Volume LXXXVI November 19, 2020 Issue II 510 13th St. Cullman, AL 35055
The Fall/Winter Edition 112 School Days Until Graduation!
Winter Playlist
What’s Wrong with Our Education System?
Bella Cottingham, Co-Editor
Bella Cottingham, Co-Editor
Hibernation Harmonies Issues with the American Education System 1. “Fantasy” -Alina Baraz 2. “instagram” -DEAN 3. “Everytime” -boy pablo 4. “Softly” -Clairo 5. “Born and Raised” -John Mayer 6. “Upside Down” -Jack Johnson 7. “Flightless Bird, American Mouth” -Iron & Wine 8. “Coffee” -BTS 9. “Sunday Morning” -Maroon 5 10. “Cherry Wine - Live” -Hozier 11. “I Guess I Just Feel Like” -John Mayer 12. “The Only Exception” -Paramore 13. “Cigarette Daydreams” -Cage the Elephant 14. “John Brown’s Body” -Gregory Alan Isakov 15. “My Cell” -The Lumineers
Click here for the link!
Features: 1-5
When you google which country has the best education system, the U.S is usually at the top of the list. However, when you take a closer look, our education system is lacking in many aspects, and the main priority of many schools isn’t always what it should be- the students’ education. Although there are many areas in which the American Education System is insufficient, here are just a few that have caught my attention recently. To begin, something that has always bothered me is how much we are taught in schools that we can easily go to a computer and google. Moreover, how much time is spent teaching those things. I mean, I’ve practically been taught the same time frame in history for the past three years. That’s spending nearly 9 months per year on basically the same information, which by the way, can easily be found on the internet. Pretty much any math or science concept can be explained through a YouTube video. Even so, students are still being taught the same curriculum their parents and grandparents were. Our world is changing so fast and with that, new technology is being released daily. It’s 2020, and many teachers are still not allowing the use of calculators on some homework and tests; I think it’s time we take advantage of our society’s technological advances. In the real world, when are you ever going to be in a situation where you have to solve a math problem and don’t have your phone or a calculator? Many schools across the U.S aren’t thinking about what students will face once they graduate and are put in real-world situations. I know that withholding the use of calculators and teaching math we will probably never use after leaving high school is meant to help students
Sports: 6-7
with “problem solving”, but why don’t they just teach us real problem solving skills or perhaps logic and reasoning instead of showing us how to find the area of a trapezoid by hand? Another similar question is why students aren’t taught things we will actually need to know in life such as personal finance and relationships? I mean, yeah, I can solve a math problem using the quadratic formula or tell you all about the Revolutionary War, but when it comes to real world things like paying bills, I’ve got nothing. I’m not saying that history and math should be completely thrown out; they are important topics to be aware of, but they shouldn’t be the only things we learn in school. We spend approximately 4,320 hours at school during a school year (in Alabama; the rest of the country varies but is about the same.) That is A LOT of time for students to spend being educated, and to be honest, a lot of it is wasted. Young people in this country have so much potential but we are greatly hindered by how poorly we are educated. Another issue is prioritization of rank and state testing over actually teaching and ensuring that students fully understand the content. School basically consists of students learning something, taking a test, and repeating that process. I’ve had teachers who don’t even go over the tests (giving tests back to students and reviewing what was missed). I mean, if you don’t do that, was it even important if we grasped the information and understood it, or just that we memorized enough to make an A on the test? Another big issue related to this is the emphasis on standardized testing in the United States. This is arguably the most important issue pertaining to the education system. Most schools
Campus News: 8-10
in the U.S are judged based on student test scores, which isn’t an effective measure of success. The pressure schools have to produce high test scores easily leads to the teach-to-the-test approach and lack of focus on non-tested subjects such as art, music, and drama. To end on a less prominent issue, a more specific area our Education system is lacking is Foreign language. Why isn’t foreign language taught in Elementary school when it’s proven that the older you get, the more difficult it is to learn and speak a new language fluently? Studies have shown that the best age to learn a second language is 10 and that children under the age of 10 can more easily absorb information and remember it. So why are students in the U.S only offered (it’s not required) foreign language in high school? Learning and becoming proficient in any foreign language has an abundance of long-lasting cognitive benefits; it builds mental flexibility, superiority in concept formation, boosts brain power, improves memory, and also improves one’s native language. These are all things that would help prepare young people for college and for things they will face in the real world. It’s evident that significant changes need to be made concerning the American Education System. The way that young people today are educated and what they are taught is so important for the future success of the entire planet, and the way in which it is currently being presented just isn’t good enough.
Entertainment: 11-16
2features
The New Supreme Court Justice Controversy in the Supreme Court Ava Burns, Staff Writer
809 2nd Avenue SE, Cullman, AL 35055 Offering: color, haircuts, waxing, threading, gel manicures, and special occassion hair and makeup!
Pictured above is Amy Coney Barrett.
You might have seen in the news that Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18th, 2020, so who will take her place? Who will fill the seat of the equal rights icon that once sat there? Amy Coney Barret, a conservative originalist whose confirmation has been hotly debated recently. Amy Coney Barrett is a teacher and judge from New Orleans whose confirmation on October 26th has tipped the court. There has been a long-standing liberal lean in the supreme court, but after Ginsburg’s death, there was almost no hope for the left to keep that lean. Donald Trump nominated Barrett not even a week after RBG died, trying to get his last nomination confirmed before the election.
However, the ‘power grab’ he called it, was successful. So let’s take a look at the New Supreme Court Justice. Barrett has only been a judge for three years and a law teacher at Notre Dame for 15. She worked as a law clerk for the laten Antonin Scalia for one year in 1998, and her judicial philosophy aligns with his but is slightly more conservative.
Pictured above is the late Antonin Scalia
Some of those decisions and her personal opinions have been controversial about women’s rights, as well as LGBTQ+ rights. She refused to take a side on the recent questions on a peaceful transfer of power, voter intimidation, abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, and other topics during her confirmation hearings.Quite a shift from Ginsburg who fought for equal rights her entire life, even aiding Obama in signing in the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
Pictured above is the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Many on the left find this action to be hypocritical after Mitch McConnel denied Obama’s nomination, explaining that there was not enough time between elections. There were almost eight months in that case, and this nomination had only one. Alabama senator Doug Jones even said the confirmation “Has been one of the most blatantly hypocritical in the history of the Senate”.
Barrett is known to have deep religious faith and that faith can be seen in some of her court decisions. Diane Feinstein said in 2017 that her religious dogma lives loudly within her. Impartiality should be key when deciding on issues such as equal rights; after all, the founding fathers came to America to escape religious persecution.
Recently, however, she has insisted she is capable of having no personal opinion on an issue as well as adhering to and applying the written law to cases. Some think this is due to the spotlight which has just been shown on her, but others believe that she has always reserved her opinions. In the end, the Senate was split on this issue. All but one Republican voted to confirm her and all Democrats voted no, 52-48 was the final vote in favor of Republicans.
