December 19, 2013 Issue

LAW 21F | PAGE 9

KIVA CLUB | PAGE 10

SANTA HOUSE | PAGE 15

THE

FOCUS

GIRL’S HOCKEY | PAGE 20

Midland High School | December 19, 2013 | Volume 36, Issue 4

World’s best

Junior Gabrielle Meylan continues to strive for success after acheiving seven state, five national, and two world records in archery.

SPECIAL REPORT: The community offers many styles of holiday traditions to celebrate.

Noah Surbrook | Photo

Volume 36 Issue 4

FOCUS C O N T E N T S

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DECEMBER WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE? 02 Table of Contents 15 Santa boot camp 03 Editorial 16-17 Holidays overseas 04-07 Opinion 18 Advertising 08 Teachers on social networks 19 Archer Gabrielle Meylan 09 New online class law 20 Girl’s Hockey 10 Kiva club 21 Sports Corner 11 Chemic Corner & food laws 22 Hunter Marsh’s religion 12-13 Best of 2013 23 Abbi Schreiber 14 Secret Santa in MHS 24 DIY with Julia Piacentini FOCUS EDITORS

09 20

15

10

Scout Parsch Editor in Chief Jack Duly Managing Editor Katie McIntyre News Editor Maddy Wheelock Features Editor Michael Adams A&E Editor Emily Resmer Sports Editor Kyle Blackwood Opinion Editor Sarah Wontorcik Photo Editor Mercedes Hussein Design Editor Emily Fisher Ad Coordinator Hannah Lasky Exchange Editor Michelle Demo Website Editor Jim Woehrle Adviser Midland Daily News Printer

WRITE A LETTER

If something annoys you about us, school, or life in general,

write a letter to the editor.

If something amuses you about us, school, or life in general,

write a letter to the editor.

If we got something wrong,

write a letter to the editor.

If it’s coherent and under 300 words,

we’ll run it.

Drop them off at room 345 with your name.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT Focus established in 1977, previously the Vic Tribune established in 1936, is the official school sponsored newspaper of Midland High School. Focus is published monthly by the journalism classes at Midland High School and is distributed free of charge. It is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), the Michigan Interscholastic Press

Association (MIPA), and Quill and Scroll.

Adviser membership also includes the Journalism Education Association (JEA).

Focus is designed as a forum for student expression and as a realistic lab experience. Focus, however, reserves the right to contest the challenge of an administrator who attempts to censor and/ or remove an article or graphic element.

EDITORIAL

Online opportunities

The segment 21f added to the School Aid Act gives students the opportunity to enroll in two online classes in January 2014. The FOCUS looks at both the advantages and disadvantages of this new law.

Natalie Shwartz | Illustration

The online school law, an amended section of The State School Act of 1979 known as section 21f, is set to go into effect starting in January. This law states that all public high schools in Michigan must offer students the opportunity to enroll in two online courses anywhere in the state. Prior to this law, MPS students did not have the opportunity to enroll in online courses that were not offered by the district. These courses that will be taken outside of the district will be paid for by the school that enrolls the student. This gives MPS the opportunity to gain money with new students enrolling in their online courses, while also being at risk of losing money due to the fact that students will look to other districts for classes. Because this could be considered a controversial law, we, explore both the advantages and disadvantages of the law, giving the reader the chance to develop their own opinion on the topic.

ADVANTAGES

As technology within the Midland schools and community continues to grow, many find it important that we support the most recent laws and regulations involving technology. The new 21f law plans to come into effect for MPS starting the new semester of January 2014, giving students a chance to take advantage of the opportunity or ignore what the state has to offer. The students have the chance to not only take two online courses of their choice, but to also take any classes offered throughout the state if it is not offered in their district already.

Because of this, there is a concern that because students have taken part in traditional learning for so many years, they may not be open to this new style of learning. Although online learning may be an adjustment at first, those who participate will be given the chance to work at their own pace and be responsible to keep up in their classes. Because the classes are taught completely online, it gives the students the chance to interact with their teachers more to a point that it may offer 24/7 communication. The teachers offering these online courses are not just computer recordings of previous lessons, but actually teachers who are there to help the student

work towards success.

Though the new law does benefit students with the variety of classes and a new style of learning, the largest benefits go towards our district as a whole. Since our district’s courses will soon be offered to students in other districts, this gives MPS the chance to gain money as a result of those students coming to our school. Any class that is taken in one of the MPS schools is more money that goes towards our district, helping to build a stronger community. Although MPS does have the chance to lose money if our own students go to other districts for classes, it is very unlikely for this to happen because the district offers such a variety of classes already.

After much debate on this controversial topic, we the FOCUS have decided that there are many advantages and disadvantages of the law that will be coming into effect soon.

But, although there is a chance of MPS losing money from this law, once it comes into effect there is nothing more to do besides come on board with it and take advantage of the opportunity. Technology is progressing with or without Midland Public Schools, and if we have the option to keep up with it all, we should not take the opportunity for granted.

DISADVANTAGES

With the implementation of this law, the state of Michigan’s educational system is taking one more step away from traditional style learning, and one step closer to a more impersonal style, void of face-to-face interaction between teachers and students.

While a more impersonal style of teaching may be a better fit for some students, a majority of students are used to sitting in a classroom on a rigorous schedule set by a teacher where they have goals they need to accomplish on a daily basis. If given the option to have this new freedom where there is no set schedule of when assignments need to be done, as long as they are completed by the end of the semester, many students will procrastinate . It takes a very selfdisciplined student to thrive in an online class environment, and for those students who lack self-discipline it means that the school will be left with the bill when the students fails his class.

The funding situation can be a metaphorical double-edged sword. If MPS was to take initiative on this bill, by fixing up its online courses and making them desirable for other students in Michigan who want to enroll, it could stand to make a good deal of money

from other districts. Though, if MPS did not take initiative on this and did not have desirable online courses, but had students within its district who wanted to enroll in other districts classes, MPS would loose money when its students enroll in online courses offered by other districts. Any district that loses students even for one class, in person or online, loses funding from the state of Michigan. This bill then has the possibility of hurting districts financially that do not have a strong online presence if students show an interest in enrolling in other district’s classes.

This creates a competition between all districts in the state on who can attract the most students through online classes. This could be devastating for MPS, which has had to make numerous cuts in the past years and faces the possibility of more in the future.

This law seems like a great idea in theory, but when implemented will have some negative consequences for districts that do not have strong online courses. This is why when this law comes into effect starting January, MPS should stick with focusing on traditional style teaching, because of how it helps students and discourages procrastination.

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O P I N I O N

CORRECTIONS Girl’s Basketball

When the Lights Go Out

A staff writer misspelled our news editor’s name, Katie McIntyre, in a caption about the girls’ basketball team. She sits right nex to the staff writer in class.

We are sorry to Eliza Wager who we mistaked for Eliza Wagner at one point.

Rookie mistake on done by two of our rookies.

Superintendent Picture

Midland vs. Dow Score

Unfortunately, one of our designers thought that a picture of a rat was an adequate subsitution for a picture of our new superintedent in the TOC. We really hope this won’t affect our chances at those snow days this year.

We misprinted the scores of the Midland vs. Dow football games. Either our own FOCUS offensive lineman doesn’t know how badly we beat Dow this year, or maybe our Editor in Chief just doesn’t know how to do simple math.

PUZZLE OF THE MONTH START

FINISH

An abundance of Christmas As soon as the snow hits the ground here, the Christmas excitement begins. By Dec. 1, I already feel like I have been choked with tinsel, pine needles, and cheer.

For an entire month, Christmas is shoved in my face no matter where I turn. Every commercial on television depicts a cute little child screaming over a new Christmas toy. It’s hard to believe that there are people out there who don’t think we have enough Christmas spirit. And yet, to people like Sarah Palin and many Fox News reporters like Bill O’Reilly, America has become and unsafe place for people to show their love for Christmas.

These are the people who glare at anyone who says “Happy Holidays.” They denounce any type of non-denominational holiday adornment and claim that anyone who doesn’t scream “I love Christmas!” to the heavens for the whole month of December is a Grinch. On the Fox News website, a map has been created to pinpoint every place where an “attack” on the right to celebrate Christmas has occurred. The points are almost entirely irrelevant or distorted, claiming that acts such as calling a Christmas tree a “holiday tree” or even mentioning the idea of an AfricanAmerican Santa are anti-Christian.

Although Christianity is not America’s official religion, more than 75 percent of people who live here identify as Christian.

It makes sense that this time of the year is heavily dominated by Christmas trees and blow-up Santas. We shove stocking and sugar plums up non-Christian’s noses; we can’t be greedy when we already have the vast majority of the advertisement. There is nothing wrong with seeing a menorah in a neighbor’s window. Everyone else puts up with our obnoxious cheer; we should show

them the same respect.

I am fortunate enough not to have to sit through conversations with Sarah Palin and Bill O’Reilly. I only see their ridiculous criticism when I go searching for it, or when it appears on The Daily Show. But that does not mean I’m blind of the soldiers in this war on Christmas. Whenever I see [insert name here] in the hallway, the battle begins. He gives me a grin and mutters a “Merry Christmas,”and I respond with an always sarcastic “Seasons Greetings.” It may seem like a harmless greeting to most, but the argument is still there, hidden under sayings that were once meant to spread happiness. This happens more often than I would like to admit. But it’s only a result of these students’ excessive need to make everything about their holiday. It’s an elementary school argument. We just don’t want to share.

Contrary to Fox News’ belief, I am not suggesting we chop down all the ornamented pine trees in the area and go on a nondenominational holiday rampage. I am guilty of mumbling “Merry Christmas” to strangers, assuming that I know their religious affiliations. But “Happy Holidays” is supposed to be an open and inclusive greeting. The idea of a “war on Christmas” is ridiculous.

Christians are the opposite of oppressed during this season. They have squeezed the Christmas cheer that they seem to treasure so much out of themselves, turning the holiday season into another opportunity for religious debate. They claim that Jesus is all they think about in December, but they are spending most of their time screaming at anyone who chooses to say “Happy Holidays,” responding bitterly with “Maybe Jesus is the reason for the season.” These are the real Grinches. They are only stealing Christmas from themselves.

WHERE’S VIC HIDING?

This year the Focus is trying something new. Similar to Where’s Waldo?, Vic will be hidden anywhere throughout the paper each month. The first person to find Vic, take a picture, and tweet it at @MHSFocus1 wins a free 44 oz.

Speedway slurpee. Make sure to tweet it with a flavor and your 5th hour teacher. Happy hunting, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

04 | FOCUS | DEC 19, 2013

*the Vic on this page does not count

O P I N I O N

Both classic novels and modern literature have recently been brought to the big screen. The books’ story lines often ensure that their film adaptations will be very popular with readersturned-movie buffs. Michael Adams | A&E Editor & Maddy Wheelock | Features Editor

Movie Adaptation Reviews

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

1.

The film adaptation of Veronica Roth’s worldwide bestselling novel Divergent will premiere this spring, and diehard fans of the book are already beginning to celebrate.

The story takes place in a dystopian Chicago, where the city’s population has been divided into five factions. Each is devoted to one of five human traits: honesty, selflessness, intelligence, fearlessness, or innocence.

At the age of sixteen, Tris Prior (played by Shailene Woodley) must take the required aptitude test to determine which faction she is best suited for. When her results show that she is Divergent, or equally suited for several factions, her safety is threatened. She decides to join a new faction, where she must undergo intense physical and psychological initiation tests that will determine whether she is strong enough to stay. In the process, Tris unwittingly becomes involved in a plot that may destroy her society.

The Divergent series is wildly popular, and the movie is highly anticipated. It will premiere on March 21st of next year.

