INFLIGHT MAGAZINE: Vol 42, No. 2 (December 2015) by FHS Inflight News

December 2015 | Vol. 42, No. 2

Holiday Special | 6

Students Doing Service Year in Review Star Wars

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inflightmagazine DECEMBER 2015

editor’s letter Dear Falcons, The end of 2015 is upon us and with that, of course, comes a lot of reflection. A lot has happened in 2015, both at Foothill and in the world at large. Good things, bad things: all of it has contributed to a certainly memorable year. The back end of 2015 has not been known for uplifting stories. We’ve sat through gut wrenching reports of multiple attacks and shootings, hardships endured by Syrian refugees, and more. Certainly, 2015 hasn’t been silent in its protests and movements, joyous celebrations of humanity and deafening denials of it alike. When the time comes for 2015 to fade away and 2016 to come, we at Inflight hope that you remember what happened in the past year and take it with you. There’s a lot to be learned, and a lot yet to be experienced. Happy holidays, Falcons, and here’s to an even better 2016! Sincerely,

contents

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fhsinflight.com Inflight Staff

ADVISOR Mary Crawbuck

PHOTO EDITOR Frances Tang

EDITORS IN CHIEF Arthur Hwang Kaitlyn Wang

ARTS&ENT EDITOR Matt Lim

ONLINE EDITOR Alice Lee

NEWS EDITOR Alice Lee

Kaitlyn Wang and Arthur Hwang, Editors in Chief

SPORTS EDITOR Shawn Deluz OPINIONS EDITOR Michael Jurich FEATURES EDITOR Sofia Barrera

BUSINESS MANAGER Michael Jurich DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Tony Italiano STAFF REPORTERS Shelby Cabral Michelle Chang Megan Do Ashley Duarte Gabriele Finley Maximilian Lurye Yasmine Nickle Savannah Pace Karen Pham Liliana Tierney

Help is Closer Than You Think Our Movement Club “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem”. This quote is commonly heard and is unfortunately true. However, students at Foothill High School can help prevent or seek help through Our Movement Club. The club’s main goal is to spread awareness of suicide and depression, which can save multiple people at a time. “A lot of our objectives that we do throughout our meetings include things like spreading positivity not just to ourselves, but to other people too. We know that everyone is fighting their own battles to different degrees, so we just try to let people know that they aren't alone.” says secretary Nicole Kim(‘16). Kim also says that a way students can help is to keep a positive and open environment around school because there are a lot of times where people have a hard time opening up or expressing themselves and the least that we could do for

them is to help the feel better, safe, and supported. The president Kylie Lynch(‘16) adds “Our club focuses on random acts of kindness and love. We want to either stop depression and suicide before it starts (by lifting up people's day), and we want to support the people who are going through depression or any kind of sadness. We want to create a family dynamic at Foothill so that others see that

everyone is struggling with something and that they aren't alone. Our Movement hangs signs around school, we pass pink "You are Loved" balloons around campus, we are planning on sticking post it notes on all the mirrors to give people encouraging messages as they pass by them, and we have our sweatshirts that have the impactful logo ‘HAVE HOPE’.” For students that are currently going through depres-

Cup Controversy Starbucks Cups Create Stir Whether the company was just trying to design a more simple cup, or move away from the Christmas theme, Starbucks offended many Christians. As the years go on, people seem to be forgetting the true meaning of Christmas. Instead of seeing it as a religious holiday, many only think of presents, food, and Santa Claus. This alone enrages Christians, but the “holiday” themed cups just added to their fury. Another thing that adds to their rage is how unpopular their faith is becoming overall. The fact that the cups had no relation to the religious meaning of the holi-

news KAREN PHAM staff reporter sion/suicidal thoughts, they need reach out to a trustful person that is close to them and talk to that person, because it’s hard to overcome depression alone, especially going through that worst stages of having suicidal thoughts. It may seem like it’s a burden to ask for help, but it’s worth it in the long run, and will probably save your life. A huge event at the end of the year "Post Secret", hosted by Our Movement, does an activity where everyone anonymously wrote down a secret and put it in a box on the stage. At the end of the night, the participants spread all the secrets on the stage and everyone looks at them. The purpose of this is for people to see that they may not know who is going through this struggle, but it makes them aware that people around them face challenges too and to be kind. Our Movement meets in room A-2 every other Thursday.

