Vol. 9 Vol. Issue91 Issue #4
Mill Creek
CHRONICLE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER2016
VARSITY Boys and Girls BASKETBALL NEW TEACHERS
PLACES TO GO OVER THE BREAK
HOLIDAY DIY
Election Recap
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16 Basketball Varsity girls and Boys
6
Election Recap
Reviewing one of the craziest elections ever
MASTHEAD Editors Kaitlyn Neher Ashley Baptiste Staff Writers Allie Bolton Jordan Dudley Abigail Key Christopher Kline Vanessa Medina Maggie Mitchell Bailey Monroe Faith Montgomery Madeleine Moody Michelle Ortiz Collins Sainovich Will Sowders Adviser Mrs. Nora Neff Cover Design: Kaitlyn Neher, Ashley Baptiste Pictured in Cover: Tre Rice Cover Photo Credits: Magic Moments Photo Credits left to right: Kaitlyn Neher, Creative Commons, Michelle Ortiz, Creative Commons, Jordan Dudley, Courtesy of Amauri Richardson
20 Under the Tree: DIY Holiday Gifts
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Places to go for Winter Break
Other stories included... 4 Fast News 8 Principal for a Day 9 Warning signs of Concussion 1o How to watch Winterguard
24 New Teachers
Meet the Newest Staff
11 Club Corner: Alpha 14 Hall of Fame Induction 20 DIY Christmas Gifts 22 Blood Drive 30 All Around the Creek
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Amauri the Great
*The Chronicle is a student publication of Mill Creek High School. It is distributed to students, faculty, staff, and the Mill Creek community. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire Chronicle Staff or Mill Creek High School, its students, faculty, staff or administration. Content is edited and designed by student editors.
FAST NEWS
Bringing you the latest news including topics relating to Mill Creek High School, the community, national, and even international events, the Mill Creek Chronicle staff strives to bring you in the know of what is current, trending, and happening in today’s society.
Wildfires Spread Across North Georgia By: Will Sowders
Smoke loomed in the air across the northern counties of Georgia as wildfires rage on, ravaging the foothills toward Tennessee and both Carolinas. Fires in North Georgia continue to burn across 27,000 acres in the Cohutta wilderness of Fannin County, a size greater than the island of Manhattan. The recent fires are a result of a drought that
has plagued the south since mid-summer. The scarcity of rain has prompted a level two drought response for the northwestern part of the state, and restrictions on open flame fires, including outdoor grills, bonfires, smoking in certain places, and more are the strictest in state history according to WSB-TV. PHOTO: Creative Commons
Soccer Team’s Plane Crashes in Colombia By: Will Sowders
PHOTO: Creative Commons
The plane of Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense crashed in the mountains just outside of Medellin, Colombia on Monday, November 28th, 2016 due to unknown reasons, but fuel starvation is a likely cause, according to CNN. 76 were killed in the crash, while six survived initially, one dying from injuries later. According to CNN, the jet may have run out of fuel. Three players from the team survived, as well as two crew members and one journalist. The plane was on its way to the Copa Sudamericana finals in Medellin.
Knife Wielding Student Terrorizes Ohio State Monday morning Nov. 28th, an Ohio State student wielding a machete drove his car into a crowd of people in front of Watts Hall, injuring 11, before he was shot by an OSU security officer. Abdul Razak Ali Artan, a Somali immigrant, was likely drawn to online propaganda
from ISIS, the extremist Islamic terror group. Artan drew influence from Imam Anwar alAwlaki, a US born citizen and one of al Qaeda’s top recruiters. CNN reports that Awlaki posted a rant on Facebook shortly before his attack.
