The Viewpoint December 2019 by The Viewpoint

The Viewpoint

Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Road Stafford, VA 22556

STUDENT NEWS Magazine MVHS

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 3 December

Take a peek at pages 08 & 09 for suggestions on how to survive the holidays.

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Editorial

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The Viewpoint

The Viewpoint staff has a lovely holiday gift exchange every year, and it feels just as crazy as big family gatherings but for slightly different and less stressful reasons. Writers Catelynn, Danielle, Caroline and Sean have some cards up their sleeves when it comes to the season, whereas Bella, Claire, Ceci, Lexi, and Jojo don’t feel they need strategies to “survive.” Caroline and Catelynn both said music is their biggest weapon. When her extended family comes to visit her, Catelynn said, “I am usually locked in my room blaring music to tune them out.” Caroline is a little more subdued and said, “I always keep my headphones with me and try to keep my smile on.” Both of them do this, as well as avoid certain topics. Bella, Lexi and Sean know this trick as well, but don’t go out of their way to keep their family Cover 12 Christmas movies out of their hair. Lexi said, “I think my family is somewhat normal in the fact that we don’t really dread seeing each other, just as long as we don’t Ads 13 Grinds my gears talk about politics.” Index Sean and Danielle both employ tactics found in 14 Fall sports recap “How to Survive the Holidays” during the season. Briefs 13 Fall sports recap Sean said, “I try to stay by my baby cousin as much as possible because no one will be around Vegan rigatoni 14 Astrology me if I’m holding a sleeping child.” Danielle opts for the kitchen route and said, “I have a better Last words 15 Ads & brief time at get togethers when I’m helping in the kitchen or doing something with my sister.” Last words 16 Ideal holiday gift Jules, Ceci, and Jojo have less to worry about over the holidays. Jules said, “I go from house to Surviving holidays 17 Winter lookbook house normally during the holidays. So I do not spend extended periods of time with my family Surviving holidays 18 Grinch news at once which makes it easier to see everyone but also have time for myself.” Ceci is close with her family, and doesn’t worry too much about family gatherings. Jojo said, “I actually don’t mind spending time with my family on the holidays. We definitely get into fights easily, but it usually blows over in five minutes.” Whether the staff considers the season a tactical mission, a chance to enjoy favorite holiday movies with some homemade rigatoni or just a time to ignore all the bad stuff in the world, they all agree that this break is worth looking forward to all year.

Index

Feature Figure by Ceci Alvarez Adin Huntington started playing football when he was just five years old. Since then, his determination, drive and dedication to the sport earned him a multitude of district titles and college offers. This 2019 season, Huntington was named All District Defensive Player of the Year, All Region Defensive Player of the Year and First team Defensive End. But before the season came to a close, the college offers had already started rolling in. Huntington received a total of 11 college offers: four Division II offers and seven Division I. On December third, Huntington announced his decision to commit to Kent State University. While in college, Huntington plans to pursue his bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in exercise science. Someone he says who has inspired him the most is his father. He said, “He’s always been the one to tell me what I did good or bad after a game and he’s been the main one to take me around to colleges. He’s also there to push me and wants me to do good in whatever I pursue.” Huntington states that failure motivates him. He says, “When you fail you have no choice but to get better.” Some of his favorite words to live by are ”Average people do average things,” “If you want to be different then you have to perform different,” and ”Sometimes our biggest mistake turns into our biggest lesson which leads us to our biggest reward.”

DECEMBER 2019 VOLUME 14 ISSUE 3 Managing Editors Isabella Roeske Danielle Piper Extra Editor Caroline Pollock Social Media Editor Javonna Brigham Photography Editor Jules Torrice Briefs Editors Aisha SantiagoBurgos Lexi Jackson Adviser Trisha Strahl

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 Staples. Letters and art to the editorial board are welcomed and should be submitted to room 503.