Michael Adams

Wow may be the best word to describe The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

This sequel to The Hunger Games was long anticipated, but worth the wait. Perhaps the best thing about the film is that it stays true to the novel it is based off of while still providing a story line and visual effects that will completely capture the viewers’ attention. Jennifer Lawrence again gives an amazing performance as Katniss Everdeen, who is being forced once again into the bloody Hunger Games. Supporting cast members

such as Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, and Jena Malone bring the characters from the books to life and make the plot compelling.

The movie certainly appeals to a high school audience. It was adapted from the bestselling young adult novel of the same name, which was written by Suzanne Collins. The film follows the book’s plot almost to a tee. Its sound track also features popular artists such as Lorde, Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, and Christina Aguilera. These performers, coupled with the many famous names that make up the cast, ensure that a teen audience can connect to the film.

Catching Fire has two distinct parts: what happens before the Hunger Games, and what happens during the Games. The pre-Games part may move slowly for some viewers as

2.

3.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak has captured readers for years. Narrated by a personified Death, this novel took an entirely unique viewpoint on the events of World War II. Many fans were apprehensive about the book’s adaptation; Zusak’s writing and style seemed nearly impossible to bring to the screen. But the movie was beyond impressive.

Sophie Nélisse, who played the protagonist Liesel Meminger, brought the character to life with her terrific ability to keep Liesel’s complex characterization. She portrayed the character just as she was written in the book.

Though this story revolved around death and hardship, the actors still managed to sneak moments of innocence and humor into the story. They adapted the characters without taking away from Zusak’s ideas.

The only place where the film’s adaptation faltered was towards the end. A major character’s death had been modified to be cliché. Apart from this, the movie told a story that will captivate listeners and stay in their heads for the rest of their lives.

Maddy Wheelock

For those who have not yet read or seen the classic Lord of the Rings series, it may be useful to know the definition of a Hobbit. They are smaller than dwarves, extremely light on their feet, and very partial to living a quiet life and enjoying as many meals a day as possible.

However, as the great wizard Gandalf once said, they can be as tough as old tree-roots.

They can also make very good thieves if you choose to hire one, which is the premise of the adventures of the notorious hobbit Bilbo Baggins. These adventures will continue this December in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

In the second installment of The Hobbit trilogy, Bilbo will continue to accompany the band of dwarves as they make their way towards the Lonely Mountain, their ancestral home which has been taken by a fearsome dragon named Smaug. They will encounter many obstacles along the way, which will keep the dwarves from their ultimate task of reclaiming their kingdom.

The movie also involves a new side plot, which includes the return of the elf

the plot begins to build on itself and add background information for the benefit of the audience. However, creative characters, Katniss’ skills with a bow, and a few kissing scenes will continue to entertain as the plot leads to the start of the 75th Hunger Games.

Perhaps the most frustrating part of the movie is its cliffhanger ending. The film ends with Katniss receiving devastating news.

The conflict that this problem causes won’t be resolved until the third installment of the series, Part 1 of Mockingjay, premieres.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is vibrant, shocking, and almost too much for an emotional teen audience to handle. Its captivating story makes for the rare kind of sequel that is better than the first film.

Michael Adams

1. Divergent 2. The Book Thief 3. The Hobbit Legolas (played by Orlando Bloom). A new character has also been added to the film: Tauriel, a female elf of Mirkwood Forest who was not included in the original works of J. R. R. Tolkien. She was created in order to bring a new female character to a maledominated cast. The addition of this character is controversial to many fans because she was never mentioned in the novel. Both of these additions may affect how the movie is received in theatres. Tauriel will be played

by Evangeline Lilly, who also starred in the television series Lost.

The Desolation of Smaug is an action-packed film, and visually appealing in regards to special effects. The second installment in The Hobbit trilogy is as highly anticipated as the first movie, which premiered last year. This sequel will be a popular choice in the theatres this month.

Michael Adams

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’Tis the season

Something truly this special only happens once a year. We’ve been waiting for it all year, counting down the days until it finally comes.

People are so eager for it to be here that they started preparing for it months ago, some even during other seasons. But now, it’s finally here, and I couldn’t be more excited for its arrival.

That’s right, the fantasy football playoffs!

Fantasy football has a very mentally and emotionally exhausting regular season, leaving only the strongest of owners left for the playoffs, which start in December for most leagues. An owner who has made it this far has certainly displayed persistent effort in setting their lineup, vulturing over the waiver wires, and making the trades crucial to their team’s success.

However, all of this means nothing if you can’t duplicate your success in the playoffs.

There are also those owners who maybe had a few unlucky injuries, forgot to set their lineup, or just could never seem to put together consistent, solid point totals. These unfortunate souls head to the consolation bracket, with generally nothing to play for besides their own pride and trying to snag bragging rights over the other non-playoff teams.

Personally, I had a first-round bye in my league’s playoffs due to my remarkable 10-1 run through the regular season. I couldn’t be happier for my team to have been blessed by the fantasy football gods with such an opportunity.

First of all, I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me this opportunity.

Second of all, I’d like to give a thank you to all my players for getting me this far, and for hopefully taking me all the way for the second consecutive year. You guys are great.

But on that note, Matthew Stafford, please try to not throw an interception this Sunday against the New York Giants. And also, try to limit your passes to tight end Brandon Pettigrew, because my opponent this week is starting him.

Yes, it may seem crazy, me talking to a player who will never read what I just typed. They

Hit the ground running 06 | FOCUS | DEC 19, 2013

O P I N I O N

TIDBITS

Random pieces of information told in less than 50 words have no idea they are even on my team, have no idea who I even am. However, this is what fantasy football does to the avid participant- it twists their perception of fantasy and reality.

Does beating your friend’s team with a group of professional football players that you drafted to go on your imaginary football team make you better than them?

It’s debatable, but I would have to argue yes.

Each Sunday, millions of fans worldwide cheer for teams they’ve had no affiliation with or even hated their whole lives, simply due to the fact that they have a fantasy player on that team. Games that previously no one would watch, suddenly have so much value.

For example, the 2-11 Houston Texans played the 8-5 Indianapolis Colts this past weekend.

Obviously, a horrible match up that has no meaning to anyone outside of Indiana or the Houston area.

Or so it is thought.

As a matter of fact, I own Texans receiver Andre Johnson. Even if the game was 35-0 Colts at halftime, I would still watch the second half, in hopes that Johnson would rack up some garbage-time points in a Texans offense that would be forced to pass often.

Countless hours that could be spent with family or close friends, doing homework (or real work), or other meaningful activities are lost to the screen of a television or internetcapable device I’m a strong supporter in all that the elves do up at the North Pole. That being said, Santa, if you read this, I’d like nothing more than to win my fantasy football league this Christmas.

‘Do u want to do Cross Country?’

I stared in disbelief at the text message I had just received. Did I want to do cross country? What kind of question was that? I was clearly not the athletic type; I’d attempted a variety of sports throughout my life and failed dramatically at each one. In an entire season of softball, I only managed to hit the ball once with the bat. In Irish tap I was the awkward kid who was facing the opposite direction from everyone in the class at all times. I’d even tried doing a running club in elementary school called Fleet Feet, which I hated with a passion because it was hard and I always came in last. Early in middle school, I came to the conclusion that this whole sports thing was not meant for me and moved on to things that I was actually good at.

It felt awesome to finally succeed as I took up middle school theater. For once I felt like it wasn’t foolish to set my expectations high and

Exactly

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°

The lowest temperature ever recorded in Michigan

3 THINGS you don’t have to worry about this month

1 2 3

BY THE NUMBERS

Tweet OF THE Month Good thing I have a library card, cuz I’m checkin’ you out! #IBWorldLitProblems

Mowing your lawn Snowsnake running out of snow to shred on Jack Frost avenging Tim Allen

and one thing you still do...

Follow THIS User

Being underneath the mistletoe the same time as your great aunt Louanne (who also has a mustache).

@JHandrewK

I had never felt more confident. I anxiously awaited joining the Midland High Drama Club as soon as I got to MHS. So why in the world would I sacrifice that and choose cross country instead?

I slapped my phone against my leg; but as I thought about my options, there was something that kept me from texting back with immediate rejection. The thing was, being physically active actually meant a lot to me, but, ever since my previous embarrassments with sports, I had avoided it passionately. Not only were the actual sports really challenging, but the embarrassment of not succeeding was even more painful. Sitting back on my bed however, I realized that I didn’t feel good about that being my reason.

Cross country would be something completely foreign and I’d probably be last.

But as I slid the keyboard of my phone in and out, there was something inside of me that

desperately wanted to prove I could do this.

There would be other shows throughout the year, but when would there be another chance to do a no-cut sport that didn’t require handeye coordination?

My stomach clenched as I texted back.

‘Okay I’ll do it.’

Since that decision, I have honestly never regretted joining the cross team, although it has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Not only have I gained new friendships and a healthier body, but it has given me a powerful and unexpected confidence that has been stronger than anything I have ever felt doing the things that I knew I would succeed at. Since conquering this particular fear, I’ve been strong enough to run a half marathon and attempt recreation soccer. I still enjoy pursuing my passions, but this challenging experience has turned out to bring the most satisfaction.

O P I N I O N

Save money, live better

Life with misophonia The clock ticks steadily behind me, setting an annoying rhythmic pattern. I sit in my usual spot at the dinner table, trying to contain the built up anxiety, rage, and anger that is being pulsated through my almost spastic legs.

My sister sits next to me, picking up her glass to take a sip. I see her bring the glass to her lips and tip it back, bracing myself for what is about to come next. She swallows loudly, too loudly. I hurriedly grab my plate along with the silverware and run into the kitchen, placing my dinner on the table where I finish eating alone.

For most, eating dinner with family is a time to relax and connect with those who are closest to you. For me on the other hand, it is pure torture.

I have a rare, self-diagnosed, condition called Misophonia. Literally translated it means “hatred of sound.” Although not a lot of research has been done, neuroscientists believe the condition is a neurological disorder in which negative experiences are triggered by certain sounds.

Triggers can be anything from the sound of coughing to the sound of someone’s voice.

For years, my parents simply thought I was being a brat when it came to my sudden outbursts of rage. It wasn’t until a year ago, when my mom was watching Live with Kelly, that she discovered my little quirk was a legitimate condition.

There are not words capable enough to describe the feeling these triggers cause. As one person with the disorder put it, “rage, panic, fear, terror and anger, all mixed together.”

In my case, when I hear a certain sound, I become extremely agitated to the point

Death by Chocolate

where I have all I can do to keep myself from screaming. For example, sitting in school while the person behind me chomps on their gum is not only extremely distracting but also unbearably painful for me to listen to.

That sound will repeat over and over in my head, causing me anxiety as well as a wave of different emotions.

After repeatedly researching the condition, I came across multiple websites, articles, and documentaries all revolved around the topic of this particular disorder. As I read the articles and watched the TV specials, I felt a sense of relief knowing I am not the only one out there that is so agitated by what most would consider normal, everyday sounds. In one case, a girl was triggered by her mom’s voice – so bad that the two communicated by writing everything down on paper instead of talking.

Unfortunately, through my research I found that there is no cure for Misophonia, only ways to cope with it. Worse yet, the condition will advance over time. Neuroscientists find that the worst triggers are from those who are closest to the victim, hence the reason why I tend to yell at family members more often than distant acquaintances.

So if you find yourself annoyed and incredibly irritated by normal everyday sounds, perhaps you are a victim of the uncommon, quirky condition called Misophonia.

Samsung 50” 720p Plasma HDTV: $798 (not including tax and the cost of one life.)

Wait you didn’t read the fine print? It was clearly stated in the Wal-Mart Black Friday ad in 2008. Oh you didn’t read the waiver?

Yes, Wal-Mart is not responsible for any employees being trampled the death by masses of crazed shoppers on Black Friday.

