Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Road Stafford, VA 22556
STUDENT NEWS Magazine MVHS VOLUME 12 ISSUE 1 September | october
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Read more on pages 16 & 17 about the cross country team and the leadership roles filled by seniors.
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MV The Viewpoint
Editorial
INDEX 01 Cover 02 Advertisement 03 Index to school at Mountain View 04 Back 05 New Year Additions 06 DIY Halloween Costumes 07 Diy Halloween costumes 08 Did you know... 09 Written in the stars 10 Finding Balance 11 Advertisement 12 Mud, sweat, and tears
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13 Mud, sweat, and tears 14 transparent or opaque is not the 15 censorship answer do not equal 16 Dreamers deportation 17 skipping class 18 Advertisement 19 Health fads or facts 20 The IB World 21 The IB World 22 Halloween treats then vs. 23 Homecoming now 24 Staying positive
Halloween originated over 2,000 years ago in Western Europe as a festival of Samhain, the celebration of the end of the harvesting season. The Western Europeans, mostly the Celts, believed that on this day, the barrier between the living and the dead was the thinnest. This thin barrier allows the dead, like ghosts or demons, to cross over into the land of the living. The festival of Samhain also led to trick-or-treating. While it originally started off as a way for the poor to beg for food and money, it evolved into a way for children to express themselves through costumes in order to get treats. These modern-day children, dressed in their costumes, walk around their neighborhoods and knock on people’s doors for candy. Although most high schoolers have stopped trick-or-treating, many of those who celebrate Halloween still carry their own traditions. Whether it be splurging on candy, carving pumpkins, or watching scary movies, everyone has their own unique way of observing Halloween. Some favorites films include “Scary Godmother,” “House on Haunted Hill,” and “Goosebumps.” However, since only 64 percent of Americans celebrate the holiday, according to CNN, it’s important to acknowledge and respect the fact that Halloween might not adhere to everyone’s beliefs and that not everyone celebrates this holiday. Some parents also may not allow their children to trick-or-treat due to the fact that it may be unsafe. Many urban legends exist about poisoned Halloween candy and crazed people on the loose, but it may be dangerous due to being out at night, knocking on stranger’s doors, and because of people not following traffic safety rules. During this time of year, remember to be safe and respectful and to have fun, whether you are trick-or-treating or staying in.
CHELSEA TRYON, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Lexi Strawder
by Lexi Strawder Chelsea Tryon was appointed as the new AP as of July 2017. Previously, Tryon worked as the AP and special education teacher at A.G. Wright Middle School (AGW) and a principal intern at Brooke Point High School (BPHS). Working at both BPHS and AGW allowed Tryon to learn what it takes to create relationships with teenagers by building trust and mutual respect, as well as helping them deal with the everyday struggles as emotional teenagers. She approaches any situation by first trying to understand where they are coming from. Tryon is the adminstrator for students starting with the last names starting from O through Z. In addition to being an AP, she is in charge of the special education department, world language department and the fine and performing arts department. Tryon is determined to help students at
MVHS to do whatever it takes to succeed inside the school walls, as well as in our community. “Being a special education teacher has taught me that kids need different things,sometimes they need to be treated a little differently. Even as an assistant principal now, I still find myself utilizing that aspect a lot,” said Tryon. As a graduate from BPHS, Tryon has lived in Stafford for the majority of her life. Outside of school, Tryon spends time with her husband as well as her two sons.Tryon was very complimentary of the pride she sees in the upperclassmen and the way they mentor underclassmen so they can adopt some of the same values. Both excited and humbled to work with the Wildcat community, Tryon is eager for her first year on the prowl at the View.
The Viewpoint SEPT | OCT 2017 VOLUME XII ISSUE I Managing Editors Paige Doerfler Emilee Holmquist Social Media Editor Sophie Perez Copy Editor Bella Roeske Photography Editor Emilee Holmquist Extra Editor Ruby Jackson Briefs Editor Charlotte Hazard Adviser Trisha Orndorff The Viewpoint is a cross-section of the news and opinions of the student body of Mountain View High School. It is a forum of expression published by aPrintis. Letters and art to the editorial board are welcome and should be submitted to rooms 303 or 311.
Staff Writers Brody Albertson, Javonna Brigham, Gia Morreale, Isabel Navarro, Selena Obregon, Danielle Piper, Caroline Pollock, Chloe Reid, Adam Skoloda, Lexi Strawder, Damien Veal, Abbey Whitehead Front Cover Paige Doerfler Emilee Holmquist 2014-2016 Virginia High School League State Championship First Place Award Winner 2013, 2014, 2015 Free Lance-Star Best Over All Newspaper 2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist 2011, 2010 and 2009 Virginia High School League First Place Award Winner Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556
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Back to school at Mountain View
Students Helping Honduras Meeting by Isabel Navarro
Isabel Navarro
Students Helping Honduras, SHH, held a meeting where they discussed fundraising for the club on Wednesday, October 4. During the SHH meeting, the club leaders and members of the group played a game in which the objective was to come up with as many possible fundraising ideas in two minutes. During the two minutes, members of SHH shared various different ideas for fundraising, such as a bake sale or lipsinging contest. SHH will hold a variety of fundraisers throughout the year in order to fund their annual trip to Honduras during spring break “Our goal is to raise $5000, take at least 25 people on the trip, and do better than last year,” said sophomore Morgan Andrews. Through their trip to Honduras, “SHH hopes to alleviate poverty through youth empowerment and education,” said junior Meghan Wiley. During their trip, the group helps builds schools for students in Honduras. Leaders of the club talked about experiences from their previous trips to Honduras. On their trip, the SHH members were able to bond with Honduran children who attend the schools they work on. Junior Meghan Wiley talked about how the children remembered her when she went back to Honduras last year. Last year, the group worked together with locals to construct a sports court for a school. The project was one of the biggest ones performed in SHH history. SHH will work throughout the year to raise money for their trip and achieve their goals.
Frisbee Club by Chloe Reid
Chloe Reid
This is the first year for Frisbee Club at Mountain View High School. Jon Day, the sponsor for this club, said, “Zach Mumma came to me with the idea last school year, and asked if I was interested.” Zach Mumma is now the president of Frisbee Club. The club meets every Friday from 2:30 to 3:30 in the fields behind the football stadium, and you don’t need any experience to come. Various levels of play are incorporated. They will have a competitive game where they keep score, and they also have one or two less competitive games for fun. For more information you can reach out to Jon Day, or Zach Mumma.
