December 2016

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Red & Black Newspaper 12.13.16 • Volume 86 • Issue 4 Jefferson City High School Jefferson City, MO

2016: The

year in review JCHS looks back on everything that’s happened over the course of the year.

p. 18-19

CONTENTS 12 12.13.16 NEWS 4

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#Hey Admin: Why does the dress code affect girls more?

Downtown JC holds Small Business Saturday

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New President update

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JCHS students work for early diplomas

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Winter events around JC

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Modot completes Jefferson City bridge construction work

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Flex/career connections

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Dec./Jan. upcoming events calendar Thoroughly Modern Millie takes the stage

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SPOTLIGHT

Holiday traditions around the world

IN-DEPTH

recap of 2016 in 18-19 AJefferson City

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SPORTS

OPINION

Missouri sports watch guide

Editorial: Is Christmas break too short?

H2H: Artifical trees vs real trees

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An inside look at the wrestling diet

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Lady Jays basketball starts off strong

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Featured Athlete: Lexy Haug

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Dance team says goodbye to seniors

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The best places in Jefferson City to sled

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Students’ thoughts on what sports JCHS should offer

senior traditions 27 Are really important?

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Recap of the football season

all 27 Representing holidays equally

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unspoken 26 The tension of family gatherings

Christmas 26 Starting earlier: sin or seasonal?

FEATURES

day in the life of a 20 Aspecial ed student

A&E 28

Billboard top five vs.

JCHS top five

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The gift guide to family you don’t know

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Ways to decorate your Christmas tree

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Reviews: IHOP, Living Windows, “24K Magic”

tree

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DIY holiday recipes

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Behind the scenes of JCHS assemblies

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Read All Over - #3

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A closer look at Key Club

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The full rundown on winter holidays

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Ways to stay warm this winter

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Students’ plans for winter break

to pick the 22 How perfect Christmas

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cheer and a time when all people can come together. It’s a time to celebrate our diversity and do what we can to make a positive difference in other people’s lives. And after how much this country was divided during the election, I think we can all agree that it’s time to spread some happiness.

Hopefully, this issue will be able to help you out with that.

We’ve got gift ideas, winter events around JC, holiday recipes, and much more to get you involved with this holiday season - including some great web exclusives on our website!

As always, I’m extremely thankful for all the hard work our staff puts in, and I’m proud to present this issue to you.

FROM THE EDITOR

After all the crazy Missouri weather we’ve had to endure, it seems like it’s finally become winter in Jefferson City. As we go deeper into the holiday season and 2016 draws to a close, one thing we can all agree on is that this has been a crazy year for all of us.

From the summer Olympics to the presidential election, 2016 has been packed with an insane amount of memories for all of us. In this month’s InDepth, we look back on the most memorable parts of the past year in Jefferson City.

However, one thing we haven’t gotten to experience yet is the winter holiday season. No matter what you celebrate - or don’t celebrate - this season is commonly known as a time of

- Madi Baughman

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December 13, 2016 Volume 86, Issue 4

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: Madi Baughman Abbi Gierer Brooklynne Propes Gillian Burks Kaylee Klosterman Makenzie Baldwin Veronica Townsend

WEB EXCLUSIVES • Fun with Elf on the Shelf: a photo gallery • How Red & Black is made • Should the school be able to put up Christmas decorations?

• A look at the annual Thanksgiving Pie Run • Is Christmas losing its true meaning?

Check out all of these stories and stories from past issues exclusively at jcredblack.com!

• Students shouldn’t have VPNs on their iPads • A guide to finding lesserknown holiday music • Reviews: Smoothie King, “The Weight of These Wings” Answers to the Spotlight “Do you know your Santa?” game: 1. C - Donner 2. A - Rovaniemi, Finland 3. D - Caribou 4. A - St. Saiyan

Staff Reporters: Kelsie Backues Maddy Bergstrom Ali Beza Megan Cassels Will Henrickson Mak Huffman Sidney Johnson Matt LeCure Devan Palmero Emily Rush Salem Sanfilippo Solindas Adviser: Timothy Maylander Jefferson City High School 609 Union Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 659-3050 redblack.jchs@gmail.com

@jcredblack www.jcredblack.com 12.13.16//NEWS 3

NEWS

#HeyAdmin

Got any questions for administration? Tweet them to us @jcredblack with the hashtag #HeyAdmin and your question just might get answered! Here’s our question to the principals: #HeyAdmin - How come the dress code deals with girls clothes more than guys, and why do more girls than guys get dress coded?

Jeff West Dress code practices and enforcements are not specific to any gender. Our school has always encouraged our students to dress like a professional or come dressed for success to school.

In many conversations throughout my 15 years in education, I have asked this question to students: “If you get dressed for school and you are not sure that what you have on is appropriate for school, what should you do?”

Almost 100% of the responses are “don’t wear it to school.” Students of both genders are engaged about dress code issues as the situations arise. In fact, the data does not support that there are more dress code issues involving females.

Typically, our staff redirects students who have a sagging pants problem or wear hats in the building. I mention those two instances because those are most often the extent of our dress code issues on a day-today basis.

I am confident that our students have good judgment about what to wear to school and that good judgment is not gender specific. Dress code violations draw unnecessary attention to the students who choose not to fall within the very reasonable guidelines of appropriate school dress. It has proven to be so much easier for all involved to comply with the dress code.

We encourage all students to dress like a pro every day – be stylish, be fashionable, and most of all be classy JCHS, because it’s the right thing to do!

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WWW.JEFFERSON-BANK.COM | 573-634-0800 Mobile carrier data rates may apply.

America reacts to a Trump presidency Madi Baughman

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n Tuesday Nov. 8, a decision made by the masses changed the direction of our country for at least the next four years, if not longer.

It was a very close race for the entire campaign season. In the end, though Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, Donald Trump was able to win over enough of the Electoral College to become the 45th President of the United States.

In the speech where Trump acknowledged his victory, he shared with Americans how he planned to “make America great again,” like his campaign slogan. He stated that it was time to heal America’s division and for people of every political party to come

together as one united people.

“I feel like he’s a good businessman and he can do a lot of good work,” senior Ian Coil said.

Another part of the plan he’s described is to fix America’s inner cities and to rebuild government provisions like highways, bridges, and tunnels, in which he plans on creating jobs for people. He hopes that this, along with other measures, will help to repair America’s economy.

However, a lot of people do not agree with other policies of Trump’s, such as his earlier promises to build a wall on the Mexican border and defund Planned Parenthood. Many fear such policies, as it could propose very direct

changes to their lives.

“It makes me incredibly anxious and fearful for my general safety,” junior Jackie Akremi said. “He intentionally promotes hateful behavior from his supporters and he plans to implement policies that are going to be harmful to me as a person. He basically wants to legalize discrimination against me and a lot of people in my life.”

Regardless of how people feel about the president-elect, America’s going to be witnessing some changes, and what the results of these changes will be.

“Part of me wants to be nervous and focus on the negatives,” senior Jacob Surface said. “But I’m just trying to be optimistic and hope for the best.”

JCHS students work for early diplomas Megan Cassels

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or years, many students have have been given the opportunity to graduate early - maybe to get a head start on college, start early in the workforce or even just be ready to be done with high school.

