2016 GHS Voice Issue 4

the voice

December 2016

THE VOICE TV

3 ELECTORAL COLLEGE 7 CHRISTMAS COOKIES

BOY SCOUT FROM GHS IS CLIMBING UP THE LADDER HARRISON ROWLAND RECEIVES THE PRESTIGIOUS AWARD OF EAGLE SCOUT

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BY LAYNE STALEY

earning to tie knots, make fires and be a team are important skills every boy scout must achieve. While there are many young boys involved in Cubs Scouts and Boy Scouts, it is common for many to quit when they start getting older.

Because of this, very few people have been awarded the Eagle Scout title. It is also a prestigious grant that takes hard work and dedication. Sophomore Harrison Rowland is a student at GHS who has managed to be presented this award.

“Being an Eagle Scout means the world to a Boy Scout,” Rowland said. “It is the highest rank one can achieve.”

After Rowland finished Cub Scouts in Troop 282 out of Millard, Rowland started out in Boys Scouts when he was in the sixth grade. He started out at the bottom like everyone else as a Scout. There are many levels in Boy Scouts. These include Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, First Class, Star, Life, and then finally, Eagle. Each level takes a certain amount of skills and achievements to move up. To become an Eagle, there are many requirements in leadership, service, and outdoor skills. Twenty-one additional merits must be earned in areas such as first aid, cooking, personal fitness, camping and more. It is also important to have various volunteer and service projects throughout the community. It is difficult to become an Eagle scout; however, Rowland was able to pull it off at fifteen years old.

“There is a ceremony for making Eagle,” Rowland said. “It is called an Eagle ‘Court Of Honor.’”

Now that Rowland has achieved the high title of Eagle Scout, he has been invited to an important gathering for the scouts called the “Court of Honor.” During this time, the Scouts and Scoutmasters speak and have readings.

The Eagle Neckerchief is given to the person becoming an Eagle and there are candles lit. These candles are meant to be a reminder the points of the Scout Oath and Scout Law that Boys Scouts must fulfill throughout their life.

“Boy Scouts has been a very influential and beneficial part of life,” Rowland said. “I have been in it for about five years, and I have learned a lot in that time.”

For Rowland and many other boys invested in Boy Scouts, the activity is more than just a hobby for them. It has become a part of their lives and has influenced some of them to become the people they have become today. There

are things taught in Boy Scouts that one simply does not receive in a public school education. The participants are taught vital life skills, how to be positive and work well with others and how to serve others and be a leader.

Rowland is honored to have been presented as an Eagle. For him, it has been more than just tying knots and building fires. Boy Scouts has become a lifestyle for him and has given him opportunities and skills he never would have come by without it. While he is excited to be an Eagle Scout, he is looking forward to many more funfilled adventures through Boy Scouts.

Earning Badges. Rowland (19) and his troop gathers around a fire to warm themselves. He is accopanied by his troop. Rowland loves getting opportunites to spend time with his fellow Boy Scout members.

A Sacred Brotherhood. Rowland (17) poses for a picture with other members from his troop after being awarded more merits.One thing Rowland loves about Boy Scouts is the great bond he makes with the other members because they all love getting to spend time with each other. For the troop, Boy Scouts is more than an activity, it is a lifestyle.

CLIMATE CHANGE: WHY IT’S HAPPENING AND HOW TO PREVENT IT

By Amanda Minckler

Over the past century Earth’s average temperature has risen 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

This small temperature change may not seem like much, but it has a great impact on our world. A change like this can cause large and potentially dangerous changes in climate and weather. Farmers here at home will feel the changes in weather with the severity of drought and rainfall. This change is affecting our environment in irreversible ways. Here are some facts about climate change and what we can do to change our course.

The past two decades have been the hottest in the last 400 years. This causes glaciers to melt and ecosystems to be disturbed.

CAUSES Carbon dioxide and methane are necessary for human life, but we are producing an over abundance of them and causing climate change.

Stop the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. Move to more bio-friendly forms of fuel.

Global warming and pollution are causing reefs to suffer the worst bleaching and highest dying record since 1980.

Use your car less. If possible walk or bike to where you want to go.

Arctic Ice is melting quickly. The Arctic is expected to have an ice free summer by 2040 or even earlier.

This will cause the exctinction of animals who live there Climate change is the increase in the average temperature of earth’s surface caused by the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane.

The burning of fossil fuels and livestock are key causes of climate change.

SOLUTIONS

In the past 100 years, sea levels have risen roughly 7 inches. This is more than the past 2000 years combined. Rising sea levels are a threat to the 100 million people living on coasts or near sea level.

EFFECTS

Eat less meat, more fruits and vegetables.

Some livestock produce gases that hurt our environment.

Stop cutting trees down. Timber harvesting puts even more carbon in the air and takes away homes for many animals.

2 Volume 3 Issue 4

News

December 2016

PUTTING THEIR PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS TO WORK STUDENTS FROM GHS TAKE PART IN DLR STUDENT INNOVATION CHALLENGE

BY CASSANDRA KOSTAL

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DLR student invoation challenge On Noember 17, Maddie Haddix, Casey Downing, Lauren Bertelsen, Drew Dummer, Payton Long, and Ella Weaver compete against four other schools. They chose to adress student’s mental health. These students are all apart of the High Ability Learners program. Submitted photo.

Hard at work Drew Dummer(19) and Casey Downing(19) are at The Embassy Sweets confernce center in La Vista. They were hard at work trying to come up with a problem that affected their lives. Then they had to think of a solution to solve it. Submitted photo.

n Nov. 17, six students from GHS participated in the DLR Student Innovation Challenge. The group from GHS consisted of sophomores Payton Long, Casey Downing, Ella Weaver and Drew Dummer and freshmen Maddie Haddix and Lauren Bertelsen. They competed against groups from Omaha South, Elkhorn, Elkhorn South and Bennington. For the event, each group that participated had to come up with a problem that affects many people and then create a solution to that problem.

