CMRStampedeDec2013

The Stampede

Spirit of the season Holiday traditions around the world p. 12-13

c.m. russell high school great falls, mont. dec. 19, 2013 vol. 48, issue 4

An open forum for student expression

www.rustlernews.com

The Stampede

The Stampede staff strives to produce a publication that is relevant to the CMR student body while maintaining journalistic standards. We help to provide a free exchange of ideas and establish a student voice in the school community.

1 - Cover photo by Peyton Fulbright 2 - Table of Contents NEWS 3 - Peyton’s column, Jazz Workshop 4 - One year since Sandy Hook 5 - Early Grads, Winter break length 6 - Revamping the library entrance, Air quality, Attendance office leak, This year in history OPINION 7 - Abby’s column, Editorial, Asad opinion 8 - Speak Your Mind, Christmas consumerism 9 - Yoga pants, What does Christmas really mean?

FEATURES 10 - Olivia’s column, Dangerous snow conditions for drivers 11 - Teachers achieving Masters, Teachers’ lesson plans, Julie Anderson CENTERSPREAD 12/13 - Foreign Exchange holiday traditions FEATURES (cont.)

14/15 - Depression 16 - Winter break plans ENTERTAINMENT 17 - Greighsen’s column, 12 Angry Women Auditions 18 - Youtube channel reviews, Christmas music remakes 19 - Frozen review, A Christmas Story SPORTS 20 - Lindsay’s column, Winter sports preview 21 - Figure skating 22 - Male cheerleaders, Practices during break 23 - How Well Do You Know Your Rustler Athlete?, Rustler Stats BACK PAGE 24 - 2013 in Review

editor-in-chief peyton fulbright

online editor zach pottratz

design editor kendra hix

visual content editor kim michelsen

news/opinion editor abby lynes

entertainment editor greighsen adams

business manager katelyn smith

features editor olivia rudio

sports editor

lindsay martinez

copy editor

stephanie mccracken

staff

cori bonilla drew brennan bailey collins tom gruner whisper harris jadon jennings katelin johnson tony lynes laura marsilio elea roberts max roux jesse whiteman

adviser

beth britton

principal TOP LEFT: As one of CMR’s youngest fans, Cooper Crosby waits for his turn on the court during the basketball game on Dec. 14. TOP RIGHT: During the Lady Rustlers game on Dec. 14, senior Brandon Stout shows his Rustler Pride by sticking his tongue out at the camera. CENTER: Taylor Edwards jumps in order to stop the ball from going out of bounds during the Dec. 14 game. The Lady Rustlers played against Glacier and lost, 48-29. BOTTOM LEFT: Junior Austin Haney plays his saxophone with the Pep Band. BOTTOM MIDDLE: For the first game of his senior year, Daekwon Carter runs out as one of the starting five. BOTTOM RIGHT: Before the game on Dec. 15, junior Zach Johnson dunks with his teammates. Photos by Peyton Fulbright.

dick kloppel

Editorial Policy

Happy Holidays Rustlers, from Key Club!

Meet with Key Club in room 325 Tuesdays at 4 p.m.

The Stampede -- produced by journalism classes at C.M. Russell High School -- is a public forum for all voices on campus. These voices include the students, parents, faculty and the community at large.

The opinions and views in this publication are not necessarily those of the Stampede staff, the student body, CMR employees or the school administration.

The Stampede strives to cover the news accurately and fairly; however, when a mistake is made, a correction will be printed in the following issue. All writers are responsible for the content of their articles.

Editors will edit all copy to be free of plagiarism and libel, and all writers will double-check their facts before publication.

Letters to the editor and guest essays are welcome. Letters are limited to 200 words,

and essays 350 words. All submissions must be signed and include a phone number so authenticity can be verified. The editors and/or adviser reserve the right to edit all letters for grammar and spelling as well as content that may include profanity, be libelous, obscene or not meet general editorial guidelines. Anonymous letters are not accepted. Submissions can be dropped off in room 326 or e-mailed to: stampede@ gfps.k12.mt.us.

The Stampede maintains membership in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association and Quill and Scroll.

Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/KRT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

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NEWS

Playing their saxophones during practice on Dec.5, senior Zach Pottratz and the other musicians play jazzy Christmas music. Photo by Kim Michelsen.

CMR students swing into the holiday season with jazz by drew brennan, staff writer Learning the ropes of a football game takes years of hard work and time. Now, imagine making it as a football player and switching to baseball in just a short time. This isn’t something easily done, especially to excel at it. Junior Brandon Rogers may not have accomplished something to that extent, but he has done so, in part.

“I had no idea what I was doing, but it was fun,” Rogers said.

Rogers will participate in his second jazz workshop as a trombonist at C.M. Russell High School on Jan. 2-3. The concert will be held Jan. 3 at the CMR auditorium beginning at 7:30 p.m. The annual workshop, which has taken place more than two decades, features band and choir members from CMR and Great Falls High School.

Rogers, an avid musician, did not begin his playing days on the trombone, nor did he spend the majority of years with it.

He played the baritone from the time he was able to play until freshman year; he then switched over to the trombone. Band director Russ Kellogg asked Rogers to switch instruments, recognizing a surplus of baritones and a lack of trombones.

“I hope I’m living up to expectations,” Rogers said.

A year after switching instruments he made the top band, symphonic band. Only a year after beginning the rigorous process of learning a new instrument, he climbed his way to the top.

Sophomore year was a year of firsts for Rogers; it would be an eventful first year of jazz band, along with jazz workshop.

“I was scared,” he said.

Two days prior to the event, Rogers decided to drop his German class in favor of the jazz band. This would, in turn, give him the nod to participate in the workshop.

Learning a new craft in a short time was something Rogers was accustomed to doing.

Jazz is a whole new beast when it comes to band; there’s a different aspect to it, he said.

3 After two consecutive afternoons of learning, it was time for the concert. Not only was Rogers going to play in the concert; he had a solo.

“I’m always nervous for concerts; this just added to it,” Rogers said.

The daunting task was handled well, he said; he played through it with minimal pain. It was a great learning process, and the experience helped a ton, he said.

“It would have been better if I had been less scared,” he said.

While Rogers may be an up and coming CMR great, another has already passed through in Tanner Gliko. He played in symphonic, jazz, and pep bands at CMR. Gliko graduated last year; he’s now attending the University of Idaho, majoring in music.

Jazz band was near the top of Gliko’s favorite activities.

“I probably learned the most when I played with the jazz band,” he said.

During the workshop he learned techniques based on solo improvisation and playing with groups. Learning how to play well with groups as well as sounding good on your own is an important part of music, he said.

Professor Daniel Bukvich of The University of Idaho, Gliko’s professor, travels to CMR to conduct the workshop.

Also coming along with Bukvich, there are several other professors from The University of Idaho. Bukvich, a well known composer as well as professor, has taught Gliko things about playing he could never have imagined on his own.

“Mr. Bukvich has a very unique way of teaching, but it’s good. He showed me all sorts of small things that have helped shape me into a better player,” Gliko said.

Whether it is hand position or posture, Bukvich wasn’t the only one to have an impact on Gliko’s elite skills as a percussionist.

Kellogg was extremely influential in Gliko’s playing as well.

“He taught me to think about the group more than myself,” Gliko said.

He said he may not continue on as a music major, although he isn’t sure exactly what the next path is.

“I might change for good, or I might come back to music again. I’m just not quite as into it as I thought I would be. It’s more of a hobby.”

Rehearsing during jazz practice on Dec.5, sophomore Dan Enseliet, and seniors Jacob Allison and Chandler Martell prepare for upcoming gigs.

Photos by Kim Michelsen.

peytonfulbright Editor-in-Chief

A lot of high school students fall prey to a societal trap that really ruins part of their high school experience. They think that they need to already know what to do and how to do it.

This is an idea pushed by adults who ask you every time college gets brought into the conversation. This idea gets pushed every time you take a survey and it lists a million options for colleges and careers. This is pushed every time you try and pick your classes for the next year.

While it may seem like you need to have your life planned out already, you don’t.

You’re teenagers. Most of you are lucky enough to have the comfort of living off your families and being able to try new things until something sticks. This is something that everyone goes through. Go ahead, ask your parents. I doubt that most of them chose their current career when they were your age.

However, the idea that you should have your whole life planned out is only part of the problem.

Teachers, parents, and peers push the idea that you need to strive for greatness.

The only way to be happy and support your life is to find a glorious job as a doctor or a lawyer. The funny thing is that there’s a lot more out there. Yeah, those jobs pay well and we need them, but the world couldn’t function with only elite positions. We need somebody to dig graves. We need somebody to work at Town Pump. Heck, we even need janitors at adult movie theaters. I understand that a high-paying job would be nice. I also understand parents wanting the best possible career for their kids, but not everyone is cut out for those positions. Besides, it takes a different kind of intelligence to work some jobs that people deem “worthless.”

I know some people who own a construction business, and they aren’t exactly the stereotypical misogynistic, hypersexualized beings that devalue those who walk by. Rather, they are highly intelligent, business-savvy individuals who are making a decent living doing something that they are good at. I guarantee you that they didn’t grow up with people telling them that construction is the best way to make a living.

People think of the math or science departments here at C.M. Russell High School as the important career builders, but not everyone fits into the mold that is in place for the standard careers. To quite a few kids, the art, drama, and shop departments are the most important, and highlights of their days.

So next time you feel worthless and pathetic for not knowing what you want with life, don’t worry about it. You don’t have to strive for greatness, just happiness.

After all, you might not have even found your calling yet.

ONE YEAR LATER

4 news

The Stampede 12.19.13

After a year U.S. still feels impact of Sandy Hook shootings by whisper harris, designer It is a day that will forever live in infamy. The day that parents held their breath, desperately searching for their kid’s face in a sea of students. But 20 of those students would never go home.

Their parents would never find them in that crowd.

On Dec. 14, 2012, Adam Lanza walked in to Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., and fatally shot 20 students and six staff members.

The Montana Safe Schools Center described Sandy Hook as “a moment of collective grief.”

Though Lanza’s motive remains unknown, schools and parents around the world are looking for answers.

How do we keep schools safe? How do we cope and recover?