This year, the rules for a Jefferson City High School student who wishes to graduate early are: they have to have the required amount of 29 credits, and the specific classes the student needs to take before graduating high school, such as Personal Finance, one whole credit of P.E., Health, and so on. The student who wants to graduate early also must have taken the Missouri and United States constitution test, which is typically taken as a freshman. The student also must have taken the required EOC tests as well, which are also required for anyone that wishes to graduate in May. The decision to graduate early is a very personal one,” counselor Anna McMillen said. “But most people who make that choice have a good reason for doing so, as they may have some life

circumstances that will make it difficult for them to finish out the year.”

Though graduating early may seem like it has a lot of advantages to it, that should not encourage the

average student to graduate early unless there is a legitimate reason to do so. If a student wishes to, they would not be allowed to go to prom unless invited as a guest, participate in any extracurricular activities, some scholarships would not be offered to them, they would not be allowed to attend the senior trip, and other traditional senior opportunities.

“I’m really excited but also really scared,” senior Cassidy Weldon said.

“You are never going to be 100% ready and you are always going to feel like it’s not the right time, but if you want it, you just have to do it.”

Likewise to needing the requirements above to graduate early, the students will also need to fill out a form. The form takes many people to approve the decision, though.

The form includes signatures from the student, the student’s principal, the A+ coordinator, their counselor, the activities director, and a signature from the parent or guardian.

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Your guide to Winter events in JC Kelsie Backues

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hile some people put up Christmas decorations the day after Halloween, downtown Jefferson City is just setting up for the holiday festivities. For anyone that has been a resident of Jefferson City for a while, you know finding things to do around here can be quite the challenge.

Luckily, for the next few months, there’s a little holiday spirit around every corner.

Every December, downtown Jefferson City hosts Living Windows, which has been a tradition for over 20 years. Storefront windows come alive with performances of all varieties.

There’s Christmas carols, refreshments, and even a place to go visit Santa Claus. It’s all the Christmas spirit you could wish for in one night. The best part? It costs nothing to attend.

“I’ve danced in Living Windows when I was younger, but for the past couple years I’ve sang with the choir,” junior Taylor Horn said. “Me and my whole family have been going since I was little.”

This year, Living Windows is taking place on Dec. 2. It covers three blocks: on High St. from Jefferson to Adams. It starts at 6 p.m., but you might want to get there early to avoid the long lines for Santa Claus and cookies.

As far as our own tradition, the Jefferson City High school choir, symphonic band, high school orchestra, chorale, freshman choir, and concert choir will perform in the 79th annual Capitol Caroling, where traditional holiday pieces and special selections fill the capitol rotunda.

“I have a solo for capitol caroling

this year, which is nerve-racking, but also exciting,” senior Annie Large said.

“And I’m a senior, so that means I get to stand in the front row.”

Capitol Caroling is today starting at 7 p.m., so make sure you go and support your fellow Jaybirds - it is free, after all. There is usually limited seating, not only because the rotunda isn’t very big, but mostly because so many people attend to enjoy the beautiful music.

Although Jefferson City can be boring at times, it’s easy to be entertained around the holidays.

Whether you attend any of these events, travel, or just spend time with family, everywhere you look there’s some Christmas cheer.

Left: Many events in Jefferson City are available for the public to take part in and enjoy.

Top Right: At Living Windows, people could take a picture posing with the Grinch himself.

Bottom Right: The Southbank gift store was filled with live holiday music during Living Windows, as were many other shops downtown.

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[photo by Emily Rush]

[photo by Emily Rush]

Left: Construction on the bridge was finished about a month off of schedule. MoDOT’s original time frame was estimated to be four months.

Right: Work on the other bridge is scheduled to begin soon and finish around summer 2017.

MoDOT finishes bridge construction work Emily Rush Sidney Johnson

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onstruction work on the Missouri River Bridge began on May 1, 2016. The estimated time that they were supposed to be done with the bridge was four months. The Missouri Department of Transportation finished the construction on Nov. 14th, 2016.

Their time frame was about a month off of schedule - not to mention that only half of the construction is done because they only repaired one bridge. Sooner or later, they will begin construction on the second bridge and supposably finish in the summer of 2017.

Many inconveniences resulted from one of the bridges being closed due to construction.

“Trying to avoid traffic in the mornings was the biggest inconvenience of the bridge being shut down,” junior Jordyn Fear said. “I had to leave the house way earlier than normal to make sure I was on time to

school.”

Traffic going across the bridge easily got backed up during busy hours, such as when everyone is on their way to work or school in the mornings and when people are on their way homes. While the bridge was under construction, the bridge that was open had a total of four lanes, two of the lanes leading to Holts Summit and two lanes coming into Jefferson City. This set-up affected traffic a lot compared to when both bridges were open and each bridge had three lanes.

“The biggest inconvenience of the bridge construction was definitely sitting in traffic forever and having to leave at a much earlier time to try and beat the traffic,” junior Braylyn Reynolds said.

When the bridge was officially opened on Nov. 14, feelings of relief spread across Jefferson City and Holts

Summit. Most people that live in Holts Summit that work or go to school in Jefferson City were very pleased with this achievement. Traffic has improved significantly.

Junior Carson Berendzen also lives in Holts Summit, but works and goes to school in Jefferson City. Berendzen’s schedule changed when construction began on the bridge.

“I would have to leave for school about twenty minutes earlier to get to both school and work,” Berendzen said. “It felt amazing when the bridge opened; I could actually sleep in.”

Even though it seems the construction struck an inconvenience on many people, it is something that had to be done. When construction starts on the other bridge, people will know exactly what to expect.

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Connecting students to their futures Ali Beza

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or many students, the battle between work and school is neverending, with school winning every time. Luckily, Jefferson City High School offers a two part class allowing students to finally end the war between making time for homework and making money. It’s called Career Connections.

Business teacher Nathan Redcay teaches the first nine week course where students learn everything they’ll need to know once he turns them loose to their jobs. This includes inventories where they answer questions about themselves to figure out what kind of personality they have and a career path that matches.

“This class is an opportunity for students to learn all the different aspects of what it takes to have a career, and get a job for the first time,” Redcay said.

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Once they learn these basic but not so easy concepts, they are given the chance to leave school for a block and instead go to work. Although at this point the class is no longer the traditional “sit at a desk and take notes,” there are still requirements for students to pass the class. For example, junior Kylee Farris leaves school after 4th block and works at Hy-Vee during her 5th block.

“You have to be responsible for meeting the hour requirements and take your job seriously,” Farris said. “If you lose your job, you fail the class. I go straight to work after school, so I get more hours.”

Similarly, senior Seth Ward worked at Subway during his 5th block and was able to meet the average of 20 hours a week that is required for the Career Connections work portion of the

12.13.16//NEWS

class.

“I got to leave school early. That way I can go to work around 2:30 and get off at 7,” Ward said. “It definitely gives you a lot more time for homework, and to get stuff done.”

Redcay spends a lot of time preparing students for the workforce and guiding them in choosing the right career path. While the extra money earned and the additional time for homework is great, there are other things to take away from this course.

“The most important thing a student can learn from the class is how to become a good employee: showing up every day, being on time, and following the rules,” Redcay said. “It is a valuable experience because you can put it on a resume, and it can help you with future jobs and future career paths down the road.”

[photo by Maddy Bergstrom]

Thoroughly Modern Millie takes the stage in JC Maddy Bergstrom

A

s Tylee Ciolli took center stage on Nov. 18, it’s no wonder the applause was deafening. Set in early 1920s, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” is the story of a small town girl with high hopes of marrying her boss in the big city - that is, until Jimmy, or Jefferson City High School’s own Tim Campbell, trips on stage. “[‘Thoroughly Modern Millie” was the] best experience of my high school career,” Campbell said.

