CMR Stampede December 2015

S The Stampede

C. M. Russell High School Great Falls, MT December 17, 2015 Vol. 51 Issue 3 www.rustlernews.com

“...Some kids just want their mom or dad to come home for the holidays..�

Page 6

An open forum for student expression

The death of high school dances in local schools Page 14

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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.

2015-2016 Staff Editor-in-Chief

The Stampede

C. M. Russell High School Great Falls, MT December 17, 2015 Vol. 51 Issue 3 www.rustlernews.com

Features Editor

Carli Dieruf

Christina Brennan

Online Editor

Entertainment Editor

Isaiah Yang

Clara McClain

News Editor

Sports Editor

Tamara Miller Opinion Editor

JJ Mitchell

Mackenzie George Advertising Manager

Emily Cappis

Staff members

Christy Armstrong Andrew Aron Sophie Aron Josh Botti-Anderson Mary Brown Julia Gremaux Allison Hanson Iris Kaiser Katelyn Morley Quincy Schemechel

Abby Shearer Jara Wilkinson

Adviser

Beth Britton Principal

Kerry Parsons

Julianna Gonzales works at a coffee shop stand during the Christmas stroll on Dec. 4, and a group of boys ski and snowboard down the snow-covered ramp in front of the attendees. Photo by Carli Dieruf.

The Chamber orchestra takes direction from director Steve Olsen at the Civic Center on Dec. 14 during the holiday concert. Photo

by Beth Britton.

Contents Cover photo by Beth Britton.

1 - Dec. 14 holiday concert 2- Table of Contents, Carli’s column NEWS 3- Tamara’s column, parking problems, cyberpatriots 4- Death of high school dances 5- Food pantry 6- Home for the holidays OPINION 7- Jaylynn’s column, editorial, refugees 8- Student voices 9- English, feed/home Americans FEATURES 10- Christina’s column, why do we have to learn this?

11- The season of giving back 12-13- Sports parents 14- Vegetarians, Key Club concessions 15- Winter fashion ENTERTAINMENT 16- Clara’s column, holiday concert 17- Our town, Star Wars fans 18- Magic show review, last-minute shopping SPORTS 19- Mackenzie’s column, girl wrestler 20- Swimming 21- Cheerleading, ski club 22- Holiday classic, freshman coach 23- Transitioning sports, stats BACK PAGE - Basketball

C

arli Dieruf

Editor-in-Chief

The biggest lie that I have ever told was “I’m ready for anything. Nothing scares me.”

The scariest days of my life, before now, consisted of having to walk by myself in the lunch line at school, wearing a skirt around complete strangers, raising my hand and expressing how I feel.

It was things like that which scared me. It would take me what seemed like forever to finally do those things, and then I would pretend I wasn’t scared. I would swallow the fear and just do it.

I wish I could go back to those days where the scariest moments of my life were silly and easy to overcome. Although I was terrified, I would never show that face. I was proud of myself and no one could change me.

It’s almost the end of December and it’s finally setting in that this is it. In just a few months everything will be completely different because the child that was so scared of the things she had to face at school, was now having to face the reality of being

Editorial Policy

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

an adult. Everyone reaches this point but I don’t think we are given enough warning as to what it all really means.

Right now I can lay in my bed, phone in hand and relax for hours if I want. I can wait until my mom yells that dinner is ready and later that night put away my clothes that my parents have washed for me. But when I’m on my own that will all change. I’ll no longer get things handed to me. I won’t be able to ask for things like I usually do.

I’ll spend the early evenings at the grocery store, not helping my mom fill the cart, but using the calculator on my phone to check that I haven’t gone over budget for the things that will fill my fridge. I’ll spend my nights washing laundry, preparing my own meals and doing all of the things that my parents once did, on my own.

Things are all of sudden changing before my eyes and it’s terrifying to watch. The things that I was once so scared for when I was younger, I would gladly relive now over what I will be doing soon. I thought I was scared back then. Now I’m terrified.

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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December 17, 2015 rustlernews.com

NEWS

Tamara Miller

News Editor

Growing up in Montana, you adapt to the things around you. You grow up with the environment around you, and in this state that means growing up with harsh winter weather.

Wintertime in Montana has its ups and downs.

Snowmobiles, snowboards and skis come out of storage and are back out on the hills. Snowmen appear in yards, and hot cocoa is ready when you come in from the cold.

However, winter isn’t all fun and games.

My biggest pet peeve gets even worse during this time of year, and it’s something seen everywhere. Bad drivers. During the summer you may see someone speeding, or just cutting you off and you get mad for a second and get over it, but once winter hits everyone forgets how to drive.

During my four years at CMR I’ve noticed our student drivers getting worse and worse. Boxing people in the parking lot, drifting in the parking lot before and after school, and speeding on the ice and not being able to stop. Shouldn’t we all be a little smarter when this weather rolls in?

Our parking lot is only the start of this madness. Every morning, my friends and I are amazed by the amount of stupidity we see on the roads. A 10-minute drive from Black Eagle to CMR in the summer can turn into a 20-30 minute drive in the winter because of other drivers and road conditions. Watching the cars come up or down the highway is incredibly scary. If someone is speeding and they hit black ice they either rush to control it or you witness a car crash.

I honestly couldn’t tell you how many car crashes I’ve witnessed because of the road conditions and people just not caring. I’ve lost control on the ice and have run into curbs after making a turn, but running into a car? I’m terrified of that happening. My driving becomes a lot more careful during the winter. I would never want to risk mine or anyone else’s life.

I have two major fears: spiders and someone running into my car because they’re not paying attention. One maybe more extreme than the other, but I know I’m not the only one who has witnessed someone “having fun” in the snow and ending up in a crash. I’m not going to lie; I love drifting my car or other friends’ vehicles in the snow, but we do it in empty parking lots or on property of people we know so we aren’t putting anyone else in danger. Not in the middle of Tenth Avenue South or near a lot of people, which is seen around Great Falls often. That’s a death wish waiting to happen.

Distracted driving can be a touchy subject, and I know because of weather many people in this school and in our community have lost a loved one, and it’s something we don’t want to go through again.

My only request for the students at CMR and the people who read this is to pay attention -don’t goof off in these conditions. It may seem like all fun and games, but right when someone gets hurt you know it’s not. Be careful on the roads and have a wonderful break.

Common sense lacking at CMR

by Tamara Miller, news editor Office assistant Carolyn Richards has been working at CMR for the past five years and has been monitoring the main parking lot for four years. In that time, Richards said she has seen it all.

“Students need to use good judgment in the parking lot,” Richards said. “If they don’t, they can get themselves or others in trouble.”

Richards’ job is to go out and make sure everyone has an issued parking pass and is parked decently, even in the worst weather conditions.

“We understand it’s harder to park in the snow,” Richards said. “But taking up more spots than you should is dangerous and shows no good judgment.”

Richards explained that during the winter students’ judgment should be better. Parking in fire zones or the handicap area isn’t acceptable.

“Any time of the year the students should be in the right parking areas, not up over the curb or in a fire zone,” she said. “The most unbelievable one was two weeks ago when a student was parked in three to four spots.”

When Richards see stunts like that she just asks herself what the student was thinking.

“In city limits if a cop saw parking like this or a business owner did it can easily be a $100+ ticket,” she said. “Here at the school it’s no more than $15, if you use your common sense you don’t even need to worry about this.”

Richards clarified that when students park in the middle of a driving area and no one can get around them, it’s illegal and that driver will get ticketed.

“I really wished the students would use more common

Student drivers often make the same parking mistakes each year when the winter weather hits. Photo by Tamara Miller.

sense; not everyone has parking passes either,” she said.

The bad weather with bad parking isn’t the only problem with the parking lot. Many students don’t have parking passes even when they’re free.

“A lot of student don’t have parking passes,” Richard said.

“I don’t understand why when they’re free, you only pay a fee if you don’t have one.”

The parking passes are available in the main office. They cost nothing and it’s much better than paying a $5-$15 fee for getting caught not having one.

If Richards could tell the whole student body one thing it would be to encourage them to be careful on the roads and in our parking lot.

“I just want them to all have their parking passes and to use good judgment and common sense when coming on to and leaving school grounds.”

CyberPatriot compete in nationwide event just six hours to secure information and fix the problems that the computer has. There are about 2000 teams nationwide competing in this contest. One contest occurs each month and mentors from Malmstrom Air Force Base come to help those that need any help.

There are some perks to being part of CyberPatriot that Eric Roberts hopes to take advantage of.

“In joining CyberPatriot, there is the possibility that you could gain scholarships and internships,” Roberts, a junior, said.

“Being part of CyberPatriot is a wonderful experience,” Junior Eric Roberts and senior Joe Grasseschi work on codes during Roberts said. “We get to create programs and learn to stop the CyberPatriots competition on Dec. 4. Photo by Abby Shearer. hacks.”

by Abby Shearer, staff writer During the Dec. 4 competition, Roberts worked with senior Computer hacking is a serious and growing problem Joe Grasseschi, who said he also enjoys CyberPatriot. across the globe, and sophomore Daniel Burtis is one member Grasseschi thinks of CyberPatriot as messing around on a of a CMR club that was formed to help train students to help computer for hours, yet he accomplishes much during those combat the problem that people face when dealing with hours. He enjoys being part of CyberPatriot and is glad that hackers today. it is a relaxed environment. I learn at the same time that I am CyberPatriot is a club built to gain interest in the cyberworld. having fun and taking part in a competition said Grasseschi.

“Being able to deal with cyberwarfare, and to stop or Working in another area of the competition were Isaac prevent it, is a growing job,” Burtis said. “Being part of Iberson and Daniel Burtis.

CyberPatriot is kind of like an advantage for when jobs open This competition was Iberson’s first competition as part of because we know how to deal with this problem.”

CyberPatriot.

CyberPatriots is a club sponsored by the U.S. Air Force Iberson also said that being part of CyberPatriot is fun, but to help students gain interest in the cyber world. It costs it depends on what your interests are and what you like and around $200 to fund the CyberPatriot team, and the Air Force don’t like. He said that jobs could easily be open for someone is generous enough to pay the registration fee. In between who had experience with computers in the way that students competitions, the students receive training to learn how to are being taught in CyberPatriot. He enjoys working the work multiple computer systems including Linia, Windows computer programs and looks forward to the next competition Server 2008, and Vista Image. with much anticipation.

The CMR CyberPatriot Club has six members, the “It’s a great learning experience, and I’m glad [Burtis] is maximum number of students allowed to compete in the here to teach me,” Iberson said. nationwide competition. During these contests a team has

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December 17, 2015

News

The

death of high school dances A decrease in students attending high school dances has become a trend in Montana

by Jara Wilkinson, staff writer In the 31 years since counselor Brenda Lowry graduated from CMR, many of the school’s traditions have remained intact. But one thing that has changed, Lowry said, is the enthusiasm and interest in school activities -- mainly dances.