Though schools don’t have all the answers, the Montana Safe Schools Center said, “the December 2012 shooting in Sandy Hook Elementary showed that decisive actions can save lives, emergency procedures can save lives, emergency procedures can be effective, but in the end enhanced procedures and physical security systems aren’t enough to always stop shooters.”

Since 1980 there have been 137 fatal school shootings around the world.

Though the gun wars wage on, and shootings still occur and the center says that, “schools are still the safest places for youth.”

But finding answers isn’t easy.

“There is no standard profile for a shooter,” the Safety Center said.

The school district in Newtown decided to demolish the school. The demolition began on Oct. 25, and no trace of the building will remain. The

contractors working on tearing down the building are being careful to not let any piece of the building be taken and sold as to not increase the affected families’ grief.

The citizens of Newtown are still working on rebuilding their mental spirits and overcoming the extreme strife of that day.

Rae Smith, the principal of Sacagawea Elementary School, knows the importance of school safety, especially after Sandy Hook.

“That person still got in, that’s what’s scary,” she said of Sandy Hook’s tight security, which included having only one door unlocked during the day.

Sacagawea keeps only one door unlocked after the school’s first bell, and all visitors and volunteers have to check in at the office and wear a yellow badge that shows that they are a visitor, Smith said.

Smith believes that the GFPS schools have always been good about security.

“I think that we have always had a good security system,” she said.

Sacagawea conducts regular safety drills and is always looking to improve their level of security.

“If it’s a fire drill I tell them how fast we got out, and if it is a lock down I tell them how fast we got locked down, and how quiet they were. We are always looking to improve,” She said.

The school sets goals and has drills once a month, always trying to get better and more secure.

“We have to have that awareness, and never let it die down, we need to know what we can do to improve and never become lackadaisical about these things.”

Smith said that even though these tragic moments occur, schools remain safe.

“Schools are still safe places for students.”

“Schools are still safe places for students.”

Rae Smith

news 5

12.19.13 The Stampede

Breaks warp calender layout for upcoming years by elea roberts, staff writer One thing in particular seems to fill the minds of high school students at this cheery time of year.

How soon will it be until winter break? While students and teachers alike might be excited we have a full two weeks for break this year, Associate Principal Susan Quinn said the scheduling comittee is not lengthening Christmas break. “[It really depends on] the way the dates fall and Christmas falls,” Quinn said.

Quinn, who is on the calendar committee for the district, said the majority of the calendar remains the same every year but that they will accommodate for holidays, like Christmas this year, that are in the middle of the week.

While the calendar is constant in its trends, Quinn said that things have already changed for next year and that even the long Christmas

break might not be as good as it seems.

“Kids who depend on school lunch, that’s their only reliable meal a day,” Quinn said. “That’s 14 days without reliable meals.”

From the kids without lunch this year to the possibility of having only two weeks to prepare for Homecoming 2014, it is obvious that the calendars are never perfect. The calendar next year has its flaws, Quinn said.

While students might be starting a week or two later, that might change back for the 2016-2017 school year, entailing a shorter summer break in 2016.

Only time will tell how the calendar works out, but for now, she said it just feels different, Quinn said.

“It seems weird to look at [the whole month of] August, and it’s empty.”

UPCOMING EVENTS January 6- return from winter break 20- no school 24- end of semester early out

MARCH

28- early out, end of quarter 17-21- no school, spring break

Twelve Rustlers set to graduate early

February

17- no school, Presidents day

May

26- no school, Memorial Day

JUNE

6- last day of school year, early out

JUNE-AUG. Summer break

SEPTEMBER 4-First day of school

Early grads prepare for life after high school by abby lynes, news/opinion editor Many students graduate early to work or go to college; senior Carlie Carter is motivated by the opportunity to launch her career early and travel.

“With the navy, I’ll get to see the world outside of Great Falls,” she said.

Carter is one of 12 seniors graduating in January.

Students have various reasons for wanting to graduate early, but Carter said most students are simply ready to move on with their lives earlier.

“I’m just burned out,” she said. “I feel like the early grads have this mindset.”

Fellow early grad William Ross agreed.

“It’s just an ‘I’m done with it’ kind of thing,” he said.

Ross plans to attend the Great Falls College MSU in the

spring and transfer to MSU Bozeman in the fall to study history in the ROTC program.

He wants to be a combat infantry officer in the army.

“I wanted to serve my country,” he said. “I’m not doing it for the money; that’s for sure.”

Though he missed out on taking year-long classes like AP Government, Ross said he is extremely happy with his decision to graduate early.

“Words cannot express how glad I am,” he said.

Carter said she would recommend graduating early to anyone considering it.

“Do it. You can always come for other things. You’re not missing out on a lot,” she said. “I’m glad I made this decision with my life.”

6 news

This month in history December 1983

CMR: Former orchestra director Dennis Dell conducted his second-ever Christmas concert.

Great Falls: Great Falls held its centennial celebration. The city was founded in 1883 by Paris Gibson.

Montana: Temperatures hit a record low of 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

USA: Nelson Mandela spent Christmas in prison, where he was detained because he was accused of being a communist.

December 1993

CMR: U. S. Senator Max Baucus met with CMR students to talk about health care, NAFTA, and the Brady Bill.

Great Falls: A River Runs Through it, filmed near Great Falls won an academy award.

Montana: Billings dealt with problems surrounding hate groups after a rock was thrown at the glass door of a Jewish family. Earlier that year, Billings synagogues received bomb threats.

USA: NAFTA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton.

December 2003

CMR: Beth Britton publsihed her first issue as an adviser for the Stampede..

Great Falls: Snow drifts were waistdeep in much of central Montana, and many highways closed for Christmas.

Montana: Fur trapper suffered greatly this month on account of warm weather and soft markets.

USA: Former Iraqie President Sudam Hussein was captured near his home town of Tikrit.

The Stampede 12.19.13

Sense of improvement in the air New media specialist implements creative ideas by stephanie mccracken, copy editor New media center specialist, Jamie Williams began thinking of some ideas to make her new home feel more lively and welcoming after noticing its lack of interest.

“I thought it needed something,” Williams said.

Williams, along with the two other media center specialists, are in the process of planning to make decorations for the entrance to the media center--and some areas inside.

“We don’t have a lot of wall space to decorate so I was thinking of ways to brand it,” she said.

On one entrance it will be a Rustler ‘country-ish’ theme, and they will use some old barn wood to get that feel, she said.

The other side will be country whimsical, and Williams said “were still working on what that looks like.”

What they were thinking was to use galvanized tin and making a mural of sunflowers to get that whimsical feeling.

“There is so much great space we can do something with,” she said.

They are also planning to decorate the walls between computer

labs, and the areas below the windows between bookcases.

She said the middle walls get damaged a lot from students hitting them with chairs. Decorating the walls would help cover up and protect them.

To get the project started, Williams has talked to senior Drew Austin, who painted the back wall outside by the jock lot.

“We also talked to the interior design class,” she said.

They also want to include the industrial technology students, who could put up the wood panels and other decorating materials.

Before they start the project they have to get permission from buildings and grounds, she said.

After getting permission they will begin gathering materials and finding time to start working.

“I have some old fencing; we don’t have the other parts,” she said. “Money is always an issue, [and] I don’t want to use any of the money we have for books.”

The timing of the renovations is uncertain, Williams said, but she thinks that they might have to work over the summer to get the project started.

Administrators, engineers enhance, regulate air quality by abby lynes, news/opinion editor Administrators at C. M. Russell High School and across the district have said that they’re committed to curbing the use of chemicals in classrooms, and they’re not blowing hot air.

“There’s a federal mandate with a timeline that we have to be in compliance with,” Principal Dick Kloppel said.

The district was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or ARRA, which seeks to create and save jobs while investing in education, infrastructure, health, and renewable energy.

“We were one of the first districts to get the ARRA. Our district got a large chuck of money to invest,” Kloppel said.

“It addressed CMR and a few elementary schools.”

With funds from ARRA, CMR’s air

ventilation system was updated. Now, temperature and oxygen levels are computer-controlled and adjusted for each room.

“It’s gotten way better than it’s ever been in the past,” Alan Burley, CMR’s head engineer, said.

To further improve air quality, administrators have compiled a list of all chemicals used in classrooms that describes the hazards of using them and includes directions on how to clean them up.

“We’re leaning towards more environmentally-friendly products and training staff on how to use them,” Brent Cutler, assistant supervisor of buildings and grounds, said.

Engineers as well as Industrial Technology, science, and art teachers have been trained to use and clean up hazardous chemicals, and staff members are careful

Operations in attendance office not right as rain

by abby lynes, news/opinion editor The attendance office, unlike its staff’s sense of humor, has not been a dry place for the past few weeks.

“You could say it was a very crappy day,” attendance office clerk Andrea Carroll said.

Tap water sprinkled from the ceiling on the heads of Carroll and Shawna Miller when there was a leak in the domestic pipe system on Dec. 6. The water originated from a pipe leading to the second floor boys restroom.

After dripping through old, dirty ceiling tiles, the water was tinted brown and smelled unpleasant, giving office staff reason to believe it was less than clean water.

Fortunately, only unused tap water dripped from the ceiling.

Because the district currently employs only two plumbers, dealing with plumbing issues can take some time, but first engineer Alan Burley said the pipe should be fixed over Christmas break.

not to use chemicals in their classrooms that could cause allergic reactions.

“We are going to transition to using latex-free gloves,” Kloppel said.

According to Cutler, the district is “in the process of streamlining [their] ordering system.”

“The district will supply the products for cleaning, and some teachers may prefer to use their own,” Kloppel said. “Though they need to see if they can put it on the approved list.”

All in all, Cutler said that better air quality is necessary in order to create a comfortable atmosphere for students.

“With proper indoor air quality, student academics improve. It enhances the environment so [staff] will be at work, and students will be at school,” he said.

Burley agreed.

“It affects their health and performance.”

With umbrellas provided by Principal Dick Kloppel, attendance clerks Andrea Carroll and Shawna Miller were prepared for the small rainstorm in their office on Dec. 6. The attendance office has temporarily moved into the main office. Photo by Abby Lynes.

OPINION

7

abbylynes News/Opinion Editor

Youth ride a float with a blow-up snowman during the Dec. 5 Parade of Lights.