PHOTO: Creative Commons
By: Will Sowders
Trump’s Cabinet Appointments Emerge By: Christopher Kline
PHOTOS: Creative Commons
President-elect Donald J. Trump has began the process of transitioning to the White House, where he’s tasked with making a plethora of appointments upon his arrival in office, most notably his cabinet officials. Several appointments have already rolled out, with more set to come in the near future. According to the New York Times, Trump already has several appointments lined up. Nikki Haley, current Governor of South Carolina, is set to be nominated as the ambassador to the United Nations. He plans to announce Dr. Ben
Carson, a former presidential candidate, as his secretary of Housing and Urban Development, while naming Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions and Betsy DeVos for Attorney General and Secretary of Education respectively. Secretary of State, which is largely considered the most important cabinet position and is the Chief U.S. diplomat, is largely considered a twoway race between former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, with a handful of others still on the speculated short list.
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Election Recap: Trump, Republicans Triumph
By: Christopher Kline
Vote Totals
1
Rob Woodall
2
Jody Hice
3 4
defeated Rashid Malik 60-40% in the race for Georgia’s 7th District. won an uncontested race for Georgia’s 10th District.
Johnny Isakson
defeated Jim Barksdale, Allen Buckley 55-41-4% in the Georiga Senate race.
Hillary Clinton
won the popular vote, 49.7-49.2%, but Trump won electorally 306-232.
PHOTO: Creative Commons
Ballots in the Mill Creek region featured a trio of election battles on November 8th, with the presidential race between Donald J. Trump (Republican) and Hillary Clinton (Democrat) being underscored by Congressional races in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Incumbent Senator Johnny Isakson faced competition from Democratic challenger Jim Barksdale and Libertarian opponent Allen Buckley, while area Representatives Rob Woodall and Jody Hice were both up for reelection. In what was a massive upset in comparison to national polls, Trump won the presidential election, despite losing the popular vote overall. He received a total of 306 electoral votes, surpassing the necessary 270 needed to take home the presidency, while Clinton fell short with 232. The popular vote was separated by a narrow
margin, with Clinton garnering approximately 47.9% support in comparison to 47.2% for Trump. National polls tightened during the final week of the campaigns, with RealClearPolitics’ polling averages showing Clinton with a 2.4% lead as of November 1st. The poll's electoral projection at that time, however, showed Clinton with a sturdy lead. Georgia was a strong state for Republicans overall. Trump won the state with 51% of the vote in comparison to 46% for Clinton, while incumbent Johnny Isakson also won his reelection bid over the likes of Jim Barksdale and Allen Buckley. Isakson’s 55% of the vote helped him avoid a runoff battle, while Barksdale and Buckley trailed behind extensively, with 41 and 4 percent of the vote respectively. Because senatorial elections going into runoffs when nobody obtains the majority, Isakson’s ability to reach that 50% mark was a notable achievement for the campaign of the incumbent. The state also went majority-red with House seats at the national level, including both candidates who represent the areas around Mill Creek. Woodall, who represents Georgia District 7, won 60% of the vote in comparison to 40% for Democratic challenger Rashid Malik. Hice, who represents Georgia District 10, was uncontested in his bid for reelection. Nationally, Republicans retained control of both houses of congress, setting up Republicans for at least two years of overarching control until midterm elections in 2018. Democrats were threatening the senate and presidential races
throughout the election cycle, but underperformed on election night behind a wave of unexpected Republican support that carried Trump to victory. “The triumph for Mr. Trump, 70, a real estate developer-turnedreality television star with no government experience, was a powerful rejection of the establishment forces that had assembled against him, from the world of business to government, and the consensus they had forged on everything from trade to immigration,” wrote Matt Flegenheimer and Michael Barbaro of the New York Times. In an election cycle that had been centralized around the ideals of governmental change versus the “establishment machine,” as Flegenheimer and Barbaro put it, Trump’s unexpected victory was a clearly defined shift from the norm in political operations. With the Republicans now holding congressional majorities and the White House, party-wide preparation for dramatic alterations in policy has begun. In his first 100 day plan, Trump laid out a myriad of bills he plans to propose, including a constitutional amendment enforcing term limits on congress and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) according to Politico. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) both met with Trump after his White House visit with President Barack Obama on November 10th, with Ryan later saying on social media that Republicans are ready to “roll their sleeves up” and work for the American people. He later added on Trump’s main campaign slogan, stating that they’re ready to “make America great again.”