After auditions, the cast began their weekly rehearsals at the end of September and ended with a three hour dress rehearsal everyday the week of the show.

“It was fun,” Ciolli said. “A lot of work, but worth it.”

Much work was put in by all cast members - on and off stage - as each prepared for the performance.

“Thoroughly Modern Millie” was Campbell’s first experience in the theatre world and he was eager to have gotten a leading role, but he knew there was a lot of work to put in.

“A bunch of outside practice and singing in the shower is what happened,” Campbell said.

The curtain has closed, but these actors will go on to perform, taking center stage as they do what they love.

“It’s my passion,” Ciolli said, “Theatre and singing, I love it.”

Behind the Scenes with

[photo by Maddy Bergstrom]

[photo by Maddy Bergstrom]

Tylee Ciolli

Before every show... “The cast tradition is to circle up and say a team chant for good luck.

My personal ritual is to close my eyes and take a deep breathe to calm my nerves.”

When I get into character...

“I usually just run through some of my lines and imagine how my character would portray them. It also helps me to build my character by thinking of the relationship my character has with other characters.”

I connect with my character Millie because...

“Millie and I both shared the passion of escaping a small town life to the big city. I loved Millie’s confidence and optimism and I hope to build that in myself. The only difference I have from Millie is that I have always seen love as being more valuable than riches. Millie learned that lesson a little late in life.”

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Santa Across the Globe 4

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5 1

3

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1.) United States- Good old St. Nick, or Santa Claus, can be seen the night of Christmas Eve, or Dec. 24, in a red sleigh with nine reindeer delivering gifts down the chimney.

2.) South Africa- Father Christmas, more commonly known as Vader Kersfees, wears a red coat and has a white beard. He is often seen riding a camel as he delievers his gifts.

3.) Italy- La Befana is depicted as an old woman with magical powers who delivers gifts on Epiphany Eve, or Jan. 5.

She is often seen on a broom stick, carrying a bag of presents on her back.

4.) Norway- Along with their own Santa Claus, or Julenissens, a Nisse can be seen around the holiday season.

Nisse, also known as their Christmas Knome, is a mythogical creature no more than three feet tall with a long white beard. In modern day he is a gift bearer, often seen with a Yule goat for a companion.

5.) Germany- Weihnachtsmann is the German depiction of Santa Claus, who can be seen with his counter part Knecht Ruprecht, or the Bogeyman.

6.) Russia- On the eve of the New Year, Dec. 31 Ded Moroz, or Grandfather Frost, can be seen accompanied by Snegurochka, or Snow Madien, delivering gifts to the children in Russia.

7.) Australia- Though they have a traditional Santa Claus, a Drop Bear can also be seen falling out of Christmas trees on Christmas Eve to leave gifts for the children. Their Santa is either seen in his sleigh pulled by reindeer or at times in a Ute pulled by eight kangaroos.

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Do you know your Santa?

1. What is the name of Santa’s seventh Reindeer?

a. Donder

b. Donna

c. Donner

d. Donor

3. What is a reindeer?

a. Antelope

b. Moose

c. Rain

d. Caribou

2. Where is Santa’s workshop?

a. Rovaniemi, Finland

b. Vilnius, Lithuania

c. Villa Las Estrellas, Antartica

d. Quebec, Canada

4. What is NOT a name for Santa Claus?

a. St. Saiyan

b. Sinterklaas

c. St. Nicholas

d. Nikolaos of Myra Answers on pg. 3

What’s Your Favorite Santa Traditon?

“I used to write letters to Santa and “Santa” used to reply to them. It made my first grader heart very happy.”

-Heaven Chavz

“We always have a family reunion and a fake Santa comes for the little kids to give gifts. It’s nice to see them get excited.”

-Raven Bridges

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SPORTS

Veronica Townsend

B

efore turning on their favorite team’s game, the fans Google their team’s schedule or stroll through channels to find the right one.

Wouldn’t it be cool to skip this step and only worry about enjoying the game?

Fans are in luck. All sports teams have predetermined TV broadcast schedules and have contracts with certain stations.

Channels like Fox Sports Midwest and Fox Sports Kansas City focus on the regional sports teams for ten states.

FOX Sports Midwest covers most St. Louis Cardinals Baseball and St. Louis Blues Hockey. FOX Sports Kansas City covers most Kansas City Royals.

“ESPN is easier to find in a different state,” Jefferson City High School math teacher Lori Fletcher said. “FOX Sports Midwest is mostly here but in Florida, I can’t watch them play.“ If a fan does not live in Missouri, but likes Mizzou and professional teams, they are in luck with coverage

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from national channels. FOX is contracted to cover baseball and soccer.

NBC is contracted to cover hockey.

CBS is contracted to cover national football. ESPN covers every Missouri professional sport except the Kansas City Chiefs Football.

When surveying JCHS students during fourth and fifth lunches about where they watch their favorite sports, ESPN was the most popular channel students watched with 51/95 students, and the second popular answer being “I do not watch sports” with 33/95 students. Senior Carson Ridgeway believes ESPN has a wide variety of sports they cover compared to other channels.

“ESPN covers a very general and wide arrange of sports,” Ridgeway said.

“Other channels focus more on specific sports.”

For the college sports fix, the SEC Network covers seven MU sports from college football to gymnastics.

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Sometimes, smaller colleges like St. Louis University sports are broadcasted on FOX Sports Midwest during the season.

“I watch SEC Network because it broadcasts the team I like and basically is the reason why I watch it,” senior Ben Cook said.

According to senior Seth Ward, he does not turn on the TV to watch a certain sports channel. He watches based on the team he is interested in.

In this instance, the sporting team matters more than the channel.

“Honestly, I’ll watch any sports channel as long as there is a good game on,” Ward said.

No matter where a person watches their sports, a variety of channels offer people their daily sports intake. Next time a fan looks for their favorite team on TV, hopefully memorizing certain channels will help skip the unnecessary steps of channel strolling and helps fans not to miss a minute of their favorite sporting events.

Wrestling with weight loss or gain Makenzie Baldwin

's r e l t res

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1. Eat healthy 2. Hit the sauna 3. Practice in a 100° room 4. Try not to yell at everyone 5. Bundle up & go for a run 6. Make weight

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restling season is here, which means the talk of dieting has been circulating through the halls of Jefferson City High School. In order to make weigh-ins, some wrestlers must drop a significant amount of weight in a short period of time. This means that they must stick to a strict diet and workout plan in order to reach their goal.

Not only does this affect the wrestler, but it can also have an impact on those around them.

“The wrestlers get attitudes because they’re hungry all the time,” junior Cole Bax said. “It can also cause them to lose muscle mass if they don’t diet correctly, which would cause them to become weaker.”

In addition to this, the wrestling season falls right around the holidays, which can be an added obstacle for the wrestlers.

While families sit down to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, wrestlers must be very cautious of what they eat and how much they eat.

“Being on a diet is extremely lonely because you can’t eat certain foods while your friends around you eat everything in sight,” junior Reece Neighbors said. “However, it is your job, so you just have to find a way.”

All this in mind, wrestlers must also be careful and aware of how much weight they are cutting. The

goal, of course, is to cut weight, but cutting too much can be a bigger problem.

“Last year I cut too much weight and I wasn’t able to perform how I wanted to,” senior Christian Mayberry said.

