An upbeat website for a downtown school

the Southerner Online
An upbeat website for a downtown school

the Southerner Online
An upbeat website for a downtown school

the Southerner Online
Sierra Pape

Sierra Pape, Editor in Chief

Sierra Pape is a senior and this is her fourth year on the Southerner staff. When she is not writing, you will find her running for the Midtown cross country team, working for Midtown Votes and political organizations outside of school, and singing in the school musicals. She is so grateful for the caliber of the journalism program at Midtown!

All content by Sierra Pape
COMMUNITY RESISTANCE: Every Tuesday evening, protesters gather outside the CDC to cheer on workers as they leave and speak up against the firings and budget cuts.

Federal officials slash CDC jobs, fire hundreds of Atlanta workers

Sierra Pape and Connie Erdozain
May 1, 2025
Lamar Young [right] stands with fellow counselors. Young served as a counselor for 15 years at Midtown, providing critical support for students and parents.

Treasured counselor Young passes, leaves enduring impact

Sierra Pape
April 21, 2025
Amongst eight teams, Midtown’s Black History Bowl (BHB) team won the second annual district-wide competition after months of preparation.

Black History Bowl team wins district competition, aims for future expansion

Sierra Pape
April 14, 2025
A TRANFORMATIVE LEADER: In his political career, former president Jimmy Carter left an indelible mark on national education policy and Atlanta education. (Illustration by Nora Crawford)

Former president Jimmy Carter passes, leaves mark on education policy, Atlanta Public Schools

Sierra Pape, Fairlie Mercer, Farris Duwayri, and Connie Erdozain
February 11, 2025
OLD TO NEW: After the 2024 election, Republican control in the national and Georgia state government is sparking new proposals for education reform. Large national conversations include a removal of the Department of Education, reduction of financial aid, and censorship of class material.

Students, teachers grapple with education reform policy

Sierra Pape, Henry Moye, and Connie Erdozain
December 12, 2024
SERVING UP: Midtown lunch staff, Vema Storymolden, cuts pizza for students. This year, Atlanta Public Schools has increased accessibility for students involved in the Community Eligibilty Provision, which provides free meals to students.

[Photo] District CEP free meal program to more schools

Carys Brightwell
November 19, 2024
REGISTRATION STATION: Senior Camden Locke registers to vote with Fulton Voting Taskforce at its bus event. Midtown Votes worked throughout the fall to educate and prepare students to vote in the November election.

[Photo] Midtown Votes registers 93% of eligible students

Abby Ippen and Ayan Amin
November 4, 2024
ENDS IN VICTORY: Trump was declared president-elect by AP News at 5:34 a.m. Wednesday morning. At time of publication, he holds 295 electoral votes against 226 held by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Metro Atlanta reacts to Trump’s historic presidential win

Sierra Pape, Audrey Lyons, and Fairlie Mercer
November 6, 2024
Burt Jones, the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, speaks at the Official Georgia GOP Watch Party. At time of publication, Trump holds a majority with 93% of votes counted state-wide.

Trump gains in Georgia election night polls, too close to call

Sierra Pape, Henry Moye, Fairlie Mercer, Audrey Lyons, and Mariam Darb
November 6, 2024
SPREADING THE WORD: DJ Waffles was on the sidewalk outside the voting location he was stationed at. From this location, he was able to communicate with community people and lead them to the polling location nearby.

[Photo] DJs at the Polls engages community, voters

Fairlie Mercer and Audrey Lyons
November 5, 2024
Virginia Highland Elementary School served as a polling location for the Midtown cluster. This site has been a consistent location for voters for over 20 years.

Polling locations across Midtown calm on Election Day

Sierra Pape, Connie Erdozain, Brennan Fritts, Henry Moye, Penelope Keenan, and Ayan Amin
November 5, 2024
ENTER TRUMP: Former President Trump took the stage after an hour of speeches given by various campaign officials and supporters.

Trump rallies at Georgia Tech for student, community support

Fairlie Mercer, Audrey Lyons, and Sierra Pape
October 30, 2024
Young Democrats of Georgia state leaders conduct a session at the September YDG convention at the Georgia Tech Convention Center. Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee, her campaign has specifically reached out to youth.

Harris-Walz campaign targets young Georgia voters

Sierra Pape
September 30, 2024
Juniors Minwoo Kang (left), Adam Carr (middle) and Sloane Crisler (right) participate in the Midtown Votes sponsored 'Voter Bus'. At the bus, students register to vote and learn about the voting process by filling out mock ballots.

[Photo] Voting advocacy inspires students before election

Lily Carter
September 26, 2024
On Friday, Sept. 6, over 1,000 community members from Winder, Georgia attended a vigil at Jug Tavern Park to pay respect to the 2 teachers and 2 students killed in the Sept. 4 Apalachee school shooting. Attendees laid flowers in front of crosses for the four dead.