Photo by Tom Gruner.

Stampede staff wishes Rustler Nation happy, safe 2013 holiday season

Kids bundle up in all of their warmest clothes and cram onto sleds, racing down snow-covered hills. Crystals of golden light shine around assorted ornaments that hang from a fine-smelling pine tree. The nation counts down from 60 seconds together, as a larger-than-life ball drops from the New York City sky, signaling the start of a new year.

These are just a few memories people everywhere associate with their winter From holidays. point of view The holiday times are some of the most eventful and fun days of the year. We at the Stampede would like to wish students, staff, and their families happy holidays, as well as a happy New Year. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or another holiday, have a fantastic time celebrating with your family. The Stampede wishes that all members of Rustler Nation have a fun-filled and memorable holiday break.

And of course, enjoy your two weeks away from school.

That being said, we would like to urge students to be safe during this year’s extended winter

OUR

break. Winter driving conditions could be dangerous. So, please, put a little less pressure on the gas pedal and be sure to pay close attention to the road to keep from having unneccesary car accidents that could have undesirable consequences.

Likewise, New Year’s Eve is one of the worst times for car accidents, many of which are alcohol-related.

However, these incidents are very much avoidable.

The Stampede staff wants C. M. Russell High School students to enjoy the festivities of Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, but make smart decisions when it comes to drinking and driving. Students can enjoy their New Year’s Eve celebrations and ring in the new year without making poor decisions and silly mistakes.

Have a terrific holiday break, but please be careful not to do anything you might regret. The holiday times are meant to provide a time to enjoy family and friends, not a time to provide excuses to make irresponsible decisions.

The Stampede wants to see every student arrive back to school after the break on Dec. 6 safe and sound. We look forward to seeing all of you back and better than ever in 2014.

Exchange student receives warm welcome by asad khattak, guest writer This piece of writing is going to describe what I imagined the start of my school year was going to be like and what actually happened. My name is Asad Khattak, and I am a foreign exchange student from Pakistan studying at CMR for one school year. I came to The United States on Sept. 10 and joined CMR on Sept. 16.

Just like every place has a bunch of stereotypes, so do American high schools. I had a few of these stereotypes in my mind when I first stepped into

CMR. It was because of the stereotypes in my head that I was expecting the worst case scenario for my first few weeks at CMR. I thought everyone was going to freak out when I told them where I was from and I thought everyone was going to be mean to me, asking me sarcastic questions. I figured that no matter how hard I tried and how nice I tried to be, I wouldn’t be able to make friends at all. I pictured myself sitting alone eating lunch in the cafeteria and walking like a loner in the hallways.

Well, to my delight, it was nothing like

what I expected and imagined. Everyone was really nice to me and I started making friends on the first day. Everyone was very helpful, willing to help me with pretty much anything I needed assistance with. In fact, it was because of this that I got used to the new system very easily.

Not even in my dreams had I imagined this happening.

Every single person made the start to my exchange year wonderful and now my goal is to make everlasting friendships here in the US and go back home with joyful memories and no regrets.

On Dec. 6, Nelson Mandela, a man who, in the words of President Obama, “took history in his hands and bent the arc of the moral universe towards justice” passed away from a recurring lung infection at the age 95.

He fought to end the system of apartheid in South Africa and become his country’s first black president.

Some would claim that Mandela, because of his selfless good deeds and contributions to the advancement of humanity, was a hero.

He always denied any assertion that he was a hero, though.

He had flaws. He cheated on his wife and was said to have a “hot temper” at times.

He was imperfect.

I would argue that this modest man was wrong about his hero status, however.

He stood up for what he believed in ways no one else would, sacrificing his personal freedom for the freedom of others in his country.

He was brave, exhibiting an uncommonly inexorable strength of character.

Through peaceful protest and civil disobedience, he helped dispel inequality and injustice in his country.

He was an impactful leader and his life will be fondly remembered and celebrated by the world.

Mandela was most certainly a hero, fallible, with internal struggles and faults like everyone else; however, his belief in the power and vastness of his goodness set him apart. Confidence in his inner light drove Mandela to achieve all he could. He had faith in mankind and the belief that good will prevail.

Perhaps, if others held this belief and people weren’t so oppressed by their shortcomings, more leaders like Mandela would arise.

The holiday season is about faith, hope, and rebirth.

To honor Mandela and his legacy, we must have faith in others, even those who have fallen short and disappointed us.

We must have hope that one day the snow will melt, the temperatures will rise, and we’ll see spring. We will be free.

We must be reborn, for children have the greatest capacity for faith, hope, and forgiveness.

In moments when we exhibit these traits, when we aren’t afraid of the dark and we have faith in ourselves and mankind, we become heroes.

Harness your inner light and fight for it. We must start acting like the heroes that we are.

8 opinion

The Stampede 12.19.13

Speak Your Mind

“My family [and “Driving across I] went to my the bridge grandma’s house and seeing a and my aunt kept neon sign of What is your favorite holiday memory? trying to point out “Our cats climbing “Every single year, my grandpa would dress up as Santa and his Rudolph to me.” reindeer.” a really fat Santa. He even got the blow up suit.” on our tree. We -Brandi Aguirre, 11 -Sadee Gustafson, 11 -Taylor McCarthy, 11 have fat cats and “Opening my they climb on top “When I was little we were in Wisconsin with my family, first present on of it and knock it and my great grandpa had a huge wagon pulled by horses Christmas Eve. It over.” and I got to drive it and I almost ran into the barn.” was a puppy.”

-Becca Johnson, 12 -Sarah Johnson, 12 -Sam Moad, 9

“The anticipation of knowing Santa was coming and wanting to see what we got in the morning.”

-Christine Sundly, biology

“Three years ago, eating Christmas dinner, my uncle leaned back in his chair and yelled, ‘I’m a beached whale,’ and poked his stomach.”

-Sierra Krantwashl, 12

“On Christmas, our friend’s dog ate our turkey before dinner.”

“The first time I went ice skating. It was on my friend’s pond after I got done riding my horse.”

-Kiersten Hall, 12

-Leila Smith, 9

s a m t m s s i i r r e h sum

C on

Retail stores hire an estimated

750,000

$271 per child for Christmas.

20-40 PERCENT of retailers’ annual sales

Online stores sold an estimated

$1.2 MILLION on Black Friday

The UPS expected to ship

120 MILLION

packages for the 2013 holiday season

-Brady Bridgeman, 11 “We sit in our onesies around the tree and sing Christmas songs. Then our mom gives us our stockings and we get to pick one thing out.”

-Harly Rowe, 11

With the holiday season slowly becoming battles of couponing and who can run faster to get their flat screen T.V. on Black Friday, we at the Stampede gathered some statistics to show just what this time of year represents.

The Holiday season contributes to

American parents spend employees in preparation an estimated for the holidays

“Every year, I do a holiday play. Last year I got to do a Black Friday skit and it was a lot of fun. We did it on Christmas Eve and it was supposed to go back to the true meaning of Christmas.”

Physical stores sold approximately

$ 52 MILLION

Mobile device purchases accounted for more than

Of the nation’s top 50 online retailers

92 PERCENT

17 PERCENT

offered free shipping on Black Friday weekend to of purchases on Cyber In 2012, Amazon set attract customers Monday.

Number of people that shopped from the record for Cyber these sites in millions Monday sales at The average in merchandise from Nov. 1 - Dec. 16

$26.5 MILLION where online shoppers ordered items at a pace of 306 items per second.

The U.S Postal Service expected to ship

420 MILLION packages for the 2013 holiday season

American family spends

$854 on gifts for family and loved ones.

12.19.13 The Stampede

Yoga pants brings confusion to mind, body by jesse whiteman, staff writer If there are two things in this world that I do not understand, they would be why we have some ridiculously long math assignments and why some girls love yoga pants.

The latter weighs a lot more on my mind.

I can honestly say that I have never been to a girl’s house where she does not own a pair of yoga pants.

That being said, I can also say that I have not been to many girls’ houses.

However, I see plenty of yoga pants and similar leggings at our fine high school--plenty being an understatement.

There are days when I believe that every single girl in the school called each other saying that they were going to wear their favorite yoga pants.

Why? That is my question. That is what keeps me up at night.

So with my confusion, I brought it up during Newspaper and was swiftly told, “Because they’re comfy,” or “They’re like sweat pants, but better.”

That is where my confusion begins and ends.

Or so it did, until I wore them for myself.

I found that yoga pants are outrageously more comfortable than I thought.

Then came my walk of shame which hit Edward McNamee and Rhonda Moore.

opinion 9

Memories of Christmas link childhood to teenage years

by drew brennan, staff writer There is only one time of the year one can smell both the sweet smell of pumpkin mixed with the pungent aroma of a pine tree. The anticipation of what’s to come on Christmas morning is added with the comfortable, safe feeling that a fireplace provides.

McNamee, My family has always celebrated being my swim c o a c h , Christmas; Dec. 25 has been a special had the most creative of day for both my family and others. reactions aside from sheer Christmas, though, has twisted its surprise of seeing me dressed meaning to me over the past few as a stereotypical white girl. years. Every year, as I grow, so does “It’s disturbing that you pull the meaning that goes along with the it off,” he said. sometimes snowy holiday.

After many more confused Years ago, when I was a young stares, the more I felt more boy, my thinking was very linear. relaxed in my loaned white Christmas equaled gifts. That was cardigan, blue scarf, and snow really the only thing that came to boots and the more I began to mind; even now gifts are a mainstay understand why. of what the holiday season brings to Why Moore said she works me. out in them.

The snowy roads of Montana And thus, my confusion Photo by Peyton Fulbright can carry gifts from far and wide ceased to exist.

through the likes of Amazon and UPS. The ice covered roads have also brought something new to the holidays: the memories and company of some of my most beloved kin.

As I have grown older the gifts of the holidays have turned from the colorfully wrapped boxes to the warm hug and soft voice of a grandmother. The adage often used says that as you age Christmas goes from being a time of receiving to a time of giving. I haven’t found this to be the case, in whole. I still receive those vivid memories of spending whole days with those I love.

I receive the love and affection from them, but also, do give in the same way.

The true meaning of Christmas will always be changing for me, as it will for all of us.