Staff Writers Catelynn Aiman, Ceci Alvarez, Javonna Brigham, Aisha SantiagoBurgos, Lexi Jackson, Sean Jones, Danielle Piper, Caroline Pollock, Isabella Roeske Jules Torrice, and Claire Watkins Front Cover Isabella Roeske Danielle Piper 2014-2018 International Quill and Scroll First Place Articles 2014-2018 VHSL State Championship First Place Award 2013, 2014, 2015 Free Lance-Star Best Over All Newspaper 2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556

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What's new at the View? Fredericksburg holiday parade by Claire Watkins Attending the Fredericksburg Christmas Parade is a fun way to get into the holiday spirit for thousands of people in the area. Spectators of the parade watch dozens of groups and floats trot through the main streets of Downtown Fredericksburg. This year, the parade took place on Saturday, December 7. Among the attendees was Jonathan Krob, junior; he said “I really enjoyed the parade and watching all the spirited people. My favorite part was the little kids being pulled by their parents.” The parade stretches over one mile between Princess Anne and Caroline Street and includes over 75 acts for entertainment and cheer. “I thought the parade was a lot of fun, like it is every year. I enjoyed the marching band the most and I liked the upbeat music,” said Kallie Triplett, senior. Also, at the end of the parade every year Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in the final float of the evening. If you missed this year’s parade or want to go back for another round next year, there are a few things to keep in mind. Dogs are allowed, but only if they are crowd-friendly and on leashes, many businesses close for the night, and parking is not allowed on the streets where the parade occurs.

NHS blood drive by Ceci Alvarez Mountain View held its annual blood drive on Monday, December 9. Although the process of donating blood can be scary, the Red Cross does a great job at making the procedure relaxing and fun. For future blood drives, the sign up for the blood drive is held on specific dates during lunch. To make sure you are able to donate, there are a few requirements. In Virginia, you are eligible to donate at the age of 16 with parental consent, and at the age of 18 without parental consent. The Red Cross nurse working with you will check your iron levels, temperature, and blood pressure to make sure everything is normal. Michael Arce, sophomore, says,” I chose to donate blood yesterday because there are people out there that need it. If I have it and I’m healthy and I’m able to give it to them then why not. It helps other people, and it does not harm you. That’s why I chose to donate.” If donating seems a little intimidating for you, there is also the option to volunteer. The volunteers help with snacks and drinks for the donors, help donors recover from donating, and more. Victoria Simone, junior who volunteered, says, “It was an interesting opportunity to see the blood donating process and see the different ways that people react to donating blood.”

Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever by Sean Jones

| photo by Eric Hokanson

“It’s really fun and we all have fun because we are all like a family.” That’s how Sydney Givler, senior, described the atmosphere of backstage before opening night of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” The show is a story of how a Christmas pageant goes from good to bad to ugly because of a family of delinquants. The Herdman family are not a typical family; they steal, beat, and burn anything in their way. So when they hear that there is a Christmas pageant happening, they are going to find a way to ruin it. Not only that, but the normal director is in the hospital and can’t stop them from joining the play. But the play didn’t just have an interesting story; it had incredible songs like “Hey Mrs. Bradley”, “The Horrible Herdmans”, “Take My Lunch”, “Die Herod Die” and many others. But it wasn’t just the music that was great, but the singers as well. “Honestly, Jillian [Brence], Sydney [Givler], and Karoline [Colucci] work really well together,” said Allison Williams, junior. And with the big music came big choreography as well. People got on tables, had huge dance sequences and made the town seem very alive and active. With the great music, an intriguing story and some very complicated, yet fun to watch choreography, it will be exciting to see how the Wild Acts top this show in the spring.