Apalachee High School shooting shakes community, sparks state-wide threats

Sierra Pape
September 18, 2024
NO PHONES: This year will be the first school year that students will not have access to phones at school. Students will have to lock phones in Yondr pouches during the day.

School community navigates first month of new phone policy

Sierra Pape, Lily Rachwalski, and Henry Moye
September 12, 2024
According to the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, 35.4% of students in APS schools were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, an increase from 21% of students in 2018-19, pre-pandemic.

[Photo] District combats post-pandemic absenteeism with new interventions

Connie Erdozain
September 9, 2024
A NEW DIRECTION: SRO Norren Islar directs traffic on the 10th Street of the parking lot, due to the high volume of cars right after school in the overcrowded area. The crowding issues have caused the school-wide policy change for 2023-24 school year to have paid, reserved parking spots for upperclassmen with a down payment of $75.

[Photo] Overcrowding issues cause new parking policy

Carys Brightwell and Hannah Silver
May 19, 2024
BATTLE BACK: Interim Superintendent Dr. Danielle Battle's contract has been extended to Dec. 31. The Atlanta Board of Education did this to ensure they could have enough time to find the right fit for a new permanent superintendent in the district.

[Photo] Interim superintendent Dr. Battle’s contract extended, search continues

Zelda Lerner
May 21, 2024
A HELPING HAND: ESOL teacher Joe Osborne helps students in the adult education center every day to learn necessary skills to obtain jobs and have better lives by improving their English fluency. Students learn necessary phrases homebuyers will encounter.

District addresses gap in adult education, strives for literacy recovery

Sierra Pape
April 26, 2024
Students used provided glasses to look at the changes in the sun during the solar eclipse.

Midtown community celebrates solar eclipse

Sierra Pape
April 8, 2024
The Southerner was named the All-Georgia Newspaper and All-Georgia News Website at the Spring Awards Ceremony for the Georgia Scholastic Press Association (GSPA).

[Photo] The Southerner earns state distinction

April 1, 2024
LEARNING EXPERIENCE: State representative Mesha Mainor discussed the events of “Crossover Day” at the State Capitol and the importance of lobbying with Midtown AP Capstone students.

Representatives vote on youth-centric issues

Connie Erdozain and Sierra Pape
April 4, 2024
The Southerner was named the All-Georgia Newspaper and All-Georgia News Website at the Spring Awards Ceremony for the Georgia Scholastic Press Association (GSPA).

The Southerner earns state distinction

Sierra Pape
April 1, 2024
Annual college fair educates, uplifts students

Annual college fair educates, uplifts students

Sierra Pape and Ella Horsford
March 28, 2024
At the end of January, the Virginia-Highland Civic Association and Morningside Lenox Park Association partnered to have a neighbors-only meeting about the future Amsterdam Walk development.

Amsterdam Walk development begins community engagement process

Sierra Pape
March 8, 2024
The monumental $100 million donation is projected to be used to increase affordability for current students and dually invest in scholarships for future students to remove possible financial barriers. Sophomore Kennedy Clemons [above] is pursuing a career in acting.

[Photo] Spelman College receives historic donation

Brennan Fritts
February 21, 2024
Senior Madison Little looks through the Midtown library selection, which currently includes several books that were banned in Marietta High School. "I have LGBTQ friends," Little said. "If this book selection was removed at Midtown, I would feel very upset."

Marietta City Schools removes two dozen books from library, receives community backlash

Sierra Pape
February 8, 2024
CONNECTING COMMUNNITES: Ivan Allen Jr. [pictured right] engaged in racial issues throughout his eight years in the Atlanta Mayor’s office and worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. [pictured left] and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Dr. King’s wife, Correta Scott King [depicted in forefront left]said about Allen’s mayorial leadership, “With unflinching courage, he guided the city through some of the most turbulent waters.”

Alum Ivan Allen Jr. leaves lasting impact as Atlanta mayor

Sierra Pape
December 7, 2023
On Oct. 23, the South Parking Lot at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport shut down for construction.

[Photo] South Economy Parking Lot closes at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, impacts holiday travels

Mariam Darb
November 14, 2023
Atlanta's annual Pride Parade and Festival, usually held in October, fosters community and acceptance of Atlanta's large LGBTQ+ community.

Vibrant Atlanta LGBTQ+ community confronts modern struggles

Connie Erdozain and Sierra Pape
November 27, 2023
Washington has taught at Midtown for three and a half years despite coaching for eight and a half years.