“When I look back, not just dances, but all high school events -- they were always very well attended. The stands were full,” Lowry said, when reminiscing about her high school experiences.

Lowry attended C. M. Russell High School all four years and graduated in 1984. She said she remembered the dances being held in the cafeteria, and streaming into the Commons. Lowry attended every dance she could because she said it was a way for her and her classmates to stay connected.

“I don’t know if I would have changed anything about them,” Lowry said.

Lowry said that the jitterbug was something she saw at every dance -- it was just something they did.

“Dancing was just so different then,” she said.

Lowry also said that they didn’t have a MORP during her high school years. With the experience of 11 years working at CMR, she said she recalls only one other occasion when a dance was cancelled other than the MORP earlier this month.

The MORP that was going to be held on Dec. 4 was cancelled due to poor ticket sales. Very few tickets were sold. At least 100 tickets needed to be sold in order for the dance to be held to pay for decorations. Leftover money

Blast from the past

is saved for other school events, including Prom.

“I think our dances offer another way for our students CMR is not alone when it comes to the decreased to interact outside of social media and athletics,” Sterling student interest in dances. said.

Just ask secretary Michaela Zwerneman from Choteau Junior Alyssia Salois agreed that CMR’s dances could High School. help benefit the student body, if used properly.

“Last school year we held a Morp and less than 20 “I think that the CMR Homecoming dance and students attended,” Zwerneman said.

Morp could be a lot of fun if students got When I look back, The school has 114 students enrolled. involved. But students don’t get involved; The school secretaries and other not just dances, but we’re given the option not to, and we take administrators encourage students Salois said. all high school events advantage,” to become a part of extracurricular Salois has attended CMR for three activities. Zwerneman added that when -- they were all very years, and she has never attended a Morp. the students are not involved with well attended. The Salois said she never plans on attending a school gatherings, their parents keep Morp because it’s something she doesn’t stands were full. them busy as well. have an interest in.

“We keep the students we have so “Prom is the big thing. It’s something Brenda Lowry busy, we usually don’t hold more than students plan for all year. The girls feel one dance [Prom] a year,” Zwerneman said. like princesses and the guys look like kings. It’s fancy, Prom is also a common favorite among the students at and that just sparks people’s interest,” she said.

Shelby High School, according to secretary Dallas Sterling.

She attended Prom her sophomore year, and she said “We only have about 125 students, and about 70 attend her favorite part was watching her classmates spend time the Prom,” Sterling said. together and dance around all night.

Shelby High School holds about four dances a year; a Socializing with classmates can be fun, but it takes homecoming dance, a winter formal, a prom, and usually at least some commitment and energy on the part of another dance in the springtime. students, according to Lowry.

“The winter dance is the second best attended dance; “Kids complain about nothing to do, but they don’t maybe the numbers are a bit smaller than attendance at take advantage of the things we put on here. I would love Prom,” she said. to see more structured events for teenagers being put She said she can’t ever remember there being a together,” Lowry said. cancellation, although she has noticed poor attendance.

“

”

In 1988, a group of friends gathered around to share moves and laughter.

In 1966, students produced their own music for their dances.

Photos from past Russellog yearbooks.

A couple glides their way onto the dance floor in 1977.

Holding their dance partners close, the night of dancing comes to an end in 2000.

Girls gather and demonstrate their dance moves during a dance in 2002.

MORP brings students and smiles in 2006.

Students spread spirit, smiles, and learn new moves in 1996.

Students line up in front of the check-in table at the 2014 Prom.

December 17, 2015

News

5

A student grabs for a can of food in the CMR Food Pantry (left). The pantry allows students to choose their food. Photo by Katelyn Morley. The food pantry has a donation bin (above)out all day for donations.

People anonymously donate in this bin. Photo

by Carli Dieruf.

To watch a video that shows the items that are available in the food pantry, log on to Rustlernews.com.

Food pantry makes a difference in district Manager focuses on being a positive influence for the community by volunteering

by Katelyn Morley and Iris Kaiser, staff writers Today, the pantry serves an average of 30 students and families each week, providing nutritious meals on weekdays and throughout the weekend. This is made possible with the help of many people, one of these people being, Suzette Bruggeman.

Bruggeman, who helps manage the CMR food pantry, has been working with the food pantry for years, starting out at the North Middle School food pantry.

“Nobody should go hungry,” she said.

She puts her time into this project since one of her sons has diabetes. This gives her extensive knowledge on what would be best to fill the needs. Therefore, she said she is used to paying careful attention “I like to teach kids how to meal plan,” Bruggeman said.

The food pantry is a volunteer project at local schools that offers food to students and their families to fill the empty spaces on plates. They offer a variety of items such as food and drinks along with toiletries and hygiene products. The FFA greenhouse grows most of the fruits and vegetables for the pantry. Eklund’s Appliance and TV donated a fridge this year so they can constantly offer cold foods such as meat and cheese, she said.

“Families can get food from all four food groups,” Bruggeman said. The food pantry is free and there is no criteria needed to get items from there. It is open on Thursdays from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

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“We love to have donations,” Bruggeman said.

Albertson’s and Sam’s Club have made big donations to the district’s food pantry project. Also alumni bring money or food. They appreciate big or little donations and there is a bin outside the pantry for students, staff or parents to drop off food, Bruggeman said.

“I just think people like to help where they can,” she said.

Senior Karl Tucker has opinions on the helpfulness of the food pantry.

“It helps people who aren’t as fortunate as others,” he said.

Tucker is not the only student who cares about the food pantry.

Junior Larah Angeles is involved with Leadership High School and has seen a difference being made with projects like this.

“The amount of work being put in by the people who organize these projects is amazing,” she said.

Giving back to the community is important and should be done more often. The people who give time to these projects make a big difference for the community, Angeles said.

Angeles has also donated to the food pantry and finds it easier since it is so close to her everyday.

“I would like to spread more awareness about volunteering.

There are not enough people that volunteer and help the community.”

U.S. Food Stats

200

Food Banks

60,000

Food Pantries

In 2013, more than

138,000

Montanans received food through the Food Bank Network.

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December 17, 2015

News

Home for the

Holidays

Students reflect on a parent being deployed during the holidays by: allison hanson, staff writer dad deploy because of work. Stevens added that her dad’s It’s that time of year when a lot of families get together deployment has made her a stronger person. and spread holiday cheer.

“It was hard seeing other families that are not in the Many kids want a brand new iphone or computer, but military have their dads because my dad is my best friend,” some kids just want their mom or dad to come home for the she said. Her father is at home for the holidays this year. holidays. Families are sometimes apart due to deployment Military employment had an impact on senior Rebecca from the many branches in the military.

Harris.

It was hard Sophomore Alondra Torres-Tricoche says “It was the first time not having she is used to not being able to have her dad him here for the holidays,” she said. seeing other families Harris’s home because of deployment with the Red dad deployed last year for Horse Squadron from Malmstrom Air Force that are not in the six months through Christmas, and Base. in 2013 he deployed for three months military have their “He’s missed Christmas one year and and missed Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving twice,” she said. Usually during dads because my dad “I was used to him not being there the holidays when her father doesn’t home home, is my best friend. [due to work], but it was new not according Tianna Stevens having him during Christmas. It was to Torreshard. I’ve never spent Thanksgiving Tricoche, she said that or Christmas away from him,” she said. When her father they have military came home she said he surprised her at her work. friends over when “Everyone knew about it and acted weird. I saw my the families can’t be mom then I saw my dad hiding. I ran out and started together. crying,” she said.

“They help out a lot Some military students, including sophomore Colton when he is gone,” she Rasmussen, have never experienced separation during the said. Many military holiday. members have been all “I’ve never had him away for the holidays,” Rasmussen over the world, including said. His dad works in the Missile Maintenance squadron Torres-Trioche. She has at Malmstrom Air Force Base. Sophomore Cooper Baum is been in Florida, Japan, thankful for his dad being home as well.

Puerto Rico, England, “We are all together and it’s a special time. I’m pretty and now Montana. proud because he’s defending our country,” Baum said.

Senior Tianna Stevens also watched her

“

The Harris Family gets a surprise from their father, who was deployed for sixth months. Senior Rebecca Harris tears up when her father surprises her at her work.

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Harris.

”

“Everyone knew about it and acted weird. I saw my mom then I saw my dad hiding. I ran out and started crying.”

Rebecca Harris, 12 Senior Tianna Stevens smiles with her dad enjoying the time that they spend together.

The Stevens Family takes a family photo after a baseball game. Photo courtesy of Tianna Stevens.

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December 17, 2015 rustlernews.com

OPINION

aylynn Mitchell

Opinion Editor

Long distance sucks. And no, I’m not talking about relationships. Instead, it is friendships to which I refer. Three of my friends live in different states. One lives in Minnesota, the other Louisiana and the third in Arizona, but she is moving to Indiana.

They all have one thing in common: their family is military. I first met them in middle school and I grew a friendship with them really fast. But my middle school self didn’t want to think about them leaving after the two years I was with them.

When they did leave Montana, I was sad and we made a promise to each other that we would keep in touch -- sending letters and packages, making phone calls or skyping. My freshman and sophomore year we wrote about 52 letters.

When my junior year came around, I got busy with school and figuring out where I would go to college. I was just stressed.

The letters came and they all sat at my desk, collecting dust. Every time I walked by them I put a mental note in my head to write them back. That mental note soon disappeared from my mind. We slowly stopped texting, and we cancelled our phone calls and skyping conversions.

A couple of months later, I finally wrote back. When I sent the letters I didn’t expect them to write back right away and I was right.

They took months to write back, and I did not blame them. I was the one who started slacking off, and broke the promise that my 13-year-old self had made. The letters got longer has they came in later and later. And that mental note popped in my head again. When I would write back I would start out with how sorry I was of the delay of this letter, and then check them up with what has happened in my life.

When I finally put them in the mail, I would stress out. I would get nervous that I sent the wrong letter to the wrong person and they would be confused on what the letter would say. I then would sent them a quick text telling them that there letter was in the mail and should be there in a couple of days. Only one out of the three would respond. Months went by and I would get one letter.

I have this weird pet peeve that I have to have all three letters back from everyone and then I would start to write them back. I have always done that and I will still continue this pet peeve. I would sent them all at once too and write down the date that I sent them and when I received a letter. I know I’m weird.

But if you and friend are sending letters to each other. Once you get that letter, sit down and write it. I don’t care if you are busy. It can just be a page of what is happening in your life, just write it. Do not get in the habit I am in and not write back for months and have your friends wondering what is happening in Montana. Just write back.

Spread the word to the community It’s that time of year again, the time where we were meant to celebrate the birth of Christ. However, in this generation that isn’t what most of us are celebrating anymore.