SHELBY CABRAL staff reporter day made many Christians feel attacked. Although some see where the Christians are coming from, a majority of people would agree that this is an overreaction. It is not Starbucks’ job to promote Christianity. The company’s motive is to create a cup that is fitting to the season, and catches their customers’ attention. There are several other things occurring in the world right now, and the design of the new cups should not be a main focus. If Christians want their religion to become more popular, they need to take matters into their own hands and not rely on a company to do it for them. 3

TURKEY TROT

AVID MILITARY DRIVE

Foothill’s Annual Turkey Trot returned on November 20th. Each member then ran one lap around the track, competing to be in the top three. The three Foothill’s sophomore AVID class fastest teams in the competitive and hosted a Military Drive this November. noncompetitive division were awarded Students set up bags around school, prizes such as pies, gift cards, or movie where everyone was able to bring tickets. The three teams who brought nonperishable food, like beef jerky, the most cans were also awarded. This toiletries, and entertainment items event, hosted by National Honor Socisuch as sudoku and playing cards. ety, had over fifty participating teams “Foothill students were able to collect who raised 1,503 cans for the Davis St. six full grocery bags full of items for Family Resource Center. ”The turnout the military,” said AVID 10 and health at the Turkey Trot was better than we teacher Stephanie Asturias. The doanticipated. But more importantly, we nated items have been turned into care are so thankful for everyone who parpackages that the Pleasanton Military ticipated in the Turkey Trot,” said NHS Families sent to troops overseas, like in Secretary, Lena Tieu (‘16). Afghanistan.

CANNED FOOD DRIVE Leadership students hosted a canned food drive from November 10th to 20th. During this week and a half, students were encouraged to bring non-perishable food to their third period class. Each class had a designated paper bag, complete with a list of what to bring, to put their donations in. As an incentive to bring in more cans, leadership treated the class that collected the most cans to a doughnut party. Foothill students donated a total of 450 cans and math teacher Jessica Bisagno’s third period class won the competition, with social studies teacher Nathan Parrish’s in second. Everything raised was donated to Open Heart Kitchen.

TOYS FOR TOTS

Interact Club and Leadership teamed up to hold a Toys for Tots drive. This event started on November 30th and ended on December 11th. Students donated new or gently used toys and gifts such as books, video games, and board games. Items for teens such as sporting equipment and bags were also accepted. All items benefitted locals families who do not have enough money to buy new holiday gifts, but still want to celebrate by giving something special to their children. “The Toys For Tots drive was a big success thanks to everyone who spread the word and donated,” said Interact Board Member, Shirley Delgado (‘16).

TIS THE SEASON FOR GIVING BY MEGAN DO STAFF REPORTER

to give back, which is why this Foothill students are always looking for ways ities are abundant. These drives are time of year, various types of drives for char lty and administration. organized by students with the help of facu use bringing a can of soup or a pack Food drives are the most common beca eda county, one in three children is at of dried nuts is almost effortless. In Alam ls turn to food banks. In addition to food risk of going hungry and one in five loca supplies, toiletries, and clothing. drives, other collection items include toys,

Tis the SEason What to do this Holiday Season Get into the Holiday Spirit with These Fun Ideas! GABRIELE FINLEY staff reporter

Tired of having a boring holiday season? Have the best holiday season you can with this list of fun things to do around Pleasanton.

1. Looking at Christmas lights

There are many different houses around Pleasanton who decorate their houses and yards to the extreme during the holiday season. Bobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World, in the Countryside neighborhood, is one of the most popular ones. All the houses on Walnut Street near downtown decorate their houses and yards as well.

2. The ice skating rink in Dublin

Ice skating is one of the most fun things to do during the holiday season! Get bundled up, grab your friends and skate away!

3. Making Christmas cookies

Get into the holiday spirit by eating some delicious, home-made Christmas cookies! Play your favorite Christmas songs and make some cookies!

4. Give

Nothing will make you feel better about yourself than giving to those who are in need. There are multiple food banks around the bay that you can volunteer at. You can also volunteer in various local holiday events.

