a lawsuit against the state of Ohio over the EdChoice voucher program, after a 3-2 vote at the emergency meeting on March 12.

Luke Viviano, News Editor • May 18, 2025

On March 12 the Lakota Local School Board held an emergency meeting to discuss and vote on the Lakota Education Association’s (LEA) proposal to join the “Vouchers Hurt Ohio” lawsuit, which has been...

Community Canvas

Pieces of art created by students across Lakota Local Schools were displayed at Liberty Center from March 15 to April 10.

Julia Viviano, Staff Writer • May 16, 2025

The Colors of Creativity Lakota Art Showcase was unveiled in the Fitton at the Foundry studio at Liberty Center on Saturday, March 15. For the next 26 days, anyone visiting the mall would have a hard time...

Flying Free

Fly Free club hosted Mental Health Night in order to reduce stigma around mental health alongside other clubs and organizations.

Eliana Rau, Staff Writer • May 16, 2025

With the ever-increasing rise of depression and anxiety in America, mental health awareness is becoming a more prevalent issue every day. The East Fly Free club remains a positive influence on mental health...

Rallying for Hope

With a different look than previous years, the annual East Relay For Life event returned on April 25.With a different look than previous years, the annual East Relay For Life event returned on April 25.

Sara McGuire, Staff Writer • May 16, 2025

When there are around 90 students in the building at East there is typically plenty of energy in the gymnasium, but at 9:30 p.m for one day, students just walked in silence around the upper deck in...