If someone grew up attending weekly church services then this is possibly what Christmas still means to them. If they didn’t go to church then Christmas was just a time to spend with family while giving and getting presents. There are some people who give their time to help out at homeless shelters, or give a Christmas dinner to a family whose loved one is stationed somewhere away from home. There are so many ways people celebrate this holiday, but is there any real meaning to Christmas anymore?

The most important thing to do during this holiday season, in our opinion, is to give back. It’s important to give back to our community and the people around us. This year we in the journalism department are collecting donations for the CMR food pantry, which is something everyone should take part in if they are able. The food pantry is located across from the counseling offices and provides students and their families in need with food and necessities.

The need is something many people may not realize. We walk by these students all the time. They may be the happiest person in the class, but they go home and wear bundles of clothing because their family couldn’t pay the heating bill.

They could be the student who works as soon as school gets out until midnight just so their paycheck is big enough to help pay to put food on their family’s table. Many families live like this, and you may never find out who it is, but that little bit of help to our food pantry or any donation center just means you

helped a family out.

Even if you can’t donate to an organization, there are many other ways of giving back. If you see a fellow student walking home in sub-zero temperatures, stop and ask if they want a ride. A warm car is much better than walking a mile in the cold.

Even contributing to volunteer work is giving back. You can volunteer at the Great Falls Rescue Mission, your local church, or the animal shelter. Those animals deserve a good Christmas, too. Making sure others have just as good of a holiday as you is always a great feeling.

People tend to forget what the holidays are about. Sure, getting a new phone or toy is great, but it’s the time with your family and the people you care about that matters most. A few years from now you’ll be in your own house, you will have your own family and you’ll have memories to tell your kids about what you did with your family when you were a kid.

For this holiday season, try something new. Do something to help your community. Volunteer work is always a great thing, and it looks great on college and job applications. Go out and shovel a neighbor’s driveway, go through some old clothes and donate them to a shelter.

Seeing the smile on someone’s face is probably one of the most heartwarming feelings in the world. You can tell yourself you did something good, and you made someone’s holiday 10 times better.

Best wishes to everyone this holiday break, whether you’re leaving the state or staying in town. Be safe and happy holidays.

The USA needs to accept more refugees

by Josh Botti-Anderson, staff writer Beginning in 2011 with pro-democracy protests that quickly erupted into violent confrontations between the government (Assad regime) forces and rebel opposition, Syria’s civil war has been a downward spiral into unstoppable chaos. Despite the call for international attention, Syria’s ongoing conflicts continue to kill thousands of civilians. Furthermore, more than 11 million people have been displaced since the start of the war, and of those, around 4.5 million refugees have left Syria, according to the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC). In the devastating and hopeless war zone, Islamic extremist groups, namely Islamic State, have been able to gain a foothold in large areas of Syria.

With recruitment rates soaring in areas of devastation, worries have grown over the spread of the terrorist group’s influence as thousands of refugees leave the country daily.

The Paris shootings shocked the West, bringing to light the horrifying possibility that even an area of peace like France can be severely disrupted by Islamic extremism. A Syrian passport found at the scene created some ambiguity, as many pointed to Syrian refugees as a vein for the extremist group.

However, no certainty exists on this issue.

Furthermore, the recent Jihadist-inspired attacks in the United States in San Bernardino, Calif., in which 14 victims were slain during a holiday party, brought great concern to the American people in regard to the spread of extremism in the United states. However, in this case, the Islamic State’s influence was spread through social media, not refugees.

In September, the Obama administration proposed plans to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees. Following the attacks, many states’ governors shared their interior xenophobic agenda by stating that they would bar refugees from entering their

Malik Saleh, a 14-year-old Syrian refugee who dropped out of school, sits with fellow refugee Mohanned Jneed, 25, who will mentor him through a Mercy Corps program in Marfraq, Jordan. (Hal Bernton/The Seattle Times/TNS)

states. Several Republican candidates also promoted, to their political favor, anti-Muslim views.

The United States has accepted very few refugees, around 1400 according to the BBC, relative to the 4.5 million people who have fled Syria. This barely compares to Syria’s neighboring countries, who have been overwhelmed by the flow of displaced families, which surged in 2013 due to worsened wartime conditions.

If the United States wants to combat extremism, they should reduce the number of people in need of humanitarian aide. Not so ironically, Islamic State has proliferated in areas of extreme civil unrest. Rejecting refugees, contributing to the oppression of displaced civilians is no way to combat an extremist ideology.

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Opinion

STUDENT

VOICE

What are your family traditions during the holidays?

Stevi Farren, grade 12 Like many other families around Christmas time, my family has holiday traditions. Each and every year my family looks forward to Christmas and all of the fun activities that take place.

One of the most prevalent traditions that my family endures is making a snowman. Every year we wait till the snow falls and is just perfect to roll large snowballs together to form our snowman; but building the snowman isn’t the best part. It’s decorating it.

Each year we have a different theme for our snowman. Some of our themes have been beach day, and we dressed our snowman up in a bathing suit and a sombrero.

Another year it was pajama time, and we dressed the snowman up in night gowns, and for this year it is a clown theme so we will dress it up with a large bow-tie, crazy sunglasses and fuzzy colorful hair. Another tradition my family has is setting up the Christmas tree and other decorations the day after Thanksgiving, so all through December our lights are up and the Christmas tree shining bright.

A different one of our traditions for the holidays is baking cookies and making other desserts to enjoy on Christmas day; Christmas Eve is personally my favorite. Every year all of us kids get to open up one present, and it is always pajamas. After we open up our one gift we go to my uncle’s house and enjoy food and have family game night.

A few of the games we play include Mad Gab, Balderdash, Rage and Phase Ten. After a night of good quality family time, we go back to our houses and the wait begins; the wait to get up and open gifts and see the happy, surprised faces when each of us open our gifts.

Christmas time is my favorite time of year and I’m grateful to spend it with my family.,

Olivia Bauman, grade 10

Christmas time in my house holds lots of traditions and smiles. Every year, somewhere around the first week of December, my family goes down to the tree place at the fairgrounds and picks out a Christmas tree, a little taller than me.

Then, as a family we decorate the tree and the rest of the house. Each ornament has a value that we talk about and laugh as each one gets hung up. The tree gets strung with lights that we plug in together every night until Christmas. As December rolls on closer to Christmas, my family celebrates more traditions.

The night before Christmas Eve, my sister and I open one gift from each other. The next morning my grandparents and uncle arrive at my house and we eat our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. Afterwards, we exchange family presents with all of us as we eat our dessert. If we aren’t all too tired, we usually play dominoes or trivial pursuit until someone falls asleep. On Christmas morning we all sleep in until someone finally decides to get up and make cinnamon rolls or coffee. After we eat our breakfast, our extended family will head back home to various parts of Montana and my immediate family will go see a movie in theaters.

Shelby Eve, grade 12

Zach Smerker, grade 12 The holiday season is here, and with that my family and I start our holiday traditions. Every year on Christmas Day we go to the movie theater and watch a movie. Some years it is a comedy and others it is a children’s movie.

My cousins come with us and some of them have children. One year we let them pick the movie and they picked the children’s movie “Annie.” It may not be the best movie, but I love spending time with them during the holidays.

When we first started this tradition I thought it was really weird that we were going to the movie theater in Great Falls on Christmas.

But when I got there and I saw that there was other families doing the same thing, it didn’t seem that weird. It was fun the first year and then my family and I decided to keep doing it.

And I am glad I can do that with my family every year for the holidays. We all spend the day together, eat breakfast and open our presents we get from each other.

Another tradition that we do is Secret Santa. We have rules that go along with these tradition. We cannot spend more than $5, and they are usually really funny to get and open.

I am grateful for being with my family during the holidays. We share smiles and laughs and it is really fun to see family that I haven’t seen in a while because they live so far away. I just like the holidays so I can spend time with my family.

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December 17, 2015

Illustration by Tamara Miller

Hannah Pate, grade 11

During the holidays, my family and I have a little baking competition. My family did it when I was younger and I would help my mom make the best gingerbread man cookies.

Last year, we had a competition of who could make the best gingerbread houses.

My sister was supposed to go to the store and get the supplies for everyone. She forgot. So my mom looked what we had in the cabinet. We had graham crackers and we made some royal icing (which was really good). It was a really different way than we did it in the past and it was super fun. Although it didn’t really work well, but that will be one of the traditions that I will always remember.

Another is the traditional family tradition, going and searching for a Christmas tree.

Whether you get a real or fake tree, it still makes you excited when you get to decorate it with all of the ornaments that you have go up on the tree for another year. It just looks really nice when you are opening your presents and with your family. I just love spending the holidays with my family and friends.

Twinkling lights, beautiful snow, and caring friends and family create one of my favorite times of the year: the holiday season. Ever since I was little I was always way too eager to put up the Christmas tree, to watch the first snowflakes drift down, and play all the classic caroles of this time.

One tradition that I am particularly fond of is putting up the Christmas tree and decorating my room. We have never really had a real tree, just because it is a lot to take care of and assembling the tree has always been part of the fun. The best part of this process is putting the lights on, swirling them around from bottom to top. A Christmas tree with no lights is like cake without frosting­: bland and without meaning. This may seem dramatic, but the little colorful bulbs always keep my spirit up during the holidays.

Without the classic holiday movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” my Christmas would not be complete. My dad and I watched it for the first time when I was in third grade, and we have watched it ever since. The 1940’s film follows a man named George Bailey who wishes he was never born. This results in a storyline which makes you cry and jump for joy while cheering him on. I won’t go any further into detail, but it’s definitely worth a watch­and I would love to make it a tradition in my own family someday.

Once fifth grade came around Christmas got a whole new twist. I had my first holiday concert, playing Jingle Bells (horribly­but merrily) on my ½ size violin. My dad must have been so sick of the songs, seeing that I played them every night next to our tree. This began another tradition, which was annual holiday concerts.

All of this ends on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve we go to my aunt’s house, which is a long drive of only a block away. We eat dinner, which is usually turkey with mashed potatoes, and then we open presents. The next morning my dad and I usually sleep in­ and Santa comes and visits us (we visit each other) with one or two other gifts. After opening those, we lounge around the house and eventually go over to my aunt’s to do even more lounging. Overall, I love the holiday season because I get to spend time with my family.

Opinion

December 17, 2015

English education lacking

by Quincy Schmechel, staff writer If you know me, you know it’s not a secret that I love English. I love it. I’m a grammar Nazi, I tend to go off in paragraphs instead of sentences, and I’m not at all ashamed of the fact that I once wrote a 42-page history paper. I think it is so beautiful that people have structured symbols and phonetic sounds in a way to communicate everything from texts to documents and favorite books. I think English is powerful, incredible, and so important.

However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few things that really push my buttons about English, especially educationally.

I believe that English in public school systems has deteriorated in quality and importance.

As a transfer student from a Catholic school from pre-K to eighth grade, I can say that since coming to public school I have noticed extreme differences.