Although the main goal of the diet is to drop weight, dropping too much can negatively impact performance. On the flip side, the diet actually may have its benefits, no matter how miserable it may seem. If the diet is done correctly, it has been shown to be very beneficial to the wrestler’s performance.

“In the end you have to know it will all pay off. What always helps me is when I think that not many people in the school could do it, or would want to, and it gives me a real sense of accomplishment,” junior Peter Kuster said.

Kuster believes that sticking to a diet and exercise plan not only enhances wrestling performance, but teaches disciplined work ethic as well. Although the diet may seem like a difficult task to those who don’t participate, or even those who do, it is part of what comes with the sport and it has been shown to be beneficial in the long run.

“Wrestling has definitely taught me what good things to put in my body and what not to put in my body. It teaches me how to eat healthy,” Kuster said.

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Lady Jays basketball starts off strong [photos by Veronica Townsend]

Lady Jays on the bench cheering on their team during the game. They won this game against Rolla with an ending score of 45-21. The Lady Jays are currently 3-0. Their next home game is the Capital City Shootout on December 17th against Rockwood Summit.

Junior Kenzie Gourley fights for possession of the basketball against the Rolla defenders.

Lady Jay’s Sophomore Caitlin Anderson pulls up for a layup.

Sophmore Caitlin Anderson goes up against a Rolla defender.

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Teammates high-five Junior Kenzie Gourley and Senior Sydney Crockett after playing for a long period of time.

Senior Sydney Crockett and Coach Conway in disscusion about the game during a time out and huddle with the team.

A team closer than family FEATURED ATHLETE

Brooklynne Propes

T

he Lady Jays Basketball team has a record of 4-0 and they are ranked 10th, but recently had a big win against the #1 ranked team, Kickapoo. Most would say a team that succeeds is a team that is close with one another. The Lady Jays exceed close.

Some of the girls on the team have been playing together since second grade.

Seniors Lexy Haug, Alaina Allsbury, Sarah Hirst, Shaina Anderson, and Sidney Crockett started playing all together in middle school on a team called Jefferson City Basketball Club.

The relationships the team has with each other are reflected in how they play.

“Our relationships directly affect how we play,” Haug said. “If you do not get along with your teammates it will show during games and you will not be able to come together through the hardships you are faced with.”

The seniors are also close with the underclassmen on the team. Although they have not been playing together for as long as the others, it does not show in the way they act on the court.

“We encourage each other by always cheering for each other, but also being there to support someone when they aren’t having the best game,” Allsbury said.

It has been shown that teams that are able to effectively work together and build a strong bond are more successful on the court. The team is around each other nearly everyday for four months between games, weightlifting, tournaments, and practices.

“During basketball I am around my teammates more than anyone else including my closest friends and family,” Haug said. “The whole entire team itself is a family and we all act as a support system for one another.”

Last year was a transition year for the team because they had many changes in the coaching staff. The team got a new coach, Brad Conway. He previously coached at St. James. This year, the team is over the “getting to know each other”

stage and are a very close nit group of people.

“I think that throughout my four years in the program I am the closets with all of my teammates this year,” Haug said. “I think that this year we just really enjoy each others company so we just have a lot of fun.”

Just like most people have a favorite part of work or school, the girls on the team have favorite parts of the season.

Most would think it was winning the games or not having practice occasionally.

Allsbury has a different opinion.

“My favorite part about the season is definitely just being around my teammates, Allsbury said. “It’s still early in the season but we already have so many jokes and memories. There’s always something to laugh about when you’re with the girls basketball team.”

The Lady Jays program has high hopes for the season and postseason. They each have individual goals, as well as team goals.

“The team has a list of goals that includes things like improving free throw percentage and the amount of turnovers we have,” Allsbury said. “We all want to be the best we can be both offensively and defensively so we have goals for both parts. The big team goal is to win a district championship, and then to go as far as possible in the postseason.”

Many spectators have been attending the Lady Jays home games and witness the bond the have with one another on and off the court. The team is not only there for each other during celebration, but also in times where a player isn’t having their best game.

“We’re always excited and happy for one another so we scream as loud as we can to encourage our teammates. There’s times were we get so excited we jump off the bench to cheer,” Allsbury said.

“No matter what, we’re always gonna be yelling and screaming when our teammate does something good, but also being there to support someone when they aren’t having the best game.”

Lexy Haug Sport: Basketball Grade: 12 Years on team: 4 Background: “I have played basketball since I was in 2nd grade.

It has brought me some of my favorite memories.”

Favorite part: “My favorite part is making lifelong friends and traveling in the summer to different tournaments.”

Role model: “Bailey Nichols.”

Favorite memory: “Beating the #5 state ranked team Hickman my junior year for the first time in 5 years. ” Least favorite part: “10 in 1’s, 10 lines in 1 minute.”

Interesting fact: “I always wear ankle socks at games and I get made fun of.”

Awards: “2 year letterman.”

Best game: “Sophomore year I had a game where they put me in right after halftime and I scored 8 points in 75 seconds.”

Future: “I am going to play basketall at Missouri Valley College and major in business.”

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Abbi Gierer

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Megan Cassels

2016 Jays Football comes to an end Emily Rush

I

n 2016, the Jefferson City High School football team had an overall record of 6-5. They played a total of 11 games and their final game was against Blue Springs. The Jays lost the game to Blue Springs, 56-46. This was their last game of the season and districts. The Blue Springs game was an extremely close one; all the Jays needed to win was a few more points, and they would have been there.

The game against Blue Springs was the final game of the graduating seniors’ high school career. As for the freshman, sophomores, and juniors, they have next year to look forward to.

When senior Dennis Barnes realized that it was the last game of his senior season, it was a moment of pride.

“I thought it was time to start a new chapter in my life, and I was blessed to play my high school career at JC,” Barnes said.

Barnes currently does not know where he will be attending college .

When asking him if he will play football in college he said, “It is all about the recruiting process. I’m going to wait until I am finished with my other sports to make the best decision.”

Many underclassman said that they will miss their graduating teammates next year.

“When I realized it was the last game of the season I was really sad because I knew we could have won,” junior Van Johnson said.

Senior Kyle Mealy also agreed with

Johnson about how the last game of the season was going to affect them all.

“After the game, it was sad realizing I won’t play with some of my best friends again,” Mealy said.

The Jays football team had wins against Mccluer North, Springfield Central, Hickman, St. Louis University, Rockbridge, and Blue Springs South.

Most of these games were not close games either; JCHS beat them by a landslide. Out of the 11 games they played, they did lose 5. These games were against: Har-Ber, CBC, Battle, Rockhurst and Blue Springs. Despite the wins and losses throughout the season, the boys made friends that will potentially last them a lifetime.

www.jcredblack.com 12.13.16//SPORTS

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2016 Recap: Madi Baughman Brooklynne Propes Jan. 2016 - Kirlin’s Hallmark in Capital Mall closes

This year, a lot of new and exciting change has come to Jefferson City. After considering all that’s happened this year, this is what the Red & Black chose as the most important events to recap.

Mar. 2016 Washington Park Ice Arena Annual Ice Show

Jan. 2016 - American Eagle in Capital Mall closes

Apr. 2016 - Serve Jeff City projects

Apr. 2016 - Paint the People 5K Run

May 2016 - 10th annual Shelbyfest

May 2016 - Bridge June 2016 - New closes for construction Panera location opens

JCHS Most Memorable Moments of 2016: We asked JCHS students and faculty what their most memorable moment of 2016 was, and these were their answers.