Pictured above is Barrett Being sworn in by her fellow justice Clarence Thomas the morning of October 26th as President Donald Trump watches beside them
Overall, there is not an overwhelming amount of evidence to prove either side of the argument, it just depends on your personal political beliefs. I recommend gathering information from many different sources to form your own opinion, not just listening to the people on CNN or Fox News. Someone reading this article could become an office holder someday, but if not, doing your civic duties is still one of the most important things you can do in life. Only time will tell if Justice Barrett will make the right decisions on the supreme court, and we are all hoping for the best.
Features Biden Wins!
2020 Election Recap Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor
270 Electoral College votes needed to win Joe Biden: 306 Electoral College votes, 79,689,838 popular votes Donald Trump: 232 Electoral College votes, 73,705,617 popular votes
161 million total votes
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4FEATURES Genuinely Grateful
Ways of showing thankfulness Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor Although the holidays might look different this year, we are all looking forward to having time with family. Family is often something that we take for granted, but showing your family how much they mean to you is always important. The holidays are not only a great time to catch up with family, but it is also a great opportunity to give back to the community and make someone else’s Thanksgiving or Christmas just as special as your own. So here are a few ways to show thankfulness to loved ones and to your fellow Cullmanites during this upcoming holiday season.
1.) Make a Tasty Treat/Share a Meal Most people believe that it is easy to get to someone’s heart if you go through their stomach. Cooking a meal for or with someone special is a great way to spend quality time with them and it is a great way to visit and catch up with friends and family. Whether you want to make a fun fall dessert, an entire Thanksgiving spread, or you simply go out for a meal together, giving those you love time to talk over a nice meal is a simple way to enjoy being together. A meal may last for a few hours or even just a few minutes, but it is always a thoughtful and effective way to show your loved ones how much you care about them.
ily
2.) Spend Time with Your Fam-
Especially during this pandemic, our world is lacking in quality time. Our sense of unity, family, and togetherness now exists in the world of Facetime, Zoom, and Google
Meet. But over the holiday break, most families will travel to see each other and plan special things in order to spend time together. This pandemic has truly made family time a necessity. So this holiday season, make an effort to spend time with your family; you can do simple things like watching a movie together, going for a walk or a car ride together, or maybe even preparing for the holidays by putting up fun decorations together. But this year, it is especially important to cherish family time and make the most of the holiday breaks with them.
3.) Be encouraging and give lots compliments Being kind and giving compliments is definitely the easiest way to show appreciation. Kindness and encouragement are particularly important during this pandemic. We all need to be appreciated and praised from time to time, but especially during this period of isolation, it is important to remind each other what we mean to one another. All of us have been deprived of simple words of affirmation at times, but the pandemic has created even more of a gap. Since we have all been trying to stay as safe and healthy as possible, most of us have not seen some friends and family members since the beginning of the year. If you plan to see your extended family this holiday season, be kind and tell them how much they really mean to you. of
4.) Volunteer at a Community and/or Service Event The holiday season is a great time to get in some community service hours. Not only are you earning service hours, but you are truly giving back to your commu-
nity. Opportunities are everywhere, several simple ones are at Cullman High School. The National Honor Society is currently planning their annual Thankful Neighbor Project; members give up their time to create a special gift for the twenty-four neighbors that live around Cullman High School. Spanish Club hosts the annual Guatemala Shoebox Project, where members are encouraged to collect items to send off to needy children in Guatemala. Other clubs like HOSA Future Health Professionals often get involved in this event as well. Although service hours are important, it is also important to have a positive, and selfless attitude while completing them. Service should not be about self gain or self glorification. Service is supposed to be about giving back to the community. This year, think about others and volunteer to help at a community or service event.
5.) Pay for Someone’s Meal, Groceries, Christmas Gifts, etc. A common thing for people to do from time to time is to “pay it forward”. Whether it be in a drive thru line or at a grocery store, paying it forward means that you pay for the person’s purchases who is behind you in line. Usually once someone starts paying it forward, it tends to spread to even more people. It is an easy way to show appreciation to those in your community, and what better time to express thankfulness than during a pandemic? Paying it forward is never expected, but it is always appreciated; you never know how a simple act of kindness can change someone’s day, week, month, or year. Bigger acts of thankfulness may include paying for a family’s Christmas gifts. In our world today, we often take the blessing of getting Christmas gifts for granted; it has simply become something that we expect every year. However, many families in Cullman constantly
struggle with finances, and the holiday season tends to be even more expensive. Some families cannot afford to buy Christmas gifts for their kids. If you have the financial ability to pay for someone’s Christmas gifts this year, stop by the CHS Guidance office and learn how you can help out.
ty
6.) Make a donation to a chari-
Most people are strapped around the holidays because of extra expenses like presents, big meals, and trips. But those who are less fortunate struggle even more. The holidays are meant to be a time of rest, peace, joy, and celebration. However, financial problems make it very stressful and chaotic for some people. Due to issues such as these, local and national charities tend to ask for more help and donations towards the end of the year. It is vital for Cullman to stay united as a community at all times, but this year has shown us just how important it really is. It is our responsibility to help each other out. So this year, make a point to get involved with a charity or nonprofit organization. A few local nonprofits, like Curt’s Closet and The Foundry, are collecting clothes and warm apparel; other organizations, such as Cullman Caring for Kids, ask for donations. The Link of Cullman also hosts a food drive around this time of the year. Bigger service opportunities around Cullman include Operation Christmas Child, which is hosted by several local churches every year, and the Guatemala Shoebox Project, which takes place at Cullman High School and is headed up by Mrs. McCutcheon. Both of these projects collect and send items to children in third world countries. It is always important to be involved in community activities and show support for each other. But the holidays present a special opportunity to come together. This year, find a way to donate to a charity and give back to the less fortunate.
FEATURES
Homemade Gift Ideas for the Holidays
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DIY presents for your pals Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer With the holidays coming up there are so many people to give a present, but of course you don’t want to get everyone the same thing. Here are some amazing homemade gift ideas for this holiday season! 1.) Bubble Bath Gift Box This present is amazing for that hardworking person in your life! We could all use a little pampering after this hectic year!!
2.) Mason Jar Candle Gift Everyone loves a good holiday scented candle, so that’s why I bring this wonderful gift to you. It’s an amazing gift for your mom or your mom friend!
Guest Artist
“Walking in the Rain” Anna Haynes, Guest Artist
The original painting is by Jay Lee. He has a YouTube channel called Jay Lee Painting. Anna Haynes painted it after seeing it online because she loved it.
3.) Cookie Mix Gift Bag This is a “sweet” gift to give to all of those people you know who love to bake!
