December 2018 Issue Red & Black

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Red & Black Volume 88 Issue 3 JeffersonCity HighSchool Jefferson City, MO.

Holidays with Jolly Jays

CONTENTS 12.17.18 NEWS

SPOTLIGHT

4

Upcoming Events

12

4

It’s a jay winter wonderland

What’s trending at lunch?

13

Capitol Caroling

5

Signs of suicidal thoughts

6

Thorpe Gordon kids get a lesson in tolerance

14

Player perspective: Cheer

7

Construction Updates

14

Athletes in the offseason

7

CWD: Why should I care?

15

Featured Athletes: Celeste Cash &

FEATURES

16

Co-Ed dance team

8

Job opportunities at a local bank

9

Featured teacher and staff

10 11

2

Brain Drain: Classes expanding your intellect Featured artist: Tiana Vaughan

SPORTS

OPINION 17

Editorial: Gun Control

18

Should people wear makeup?

18

Should seniors be featured for Jay of the Day

19

Head to Head: Should parents be involved in student academic life?

12.17.18//CONTENTS

A&E 20

Cheap Christmas gifts

20

Healthy winter skin

21

Dear Patti: Friend

21

Christmas date ideas

22

What truly makes a Christmas movie?

22

Top 5 Christmas songs

23

Reviews: Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald, Glory Sound Prep, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Do you have story suggestions for the Red & Black?

Email us at RedBlack.JCHS@gmail.com, call us at 573-340-3715, or come stop by room J141.

We’d love to hear your ideas or even publish your work.

We accept freelance writers, photographers, and cartoon artists. Come be a part of your student newspaper.

FROM THE EDITORS We’re back folks!

Hello once again!

For December we have quite the line up for you guys!

We have fun Christmas stuff in our entertainment section, and upcoming events in news.

For many people, the holiday season may not be the happiest time of the year. If you are struggling, or you know someone who is, please read our story on suicide prevention on page 5.

If you are looking for a weekend job, you can check our our feature section which has a story about job opportunities at a local bank.

No matter who you are, I think there is something in here for you!

Our staff has worked so hard to put this issue together in a very short amount of time, but I think we have improved immensely over the past three issues.

The Red & Black is back with our December issue! I’m really proud of how this one turned out. As a staff we have most definitely grown as a team and each issue gets better and better.

With the holiday season coming up, I would specifically like to recommend our story about the qualifications for Christmas films. (It has nothing to do with the fact that I wrote it, I swear.)

Trying to maintain an overall holiday aesthetic with this issue proved to be sort of a challenge, but I feel that we pulled through magnificently.

I hope that everyone enjoys what we’re putting out this month, we had a little less time this issue, but we believe that we worked incredibly hard to make this the best issue it can be and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! :)

-Taylor:)

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December 17, 2018 Volume 88, Issue 3 Red & Black is a student-led newspaper that serves as a public forum for the school and the community. Opinions expressed in the paper are not necessarily those of JCHS, nor the faculty, staff or administrators.

Editors-In-Chief: Taylor Baker Blakelee Sutton Staff Reporters: Lesley Altheuser Rhakala Blackmon Rylie Bohanan Makayla Coleman Michelle Grant Noah Holt Demeshia Slaughter Ash Stickann Adviser: Kathleen M. Ledgerwood

-Blakelee

If you’re interested in becoming a freelance writer for the Red & Black, contact us through our email at

RedBlackJCHS@gmail.com

Jefferson City High School 609 Union Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 659-3050 redblack.jchs@gmail.com

@jcredblack

www.jcredblack.com 12.17.18//NEWS

3

NEWS Ash Stickann

Upcoming events

Event: MRRL Teen Anime Club Place, Date, and Price: MRRL Art Room, Dec. 20, 3:00pm-5:00pm, free

Event: Holiday Happenings: A Conservation Carol Place, Date, and Price: Runge Conservation Nature Center, Friday, Dec. 27, 28,

Event: Capital City Festival of Lights Place, Date, & Price: Binder Park, Dec. 1-31, 2018, 6:00pm-9:00pm, $20.00 per

Event: JCHS Variety Show Place, Date, & Price: Miller Performing Arts Center, Dec. 18, 2018, free

What’s trending at lunch?

Rhakala Blackmon Students were surveyed about their favorite things to eat in the cafeteria.

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12.17.18//NEWS

Signs of suicidal thoughts: how to get help Rylie Bohanan

I

n 2016, 44,965 people died from suicide.

About 13.7% of those deaths were people between the ages of 10 and 24. Suicide is the second leading death in teens in the United States, and the numbers are going up, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. There are steps you can take to help those struggling and thinking about suicide.