TOP 5 HOLIDAY SONGS OF 2015

SOFIA BARRERA features editor

1 Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree 2 Jingle Bell Rock 3 Mary Did You Know? 4 Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow 5 All I Want for Christmas is You Mariah Carey

Brenda Lee

Bobby Helms

Pentatonix

Dean Martin

(These rankings are from Billboard’s Top 100 Radio Holiday Hits as of December 5, 2015)

A Few Overlooked Celebrations

TONY ITALIANO distribution manager

The following three holidays are ones which are often overlooked. You may not know much about them, but know their names. You may not even know they exist, and you probably don’t think much about it. To help those “smaller” holidays be more known, here’s a spotlight on a few from varied cultures. Kwanzaa- African-American/Pan-African Origin: U.S.A, 1966 December 26- January 1st Kwanzaa is a mainly African-American holiday. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza”, which means “first fruits” in swahili. The first fruits celebrations can be traced all the way back to ancient egypt and nubia. Kwanzaa builds on the five fundamental “first fruit” celebrations: Ingathering- Gather and restore bonds with others. Reverence- A time of grateful reverence for the creator and creation Commemoration- A time to commemorate the past, learn from it, and reflect on our ancestors and the models of excellence they are Recommitment- a time of recommitment to the highest of cultural ideals in an effort to bring out the best in african cultural thought and practice Celebration- to celebrate the good of life, existence itself, family, community, culture, the extraordinary, and the ordinary. Santa Lucia Day - Swedish Origin- one of the earliest martyrs of christianity, st. lucia, was killed by the romans in 304 C.E. due to her religious beliefs. December 13th Celebrated with the “Festival of Light”, which combines pagan and Christian elements. in Scandinavian countries, each town selects a “St. Lucia”, who leads the procession. She is followed by girls dressed in white and wearing wreaths, and boys in white playing traditional songs. It marks the beginning of the christmas season, and is meant to bring hope and light in the coming darkness. The Winter Solstice, Northern Hemisphere - pagan/others Origin: Marks the first day of winter. December 22 It’s the shortest day of the year, with the least time from sunrise to sunset. The ancient Roman feast of Saturnalia was a week-long feast in December that included observance of the Winter Solstice. The Romans also celebrated the days after the solstice, as that is when they began to lengthen again, and paid homage to the Persian god Mithra, god of light. In the modern day, celebration of the solstice is rarely religious as it once was. The early Norse celebrated with large bonfires meant to scare off evil and alter the course of the sun.

Movies to Watch this Winter Buddy (Will Ferrell), a man who was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised by elves, has always felt like he doesn’t fit in. After discovering his true birthplace, he travels to New York City in search ofa his real father and has many funny and exciting adventures along the way. -Sofia Barrera

After Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) realizes he is forgotten by his family who left for their Christmas vacation in France, he decides to celebrate by eating and watching whatever he wants. A few days later, some burglars become interested in robbing the house, leaving Kevin to defend the house for himself. This famously funny Christmas movie will leave laughing out loud.

Festive Photo Ornament Materials: Wallet-sized photo (3”x2” ) of your choosing Clear plastic fillable ornament ball Iridescent glitter Scissors Wire Ribbon 1 Ornament hook Instructions: 1. Remove the cap from the ornament ball and fill with iridescent glitter 2. Cut the picture to your liking 3. Roll the picture (photo side out) and slide it carefully into the ornament (Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to properly position it) 4. Replace cap and add a festive ribbon 5. Add a festive hook to the ornament to hang it and enjoy!

Mason Jar candles Materials: Bag of soy wax candles (need one pound per candle) Wax colorant (chips, bark, or liquid form) Candle pouring pot Medium sized wicks and wick stickums Wick holder sticks Wooden spoon Scent oil of your choice Pint sized Mason jar Cut material or card to finish off your candle Directions: 1. Take the inner seal part of the Mason jar out. You won’t be needing this. 2. Straighten your wick if it is crooked. 3. Apply your stickum to the metal base of the wick. This allows the wick to stick to the bottom of the inside of your jar. You can use a spoon to ensure that the wick stays put. 4. Use your wick holder sticks to hold the wick in place when you pour your wax in. 5. Melt your wax by placing it in a pan on the stove. Use low heat and stir until your wax is completely melted. 6. When coloring your wax, you may need to practice. 7. Add little by little until you have reached your desired color! 7. Follow the same procedure when adding your choice of scent. 8. Wait until your candle is the consistency of a Seven-Eleven Slurpie before you pour it into your jar (about 20-30 minutes after melting). 9.Pour into your jar and let it harden!

flight

By SAVANNAH PACE and SOFIA BARRERA Layout ARTHUR HWANG

Chocolate dipped marshmallow and pretzels (student picked) Ingredients: Regular-sized marshmallows Milk chocolate (to melt, can be chocolate chips or a plain chocolate bar) Mini pretzels Candy eyes Mini red M&Ms Sucker sticks Directions: 1. First, put sucker sticks in each of your marshmallows. 2. Melt your chocolate in the microwave, but be careful not to burn or overcook it. 3. Dip your marshmallows all the way into the melted chocolate, coating it.You can use the melted chocolate as glue to stick on the eyes and nose. 4. Dip your pretzels in the chocolate as well. Place these on top of the marshmallow as antlers!

