December 20, 2019 Print Magazine by RHS ECHO

ECHO Rolla High School - 900 Bulldog Run - Rolla, Missouri 65401- Volume 71 - December 20, 2019

Student Voice.

Student focus group discusses improvements to school policies on page

2019 -2020 Rolla High ECHO Magazine Staff In this issue... The value of the U.S. dollar...................................................................4 #Cancelled: Examining the local consequences of “cancel culture”.......................................................................6 Learning in nature..................................................................................8 Student voice..........................................................................................10 Christmas Pets: Think twice before giving a pet as a gift this Christmas...................................................14 Local charities bring goodwill for the holiday season.....................15 A look back at Christmas history.......................................................16 The foster care system: What is often unrecognized......................18 New Years Resolutions........................................................................20 Christmas across cultures....................................................................21 How can Missouri students be involved in politics?.......................22 Editor In Chief: Lauren Ulrich Managing Editor: Genevieve Huber Webmaster: Erin Pfiefer News: Elena Bai Opinion: Emma Starns Sports: Quinn Guffey Feature: Julia Leventis

Staff Writers: Mable Dougaard, JJ Giesey, Sudatta Hor, Michael “Mandy” James, Hannah Le, Kyle McCutcheon, Helen Weiss Adviser: Dr. Mary Gillis

ECHO is an open forum for student expression. All letters to the editor must include the writer’s name, signature and class or position. Anonymous letters will not be published. ECHO reserves the right to reject any letters. Letters should be sent to ECHO, Rolla High School, 900 Bulldog Run, Rolla, MO 65401. ECHO is a member of Missouri Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, and Quill & Scroll Honor Society

Follow @rhsechonews on Twitter and Instagram. For more news go to www.rhsecho.com

Letter from the Editor Dear students of RHS, In each issue, ECHO aims to give voice to the student body. In the Dec. Magazine, ECHO decided to put an extra focus on student voice. This issue highlighted the opinions of A-Team and Link Crew Students, discussed the importance of youth involvement in politics, and shared students’ experiences within a flawed foster care system. As the Editor of ECHO and Student Representative to the Rolla Board B y L a u r e n U l r i c h of Education, I have had the opportunity E d i t o r I n C h i e f to witness and share the importance of student voice. Student voice is not only important to the betterment of a school system, but it has more influence than students may expect. If you can make it through my impassioned proclamations on the education system, keep reading to see how you can make an impact. The Rolla District has had to evolve and must continue to evolve to meet the needs of its students. As discussed in this issue, there lie multiple areas of potential for improvement, ranging from innovative schedules to real-world curriculum applications. Rather than be daunted by change, we should view this time as an opportunity to adapt to an even higher standard for its students. I’ve had the opportunity to witness our district’s efforts to provide the best possible education to myself and my peers, and as a graduating senior, I am grateful for the quality of education I have received. This does not mean, however, that the district should be complacent. It is the responsibility of our school to focus on how to best equip its students

for success. There are many different routes to take, but what is most important is that we continuously seek to improve and keep student voice at the center of such improvements. To do so, the student body’s perspectives must be taken into account. As students, we then have the responsibility to exercise our voice. (Fair warning: This letter may be at risk of sounding overly lecture-like, but can one ever be too excited about the first amendment?) If you recall government class and the case of Tinker vs. Des Moines, students have the right to exercise free speech within a public school setting as long as that speech does not disrupt the educational process. So essentially, as long as students do not screech obscenities in the hallway, we have a pretty flexible avenue to exercise our opinions. So, do we form a picket-line over cafeteria food? Or maybe stage protests for better soap? Although well-intentioned, there are slightly more constructive ways to make an impact. Recently, there has been an influx of cause-oriented clubs such as Unity Club and the Sunshine Club. Student organizations are a great avenue to make an impact. Students can also talk with the next Student Representative to the Board on any concerns they may have. Furthermore, did you know you can write a Letter to the Editor? You can, and please do so I’m not the only one talking over here. If you have a comment or concern you would like voiced through student media, you can write a (politely worded) letter and share it with ECHO to be published. Ask me or Dr. Gillis if you’d like to submit one. No matter how you decide to share your voice, keep in mind that doing so is not a burden or a sign of disrespect to the school. Your thoughts and perspectives are an important and valued aspect of making our school a better place. Your overly-passionate advocate, Lauren Ulrich

The

Value of the

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merican citizens all have seen the dollar bill. They casually use it to pay for small products like gas or snacks from the vending machine. For Americans, a single dollar might not hold much value, but in some countries, it is significantly more valuable. Mohamad Alamaldein is a student at Rolla High School who travels overseas often. He has visited countries in the Middle East and Europe and has experienced the differences in using foreign currencies. “When I went to Jordan, I could get a bottle of water for 50 to 75 cents. But over there, that is expensive for them because they only make about 400 dollars - a thousand max - every month,” Alamaldein said. It may seem strange that the US dollar can be more valuable than other currencies. Internationally, each currency can translate into other currencies by a certain factor. For example, the Japanese yen is approximately the value of one cent and one euro is about 1.1 dollars. However, that does not translate into the dollar holding more “worth” than the yen or holding less value than the euro. “For instance, some of this is just how the currency is denominated. If you look at the US dollar vs the Japanese yen, the yen is their denomination of a cent. So the number is always going to be a lot of yen for a dollar. Just looking at that number doesn’t necessarily tell us anything,” said the Chair of the Department of Economics at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Dr. Michael Davis, who teaches International Finance. The exchange rate of currencies does factor in. However, that does not determine the relative value between the two currencies. “It shows us the relative purchasing power between the two currencies. But it is still difficult to interpret in that regard. The fact there is 1.1 dollars per euro — that doesn’t necessarily mean that the euro holds more value than the dollar,” Dr. Davis said. The difference between currencies and the economy does have an impact on value. For example, to buy a loaf of bread, someone may have to pay more money in other countries than the US. On the other hand, goods may be significantly cheaper in other countries than in the US. “In Egypt, one US dollar is twenty of their dollars. You can probably buy a drink, a couple of sandwiches, and some chips. Whatever you can buy here with twenty US dollars, you can buy there with one US dollar,” Mostafa Elgawady said. Elgawady, like Alamaldein, had been to different countries and knows about life in Egypt.