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Vegan Rigatoni Eat good, feel good by Claire Watkins

Ingredients

“It tastes the same as a regular rigatoni dish.” -Jenny Kerstetter, 12

e i ght se o t x i s rv s e in at

16 ounces Barilla Rigatoni 12 ounces Morning Star Grillers Crumble 32 ounces Tomato sauce of choice 8 ounces Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds

Instructions “Rigatoni is perfect for dinner.” -Rylee Cajohn, 9

Boil rigatoni for 10 minutes or until Al dente Mix sauce and crumbles in pan and let simmer while pasta boils Preheat oven to 325 Place rigatoni in oven-safe dish then top with sauce, crumble, and cheese shreds Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted

“Rigatoni is one of the best Italian dishes! Perfect for a beginner cook!” -Haydn Warren, 11 recipeu december 2019 u the viewpoint u5

da Kahlo i r F

Allan P r a g

“Lord, help my poor soul.” According to the Smithsonian, “The Tell-Tale Heart” poet Edgar Allan Poe was found deliriously roaming the street in Baltimore, Maryland before succumbing to phrenitis. His date of death was October 7, 1849.

“I hope the exit is joyful and hope never to come back.” According to the Frida Kahlo Foundation, “Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird” artist Frida Kahlo died on July 13, 1954 from pulmonary embolism in Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico.

memorable Last words Why not go out with a bang

n Crawfor a o

by Lexi Jackson | Photos by Wikipedia.com

“Damn it! Don’t you dare ask God to help me!” Actress Joan Crawford, who starred in “Mommie Dearest,” spoke her last words to her maid as she was praying for her. She died on May 10, 1977 in Manhattan, New York from a heart attack.

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b Marley o B

“Money can’t buy life.” On May 11, 1981, “One Love” Jamaican reggae singer Bob Marley passed away from Melanoma in Miami, Florida.

“I’m going, but I’m going in the name of the Lord.” American blues singer of “Down Hearted Blue” Bessie Smith died in Clarksdale, Mississippi on September 26, 1937 due to a car accident.

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“The sadness will last forever” “Starry Night” artist Vincent Van Gogh took his own life using a gun on July 29, 1830 in Auvers-Sur-Oise, France.

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“[Music] has been my doorway of perception and the house that I live in” English Singer David Bowie, who sang “Under Pressure,” succumbed to liver cancer on January 10, 2016 in Manhattan, New York.

“Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough!” German philosopher and author of “The Communist Manifesto” Karl Marx died on March 14, 1883 in London, United Kingdom due to acute bronchitis.

These students said their last words would be... Sophomore Edgar Rivera said, “I lived a good life. Believe it!”

Junior Kayla Gayle said, “I love you.”

Senior Beth Mowry said, “Oh, well at least I had fun.” feature u december 2019 u the viewpoint u07

Dsitting at the kids table, or worse, sitting at the main table and

oes the holiday season fill you with dread? Long dinners spent

answering or dodging a never-ending string of questions like, “so where do you want to go to college?” Gift exchanges spent feigning gratefulness for a pack of socks from your aunt, or anxiously anticipating when your grandpa opens that semi-risky present. Nights spent either on a pull out couch, cot from the attic, or on the floor in sleeping bags surrounded by your cousins. Being cramped up with extended family can certainly be stressful, so here is a guide on how to survive the holidays, not necessarily live them to the fullest, but survive. ometimes, the getting there is the hardest part of the holidays. Senior Abby Sussman said, “We go to my mom’s family in New Jersey every year on Christmas Day. I wake up at like seven o’clock, we get in the car and drive for eight hours. Travel’s awful, but it’s all worth it. Love you Grandpa Dick.”

Little kid duty is not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re up to the task, babysitter might just be the best hat to wear at a family get-together. Depending on the age you’re working with, you could be banished to the basement to do a variety of things including constructing Lincoln Log houses and enjoying some quality PBS Kids programming, absolutely crushing adolescents in Mario Kart or chasing a rogue cat around furniture. Either way, you at least aren’t stuck listening to your uncle and grandpa argue over ways to fix this country. Ultimately, kids have way better things to say anyway, so being stuck at the kids’ table isn’t such a bad thing after all. Freshman Elena Molina said, “I love the wholesome vibes everyone gives off during the holidays.” Kids arguably have some of the best “vibes,” so maxing out on time with them can make you feel even better.

