December 2021 by St. Mary's Messenger

December 2021

TECHNOLOGY AND YOUTH

CHISTMAS RECIPE

SATIRE VS. SINCERITY

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Read about how an increase of technology usage might have a negative effect on children.

Cook up some holiday cheer Laugh at a joking article on the meaning of with this mincemeat pie Christmas and learn about why it is on the recipe! 25th of December.

St. Mary’s Central High School | 5802 Ridgeland Dr. Bismarck, ND 58503

December 2021

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dear SMCHS Student Body, Welcome to the December issue of the Messenger. The Messenger staff has finished its last issue of the 2021 year and it’s ready for you to read. Please enjoy what we have put together for you; there is something for everyone. With the New Year in the Church starting, Christmas, and New Year’s day, all of us on the Messenger staff are wishing you a blessed break!

Teagan Bauer Editor-in-Chief

OUR EDITORS TEAGAN BAUER Editor-in-Chief

JULIANNA LENGOWSKI Entertainment Editor

ALEXYS HUGHES Feature Editor

FIONA KELLY Religion Editor

MARGARET KATHOL Opinion Editor

MAJA DOJS Layout Editor

EVA RYKOWSKY Activities Editor

BELLA SLETTELAND Co-Layout Editor

OUR MISSION Here at Messenger, we love to see the groups of people huddled around our paper, the proud smile when students read articles about themselves, and the slight laughs as students make fun of our bad attempts at jokes. Our mission at the Messenger is to produce a quality newsletter that provides insight into SMCHS by featuring our own students and their accomplishments and goals.

ON THE COVER Some of the Messenger Staff wishing you a Merry Christmas!

READ IT ONLINE

OUR WRITERS Makenzie Mills Hannah Koch Soraida Pichardo Samuel Huntingtion

Kerstin Hilzendeger Rose Kelly Eva Krebsbach Nate Letteer

Emily Storick John Schaff Eli Davis

https://issuu.com/smmessenger

Table of Contents

QOTM Question of the Month

Pages

Merry Music

The Messenger features the SMCHS band program in a celebration of concerts, musicians, and directors.

Technology and Youth

Read about how an increase of technology usage might have a negative effect on children.

Carol of the Bells - Andrew Horner

Drummer Boy by JB - Grace Goebel

Christmas Recipe

Cook up some holiday cheer with this mincemeat pie recipe!

What is your favorite 8 Christmas song?

The Best Worst Christmas Movies

A collection of Christmas films that crashed and burned... but you should still watch them anyway.

Satire vs. Sincerity

Laugh at a joking article on the meaning of Christmas and learn about why it is on the 25th of December.

Jingle Bell Rock - Isaiah Schlinger

Interviews by Bella Sletteland

The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole - Rebecca Roller

Senior Spotlight

Peek into something special some of our seniors are doing.

FEATURE

The Holiday Joys of Band Kids

This year’s Christmas Jazz Band Concert

Saint Mary’s Bands and Exclusive Interviews By: Julianna Lengowski, Eli Davis, and Makenzie Mills Saxophone Festival

n a completely unbiased report of the best woodwind section, the saxophones have been hard at work preparing for the Saxophone Festival on December 8th. Ranging from two large saxophone ensembles (one from each band), a quartet, a duet, and a solo here or there, these excellent musicians hope to show off their talent and win an award or two along the way. Although not the most challenging instrument out there, saxophone requires a specific attention towards tone quality and articulation. In the Wind Orchestra’s ensemble piece, An Irish Suite, an upbeat dance is meticulously constructed from the voices of alto 1, alto 2, tenor, and baritone parts. By the time this article comes out, your favorite saxophone players will be resting their chops in preparation for their Jazz Band concert and performance at the Beginners Debut.

Jazz Band

Many Saint Mary’s band students also find themselves participating in the Jazz Band program. Jazz band is a wonderful program that allows students who are passionate about music to further express themselves through their music. Participating in the jazz bands gives students many opportunities to perform and solo as well learn more about their instrument and what it means to be a musician. The jazz band has many opportunities to perform, including our first performance on December 9th. Our concert featured both jazz standards and other unique pieces that showed the diversity of jazz music. The concert also featured many soloists on every piece. The hard work of the jazz musicians is definitely paying off. Remember that it’s not too late to join! Contact Mrs. Chambers ASAP to see if you can join next semester. Numerous St. Mary’s band students achieved Star ratings at the Saxophone Festival including saxophones and percussionists.