[Photo] Joshua Washington, teacher

Connie Erdozain
May 6, 2024
DSC_0306

[Photo] Little Amal brings hope to Atlanta migrant community

Mariam Darb
October 31, 2023
On Aug. 1, Virginia Highland Elementary opened its doors for its first academic year. Approximately 535 students enrolled at Virginia Highland Elementary, many of which previously attended Morningside Elementary School and Springdale Park Elementary School.

[Photo] Virginia-Highland Elementary School opens for first school year

Connie Erdozain
October 24, 2023
Incumbent Johnson challenges Lewis for school board Seat 9 position

Incumbent Johnson challenges Lewis for school board Seat 9 position

Sierra Pape
October 18, 2023
Two Midtown parents run for District 3 seat on Atlanta Board of Education

Two Midtown parents run for District 3 seat on Atlanta Board of Education

Sierra Pape
October 17, 2023
Candidates spearhead campaigns for at-large seat 7 Atlanta school board election

Candidates spearhead campaigns for at-large seat 7 Atlanta school board election

Sierra Pape
October 16, 2023
DSC_1889

Superintendent Battle visits Midtown, connects with students and staff

Sierra Pape
October 8, 2023
In her first school visit, Battle attended a Virginia Highland Elementary school meeting with parents to garner input about the most pressing issues they were facing.

Interim superintendent Battle takes the helm, pledges visionary leadership

Sierra Pape
October 1, 2023
This layout was prepared by Field Landscape Architecture in collaboration with the VaHi Pool Association. The plan is intended to illustrate the potential for the Field of Dreams and serve as a reference point for discussions with the community and Atlanta Public Schools.

Community group seeks approval to utilize district excess land for pool

Sierra Pape
September 8, 2023
Steiding stretches with the team in the gym before cross country practice.

Carter Steiding, sophomore

Sierra Pape
September 6, 2023
Blair Cummings and her son traveled from North Georgia to the Fulton County Jail to support Trump as he surrendered on August 24.

Fulton County takes national stage with historic Trump indictment

Sierra Pape, Connie Erdozain, Diana Jachman, and Molly Thompson
September 6, 2023
An incident on Aug. 15 caused over 60 residents in Midtown East to wake up to a smashed window on their car.

Streak of summer car break-ins in community raise parking concerns

Sierra Pape and Hannah Silver
August 28, 2023
Midtown cheerleading team practices in Piedmont Park following a bomb threat call to the school administration, which canceled all extracurricular activities on campus.

Midtown receives bomb threat for second consecutive year

Shalin Bhatia, Sierra Pape, and Hannah Silver
August 2, 2023
With a welcoming smile, Chick-fil-A prides itself in serving with "pleasure." Employee and local student Johnnita Wickerson depicted above has gone through training to efficiently and enthusiastically serve customers.

Chick-fil-A opens doors on Ponce, works to control traffic

Sierra Pape
June 15, 2023
Lined by a finished interior, service is continued inside the building. But with only 15 parking spots, customer Sahara Williams believes it is a better experience to proceed through the drive-through.

With two lanes and a U-turn, the designers of the lot have worked to maximize the small drive-thru area. Virginia-Highland resident Bill Willson was happily surprised by the smoothness of his experience. "I came out to see how crowded it was because a lot of the community was concerned that there would be traffic backup," Willson said. "But they have routed it pretty well so that everyone can get through easily."

On June 2, The Atlanta Board of Education chose not to renew its contract with current superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring. A Georgia native, Herring was previously superintendent for Birmingham City Schools and was hired by APS in July of 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

School board declines renewal of Herring’s contract

Shalin Bhatia, Sierra Pape, and Farris Duwayri
June 13, 2023
The upper playground area is mostly untouched, housing an arbory of old trees.

Community members negotiate park land use of new Virginia Highland Elementary School

Sierra Pape
May 25, 2023
Stanley helps friends in fashion class.

Caitlin Stanley, junior

Sierra Pape
May 12, 2023
Science teacher Roderick Hill instructs freshman biology class in preparation for unit exam, which will be the only grade for their last unit under this new system.

Administrators experiment with new grading system prototype

Sierra Pape
May 1, 2023
North High Ridge Apartment was home for nearly 40 residents, including children and cats, and stood as one of the oldest, most affordable housing units in Poncey-Highland.

Community rallies behind victims of apartment fire

Sierra Pape
April 26, 2023
GHSA displays Midtown apparel at Walmart on 17th Street.

Retail licensing royalties bring less than $1,600 to school over 14 years

Sierra Pape
April 14, 2023
Mr. Mohney allows his students move freely around the classroom and hallways to create a good instructive environment. Here he comments and helps students working on individual assignments right outside his classroom door.

William Mohney, teacher

Sierra Pape
April 10, 2023
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