Five years ago 34-year-old Jdimytai Damour was killed, suffocated to be exact.

Suffocated by people racing to save a few hundred dollars on a TV. Racing to be the first to grasp that Xbox in their hands, to be the first to save $20 on a Bissell compact upright vacuum. The door of the Long Island Wal-Mart opened at 5 a.m., or rather the door was torn off of its hinges by throngs of shoppers and flung on top of Damour. By the time the crowd had cleared enough for other employees to reach him, he was dead.

This event has always baffled me. I cannot fathom the idea that people would literally step on the body of someone else until they were dead. Stepped on him. Like a piece of litter that they were too lazy to pick up. I refuse to believe we are so driven by paying less for objects that instead it could cost a life.

Imagine being the person that has to tell the family of this man that their child, brother, cousin was killed in a stampede for sales on toys, clothes, or home electronics. There is no explanation or excuse for it that could ever possibly make sense.

Looking back on this event I picture it like Lord of the Flies. For those of you who have not read Lord of the Flies: Spoiler alert. Young boys are left alone on an island. There is no government, and the boys kill each other in a struggle for power. I never understood the author and I always wondered what terrible

The dental hygienist clips the grayish-blue napkin around my neck hanging from the small chain, flashing a smile at me. She slowly lowers me into a lay down position in my chair with the lights blaring into my eyes above me. I regret eating that last Hershey’s bar last night, or that Kit Kat bar, or even that chocolate chip cookie (okay, maybe not the cookie). She grabs the first tool on the silver plate and peers down into my mouth, littered with cavities from what my mom likes to refer to as the “bad water.”

I know myself what the real cause is; I, Scout Parsch, am addicted to chocolate.

Chocolate isn’t legally an addiction, but it’s about as addicting as watching TV. Once you start eating you really can’t stop. What many don’t know about the life of an addict are the benefits that may come from chocolate consumption.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, a few pieces of chocolate every month can actually make your life both sweeter (obviously) and longer. They conducted a

survey amongst multiple ages of healthy men and women, mostly ranging from ages 20-30.

It revealed that mortality was lowest amongst those who consumed chocolate 1-3 times a month and higher amongst those who indulge in chocolate three or more times a week.

Surprisingly, the highest mortality rate was amongst those who were non-consumers.

It’s obvious that chocolate isn’t the heathiest meal plan out there; take my eight cavities for example-all from my childhood. But chocolate really isn’t as bad as society makes it out to be. Some myths shed a bad light on chocolate consumption, stating that it causes obesity and acne. Neither of these have anything to do with eating chocolate, giving me a chance to eat as much chocolate as I want without my mom yelling at me about those new blackheads popping up everywhere. For the most part, eating chocolate cannot only make you a happier person, but someday save your life.

Chocolate is actually considered a major

thing happened to him to give him such a cynical view of human nature to the point that he wrote a book to highlight how all humans are savages.

Though I still disagree with this conclusion, I now understand his premise in Lord of the Flies. The boys on the island were children.

The boys on the island had no government.

The boys on the island killed each other for power. The people at Wal-Mart were adults with jobs, functioning under a structured government and they trampled a man to death. They killed him for a deal on a TV that they will probably replace in five years.

But it couldn’t be Wal-Mart’s fault. No, it was a terrible, terrible accident. Simon’s death couldn’t be Ralph and Piggy’s fault; it was only an accident. It couldn’t be the shopper’s fault. They couldn’t do anything about it before it was too late. Piggy’s death couldn’t have been Roger’s fault because Jack made him do it. Nobody is going to take the fall for this one. No one is going to own up to something that mortifying.

However, we’ve come a long way since 2008.

Now instead of waiting until early in the morning to stampede for deals, we now have decided to get a jump-start on the madness.

Wal-Mart’s doors are now ripped from their hinges at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening. So finish your turkey, give grandma one more hug, and lace up your steel-toed boots to kick through the crowds because we have TVs to buy. source of dietary copper, which is required to live a healthy lifestyle. It’s is packed with beneficial chemicals like flavoniods and theobromine to help to fight bacteria.

Just 40 grams of chocolate can contain the same amount of phenol, also known as carbolic acid, as a glass of red wine and can be a positive source of antioxidants.

Not only have these antioxidants proven to reduce the risk of heart disease, but also can prevent developing cancer. It seems absurd of someone to turn down a chocolate chip cookie with the possibility that it could prevent diseases. I sure don’t plan on passing up a sweet that can save my life.

Being a chocolate addict is nothing to be ashamed of. I really can’t stop once I start.

I’m just glad it is practically impossible to overdose on chocolate, but what a great way to go.

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Following what’s trending

As social media continues to increase in popularity, coaches utilize Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to keep track of their teams and to keep fans informed. Katie McIntyre | News Editor & Ben Luzar | Staff Writer K E E P I NG UP W I TH TH E

CHE M I CS The Midland Chemics Twitter account is run by Athletic Director Eric Albright.

Coach Elaine Mahabir communicates not only on the court and on Twitter, but she also keeps communication open by showing some motivational videos and discussing them. She also has a group chat with her team to keep everyone informed. Ben Luzar | Photo

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ith the outburst of social media over the past decade, being a coach or an athlete has taken on new roles.

More and more coaches are not only guiding their players on the court or field, but also on the internet. Some coaches have established accounts on social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep watch on what their players are saying and doing off of the court or field.

Both the girls basketball coach Elaine Mahabir and the baseball coach/Athletic Director Eric Albright have made social media accounts and currently follow their players. Mahabir requires all of her players with accounts to allow her or another coach from the program to follow them on Twitter and Instagram and athletes must friend request a MPS resource officer on Facebook.

“We are coaches and mentors and we have to help kids in these areas that they don’t realize could come back with backlash later,” Mahabir said. “It’s just knowing that someone that is not

08 | FOCUS | DEC 19, 2013

your peer might see what you are putting out there that makes you conscious of what you are saying.”

Though Albright does not have any set rules regarding social media for his team, he still chooses to follow his players to stay informed.

“Twitter is a public domain so there is no such thing as a private Twitter. I think that it is helpful for me to keep track of my baseball players so that it will be in the back of their minds that I am following them and hopefully it will prevent them from saying something that they would regret,” Albright said.

Junior Aleisha Jones agrees with Albright in that Twitter is a public domain.

“I do not think that it is an invasion of privacy because the posts are going on the internet anyway,” Jones said.

The main goal of coaches following their players is to make kids think more about their posts and tweets. For Jones, knowing that her coach can see what she posts does just that.

“Every time I think about tweeting something I think, ‘Who follows me?’ and I know that coach does so it makes me think twice about

what I tweet,” Jones said.

Though coaches following their players may make the athletes more aware of what they are putting on the internet, for Mahabir following her players is also about supporting them.

“I don’t think that it can ever hurt for people to know that someone is interested and cares and would be willing to intervene if they saw something that is a red flag” Mahabir said. “It’s easy to say that it isn’t my job to notice these things and to say that my job is just to be a coach, but if you really want to make a difference I don’t think that you can do that.”

Albright also uses Twitter for other purposes.

He also runs the Midland Chemics account.

MHS currently has no policies regarding social media, but as usage continues to grow among both authorities and athletes, policies are being adapted. For now Albright looks to and urges other staff members to look to policies of the in-state universities for potential guidelines.

Albright hopes to initiate a training for both staff and players in the future about how to make communication on social media professional, positive, and appropriate.

Albright keeps tweets positive to model the type of tweets that he encourages his players

to use.

This account is useful for followers to keep up with scores at away games.

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Any pace, any school, any time

The new State School Aid Act Law 21f gives students in grades 5-12 the opportunity to take up to two online courses that are available in any school district in the state. This law will give students options beyond the traditional classroom environment. Caroline Swiercz | Staff Writer & Dylan Rocha | Staff Writer

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nnovative changes within Michigan’s educational system are occurring as a result of the new amendment to Section 21f of the State School Aid Act. This new law states that any student in grades 5-12, with the consent of a guardian, is eligible to enroll in up to two online courses in any public school district in the state. This will give students greater flexibility and choices in their education, taking effect in January of 2014.

This law will offer classes that are similar to Edgenuity (formerly known as e2020) allowing students to take online courses outside the traditional classroom environment. Edgenuity is a credit recovery program for students who have struggled in the classroom environment and it allows the students to take multiple courses in one semester. MIVU and GENNET courses have been available for MHS and is also for students who want to take a course not offered at their school. There are currently 20 students taking these courses.

Lee Leffingwell, who currently oversees the MHS e-learning, said the new law is revolutionary.

“This law will be effecting our entire school system, from the state all the way down to the students,” Leffingwell said.

Furthermore, Law 21f will give students a variety of classes to choose from by offering more class options outside the traditional classroom. There are currently more than 1,000 courses in the statewide catalog, all of which are online courses offered in Michigan that will now be available to students due to amendment 21f. It also causes a large change in Midland Public Schools.

“I believe that a lot of our teachers will have to create online courses, and students

BILL BECOMES A LAW

1.

A bill is introduced in either the Senate or the House of Representatives by a member.

2.

It is referred to a committee for a hearing.

The committee studies the bill and may hold public hearings on it. It can then pass, reject, or take no action on the bill.

3.

The committee reports on the passed bill and the bill is then referred to the Rules Committee.

will have a much greater choice selection,” Leffingwell said. “I also think we will have to provide more counseling also to help students to become more successful at online courses.”

Along with giving students more options, the Legislature hopes this will make students more employable and college ready once they graduate. Students will now have a greater understanding of technology, which will prepare them for the business world. Michigan is trying to transition from a manufacturing state into a more technology state. By having students graduate that are better qualified and have a broadened learning base, it gives them an advantage, Leffingwell said In addition, this new law allows smaller schools to have a wider variety and curriculum of classes that they might not otherwise be able to offer. Law 21f also states that if students wanted to take a course not offered in their own district, their district will have to pay for that student to take the course using curriculum from an online course in Michigan.

“We need to be in [the statewide catalog] because we have great things going on here,” Superintendent Michael Sharrow said. “We have great teachers. Why can’t we teach those courses and offer these courses to other people throughout the state?”

Technology Curriculum Specialist Christopher Sabourin is going to be the district’s focal point for its implementation.

His role in installing this law is to ensure that the district is compliant and that the district has the most up to date guidance from the State of Michigan.

“From my perspective, the integration of modern tools in learning is important in any curriculum delivery method. Students need

4.

The Rules Committee can either place the bill on the second reading calendar for debate or take no action. At the second reading, a bill is subject to debate before being placed on the third reading calendar for final passage.

5.

T h e b i l l g o e s t h ro u g h t h e s a m e procedure in the other house. When the bill is accepted in both houses, it’s signed by the leaders and sent to the governor.

The governor signs the bill into law or the governor can veto it.

Infographic I Caroline Swiercz

Students in the e-learning lab are working on their online courses. Edgenuity (formerly called e2020) allows students to regain credits through online classes. More than 1,000 additional courses will be available for students to take online. Sarah Wontorcik | Photo opportunities to experience online learning in preparation for employment or college,” Sabourin said. “This law encourages districts without online learning programs to begin to research the benefits that technology can bring to teaching and learning.”

The maximum fee for an online course per student is 1/12th of the district’s foundation allowance. The cost for a student to take a course in another district depends on what the other district charges for the course. The fees are set by the individual districts. The state law requires the districts, not the students, pay the

costs for the online courses. The foundational dollars, which is how much money the state gives to each district based on enrollment, may be affected in the district because online classes cost less.

“The state is setting a maximum online course fee that the districts can charge that is only half of what a classroom class currently costs a school district,” Leffingwell said. “There clearly is the implication that online costs less and therefore eventually I would expect districts will get less foundational dollars.

