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
Sophia Maxim

Sophia Maxim, Design/Layout Managing Editor

Sophia is a senior and a Layout Design/Graphics, Photography, and Social Media Editor on the Southerner. Outside of writing, she spends her time taking photos, making art, and working on theater and film productions.

All content by Sophia Maxim
Atlanta's annual Pride Parade and Festival, usually held in October, fosters community and acceptance of Atlanta's large LGBTQ+ community.

[Photo] Vibrant Atlanta LGBTQ+ community confronts modern struggles

Connie Erdozain and Sierra Pape
November 27, 2023
(Left to right) Alumni Zane McKinney and Spencer Cody and senior Malori Switzer stand proudly in front of the Plaza Theatre after their showing of their short film "Kaleidoscope."

[Photo] Friends create film, enter into Atlanta Film Festival

Greta Gustafson
May 20, 2022
BILLS, BILLS, BILLS: Midtown seniors have earned millions of dollars in scholarship money.

[Photo] Seniors use nontraditional applications, earn admissions, scholarships

Stella Mackler
May 24, 2022
During the pandemic, many businesses went cashless, as credit cards and tap-to-pay mobile apps became increasingly popular. However, not having cash as an option for payment significantly harms low-income Americans.

[Photo] Businesses should bring back cash as payment option

Henry Carter
May 10, 2022
Senior Olivia Phillips constructs an outfit for the upcoming fashion show "The Void." The show is set to premiere on April 20 and feature student designs and models for the community.

[Photo] Fashion show returns after two-year hiatus

Greta Gustafson
April 27, 2022
Bullying remains a controversial topic as students, parents, and teachers weigh the pros and cons.

[Photo] Bullying encourages character development among students

Meredith Bell
April 12, 2022
At Midtown, there aren't any required or grade specific field trips offered. Most field trips come from an elective class that the teacher arranged for example, recently art students visited the High Museum of Art. This is different from in elementary and middle school, where entire classes would venture out for the day together, such as going to the zoo or aquarium, about once every month or two.

[Photo] Career-based field trips provide necessary opportunities

Katie Sigal
March 29, 2022
The 94th Academy Awards, which will occur on Mar. 27, 2022, will reportedly not require performers and presenters to be vaccinated.

[Photo] In-person Academy Awards should require vaccines

Callan Cucchi
March 24, 2022
The Posse Scholarship was founded in 1989, and the Atlanta branch of the Posse Foundation was started in 2007. The current schools partnering with Posse Atlanta are Boston University, The College of Wooster, The George Washington University, Brandeis University and Bard College.

[Photo] ‘Posse’ Scholarship impacts students, forges opportunities

Yei Bin Andrews
March 18, 2022
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the conflict has escalated prompting response from the international community and causing concern across the world.

[Photo] Russian invasion of Ukraine escalates, impacts seen across the globe

Diana Jachman
March 7, 2022
Atlanta Public Schools implemented a mask-optional policy for all students and staff, beginning on March 1, 2022. The decision comes on the same day that the Georgia Senate voted in favor of the “Unmask Georgia Students Act,” which would prohibit mask mandates in public schools without an option for parents to opt their children out.

[Photo] “Unmask Georgia Students Act” threatens to undermine local school safety measures

Marcus Johnson
March 8, 2022
Rock the Street, Wall Street encourages financial and investment literacy for high school girls.

[Photo] Rock the Street, Wall Street encourages girls to pursue financial professions

Shay Bowman
March 2, 2022
APS will be going mask optional starting March 1 as a result of CDC recommendations.

[Photo] Atlanta Public Schools lifts mask mandate following CDC guidelines

Stella Mackler and Lindsay Ruhl
February 28, 2022
Many teachers experience mental health issues due to their workloads and heavy burdens from students and administrators. Atlanta Public Schools is launching new mental health initiatives in order to lessen these issues, which have only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Photo] Teachers’ mental health deteriorates, worsened by pandemic

Aran Sonnad-Joshi
February 22, 2022
If the teaching of CRT is banned in schools, during the teaching of certain historical events, such as the slave trade, teachers will have to downplay the horrific events that took place in order to not be seen as promoting the idea that one race is responsible for acts of oppression committed to another race. However, this would be sugarcoating history and will leave future American children with a skewed vision of their country’s past.

[Photo] Banning Critical Race Theory sugarcoats history

Abby Hyken
February 22, 2022
The Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade has protected abortion rights in America for nearly 50 years, but recent challenges to these rights mean that the battle is not over.

[Photo] 49 years after Roe v. Wade, reproductive healthcare is still threatened

Anna Rafferty
February 18, 2022
The College Board has stated that in 2024 the SAT will be administered on either a computer or a tablet, in comparison to being on paper.

[Photo] SAT going online prompts unanswered questions

Katie Sigal
February 16, 2022
The NextDoor app allows for discussion on neighborhood happenings. Lucy Fred, a Morningside-Lenox Park resident, values the app’s ability to broadcast suspicious behavior to neighbors. “The other day, I got a notification warning me of ‘suspicious activity’ on my Ring doorbell camera, and I was terrified,” Fred said. “There was a tiny girl standing on my porch carrying a clipboard and wearing strange, possibly gang-related patches. I posted on NextDoor just so everyone was aware — please be mindful of the criminal activity infecting our neighborhood.”

