The Indian Civilization Act of 1819 led to forced assimilation in Indigenous boarding schools by suppressing the use of their languages and cultures. Consequently, over 300 Indigenous languages struggled to survive. Revitalizing these dying languages will open them to a new generation of speakers. Through language immersion programs, mentorships, and technology, these languages have slowly come back to daily life.

For example, the Wampanoag language had been dormant for around 150 years until 1993, when the Wampanoag Language Reclamation Project began. Starting in Boston, where Wampanoag used to be spoken, this project involved collaboration with many universities and colleges such as Yale, Brown, and MIT. They were able to establish classes at several colleges taught by linguists. Jessie Little Doe Baird, a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, started working with linguist Ken Hale in analyzing historical Wampanoag documents. As a result, many graduate students were able to learn the grammar and vocabulary. This marked the first occasion where people around the world recognized a Native American community’s attempt to revitalize their dying language.

Myaamia, the language of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma died out in 1989. However, the community worked with Miami University by using archival documents to revive and reconstruct their language. The National Breath of Life program plays an important role in these partnerships, as the program provides training and technology to help many Indigenous communities across North America. These instances of language revival emphasize the necessity of sustaining these traditions.

Indigenous language revival

#Ancient Egypt (3000 B.C.)


Ancient Egyptians used papyrus, harvested from reeds along
the Nile, to create paper-like material. The pith was stripped
and laid in layers, and then glued together with the natural
sap. It was one of the earliest writing surfaces and was used
for keeping records, administration, and literature. These thin
sheets were able to carry the words of merchants, pharaohs,
and storytellers. 


### China (105 A.D.)
The paper that we are familiar with today was invented
by Cai Lun during the Han Dynasty, which was composed
of mulberry bark, hemp, and rags macerated and dried.
The mass production of paper allowed for widespread
literacy and documentation, making it accessible and
practical for many in China. 


# Islamic Golden Age (8th–11th centuries)
The Battle of Talas, fought between the Chinese and
Arabs, revealed the secret of papermaking to the Islamic
world. This led to a revolution of knowledge: it promoted
the trade economy and flourished in literature, philosophy,
and record-keeping.

# Europe (13th–15th centuries)
Paper finally arrived in Europe through
trade and exchange. Paper mills flourished
and replaced costly parchment. The movabletype printing press, invented by Johannes
Gutenburg from the 1450s transformed paper
into the foundation of mass communication

# Modern Era (19th century–today) 
Industrial papermaking from wood pulp has made paper
widely available for everyone, especially due to low
manufacturing costs. Paper is the foundation of almost
everything we use, including books, newspapers, bags,
currency, packaging. It facilitates our education, creativity,
and communication. However, paper use has significantly
declined since the 2000s, due to increased digitalization. 



Paper through the ages

With the start of another school year, yet another group of
sophomores are looking for ways to fulfill their community
service hour requirement. Many community services
programs are offered at Princeton High School, focusing
on topics such as tutoring, health, and the environment.
However, there are also a variety of arts community service
programs at PHS.

The Arts Council club provides an opportunity for
students to work together on projects such as decorations
for the school and cards for senior centers or hospitals. For
example, during the winter, the club puts up snowflakes to
heighten the festivities.

In addition, the club also collaborates with the Arts
Council of Princeton by volunteering at events and camps
that the council hosts.

“During camps ... we assist with cleaning, with [art] skills,
and just talking with the children. Children as young as
kindergarten all the way through middle school [come to the camp], and our goal is just to spread
art [to them]. A lot of the people that are
in the club are interested in art, and we
want to give back to the community,”
said Vanessa He ’27, one of the leaders
of the Arts Council club.

While the Arts Council club focuses
on giving back to the community, it also
brings together community at PHS.

“While we [work together], people
are also talking. And I think that’s also
another way for people to connect with
peers, not just the whole community
itself,” said He.

Another arts community service at
PHS is School Beautification. A newly-
formed club, their goal is to improve
the appearance of
PHS in order to create a more welcoming
environment for both students and teachers.“Art creates a welcoming environment
because ... abstract shapes and colors
usually inspire creativity among people
and individuals. Seeing art every day
makes the space look less monotone
and [industrial-like]. Instead, the more
creative, welcoming environment would
help students be more productive,” said
co-leader Lucy Wang ’27.

The club also hopes to expand the scope
of their projects in the future.

“I also hope that in the spring we are able
to collaborate with some other community
service organizations to hopefully plant
flowers, or [install] plant pots inside the
school,” said Wang.

The service project Make Your Mark
has a different approach to helping the community. Focusing on creating crafts such as jewelry
and clay keychains, the program donates all the handmade
crafts back to the Rise organization.

Rise, a nonprofit social support project based in central
New Jersey, helps the community through food pantries,
thrift stores, and educational programs. In addition to
making crafts, the club also organizes volunteering and
crafts events for the community.