Mountain View Tailgate by Isabella Roeske
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Ruby Jackson
The annual Mountain View tailgate took place on September 22, in the bus parking lot from 4 to 6 while students walked around, danced, ate food, and played games. A varied slew of vendors were at the tailgate, including Big Bad Pit BBQ and Hawaiian Shaved Ice. Cosmetology had face painting and FCCLA bought a used car for students to beat up to promote safe driving. Journalism was doing henna for people next to the DJ who played the most popular songs ranging from rap hits to even the Cupid Shuffle. Free Mountain View towels were being handed to students next to the sidewalk as people danced to the songs in the middle of the bus lot. Dr. Jim Stemple knows that high school students are truly five-year-olds at heart and allowed blow up bouncers to be placed to the far left in the grass where students hung out. If bouncers aren’t your thing, there was also a dunk tank where Jon Day got soaked by students. To follow the theme of teacher humiliation, students were able to pie teachers in the face as well. Learn and Serve did the pie fundraiser for hurricane relief. Directly after the tailgate, students walked around to the back of the school to watch the football game against Stafford High. They were already pumped up and excited to truly kickstart the season.
NEW
YEAR ADDITIONS
The construction has finally come to a stop and students can now enjoy the new additions to the school by Gia Morreale | Photos by Gia Morreale
After a long period of traffic jams, noisy workers, and dirty water, all of the new additions have finally been completed. The front of the school is now available and ready to be used. The students are now able to access the entirety of the school. The health and PE departments have been changed dramatically by the new additions. Mountain View now has a brand new training room, weight room, and two driver’s education classrooms. The location of the training room has been moved from in between the locker rooms to in the hallway next to the weight room. Sarah Miller, the athletic trainer said, “The new location makes it more convenient because I am closer to the weight room. I have really easy access to outside; I am basically across from the stadium. I am also out of the way of people in the hallway trying to get water coolers and practice stuff out. The only downfall is that I am farther away from the PE offices, so it makes it harder for me to see people.” The training room has more storage and room for equipment, which makes it less cluttered than before. Senior Kelly Akers said, “The new room gives us more space to move around and access all of the things we need. Also, it’s easier for athletes to be helped without being crowded in one spot.” The room is a lot bigger than the previous one, which will make it easier for Miller to be able to treat student athletes. The new weight room was also added. Miller said, “I think there is now a bigger interest in the strength and body classes. The weight room is a lot more spacious than last year. There is more room for stretches and the lifting is more spread out. PE teacher, Kristina Leischner said, “My favorite thing about the new weight room is the space we have. There is more open space for students to stretch and warm up.” The weight room allows athletes to train along with their normal practices. Leischner said, “Hopefully the updated weight room will improve our students’ health. I also think it will be great if more of the student athletes come in and use it.” There are now classes dedicated just for the driver’s education classes, as well as family life. The old classrooms were very cramped because the gym classes have many students. They made two new classrooms that are separated by a folding wall. This wall can be opened up to make the class bigger. The dance team actually uses these rooms to practice in. The room has wood floors which makes it easier to turn. This helps the dance team because they previously practiced in the cafeteria and now they finally have a room to themselves. Junior Tarryn Levesque , member of the dance team, said, “I think the room helps us practice because it is a lot quieter and we have no distractions.” The drama department finally has a classroom closer to the auditorium. This will allow easier access to the stage during class time. Senior Meredith Speet said, “The location is perfect because we have access to props and the dressing room. Also, we have our own little corner of the school for our work to be done.” The classes used to have to walk through the school to get to the stage if they needed to practice. Junior Tyler Ferron said, “It is kind of hidden away in the back so we can be loud and not have to worry about other classes.” The black box theater serves as both a rehearsal and performance space; Tom Clark and Eric Hokanson also share it as a classroom. Junior Megan Pedigo said, “The black box is a lot different because we have high dollar lights and a nice wide space for blocking. I would say it makes the class function relatively the same, since we still circle the chairs and do everything the same.” All in all the black box theater gives the drama department a lot more space. Mountain View High School is new and improved. There are so many new functions for each part of the school that is accessible to every student. Each room will definitely get a lot of use-- from the student athletes using the weight room to the actors and actresses using the black box theater.
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Halloween DIY Costumes Save money and look cute by making these DIY costumes with everyday household items by Lexi Strawder
CRAZY CAT LADY by Charlotte Mulder
What you need •Robe •Kitty slippers •Fuzzy socks •Stuffed cats •Pajamas of your choice instructions Step 1: began by stitching small, stuffed cats on a terry cloth robe Step 2: wear pajamas underneath your cat coated robe Step 3: accessorize with slippers, fuzzy socks, hair rollers and silly glasses. the accessories are optional however the more accessories you chose to wear, the more complete the outfit looks
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STICK
by Mark
What you need •Plain black t shirt (not baggy) •Plain black pants (not baggy) •White electrical tape •Paper plate •Black paint and white paint instructions Step 1: Use the back side of the paper plate and paint the paper plate black. Step 2: Paint a white smiley face on the black plate once it dries. Step 3: Take your white shirt and place one long strip of electrical tape across the chest from the left wrist to the right wrist. Step 4: Place the next strip of electrical tape in the middle of the neck at the top of the shirt to 2 inches above where the shirt ends. Step 5: Place two small diagonal strips of electrical tape from the torso strip to the end of the shirt. Step 6: Align the pants and shirt and place one long strip of electrical tape down the middle of the pant leg that connects the two diagonal strips of tape at the bottom of the shirt. (Note: Make sure everything is assigned as a stick figure should be.) Step 7: Rock your outfit!
QUEEN OF HEARTS by Lainey Breland
What you need
•Paper •Scissors •Hot Glue •2 Decks of cards •A red dress
FIGURE
Denecke
instructions
Step 1: Cut out the size of your neck on a piece of white paper. Try it on to make sure it fits around your neck correctly. Step 2: Using the white paper as a guide, start placing the cards around the neck by overlapping them. Step 3: Use hot glue to secure the cards together. Step 4: Continue gluing the cards together making sure to use the white paper as guide to the size of your neck. Step 5: Once you are done with the first circle of hot glued cards, make another set of cards using hot glue by making the second ring of cards a bit larger than the original circle. Step 6: Now place the smaller circle of cards over the larger circle of cards and glue them together. Step 7: Make three small holes on the top part of the collar and insert a bobby pin into each hole. Step 8: Place the collar around your neck and use the bobby pins on the back of the collar to attach it to the back of your head. This will keep the collar up and sturdy.
