The Oracle 2017-18: Issue 3

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THE 0RACLE

December 20, 2017 | vol. 45, no. 3 | Cehs news

Heroes within and outside of the East building are showcased and honored.


Table of Contents Cover

Students impacting the world and students impacted by others

12-17

The Mark Making You It’s All About the Price Tag Breaking the Misconceptions Teens and Fast Food Habits

Opinion

On Washington Street | 8 What’s the Point? | 10 Celebration Catastrophe | 11

Feature students & lifestyle Sports

Getting Dramatic: Pattsie Waltz Loss of Pets DIY Sock Wreath Recipe: Grasshopper Pie Christmas Gift Ideas

| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22

Making Waves: Anna Andress Winter Conditioning Right out of the Gate/Crosstown Rivalry 2017 Sports Moments

| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27

Arts & Entertainment 2

December 20, 2017

|4 |5 |6 |7

The Progression of Video Games | 28 Reviews | 29 Note for Note: Anthony Allender | 30 Best of the Best | 31

cover design by Audrey Tian | cover photod by Noah Shoaf | page design by Emily Hales |


Photo by Jenna Robbins, 10

Staff

Editor in Chief | Natalie Ryan Content | Natalie Glaid & Delaney Jackson Design | Emily Hales & Aliza Presto

Contributing Designers | Annie Bastian, Logan Foote, Scott Hammond, Robert Kanehl, Tori Overfelt, Reagan Perkins, Connor Reed, Sean Ryan, Audrey Tian

Photography | Reagan Perkins

Contributing Photographers | Irma Bruce, Savannah Garrett, Liz Hagan, Josie Royer

Cover/Feature | Yetla Reyna Contributing Writers | Noah Shoaf

Opinion | Shelby Gordon & Thomas Voils

Contributing Writers | Courtney Schnur, Grace Staggs, Luke Harpring

Submit your photography to cehsnews@gmail.com for a chance to be featured in the next issue!

Students & Lifestyle |Abigail Larken Contributing Writers | Kylie Brooks, Athena Jenkins, Cam Key, Max Nolting, Elaina Sims

Sports | Klayton Brummett & Caleb Davidson

Contributing Writers | Andy Davidson, Ethan Glaid, Maggie Gregory

Arts & Entertainment | Isaac Harper & Courtney Schnur Contributing Writers | Soren Fox, Hannah Harris. Abigail Larken, Lexi Parton

cehsnews.com| Eli Newell Web Content | Cam Key & Kat Richardson

Contributors | Bre Burton, Brayana Cacho, Eric Cardoso, Savannah Garrett, Kayla Jones, Toby Kelsay, Chesney Loehr, Riley Repp, Jake Schoenegge Adviser | Scott Duncan December 20, 2017

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opinion

the mark making you grades’ correlatiON with self-worth Trembling hands, sweaty palms and jittery fingertips replace any sense of cool rationale in a moment of nervous anticipation. Any student has likely encountered a moment of sheer panic due to the amount of stresses that come with being a full-time student, mainly due to grades. To the dismay of most students, grades are not just ambiguous letters on paper or floating through cyberspace in the online gradebook. They hold a significant amount of weight in modern education. In an educational system that revolves heavily around grades and standardized test scores and uses them as indicators of success or failure, students can begin to feel as if their purpose and value equates with their ability to perform well in school. A strong link exists between the academic achievements of a student and their perceived level of intelligence. Yet, what grades truly measure depends on a variety of factors: effort, initiative, an understanding of the material, participation and creativity. The weight of a teacher’s grading affects how each of these impact students as well, and can be the cause of lower or higher marks No 42.4% (39 people)

in a course. Whereas one student thrives from class discussion and participation, another learns best through independent study. Consequently, if a teacher places more emphasis on class participation than homework assignments and tests, one student will naturally be at an advantage. Also, students who are struggling or require individualized learning are expected to seek out teachers on their own time which can feel overwhelming. Finding time to approach teachers can be difficult with a full schedule of classes or needing to leave directly after school for work or participate in extracurriculars. Even if no physical barrier exists, mental ones can hinder a student from receiving the help they need. For a student suffering with severe anxiety the task is near impossible. The “one-size-fits-all” public education model inhibits the ability of students with different needs, and often times fails to accommodate to every type of learner. Of course striving to be and working towards academic achievement in the classroom is not inherently wrong either. More students are working Yes 57.6% (53 people)

Do you feel like your grades are equal with your self-esteem?

4

courtney schnur

towards a quality education after high school. Historically, receiving college education was not necessary to build a career, and was reserved primarily for the scholarly, but now most professions require their employees to have some form of post-secondary education. Also, some students naturally thrive in a classroom environment and their grades merely reflect their enjoyment and success at school. However, basing one’s worth on external achievements can be detrimental to a student’s mental health and overall state of well-being. According to a survey conducted by the American Psychology Association, 80 percent of 600 college students studied based their self-esteem on their academic standing. These same students showed higher levels of stress and anger, turmoil in relationships, higher drug use and symptoms of eating disorders. Yet, the dilemma of a student who finds themselves basing their worth on academic accomplishments is completely understandable simultaneously. Part of the high school experience includes self-discovery, and if a person’s established identity or reputation relies so heavily No 47.8% (44 People)

upon their academic status they may feel obligated to maintain a certain standard of achievement, whether for themselves or others. Any alteration in the pattern of grades, even if due to an extenuating circumstance or certain aspect of a class proving to be difficult to a student because of their natural disposition and learning style, then turns into a indication of who they are as an individual. In reality, however, a person’s story should not be minimized to the pages of an academic transcript. People hold value in their character, conduct, insight and their existence in of itself. Pushing for quantifiable measures such as grades and test scores to serve as indicators of learning and intelligence robs students of the opportunity to harness untapped potential because they convince themselves of their own validation by these standards. The current system needs to undergo drastic changes that places how students learn at the epicenter of education instead of masking the issue with numbers and graduation rates to prove the success of a school system.

Yes 52.2% (48 People)

Do you feel like your grades are an accurate reflection of your intelligence?