“We plan to bring arts and crafts opportunities to our
community through hosting crafting events at Princeton
Public Library,” said Jessica Zhang ’26, a co-leader of Make
Your Mark. “We [also] organize volunteering opportunities
at [Rise’s thrift store], helping to work and manage the store.”

Overall, while the main purpose of each community
service project is to give back to the community, members
also find themselves connecting and bonding with each
other and the community.

photo: Katherine Chen

Vanessa He ’27 and Kenzie Miller ’27 talk to a student about the Arts Council club.

A guide to arts-related community service programs

Greek and Roman mythology share many deities and stories. However, they each developed their own unique identities. Around 1,000 B.C., Greek myths were first developed. The first ever recorded myth was the “Theogony” by Hesiod, presenting the origins of the Greek gods, and was influenced by Minoan and Mycenaean stories. 1,000 years later, the Romans adopted many of the Greek deities and stories with their own renamed gods.

Although Roman mythology was derived from the Greeks, they each developed different cultures surrounding their beliefs. Greek myths focus on beauty, individuality, and human nature. Their gods are often flawed and emotional, revealing a society that valued creativity, philosophy, and the arts. Meanwhile, Roman mythology was more practical and centered on duty, strength, and loyalty to the state. Roman gods were more stern, often symbolizing Roman beliefs such as discipline and order.

Another difference between the two myths were their interactions with the gods. In Greek myths, the gods frequently interacted with mortals in personal and unpredictable ways. For example, the gods might fall in love with mortals or punish them. Roman myths stood by the principle of divine intervention, where interactions felt more formal and tied to the success of Rome itself, specifically in battle or politics. These interactions represent the different personalities their gods had. Greek gods had more human-like personalities, while Roman gods were more idealized. Zeus was unfaithful and could be angered easily, while Jupiter, the Roman version of Zeus, was portrayed as a stable and fatherly figure as he protected the Roman state and upheld justice.

These differences reveal each of the myths’ purpose to their people. For the Greeks, mythology was a way to explore the depths of human emotion and the flaws of even the most powerful beings. And for Romans, mythology offered a sense of order, strength, and pride in their civilization.

Greek vs. Roman Mythologies

Birds hold deep cultural and spiritual significance to many Native Americans, symbolizing freedom, wisdom, and strength. Tribes across North America view birds not just as little fledglings, but as guides and messengers that shape their beliefs and customs. Among these tribes are the Lenni Lenape, who originally lived in what is now New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware. Hunting was an essential part of their lifestyle, including the hunting of birds such as pigeons, eagles, hawks, turkeys, and herons.

However, birds weren’t just a food source to these people; birds were seen as sacred beings that connected the earth to heaven. The eagle was praised for its strength, whereas the owl was seen as a keeper of wisdom, and the blue jay was a symbol of communication, guidance, and change. Eagle feathers were often used in religious ceremonies and were believed to carry prayers to the Great Spirit — receiving or wearing a feather was an honor. Stories were also told about many birds; a popular Lenape legend was about the Rainbow or Many-Colored Crow. These crows represented selflessness and service, further emphasizing the significance of birds in their culture.

Many other tribes across the continent share a connection to birds. For example, the Hopi in the Southwest believe that birds are mediators between humans and spirits. The Lakota and Cheyenne view the thunderbird as a very powerful and supernatural being that brings beautiful rain and controlled harsh storms. The Cherokee believe that the red-tailed hawk brought messages from ancestors, offering wisdom and protection.

Birds’ ability to fly gives them a point beyond human reach, symbolizing insight, vision, and the power to look beyond earthly concerns. This is why many tribes see birds as guiding spirits or totems that help individuals connect with higher truths, and why people look up to them.

Their presence in stories and ceremonies reflects their importance as a guide, spiritual messengers, and protectors. Birds remind people of their connections to nature and the importance of living in harmony alongside the world around them.

Cultural Importance of Birds in Native American Tribes

# 3100 BC, Egypt: Senet
Senet is the oldest known board game, mentioned in the Book of the Dead and played on a 3x10 square board with pawns, throw-sticks, and counters. Historians believe that wealthy Egyptians would play this game in hopes of winning and earning the protection of the gods Ra, Thoth, and Osiris. Although the rules of the game are unknown, it is believed that Senet is similar to an Arab game called Hyena, where players race to the center of the board and capture their opponents (an early form of Pac-Man).

# 600 AD, India: Chess and checkers
Chess is thought to be a version of the Indian game, Shatranj, played on a 64-square board with the objective of either eliminating all of the opponents pieces or killing their king. The game was spread globally through the Silk Road as traders carried it with them. To make the game easier to play while traveling, traders tweaked the game to have discs instead of pawns that sit on the lines instead of squares, becoming an early form of checkers.

