2015 GHS Voice Issue Nov/Dec

VOICE

The

Continuing A Legacy Pg. 7

December 2015

Photo by Megan Monismith

dance team goes to regionals

Girls fundraise to pay for cost of regional competition in minnesota

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By layne staley

or the first time, the GHS dance team will be competing outside the Cornhusker State. The team plans to travel to Minnesota for the regional competition at Mall of America on January 9th and 10th.

“This is the first year the team will go to regionals,” said Ms. Missy Cobb, coach. “Our team is so talented and works so hard and is ready for the challenge.”

The dance team plans to take two dances to regionals. They have been practicing long and hard to prepare for this level, but the girls have also been working fundraisers to help pay for the cost.

“The team has done many volleyball concessions, sold pizza at the Gretna days parade and worked games there, had a grill out at the Gretna pharmacy, and we will do the Junior Dance Camp in December,” said Skylar Conrad, freshman.

The Junior Dance Camp is one of the most important fundraisers for the team. It is the biggest event and normally brings in the most money; however, it also takes the most effort.

Submitted photo.

Competition Ready. The dance team performs their jazz routine at UNO dance competition on November 8th. They received first in jazz and second for pom.

“First, we put up signs everywhere and spread the word to everyone possible,” said Sara Luedders, senior. “Then we make t-shirts, bows, and doll outfits for the little kids. We make up dances and get all the music ready in groups of two or three.”

Children from preschool to grade five are able to learn a dance, eat pizza, and perform at halftime with the team. The camp is on December 11th from 4-7 p.m. at GHS. The girls are prepared and ready for the task ahead.

conagra moves headquarters new company ceo relocates business from omaha to chicago by michael dart

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lim Jims. Swiss Miss. Reddi Whip.

Manwich. Kid Cuisine frozen meals. Jiffy Pop. ConAgra Foods, the company that brings those foods to our kitchen tables will be moving its headquarters to Chicago, Illinois in early summer of 2016.

This announcement prompted pleas from officials across Omaha for the company to stay in their city. Omaha has given it much over the years including the large campus where the company was stationed. It is undoubtedly true that Chicago is a more well known place, yet it is difficult to ignore Omaha as the city that built up ConAgra Foods.

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The amount of people that are being affected range from 1,000 to 1,500 workers losing their jobs over the next two years. There are roughly 500 jobs that will be relocated with the company, causing famililes to leave their homes, while others are being removed.

“Roughly 1,000 people will be losing their jobs.” said Mr. Terry Langholdt, Con Agra employee. “Either the job function will be outsourced or eliminated.”

ConAgra Foods will be missed with this relocation, along with the employees it will be taking with it. Though our schools, restaurants, and other food establishments will still have the company’s food income, ConAgra will be remembred.

news

Photo by Kylie Otto ConAgra Foods. Common items found in the household that are products of ConAgra.

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AP

Reading Club

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By Katie Stukenholz

ne of the newest clubs added to GHS is AP Reading Club.

It meets every Tuesday and Friday after school. On Tuesday, non-fiction books are discussed, and Friday is reserved for the fiction books.

AP Reading Club is headed by Mr. Bradley Nord, HAL instructor. The purpose is to further prepare students for the AP exam in the spring.

“The preparation offered by the AP Reading Club is not different than the class, it is simply further opportunity for reading with a purpose and a scheduled time for discussion, an extension or enrichment activity,” said Mr. Nord.

There are two different exams the club prepares for, the English Literature exam and the English Language exam. The non-fiction session focuses on rhetoric and argument, whereas the fiction session focuses on rhetoric and style.

“The reading and discussion of which will allow those choosing to take the AP

Photo by Katie Stukenholz Studying Hard. Brenna Zollman (17) and Amanda Nelson (17) discussing the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

Language and AP Literature Exams in May a wider exposure to writing upon which the students could possibly base their essays,” said Mr. Nord.

The students are able to enjoy an environment in which they can freely express their views of the books. It serves as a way for students to understand various viewpoints to help with the exam.

“It’s nice to get together and discuss books with other people and see different

viewpoints, so you are preparing yourself for the exam but seeing other viewpoints prepares for analyzing a story on the test in a way you wouldn’t have thought of,” said Brenna Zollman, junior.