“My group chose to address the possible solutions that schools could present to help decrease their strain on students’ mental health,” Long said. “We chose this because we felt it was something that affected all of useveryone in the school, even. We wanted to see if there was any way we could help.”

The group that participated in the DLR Student Innovation Challenge are all part of the High Ability Learner (HAL) program at GHS and were coached by HAL coordinator Mr. Jason Larson. Each of the students that participated in the DLR Challenge had their own reasons for wanting to be a part of the problem-solving crew.

“I participated in the DLR Challenge because my friend asked me to, so she wouldn’t be alone,” Haddix said. “I also thought it would be a good experience to be part of.”

As part of the challenge, the six students had to create a problem that impacted their own lives and then developed a solution. For the actual event, they competed against three other districts as they presented their solution to the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB).

“Our solution was a mobile app with resources and games for students who are struggling,” Bertelsen said. “I particularly liked working on our problem because I have had personal experience with struggles in mental health.”

After presenting their own solution at the competition, the students from GHS were then paired with one of the other student groups that were in attendance. Working together, the students had to solve one of the problems they had already come up with, though there was a catch: a twist was added to the question’s scenario and they had to figure out a solution that worked around any obstacles that had been created.

The problem the students were given was that they had to figure out how to provide internet access to people living in rural or disadvantaged areas. A hypothetical solar flare was added to the problem as the twist.

“The twist we had to solve was how our solution would be impacted if there was solar flare, which wipes out all internet and most electricity,” Bertelsen said. “Because of how the power grid works and how solar flares affect it, the best solution would be to have as many workers prepared to repair the grid beforehand and protect the parts that would be damaged.”

After going through a five step guided process offered

by DLR, the students finished their day by presenting their work to an audience of attendees. To prepare for the challenge, each group was mentored by both DLR group experts and Mr. Larson. Overall, they all benefitted from being a part of the Student Innovation Challenge.

“My favorite part of the competition was meeting all the other kids from other schools and seeing their presentations,” Long said. “They were all so passionate about their problems, and they were all so kind and openminded about ours. I would love to do this again, and I hope DLR invites us back next year.”

At the end of the day, the students were glad that they were able to put their problem-solving skills to the test.

After their presentations were scored by the panel, the group from Omaha South was awarded the $1,000 prize.

The money will go to their school for future projects.

MAKING IMPROVEMENTS

GRANTS AWARDED TO GROUPS IN GRETNA

BY KATIE STUKENHOLTZ

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he spirit of giving has started for this holiday season. On Thursday, Dec. 24 the Gretna Community Foundation awarded a total of $7,700 to different local groups. The groups were nonprofit organizations that serve the Gretna area.

The groups include the Gretna Soccer Club, the Sarpy County Historical Society, Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy or HETRA, The Little Giants Foundation, The Gretna Volunteer Fire Department and Trevor Ernst.

The money they have earned is intended to go toward different projects that will help serve the community.

HETRA’s grant of $3,000 is to go toward the cost of care for their horses they have in their program.

“HETRA’s mission is to improve the quality of life both physically and emotionally of adults and children with disabilities through equine assisted activities,” Development Director Mrs. Jodi Teal said.

HETRA is quite happy to have received this grant from the Gretna Community Foundation. They know this means they have the support of the Gretna people.

“HETRA is very honored to the Gretna Community Foundation for their support of the HETRA Horse Sponsorship Fund,” Teal said.

Those given the grants also includes the Sarpy County Historical Society. They work through the Sarpy County Museum, and they strive to keep history alive and educate the people about our local history. With the $2,000 grant, they intend to preserve and digitize old Gretna newspapers.

These newspapers contain stories ranging from what was happening in the schools to residents that went off to serve in World Wars I and II. They plan to scan the newspapers onto the computer and make them readily available for the community. The Sarpy County Historical Society is glad to have the backing of the Gretna Community Foundation.

It is reassuring to see that Gretna is interested in preserving its past as it continues to grow,” Executive Director of Sarpy County Museum Mr. Ben Justman said.

The Fire Depart The Gretna Volunteer Fire Department intends to use the grant money to replace their old radios. They provide fire protection for 71 square miles of Eastern Nebraska. They are always open to new volunteers.

One of GHS’s students is a recipient of these grants.

Junior Trevor Ernst went through the optimist club to apply for the grant. He received $500 from the Gretna Community Foundation to help pay for his Eagle Scout’s project. He intends to build an pit for Gaga Ball at Gretna Elementary. Ernst plans on using the money to buy the wood he needs to construct it then donating the rest of it to the school.

“It feels great to know that people are willing to help people complete their Eagle Scout projects like this,” Ernst

said. “I’m truly honored.”

Some other projects are set to take place. The Gretna Fire Department received $1,000 to replace their motorola radios. The Little Giants Foundation was awarded $600 to help with the cost of their annual fundraiser. The Gretna Soccer Club also received $600. The Gretna Community Foundation was more than willing to help these organizations out. It is an honor for these groups to have been awarded these grants. Their projects should serve to help better Gretna and the surrounding areas.