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.

december 20, 2017

design by Connor Reed


on Christmas

E

from them will make the holidays mean more, people will rush to the stores without a second thought. People have started buying gifts and decorations for almost every holiday as a result of these commercialization strategies. It has become customary that holidays are celebrated through elaborate festivities. Stores spend every holiday season fighting for your paycheck. They have various carefully calculated strategies to reel you in, and then even more tactics to keep you buying

once you are in the store. Two examples of these strategies are advertisements and holiday sales. Walmart is even throwing “parties” this year during the Christmas season to attract more customers. These different strategies to heighten consumer traffic work year after year. Last year, Walmart made $11 billion more in fourth quarter sales (the Christmas season) than they did during third quarter. It is obvious that people do not need new decorations every year, nor do we need nearly

walmart q4 sales in billions

very year, as the December chill sets in, the air seems to change. Joyous music plays through the streets as home-cooked meals brew and family games are played. Warm sweaters featuring a cozy man in red or a personified stack of snowballs are worn by people young and old. Hot chocolate is made with candy canes and marshmallows peeking up around the brim of the cup. It is a joyous and peaceful time of year. However, the holiday season is not cheap. For a series of holidays centering 140 around family and religion, two things without a price tag, holidays cost a lot of money. Christmas has become the most expensive holiday in America. 100 According to the National Retail Federation, consumers will spend about $682 billion in total this holiday season. 70 It is not by accident that Christmas has become so costly. Big box retailers around the world have caught on to a simple concept- if you tell people that buying something

2006

2010

year

2016

opinion

It’s All About the Price Tag Americans Spend More Than Ever

grace staggs as many gifts as we buy; it is much simpler and cheaper to just reuse last year’s ornaments and give the gift of family and love. However, money-craving industries have created this holiday scam in such a clever way that we all continue to go to the store year after year. We know about the scam, yet we actively participate in it. Psychology suggests that there is a reason for this willingness to buy that goes deeper than the clever sales tactics. According to a study published in ScienceMag.org, spending money on other people promotes happiness. The study states that spending money on oneself makes people happy, but not as happy as buying things for other people, as is done during the Christmas season. This is a big contributor to why people spend so much money during giving holidays. Many factors come into play when considering why people spend so much money around Christmas, but whatever the reason, people are spending more each year. Christmas used to be, first and foremost, a family and religious holiday. Now, Christmas is a gift giving and party having holiday. Christmas has been commercialized.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.

design by Scott Hammond

december 20, 2017

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opinion

Exploring the Terrifying Convictions (or Beliefs) of Male Feminism

T

oday, being a feminist has become one of the biggest trends for many teenage girls to categorize themselves in. Especially within today’s political climate, many young women have begun to familiarize themselves with feminism and women’s rights. But this isn’t about what it means to be a feminist as a woman in high school; this is about what it means to be a boy and feminist in high school. While some women give feminism a bad rep by portraying it as all women hating all men or even making feminism out to be a competition between women. That is not what it means. If you type feminism into Google, the definition it gives you says, “the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of sexes.” However, before most of the interviews, the majority of my peers had no idea what feminism really was. It seems as if the majority of the male population that attend high school are unaware of what it is and why it should be important to them.

“I think that feminism is a name that has been given to something that should just be common place. Feminism is something that I have just done anyway and it is sad that we have to give a title to it,” said Troy Buntin, government

commonly talked about within their peers, that it does not mean that they do not support women rights. “I agree with the concept of feminism, I don’t see why they should be exempt from participating in whatever they want

fem·i·nism \fe-mə-ni-zəm\ noun

The advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. teacher. While a teacher, Buntin is constantly around male students, and he can see how feminism is not something that is deemed extremely important to them. Carson Gilpin and Evan O’Rourke, seniors at East attest that while feminism is not

to do due to not being a male. They’re human too,” O’Rourke said. Gilpin also added that women rights are not always talked about, that as students, we grow up filling gender roles without even realizing it. However, the conversation of feminism should be taught as

shelby gordon commonplace for students. Feminism, while commonly and poorly misunderstood, is not ignored by male students. While there is a mature aspect to understanding the importance of feminism, a lot of the issue comes from not being properly educated on why women rights should be important, even now as high school students. Being a female and a part of a high school setting, feminism is something that I take seriously. Women rights should not be seen as something second hand. While all rights are important, I definitely feel as if there are gender misconceptions within the high school population, making conversation about feminism important especially because as young adults, we consistently have to formulate beliefs and decipher between what is right and wrong. While the concept of feminism may not be taken seriously enough, it should be more recognized as important by teens.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.

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december 20, 2017

design by Emily Hales


opinion

Teens and Fast Food Habits

Luke Harpring

the misconceptions of off campus eating

A

t East, it is commonly known that sophomore students and older are given the opportunity to leave school for lunch, and rather than eat cafeteria food that they may or may not enjoy, they can go to their favorite lunch spots across town. Unsurprising, most students who go off campus for lunch do not always pick the healthiest options for food, since everyone loves an occasional fast food treat, right? Out of 124 surveyed students, 114 of them said that they ate fast food at least once per week, but only 36 students reported eating three or more times each week. A moderate amount of junk food is not too concerning from a health standpoint,

especially since some of the most common fast food joints that students gravitate towards are on the more moderate end of caloric and fat intake. The most represented restaurant in the survey results,

reasonable 440 calories with 19 grams of fat. Compared to places like McDonalds, where sandwiches can reach 700-800 calories, it is clear that younger people are beginning to make slightly

Favorite Fast Food Restaurants at columbus East

Noodles & Company Chick fil a Chipotle Zwanzigz Other

Other

12% 35% 7% 29% 17% Chick-fil-A, had 41.8 percent of students report that it was their favorite lunch spot. Here, the standard chicken sandwich is a

better decisions regarding their diet. These results lead to a conclusion that even myself was

not expecting; maybe the truth is that high school students do not eat as much fast food as society assumes they do. Students, on average, seem to have fast food habits that would be considered moderate and responsible, especially considering the contemporary norm. Among students’ favorite spots include places like Chipotle and Subway, which while still fast food, are substantially better for you than other options. Students seem to be holding themselves accountable for finding quality food to eat, among a world which presses unhealthy foods upon them. This clearly shows that progress has been made in younger people’s dietary choices, which hopefully continues in times to come.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.