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Written in the
Stars
While a large percentage of Americans do not believe in astrology and horoscopes, researchers have found evidence that birth months do have an affect on people by Ruby Jackson
Are the planets aligning? Is Mercury in retrograde? When people hear the word astrology, or even zodiac, the first thing that normally pops into their heads is something about how fake and unreliable it is. However, that may not always be the case. Zodiac signs (translated from Greek for meaning “circle of little animals”) are based on the days you were born. Each sign has an animal representation and personality traits that are associated with it, like the general stereotype that all Pisces are compassionate or that all Geminis are two-faced. While some of these traits may apply to some, there are no studies that have proven that one’s zodiac sign directly correlates with one’s personality. “Most of the time they [horoscopes] seem accurate. There are some times that they don’t make any sense and they don’t match up at all, but then there are sometimes that I’m like, ‘Wow! How did you know that?’” said freshman Olivia Thompson. According to the University of California Berkeley, horoscopes are often written so general that anything could apply to anyone. The Barnum effect, often occurring when people read horoscopes, describes how people hear a de-
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scription of their personality that’s supposed to be true and they accept it without actually considering the truth. “The Barnum effect is usually used to describe terms of confirmation bias or availability heuristic. If you’re given something that’s generalized and vague, like a description [such as,] ‘You enjoy interaction with other people but some times are distraught with relationships,’ well, that’s like everybody. As soon as you hear that, you think ‘I fit that category’ and you search your memory banks... for how you might fit [that description]. You’re confirming the bias through a selection from your memory. That’s why it feels people seem to agree with that general personality statement, but it’s kind of a psychological thing going on that’s leading us to agree with it,” said psychology teacher Byron Hoover. While there is no connection between signs and personality, there have been many studies done that show a possible relationship between the season you were born in and some mental disorders, like Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that occurs during change in seasons. According to Bel Marra Health, research has been conducted with rats that shows that rats born in winter months have less serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, levels than those born in summer months. This low level continued for the rest of their lives, even when they were exposed to more sunlight during the summer. According to the Journal of American Medical Informatics Association and the Columbia University Department of Medicine, there are 55 diseases that have been linked with the season people were born in, including depression and asthma. These researchers have taken into account environmental stressors, like seasonal changes in pollen, but have still not found a definite cause to the increase in certain diseases during certain months. “Once we identify [the causes] we can make recommendations about lifestyle choices and how to have a healthy child. Right now, we don’t know that. We’re just starting the analysis,” said Nicholas Tatonetti, a lead researcher at Columbia. While horoscopes, star signs, and planetary movements may be pseudosciences, a link being found between diseases and birth month could be influential in finding cures and treatments, and overall improving daily lives.
Did you know... Ten laws that you didn’t know were still enforced in the United States by Paige Doerfler
No.
Number one: Flirting in New York City can result in a $25 fine. I find this one extremely hard to believe. In any case, hopefully no couples are planning to go to New York anytime soon because it would honestly be quite embarrassing to get fined for something so innocent. Number two: In 1961, Gainesville, Georgia officials created an ordinance making it illegal to eat fried chicken with a fork. Can we all just agree that this is totally a plausible law? Watching someone eat fried chicken with a fork is so cringe-worthy. For all those weirdos with the audacity to eat such a way, I am so sorry for all of the stares you must get in public. Number three: This one is totally a slap in the face for most Virginians. It’s actually considered a class four misdemeanor to swear in public here, and a fine of $250 can be issued to anyone that does. Yeah… awkward. Number four: In Maine, you can get charged a fine for having Christmas decorations up past January 14. It’s a real good thing none of us live there because half of Stafford would be getting fined for never taking their lights down. What if there was a rule for how early we could put them up? That would cause some major protesting; there are tons of people who start as early as late October and early November. Number five and six sort of go hand and hand: In Arizona donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs. A similar law in North Carolina states that horses cannot be kept in bathtubs either. So was there actually a problem with people putting such animals in bathtubs? Honestly, I don’t see anything wrong with it. If someone really wants to put their donkeys or horses in bathtubs, let ‘em. They’ll suffer when they have to clean up afterwards; that’s already enough of a punishment without
making it illegal. Number seven: For all you go-getters out there with your bazillion inch heels, you better watch out if you go to Carmel, California. Unless you’re planning to break the law, you technically have to obtain a permit from the City Clerk agreeing that you may not hold the city liable for damages caused to anyone due to falling on public streets or sidewalks while wearing shoes exceeding two inches. I guess it’s kind of smart considering how many times people fall in heels. Number eight: This one is for all of you nature-lovers. In Arizona, if a person steals, removes, or destroys any protected native plants, they can be charged with up to a class four felony and fined a whopping $1,500. Arizona doesn’t mess around; don’t go messing with their plants. Number nine: In 2011, a law was passed in Tennessee making it illegal to share Netflix logins, as well as any of the various membership-only websites, with friends. Obviously, most people would find this dumb; do whatever you want with your account. Get this: if caught sharing or selling passwords (why on earth would anyone sell a Netflix passwords… just get an account for around the $8 it costs a month), one can face a fine of $2,500, a misdemeanor, jail time, and even a felony. I feel confident in saying most of us would be doomed if we lived in Tennessee right now. Number 10: In Rehoboth, Delaware, if Halloween falls on a Sunday, people are only allowed to go trick-or-treating on October 30 (the night before) between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM. So forget getting tons of candy; if you decide to move to Delaware and Halloween is on a Sunday, you better book it out of your house and sprint through your neighborhood as fast as you can go.
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Finding Balance
Balancing work, school and friends can be tricky; here are some ways to better balance your life by Chloe Reid
Family Family time may seem easy to make but with sports, school, and work, family time might just fall through the cracks. Simple ways to find time for your family is spending small amounts of time here and there. Some examples could be doing homework with your siblings or family dinners. A few more ways that families can spend their time together are plans like family game night, going bowling or even staying in and having a movie night. Junior Sydney Warren said, “My mom sometimes will take us out for dessert or Sweet Frog”. Trips as short as going to get dessert can improve your family bonds and can also create efficient family time to break up the stress that school can cause.