This difference can be attributed to a number of factors. Sometimes the government may be the cause of the difference by enforcing policies that affect the economy. Other factors include the resources or products that the country can provide. A specific instance affecting the currency’s worth is political instability. In Egypt, there are conflicts that affect their way of living. In the past several years, the President of Egypt was overthrown. “It’s kind of a dictatorship at the moment because the most powerful person in most of these nations is the person who controls the military. There are no checks and balances for that. If a country is in turmoil, it’s going to make the currency go down. Everything political affects the economy. If something happens to the President, our economy falls and the stock market falls,” Alamaldein said. Dr. Davis elaborates on how political turmoil may affect the currency of a nation. “The main reason is uncertainty with regards to what is going to happen in the country. If investors become uncertain with what is going on in the country, they are going to expect a higher rate of return to invest in that country. Therefore, it will affect the exchange rate,” Dr. Davis said. Other countries have been stable until an unexpected turn in politics created instability. Looking at Egypt, their economy was also relatively stable at one point until several years ago when a violent revolution began. “From 1995 to about 2012, everything was stable. The US dollar would get you five Egyptian Pounds. Life was okay for people. However, the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was corrupt. The citizens couldn’t impeach him, so thousands of people rallied in the streets of Cairo for weeks. Then, [Mubarak] finally resigned,” Alamaldein said. Essentially, despite being stable for multiple years, the US dollar is still subject to future factors that can still affect its stability. Compared to Egypt, America is much better off in terms of political and economic stability. However, the future can be hard to predict. In ten years, snacks from the vending machine might be even more expensive. “In some sense, the strength of the currency is relative to the past. The US dollar is stronger if you look at the past ten years than it was ten years ago. There is another sense looking forward that relates to how the currency is. That is a measure of how stable the government is and how stable the economy is,” Dr. Davis said.

#canc

examining the lo

rom a line of city council members, former Rolla city council representative Daniel Jones is easy to pick out. Sporting a tie-dye shirt and adorned with bells and a bandana, outspoken marijuana-activist Jones has no shortage of confidence in his message. Following his election to the council in Apr. 2018, community members rallied behind Jones for his free-spirited nature and vulnerable campaign approach. Jones attributes his initial success to his transparency with voters about his past. “When I campaigned, I made sure that every person I talked to knew that I had a cannabis felony passed. I didn’t believe it was a crime-- it’s not everyone, but it isn’t a crime-- and I spread that message and people believed me. They saw honesty in my eyes and they went out and voted 3-1 against an 18-year incumbent,” Jones said. In July, Jones’ position as councilman erupted with controversy. Jones faced public disapproval and scrutiny for his past legal encounter regarding the use and distribution of marijuana. Jones had previously pled guilty to two counts of cannabis possession on Mar. 22, 2012. In response to a disapproving letter written by a former local pastor, Phelps County Prosecuting Attorney Brendon Fox filed a petition against Jones. In accordance with Missouri State Statute 115.306.1, “No person shall

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qualify as a candidate for elective public office in the state of Missouri who has been found guilty or pled guilty of a felony or misdemeanor under the federal laws of the United States of America or to a felony under the laws of this state or an offense committed in another state that would be considered a felony in this state.” Frustrated by the costly case being brought against him, Jones resigned from his position on the city council on Aug. 29. “For me to go forward, it would cost around $20,000-$40,000, which I’m unable to do. Resigning amplified my voice a bit though, right? The way forward is becoming a little more clear for me, so maybe I need to break that statute down--get ACLU involved. Things like that that’ll help, not only for my path forward but for folks that are like me--because there are lots of them out there--who want to come out and serve their communities even though they may have had things in the past that would disqualify them through the statute,” Jones said. Jones admitted that much of the controversy stemmed from public disapproval, or “cancel culture.” Cancel culture refers to a negative rally against people (often public officials or celebrities) in response to a controversial situation, many times before all of the information is present. Cancel culture often happens on a larger scale, such as the scandal that nearly cost Jame Charles his career when he lost nearly 3 million You-

I think that people would have done everything they could the table, when in fact everyone--in all aspects of our cul

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Tube subscribers overnight. But cancel culture can play into the dynamic at a local, or even school-wide level. It is furthered by the tendency of the public to exert social influence prematurely. However, instant gratification from a Twitter comment quickly turns to impulsive targeting fueled by a mob of other enraged Twitter-users. It is rarely the most productive way to address a controversial situation. Furthermore, it arguably eliminates one of the most valuable consequences of public disapproval: holding a person accountable for his or her actions and potentially giving the opportunity to correct those mistakes. Jones admits he does not frequently engage with social media, but he comments on what cancel culture has meant to his career and personal life. As someone who tries to err on the side of kindness and diplomacy, Jones comments that he is shocked at the amount of “nastiness” that occurs on social media. “[After resigning,] only about 5-10 percent of the community was still mad at me, and the other 90 percent thought ‘We definitely should have given him a voice for the voiceless,’ but what we did instead was exercised our ability to shut somebody down through nasty, mud-slinging politics, and that’s not something I’m accustomed to. I’m accustomed to doing my job as best I can and not worrying about the people who want to spread hate, misinformation, and stigma, and people who want to take people’s

60K pasts and make it much more important than it was. Social media can drive a real goblin into what humanity is,” Jones said. Cancel culture has a tendency to polarize two sides of a situation, making it a dangerous pattern for an advancing society. At the root of it all, Jones explains, social media is primarily to blame. While initially conflicted by the result, Jones is excited to “ move onto better and brighter things.” He offers his advice to those met with scrutiny or public shaming. “I would say that, for one, you always need to be honest about things. If you stay honest, people are going to identify with you as a human. If you’re going to have a message, you need to be clear that you represent that message by being honest…And that’s because honesty wins the ball game, and that’s how it should be any time,” Jones said. Stepping down from City Council does not appear to have affected Jones’ exuberance or passion about his message. “I think people would have done everything they could to ensure that a person like me doesn’t have a seat at the table, when in fact everyone--in all aspects of our culture and our community--deserves a seat at the table,” Jones said.

d to ensure that a person like me doesn’t have a seat at lture and our community--deserves a seat at the table.

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Nature is the world’s best playground for children

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By Lauren Ulri

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Rolla’s outdoor classrooms may be one of the district’s best kept secrets. These outdoor learning areas have the potential to positively supplement students’ education and wellbeing through outdoor recreation, hands-on activity, and nature-based learning. A recent push to improve the district’s outdoor classrooms hopes to enhance their benefits to students.

ne may assume it’s recess time at Truman Elementary as Mrs. Ruder’s 2nd-grade class donn their coats and excitedly gather at the door. As they walk outside, however, the line of students meanders right past the playground. Pointing towards an opening in a nearby patch of forest, one student pipes up. “We’ll show you our secret place,” he says with a grin. The class’s “secret place” is Truman Elementary’s outdoor classroom. At the opening, a path appears that leads the students over a stream, past a prairie, and through the oak-wood forest. Nestled throughout are informational signs on plants and wildlife, seating areas, and various learning spaces. “Truman’s Backyard” is one of the multiple outdoor classrooms in the Rolla

District. As the class enters the outdoor classroom, one student stops to grab a plastic water bottle off the ground. Another darts to the pond to catch a peek of the two resident snapping turtles. Then, all of the students flock to the shore at the sight of a frog. The natural wonders and educational benefits held by Rolla’s outdoor classrooms are unknown to many in the community. “I was not even aware there was an outdoor classroom there for the majority of his Kindergarten year,” Gina Root, Truman PTO President and parent, said. “It was towards the end of last year that it came up during a PTO meeting. I was like, ‘Outdoor classroom? What are you talking about?’ As an environmental educator, I was very interested in learning more about it.”