For one thing, English is not nearly as strongly prioritized. Math and science receive more recognition and attention in Great Falls Public Schools than English does. At my previous school, Holy Spirit Catholic School, the English program was of the utmost importance, and as a direct result I learned more in my eighth grade English class than I’ve learned in my two years at public school. I find that disappointing and discouraging.

Secondly, I have found that students learn less about grammar and literature as separate things. At Holy Spirit, we had two Englishrelated classes each day. We had a literature class, during which we read and recognized important literary terms and techniques and learned how to see an author’s intent, interpret meanings of words in context, and tell stories, which is an important part of culture.

We also had a separate class for English, during which we learned to diagram sentences, identify parts of speech, spell correctly and execute other etymology-related exercises. We used proper grammar not only in writing but also in formal speech. I believe that the twoclass structure made me a better writer, a better deductive reasoner, and a more disciplined individual.

Above all, it taught me to appreciate the English language. I think that these are

important lessons, and the public school system should consider putting a stronger focus on creating more literate individuals. Lastly, I’ve noticed that few students enjoy English. English classes in public school, from my experiences, are simply uninteresting, some with busy work.

In my sophomore honors English class, I think maybe three students could identify a verb, two could correctly use a comma, and maybe one person besides myself would have any clue as to what an appositive is.

One may not think that verb identification will ever be important, but if I were an employer looking at a resume, I would definitely not hire someone who is unable to use the correct verb tense. The bottom line is that teachers do not correctly communicate the importance of language in everyday lives of individuals. I’ve written many argumentative essays. I know how to cite a source in MLA format. I want to be taught why I’m reading a book. Why is this book important for me to have read? What lessons does it teach me? How is it applicable?

I’m sick of writing an essay showing that I can find a theme from a list of terms, and I’m tired of telling people what ridiculous words like “onomatopoeia” mean. I’m not going to need to know the definition of prose. I need to know why English has stood the test of time, why language is a qualification in the definition of a culture, and why what I am learning matters. I want to expand my literacy and vocabulary and learn to write and read and speak effectively.

I don’t come to school to sit in a 53-minute class and fill out a worksheet. I come to school to learn, and teachers supposedly come to school to teach. I think it’s sad that students have learned to hate English, even though it’s a part of their lives. I love English. I’m extraordinarily passionate about it, and I’d like to go to college to study English and literature, especially creative writing, so that I can dedicate my life to something I’m so passionate about. It makes me sad that so few people share that passion.

I was fortunate in that I had an incredible background education in English, and when I came to public school I was looking forward to expanding upon that, which I sincerely hope I’ll be able to do later this year and in the years to come.

FFA FFA is a national organization for youth interested in agriculture. It develops Premier Leadership, Personal Growth, and Career Success through hands-on real world experience. To be in FFA, you have to be enrolled in an Agriculture Education Course. There are many levels to choose from. Agriculture does not formally meet during the day but rather be online and by appointment. The curriculum and instruction will focus on life knowledge and skills such as interpersonal relationships, information literacy, problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork. All Agricultural Education has Three omponents: Classroom, Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), and FFA.

For more information contact teacher Jodi Koterba in room 401 or go to the FFA website at electirccityffa.theaet.com

9

Feed and home our people first

by Carli Dieruf, editor-in-chief We have reached a scary point in American history now, in 2015. Food stamps are common, rent is going up, the price of goods is rising, pay is stumped and the fight for a minimum wage raise has been requested. America is falling apart before our eyes, everyday, all over again.

My grandmother has told me stories of when she was a child. She got paid less than a dollar a day as a teenager and brought it home to her parents, praying that those few extra dollars would help to reach the payment for the heating bill. My grandmother grew up during the Great Depression. Times were a little different. But she says she is watching our society alter back to the way it was a long time ago.

People in America are living on the streets, begging for food, and hoping that they will be able to get through each day safely. But what are we doing to help them? Sending money to foreign countries, sending gift baskets and care packages to people all around the world, but we are doing nothing for our own people.

No, I am not a heartless person. I do care about other countries. But who are we as America to take care of other countries when we can barely take care of our own? It has been proven multiple times through political debates that with all of the empty houses and wasted food, we could feed and home every homeless person in the United States, if we managed it properly. So why isn’t that happening?

I have seen advertisements on television to send money to African children who are hungry and homeless, but I have yet to see an advertisement to help American children who are hungry and homeless. Yes, there are programs that help children in need where we live, but they are not given as much publicity as the others.

Feeding the less fortunate in other countries after we feed and home our own would be a different story. The United States can’t always come in to be the hero, or try to be and make a big deal out of how great the USA is for doing it. If the celebrities who are featured in the commercials for the advertisements on TV for other countries, would give up a small chunk of their money to our own people, and help some of the local tragedies, then we could all focus on the things that are going on outside our doors.

The United States enjoys the fame that giving to other countries gives us, and we hide the fact that we have thousands of hungry, homeless and sick people in every state.

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December 17, 2015 rustlernews.com

FEATURES

Christina Brennan

Features Editor

Let’s talk about sleep and how I am not getting enough of it. It is currently 1 a.m. as I am typing this up on Google Drive, and the only reason I will be up and walking in seven hours is because I have a slight reliance on coffee.

I’ve tried everything from attempting to get into a bedtime routine, to taking melatonin before bed; I’ve literally laid in bed for hours and I was still not able to sleep. My main lack of sleep comes from how stressed out I am. I have a lot on my plate with college, two journalism classes, afterschool activities and expectations at home. It’s difficult for me to find time to just sit and calm down. When I finally do try and sleep my body tries to tell me I have more to do. It’s not even that I feel as if I should be doing something productive every time I can’t sleep. Here is what went through my head last night: “Yo, remember that one liner from the third LotR movie?”

Oh yeah, that was neat.

“You have to watch from the beginning of the trilogy right now just to hear that one line.”

No, brain, that is the last thing I should be doing. I have to sleep, bro.

“Nah man, you gotta.”

Well I can’t argue with that.

And then I proceeded to watch the first Lord of the Rings movie, and half of the second before passing out on my bedroom floor like a sack of potatoes.

Now, I’m not irresponsible about this…

Actually I take that back, I am so not responsible.

I am a 4-year-old child disguised as an 18-yearold high school student. I have no idea why I am considered an adult.

My point is, coffee though. It has saved me from horrible situations such as the one illustrated above. It is the only reason freshmen at the school don’t run away screaming because they saw a zombie-like creature crawling on the floor to its next class.

Coffee isn’t just a drink most people enjoy in the mornings. Coffee is a way of life. It is something you commit to, either you’re in or you’re out. there is no inbetween with coffee. I have adopted this way of life recently and there is no going back.

Although coffee has made early mornings a lot easier it does have its drawbacks. For example I sometimes crave a cup at 8:30 p.m. but I know that if I drink it I won’t sleep until 2 a.m.. I could drink decaf coffee, but I refuse to do that because decaf is for weak people who cannot fully commit to the coffee lifestyle.

To wrap things up I really love that coffee helps keep me on two feet throughout the day, but I hate that it contributes to my sleeping problem.

So dear readers, do not be like me. Do not drink take that first sip of coffee if you are feeling sleepy and drained of all your energy, it only leads to a downward spiral of caffeinated ecstasy.

It may sound like a good idea, but really it is the opposite of a good idea.

Just take a nap if you are tired in the middle of the day.

Why do we have to learn this?

The classes that students have to take every day that are required are the classes that students will actually use in life

Page by Tamara Miller and Abby Shearer, News editor and staff writer

Math Session Students go to their math classes, often complaining about the purpose of taking the class. Little do they know, that the teachers secretly have a reason behind their mathematical madness.

“If you want to be an engineer, you’re going to have to take four semesters of calculus,” math department leader Terri Dahl said. “A lot of it depends on what your major is.”

Whether you need it or not, it changes the way you think, Dahl said.

“You think about things more logically – you’re more analytical,” she said.

When you start looking into loans or other investments, you don’t want to rely Variety of different textbooks here at CMR. on your broker, she added.

Photo by Quincy Schmecal “It makes you a much better

consumer,” she said. “You know more about how to invest your money without relying just on your broker.”

So even if you don’t decide to be an engineer or any job that requires math, you will still end up using it wherever you go.

Students oftentimes change their major once they get to college, and if they discover they are not prepared mathematically, Dahl said they may find themselves in college math classes they could have taken in high school.

“If you don’t take these classes in high school and then you change your major, you could be looking at a lot of years in college by the time you mediate your math,” she said.

History in the making

The English Dictionary

Students go to their history classes everyday, with some students who lack an understanding of the purpose of studying the subject.

Teacher Alex Rosenleaf understands the purpose of taking history classes.

“We see time and time again that the lessons of history do apply to our modern world,” Rosenleaf said.

He compared the lessons of history to a current issue over presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has proposed that Muslims be required to register themselves and carry special identification.

Trump also advised that Muslims not be allowed to enter the United States.

There are historical parallels to other times when this has happened, most strikingly being the actions of Nazi Germany, Rosenleaf said. But this comes down to even the Japanese being put in internment camps, and citizens’ treatment of Catholics in the past.

These are examples of history attempting to repeat itself, and history is needed to understand the way things work. Without a direct understanding of history a community is doomed for a repetition of historical events, he said.

When students sigh out of boredom because they have to go their classes they lack the understanding of why they need to study those subjects. For some students, English is one of the classes that they sigh over when they realize that’s what time it is.

Kasi Thompson, a freshman English teacher, said she loves English almost as much as she loves Mac and Cheese.

“English class is about learning how to speak, read, and write eloquently,” Thompson said.

Even if what a students is reading is a random book, they are still going to learn that the book is applicable in their life.

Thompson also said that learning English is important because you will always use it no matter what job you choose. All the reading practice that takes place in English class is to help students better develop their vocabulary.

English helps to “gain good practice for when you get to the real world and knowing how to read and write,” Thompson said.

Science studies

Physics teacher Mike Lathrop said there are numerous reasons why science is a valuable subject to study, and something that students will use in the future.

Science is an important tool that can easily be used in everyday life, such as with decision making that comes from observations and experimentation.

According to CMR’s physics teacher, learning science helps students look at things with a critical eye, and it also helps them recognize companies that make impossible claims. Science also teaches openmindedness and to look at the facts before jumping to conclusions.

“There are many other things that can be taught through science, including how to reason, analyse, and make choices based on evidence,” Lathrop said.

Overall, he said that science is fun.

In what other class can you observe a giant slinky to observe wave phenomenon? Where else can you digest a pig to look what it’s made of?

“Compare it to CSI when they analyse a plastic bag to see if it has any Skull infront of CMR. Photo by Julia Gremaux. important residue to help solve the crime,” he said.

Features11

December 17, 2015

Season

The

of giving back

by Julia Gremaux, staff writer Like Santa’s elves they worked with joy and cheer. Singing Christmas carols and jammin’ out to 80’s pop music. Student government wanted to give back to the Great Falls community, and they did so by making upwards of 70 Christmas cards with Hershey’s Kisses goodie bags for the Missouri River Center and Park Place retirement homes.