6.) Witty Gloves These gloves are super cute and you can make them to fit your personality with your favorite sayings!
4.) Oatmeal Cinnamon Soap The soap will go great with that DIY Bubble Bath gift box! It smells amazing and everyone will love it!
7.) DIY Family Sign I’ve made this gift for my family before and they loved it! Everyone will love it, and it’s such a sweet moment the day you can give it to your family.
5.) One Minute Mug Cake Another sweet treat for those in your life who have a sweet tooth, or just work so hard everyday and just need something easy to snack on, is this gift!! It’s super easy and all you do is get the mix, add water, and heat it up in the microwave!
8.) DIY Hand Warmer This one is perfect for those really cold days! You can add any scent you like! This gift is very creative for the holiday season!
9.) Snack Basket This would be the best one for one of your friends!! Just get all of their favorite snacks and candy and put them in a cute basket and you’re good to go!
10.) DIY Photo Coasters This gift is also another sweet gift for the family! Just gather all of your favorite pictures and mod podge them on!
6S p o r t s Bearcat Stats
CHS football by the numbers Jennifer Calahan, Staff Writer
11 8 253 35 65 148 10 11
Number of games played
Number of games won
Number of points scored by the BEARCATS
Number of points gained by field goals and extra points
Number of varsity players
Number of points scored by opposing teams
Number of passing touchdowns
Number of rushing touchdowns
Coaches and Players, Thank you all for an exciting and successful season!
Volleyball Wrap-Up
2020 accomplishments of our CHS girl’s volleyball team Isabella Phillips, Staff Writer This year has been an amazing year for wins and awards for the Cullman Volleyball team. Our talented team won back to back games this year, competing in matches all over Alabama. The team has seen much success this year, winning runner up in the area championship, winning their pre-regional games, and making it to this year’s regionals! They have also seen individual success this year with juniors Gracie Barksdale and Kaina Thomas making the 2020 AllState Teams. Senior Ashlen Heatherly reflects back on her last year of volleyball, stating that “being on the team has been such a blessing these past 4 years… We all create such a big wbond with each other and it is so hard knowing that I am leaving one of
the best programs I have been a part of.” Congratulations to the Cullman Volleyball girls for having such a successful year!
Hoopin’ It Up with the Cats!!
SPORTS
An interview with the stars of basketball Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer With basketball season coming around the corner, I decided to ask some players about this season and how well they think it’ll go. Despite Covid getting in the way of everything, our players seem super excited about this upcoming season. Here are some of the responses I got! Q.) What games are you looking forward to this season? Q.) When is the first basketball game? Q.) Due to Covid restrictions how do you think the crowds will turn out? Q.) Do you have any pre-game rituals? If so, what is it? Q.) Do you think this season will be a good one for the cats? Q.) How do you think the team is similar from last and how is it different?
Senior-Jaden Orr (Varsity Boys): A.) “Hartselle and Austin” A.) “November 10 at Brewer” A.) “With our home games now moved to Wallace until Christ-
mas, I think we should have about the same amount since it is a bigger arena.” A.) “I always listen to music, stretch, and get a prayer in before we start.” A.) “Yes I do. We have a lot of potential with many players coming back with experience and some new players coming in. We should be able to make a run this year.” A.) “I think we’re different in the fact that we are a more athletic team and we are a very deep team. Everyone can play at a high level. We are the same in the fact that we have many people returning with experience.”
Senior-Hannah Hoffman (Varsity Girls): A.) “Hartselle game” A.) “November 10th I believe” A.) “I think it’ll be somewhat the same but more people will watch online than usual.” A.) “Going to get food with my
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team” A.) “Of course” A.) “We don’t have a few key players but we definitely are able to fill in the gaps they left. I think it’ll be a good year for the lady bearcats.”
change in leadership, I feel like the seniors are doing a lot more than last year just getting the team involved and leading during practice.”
Junior-Tucker Gambrill (Varsity Boys): A.) “I am mostly looking forward to the Hartselle game!! It’s always a great turnout and fun to play in.” A.) “November 10th at brewer” A.) “COVID has changed a lot but I still think our crowds will be awesome no matter what” A.) “My only pre-game ritual is talking to Jaden Orr about how bad we are going to beat the opposing team.” A.) “I think the cats will have a great season. We have a lot of talent and experience.” A.) “The teams are very different in many ways including a
Junior- Stella Smith (Varsity Girls): A.) “Hartselle and Brewer because those are both always good games” A.) “November 10“ A.) “There probably won’t be a lot of people but there normally isn’t at girls games anyway lol” A.) “Hype circle in the locker room” A.) “For sure” A.) “This years team is a lot closer this year than others. we’re all super close”
8 CAMPUS
NEWS
Calendar
Shifting Schdules
Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief
Jennifer Calahan, Staff Writer
Dec. 10th CHS Band Christmas Concert Dec. 12th ACT at CHS Dec. 15th-18th Semester Exams Dec. 21st-Jan. 4th Christmas Break Jan. 5th Second Semester Begins Jan. 18th Martin Luther King Holiday (no school) Jan. 18th-23rd CHS Theatre Production Feb. 5th Big Band Dance @ Stonebridge Feb. 6th ACT @ CHS Feb. 15th President’s Day Holiday (no school)
Mark your calendar in pencil! You may be wondering how we will be able to take semester exams; however, be assured that exams we will take! Mrs. Hall shared the new exam plan with teachers, and the plan offers a day of virtual review as well as a day between odd and even periods for individual exam preparation. The exemption policy also was revised in order to make exemption of an exam reflect mastery of course content based on each student’s grade in that course and to not discriminate for attendance that might have been an issue with connectivity issues when online meetings were required. We all know that 2020 brought with it months of adjustments, and schedules were and continue to be a constantly shifting plan. With that understanding, please mark your calendars with the schedule for semester exams (in pencil, of course), and always check your school email for the latest updates.
What about second semester? Well, the answer is uncertain. As of now, Cullman High School plans to remain on the current Hybrid Schedule. However, if 2020 has taught us anything, it is that plans can and will change. After exams are complete, relax and enjoy some time away from daily schedules and screen time because when January 5th arrives, Cullman High School will open its doors and Google Meets for a new semester of learning. How that daily schedule will be set may change—keep up with your school emails so you will be present and counted. Stay healthy, Bearcats!