PHOTOS: Creative Commons
“Trump’s unexpected victory was a clearly defined shift from the norm in [politics.]”
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R) won his reelection bid against Jim Barksdale (D) and Allen Buckley (L) with 55% of the vote. It will be his 3rd term in the U.S. Senate.
Rep. Rob Woodall (R) of Georgia’s 7th Congressional District won his bid for reelection against Rashid Malik (D) with 60% of the vote. It will be his 4th term in the House. PHOTOS: Creative Commons
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Principal for the Day By: Madeleine Moody
On November 15, Mill Creek welcomed Dr. Kevin Queen, campus pastor for 12Stone Hamilton Mill, as he toured the school and walked along side Mr. Lane as principal of the day. Dr. Queen is a part of an organization called Leadership Gwinnett, a community of 40 adults with high leadership positions within Gwinnett County to broaden leadership skills and practice being better leaders for the community. One of Leadership Gwinnett’s programs for the group was to be the principal for the day; each member of the organization was able to choose any school within the County, and. Dr. Queen says Mill Creek was his "first choice." Preparing for the day Dr. Queen had a few goals in mind “I really wanted to see behind the scenes of what it takes to run a school like this. I wanted to see what a day and life of a teacher and student here at Mill Creek looked like. I was also really interested in how the school comes together and how everyone works together, they say stronger together is the matura
Dr. Kevin Queen but being able to see that behind the scenes is great as well.” To begin the day Mr.Lane and Dr. Queen attended the Mill Creek banquet from there they went to a chorus performance by the elementary schools in our cluster and by the Mill Creek chorus. Following these events they walked the school and Dr. Queen was able to see the classrooms and teachers and students. “I love seeing the teacher interactive between the students and I love seeing the technology in the classroom but there are somethings that you can't get through technology and you can only get through relationship and the types of questions being asked and the students coming together is great balance that out. The energy in the classroom is great most students are really engaged and that means you have great teachers” said Dr. Queen. Dr. Queen felt he received new experiences during his visit. He said,”“ I like seeing how relational the school is, and being able to walk with Principal
Photo Credit:Leslie Randal and Jykia Coleman
Lane and to see how he serves and is a helping leader, he's great in front of a group but he also cares about each person behind the scenes and I think that is what makes a great team. Seeing the school has been great but being able to walk alongside a great leader has been great too.” After being principal for the day Dr. Queen felt he had gained a lot from this experience and plans to use his new knowledge to help in his daily leadership positions, saying he learned “ I love interacting with students and children I have done it for many years though student ministry but with every interaction and even in my family and in my life I have seen the impact of technology and students with their phones, and I like to see how we as a community have not tried to fight it but rather embrace it. So I want to say instead of trying to resist cultural shifts you want to take them and say how can we maximize that and use that as well. Even as the church we try to make apps and things to help the community grow deeper in their faith, we want to not resist cultural shift but rather maximize them and help people as well.”