Also districts are now directly competing for millions of foundational dollars. This is new and pretty revolutionary.”

Online courses require a different set of skills. In order to be successful, students must have good time management. Students who wish to take online classes have the option of taking them at home; although they are held accountable to finish the courses on time.

“I don’t think there is enough data out there to say this is the best way to learn,” Leffingwell said. “Online learning is not for everybody, it requires a lot of responsibility.”

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iva Club Connects

In a world embedded with poverty, Kiva is an organization trying to connect people by alleviating it through microfinancing loans. A group of students at Midland High organize and run a club to raise money to lend to entrepreneurs worldwide.

Nate Fisher | Staff Writer & Natalie Schwartz | Staff Writer.

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arah is a 27-year-old, single mother of two, living in Uganda. She has been selling cosmetics for five years, trying to provide basic necessities for her family, with a long-term goal of being able to send her kids to college. With the average annual income in Uganda being only $1,700 (US), Sarah needed a little bit of help purchasing supplies to sell.

Midland High School Kiva club, among other loaners, helped Sarah reach her goal of $600, allowing her to buy the products to sell and, in turn, provide for her family and their educational dreams.

Kiva is a non-profit organization with a goal to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty throughout the world. For as little as $25, any individual can make a loan to help create opportunity around the world by funding entrepreneurism. But what makes Kiva unique is that it is not a charity- the people receiving loans must repay the money.

“The big idea is that it’s charitable without being charity,” club advisor and teacher John Mulvaney said. “It’s a way to allow the money raised to be reused again and again, and it allows the recipients to become entrepreneurs and be responsible for their own success.”

Senior member Kathryn Smith expressed that the loan process is much more effective than donation methods, making Kiva very successful in its goal: to lessen poverty.

“I think giving individuals the tools to make their own business provides them with more of an opportunity to have long-term success than just simply handing them money would,” Smith said. “Many organizations have the goal of alleviating poverty, but I think that Kiva does that in a more effective way.”

The Midland High Kiva club mission statement is, To share our good fortune and encourage an entrepreneurial spirit and economic

10 | FOCUS | DEC 19, 2013

freedom throughout the world.

“We want to help those in need, but we want to encourage entrepreneurial spirit.,” Semior Treasurer Richard Doktycz said. “If you give a man a fish, it will run out. But if you teach him to fish, he can sustain himself for a long time.”

The club has loaned to 429 people, among them Sarah, since its creation in 2009.

Mulvaney first heard of Kiva in 2005, but the club wasn’t formed until 2009.

“For the first several years I just did it in my classes, but now, they run it, and I just have my classes on board with it, too,” Mulvaney said.

Mulvaney estimates that he loaned out $23,000 dollars before the club was formed, and over $10,000 has been loaned out since then.

The Kiva club has a similar structure to many other clubs at MHS. They have a president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. These positions are filled by seniors Joey Adams, Connor Patnode, Richard Doktycz, and sophomore Jonathon Haynes, respectively.

Like most other clubs, MHS Kiva club does fundraisers to help raise money for its cause. In their case, to lend the money out to entrepreneurs seeking a hand.

“What we did last year was mainly selling Ms. Sevener’s cookies, as well as the boxes [that were placed in classrooms for donation],” Doktycz said. “This year, we hope to plan a Buffalo Wild Wings night, where we get a portion of the profits for a certain time period.”

The club takes the proceeds from these fundraisers and deposits them into the MHS Kiva Club account on Kiva’s website, kiva.org.

From there, they can then loan the money out to people around the world.

“At the end of each semester, everyone [in the club] gets to choose who they want to lend to, but they have to justify it,” Dokytcz said.

“One way to justify it is through Kiva’s rating system. We try to lend to people who have

Members of the MHS Kiva club participate in a breakdown at the end of a meeting. The club meets every Tuesday after sixth hour in room 328. Sarah Wontorcik | Photo over 3.5 [out of 5] stars, so we can rely on them to pay back, so we can lend again.”

Haynes, among other members, appreciates his ability to choose who to lend to.

“I like the feeling when you send out the loan,” Haynes said. “It’s like, ‘Oh, this money is going to this person, and this is exactly what they’re doing with it,’ and you see a picture of them. It’s nice.”

Kiva, as a whole, has a nearly 99 percent repayment rate. In terms of the people the Kiva club has loaned to, that statistic holds fairly true, at about 95 percent, Mulvaney estimates.

“Banks are happy with 75 or 80 percent payback rate, so Kiva has a super-high payback rate,” Mulvaney said.

This near-perfect payback rate allows for the club to help out many people throughout the world with, in essence, the same money. This idea of ‘recycling money’ to make a difference in the world is what has made the successful, “self-sustaining,” in Mulvaney’s words, organization it is today.

“It’s successful nationally and globally because people buy into it in a way that it’s not just giving money away, it’s growing businesses and growing opportunities for people,” Mulvaney said.

Even with this near-perfect payback rate, the Midland High Kiva club chooses to limit their loan size to $25 a person in order to make an impact in more places, to more people. Also, loaning high amounts of money to one person increases the risk if the person defaults, or fails to pay back the lender.

“We can help more people out [by loaning $25 to each person], not just giving it all to one person,” Haynes said. “Plus, it’d be a greater risk to invest in one person.”

Kiva club currently has 15 members that attend Midland High, and have had 35 total since its founding in 2009. They meet each

Tuesday after sixth hour in Mulvaney’s room, room 328, and are welcoming of new members.

“Kiva [club] members don’t have to be good at economics by any means, and it’s not a big time commitment,” added Smith. “I would recommend Kiva to anyone who is interested in giving others the opportunity to benefit their lives.”

MHS Kiva Stats

429 By industry:

total loans given

Food: 107 loans

Agriculture: 95 loans

Total amount lent:

$10,900

Lent to

46 of 73

Participating countries Natalie Schwartz| Illustrations

The New Nutrition

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The United States Department of Agriculture has cracked down on nutrition guidelines in schools across the nation, affecting food sold in the lunchroom, at fundraisers, and in the school store. Colton Dexter | Staff Writer & Nick Wright | Staff Writer

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Senior Lindsey Defrancesco stocks the shelves at Chemic Corner during lunchtime.

The shelves are laden with only the foods that have been deemed “healthy” by the new Healthy and Hungry Kids act which was implemented in 2010. Nick Wright | Photo

espite the high demand for candy bars, lollipops and other salt and sugar-filled foods amongst high school students, Chemic Corner, no longer stocks these items.

Sales are down and students have less choice in food, all due to an act which is slowly being implemented into public schools across the nation.

This act is called the Healthy and Hunger Free Kids Act, passed in 2010. The sole purpose of this act is “improving the critical nutrition for millions of children.” This act not only removes certain foods from being sold at Chemic Corner, but also affects the foods being sold at fundraisers and in the cafeteria.

The restrictions are specifically based off of a set of nutritional guidelines which were issued by the government. These guidelines in many areas including salt, sugar, and fat. In fact the law has strict restrictions that must be followed for each type of food that is sold. Items must have less than or equal to thirty-five percent total calories from fat and under ten percent

total saturated fat.

Fat isn’t the only area that is restricted. Foods must have less than 35 percent sugar content.

Snacks from Chemic Corner must have less than or equal to 230 milligrams of sodium.

Many of the candies, chips, and drinks of years past including skittles, Charleston Chews, and M&M’s have been withdrawn from the stock, leaving the shelves looking empty and many students without their favorite snacks.

With less food being sold due to the food that is being restricted, sales have gone down, but prices have increased. For example, Chex Mix, which was previously sold at $1.25 last year is now increased to $1.75 a package.

Senior Lindsey Defrancesco, a worker at Chemic Corner, said, “Healthy food is more expensive than junk food.”

Due to the fact that the junk food is out, healthier foods and drinks such as almonds, power bars and drinks with less sugar is replacing it, costing Chemic Corner more.

The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act,

HAVE A VOICE

Rebecca Johnson

Scott Joffre

“I just feel like they don’t need to regulate the food. Kids are still going to have access to candy and junk food outside of the school”

“The federal government should not getting into the way of people’s health decisions. If the government wants change, let the local or state government decide if change is necessary.”

according to the United States Department of Agriculture, “Authorizes funding and sets policy for USDA’s core child nutrition programs.” It arose from First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign to encourage healthier eating by students nationwide and became a law in 2010.

According to the Child Nutrition Fact sheet issued by the government, the act “gives the USDA the authority to set nutritional standards for all foods regularly sold in schools during the school day, including vending machines, the ‘a la carte’ lunch lines and the school stores.”

In addition to food from Chemic Corner and from the cafeteria being monitored, food also from bake sales will be under restrictions. This includes all kinds of food that is sold during school hours in school for whatever reason. The fundraisers selling food that don’t fit within

Students around the School voice their opinion about the Healthy and Hungry Kids Act. They were asked:

VS. “What is your opinion on the new school food law?”

the provided guidelines that previously had been money makers for school organizations and clubs will have to change what they had been selling during school hours, or find another way to make money.

Chemic Corner isn’t the only place in Midland High that is being affected by this law; the cafeteria has been hit by the law and has to make some changes on the food they make and what snacks student can buy. The same nutritional guidelines for food in school must be followed by the cafeteria, which also changes the menu and the food that students are eating for lunch. In addition to this, the funding of the School lunches provided in the Cafeteria has been changed recently.

“Due to the USDA, we cannot offer meals less than the subsidy,” superintendent Michael Sharrow said, explaining that the cannot charge less money per meal than it receives as a subsidy for free and reduced lunches.

Cafeteria worker Kim Bruno has worked for Midland High for four years and has also noticed the changes.

“The kids prices have increased since last year and the facility prices were raised recently,” Bruno said.

“We can no longer sell carbonated drinks like IZZE and can no longer sell fruitwater because of the deposit on them.”

The Healthy and Hunger Free Kids Act is a federal law has had a large impact on MHS, in three different capacities: Chemic Corner, fund raising activities, and the cafeteria. In each way this act lowers the amount of money the food sellers had been making.

Sharrow commented “Any food brought in can, and will be affected by the law.”

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BEST MOVIE:

Monsters University

In this funny, creative prequel to the Pixar classic Monsters, Inc., Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are back. They are accompanied by a new roster of hilarious creatures, including a gelatinous five-eyed monster, a furry pair of legs with a face, Siamese yellow octopus twins, and a chubby, heavily mustached mollusc. In addition, they have formidable adversaries to overcome , including an intimidating centipede with dragon wings, a purple dinosaur with demon horns, and Randall.

With beautiful animation, Monsters University delivers a surprisingly human tale of the monsters’ collegiate adventures. It is an inspiring underdog story that follows a band of misfits, members of the extremely uncool fraternity Oozma Kappa , as they try to gain popularity, acceptance, and admiration from their peers. The only way they can achieve these lofty goals is by being readmitted into the school of scaring. Unfortunately for the misfit monsters, this can only be done by winning the infamous scare games, a competition that tests different fraternities’ scaring prowess through a series of very difficult challenges. Against all odds, Oozma Kappa must try to win this scaring competition against more popular, scarier monsters.

The film also details the fall of a younger, lazier, more arrogant Sully and his rise as a better monster, something he could never have accomplished without the help of his soon to be best friend Mike. The prequel ends with both Mike and Sully being kicked out of Monsters University. They end the movie with a montage of pictures showing the monsters working in the mail room at the scare factory, climbing their way to the position of scarers.

This is where we meet the heroes of Monsters Inc. twelve years ago.

With its relatable, entertaining story, funny characters, and creative themes Monsters University succeeds like all the great Pixar films, delivering an experience that children and adults alike can enjoy. Twelve years after its predecessor, it manages to integrate fresh new concepts while still retaining that famous monster magic.