# 1100 AD, China and later Europe: Dominoes
While first created in China, the game was not popularized in Europe until the 1700s, when the French created a version in which players used the tiles as puzzle pieces to make certain patterns. Another early version of the game was traced to the Inuits in North America who made domino tiles out of bones. 

# 1903, United States: The Landlord’s Game
Created by Lizzie Magie, the objective is to buy properties, railroads, and utilities across the board that has a jail and a “go” corner. Magie’s hope was to teach children about the unfair way monopolies were created through land grabbing. This game was later sold to the Parker Brothers, who rebranded it as Monopoly.

# 1974, United States: Dungeons and Dragons
D&D was the first role-playing board game, with cards of dwarves, elves, gnomes, and other magical creatures and a Dungeon Master who embark on different adventures through every game played. The game faced some opposition when religious moralists believed it encouraged witchcraft. In 2014, after the release of a ﬁfth edition, its popularity skyrocketed to the point where therapists were using it with kids and adults to relieve stress.

# 2016, United States: Game Pigeon
A game developer by the name of Vitalii Zlotksii, created the game that would soon be embedded in all iPhones. Their team had learned about the possibility of creating iMessage apps in iOS 10, giving them the idea of creating a mobile game that would be engaging for all. This idea had been an evolved version of playing games with friends and family over email. This revolutionary game that took a few weeks to create would soon create a mass of people addicted. There are many games to choose from, including Cup Pong, Crazy Eights, Knockout, and Word Hunt. 


The History of Board Games

Under the bright stage lights, wigs are not just an accessory — they facilitate the transformation of actors into unforgettable characters. Behind these flawless hairstyles is Sylen Waldman ’25, who is in charge of designing, styling, and maintaining wigs for PHS productions. As both Secretary and Hair and Makeup Leader of Spectacle Theater, Waldman has been able to transform his hobby into a key role to help bring the worlds of “The Great Gatsby” and “The Little Prince” to life.

“We wanted each character to have a recognizable look,” said Waldman.

To achieve this, extensive planning and research was used to make sure each character embodied their characters’ appearance shows like “The Little Prince” or “The Great Gatsby.”

“There were over 20 wigs for all the female characters in [‘The Great Gatsby’] and duplicates were needed for the double casting,” said Waldman.

Even with practice and skill, the time each hairstyle takes varies depending on the intricacies.

“[The Daisy [hairstyle] was complicated because it was an updo ... it took [around] an hour and a half [to] two hours. But then a non-complicated [hairstyle] would take around 20 minutes,” said Waldman.

Despite the long hours and maintenance, Waldman takes pride in his backstage role.

“It’s definitely a hard job,” Waldman explained, “but it’s very rewarding ... I love what I do.”

Get wiggy with it

# Indigenous moccasins

The term “moccasin” comes from the Algonquian language Powhatan, and was first used to describe any kind of Native-sewn footwear. Now, the term encompasses just about any shoe that has an Indigenous design or was worn by Indigenous people. Most Native Americans wore moccasins made from deer-hide, with a U-shaped toe. However, Native Americans who inhabited areas with extreme climates, like deserts and plains, often wore moccasins with hard soles that were made from pieces of rawhide or soft leather, with a turned-up toe. For tribes who lived in colder climates, moccasins referred to heavy-duty boots that were lined with fur. In the 19th century, moccasins became a popular footwear choice in Europe, due to their ability to protect the feet from plants and landscapes.

# Dutch wooden clogs

Dutch wooden clogs are a well-known symbol of the Netherlands. It is believed that the oldest pair of these shoes were made around 1230. They were first crafted by hand, taking a day to create two pairs. Now, factories produce more than 2,000 of these shoes a day. These clogs were made out of necessity rather than for fashion. They are naturally water resistant to protect feet from the Dutch climate, and provide the needed support to move on land comfortably and easily. They symbolize practicality, craftsmanship, and resilience. Farmers, garden enthusiasts, and tourists in rural areas of the Netherlands still wear them.

# Manchu platform shoes

Manchu platform shoes became a fashion staple for the Manchu people during the late Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Platform shoes, found in various cultures globally, are typically characterized by thick soles resulting in an elevated style. The Manchu platforms, nicknamed horse hoof shoes, emphasized maintaining “natural feet.” This was largely in contrast to another group under the Qing dynasty, the Han Chinese, who practiced foot binding to create smaller feet to fit far smaller shoes. The platforms included detailed fabric upper sections and had a slightly curved, tilt-like wooden pole, hence the nickname “horse shoe.” Not many people are aware of the Manchu people and their culture due to the rapid modernization of the areas they inhabited, along with their decreased cultural presence. However, the Manchu people’s platform shoes were an important component of dress among Manchu women for centuries.

Vanessa He's Work