design by Scott Hammond

december 20, 2017

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feature

On washington st. An Insight Into the Popularity of Small Businesses

A

s the popularity of small businesses grows, it is only natural to wonder why. To investigate, I went to a handful of thriving local shops to ask people of various associations. In order to obtain a diverse range of answers, interviews were done with employees, customers, managers and owners. As it would have been nearly impossible to go to every local

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by Abigale Smith

business in Columbus, I picked five of which millennials seem to make up a large portion of their customers: Guitar City & Sound Lucabe Coffee Co. YES Cinema Gramz Bakery and Cafe Papa’s Grill/Papa’s Deli All of these places can be found around the same downtown area of Columbus, except for Papa’s Grill. However, Pa-

pa’s Deli is on 3rd St. and many of the menu items available at Papa’s Grill are also available at the deli. When asked about the popularity of both locations, employee Kendra Pastrick describes her experience with the small business. “The environment they bring makes it worth working and going there. The workers have awesome personalities and work ethic which makes it an

enjoyable experience,” Pastrick said. The sense of community produced by these small businesses is what makes them great. Papa’s Grill is a family-oriented restaurant and has a good atmosphere, a person walks in as a customer and leaves as a friend.

design by Emily Hales | photos by Abigale Smith


feature

Guitar City & Sound

“I have the best prices, but also… it’s definitely the atmosphere. It’s welcoming, it’s inviting, there’s no high-pressure salesman breathing down your neck.” - Brian Standeford

Lucabe Coffee Co.

“I would say it has kind of the younger hipster vibe to it that a lot of people like… there’s a really nice sense of community.” -Alyssa Singh

YES Cinema

“Well, it’s a non-profit, it helps the community. We have a lot of movies you just usually wouldn’t see… it’s a little more involved.” - Zoe Clulow

Gramz Bakery

“We offer a lot of things that other businesses downtown don’t offer… and we are the only bakery left, all the other ones have closed last week... so we kind of have a little niche market.” - Rachelle Cole

Pregnancy Services STI Testing & Treatment

ClarityCares.org

Four workers in Columbus comment on the qualities of the local businesses that they are employed at.

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feature

What’s the point? Teachers assigning homework over weekends and school breaks

H

What type of assignment are you most likely to have over the weekend?

Projects 22.8%

Worksheets 33.7% Other 21.7% Book Problems Do you receive homework over breaks (Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter, etc.)

No 42.4%

Yes 57.6%

How many hours do you spend on average on homework over the weekend?

3%

%

6.5

2-3 12%

1-2 25%

10 december 20. 2017

Essay 9.8%

5+ 4.

of material to get through and if we never assign material over the weekend, we would never get through it all,” Cooper said. Cooper teaches a handful of math classes including AP Calculus AB and BC, both classes that require an abundance of curriculum to be taught by teachers and learned by students during the year in order to ensure that the students will be prepared for the AP tests and finals at the end of the year. Regardless of his views on the necessity of assigning homework over the weekend to guarantee that all the curriculum will be covered, Cooper still believes brain breaks are necessary as well. “Everyone needs a break sometime, that’s why every nine weeks we have a week off to get a chance to get away from school and do other things and kind of regroup, kind of like a vacation,” Cooper said. Thus explaining why Cooper does not typically assign homework over elongated breaks from school such as Thanksgiving Break or Spring Break. In the end, it is important for all of the curriculum to be covered to guarantee that students are learning everything necessary for them to succeed However, regardless of homework load and when it’s assigned, it is still important for students to take even small brain breaks throughout the day to ensure a healthy and complete learning process.

4 3-

igh school often feels like a never ending cycle of notes, homework, quizzes and tests. Eight hours a day, five days a week, 36 weeks of the year, we are in school. Sometimes we are learning, occasionally we are sleeping, mostly we are staring at a wall during a lecture, but regardless of if students are in the classroom in mind, they are there in body. The intensity and consistency of high school is often only broken up by weekends or small breaks, and students often count down the days between those breaks. But who can blame them? These brain breaks offer exhausted high schoolers time to sleep, relax and hang out with friends without talking about homework or the next big test. Brain breaks are mental breaks that vary from 10 minutes to longer periods of time that are intended to offer students time to process information and provide time to reenergize. Brain breaks can range from 10 minute breaks during the day to elongated portions of time such as weekends or holiday breaks. However, with an increase in course load and curriculum that teachers need to ensure their students learn, complete weekend brain breaks are no longer a guarantee for some students due to teachers assigning what can sometimes be viewed as an excessive amount of homework to be due when students return from the weekend. East math teacher Chris Cooper is one of the teachers that finds it necessary to assign homework over the weekend. “I guess because of the classes I teach, we have a certain amount

by Kat Richardson

0 52.2%

design by Logan Foote


feature

Celebration confusion

Three Holidays; three different meanings

A

by Chesney Loehr

s the Christmas season approaches, we begin to hear not only more about Christmas, but two other popular holidays that fall within Christmas time: Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. These holidays are often perceived as the “other Christmases,� but their beliefs and celebrations are completely different. Although these holidays are often discussed throughout the season, most people are unfamiliar with their purpose and how they are celebrated. Here are some basic facts about Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa:

Christmas When Religious Affiliation

December 25th

Christianity

Hanukkah December 12-20 (for 2017, dependent on year)

Judaism Since the Jewish Calender is lunar, Hannuka is on diferent day every year

Purpose

Christmas took place of a Pagan holiday

Interesting Fact

Annual eight night celebration of celebration of when the birth of Jesus their ancestors Christ stood up against

An eight day and

Kwanzaa

their Greek-Syrian oppressors

Kwanzaa December 26January 1 no religion Kwanzaa was created with the intentions to educate the world about african culture although kwanzaa was created to honor african culture, people of all backgrounds are welcome to celebrate it

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa design by Connor Reed

december 20, 2017

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Cover

heroism at home students exhibit what it means to be a superhero

by Noah Shoaf

Columbus East and its community hold many superheroes. These citizens are not draped in red capes or covered in black masks, yet their powers still impact the Columbus community. Their powers do not come from supernatural forces, but rather from hard work, determination and drive. Some save people from burning buildings, others dive in headfirst to rescue those from troubling waters, and some even find themselves in a situation where they desperately need the helping hand of another hero. Being an everyday superhero means helping others in any way, even if the service goes unnoticed.