Each outdoor learning area in the district is different. The outdoor classrooms at Wyman Elementary, Mark Twain Elementary, and Rolla Middle School are all in need of varying improvements. Wyman’s classroom, for example, plans to improve its gravel pathways and create new learning spaces in order to be accessible to students. Truman’s classroom, founded in 1996 with a grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation, is the most utilized and is often incorporated into teachers’ curriculums. These classrooms can serve as a valuable resource for educating students in a hands-on, natural environment. The classrooms are all in various stages of growth and development, but a recent push to improve them hopes to enhance their benefits across the district. Root is a lifetime environmental educator and a current instructor with Rolla’s Tinkergarten, an outdoor-learning program for parents and toddlers. In this time, she has witnessed the benefits of outdoor education. “Nature really is the best classroom ever because you can connect it to anything, especially in the science field. It’s endless,” Root said. After learning about Truman’s outdoor classroom, Root became involved in its upkeep. She helped lead multiple clean-up days with the help of many volunteers and community organizations. Root has since taken the lead of the collaborative effort to care for “Truman’s Backyard.” “Nature is the world’s best playground for children,” Root said. “These kids get out in the outdoor classrooms and they love it because they’re outside, they’re breathing in the fresh air, and they’re way more likely to retain any of those little science lessons that you teach.” Root cites outdoor education as a benefit to children’s mental wellbeing, as well as providing increased learning capacity. Today, Mrs. Ruder’s class is practicing their observation skills. Ruder shushes her class as they listen for birds. “What changes do you see?” she asks next. The persimmons have fallen and the leaves are brown, they say. A fourth grade class from Truman applied their outdoor lessons in 2007 when they successfully campaigned for the native “Big bluestem” grass to be designated as Missouri’s state grass. This example of applying knowledge is another benefit of outdoor education, according to Root. “When you get children to be interested and aware in nature, then that develops a higher understanding of how we’re connected to nature and develops a sense of stewardship,” Root said. “In today’s world, we really need children especially to understand that we need to take care of the earth, but they’re never going to get that unless you expose them and create that empathy towards the natural world.” Awareness of the natural world is at the core of Root’s mission in Rolla’s outdoor classrooms. This mission was sparked through Root’s first job teaching school groups environmental science. “In the few hours that I spent with them, they loved it and they would go home wanting to save the earth. It had such a big impact on them and I decided then that this is what I wanted to

do with my life. I wanted to teach children to love the earth.” Root was specifically motivated to help Truman’s student population which lives in an area with a higher ratio of apartments and typically has less outdoor exposure. She also wanted to increase her two children’s time outside. “Now that I have my own children, it’s so frustrating to know that my son goes to school for seven hours a day and he’s outside for 40 minutes... if the weather’s nice,” Root said. Root is now looking to expand her focus on Truman’s outdoor classroom district-wide. “I was at a point of recognizing that there was this outdoor classroom, but there’s not really a procedure in place, or even the individual schools don’t really have a way to commit longterm to take care of these classrooms. So then, I started looking around for ways that we could do that,” Root said. Root became interested in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Community Conservation Grant. The grant would provide the school district with up to $50,000 for the improvement of maintenance of its outdoor learning spaces. Multiple individual schools recently referenced improved use of their outdoor classrooms as a goal on their annual School Improvement Plan. Receiving this grant would create a cohesive effort across the district. The administration recognizes the importance of this effort. “I love being outside myself, so I think it’s great. I think it’s good for kids to get out there and think in a little different light versus just staying in the classroom,” Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kyle Dare said. “I think the environment students learn in is probably more important than what anybody stops to think about. It has to be comfortable, it has to be inviting, but it also has to function.” According to Dare, the Rolla District is in the planning stages of applying for a Community Conservation Grant. The largest requirement for the grant is for a full-time staff member to be responsible for overseeing the maintenance of the classrooms. This would lessen the burden on individual schools relying on teachers and volunteers for the upkeep of their classrooms. “We have teachers that are already busy with classes like the good teachers they are, so it’s hard to ask them for more time,” Dr. Corey Ray, Principal of Wyman Elementary, said. “You try to have these resources available for teachers and students, and the outdoor classroom is a part of that. We just need to see it through and make it happen.” Root echoes this mindset. “Rolla Public Schools has these resources and has an incredible amount of land— we need to utilize it. It needs to be a part of the curriculum. It needs to be something that is as common as staring at a screen,” Root said. Regardless of which path the district takes to improve its outdoor classrooms, Root stresses its potential benefits to children. “I want him, and I want every other child, to have the opportunity to be outside as much as possible because I know that being outside is step number one to the understanding and wellbeing for not only my child but for the earth.”

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tudent voice refers to the expression of the student body’s thoughts and perspectives, particularly when in regards to potential improvements to their school. For this issue, ECHO asked a focus group of students to share their “student voice” on matters concerning the student body. The focus group was composed of A-Team and Link Crew members, as members of these groups are selected for their diverse perspectives and involvement within Rolla High School. The focus group participated in a round table discussion in which students expressed their thoughts on three separate topics: the tardy policy, calendar year and daily schedules, and mental health policy. These topics were selected not only for their relevance to students but because they represent multiple different levels and methods of implementation. For instance, the tardy policy is within the jurisdiction of the high school so it is decided upon by RHS administration and teachers. The district-wide calendar, on the other hand, is ultimately decided upon at the highest level by the Rolla Board of Education. Each subject can be seen as a representation for different areas within education: the tardy policy is a matter of discipline, schedules are primarily a matter of academics, and mental health is a matter of social and emotional wellbeing.

Tardy Policy Student attendance is a priority for administration at Rolla High School. Tardies are an issue for many students at RHS, and there is currently a tardy policy in place which allows students three tardies per class. When a student receives their fourth tardy, disciplinary action is carried out and increases in severity with each tardy that one collects. A student receives a tardy if they do not arrive to class on time. Tardies are enforced through the “tardy sweep”— a method where different teachers each hour survey the hallways after the tardy bell. The teachers on duty will essentially “sweep” students late for class to the attendance office on the first floor where they are given a tardy and then sent back to class. Sweeps are meant to conserve class time and lessen the responsibility of the classroom teacher to record attendance. “The tardy sweep, when it was first established, did a lot to curve tardies,” Principal Dr. Jim Pritchett said. In the past, a different system was in place which caused the responsibility to fall more heavily on individual teachers, rather than students or administration. For instance, if one student was two minutes late to class, the teacher had to stop teaching and record that tardy themselves versus the attendance office. If another student showed up four minutes later, the teacher would then have to stop teaching and record that tardy as well. With the current sweeps, the teachers do not have to stop class to enforce tardies. ECHO asked a round table of Link Crew and A-Team students for input on the current tardy policy. Despite its benefits, students agreed on multiple downfalls. “No matter what, someone’s time is getting wasted: either the teacher’s time to mark students absent, or the student’s time having to walk all the

“No matter what, someone’s time is getting wasted.”

way to the attendance office to get a slip,” junior jack Gesualdi said. Walking to get a tardy slip can waste time that could otherwise be spent learning in the classroom. “If you’re late to English class, you have to walk all the way downstairs to get a slip,” junior Lane Mabe said. The point remains, however, that personal responsibility is one of the biggest factors that determines the number of tardies a student accumulates. “If you’re getting tardy day after day in between classes, it’s because you’re doing something you’re not supposed to be doing,” Gesualdi said. Students considered the proposition of an incentive program which would encourage students to be on time. Rather than negative reinforcement, students would earn a reward at the end of the quarter. A second proposition is to alter the way tardies are counted. Instead of being allowed three tardies per class, students would only be allowed a certain amount of tardies for all of their classes combined. This would eliminate a lot of the discipline that comes along with a strict tardy policy. While this idea had much support in the focus group, even if it were to be put in place, it would not be able to be put into place for multiple school years. Determining a tardy policy that encourages personal responsibility and suits the needs of students, teachers, and administration is critical. Student attendance is particularly important because high school is meant to teach young people valuable lessons, such as time management, to be used later in life. “Your employer is certainly not going to let you come in 10 or 15 minutes late,” Dr. Pritchett said.