How to survive

the holidays Obviously the holidays are about loving one another and being grateful for seeing your family, but being cooped up in a house with your politically divided family members can lead to some interesting conversations. After all the, “it’s been so long,”s and, “we missed you so much,”es, talking points are left to their own devices. The best way to survive the holidays and make them better for the rest of your family is to know and snuff out any conversations about the problematic trinity: politics, religion, and divorce. Touchy subjects can sneak up almost out of nowhere and you always need to keep your guard up. Facebook tutorials for the elderly can lead to questions about old relationships, a rogue political campaign commercial can unleash all the off-color comments hiding inside your extended family and your cousin’s new haircut can become a call to “fix” the new generation. This means you need to keep some fun facts and tidbits on hand, know the best ways to get your grandpa to tell his favorite story and be ready to suggest board or card games. It’s a tad manipulative, but looking back, you’ll be thankful you kept tensions low and didn’t join the shouting match yourself. Alternatively, if you’re trying to lay a little lower, you could just keep your head down when things get heated. Admittedly, the holidays will be all the more entertaining if there are a few catfights, but whatever you do, do not get in the ring yourself.

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A guide to surviving family get-togethers and holiday parties if survival strategies are needed by Bella Roeske and Danielle Piper

Sometimes the best way to avoid your family is to avoid your family. As mean as that sounds, staying away from your family for as long as you can may just be the best way for everyone to enjoy the holiday. If you have the luxury of having your own room, staying there until 10 a.m. and retiring to bed before the game ends is an easy way to limit interaction with the aunt or cousin who rubs you the wrong way. Volunteering to make a grocery run, take the dogs for a walk or supervise your little cousins’ and/or siblings’ trip to the playground also is an easy and kosher way to get out of the living room. Actively getting away from the havoc and/or awkwardness of a big get-together may not seem in the spirit of the season, but really, it’s better for everyone because family is sweetest in small doses.

Holidays smell like turkey, cranberries, beans and rice, latkes, crugal, ham and gingerbread to name a few things. Every family has their own collection of traditional dishes and new favorites. Even if your annual holiday get-together does a better job of getting on your nerves than getting you in the spirit, at least you can find solace in the dessert table. But, who knew hanging out in the kitchen is such an effective way to have a good time over the holidays? Getting your hands dirty in the kitchen mashing potatoes or rolling out dough is a great way to bond with your grandmother over old family recipes, and stay busy enough to avoid babysitting duty if that’s not your thing. On top of becoming the favorite helper out of all the grandkids and the endless compliments you’ll receive at the dinner table, sticking to the kitchen will leave you closer than ever to all the delicious food. You’ll become a favorite friend on top of favorite youngin’ because of your new abilities to whip up cookies and secret recipes for your group back at home. Because of all the great learning experiences and treats it has to offer, the kitchen is arguable the best way to survive the holidays. Junior Adrian Zimmer said, “In my family, everybody has to cook one dish for Christmas, so the food we make changes every year. My dad always does something with fish, and I like fish.”

Now, Mountain View blessed most of its students with the end of the semester before winter break, but your family doesn’t necessarily know that. Doing homework is the perfect excuse to stay in your bubble without offending anyone, because what can you do? If you use this strategy to survive big get-togethers, they are the perfect opportunity to get ahead in classes and start that paper that’s due after break, or do some preliminary sketches for the next art project. It’s a win-win because great aunts and uncles will be super understanding if you are too busy with your work, and when you get back to school, you’ll have plenty of down time. If you really don’t have any work, or are just tired of doing things for school, there are tons of other academic activities to bring and pass off for the real thing. Some homework-like things to bring are a new book, your bullet journal you haven’t touched since last January or a laptop with access to Khan Academy SAT Prep, an abandoned short story and foreign language practice programs.

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How would you prefer to spend your Friday night?

Caramel popcorn Gingerbread cookies

Doing my homework

Beginning of December

Hot chocolate

kissclipart

I don’t like Christmas

What Christmasmovie Christmas movie should you watch Take this quiz and see what Christmas movie you should watch by Ceci Alvarez

Mostly

What is your favorite thing about Christmas?

