Northside’s Mission Statement outlines our school’s guiding principles: engagement, ethics, curiosity, collaboration, and empathy. On December 11, 2025, due to the dehumanizing language found in a Northside bathroom, we became aware that more needs to be done for us to uphold the values we claim. Our public spaces, from hallways to bathrooms to classrooms to the cafeteria, should be safe for all members of our community. 

Recently, Northside’s International Night showcased cultural dances and performances, celebrating the rich diversity of our school.

How can we celebrate diversity if we do not also reflect on the moments when our words and actions might fall short of respecting the backgrounds and identities of our peers? 

The Hoofbeat is responsible for keeping the community informed, representing student voices, and serving as the official record for the school. In the face of adversity, we should reflect on who we aspire to be, drawing guidance from literature, history, faith, relationships, and lived experience. 

We are a COMMUNITY. The different perspectives that comprise Northside enrich our community. To be a member of the Northside community is to know you are not alone. Students, teachers, and staff share these hallways and these classrooms, with that shared space comes shared responsibility. Our sense of community is not forced; it is the byproduct of awareness, honesty, and adaptability. 

We aspire to be AWARE. Awareness requires observation, followed by reflection and interpretation. We should ask: What happened? Why did this happen? What conditions allowed this to occur? Staying informed about events within and beyond our school positions us to make responsible decisions. Awareness also requires an understanding of how words and actions are received, looking beyond ourselves to consider our impact.

We aspire to be HONEST. Honesty, to ourselves and to others, requires courage, vulnerability, and risk. It demands a willingness to engage in difficult discussions and to hold ourselves accountable. Honesty is the bedrock of trust. Through transparent communication, we build trust among students, teachers, and staff.

We aspire to be ADAPTIVE. We must be willing to adjust in response to student interests and current events. Through change, we build resilience. Our openness to change reflects our strength, maturity, and commitment to growth. We must also consider how change is inevitable.

We are HUMAN. To be human is to acknowledge that we sometimes fall short. It means being open to our ignorance and willing to learn from it. Being human encompasses our imperfections and affirms that growth is ongoing. 

Moving forward, we aspire to be better in how we treat ourselves, in how we treat others, and in how we express ourselves in our communities.

Signed,

Sophie Zinder, Editor-in-Chief

Charlotte McAninch, Assistant Editor

Noa Stewart, News Editor

Sarinah Aman, News Editor

Cora Sherman, Features Editor