School Some helpful tips that can make school assignments easier are establishing a schedule, using a planner, developing an academic plan, and setting goals. Creating a schedule can be very helpful to prevent over scheduling and also prevent you from having conflicting plans. Also, your academic plan can be just as useful. It can vary between anything from weekly goals to goals that could take a whole semester. Not everyone will have the same academic plans so it’s important to figure out what accomplishments you would like to reach and set a time frame that works for you. A great resource for is a planner. Senior Lily Sportsman said, “I have a very specific schedule and I follow my planner religiously.” Another way to balance school work is setting goals. Simple things like looking over your homework and dividing it up can make a substantial impact on your motivation to do the work and your grades. This can be especially beneficial for classes that are ever other day and can help with procrastinating.
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Social Life Spending time with friends is important for a good social life, but with homework it can seem almost impossible. An alternative to rarely seeing your friends can be having study dates, or grabbing a quick bite to eat before or after school. Little things like going to a friend’s soccer game, or even seeing them for an hour here or there before practice or work can help you go from never seeing your friends, to bridging that gap from weekend to weekend. Junior Rafe Croce said, “I usually schedule time ahead for my friends” when accounting for sports, friends and school. These tips can help you to improve your friendships and make handling other activities easier knowing you’ve spent time with your friends already.
Work Part-time jobs can be beneficial to help, prepare, and build qualities that school can’t teach, but is it possible to manage school and work? Some ways to juggle school and work are to take less shifts during the school week and more over the weekend. Junior Alicia Armah said, “Every chance I get, I do what I can. Whenever I go to work on Monday or Friday, I take all my homework with me and do it on my break.” By incorporating little bits and pieces of homework throughout your work day, you’re less likely to have more to come home to after a long day. Do your best to put your school work first by getting all or most of your homework done before work. Although that may not be easy, it will be one of the most beneficial options to time management and decreasing stress levels. Many times, large projects are assigned over a week or sometimes a longer period of time, and if your work has you scheduled for shifts during the week, taking off may be essential to putting school first. The key to dealing with work and school is to consider how much time you have and to not take on more than you think you can handle.
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I try my hardest to serve as an example and make sure my team is the best they can be - Henrik anderson, senior
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Nolan Biddle, senior
“I am a leader on the team who helps everyone stay informed on what’s going on with practices, team bonding events, and races. I also help them find answers to any questions they need since I have had a lot of past experience.”
Julia Squillante, senior
“I have been a team captain for all three running sports since [my] sophomore year... I try my hardest to serve as an example. I try to make sure that my team is the best they can be and have the most fun [while] doing it.”
Seniors reflect on their experiences and elaborate on their involvement as leaders on the cross country team by
Paige Doerfler and Ruby Jackson | Photos provided by Emilee Holmquist and Michael Porter
Leanna Tarr, senior
“I love this team with all of my heart. Granted this is only my second year being a part of it, but being a part of cross country for this past year has honestly been one of the biggest blessings I could ever have been given.”
Mackenzie West, senior
“I like to think I make the team a little bit happier and more of a family. I try to talk to [everyone]... not just the ones I have been running with since I startedI hope they all stay close when I leave because it will make for a stronger team in the future.”
T
he varsity cross country team has had many seniors step up to fulfill various leadership roles in order to be as successful as previous years. “I have three seniors [on the boys team] that have kind of taken charge: Henrik [Anderson], Nolan [Biddle], and Jared [Yi]. The three of them are close friends, and each one has a different leadership style, but together they’ve led the team where we want to go,” said coach Michael Porter. On the girl’s team, Leanna Tarr has become a motivator and has influenced the younger members of the team by welcoming them with open arms since the beginning of the season. Porter said, “We set the goals, the boys set their goals, and the girls set their goals. Now everything is jawing together.” “They all have insane potential in running and academics, and it’s such an honor to even be able to work with [the team],” said Tarr. Biddle explained that Porter strives to create a family-environment, focusing on being as much of a role model as possible. “They are all like brothers and sisters to me... I respect all of them because this is one sport that is not easy to do. They all push their limits on a day-to-day basis, and it’s pretty amazing,” he explained. Anderson also commented, “This year, our team is as close as ever. The family bond that all of us have is amazing, and I can’t imagine the cross country team being complete without every single member being apart of it. We all really enjoy having each other around, and we all want what is best for each other.” All in all, the team has positive attitudes and has cohesively worked together to create a home within each other and a successful season. “I’m very pleased with the way they’ve grown as a team and the way they’re developing. As the season progresses, we’re slowly moving up. We’ve turned heads and people have now noticed who we are,” said Porter.