Ugly Sweaters

Peppermint Candy Spoons Ingredients: Starlight peppermint candy Ziplock bag, Silicon spoon mold Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 2. In a ziplock bag, crush the peppermints. 3. Use a teaspoon to fill the mold with crushed peppermint. 4. Place in oven and melt completely. 5. Remove from oven and add additional peppermint wherever it looked thin. Return to oven to complete melting. 6. Take out of oven and let cool completely. 7. When removing the spoons from the mold, if they break, just add more crushed peppermint and return to the oven to cook for a few minutes more.

MICHELLE CHANG staff reporter

In our trendy and fashionable world, ugly holiday sweaters have found a way to fit in. These Christmas themed sweaters that are considered tacky were first introduced by the famous actor and comedian, Bill Cosby. He wore a lot of ugly and wild patterned sweaters in his sitcom “The Cosby Show.” These were called “Cosby sweaters,” or “jingle bell sweaters.” “Ugly holiday sweaters are very comfy and they spread festivity,” states Connie Hsu (‘18). Another student, Amy Oh (‘19), states, “They’re popular because they’re different than what’s considered trendy; therefore, it’s trendy!” These sweaters symbolize the holiday season and are very festive. Green and red colors, a few pictures of reindeers and Santa, even a few pieces of tinsel added on, can all make up a wild yet fun ugly holiday sweater. There are opposite views on these sweaters as well. “Some are cute, but some are just ugly.” Hsu states. “The sweaters just represent Christmas,” Alex Oh (‘17) claims. These unique articles of clothing have been tied in with the culture now. Ugly or not ugly; they are still a fun and exciting way to spread the joy of the holidays!

LOOKING BACK: TOP VIDEO GAMES OF 2015

BY MAX LURYE STAFF REPORTER

Title: Fallout 4 Consoles: Xbox One, Playstation 4, PC Fallout 4 features a non-silent, fullyvoiced protagonist, extensive weapon and armor customization, and the ability to construct their individual homes and towns. It follows the player’s journey through a post-nuclear war America. The game revolves around finding the player’s son and solving the conflicts between the three main factions in the area known as “The Commonwealth,” which encompasses Boston and other parts of New England. Title: Star Wars Battlefront Consoles: Xbox One, Playstation 4, PC Following the newly revived movie series, Star Wars Battlefront is a reboot by Electronic Arts of the classic game series originally featured on Playstation 2, Xbox, and Gamecube. It is a first-person multiplayer shooter which allows players to assume the roles of Imperial Stormtroopers or Rebel Alliance soldiers. The maps take place on planets featured in the series such as Hoth, Tattooine, Endor, and more. The weapons are based off of ones seen in the movies, and there are even special playable characters such as Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker.

Captain America: Civil War is another addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the third in the Captain America series. This film will bring back Chris Evans as Captain America, who must deal with government regulations regarding superhero vigilantes. As the title suggests, the Avengers face a Civil War, with Captain America leading one side and Iron Man, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., leading the other. “It’s going to be great to see two of the most popular superheroes battle each other,” “It’s going to be great to see two of the most popular superheroes battle each other,” says Trevor Holt (‘16). “I think it’s going to be an exciting film.”

LOOKING AHEAD: MOVIES OF 2016

Title: Bloodborne Consoles: Playstation 4 Bloodborne follows the story of a plague outbreak in the fictional gothic city of Yharnam, with the player as a Hunter looking for the origin of the catastrophe. It introduces several gameplay mechanics such as the lack of shields or protection during combat, constant dual wielding weapons, and trick weapons. The player is also free to explore the intricate world and story as they wish, talking to characters and discovering clues to the outbreak.

Several long anticipated films will be released in 2016. Many of these movies will be sequels in popular franchises. These movies include Captain America: Civil War, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Finding Dory.