Volume 3 Issue 4

OpEd

THE FOREFRONT ESTABLISHED BY OUR FOREFATHERS

December 2016

GOING THE DISTANCE

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ELECTORAL COLLEGE KEEPS OUR NATION IN CHECK, EDUCATES OUR YOUTH

SOMETIMES SEPARATION IS WORTH IT

BY JESSICA BLUM

BY ABBIE WESLEY

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he year is 2016; the year of many alterations is in our midst. Whether it is favorable or despicable in the eyes of the popular vote, Donald J. Trump is about to become the President of the United States of America. This major nationwide happening would not have been possible if the electoral college did not exist. For the sake of the nation and domestic affairs, our forefathers made a wise decision in establishing the electoral college.

As the delegates wrote the Constitution, the electoral college was a part of the second article in section one. It was first designed to distribute to each state two votes equal to the number of its U.S. Senators with the addition of the number of its U.S. Representatives to satisfy the wants of the small and large states. For example, Nebraska has five electoral votes because of our two senators and three representatives in the House. Each elector was required to cast two votes in the hopes that the winner would likely be everyone’s second favorite choice. The winner was the person with the most electoral votes as an absolute majority, at least one over half of the majority.

Whoever obtained the second greatest number of votes was elected as vice president. If that was tied, the vote would be handed over to the U.S. Senate to be decided.

Now, under the 12th amendment, each elector is required to cast one vote for the president and a separate vote for the vice president rather than two votes for the president with the runner-up being made vice president.

The electoral college is, in fact, the profound inner workings in our election process to make it run smoothly, and it is important to have it in action to this day. It ensures that all parts of the country are involved in selecting our Leader of the Free World. In the history of the electoral

college, the winner of the popular vote has lost the electoral vote only five times. Our system is working. One of those five times occurred this year as Hillary Rodham Clinton edged Trump in the popular vote, winning 65,316,724 votes over Trump’s 62,719,568 votes. With these results, however, she did not become president elect. Trump overshadowed Clinton by winning 306 electoral votes to Clinton’s 232 votes. This sent the nation into a whirlwind of fury and excitement as the results finally came to a conclusion at about 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Imagine this, our country would lie completely in the hands of big states like California, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania if it were not for the electoral college to put them in their place. As residents of Nebraska, the electoral college does us some favors in bringing our voice to the level playing field. We are going to need to be fully invested “in the know” of our candidates in the next election as we come of age to vote. The electoral college was a factor this year, and will be a factor then as well.

Our country has been under these regulations pertaining to the electoral colleges for millennium, and it has continued to work. The United States would not be stabilized if the electoral college was abolished; it enforces the idea of a two-party system. The electoral college is not the major source of the problems because it is running how it was meant to run; the number of representatives for each state in the House of Representatives does not represent the population. Reform to the electoral college would be wise, but not abolishment. Our country would not be the powerhouse threat that it is today without the wise advice and precedents set forth by our forefathers.

The abolishment of the electoral college would force the forefathers to roll over in their graves.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE MAP FROM THE 2016 ELECTION

ELECTORAL COLLEGE MAP SHOWING NUMBER OF VOTES

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hen people first started asking me what my boyfriend and I would do about college at the end of last year, I would tell them that we are doing long distance and they would give me a look of sympathy and say “oh... Good luck.” While people did not mean to discourage us, these comments actually motivated us to make the decision to remain together. Being a grade ahead of me presented some difficulties. However, I wanted to prove to the world that I was with him for the right reasons and that we were compatible enough to stay together even though we were several states apart.

My boyfriend graduated from high school last year and now attends Notre Dame in South Bend, IN. There is a one-hour time zone difference between us, and it is a nine hour drive. When he left, I missed him almost instantly.

I am thankful that we live in this day and age where communication is not a problem. With today’s technology, it is easy to pick up a phone or a laptop and Snapchat or Skype someone. These conveniences make the distance a little more bearable. We text and Snapchat every day and Skype once every two or three days. We are sometimes busy on weekdays, so we have to do homework while Skyping. Even though we are both busy with schoolwork and other activities, we make time to talk every day, especially in the evenings.

When my parents dated long distance between Nebraska and Washington, D.C. for about six months, they had “snail mail.” They could only send photos in the mail if they wanted to see the other person, and if they wanted to hear their voice, they could call or send audio tapes. We have advanced so much in a short amount of time. This makes me wonder what future technological advances will do for the long distance couples. I wish somebody would invent teleportation already.

I am certainly not the only one doing long distance; many people in high school struggle with this difficult time away from their boyfriend or girlfriend. I personally know several people who are in happy long distance relationships. I anxiously look forward to seeing my boyfriend when he comes home over break and holidays (about once a month), and I know others understand that feeling.

We no longer have the luxuries of making last minute plans such as going to movies or out to dinner. Hanging out with friends or each other’s families is something that we also used to do on a regular basis. Knowing that he was only 20 minutes away also made a big difference compared to nine hours. Sometimes I think about how awesome it would be if he were sharing an experience with me or just being together in general. Seeing other couples makes me think of him too, but it is a luxury that we have learned to live without.

Long distance is a pain and it not easy by any standards, but with the right person, it makes it all worth it in the end.

It definitely takes sacrifice, trust and commitment to deal with it whether it is over a month-long period, a year, or in my case, four long years during college. Call it stupid, call it crazy, but I call it worth the wait.

Standing on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, Abbie Wesely (17) and Luke Krajewski celebrate one last downtown date. This was less than a week before his departure date. Less than a week before the long-

4December 2016

ADDING HOLIDAY WARMTH

InDepth

Volume 3 Issue 4

SWEATERS HELP SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER

BY OLIVIA KAHLER

Bringing family together The Ayer Family shows off their “ugly” Christmas sweaters at a family get together during the holidays. Mrs. Nicki Ayer even wore some reindeer antlers for the special occasion. Corbyn Ayer (17) chose not to don a similar “ugly” sweater.