Here are some sites you can visit and numbers you can call: Suicide Hotline: 1-800-TALK (8255) American Foundation Foundation for Suicide Prevention American Association of Suicidology: Directory of Support Groups Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide If you know someone that has any of these symptoms, there are ways you can help. Express your concern and show them that you care. Most people feel that if they bring up the topic of suicide, that you plant the idea in their heads, but that’s just a myth. Talk to them, even if it makes you upset or uncomfortable. Don’t shut down the conversation.

Spend extra time with them and don’t let them be alone because isolation can increase the risk of suicide. And finally, go get help.

Trust your instincts because they are probably right. Always keep safety a priority.

Warning Signs

-Talking about wanting to die or kill themselves.

-Looking for a way to kill themselves.

-Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.

-Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.

-Talking about being a burden to others.

-Acting anxious or agitated.

-Sleeping too little or too much.

-Isolating themselves.

-Extreme mood swings.

Risk Factors

-Mental or mood disorders.

-Substance abuse. (alcohol, drugs) -Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies.

-History of trauma or abuse.

-Major physical illnesses.

-Previous suicide attempt.

-Family history of suicide.

-Job or financial loss.

-Loss of relationships.

Risk Factors and Warning Signs come from the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Helplines Suicide Hotline: 1-800-TALK (8255) Text HOME to 741741 and a crisis worker will text you back immediately and will continue to text with you. www.jcredblack.com 12.17.18//NEWS

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Thorpe Gordon kids get lessons in cultural tolerance Taylor Baker

I

n a world that is growing in diversity, it is important to teach children about other cultures.

Recently, Ms. Fraga took a group of her advanced ESL kids to Thorpe Gordon to read folktales about their cultures to the children.

Cielo (Sky) Zaragoza reads her folktale, "The Legend of the Poinsetta" (left)

Rawipa (Tawan) Wongkokua Reads her folktale, "Two Animals" (below)

“They were actually nice.

They were listening and they knew what was going on. I really liked it.” Clari Kawaya read his folktale entitled, “The Crow and the Fox” to a class of third graders. (left)

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12.17.18//NEWS

Construction updates Rhakala Blackmon

NCC will begin to look similar to JC. Tiles and the ceiling will be ripped out.

Students driving on West Union will notice all the earthwork being done. After break huge advances will be made on the auxiliary gym.

Room 13 in JC, where the metalworking machinery is located will be moved off campus. The new shop will be built on the second floor of Nichols.

CWD: Why should I care?

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Ash Stickann

hronic Wasting Disease or CWD is an increasing problem in Missouri. It spreads throughout the deer population causing the bodies and minds to waste away. Over the years, this could cause a smaller and weaker population in the state.

Though Missouri Conservation Department is still collecting data and numbers for this year, some cases have already been found. On November 28, seven cases had already been found, compared to last year’s final numbers of 33 cases in total.

Map by: Missouri Department of Conservation

In an interview with Cervid Program Supervisor, Barbara Keller, she explained that CWD is a prion disease, and because of that there is no cure or vaccine. It is spread through urine, feces and blood.

Conservation asks that hunters get their gear checked to make sure it’s clean of CWD, along with hunting and tagging a lot of deer in order to get a better look at where this disease is and predict how it will spread.

Highlighted areas are where you have to get your deer checked after hunting.

www.jcredblack.com 12.17.18//NEWS

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FEATURES

Job opportunities at a local bank Lesley Altheuser

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resident Brian Berhorst started out working for his mother and father’s restaurant after he graduated from Lincoln University. He then got a call about a bank having teenage-job opportunities. After he became the president of Mid America Bank, he hired other teens to work there.

How long have you been having job opening for teenagers and why?

“There’s a number of different job opportunities for high school students, college students and adults. The bank drive through for students is 8-11AM and 3:156PM, on Saturdays. If you can get a high school student to come in every Saturday, that builds character. We kind of want them [the students] to be at least 16 and have good customer service.

Students need to be able to drive.

They develop business skills, trustworthy skills, help the bank and [the bank] provides them good opportunities for college resumes, and jobs. It’s a win-win situation for the students and the bank. I’ve gotta trust them, and they are a representative of Brian Berhorst who is a representative of this bank.”

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What is the average starting pay?

“Teens make $9.50-10 per hour.

Adults salaries are based on experience and position level. The adult average is $35 thousand a year.”

What characteristics or skills do you look for in employees?

“I look for honesty, someone with good communication skills, worth ethic, someone willing to meet a challenge, willing to learn. We look for communication, typing, english, mathematics, interaction or social skills. There are final and communication responsibilities with customers and decision making. Not all customers have the same needs or final level, so we have to be flexible.”