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design by Audrey Tian | photo by Noah Shoaf


I

n the world of commercialized superheroes who smash all expectations of reality, it is easy to overlook the heroes that affect everyday life. However, there are often citizens that use superpowers to make communities stronger. Luckily, at Columbus East, some heroes are closer than expected. They work hard and act bravely, contributing to Columbus. At school they are known as Skylar Myers and Maddy Rhodes, in disguise as Clark Kent and Diana Prince, but when the bell rings they transform into heroic humans who save those in need.

...continued on page 14

design by Audrey Tian | photo by Lynn Reese

december 20, 2017

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Cover

Myers achieves this by being a volunteer firefighter and Rhodes by being a head lifeguard. “I started being a cadet [firefighter] in August of last year. And I started because I wanted to be able to save lives and be there for someone on their worst days,” Myers said. Myers is a volunteer at the Southwest Fire Station which is near Mt. Healthy Elementary School. That means his service does not give him any monetary gain even though he dedicates so much time to the station. “It’s hard leaving my family in the middle of the night to go to the station. It feels good doing it, but it’s hard getting out of bed at 3 in the morning,” Myers said. Since he is not an adult, he can not necessarily go straight into a burning building, but he still does very heroic acts. He sprays fires, runs the hoses and answers to car accidents. Most importantly, he has learned he can be of special duty to his fire crew. “I found out PTSD is a real thing. Being there for your co-firefighters is a major thing you have to do because they can’t unsee images of running up on a kid in a car accident. It will always be in the back of their mind. So being there for one another is very important,” Myers said. Similar to Myers, Rhodes saves those in very vulnerable situations at Donner Aquatic Center. She has countless stories of how she had to act from her training to save someone. “There was a girl who couldn’t have been more than three years old. She was in her life jacket when she fell forward and when kids fall forward with life jackets on they’re not able to get back up. So she was just stuck there with her face in the water and no parents were with her. So I jumped in and saved her.” Although Rhodes’ instinct kicked in that day, she has gone through rigorous training to be prepared for those times. “To become a lifeguard I completed a two day, nine-hour course. One day you do all the book work and the other day

14 december 20, 2017

you do all the water training. Then, every week, we train two different days a week for three hours. We go over CPR, first aid and the eight different types of saves,” Rhodes said. Even with all the training Myers and Rhodes have undertaken and all the heroic acts they have under their belt, they do not think they are heroes. “I see myself as a civilian just doing something that other people don’t do,” Myers said. Rhodes responds as Myers does, thinking her actions are merely her duty. “The kids we saved probably won’t remember our faces or names but they will remember how they almost were in serious trouble,” Rhodes said. Being an everyday hero means more than being a character with a catchy name or slim suit, yet their actions can be overlooked. If the world saw what many ordinary citizens do, maybe there would be more movies applauding them. It is important everyone thanks the everyday heroes that affect the Columbus community. Rhodes and Myers prove that heroes are among us. Valiant men and women who are humble yet courageous positively shape the world every day. They define what a hero is and they do not have to be wearing a cape to be one.

How did they train?

Volunteer position

Fill out application, attend two meetings, get voted on

Week of training

2 day, 9 hour training course Day 1: Book work Day 2: Water training 2 days a week training for 3 hours CPR, first aid, 8 different types of saves

design by Emily Hales | photo by Noah Shoaf


In case of a non-emergency, emergency services are needed but there are no life-threatening situations occuring.

Call: (812) 379-1689

Non-emergency situations: *Return child runaway *Hit and run when you are not at the collision *Lost property *More information about an event that already happened

Emergency Situations:

Lifelined: junior finds herself in need of saving

I

magine the feeling of being absolutely powerless. Stuck, trapped, hopeless and in need of saving. Most people have not experienced anything that traumatic, but very recently, Lynley Arnholt found herself in a situation where she had very little control of her own life. Somehow she managed to get her car trapped under a school bus. In that moment, she was struggling to stay conscious and fighting for her life. There she needed a superhero. Maybe one from a comic book or blockbuster movie who could lift the bus off her car. Then, in the blink of an eye, her hero came to her rescue. This hero did not come flying in with a shiny suit, but rather as a normal human being. It was a police officer, just a regular man doing a seemingly normal job. But his judgement saved Arnholt. “The first person who got to the wreck was a police officer. They called LifeLine and normally they wait till the medics are there so they can say if it’s bad enough to call LifeLine. If he would have waited 30 seconds then

Cover

What are non-emergencies?

by Noah Shaof

my [injuries] could have been very different,” Arnholt said. The decision the officer made to call LifeLine, which travels victims swiftly by helicopter to emergency care, before medics came completely changed Arnholt’s life. She admits it’s frightening to think about what could have happened so she just tries to think of the blessings and miracles of her accident. After LifeLine was called, Arnholt was still trapped by the weight of the school bus, but because of the quick reaction of the firefighters who lifted the bus off her car and the EMT’s and medics, she was able to get out of her mangled car and receive the extensive emergency care she needed at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. After many surgeries, Arnholt has begun to recover. One part of her recovery process was meeting with those who saved her and thanking them for their bravery. “I went back to the Methodist Hospital Helipad and met with everyone that had anything to do with my wreck and even people that

took the 911 calls. While I was there they showed me the helicopter that I flew in while I was unconscious and they answered any questions I had,” Arnholt said. That experience was an unforgettable moment in her life. She was able to see her heroes and recognize them for their actions. Seeing those firefighters and doctors meant so much more than any other superhero she has seen in a movie or game. Also, those who saved Arnholt’s life were able to see how their service really pays off. “After accidents like mine happen, those who helped in the accident don’t ever hear from who they helped, so they said being able to meet with me and seeing I was doing well was something really cool and something they had never been able to experience before,” Arnholt said. Arnholt’s life changing event is a great example that the world is full of heroes. These heroes go unnoticed until they affect our lives. It is important we thank our heroes and do not let their service go forgotten.