Got a moment you’d like to share?

Tweet it to us at @jcredblack with the hashtag #JCmoments2016, and we might share them!

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June 2016 - Thursday Night Live starts

“When I got to cheer on the sidelines for the football team when they beat Blue Springs South because they were the underdogs, but the outcome was in our favor.” senior Taylor West

The year in review Aug. 2016 - John Wheeler elected as new sheriff

Jul. 2016 - First ever concert inside the Missouri State Penitentiary

Sept. 2016 - MC Oct. 2016 - JCHS Sports closes holds first ever permanently Haunted Hallways

Sept. 2016 - First annual Oct. 2016 - New Prison Break Race Smoothie King opens on Missouri Boulevard

Nov. 2016 - Bridge construction finishes early, reopens to the public

Nov. 2016 - Eric Nov. 2016 - New Greitens elected IHOP opens on as Missouri Missouri Boulevard governor

“Prom last [school] year, because I got to help my friends put decorations up, then went to dinner, dressed up, and came back to chaperone.” - Woodworking Teacher Cynthia Weber “Signing to play college baseball because it meant that my dream that I’ve had since I was a little kid came true.” - senior Kade Franks

www.jcredblack.com 12.13.16//IN-DEPTH

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FEATURES

[photo by Ali Beza]

From left to right: Madison Joseph and Sydney Shipley pose togehter after completeing their daily jobs.

A typical day in a not-so-typical classroom Ali Beza

T

here is no such thing as a “normal day” for students and teachers in rooms 200 and 201 at Jefferson City High School. That’s the best part about spending a day in the special education classrooms: you never know just how the day will go. However, there are a few routines set in place.

Christina DuBois, a teacher who specializes in teaching the students independent living, said that during first block the students have a morning meet. This starts out with the temperature, weather, vocabulary word of the day, and how many days of school we’ve had.

They then go over their jobs, which are assigned out daily. These jobs include: office, veterinarian assistant, A.N.D. (Always New and Different), food service, store, and housekeeper.

Their classrooms were converted into the apartment style two years ago, making it easier for students to cook, clean, have and take care of animals, and even run a small coffee shop they call Java Jays.

“The apartment style classroom addresses the student’s needs more because we work a lot on transition, meaning preparing them for after graduation,” DuBois said. “We try to

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teach them the skills they’ll really need once they graduate, such as job skills and independent living skills.”

Madison Joseph, who is new to JCHS this year, says she really enjoys the apartment style classroom and the different jobs she gets to participate in.

“My favorite part of the day is walking with Rhapsody outside,” Joseph said. “I also like to cook and deliver coffee to the teachers because I want to be a waitress when I grow up.”

Other students such as sophomore Sydney Shipley come in and get additional help.

“They’re helping me with my math,” Shipley said. “That’s why I am here; its for them to help me.”

Shipley is in the room only half the day, but she gets to go through the same morning routines with the class, including the jobs.

“I do coffee orders, and we deliver the coffee to different teachers and staff,” Shipley said.

Shipley has had the opportunity to make many relationships with these students, which is her favorite part about being in the classroom.

“I love meeting all these kids,” Shipley said. “They’re great.”

DuBois stated that in addition to

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the daily jobs and different students coming in, the kids also go to internships throughout the day either at the Samaritan Center or at the hospital.

“I really like seeing them work on their communication and work skills because they just blossom,” DuBois said. “At first, they’re real shy and timid and act like they can’t do anything, but when they see the success they realize they can.

Especially, when they get to the internships, it makes them feel like this is for a reason.”

The internships are another style of learning for these students, who often times can struggle with academics. But, at the end of their day they do focus closer on reading, writing, and math.

“They str uggle with academics, and a lot of times they feel like they’re just copying (the work),” DuBois said. “They haven’t been successful for so long that when they get hands on they’re much happier and more successful.”

All in all, no matter what challenges the classroom may face, the teachers and staff always find a way to be flexible, and make the students feel comfortable.

JCHS plans for winter break Emily Rush

S

tudents at Jefferson City High School have a variety of different activities they do over Christmas break, from going out of state for vacation, visiting distant family, to simply spending time at home. Some families enjoy going on vacation together and experiencing new traditions. On the other hand, many families enjoy repeating traditions by spending time with their close family and friends in the comfort of their own home.

“I would rather spend time at home with my family than go on vacation, because it is more traditional and you’re not just in some random hotel room,” junior Hailey Clardy said. “Over Christmas break I will be praying that it snows so I can take my five year old nephew sledding.”

JCHS students have almost a two week winter break. This gives families enough time to go on vacation if that is what they are interested in doing over the holidays. Christmas is known as Jesus’s birthday to Christians, and people are supposed to surround themselves with family and friends during this season.

“I personally would

rather stay home because, if you think about it, that’s what Christmas is all about - spending time with loved ones you don’t see everyday,” junior Hannah Kemper said.

Over Christmas break students also get a break from school work. Hopefully, no teachers bombard students with assignments over break because we all need time to celebrate.

“One of the reasons I am so excited for break is to get away from all the school work and not be stressed about school,” Kempker said.

“Every year my mom, sister and I bake cookies and other Christmas desserts while listening to our favorite Christmas songs,” We all celebrate the same holiday in many different ways. There are many traditions that people celebrate every year on Dec. 25, but at the end of the day, we are all celebrating the same holiday.

“I would rather stay home because all my family lives here and Christmas is one of the rare times I get to see my family,” junior Chad Volmert said. “I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

www.jcredblack.com 12.13.16//FEATURES

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BTS: Assemblies A behind the scenes look at how assemblies come together through the work of the assembly chairs.

Makenzie Baldwin

J

[photo by Makenzie Baldwin]

Assemblies comittee member Alannah Brown assists in setting up the big screen in preparation for the assembly.

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efferson City High School hosts an average of about six assemblies every school year. The assemblies are primarily handled by Student Council, specifically, the assemblies chairs. This year, the two assemblies chairs are seniors Brooke Reinsch and Bailey Conrad.

Their jobs are to contact coaches, sponsors, and anyone else who might want to speak in the assemblies and make a perfectly outlined agenda.

The assemblies chairs are given a set amount of time to fit everything that needs to be fit into each assembly, so they must plan their agenda accordingly.

“The teachers get mad if you go over time, the administration gets mad if you go over time, and you have to cut stuff out if you go over time,” Reinsch said.

“Luckily, we’ve been under time every assembly this year so far.”

In addition to creating the agenda and making sure everyone that wants to speak gets to, the assemblies chairs also must do assembly rehearsals for the bigger assemblies. These assemblies include: Homecoming, Winter Sports and Marcullus.

During these rehearsals, the assemblies chairs get the opportunity to go over their lines and make sure everything goes according to the schedule. They also must practice setting everything up and taking everything down for the larger assemblies, which they do with the help of their committee.

The assemblies committee works underneath the assemblies chairs. Their job is to do all of the physical labor that goes into setting up the

assemblies. They must set up the big screen, put up all of the chairs, set up the podium, and make sure everything is in the exact spot it needs to be for assemblies.

“I honestly feel like everything has gone really well this year, we always get everything set up on time and we haven’t made any major mistakes with the setup,” assemblies committee member Lily Tharp said.

Tharp has been on the assemblies committee for two years and works primarily with the sound at all of the assemblies.