Staying inside away from civilization Christmas parties with family and friends Giving gifts to loved ones

kissclipart

What’s your favorite Christmas Carol?

“All I want for Christmas is you” by Mariah Carey “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” by Michael Bublé

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First day of November

Hanging with friends

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Two weeks before christmas

What Christmas snack/drink do you prefer?

kissclipart

By myself reading

What time of the year do you start celebrating Christmas?

You are introverted and enjoy the

indoors. Christmas isn’t really your favorite holiday and you enjoy your alone time.

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u december 2019 u quiz

You are outgoing and love to be around people. You are very eager to start celebrating the holidays, especially Christmas. You are the classic Christmas fanatic.

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Mostly

You can be considered an introvert but

can be outgoing with the people you are close to. You cherish family time around the holidays and time to yourself as well.

What grinds my gears This issue, I ruin classic Christmas TV specials by Sean Jones | photo by Catelynn Aiman

You heard me right, I’m going to ruin some beloved Christmas specials. Why? Because I like to ruin things. Now I don’t hate the holiday season, Christmas is my favorite holiday (until my birthday becomes a federal holiday, but that’s beside the point). I just like to look at things differently. Think of this as putting a new spin on an old tale. Okay Sean, what are you ruining? Great question! To summarize, I think that the Whos down in Whoville run a cult, Frosty the Snowman teaches kids how to get away with breaking the law and Rudolph the Reindeer is the North Pole’s Jackie Robinson. Yeah, I know that sounds crazy, but just hear me out... The Whos literally summon a star in the middle of town square! Like seriously, they all gather in a circle, hold hands, chant in the tongues of their ancestors and summon a star. If that’s not a cult activity, I don’t know what is. But to add on to that, the Grinch’s personality does a complete 180 after the star shows up. Now, you can say that the Grinch was moved by the Whos’ Christmas spirit or something, or you could say that the star used it’s divine power to change and manipulate the Grinch to be nice to the Whos. And in return, he got the strength of ten Grinches. So was the Grinch in the wrong still? Yep, he was absolutely in the wrong. But did the Whos summon a star to control the Grinch and make him do what they wanted him to do? It’s “The Whos are a possibility, we may never know. similar to the cult in

‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.’” - Joseph McGill, freshman

This next one is a little bit harder to explain. So, let me play out the scene. Frosty the Snowman has just been created by the mysterious black magic in the evil man’s top hat, and he decides to march through the town with his army of children when he comes to an intersection. At this intersection is a police officer who is directing traffic and Frosty just doesn’t listen to his directions to stop. Now, Frosty was born like five minutes before that, but in a court of law, ignorance is not usually an acceptable defence. According to hg.org, an online government organization for legal advice, “Generally, most laws do not care if the person knows that the action or activity was illegal. The prosecuting lawyer can still incur charges for the offense because of the harm to a person or entity.” Frosty broke the law when he failed to obey an officer (which is a misdemeanor). Could Frosty get away with it in court? Probably, but that’s not what happens. The officer let him off the hook in front of the kids. Frosty taught those kids that ignorance of the law is a defense that works. So when little Timmy goes to spray paint the side of the gymnasium, he’s going to try and get out of it by saying he didn’t know it was against the law. “Yes, Frosty has So, all in all, Frosty is a bad influence on children. Now, just like Frosty did at the end of the special, we are going definitely broken the to the North Pole for the last part of this article. law.”