“If you’re late to English class, you have to walk all the way downstairs to get a slip.”

Schedules Over the summer, a new state bill was signed that pushes back the 2020 school start date to Aug 24. Giving students and teachers another eleven days of summer break will cause changes in the district’s schedule to try to compensate for the lost days and to make sure students will not have to take the first semester finals after winter break. While the schedule is already undergoing revisions, now could be an opportune time to try a modified daily schedule. In all of RHS’s history, the school has used a traditional schedule with seven periods and 50-minute classes. Block schedules (which can vary) usually include days where students only go to half of their classes for an hour and a half or two hours each. Though they are unfamiliar to the Rolla school district, incorporating some form of block schedule could increase the efficiency of learning and teaching. Other parts of the schedule, such as lunch hours and when school starts have been debated and experimented with in the past. The district-wide calendar is decided upon by the calendar committee, a group of teachers and students that represent each level of education (elementary, middle, junior high, and high school), as well as the student representative of the Rolla Board of Education, Board members, and administrators. “First and foremost, the students, teachers, parents, and the faculty need to understand that the calendar is for the students. We exist for students. We don’t exist for us. And my job is to make sure everyone comes to a consensus and I think this calendar does that. I’m not making the decision, the Board makes the final decision, but the committee was put together for a reason,” Superintendent Dr. Aaron Zalis said. The current schedule contains some problems that have become apparent throughout the school year. For students who have second lunch, fourth hour is split into two parts. Students have class for 20 minutes, are dismissed for lunch, then return to their fourth hour for another 20 minutes. Even more time can be wasted when students have to refocus for class twice in an hour, and teachers have to plan activities to fit into two 20 shorter periods. “I think it can sometimes be hard to jump from thing to thing, like when you’re really focused on math and then you have to do English. It’s hard to switch [between subjects]. In English class, on days when we’re having a

class discussion, to do 20 minutes of it and then stop can completely ruin the flow,” junior Jack Gesualdi said. With shorter class periods, teachers need to adjust their plans to be able to teach content and be able to go more in-depth with the subject while trying to make use of all their time. With longer periods, teachers would need to do multiple activities to engage students and make students apply what they were taught. “I think maybe up to the first and last ten minutes of class we just aren’t doing anything. I’m not sure if that would better with longer class periods. We don’t necessarily get that much actual valuable education time. And bell ringers can take up over half the hour, just us discussing them. I feel like bell ringers aren’t that effective when you only have 40 minutes of actual class time. It’s not as effective as it could be if you had a longer class period,” sophomore Pearl Daugaard said. Though having extra class time can be a plus for some students, others may prefer more frequent switches in subjects to not tire themselves out. “Sometimes in that 50 minutes you have, your brain gets tired thinking about that subject. If you have two hours of it, you might only listen to the first 50 minutes and then the next hour and a half is kind of pointless because your brain is fried,” junior Emma Mckee said. These kinds of changes do not come quickly or easily. If RHS decided to adopt a block schedule, seniors might struggle with adapting to the schedule so close to their graduation. And as with any fundamental change to how students, parents, and teachers have known high school to be, there would be some opposed to the idea. “Going towards a block schedule would resolve some of the challenges in the current system, but would probably come with its own challenges. Usually, massive changes don’t happen without widespread support from all stakeholders in the education process. It’s a pretty big overhaul to a big system. There will also be some who just don’t want to change because making these types of changes is difficult,” psychology teacher Amanda Engelke said.

“We don’t necessarily get that much actual valuable education time.”

“We exist for students. We don’t exist for us.”

Mental Health Rolla High School has, over the years, recognized the importance of mental health and taken steps to help students with mental health issues. Rolla High School currently offers many services, including a contracted therapist and the services of the counseling staff, which are available during summer school and regular school days. Despite this array of services, many students are not able to reach the help that they need. A roundtable of students suggests that this is due to the limited visibility of offered services. “We didn’t know we could go there, so we might be scared that ‘if I go there, they’re not even going to be able to help me, so why should I go and tell these people my problems?’” junior Emma McKee said. They also agreed that the stigma against mental health has contributed to the unwillingness of students to go to the counselor’s office. “Especially here, in a more conservative town, you don’t want to bring it to light,” Gesualdi said. However, the referral system in which students and teachers work with counselors to find students that may need help provides a solution to this problem. “We will communicate with all teachers of that student and say, ‘Hey, this kid is struggling. They might benefit from some TLC and some leniency with due dates coming up. And please, if you notice any changes in behavior appearance or effect, let us know immediately,’” counselor Liz Pogue said. Teachers are told to look out for any changes in a student, either in appearance or behavior, at which point they may report a student. “If it’s day after day after day, that’s when you know. You can have ups and downs but if it’s constantly being buried in their emotions or they’re not getting better- that’s when I refer,” teacher Dr. Keith Peterson said. Student referrals also allow counselors to reach students who do not display signs of mental health issues in front of teachers, counselors, or other administrators. Outside of school, counselors have a wide variety of ways to help students that are at risk for harming themselves. “We talk about and make a plan for what they will do if they become worried that they can’t keep themselves safe. So we might tell them to get some of their coping skills out, do something distracting, tell a trusted

“If I go there, they’re not even going to be able to help me, so why should I go and tell these people my problems?”

adult, call 911,” Pogue said. It is also possible for the counselors to facilitate difficult conversations between students and their guardians. “We try to provide that safe space and that structure for a productive conversation,” counselor Sarah Kaelin said. Regarding the school psychiatrist, the general consensus of students at the roundtable is that the school still has still not provided a viable option for professional mental health aid that is better than outside therapists. This is because, in addition to taking time from the school day, the psychiatrist must be paid for through a student’s insurance. “We’re not necessarily the wealthiest area by any means. A lot of people can’t afford that, so they’re not going to get that help,” McKee said. Furthermore, students suggest that teachers receive more training on mental health symptoms so that they can better refer students who are truly suffering. “Teachers need to be trained to better identify the symptoms of mental health issues. That way they can spot students that might be suffering from it,” Gesualdi said. Students also cite lack of access to the school’s counselors as a major issue, due to the amount of work the counselors are tasked with. These tasks, which include scheduling and career counseling, should take up around 65 percent to 75 percent of the counselor’s time, according to the Missouri Comprehensive Counseling Manuel. The implementation of training sessions during professional development days was also suggested to help teachers identify signs of mental illness, as well as to stop the promotion of the stigma against mental health. “Maybe have teachers in their own classrooms, if they hear something, press on those students who don’t necessarily treat mental health in the most respectful way,” McKee said. As the school continues to improve upon mental health practices and procedures, many of the problems surrounding the accessibility and visibility of its services must continue to be resolved. This is likely the only way to remove the stigma against mental health. “If you do have push back, just try to overcome it. Just tell people repeatedly that it’s okay.” McKee said.