BY MATT LIM ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

arts&entertainment

2015 was a big year in gaming, as many developers were finally able to take full advantage of next generation technology. This resulted in a barrage of quality titles, including stand alone games, sequels, or revivals of old series.

Batman v. Superman also pits two popular superheroes against each other, created by DC Comics. This film is a sequel to Man of Steel and brings back Henry Cavill as Superman. The Batman series is being rebooted, bringing Ben Affleck to play Batman after three successful films that starred Christian Bale. “It’s going to be interesting to see how Ben Affleck plays Batman,” says Ardin Lo (‘16). “We haven’t seen someone else play Batman for such a long time.” Finding Dory is the long awaited sequel to everyone’s childhood favorite Finding Nemo. Pixar is finally releasing this sequel over a decade after the first film’s release. Ellen Degeneres will return to play Dory, the main character in this movie. The film will delve deeper into her past, as Dory embarks on a quest to find her parents. “We’ve all seen Finding Nemo,” says Kayli Jiang (‘18). “I really hope the sequel can turn out to be a classic as well.” So, grab your popcorn and movie tickets because 2016 may be the best year yet in terms of movies.

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ELITE

OMI FRESH: THE HITS OF AUTUMN

See You Again

WIZ KHALIFA FT. CHARLIE PUTH TRACK MIND

cheerleader

MARK RONSON FT. BRUNO MARS UPTOWN SPECIAL

1 uptown funk

TOP THREE SONGS IN 2015

2 1 2 3

2015 GROSS: $356,418,708

INSIDE OUT

2015 GROSS: $459,005,868

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

2015 GROSS: $652,198,010

JURASSIC WORLD

TOP THREE MOVIES IN 2015

WATCH ME

SILENTÓ

whip/nae nae

HERCULES (1997)

WHAT ARE

DRAKE

HOTLINE BLING HOTLINE BLING HOTLINE BLING

notable mentions

BY ASHLEY JOHNSON, FRANCES TANG, ALICE LEE, KAITLYN WANG STAFF REPORTER, PHOTO EDITOR, NEWS AND ONLINE EDITOR, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A YEAR IN SUMMARY

2015 IN REVIEW

Photo: Disneyland

JUNE

FEBRUARY

Photo: Huffington Post

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DEC 2 SAN BERNARDINO SHOOTING 14 people are killed and 22 are injured in a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California at the Inland Regional Center.

DECEMBER

OCT 29 NOV 12 SEPT 25 OCT 1 NOV 13 CHINA ENDS ONE BEIRUT BOMBINGS SPEAKER BOEHNER UMPQUA PARIS ATTACKS CHILD POLICY 42 are killed in suicide Speaker of the House COMMUNITY COLLEGE 3 coordinated terrorist The one child policy is bombings in the capital attacks bombard Paris, John Boehner announcSHOOTING put to an end after 35 city of Lebanon, Beirut. France, the night of the es his resignation from Nine people are killed the speaker position. He at Umpqua Community years of hardship, mar- Because of the timing of 13th, killing 129 and also announces he will College in Oregon, and ried couples in China are the Beirut attacks and the wounding hundreds now allowed two chilParis attacks, many feel more. 89 alone die at the be retiring from Conseven more injured. dren as a way to offset the bombings in Beirut gress on October 30. Bataclan concert hall. the aging workforce. have been overlooked.

SEPT 22 POPE FRANCIS VISITS THE US Pope Francis visits the United States for the first time, and President Obama greets him at Andrews Air Force Base.

Photo: US State Dept.

APRIL

SEPTEMBER AUGUST

Photo: CNN

JULY 14 JULY 14 NEW HORIZONS IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL REACHES PLUTO Iran and six other nations The NASA spacecraft including the US agree to a historic deal to limit New Horizons passes by Pluto, and for the first Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weaponry to lift time ever, sends pictures back to Earth. It’s the the economic sanctions closest flyby of Pluto’s placed on the country. surface.