-Brendan Ware,

This is one might be the strangest one. How can I compare Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer to the Baseball sophomore Hall of Fame member, status-quo breaking, and color-line crossing man that is Jackie Robinson? I can’t. But I can definitely try. So, first things first, let’s get the big one out of the way. They are both treated differently because of the color of a certain piece of their body (now granted, Jackie Robinson is treated differently because of the color of his skin and Rudolph just has a red nose, but they are treated differently for it). They both show amazing talent (Jackie was very good at baseball and Rudolph could jump extremely high for his age) and are then made fun of and even hated for being better than the “normal” people because they are different. Both find a white friend who doesn’t care about their color difference (Hermey and Harold Peter Henry “Pee Wee” Reese respectively *some side commentary to my side commentary: Is it a coincidence that both of their first names start with an H? Probably, but I thought it was neat*). “The North Pole And both have their talents exploited (originally) for someone’s personal gain. Jackie Robinson was used for has a very rigid caste money. How do I know this? Because of this quote from the head coach of the Dodger’s at that time, Leo Durocher, system.” “I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a zebra. I’m the manager of this team, and I say -John Hawthorne, he plays. What’s more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are sophomore all traded.” How do I know that Rudolph was exploited though? Because Santa, before asking Rudolph if he could help him, was still getting angry at him for having a red nose. To add more to that, the other reindeer don’t start to like him until Rudolph helped them for their own personal gain. So, at the end of the day, we can all agree that Santa might be a little opportunist… So is this the interpretation that creators had in mind when making these specials? No, probably not. Is it fun to look at things differently and put a new spin on old classics? Yes! The point of this article was not to “ruin” these specials for you, it was to help show you not to take everything at face value. If you think that the Grinch brought everything back out of the kindness of your heart, awesome. If you think Frosty is just an innocent snowman who doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong, that’s also cool. If you think that Rudolph is just a reindeer who was born with a birth defect of having a Christmas light for a nose, that’s totally fine. Everyone has a different way of interpreting things. I just hope this article helps you to find your way of interpreting things. So I hope everyone has a happy holiday, because soon enough, we have a new semester to “look forward to.” opinionu december 2019 u the viewpoint u11

Fall Sports Recap Take a deeper look into the successful seasons of the fall sports by Javonna Brigham and Caroline Pollock

All information is provided by individual coaches and pictures are provided by Lifetouch. All information was submitted by December 12. Due to the timing of the end of the season for a number of sports, not all information, final statistics, or recognition may be included.

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in d a e l heer

news u december 2019 u the viewpoint u13

Reindeers and Astrology Each zodiac shares a personality with a reindeer; find out which one is yours by Catelynn Aiman

Each Zodiac corresponds with a Reindeer. According to holidappy, all the reindeers have a unique personality. And according to Astrology Zodiacs signs, each zodiac has a specific trait about them that makes them unique. Therefore each zodiac aligns with a reindeer.

Aries corresponds with Dasher. Dasher is social, happy and has a big heart. Aries is adventurous and courageous. Together they are energetic. Taurus corresponds with Comet. Comet is honest and helpful. Taurus is patient and reliable. Both are strong-willed. Emily Cox, Junior, said, “Yeah Comet is cool.”

Gemini corresponds with Vixen. Vixen is laid-back and trust-worthy. Gemini is adaptable and witty. Both are intelligent Cancer corresponds with Olive. Olive is friendly and prefers not to be in the spotlight. Cancer is emotional and imaginative. Both are shy, but once you get to

know them they are outgoing

Leo corresponds with Sven. Sven is empathic and supportive. Leo is faithful and broad-minded. Together they are creative Virgo corresponds with Rudolph. Rudolph is a leader and humble. Virgo is modest and practical. Both are reliable. “Rudolph is so special; he even has a light nose,” said Jacob Petska, sophomore.

Libra corresponds with Cupid. Cupid is compassionate and flirty. Libra is easy-going and peaceful. Both are affectionate. Scorpio corresponds with Prancer. Prancer is loyal and enthusiastic. Scorpio is exciting and intuitive. Both are passionate. Sagittarius corresponds with Blitzen. Blitzen is good-hearted and playful. Sagittarius is optimistic and freedom-loving. Together, they love to have fun. Breann Norwood, sophomore, said, “Blitzen is my favorite.”

Capricorn corresponds with Dancer. Dancer likes to have fun and is popular. Capricorn is ambitious but careful. Both love a good celebration. Aquarius corresponds with Donner. Donner loves to debate and loves music. Aquarius is independent and humanitarian. Both are original. Pisces corresponds with Clarice. Clarice is polite and mature, selfless, and sensitive. Both are kind and sweet.