Spreading holiday cheer Kylie Otto (17) showcases her sweater of a reindeer fashioning some Christmas ornaments. “I like Christmas sweaters because they get me in the Christmas spirit and they can make an outfit super cute,” Otto said. Otto’s sweaters help her to bring the spirit of Christmas into her home during the holidays.

Budget friendly fun Alex Petrash (17) and Olivia Cooprider (18) try on Christmas sweaters at Target. “I always go to Target to get my Christmas sweaters because they are super cute and have good prices on them.”

Petrigash said. Saving money, Petrigash and Cooprider still managed to find cute Christmas sweaters for the holiday season.

GAHAN FAMILY HAS HISTORY OF GEARING UP IN SWEATERS

Family tradition Posing with Santa, Angela Gahan (18) and her siblings wear matching Christmas attire. Mrs. Melanie Gahan spent countless time and money preparing her four children for these annual photos. Gahan and her siblings, Reid, Olivia and Elise, were forced by their mother to wear their matching outfits every Christmas season.

CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH WHITE ELEPHANTS AND GREEN PICKLES FAMILIES OF SEVERAL GHS STUDENTS FIND ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUN IN TRADITIONS THAT ALWAYS COME WITH A CATCHY TWIST

BY MASON HJERMSTAD

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veryone knows the classic holiday traditions of eating turkey on Thanksgiving and opening presents on Christmas but some families have their own spunky customs.

The Bartram family participates in their own version of White Elephant, a party game where gifts are exchanged usually for entertainment rather than actual gain.

“We do a drawing/game where there is a bowl of dice and there is a bunch of gifts that everyone puts in and then we roll and try and get doubles,” freshman Carter Bartram said. “If we get doubles we can pick the gift that we want

artwork by Mason Hjermstad

or if someone has a gift you run over and steal it. It keeps going on for a couple minutes and then we do more rounds, but you have to be in college to play.”

With the plethora of gifts ranging from $20-$50, it is all fun and games even with the age restrictions. The 20 or so adults and college students participating are not the only ones to walk away with a prize.

“It gets pretty crazy and people fight over gifts and stuff,” Bartram said. “It is all for fun and everyone gets a gift in the end. Last year my mom won three selfie sticks and a speaker but it was all fun.”

Along with the Bartram’s, the Miller family’s festive activity is quite the creative way to celebrate. Some people may have heard of hiding a pickle in the tree and searching for it, however, this family does not hide it in the tree.

“One of the adults will take the pickle and hide it

somewhere in the basement and all the kids will have to go find it,” senior Alyson Miller said. “It takes like twenty minutes and then whoever wins gets five dollars.”

It occupies the kids for a short amount of time but with a jar full of fun. Miller says their family has been doing this for as long as she can remember and quite a few children participate. However, apparently the past seventeen years have not ended in much success for Miller.

“Probably about fifteen kids play and I have won once,” Miller said.

Although she has not won very often, she seems to have a lot of fun. They find the whole thing rather comical considering the only reason they use a pickle is because her Grandma thinks it is funny. The holidays are for enjoying time spent with your family and it appears the Bartram’s and Miller’s will be successful for yet another year.

Volume 3 Issue 4

InDepth

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT LIGHTS HOMES IN THE GRETNA AREA

MANY WITHIN OUR TOWN GO ALL OUT WITH THE HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND DECORATIONS

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BY SOPHIE ANDERSON

or many people across the world, Christmas is a long-standing tradition. Like all holidays, it has the power to unite people and many associate this holiday with love, family, and charity. To some, Christmas is only another holiday where they get to see their family, but for others it is something they look forward to all year and they have a habit of going all out in their expression of Christmas.

For Mrs. Kathy Anderson, it has been a tradition for many years with her family. While they are often away from home over the holidays, they decorate annually no matter where they may be spending Christmas day.

“I enjoy the holidays, it’s fun as a family,” Anderson said, “Over the years, I’ve accumulated a lot of Christmas items that make the house festive and fun. There’s something about the red and green all over that makes the

house seem happier.”

Christmas spirit is arguably the most visible through lights on houses around this time of year. There are several levels to the intensity of Christmas lights. Some only hang them around the edges of their roof, while others go all out with decorated trees and seemingly covering their house with tiny bulbs.

“We don’t usually put Christmas lights up on the outside of the house,” Anderson said. “The majority of the decorating we do is inside the house, but some years we put wreaths or fun little decorations outside.”

Everyone has a favorite decoration they like to set out in the family. From so many choices, they all choose at least one and put it out every year.

“My favorite is the little village,” Libby Anderson said, “I love setting it up with the people and trees on the

December 2016

5

chest. It’s fun to decorate the little town.”

Just like in the Anderson family, Christmas spirit runs in the Gulizia family. They have favorite decorations and have special traditions each year.

“The decoration I am most excited about is the fake snow we put all over our kitchen counters and tables,” sophomore Maddie Gulizia said. “We also add a new tree ornament to our collection every year and this year has one that says 2016 on it.”

Most families have at least one decoration to celebrate the holidays. Some only have one or two, while others cover their whole homes with spirit.

“We have enough Christmas decor to put something in every room,” Gulizia said. “The living room has the most decor with the tree and the mantle. There are snowglobes on the end tables and the nativity scene sits in the corner.”

Many have traditions of decorating their houses, similar to the memories of my childhood, where it takes a day or weekend in matching pajamas with hot chocolate.

Others have memories of accumulating many decorations throughout their life, and still others have memories of funny traditions and silly games they play.