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an sp ar e Op nt aq o ue r Tr n da Ho or ge Ge
When you walk through the hallways, do you feel transparent- people see right through you- or opaque- people only see one small part of you by Caroline Pollock
The high school experience is different for everyone. For some it is fun and full of partying and friendships, while for others, it is stressful and full of homework and college applications. Some high school experiences include walking through the school’s crowded hallways, feeling invisible. Nobody bothers to give these students even a glance. In other’s perspective, some students feel tormented by their classmates’ eyes that are so full of judgement, they feel they are only seen for one microscopic part of their entirety. These people feel opaque. Do you hurry to get to your next class to get out of the hallways; to avoid the judgement in your classmates’ eyes and words? Mackenzie Rivero, sophomore, said, “I feel translucent, in the middle between opaque and transparent. I feel sometimes people judge me while other times people don’t see me at all. I would rather feel completely opaque because at least I would be noticed.” Do you feel like a brick wall? Do you feel like no one can see through the top layer? Doesn’t
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anyone know that there’s so much more to you than they see? When you’re opaque, at least people see you, right? Instead of not seeing you at all, your classmates judge you and only see the most minuscule part of you. They only see you for what they want to see. They only see you as the “math nerd,” or the “star of the football team.” They judge you but they don’t even know you. They only know that one little thing about you, which is enough for them to judge you, except, it’s not. Is it really okay for someone to judge another when they only know them for being “the guy who rarely comes to school?” “I feel like everyone immediately judges the people they see whether it’s a good or bad thing. We may not be aware of it but our minds have an opinion on everything. So walking through the halls, we can only see one side to a person who has multiple dimensions,” said senior Elaina Garnett. Transparency: good, bad, neither, or both? “I believe no one really sees you in the hallway. They see right through unless you’re
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wearing something they like or dislike,” says senior Karyanne Shifflett. Do people brush right by you? Are you like a window? Does everyone look right through you without even noticing what you’re doing? Is it acceptable for a person to walk around a so-called friendly, trustworthy, and safe environment and not have a single person acknowledge their being? What if those transparent people are suffering from depression or they have suicidal thoughts? What if all they need to keep going is a smile? You could help them by noticing them. Instead of instantly judging them, what if you got to know them? You never know; they might surprise you. Everyone feels transparent or opaque at one time or another. Everyone knows what it feels like and nobody takes pleasure in feeling that way. You don’t know what they are going through, just like they don’t know what you’re going through. Spend the time to get to know your classmates. Find out who they really are, not just how you want to see them.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” -Ist Amendment to the constitution
Censorship is not the Answer Because of difference of opinion, certain speakers and entertainers have been banned from college campuses and have even had their lives affected financially By Charlotte hazard Senior Jennifer Hunt said, “That’s the University of Chicago’s stance on the issue. I think it is a little strict, in a way it has to be. They’re taking a right stance to prevent violence.” Censorship of certain speakers and commentators isn’t just happening on college campuses, but also on Youtube. There are certain Youtubers that make a living off of Youtube depending on how many views their videos get. They make their money through monetization and revenue from advertisements. If a channel gets demonetized where they don’t have advertisements before their videos, the channel doesn’t make money. Twenty-year-old Hunter Avallone is a conservative Youtuber who has gotten his channel completely demonetized and some videos taken down due to his support for Trump and criticism of the left. Meanwhile, many other Youtubers who make hate videos on conservatives and make a lot of jokes about assassinating the president. These channels have not been demonetized and their videos are still up. Youtube is basically showing the creators of Youtube content that their videos have to fit their agenda or they will suffer consequences. This kind of censorship is not only taking away people’s’ right of free speech, but is also affecting certain people financially. College faculty need to be taking this more seriously and not let students prevent speakers from coming and sharing their thoughts. People need to also realize that not every opinion that differs from theirs is hate speech. This kind of behavior isn’t doing anything good for these college campuses. If anything, it is just giving them a bad reputation. This also applies to YouTube. The company isn’t going to be seen as an appealing company if they demonetize commentators who disagree with their agenda. If anything, it will result in them losing viewers on videos, which their whole company relies on. Speakers should be able to express their opinion and say what they want without threats and people rioting against them. College students have the right to protest, but bomb and shooting threats some of these people have been getting are going a little too far. Free speech is one of the many advantages we have in America and it’s time to start taking it seriously. opinion u september|october 2017q the viewpoint u15 Aurelien
According to the First Amendment, free speech is one of the benefits that is defended by the United States Constitution. People have the right to express their opinion, make speeches, and have debates about different topics. However, it seems that lately people’s ideas or thoughts have been labeled “too toxic” or “offensive” to be shared on college campuses and sites such as YouTube. Colleges have cancelled speakers like Ben Shapiro or Milo Yiannopoulos due to protests from students who have disagreed with their opinions, claiming their presence was “triggering.” Milo Yiannopoulos is a British political commentator who is well known for his views that are associated with right wing policies. He doesn’t consider himself a conservative, but most of his views are pretty Republican based. He has criticised modern day feminism, is an open Trump supporter, and publicly states his concerns about the ideology of Islam. Because of his thoughts and ideas, schools such like the University of New York and the University of Miami have cancelled speeches he was planning to give due to the “concerns and well being of the community.” His talk at Florida Atlantic University had to be “postponed” due to bomb and shooting threats he was getting from the students. Similar events have also happened to conservative speaker Ben Shapiro, who was banned from DePaul University and the University of Utah due to his political commentary. There was a huge protest against Shapiro speaking, and there were a few people even arrested because it got so out of hand. Sophomore Mason Oberle said, “I feel that no matter how radical or disgusting someone’s thoughts are, every person has the right to have their thoughts heard.” The University of Chicago, unlike many other universities, takes no part in cancelling these speakers. In 2016, the university sent a letter to incoming freshman saying they do not believe in cancelling speakers just because students are “triggered” by them, and they have different opinions. They also don’t allow students to leave class and go to a “safe space” just because they hear something they disagree with. The letter said they support difference of opinion, and college is a place for education, not a safe space. Some students and even some parents were upset about it.
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a e Dr Trump signs executive order to end DACA in March of 2018 by Bella Roeske
Controversy has spiraled from the recent news that President Trump has given DACA six months before there is a high chance of the termination of the program. Failed attempts to pass the Dream Act legislation in both houses of Congress, under both the Bush and Obama administrations, triggered President Obama to create DACA, an immigration policy that stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, in his fourth year in office. Despite Congress failing to pass the legislation to protect young immigrants brought to the United States illegally by their parents, Obama was dedicated to finding a way to protect the rights of those children. He was able to implement DACA, which provides a 2-year deferment from deportation actions and provides eligibility for a work permit. According to the American Immigration Center, to file for DACA protection you must comply with seven official requirements. A few examples are that you must be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, entered the United States before your sixteenth birthday, and must be currently in school, have graduated, or obtained an equivalent certificate of completion from high school, successfully obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or must have been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States. It is estimated by the Migration Policy Institute, that 1.9 million people in the U.S. are eligible for DACA, however, the Department of Homeland Security issued a memorandum on September 5th, 2017 saying that DACA applications will not be accepted anymore, effective immediately. One of Donald Trump’s major promises while running for office was that he would terminate DACA. Ending DACA, however, would mean that the participants who have self-identified as illegal could potentially be deported. While immigration is a huge topic currently and has been historically, targeting children and young people is not the way to fix the problem. These people came to the United States at a young age and this is the only home they’ve really ever known. They have grown up in America and have benefited by an American program to have better
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“In my opinion, I definitely don’t agree with President Trump getting rid of DACA. There are many immigrants in the USA who not only go to school every day, but also work hard to help their families. I hope President Trump realizes how important immigrants are for this country and that not every immigrant is bad,” said Oscar Martinez, junior
opportunities in their lives. These are not children who have committed crimes or stolen jobs, but instead innocent people who were granted a waiver by the United States to live here legally and become citizens of the free country. Rather than stealing jobs, which is what many people who oppose DACA say the children and young adults are doing, they are actually benefiting the economy and society. About 700,000 people have received DACA protection, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In 2016, a survey was conducted by organizations such as the National Immigration Law Center and the Center for American Progress on over 1,000 DACA participants. The results showed how these people contribute to the economy by buying cars and first homes and even creating new jobs. 95 percent of the people surveyed are currently employed or are in school. DACA participants have access to careers that would not otherwise be available to them. People who oppose DACA also say that by creating DACA through a number of executive orders, President Obama abused his executive power. However, according to Constitution Center, “An executive order is a directive from the President that has much of the same power as a federal law.” Congress does have the power to override an executive order, though, which upholds the system of checks and balances. Before taking office, Trump had accused President Obama of abusing his power by signing so many executive orders, which actually totaled to 276 in his eight years in office. President Bush signed 291 and President Clinton signed 364. In contrast, President Trump has already signed more executive orders in his first 200 days in office than President Obama averaged in a year. Trump has called building the wall that would separate America from Mexico easy, which is a form of preventing illegal immigration. He said, “We’re building the wall. The wall is gonna be built. It’s easy.” There is, in truth, little hope for the wall to be built. Mexico will not pay for a wall that will separate the free country from them, and yet, Trump is still actively trying to get rid of the one immigration policy that is currently working. We need to protect the young people who have been brought to America by their parents and have grown up here. They are our neighbors and friends and family. We must keep them safe.