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u december 2019 u astrology

Spirit week by Bella Roeske The week before midterms and finals at Mountain View was full of spirit week fanatics. It was the last week of freedom of the first semester. Students of all grades dressed up crazily to celebrate being halfway done with the 2019-2020 school year. On Monday, students dressed in pajamas. Many slippers could be seen in classrooms, as well as fuzzy pants and everything comfy. On Tuesday, the school was full of twins and on Wednesday, Tik Tok took over Mountain View. E-girls and e-boys ruled the hallways. Sophomore Lenny Klepic said, “It’s really cool to be able to wear something different to school for a change.” As usual, Friday was spirit day. Feather boas, tutus, and all shades of maroon and orange could be seen on nearly every person. While spirit day is known to be quite distracting, students were still able to get last minute review before midterms and finals. Senior Daniel Flett said, “It [spirit week] was very fun, but I was disappointed there was no pep rally because it made me not want to dress up on Friday.” While there was no pep rally to end the semester, there will be one in January for the students to release all of their energy following the holidays and celebrate winter sports. Senior Lilia Vanderhoof said, “Everyone dressed up very spirited, and it was lovely to see.” Mountain View students did not fail to make spirit week a fun one with a collection of Beanie Babies on twin day and hundreds of comical Christmas and Hanukkah sweaters on holiday day.

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For a relationship:

For a friendship:

For him, try the gift of a watch. You can personalize the band to be black or brown for the everlasting clean look. You can select the rims to be gold or silver. Under the face of the watch, you could even engrave a message saying “ I love you.” If you have never mentioned this to your significant other, having this as a constant reminder to them can be very meaningful. Cristina Gaines, math teacher, said “ I feel that by giving them a gift it lets them know that I still care and love them and value them as a person and as a partner.” The ideal holiday gift for a relationship can change depending on whether it’s for him or her. For her, you could try a silver bracelet based on what fits her personality more. If you would like to add a little spice to it, you could get the bracelet engraved with a message or even the person’s name.

For him, you could get him matching outfits, so you both can twin for the day. You could get him a sweatshirt and put your name and his and possibly a number both of you like. The clothing part is the gift givers choice. Choose what would be best for the recipient of the gift. For her, you could get her a self-care basket. Everything can be in her favorite color. You could add scented candles, some hair products, bath bombs, face masks, lotions, perfumes, and even put her favorite stuffed animal to help fill up the basket and not have it looked so empty. You know her, so anything that you get her she will love because it came from you. Abigail Tucker, junior, said, “I want to show them that I care about them and value the friendship.”

Ideal holiday gift

Check out what are some ideal gifts to give to someone in 2019 by Aisha Santiago | photo by flickr

For a sibling:

For a parent:

For a brother, you could give him the gift of stuff from his favorite football team. You could get him items like a hat, socks, poster, blanket, and even a jacket. If they love the team then they will definitely love the gift that you gave them. For a sister, you could get her the gift of a necklace with her name on it. Or even instead of her name, you could put a nickname that you have for your sister on the necklace. Also, another gift that could buy for your sister could be a music jewelry box. If you notice that she has a lot of jewelry and nowhere to put it. A jewelry box could be the best way to go. Michelle Stambaugh, history teacher, said “ Well I live far away from my sisters and I feel that by giving them a gift, I feel closer to them.”

For a parent, their main focus is family. You could get them a frame with a bunch of photos of everyone. Possibly even get inspirational quotes that they follow on a daily basis. Also, another gift a parent would love is just your time and presence. Stefanie Sullivan, assistant principal, said, “The gift of time is the most valuable thing that you can give a parent.”

For a pet:

A pet is a person’s best friend, a part of the family, even though they are not human and can’t physically thank you for the gift. They will appreciate anything you get them. For any animal you have you can get them cute outfits to wear at any time even if it’s indoors or outdoors. For a dog, you can get them a chew toy and for a cat you can get them a fake mouse so they can play with it all the time.