12.17.18//FEATURES

President Brian Benhorst

What is something you want to to tell the students? “...living their dream, finding out what they love to do, taking their passion, doing 110% in what they like to do... What they want to become. It’s so easy in life to be average. Students have the ability to do more, work harder to strive to be the best, and that’s what we say like the Jaybirds, we strive to be the best. It’s takes effort.”

Featured teacher & staff Demeshia Slaughter

Blakelee Sutton

Kim Donnell

Robert James

Do you have a staff member you think more people should know about?

Contact us with your suggestion, and we may do a feature on them!

Photo by:Demeshia Slaughter

Photo by:Blakelee Sutton

Q: What are some of your strengths in and outside of school?

Q: What drove you to become a principal?

A: My strengths inside and outside of school are assisting, supporting, and motivating others by the grace of the Lord.

A: What drove me into the profession in general was just being

Q:Why did you go into teaching?

A: I went into teaching to make a difference and share my love of learning.

Q: How long have you been a teacher?

drawn to helping and teaching, I’ve really always enjoyed showing other people how to do things and showing what I know. But that’s what drove me to teaching, which led me to being a principal.

Q: How long did you teach?

A: I taught for almost four years, not a long time. I came to

A: I have been involved in education for nearly twenty-three years.

education late, I had a career in the military before this. I was a math teacher, I would say I was a teacher for four years in public schools. But prior to that, I did a lot of teaching in an instructor-type atmosphere in the military.

Q: What does your morning schedule look like?

Q: What are some of your daily duties as principal?

A: I wake up around five in the morning and arrive at school sometime between six and seven-thirty in the morning. I get up earlier and arrive earlier when necessary.

A: Most of what I deal with is interacting with people and

Q: What is a quote or advice you have for students?

A: Never give up on your dreams because you are capable, powerful, important, and loved! Commit to being the change you want to see in the world!

quality checking decisions and processes campus wide. It’s a lot of having to establish procedures and policies to guide those systems, programs and processes. I’m also the complaint department. So when things don’t work well in any of those areas, I kind of intercede and take a look at what we’ve done, what systems, what processes go from that, and what decisions we’ve made along the way.

www.jcredblack.com 12.17.18//FEATURES

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Brain Drain: Classes expanding your intellect

Michelle Grant

S

tudents and teachers explain some of the challenges they face taking some of JC’s toughest courses. But their hard work and dedication pays off in the

end. The bigger the obstacle, the bigger the reward!

Students vs. Teachers AP US History Alec Krum

Mr. Gale

“It’s hard because of how independent it is...you have to prepare for everything so that (means) reading the book and other readings for countless hours.”

“If the course isn’t rigourous, then I’m cheating the kids.” [for the AP Exam]

Psychology Abby Baughman

Mr. Gillam

“Psychology was hard because everything went by very fast.

We had a short time frame to learn everything.”

“(Psychology is tough) Because it’s vocabulary you’ve never had… It’s like stepping into algebra never taking math before.”

AP Stat

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Kaitlyn Schwantner

Mrs. Angerer

“The class is difficult because all the writing you have to do in applying the math. Also the writing style of the multiple choice questions can really trick you.”

“AP Statistics requires students to think in a different way. It is not simply applying algorithms like many students are accustomed to, but it requires interpreting results and drawing conclusions which often vary within the parameters of the problem.”

12.17.18//FEATURES

Featured Artist: Tiana Vaughan Taylor Baker Q: How did you get into art?

A: “Art in my family is really important, so my brother would draw and everything like that. For me, my parents are always encouraging me to start new projects and that kinda really got me into art. They were never discouraging… they were alway like ‘yeah we’ll help you buy that’” Q: Do you have a favorite medium?

A: “I love acrylic paint” Q: Do you have a favorite project that you’ve done?

A: “I’ve done two, they are African American women with natural hair and sunflowers. That’s like my favorite that I’ve done so far.”

Q: How many art classes have you taken?

A: “I took Ceramics, Art 1 and Art 2, and I’ve also done Graphic Communications for a year”

Q: Is this something you are going to pursue in the future?

Photo by: Taylor Baker

A: “I’m going to school to be an art teacher. I’m hoping to teach middle schools.”

If you would be interested in writing poetry, join Art Club!

When: Every other Monday starting 1/7/2019 Where: 11-B Contact Lori Jobe for more information.

www.jcredblack.com 12.17.18//FEATURES

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It’s a Jay winter wonderland!

Just some Jays having fun out in the snow!

Aiden McGinty and Olivia Petty enjoy a snowy day.

Judy Vansant blows snow into the camera for a winer phtoshoot.

Georgia Hatfield models for a picture in front of the snowy scene.