“It made me feel good to see their smiles when we gave them the gifts,” senior Kylie Greenwell said. “ I also liked talking with them about either their life or mine.”

On Dec. 5, Greenwell -- along with many student government members -- distributed their heartfelt Christmas cards and goodie bags to Missouri River Center and Park Place retirement homes. Bringing Christmas joy with them, student government went around the retirement homes singing Christmas carols, chatting, and helping out anywhere they could. During the holiday season people get into the giving mood because people want everyone to have a good Christmas, says Greenwell, adding that the giving mood needs to carry throughout the entire year when people still need the help or comfort that they get during December.

“I absolutely love helping others; it makes me feel good that I did something to help someone and I hope what I do benefits whatever organization I volunteer for,” says sophomore Shakira Brien, another student government member who likes to spend her free time helping others in need.

You just have to be willing to put in some effort and think optimistically about every situation, Brien said. Donating items or your time -- anything will help, she added.

Brien says that if she wasn’t a part of student government that she would still volunteer on her own time. It changes how you see things in life, for the better.

Volunteering doesn’t stop at student government. Other students sacrifice their free time to helping others in need. Sophomore Maura Hodges is just one of these generous individuals who finds joy in giving back to her community. During this time, Hodges likes to volunteer at the basketball concessions and various Christmas parties that are held around town.

“I have never volunteered for someone who wasn’t grateful,” Hodges said.

Helping others feels really good and eases her mind, Hodges added, and it makes her feel happy.

Hundreds of people during the holiday are in need of help and happiness. They spend all their time worrying how to care for their loved ones and give them joy during the Christmas season, but it’s difficult when they have nothing to give due to desperate times. Many seek refuge from their troubles at the community’s rescue mission and food bank. With hundreds of people in need and so few workers at the community centers, many centers are overwhelmed and unable to help all those who need it.

Volunteers are always wanted during this time of year. Hodges says that the holidays are a time for joy, cheer, gifts and being surrounded by family; enjoying the holidays and all it gives us reminds us that not everyone has such luxuries.

“Knowing that their lives are made easier for a while,” is how she knows her volunteering makes a difference, Hodges said.

On Dec. 13, CMR students, including sophomore Rebecca Bergman, Nate Moore, and Gerrit Bloemendaal, paint nails and help with Christmas decorations. On Dec. 3, student government members, including sophomore Isabelle Pellot and junior Josey Quinn, spent their afternoon making Christmas cards and goodie bags. Photos by Sophie Aron and Julia Gremaux.

How you can give back......

Adopt -A-Park Program Volunteers have the opportunity to help with litter clean-up, vandalism watch, shelter and picnic area cleanup and maintenance as well as the planting and maintenance of trees, shrubs and flowers, weed control and River’s Edge Trail projects and maintenance.

Great Falls Public Library There are a number of opportunities for volunteers at the library. If you love books and helping people, this might be the perfect fit for you. Library volunteers help out in the Montana Room, assist with light maintenance projects, scan multiple files as well as offer assistance during children’s programs.

It’s all about

LOVE. Visit abort73.com for facts, statistics and educational materials.

http://www.greatfallsmt.net/community/volunteer-opportunities-city-great-falls

Before you choose to have an abortion or encourage someone you know to have one, take the time to get the facts.

For free literature about abortion and the alternatives, write to: Great Falls Right to Life 500 Montana Ave. NW Great Falls, MT 59404

14 Features

December 17, 2015

Vegetarian diet can be hard to follow

by Carli Dieruf, editor-in-chief Those of us who have chosen to be vegetarian know how difficult it can be in Montana. Being a vegetarian is difficult for many reasons. Montana is known all over the country for loving gun rights, carrying around shotguns 24/7 and hunting whenever possible. Those of us who live here know just how unrealistic (for the most part) that is. But restaurants in Montana seem to forget that there are indeed some Montanans who aren’t hunters and fishermen.

When one doesn’t eat meat it’s nearly impossible to go out to eat at restaurants or fast food chains and avoid having to alter the meals dramatically. “What do you even eat? Just salad?” is a question I’m asked far too often. No, of course not. I like salad, but not enough to eat it as my meal three times a day. I eat a lot of other things. There are a lot of substitutes.

In some states, a vegan menu is easy to request and is readily available. I guess people just think Montanans are born to be meateaters. Here in Great Falls, I have yet to find a restaurant that offers a vegan menu.

“We have a gluten-free menu,” is what I’m often told.

I have known of only a few vegetarians while growing up in Montana. It’s not all that common. You grow up around deer heads mounted on walls and hunting rifle sales listed in advertisements all over town. We grow up on hunting and eating the meat we hunt.

Senior Natasha Pilgeram transitioned into a pescatarian lifestyle about three and a half years ago after learning more about the things that go on before an animal is killed for it’s meat. A pescetarian eats fish as the only source of meat. Pilgeram said she believes she is doing her body and the Earth a favor by having these eating habits.

“I’m a pescatarian for a lot of personal reasons. I think animal cruelty is the biggest issue, and it’s surprisingly very common when you educate yourself. The animals are subjected to horrible living conditions,” Pilgeram said. “I’ve also noticed drastic health changes since I have stopped eating meat. Not only that, but it benefits the planet in so many ways.”

Animals are a big part of Pilgeram’s life, and she has always loved animals. She says that is a large part of why she can no longer eat any meat besides fish. She grew up in a home where eating meat was common, but detailed research changed her mind, she said. She is the only one in her family who does not eat meat, but her family has no problem with the way she chooses to eat.

“They’re very supportive of me, and they understand where I’m coming from,” Pilgeram said. “For example, cows and pigs should be treated as more than something that just goes on your plate.

They are a living, breathing species -- not just a piece of meat.”

For some people, there are actually physiological reasons for transitioning into a vegetarian lifestyle, but for sophomore Shakira Brien, she simply decided she wanted to try something new.

“I decided to be a vegetarian August 26 of 2013 just because I started to feel bad for eating animals, and I like to try new things,” Brien said.

She says that meat doesn’t have a taste that she likes either, which helps her to stay away from eating carnivorous meals.

She has many substitutes for protein, one being her favorite meal which is made up of mostly tofu. Brien has no problem finding other ways to get her protein into her diet.

“I just don’t like the feeling I get when I know I’m eating something that was once alive,” Brien said. “It just seems wrong in my eyes.”

3 myths about being vegetarian Myth

Vegans are always lacking protein

Fact

Many vegan meals contain an ample amount of protein such as beans and whole grains

Myth

Athletes can’t follow a vegetarian

Fact

Endurance and protein promoting foods include nuts, raisins, seeds, black beans, etc.

Myth

Vegetarians often need to take supplements

Fact

The only supplement concern is B12 because you can only get that from red meat, fish, and eggs

Key Club kicks off another year of consessions Popcorn and slushies a popular treat at basketball games

Truman Cleveland and Iris Kaiser work at the baskeball game concessions booth on Dec. 11 at CMR. Photo by Julia Gremaux.

by Sophie Aron, staff writer The smell of buttery popcorn and delicious slushies would not be possible for basketball goers without the help of students who participate in Key Club, which has been running the popcorn- and slushie-producing concession stands for many years, keeping everyone satisfied and ready to watch the game. Mike Lathrop, a physics teacher, has dedicated many years of his time to be the advisor of the Key Club.

The club is a volunteer organization that dozens of students participate in every year to better their community as well as make their school a better place. Prior to the club being in charge of the popcorn and slushies at basketball games, student government ran the show, Lathrop explained.

The responsibility then went to Chess Club before landing in the hands of his organization.

Concessions are something that the entire club looks forward to each year. Lathrop said that the key to keeping the concessions going is to make sure the equipment is kept nice and left clean after every use.

Sophomore Michael Burk is one of the dedicated club members that makes the successful booth possible. Burk is participating in his second year of Key Club, as well as his second year volunteering for concessions.

“The personal interactions with the kids in school and their family” is what Burk said he enjoys most about the gig. His favorite part?

“Oh, definitely the slushies,” Burk said.

Lathrop said he is pleased with the number of students volunteering their time in the concession stands. He hopes the club can keep it up for many years to come.

Features 15

December 17, 2015

Winter fashion, a modeling dream come true

by Carli Dieruf, editor in chief Two years ago when junior Paula Carmean decided she wanted to be a model she had no idea that an opportunity was just around the corner.

Carmean was shopping around town one day when an agent spotted her and said her height and body type was exactly what they were looking for.

“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Carmean said. “And now I get the opportunity to go down to Orlando on Dec. 12 and be in [a] fashion runway show.”

She has been practicing every day walking in heels, reading fake scripts aloud to friends, and getting pictures taken at photo shoots around Montana that she can use for her composition for the

photography contest in Orlando.

“I’m nervous for the commercial that I have to do because I haven’t done things like that before,” Carmean said. “But I’m practicing every day because I know I can do it.”

She will be modeling various categories and will be judged after a short interview and then later on by her photos.

“I’m ready for the runway. I’m excited, and I know that I have all the steps down,” she said. “This is the next step to the biggest of my modeling career.

This opens up a lot of opportunities for agencies to see me so that I can be a real model and make a career out of it.”

Photo courtesy of Paula Carmean.

Fashion forward students flaunt it in the halls Hayden Cummings

Ravyn Bright

Scarf

Chloe Waldenberg

JUNIOR

SENIOR

SOPHOMORE

Knitted scarf

Knitted scarf

Tribal print cardigan

Letterman jacket

Patterned tunic dress

Joggers Distressed skinny jeans

casual boots

Black tights

Combat boots

Riding boots

Page by Carli Dieruf, Quincy Schmechel and Christy Armstrong, editor-in-chief and staff writers

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December 17, 2015 rustlernews.com

Entertainment

C lara McClain

Entertainment Editor

It’s December and I’m ready for the Christmas season, and ready for family members to open their presents from me.

That’s my favorite part of the festive season.

I love watching my siblings race to the living room and try to see the Santa presents first.

Generally the girls win and the boys claim they were there first.

The snow is finally falling and that means that I can finally walk out of my house with a mug full of spiced tea and no one can tell me that it’s not the time for such a drink. I love warming my hands on a huge, warm Christmas mug and settling in a blanket mountain. Festive movies are always on TV, which lets a warm, fuzzy feeling settle in my chest.

Once the Christmas themed tins of tea are everywhere, I suddenly have no money. They are so cute and fun and the tea always reminds me of a day spent warm in bed. These tins of tea are perfect to prepare before microwaving some popcorn and settling down to watch an old animated Christmas movie.

It makes me so happy and at peace with the universe to have school responsibilities melt away like the snow.

Snowmen are appearing on children’s lawns sporting old hats and colorful scarves. Their jovial rock and stick faces smile at anyone who passes by them, reminiscent of a time when creating a snow family was the best part of any winter day.