“Teachers need to be trained to better identify the symptoms of mental health issues.”

Christmas Pets

Think twice before giving a pet as a present this Christmas b y

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Staff Writer When walking into the Rolla Animal Shelter, owners may expect to be greeted with a variety of loud animal noises and an energetic, crowded environment. Surprisingly, the shelter was rather empty with the building appearing almost vacant, with the exception of a singular dog barking in the background. The only other sounds inside the establishment included quiet typing on desktops, and the mews of cats as they cuddled together on a bed. It appeared that everyone was calm and relaxed, with all the rescue vehicles in the parking lot, and employees attending to other human related matters. “Currently, there are five animals in the shelter. That’s because this is a low season, a low time of year. It’s getting close to the holidays, and winter’s almost here, so we slow way down. We’ve been known to even have only one animal here.” said John Redshaw, supervisor of the City of Rolla Animal Shelter. During the high times of the year, such as the summer months, Rolla Animal Shelter can be filled to maximum occupancy. But, as Redshaw explained, the number of animals starts dwindling down right before Christmas time. Sadly, this trend is reversed after the holiday season, due to the flood of unwanted animals that are brought through the doors of the shelter. This is caused by the traditional act of giving a pet for Christmas that has been occurring for decades, with the classic portrayal of a child receiving a puppy for Christmas, or a young adult giving mom and dad a cat to keep them company. What many people are not aware of are the damaging effects that are caused when this animal ends up being unwanted . “A lot of people come and they want presents for their children, grandma and grandpa, or aunts and uncles. A lot of times, grandma and grandpa don’t want them. They can’t take care of them. Unfortunately for the animal, we do see a significant increase in the return of animals after Chirstams time. We’ve actually had animals come in here with bows still around them. We also see an increase of stray animals after the holidays, simply because there’s a lot of people visiting each other’s houses, and dogs get out. They get scared and run off,” Redshaw said. One of the endearing aspects of giving animals as pets is that they have a very strong element of surprise. This is the main reason animals are not well received, especially if the individual receiving the gift is completely unaware of the new responsibility and monetary burden they have been given this holiday season. “If you want a dog or another pet for a relative, the best thing to do is to make sure that they can actually take care of and provide for the animal. Having an animal is not just throwing food at it once in a while. You have the veterinary care and food bills, and it’s pretty expensive to care for an animal.You need to check and make sure that the recipient can actually take care of the animal first,” Redshaw said. If set on adopting a pet, another factor owners may want to consider is when 14 the shelter could most benefit from the adoption. Although any time

is a great time to adopt an animal, Redshaw encourages those considering adopting to do so when the shelter is busiest during the summer months. “A lot of times before people go on vacation, they don’t have boarding resources. They don’t have anybody to look after their animals. So unfortunately, they’re looking to surrender their animals or give them up,” Redshaw said. For some overcrowded shelters in the United States, animals are put down due to a lack of space, funds, and resources to sustain such a large population of displaced animals. Luckily, Rolla Animal Shelter is not in this position. Many may question why the shelter is not a “no-kill” humane society. If the shelter has proper funding and access to animal care, what is stopping them from maintaining that title? Rolla Animal Shelter has a very high adoption rate, which is paired with an extremely low euthanasia rate. Animals are given to the shelter in various conditions, which can range from having a simple eye infection to heavy damage from trauma. Each animal that does not have an optimal bill of health is taken to a vet appointment for treatment until the pet is well enough for adoption. “We do see a fair share of animals that come in here that are extremely sick, or extremely broken, and what I mean by broken is an animal that might have been abused, shot, or hit by cars. The veterinarian will usually get with us in these cases and says,’ no, it is not worth the quality of life for that animal.’ That is why we have to put animals down sometimes.” Redshaw stated. Another possible cause for an animal considered unadoptable at the shelter is an unfixable level of aggression, which would prevent the animal from being adoptable due to possible injuries to humans and other animals, along with a complete lack of pet qualities. “We adopt out all of our animals that are 100 percent adoptable. If we cannot get them adopted, we have rescue groups that we send our animals to that spay and neuter them, vaccinate them, and foster them until they find homes,” Redshaw said. Overall, animals need homes, but more importantly people need to be well informed and prepared before venturing into the world of animal ownership. Before adopting or purchasing an animal, the owner-to-be must be confident that they have the funds for all aspects of animal care, and will maintain their dedication to their pet for the rest of its lifespan. Animal purchases during Christmas time can be spontaneous, uninformed, and impulsive. “The best advice I can give is to just make sure that a person is ready for it. Not every animal is going to work out. We do have a two week return policy. We can find another owner for that animal, but just make sure that if you’re interested in adoption and that you’re ready for an animal first because it takes a lot of time and a lot of responsibility,” Redshaw concluded.

Photos courtesy of the Rolla Animal Shelter

Holiday Cheer Local charities bring goodwill for the holiday season b y

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December: the time for family, food, and presents. But what hapactually does. Students may have noticed individuals ringing bells with a red pens to families who do not have the resources to provide a special bucket outside many stores. All these proceeds go to needy families during holiday for their kids? That is where holiday drives come into focus. There the holidays, and volunteering is simple. Students can go to the Salvation are many different fundraisers and charities around Rolla and the nation Army website and apply for a job to make minimum wage, or students can this time of year that students can be involved in. For students unsure walk into a store such as Price Chopper, and ask to sign up for a few hours. where to start, ECHO has listed multiple ways to get involved in the comThe Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program provides new clothing and munity below. toys for children of families in need through the support of the communiRun by Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child is something ty. Rolla has one located in Walmart by the front door on the grocery side. simple anyone can get involved in. Churches nationwide and here in Rolla Angel Trees are decorated with numbered paper tags with the first name, contribute to the international relief age, and gender of a child in need program and make a huge impact “It was a good experience for me, because I of gifts. Contributors remove one or on children all around the world. In more tags from the tree and purchase know that whoever got the gift enjoyed it, appropriate gifts for the child or Rolla High School, students have the chance to be involved through described on the tags. Once and it really makes me happy knowing that children Student Council. This year, Student the buyer has their item(s), they take I made a kid happy and impacted his life.” them to the service, an associate puts Council helped run the program and collected a total of 27 boxes to the angel slip and the item(s) in the contribute. bag and sets them in the donation bin for shipping. In Rolla High School, “It was a good experience for me because I know that whoever got the Student Council has a variation of its own Angel Tree. Students can bring gift enjoyed it, and it really makes me happy knowing that I made a kid in items like hats, gloves, scarves, and coats. These items go to families in happy and impacted their life,” junior Lauren Steelmen said. the community or even students here in the school. It is located across For those who do not know the true meaning of this program, its purfrom the counselor’s office next to the main stairway. pose is to provide small necessities to children who do not have access to The U.S. Marine Corps runs Toys for Tots. Local toy collection camthem, such as hygiene items, school supplies, clothing, toys, etc. They ship paigns began in October and will last until mid to late December. Toy these simple boxes outside the United States to children affected by war, distribution takes place mid to late December. Members of the community poverty, natural disasters, famine, and drop new, unwrapped toys in collection boxes positioned in local businessdiseases. Churches and participates. Coordinators pick up these toys and store them in central warehouses ing stores around Rolla provide shoe where the toys are sorted by age and gender. At Christmas, coordinators, boxes or totes to pack items into with the assistance of local social welfare agencies, church groups, and and lists that participants can use for other local community agencies, distribute the toys to the less fortunate guidance. Helping a child in need is children of the community. strongly encouraged by the Samaritans These are just a few of many impactful charities and events. All of them Purse. encourage students to give back to the community this holiday. More commonly known is the As Student Council Advisor Advisor Roger Bridgemen said, “Giving isn’t Salvation Army, but people may not just about making a donation, it’s about making a difference. We rise by know how much the organization lifting others.”

