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Anna Rachwalski

Anna Rachwalski, Comment and Design/Layout Associate Managing Editor

Anna Rachwalski is a junior and this is her second year writing for the Southerner. Outside of the newspaper, she plays the violin for the school orchestra, participates in Latin club, runs music for theatre productions, is on the quiz bowl team, and volunteers at Fernbank Museum. This year, she's a design/layout and comment associate managing editor. You'll see her opinions in the comment section and her art all over the newspaper.

Questions? Contact her at [email protected]

All content by Anna Rachwalski
Weekly Activity: Week of 5/21

Weekly Activity: Week of 5/21

May 21, 2021
This fall, when current seniors enter their college campuses as a student for the first time, their required packing list might have something different on it: a Covid-19 vaccination.

Colleges should require Covid-19 vaccinations

May 18, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 5/14

Weekly Activity: Week ending 5/14

May 14, 2021
As the 2020-2021 school year comes to a close, questions still remain whether asynchronous Wednesdays should become a normal concept in future student life.

[Photo] The eye of the hurricane: Why Asynchronous Wednesdays should become standard

May 7, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 5/7

Weekly Activity: Week ending 5/7

May 7, 2021
Many current Grady students have recently felt empowered to tell their own stories of sexual harassment and assault they have experienced at school. Their stories highlight a school culture where victimized students feel their experiences are minimized.

[Photo] Students share accounts of sexual assault and harassment

May 6, 2021
Laine Berg, junior

Laine Berg, junior

May 6, 2021

Senior O’Sullivan puts on sensory scavenger hunt with Atlanta Science Festival

May 5, 2021

Inman should turn into a fourth and fifth grade academy

May 4, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 4/30

Weekly Activity: Week ending 4/30

April 30, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 4/23

Weekly Activity: Week ending 4/23

April 23, 2021
An array of junior girls expressed their emotions regarding the

[Photo] Students react to ‘bracket incident’

April 20, 2021
As the one-year anniversary comes and goes, it's been frustrating to see many of my peers continue to disregard Covid-19 safety.

[Photo] Dear classmates: The pandemic isn’t over

April 16, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 4/16

Weekly Activity: Week ending 4/16

April 16, 2021
Khan Academy is a non-profit learning website, and unlike many similar sites, it really does help you learn. The pure effectiveness of Khan Academy is astounding from a student’s perspective, as other sites just aren’t that good.

Khan Academy provides unparalleled learning resources

April 7, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 4/2

Weekly Activity: Week ending 4/2

April 2, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 3/26

Weekly Activity: Week ending 3/26

March 26, 2021
Courtesy of Annie Robinson

Annie Robinson, junior

March 22, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 3/19

Weekly Activity: Week ending 3/19

March 18, 2021
DeAndre Mahone Jr., a kindergartener at Hope Hill Elementary school, works at his classroom desk. His teacher decorated her students' desk shields like cars.

Cluster elementary schoolers adapt to in-person learning

March 17, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 3/12

Weekly Activity: Week ending 3/12

March 12, 2021
The John Lewis statue will be mounted in front of the DeKalb Courthouse in Decatur, Ga.

[Photo] John Lewis statue honors social change and history

March 12, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 3/5

Weekly Activity: Week ending 3/5

March 5, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 2/26

Weekly Activity: Week ending 2/26

February 26, 2021
The Echoes and Reflections curriculum was created by the Anti-Defamation League, Yad Vashem, and teachers from around the country. It includes 11 multi-part units on a variety of themes relating to the Holocaust and genocide eduction.

[Photo] Pope offers new Holocaust Studies class

February 23, 2021
Since Biden’s inauguration, there’s been a surprising attitude on social media and throughout the news that he is going to miraculously fix the large host of issues he was faced with when he entered office. Even though Trump is out of office, our government still has problems, and this is not the time to ignore our leaders.

Stop thinking that Biden will solve all our problems

February 22, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 2/19

Weekly Activity: Week ending 2/19

February 18, 2021

New block schedule affects Advanced Placement classes

February 16, 2021
As the fraction of students who opted to return to in -person learning are phased in, most Atlanta Public Schools teachers are back in school buildings and have mixed feelings about the decisions being made, concerning reopening schools.