I truly believe that the importance of the holidays is not what they mean to each of us, but that they do mean something. As material objects still serve a purpose, their importance to me is ever lessening.

My only hope is we all find those who we care for during the holiday season and celebrate those times while we can.

FEATURES

10

ICY CONDITIONS Slippery roads necessitate safer driving for everyone

by max roux, staff writer School Resource Officer Nick Taylor knows all too well what happens when the days get colder and the snow starts to fall.

“When the snow starts flying, accidents happen,” Taylor said.

According to Taylor, the accidents in the parking lot usually aren’t too bad because the students are traveling only 5-10 mph, he said.

“I can usually handle the accidents internally, [but] if the damage is over $1,000 I have to investigate,” Taylor said.

Besides fender benders, accidents don’t occur very often in the parking lot.

Although stop signs are present around the area, accidents happen a lot on 5th Street, Taylor said.

The accident rate is lower this year than in the past.

“This has been a better year regarding accidents; kids usually follow the speed limit,” Taylor said.

The issue of parents dropping their kids off in the teacher lot is becoming a problem because “teachers are almost getting hit by parents,” Taylor said.

The boxing in of cars is also an issue kids deal with every time snow covers

the parking lot.

“When someone gets boxed in I usually get the license plate numbers of the cars blocking the car. I just don’t understand why someone would park like that,” Taylor said.

Due to the main lot’s size, more accidents occur than in the teacher lot, but Taylor said he’s dealt with as many middle-aged adults as he has teens.

“Teen driving in itself isn’t bad; teens just get distracted easily,” Taylor said.

Although Taylor says the increase isn’t significant, there is still an increase, and bad drivers become worse drivers.

“Just prepare a little more in the winter, and drive slow if you have to,” Taylor said.

To students like senior Gunner Mullins, “the snow provides for amusing parking.”

Junior Cole Myers says “it can be fun to drive on,” while his friend junior Michael Hemmah said “crashes man; everybody crashes.”

For some students the ice can be fun. For freshman Jeremiah Ormseth, “the ice makes rolling coal in my diesel easier.”

Features Editor

oliviarudio

Photo by Peyton Fulbright.

I love candles. There’s one for every season. For instance a lit pumpkin pie candle at Thanksgiving in the dark makes me feel like a pilgrim, despite how they actually might have felt sans modern-day heaters or pumpkin pie. During Christmas, the pine tree candle that we use to make up for having a fake Christmas tree, makes me think of home.

Typically no matter where I go for Christmas I always seem to feel at home whether it’s in the middle of a snowy winter in my living room playing cards and eating sugar cookies or visiting my grandma in humid Florida

playing cards and eating sugar cookies. The most important thing is who I’m spending my Christmas with.

Don’t get me wrong, the most important thing used to be getting a Barbie playhouse, but after the consumer crazed toddler died down in me I began to open my eyes to what I’ve come to fully understand as Christmas is my family.

Family has meant a great many deal to me all these years first love and safety then sometimes annoyance but it’s the one thing I’ve known the longest and what I’ve grown to develop a deep understanding of. And for some reason that meaning is elated by the spirit of Chirstmas. It may just be because we’re forced to spend

time together, but family has always made Christmas what it is by becoming a kid again with my sister or enduring the constant string of holiday music my mom plays.

Each year Christmas is a reminder of how fortunate I am to be gathered with those I love--those who have to put up with my messes and sour attitudes and support me while taking care of my general well being. This holiday season I can’t wait to spend more time with my family because between my academic life, social life, and sleeping it’s something I need a little more time for because Christmas makes me realize just how important it is.

features 11

12.19.13 The Stampede

Curriculums switch up learning environment years to help further students’ abilities to by laura marsilio, staff writer From year to year you learn and grow, understand lessons.

This situation is the same in other in life and in your jobs.

“We always say, ‘Your first year is departments as well.

Mike Lathrop, a physics teacher, also pretty rough, your second year you’re working out all the kinks and by the uses this technique of learn and teach third year you really know what you’re to figure out different ways to make his teaching,” said Terri Dahl, the math classes interesting. “I listen to what the students have to say, by department leader.

Dahl, like other “This is one [class] that has the questions that they’re asking. I gauge whether teachers, has spent more than a few years really evolved from the very or not they understand the material,” Lathrop teaching a similar first year that I taught it to said. curriculum. However, what’s going on today.”

He also uses this to these curriculums find out new ways of and lesson plans are approaching the material always different year to make it more fun and interesting for to year.

“It changes every year because his students. In applied physics, Lathrop whenever you present something to a adds a business aspect to the bridge lab.

“This is one [class] that has really group of kids, they ask different questions every year. So then you have to base your evolved from the very first year that I lecture off of the questions that they ask,” taught it to what’s going on today,” he said.

Dahl said.

Lathrop said that students feed off the Dahl is able to use the questions asked by other students from previous passion that teachers show. Having fun

Mike Lathrop

with your curriculums and making sure your pupils share this common desire helps improve your lesson plans, he said.

“I love what I teach. I have way too much fun,” Lathrop said.

In order to fuel this passion of learning, Ryan Anderson, an English teacher, changes lesson plans up from time to time.

“They change slightly, just depending on how I want it to become. Or maybe something didn’t go really well the year before so I want to adjust it to make sure it is better for the students,” Anderson said.

Anderson, who has taught freshman for ten years, has seen that changing up the order of the lessons helps students in the learning environment. He admits that sometimes teaching similar curriculums can get boring after a while.

“I’ll rotate different novels in so I don’t get tired. After a while I’ll get tired of reading the same thing over and over again, so we’ll just switch to a different book,” he said.

During his general physics class on Dec. 12, junior Nate Johnson works on the egg drop experiment. Photo by Kim Michelsen.

Teacher shares her love for seasonal Snoopy shirts

by stephanie mccracken, copy editor A beagle started it all.

“The beagle got me going,” special education teacher Julie Anderson said.

When her son had to get his back fused in eighth grade everything changed for both of them.

He was a national champion in wrestling at the time and he would never be able to play sports again.

“He was very depressed, so we let him get a dog,” Anderson said.

What cheered him up became a new hobby for Anderson.

“We got him a beagle, [and] ever since I’ve been collecting Snoopy,” she said.

So far, she has 32 Snoopy Christmas T-shirts, an array of nick Julie Anderson wears one of her 32 Snoopy T-shirts knacks, a Snoopy towel, and even a tattoo of Snoopy surfing on her each day of December to spread Christmas spirit.

Photo by Stephanie McCracken. ankle.

Teachers achieving their masters Instructors get a taste of being students again

by bailey collins, staff writer Complaining about teachers is a standard part of high school. A common grievance heard in the halls is usually that the teachers don’t understand how hard it is to finish all the homework, or that they don’t realize there are other classes.

Students tend to forget that teachers used to be students too. In fact, several of them still are.

At C. M. Russell High School, over 100 teachers and staff members have earned a master’s degree, an academic achievement granted to those who have shown mastery in a specific field of study or professional practice. A handful of industrious teachers are actually working on a degree even as they continue to teach

every day.

English teacher Rene Cleveland is one. Having recently started classes in Educational Leadership, Cleveland is studying up for a degree that, once earned, would allow her to take a job as a principal.

“It really opened my eyes to the kind of work the administrators have to do,” she said.

Earning a degree isn’t easy, even if you’ve been teaching for a while. As a mother as well as a teacher with a full schedule, Cleveland has to stay organized to keep on track, being careful not to let her extracurricular work interfere with her students’ learning.

“I don’t think it affects them

She has been collecting Snoopy-themed T-shirts for 20 years and is still looking for more.

“I try to get a new one every year,” she said.

According to Anderson, the problem with having 32 different Christmas Snoopy-related T-shirts is that it is very rare that you find a new one, she said.

“I have some friends that buy them for me when they find some,” she said.

Out of all the T-shirts, she still has her favorite.

“My favorite is the Santa Claus Snoopy in his sled flying over the moon,” she said.

Anderson said the great thing about wearing the shirts is that it gets people in the spirit of Christmas.

In the mornings, she also plays rock and roll Christmas music.

“Christmas is my favorite holiday.”

negatively. I was trying to think if there might be benefits of it. I guess having to be a student again and, you know, write papers and all of that stuff myself, has made me think about how I can explain that better to my students,” Cleveland said.

Another teacher in the same boat is Joe Agostinelli, a freshman math instructor who is pursuing a degree in Curriculum and Instruction, an Education masters.

Agostinelli is taking a 36-credit class that is divided into six semesters and broken up into 2-week modules. As the entirety of his cohort is made up of teachers, he says that the course is flexible to a teacher’s schedule, being partially online and partially on campus.

“We only do one class at a time, which is part of the appeal to it, is that I don’t have to try to keep track of more than one

class at a time,” Agostinelli said.

Agostinelli thinks that the master will bring his level of teaching higher and benefit his students. “I’m not cashing in any days on teaching and saying, ‘Oh, you kids have a study hall day, I have to work on my masters’ while I’m sitting here. So I still think I’m holding up my teaching end of the deal.”

Both teachers are in agreement that their experiences have not made them any more sympathetic towards students then they already were. Cleveland says that she works really hard on her course, and the most difficult part is getting everything done.

“And so I have no sympathy when they’re telling me, ‘Oh, it’s a long paper.’

I’m like, ‘Don’t even start with me. I don’t want to hear about it.’ So no, I don’t think it makes me sympathetic,” Cleveland said.

14 features

The Stampede 12.19.13

Aconfession of

DEPRESSION

by tom gruner, staff writer and jesse whiteman, staff writer

The counselor:

Depression is an issue many people in the world face, Counselor Patti Ashmore faces it from a different angle.

“I have a family member who has suffered from depression,” Ashmore said. “This person starts out with feelings of being different.”

She said that her relative then started having an inability to handle daily life the way that most people do.

“It’s like this big weight that weighs us down,” Ashmore said her family member described it as.

Depression becomes more noticeable around the holiday season largely in part to the influx of suicide rates.

Ashmore said that media is a large trigger for this distortion of rates.

“A lot of what we see are the perfect pictures, perfect families,” Ashmore said. “If our holidays don’t look like that, there’s something wrong.”

She said that the holidays bring to center stage what some people do not have, leaving a constant reminder to those who suffer from depression. These people sometimes struggle coping with.