A Look Back at Christmas History

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Lessons from an unexpe World War One defines the modern age and everything after it. Heroics, sorrow, and miscommunications combined to create the war to end all wars. Without World War One, there would not be Stalin or Hitler or fascism There would not be a Cold War— a conflict of ideals that led us to near annihilation. The Middle East’s future would not be decided upon by old men who held onto their spite from several years of disaster. The September 11th attacks or the trouble the Middle East has today would most likely not exist if it were not for World War One. World War One did not have a singular cause, and the events leading up to it were the combination of Europe getting a bad hand of world leaders, the withering of other World Powers, and fear. For a hundred years, Europe was at peace with a few wars here and there, but few bloody conflicts. After the Napoleonic wars, Europe’s powers decided to come together and vow to avoid war. This system was called the Concert of Europe where all of Europe’s powers would come to a compromise for everyone when war came very close

to happening. But the biggest change to Europe was the addition of Germany, which was historically only a collection of city-states. It had turned into one of the most powerful nations in the world, which was further proven with Germany defeating and giving a very bloody nose to France which ran deep for France. German teacher at RHS, Mrs. Lueck, explains that “Probably honestly back to Roman times [Germany and France’s rivalry], they really never loved each other a whole lot.” On the other side, Germany felt held back by how other nations had what it did not have despite how strong it was and other world powers looked down upon it simply for how new it was. The Netherlands, which was a fraction of Germany’s size, had colonies in Africa and Asia, while Germany had nothing. The Ottoman empire was behind in terms of how aged they were compared to the rest of Europe and was slowly losing its territories. The Austro-Hungary empire, who used to be one of the strongest monarchies

in Europe, found its many small nations that made up the empire were crying out to be free and independent. The Austro-Hungary empire feared their future in the Ottoman empire and saw they were slowly losing territory. Through the 19th Century, the concert of Europe ruled that those small nations were right to assert themselves. With each one that was free, that fueled the anger for those who still were under Austro-Hungary control. The stage was set-- all it needed was the spark for the war. In a decrepit cafe in Belgrade, several young men all come together to see a newspaper headline that reads “Archduke Franz Ferdinand to visit Sarajevo.” On June 28th, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand is outside a palace alongside his wife Sophie getting into their motorcade. But as Austria has control of Serbia in this story, the tension and demand for freedom from Austrian rule by Serbians are very high. June 28th is the day of national pride for many Serbians as it was the anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo. This is an incredibly important day, especially to Serbian nationalists. For Austrian royalty, the symbol of their oppression to come on that day was taken as a very deep insult by nationalists. Those young men in the cafe were a part of the terrorist group called ‘The Black Hand.’ They were in the crowd of the parade and were armed with intent to assassinate the Archduke. Only one out of the group successfully made the attempt by throwing a bomb that had been dodged by the Archduke. The terrorist was eventually apprehended and the attempt at regicide failed. One of the young men, Gavrilo Princip, was disappointed by the failed attempt and decided that a snack would cheer him up. The city went into lockdown and Sarajevo’s mayor suggested they continue the parade, but the Archduke suggested that he visits the hospital of the

The war was expected to have been over way before Christmas Eve, but in 1914, it was still continuing and was just as brutal. But on that day, squadrons of Allied troops and Germans down the line held a ceasefire for the sake of the holidays. But around this time, miniature ceasefires were not unheard of. Trench warfare is brutal and troops began to realize that looking the other way sometimes was a way to offer solemn peace. Both armies ate meals at the same time and patrols often avoided each other with a “live and let live” ideology. Both sides also yelled to the other sometimes. The reality was both sides wanted to avoid conflict since the weather was awful and both armies were trying to sit it out. It was constantly raining in Flanders. The trenches often got flooded and even collapses of walls, and many of the troops got trench foot or frostbite. It went on with the cold winter rain for weeks, and men had to frequently sleep on the sides of the walls to not get soaked. Both sides got precious gifts from the royalty and their families from home, however, the gifts were a problem. There was no room for them all. But the best gift they all got was the rain stopping and the trenches drying up. In some sectors, the fighting slowed down and even completely stopped in certain parts. The Germans, who were rich from the weather and chocolate, put Tannenbaum (German for a fir tree, and what they use as we use for Christmas tree) on their parapets and down the line and sang together. British sentries noticed the lit Tannenbaum and suspected danger, but then the British heard the singing of “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht.” Lt. Sir Edward Hulse would not have this. He demanded his troops to drown out the opposing chorus with their own singing to challenge the Germans. With the voices clashing back and forth, they eventually formed together in harmony with the singing of carols. British Indian troops were not familiar with Christmas, but the lit candles on the Tannenbaum reminded them of their own holiday Diwali. They stayed in the trenches until German troops offered them cigars and cigarettes. This lead up to some brave souls getting out of the trenches to meet the other army in “no-mans-land” to form a cease-fire for the Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Sadly, this kindness did not happen in every sector on the war front. One British division responded to German caroling with machine-gun fire, and while most of the British and German sectors held ceasefires, the Belgians and French were not so inclined to fraternize with the Germans who were occupying land in their countries. Both made agreements to bury their dead and stopped fighting for some time. On Christmas day, British soldiers woke up to Germans walking around on their parapets, which in daylight hours was incredibly dangerous, but that level of trust presented made the British come out of the trenches as well. Both armies shared experiences and traded their gifts with one another. Sadly, this is what the generals feared would happen. They made threats of court marshaling if fraternization occurred. The British ordered a day-long artillery barrage, and Germany dispatched snipers. The “Christmas Truce” was a victory entirely achieved by the frontline troops who broke down the barrier to simply see each other as fellow humans. Today, people often do not try to view the opposite side as people and focus too hard on the differences. They miss out on the similarities that we share with each other.

ected WWI truce wounded. However, on their way to the hospital, the driver took a wrong turn on the same street Gavrilo Princip was having a meal. The young man quickly noticed the car and fired two shots at the Archduke and his wife, killing both of them. Austria and, soon after, Europe quickly spiraled into the madness of miscommunication, fear, and coincidences that feel like they came right out of a play script. Various diplomats from those nations independently from one another knew what was coming and tried their hardest to avert this war. Unfortunately, they could not stop the frenzy that led to the war. World War One was terrible for the armies that fought because of how they played out the war. Being in the trenches was sheer boredom mixed with short bursts of terror as enemies attacked. Soldiers were tense from everything: the weather, disease, animals, and, of course, of the soldiers they were fighting against. Trenches were cramped, muddy, and had a high risk of diseases like trench foot, cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery. Pests like rats and lice were numerous. Rats especially became a problem by eating their food or bothering the soldiers. Food was often from cans and hot meals were only provided in late 1915, and that was not a guaranteed luxury. This was all unbeknownst to all soldiers. Mrs. Lueck adds, “One thing to keep in mind, at the same time, is that these were just kids who were torn from their home to go fight a war. They probably had nothing against the British or Germans personally. They’re just out there fighting and had no idea of what was going on.”