The goal of the club is to help students gain confidence, so they will be able to successfully take the exams. It is not mandatory for those taking the exam, but is highly encouraged as it will strengthen the skills necessary for the test.

Harley- Davidson

By Ethan Harwell

Austin Henry won a Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe for the Gretna small engines classes. He placed second last year at the national skillsusa competition.

The bike will be used to teach students about modern motorcycle maintainance, repair, and theory.

“It’s a great teaching tool because the national competition is centered around Harleys,” said Mr. Jason Novotny, small engines teacher.

This will give Gretna competitors an advantage in upcoming years. Instead of working on outdated throw away Japanese bikes, Gretna students can work and learn on the real deal.

Photo by Ethan Harwell

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news

Fixing Things Up. Seth Grimm (16) and Ethan Boes (16) fixing a dead battery after shipment.

december 2015

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Class b Girls top runner claims Thank goodness for Gatorade coolers because I spent a few state

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minutes supporting myself with one By: Layne Staley before I could walk. here is nothing like running long miles, racing up hills,

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and breathing in fresh air according to Nebraska’s newest cross country state champion sophomore, Mazie Larsen. This is an accomplishment for the GHS cross country team and has brought pride to the Dragons by being the first state champion for cross country; however, Larsen’s win did not come easily. It was achieved due to a season packed with hard work and effort. In the end, all the sores and fatigue paid off.

“To prepare for the race, I did exactly what I do before every race,” said Larsen. “Drink plenty of water, sleep as much as I can, being a high schooler, and eat an Uncrustable for lunch.”

Larsen not only physically prepared, she also mentally readied herself for the task ahead. She listened to some “pump up” music, was nervous and hyper with the team, gave her mom a hug, and did all the team traditions on the starting line.

“During the race, I tried to stay positive so that helped me to feel like I had strength and courage,” said Larsen. “However, there is always the pain and nerves that never fail to catch up to you.”

The competition was a 5k race, or 3.1 miles. This is a great task in which Larsen executed with the speed and agility of a true champion. By putting the fatigue and fear aside, she was able to let her positivity shine through and pull out a win.

“After the race, I could not stand up straight,” said Larsen.

“Thank goodness for Gatorade coolers because I spent a few minutes supporting myself with one before I could walk.”

Larsen was able to complete the race in eighteen minutes and forty-four seconds. There were ninety-one people in her race, making the feat even more impressive. It took a while for her to let it sink in, but Larsen was content in accomplishing something she never thought she could do.

“After this, I will start training again for track season, where I can run in circles over and over again and just wish I could race up another hill,” said Larsen.

The week after state, Larsen began training again to compete with the Omaha Racers, and a club she ran with at nationals, the Brocaw Blazers. She will continue to compete in regular club meets, such as Nike Regionals, and the Yes Athletics National Championship race.

Submitted Photo

Staying Strong Mazie Larsen, sophomore, is closely followed by Erin Lee, senior of York, Nebraska. Other Gretna runners were: Nicole Martindale, Kaelinn Friesen, sophomores; Abigail Furley, Laura Heath, and Ashley Husing, juniors.

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Feature

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Submitted Photo Victorious Mazie Larsen, sophomore, and her mother , Maureen Larsen embrace eachother after Mazie won the NSAA Girls State Cross Country Championships held in Kearney, NE. Larsen ran 3.1 miles in 18:44.3 beating the second place runner by more than ten seconds.

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Feature

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work hard to win big weber dominates state tournament to become champion

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By Cassandra Kostal

dding to an already successful fall sports season, varsity tennis player Jacob Weber, sophomore, earned first place at the state tournament for singles. Competing in the toughest division, Weber won the tournament after executing four dominant performances.

“He won 95 percent of the games he played in the state tournament in the toughest division,” said Mr. Bret Kohles, boys tennis head coach. “Tennis players and fans of the game will understand how remarkable that is.”

Weber has played tennis at a competitive level for the past seven years. With his younger brother, Zach Weber, freshman, also on the team, playing tennis is certainly a popular pastime for the Weber family.

“I started when I was eight years old,” said Weber. “I started because my mom played for fun and I thought it would be fun to try.”

Weber worked hard during the offseason to improve his game and help lead his team to victory. Extra inches added on to his frame have definitely given Weber an advantage over the ball.

“I had worked on my game a lot over the summer,” said Weber. “I’ve grown, so I felt like I had more power and control over the ball.”