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u december 2019 u feature

Stay warm and stylish through the winter with these outfit ideas by Jules Torrice

“I love being bold with my looks, but don’t really go for skirts in the winter time. This look is cute though,” Savannah Washington. “I normally pair any jean jacket with leggings or something. But those pants seem cool,” Sydney Hooke, sophomore.

Stripped bodycon slip dress from Romwe, $10.99 Black turtleneck from Goodwill (price unknown) Women’s 1460 smooth black Doc Martens, $140.00

Tartan print high waist mini pencil skirt from Romwe, $6.99 Women’s Any-Day ribbed lace cami from Target, $5.99 Black leather jacket from Banana Republic (price unknown) Women’s 1460 smooth black Doc Martens, $140.00

Playful pants from Kohl’s, $39.99 Women’s Any-Day ribbed lace cami from Target, $5.99 Ripped jean jacket from Ross, $12.99 Women’s white Vans $50.00

Winter lookbook

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Grinch News While enjoying the holidays, be sure to check back in on reality every once in a while by Bella Roeske and Danielle Piper

Ipresident undergoes an unprecedented impeachment trial. Donald t has been a very stressful holiday in Washington as our current

Trump is under investigation for improperly seeking help from Ukraine in order to secure his 2020 reelection. Specifically, Trump wanted information on former vice-president and Democratic nominee for the 2020 election, Jo-e Biden and his son Hunter. In return for the information, Trump supposedly offered the Ukrainian president substantial military aid and a trip to the White House. This obvious breach of national security would be grounds for possible impeachment if Trump is found guilty. Earlier this fall, an anonymous whistleblower wrote a letter detailing their worry about a phone call between Trump and the Ukrainian president. This sparked the need for formal impeachment hearings. An impeachment itself is simply the charges in Congress that cause a trial. The trial is a political process, not a criminal process. The Constitution states that a sitting United States president “shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanours.” The goal of the current trials is to determine if this applies to Trump’s actions. This controversy is happening at the height of the holiday season, so it seems natural that it may be brought up at any annual family gatherings. Kimberly Allen, a government teacher, said, “I don’t mind (talking about news during the holidays) because that’s what I do all day anyway. It’s a chance for me to test my children. For my family, 80 percent of (news is) a safe topic.” Some families may not be as kind or understanding, especially if not all opinions are shared. One thing is for sure and it is that this trial is one for the ages. The controversy over the current political administration is unlike any before to the height of the impeachment proceedings and possible resignation in question, although it seems like nothing will get in the way of Trump’s run for reelection in the coming year. n the international side of news, the world goes on, and so comes the conflicts that ensue. Not all international news is so far from home, though. In early December, Trump was in attendance at the NATO Summit meeting in London, England. Trump was under a lot of scrutiny in the presence of other international leaders as he faced impeachment proceedings back home in the States. Senior Evelyn Pailthorpe said, “I definitely keep up with international news because even though it may not directly affect me, the stuff happening could influence what happens in America.” While at the conference, a video was released showing a group of people, including Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, supposedly laughing at a clip of a news interview of Trump talking about NATO. In return, Trump branded Trudeau as “two-faced,” immediately making headlines. Moving further away, North Korea has promised, or rather threatened,

the United States with a “Christmas Gift.” In order to avoid this so-called “gift,” the United States must meet a deadline by the end of the year for concessions in exchange for a compromise with North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. There has been consistent tension between the United States and North Korea for years, despite Trump being the first United States president to go to North Korea to meet Kim Jong-un. While the threat of a Christmas missile launch or other ominous disaster may loom over the holidays, the State Department has assured the American population of their safety. Sophomore Ellie Albertson said, “I do not follow international news because I feel that, on top of everything that goes on in my personal life, keeping up to date on international news seems very daunting.” While the news may seem overwhelmingly negative, it is important to look at both sides of every story, article and tabloid and educate yourself on the world’s happenings.

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