*Any type of fire *When someone fears for their safety *Suspicious activity *Crime in progress *Medical emergencies

Call: 911

design by Annie Bastian

Photo courtesy of Mike Wolanin for The Republic.

december 20, 2017

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hidden high school heroes East Faculty name heroes among their colleagues

W

hile working behind the scenes is a skill mastered by faculty at East, they still work hard and complicate their lives to allow students to have trouble-free days. They do not expect anything in return but they do experience joyous times with students, even if it means dealing with bad times too. While students may not realize, faculty members go through many situations

16 december 20, 2017

by Yetla Reyna

where they have to make tough decisions. They come to school day after day to take care of the school and the students within its walls. Undeniably, the faculty at East does extensive work not only to make our lives easier but to educate. Often, their hard work goes underappreciated by students. The Oracle staff decided to try and change the underappreciation by starting this chain of highlighting East faculty “heroes� and we en-

courage students to continue the trend and thank the faculty themselves. Many of the faculty listed have been described as selfless, hardworking and kind. Although these faculty members are the only ones listed, they are just a small portion of all the heroes we have in the building. Follow the Hero-poly board to discover and learn more about the East faculty real life heroes.

design by Tori Overfelt and Audrey Tian


Who’s your

at east?

Mark Newell → Robin Leonard

“She just goes about her job, with a smile on her face, takes pride in the building and she knows a lot of students. She talks to students, interacts with them. She’s very selfless and she has to do some pretty tough jobs sometimes.”

Robin Leonard → Michelle Burnett

“I remember it was like six or seven years ago, her a group of people put an event together to help me out. It was a few people, but they organized an event to help me out when I was out of a job.”

Michelle Burnett → Julie Hult

“She is full of life, outrageous, not afraid to think outside the box, not afraid to go with crazy ideas and it’s all to make the world a better place, to help kids to help students. That’s why she does things.”

Julie Hult → Andy Taube

“He’s so good at helping bridge that understanding between the faculty and kids. I always feel like he’s doing a super job at advocating for the students in this environment.”

Andy Taube → Marianne Wohlford

“She worked her way up to starting to work with kids at a high school level. She did that for a while before she became a dean. I think because of her experience, working with all those kids with very unique needs, she learned so many different ways to engage kids, to guide them, to teach them, she uses that now as a dean.”

Marianne Wohlford → Liz Lindsey

“She’s learned the whole science lab, she supports the teachers who teach science, when a student misses a day she’s there so they can catch up and she helps them, which in the long run helps them in their classes.”

Liz Lindsey → Sue Romine

“She’s a great supporter of East, she’s going to retire and she’s always been great here. She’s been a real supporter of East all the years she’s been here, always worked for the underdog.”

Sue Romine → Greg Lewis

“I was in his class as a teacher’s assistant many years ago. He has a unique way of teaching and he helps students in so many ways other than teaching. He’s just an all-around good guy.” december 20, 2017

17


STUDENT PROFILE

Getting dramatic Pattsie Waltz

Waltz has been involved with the recent play “Clockwork” and the Festival of Lights parade.

18 december 20, 2017

by Max Nolting

T

here are many students at East who are using their talents to create something unique and original. Junior Pattsie Waltz is one of the main forces behind the talented Performing Arts Department at East. Waltz is a very dedicated and involved student. About a month ago, she finished marching band season where she held the important role of playing bass drum. Although the season has wrapped up, Waltz is still focused on getting better and refining her skills through weekly drum meetings led by Assistant Band Director Tim Brookshire. In addition to drumming, she has turned much of her focus towards the drama club where she spends most of her time performing and creating a great show. Waltz truly enjoys the drama club and what it has to offer. “I love acting. Theater is like a second home to me and it’s full of great people and experiences,” Waltz said. Waltz and her team are hard at work preparing for their spring musical, “Beauty and the Beast”, which will take place in April. Waltz is hopeful for this upcoming play and confident that the drama club will put a great show for the audience.

design by Aliza Presto | photos by Noah Shoaf and Liz Hagan


dealing with the loss of pets

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ccording to the American Pet Products Association, 68 percent of homes in the U.S. have at least one pet. So, naturally, there are students at East who have owned pets and lost them. People who own pets must inevitably deal with losing them; however that may be, and it can be difficult to deal with. Most owners love their pets, and grieving over them is just like losing a family member. “Animals don’t judge,” sophomore Dean Smith said. Smith, who lost her beloved dog Sally May two days after Christmas in 2016, felt that her dog was one of a kind, and that even though she would love her other dogs, none of them could ever replace the one she had lost. “It’s like there’s a void there,” said Smith. Like Smith, junior Lexi Clidinst was devastated when her Golden Retriever Bailey passed away. Clidinst said Bailey was a “constant” in her life, as her family lost the dog when Clidinst was only 5 or 6 years old, and she had never experienced life without Bailey in it. “She was my best friend. She was the

design by Reagan Perkins

by Kylie Brooks and Cam Key

students & Lifestyle

Loss of Pets Students at East share stories about first animal that I really connected with,” Clidinst said, “I loved seeing her every day.” Smith and Clidinst both lost their animals during formative periods in their lives. Smith was without her best friend for her fifteenth birthday, just a week after Sally May’s death. “It was like losing my best friend,” said Smith, “She had been there through everything.” Clidinst was a young child when her dog passed away, so figuring out how to process the void which Bailey had left was very difficult. “When we first lost her, I was absolutely devastated because I was so little and had made that connection with her,” Clidinst said. Often, owners who have lost their animals must cope with the same void faced by Smith and Clidinst, whose animals were large parts of their lives. And for people like Clidinst who were young when their pets passed away, it was their first experience with death. Experts in this area have recommendations ranging from completely ignoring the loss to grieving openly or even having a funeral for the pet. Regardless of what anyone says, most agree that the grieving process depends solely on the owner and their needs.

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H

by Elaina Sims

ave you ever had to make a gift for someone last minute? Have you ever had a decorating emergency? Well stress no more! This gift costs $20 or less and takes no time to make. This DIY sock wreath takes around 10 minutes to make, and is super cute as a gift or as a decoration in your own home.

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Materials: • • • • •

Styrofoam Wreath Two pairs of socks (I used one pair of holiday socks and one pair of white socks) Scissors Optional: Ribbon

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If your styrofoam wreath does not have a cut all the way through, use the scissors to cut the wreath in one place anywhere on the wreath.