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12.17.18//SPOTLIGHT

Judy Vansant and Shae Uthe pose for a picture in the snow.

Capitol Caroling Chorale. Concert Choir, Simonsen Choir, Symphonic Orchestra and Band preform at the annual Capitol Caroling

www.jcredblack.com 12.17.18//SPOTLIGHT

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SPORTS Player Perspective: Cheer Betsy Morello

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oining the cheer team was one of the best decisions I have made in my high school career. I have done competitive gymnastics since I was a little girl, and I wanted to continue to compete in high school.

I also wanted to do a school sport, so in the spring before my sophomore year I decided to try out for the cheer team. I knew I would love being able to tumble and dance like I get to do in gymnastics, but I didn’t realize I would love being a part of a team as much as I do.

Cheerleading is unique because of how important teamwork and communication are in making things run smoothly. It is nearly impossible to accomplish anything in a practice if we don’t communicate with each other. This allows us to make strong

friendships with everyone on the team, and I love being a part of such a closeknit group of people.

Our team quote this year is, “Unity is strength. When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” This has been our focus throughout football season and will continue to be our goal for basketball season.

We recently held a fall tryout for basketball, so we are currently training our awesome new team members and we are very excited to be on the sidelines after December.

It has been a great year so far, and I am looking forward to the months ahead!

Athletes in the offseason Rylie Bohanan

“I do club volleyball and I workout.

I also make sure that I am eating properly, so I can stay in shape.”

-Annabelle Maassen

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“The off-season is the most important part of year for every athlete. It’s the best chance to get a real edge in your competition going into the regular season. I normally start my day at 5 A.M. lifting, then run after school, followed by one last lift session directly after running. When I’m not working out, I try and eat as many calories as possible, so that I don’t burn out.”

-Isaak Sochinski

Featured Athletes Celeste Cash: Wrestling Rani Patel

Q: What are some challenges you have faced while being the only girl on the wrestling team?

A: There’s little things like not being able to go into the locker room and I’m definitely lacking in upper body strength compared to the guys, but other than that, there’s not really any challenges I face that any other first-year wrestler doesn’t face.

Q: Has the wrestling team treated you differently because you are a girl?

A: Honestly, everyone is just a wrestler, gender doesn’t really matter. It was a little awkward at first and I struggled to find partners, but after the first few days it was fine.

Q: What do you say to those who think wrestling is only for boys?

A: Well, MSHSAA has officially sanctioned girl’s wrestling. Women’s wrestling is in the Olympics. There’s plenty of girls who wrestle and win against guys. There’s no reason for wrestling to exclude girls.

Q: How do you feel about gender roles in high school sports?

A: I think that there’s no reason a girl can’t do what the boys can do. That being said, there’s definitely a physical difference between genders, and gender separation in sports is necessary most of the time.

Rhakala Blackmon

Chloe Helming: Basketball

Q: When did you start playing basketball, and why?

A: I started playing basketball in the 5th grade. I actually had no interest in playing at all, but my little sister and a few friends had convinced me to try it out and I loved it.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about basketball?

A: My favorite thing about basketball is the energy that everyone has in games and seeing all the fans in the stands makes the energy 10x better Q: How are you feeling going into your senior year?

A: I feel if we keep working hard everyday, that we can make it pretty far.

Q: What’s your plans after high school?

A: My plans after high school are to attend Westminster College, play basketball there, and go through their nursing program.

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Anyone can dance: CoEd Dance Team Yessnia Dixon

A

t Jefferson City High School there has been a new trend for change.

Obviously the school is changing because of construction, but there has been a change in the students. This year we have made history, the JCHS Dance Team is a co-ed team. The dance team finally being co-ed comes with a lot of ups and downs, but the downs have made the dance team come together as one. This season has put the dance team through some tests and the biggest one is other people’s opinions.

In high school all students care about is the way people think or feel about them.

“It should have happened a long time ago. I feel like because he [Andrew Dyer] did that it paved the way for others,” junior Nina Totsikas states.

Numerous people in the school see the dance team being co-ed as an opportunity for others to join as well. However, it takes just one student to be negative and it spreads everywhere.

“This year I was like ‘you know what, I don’t care about what people think of me, which I shouldn’t probably do that, but I really wanted to be on the dance team.

I wanted to be on it since freshman year, and it’s 2018; I’m going to change some things. So I joined, and I love it,” junior

d c E n g p

can dance.

Photo by: Michelle Grant

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T

Andrew Dyer says.

Dyer has showed that it doesn’t matter what other people think. If a person loves doing something, don’t let others’ opinions take that. The JCDT is making a change by saying that anyone can join and anyone

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c b s

t t p

Photo by: Michelle Grant

o t p d a a g

b a n r r t f b

Photo by: Michelle Grant

v p 2 n t w a t 1 h A

The Red and Black Editorial: Gun control How do other countries handle this issue?