Weber’s work ethic and determination to succeed did not escape the notices of his coaches. His dedication to the game helped the entire team to improve. Even with years of experience behind him, Weber continued to push himself and his teammates.

“Watching and working with a player that loves to compete and works hard everyday is very exciting,” said Coach Jordan Barrett, boys tennis assistant coach. “He sets great examples for other players and he helps his teammates out as well.”

Weber’s position as the top singles player gave him a great opportunity to have a successful season. Being number one often Photo by Abby Ames Calling the shot Matthias Mattley, junior, goes after the ball as his doubles partner, Zach Weber, freshman, looks on. The number one doubles team of Mattley and Weber place third in the state tournament.

The doubles and singles performances helped land Gretna third place overall in the tournament.

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creates pressure to perform well at each meet. This proved to be an easy challenge for Weber.

“It is a rare thing to have a number one singles player who can be so dominant,” said Coach Kohles. “Singles can be a division where you hope to pick up some big points for a team, but seldom is it something that you can count on in nearly every match.”

After ending the season at the top of the class for singles, Weber and his coaches are already looking forward to what next year will bring. With the top four players, including Weber, returning for the 2016 season, Gretna’s team will be as strong as it has ever been, with Weber leading the way, seeking another state championship.

Photo by Abbie Wesely

Eye on the ball After losing in the final round last year, Weber was more determined than ever to claim the champion title.

Weber won nearly one hundred percent of the games he played in the state tournament to be named champion. A year’s worth of hard work paid off.

Injury update Wrestling: Patrick Arnold- torn meniscus in two places in left knee, unable to wrestle

Softball: Ady Watts- strained back muscles, missed one game at state

Volleyball: Halie McArdle- broken pinky finger, played in state tournament

sports

Boys’ Basketball: Trey Brown-stress fracture, kept out of football, able to play basketball

volume 2 issue 3

continuing a winning legacy Cameron Scott hoped to follow in her mother’s footsteps at state

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by kiersey bush

tate volleyball 1987.

The roar of the crowd, the rush of adrenaline spiking as the student section goes wild. Flash forward twenty-eight years and the scene has not changed a bit. As the volleyball team entered the 2015 state tournament, this feeling was shared by both Cameron Scott, junior, and her mother, Mrs. Kimberly Scott.

“State volleyball was scary, but very exciting,” said Mrs. Scott. “I just remember all of the parents, friends, and students in the stands and how much we wanted to win not only for ourselves, but for them as well. It was definitely an experience and time I will never forget.”

Mrs. Scott attended high school at Millard North and was a major contributor to the volleyball team. Her sophomore year, her team made it to the championship, but unfortunately headed home without a trophy or state title. However, that only motivated them to win even more the next year.

“We never thought it would be easy to make it to state,” said Mrs. Scott. “We had been there the prior year and lost. We knew it would be a challenge to return and win.”

Her junior year of high school, the team Photo by Katie Stukenholtz

won the state championship. Being the first Millard North volleyball team to win a state championship was a huge deal. Although the bar was set high by the prior year’s winning team, Millard North rose to the challenge.

Their positive chemistry and the support of coaches and fans alike.

“Our coach did her best to keep us calm, but helped us realize the significance of the moment and what we could accomplish,” said Mrs. Scott. “When we won that final point, it was simply amazing.”

Cameron Scott hoped to carry on the legacy her mom left behind at this year’s state championship. After setting the state record for most assists in one game, the expectations were all around very high for Cameron as well as the rest of the team.

“I play my best and work as hard as I can,” said C. Scott. “The records are just the rewards my team and I earn because we work so hard.”

The volleyball team made it all the way to the state championship, but lost to Skutt Catholic High School. Despite the crushing disappointment felt after the loss, Cameron Scott has one more year to take a shot at continuing a legacy that her mother began back in 1987.

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Playing for gold Cameron Scott, center, celebrates with her volleyball team after scoring a point at the state championship.

Submitted photo

Victory at last Mrs. Kimberly Scott, center, celebrates with the Millard North volleyball team after their 1987 state championship win.

Winter sports prep

by Katie Stukenholtz

Deep in thought Maddie Meadows, senior, contemplates her next move. After Coach Skrdla’s 500 game milestone last year, the team is looking forward to continued success.