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Take your socks and cut them at the toe: this is how you will be sticking the socks on the foam wreath.

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After cutting your socks, start sliding them on the wreath. It works very well if you stick your hand all the way through it and then start sliding it on. It doesn’t matter which sock goes first, but I recommend putting on one holiday sock, one regular sock, and so on.

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When you get to the last sock, put the sock over the cut so you can’t see it!

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Optional: Tie a bow onto the top for a little extra pizazz.

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design by Aliza Presto | photos by Elaina Sims


students & Lifestyle

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by Elaina Sims

re you having a craving for something rich and delicious? Can you not use an oven or microwave? Then this is the recipe for you. A recipe from Nick VanArtsen, Grasshopper Pie is delicious at a family gathering, a friendly get together or just for a midnight craving. This recipe takes around 20 minutes to make and two hours to harden and does not use any kitchen appliances besides a mixer and a refrigerator. It is easy to make and delicious to eat.

Ingredients:

• 1 Package of Oreo Cookies • 10 oz Container of Cool Whip • Large Container of Marshmallow Fluff (13 oz) • Green Food Coloring • Peppermint Extract • 9x13 Baking Pan • Mixer • Bowl • Mixing Spoon/Utensil

design by Aliza Presto | photo by Elaina Sims

1 2 3 4 5

Mix the marshmallow fluff and Cool Whip in a mixer until they are well combined. Add three drops of peppermint extract in the mixer with the mixture. Add green food coloring to acquire desired shade of green. Layer the bottom of the 9x13 pan with Oreos and the marshmallow fluff/Cool Whip mixture. Refrigerate for two hours & serve!

december 20, 2017

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Students & Lifestyle

Christmas Gift Ideas Gifts for Everyone on your List

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by Athena Jenkins

ometimes finding the right gifts for everyone on your Christmas list can be hard, and sometimes you are a little bit late and do not have time to plan everyone’s gifts. If you need a random gift idea for a party or maybe just a nice gift to show you really care, do not worry. Here are some easy and affordable gift ideas for anyone on your gift list this Christmas.

A personalized mug Where: Walmart Price: $10-$15

Birds of a feather necklace Where: Etsy.com Price: $10

A special box full of trinkets, cards or tickets that have important value Where: Fairtradewinds.net Price: $12-$25

Animal socks of all kinds Where: sockdrawer.com Price: $8- $15

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design by Logan Foote, Reagan Perkins, and Emily Hales


students & Lifestyle

Clear flexible taco case by Blingy

Insignia portable charger Where: Best Buy Price: $12.99

Where: Amazon.com Price: $10

Cuisinart Advantage 12 piece Ceramic Coated Knives Where: Kohls Price: $20

“Joy of Cooking� cookbook Where: Amazon.com Price: $25

Bluetooth Headphones

Food shirts

Where: Teespring.com Price: $20- $30

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L

Where: Amazon.com Price: $16.99

Google home mini

Where: the Google Store Price: $29

december 20, 2017

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making waves: My mom was a swimmer from elementary school all the way until she graduated high school so she was a big influence to me. I also wanted to get involved in a sport that would be fun and challenging.

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Finally being able to break 30 seconds on my 50 free towards the end of sophomore year. There are also so many great memories that I have with the girls on my team.

e memory

fa

fav o rit

nna Andress started swimming with Donner Swim Club shortly before entering high school. After a brief break, she started swimming again freshman year of high school, taking it a little more seriously. Despite her inital hesitation to join, Andress reflects on the good experiences she has had with the team. “I’m so glad that I did. The memories that I’ve made with my friends and coaches are memories I will always cherish,” Andress te said. vori part My favorite part about swimming est challen is the close bond ge hard that our team has. Some Even though swimmornings I really ming is considered just don’t want to wake up more of an individfor practice. So a big challenge ual sport, I feel for me is just being able to keep like we have an myself motivated, sometimes amazing I would rather just roll team. over and go back to bed.

Influ enc

e

by Maggie Gregory

I don’t really have a favorite professional athlete because I don’t really watch sports too often. If I’m watching something it’s usually the “Great British Baking Show”.

ete l h t a l a n o i s s e f o favorite pr


Sports

winter conditioning is it worth it? by Ethan Glaid

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any fall athletes have enjoyed their limited time off from sports, but that time is coming to a close as teams have started off-season conditioning. Winter conditioning is a one to two hour training session in which players lift weights, run drills and scrimmage to keep their heads in the game during off-season as well as to refine their various skills. Coaches put more and more emphasis on attending off-season workouts as they notice their players’ successful progress. The East boys soccer coach, Brad Barber, is a big supporter of winter workouts. “Coach Barber definitely encourages it,” said freshman Brody Copas, a soccer player here at East. Coaches encourage their players to attend off-season workouts because of its multiple proven benefits, such as an increase of physical strength. “I am having to take weights next semester so it’s an everyday thing,” said freshman

football player Daniel Murphy. In order to improve, all East football players are encouraged to take weights in the off-season. An increase of strength enables them to compete at a higher level than opponents and be all-around better players. “It helps very much especially because football is such a physical sport,” Murphy said. Conditioning also improves players mentally. A strong mental presence allows an athlete to be solely focused on the game and make better decisions while competing. “I am practicing three times a week… two days a week consists of weight training and advancing my soccer technique,” Copas said. Off-season training has helped Copas and many other soccer players enhance their decision-making on the soccer field. Although winter conditioning is proven to help athletes grow, the attendance to the workouts is not a great repre-

sentation of its importance. “I try to show up to every workout,” Copas said. Copas is among the players who believe conditioning does improve your game, but several other athletes do not see the point. “I think if you really wanted to get better you would do it on your own,” Murphy said. While winter conditioning may not be the most enjoy-

able part of participating in a sport, the advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages. It helps athletes both mentally and physically on the court or field. The more athletes participate in off-season conditioning, the better teams will be when their season starts.