CONCUSSIONS AT MILL CREEK
By: Maggie Mitchell
Anyone who plays sports runs the risk of injuries and concussions, a common sports injury. With all of the sports teams that are a part of the high school experience, there is always a chance of injury. “Concussions are very common in soccer,” said Coach Taube. Coach Taube is the sports medicine teacher at Mill Creek. “He teaches students how to prevent and treat injuries related to sport and exercise,” said Grace Tabazi. If an injury were to occur on the field the coaches check and make sure if the student has any symptoms of concussions. Hanna Robinson is a student at Mill Creek who got a concussion after hitting her head leaving her gym. She was taken to the ER and was asked to do many tests to see if she had a concussion. “They asked me to move my eyes from side to side.” said Robinson. They also checked Robinson's motor skills to see if she had trouble moving. Recently, the Wall Street Journal released an article explaining how a blood test might become the most efficient way to find concussions. “A blood test that can quickly diagnose concussions more effectively than simple clinical methods administered by doctors and trainers,” said The Wall Street Journal. “I have not used the blood test when checking to see if a student has a concussion,” said Coach Taube. Blood tests require a trained technician to draw blood and a lab to process results. Coach Taube uses several different tests when checking for concussions. “We usually use a SCAT test or a impact test,” he said
SYMPTOMS OF CONCUSSIONS - Long lasting headaches/ neck pain - difficulty remembering, concentrating, or making decisions - slowness in speaking, acting, reading, or thinking - easily confused or getting lost - often tired, no motivation or energy - mood changes - sleep pattern changes - light-headedness - urge to vomit - increased sensitivity to sounds, lights, or distractions - blurry vision - loss of smell or taste SOURCE: www.brainline.org
PHOTO: Creative Commons
Club Corners:
ALPHA CLUB
By: Madeleine Moody There are so many clubs here at Mill Creek and each year we add a few new ones. Many times students are unaware of the all the clubs available, or they do not know what the clubs are about. ALPHA club started by juniors, Dante Edwards and Shelby Wilkins, is new on campus this year. The ALPHA club stems from a program called the ALPHA course program. This program is run over the time period of eleven weeks; each semester begins a new session of the program. The program itself is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith. During each meeting student are given the opportunity to explore answers to hard questions through a series of videos. This club and program is based around strengthening faith and answering the hard questions about faith and the
world and how they intertwine. Edwards and Wilkins have had an interest in beginning this club for over a year, having gone through the ALPHA program themselves through their church. They gained so much from it they decided to share the experience with other students here at school. “We felt like people would gain something from it and we wanted other people to get to appreciate and have a new look at life after this club” says Wilkins. Each also has a vision for
Details When: After school every Monday from 2:20-3:20 Where: Room A114 (Mrs. Barnes classroom) Who: Anyone is welcome, all religions and beliefs are welcome.
where they want this club to go in the future, and feel like it is on its way to attaining this vision, Wilkins says “first semester has been our trial run because we run through the program each semester and so far we have gotten great feedback and we have a good set of people that really want to come and are consistent on coming every week. We have gained ideas for what we want to implant next semester to help progress the club but we definitely have a vision for where we want this club to go and we feel like it is on its way to reaching that vision.” Wilkins says, “ALPHA club is for anyone and everyone who wants to experience a relaxed environment where everyone is welcoming, where they can receive different views on world views especially on topics like religion and different topics in life.”
HOW TO WATCH WINTER GUARD By: Bailey Monroe
Judges in Winter guard give scores based on movement, equipment, design, general effect, timing and penalties.“The judges see how you execute each movement on the floor” said senior guard member Victoria Hervey . Movement:how the guard moves on the floor using dance and equipment. Equipment:how well the guard spins together in the show and the level of difficulty. Design:how the guard makes the sets on the floor and whether the drill make sense with the show theme. General effect :when everything comes together to make a complete show. For timing you have a certain amount of time to set or you get points taken away. Penalties occur if you go past the time lines taped on the floor before the timekeeper says go or if you pass the front time lines PHOTOS: Jordan Dudley that are in front of the audience. we use we put different body under it to go with each show” Most of Mill Creek’s winter said freshman Hayden Gunn. guard shows the use the same Under the toss sometimes they toss like a Mill Creek 45 , strip do turns, or they roll to the toss, cone toss, parallel, double ground or a trick under the toss. pole toss, and a behind the For weapon toss you have to find back 45 toss.“The tosses that the bolt/ hlit if it is a saber and
how many times it goes around in the air is the name of the toss. Winter Guard is split into different groups based on skill level and age. The Varsity guard is in Open Class, the JV guard is in Regional A Class, and the Cadets are in the Cadet Class. 11
A Legend Since Day One...
Amauri The Great, bornDetravion Richardson, began his career young at age six and always had an interest for music. As a Hip-Hop artist, he takes his inspiration from other legndary artists such as Beyonce, Coldplay, and Michael Jackson. Amauri currently has two mixtapes available and can be heard on his website Amaurithegreat.com.