Photo by Megan Monismith

s the weather grows colder the time for the winter season of sports grows nearer. The basketball girls have been eagerly getting ready for what should be a great season.

“This season we should be able to work together and hopefully go to state and compete as a solid team,” said Anna Stoltenberg, sophomore.

For the last couple of months, the girls have had scrimmages and open gyms.

However, they are not the only ones gearing up for the season. The boys’ basketball team has been focusing on various objectives.

“Preparation started in June,” said Mr. Bill Heard, assistant coach. “Conditioning, working on our skills and becoming better teammates have been our priorities.”

sports

The wrestling team is going to have a very difficult season this year with plenty of hard teams to go up against.

“We wrestle in some tough tournaments this year, but no tournament is going to be as tough as our district tournament,” said Patrick Arnold, junior. “In our district there are arguably the five best teams in the state.”

Another team that is eager for the season to begin is the swim team. About a month ago they started lifting weights for their pre-season.

“We are a tight knit group, said Olivia Allen, sophomore. “We build throughout the season as a team and I know we are all looking forward to another great season.”

All the teams are anticipating the start of the season and are excited to show their improvements.

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. . . ds

a o r y chilling ic

outcomes.

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by: abbie wesely

how to avoid the ominous threats of the winter road

ith winter just around the corner, students at GHS are starting to recall the dangers that come with driving in the snow and ice. These conditions can be alarming; however, there are many ways to stay safe this season.

According to the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR), it is important to beware of icy areas such as bridges and sheltered areas. An accumulation of freezing rain or sleet could make exposed surfaces dangerous and potentially cause damage.

Also, one should drive at reduced speeds and turn off cruise control in wet or snowy weather.

“Two things I tell my Driver’s Ed students are don’t trust what the roads look like because you can’t always see ice, and always drive slower and increase following distance,” said Jami Ewer, Driver’s Ed teacher.

It is crucial to be prepared while driving this winter. Always be sure to have enough fuel and check your tire pressure often. Give yourself enough time to get to your destination.

NDOR advises various ways to stay safe in case a person becomes trapped in the snow. Stay in the vehicle to avoid the cold, but crack a window to ventilate it.

Make sure to run the engine sparingly and avoid overexertion. The most important thing is to not panic.

As winter approaches, remember to check for current weather reports through local media sources before you travel.

Driving in the snow and ice may seem problematic, but there are numerous ways to stay safe on the roads this winter.

Y C N E G r e T I M E K L A V I V SUR

othes l c a extr

fir st aid car batte ry

phone and car charger

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indepth

flashlight

Volume 2 issue 3

the simple

solution

seatbelts become the real hero when faced against fatal crashes

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by: olivia kahler

afety laws and new car technology are now quite effective in protecting people during a car crash; however, one of the most successful methods of avoiding a fatal crash is to wear a seatbelt.

According to Traffic Safety Marketing, seatbelts save over thirteen thousand lives every single year. A seatbelt keeps a person secured in their vehicle if it crashes. Without it, a person can go flying around the inside of his or her car, which can cause injuries that may even be fatal. Seatbelts are designed the way they are for a reason, and wearing them can prove to be very beneficial.

Rachel Keyes, junior, was recently involved in a car accident that left her car totaled. Luckily she was wearing a seatbelt and was not harmed.

“The seatbelt held me in place and kept me from flying forward,” said Keyes. “If I hadn’t been wearing it, I think I could have possibly gotten a concussion or been thrown from the car.”

A seatbelt hits a person at his or her strongest points, like the hips and shoulders. They are made that way to keep the person in place to avoid further injuries.

Cars are designed to take impact. For example, a crushed car is usually more damaged on the front and back ends. The middle of the car is more likely to stay unharmed in the event of an accident.

Some people may think that if they choose not to buckle up, it will not make much of a difference; however, other crash preventatives are not supposed to replace seatbelts; they work with them. For example, airbags are installed in a car to protect each passenger in case of an accident. If a seatbelt is not worn in the event of a large impact, the driver or passengers could be thrown into the bags, causing even more trauma.

Seatbelts were not made to be a painful task to the driver or passengers. Their technology helps to prevent injuries and has saved thousands of lives. It is important to buckle up when getting into a car because clicking the belt may just save your life.