JULY

MARCH

MAR 4 MAR 24 APRIL 12 MAR 2 FERGUSON GERMANWINGS HILLARY CLINTON IRAQ AND ISIS The Justice DepartA Germanwings plane On April 12, Hillary Iraq begins a major camClinton announces paign against ISIS, with ment releases a report: crashes into the French Ferguson police officers Alps, killing the 150 peoher run for president the help of Iran. With the discriminate against ple on board. The plane in the 2016 Demohelp of Iranian military African-Americans. This passed the maintenance cratic election. This forces, Iraq is able to reopens a long, ongoing check, creating controwill be Clinton’s drive ISIS out of the battle between people of versy over the cause of second run for preshometown of Saddam color and law officials. the crash. ident. Hussein, Tikrit.

MAY 22 JUNE 26 IRELAND LEGALIZES US SUPREME COURT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LEGALIZES SAME-SEX Ireland makes history by MARRIAGE legalizing same-sex mar- The Supreme Court rules riage. They are the first that same sex marriage country to legalize same- is legal in the U.S. The sex marriage through ruling classifies marriage popular vote. as a fundamental right regardless of the couple’s sexuality.

Photo: Huffington Post

MAY 2 PRINCESS CHARLOTTE The Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to her second child, Princess Charlotte. Charlotte is currently fourth in line to inherit the British throne from her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

MAY

JANUARY

JAN 7 JAN 21 FEB 3-15 CHARLIE HEBDO MEASLES OUTBREAK ISIS EXECUTES Two brothers storm The U.S. experiences HOSTAGES into the Charlie Hebdo an outbreak of measles ISIS releases videos of offices in Paris, armed linked to the famous a Jordanian man being with guns, claiming to be amusement park, Disney- burned alive. The death “avenging the Prophet land. Nearly 200 cases of American Kayla Muhammad”. The shoot- are reported throughout Mueller leads Obama to ing leaves a total of 12 the year according to the formally ask Congress to dead. CDC. begin attacks on ISIS.

sports

Spikeball

AS SEEN ON SHARK TANK

SHAWN DELUZ sports editor

Spikeball is a simple game that has become a popular activity among many, including our fellow Falcons. The rules are pretty simple: there are two teams of two players. The game begins with a serve, as the teams begin by lining up across from each other. After the serve, both teams are allowed to move around as they please, as there are no more sides. Each team gets up to three hits to return the ball into the trampoline shaped net. The goal is for each team to hit the ball into the net and if their opponents are unable to return it, they receive a point. The first team to reach 21 and win by two points wins the game. Spikeball has attracted players in many different ways. Matt Villena (‘16) said he started playing with the class of 2015 seniors. On May 15th, millions of people watched Spikeball CEO Chris Ruder on the television, pitching his product to the investors of Shark Tank. Ruder originally hoped to make a deal to give ten percent equity of his company in exchange for five hundred thousand dollars. With three of the five possible investors uninterested, Ruder entered a series of back and forth negotiations with Kevin O’Leary and Daymond John. After multiple offers and counteroffers, Ruder agreed to give Daymond John twenty percent equity of Spikeball for five hundred thousand dollars. After watching this episode, Ardin Lo (‘16) said that the ranking system is interesting and he added, “I liked that the number one ranked team went on the show to demonstrate it.” Chris Ruder, the Spikeball founder, started the company in a unique way. He and his friends had an old 1980s game and played it on the beach. Numerous people stopped to ask Ruder and his friends about it and many wondered where they could get their own. Twenty years later, Ruder transformed it into a sport played by thousands of people across the country. His love and passion for this game converted into an extremely

A group of seniors play spikeball in the senior quad. Photo: Shawn DeLuz successful business. Today Spikeball has become an incredibly successful business and has attracted numerous competitors. There are currently over 250,000 players in the United States and more than 1,000 nationally ranked teams. In 2015 there were more than one hundred tournaments. Abteen Ebrahimi (‘16) added that his friends and him “might play outside of school after the second semester.”