This year, it is new for student council to have two assemblies co-chairs instead of just one. However, it has worked out relatively well.

“We’re best friends, and we’re co-chairs,” assemblies co-chair Bailey Conrad said.

Conrad and Reinsch both agree their favorite part of being assemblies co-chairs is getting to share the experience with each other.

“I know if there’s a part that I might mess up on that Bailey is going to be right there behind me saying ‘you got this,’” Reinsch said. “I know if it was the other way around I would do the same for her.”

With three assemblies already under their belts, the assemblies co-chairs and committee members are beginning to get the hang of things and continue to work hard to make each assembly better than the last.

“It’s not just about making us look good as a committee,” Reinsch said, “it’s about making us look good for Student Council, as a school, and as a community.”

Club gives us the key to #ServeJC

Learn about the Key Club and how it can be a tool for you to use to improve yourself and your community through voluneer service.

Makayla Huffman

Fun fact

What is key club?

Key Club has had many successes, the most popular being the Paint the People walk/run that for the past 13 years has raised enough money for them to consecutively donate $5,000 to the United Way.

Key Club is an international organization focused on helping students provide volunteer service in their community.

The JCHS Key Club is run by Spanish teachers Chris Johnson and Shane Williams in room 312. They meet as a F.A.S.T. class every day.

Fun fact Key Club is in schools across the world with more than 250,000 members within 5,000 clubs across 30 nations.

Get involved By texting “@ServeJC” to 81010 you can get the code to join a group that will push out notifications about any upcoming service opportunities.

How can I join key club?

On the JCHS Key Club website, there is an application you can fill out to apply. This club does have some requirements for joining. They expect members to be in good academic standing and not to have any issues with behavior.

Why should you volunteer?

“It’s not about you,” Williams said. “Once kids understand that they can actually enjoy it, it’s healthy, doing for others. There’s a severe disconnect with the students and the community.”

Information from http://www.jckeyclub.com

www.jcredblack.com 12.13.16//FEATURES

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OPINION

The Red and Black Editorial: Is Christmas break even a break?

I

t is a well-known fact that the students and faculty at Jefferson City High School deserve a legitimate break. Yet, another wellknown fact is that Christmas break at JCHS is exceptionally short. We only have 11 days to visit family, catch up on sleep, celebrate the holidays and prepare ourselves for the final eighteen weeks of the school year.

Although Christmas break is the longest break we have at JCHS, many students and faculty members feel the time we have away from school is cut short.

Senior Annie Large agrees with this statement.

“I feel that Christmas break is not a sufficient amount of time to take a break from school, especially for those who travel over the holidays to spend time with family,” Large said. “Growing up, I feel like Christmas break was always much longer than it has been the last few years.”

Although students return to school on Jan. 3, the faculty of JCHS returns Jan. 2 leaving them with one less day than the students. Kelly Grunden, business and marketing teacher at JCHS, also agrees our time has been cut short; however, is very grateful for

From the library Joy Corwin and Sarah Jorgenson

In response to an opinion article in our November issue, the library staff wanted to let students know about the enrichment opportunities offered at the JCHS library.

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the time we do have off.

“I feel that there is usually enough time to celebrate over the holidays,” Grunden said. “This year it seems to be a little less and I would like to have Jan. 2 off for those of us that are out of town on Jan. 1. However, I appreciate the time we do get to spend with family and friends.”

with family and opening presents on Christmas Day,” Large said. “However, I typically spend most of my Christmas break seeing family members that I don’t usually see and picking up extra shifts at work.”

Adults have their favorite Christmas traditions too. Many teachers spend their time catching up with family members they don’t see throughout the year including their children.

“My Christmas break consists of spending time with my college kids. They are involved in a variety of things so they don’t get to come home much,” Grunden said. “I look forward to being a Mom and cooking over the holidays because I love to cook and take care of them when they [cartoon by Abbigail Gierer] are home.”

The holidays are all about Everyone has their favorite parts of spending time with family and friends.

Christmas break; however, with such However, how will we ever be able a short period of time it becomes very to feel as if we have spent a quality hard for students to be able to enjoy amount of time with everyone we want it. Many students fill their break with and need to if our time continues to extra hours at work or traveling to see grow shorter and shorter every year? family.

Yes, Christmas break seems like an “My favorite part of Christmas ample amount of time, but it is only break is of course getting a break from 11 days and as we grow older time school, but also I enjoy spending time continues to fly by even faster.

Jays, did you know the library offers FAST enrichment? The library offers FAST book clubs that last about 5-6 weeks. The clubs are kept to 6-10 members, and we have a waiting list for interested students. The books range anywhere from current bestsellers to Gateway nominees to holiday classics just in time for Christmas! We meet twice a week during FAST and end with a party.

Another opportunity Jays may be interested in during FAST is Writing for Dollars Wednesdays. Students interested in competition writing, college essay writing, or scholarship writing should scan the QR code on the fliers around the building to join.

Students wanting to check out books during FAST time may use our online e-book program called Overdrive accessible through our website. The Tech Center remains open during FAST for printing and troubleshooting. Contact Joy Corwin or Sarah Jorgenson to sign up for any of our FAST enrichments.

12.13.16//OPINION

Head TO Head

Go green, save the trees Maddy Bergstrom

A

Artificial vs Real Trees

s the song goes, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year” that is, for all save the Evergreen. With only 12 days until Christmas, the stockings are up and those lights you left up all year round are plugged in again.

Christmas time is also the time to take the long trek up the attic steps in search of the family Christmas tree. As you stumble into the living room, struggling to figure out where each branch goes because your color coded dots faded off years ago, you reminisce about past Christmases around this tree and all the memories that entwine with the ornaments, the picture of last years holiday season reflects from the tinsel.

Senior Stephanie Scott believes Christmas is about tradition and family, and what brings those two together more than some hot chocolate and putting the star on top of the Christmas tree?

“I love decorating our family tree because it helps bring everyone together,” Scott said. “We all have such busy lives, and it’s so lovely to catch up amongst the glittering tinsel and shimmering ornaments to celebrate the holiday.”

However, there are those who bundle up in coats and scarves, heading to the forestry in search of the perfect Christmas tree that year. What at first seemed like a great bonding experience quickly turns to chattering teeth and wishing to be home around the fire.

Not only will you have to deal with the hassle of cutting down a tree, moving it into your house and cleaning up the mess of pine needles left behind, but you are also taking away from an already limited supply of [photo by Kaylee Klosterman] forests. Junior Isaac Moeller said that his family tried the natural Christmas tree one year but it ended up to be too much of a mess. However he still enjoys the beauty of the trees. “[My favorite thing about the Christmas season is] the smell of evergreen and the thin white layer on the tops of the trees.” Moeller said.

Those trees are home to so many critters, squirrels and birds alike, and they too need a home for holidays.

Though it may seem like an expensive alternative at first, the payoff of an artificial Christmas tree is unbelievable. You will not only save your family from the bitter cold of standing in the blistering wind for hours, but you will also be saving a tree and all of the animals who call it home sweet home.

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Put away the plastic, bring out the pine Gillian Burks

hether it is the smell, tradition or overall appearance, a real Christmas tree will always be better than its artificial opponent. On Christmas morning children rush down their stairs to be greeted by a lush green tree adorned in various sparkling ornaments, while below it sits the multitude of presents that will soon be opened. It is in these moments that they are overwhelmed with joy, and it is in my opinion that this image would be tattered without a majestic real tree in its midst.