By: Michelle Ortiz
"The MCHS Anthem" is a song created by Amauri the Great that rallies students with school pride. “I wrote the song last year it was after the team leadership summit at 12 Stone, where I performed a motivational song for the little kids. Coach Jarvis and Mr. Lane came to me asked me if I could write a song for the school. This whole summer I worked with them and finally performed it at 12 Stone’s Summer’s Bash this year. I then performed "The Mill Creek Anthem" at the pep rally.” Mill Creek knows him as Amauri the Great,the guy that rapped at the pep rally, but behind the stage lies Detravion Richardson a humble artist dedicated to “ bringing music to its pure roots.” Richardson doesn’t remember a day when he wasn’t dedicated to the love of music. “I’ve been rapping since before I could talk,” says Richardson. However, he remembers recording his first song. “I recorded my first song when I was six. It was just me trying to show how fly and cool I thought I was,” but this surely sparked something within Richardson. Richardson since then written his own songs, all he needed now was approval from his father. “My dad didn’t want me to join the music industry so young in fear that it would mold me into something I am not, but when I was 13, I finally got my dad’s approval,” says Richardson Richardson calls himself, “ a diverse writer” not bound over a single topic but inspired by many things. Clearly, MCHS knows him for the anthem, but he writes over all sorts of topics. “ I can make you a party song, a school anthem, whatever the concept I can usually write about it. I mostly enjoy writing stories of what I’ve been through and making more metaphorical lyrics with that story.” Whatever the topic Richardson says he wants to “ send the most positive message out there. “I feel like to a degree now the artist is being destroyed and knowing the fact that the art I love is being broken down that’s what inspires me to take music back to its pure state..by sending the message that it’s still cool to be an individual and who you are.”
Photos from : amaurithegreat.com
A Flame From Within Amauri the Great has realesed two fire mixtape albums thus far. THE RETURN OF THE GOLDEN ERA in 2013 and The Frisbee Chronicles Vol 1: Entire Mixtape in 2015 . See how he describes them below.
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THE RETURN OF THE GOLDEN ERA includes 8 hip hop songs including tracks “I Got It Made and Self-Destruction” This album includes “lyrical delivery, content and thought provoking metaphors” surely to differ from any other content heard before. Amauri the Great raps “over some of the hottest mainstream tracks, and puts his own twist of lyricism, storytelling, and positivity on them, with his various styles” in The Frisbee Chronicles.
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"The MCHS Anthem" creates school spirit and was created to inspire HAWKS to Strive to Overachive through Accountability and Respect.
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Recognized Alumni Mr. Jenifer
The Hawk of Fame By: Allie Bolton
For Mr. Joe Jenifer, the October 29th induction into his Alma Mater’s hall of fame was more than just an award. Having grown up, lived, and worked with the school for so long, visiting Archbishop Carroll High School in metro D.C. is also visiting his home. “It was great just to see and interact with everyone and… rekindle those old vibes,” Jenifer said with a grin. After more than a decade away, Mr. Jenifer is being immortalized for his belovedness, skill and achievement. “It [was] good to go home and to see how… the teenagers that I coached are now young men and fathers and husbands,” Mr. Jenifer said, choking up. After nearly a century educating youth, Archbishop Carroll decided they wanted to honor those who have made contributions to their history, thus they opened up their hall of fame in 2007 and have been inducting new members from throughout their history for nearly a decade since. “I think it’s what we as educators do every day in our commitment to
our students, so it’s good that… educators and coaches are recognised and I am just fortunate enough in this instance to be one of them.” Having been one of the school’s basketball coaches for many years, Mr. Joe Jenifer earned his place in the hall as a historic success story for the school. Mr. Jenifer’s 1992-93 basketball team was Archbishop Carroll’s most recent championship team.
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#WeWILL Varsity Girls
By: Faith Montgomery and Abbie Key
Basketall
Morgan Simmons “Team chemistry is really important because we have to trust each other to execute everything we need to. Our saying this year is #WEWILL. We have a different saying each day before practice that we have to accomplish.”