Anyone who has seen me in the hallway knows that I love wearing sweaters, scarves, and some fleece-lined leggings. Goodwill is the best place to buy sweaters, I get four or five really cool ones for the price of one new sweater at a department store and if that doesn’t interest you, I don’t know what will.

Ugly sweater days are my favorite part of the holiday season that students participate in before winter break finally rolls around. I love the days where Goodwill sweaters can turn great finds for cheap, after all my sister the best sweaters from secondhand stores. Her light pink newspaper sweater is the biggest comfiest thing I’ve ever worn. It’s way too big and loose, basically it makes me look like a square.

I once found $5 scarves at Walmart and they’re the softest things I’ve ever put around my neck. They’re cool patterns and long enough to tie in fun ways. Basically, they’re the best things I’ve ever bought for $5.

Essentially, any and all things related to Christmas are my favorite things. Giving gifts is the best feeling in the whole word because you get to see someone be really happy when you hand them something you know they’ll love. While present exchanges are amazing, sometimes finding the perfect thing is almost impossible. My family rarely gives solid answers for what they want under the tree, but I love giving them gifts anyway.

Top music groups bring holiday cheer to the Civic Center

by Mackenzie George, sports editor CMR’s top musicians kicked off the holidays with a combined choir, band, and orchestra concert on Dec. 14. Chanteur Choir, Symphonic Band, and Chamber Orchestra performed multiple pieces at the Civic Center on Monday night. The concert was the first of three holiday performances, two of which occurred on Dec. 15 at 6 and 8 p.m. at CMR. The Civic Center may seem like a big venue for some, especially since the majority of CMR performances are held in Bill Will Hall. But the atmosphere didn’t daunt senior Austin Haney, who plays tuba for the Symphonic Band and bass guitar in the Russtones.

“I do a lot of theater stuff as well, so I’ve been on the stage since I was a little kid,” Haney said. “It’s not really that big a deal to me anymore, but I think mainly it’s just not to worry about the people in the audience, just do what you do in rehearsals, play [well] and you’re going to be fine.”

Symphonic performed three songs: “Christmas Variants,” “The Christmas Song,” and “Abram’s Pursuit,” which, Haney said, “is just absolutely fun. It’s insane.”

Haney said the band received the music in late October or early November, as soon as crosstown marching band ended. He has played tuba for two years now but originally was a trombone and bassoon player.

“I bounce all over wherever the band needs me,” Haney said.

Each group had a different timetable

to learn their songs. Chanteur has been preparing for Northwest Music Festival in Seattle, Wash., and senior singer Shana Cosby said that cut into their rehearsal time.

“We honestly didn’t practice very long on some of the pieces because we didn’t really have time, trying to get ready for Seattle,” Cosby said. “But they came together.”

Chanteur sang four songs. Cosby mentioned there was some student input in choosing what the choir performed. “Ding Dong! Merrily on High” was the only holiday piece. “Grace Before Sleep” and “Balalaika,” an energetic number that included several dancers, are for Northwest, Cosby said.

“We just wanted to get [“Balalaika”] onstage one more time before we went to Northwest with it and put it on our program,” Cosby said.

Chanteur alumni joined current members on stage for the final song of the night, “Still, Still, Still.”

Cosby originally was in band before switching to choir, although she said she has “always liked to sing.” Kiersten Evenson, meanwhile, has played violin since fifth grade. Tonight, she was onstage with the Chamber Orchestra. The group performed “Suite of Carols,” “The Christmas Song,” and “Sleigh Ride.”

“It’s fun to always be playing new music all the time and getting ready for our next concerts,” Evenson said.

Like Haney, stage fright isn’t an issue.

“I just like having fun and playing music with my peers.”

Top: Junior Wyatt Bleskin dances during “Balalaika.” Above: Senior Dan Enseleit concentrates on his sheet music.

Steve Olson directs the Chamber Orchestra during the holiday concert on Dec. 14. Photos by Beth Britton.

17 Entertainment

December 17, 2015

“Our Town” provokes deep thoughts

Sophomore Aiden Evans portrays George Gibbs in the recent production of “Our Town.” Photos by Christina Brennan.

by Clara McClain, entertainment editor choice you make within a single day.

While this play didn’t seem like anything fancy Emily’s life started to revolve around her neighbor walking up to the stage to sit in the chairs placed where George Gibbs, portrayed by sophomore Aiden Evans you would usually see drama students performing across and sophomore understudy Josh Reeves, as they the space. However, the on-stage seating provided a new realize that they want to spend the rest of their lives perspective to a production that not together. However, in the act where many people get to see. she is basically a ghost reliving her The play itself is a very simple story, 12th birthday, she learns that she really but it has an amazing message: We need didn’t pay attention to anything. to really pay attention to life before it’s As she tries to come to terms with the gone. fact that she’s dead, watching her try to As Emily Webb, portrayed by senior interact with her family is heartbreaking Kaylee Ostentowski and sophomore and really telling of the fact that Thornton understudy Emma Tovson, one of the Wilder, the playwright, wanted people lead characters, goes through life and to look around themselves and try to be then eventually dies in act three, you less selfish. watch her develop as a person. She Senior Kathleen O’Dell rehearses The stage manager, senior Anna in preparatioon for her role as Mrs. goes from a child almost unaware of Gibbs in the “Our Town” production. Evans, really struck me as an the world outside of her small town, unconventional character. She really Grover’s Corners, to someone who realizes that she floored me as she wandered around the stage directing needed to be more aware of her life when it’s too late. everyone to their rightful places, seemed like she was a That message really stuck with me. The fact that when benevolent god.

I die, if there is an afterlife, I’m going to look back over She wanted everyone on her stage to become the best my life and realize all the missed opportunities I didn’t they could, and I loved watching her walk in the town. even glance away from my current goals to consider. I She made me believe that the entire stage was in fact, a want to think that now that I’m aware of this fact that small town full of different people.

I will become a better part of society, but I know that All in all, while this play wasn’t as spectacular stagehumans are inherently flawed beings. wise as other drama productions, I felt that it was the I’m not too hopeful when considering a life without most thought-provoking play I’ve had the pleasure of regrets, that is almost impossible if you think about every attending.

STAR WARS

“I like the power of the DARK SIDE, but I like the humility and sense of doing what’s right as a JEDI. I would be a Jedi with some dark side abilities, but [pick] no side. I would fight for what is right.”

Samantha Popham

The

by Carli Dieruf, editor-in-chief “Star Wars” fans waited anxiously for the new trailer to be released on Oct. 19, so we could get a glimpse of what we have been counting down days for -- “The Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

After watching the trailer, there are a few things that have me pumped for Dec. 18. Unfortunately, or thankfully for some of us, the trailer left us asking more questions than we had before. But I think that is great. I hate spoilers and am glad that it left more questions than it did answers.

The trailer begins with Rey climbing around what looks to be the Star Destroyer that we have seen before, crashed on planet Jakku. It continues with someone saying “Who are you?” which leads me to believe that finding out who she is will be an important part of the story.

Who is she, anyways? The daughter of Han Solo? Skywalker? We don’t know yet. That’s another aspect of this trailer that I really liked.

The filmmakers introduced new and old characters and the universe without revealing the plot of the movie. We met new people, saw droids, and ships, but we don’t have a clue of what might happen.

For me, the best part was when Kylo Ren looks at the mask of Darth Vader, which we’ve seen in other trailers and sneak peeks, but it wasn’t quite the same. We know he wants to finish what has been started.

What’s better than a new movie coming out? That the new movie shows old fractions of what we longtime Star Wars fans remember from the trilogy.

So, to some people, the trailer has shown too little or too much, but for me, it was a perfect beginning, and it did everything that it needed to do in under two minutes. I’m eager to pull out my Star Wars fan gear and flaunt it for the movie. May the force be with you as you squeeze into the theater full of fans tomorrow.

is with this one

“Fear is the path to the DARK SIDE. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate.

Hate leads to SUFFERING.” Yoda

18 Entertainment

Best friends and a charm to share

DaNae Hasselstrom and Mikaela Lentz show off their BFF friendship necklaces. Photo by Carli Dieruf.

By Christy Armstrong, staff writer Nearly four years ago, during her freshman year, DaNae Hasselstrom purchased a friendship necklace for Mikaela Lentz on her 14th birthday. The two have worn their necklaces ever since. They are now seniors and have remained friends throughout high school.

“I’ve thought of getting others,” Hasselstrom said, on the matter of friendship charms. “I don’t know, but when I got it for Mikaela we had almost had a sisterly bond, we were that close already.”

Lentz was already considering getting one for Hasselstrom during her freshmen year, but Hasselstrom beat her to it. She’s worn it every day since then, and has tried to wear it everyday.

“I’ll fiddle with it and sometimes I forget it’s there until I do,” Lentz said.

Hasselstrom still remembers the day she gave it to Lentz, and how happy it made her.

“When I got it for her, it was one of those things that when she accepted it she [had] the biggest smile on her face, and it seemed like her whole world got brighter,” Hasselstrom said.

The two have stayed close during high school and plan to stay friends throughout their adult lives as well. Neither feels the need to find new charms to wear.

Key Club Have a happy holiday season and see you in the New Year Love, Key Club

Meets Mondays @ 4 in Room 325

December 17, 2015

Illusionist brings magic to Mansfield center

by Carli Dieruf, editor-in-chief Going to Jay Owenhouse magic show featuring his two Bengal tigers was very last minute. I saw a YouTube commercial that announced the Saturday night showing and I immediately ran downstairs to my aunt and told her I would love to go if she had already bought tickets like she usually does.

My aunt, Maureen Foster, attends each play and concert that is held at the Mansfield Center. My aunt responded with an “it’s probably not possible since it’s in two days,” kind of look. I told her to forget about it and I could easily go to another magic show at some point; it was no big deal.

Friday after school, I came home to find an envelope on the table with two front row seat tickets and backstage passes for me and my boyfriend, Austin Enriquez. I thanked my aunt 100 times and agreed I would pay her back in folding clothes or doing dishes.

Before the performance started at 7:30, the VIP members were required to come at 6:45 so they could file into the front row and get their backstage passes and get lined up. We all stood on stage and were guided into the back, where Owenhouse himself shook each of our hands and greeted us with a hello and a limited edition program that the non-VIPs could buy.

Owenhouse takes great pride in his tigers and his family. It is not hard to see that he spends most of his time caring for the animals, as they do indeed live in his house with him and his family. We got the chance to get a close-up look at the tigers and received CD’s with the pictures of the tigers taken by professional photographers over the years.

Once we finished visiting with Owenhouse, we were sent back to our seats and minutes later the lights went down and a countdown appeared on a large screen in front of the audience. Children in the crowd counted down with the clock and fists were thrown into the air, counting down the last 10 seconds before the show began.