Photos by: Olivia Kahler

55%

of drivers in deadly crashes were not wearing seatbelts

advice from deputy mary: look ahead instead of right in front of you drive defensively drive proactively by watching drivers around you try to anticipate always pay attention to only the road Volume 2 issue 3

indepth

december 2015

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killer makeup

makeup application introduces a new form of reckless driving by: jamison karas

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rivers are dying, parents are crying, and teens are earning their reputation as the most reckless drivers in the world.

Our society’s growing pressure to be perfect has driven teens to a new level of dangerous driving. Caught up in the daily attempt to meet expectations, drivers are mindlessly using their time behind the wheel to take their eyes off the road, and focus their attention on getting ready and even applying makeup. This is when beauty becomes deadly.

“I see it at least one time every morning on my way to work,” said Deputy Mary Synowiecki. “It shows little regard to other drivers and they are putting themselves and the others around them at serious risk.”

Applying makeup, brushing hair, and checking teeth all require the driver to take his or her eyes off the road. Research done by Stephanie Schwartz reports that an alert driver needs 1.5 seconds to react to something. Putting on makeup doubles the reaction time that a driver needs to put his or her foot on the brake.

“We as drivers should never be doing anything but paying attention to the road,” said Deputy Mary. “It only takes that one second of looking away until it’s too late.”

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,154 people have died from distraction affected crashes in the past year alone. Not to mention, 424,000 have been injured from distracted driving.

The danger of the act leads to crashes and the downfall of the careful nature once existent in driving. The continuation of these crashes will only lead to a damaged reputation for teenagers all around the world. The outcome of reckless driving needs to be realized in order to change the flawed priorities existent in youth.

You will never see your family again, but at least your eye shadow will be flawless. You will never get to kiss your husband on your wedding day, but hey, your lips will have the perfect color. You will never meet your kids, so I guess you could have held off on fixing your hair, but hey, at least you look good.

Let’s question these priorities, so we do not end up becoming a mindless statistic.

20% of female motorists have confessed to putting mascara on while driving 10

december 2015

indepth

Photo Illustrations by: Jamison Karas

women are responsible for

half a million

road crashes from distracted driving volume 2 issue 3

It can wait The risk of a cra sh increases when you drive distracted by a phone.

23X

drive, you drive the While you text and ing ll field without look length of a footba at the road.

by: Amanda minckler

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ith technology being a necessity in our daily lives, it is hard to tear our eyes away from the glowing screen.

This has gotten to the point where it is life threatening. Here are some statistics to show why that text can wait.

Tips to help stop the distraction: Have a friend text back for you.

Texting while drivin g is the same as driving after having beers.

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Use the bluetooth in your car to text back using your voice.

Put your phone in the back seat to remove temptation.

causes Texting and driving s. of all car accident

25%

Tell whoever you are texting that you are about to drive so they know not to distract you.

Teenagers who text while driving spend about of their driving time drift ing out of their lane.

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11 teenilededrativihsngpe. r day are due to

texting wh

ganddrivingsafety.com Information from: textin

Photo Illustration by: Jamison Karas

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indepth

december 2015

11

Mom, I’m goin’ to

E G E L L O C n ure a L By

foss

The Annual College Fair has passed lacking emphasis and impact for students searching to escape Nebraska again this year. Full of community colleges, Nebraska-based universities, and small institutions within mere hours of our state, students with a hunger for an education beyond Mid-western boundaries can go disappointingly unsatisfied. The fair is run through Education Quest, who ultimately has the final say in what schools make an appearance. They have mainly Midwestern schools in attendance due to the fact that a majority of students stay in state to further their education.

“It is not realistic for those schools to send a rep to a high school fair a few states away. They just don’t do that,” said Ms. Carraher, GHS guidance counselor. “The out-of-state schools primarily attend fairs in their states rather than seeking out a small college fair far, far away from their location.”

Some students attend the college fair seeking colleges that offer a specific major. Smaller schools often only offer a

What the college fair doesn’t offer.

The most important thing: which one has the best pen? Jessica Schrek, senior, attended the college fair to see which of the schools offer the best merchandise, rather than the best education.

Photo by Lauren Foss

limited amount of majors and this can be a huge reason for students to not take the fair seriously.

Students spend upwards of an hour standing in line to visit with representatives from a college, that often can only offer minimal information about the school.

“I would make it so more out of state colleges could attend and have sessions so there’s not as many kids there so there is less waiting in lines and more time getting to all the colleges,” said Cody Riepl, junior.