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he issue of gun legislation has become a hot topic in American politics. The divide between differing viewpoints has caused a major rift between citizens.

Events such as mass shootings in nightclubs, public schools and other public gatherings have highlighted a major problem in our handling of firearms.

Looking to the practices of other countries regarding firearm legislation can be a major inspiration in our journey to safeguard innocent lives.

For example, Australia responded best to a gun crisis. The laws put in place after their worst mass shooting in history have proved to be incredibly effective.

In 1996, a gunman fired upon dozens of tourists in Port Arthur, Tasmania. By the end of the massacre, he had killed 35 people and wounded 23 others. Twelve days later, Australia’s government announced a bipartisan deal with state and local governments to enact sweeping gun-control measures.

The new legislation included a massive buyback of more than 600,000 semiautomatic shotguns and rifles. The new gun laws prohibited private sales, required all firearms to be individually registered to their owners, and required that gun buyers have a “genuine reason” for attaining a firearm, self defense not being one of them.

This did not put a complete stop to gun violence of course, but homicide rates plummeted 59 percent between 1995 and 2006 without a corresponding increase in non-firearm-related homicides, according to slate.com. Not only that, but suicides with a firearm decreased by an even larger amount at 65 percent. In the decade before the Port Arthur massacre, there had been 11 mass shootings in the country. There hasn’t been a single a single massacre in Australia since.

G

Restrictions

un control and the way guns are acquired is a complex issue in our country.

There are ways to keep ex-cons, mentally unstable people, and many others from owning firearms so they don’t hurt themselves or others. We shouldn’t take away firearms, but we should improve the system to acquire them so we can filter who can and cannot have them. One way to do this could be making a test that everyone must take to prove they are mentally stable while also doing a more extensive background check for any criminal history. There needs to be something to make sure we let people have guns, while also making sure the people who have guns can be trusted to use them properly.

M

Mass shootings

ass shootings are a hot topic in the United States right now. Since 1966, mass shootings have taken place in 41 states and the District of Columbia, with California being the state with the most shootings, according to the Lily News.

Although the shootings in schools or in religious establishments, like churches, are the events that stick in our minds, most shootings have happened in offices, restaurants and retail stores. Guns get into the hands of the wrong people. Gun restrictions need to be set in place so that the mentally unstable and dangerous people cannot get a hold of them. There seems to be deadly shootings every month. In fact, according to criminologist Grant Duwe, before 1968, there were only 25 public mass shootings. After this, the number has been steadily rising, with the deadliest public mass shootings occurring in recent years, such as the Parkland high school shooting in Florida that shook the nation. There needs to be a more thorough gun obtention regulation so that guns get into the hands of those who are capable and responsible enough to own them. The United States can’t let the mass shootings go on any longer.

The government needs to realize that “enough is enough” and make changes now.

With many possible solutions being proposed to solve the growing gun violence problem in America, it might be a viable option to look at what other countries have done to solve their problem. If it has worked for them, we as a nation should put serious consideration into doing the same to protect those being affected.

Art by: Noah Holt

www.jcredblack.com 12.17.18//OPINION

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Opinion Should people wear makeup?

I

Sarah Tuck

n today’s society, everyone wears makeup, including men and women.

The involvement of men in the cosmetic community is revolutionary. But should we as a society wear makeup? No. There are many negative effects that come with the use of makeup: low self-esteem, poor skin health,the amount of time spent and the cost of high-end cosmetics.

People around the world hide their flaws with makeup, instead of embracing them. If you don’t see it, it’s not there, right? Well, I hate to break it to you, it is. Over time you will start to love your flaws because they are something that makes you unique from everyone else.

When you stop wearing makeup, you start to feel at peace with your natural self, and you start to become more confident.

Your skin will definitely thank you for not wearing makeup. Makeup can clog your pores, cause breakouts, and can cause bacterial build up. Bacteria build up can cause lots of acne and pimples, which might make you want to put on more makeup to cover up. Don’t. Covering up acne will only make it worse.

Another reason why you shouldn’t wear makeup is the amount of time and money it costs. Some people wake up a half an hour earlier in the morning just to put on makeup. In that time you could be sleeping or doing physical exercise. It is important that you put your physical health before cosmetics. Also, makeup is very expensive. A lot of people will drop $100 dollars on a cosmetic shopping spree. Instead of wasting such a large amount of money on makeup, try saving it up for a time in your life when you really need it.

Makeup has so many negative effects on people, we should all take it out of our lives. From low self-esteem to low amounts of money in your bank account, makeup has so many negative consequences.