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Runner-ups:

Rihanna | Artist

The Fault in our Stars | Best Selling Book

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The Focus staff reviews the greatest pieces of entertainment from 2013, from the best artists to the best selling book. Forget the Oscars, Grammys, and Emmys, our opinion is the one that really matters.

Will Hackbarth | Staff Writer & Jack Duly | Managing Editor *Voted on by the Focus staff

BEST SELLING BOOK:

Perks of Being a Wallflower

BEST SONG:

Royals

Featuring a catchy chorus, talented vocals, and meaningful lyrics, “Royals” propelled Lorde to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This incredible success made her the first solo artist from New Zealand to reach this position. The lyrics of “Royals”, which are arguably the greatest attribute of the song, criticize the common themes of consumerism and materialism in today’s popular media.

She instead embraces and advocates a more minimalist society that places less value on physical possessions, and more value on less tangible acquirements such as love and happiness. These sincere lyrics that stand out against the typical themes of the pop genre, along with her considerable singing talent, contribute to giving Lorde a distinctly original sound. Her fantastic song writing and vocals that are powerful and catchy clearly demonstrate that this impressive reception for the young artist’s first single is well deserved.

BEST ACTOR:

Leonardo DiCaprio

Modern Family

In a television genre of overused jokes and poor humor, Modern Family, a mockumentary of an extended family all crazy in their own way, is a breath of fresh air for comedy lovers. Each individual family has their own relatable trials and tribulations that make them a hit with the viewers.

Catching Fire | Movie

BEST ACTRESS:

Justin Timberlake Jennifer Lawrence From shape shifting into new forms in the battle for mutant rights, as Mystique, to fighting for her life in an arena for the Capitol’s enjoyment, as Katniss Everdeen; Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Lawrence captured the spotlight of the film community.

At age 23 Lawrence was one of this year’s breakout stars, being named “the most talented young actress in America,” by Rolling Stone.

Lawrence has proved time and time again her excellent acting abilities in her diverse roles, staring in science fiction, post apocalyptic, dramas, and romantic comedies, proving that she can play any role she is given. She is the youngest actor to ever have been nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Actress and the second youngest Best Actress winner.

She is set to appear in the third installment of the Hunger Games Trilogy, Mockingjay, which is set to be broken into two parts, the first of which premieres next November.

After going on hiatus from the music industry due to an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction at Super Bowl XXXVIII, Justin Timberlake has spent the last decade acting and modeling.

Now, Timberlake is back to remind the world what some people were starting to forget – his musical talent is unmatched by any artist.

Timberlake was the former lead singer of the popular boy band ‘N Sync. He recently released his newest album The 20/20 Experience Part 2 of 2 on March 15, 2013. The album quickly gained popularity with its lead singles “Take Back the Night,”“TKO,” and “Drink You Away.” These songs are known for their upbeat rhythms and catchy lyrics that make it impossible not to sing along with. This sequel album coupled with the overwhelming success of the first installment of this two-part album reaffirms that Timberlake is back, and ready to take his place at the forefront of pop music.

BEST VIDEO GAME:

BEST TV SHOW:

In Baz Luhrmann’s stunning rendition of The Great Gatsby, DiCaprio plays the titular character perfectly. Starring side-by-side with the legendary Tobey Maguire he captures the very essence of the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. In his next role as a corrupt stock broker, maybe he will finally win an Oscar.

ma Watson | Actress

Stephen Chbosky’s timeless novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower has gained a cult like following on the internet on social media such as tumblr, where quotes and passages are always being reblogged or double-clicked to be liked, making it the leading candidate for best top selling book of 2013. A generation of students has adopted the main character, Charlie, as the symbol of adolescents. Someone who is easily relatable and by no fault of his own, has had horrible situations thrust upon him but made it out okay.

Chbosky’s unique writing style of having each chapter be written to a “friend” by Charlie, throughout the course of his freshman year, makes the book an easy and interesting read.

This book discusses hard-hitting topics like suicide, homosexuality, drug use, sexual abuse, and mental illness, subjects that most authors tend to steer clear of. Out of all the books high school students should read before graduating, this would definitely be one of the top 10. It is a thrilling book that does not disappoint the reader. It will leave the reader hoping for a sequel to resolve the mystery of who the “friend” is.

BEST ARTIST:

Madden 25

The classic football franchise is now celebrating its 25th anniversary with another very entertaining game. With Madden 25’s improved game mechanics, enjoyable gameplay, and better graphics one can become immersed in the football world more so than ever before.

BEST IPHONE APP:

Vine

Grand Theft Auto V | Video Game

Vine’s elegant simplicity and straightforward interface encourages creative video making and provides a unique clip-sharing system. It serves perfectly for anyone who has an idea for a quick joke or something else they would like to easily share with the world.

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‘Tis the Season

Whether you’re far from home or hosting holiday gatherings, you can spread joy throughout the holidays.

Secret Santas within the school

As a large portion of the school participates in Secret Santa gift exchanges, some fall short of their recipients’ expectations. Michelle Demo | Web Editor & Kevin Sharpe | Staff Writer

Gift exchange horror stories Day after day, then-sixth grader Rachel Grunder had hoped to receive a present from her Secret Santa, and day after day no present was left waiting for her.

“I wasn’t getting anything all week. I found out from my teachers that my Secret Santa couldn’t afford to buy anything,” Grunder said. “On the last day, my Secret Santa gave me a package of stuff, which I later found out that my teachers helped buy.”

Although Grunder considered one of her worst experiences with a Secret Santa, she took what happened as a lesson that not all Secret Santas are forgetful.

“I felt so bad for them,” Grunder said. “It was quite an eye-opening experience. Up until then, I was a little kid that just assumed that everyone got Christmas presents.”

Now a junior, Grunder participates in the annual Secret Santa with her drama club.

Everyone involved submits their names and, in return, receives a name. That name becomes the person that the “Santa” gives gifts to usually over a week’s span.

In order to purchase gifts that the recipient will enjoy, the Secret Santa will be given a

Percentage of students

35 30 25

list of likes and dislikes from their recipient.

However, if a list is not detailed, the Secret Santa may be left to try and figure out what their recipient would like to receive without much guidance.

“I was in sixth grade and I got this person I had never heard of, and all he wrote down was that he liked the color green and original Pringles,” sophomore Gina Ennis said.

“So I got him some random what I thought was funny green things. Like a squishy ball and a Hot Wheels car.”

Secret Santa is meant to be a fun way to celebrate the holidays, but sometimes, when the game isn’t played according to the rules, a Secret Santa gift exchange can easily end up being a true holiday horror story.

“On the last day we had to reveal who we were and give them the last present,” Ennis said.

“While I was walking up to give him the Pringles, I hear a guy yell out ‘Hot Wheels, really?!?’ A group of them started laughing at me. It was just horrid, the room was silent.”

79% of students are participating in Secret Santa at Midland High

12%

Secret Santa is called “the invisible man” in Spain.

DO’s & DON’Ts to being a Secret Santa

31% 25%

DON’T get last minute gifts.

DO get a gift. Would you like it if

22%

Used socks from Salvation Army won’t cut it.

Santa didn’t get you a gift?

19%

20

of the school’s students are doing Secret Santa with their family

DON’Tgo over the price limit.

15

Even though everyone wants a iPhone for Christmas.

10

DO

get a gift someone would actually like. Don’t get a country fan a Metallica CD.

3%

05 below $5.00

$5.00

$10.00

$20.00

$25.00

Amount spent on Secret Santa gifts 14 | FOCUS | DEC 19, 2013

From a survey of 171 students

DO be secretive. The whole fun

of Secret Santa is not knowing who your Santa is.

DON’T shop for yourself. Santa gives gifts to good girls and boys, not himself.

Michelle Demo | Illustrations

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‘ Tis the season Becoming Santa

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hile the community spends October too fancy. What I try to do is to get them over preparing for Halloween, more than their discomfort so they’re more confident,” 100 men gather together in order to Winans-Bagnall said. “I suggest that they think learn how to become Santa Claus. Since 1987, about things that Santa would do and do some the Midland Santa house has been the home of the silly fun movements like digging snow, to the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School, so they’ll dig twice in the snow and shove it the oldest school of its kind in the world. over their shoulder or pretend like they’re “We’ve had people that have been Santas going down a chimney or shopping for toys.” for 25 years but after coming to the Santa The Santa students are taught to dance so school say they have never been a good that they can be prepared in any situation Santa until they came,” Co-Dean of the CWH they are placed in. If a Santa was hired for a Santa School Holly Valent said. “It’s really party and people started dancing, the Santa not about how much time you put into it. It’s would be able to join in while still staying more about thinking about what a wonderful in character. Although Winans-Bagnall privilege it is to be with people and children sometimes struggles to find the right balance and families during the Christmas season.” between choreography and improvisation, Holly and her husband Thomas Valent were she still enjoys her job immensely. asked to become deans of the school after “There is nothing jollier than a room full being participants themselves for 13 years. of Santas and Mrs. Santas dancing,” she said.

Although the school was originally founded Storytelling instructor Cheryl Levy in Albion, New York, in 1937, it has moved conducts classes as well, having taught a to many locations across the country. storytelling workshop since 1996. She Shortly before the school reached first started as a storyteller at the Midland, the Valents led the Midland Grace A. Dow Memorial Santa Claus construction of a permanent Library but, after agreeing to work must visit around Midland Santa House. at the school, focuses on helping “Tom designed and her students to work better built [the Santa House]. with audiences of children. different houses per People in Midland really “I opened that first class with minute all over the embraced the opportunity ‘If You’re Merry and You Know world every to build a Santa House and it, Clap Your Hands,’” Levy Christmas Eve make Midland something said. “When we finished the song special,” Holly said. “Now we they all went, ‘Ho! Ho! Ho!’ instead have Santa students that come from of applauding, and I fell in love.” all over the United States and the world, and Although these classes consist of mostly men, they enjoy the Santa House just as much.” around ten percent of the students are women At the school, students can learn specific training to become Mrs. Claus. Holly has been lessons about the history of Christmas and Mrs. Claus for a number of years in the past Santa, the care of their Santa suits and beards, and uses her knowledge in order to help others. how to work with handicapped children and “My husband, the dean, believes that even how to dance like St. Nick. Choreographer Mrs. Claus needs to know everything Santa Trena Winans-Bagnall has been teaching this needs to know,” Holly said. “I tell the Mrs. dance class at the school for the past five years. Clauses that they should make sure Santa “These are big guys, so I don’t spend a lot of is healthy and stays in shape. Staying Santa time teaching them specific steps or anything is strenuous and hard, so he needs to be

1,163,194

3

F A CTS Y OU (P R O B A BL Y ) D ID N ’ T KNOW AB OUT S A NTA

1. He was a real person.

Santa Claus is loosely based on

a bishop, St. Nicholas, who was famous for placing anonymous gifts in children’s shoes.

Source: www.theweek.com Sarah Wontorcik & Kelsey Pennock | Illustration

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The oldest Santa school in the world annually takes place in Midland’s Santa House. Santa students from all over learn a variety of lessons in order to become a better St. Nick and spread holiday cheer. Sarah Wontorcik | Photo Editor & Kelsey Pennock | Staff Writer

Two-year-old Kora sits on Santa’s lap at the Midland Santa House and tells him she wants Legos for Christmas. Kora is one of the many children who takes part in the tradition of visiting Santa at the Santa House. Sarah Wontorcik | Photo rested and healthy in order to do a good job.”

Holly’s husband Thomas also enjoys acting as Santa Claus throughout the holiday season. He remembered his own experiences as a child and wanted to help other children to feel the same way.