Shining Bright
A look into the theatre department’s plans to perform Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief Everything is very odd for every group on campus at this time due to the mask-wearing and the social distancing measures that are in place, but things get especially weird when it comes to the theatre department. For the first show of the year, they plan to do Bright Star. You may recognize that title, as it is the show that they were rehearsing for their spring performance before school was shut down last year. Things are looking much different with the show than they were last year, however. For instance, all of the blocking (in theatre, blocking is the precise staging of actors to facilitate the performance) must be done six feet apart to maintain social distancing. This has caused a few problems that have never been dealt with before now. Laci New says of this new way of doing things, “The blocking is very different from last year, but everyone is adapting well and it is allowing the entire cast to be more creative and come up with ways to have the illusion of closeness
without actually being close.” She is the leading female actress in this show as Alice Murphy. Mary Claire Page mentions the difficulties that come with socially distanced blocking, “Socially distanced blocking is really difficult. It’s hard to create the relationships between characters while standing six feet apart. It’s a challenge, but it isn’t going to stop us from doing what we love!” She portrays Margo Crawford, book store owner and love interest to Billy Cane (played by Devon Campbell). Another change from the way of prior operation is mask-wearing. Everyone is now required to wear a mask while rehearsing, causing a few issues with singing and projection (the strength of speaking or singing whereby the voice is used loudly and clearly), as well as conveying the emotion of the moment. Laci New comments on this, “Wearing masks during rehearsal was a real struggle at first, singing was difficult and it was hard to hear other peo-
ple, but after a while, we really got out of our comfort zone and learned how to be louder (which is never a bad thing for the stage) and learned how to express our feelings with our eyes and movements. It’s been really hard, but has also been a great learning experience and a fair price to pay in order to keep everyone safe and still be able to do what we love.” While these changes present a major challenge, it is nothing that these talented students can’t handle. After school rehearsals began on November 2nd and will continue until their performance week in January. They will perform multiple shows between January 21st and January 24th; however, what kind of audience they are able to have has not been decided yet. There are many factors that will be up in the air until then that determine how the performances will occur. For now, the theatre students will keep moving forward and rehearsing as hard as they possibly can!
Campus News Guide to Exam Prep
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The best studying tips
Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer You know it’s time for us to go on Christmas break when everyone’s “favorite” time of the school year rolls around: exam time. Let’s admit no one really likes taking exams that much because we’re all ready for the holidays. So that’s why I decided to help out the students at CHS and tell you guys about the best ways to study for exams. Here are 10 ways to help you study better for exams!! 1.) While studying, take notes on the important things your teachers have pointed out 2.) Drink lots of water while studying. Your brain works faster when you drink water! 3.) Take breaks while studying. Give your brain time to rest and process everything! 4.)Read your quizlet or study guide out loud. This will help you memorize the material better!! 5.) Don’t wake up too early to
study! If you decide to do this, however, make sure to go to bed early the night before. If you go to bed late and and wake up early to study, it messes with your memory. 6.)Turn off your phone! I know this is a hard one but it can be very distracting while you’re trying to study. 7.)Watch videos. If you do this make sure they’re really good videos that actually help you understand more about the material. This is a good one if you’re tired of reading a worksheet over and over again!! 8.) Use different colors while taking notes. I do this all the time and it’s really helpful in memorizing the work because of the color you’ve used. 9.) Use online study tools, like a quizlet!! We all know about quizlet by now, but this really is a life saver if you’re reviewing before your exam!! 10.)Reward yourself when
Coach Hopper Update Friday Night Frights Ava Burns, Staff Writer
On Friday, September 25th, 2020, Coach Hopper suffered a heart attack on the field during the game against Mars Hill. He had been experiencing chest and elbow pain during the second quarter, and what the other coaches thought could be corona, turned out to be a heart attack. It was a Widow Maker heart attack, which caused almost 100% blockage in the artery. Luckily a nurse, Elizabeth Dueland, was in the crowd and jumped into action to assist the coach. He had to undergo surgery at the hospital but was released that Monday and came to practice on Tuesday to see his players.
He remained conscious and even walked himself into the ambulance. He says he’s feeling as good as he did 2 months ago now, but he is taking a break from coaching. He plans to return in January, hopefully, when Coronavirus calms down. You’ve impacted your players’ lives in ways you can’t imagine coach, the stories I’ve heard from your players are all glowing. We are all wishing you the best and for a speedy recovery!
you get the answer right while studying. This helps you give something to work towards. It’s definitely a good excuse to go on tik tok for a bit!!
CHS Unsung Heroes Special thanks for those working behind the scenes Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief The Hilight Staff wants to say a special thank you to all of our Custodians and Lunchroom Staff for always working extremely hard throughout the year. From the Custodians working as hard as they can to keep our school clean and Covid-19 free, to our Lunchroom staff making sure that we have lunch during the days we are here and the days we aren’t, these individuals deserve some recognition. When you pass them in the hallways, I encourage you to offer a smile and a thank you for the hard work they consistently put in for us.
CHS Custodians: Randy Wood Randy Sweatmon Bobby Hill Karen Allbritten Perry Allbritten Patricia Talley Patrick Riley CNP: Charlene Booker Christa White Kim Overton Tracy Wilson Shannon Erwin
10 C a m p u s
news
A Covid Homecoming
Your 2020 homecoming week recap Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor
to hopefully make up these lost events during the second semester if restrictions would allow it. In place of these events, however, SGA worked very hard to put on other fun events like movie night, Just Dance and Mario Kart competitions, a City Scavenger Hunt, a cake decorating contest, and a cornhole tournament.
Pictured: The Final 2020 Homecoming Leaderboard
Although this year has shifted our view of what school looks like, we were all hoping that homecoming would be somewhat normal. Every year we look forward to all of the planning and anticipation that goes into costumes, and games, and other events like the lip sync battle. Even in a normal year, homecoming is a cherished tradition at Cullman High School. However, our 2020 homecoming was very different than we pictured it to be. Going into the week, it had already been announced that normal events such as the lip sync battle, powderpuff, seven on seven, ultimate frisbee, quidditch, and the bonfire had been cancelled; these events had been moved to Spring Fling, a week
Photo credits to Todd Thompson
Homecoming began on Sunday with the start of the City Scavenger Hunt and the Virtual Costume Contest. The theme for this year’s dress up days was Please Don’t Stop the Music; Monday was Blinding Lights, or neon day, Tuesday was Surfin’ USA, aka beach or America day, Thursday was Sign of the Times, decade day, and Friday was Fight Song Friday, or black and gold day. Monday kicked the week off with the start of this year’s homecoming service project, the Footloose Shoe Drive for Kurt’s Closet, the cake decorating contest, the cornhole tournament, and neon day. Monday was followed up by
another great day on Tuesday, which included Surfin’ USA day and the first homecoming lawn chair movie night; students brought their favorite lawn chair and snack to watch the featured movie Back to the Future. Although Wednesday was a virtual day for all students, some were still able to participate in the Mario Kart and Just Dance tournaments that day. The week wrapped up with the end of the shoe drive and the City Scavenger Hunt, and decade day on Thursday, along with black and gold day on Friday. Sadly, students were informed on Tuesday, October 26th, that the homecoming football game against Columbia that was set for that Friday night had been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. The game was pushed back to Thursday, October 29th, homecoming court was pushed back to Friday, October 23rd, and the homecoming pep rally and field day were pushed back to Friday, October 16th.