Instead of spending a Monday night standing in lines, students and parents are able to drive to the universities being offered and spend the day exploring the campus, sitting in on classes and meeting with professors. The amount of time students receive speaking with each representative is hardly enough to make a dent in the inquiries students and their parents have and often the reps are not

completely prepared to answer some of the specific questions.

“I did not really get anything out of it that helped me with college but I very much enjoyed all of the free pens that I collected from it,” said Jessica Schreck, senior.

The lack of outside representation is not to say that the school does not offer us great options within certain parameters.

The fair’s main purpose is to expose upperclassmen and underclassmen to colleges and give them some direction instead of leaving them perplexed and lost.

“I think it was helpful and a good experience,” said Riepl. “It helped me add some colleges to my list of colleges I want to attend.”

However, it is unfortunate that the schools offered cannot point students in directions around the country.

what would you like to see at the next college fair?

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“There should be more medical schools, they had too many hair schools,” Brooke Smith, junior.

“I feel like there should be more space, it was really crowded,” Maddie Bruha, junior.

op/ed

volume 2 issue 3

“everybody stay calm”

A staff editorial

the key to surviving a

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We are the victims of a generation that has feared the looming threat of school shootings since we started our school experience. Students are dependent on their school authorities to be thoroughly prepared for such a tragic event.

High schools provide each classroom with posters which entail instructions for an emergency and are uniform in schools throughout the state for a standard response procedure. This raises the question of how well a single poster can equip a student body and entire staff for a seamless lockdown. According to an informal poll via Twitter, ninety-one percent of sixty-eight surveyed students either had no idea the posters existed or felt they made no difference toward their safety.

“The most important thing to remember is to do whatever you can to protect yourself the best you can,” said Mr. Roger Miller, principal. “Do whatever you can to make it as tough as possible for someone to get in.”

In addition to following the emergency situation guidelines, it is advised to place heavy objects in front of the doors and windows for extra protection. The administration would even allow people to flee the building under teacher instruction in these situations if the teacher felt it was more safe for the students. In our opinion, people may be safer leaving the building if an intruder is present in the building but that is risky in that we do not know if there is anyone outside the door that could possibly hurt us. Drilling and understanding our response protocol with our teachers and students is our best line of defense.

“You can’t go wrong either way,” said Mr. Miller. “You want to secure your kids. But if there’s a bad person at one end of the building and we can get people out the other to nearby homes, that’s more safe than being in the building.”

lockdown volume 2 issue 3

WN Photo by Kayla Calvert

The lockdown system’s main purpose is to keep students and teachers isolated while 911 is called. The idea is that the police will provide a rapid response and handle the shooter while the students and teachers remain in hiding. The GHS staff has been educated on how to handle these situations to keep everyone safe.

“I would try to get a good look at them,” said Mrs. Nancy Turpin, office secretary. “Then I would grab my cell phone, which is always by my feet, and call 911. I would hide in the office and pray, I always pray for you guys.”

Staff preparations for a shooter situation has its limits. No one can actually predict what an intruder’s actions will be. The school has made a conscious effort to keep intruders out. All of the exit doors are locked during the school day, which prevents anyone from simply walking in.

That does not necessarily mean someone could not get in if they really wanted to.

“The [classroom] doors are very safe,” said Mr. Miller. “It would take a lot to get inside,but if someone had a high-powered weapon they could probably get into the classroom.”

GHS has been fortunate enough to avoid a lockdown situation in the past; however, there was one instance where a lock in was enforced while police raided a house on Hackberry Drive. This simply meant students were not permitted to leave the building.

While school staff members are educated to the best of their ability for an emergency, it is impossible to fully prepare a building with nearly one thousand people to calmly react when a gunshot is heard. If the best option is to follow the standard lockdown procedure, then do it. If there is an opportunity to escape, run and do not look back.

lockout

evacuate op/ed

shelter december 2015

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the most wonderful movies of the year the abc family christmas tradition you know and love

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by: Mason hjermstead e have all had our pumpkin spice lattes and pulled out our boots, sweaters, and scarves. Now it is on to the next holiday tradition. Pop some popcorn. Make some hot chocolate.

It is time for ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas Marathon. But we are busy teenagers, there is not possibly enough time to watch them all. Now is the time to think about the best movies to schedule into our abundantly busy lives.