Before you are even able to set the tree up and dress it in candy canes and tinsel, you must find one that fits your needs. To most families, this is a tradition that has been passed down and will continue to be passed down through the generations to come. The memories created by this tradition will always be superior to buying a box from the store or unpacking last year’s green plastic twigs.

“Going out each year to find your tree is such a fun thing to do with your family,” sophomore Stella Vansant said. “It becomes another tradition to add to the holidays and get into the Christmas spirit.”

There are also some who simply enjoy the act in an ironic fashion. Tucker Snider, an English teacher at JCHS, agrees that live trees are far superior. Even as someone who doesn’t celebrate the holidays for “traditional” reasons, Snider still prefers to use live trees over fake trees.

“I usually go with a live tree because I like to get back to the pagan roots; I feel like there needs to be a life sacrificed or something,” Snider said. “A Christmas tree seems like a harmless way to do that.”

As the tree is put into your home, it soon fills the room with its cozy smell. With a plastic tree the only smell you’ll find is the odd smell of warm plastic. The smell of pine is so loved that people buy candles and even car fresheners to have the smell all year long.

As you unpack your fake tree and begin to bend the branches to make it seem as if they can even hold a candle to a real tree, you’ll only find that your hard work will end with infuriating bald spots.

By picking out your live tree, you can shop and examine each tree till you find one that fits every physical quality you would want to see lit by string lights in your living room.

Even if they shed needles and might be a hassle to strap on the roof of your car, live trees will always brighten your holiday season, whether it be part of your family tradition, just a fun activity or part of your holiday decorating. They add flair to your home, and warmth to your heart that will never dull.

www.jcredblack.com 12.13.16//OPINION

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The unspoken tension at family gatherings A Kaylee Klosterman

s the holidays approach us, we begin traveling from city to city in order to meet up with our rather distant family. This may be a shock to you, but it’s not unusual for a family to see each other once or twice a year.

Lerone Briggs, football coach and social studies teacher at Jefferson City High School, and senior Jacquelyn Walker relate to this shocking statement.

“My family is pretty spread out,” Briggs said. “We typically just hang out with those who live in Jefferson City.”

Similarly, Walker said, “We have ‘family reunions’ for Christmas. I see some of my family for the Fourth of July, but other than that, I don’t see or speak to the majority of them.”

Most adults are used to seeing half of their family once or twice a year; therefore, they have become accustomed to talking like they saw each other yesterday in the same way that most little kids can run over to one another and act as if they hang out all the time.

“It’s not awkward for me at all,” Briggs said. “I have the type of family that picks up right where we left off even if we haven’t seen each other in years.”

However, many teenagers are the complete opposite.

Believe it or not, teenagers tend to be more shy than the average little kid. Briggs’ kids are a prime example of this.

“My kids do tend to feel awkward. They don’t know a lot of their extended family,” Briggs said. “When we do get together, it’s usually the first time the kids have met or the first time in a couple of years.”

We all have our ways of getting out of awkward situations, but when you are surrounded by family, it can become a little more tricky.

“My family just tries to be the peacemaker and help everyone get along because we have no problem with any of them,” Walker said. “I usually just say hi to everyone and then go off and do my own thing with the family I’m close with in order to avoid the awkwardness.”

The tension and discomfort doesn’t just go away over the years. If anything, it gets worse as time goes on. Sometimes families just push through it and say “see ya next year,” while other gatherings slowly come to a close. Of course it is sad. After all they are your family, but how can you complain when that’s what you had been hoping for all along?

Starting Christmas early: Sin or seasonal?

T Abbigail Gierer

he holidays are a time of giving, thankfulness and joy, and to me that all starts the day after Halloween. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving, but there is something about carols, twinkling lights and reindeer that a turkey just could never do for me. Thanksgiving is a warm-up for some people, a sign that it is time to get into the holiday mindset, but for me, that holiday is Halloween. You collect all the candy you can eat that night and brace yourself, because winter is coming. I pull out my fluffy Christmas socks, my favorite hot cocoa mug, and turn on James Taylor’s Christmas album. The feeling of warmth that you just cannot get anywhere else bubbles up inside me and I know that I have almost made it all the way through another year. Some people treat starting Christmas early as a sin - they grumble when Wal-Mart

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puts out their ornaments, and roll their eyes at the mention of Christmas lists.

“Starting Christmas early kinda brushes over Thanksgiving,” senior [cartoon by Abbigail Gierer]

Heaven Chavez said. “It’s like people go from Halloween straight to Christmas.”

To them, I say bah humbug. Let people be happy. If they like to break out Frosty the Snowman in November, let them. If it makes them smile to sing along to “Rudolph the Red Nosed

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Reindeer” in the car, then by all means let them sing their hearts out. Many people suffer from seasonal depression, which during the holiday season, makes it much harder to function. If they have found something that makes them happy during the dark, cold months, let them have it and do not shame them for getting into the holiday spirit. So, if you are not feeling the holiday spirit until December, that is completely fine, but do not be a Grinch to those of us that find stretching out Christmas makes the end of the year much more bearable.

“Starting Christmas early means I get to listen to Mariah Carey sing ‘All I Want For Christmas’ in October without being judged,” senior Ally Robinett said. “They’ll still judge me anyway, but it won’t be because of that.

But who cares? Christmas music makes me happy.”

To do or not to do senior traditions?

P Megan Cassels

rior to my senior year, I have always envied the idea of graduating high school. I remember sitting in first grade, learning how to count my twos, fives and tens, while also counting down how many years I had left until my senior year so I could just be free. Now that it is here, I am pressured to finalize the year by buying the traditional senior hoodie and sweatpants, plan my graduation party, buy a yearbook and so on.

Senior year is supposed to be the “fun” and “laid back” year. If I was the one planning my graduation party, I most likely would not have one. I don’t want to stress over planning something that is going to cost a lot of money out of my pocket for only a few hours.

Throughout the years, Jefferson City High School graduates march down the hallways at the end of the year to ring a bell to show off their accomplishments.

It’s also nice that we are able to get out

a week earlier than the other students in school.

“I love the idea of doing the senior traditions at the end of the year like the senior march, where we get to ring the big red bell - or senior skip day, I really like the sound of that,” senior Jordan Clark said. “It all sounds really fun to me, but to be honest, if my mom wouldn’t have bought my senior stuff, I most likely wouldn’t have got the ‘senior’ supplies I got this year.”

Although my parents are very excited about my new accomplishments, they are also excited about the traditions they want to pass on from their senior year to mine. I see that doing the things said is fun and nice to keep the tradition, but let’s be honest, it’s expensive. At this age, my parents encourage independence, which means that I would have to pay for all of these things. I would much rather save up for college and an apartment than spend

$300 or more on things that I won’t see useful in my future. The average class ring cost at Jostens ranges from $250 to $350 and buying a jersey t-shirt without a last name on it is $38 alone.

“I think you should do it. This is your last year, you can’t go back and change it,” my mom, Chrisma Davis, said. “You can’t go back to redo it. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, but if that’s your opinion no matter what, then I’m not gonna make you do something you don’t want to do just because I want you to. I’m gonna be proud of you either way.”

In spite of the fact that I do think it’s a good and fun idea to buy these things, I don’t really see too much of an important use for them after high school. I do think it’s nice to have some things to look back on the “good ol’ days” in my future, which is why I won’t judge anyone who decides to participate in the senior fun.