Although we were all disappointed that the homecoming game was rescheduled, it was fun to have a three-week-long homecoming this year. The homecoming pep rally was the first one of the year; it was held on the football field and students still had the opportunity to participate in the modified Mega Relay and cheer for the spirit stick. Sadie Young was crowned the 2020 Homecoming Queen the following week. Even though we missed our traditional homecoming this year, it was still a week that everyone enjoyed. We are all so grateful for the work and planning put in by SGA and the Cullman community during the week; it will definitely be a time that we will never forget, and we can’t wait to see what Spring Fling holds for us next semester.
Pictured: 2020 Homecoming Queen, Sadie Young, and her escort, Brennen Norton Photo credits to Todd Thompson
entertainment
Christmas Getting a Little Boring?
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Holiday movies to watch this year Isabella Phillips, Staff Writer It’s finally that time of year again to pull out all your comfiest blankets and dig through stacks of CDs to find that perfect holiday movie. Cycling through the same holiday movies can get repetitive fast, especially after seeing the Polar Express for the 10th year in a row. Here is a beginners list of some amazing holiday movies that deserve a little bit more love this holiday season. 1. You’ve Got Mail (1998) A classic 1998 romantic comedy that centers around two booksellers who fall into an online romance that’s kept completely anonymous. Outside of their internet personas, they are both unknowingly fierce business rivals, unknowing of each other’s true identity. This feel-good comedy is centered around the Thanksgiving season and is perfect for getting cozy and watching with friends or family during your Thanksgiving break. Where to watch: Vudu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime 2. Garfield’s Thanksgiving (1989) A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving can get repetitive for the 1000th year in a row. But Garfield’s Thanksgiving serves as a great
alternative to everyone’s favorite animated movie, all while still providing that warm nostalgic feeling of an old cartoon. Where to watch: Youtube, Amazon Prime
3. A Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) The 4th feature film to star the muppets, A Muppet Christmas Carol is a fun twist on the classic holiday story A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This movie stars Ebenezer Scrooge played by Michael Caine and features supporting roles played by Kermit The Frog, Rizzo, and Gonzo the Great. This movie never fails to put anyone in the Christmas mood and also features one of the best soundtracks that makes you catch yourself singing it all year long. Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon
Here We Come A-Caroling Top 4 Christmas Songs Presley Lafon, Staff Writer
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” - Mariah Carey
“It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” - Andy Williams
“Jingle Bell Rock” - Bobby Helms
“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” - Brenda Lee
Prime, DIRECTV
4. Klaus (2019) This Netflix original movie tells the story of a selfish and outcast postman who is to be stationed on a remote island where mail hasn’t been received in years. Upon arrival, the main character meets a toymaker and an origin story is born. This movie makes for an instant holiday classic with its beautifully animated scenes and amazingly well-developed characters that make this movie perfect for all ages. Where to watch: Netflix
5. Tokyo Godfathers (2003) This Japanese Animated movie serves as a more unconventional holiday movie, but amazing nonetheless. The story centers around 3 misfit homeless people who discover an orphaned baby on Christmas Eve and search the streets of Tokyo for help in returning the baby to its parents. This unique slice-oflife story delves into topics such as discrimination, abandonment, and kindness, making it one of the deeper films on this list. Where to watch: Amazon Prime
12 e n t e r t a i n m e n t Covid Consequences The effects of Covid-19
Presley Lafon, Staff Writer and Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor The Coronavirus has undoubtedly affected everyone’s lives in some shape or fashion Whether you are a 16 year old in high school or an adult with children, you have most likely experienced the effects of this pandemic. From not being able to travel to visit family members for the holidays, to falling behind in classes due to a lack of face-to-face instruction, the impact that COVID-19 has had on people of all ages is immeasurable.
Travel Back in March, all travel was halted due to the pandemic. More than one-hundred million people working in the travel industry lost their jobs; there was an estimated $2.7 million dollar decline in travel and tourism. International travel in the United states was shut down for months, while some essential domestic travel was allowed. Many countries closed their borders to international travel, or they only allowed travelers from certain countries to enter; trips and vacations were cancelled or postponed for months. Even now, international travel is limited and CDC guidelines are strictly followed. After quarantine, however, some families made travelling plans for the summer. But trips that were originally planned for the beginning of the year looked drastically different. Many destinations out West cut down their numbers of guests allowed and functioned at less than one hundred percent capacity. Common travel destinations like Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, require that guests wear masks and socially distance throughout the parks. Because of these types of restrictions, many people opted for the less restrictive options of going on a family road trip, traveling to the beach, or simply staying at a nice hotel for a few days. Now that travel has started opening back up, airlines require passengers to wear masks throughout the flight and they no longer offer dining options on board. Some planes also allow enough room for passengers to social distance. Travel will only return to its original form with time. Until then, travel safely and be wise about where you go. Weddings The wedding industry has been majorly impacted by the Coronavirus. Many couples had to reschedule or cancel weddings that were set for last spring or summer; some were pushed back a few months or weeks, and some were pushed back to 2021. Because of this, many couples also had to change their venues. Guest lists for weddings were also majorly cut back. Because of the strictly enforced Covid-19 and social distancing guidelines, this is one of the first years that wedding guests have received an invitation or a card that regretfully uninvited them to the wedding festivities. Couples have had to seriously consider what people are the most essential to have at their wedding; some guests still are not able to attend because of traveling safety and restrictions. Furthermore, some weddings have had to only hold wedding ceremonies with no receptions. If a reception is held, many have had to remove dancing from the itinerary, and some choose to not serve food to guests. Many ceremonies and receptions are now mostly taking place outside, and some even require guests to wear masks. In the end, many brides have felt that the pressure for perfection has been lifted. Weddings have really been cut down to intimate gatherings to celebrate family and togetherness in a time of separation and isolation. Couples have really had to reconsider their priorities when planning their weddings. Grades Most, if not all, students have experienced a lack of face-to-face interaction from teachers and instructors. Whether you’re a kindergartener or a college student, school closures and limited in-person learning has created various degrees of learning loss in students of all ages. While it is hard to measure exactly how much learning loss has been created, there is no doubt that such an extreme change in routine can most certainly cause focus problems and a loss of motivation, which in turn contributes to lower grades in the classroom.