SKIPPING CLASS How breaking that perfect attendance could actually have its benefits by Damien Veal
"People just need a break every now and then" Victoria Brown
"The stress could just multiply " - Byron Hoover Students are always expected to be in the classroom on time with their work completed and their materials ready. But most days not everyone shows up to class and not everyone is prepared. Students who take unexcused absences or ditch class are often admonished for never being where they are supposed to, but could occasionally not showing up to class have positive effects on students? Many jobs give their workers “Mental Health Days.” This gives workers a chance to take time to destress if they feel overwhelmed from their jobs. These days are used to try to prevent any mental health issues their work could be causing them. Often students skip class to get away from the stress of their large workload of all their classes, but could skipping class be seen in the same light of a mental health day? Never showing up to class isn’t going to help, but taking a day once in awhile could be a good idea. With everything going on in a teenager’s life--from sports and extracurriculars to relationships and school work, a break could actually help destress and bring focus back. Senior Victoria Brown said she never skips school and if she misses, it’s never on purpose. She says skipping class makes students miss class which makes it hard for them to catch up. Her the only exception is if a student is taking a mental health day because “[p]eople need to take a break now and then.” Victoria said,“Once or twice a school year if you really need to, but not to the point where your missing too much work time, could benefit you.” Byron Hoover, psychology teacher, said to the inner teacher in him, “Mental health days just sound like a way to get out of class.” A mental health day could just be a bad avoidance technique. He said taking days off could just have a counter effect and the stress is added on after you tried to escape the work for a day. Byron added, “Mental health days should only be used if there is an actual concern for the person’s health.” These days can be used very loosely when someone is deciding whether or not they need a day off. Furthermore, Byron said, “In my job and in most people’s lives the stress could just be multiplied.” Often kids are looked at as carefree and without work, but in fact it’s the opposite. According to NBC News, teens say their school year stress levels are much higher than what is healthy. The average of a scale of stress going to 10 where most teenagers ranked at a 5.8 while adults were 5.1, meaning teenagers are often more stressed than adults. School, work, sports, social media all add on to students stress levels. Students are expected to perform higher both in and out of school than what they used to be. C’s are no longer an average grade as they were once described. Doing one or two activities out of school often isn’t being involved enough in the community . Having a high GPA and enough extracurricular activities is often the deciding factor of whether or not a student will be accepted into a university or not, which can weigh heavily on a student’s mind. Having these days built into the school year or a work schedule could defeat the purpose though as it would just be seen as another day off. A sick day is never scheduled and if the day is actually being used to stay mentally healthy and not just avoid working, then neither should a mental health day. Skipping school daily, weekly, even monthly will never be considered a good suggestion. It will only build up your work and stress, but missing a day when it is absolutely needed will help students come back more focused and ready to learn, which could in the long term help their lives in and out of school.
feature useptember | october 2017 uthe viewpoint u 17
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Health Fads or Facts There are a ton of diets and health foods out there, but why is it so difficult to tell which ones are healthy and which ones aren’t by Danielle Piper
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et’s be real here. Almost everyone could be a little healthier. With the Pinterest recipes and the multitude of Instagram accounts featuring healthy foods, routines, people, and tips, everyone is getting a little push to improve their well-being. One issue with the media’s large variety of health tips is that some of these dietary hacks aren’t accurate, or are outright unsafe. Theoretically, it should be easy to determine which health inspirations are actually good for you, but with so many conflicting sources, it can be difficult to tell the good from the bad. There are plenty of diets out there. Some, like the military diet, focus on losing as much weight as possible in the shortest amount of time. Others, like the paleo diet, are big lifestyle changes for people wanting to be healthier. Although Vegan.com says veganism “offers an incredibly effective way to protect animals, the environment, and your health,” and “A Keto Diet for Beginners” says the diet “turns the body into a fat-burning machine,” what are these diets actually doing for you? “These diets are drastic, but not necessarily healthy,” answers Licensed Practical Nurse Amy Poth. “Our bodies are made to have protein, so going vegan, if you’re eliminating all your protein, where is that going to come from? You have the amino acids to help break that down; if you don’t have the protein, it’s got to break something else down: sometimes muscle, sometimes fat.” In order to be a vegan or vegetarian safely, you can’t eat less protein than you need, but not eating meat does make it harder to obtain the proper nutrients in that department. Changes to your diet should be made, like consuming different proteins, so you can compensate for removing meat from your diet. You need to be especially cautious with the keto diet because it limits your carb intake drastically. “The keto diet isn’t necessarily healthy because it puts you into ketoacidosis, which means you are using too much of your sugar and your glucose, which can make you foggy headed and not remember things... So they are drastic, yes, you lose weight with them, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthy,” said Poth. Some diets are more short-termed, meant for losing weight as quickly as possible. These include programs like the military diet: a strict 3-day plan with less than 1000 calories per day, and a variety of cleanses. On paper, these diets sound good. “The Military Diet” boasts that the military diet can make you “lose 10 pounds in 3 days,” but Poth said, “the ‘quick way’ diets involve dehydration and you drop a lot of water weight and you get very dehydrated. That can affect your muscles and your cardiovascular system (heart). It’s not healthy at all.” A diet of this type ends up not working, “...because you go back to your normal diet and activities,” says Mountain View High School’s nurse Paula Horton. “It can actually be unhealthy because it throws the body into a stress response, and anytime the body is stressed, you’re more prone to other illnesses or issues.” The best way, if you’re looking to lose weight and are turning to these extreme methods, is not through starving yourself, or only drinking fruit smoothies for a week. The best way is through proper