“I was just 25 years old and I thought, ‘Man I would like to make some kids happy and be Santa,’” Thomas said. “I remember what Santa did for me when I was young, and I thought that was a great thing. Santa Claus is the most well-known character in the world and he stands for all good things.

It is a privilege to portray that image.”

Both Holly and Thomas take great pride in knowing that they are training others to make a difference in the world.

Those who attend the school are not doing it for the money but for the experience.

“We’re not about the business of Santa,” Holly

2. “Twas the Night

Before Christmas” introduced the reindeer.

Clement Moore’s 1822 poem

depicted a sleigh guided by “eight tiny reindeer.”

said. “We focus on the child, Santa with the child, and we try to make Santa become the best representative of Christmas and good things for that child. We try to make it a very special time for them together. If a man or woman isn’t interested in working with children, then they don’t belong at this Santa school.”

Thomas feels similarly, mentioning that Santa is not just enjoyed by children, but by teenagers, the elderly, and even adults. As dean of the school, he is able to help spread that happiness to all ages.

“It’s an honor. I think I’m teaching Santas the right thing and I believe that they’re going out and making children happy,” Thomas said. “Even adults and older people remember visiting Santa so it’s important that you do a good job. I just look at it that way. I’m helping all these folks build their Santa experience and make good memories for the children.”

3. Santa was a bachelor until the mid 1800’s.

The first mention of a

Mrs. Claus is believed to have been in a short story in 1849. mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 15

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‘Tis the season Away from home for the holidays

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Students from across the globe are spending the holidays in a foreign country this year and are experiencing the customs of being away from their families for the first time. Casey LaValley | Staff Writer & Mercedes Hussein | Design Editor

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delicate light of color surrounds the Christmas tree that is standing in the center of the room, giving off a pleasant glow to match that of the fireplace in the corner. Around the tree stands senior Phillip McKay and his family, partaking in a tradition that is unique to his home country of Denmark. The family, while holding hands around the tree, sings traditional Danish Christmas songs, which is one thing that McKay will miss now that he is in America on a foreign exchange for a year.

“This is sometimes the most awkward part of the evening,” McKay said. “I always laugh while watching my Grandma sing along to whatever song we’re singing. We never have any background music, so you can hear the sounds of everyone’s voices.”

McKay came to Midland High this year through the Cetusa Exchange Program and is just beginning to get a taste of the American customs during the holiday season, which differs quite a bit from what he was used to back home. Although Christmas trees are set up and decorated in both countries, they do not serve the same purpose. In Denmark, instead of a huge mountain of presents under the tree to be opened all in one day, a single gift is to be given out for every day in December. However, once a child learns the true identity of Santa and stops believing the stories, the sock ceases to be used.

Both countries treat Christmas as a family oriented holiday, with family feasts on Christmas day and movie nights on Christmas Eve. McKay’s family celebrates with a family sleepover on the night before Christmas, which tends to be full of not only warmth, but singing as well. Everyone encircles the Christmas tree, joins hands with the relatives on both sides, and begins to sing Danish folk music.

Aside from being away from his family, the one thing that McKay misses the most is the

Senior Phillip McKay is demonstrating his Danish customs by gathering around the tree, holding hands, and singing a Danish song with his friends. McKay is spending a year in America, which means he will be away from family for the holiday season. McKay is really looking foward to his first Christmas in America. Emily Fisher | Photo

16 | FOCUS | DEC 19, 2013

“Something different about being here in America is that we open all of our presents on the 24th of December instead of the 25th. I miss my family a little but it’s really nice to be here and see how things are done.”

Sonora Reinkopa Latvia

spread of food that he ate during the holidays back in Denmark. There was always a roasted pork, a duck, and potatoes with sugar on the table for the family to enjoy. After the main dinner, it was time to eat the risalamande, a traditional Danish dessert with something extra hidden inside. An almond is left in the bowl, and the person who gets it in their bowl is given a present.

Despite all of the bittersweet thoughts of home, McKay is determined to remain joyous this holiday season through all of the new experiences that he will have.

“I think it’s interesting to see what it’s like in a different country,” McKay said. “I’m looking forward to experiencing a real American Christmas.”

Two of the friends that Phillip has made this year at Midland High are Korn Supatrabutra and Joon-oh Park, who are also exchange students from Thailand and South Korea, respectively.

Both were surprised to find how extravagantly Christmas is celebrated in America.

“I didn’t expect that there would be so much lighting and decoration on the outside of the houses,” Supatrabutra said. “We don’t do that in Thailand. We just decorate the tree on the inside.”

Besides the decorations, the Christmas varies in the level of importance. In both Thailand and South Korea, Christmas is not viewed as an important holiday. Park is only given two days off for Christmas break back home and neither of the days are spent with family.

During this time of rest, Park normally chooses to spend time with his girlfriend instead. As for Supatrabutra, New Year’s Eve is the biggest holiday of the year, with a large party on the beach and warm temperatures. The lack of snow in Thailand makes the holiday season quite different than the white Christmases that are celebrated in America. Supatrabutra “I’m feeling a little sad not being with my family for the holidays. I keep thinking of our memories like when we gathered as a family to have a picnic. I’m really missing them!”

Khanh Nguyen Vietnam

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is most excited about traveling to Connecticut over break and trying his hand at skiing and snowboarding.

Similar to McKay, Supatrabutra is not letting the absence of his family ruin his time in America, and he has chosen to stay positive and enjoy his time here.

“Before I came here, it was like a dream: to go and study in an American high school,” Supatrabutra said. “Now that I’m here, I’m living the dream.”

In addition to receiving several exchange students, Midland High has also sent a few students overseas to study in Europe for this year. Junior Brandon Dull was among the group of students that went to Europe through the Rotary Exchange program and he now is living in Spain. One of the differences that he has noticed between the holidays is the actions of the people.

“America usually uses the holiday season as a time of giving,” Dull said. “But here in Spain, if you were to take a plate of cookies to your neighbor’s house, it would look really weird. It might even be illegal.”

There are many differences that Dull has noticed. Instead of the American tradition of a “Secret Santa,” Spain uses the concept of the ”Invisible Man” to give out presents.

Also, the materialism involved during Christmas. In America, a large amount of presents are expected, but this is not the case in Spain. Instead of the bottom of the tree being filled with boxes of all shapes and sizes, they only get around three gifts per person. Dull has chosen to give his host family some very special presents for Christmas.

“I’m trying to get everyone something that they’ll remember me by because I’m not going to be here forever,” Dull said. “Like a Michigan mug or a picture frame with a picture of us so they’ll look at it and remember me and the times we shared while I was in Spain.”

Spain’s main holiday is not Christmas, but instead Dia de Los Reyes, also called The Three Kings, which is the main source of presents for the holidays. During this time, all of the children and adults venture up the mountains while holding lighters as a way to celebrate. Also, the family meal is larger than it is on Christmas.

This cultural holiday has inspired Dull to

“Christmas isn’t that big of a holiday in Korea so I’m excited to spend the holidays, especially Christmas, in America for the very first time.”

Chaerin Kim South Korea

educate his family and friends back home about different traditions.

“I’m excited to experience this holiday because I’ll never have this chance again. This is my time to learn something new,” Dull said. “I hope to bring back the The Three Kings tradition to friends and family so that I can celebrate it with them and always have a little piece of Spain with me.”

Right across the border from Dull, junior Dayna Vasilko is enjoying her time in France and has decided to bring some American tradition with her by cooking her host family a large Thanksgiving dinner.

“I was sad that France didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving, so I decided to bring Thanksgiving to France,” Vasilko said. “The holidays can be fun anywhere you go as long as you bring what you love about them with you.”

However, France has no shortage of its own traditions during the holiday season. Instead of stockings, children put their slippers in front of the fireplace and receive candy inside of them in the morning. Everyone attends a midnight mass and then goes to a large feast called Le Révellion at 2 a.m. afterwards. Mistletoe is placed above the front door to bring good fortune to the family, rather than to steal a kiss. The trees are real and about three or four times smaller than the normal American Christmas trees. Also, the sheer amount of Christmas chocolate and dessert displays is mind-blowing, in Vasilko’s words.

As with most of the exchange students, the hardest part of this experience for Vasilko is spending the holidays away from her family.

Adding to this, she will have a total of three host families during her stay in France, meaning more loved ones to say goodbye to. However, Vasilko agrees that getting to spend Christmas in a foreign country is well worth the hurt.

“Although I only have one true family, I’m always surrounded by people that I love and who love me, and at the end of the day, I think that’s all that matters,” Vasilko said.

“I used to get sad about not being able to see my family and friends, but I’m realizing that this is only one year of my life. For the time being, I need to do what I came here to do: find myself and do things that I will remember for the rest of my life.”

“In Thailand, they don’t really celebrate Christmas and it makes me really sad. I also really miss my family.”

“Top” Kamnark Thailand

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FOREIGN FACTS

7

students In Denmark, the children get one present each morning of December leading up to Christmas day. The difference in traditions make Phillip McKay more anxious to wake up on Christmas morning in America for the first time.

The amount of presents the children of Denmark get is

8

students

The students from Midland High are currently located around the world. All are high school students, and are staying with families abroad. All Rotary exchange students stay on their exchange for

Michelle Demo | Illustrations

at Midland High school are exchange students. The countries that the temporary students came from are Denmark, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Latvia.

Their eleven month journey in America will bring them new cultural experiences.

25 presents

of our district were sent overseas through the Rotary Exchange program. The process was long including language camps, interviews, meetings, and goodbyes.

11 months

Mercedes Hussein | Infographic

mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 17

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Sam Raykovitz | Sarah Biddle |

989-488-3237

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832-6661 Absolute Confidentiality Midland Coalition for Choice Box 2386 Midland, MI 48641

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Contact Emily Fisher @ 989-615-4482 or ads@mhsfocus.com

S P O R T S

Shooting for success

As one of the top ten archers in the world for her age group, Junior Gabrielle Meylan holds two world records, along with multiple state and national titles. Hannah Lasky | Exchange Editor & Noah Surbrook | Staff Writer

Junior Gabrielle Meylan was shocked as her that may require more physical aspects. At mother fought back tears of joy to tell her that competitions, Meylan must stay completely

she had just set a world record. At the young focused the entire time. She is prevented age of twelve, it was one of her first times at a from using her phone and she must always National archery competition, and it began a stay on task, or else her mental focus may be

long pattern of success for Meylan. deteriorated.

“I was just a little kid and it didn’t really “I think the hardest part about archery is the mean anything to me,” Meylan said. “The only mental aspect,” Meylan said. “When I am on thing I was excited about was being able to go the line, if I think about my arrow going off or to the pool and be uninterrupted, but I ended where it is going, the shot is over. When I’m up up setting a record as the there, I try to think about school or friends, youngest female to score a just not anything “WHEN I AM ON THE LINE, IF related to archery.” perfect game.”

Meylan holds six I THINK ABOUT MY ARROW An archery national records, seven GOING OFF, OR WHERE IT IS competition depends state records and two on the time of the year world records for high GOING, THE SHOT IS OVER.” in which it is being scores in her class.

GABRIELLE MEYLAN held. Competitions “I have been doing vary in the size of archery since I was four years old,” Meylan the target, and the said. “I usually practice two or three hours a distance at with the archer shoots. In the day, depending on how much homework I summer they shoot at 3-D targets which are have.” usually shaped as animals and the targets are Meylan is currently involved in the Junior realistic to the size of the animal and its organs.

Olympic Archery Development program, also In the winter season they shoot from twenty referred to as (JOAD). Through this program, yards, but outdoor season can go up to 100 each archery club has their own coach, and yards. Archers are judged by how close they they can bring any JOAD participants to shoot the arrow to the innermost ring in the compete at the state, or national level. At the center of the target, which is about the size of a national level, clubs from all over the nation dime. are represented, and at World competitions, “If the shot hits inside the innermost circle there can be many representatives from other in the center it is ten points, if it hits anywhere countries participating, as well. else in the center circle it is nine,” Meylan said.