Halloween This year, many parents were wondering whether it was safe to let their kids trick or treat during the pandemic. As a result, many parents decided to do Halloween at home, which often took the form of a candy scavenger hunt, or watching a Halloween movie and eating candy and sweets. However, some families still trick or treated in person, but most planned to wear masks and gloves and social distance while trick or treating with only immediate family members. In regards to Halloween sales for retail stores, it was expected that more money will be spent on Halloween than normal this year. Because of the pandemic, Halloween was an even bigger celebration this year than in years past; it is a time to go all out and buy even more candy and create better, more extravagant, and more creative costumes. Ultimately, Halloween was one of the first major American holidays that we celebrated in the midst of a pandemic. It was a time for everyone to get their minds off of what is going on with Covid-19 and focus on family, friends, and fun. Holidays As the holidays are approaching, people all across the country are weighing the risks that may come with traveling and visiting with friends and family. Some would rather make phone calls to loved ones rather than traveling to see them in person; however, many others are already making plans to spend time with those most important to them. If you are planning to spend the holidays with extended friends and family, there are some steps you need to take in order to help protect yourself and those around you. The CDC recommends keeping gatherings as small as possible, bringing your own food and drinks, gathering outside if possible, and keeping at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and those who do not live with you. Travel can be safe this year if it is done in the most cautious manner possible. Restaurants Back in the spring, restaurants worldwide shutdown as many places issued stay at home orders and prohibited people from eating inside of restaurants. As a result, many restaurants suffered. Many were forced to shut down because of a lack of funds; thousands of people lost their jobs and unemployment rates skyrocketed. In Cullman alone, restaurants like the Red Door Cafe, Jim and Nicks, and Ruby Tuesdays closed for good. In contrast, several restaurants flourished in quarantine because they were able to efficiently adapt. Several restaurants began to offer delivery, take-out, and curbside pick-up. Even now that we are out of quarantines, most restaurants around Cullman continue to offer these different delivery options. Now, there is also an option for contactless delivery service; food is simply left outside the door for people to pick up like a package. Similarly, popular food delivery apps like Grubhub, Postmates, Doordash, and UberEats hit record-setting limits as people continually ordered from them during and following quarantine. Now that life is somewhat getting back to normal, most restaurants have reopened. However, new rules require all customers to wear masks and socially distance. Restaurants are also operating at different capacities depending on the place, with most currently operating at fifty percent occupancy rate.
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Election 2020 brought with it many obstacles, including how to have a Presidential Election during a global pandemic. COVID-19 has challenged most aspects of how a typical election-- and the events leading up to it-- normally work. Whether it is limits being placed on fundraising and campaigning, or finding different alternatives to voting at the polls, holding an election under the current events has proven to be quite a challenge. Mail-in ballots were presented as an optional replacement for in-person voting, and in most cases, a mail-in ballot had to be requested. For those that chose to vote in-person, social distancing and face coverings were required to make the process as safe as possible. The daunting task of acquiring and counting every single vote across the country will not be easy, but necessary to maintain a fair election. Sports When schools around the world shut down during the spring semester last school year, it not only affected the classroom setting, but also the spring sports season. Sports seasons for baseball, softball, girls and boys soccer, track, and golf teams were all cut short last year due to the pandemic. Although all of these sports began their seasons strong, they were never able to play past March. Over the summer, however, sports like football, volleyball, cross country, swim, and basketball were able to start practicing and conditioning again. For most teams though, masks were required, and for other teams, like football, practices were staggered with players coming in different groups at different times of the day. Now that fall sports’ seasons have started, ticket sales are limited to a certain number and spectators are encouraged to wear masks and socially distance during games for football and volleyball. Freshman cross country runner Anna Shirey said that “mostly everything stayed the same” for the cross country season this year; a few changes were made though, including temperature checks at the beginning of practices, having different practice times for the high school and middle school runners, and traveling separately to meets and team camp. Also, space for teams at cross country meets is limited, and a few courses have been changed to allow for more space between runners. Sophomore swim team member Madison Clements said that the swim team has to “spread out across the pool at practice” and “now there is only one person at each side of the lane to social distance.” Swimmers are also required to wear masks outside of the pool; some swim meets have also been cancelled due to the pandemic, including the state qualifying meet. College Applications This year, many colleges across the United States announced that they would no longer require their applicants to submit standardized test scores. Since most test dates last spring and summer were cancelled, colleges graciously accepted the fact that standardized tests were not a viable requirement to include in their applications. Colleges have also realized that some students are lacking grades and extracurriculars from the final semester of the 2019-2020 school year. As a result, many college admission boards have said that this year will focus on the importance of writing an outstanding essay and having excellent recommendation letters. In the end, college admissions counselors are still looking for students who stand out from the pack. It is still important for colleges to have well-rounded students who not only care about their grades and transcripts, but are also actively trying to make the best of the college application process in the middle of a pandemic, whatever that may look like. Homecoming This year, homecoming at CHS looked nothing like it has looked in years past. But despite the challenges the pandemic provided, we were still able to have a homecoming week that will never be forgotten. One event COVID-19 affected was the homecoming pep-rally. This year the homecoming pep-rally was held in the football stadium, where social distancing was made easier. Even though the traditional bonfire and lip-sync battle were cancelled, other events such as the drive-in movie made great additions. The unforgettable week ended in a memorable CHS victory over Muscle Shoals in a last-second field goal.
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Movie Industry The global film industry has been heavily affected by COVID-19, from halting the production of films to closing movie theatres across the country. Producing a film during the pandemic is nearly impossible because it involves massive amounts of people working in close proximity to one another. At the beginning of the pandemic, most movies being produced were immediately neglected due to the uncertainty of the virus. Movie scripts were still able to be written, but the actual filming and production processes were instantly stopped. Release dates of major films were pushed months back and actors were left very frustrated. Many production teams began brainstorming ideas about how to continue filming during very uncertain times and came up with solutions to safely continue the making of films. Since then, movie theatres have slowly been opening their doors to movie lovers all over the nation. Clubs Extracurricular activities, including several clubs, are a big part of Cullman High School. But when the school closed back in the spring, many clubs had to adjust their plans. For instance, clubs such as National Honor and Key Club had to waive the required amount of service hours required for each school year. Other organizations, like HOSA Future Health Professionals, FCCLA, and Spanish club, were not able to finish out meetings for the year. Annual competitions for HOSA Future Health Professionals and FCCLA were also cancelled. Most club meetings, however, have resumed this school year. A few clubs have met in accordance with the hybrid schedule, with half of its members attending at the beginning of the week and the other half attending the latter half of the week; members who attend are required to wear masks for the entire duration of the meeting. Some clubs also plan to meet via Zoom or Google Meet. Most clubs have also been in contact with students about plans for the upcoming year through Schoology, Remind, and email. A few clubs have also begun service projects already; HOSA Future Health Professionals successfully held a blood drive a few weeks ago and the National Honor Society collected and delivered Halloween Candy to the Folsom Center. Member participation is encouraged for all clubs at Cullman High School, but many have limited space, and now limit the number of members who are allowed to participate in each service opportunity. Even though normal club activities may look different this year, we are all very grateful that we still have the opportunity to participate and be involved. College Visits At Cullman High School, students are granted three excused absences between the fall semester of their junior year and the spring semester of their senior year to allow for college visits. But because of the pandemic, there were no college visits after March this year. However, college tours and visits have recently picked back up with the start of the semester. Although some colleges are still only allowing virtual tours, most colleges are now offering students a choice between a virtual tour or an in-person tour. Minor modifications to in-person tours include wearing masks while on campus, having a smaller size tour group in order to maintain social distancing, and limiting the number of stops made inside of buildings. Also, students who choose to tour in-person are normally not able to meet with professors face-to-face, and they are not allowed to enter classrooms. Many colleges are also limiting the number of in-person tours that they decide to give, so space fills up fast. Even though most people prefer to take an in-person tour of their selected colleges, virtual tours are another option this year. Colleges around the world are doing their best to bring a piece of the college experience to their virtual tours; many offer a 360 virtual tour of the campus, and some also offer virtual information sessions for specific areas of study and zoom meetings with university professors and admissions counselors.