One of the top movies I would recommend is Elf. This movie is about an orphan boy who sneaks into Santa’s gift bag on Christmas, and the elves take him in and raise him as one of their own, naming him Buddy. He grows to be a man, and once he realizes he does not fit in at the North Pole, he embarks on a journey to find his birth father.

It is a movie full of comedy and heartwarming moments. I believe this is a movie that is well known to most but is still a favorite of mine.

It has comedic sense paired with moments we can all connect to and the musical numbers will help it

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forever remain a top choice for me.

Another top movie pick would have to be Home Alone. This is a movie about a young boy who is abandoned at home while the rest of his family goes on vacation to Paris, France. After realizing he has the usually cluttered house to himself, main character Kevin McCallister eats through all the junk food and decorates the house by himself.

However, when a group of robbers decide to take their shot at his street of houses, which they believe all to be empty, Kevin must protect the house and the family’s belongings.

This movie also has an abundant amount of comedy along with a couple touching scenes that allow it to be enjoyable for all ages. It is a constant hit for families and teens alike. A perfect, festive movie to sit down and watch with the family on a snowy day.

My final pick for a movie worth watching would have to be How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Jim Carrey version from 2000.

This classic tale portrays a lovely village called Whoville that is full of holiday cheer. However that is

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all threatened when the Grinch, a furry green creature, tries to steal Christmas from the whole village.

It is a heartwarming tale of a girl named Cindy Lou Who who helps the Grinch to see that he does not have to steal Christmas and shows the whole village that everyone deserves redemption. This movie was very present in our childhoods and will forever be present as a classic. This movie is a perfect family movie and is also perfect for Christmas Eve night. This is a constant on the holiday movie watch list.

Even though there are many great Christmas movies played during ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas, these are the few movies that I believe should be looked out for the most. Just because we are growing older does not mean we have to outgrow these classic family Christmas movies that filled our childhoods with hilday spirit and joy. Once the hot chocolate is made and the popcorn is popped, sit down and watch these movies this holiday season for a Holly Jolly Christmas indeed.

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The brutal effects of Mother Nature are making an obvious debut this winter. So instead of being trapped at home, go to the movie theatre and catch one of these upcoming flicks bound to please.

What is your favorite christmas movie and why?

November 25th:

Creed- In a diligent effort to be as great as his dad was, Apollo Creed’s son goes through strenuous training, with the help of a mentor, to prove himself a true boxer. He encounters the painful struggles behind the sport and comes across some skeptics along the way.

Creed will be packed full of punches and an uplifting story about never giving up.

PG-13

December 4th:

A Christmas Story; it’s funny and reminds me of Christmas -Shelby Lagana, 9

Christmas Eve- Christmas Eve spotlights on individuals trapped in elevators around the city of New York when the power goes out on Christmas Eve. This movie will be a great holiday comedy with some romance and fun.

pg

December 11th:

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Star Wars fans wait no longer! The anticipated movie will make its debut December 11th. Accompanied with it will be lots of engaging adventure sure to please.

pg-13

December 25th

Point Break- This action packed movie follows a FBI agent that goes undercover and joins a team of elite athletes and skilled thrill seekers that have been conducting high level crimes and robbery.

This presents a fast pace movie filled with lots of agility and obstacles that will leave viewers at the edge of their seats.

Home alone because it is comical -ryan carlson, 12

Pg-13

December 25th:

Joy- Joy is a powerful and uplifting movie that follows four generations of family. It centers around Joy, who sucsessfully runs a booming business.

This movie shows true human nature as a woman learns to face the struggles that come her way on her road to sucsess.

Elf because it’s funny -Ethan boes, 12

PG-13

volume 2 issue 3

a&E

december 2015

15

Papas fritas

these fries are anything but french

By; lauren foss

1

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.

Wash a large baking potato and pat it dry. Then slice the potato into large wedges

2

In a large bowl, combine chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and oil until it becomes saucy. Taking the wedges, toss them into the mixture and coat each wedge in the concoction.

3 4

Pull the fries out of the oven and allow them to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

They taste best when served with ranch, ketchup or any other dipping sauce of your choice. Enjoy!

Spread the newly seasoned fries onto a baking sheet covered in tin foil and place it into the oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the fries are golden brown.