diet and exercise over time. You’ll get there eventually, don’t get discouraged, and don’t worry. If a lifestyle change is a bit much to handle, try adding a few foods to your diet or swapping some out to start. Recently, some of the mainstream health swaps have been coconut oil for other fats and nut, soy, or rice milks for cow milk. A food that has just been included in a lot more recipes is kale. Coconut oil has been health enthusiasts’ bread and butter (actually, just butter) recently. It can supposedly whiten your teeth, moisturize your skin, remove makeup, and work as deodorant, and this isn’t even mentioning its powers when ingested! Coconut oil is claimed to be heart-healthy since it raises your HDL,good cholesterol, however, it still raises LDL, bad cholesterol. WebMD tells the truth about coconut oil. It says one tablespoon contains 13 grams of saturated fat, the maximum amount you should eat in a day. Coconut oil is heart-neutral if anything. Another claim is that coconut oil can promote weight loss, which to some extent is true. Foods, like coconut oil, with medium-chain triglycerides are more likely to be burned off then converted to body fat. This sounds great, but like any other fat, coconut oil is high in calories and needs to be counted as such. A debate has been going on about the value of cow’s milk and whether it’s needed in the human diet. Although there’s no doubt it’s a reliable source of vitamin D, potassium, and calcium, certain diets can live without it. People with cardiovascular diseases don’t need the eight grams of fat one cup of whole milk contains, and should drink skim milk, which has 0.02 grams of fat. People on the pro side argue the vitality of dairy milk for your bone health because of its calcium and added vitamin D. However, countries with lower calcium intake statistically have less bone fractures than the U.S. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, dairy milk has been seen to cause side-effects for roughly 65 percent of the population who suffer from lactose intolerance, or for people who have milk allergies. Milk alternatives like almond, soy, and rice milk offer the same benefits for people who can’t consume milk. These non-dairy milks, although having their own pros, have to be fortified with calcium to contain the same benefits as milk. However, these milks are sold with calcium and other vitamins added, making them just as good as dairy milk. Kale is recommended to assist weight loss and healthy living. According to Medical News Today, kale is your standard leafy green: rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamin k, calcium, and more. It promotes skin, hair, digestive, heart, and bone health, and protects against diabetes, and even cancer. The only problem is, according to a 2014 study published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), kale isn’t even one of the top 10 nutrient-dense fruits or vegetables. It was trumped by common vegetables like romaine lettuce, spinach, and watercress. This doesn’t mean kale is unhealthy; it just shouldn’t be considered the god of vegetables. In conclusion, foods, schedules, or workout routines work for some bodies, but not for others. The best way to determine the differences between health fads or facts is to first, research if the trend is safe, and then talk to your doctor to check if it might be too extreme for your body to handle.
“These diets are drastic, but not necessarily healthy.” -LPN Poth
feature useptember | october 2017 uthe viewpoint u19
THE IB Emilee Holmquist Photos by Emilee Holmquist
Discover what the International Baccaloreate Diploma Program at Mountain View is all about from the perspectives of both teachers and students
w Photo of Ryan Cunninham, full IB senior.
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the viewpoint u september | october 2017 u feature
“IB is about taking students and making them into
better learners....It’s more than being able to pass an exam in May. IB forces you to be a good person who is involved with your community....It forces you to be outside of your comfort zone in every subject. It allows you to do investigations of your choosing. It’s stressful, but I think it honestly makes us better.” -Rebecca Brown With late nights, little sleep and countless in-depth assignments, the International Baccalaureate (IB) program is of the most rigorous academic options across the world. With the requirements of taking six core IB classes and the Diploma Program core, which consists of Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity Action and Service (CAS) , and the Extended Essay (EE), the IB program is one of the most well-rounded and culminating options out there. While the common consensus regarding IB is “why would you do that to yourself?”, the real question is “why would you not?” “IB is about taking students and making them into better learners because it’s more than being able to pass an exam in May. IB forces you to be a good person who is involved with your community...It forces you to be outside of your comfort zone in every subject. It allows you to do investigations of your choosing. It’s stressful, but I think it honestly makes us better,” said full IB student Rebecca Brown. The IB program may sound daunting to most, but all the hard work and stressful moments are worth the rewards; not only can IB award college credit, but the rigorous program also makes college easier in the future. One of the IB traits is being well-rounded,
and with everything the IB program consists of such as CAS and the EE, there is no doubt that IB students have a full schedule. For instance, Ryan Cunningham is a senior enrolled in the full IB program, and he is the epitome of how busy IB kids tend to be. Aside from being in the IB program, Cunningham is on the varsity lacrosse team, is the NHS president, the SCA historian, a member of Spanish Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honors Society), participates in the Cyberpatriot competitions, and spends time volunteering at his church and giving lacrosse lessons on the weekends. In regards to juggling his busy schedule, Cunningham said, “Between school, social life and sleep, one has to give, and it’s always sleep.” But IB kids are a lot more than a bunch of ambitious, sleep-deprived students. Senior Maddie Brence, another full IB candidate, describes the students in the program as a “closeknit IB family.” With most students taking the same classes, IB candidates get to know each other pretty well throughout the years, and with smaller class sizes, the teachers are able to get to know the students as individuals as well. Brown said, “I love the IB teachers so much. I think they understand the workload of their
students way better than other teachers.” Among these IB teachers is Theresa Gaddy, an IB Language and Literature year two teacher and the new IB coordinator, as of this year. Gaddy said, “[Being the IB coordinator] has provided me an opportunity to learn a lot of things that I never knew how to do...I’m looking forward to getting to be more of a resource for teachers and students.” Gaddy is currently “learning the ropes” of being the IB coordinator, as she has big shoes to fill from the outgoing coordinator, Lisa Renard, who Brown describes as having been “the wizard behind the IB curtain for so long”. Along with the IB teachers, the seniors in the IB program act as a mentor for pre-IB underclassmen and IB juniors. They are able to do this through events such as ice cream socials and through the new mentor program, where full IB juniors and seniors are paired up with pre-IB candidates for academic advice and tutoring. A piece of advice from Gaddy to students in or aspiring to join the IB program is “to recognize that they are going to be uncomfortable, and that that feeling means growth, that they are making new connections in their brain, and that they are viewing things from a perspective that they didn’t think of before…” She continued to explain that “our default setting for when things are hard is to say ‘I don’t wanna do it’, and so to recognize that and push through is something that is very valuable to have.” This ability to persevere and to time manage is something that all IB kids have to learn to do, and despite how challenging the program can be at times, in the end, it makes students into the best versions of themselves and helps them discover their full capabilities.