Conditioning in soccer and football Soccer

Long sprinting/running drills

Football

Distance sprinting drills

Lower body conditioning: Squats, lunges, etc. Long, endurance based exercises

Upper body conditioning: Weights, pushups, etc. Fast paced, short exercises

Focuses on endurance and agility

Focuses on endurance and overall strength

design by Robert Kanehl | photo by Ethan Glaid

december 20, 2017

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right out of the gate girls basketball starts the season strong

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he East girls basketball team had a strong start to its season with seven straight wins and earning a victory in the team’s Hoosier Hills Conference opener against Floyd Central. The team’s current average margin of victory is north of 20 points per game. This is the best start to a season in the past five seasons, but even during the best of those seasons, the team

by Caleb Davidson

finished below the .500 mark. Regardless of the hot start, this team just looks different. There is great leadership but there is no clear-cut main scorer who continuously holds the ball. The team is all about cohesiveness and making each individual game a complete team effort. This year’s team has a good mixture between experience and young talent, consisting of three sopho-

mores, four juniors and three seniors. “This team is different from last year’s. I can’t really tell specifically what it is, but we just perform well together,” senior Britney Ballard said. The only teams that have been able to defeat the Olympians thus far are fourth-ranked Jeffersonville and crosstown rival Columbus North. However, both teams were definitely

given a run for their money, giving an opportunity for East to show their resiliency and effort. The no-quit mentality of this year’s team has been a major key to its success. The Olympians are looking to continue this momentum and success throughout the season and all the way into the state tournament. Sectionals for girls basketball begin Jan. 30 to Feb. 3.

crosstown rivalry a recap of the recent East vs. North games

Boys Basketball East 44, North 37

girls SWIMMING North 121, East 65

Girls Basketball North 57, East 54

boys SWIMMING NORTH 147, East 36

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design by Emily Hales | photos by Meg Holl and Eli Newell


Sports

2017 sports moments T 1

by Andy Davidson

he exciting year of 2017 was significant for Columbus East sports, with numerous athletes displaying their skills in a variety of sports. Based on information and statistics from the Indiana High School Athletic Association, here are the best East sports moments of 2017.

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Cayden Rooks Winning State For Wrestling

In February, Cayden Rooks won the IHSAA state wrestling championship at the 120 weight class. He defeated Ty Mills in a 5-4 decision. He is the first ever champion from Columbus East and the second ever state champion from Columbus.

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T.C. O’Neal Breaking School Long Jump Record and Getting 3rd In State

In June, T.C. O’Neal placed third in the state in the long jump event with a distance of 22 feet 11.5 inches. He also competed in the high jump event.

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Football Winning State

In November, the Columbus East men’s football teamdefeated Kokomo 44-28 to claim their second state championship in five years and their third ever. The Olympians finished the season 14-1.

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Wrestling Winning Their First Regional Championship After Advancing All Members In February, the East men’s wrestling team advanced all 14 of their varsity wrestlers to the regional meet for the first time in the school’s history. They also walked away with their first ever regional championship with a score of 159.5. They ended the day with five individual champions.

Girls Cross Country Team Going To Semi State

In October, the girls cross country team placed fourth in the Brown County Regional to advance to the Brown County Semi-State. The girl’s team finished 18th place in the Semi-State with a score of 452.

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Athletics Getting New Track And Bleachers

Over the summer, East had a brand new track laid around the football field. East also had new bleachers installed in the gymnasium.

#1

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Men’s Soccer Wins Sectional Championship

In October, the East men’s soccer team won their second sectional championship in three years by beating North 3-0 in the championship game. The men’s team upset ranked Floyd Central in the first round 3-1 as well.

East Football Beats Cathedral For The First Time

In November, the men’s football team defeated Cathedral High School for the first time with a score of 42-13. Cathedral beat East the past four times we had played them with the closest game being a 31 point loss.

#6 #2

design by Annie Bastian | photos by Eli Newell

Adi Minor Winning State In Gymnastics For Bars In March, Adi Minor won the women’s gymnasticsstate competition in the bars event.She finished with a score of 9.650 out of 10.

#7 december 20, 2017

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Arts & Entertainmet

From 8bit to 4k the progression of video games

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by Soren Fox

any people do not know that video games got their start in research labs, with the first primitive games arriving in the late 1940s alongside the first computers. Years later, in the 1960s, video games made their way into our homes, and that just shows how fast video games have evolved since then.

‘80s

‘70s The 1970s were a breakthrough for video games. In 1971, Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, who later founded Atari, created the first commercially sold arcade game, Computer Space. Aside from the first arcade game, the first at home console was released by Magnavox and it featured 12 games.

‘90s

With the advancement of game consoles from the late 1980s into the 1990s, the competition for the best consoles have many different companies striving to best each other. Super Nintendo released the 16-bit super NES to contend with Super Genesis, which released the NES first, but due to the many titles Nintendo had like Legend Of Zelda and Mario, Nintendo bested Super Genesis. On a less competitive note, Nintendo released the Nintendo 64 and Sony released the Playstation which had 3D graphics and was more affordable for consumers.

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Some of the most iconic videos games were created in the 1980s, including Donkey Kong and Pac Man which also made its way into the arcades and homes. With the progression of athome consoles, Nintendo released the Gameboy in 1989. Along with the iconic games Pac Man and Donkey Kong, Sonic the Hedgehog was also released.

‘00s

From the early 2000s until now there has been an explosion of many different genres of games and consoles. When the Playstation 2 was released, it had the best graphics out of any consoles and many computers, which eventually lead to Microsoft releasing the Xbox to compete, but the biggest release was Apple opening the App Store which led to many releases in the mobile gaming world.