Above: Showing off Families in the community show off their holiday spirit with displays of outdoor Christmas lights. Outdoor holiday lights are known to appear shortly after Thanksgiving is over. Decorating their home with festive, bright lights is just one way that families are able to express their love of the holiday season. Photo by Sophie Anderson Right: Looking sharp Evergreen trees are yet another way for families celebrating the holidays to show off their Christmas spirit. Both real and artificial evergreen trees are used as decorations within the confines of homes. Many trees are strung with lights, ribbons, and ornaments, many of which have sentimental meanings. Photo by Sophie Anderson

BRINGING THE JOY OF FELLOWSHIP AND SERVICE TO THOSE IN NEED ALL YEAR LONG MANY GHS STUDENTS ARE KNOWN FOR VOLUNTERRING THEIR TIME BOTH DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

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BY EMILY ACKER

he holiday season is quickly approaching.

These special times can hold a different meaning to all different people not just in Gretna, but around the world. Many people use this time to appreciate all the wonderful things that have happened to them over the past year. When reflecting on all the things they have to be thankful about, many take time to think about and help those who are not as fortunate.

“The volunteer work that I have done has been mostly with my youth group,” senior Sarah Harder said. “We traveled to several places across the U.S. to do community service. We do things as little as tying quilts together or bigger things like tending to an unkempt lawn.

Harder has done projects that are big and small. No matter the size of the volunteer project, she finds that helping those who are in need is very rewarding.

“Throughout the holiday seasons, it is hard for older people to take care of their lawn or this house. So that is what my youth group primarily does. We shovel driveways, rake leaves, wash windows on the outside of the house, and when it gets nice in the spring, we mow lawns.”

To Harder, these small acts amount to something more

than just shoveling a driveway. It means a lot to her and the people she is helping “The thing is that it’s more than just community service, you get to know the people that you are helping out,” Harder said. “You get to experience so much gratitude from them. It’s honestly so amazing, and I have always loved doing it.”

According to the US bureau of labor statistics, 62.8 million people volunteered at least once between September 2014 to September 2015.

“I feel that it has impacted my life more than anything else that I have done,” Harder said. “You get to sit down at these people’s dinner tables and get to know their personal story. Some of the people welcome you with open arms, making food for you while you work, offering refreshments. It’s heartwarming how grateful a lot of these people are to have so much help.”

As we approach winter, we are reminded that everyone has their own story and everyone needs a little help sometimes. Harder and many other people across the globe take this idea to heart and do what they can to give back to the community during the holiday season.

Quality time Traveling to Kansas City, high schoolers from Resurrection Lutheran Church spend time with people in the community. They spent two days working with disadvantaged children at a local daycare center. The youths traveled to Kansas City for a mission trip last summer. Submitted photo

Working together Left to right, Sarah Harder, Colton Prince and Dallas Honn help pull weeds at a home in Kansas City. The trio traveled to the city for a mission trip last summer to aid families in need. Part of their work included pulling weeds at homes in low-income communities. Submitted photo

6 December 2016

Sports

Volume 3 Issue 4

ONE SEASON TO PLAY, ONE GOAL IN MIND ON THE COURT IGNORE THE THUNDER

THE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM RECENTLY TIPPED OFF FOR COACHES AND PLAYERS

BY COLIN KITSON

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inter sports have begun and that means girls basketball has started. The team is pumped this season and hope to make it all the way to become class B state champions.

The girls’ basketball team is full of players of all classes, from freshmen to seniors. No matter what grade the girls are in, they all work together and get along well.

“Everyone on the team gets along well, we always seem to find something good even on the bad days.

Everyone just clicks,” sophomore Maya McArtor said.

Part of being on the girls basketball team means getting assigned a little or big sister. This makes the new girls feel welcomed. The sisters make locker signs and get gifts for each other before the first game of the season.

“Having a big or little sister has a purpose because it makes the younger kids feel welcomed into the high school and to make our bonding on the team better,” junior Abbie Huffman said.

The girls are always ready to play in practice. They find ways to benefit in both their own ways and as a team during practice.

“My favorite part about practice is being able to play live against my teammates and being aggressive so we can make each other better,” freshman Jaiden Albright said.

The girls are happy and ready for practice, but they are more excited about actually playing in the game. They love the feeling of being in the game.

“My favorite part about playing in games is the adrenaline rush that I get when our team clicks, and we score, get defensive stops and play well as a team. It gets me fired up, and the game is just much more interesting and fun,” Huffman said.

The girls would not have such a good team or bond without the help of the coaching staff. The girls’ coaches consist of Mr. Jon Swanson and Mr. Jerome Skrdla. Without them, the team would be much different.

“The coaches always make the most out of what we do. They’re always looking for a laugh with us, which makes us closer with them,” McArtor said.

Coach Swanson makes the girls get in the right mindset before each game and practice. Before practices and games, he calls the team over and they have a talk.

“My favorite part about the coaching this year is Coach Swanson’s motivational speeches before every practice and game, it gets us pumped up for what we are about to do. It gets us all excited and it brings positive vibes into our the practice and our games,” Huffman said.

The girls expect the team to make it to state this year. The goal is to reach the state championship and take it home.

“I expect us to go to state this year and maybe win it if we put in the work and practice hard,” Albright said.

The girls basketball team is ready to win and show the other teams why they are a dominant force in class B. They will keep practicing and getting better every day and try their best to make it all the Getting in the Groove Cassidy Bartenhagen (17) is moving her feet and playing defense during a basketball practice on the varsity side of way. the gym. She is coming off a basket made by her team in scrimmage. She is looking to make a steal or a turnover for the other team so she and her team can push the ball down the court. photo by Colin Kitson

A STEP BACK FROM THE STAR LEAGUE PROFESSIONALS INTRAMURAL SPORTS ARE A HIT AT GHS, THE ANTICIPATION WILL NEVER CEASE

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BY JACEY HAMMER

laying sports at a non-advanced level is preferred by many students at GHS. The intramural program is beneficial to the students that participate in them. Intramurals first began to help students that were not already in a varsity sport get involved.