world feature useptember | october 2017 uthe viewpoint u 21
Spider Cookies Ingredients: 1/2 cup of shortening 1/2 cup of peanut butter 1/2 cup of brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 1 egg 2 tablespoons of milk 1 tablespoon of vanil a 1 3/4 cups flour i tablespoon baking soda 1/2 tablespoon of salt 1/4 cup of sugar (for rolling) 48 mini Reese’s cups, frozen 96 candy eyes 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Directions: Preheat oven to 375 Beat shortening, egg, peanut butter, all sugar, vanil a and milk together in a large bowl Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl Gradually mix two bowls together until blended Form into 1’ balls Roll in sugar and place on an ungreased cookie sheet Bake for 10-12 minutes Immediately pace frozen Reese’s cups upside down on cookie and move cookies to a wire rack Put the candy eyes on while the chocolate is stil soft Allow cookie to cool in the fridge for up to 10 minutes Place chocolate chips in the corner of a Ziplock bag and microwave for 20 seconds Cut a small piece of the corner of the bag and draw 8 legs on the cookie Place in fridge for 10 minutes
Halloween Treats
This fall instead of just sit ing on the coach wishing for warmer days, try making some of these Halloween treats by Sophie Perez
Ghost Brownies
Ingredients: 1 box of brownie mix white frosting 16 large marshmallows Black food decorating gel
Scary Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients: 6 tablespoons of melted butter 1/3 cup almond butter 1/4 cup coconut sugar 1 chia egg (1 tablespoon ground chia + 3 tablespoons of water) 1 1/2 tablespoons vanil a extract 1 cup almond flour 1/3 cup GF oats 1/4 cup coconut flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, cut roughly Sugar pearls Slivered almonds Food coloring markers (black and red) Red gel food coloring 22 q
Directions: Preheat oven to Break almond slivers 350 degrees into the shape of teeth Combine ground chia seeds and Use food coloring markwater in a small bowl and set aside ers or gel to add bloody Mix cream butter, almond butter, accents (ex: on the teeth) sugar and chia egg Add remaining dry ingredients and mix to combine Using a cookie scoop, scoop batter onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper Flat en cookie dough to the size you want the cookie to be as they wil not spread much while baking Bake 8-10 minutes, until cookies are soft Make indents where the eyes and mouth wil go Color in the indents with black marker and place sugar pearls in eye indents
the viewpoint q september | october 2017 q feature
Directions: Heat oven to 350 degrees Line an 8-9 inch pan with foil and spray with cooking spray Make brownies as directed on box Cool for about 1 1/2 hours Cut brownies into 4 by 4 rows Heat frosting in an uncovered microwavable bowl until frosting becomes smooth and fluid Top each brownie with a marshmallow Spoon 1 tablespoon of frosting over marshmallows to coat Let frosting set for about 30 minutes Use black gel to form eyes and mouths
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Cheri Blevins Kimberly Sullivan
Erin Davis
salon to get your hair done. I believe that homecoming still has the same meaning as it did then. A weekend filled with school spirit making lasting memories with friends.” Mountain View’s homecoming king, senior David Cohen said, “I feel like when teachers were our age, homecoming was similar. People had fun, danced and everything. I feel like it was a good time for everybody.” However, senior Julia Squillante said, “I think the actual dance was a lot different, especially the way they danced.” Senior Erin Davis also said, “I feel like the dancing was a lot different, as well as the style of music. I feel like there was a lot more slow songs.” When teachers were younger the music choice was definitely different. Mowell said, “I have not attended a dance in a long time but I can imagine the music has changed.” One thing that has not changed throughout the years is the amount of time spent with friends. Getting together with friends is one of the most important parts of high school. Whether you go with a date or go as a group, dancing with friends is so much fun. Kimberly Sullivan said, “We used to go to a nice dinner with a large group of friends and hang out after.” Spending time with friends has always been a big part of homecoming. Davis said, “My favorite part of homecoming is getting ready with my friends. We always get together and do our hair and makeup.” Squillante said, “My favorite part about u homecoming is going to dinner before because I get to spend time with my friends.” Homecoming has come a long way from the first 1911 game and parade. Every generation has their own interpretation on what the tradition is.
David Cohen
Getting hyped up at the pep rally for the football game and showing a crazy amount of school spirit, homecoming is really just a time for students to have fun and enjoy themselves. The first annual homecoming was in 1911, and it was centered on a parade and football game. Many things have been changed and added to original homecoming tradition: from the fun spirit week to the exciting football game, from getting ready with friends to dancing the night away. The week starts off with the hallway decorating, spirit week, and penny wars. Each grade level gets a theme that goes along with the whole theme of the dance. Then, students get to express their school spirit with the different spirit days, ending off each spirit week with MV Spirit Friday. Throughout the week, FCCLA collects pennies as a contest between each grade. Friday afternoon is always the Homecoming Pep Rally. This is to get the whole school pumped up for the football game. During the pep rally, they announce the winners of the most spirited, best hallway, and most pennies. Homecoming is an amazing time to show school spirit and build relationships with other students. Cheri Blevins said, “I’m not sure much has changed since I was in school. Homecoming week was always hyped up with penny wars, spirit days, hallways competitions, and always scrambling to find a date and a dress! Don’t forget the pep rally, too!” The only difference, Blevins said, was the homecoming parade. They all worked very hard on the floats, but it was not as big of a deal as it should have been. Teresa Mowell said, “I remember homecoming to be more formal than it is today: eating at a restaurant that you would normally never go to, spending the day at the
Julia Squillante
Kimberly Sullivan
Take a look at what homecoming was like back when teachers were in high school compared to now by Gia Morreale
feature useptember | october 2017u the viewpoint u23
difficult sometimes, but here’s some ways your fellow classmates stay positive and some
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