Wynter Webb "People should start coming to our games more because we’re gonna be good." “We’re a lot closer, so we click on the court.”
In Action Upcoming Games Sweet South Classic: December 27, 28, 29 Collins Hill: January 6 Flowery Branch: January 7 Mountain View: January 7
"We're doing a lot better this year than we started out last year." -Morgan Simmons “We’re undefeated so far,” says Wynter Webb. In order to keep their undefeated record Simmons said, “We need to keep up the intensity in practice and make better decisions for the team. Individually, we each need to work on our shot and individual stuff to help the team.” “People should start coming to our games more,” starts Kimberley Forbes. “Because we’re going to be good,” finishes Wynter Webb. “And we’re going to need lots of support,” says Simmons.
Kimberly Forbes “As a team, we need to continue to see each other. We need to work on shot selection.”
Dacula: January 14 Brookwood: January 17 Discovery: January 20 North Gwinnett: January 24 Duluth: January 27
Peachtree: January 31 JV Tournament: January 28th-February 2nd Collins Hill: February 3 Region Tournament: February 6-11
Alex Bolling “While I’m getting ready, I usually listen to music and focus and stuff and we have a quiet time where we can focus where nobody talks and we just think about how we’re going to play”
Holly McQueen “Before a game, we all just try to hype each other up and just prepare what we’re going to do and how we’re going to go out there with lots of energy.”
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Basketball
Upcoming Games Deep South Classic: December 28, 29, 30
Collins Hill: January 6 Flowery Branch: January 7
Mountain View: January 10 Dacula: January 14
Brookwood: January 17 Discovery: January 20
9th Grade Tournament: January 21-28
North Gwinnett: January 24
Duluth: January 27 ALL PHOTOS: Kaitlyn Neher, Magic Moments
Seniors “We may not be the best team overall, but our hustle and effort allow us to shut down some of the best scorers in our region” -Christian Mancillas
Both the guys and the girls teams believe that their biggest threat this season will be Collins Hill, who both teams will face on February 3rd. Speaking for the girls, Holly McQueen says, “Collins Hill will be the toughest opponent because they won region last year, and they have all of these transfers. I think it’ll be a good game.” As for the boys, Trè Rice says, “Collins Hill is probably our biggest competition because they’re very deep, they’re projected first. and they all have a lot of experience playing with each other.” This year, the boys are hopeful for the outcome of their season, as Christian Mancillas says, “Our team’s biggest strength this year will be our defense. We give a lot of effort at all times, and it shows on the defensive end. We may not be the most talented team overall, but our hustle and effort allow us to shut down some of the best scorers in our region. As of right now, our offense isn’t particularly strong. So, we rely on our defense to not only keep up with more experienced teams but also to score on them.”
“To make the team better I do a lot of the little things that may go unnoticed like putting other people in a good position to score or taking charges, and I always try to keep the atmosphere around everyone lose and laid back. I don’t usually get to worked up over a tough game.” -Matty Dobbs
“Without team chemistry, we’re all like singular atoms.” -Dimitri Kosmakos
“I feel like a lot of teams are doubting us because we lost a lot of players, but we can win region if we practice enough and build our chemistry up. And we can go a little bit further in state this year than last year.” -Tre
Rice
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Holiday Gifts The Holidays is meant to be a season of celebration and appreciation, and during this time, finding gifts for loved ones to express gratitude can be difficult. There’s a common misconception: the bigger, more valuable the gift, the more it expresses appreciation. But gifts don’t express appreciation,
By: Michelle Ortiz
people do. And when people don’t express it, neither do their gifts. DIY (Do It Yourself) gifts are not only inexpensive, but also display the sentimental admiration that people want to receive. Here are some DIY gift ideas to give to your friends and family.
Hot Cocoa Ornament This is a simple food gift that can be given to just about anyone. Start with a clean, clear ornament and take the top off. Fill it the ornament using a funnel with a single packet of hot cocoa. Then add the marshmallow bits. (If you’ll like to include another sweet topping don’t hesitate) Put top back on. You will need to deliver these standing upright or wrap the top with plastic wrap to keep contents inside. In the photo the top is held down with a bow. It is ready to go. Just gift it alone or with the other items recommended.