Should seniors be featured for Jay of the Day? Princess Garner

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ay of the Day is just a person named at the end of the morning announcements, and some seniors go their whole high school careers without ever being named “Jay of the Day”.

Seniors should be named because they are the graduating class, and they should be shown appreciated by announcing their names because they have almost finished their childhood education.

It also shows a sense of inclusion to

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people who don’t feel comfortable and welcome at school.

This topic was brought to my attention my sophomore and junior year because a few seniors felt sad that their names were never mentioned and felt as though Jay of the Day was just another popularity contest.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. There are enough seniors for this to happen. If there are too many, the school could do two “Jays of the Day” instead of only one.

This would be such an easy change that

12.17.18//OPINION

would impact the students in a huge way.

Jefferson City High School and the school district say they want to be a family and be inclusive and this could be a great step in the right direction that I hope the Jays take.

Head to Head Should parents be involved in student academic life?

Heck no!

Yes, of course!

Ash Stickann

T

Charlie and Kathleen Ledgerwood

he importance of parental involvement in schools can differ from student to student. While to some it might help them get through their work, to others, their parents’ involvement can bring an unneeded source of stress and anxiety. Many students believe that by having constant parental involvement, students tend to have less of a grounding when it comes to doing things on their own. Kids later struggle to be successful in life when it comes to finding schooling or jobs. Not being able to function independently can often be a problem with generations over time, due to “coddling” of children into adulthood. Though this can often be a comfort through high school, it can cause problems in the future.

Another problem of parental involvement is the added anxiety to the average school day, from the fear of dropping grades, to the stress of failing the expectations of your parents. Though it is good to talk with your parents about your grades and schooling; the constant checking and reporting behind the back creates a paranoid student.

Often the socioeconomic level of the family can affect the way that parents will input into education whether that be wanting to control and “better” the future of the child in the way the parent wishes they had gone through life, to possibly making the child believe there’s no reason to try. This can become an issue especially with the changes in teaching, curriculum, and changes in the economy.

Many popular and respected career pathways from when parents were in high school may not be the way that student wants to go, so being pressured to take certain classes, join certain clubs, get certain grades that would pursue that dream may cause unhealthy consequences. These can all push down the confidence of the student over time to make their own choices.

S

tudies show that parental/guardian involvement helps not only with academic achievement, but also with student mental health in secondary school. This means that even though high school students might not want to talk about school with their parents, that parents should make an extra effort to discuss school and education with their kids.

As a teacher it’s nice to be able to contact parents and communicate with them about what their child needs to work on or what work they might be missing. This conversation is enhanced when the students have already communicated with their parents or guardians about their work at school and what assignments they are working on.

Studies show that parents can do simple things like talk to their kids about what they’re learning, what they’re studying, or what they are struggling with.

Even that emotional support can vastly improve student chances of success and improve the mental health of the student.

In high school it is important for parents to let students struggle some and learn to advocate for help when they need it, as this is an essential life skill. Parents can teach these skills by coaching their students at home, modeling by helping students ask for assistance at conferences, via email, or in phone calls, and by encouraging students to get help from their teachers, in academic labs, and from their counselors.

Communication about school progress between parent(s) and students should be a constant and ongoing conversation. And all teachers want is to see students grow and flourish. The best way to achieve that is to have education be a community effort. Adults should talk to kids about school and stress the importance of doing well in public school where educational resources are free.

www.jcredblack.com 12.17.18//OPINION

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Cheap Christmas gifts Rhakala Blackmon It’s that time of the year; its cold, you’re stressed and you have to buy a whole bunch of gifts. But what if you don’t have a job or you simply don’t have a lot of money? This guide will hopefully give you some good ideas for some cheap gifts.

5. Jewelry

1. Gift cards

6. Scrunchies

2. Memories in a jar

7. Snacks and a letter

3. A cute key chain

8. Bath bombs and face masks

Give someone a gift card. It’s perfect gift if you don’t know exactly what the gift receiver wants.

Very simple. You can buy a cheap mason jar from the dollar tree.

Write the memories on small strips of paper and add some of their favorite bitesize candy.

Can be bought from Walmart or even Online from Amazon. Very simple and perfect for a friend who’s always misplacing their keys.

4. Succulents

Succulents are pretty plants that complete any room and can add a little life. They also don’t die easily. Succulents can be bought from a florist for about $10.

You can find some cheap jewelry from places like Walmart or stores at the mall. An easy gift you can’t go wrong with for males and females.

It seems like these things are always disappearing or getting “stolen.” These are pretty cheap and can get pretty fancy looking.

This is probably one of the cheapest gifts. You can get your friends favorite snacks like candy, chips, drinks, cake in a mug. Then top it all off with a letter written on pretty paper with your best handwriting.