Celebrating the holiday of Hanukkah Salem Sanfilippo Solindas

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s winter break approaches, so do the holidays.

Everyone knows and loves Christmas, but obviously it’s not the only holiday in December. Among others, there is Hanukkah, an eight-day celebration of when Jews escaped their oppressors and searched for a better life with religious freedom. Though it is not the most important holiday in Jewish culture, it’s pretty far up there, so you would probably expect people to respect it as much as they do Christmas.

However, that’s clearly not true in America, and our school is no exception. From the Christmas tree already up in the library to the whistled rendition of Jingle Bells one of our reporters performs daily, it’s inescapable.

For some Jews, this is especially troubling. Take sophomore David Segall, for example. While he observes Christmas, he’s fairly a devout Jew and only really celebrates Hanukkah. Like many religious minorities, Segall and other Jews dislike the aggressive push for Christmas starting the first of November and ending at the new year.

“If you were to [publicly decorate for] Christmas, then you’d have to include all the others. I mean, sure, Christians take up a giant majority of America, but you have to be respectful,” Segall said. “If you’re not gonna do [other holidays] just do a simple winter theme. That would be a lot

better. Many people would probably be a lot happier with just winter.”

The push for secular celebrations has grown over the years, but unfortunately, the push back has been pretty dramatic. According to Breitbart News, the new, more secular Starbucks holiday cups that took the internet by storm last year are “now an anti-Christmas symbol”. Coffee controversy aside, there is also ‘Merry Christmas’ vs. ‘Happy Holidays’ controversy. The whole thing just makes both sides feel attacked when the goal was the exact opposite.

While I can empathise very well with the frustrations of feeling like your holiday is being pushed to the sidelines, it helps absolutely nothing to attack others for trying to find equality.

The solution to all this is pretty simple: respect Hanukkah and other holidays, like Yule, Kwanzaa, and Panchayat Ganapati. You don’t have to celebrate them, but try to let them have the spotlight once in awhile.

“When people aren’t knowledgeable, they tend to be a little bit more hateful,” Segall said.

We should all try to learn about diverse cultures and create opportunities for equal celebration during the holidays, because it will make winter a much more enjoyable season for everyone.

www.jcredblack.com 12.13.16//OPINION

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Arts &Entertainment VS Sidney Johnson

#1 Black Beatles-Rae

Sremmurd ft. Gucci Mane #2 Closer-The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey

#3 Starboy- The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk

#4 24k Magic- Bruno

Mars

#5 Juju on that Beat (TZ ANTHEM) - Zay Hilfigerrr & Zayion McCall

Check out more Red & Black staff suggestions on our website at www.jcredblack.com

Staff Suggestions

JCHS Students #1 Starboy- The Weeknd

ft. Daft Punk #2 Broccoli- D.R.A.M. Ft. Lil Yatchy

#3 Juju on that Beat (TZ

ANTHEM) - Zay Hilfigerrr & Zayion McCall

#4 Closer- The

Chainsmokers ft. Halsey

#5 Don’t Wanna Know

- Maroon 5 ft. Kendrick Lamar

#1 Losin’ Control-

Russ #2 Fake Love- Drake

#3 Hallelujah-

Pentatonix

#4

Finish Line/DrownChance the Rapper

#5 All my FriendsSnakehips

Fun ways to dectorate your tree this holiday season As the holiday season approaches, many people are getting excited about Christmas traditions. A popular tradition is setting up and decorating the tree. Every family has their own way of following this tradition.

Here are a few examples of how people choose to decorate for the festivities.

Brooklynne Propes

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Easy holiday gifts to give distant family members Sidney Johnson

T

he holidays have been said to be a sacred time for families and friends, but they can also be a stressful time. For some families, Christmas is for spending quality time sitting around a table filled with delicious foods; it is a time to give. For others, Christmas is about giving back to others and thinking of someone other than yourself. However, this could be problem when buying a gift for a distant relative. Being distant with a relative can make it a hassle to purchase a gift for them.

“Money is always the answer,” junior Boris Murillo

said. “People always need money. It’s the best gift if you ask me.”

When purchasing a gift, the age of the person may be something to consider as well.

It may not be appropriate to give a three year old money for Christmas, but there are other alternatives. For someone younger, other options are children books, movies, or possibly a crayon box. Things that can be done with a lot of free time, such as coloring books or painting kits, are also possibilities.

“If I was buying a gift for someone younger I’d probably get them a box of chalk,” juinor

Taylor Horn said. “What kid doesn’t like chalk?”

Horn also thinks candles could be useful for any age.

However, buying for an older relative may be a little easier. Depending on whether it is a boy or a girl, a gift card could be a very simple and useful gift.

Senior Kade Franks has a lot of experience when it comes to buying Christmas gifts.

“It’s always awkward at Christmas when someone is opening your present and you know they aren’t going to like it,” Franks said. “Just give the people what they want.”

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REVIEWS I

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.

Megan Cassels

HOP is a well known tasty breakfast restaurant that Jefferson City has been waiting for. I visited the restaurant the first day it opened.

They opened up Nov. 15 and they are located on the boulevard. Now, I know probably I shouldn’t have went to the restaurant on the opening day because I expected some chaos, but regardless, the customer service was ridiculous.

The workers were very inhospitable.

I waited in the lobby for nearly 20 minutes before being seated, which was definitely something to expect because

they were packed. After being seated, I waited for over an hour before I was asked what I wanted to drink and have my order taken because the waitress didn’t know I was seated at her table.

After I got my food it was as good as I remembered the one in Columbia being.

I ordered a chicken fajita omelette with a splashberry drink. To wrap it up, I’m sure the chaos and customer service will die down and be improved after a few months, so that is probably when I’ll go back to try IHOP again.

Sidney Johnson

B

runo Mars really kept that old time feel in his new album “24k Magic,” which was something different than what other artists are producing today. Unlike his old pop music, Mars added a more soulful and slow feel. There are a total of nine songs in this album and in the majority of the songs, he is talking about women and the things he likes about them.

The length of each song averages around four minutes long. His vocals

are absolutely amazing. Overall, the songs are upbeat and make you want to dance around the room. However, the lyrics and subjects of the songs are fairly boring. The songs are not very pasionate or relatable. Also, a few of the songs are way too long and become repetitive after a while. This is a different kind of music, but sung with a quality voice. If you like jazz music, or music with an older feel to it, then this is an album you need to check out.

Kelsie Backues

F

irst off, if you’ve never been to Living Windows, it literally means what it says. In downtown Jefferson City, all the storefronts “come alive” with people dancing, playing music, or crafting. People gather around the windows to enjoy these performances. However, if you’re looking for a little more action, Living Windows offers horse-drawn carriage rides, Governor’s mansion tours, visits with Santa Claus, and, this year,

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they even had reindeer. I’ve gone to Living Windows for as long as I can remember, and although temperatures don’t always cooperate, it never disappoints. There’s always something to do, cookies to eat, somewhere to go, and Christmas lights to gape at. Even if you’re not exactly in the Christmas spirit, you can use it as an excuse to catch up with friends and get some free apple cider.

12.13.16//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Your what?

Do you want to wear my letter jacket?

It’s kind of hard to see with the line art.

Devan Palmero

The what?

It’s a little big.

www.jcredblack.com 12.13.16//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Check out our Elf on the Shelf photo gallery and other exclusive content on our website! www.jcredblack.com

R ead all over No. 03 Brr...it’s chilly outside.

Kelsie Backues

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