“For those of us who haven’t experienced it, it’s hard to understand,” she said. “Unless you’ve gone through it, you don’t know what it feels like.”

Another potential reason for the change in depression, Ashmore said, could be family members.

“Sometimes there’s more dysfunction in families at the holidays,” she said.

At C. M. Russell High School, the holiday season falls near semester and other school functions.

Ashmore said that students feel the “pressure of semester, holidays, and prom.”

While she said that she tries to keep her work at the workplace, there are times she feels stress. see DEPRESSION, 15

20%

5,400

of teens experience depression before adulthood

suicide attempts by adolescents each day

Photo illustration by Peyton Fulbright.

1 in 33 1 in 6 children in school will be diagnosed with clinical depression

high school students have highly considered suicide

80% of teens do not receive any form of help for depression

12.19.13 The Stampede DEPRESSION [continued from 14] “There are some situations where student situations eat away at you,” Ashmore said.

The teacher:

Psychology teacher Brian Greenwell analyzes the social aspect of depression.

Greenwell said that the social factor “plays a huge role,” especially during the holidays.

“Social construct of the mind intensifies the depression that already exists,” he said.

Greenwell said that loneliness also can play a role with more noticeable depression and the higher suicide rates.

“Most people need companionship,” he said. “They are social animals.”

People who face a traumatic event often go through a temporary phase of mild depression, Greenwell said. They feel depressed, then they act it, and finally they are treated like it.

He said that depression often is a result of a combination of genetics and chemical imbalances in the brain.

“We have a lot of things in place, a lot of places to turn to.”

The student:

Ever since senior Brandon Coday could remember, he’s had some sort of obstacle in his life. “[When I was younger], my dad wasn’t there,” Coday said. “And my mom couldn’t afford to take care of me because she had her own problems. [Then] when I was six, I was taken away from my parents by Department of Family Services. Up until I was 10, I was a foster kid.”

After Coday was in foster care for four years, he was adopted once by a family, but in the end, that family didn’t work out.

“I went into foster care again until I was about 14 or 15,” Coday said. “From there, I lived with my friend for a while in a foster care setting, so I’ve never really had real parents.”

Throughout Coday’s entire time in and out of foster care, he moved around California but then landed in Montana. With all that moving around, he started finding difficulty in his life.

“Sometimes when it came to friends, I was a lot more picky or I just wouldn’t talk to people sometimes,” Coday said. “The biggest thing with people was I just wouldn’t trust them very much. After that, you just don’t know if you can trust a lot of people.”

Coday said it especially affected his school life because he felt like everything was his fault and the world was against him.

“When I was younger, I was a lot more frustrated with life. It was one of those, ‘Why me?’ things and as a kid, you didn’t understand as much so you always took it out on yourself,” Coday said. “Usually I’d take it out on my grades or I’d get in a lot of fights at school.”

After all the negativity in his life, Coday said he found it hard to trust somebody enough to believe them on such a simple thing as a compliment.

“If somebody would compliment me about something, I’d never believe them,” Coday said. “After what had already happened, I would never trust anyone.”

With Coday’s lack of confidence and motivation for everyday things, he found himself as sort of an outcast in things.

“I was always down a lot, like every day,” Coday said.

“I never really talked a lot and I was always quiet.”

Coday, now 18, says that after everything that has happened in his life, he’s able to look on the brighter side instead of dwelling on things. Now at a more mature, comprehensive age, he is able to keep a more positive outlook.

“Don’t take it out on yourself,” Coday said. “And always look forward, not back, when situations like this happen. It’s never your fault. Just try to make tomorrow better than today.”

Help is available:

Suicide Prevention

Great Falls Crisis Line 406-453-4357

Crisis Call Center

National Institute of Mental Health Information Center

630-482-9696

800-273-8255 OR

text ANSWER to 839863

1 in 10

20%

Americans are reportedly affected by depression at one point or another

is the increase of patients diagnosed each year

866-615-6464

features 15

Suicide close to home

by jesse whiteman, staff writer My brother attends Arizona State University in Phoenix.

At the start of the 2011 fall semester, he lived with a friend of his.

The day that my brother got home for winter break, he received a text message that was devastating to not only him, but to the rest of my family.

The text said that my brothers friend was dead.

He was faced with a mixture of emotions: sadness, regret, all the like.

Then he saw a news piece about it.

Being the journalism and mass communications major that he is, he was outraged by what he saw.

Not only did the story give the friends name, but also his picture.

For anyone who does not know, when writing anything about someone who committed suicide, a reporter is not supposed to give this information.

But what kept weight on my brothers mind is that his friend showed no signs and then it happened.

After having that burden on him, the mood of his break went downhill fast. All that we, as a family, could think about was why he did it and how his family must have felt.

But he got through it moderately well and saw a therapist when he got back in Phoenix.

I never thought that I would come anywhere close to what he went through.

It was Monday Oct. 14. I had just gotten home from swimming and was expecting to hear from a friend of mine.

All that we talked about were goofy, random things.

None of them had any relevance to anything.

We talked with each other for about a week and then we slowly slipped apart.

Fast forward one month to Nov. 14.

This girl and I started to chat again. It was then that I was hit with news that shook me to my core.

The first day we talked was the day she had planned to commit suicide.

I did not know how I could begin to comprehend that fact, so when I got to school the next day, I went to my most trusted teacher.

This move by me was necessary, but regrettable.

While it cleared my mind and got her the proper help that she was in need of but would not recognize herself.

However, I nearly lost my friendship with her.

But like I said, it was necessary. It left a shaky path that I could not help control if she went off the deep end.

So in what little glory I felt about helping this girl was shadowed by the uncertainty of what might happen to her.

Was my success permanent?

Even I do not know.

1 in 12 4,600 high school students have attempted suicide

adolescents commit suicide every year

121 million

around the world currently suffer from some form of depression

16 features

The Stampede 12.19.13

Extended winter break allows students time for recuperation, family, travels, Christmas traditions

Another Rustler eager for a longer break and spending time with her family is junior by katelin johnson, staff writer For many students and teachers winter break is about getting time off from school, Miranda VerColen.

“I am glad I have a longer break because it will give me more time to spend with but for senior Malachi Bushey it means going home after four months.

“I am going home for [a] week and am going to see my friends and family,” Bushey family and friends,” VerColen said.

But relaxing isn’t the only thing that VerColen will be doing; she also is said. getting her wisdom teeth removed.

Bushey is from Tucson, Ariz., but is living temporarily in “We watch Christmas “I first scheduled it for the thirteenth, but I have cheerleading and a Montana with another family to play hockey. concert during that time so [I] rescheduled it for winter break,” she said.

“I am here to play for the American team and also the high movies together; I bake One positive effect of her dental experience is that she doesn’t have to school team,” he said. attend practice, but she is going to be sleeping away part of her break.

While playing is fun, he is excited to head home for Christmas. with my mom and we “I have to miss a week of break because I will be sleeping because of my “It has been planned for a while so I am thinking [a lot] about help out on Christmas wisdom teeth,” she said. it,” he said.

Eve at my church.”

Even though she will be spending most of her vacation in bed, she will be But traveling to see family isn’t the only thing this trip means; involved in Christmas activities, too. it’s going to be a temporary escape from the cold Montana “We usually have dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas with my weather, which he usually doesn’t mind. family,” she said.

“I always liked cold weather, but this [is] definitely not what Sophomore Helena Allison is anticipating the time off as it is much needed.

I am used to,” he said. “Being able to go home for a while getting away from the snow “I have been so busy,” Allison said. “I need a break.” [will be nice].”

It’s not only the presents and family she is looking forward to.

Bushey is looking forward to going on his own vacation, but he also thinks that “I would say I am most excited about sleeping and eating food.” everyone else needs a break.

Allison isn’t just enthusiastic about the time off. She also is anticipating the usual “I think everyone does,” Bushey said. Everyone gets a break especially me because I holiday festivities that take place in her home every year. get to see my family,” he said.

“We watch Christmas movies together; I bake with my mom and we help out on The only thing that he is not as surprised by or as anxious about is the length of Christmas Eve at my church,”she said. winter break.

Even though she is thrilled about the break, she is not too excited about having only According to Bushey, Arizona students usually have two weeks off and the only two weeks back at school before the end of semester. thing that is different is the dates.

“I am glad [we are off],” Allison said. “I hate only having two weeks to study for The winter break for Great Falls Public Schools starts on Dec. 21., and school resumes finals, but I think it is a much needed break or recess.” on Jan. 6.

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ENTERTAINMENT

17

greighsenadams Entertainment Editor

Performing “12 Angry Women” monologues on Dec. 11, junior Dallas Flemming and senior Matthew Bronson audition for the play. Photo by Tom Gruner.

Drama department starts off with bang, prepares for Thespian Festival, upcoming performances by greighsen adams, entertainment editor With the shutdown of one, and the production of others over the year, the drama department knows what it is to be pushed.

“We’ve got kids who want to come,” department head Chris Evans said.

Last year, Evans took over stagecraft and ended up dealing with students who were there for one reason.

“In the past, people were there who just wanted a grade,” he said.

In the past, the lack of breathing time had begun to take its toll on not only him, but those in his stagecraft and drama classes.

“Last year was tough, and it was tough on the kids,” Evans said.

This year, however, Evans was given the ability to choose students that would be allowed to participate in stagecraft.

“I like it because I’m looking for people who have a stake,” he said. If you’re just working for a paycheck, how’s that fulfilling?”

As well as stagecraft, his drama classes have reaped the benefits of free time.

“I’m throwing some pretty heavy stuff at them,” Evans said. “There’s an excitement in the intro and intermediate

classes.

One of Evans’ advanced theater students, senior Sarah Johnson performed in “The Foreigner” and now has the chance to breathe a little easier.

“I thought [The Foreigner] went pretty well,” she said.

As the excitement begins to die down, Johnson says she is just waiting to do another show.

“I think the biggest highlight was all the compliments we got afterwards,” she said.

Though Johnson has experience with plays directed by Evans, she also knows what a student-directed play is like.

“When Evans directs a play, there’s one rehearsal period that lasts two hours,” she said. “When students direct, they get their own rehearsal hours and they pick the cast.”