“It started because the school board wanted to have an activity for students who were not on a varsity sport,” intramural instructor Mrs. Kari Bulgrin said. “We started with intramural basketball and the following year we added intramural volleyball.”

The first intramural sport that came out was basketball around five years ago. Intramural basketball takes place in the winter. Their games are mainly played when the traveling basketball team has an away game.

“I have never done intramurals before, but I am playing intramural basketball this year,” sophomore Casey Downing said. “I feel that it will be fun playing with my friends, and overall intramurals will be a good way to compete and be active.”

The following year, intramural volleyball was introduced to students. Intramural volleyball takes place in the fall. Their games are also played mostly when the traveling volleyball team has an away game.

“Intramural volleyball was honestly really fun,” sophomore Michael Raines said. “You get to hang out with your friends, and it’s stress free.

It’s a get away.”

Intramurals are a good activity for students because they have an opportunity to get involved. Intramural sports are also a great way for students to try a new sport.

“I really liked playing intramural volleyball because it was a chance for me to play a sport I have never played before,” sophomore Trevor Ristow said.

Playing a traveling sport may be challenging at times.

Part of the commitment to traveling sports are hours of weekly practices and stress, but with intramurals, these things are not an issue.

“The major differences between intramurals and traveling sports is that there are no practices,” sophomore Ben Randall said. “You don’t have to try as hard and you can make up your own plays and stuff.”

Each participant has a different opinion about intramurals. Senior Carson Combs enjoys playing with his friends and having more control as an athlete.

“My favorite thing about intramurals is getting to play my favorite sport with my best friends,” Combs said. “Intramurals are a lot more laid back, we have more control as athletes, and it is a much smaller commitment.”

Intramurals and traveling sports are similar and different in many ways. Overall, intramurals are a great program offered to students at GHS.

Holiday Hoops Leaping for control, Joe Weiss (19) snatches the ball in mid-air for his team. As Christmas draws nigh, students look for ways to take their mind off of finals and stress. Intramural basketball is a thrilling option for all grades to get involved in for some action shots and competition. With the cold weather brewing as well, basketball creates a quick “warm up” for players. photo by Jacey Hammer

WRESTLERS PLAN TO PIN THIS SEASON

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BY BROOKE SMITH

ven though the fall sports and warm weather have come to an end, the competitive extracurricular athletics of GHS cease to stop. The winter brings forth not only frosty chills but also swimming, girl’s and boy’s basketball, and wrestling season. With the conclusion of last year’s wrestling season, the GHS varsity wrestling team lost five seniors. This year, five new seniors, Grant Bruner, Patrick Arnold, Cannon Ahrens, Tom Kienow and Alex Irwin, fill the leadership roles.

The expectations and goals for the GHS varsity wrestling team are very high this season. Unanimously, the team strives to not only compete to their fullest potential and earn as many individual state championship titles as possible, but also to win a state team title.

“I think that we have the most experienced team,” Bruner said. “I think that we have a chance this year to be in the hunt for a state title. With the addition of Van Schmidt and Tyler Cunningham, we bring a lot of talent and competitiveness to each meet.”

On the mats for Gretna this wrestling season will be a few new, yet welcomed, faces. One of these faces belongs to junior Tyler Cunningham. Cunningham transferred to Gretna this year from class C Saint Paul after his dad received a job as an assistant wrestling coach and biology teacher at GHS. Cunningham has made appearances at the state tournament both his freshman and sophomore years, placing fourth, and also earning a class C state championship title. Cunningham’s goals for this season include an individual class B state championship title and to support the team by getting as many pins as he can to boost Gretna’s team points at the state tournament.

“Gretna has more of a team aspect, not just individual,” Cunningham said. “I am excited to meet new friends on the team and go to different places that I have not been for tournaments. I am really excited for dual tournaments as well, those will be fun.”

The second addition to the GHS varsity wrestling team is junior Van Schmidt. Schmidt transferred to GHS this year from Skutt Catholic High School.

“Gretna felt like a better fit for me overall,” Schmidt said. “It has everything I could ask for in a wrestling program and a high school. The transition has been extremely smooth, and I think I will be a lot happier overall wrestling for Gretna.”

Schmidt has made two state tournament appearances as well, placing second his freshman year and third his sophomore year. He is eager to start competition this season and work towards earning an individual state championship title.

With Gretna’s wrestling team returning with an excellent amount of talent, the varsity squad feels confident that they are a title contender and are in a good position to win it all this year. Senior Patrick Arnold, who could not wrestle last year due to a knee injury, is anxious to lace up his shoes one last time and help keep the team humble.

“Coach Brugg says that we have got to ignore the noise,” Arnold said. “It is a lot of pressure because if we don’t win it will be a disappointment. We just have to keep grinding at practice and not let it get to our heads.”

Clean Sweep Layton Tuma (20) raises his arm, gaining a win for the GHS wrestling team at the dual against Ralston. Layton wrestles for Gretna’s varsity team at 106 pounds. Overall, Gretna varsity won the dual, sweeping Ralston off the mat. photo by Brooke Smith

Volume 3 Issue 4

A&E

December 2016

7

GETTING IN THE SPIRIT FOR CHRISTMAS WITH COOKIES

MAKING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON SWEETER WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF SWEET TREATS

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BY MCKENZIE PAVELKA

is the season for hot cocoa, blankets and Christmas treats. It is the beginning of December and that means it is time to prepare for everyone’s favorite holiday: Christmas. My favorite part about Christmas is the treats, more importantly, the delicious, nicely decorated sugar cookies. However, sometimes it is nice to branch out and go out of your comfort zone and try something new, so I found some Christmas cookie recipes that I thought everyone would enjoy.