“My favorite part about archery is meeting “As you move toward the outside of the target, new people,” Meylan said. “We went to the points decrease by ones. On other targets, World’s and I got to compete with a girl from the points you obtain can either be a 1 or a South Africa and another girl from Quebec, zero.” and they spoke different languages and it was Meylan’s family has provided a great really fun to meet them and listen to them support system for her throughout her years speak.” participating in archery. Gabrielle’s parents, Archery requires a substantial amount of Scott and Cheryl Meylan, are always willing mental focus. Meylan stated that the sport to pay for the competitions that she wishes to was 99 percent mental and 1 percent physical, participate in, and they are also supportive in making it stand out among other sports helping her stay determined in the sport.

Junior Gabrielle Meylan focuses on her target as she prepares to release her bow. She practices at Bay City Bowman’s Club five to six days a week. and is sponsored by many companies, including Jay’s Sporting Goods and True Ball. Noah Surbrook | Photo “Gabrielle is always competing against herself,” Cheryl said. “Archery is 100 percent mind and she has to master her persona to keep that going.”

Gabrielle’s father, Scott, is not only a great supporter of his daughter, but he is her coach. Her father had thoughts to become a professional archer, and once taught archery at Delta College. His accomplishments posed a large influence for Gabrielle to take up the sport. Scott is very proud of Gabrielle’s many accomplishments after the years practice that they have put in together.

“I’m thankful that God has blessed her with her talent and success,” Scott said. “It is like a lot of her hard work as paid off.”

It was no surprise that Gabrielle developed this passion because she was born into archery.

Not only was her father a skilled archer, but her mother was as well. Her parents bonded over archery and passed their love of the sport down to Gabrielle, and her older sister.

Gabrielle has always been very dedicated to the sport, and has spent a lot of time practicing with her sister.

“Archery is my life,” Gabrielle said.

“During the summer my dad always wakes us up at eight o’clock because we need to have discipline to shoot, and we are usually out there until one o’clock.”

Gabrielle’s successful past in archery leads her to have big plans with the sport in the future. Although her dream of going to the Olympics is not as strong as her sister’s, she still plans on expanding her horizons when she turns eighteen.

“I would love go pro and it has been a dream of mine to open an archery shop that also has a place to work on bows.” Meylan said. “I’d also love to teach archery.”

Gabrielle’s 8 steps

3.

1.

Step up to the line

2.

Knock the arrow (put it on the string).

Visualize the target and the shot going through the center.

4. Hook the release.

5. Draw back and anchor

slowly (put the string to the face).

6. Stare at the target and think about the perfect shot, not the arrow going off.

7. Arrow goes off.

8. Follow through shot.

8.

Hannah Lasky | Infographic

mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 19

S P O R T S

Breaking the barriers

Senior Alexis Ade and sophomore Hannah Fowler along with teammates laugh before their next drill. The team runs three drills at once, having the girls rotate through the different drills. The drills work on passing, shooting, and touches. Emily Fisher | Photo

This hockey season, the Midland Hornets strive to defeat the competition and go to states, regardless of their numbers. Emily Fisher | Ad Coordinator

F

ifteen suited up hockey players stand on the outskirts of the rink patiently waiting.

As they shift back and forth a girl re-tucks her ponytail under her jersey.

“I’ve always had the option of either playing girls or boy’s hockey. I’ve switched back and forth a lot and I played in boy’s league for about seven years,” Senior Alexis Ade said.

Since their season started in late October, Ade and Sophomore Hannah Fowler have been putting in tireless hours of practice to prepare their 15-girl team to be ready for the season.

Twice a week the girls have two different types of practice, both dry land and time on the ice.

Dry land for the girls consist of different kinds of conditioning. One of the ways the team does this is by running the mile and a half to the jail and back. Dry land is followed by an hour of drills on the ice to work on shooting and passing skills.

Although it is a U-19 team, coach Dina Howe said that the team has girls as young as 11 all the way through 18 in order to have a full roster this season. “ I b e l i e ve H a n n a h a n d A l e x i s b r i n g experience, skill, and leadership to the team

18 | FOCUS | DEC 19, 2013

this season,” Howe said.

The Hornets belong to the Adray Community League and originally started their team based out in Gladwin. Not only do some of the girls have to travel hours to get to practices twice a week, but the team often has to travel great distances for their tournaments and games. Some places they travel to are Alpena, Marquette and even play in Ohio, Indiana, and Canada.

“I don’t mind traveling far away when we have good evenly matched competition,” said Fowler.

Ade adds, “A lot of the teams we play are newly developed so they aren’t as good. We don’t get as much experience and competition as the boys.”

While boys have multiple options when it comes to what kind of leagues they would want to play hockey in the girls selection is limited.

For the boys there is travel hockey, house hockey, and the school varsity team, while the girls are at the disadvantage of not having all these options. Although girls are allowed to play in the boy’s league, checking and hitting is not allowed in the girls league. Even with

the more physical game, Fowler played in the boy’s league for five years while Ade swapped between boys and girls leagues and played for seven years in the boys league.

“I didn’t mind the checking (in the boys league) but I prefer girls hockey because I absolutely love my team and I’ve made great friendships I’ll have forever,” Fowler said.

“And with girls hockey it’s not like we’re just teammates. We’re a family on and off the ice.”

Ade agrees with Fowler that the atmosphere is different playing in the boy’s league when you are off the ice.

“In the locker room it’s more fun (than in the boys league) because you can actually socialize with your friends and teammates. While when I played boy’s hockey, it was hard to feel like a complete part of the team,” Ade said.

The Midland Varsity hockey team is a challenge for the girls to try out for. Athletic Director Eric Albright said that it is unlikely because girls hockey is not part of the MHSAA and the question arises if Midland should offer a girls only team.

“The Michigan High School Athletic Association has not yet offered Girls Hockey

Above: Hannah Fowler skates suicides for the cool down after practice. The Hornets are now 11-2-1 on the season. Below: Alexis Ade runs through a shooting drill to work on the around the goal shot. Emily Fisher | Photo as a recognized sport, therefore Midland High School has not considered adding Girls Hockey to our offerings. There are a few states that do offer girls hockey as an official sport,”Albright said. “If the MHSAA chose to offer girls hockey as a recognized sport for its tournament, Midland and Dow would certainly look at the interest level by our students. I could see a model similar to lacrosse if there was enough interest and MHSAA support.”

Howe says that girls are at a definite physical disadvantage to the boys with a few exceptions.

Also that girl goalies have a better chance of making a Varsity hockey team than a field player would.

Howe also believes with the right conditions that a girls league would be beneficial.

“I think it would be great to eventually have a girls varsity team. Right now girls need to know that there is a league. It is not advertised enough, there are so many opportunities for the girls,” Howe said.

“We have to grow in the number of girls involved in order to support a high school team.”

S P O R T S

THE SPORTS

ZONE

Days are getting shorter, along with tempers and as winter sports are starting, coaches and athletes prepare for the long winter season.

Kyle Blackwood | Opinion Editor

SPORTS BRIEFS VARSITY CHEER

VARSITY HOCKEY Coach: Jeff Brown Record: 0 wins - 3 losses

Jeff Brown

Top Performers: Colin Walters, Tony Moody, Shane Dunsmore, John Evans, and Yoodong Whang.

Coach’s Quote: “The team is very young, we’re also pretty inexperienced, we have 13 guys on the team. We lost a lot of guys, and also got a lot of new guys.”

Jeff Brown

Winter Warriors This season’s top athletes 1. Junior Ravdeep Dhingra swims the butterfly stroke in practice. Dhingra usually swims a 50 yard butterfly in around 26 seconds.

2. Senior Jessica Walter concentrates on the play during practice. Walter has a been on the varsity team since Freshman year.

3. Senior Dima Markey demonstrates his favorite hold, the crossface cradle.

Kyle Blackwood | Photos

16 | FOCUS | DEC 19, 2013

Coach: Holly Pashak

Holly Pashak Record: 653 points out of 800. They are judged by picky judges who watch every movement.

Top Performers: Amanda Walko, Kelci Anderson, Savannah Wheeler.

Top Newcomers: Madison Tarnowski, Claire Booth.

Coach’s Quote: “This year we hope to score above 700.”

Holly Pashak

Ravdeep Dhingra

SPORTS

TWEET of the MONTH Pond hockey by Kohl’s was great until the mall cop interrupted our fun. #hockeylifestyle @duns97more

STAT CENTRAL

24

Minutes that it takes Ravdeep Dhingra to swim a mile.

65 22

Jessica Walter’s total points for her first three games.

The amount of points the cheer team loses if one girl messes up her footwork.

Jessica Walter

Dima Markey

Grade: Junior

Grade: Senior

Grade: Senior

Sport: Boys Swim and Dive

Sport: Girls varsity basketball

Sport: Boys varsity wrestling

Stat: fastest 500 freestyle time is 5:36

Stat: Averages 21.7 points per game.

Stat: Fastest match was 27 seconds.

Favorite Memory: “The alumni water polo last year, a lot of the team got together and we just had fun it wasn’t any competition it was just team bonding and having fun.””

Favorite Memory: “District Championships and district finals was really fun with the team and it was a big moment for the program.”

Favorite Memory: “My freshman year traveling up to Marquette and wrestling at one of the toughest meets of the year, and just seeing the toughest wrestlers compete.”

Key to Success: “Dedication. I practiced hard during the offseason and remain active year round.”

Coach’s Take: “He did really great at our first meet and all of the work that he did in the preseason really has paid off for him” Pat Welter

Key to Success: “Just giving my best every day in practice and getting as many shots in as I can during practice.”

Coach’s Take: “She played an important part in the first two games, she is a four year starter. The team plays better when she is on the floor.”

Elaine Mahabir

Key to Success: “Doing what coach Hoffman tells us every day in practice, which is do the little things right and work hard” Coach’s Take: “He’s really taken on the leadership role as the senior, leading the warm-ups, helping the new kids, and also working extremely hard.”

Carl Hoffman

Trial, tattoos, and triumph

F E AT U R E S

Senior Hunter Marsh finds ways to uphold his faith, even when he is faced with adversity. Maddy Wheelock | Features Editor & Aelish Shay | Staff Writer

W

hen senior Hunter Marsh got his first tattoo, he said it felt like the worst sunburn he’d ever had. Three needles penetrated his skin at once, and his best friends sat next to him and watched.

Although the pain was extreme, it was worth it. The paintbrushes in the shape of a cross on his upper arm perfectly depicted his two passions: art and religion.

“I wanted to show where my faith in Jesus came from,” Marsh said.

When Marsh received his tattoo, he was seriously questioning his faith. Originally, the tattoo meant that “art was his religion.”

Just a few weeks before, he had left Midland Evangelical Free Church. Marsh had been loyally attending this church for years, and formerly served as a leader in many youth group programs, including JAM and XTREEME. But the next few months would prove to be a difficult time in his life. Marsh is one of many students who have questioned their religion at some point in high school.

According to the New York Times, if current trends continue, only 4% of teens will become “Bible-believing” adults. “[Church is] supposed to be like a family,” Marsh said. “It’s supposed to be like your brothers and sisters. You’re supposed to be there for each other.”

But in Marsh’s circumstance, this is not how church life was. He often faced criticism in church for the choices he made, and was once called out by authority figures. He definitely did not feel the welcoming atmosphere he once loved.