14 e n t e r t a i n m e n t Gobble ‘til You Wobble Thanksgiving Recipes Presley Lafon, Staff Writer
Classic Sweet Potato Casserole Ingredients: - 2 and 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes - 2 large eggs - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon - 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1/4 cup packed brown sugar - 2 cups mini marshmallows Instructions: 1.) Start by peeling and chopping the sweet potatoes. Place in a pot and cover with water. Bring to boil over medium heat and cook until potatoes are soft. Drain well 2.) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 2-quart casserole dish and set aside. 3.) Place cooked potatoes in a large mixing bowl. Add brown sugar, butter, spices, salt, vanilla and eggs and mash with a potato masher or whip with a hand mixer. 4.) Spread the mixture in the prepared casserole dish. Top with ¼ cup of brown sugar, sprinkling it evenly over the top. 5.) Layer marshmallows in a single layer on top. 6.) Bake casserole for 12 to 15 minutes OR until the marshmallows are golden and toasted and the sides are bubbling. I always place it under the broiler for just 2 minutes to toast the topping just a bit more. You have to watch it carefully so it won’t burn. 7.) Cool casserole for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Squash Casserole Ingredients: - 3 pounds yellow squash - 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion - 1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided - 1 cup grated carrots - 1 (10 3/4-oz.) can reduced-fat cream
of chicken soup - 1 (8-oz.) container light sour cream - 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives - 1/2 cup crushed cornflakes cereal - 1/2 cup crushed French fried onions - 2 tablespoons melted butter - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper Instructions: 1.) Preheat oven to 350°. Cut squash into 1/4-inch-thick slices; place in a Dutch oven. Add onion, 1 tsp. salt, and water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook for 5 minutes; drain well, and pat squash dry with paper towels. 2.) Stir together grated carrots, next 3 ingredients, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt in a large bowl; fold in squash mixture. Spoon into a lightly greased 2-qt. oval baking dish. 3.) Stir together cornflakes and next 3 ingredients in a small bowl. Sprinkle over squash mixture. 4.) Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown, shielding with aluminum foil after 20 to 25 minutes to prevent excessive browning, if necessary. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls Ingredients: For the cinnamon roll dough: - 3/4 cup milk (whole, 2% or almond milk will all work) - 1/4 cup granulated sugar - 2 and 1/4 teaspoons quick rise yeast - 3/4 cup pumpkin puree - 1/4 cup melted butter - 1 egg, at room temperature - 4 cups bread flour - 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice - 3/4 teaspoon salt for the filling: - 2/3 cup dark brown sugar - 1 and 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon - 1/4 cup butter, at room temperature For the cream cheese glaze: - 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature - 3 tablespoons butter, at room temperature - 1/4 cup powdered sugar - 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup - Pinch of salt Instructions: 1.) Warm milk to around 110 degrees F. I like to do this by placing milk in a microwave safe bowl and microwaving it for 45 seconds. It should be like warm bath water. Transfer warm milk and sugar to the bowl of an electric mixer and sprinkle yeast on top. Stir
pumpkin puree, room temperature egg and melted butter, mixing until smooth and well combined and creamy. Next stir in bread flour, pumpkin pie spice and salt with a wooden spoon until a dough begins to form. 2.) Place dough hook on mixer and knead dough on low speed for 8-10 minutes. Dough should form into a nice ball and be slightly sticky. (If you don’t want to use an electric mixer, you can use your hands to knead the dough for 8-10 minutes on a well-floured surface.) Transfer dough ball to a large bowl greased with olive oil or nonstick cooking spray, then cover with plastic wrap and a warm towel. Allow dough to rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size. This may take more or less time depending on the humidity and temperature in your home. 3.) After dough has doubled in size, transfer dough to a well-floured surface and roll out into a 14x16 inch rectangle. Spread softened butter over dough, leaving a 1/4 inch margin at the far side of the dough. 4.) In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar and cinnamon. Use your hands to sprinkle mixture over the buttered dough, then rub the sugar into the butter. 5.) Tightly roll the dough up, starting from the 14-inch side (the smaller side) and place seam side down making sure to seal the edges of the dough as best you can. You will probably need to cut off about an inch off the ends of the dough as the ends won’t be as full of cinnamon sugar as we’d want it to be. Then cut into 1 inch sections with a serrated knife. You should get 12 rolls. I like to make dents in the dough before cutting as demonstrated in the photos, to make 12 even rolls. 6.) Place cinnamon rolls in a greased 9x13 inch baking pan. I highly recommend lining the pan with parchment paper as well, in case any of the filling ends up leaking out. Cover with plastic wrap and a warm towel and let the cinnamon rolls rise again for about 30 minutes, then preheat your oven. 7.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove plastic wrap and towel and bake the cinnamon rolls for 20-25 minutes or until just slightly golden brown on the edges. You want to under bake them a little so they stay soft in the middle, that’s why we want them just slightly golden brown. Allow them to cool for 10 minutes before frosting. Makes 12 cinnamon rolls. 8.) To make the frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer or in a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, maple syrup and salt. Beat until smooth. Spread over the pumpkin cinnamon rolls and serve! Sprinkle cinnamon rolls with a little cinnamon for a pretty look. Enjoy!