These can both be found at your local Dollar General. Get this gift for someone who really enjoys these things and maybe try some rose water.

9. A Phone Case

If you only have one best friend and don’t mind spending some cash, order your bestie a customized case with some of your favorite pictures of the two of you.

Healthy winter skin Demeshia Slaughter

M

aintaining your summer glowing skin can get a little complicated during the winter time. Now that it is cold outside, the skin can begin to feel dry and or start flaking and cracking. When the winter months come around it is common for the skin to feel tight, dry and flaky because the humidity level drops and the air is colder, causing the water in your skin evaporate quickly. Following a simple skin care routine that I have prepared and followed daily, you can get rid of your winter skin problems.

The key requirements of maintaining your glow starts with your morning shower or bath, where time and temperature matters. Make sure the water is not too hot only for about 10-15 minutes according to bcm.edu. It is better to shower with lukewarm water. While cleaning your face, cut down on exfoliating but do use regularly. Use your face cleanser twice daily, once in the morning and once at night.

Once you’re clean, apply a moisturizer because damp and freshly washed skin absorbs moisture better. Moisturizing with an oil base creates a

protective layer on the skin, retaining its moisture more than creams and lotions. Some non-clogging oils are mineral oil, rose, argan, almond and tea tree oil. Or something like home remedies including aloe vera, avocado oil and bananas. To get the best results out of moisturizing it to do it overnight.

At night lower your thermostat to avoid dryness. It is also a good to sleep with a humidifier on. The humidifier will combat dry air, helping with chapped skin and lips and dry or itchy skin.

Naural Remedies to Moisturize Skin

1. Whip up an Olive Oil Cleanser to Soothe Dry Skin A great natural oil to use is olive oil, which works as a natural cleanser and moisturizer, says Brandy Crompton, a licensed aesthetician and manager of LeBliss Salon and Spa in Louisville, Kentucky. “Just rub the oil into your skin and drape a warm, damp cloth over your face until it cools,” Crompton says, “then wipe away the excess oil.” Olive oil is a good choice as a cleanser because it won’t strip your skin’s natural oils, but it will clean your skin, she adds.

2. DIY a Rich, Creamy Avocado Mask Creating a homemade mask of avocado is another natural way to soothe dry skin. Crompton suggests pureeing half an avocado and mixing it with a teaspoon of olive oil; you can also add a tablespoon (tbsp) of honey for very dry skin.

Apply the mask to your face, leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes, and then wash it off. Your skin should feel moisturized, but you can double up on the hydrating effects by applying your regular moisturizer as well.

(Directions from Everyday Health)

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Dear Patti

Patti (the imaginary friend of the Red & Black staff)

Dear Helpless Friend, Don’t worry about your friends problems. Get your own man.

Or woman. Or significant other.

Whatever floats your boat.

But really, just be there for your friend. Say what you think will

Dear Patti,

What do you do when your friends are going through boy issues and you just do not know what to do or how to help?

Sincerely, The Helpless Friend

help, or you don’t have to say anything at all. Just support them with whatever they do and let them know you are there for them. And then you can complain about your relationship problems to your friends.

All my love (and hopefully your friends’), Patti

Christmas date ideas Michelle Grant

1. Go look at Christmas light displays

3. Go ice skating

2. Make a gingerbread house

4. Make a fort/snowman/ have a snowball fight

It gets pretty cold in Jeff in these wintry months, so driving around looking at Christmas light displays could be the perfect date idea you’ve been looking for. Some places to go to could be Binder Lake ($20 entrance fee) and the Monticello neighborhood.

Making gingerbread houses isn’t just for kids; it can be something different from the usual restaurant date. It can even be a chance for your significant other to bond with your siblings if they decide to join in and help you build the gingerbread house.

Ice skating is a classic winter date idea. The two of you can hold hands while gliding over the ice on a wintry day at Washington Park Ice Arena.

Not good at skating? Use this as an opportunity to let your date help teach you, making it a funny memory for you two to look back on.

5. Have a Christmas movie marathon It wouldn’t be Christmas without watching those cheesy Hallmark movies with your girlfriend or boyfriend. Grab some snacks, blankets, your boo, and get comfy. Some suggestions include “Home Alone,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Grinch,” “The Polar Express,” “White Christmas and everyone’s favorite-- “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”

Bored of sitting on the couch with your significant other on a snowy afternoon? Get up and go outside. You two can get creative building a fort, or go the more traditional snowman-building route. Snowball fights can be pretty entertaining too.

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What truly makes a Christmas film?

Blakelee Sutton

C

hristmas movies are a genre of film that are adored by an incredibly large audience. They are a great way for people to celebrate the beloved holiday with countless examples of great movies.