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to recognize that for kids to be in the foster system at a

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any point in their life that we as a society have failed them.”

The Foster Care System

What is often unrecognized The perceptions people have of others are usually never the whole picture. This is especially true for children in the foster care system. On any given day, 443,000 kids in the United States enter the system. Yet, many students are unaware of what their peers endure emotionally when entering and leaving the system. ECHO spoke with multiple RHS students who have been in foster care to learn more about their experiences. For a junior at Rolla High School, their life has been anything but simple. At the age of twelve they, along with their brother, entered foster care and remained in the system for five years. The student recalls feeling confused and afraid when they had to switch to three different housing placements and schools. With each switch, the student gained more insight into the faults and challenges the foster care system can bring. One of the challenges they faced involved the perceptions students had on their relation to the system. “When I was in the system, kids treated me differently. Some pitied me, some ignored me, and some made fun of me. It was rough at first, but I know some people don’t know how to react to kids in the system because they don’t know what it’s like. They don’t know the impact it has on people. I wanted them to treat me like everybody else and didn’t like the self-pity and sorrow that they ‘fed’ me,” the student said. Along with the student having to constantly adapt to new school environments, they have also been placed in unfit houses. “We were with this one family for a few months and they didn’t care for my brother and me. They didn’t treat us fairly; it was a really bad home. We were also put in a traditional leveled home. We went to this one family that was good for a while, but then they wanted to get guardianship and that didn’t work out and I left; my brother stayed. A few months later, they got caught abusing my brother and got their licenses removed,” the student said. With the exposure the student has had in foster care, they learned to embrace their history and advocate for issues in the system. They are now reunified with their biological parents and continue to raise awareness about the system. “I think I have made and will continue to make a big impact on the system. I was quickly recognized throughout foster care because I was one of their few and longest cases that actually went through reunification. I was on both the state and local area board and was a special speaker at a Christmas event for foster care,” the student said. Much like the student above, a senior at Rolla High School, who now lives with their relatives, dealt with challenges when entering the system. As a child, they grew up with a pastor for a father and devoted to religion. When their father became involved with substance abuse, the student’s perspective of God changed as their father and family dynamic changed. “It rocked my faith. It still does honestly. Why would God, if he is real, take down a pastor? It rips people’s faith out. When I’m around people that have faith, I feel like it’s real, but when I’m not, it’s hard for me to keep that relationship,” the student said. Being the older sibling of two sisters, the senior recollects how they felt when separated from their parents. “I wanted to hold onto my childhood, who they used to be, but I re-

alized I needed to pull my sister out of there because she got behind on her speech,” the student said. As the student grew older, they learned to take their experience with foster care to improve themselves and the system as a whole. “Recently, I gave a speech in front of three hundred people about my experience in this system, and I have also been able to talk to legislators on Child Advocacy Day about the problems in foster care. There’s also an advisory board that I’m president of and I get to talk to other kids who are or have been in foster care about the problems with it and how we can fix it,” the student said. As much as Foster Care can be difficult for the kids in the system, foster parent and director of Policy and Advocacy for Kids Win Missouri, Craig Stevenson (founding Student Representative to the school board, 2007), describes the misjudgments people can have of foster parents when the main goal of the system is for the children to be reunified with their biological families. “I think caseworkers have the wrong belief that people go into fostering because they want to adopt kids. I think some people do that, and, of course, you fall in love with the kids and you want them to be with you, but I don’t think people go into foster care with that mentality because there’s a lot of heartache involved,” Stevenson said. There are many factors that influence a person’s involvement in this system. Chafee Coordinator, Amy Blake, says the most rewarding part of her job is when she hears back from the kids she has worked with. “I received a letter not too long ago from a youth telling me how much of a difference I made in her life and I keep that letter hung up because every day whenever I get up, I read it and I remember that’s why I do this,“ Blake said. In addition to workers that provide aid to foster kids, Craig Stevenson is working to better care for not only children, but teenagers in the system who are wrongly placed in residential, or “group,” homes. In 2018, a federal law called the Family First Prevention Act was passed that will force states to look at the children in residential facilities and assess why they are there and shrink that population. “Residential care should really be only for those children who have major physical or mental disabilities where they can not thrive in a normal home setting. The reality is if you look at what has too often happened if a child comes into foster care and they’re a teenager, if there is not an appropriate foster home that will take a teenager, they end up getting placed in residential care for a long period of time, and, in many ways, get forgotten,” Stevenson said. Although progress has been made in the foster care system to prevent issues like group homes from too often being used, Stevenson believes more work should be done to support kids in Foster Care. “I think we as a society have to recognize that for kids to be in the foster system at any point in their life, that we have failed them. Their parents have failed them in some ways, or maybe those around them have failed them, and it’s okay to admit that because I think when we admit that, then we can figure out what we need to change to grow and be stronger. So the advice I would have for somebody who has been in care and has been beat down or has not been encouraged is to be encouraged because there are people rooting for them. I would want to leave them with a message of hope,” Stevenson said.

New Year’s Resolutions b y

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New year, new me... right? With the New Year’s just around the corner, the pressure of resolutions can be building up. Coming up with a resolution can be a tough task. With the constant reminder of a goal, the aspect of failure can begin to gloom over students’ heads. But making a resolution because everyone else is doing it can be counteractive. “I make resolutions mostly because everyone does it, but if it is something I really, really feel like accomplishing, I’ll do it for myself rather than for others or for the bandwagon. It is nice to see improvement and accomplish something you really wanted to,” junior Quentin Hodges said. “I have not kept up with them as much. They usually fade out because I have more things to do or worry about, but I believe that it is possible.” Freshman Sarah Beetner agrees saying, “Resolutions normally revolve around being more active physically or in the community. I always try to improve myself, and New Years is simply an outlet.” When leaving the pressure and judgement out of the picture, bettering oneself can be a positive improvement. “I would say that making [resolutions] impacts people negatively because if you don’t reach them, you feel like you

have failed at something, but if you keep them it is a positive thing. I make them to try and better myself,” sophomore Emma Daly contributes. Beetner agrees saying, “Making [resolutions] usually affects me positively, even though it is hard to have the willpower in the beginning.” Hodges also offers insight into the negative aspect of resolutions. “It depends on the resolutions. I’ve never had a New Year’s resolution that has negatively affected me greatly or even in general, but I suppose too much of anything can be negative.” There are connotations, both negative and positive, around New Year’s resolutions, and important considerations for students thinking of making a New Year’s resolution. According to Dr. Anne Lin in a podcast “The Scope” through the University of Utah Health, “It’s important to pick things that they can be responsible for themselves and even be responsible for how they feel themselves. Having a realistic New Year’s resolution that is achievable is important. People should also give themselves credit for continual improvement.”