As “The Foreigner” was wrapped up, Johnson noticed the amount of time and dedication that was put into the show.

“There was definitely a lot of talent and effort,” she said.

Although she performs very well, there are always challenges.

“The hardest thing is definitely getting the lines out of the way,” Johnson said.

She’s been performing since sophomore year in a variety of plays, but she says her favorite was “Noises Off.” “It was a [gigantic] prop list,” Johnson said.

She has changed due to the drama department and the friends she has made while in both stagecraft and drama.

“I’ve come out of my shell more,” Johnson said. “I’m not so shy and now I have more of a passion than a hobby.”

Hoping to gain a role in the upcoming play “12 Angry Women” junor Dallas Flemming can’t wait to see if the set can be done.

“It’ll be really interesting to see if this works because it’s an ensemble piece, so everyone’s on the stage all the time” she said. If we can pull this off, it’ll be really awesome.”

As well as “12 Angry Women,” she is looking forward to this year’s Thespian Festival held in Missoula.

“I’m excited for the theater olympics,” Flemming said.

The best part of Thespian Festival, according to Flemming is getting to hang out with all of her theater friends.

I have a bone to pick.

As the year goes on, I’ve noticed the snow that has fallen.

Just because snow is on the ground, doesn’t mean we have to act like we’re incompetent. I hate driving in the snow, and I’ve lived in it for five years now. It’s awful, so I force my dad to drive me during the really bad stuff, like we’ve been having lately.

I glance out of the windows in my classes and watch as the parking lot turns into a danger zone for children between the ages of 15 and 19. It is scary knowing I have to walk out there and get into my truck, then fight my way out of the lot in order to get home.

It’s frightening to witness the accidents that follow bad weather. I sit there waiting for my turn to exit, and the thought that someone is going to tail end me or slide into the side of my vehicle as they pull in. The worst thing about all this snow is the ice lurking underneath it, that’s where the real problem lies.

I know what happens when ice mixed with overzealous teenagers occurs. I was one of those teens. What happened you asked?

I couldn’t stop in time and ended up rearending my friend. He was not happy, and I was scared out of my mind. What made the experience worst was dealing with my dad after the damage was done. I think talking to your parents afterward tops the fear of the actual car accident.

Granted, I feel like there are more accidents as the snow melts. It’ll melt, then freeze, making me drive like a granny, fearful of all of the black ice scattered throughout the drive to and from school.

There are some positives about the snow. I love watching the snow fall from the security of my house where it’s warm with a fire blazing and hot chocolate with those mini marshmallows floating around. I like to go outside and sled down a hill by my house, but I always end up frozen with snow in my coat and pants.

When I lived in Texas, it was a rarity to see snow on the ground, and whenever it did snow, my sister and I would always run in it and make snow angels.

Of course, the snow freaked me out as a child when I fell on the ice hidden beneath it.

To this day, I still occaionally fall face first or worse, I fall backward and hit my head and back on the hard ice.

To me, the snow is beautiful when I’m not risking my life driving through it or falling in the secret white devil while flailing my arms like a lunatic trying to regain my completely lost balance.

Moral: I hate the snow unless I’m inside.

entertainment 18

12.19.13 The Stampede

Eight must see entertaining channels, videos by elea roberts, staff writer

OK Go Music Videos What is better

than four grown men dancing on treadmills?

Well unless you haven’t seen the music video for Ok Go’s “Here it goes again” then the answer is probably nothing.

Having spent hours choreographing a dance using eight treadmills in which the members constantly jump off of, the video always gets a chuckle, and the laughter doesn’t stop there. Since this videos launch, the group has released quite a few music videos in which they are doing a life size domino game, the only dog show I could ever bear to watch, and one of the first 3D music videos. So the question now is, what’s next?

BadLipReading An orange peanut, for me… wow, and orange peanut, I

accept you. That is what came out the mouth of an NFL player during an episode of bad lip reading. During the videos where the people behind the screen try to interpret what people are saying on movies, music videos, and TV shows without the words, you never know what is going to come out of Bella and Edward’s mouth. But that’s half the fun and sometimes you find yourself thinking, maybe they should have been the screen writers for these movies.

Crash Course and Mental Floss Both channels are run by brothers John and Hank Green, and they are pretty similar in their nerdy style.

While Mental Floss simply offers facts about random topics, it is extremely interesting and allows you to have more facts to whip out of your back pocket. It is also funny to see some of the facts, such as the class about vampires that Harvard has. Crash Course, on the other hand, is helpful for those late nights where you realize you have a test the next morning. Covering most classes except math, the channel gives you useful information presented in a short humorous way that usually follows your class curriculum almost exactly.

Improv Everywhere

Achieving YouTube success with their MP3 experiments, in which they have hundreds of participants running around doing weird activities such as folding all the clothes in a messy department store, Improv Everywhere has now begun to do “movies in real life” videos. In these videos they have actors pretend to be famous movie characters who have spontaneously bust out of the screen and are now walking around your neighborhood. And while the “movies in real life” videos are enjoyable because of their constant use of new characters, it makes you realize just how boring their MP3 experiments were. Even though the first or second experiment keep your mind engaged, after the third or fourth they all begin to run together.

Potter Puppet Pals So I am pretty sure that

if you haven’t seen the musical number between the characters of Harry Potter on this YouTube channel, you having been living in hole for the past seven years. What most people don’t know, though, is that the Channel continued the series and eventually did put clothes on Dumbledore. Although the videos can have terrible language at times, some videos aren’t as bad as others, and almost all of them are enjoyable.

ASAPscience Awfully cute in their drawn out presentations, ASAPscience shows you all the facts about life that you did, and some that you didn’t, want to know. Not only this, but somehow the narrator’s voice sounds cooler than anybody else, with the exception of British people and the guy who voices the Allstate commercials.

CinemaSins Even though the channel is extremely critical about what they consider “fails,” they do go through a wide variety of movies and reveal things that you might not have noticed in the films, like how many people fall over in Batman. The language can be bad however, and it also goes through the information extremely fast so it is hard to keep up with but at the same time, its fast pace is what makes it so appealing.

Christ mas MusicA look at the best remakes of classic Christmas songs

Silent Night

Originally written in German by Joseph Mohr in 1818, “Silent Night” is one of the most recorded songs in history. It was translated into English in 1859, and has since then been translated into more than 140 languages.

Despite the fact that the rest of his Christmas album is gaudy and destroys holiday classics, Justin Bieber won with his rendition of “Silent Night”. Soft, emotional, and beautiful, I love listening to his version of the classic. The song has very little musical accompaniment, only a soft piano in the back. It does a good job of recognizing the subtle nature of the song. Bieber’s vocals shine throughout the song; they mesh perfectly with the original sound of the song. What I enjoy about this song is that it is not a Bieber song, it is just a beautiful version of a classic.

Find it on Bieber’s “Under the Mistletoe”

Carol of t he Bells

by whisper harris, designer

A popular Christmas tune, “Carol of the Bells,” was originally written by Peter J. Wilhousky, and it was published in English in the 1930s. The original arrangement was written for a four, voice a cappella group.

What I enjoy about the Destiny’s Child version of the song is that it is done a cappella.

As it was originally written for an a cappella group, you never hear arrangements done that way. The song, which is dominated by vocal harmonies and using the mouth as a musical object, keeps the song soft and beautiful as it was written, but still manages to perform it in their R&B style. It is one of my favorites, and I will be listening to it as I celebrate the holiday.

Find it on Destiny’s Child “8 Days of Christmas”

Jing le Bells Sleig h Ride One of the best known Christmas songs in the world, “Jingle Bells,” was originally Composed by Leroy Anderson in 1948, “Sleigh Ride” has been named the most

popular piece of Christmas music for the years 2009-2012.

She & Him is a musical duo composed of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. Their version of “Sleigh Ride” is quirky and well done. The song is composed of harmonies between Deschanel and Ward, and Deschanel singing solo. Deschanel’s voice shines throughout the song. Her eccentric voice carries the song and gives it is memorable quality. The song holds true to the original arrangement while is still feels like a She & Him song.

Find it on “A Very She & Him Christmas”

written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857.

Michael Buble’s version with the Puppini sisters does the song justice. Keeping with the song’s fast and upbeat nature, Buble’s version captivates listeners. The vocal harmonies between the sisters gives the song its rounded edge and makes it feel complete. The arrangement differs from the original song in that it has the jazzy undertones usually associated with Buble, but that does not detract from the song at all. Overall, the song gives an old song a modern sound.

Find it on Buble’s “Christmas”

19 entertainment

The Stampede 12.19.13

Best holiday

movie A Christmas Story (1983)

F

by jadon jennings, staff writer “You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”

Perhaps you’ve heard that quote before.

It comes from a classic Christmas film. A movie that almost everyone watches every Christmas “A Christmas Story.”

It stars Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, a young boy who dreams of owning a Red Ryder BB Gun. But there’s one problem: everybody says that he will shoot Disney’s animated “Frozen” is a 3-D adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tale “The Snow Queen.” Disney/MCT. his eye out. So Ralphie tries everything to get the gun for Christmas. He even asks a mall Santa who tells him the same thing everybody else does.

I like “A Christmas Story” because it shows how the main character’s family My favorite character was Olaf because he was like the by cori bonilla, staff writer is around the holidays. For example, The typical Disney movies have an evil character from which stereotypical socially awkward best friend. He defended and something that is iconic to the film is the the princess must be saved. And who should save her but Prince protected Anna to the very end. Olaf takes the cake when “leg lamp” that the dad wins in a contest Charming? Well, Disney’s new movie “Frozen” takes a different talking about the cutest snowmen of all time. to place in the family house. And the feud He loved Anna enough to melt for her. Every girl deserves a path which was very enjoyable. In this movie the bad character that Ralphie’s mom has with Ralphie’s dad best friend like Olaf. wasn’t bad, and Prince Charming was the evil one. about the lamp. When Ralphie is at school One of my favorite aspects of this movie was that the Throughout the movie, the main character, Anna, a second with his friends and his friend gets “tripleborn princess in the country of Arendale is very relatable. She princess, Anna, acted like a real girl and was not the picture dog dared” to stick his tongue to a frozen stutters while talking to “gorgeous” guys and gets jittery while perfect person everyone expects from a Disney princess. pole. The result is the fire department Anna had trouble getting up in the morning, didn’t always being cooped up too long. She doesn’t always know what to having to come to the school and free say and isn’t the most graceful girl in the world so she’s more have perfect hair, and had trouble picking the right guy. The fact Ralphie’s friend, or on Christmas morning that the first guy she encounters wasn’t her Prince Charming, relatable than most Disney princesses. when Ralphie’s aunt gets him a pink rabbit Her determination while trying to save her sister shows what and her Prince Charming turned out to be a fixer upper, made outfit, which he is forced by his mother to an amazing heart she has. Her help along the way includes the this movie all the better because it was so much more believable. wear.