That being said, there is much debate across popular culture as to what constitutes a Christmas film. This cultural divide has caused a categorization of certain movies into the Christmas genre, while others claim that those movies don’t belong.

Many people have differing ideas about the qualifications for a Christmas movie. Some say that the plot merely taking place at Christmas time qualifies that movie, but I have a different perspective.

I think that in order for a movie to qualify, the themes and ideas present within the script must be synonymous with those that make up Christmas traditions.

They need to include themes about family and being appreciative of the time you have with them. It should contain a character that is reminded to never take anything for granted and make the most of the time he/she has.

A truly great example of a true Christmas movie that contains this central message would

have to be “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The character of George Bailey is taken through certain events in his life, but as if he had never existed. He learns to cherish life and be appreciative of the people and loved ones he surrounds himself with.

But of course the genre shouldn’t be limited to deep character studies such as that; they can also be an incredibly comedic joyride.

An example of this for me would be “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Not only is this one of my favorite Christmas films, but it’s without a doubt one of my favorite comedies.

The comedic talent at work here is brilliant and the character arcs at play highlight appreciation of family togetherness, even with the inevitable mishaps.

These reasons are why I wouldn’t qualify a movie like “Die Hard” as a Christmas movie, like many do. Although it takes place at Christmas time, the plot revolves around a New York cop as he yippee-ki-yays through obstacles of terrorists and a foot full of glass to save a group of hostages from an overtly insane Alan Rickman. It might be a good action film, but it lacks the qualities that I would define as the foundation of a true Christmas film.

Top 5 Christmas songs Makayla Coleman Collected from polls of 102 JCHS students.

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Although many people have different ideas about Christmas movies, I personally think that the most important inclusion are the sincere feelings that go along with the holiday season.

Other films might include Christmas imagery, but I believe the true qualifiers are the familycentral plotlines that warm the hearts of us all.

REVIEWS

Did you see a good movie? Read an interesting book? Hear a great song that’s stuck in your head?

Stop by Room 141 with your suggestion.

Ash Stickann

F

antastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the sequel to 2017’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”

There are several good questions that are held up in order to continue on this long and twisting series by J. K. Rowling.

The Crimes of Grindelwald, while creating a creative and exciting plot, had too much intensity for the average user.

Several times in the film, the viewer is left in confusion of what is actually happening on screen due to the excessive movement and action in several scenes.

G

Tristyn Smith

lory Sound Prep is Jon Bellion’s follow up to his amazing fourth album, titled “The Human Condition.”

In “GSP,” Bellion tones down his unique electronic sound for an orchestral sound.

This aspect shines in “Mah’s Joint,” half of which is just an exciting instrumental piece.

The electronic sound is still present on many tracks like “JT” and “The Internet;” the last of which is extremely relevant as it shows the modern world and the Internet disconnecting us from the world and our true selves because we put on fake personas to impress everyone else.

S

Though there were many touching, humorously romantic scenes and characters, they seemed inconvenient in their timing in the plot and would have fit at better times in the movie. Many events in the plot feel like they cater to the wants of fans from the Harry Potter series, instead of creating a new and creative storyline to inspire the new generation like the original series touched the last few generations.

All in all, “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” was an amazing and thought out story that was sadly poorly executed.

Despite all of these positive features, there are a few facets that stand out in a negative way. The first and most glaring issue is the eighth track, titled “Couple’s Retreat,” which is a lackluster song with uninspired lyrics.

The pure mediocrity of this song weighs down the album as a whole.

The second limiting factor is the lack of a Blaque Keyz feature. Before “GSP,” Keyz featured on all of Bellion’s albums. Keyz’s absence leaves the album feeling like it is missing something.

GSP is an album with much potential, but a few issues hold it back from true greatness.

Noah Holt

uper Smash Bros. Ultimate is the newest installment on the Nintendo Switch family of games and is MASSIVE. With 74 character, a story mode that I zoomed through in almost two full days, a Spirits mode, a bunch of solo player modes and a family tournament modes this game almost too much to complete in two days.

Every character and game mechanic is faster, more fluid, even cleaner looking and almost every new thing works. Even Online is working great with no lag, lost connection or lowering of frame rate.

The only thing that seemed to be lacking was the less cinematic story mode than in “Brawl” on the Wii and felt kind of long and vague, even for a fighting games story mode.

All-in-all, “Ultimate” is truly the ultimate Smash Bros. game to date and makes me excited to complete the rest of the game on my own. Thanks a ton to Max McCarthy for helping me complete this massive game! “Smash Bros. Ultimate” really is ULTIMATE!

www.jcredblack.com 12.17.18//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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