Slippers Stuffed With Goodies The days are getting colder, give your loved one some slippers to keep their feet warm with some of their favorite goodies. This is probably the most simplistic of the recommendations. All that is needed is some slippers and some small items. For this example, chocolate, nail polish, and lip balm were included. PHOTOS: Pretty Providence
Photo:Alie Bolton
HOLIDAY SUGAR SCRUB
Sugar
Food CoconutEssential Oils Coloring Oil
Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar 4 Tablespoons organic coconut oil 10 to 15 drops essential oils 5 drops liquid food coloring
Directions
Scoop 4 Tablespoons of coconut oil into a microwave safe bowl and microwave it on high until it’s completely melted (abo+ut 25 seconds). Pour the melted coconut oil into the sugar and mix well to combine. If it’s too wet, add small amounts of sugar and mix until you get a consistency you like. Add the food colouring and mix well until the colour is consistent. Add the drops of essential oils and mix until well combined.-Scoop it into a small glass mason jar and cover with a tight fitting lid.
MILL CREEK BLOOD DRIVE
By: Vanessa Medina
PHOTOS:: Bailey Monroe
Mill Creek High School hosted the Red Cross on November 4th for the annual blood drive. Although the Red Cross was late setting up the drive due to the traffic coming towards the school, it was still a successful drive. Over 170 students signed up to donate blood but only about 70 were able to donate. Fewer Red Cross staffers staff and less time resulted in fewer donations than in previous years. Who can participate? All blood types can be accepted for donation as long as they follow Red Cross stipulations.
“Any blood type caan donate, there are always people who need blood,� -Fari Mbaye (11). Student council officers set up a canteen area in the auxiliary gym with student council representativeswho watched students for 15 minutes after they were finished donating blood. The representatives then walked students back to class or wherever they needed to go. The purpose was to make sure donors did not faint after their donation.
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NEW TEACHERS AT MILL CREEK By: Jordan Dudley
This fall, Mill Creek welcomed several new teachers to our staff. According to our website our faculty “is composed of highly qualified and highly motivated educators. Student success is their top priority and it shows in their actions and dedication every day.” As our new staff members have adjusted to our high-spirited and largelypopulated school, each new hire has been encouraged to SOAR and excel in and out of the classroom.
KIM OROS
Speech Language Pathologist
LAUREN TYLER Food Science
Q: Although it is well into the school year now, what do you look forward to for this year, and your entire career as an instructor? A: It is always exciting to see what all the students have learned from the beginning to the end of the year. Some start out never cooking and then become pros! It really is a great thing to see!”
Q: What has your experience as a new teacher at Mill Creek been like?
Q e te b
A: “My experience as a new teacher here has been very exciting! I have been incredibly impressed with the special education staff I am surrounded by. It’s nothing short of awesome to witness the dedication and enthusiasm shown by the teachers and paraprofessionals here every day.
A a to b S m a to th s c s m s
ALL PHOTOS: Magic Moments or Jordan Dudley
BROOKS WITTER
Speech Language Pathologist
Q: What has your experience as a new teacher at Mill Creek been like? A: “Transitioning from a middle school setting to high school has been an adjustment. Students are given much more freedom and responsibility to take ownership of their education. I see students who genuinely care and want to succeed, which pushes me to work harder to support/serve them.”
DORIA DRAGHICIU Geometry
Q: Although it is well into the school year now, what do you look forward to for this year, and in your entire career as an instructor? A: “I look forward to seeing how my students will do on state testing and hopefully get great results. In my career as an educator I look forward to inspiring as many students to do their best and achieve their full potential.”
EMILY BARRY 12th Language Arts
Q: What made you want to teach here at Mill Creek, or in general? A: “I had heard only positive things about Gwinnett County and I graduated with Mill Creek alumni, so I decided to check [Mill Creek] out”.