Homemade Stuffing Ingredients: - 2 lbs hearty french bread or hearty sandwich bread*, cut into 3/4-inch cubes - 2 and 1/2 - 4 and 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth - 3 large eggs - 1 tsp salt, more or less to taste - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper - 1 cup unsalted butter, diced into 1 Tbsp pieces - 2 cups chopped yellow onion - 2 cups chopped celery - 2 tsp minced garlic - 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley - 2 and 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh sage, or 2 and 1/2 tsp dried sage - 1 and 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme or 1 and 1/2 tsp dried thyme - 1 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary, or 1 tsp dried, crushed rosemary - 1 tsp dried marjarom Instructions: 1.) Dry bread cubes: preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Spread bread cubes out evenly onto two 18 by 13-inch rimmed baking sheets. 2.) Bake in preheated oven, tossing bread 3 times and rotating pans throughout baking, until bread cubes are almost fully dried through, about 45 - 60 minutes. Set aside to cool. Increase oven temperature to 375 degrees F, move oven rack to center. 3.) Mix liquids: in a liquid measuring cup whisk together 2 and 1/2 cups chicken broth with eggs, salt and pepper until well blended. Set aside. 4.) Saute veggies until tender: melt butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add celery and onion, saute until tender, about 10 - 12 minutes. Add garlic and saute 1 minute longer. 5.) Mix stuffing ingredients: Place dried bread cubes in an extra large mixing bowl. Add in parsley, sage, thyme, rosemary and marjoram. Pour in sautéed vegetable mixture and drizzle over chicken broth mixture then immediately toss. 6.) Moisten as needed: Slowly pour in more chicken broth while tossing until bread pieces are just barely soaked through. 7.) Bake: Pour mixture into a greased 13 by 9-inch baking dish. Spread into an even layer. Cover with foil and bake in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until cooked through, about 15 - 25 minutes longer. For a further browning on top you can broil just briefly.
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New Year’s Traditions Around the World How different countries celebrate New Year’s
Bella Cottingham, Co-Editor As the year 2020 is coming to an end, thank goodness, most of us will celebrate in typical American ways, such staying up till midnight with friends and family, drinking sparkling cider, eating black-eyed peas, and maybe even watching the ball drop in Times Square. However, there are many unique New Year’s traditions that different countries around the world hold that are vastly different from what we have always known. Here are a few New Year’s traditions from around the world. Spain: A common New Year’s tradition in Spain is to eat exactly twelve grapes- one at each stroke of the clock at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Each grape is representative of the good luck each month of the new year will carry. In Spain’s bigger cities such as Montreal and Barcelona, people gather in the main squares to eat their grapes together. Japan: In Japan, the new year must begin on a clean slate. Yes, cleaning is a popular New Year’s tradition in Japan. People will participate in something called oosouji, or “big cleaning.” A lot of Japanese people will deep clean their entire house to prepare for the upcoming year. They also celebrate by buying
fukubukuro, which are surprise bags that many retail stores sell. People usually don’t know what’s inside the bag. However, the bags typically sell out fast and there are lines of people waiting to buy one.
Greece: One of the most common New Year’s traditions in Greece is hanging an onion on the front door of the house on New Year’s Eve. The onion symbolizes rebirth for the New Year. On New Year’s Day, the parents will sometimes wake the children up by tapping them on the head with the onion. Pomegranates are also used for they are a sign of luck and prosperity in Greece.
Philippines: In the Philippines, round shapes are displayed around the household. The round shape represents coins to symbolize the prosperity of the new year. Families will display round shaped fruits on their dining table and some eat exactly twelve round fruits (grapes being the most common). Many people also wear polka dots for good luck.
South Korea: In South Korea, the New Years Holiday celebrated on January first is not as big of a celebration as the Lunar New Year or Seollal which usually falls in late January or early February and is celebrated by many Asain countries. During this time, gift giving is very common as are family gatherings and huge meals. Many will wear traditional hanbok which are common attire for celebrations.
Scotland: Particularly in Stonehaven, Scotland, one of the most famous Hogmanay fire festivals is held. During this festival, a parade of trained professionals swing balls of fire over their heads and toss them into the sea right before midnight. This tradition has been around for over one-hundred years and is said to be based on a pre-Christian ritual meant to ward off evil spirits.
So now you know a little more about New Years traditions around the world! Hopefully we will be able to celebrate with our own New Years traditions this year!
GMOs in Our Holiday Food
Act Natural...
Ava Burns, Staff Writer
First things first, what even are GMOs? GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism, which is when scientists take an organism and insert or take out genes to enhance it. It’s way more efficient than regular breeding and it allows new products, like RoundUp Ready corn, to be created. The biggest question that has come up with the use of this technology is if GMOs are safe to eat. How will they affect our long term health and the health of our loved ones? The answer to that question has been debated within the agricultural and scientific community for years now. Rightly so, as the food that you are having now can affect how you feel later in life and even how long you live! Many health organizations say that GMOs are safe, but some others say the exact opposite. Green America.org states
that when tested on animals, the lifespans and fertility of rats decreased while cancer and antibiotic resistance rose. Those effects on humans could be devastating for the human race. On the other hand, Ag.Perdue.Edu claims that they have seen no harmful or beneficial effect of consuming GMOs. This is mainly due to the little evidence we have on the effects of GMOs, as we have only been consuming these products for around 15 years. Either way, you have to acknowledge the indisputable benefits of GMOs, like higher crop yield on less land. Foods like the RoundUp Ready corn mentioned earlier are designed to withstand weed killers, insects, and even weather. Bt corn was modified to release a toxin to certain insects, yet it is not toxic to humans or pets/livestock. All these advantages significantly increase
the crop yield and could have a major influence on World Hunger. Think about the developing countries that don’t have a lot of land to farm on but need large amounts of food, GMOs are their solution. The only problem standing in the way of that would be the anti-GMO sentiments held by the people. As Thought.co put it, commercial growers are one of the forces behind stopping the use of GMOs in developing areas. They are only concerned with profit, not with the condition of the public. So no matter what benefits they may have, politics and Capitalism could be the demise of GMOs. So how do you feel about GMOs with the information you have just read? One student, Jakeb Gilliland, said “Without them, we won’t be able to sustain the population of coun-
tries”. I completely agree with him. I think GMOs could be a wonderful thing, I mean who wouldn’t want to solve world hunger? I think we just need to take time to get some long term data of the effects on humans.
16 e n t e r t a i n m e n t Holiday Word Search
Play this word search online at @https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/1665765 Word List: ANGEL ELF TIDINGS CHESTNUTS NUTCRACKER HOLLY FAMILY JOY CANDLE SNOW NOEL SNOWFLAKE
BELLS FAMILY PEACE MERRY CANDY CANE GINGERBREAD LIGHTS MISTLETOE GIFTS THANKFUL WINTER CANDY
Spot The Difference
See if you can spot the differences between these holiday pictures! Isabella Phillips, Staff Writer
Editor in Chief: Olivia Wood Co Editors: Isabella Cottingham Maggie Lunsford Staff Writers: Ava Burns Presley Lafon Isabella Phillips Christen Sorrow
Answer Key for last edition’s spot the diiference!
Sponsor: Ms. Calahan Opionions expressed in The Hilight do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, staff, or administration of Cullman High School or Cullman City Schools. The Hilight Cullman High School 510 Street NE Cullman, AL 35055 256-734-3923 Ext. 2045