[Photo] Teachers conflicted over reopening plans, work to adapt

February 15, 2021
AP students are having to balance more on their own this year when studying for AP exams in May, especially for classes they took during the fall semester.

[Photo] 4×4 schedule challenges AP students

February 16, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 2/12

Weekly Activity: Week ending 2/12

February 12, 2021
Grady yearbook has has to adapt to different circumstances brought by the pandemic. They anticipate that few students will submit portraits, so they will fill the empty space with student features.

[Photo] Yearbook creates printed product despite challenges

February 5, 2021
Brattain (right) hugs her mother after a roller derby match.

Tui Brattain, junior

February 5, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 2/5

Weekly Activity: Week ending 2/5

February 5, 2021
If colleges’ rationale for becoming test-optional or test-blind is that there is unequal access to taking and doing well on the ACT/SAT, that same logic should be applied post-pandemic because these problems are not new.

[Photo] Colleges should permanently amend their dependence on SAT/ACT scores for admissions

January 31, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 12/29

Weekly Activity: Week ending 12/29

January 29, 2021
This year, all Atlanta Public Schools high schools changed to a schedule where there are four classes one semester, every day, and a different four classes the next semester. This change was incredibly abrupt for Grady students and teachers.

[Photo] Single semester block schedule disadvantages students, teachers

January 28, 2021
Collegeboard's determination to administer a full-length AP exam only heightens the anxiety and educational inequality of students nationwide. Original

[Photo] Leniency necessary for AP Exams: We’re still in a pandemic

January 22, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 1/22

Weekly Activity: Week ending 1/22

January 22, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 1/15

Weekly Activity: Week ending 1/15

January 15, 2021
Students had different opinions on whether or not asynchronous Wednesdays were a positive or negative addition to the schedule.

[Photo] Students conflicted over asynchronous Wednesdays

January 13, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 1/8

Weekly Activity: Week ending 1/8

January 8, 2021
After the siege on the US Capitol on Jan. 6, social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have temporarily shutdown Trump's accounts citing that his posts incite violence.

President Trump’s inflammatory falsehoods responsible for Capitol siege

January 7, 2021
Divisive sectionalism has contributed to one part of the chaos of 2020, however, this divide between rural and urban America brings on broader questions about the future of the country and what this divide could mean for America's future.

[Photo] It’s time to start talking about rural America: The disconnect between urban and rural America

January 7, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 12/18

Weekly Activity: Week ending 12/18

December 18, 2020
Kamala Harris will be the first woman, Asian and Black person to serve as vice president. This historical achievement has impacted women and young girls across the country, Grady students included.

[Photo] Students react to Kamala Harris being elected Vice President

December 16, 2020
The deadly threat of COVID-19 means that this year, the holidays must look different. Staying home and not visiting family is the best decision this year.

Stay home for the holidays

December 16, 2020
The APS Board of Education voted to finalize Midtown High School as the new name for Henry W. Grady High School. *Disclaimer: This graphic does not represent the actual Midtown High School mascot. It is meant for illustration purposes only.

[Photo] Board approves name change to Midtown High School

December 14, 2020
Weekly Activity: Week of 12/7

Weekly Activity: Week of 12/7

December 11, 2020
The recent announcement of three separate vaccine candidates has sparked increased interest in coronavirus vaccines. Various factors have influenced the way Grady students feel about getting the vaccine.

[Photo] Students weigh in on Covid-19 vaccine

December 8, 2020
Social media is a common way for young voters to get voter information.

[Photo] Young voter impact grows since the 2016 election

January 4, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week of 11/30

Weekly Activity: Week of 11/30

December 3, 2020
Ranked-choice voting ballots require voters to rank their preferences for candidates. A ranked-choice system is being used to conduct the Grady High School name change vote, where the three choices are Midtown, Piedmont, and Ida B. Wells High School.

Ranked-choice provides poor alternative to traditional voting

November 19, 2020
Athletes show their support for the Black Lives matter movement in different ways.