the OLYMPIAN and the LETTERMAN

Andrew Brumm (‘16) and Principal Jason Krolikowski. Photo: Ashley Duarte 14

ASHLEY DUARTE staff reporter

Foothill High School senior, Andrew Brumm (‘16), is the first Special Olympian in the Alameda County to receive a letterman jacket for his accomplishments. Now, any Special Olympians at Foothill -- meeting certain requirements -- can earn their letterman as well. Other schools in the county are working to do the same. Now eighteen years old, Andrew has been competing since the age of twelve in bowling and basketball. The highlights of playing are that, “It’s a great sport for me, I can get new skills and I can most likely stop a rampaging bull! Also, it’s a great way to make new friends.” says Andrew. Some other perks for these athletes are that they can earn a medal and perform at their highest level! At a usual competition, the team gathers for warm-ups followed by a pep talk with their coach, going over plays and finally, players hit the court! With his letterman received in October, Andrew is proud because he has something to showcase that after practicing every Tuesday and Wednesday for weeks. “I feel like I’m doing something right. It’s a good idea for more Special Olympics athletes to have it,” says Brumm. Janeen Brumm, Andrew’s mother, is incredibly proud of her son’s achievement. She is also very pleased for all the positivity towards the Special Olympians and the spotlight on Foothill. Janeen contacted school principal Jason Krolikowski in order to get her son a well deserved letterman. “Why can’t he have a letterman?” she says, “He works hard just like other athletes, just in a different environment.” Janeen Brumm likes the more hands on approach the Special Olympics gives, “There’s less pressure and more attention to each player.” she states. What Andrew has been recognized for is a great stepping stone for other schools in the district as well. He is definitely very happy about Foothill and Amador acknowledging the efforts of the Special Olympians.

GET READY FOR

A LONG TIME AGO IN A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY... WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE STAR WARS EPISODES SO FAR?

It has been nearly 40 years since Star Wars’ iconic scrolling intro rolled off the screen and introduced one of the greatest film sagas of all time: Star Wars. George Lucas’ multi-film saga has significantly impacted our society and pop culture to this day. In 2005 George Lucas released Episode III: Revenge of the Sith which completed the prequels and ended the series. Then along came Disney in October 2012, with $4.05 billion to buy Lucasfilm and a promise to continue the Star Wars series. This left fans with split emotions about the new addition to the series, Star Wars:The Force Awakens, “I’m a little bit nervous about the

BY YASMINE NICKLE STAFF REPORTER

new movie, I’m nervous about what will happen to the old characters” says Cynthia Parr, Foothill English teacher. Others like Zach Richey (‘17) exclaim “I’m so so excited, I bought my tickets already!”. The Force Awakens, brings back the same characters and actors from the original trilogy, as Aaron Guerra (‘19) said, it’s “Star Wars in [our] generation”. If you have never seen Star Wars, you have 14 hours of sliding transitions, cheesy special effects, epic lightsaber battles, and Yoda’s wisdom to watch before December 18th.

“When we saw [Star Wars] in the theatre we have never seen anything like it before. The first time you see that, it transforms

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PHOTO COURTESY: YASMINE NICKLE

Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Jedi Padawan appre tice Obi-Wan Kenobi are assigned to protect the planet Naboo and Queen of Naboo, Padmé Amidala from the evil Trade Federation. They flee to the planet Tatooine and meet Anakin Skywalker, a slave boy with rare Jedi powers, unknown to himself, and frees him. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan take back Naboo with the help of Anakin, but Qui-Gon is killed by Darth Maul in the process. Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) Ten years later, the Trade Federation declares war, The Jedi council assigns Anakin to protect Padmé and the two fall in love. Obi Wan follows Jango Fett , an assassin from the Trade Federation, and finds a clone army for the Republic. He is captured by Count Dooku who has replaced Darth Maul. Anakin, Padme, R2-D2, and C-3PO try to rescue Obi-Wan but are captured too. Yoda arrives with the clone army and the other Jedi’s and saves the day. Anakin and Padamé secretly marry each other. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) Chancellor Palpatine is captured, Anakin and Obi Wan save him and kill Count Dooku. Padmé becomes pregnant. Palpatine tells Anakin that he has practiced the dark side, and can prevent death. Anakin tells the Jedi Council and Mace Windu tries to arrest Palpatine, Palpatine kills Windu and assigns Anakin as his new apprentice, Darth Vader. Palpatine and the clones kill all the Jedi’s, Obi-Wan and Yoda survive. Palpatine declares himself Emperor and turns the Senate into an Empire. Padmé dies during childbirth. Luke and Leia are born, twins that are separated for protection. Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) A grown up Luke Skywalker , R2-D2, C-3PO join Obi-Wan Kenobi , Han Solo and Chewbacca to rescue Princess Leia from Darth Vader . After Leia was captured, R2-D2 and C-3PO escape with info on how to destroy the Empire, they find Luke and give him the message. Obi Wan trains Luke to become a Jedi. Luke and Han Solo travel to Leia’s home planet; however, the Empire has already destroyed the planet. Together, the team rescues Leia from Darth Vader and destroys the Death Star, killing Obi-Wan in the process. At the end Luke, Leia, Han, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Chewie join the Rebel Alliance. . Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) The Empire is at war with the Rebel Alliance, Luke, Han, and Leia, who are hiding on the planet Hoth. Luke gets lost in a blizzard and has a vision of Obi Wan telling him to visit the Yoda . An Empire probe droid finds the rebel base, and destroys it. Han and Leia find refuge with Lando in Cloud City. Meanwhile, Luke finds Yoda and begins Jedi training. However, Luke leaves training early because Han and Leia are in trouble! Luke reaches them but Han is already frozen in carbonite. Luke then battles with Darth Vader who reveals he is Luke’s birth father. Luke escapes and rejoins the Rebel Alliance. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) Han Solo, still frozen in carbonite, has been given to Jabba the Hut. Leia tries to save Han but is captured and made a slave. Luke and Lando frees them all. Luke then travels back to Yoda to finish his training. Yoda dies, and Obi Wan’s spirit says that he must confront Darth Vader to finally become a Jedi. It is also revealed that Leia is Luke’s twin sister. Luke fights Vader for a second time, and The Emperor begins killing Luke himself. Vader saves Luke and kills The Emperor. Darth Vader dies, and the second Death Star is destroyed. Darth Vader becomes Anakin Skywalker and joins Obi Wan and Yoda in spirit form.