Marsh was dealing with the possibility of being diagnosed with terminal illness as well as losing the unwavering faith he once had, without much support from the church. After much thought and turmoil, he decided to leave the fellowship for a while. In October, doctors discovered a spot on his finger that looked like a skin cancer called melanoma. They sent him

22 | FOCUS | DEC 19, 2013

in for testing, and he had to wait three weeks for his results. This sent him into a downward spiral. He no longer felt like his usual optimistic self. Luckily, the spot went away without much fuss. But it still left him shaken, and almost none of his old friends from church were there to help him through.

“During my time away [from the church], no one actually checked up on me. Only nonChristians did,” Marsh said. “It pretty much cemented how I felt about ‘church people.’ I didn’t want to go back.”

Since he began leading students in youth groups, Marsh has held the belief that many teenagers are only involved in the church because their parents make them. His goal as a leader was to build a personal relationship with Jesus and the individual, instead of just what their parents wanted.

“If you’re going to say ‘This is what I believe as a Christian,’ have something to back it up,” Marsh said.

He shares this ideal with his best friend, senior Nolan Welser.

“Faith is the tool I use to try and understand the inexplicable in a reasonable and logical fashion,” Welser said. “I happen to find that the teachings of Jesus and what the Bible has to say are a logical explanation, and in practice it seems to hold up.”

Welser has been friends with Marsh since the sixth grade, and was one of the only members of his church to stay close with him during his time away.

Another person that helped him regain his faith was art teacher Mark Francisco.

“Hunter is a different person entirely than most. I noticed he was down for a few days and he’s normally a really positive person, so naturally I checked up on him,” Francisco said.

“He says I saved him. I didn’t save him, I just gave him information he didn’t have.”

Through the help of Welser and Fransisco, Marsh has been able to regain his faith in the Bible and no longer considers himself agnostic

Senior Hunter Marsh has wanted a tattoo for as long as he can remember, but decided on the exact design just two days before he got his done. Sarah Wontorcik | Photo or atheist. However, he is not as devout in his practices at church as he was before.

“I am Christian,” Marsh said. “I believe that Jesus did what the Bible says he did but I am against the church. I don’t like what has happened to organized religion.”

Although Marsh relied on others to help him when he was struggling in his faith, he has spent most of his life trying to help others. He hopes to really make a difference in people’s lives, especially to those who are struggling.

“Just being that friendly face can do so much for people,” Marsh said. “I think it’s wrong that people go day to day without asking ‘How are you?’”

Marsh currently works with the Salvation Army as a childcare provider two to three days a week. The kids he works with brighten his day and encourage him to stay positive. He often has conversations with the kids about his religion and God. “My faith is what shaped me,” Marsh said.

“Very few times will I have a conversation that won’t somehow end up [with me] talking about faith.”

Recently, Marsh has begun to attend bible studies again, and ultimately feels thankful to feel included once more, but his view of the establishment has forever changed.

“My faith needs to be in God,” Marsh said.

“Not people.”

HUNTER’S JOURNEY 2009 Hunter joins Evangelical Free church

?

Sept. 2013 Hunter stops attending the church

2011 Hunter takes on leadership roles in the youth group

Oct. 3, 2013 Hunter learns he may have melanoma Oct. 12, 2013 Hunter gets his first tattoo Nov. 2013 Hunter begins attending church services again

F E AT U R E S

Giving glory

I

t was a Monday morning at 7:16 a.m. when Abbi Schieber, 11 years old at the time, woke up to her aunt’s shaken voice informing her that her mother, Sarah Schieber, was downstairs and needed to talk to her. This caught Abbi by surprise; her parents, who had been running the Chicago Marathon, were not scheduled to be home until later that day.

Abbi trudged down the steps and peered over the banister into the room where Sarah was seated. To her surprise, seated on either side of Sarah was the pastor from her church and his wife. As Abbi entered the room and sat down, she noticed the mascara smudges under her mother’s puffy eyes. The pastor turned to Abbi and started telling her about how her father, Chad Schieber, had gone into cardiac arrest during the marathon. He paused, struggling to find the words to tell Abbi that her dad didn’t make it.

“I didn’t believe him. I didn’t cry at first. I didn’t cry for a really long time,” Abbi said, now a senior. “It was really weird. I was in shock and everyone around me was crying but I couldn’t.”

After further research, it was discovered that Chad’s cause of death was from a condition known as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).

EDS is a group of inherited disorders marked by extremely loose joints, hyper elastic skin that bruises easily, and easily damaged blood vessels. Shortly after her father’s death, Abbi was diagnosed with the same condition and other various heart problems that her father possessed.

“It was scary. I just didn’t know what was going to happen to me,” Abbi said. “Doctors told me that I couldn’t participate in contact sports anymore. I tore my ACL just walking I really didn’t have a lot of options.”

Due to her condition, Abbi could no longer participate in basketball or volleyball. This, along with the tragedy of her father’s death, took a tole on her motivation to continue swimming; a sport which she had done nearly all of her life.

“I was burned out. I had done swim since I was five years old and I was ready for something new,” Abbi said. “It was hard going to swim meets because my dad would always go with us so it was really tough trying to do it without him.”

Looking for a fresh start, Abbi, Sarah, and Abbi’s brothers Noah and Micah decided to move to St. Louis, Mich. during Abbi’s eighth grade year. Things in St. Louis did not work out as they had hoped so Abbi and her family decided to return back to Midland during Abbi’s freshman year of high school.

Six years ago, senior Abbi Schieber’s life was changed drastically. After the death of her father, she has been inspired to overcome adversity to become successful in both athletics and her daily life, making a name for herself. Emily Resmer | Sports Editor & Christiana Haight | Staff Writer

Senior Abbi Schieber and her qualified teammates get one last practice in two days before the state meet. The state meet was held on November 22 at Eastern Michigan University. Schieber placed thirteenth in the 100 yard butterfly in 59.72 seconds. Emily Fisher | Photo On the first day of school her sophomore year, Abbi was approached by varsity swim coach Carol Boychuck about joining the swim team.

Boychuck was in need of someone to swim the 100 yard butterfly and she had seen Abbi swim when she was younger.

“I knew of her family’s past stress and thought becoming involved on a school team would help with grades, personal growth and leadership,” Boychuck said. “Also, I knew she was talented and we always need that. It took a year. Every time I saw her, I would ask ‘Are you

this year, she was still ineligible to participate on the swim team due to her unfinished courses.

“It was just so hard and discouraging for her,” Sarah said. “I know she felt terrible, like she would never get those classes done. But in the end, she overcame it all to accomplish her goal.

Her perseverance is just amazing.”

With the help of her teachers, coaches and family, Abbi finished her classes and became eligible after the first meet of the season. She continued working outside of the pool to get in better shape for her final high school season

I KNOW SHE FELT TERRIBLE, LIKE SHE WOULD NEVER GET THOSE CLASSES DONE. BUT IN THE END, SHE OVERCAME IT ALL TO ACCOMPLISH HER GOAL. HER PERSEVERANCE IS JUST AMAZING. SARAH SCHIEBER ready to come back to swimming yet?’ I’m glad she finally committed her junior year.”

After her junior year of swim, Abbi started eating healthier and participating in cross-fit training in order to prepare for her senior season. She was just starting to acquire a strict routine for herself when she began having headaches and showing flu-like symptoms. She went to the doctor only to find out that she had viral meningitis, an inflammation around the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Abbi was unable to return to the final three months of her junior year. When she was well again, she began working on make-up work over the summer in order to finish her classes. At the beginning of

of swim.

“Swim has given her an ambition and drive that I hadn’t seen before. I love that she loves the sport so much and is driven to succeed,” Sarah said. “The accumulation of getting back in the pool, all the hard work, strengthening, endurance building, and speed training is all coming together now and will be exciting to watch in the months to come.”

Through all of the hardships she had faced to get where she is today, Abbi swam meet after meet successfully this past season. Throughout the season, Abbi had a personal goal of qualifying for the state meet where she would compete against the other best swimmers in the

state for the 100 yard butterfly, 200 individual medley, and the 200 medley relay. With this determination in mind, Abbi was able to break the school record in the 100 yard butterfly.

She broke this record six years to the day after burying her father.

Again her hard-work was rewarded at the Saginaw Valley meet on November 9th.

As Abbi finished gliding through the final 25 yards of water, it was evident to everyone that Abbi had won the gold. The timer in Abbi’s lane approached her to read off her time, but he also had something else in hand. He first pointed to her time and then showed her the Saginaw Valley meet record time for the 100yard butterfly. Abbi had just shattered the meet record and her own school record with a time of 58.32 seconds.

“I couldn't believe it, it was finally like all of my hard work was paying off," Schieber said.

"This is all I've ever wanted since I got back in the pool, I wanted it to be worth something."

Tattooed on her rib cage, are the last words her father wrote in his journal on the day of his death. The tattoo reads “Lord may you get the glory” and is illustrated in his handwriting.

“That’s how he lived his life, and that’s how I want to live my life,” Abbi said. “Both with swimming, and everything that I do. I want to be sure that that’s the focus, and now I have a constant reminder to live my life that way.

He’s been an inspiration to me. It’s a constant reminder from my dad.”

mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 23

F E A T U R E S

[15 MINUTES OF FAME] Tho s

DIY Price

DIY discount with

Julia Piacentini

What do you normally make?

Mostly decoration and things like that, but sometimes I make things that I can actually use. I’ve made four different pairs of shoes: cats, Midland high, rainbow chevron, and the galaxy ones. I don’t really wear them all but they’re just fun to make and have.

$8

eyes ...

Tho se

Tho se e

yes. ..

$15

e ey es...

Retail Price

Those eyes...

When did you start to make crafts in your free time?

Probably during freshman year because I was going through a rough time and I really needed things to keep my mind off of everything. I got a Pinterest and just starting looking up crafts and different things. I went through that phase and after doing it so often I just continued because I enjoyed it so much.

15 minutes of fame, an expression originally coined

by Andy Warhol, is a short-lived media publicity of an individual. It is now time for senior Julia Piacentini to have her chance at fame for her noticed do it yourself (DIY) crafting skills. Scout Parsch | Editor in Chief

How many crafts do you think you have done this school year?

So many! I have probably done at least one every other two days since the start of the school year.

It works out because I always do them by myself, I can go on my own schedule and really take my time ...son eye eeach one. so

Retail Price Thos e

hT

eyes ...

DIY Price

What advice would you give to students who are looking to start crafting more?

Don’t be discouraged too easily, and don’t feel like it has to be perfect or an exact replica of what you’re trying to make. It only matters that you are happy with ... yes e what you made, and it fits yourose Th expectations.

$15

eyes..

.

Retail Price ohT

24 | FOCUS | DEC 19, 2013

Thos e

...seye es

Does this skill come in handy when Christmas time comes around?

I actually make a lot of presents I give out to people. It’s just different from buying people gifts because it’s more of a personal thing and they can really appreciate how much time you have put into making them a gift.

$50

$20

DIY Price

$3

Where do you get the inspiration to make each craft?

Mostly just Pinterest, but a lot of the time I’ll see a random object that inspires me to make something. It normally isn’t one specific thing.

Mostly all of them are different ideas combined that inspired me.

What was the project you are most proud of?

I know my galaxy design shoes were really expensive because I had to buy at least ten different kinds of paint and find normal white shoes. It took me four hours to make them and I really took my time on them. After all of that work they really turned out better than I expected.

DO IT YOURSELF TUTORIAL Supplies

CD: any superstore Scissors: any superstore Collared shirt: Salvation Army, Goodwill, or any retail store

SONY CD-R

700MB

1.

First, cut the sleeves off of the blouse (if there are any).

2.

Then, use the scissors to cut the CD into small pieces to place on the collar.

3.

Finally, glue the CD onto the collar with either hot glue, fabric glue, or heat set adhesive.

Scout Parsch | Photo & Infographic