The first kind of cookies I tried out were hot cocoa cookies. Now this might sound unpleasant to some, but they actually turned out pretty tasty. The ingredients you will need are one cup butter, room temperature, one cup brown sugar, three fourths cup hot cocoa mix, two eggs, room temperature, one teaspoon vanilla, two and one half cups flour, one teaspoon baking soda, one cup chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and chocolate for drizzling (about one half cup chips). Mix all of the ingredients except the marshmallows and the drizzling chocolate in a large mixing bowl. You will then need to preheat the oven to 350 degrees and put the cookies in. After you take the cookies out, simply place four-six mini marshmallows in the center of the cookies and drizzle chocolate over them.

After that, the hot chocolate cookies have been completed.

The last cookies I made were simple sugar cookies with cute decorations. I managed to make a snowman, reindeer and snowflake. The recipe starts out with either purchasing sugar cookie dough, which I did, or making your own, which is a simple recipe of flour, butter, baking soda, baking powder, eggs, and vanilla. I used cookie cutters to cut out the shapes that I wanted to make and placed them in the oven; I also preheated at 350 degrees.

After they were done baking, I let them cool before decorating them. I am no culinary artist, but I managed to make some pretty adorable cookie decorations. If I can make these two Christmas cookie recipes, anyone can.

Baking and decorating cookies can help anyone get in the Christmas spirit, even if it is a month early.

I loved making and decorating these cookies. I am glad I chose the hot cocoa and the simple sugar cookies because I had never tried the hot cocoa cookies and the sugar cookies are a Christmas classic. Decorating sugar cookies has always been one of my favorite holiday tradition. I definitely had to restart when making the sugar cookies approximately three times, but eventually they turned out to be mediocre. The hot cocoa cookies ended up amazing, and the sugar cookies were good as well.

Time For Traditions Cutting out Christmas shaped cookies is a classic tradition during the holiday season. It is fun for all ages and makes adorable cookies. They are also very fun to decorate. Photo by Mckenzie Pavelka.

A Holiday Favorite in Cookie Form Hot cocoa cookies with marshmallows and chocolare drizzled is a holiday favorite. These cookies are amazing with a warm cup of steamy hot chocolate near by. They are a definite holiday favorite. Photo by Mckenzie Pavelka.

A PERFECT SOUNDTRACK FOR ICESKATING, HOT CHOCOLATE AND WARM BLANKETS

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MUSIC TO LIGHT UP THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND THE FEW SONGS THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL COST

BY JADYN ANDERSON

Getting in the Spirit I always have a Christmas playlist composed and ready for listening at least two weeks before Thanksgiving. Christmas music gets me in a good mood when I listen to it on the way to school, and I always feel super festive. I get pumped up for Christmas day with my playlist. Photo

by Jadyn Anderson

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here are several categories people fall into when it comes to Christmas music. There are those who respectively start listening to it after Thanksgiving when 104.5 starts playing it non-stop. There are those who cannot resist the jingle bells and start listening before Thanksgiving, but keep it on the down low (I am one of these). The last category involves a rare breed of humans that are grinches and hate every single Christmas song. I cannot be friends with people in this category, well, at least not during the holiday season. Whichever category a person falls into, everyone knows at least one Christmas song that brings tender memories of Christmas’ past. On the other hand, there are those few Christmas songs that cause endless cringes and make festive music seem like a cruel and unusual punishment. I am very opinionated when it comes to these seasonal tunes.

First of all, there are the classics. These are the songs that everyone knows, whether they like them or not. One of my favorite classics is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The older versions can be boring, but some modern artists have recorded outstanding covers of it.

Christina Aguilera, for example, utilizes her powerhouse voice and turns it into a fun, soulful holiday favorite.

Another song that I gladly belt out in the car no matter who I am with is “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley.

Elvis’ style is not for everyone, but it has that catchy 1950’s doowop vibe that I love. My whole family and I always sing along to this song together and we all have a blast singing it with our best Elvis impression. Songs like “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “Silent Night,” “Winter Wonderland” and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” are all well known classics. They are absolutely perfect to listen to while hanging up ornaments and decorating the house for the approaching holiday.

I just want to be clear on something before I go on.

I love Christmas. There is only one miniscule splinter of a flaw that I can find with the holiday season, and that is the wretched movie The Polar Express. I completely and utterly despise that movie. I cannot quite put my finger on it, but there is something about it that makes my skin crawl. Therefore, the only Christmas music I do not like whatsoever is the soundtrack from The Polar Express.

Now that we got that out of the way, I would like to end on a positive note. Here are my all-time favorite Christmas songs. I know every lyric (and never fail to vocalize them) to the following songs. “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is so wonderful because I can sing one part and force some poor bystander to sing the other part with me. Anyone with an ounce of Christmas in their body can conjure up in their mind the scene from Elf in which Buddy is unwittingly singing “Baby It’s Cold Outside” to Jovie in the girl’s bathroom. Sidenote: Glee has an exceptional version of this song on their Christmas album.

Another immensely enjoyable tune is Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” This song has the power to bring out anyone’s inner pop diva. Lastly, my absolute favorite Christmas song is “Feliz Navidad.” I do not care what anybody says, this song is fabulous, and now that I am in Spanish III I actually know how to say the words and I understand what it means. This is my go-to Christmas song because it has all the vibes of festivity and the holidays, and it is also insanely upbeat. It makes me want to learn how to salsa dance with a string of Christmas lights wrapped around me.