The show was like any other magic show, but it truly was excellent. Owenhouse made sure to show the crowd that the acts were actually “magic.” He had mirrors placed all over so the audience could clearly see the back of all the boxes and cages, so we could see if anyone was sneaking out of the back or the bottom.

I was amazed by the performances, and did not see one flaw in all of the tricks that he shared.

The most amazing part of the show, in my opinion, was when he lifted himself into the air and looked as

though he was floating. I’m still confused and have absolutely no idea how he did it. His two sons came onto the stage and took a hula hoop and circled it around him, under him, above his head, and around the box he was hovering above, showing that there was nothing holding him up. I really am confused, and it’s been bothering me for the longest time now.

The best part of the show was when he made a tribute to his wife, using examples of his life and showing that everything that happens has a purpose.

I hope I was not the only one in the crowd fighting back tears for almost 20 minutes straight.

If I was to rate the show out of 10, I would easily give it all points possible. There wasn’t a second during the show that I wasn’t entertained. It really was a great magic show, and if it came to Great Falls again, I would be in the crowd.

Jay Owenhouse is suspended in the air in a staightjacket, giving him only one minute and 30 seconds to release himself before the trap could kill him. Photo courtesy of Hjnews.

Having a last minute to-do list

by Carli Dieruf, editor-in-chief Those who know me, know that I spend money like I have a million bucks. I get my paycheck and it’s gone in days. Obviously this needs to change. I’m headed off to Missoula for college in June, and unfortunately that means it’s time to grow up.

Growing up means I can no longer ask my parents for money to fill up my car, no more $5 bills for lunch, and I’ll soon be washing my own laundry. Believe it or not, I have never done laundry, and the one time that I did, I almost flooded the whole basement.

So what’s one way that I save money? Last-minute shopping and couponing. What’s better than shopping? Shopping and having money left over.

Most people think that those who wait until the last minute are unorganized. But is that necessarily true? Did you know that stores drop their prices dramatically the day before Christmas?

Well, they do, and they don’t expect many people to come in on Christmas Eve to buy presents hours before they will be placed under the tree.

I have had my list of Christmas gifts to buy since October, so I’m not a procrastinator. I actually like being rushed. I like a quick deadline. Two days before, or the day before Christmas, I get nervous that I won’t get everything in time, and I always end up with the perfect gifts.

I put my brain to work to come up with cute/quick gift ideas that I hadn’t thought of before. My last-minute gift ideas sometimes turn out to be some of the best.

Try to do some last minute shopping before Christmas this year before you decide others are crazy for doing it. You might find that it works better, and you may find a great deal.

S

December 17, 2015 rustlernews.com

SPORTS

Mackenzie George

Sports Editor

Las Vegas is usually associated with gambling, not running. But the 12 of us who took a 17-hour road trip on Dec. 4 spent absolutely no time on the machines and close to two hours in our running shoes.

When cross country coach Nathan Gregier presented the idea of a road trip to Vegas to run a half marathon, everyone was excited. I don’t think any of us were picturing the endless hours in a van, broken up only by gas station stops. It was an early morning, loading up the car at 4 a.m. on Friday, but we still hadn’t really considered how long we would be stuck in there.

We slept. We played cards. Trisha and I watched “The Breakfast Club” and spent a solid hour and a half playing “Would You Rather?”

You have not known true boredom until you are driving through the fields of Idaho and have already played every road trip game ever invented.

It was worth it, of course, when we drove into the glittering city of Las Vegas on Friday night.

The buildings were tall, the lights were bright. I had never been to Vegas before, and aside from all the smoke, I really enjoyed the city. I would never live there, but it’s so different from Great Falls that it is a really interesting place to visit.

The half marathon was early on Saturday morning. An interesting twist to the course was that it crossed two states and two separate time zones. We ran the first seven miles in Nevada before running over a dam into Arizona and then back into Nevada. By the time we hit mile eight, the sun was up and we started stopping at the water stations along the road. There’s a definite art to drinking water while running, and I never mastered it.

Finishing the race in under two hours made me feel pretty accomplished. From the stories I’d heard, I was sure I was going to die or have to start jogging halfway through. Neither of those had happened; I was pretty sure I’d felt worse after cross country races. And with the hard part over, the group could move on to what we’d really come here for: Vegas.

Each of the hotels in Vegas have a different theme -- the circus, Egypt, Venice, Rome, Paris -- and so it was fun to tour them. We went to Fremont and the Forum Shops, which have all the high-end stores like Gucci. We took Collin Buck on his first roller coaster ride. The look on his face as our car crested the first loop was enough to erase all the nervousness I’d been feeling. We didn’t stop laughing the whole ride.

None of this would have been possible if I hadn’t run cross country. I got to spend a fun weekend with great people (all the driving aside). It’s just one of the ways being involved in a sport pays off. We are really lucky to have coaches willing to take us places like Las Vegas and endure hours of us singing along to the radio on the way back home. Pulling into the jock lot at 8:30 p.m. on Monday night, I knew I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Wrestling manager transitions onto the mat

by Clara McClain, entertainment editor personally never encountered anyone who’s been mean to me Sweaty teenage boys rolling around on a mat. Parents about wrestling,” she said. waiting in the stands, cheering their teenagers on the floor, and Her fellow wrestlers didn’t have any problem with her enjoying greasy concession stand food in between watching joining the team, either, already used to her being around the matches. Wrestling meets are a time where generally, girls during practices from when she was a manager. do not play a major role in many people’s minds, maybe sitting “They don’t have any issues with me being a girl,” she said. on the sidelines keeping score or cheering “They took that and ran with it.” on friends and family. However, sophomore Grasseschi said that girls can learn a Cecelia Grasseschi decided to take take on the lot from wrestling in high school, and it’s stereotypes of girls who wrestle and join the actually not as uncommon as students might wrestling team this season. think.

She has had some struggles joining the team, For instance, people who worry about Cecelia Grasseschi walking but none of them were related to other wrestlers to places alone or going to demeaning her for being a girl, instead most of big social gatherings, they the problems she had were with the training and being in the should consider taking up wrestling in high sport for the first time. school because, Grasseschi said, it helps with “Being a girl, I have less strength than some of the guys,” self defense and self confidence. she said.

“I think girls [at CMR] should wrestle With that in mind, because in other states so many girls Grasseschi says that are wrestling, they have their own not having as much leagues,” she said. “You can still physical strength as look fabulous and beat guys up.” her other teammates She had wanted to join the is no excuse for not team since she managed last year so, participating in any making the transition from managing to being sports that are known on the mat with the other wrestlers was a no to be predominantly brainer, especially since managing a sport male. really isn’t fun according to Grasseschi.

People sometimes “[As a manager] you’re watching form really rude the sport, but not being a part of the sport,” opinions about girls she said. “I wanted to be like my brother and who wrestle and take wrestle.” it out on them, but Grasseschi hasn’t seen much of that since she has joined.

“Everyone’s really Photo by Clara McClain nice about it. I’ve

can still “lookYoufabulous and beat guys up. ”

Cecelia Grasseschi goes through drills with teammate Nash Shepherd on Dec. 14. Photo courtesy of Annabella Aline.

Cecelia Grasseschi practices with her fellow wrestlers on Dec. 9. Photo by Reena Roberson.

20 Sports

December 17, 2015 On Dec. 12, junior Carter Storrusten (far left) catches a breath while swimming freestyle.

At the Havre meet on Dec. 12, senior Patrick Brennan (center) jumps off the block to begin his heat. Junior Madi Smith competes in the freestyle in Havre. Photos by Allison Hanson.

Swimmers in shape and ready for the season

by Mary Brown, staff writer While the swimming season technically began on “[Swimming] is more of a passion than a sport,” Nov. 19, some students have remained in swimming Gronning said. shape year-round, and according to the athletes the Swimming helps with so much more than just amount of time that they spend in and around the pool keeping the members physically fit. It helps them build have made them better friends. confidence and relations with people, Gronning said.

“I couldn’t choose a better group of people to spend She joined the swim team because of a family friend, but time with,” said sophomore Molly DeMarco, a varsity after nine years in the sport she has discovered that it is athlete who has been swimming for four years. a good place to fit in.

The only thing that she said she doesn’t enjoy very Not all of the friends that the swimmers make are much is the dryland physical training. This training from CMR. The team practices alongside the Great Falls includes exercises such as jogging, jumping jacks, and High athletes because the school has an indoor pool. squats. While training in the water helps keep swimmers According to the team, there is really no crosstown in shape, the dryland is important to ensure that the rivalry. athletes are using all of their muscles.

Junior Carter Storrusten, a varsity swimmer, says The overall workout time is two hours and 30 minutes that he loves the lack ofForce crosstown conflict. He said that Cascade County DUI Task daily between dryland and swimming. Despite the it is an excellent opportunity to meet people that he heavy workout schedule, varsity swimmer sophomore otherwise wouldn’t be able to meet.

Abigail Gronning says not to knock it before you try it.

While it may not be the flashiest sport, or one that

garners the most attention, members say that the school shouldn’t forget about them. They encourage students and staff to attend swim meets. Storrusten suggested that there should be announcements for when meets are or when a swimmer places well.

The swim season started Nov. 19 and will end Feb. 13. By looking around the school students can see when meets are coming up by the posters that the team puts on their lockers.

“People go, ‘oh this girl swims,’’Gronning said of the locker posters.

The swim team is always happy to accept new team members. According to DeMarco, if students want to swim they should go for it because it is a no-cut sport.

This means that no matter what, everyone makes the team.

Name; Julia Gr “Practices can get pretty rough, but overall swimming is like a big family. It’s nice to swim with your best friends everyday,” DeMarco said.

You’re not just hurting yourself...

Be safe or Be sorry Christmas

What’s your plan? parties,alcohol,and icy .

roads.

Not a good mix.

A message brought to you by the Cascade County DUI Task Force

What’s your plan?

A message brought to you by the Cascade County DUI Task Force

Sports

December 17, 2015

21

Cheer team steps up their game, athleticism

by Quincy Schemchel, staff writer Here at CMR we have great sports teams that all work hard to excel at their given sport. However, there is one team that works tirelessly not to bring home rugs to decorate our fieldhouse, but rather to inspire crowds and athletes to do their best.

The CMR cheer is a team made up of 23 members, but most cheerleaders will say it’s more than that. “[It’s] like you gain a second family on the first day of practice,” senior and head captain Kota Adams said. “Somebody always has your back.”

Not only is cheer a family and favorite pastime for the cheerleaders, but it’s also one of the best ways to stay fit.

Sophomore Leeanna Schearer, a varsity captain, says that there’s been a huge change to the athleticism in the program just in the last few years.

“The [biggest] change happened not since I was here, but I know that in years past it’s been incredibly different,” Schearer said. She said many people don’t take the cheerleaders seriously at first, but that opinions change when they see how hard the girls work.