Christmas across cultures b y

H e l e n W e i ss Staff Writer

The annual Christmas parade was held on the first Saturday of December. The high school band played Joy to the World, and there were many “Polar Express” themed floats. Some had Frosty and the Grinch, while others had local dancers and other community activities. Everyone wore Christmas themed clothes and the children collected candy thrown from the floats. In other countries, like New Zealand, Santa and Christmas are different from what the Rolla population is accustomed to. At Rolla High School, there are many students with different cultural experiences of Christmas. Junior Finely Weiss is a foreign exchange student from Weihnachtsmann, Germany. “What’s different is that we get our presents on Christmas Eve and not on the 25th,” Weiss said. Weiss recalled his fondest memories during the season are from when he was in Weihnachtsmann. “Probably the best Christmas I have had was when it snowed. It doesn’t really snow during Christmas, at least where I live, and probably just having Christmas trees up and chilling there with my family,” Weiss said. One Christmas tradition that many cultures share is simply being with family. It can be friends that are considered family or a host family, such as in Weiss’s case. Weiss is excited to experience his first Christmas in America with his host family. Weiss is staying with the Woelk family and he is looking forward to Christmas with them. “I’m very excited for American Christmas. I’ve heard it’s different and I think it’s bigger here like people celebrate it more and decorate their houses. I really look forward to that. Although it is the first Christmas without my family, I think I will have a great time,” Weiss said. Santa is also a common Christmas tradition, but he has different origins, names, and appearances depending on the country. “Santa is tied back to the Christan holiday, however, his look is inspired by Coca-Cola, which doesn’t really have that much of a connection to Christianity. For me, personally, he doesn’t have any Christan meaning to me,” Weiss said. Sophomore Finn Meggitt lived in New Zealand before Missouri and often goes back for vacation. Meggitt shared that in New Zealand, the biggest difference in celebrating Christmas is the weather. “I have had Christmas in New Zealand. It was pretty great. It’s during the summer, so you go for BBQs and swimming,” Meggitt said. New Zealanders on Christmas usually go lay out on the beach and suntan, play games, swim, and spend time with one another.

In New Zealand, Santa is depicted in a flying tractor and is flown around by sheep. Santa wears a black shirt, jean shorts, and muck boots. It’s quite different from the red-suited Santa in Coca-Cola advertisements. “In some children’s’ books, they have sheep pulling Santa because there are more sheep in New Zealand than people. It’s like almost a 10 to 1 ratio. New Zealand children see Santa getting pulled around by sheep, so that’s fun,” Meggitt said.“I think that the New Zealanders know that it’s St. Nicholas, but I don’t think that they celebrate it with religious meaning.” Traditions are a big part of holidays and they stick with families wherever they go. Traditions can consist of food, people, songs, and much more. “There is this thing called Pavlova. It’s kind of like a cream cake. They put berries and other fruits on it, and it is a cake that a lot of families make. My family makes it here, but I think it’s disgusting. Everyone else loves it though,” Meggitt said. Even within New Zealand, people celebrate Christmas differently. “Everyone in New Zealand celebrates Christmas, but I’m not sure about Māori [indigenous people]. We celebrated Christmas in a more rural place, so to my knowledge, there are no parades, except in big cities,” Meggitt said. Sheri Chan is a junior who lived in Hong Kong with her family. “I don’t think we had a tree in Hong Kong because our house wasn’t big enough because it’s Hong Kong and there aren’t really that many big houses,” Chan said. Even though Chan only lived in Hong Kong until she was five, she recalls fond memories of Christmas with her family. “I don’t remember it being as cold as it is here, but it was probably because we were in an apartment building and we were always up high and it was always bright, not gloomy,” Chan said. Chan moved to Wyoming when she was five. She then started Christmas traditions in Wyoming with her family. “We do an advent calendar. This year, I think we are doing this thing where you get old toilet paper rolls and wrap them up and fill them with scriptures and put candy in there. Then we would open one every day before Christmas,” Chan said. This year, Chan looks forward to sharing her Christmas traditions with her family. “My cousins and aunt are coming from Hong Kong and they’re going to stay for Christmas, so I’m really looking forward to that,” Chan said.

How can Missouri Students Be Involved In Politics?

When I was young, “I thought of voting like a milestone. I’m not sure where

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that drive went in our younger generations.

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Sports Editor

The United States was founded on many basic rights and freedoms. Through the last several hundred years, many groups have struggled for one of the most precious rights—the right to vote. Many young people do not take their right to vote as seriously as they should. But still many Americans have marched, protested, and they have given their lives for the right to cast a ballot. “When I was young, I thought of voting like a milestone— like driving. It was something all of my friends and I looked forward to, and I’m not sure where that drive went in our younger generations,” voting advocate Sandra Ford said. Today, many countries around the world are still fighting for this right. Yet, many Americans seem to “throw away their right to vote” by choosing not to register to vote or choosing not to case a ballot. Youth ages 18 to 29 make up the least active demographic of voters, according to The Atlantic. Young voters notoriously neglect the importance of voting, but their voice is an important one on both sides of the aisle. Key issues in every election increasingly relate to the concerns of students and professionals between the ages of 18 and 29, making it essential for members within that age group to educate themselves on political issues and take to the polls. While millennials represented nearly 50 percent of the entire voter population in the 2016 election, they were further divided along race, gender, and education lines when considering key issues from both candidates. The 2020 Missouri gubernatorial election will be held on Nov 3, 2020, to elect the Governor of Missouri, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and elections

to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. No matter age or voting history, the first step in getting involved is to check voter status and research how to register to vote in state if not already registered. If a student previously registered to vote, but recently moved, they will need to update their address in order to provide current registration at local polling place on election day. Some states now make it possible to register to vote online, though, traditionally, voters must register by mail or in person. However, they can resort to changing an address online or via text message in some states, as well as search for polling places near them online. For more information specific to Phelps County voter registration and elections, visit PhelpsCounty.org. “There are a lot of polling and registration locations taking place in churches, the RTC, the fire station, places like that,” County Clerk Pamela Grow said. Some states allow voting by mail for local, state, and even presidential elections. Students who are studying abroad or travelling during the election and thus, not in their home state or even in the U.S., must request an absentee ballot through the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) form. Although they are requesting an absentee ballot from outside of their home state or country, the student must still be registered to vote in their state of residence to be eligible to vote in a U.S. election while away. “Getting involved and finding out about candidates and voting topics is a lot easier than most people think,” Ford said.