Christmas music may not be for everyone, but I think it should be classified as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

No matter what any of the scrooges out there say, I will always have a Spotify Christmas playlist ready to go at least two weeks before Thanksgiving.

8 December 2016

A&E

LIGHTING UP JOURNALISM

BRINGING FESTIVITY TO THE CLASSROOM

BY MARA HJERMSTAD

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Rockin’ Penguins Yearbook staff brought out their artsy side with these hand drawn penguins. The cute little figures greet journalism students on their way into the computer lab. The penguins are one of Yearbook staff’s many decorations for their half of the room. Photo by Mara Hjermstad.

nce a year, right before Thanksgiving, journalism instructor Mrs. Gretchen Baijnauth’s students in Newspaper and Yearbook compete by decorating her room and trying to beat the other staff. The students get the three days before Thanksgiving break to complete their side of the room to the best of their abilities. The following week after Thanksgiving, Mrs. Baijnauth’s English classes, journalism classes and a select group of mystery teachers judge the sides and pick the best one.

“In the past, I have judged door decorations for Christmas,” Spanish instructor Mrs. Lisa Salerno said. “It was really fun to see what people came up with.”

When Mrs. Baijnauth sent out an email asking for volunteers to judge, Mrs. Salerno was excited to participate because it took her back to when she used to judge Christmas themed doors and how much she enjoyed it. However, Mrs. Baijnauth’s English students come into her room every day and get to see the progress being made.

A Light Unto Yearbook and Newspaper The competitive sides of Journalism students come out during Light Wars. Both Yearbook and Journalism staff put in their hardest efforts to win the competition. Each student puts in one dollar and the winning team gets to buy a prize like treats; however, the bigger prize is the bragging rights.

Photo by Jadyn Anderson.

Volume 3 Issue 4 Because they get to see the room every day Mrs. Baijnauth allows them to judge which side they think is best.

“I liked to see the progress that was being made on the walls because I could tell each class was working really hard to beat the other class,” sophomore Avery Sedlacek said. “I feel enthusiastic [when I walk into the room] because it makes me want to participate in more things and so I can have fun doing stuff like that.”

Mrs. Baijnauth’s room is split down the middle and each staff gets one side with a door, a window and a skylight. The winning staff from the year before gets first pick on the side they want. Each side picks a theme and decorates to the best of their ability. They can use paper, lights, Christmas trees, or basically anything they want to use. This year’s theme for Newspaper was the inside of a gingerbread house, and Yearbook’s was North Pole Rock & Roll.

“I want to participate in the decorating because I love decorating and that kinda stuff,” Sedlacek said. “I’m not a very good writer so I don’t know if that would be my best class, but the people in the class seem to have a lot of fun.”

Everyone has their favorite traditions around Christmas time, but light wars is certainly the favorite for the Newspaper and Yearbook staffs. Mrs. Salerno said that she loves to judge Christmas decorations because she loves seeing how creative the students can be. This year, both staffs let their creative side show through while they made their ideas come into action.

Gingerbread House vs. North Pole Rock ‘n Roll Each staff devises a theme for their half of the room. They try to keep their idea a secret from the opposing staff until the first day of decoration. This year the newspaper students went for a sweet theme going full out gingerbread house. The yearbook students went for North Pole Rock ‘n Roll.

Photo by Jadyn Anderson.

A MAGICAL FAVORITE IS BROUGHT TO LIFE IN THE MOVIE SOMETIMES MOVIES ACTUALLY MEET THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS SET BY THE BOOKS

BY KIERSEY BUSH

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s a kid I fell madly in love with the magical world that Harry Potter and his friends lived in. You would never find a nine year old Kiersey anywhere without a book from the series. So you can only imagine how void of meaning my life must have been when I came to the end of the last book. “Fear not! There’s more!” exclaimed my school librarian as she handed me a book titled Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. My adventures in the wizarding world got to last a little longer.

This past July when I saw the first official trailer for Fantastic Beasts, my inner child came back to the surface as I was overwhelmed with excitement. As my heart had felt empty after finishing the final Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, I once again found an opportunity to jump back into the mind of J.K. Rowling.

Now there are always going to be those people that wholeheartedly believe no movie would ever be as good as the original book, and do not get me wrong, there are some instances where that theory holds steadfast. But growing up reading in addition to watching my way through the Harry Potter series, I learned to appreciate the differences between the books and movies. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was a fun sequel to the books I had

loved so much. The movie was just as exciting.

The main character, Newt Scamander, is a quirky kid who attended and was expelled from Hogwarts, the school the original Harry Potter movies took place in. His love for the magical creatures that come along with the magic world is what gets him into all sorts of trouble. When he comes to America, New York City to be exact, his beasts seem to get particularly rowdy. Creatures are escaping out of his brief case left and right. “Brief case?” you might ask: Fantastic Beasts is set in the 1920’s, and it just so happens that an all American wizard named Tina Goldstein witnesses an incident with one of his creatures in the middle of a bank and promptly takes charge. Throughout the movie the two go on crazy adventures in hopes of recovering all of Scamander’s beasts, with the help of Tina’s mind reading sister Queenie and a No-Maj (non magic folk, American name for Muggles if you speak Harry Potter) named Jacob.

All in all, this movie did not disappoint, and that is saying something because my expectations were set very high. The graphics were amazing and the storyline was easy to follow so if you have not read all the books, do not think you are not “qualified” so to speak. And the original Harry Potter movies are not a prerequisite for Fantastic Beasts either. It is an exciting movie for all ages and it got my stamp of approval.

ART BY MASON HJERMSTAD