Adams agreed, adding that cheerleaders do full-body workouts at

Above: CMR varsity cheerleaders stunt at the basketball game against Glacier on Dec. 11. Far right: Cheer lines for a freethrow shot at the Glacier game on Dec. 11. Right: Sophomore Leeanna Shearer leads cheers. Photos by JJ Mitchell.

SKI CLUB

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each of their nearly three-hour practices that occur at least three times a week.

These workouts become progressively demanding throughout the year. Adams also mentioned that cheer has changed extremely throughout her four years of participation.

“More safety precautions [were taken] because the girls have become stronger and are able to do higher level things since previous years,” Adams said.

Schearer agreed.

“The thing is that a lot of teams underestimate us, but then they see our practices and they think, ‘Oh, just kidding. Cheerleaders really do [difficult] things and they work hard,’” Schearer said. She said that because of this, cheer has begun to earn a better reputation and more credit for what they do.

Adams says no one minds the workouts, though, because it keeps the girls fit and healthy.

“It’s an awesome way to stay in shape from doing something you love,” Adams said.

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C.M.Russell students prepare to shred the gnar

by Sophie Aron, staff writer Along with Ski Club, Moore also leads a group known Zooming down the snow covered hill, adrenaline as Young Life. Young life is a religious organization that flowing through your veins wind rushing past your face many students nationwide participate in as well as dozens with fellow CMR students. Meeting new people, forming of students here at CMR. The Ski Club trip incorporates friendships and having a great time all at the same time. Young Life into it by having a 45 minute religious-based Where can someone experience this all activity session each night of the at one time? Well, where else than the trip.

CMR ski club of course! The club will be Sophomore Cooper West will It was a lot of fun. I embarking on another annual trip in the join the group this season for his 2016 ski season, lead by Spanish teacher got to meet a lot of new second year.

Rhonda Moore.

“It was a lot of fun,” West said. “ friends.

This year, the group has chosen to go I got to meet a lot of new friends.”

Cooper West to Silver Mountain Resort. The Resort is Last year, Ski Club went to Bridger located in Kellogg Idaho and maps 1,600 Bowl, near Bozeman. Along with acres, providing 73 trails for everyone of every level to West, junior Michah Leach is also a member of ski club. enjoy while skiing or snowboarding the mountain. The Leach joined the crew for the trip last year but is unable Top: The mountains near Three Forks are covered with snow. group will be heading to Idaho in February for a few days to particiate this year.

Bottom: Ski lifts at Showdown carry people to the top on a of enjoy the mountain. While shredding Silver Mountain, West and Leach, along with many other students are cold winter day. Photos by Sophie Aron. trip-goers will also have the opportunity to meet many excited for the Silver Mountain Adventure. Maybe next new people along the way. year you can too!

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22 Sports

December 17, 2015

Catching Caroline up with Rocha freshman coach

Caroline Rocha is starting her first year as the freshman girl’s basketball coach. Here she tells the Stampede how she’s handling the stress and responsibility of coaching.

Did you coach anywhere else before CMR? “I’m from New Jersey. I coached there.”

How long have you been coaching?

“About four years, I think.”

What are you most looking forward to this season?

“Just getting to know the girls and working with all the coaches.”

How is the team looking?

“Good, we’re doing good. We’re working hard and coming together.”

Your first game was last Friday. How did that go?

“We played Glacier and it was OK. They definitely had a bigger squad, but the team did a good job adjusting. It’s a pretty big change and adjustment.”

What are your hopes for the team this season?

“I want them to get better and improve. I want them to go out and feel more confident in their playing, because it’s tough being a freshman out there.”

Holiday Classic offers wrestlers chance to raise funds, compete

by Joshua Botti-Anderson, staff writer David Bennyhoff, a senior on the CMR wrestling squad, reflects on the importance of CMR’s annual Holiday Classic wrestling tournament. Bennyhoff says that being the host of such a tournament imposes great responsibilities on the team.

“It’s really fun, but it’s also kind of stressful, because you’ve got to represent CMR really well, and you’ve got to show them that we’re a good place to be,” Bennyhoff said.

CMR’s wrestlers must not only be prepared to show their physical strength and skills in competition, but also to act as welcoming representatives of a popular yearly event. Maintaining a pleasant environment, says Bennyhoff, is crucial to the overall success of the tournament.

“We have to keep the gym clean for all of the guests,” he said.

“We had at least 50 schools that came last year.”

The Holiday, although not part of CMR’s main state tournament, is still a big deal for the team, says Bennyhoff. It shows other schools how well CMR operates as team of wrestlers.

“If you win the Holiday, you’re the best of the best,” he said.

The tournament has more than just a physical impact on the athletes. It also funds the team’s further athletic ventures later on in the season.

“It’s quite the ordeal to set up. It’s our main fundraiser,” he said. “It’s very important to the wrestling team because the concessions we make and all the tickets and everything, and all the costs that go into it, including paying all the refs for two days, and getting all the other teams here – all that brings in what we use for our travelling trips.”

Noah Danielson, a senior who has also participated in the Holiday in the past, gave his perspective. Danielson emphasized the significance of the Holiday as being an event that provided valuable feedback for how well he performed in a state competition.

“My sophomore year I realized I was in the running, as far in a state tournament, that I could do well,” he said.

Although wrestlers compete individually and have to pay close attention their own physical attributes, like weight and skills, their

ultimate goal is to combine their efforts to contribute to the team’s overall success.

“The more you score points for yourself - once you get an individual victory, that just puts into the team’s victory,” he said.

Unlike the AA wrestling tournaments that CMR conventionally participates in, the Holiday Classic brings together competitors from all levels, from small-town, seven-man C school teams to 20-plus AA school teams like CMR. This added variation can sometimes be a challenge for the team, Danielson says.

“It almost makes the holiday some years a tougher tournament than the state tournament, just because you get to see those kids from C and B and A…. because you see every class of school, he said.”

The Holiday helps to prepare the team for the more important tournaments later on in the season.

“It gears you up. You really start to get ready for the bigger tournaments that mean a lot more as far as the season’s progression goes.”

Upcoming Games Looking for a way to get out there and support Coach Rocha and the freshman teams? You’ve come to the right place.

Freshman Girls: • Dec. 17 in Helena at 7:15 p.m.

• Dec. 19 in Missoula at 4 p.m.

• Jan. 2 at CMR at 4:30 p.m.

• Jan. 5 at CMR at 7:30 p.m.

• Jan. 9 at CMR at 4:30 p.m.

• Jan. 12 at CMR at 7:30 p.m.

Freshman Boys: • Dec. 17 at CMR at 5:45 p.m.

• Jan. 2 in Helena at 11:15 a.m.

• Jan. 5 in Helena at 4:30 p.m.

• Jan. 9 in Butte CC at 1 p.m.

• Jan. 14 at GFH at 4 p.m.

Top: The wrestling team works hard during practice. Above: Coach Aaron Jensen consults his wrestling team before practice. Photos by Joshua Botti-Anderson.

Sports

December 17 2015

As the season changes, so does the sport Multi-sport athletes transition from fall to winter athletics

by Mackenzie George, sports editor Junior Zuzu Rudio spends a lot of time in the CMR Fieldhouse. For most of the fall, she can be found playing volleyball for the Rustlers.

When the leaves change color and snow begins to fall, Rudio trades her knee pads for basketball shoes.

It is an adjustment, but Rudio said she enjoys it.

“Volleyball is a lot more skill and technique, while basketball is a lot more running and fast-paced teamwork,” Rudio said.

This year, Rudio competed on the varsity team for volleyball. She also has a spot as a guard on the varsity basketball squad. Rudio is just one of many athletes making the switch from one sport to another.

Another junior is also participating in basketball after a long fall season. Alex Cunningham started at outside linebacker on the varsity football team this year.

Now he’s on the JV basketball team, which opened the season with an away game at Glacier on Dec. 10, where JV won by two points.

Cunningham is enjoying the season.

He said it’s hard to pick a favorite between football and basketball.

“It really depends what season we’re in,” Cunningham said. “When it’s football, it’s football all the way, but during basketball, it’s basketball all the time.”

Transitioning from football to basketball has been a challenge because of how different the sports are. Cunningham said conditioning is much different in the winter than

in the fall.

“During football, you go hard for five to 15 seconds, but for basketball, you have to be sprinting for eight minutes [at a time].”

Rudio has high hopes for the team this season, especially after the success of the volleyball team. The varsity girls’ team got their first win of the season on Dec. 12 when the defeated Havre 48-37.

“It was very exciting for volleyball, improving from last year to this year, so I’m very excited to see us take a big leap in basketball [as well],” Rudio said.

23

By the Numbers

sports news from around CMR Bottom left: Junior Zuzu Rudio waits for a referee’s call during the Dec. 11 game against Glacier. Below: Rudio prepares for a hit during the volleyballl season. Photos by JJ Mitchell.

Coach Crosby draws up plays during a timeout on Dec. 11. Photo by JJ Mitchell.

48-37

Score in girls basketball win against Havre on Dec. 12.

1:05.91

Sophomore Oliva Bauman’s 100 meter freestyle win against Havre on Dec. 12.

3-2

Wrestlers’ record on Dec. 1112. They defeated Columbia Falls, Glacier, and Sidney before falling to Skyview and Butte.

17

Points put up by sophomore Sam Vining in Rustlers’ Dec. 12 loss to Havre.

Left: Junior Alex Cunningham plays defense during the football season. Above: Cunningham guards a Missoula Sentinel player during the Dec.15 game. Photos by Sophie Aron.

A view from

by Carli Dieruf, editor-in-chief On Dec. 11, hundreds of people gathered into the fieldhouse for the first varsity basketball game of the season. Seniors joined together in the front row of the stands with their signs, supporting their friends who were getting ready to play against the Glacier Wolfpack. Senior Cali Carter joined a large group of people to cheer on their friends.

“It was such a fun and intense game,” Carter said. “The crowd was so rowdy.”

The Key Club ran the concession stands, a few people walked around the stands and sold 50-50 tickets, and cheerleaders and Wranglers

Sophomore Addison Gardner and senior Briana Brown drive to the hoop during the Glacier game on Dec. 11. The bench waits for a shot to go up. Players call for the ball during the second half.

Photos by Carli Dieruf.

courtside

practiced their kicks and dances before the game began.

“The game was just crazy,” Carter said. “It was such an intense game. It’s never been like that. It was such a ‘neck to neck’ competition; you could feel the tension on the court and in the crowds.”

The Rustler girls lost the game by one point (49-48), but the game was fair and well played.

Both teams worked hard and proved that they had practiced well.

“I can’t wait for more games like this. Our girls play so well. This is just the beginning.”

Before the game, Color Guard represents the colors, ending with a loud cheer from the student body. The cheerleaders line up and cheer for the team as they each individually run through, getting ready for the game, and the dance team performs for the crowd during half-time on Dec. 11. Photos by Carli Dieruf.