look hot when it’s cold LILIANA TIERNEY staff reporter

Sometimes it’s hard to choose something to wear to school that looks nice, but will also keep you warm during the school day, hurrying along between classes if it’s too cold. These quick winter trends require minimal effort and will help you stay warm and have style both at the same time.

Its a long story...

Long sleeves are opted in during this season. Sweaters are a quick and easy way to stay warm with minimal layering, and little effort as well. For example, jeans, boots, an undershirt and a sweater if it’s not too cold outside.

Bundling up for Winter Unlike sneakers, boots tend to be warmer, less impractical, and get less wet during the colder months. There are many styles and variations of boots, but if you’re going into this season without a good pair of boots you’ll want to try to find the right pair for yourself soon. Instead of looking at your phone during passing period, maybe check out your fellow students feet, you just might like what you see.

Besides footwear, the best thing to do when it gradually warms up during the day is to layer your clothing. You can start with a simple tee and add on a longer sleeved layer along with a jacket to top it off. Many people find this to be a quick and practical way to stay warm, without looking too bundled up.

These boots were made for walking

Chick-fil-a

Home room

FOOD CORNER

MICHAEL JURICH opinions editor and business manager

This isn’t your average fast food restaurant. Chick-fil-a supplies mass quantities of chicken like KFC and other fried chicken places, so what makes it stand out? To start off, their chicken is better than all others.Their original chicken sandwich, despite being plain and simple, is outstanding. It’s tender,juicy, and has the perfect amount of crunch while not being greasy; a problem other places like KFC have. As you walk in you can see the difference between Chick-fil-a and other fast food joints. Another great thing about Chick-fil-a is the price. Many fast food places are priced reasonable due to their average quality of food. At Chic-fil-a you get great food for cheap, how could you ask for anything more?! Everything is clean and organized, so much so that you may even be able to eat off the floor (not recommended). The only unfortunate thing is that the nearest Chick-fil-a is in Fremont and we don’t have one in Pleasanton…..for now. Rumors have spread that they are in the process of building one by In-and-Out off of Johnson drive so be on the lookout for when it opens!

Nothing brings people back to their childhood like mac and cheese, and homeroom makes everyone feel like a kid again. As you walk in, the down to earth ambiance makes you feel at home. The decor is reminiscent of your favorite elementary school classroom with blackboards and paper airplanes all around. One problem you may have is trying to find a table due to the flocks of people that go there on a daily basis, so be prepared to wait! Homeroom has a lot of different types of mac and cheese, varying from a classic mac to the sriracha mac, or my personal favorite the Gilroy mac. Homeroom uses all natural and organic ingredients to make some of the most desirable food on the planet. If you have a craving for sweets, get a homemade oreo topped with sea salt; but be warned, once you’ve had one you’re sure to want another. Homeroom is located in Oakland, a trip for some of us high school students, but taking the journey is well worth the effort when you dive into the golden gooey goodness of Homeroom’s famous mac and cheese.