[Photo] Athletes take on social issues

November 18, 2020
Students with autoimmune diseases are faced with many obstacles, especially those related to the COVID-19 crisis, due to their compromised immune systems.

[Photo] The return of school with autoimmune diseases

November 8, 2020
President Trump's 1776 Commission aims to teach youth about the “magnificent truth,” seemingly composed of only the positive aspects of American history. By ignoring our past blunders, President Trump is suggesting we

Trump administration seeks to rewrite history with ‘1776 Commission’

November 7, 2020
Following the presidential debate the country is alight with President Trump's accusations of voter fraud; most of which have been unfounded and inaccurate

[Photo] Exaggerations of voter fraud hurts the American people the most

October 30, 2020
electionnotbanner

[Photo] The Southerner’s Guide to the 2020 Election

October 29, 2020
Justice Ginsburg had many famous quotes, this is one of them.

[Photo] Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg impacts women of Grady

October 13, 2020
Special education teachers adapted students' Individual Education Plans (IEPs) to fit virtual learning to ensure that students with special needs continue to effectively learn.

[Photo] Silver lining: special education adapts to virtual learning

October 5, 2020
With dubious COVID-19 facts flying at you from social media, medical professionals, teachers, nutritionists and the government, sometimes, it’s hard to tell what to trust and what not to trust.

The Deadly Spread of COVID-19 Misinformation

September 25, 2020
Students with learning disabilities have to combat many mental challenges with virtual learning.

[Photo] Virtual school challenges students with learning disabilities

September 24, 2020
Since the 2018 gubernatorial election all eyes from the nation and from the citizens of Georgia have been glued to the polls and the subsequent election resuts.

[Photo] A look into Georgia’s history of voter suppression

September 24, 2020
The Orator staff meets in daily Zoom video calls in order to keep up with planning and creating content for the yearbook.

[Photo] Yearbook reimagines itself despite obstacles

September 15, 2020
While youth voters are at the forefront of at of protests and political revolutions it's time for them to bring that energy to the polls.

[Photo] Youth voters need to vote for every election

September 16, 2020
LEARNING CURVE: The APS Department of Instructional Technology hosted teacher trainings throughout the summer to prepare them for the start of virtual classes.

[Photo] Teachers adapt to online classes

September 11, 2020
Panelists discuss the potential name change with moderator journalist Donna Lowry, held on Friday, August 21.

[Photo] Panel shows diverse views on Grady name change

August 23, 2020
While students and teachers are working from home, the campus is still bustling with construction and critters.

Critters and construction abound on campus during distance learning

May 18, 2020
C.O.O.K.I.E. is a local organization that was recently founded to find out what organized groups of girls selling cookies REALLY want.

New organization seeks to uncover the secrets of organized female cookie sales

April 27, 2020
MADE WITH LOVE: During the virtual town hall, Atlanta Public Schools superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen held up a mask her mother sewed and encouraged others to sew masks.

Seniors end classes May 1, virtual learning shifts to four-day week

April 18, 2020
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Trumpeter Bhuvan Saraswat practices “Shenandoah”, one of the band’s pieces for their LGPE, or large group performance evaluation. The band’s LGPE is March 11th.

LGPE provides music programs with evaluation experience

March 11, 2020
Classic novels have made their way onto the big screen, appealing to high schoolers in a new way.

High school kills classic novels; movies revive them

February 3, 2020
Classic novels such as The Handmaids' Tale, Little Women, and Catch-22 have received television or movie adaptations.

[Photo]

February 3, 2020
treegraphic

[Photo] Students protest for more eco-friendly examinations

November 15, 2019
College board makes exams overpriced,

[Photo] Student Assistance Programs distract from the real issues

December 5, 2019
Holiday presents often have unseen detrimental effects, such as adding to waste.

American holiday purchases are unethical, unsustainable

November 23, 2019
Many entertainment studios have held or made grabs for Spider-Man's movie rights, including Sony and Marvel Studios.

Mismanagement of Marvel character rights disadvantages fans

October 28, 2019
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Anna Rachwalski