This is definitely a movie worth watching and I will certainly warm hug-loving snowman, Olaf, the goofy reindeer Sven, and What makes it a Christmas movie in my a struggling ice vendor, Kristoff. Anna’s “Prince Charming” buy this movie when it comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray. It will opinion, besides the obvious title, are the thwarts her attempts at the end. However, the true love between be added to my list of favorite Disney movies. events that take place over the course of the the two sisters prevails. movie. From the ridiculous presents that Ralphie gets to the things that happen on Christmas day.

“A Christmas Story” is a classic that many people, including myself, watch every year just to get into the Christmas spirit. Or because it is a more realistic Ah Bambi, the movie What little kid didn’t Christmas story. that gets bashed by want to fly? Or swim with There is a 24-hour marathon of “A mermaids? Or sing with hunters and oil companies Christmas Story” on TBS every year so if alike. It turned us all a the Indians? This movie has This classic Disney The movie that had you want to watch it, then you can watch little anti-hunter in our it all.

It was the ultimate in movie is the reason that me looking for my Prince TBS on Christmas Eve “A Christmas Story.” childhood.

However, I childhood fantasies. Peter every little girl, at one time Charming in the unlikeliest Pan let kids believe in the think the real story behind or another, wanted to be a of places. This movie is all impossible, and as long as this “brainwashing” is mermaid. The magic of it about learning to open you keep believing you’ll definitely the friendships all had me sitting on the your heart to everyone, that developed and the never grow up. Also this carpet as a starry-eyed even if they are a beast is one of the only Disney undying love that Bambi little girl from beginning to without manners. I think has for all. Who could forget movies where both parents end. It was also the reason this is a great lesson for are still alive. Which is that moment when he calls Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer I loved to swim as a young kids to learn, but of course shocking when you stop his skunk friend Flower and White Christmas child. This will always be that wasn’t the reason I makes him feel so much and think about it. It also Christmas Vacation a Disney favorite of mine. watched it as kid. I watched is one of a few without an better about himself? Don’t When I think of this movie, it because I wanted to be you think we can all learn a indepth love story because Elf I think of my childhood and just like Belle when I grew little more from Bambi and the children are so young.

It’s a Wonderful Life the magic and wonder that up. She was my role model.

It truly is a fantasy that will his friends and be a little The Nightmare before Christmas and my favorite princess.

Disney contributed to it. never be forgotten. more understanding?

rozen heats up the screen

Disney classic movie reviews

The Little Mermaid

Peter Pan

Beauty & the Beast

Bambi

Other Christmas

favorites

SPORTS

Winter Sports Preview

by tony lynes, staff writer & lindsay martinez, sports editor

BOYS BASKETBALL Number of athletes: 44 Captains: Eric Dawson and Jayse McLean

Number of athletes: 39

Head coach: John Cislo

Assistant coaches: Loren Edwards, Tori Snipes, Mary Anderson

Assistant coaches: John Stewart, Mike McLean, Ty Moore Teams: Varsity, junior varsity, sophomore, freshman Record: 1-1 Sophmore Karl Tucker goes for a lay up against Havre Blue Ponies Dec. 14. Photo by Peyton Fulbright.

“Not getting to the state tournament [last season] will make the team hungry.”

Coach John Cislo

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Location of state tournament: Billings Next home competition: Dec. 19 vs Helena High

Head coach: Brian Crosby

Teams: Varsity, junior varsity, sophomore, freshman Record: 0-2 Location of state tournament: Billings Next home competition: Jan.2 vs Helena Capital

Senior Kaydee Parsons fights off a defender from Glacier on Dec. 13.

Photo by Peyton Fulbright.

“If you work hard and show up to play, then it puts you on the right path to win.”

Coach Brian Crosby

WRESTLING

SWIMMING

In a surprise attack, senior Isiah Yates defends himself during practice on Dec. 16. Photo by Kim Michelsen.

Swimmers stroke in unison at Great Falls High in preparation for the season on Dec. 16. Photo by Tom Gruner.

Number of athletes: 20 girls and 17 boys

Teams: Varsity and junior varsity for practice only

Captains: Brandon Miller, Joe Michelotti, Jessica Harris, and Alicia Fowler

Record: 2nd place Kalispell Invitational; 1st place Havre Duals

Location of state tournament: Billings

Head coach: Ed McNamee

Next home competition: Dec. 20-21 Holiday Classic

Assistant coaches: Kristen Conrad and Erica Hickey

Location of state tournament: Butte

Number of athletes: 40

Varsity (25)

Captains: Isiah Yates, Payton Sexe, Jared Dickson

Record: 3rd place Havre Invitational, No place Mining City Duals

Head coach: Aaron Jensen Assistant coaches: Five Teams: Varsity (15) Junior

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the toughness so far. We’ve won some matches we might not have won last year.”

Coach Aaron Jensen

Next home competition: Dec. 20 vs Hardin/Havre at GFHS

“It’s going to take more than just one person with good character and athleticism to get us back to where we need to be.”

Coach Ed McNamee

20

lindsaymartinez Sports Editor

Ahhhh, December. Christmas time, New Year’s, falling snow, and candy canes. But to the sports fan, December means so much more, which brings me to this riddle: What do Papajohns.com, Famous Idaho Potato, and Chick-fil-A all have in common?

All three of these goofy names represent the names of postseason college football bowls that occur during December or January. These bowls, combined with many others, make up the crazy time that is one of the favorites of football fans across the nation.

Almost every night, up until the Jan. 6 BCS National Championship game, is characterized by a bowl matchup featuring two teams, with the only requirement being that each team must have won six regular season games.

Some people find bowl season ridiculous for its off-the-wall names, occasionally sub-par teams, and mismatches resulting in lopsided scores. However, for me, even if the sheer number of bowl games is a tad overwhelming, the time of bowl season is a spectacular one.

For one, the bowls are a joy for fans looking for a few hours of entertainment during the winter months. Looking for a moment away from your family or a break from hanging ornaments on the tree? Flip on the TV for just a moment, and you should find at least one bowl game on some channel.

Even if the game isn’t a marquee matchup, it still will be entertaining if you allow the game to be so.

Also, the event of attending a bowl game is a blast for players and their fans. Teams get to enjoy a week in the fantastic city that is hosting their bowl game, visiting all the must-see places and doing fun activities.

Still, the best part of the bowls is that so many teams get to be champions. Yes, there is only one college football national champion, (even if you disagree with the system that gives that champion) but so many teams get to finish the season with a win and bring home a trophy to their schools. A trophy is a trophy, even if it says Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Champion on it.

Regardless of the bowl game their team ends up playing, both fans and players will be happy if they are fortunate enough to be a bowl victor.

WATCH THE VIDEO Use this QR code to watch a video of all the sports teams during their grueling practices and exciting competitions.

sports 21

12.19.13 The Stampede

ICE Baby ICE Skating sisters carve up the ice

“The more competitions and performances I do, the more confident I feel.”

Ellie Brennan

ABOVE: Posed in a catch foot spiral, freshman Ellie Brennan practices her Christmas recital performance at Great Falls IcePlex Dec. 11 at 6:30 a.m. practice. RIGHT: Recovering from a concussion, sophomore Christina Brennan has been ice skating with her sister for nine years.

Photos by Peyton Fulbright.

by olivia rudio, features editor While most people cringe at the sight of ice this time of year, sophomore Christina and freshman Ellie Brennan couldn’t be happier.

When Ellie was in first grade her friend got her to try ice skating and little did she know she would go on to win four gold medals at her first competition seven years later.

Last year at Ellie’s first big competition, she competed in synchronized skating, a duo skate, and two solos, one without music.

She went on to win a gold medal in all of her categories.

“I was proud of myself,” Ellie said.

On Dec. 14, Ellie performed at Great Falls Ice Skating Club’s Christmas recital.

Ellie performed a solo to Jingle Bell Rock and skated to the Polar Express theme song with the three other girls in her freestyle team.

“I’m definitely really nervous when I get on the ice,” Ellie said. “But once I get in the center I focus on the routine.”

Nerves are something that Ellie commonly deals with before every performance.

However, they have managed to get better over time.

“The more competitions and performances I do, the more confident I feel,” Ellie said.

Christina also feels confident about her sister’s performance.

“I think she did really well,” Christina said. “I’m really proud.”

Christina also spent three to four times a week rehearsing for performances since the beginning of their season in November, but because of a minor concussion she received after hitting her head on the ice she was not allowed to perform.

“I blacked out for like 30 seconds,” Christina said. “I remember all these people were around me.”

Christina was rehearsing a split jump just a week before the recital when something went wrong with her blade and she fell and hit the ice.

When someone asked her the date and she said it was Nov. 22, everyone grew concerned.

“They were scared for me.”

After hitting the ice, Christina said she got a huge bump on the side of her head.

“It was the size of a baby pear,” Christina said.

Christina said she also was upset that she couldn’t skate due to her concussion.

“I felt like I was letting my team down,” Christina said.

Unfortunately, her concussion has affected her outside of the rink as well.

“It’s just really frustrating,” Christina said. “I couldn’t hold a conversation. What really upsets me is how dizzy I get.”

Despite not being able to participate, Christina said she enjoyed the performance and watching her sister.

22 sports

The Stampede 12.19.13

Stuntmen receive warm welcome on cheer team Shane Mann, a senior and new stuntman for the cheer by cori bonilla, staff writer The C. M. Russell cheerleading squad is getting an extra team, already knows a lot of the cheerleaders so fitting in dose of testosterone this year as their secret weapon to add isn’t a problem for him.