[Photo] NextDoor app creates neighborhood connections

Yei Bin Andrews
January 27, 2022
Pandemic heightens concerns with college decisions as uncertainty continues to mount.

[Photo] Covid-19 continues to impact college decisions

Carolyn Harty
February 8, 2022
The struggle and stress that comes with test-taking is not enjoyable.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited Atlanta on Tuesday, Jan. 11, to discuss the urgent need to pass federal voting rights legislation to prevent corrupt elections. Biden’s visit to Atlanta must immediately spark community movements aimed at improving statewide voting rights, such as more activism from citizens and voting rights groups for actual action in the Georgia General Assembly.

[Photo] Biden’s Atlanta speech must spark voting rights measures

Shalin Bhatia
January 21, 2022
Indigo lights drape from the treetops as visitors stare in awe.

Botanical Garden lights tradition brings outdoor holiday magic to the city

Sophia Maxim
January 13, 2022
Students Malori Switzer, Addie Halloran, Ifama Frazier, Isabelle Perry and Aisling Mahony (from left to right) gather around John Brandhorst for a pre-competition pep-talk. "The competition required me as a teacher to become a coach, I had to connect with my students in a different way," Brandhorst said.

[Photo] First-time competitors dominate Art Throwdown

Alannah Edwards
November 15, 2021
Senior Evelyn Lowry hands senior Lawson Crutcher a cone of cotton candy.

Students celebrate Fall Festival with activities and food trucks

Sophia Maxim
October 17, 2021
Seniors Brody Weiss (left) and Georgia Rice paint a Pride flag for the Gender-Sexuality Alliance Pride event. The event will take place on Oct. 29, from 5:30-8 p.m.

[Photo] Gender-Sexuality Alliance provides inclusive environment for Midtown community

Yei Bin Andrews
October 16, 2021
Jazz fans and couples of all ages enjoy the late-afternoon music.

Atlanta Jazz Festival unites community

Sophia Maxim
September 7, 2021
Students line up for optional Covid-19 testing. As the virus continues to spread, APS is now requiring teachers and staff to undergo surveillance testing twice a week. While the move is a step in the right direction, more must be done to ensure public safety in schools.

[Photo] Covid-19 vaccinations should be mandatory for teachers and staff

September 15, 2021
Langston Hogan, senior

Langston Hogan, senior

Sophia Maxim
September 13, 2021
Students wait in line to get tested for Covid-19. Testing is run by Viral Solutions and happens every Friday.

[Photo] Weekly Covid testing should be required for students

Stella Maximuk
September 10, 2021
The new addition of the "A Wing" has given Midtown an opportunity to expand its campus for a new school year.

[Photo] Midtown reopens with room for growth

Yei Bin Andrews, Aran Sonnad-Joshi, Sayan Sonnad-Joshi, Lucia Gravel, Shay Bowman, and Kelly Tran
September 1, 2021
Many students feel a sense of anxiety surrounding Covid-19 while transitioning back to in-person school.

[Photo] Return to school prompts student anxiety

Greta Gustafson
August 29, 2021
A woman shuffles through eccentric skull prints at Tom Wrenn's booth.

[Photo] Atlanta Dogwood Festival brings life back to the city

Rüya Cooke
August 25, 2021
Senior AJ Franklin and his classmates are seen pictured on the first day of school in their AP Biology class. The return to school marked the first time many students would step inside Midtown's campus in a little over one and a half years.

Seniors Lillian Wilson (left) and Meg McGahan (right) are seen masked along with their peers in AP Art.

[Photo] A new year for mental and physical health

September 1, 2021
Rating period drama costumes based on historical accuracy

Rating period drama costumes based on historical accuracy

Sophia Maxim
July 16, 2021
Students transition into warm-weather fashion

Students transition into warm-weather fashion

Sophia Maxim
June 24, 2021
When I think of numbers, these are the colors I envision and strongly associate them with.

Do you have grapheme-color synesthesia?

Sophia Maxim
May 24, 2021
With AP exams approaching, students are adjusting to the new expectations and preparation required this year.

Students prepare for AP Exams

Sophia Maxim
May 12, 2021
Senior Kai Anderson, a Minecraft server owner, visits his Avatar bending server, which has more than 250,000 users. “I didn't just have a good feeling about this place,” Anderson said. “I knew the effort that I was putting in here, 12, 13 hours a day for like an entire month straight, just trying to put this place together, I knew that was gonna mean something.”

Student launches successful Minecraft server

Sophia Maxim
April 1, 2021

Senior Cody’s musical inspiration

Sophia Maxim
March 26, 2021
Weekly Activity: Week ending 3/5

Weekly Activity: Week ending 3/5

Anna Rachwalski and Sophia Maxim
March 5, 2021
The outdated stereotype surrounding home economics takes a toll on the classes real goal.

[Photo] Modern curriculum needs home economics

Katie Sigal
March 2, 2021
Senior Sophia Little wrestles against an opponent at the North Atlanta Warrior Classic back during the 2019-20 season.

[Photo] Wrestling pushes athletes to brink

Cole Parker
February 18, 2021
Robinhood, like the folk hero, has helped the poor against the rich

[Photo] Anger against Robinhood shifts blame from Wall Street

Aran Sonnad-Joshi
February 16, 2021
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Sophia Maxim