KALI SHIMMIN IRR MA
Q: What is different or unique about Mill Creek that you enjoy?” A: “The sense of family I saw when walking around the halls and the involvement from all the teachers and staff.”
CEDRIC ALLEN IRR LA
KELSEY WATTS
Q: What has your experince as a new teacher at Mill Creek been like?
NEW TEACHERS
Q: What do you find unique about Mill Creek that you enjoy? A: “I really enjoy the size and school spirit that everyone has. I’m not used to being around this many students. Many students are involved and everyone wants to SOAR. The amount of school spirit in general is unique for the school.“
DINA BEAVERS
A: “Absolutely amazing with a capital A.”
Q: What has your experience as a new teacher at Mill Creek been like? A:It has been wonderful. The staff has been very supportive. The special education and the math departments have been very supportive. And the students try really hard.”
AVERY CANTRELL Spanish 1
Q: What made you want to teach here at Mill Creek, or in general? A: “Well, I was looking for one of the best schools in the county and here I am.”
CAITLAN KAUFMAN Spanish 1
Q: What is different or unique about Mill Creek that you enjoy? A: “The soar idea of student leadership, I haven’t seen that one before.”
Renee Campbell Math
Q: What do you find unique about Mill Creek that you enjoy? A: “How involved the administration is on a daily basis and how well they know their teachers.”
ALEXANDRIA WADE Ms. Martin says that, “Ms. Wade joined us this year as a para pro with Ms.White and she ELIZABETH BENNETT works with our special Geometry education students. She Q: Although it is well has done an excellent into the school year now, what do you look job in supporting those students and working forward to for this year, and in your entire with them around the career as an instructor? school and around the community.” A: “ I look forward to building more relationships with students so that they feel supported and encouraged as they continue on through high school and into college.”
SARAH BAILEY Language Arts
Q: Although it is well into the school year now, what do you look forward to for the year, and in general as an instructor? A: “I most look forward to gaining more experience and growing as a teacher...I look forward to getting the chance to work with my students and help them develop their skills and interest in literature. I love seeing students excited about the progress that they make.”
Places to go during Winter Break By: Abbie Key
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights Visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden November 12th through January 7th from 5-10pm each day where spectacular lights are displayed throughout the Garden. This year, there is a new walk of flames. This was named one of the top 10 holiday light shows in the country by USA Today. The price for adults(12 and older)is $21.95 for the Atlanta Garden Admission. The Gainesville Garden has a smaller event fro $8 for adults.
Candlelight Nights Experience Christmas past with a candlelit stroll through the beautifully decorated gardens and grounds of the Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW Atlanta. This event takes place on Fridays, December 9 & 16 from 5:30 - 9:30 PM. This special holiday program is $10 for members; $15 for nonmembers; $8 for all children.
Skylight Spectacular At this event, there is an immersive walkthrough experience that allows people to view thousands of lights, projections, and special effects. The Skylight Spectacular is being held at Stone Mountain Park November 12th through January 4th.
Magical Nights of Lights
Lake Lanier is hosting the annual Magical Nights Of Lights. It’s being held on November 16th through December 31st beginning at 4pm. The Magical Nights of Lights allows you to drive through a story of lights. You will drive over the magnificent snowflake bridge, down through the 12 days of Christmas, past your classic favorites and all the way to the dancing Holiday House, Santa’s Workshop, and Christmas Carnival.
Jingle Jog There is another event to get in the holiday spirit that’s not lights, it’s the Jingle Jog. This 5k isn’t all about running. Enjoy free food from many of Atlanta’s best restaurants, holiday music by the Salvation Army Band, and a visit with Santa for some great photo opps. The $28 cost to participate in the jog goes towards the Salvation Army. There are multiple locations for this event: Lambert Stadium, Cumming Town Center, and Suwanee. The Jingle Jog is taking place on December 17th starting at 8am.
Boys Cross Country
Dance
Varsity Softball Theater
Varsity Football
Orchestra
Creeks Freeks
Varsity Volleyball
Around the Creek
PHOTOS: Courtesy of the yearbook staff