“They get along with us pretty well,” VerColen said. to their repertoire of exciting stunts. There has been an “[Cheerleading] is just as much a guy sport as a girl unusual addition to the team that hasn’t been seen in years.

“I think having the boys on the team this year will show sport,” Cassie Cichosz said. The cheerleaders are hoping others that they can do it too,” senior captain Cassie Cichosz that the student body will accept this and more boys will be encouraged to join the squad as stuntmen. said.

“It feels kind of good being back on a Males are now a part of CMR’s team,” said Mann. cheerleading squad. The new additions Mann said he definitely feels the pressure will allow the cheerleaders to perform of being a stuntman. He doesn’t want to drop Use this QR code to watch a higher, more stable stunts. The CMR fan base will see new and more difficult stunts video of the male cheerleaders any of the girls or hurt them.

“It’s nerve-wracking,” Mann said about in action. from the cheerleaders this basketball holding a girl in the air. He knows the season. physical risks to the girls and doesn’t want to “They can put stunts up easier than be responsible for hurting any of them since girls,” veteran junior cheerleader Miranda he considers them all to be like sisters.

VerColen said. With the stuntmen During one of their first practices, three ot assisting them, the cheerleaders won’t the four new stuntmen, Shane Mann, Jacob have to strain themselves to put stunts in Weill, Kody and Steven Bonacci, threw a girl the air. about 18 feet in the air during a cradle and The girls are excited to have the boys had to be told to calm down their strength, on their team, but the team dynamic has coach Rosean Harris said. definitely shifted a little.

“We had to go back to the basics,” Cichosz said. In order “With guys on the team, you have to watch what you say so they don’t become uncomfortable,” VerColen said. It to perform the stunts safely and effectively, the boys had to has cut down girl talk at practice but the girls don’t let that be taught from the ground up, but it was worth it for the stop them from talking about girly stuff outside of practice. cheerleaders to be able to have the additions to the team.

“Actually being in there, it feels pretty normal,” Mann Jacob Weill and fellow cheerleaders hold Miranda VerColen in The team is hoping that the student outlook on the boys doesn’t change and they support them. The girls have said about his position on the team. a stunt during a timeout at the boys basketball game on Dec. already made them feel like a part of the team, Cichosz said.

14. Photo by Kim Michelsen.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Winter sports continue even through Christmas break by kimberly michelsen, visual content editor The blistery cold air hits his face. Shimmering, white snow glitters in the light from the streetlamps, the only light to be seen this early in the morning. The silence is peaceful, but a small part of him wishes he was still in his bed.

As he begins the drive, no other headlights dare to blind him, and some of the stoplights don’t even bother to wait for normal traffic. They simply flash red to remind him that he should be aware of possible cars. Before long, sophomore varsity Patrick Brennan arrives at the pool. As he trudges into the building, he reminds himself of a quote from Muhammad Ali, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit.

Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”

“It’s good motivation to get up at 5 in the morning,” Brennan said.

Practices, like Brennan’s early morning swimming rehearsals with the team, are viewed by athletes as important parts of their schedules. Nothing, not even Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, stop them from trying to improve.

“It’s the difference between first and fourth place,” Brennan said.

The practices during the breaks are essential to senior varsity wrestler Travis

Brugman, who has been on the team for his four years of high school.

“You have to be getting ready for the tournaments right after breaks get done,” Brugman said.

Although Brugman said he has family out of state that he likes to visit, he makes sure he doesn’t travel during the season.

“I don’t make plans to see them because then I would miss practice,” he said.

Brugman said he still gets time to celebrate with his family since his practices are only “an hour and a half a day, so it’s really not that much out of my break.”

On the other hand, senior varsity basketball player Maddy Gregoire recognizes the need for her practices, even though she said that sometimes she’d rather be doing something else.

“If there was snow, I’d probably go sledding,” she said.

Gregoire said she would probably practice on her own if there were no organized practices during the breaks, but she is grateful for one key benefit.

“You get to keep working as a team instead of as an individual.”

sports23

12.19.13 The Stampede

How well doyouknow your

Rustler Athlete? by peyton fulbright, editor-in-chief To be the best, an athlete has to spend countless hours working their hardest in the gym and on the field. Because of those amassed hours of practice, athletes spend a lot of time alongside their teammates. At the Stampede, we observed this and decided to answer the ultimate question: who knows you better; your teammates or your friends? We asked a winter sport athlete a question about themselves. Then, we asked one of their teammates and one of their friends what they expected the athlete to say. We put their answers as well as the athlete’s response in this handy-dandy chart for your convenience.

BrandonMiller PatrickHodges PatrickBrennan Favorite “Finding Nemo” Character?

Crush.

Bruce.

Squirt.

Favorite part about swimming?

Winning.

The bus rides.

The love of each other.

A big black stallion.

He’s a panda bear.

A donkey because he’s hard working.

A banana or a cucumber is too easy. I’d go with a pipewrench.

Another swimsuit.

Tiger bomb.

Maddy Gregoire

Taylor Edwards

Love and Basketball.

Love and Basketball.

Kaydee Parsons Love and Basketball.

Pluto.

Earth.

Uranus.

Playing with all of her teammates.

Beating Havre in varsity volleyball last year.

If you were an animal, what would you be?

If you had to stuff a Speedo, what would you stuff it with?

Brandon Miller, 12 Favorite basketball movie?

If you were a planet, what would you be?

What would you say I wouldn’t say I is your biggest sports have a specific accomplishment? one.

Rather watch college or professional basketball?

College.

College basketball.

Andre Langhorne

Daekwon Carter

Daryl Williams

Space Jam.

Space Jam.

Space Jam.

A lion.

He’s a lion.

Lion.

College.

Maddy Gregoire, 12 Favorite basketball movie?

If you were an animal, what would you be?

Rather watch college or professional basketball?

Rather dunk over someone or nail a half court shot?

Andre Langhorne, 12

I’d rather watch college basketball.

Dunk on someone.

College.

College.

He’d dunk.

Dunk over somebody.

RUSTLER STATS Freshman wrestler Deven Altenberg won the 98 pound division Dec. 7 in the Havre Invitational Junior Elijah Parker swam the 100 meter breastroke in 1:07.08 to win the Dec. 7 Kalispell Invitational Senior Jayse McLean scored 24 points in a homeopener win against Havre The girls basketball team has 9 seniors on its 20132014 squad CMR and GFH swim teams together won each of the 22 events at the Havre Duals Together, boys and girls basketball have 3 new coaches in their programs

24 2013 in review

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IN CMR NEWS: March 9: The first annual “Cinderella’s Closet” is held at CMR to assist girls in finding dresses for prom.

IN U.S. NEWS: March 8: 74 years after the production of the “Wizard of Oz”, Disney releases “Oz: The Great and Powerful” which earned $79 million its opening weekend.

FEBR

UAR

Y

IN U.S. NEWS: Feb. 3 : The Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, 34-31.

CH

IN U.S. NEWS: April 15: Two bombs explode at the Boston Marathon in Boston, Mass., killing three and injuring 264 others.

IN U.S. NEWS: Feb. 1 : Hillary Clinton steps down as United States Secretary of State.

IN CMR NEWS: February: House Bill 239 makes its way to the Montana Senate calling for reform of sex education in Montana schools.

AR

MAY

IN CMR NEWS: May 7: Seniors received their scholarships that they had spent all year waiting for at the annual Scholarship Night.

IN CMR NEWS: Jan. 10: The Great Falls Fire Department was called after a small chemical spill in 320, Ryan Anderson’s room.

The chemical was from an antique fire extingusher that was being used as a prop.

M

IN U.S. NEWS: May 6: Three women missing for more than a decade are found alive in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, while a 52-year-old man, Ariel Castro, is taken into custody.

IN CMR NEWS: April 26 & 27: 185 students gathered for the annual MAI Art Workshop along with 24 chaparones to learn and get inspiration.

RY

UA JAN

bykendra kendrahix, hix,design designeditor editor by

IN CMR NEWS: June 1: More than 260 students graduated from CMR.

IN CMR NEWS: Dec. 17: After 41 years of coaching and 13 state championships, Coach Jack Johnson announces he is retiring after the 2013-2014 school year.

IN U.S. NEWS: Dec. 2: Hawaii becomes the 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage.

2013 in review

IN U.S. NEWS: IN U.S. NEWS: June 26: The June 6: The NSA Supreme Court security leaks strikes down provided by DOMA and Edward Snowden it is deemed are revealed. unconstitutional.

IN U.S. NEWS: May 2: Maryland abolishes capital punishment for future offenders.

IN CMR NEWS: Nov. 11-15: College Application Week allowed seniors the chance to fill out Montana college applications for a free or waived fee.

APR

Y

JUL

IN U.S. NEWS: Aug. 21: Bradley Manning recieves 35 years in hail for leaking U.S. government files to WikiLeaks.

N

IN U.S. NEWS: July 13: George Zimmerman is found not guilty in the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

IN U.S. NEWS: Oct. 1-16: The federal government entered a shutdown, furloughing an estimated 800,000 federal employees.

IN CMR NEWS: Oct. 23: CMR experienced its first Earthquake Drill.

IN U.S. NEWS: Oct. 30: The Red Sox win the World Series against the Cardinals.

IN U.S. NEWS: Nov. 13: One World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom Tower, becomes the tallest building in the United States.

BBEERR OTO C OCOT

IN CMR NEWS: Aug. 28: The 2013-2014 school year started off with a new AP, Brian Held. Held replaced Kerry Parsons, who is now the principal of East Middle School.

IN CMR NEWS: July 1: Tammy Lacey takes over as Superintendent of the Great Falls School District.

IN CMR NEWS: Oct. 3: Homecoming week wrapped up with coronation and a close game between Rustler football and the Skyview Falcons, 25-24.

IN CMR NEWS: Sept. 6: Due to an exteme heat wave, students and faculty participated in a Heat Contest to see which classroom was the highest in temperature. Winners received popcicles as an award for sustaining the heat.

IN CMR NEWS: Nov. 1: The Senior class arranged a “Car Smash” in order to raise money for prom.

DE CE M BE R

IN U.S. NEWS: Sept. 16: Aaron Alexis kills 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard near the US Capital.

NOV EM

BE EM PT SE

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The Stampede 12.19.13