Source: http://mashable.com/2015/01/08/gaming-tech-ces/ design by Leo Saldivar, Reagan Perkins, and Annie Bastian


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his new game was released worldwide on November 3, 2017 for Microsoft Windows, Playstation 4 and Xbox One. Upon release, the game received mostly positive reviews from critics. “It’s been a few years since a Call of Duty has been this good. The single player campaign is strong, spectacular and gripping (but it could have dared a little bit more);..., and the Zombie mode is funnier than ever.” - The Game Machine Call of Duty: WWII is a first

person shooter game created by Sledgehammer Games and produced by Activision. The active military style of the game is called “boots on the ground”. On Campaign, players have to find health packs scattered throughout levels of the game or rely on teammates. Also, enemy soldiers can be captured on Campaign. On the Allies side the players can play as soldiers in American, British, Soviet and French Resistance armies. On the Axis side

players play as Wehrmacht. The setting of the game is Omaha Beach in Normandy. This is where the Headquarters mode is held. Nazi zombies are a big part of the new and improved part of the Call of Duty. This mode involves creating your own zombie army. In this mode there is a hint system. As you get past levels of the game it is set on a casual path which is easier for beginners and then there is a harder path for a more advanced player.

by Lexi Parton

Guns are the center of the multiplayer mode because all players want the best guns to kill their opponents and reach the goal of beating the game. Some of the weapons most liked include BAR Rifle, M1941 Rifle, SVT-40 Rifle and PPSH-41 Submachine gun. Call of Duty: WWII sold $500M worth of copies in three days. Call of Duty has always been a popular game; the Call of Duty community never disappoints when it comes to new Call of Duties.

Arts & entertainment

call of duty: wwii

netflix originals

by Hannah Harris

anne with an “e”

fuller house

In May 2017, Netflix released the reimagining of the classic novel Anne of Green Gables. Written and produced by Moira Walley-Beckett, Anne with an “E” digs deep into the classic coming-of-age story written by L.M. Montgomery. Set in the 1890s, an orphan named Anne Shirley learns how wonderful life can be after escaping an abusive childhood. Anne with an “E” is imaginative and dramatic. The cast is engaging and portrays this drama very well. The beautiful cinematography contributes to the overall quality of the show, making Anne with an “E” all the more fascinating to watch.

The continuation of the TV show Full House has fans saying “oh mylanta”. “Everywhere you look”, there are references to this infamous TV show. The sequel’s first season released on Netflix in February 2016, nearly twenty years after Full House came to an end. Produced by Jeff Franklin, Fuller House casts the original members along with other new members. The nostalgic references are a bit excessive and may be difficult to understand if unfamiliarized with Full House. Nevertheless, Fuller House has captured the hearts of all ages, and is worth watching for a bit of comical enlightenment.

design by Emily Hales

stranger things This chilling Netflix original is popular for its thrilling scenes and suspenseful dialogue. Produced by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things dives deep into the depths of the unknown. The order in which the show unravels is intriguing and keeps viewers on the edge of their seat. The kids casted are perfect for their parts because they are authentic. They keep things real on and off set, and are certainly not Hollywood’s average kid actors. While there was both negative and positive feedback on the release of Stranger Things season 2, the making of a season 3 was confirmed. One thing is certain, this strange show is sure to stick around a lot longer.

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artist spotlight

by Isaac Harper

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usic is something experienced everyday by just about everybody, but what does it take to make this music or pursue this music? We ask this issue’s artist of the month, Anthony Allender, what exactly drives him to make music and why he is so good at what he does. What instruments do you play? “I play lead alto [saxophone] in our jazz band and our concert band; I also double on soprano.” How long have you been playing all the instruments? “As far as saxophone, I started in the summer right before sixth grade band.” Do you do anything outside of school related to your instrument? “Not really, I just practice a lot. It kills time and I need the practice anyways.”

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Who do you draw most inspiration from? “As far as jazz music, I like to listen to a lot of jazz artists to help with my improvisation.” Do you plan on pursuing music after high school? “Yes, I would like to either go to Jacobs School of Music, University of Cincinnati or University of Louisville.” Why did you choose music? “In the beginning, my father and cousin played the saxophone. He asked what instrument, I put out a lot of options, so he just told me to play saxophone because he had one. I have been playing it ever since.” What would you say to someone wanting to pursue music? “It is a lot of fun, just go for it. Find what suits you best, and practice is always helpful.”

design by Emily Hales


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hristmas season is finally upon us, which means Christmas movies are constantly being played everywhere. From classics to comedies to romance, these movies play a vital role in the Christmastime cheer. After choosing 10 spectacular movie favorites, a sample of East students were asked to pick their favorite movie and why they love it so much. After tallying the poll, the Christmas movies were put into order from favorite to (still wonderful) not as great films. Despite the rankings, all 10 of these movies are described and should be enjoyed while the Christmas season is here.

Elf

In a solid first finish, Elf is known as a classic Christmas movie that seems to air once a day on television. With Will Ferrell as Buddy the elf, the movie brings about laughter almost every minute of the movie. Elf is definitely a favorite to enjoy everyday leading up to Christmas day and beyond. “Santa Claus! I know him!” -Will Ferrell

Home Alone

Home Alone came in a close finish for this poll. As a young boy is left home alone during the holiday season, he has to find ways to defend himself against thieves. This movie certainly brings about joy and laughs every time it is viewed by anyone. “SO. MUCH. CHAOS!”

POP CORN

Arts & entertainment

East students ranked the most wonderful holiday movies by Abigail Larken

Movie Essentials

Snacks

Warm Blanket

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

As a forever Christmas classic, most students remember How the Grinch Stole Christmas as a childhood favorite. Both the live and animated versions of this movie tell the story of the Grinch that desired to steal Christmas, until he has a change of heart. No matter how old this film or viewer gets, this film never fails to be a hit. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a childhood favorite of mine.”

Polar Express

Also seen as another childhood classic, the Polar Express has left a lasting impression on all viewers. This film takes the audience on a journey with a young boy that rides the train all the way to the North Pole. Even with humorous moments, the Polar Express is a wonderful change of pace from a comedy, since this movie definitely has an eerie aspect. “It is a Christmas tradition that my family has [to watch Polar Express].”

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Over the years, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation has steadily become more popular. Filled with hilarious scenes, this movie reflects on a particularly odd family’s Christmas endeavors. This film is great to watch among friends, and it never has a dull moment.

Comfy Pajamas

Love Actually

Love Actually is a classic romantic comedy set during Christmas time. This film ambitiously follows the story of multiple loves that end up connecting. Whether it is summer, spring, fall, or winter, this movie never fails to make the viewers smile. “It’s so cute!!!!!!”

design by Sean Ryan

Santa Clause A Christmas Carol A Charlie Brown Christmas The Holiday

Friends december 20, 2017

31


Student reflects on serious bus accident and thanks those who helped her in her time of need.


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