Beginners Debut

The Beginner’s Debut is a tradition in the band department that many, even the conductors, remember. This upcoming concert showcases the newly learned skills of the new band members in the 6th grade. From all the squeaks and wrong notes to the experience of playing in front of an audience, the 6th graders will enjoy their time in the spotlight. The concert will be accompanied by the SMCHS Wind Orchestra and will include some holiday tunes. The Beginner’s Debut will be on Monday December 13th at 7:00pm in the St. Mary’s Academy gymnasium. Doors open at 6:30pm and admission is free for all. Come to support the 6th graders on their debut, cheer on the Wind Orchestra, and enjoy a few holiday tunes to get into the Christmas spirit!

An Interview with the SMCHS Band Directors Mr. and Mrs. Chambers

MESSENGER: What has been your favorite thing about pre-

paring the 6th graders for the beginners debut? CHAMBERS: They have so much energy and come to class with a great attitude, excited to play their instrument every day! M: Are the 6th graders excited for their first performance? C: Yes! This is their first big concert and they are really looking forward to playing for their family and friends. There has even been a rotating group of about 10-15 students who come after school and practice their pieces in preparation for their upcoming concert. M: What has been a challenge in preparing them for this performance? C: The biggest challenge is that there is just not enough time in a day to get to work with each individual student on their instrument. Each instrument section gets a chance to work with an instructor in a rotating sectional, but with 100 beginner band students, 12 different instrument sections and only 2 directors, we don’t get as much time to work on instrument specific things as much as we would like to. M: If you had to pick, which section from the 6th grade band is your favorite? C: That’s a tough one as each section brings such a fun energy and vibe to the group! As clarinet and trumpet players, we are of course partial to those sections, but the low brass section (trombones, euphoniums and tubas) have really made great progress so far this year and the french horns and percussionists have been solid! M: Does the constant squeaking of the clarinets haunt you at night? MRS. CHAMBERS: As a clarinet player, yes :) .... JK, the clarinets ROCK! 4

and choir?

RACHEL BLETH: Music has always been a really huge part

of my life, so having that be part of my school day was kind of an easy choice, I guess, for me. People are super dedicated to sports, and music is my sport, in a sense. I dedicate all my time to that, so doing choir and band for all the years that I have is just a way of keeping music in my life, because I think it’s so crucial to me getting through my day. M: What advice would you give any underclassmen going into the Music Department? R: You get as much out of it as you put in, that’s probably my biggest advice. If you go in with a super strong work ethic and a passion for music, you’re going to get something great out of it. I think another big part of it is realizing your potential. Some people enter choir or band thinking that they aren’t very good at what they are doing, but if they realize how much better they are at it then they think, they will have that energy to do better. M: If there were any students out there that would want to join the Music Department, what would you say to them? R: Do it! It’s awesome, it has completely changed who I am. Not only as a musician but as a human being. A lot of who I am has come from being in the music department. So even if it’s one year, that’s gonna change you more than you could really ever think of, in your overall character, who you are as a person, your work ethic, and so many other things.

RACHEL BLETH

MESSENGER: What has made you want to continue with band

LUCAS MUELLER

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Music Edition MESSENGER: What is your favorite memory from being in the

band/orchestra throughout high school? LUCAS MUELLER: My favorite memory of being in band in high school would probably be being able to make wonderful music with my friends. Also, meeting new friends, both older than me and younger. I was, frankly, a nervous wreck when I first came up to high school band as a freshman, but having people who were older than me and that were welcoming and kind helped me feel better. Everyone in band has a unique personality and talent that is so fun and interesting to be around. M: What are you most excited for at the Beginner’s Debut Concert? L: I am most excited to see how the future musicians of SMCHS are progressing and the talent that will follow through the school system. Will all the people who are in the 6th grade band stay in band their whole middle school and high school career? No, many will probably drop out of band as they may only be in it as it is required and others will want to take other classes, but those who stay will experience so much fun and great times in band that it will be worth it. M: Do you see yourself continuing to play your instrument and/or be in a band in the future? L: Yes, I will probably play my trumpet through college as I consider it to be a great thing and it is a time for me to put all other cares aside, and only worry about the music in front of me.

OPINION Technology and Youth A student’s opinion on the matter | Margaret Kathol

ou have the attention span of a goldfish.” This is a common saying to refer to people who can’t seem to focus on one thing for very long. But recent studies have shown that humans actually have less than the proposed 9 second attention span of a goldfish. They have 8. According to a study done by Microsoft Corp, this is due to the increase of digital lifestyles on our brains. Now we’re putting IPads into the hands of children as young as 2, if not earlier. ABC Mouse, PBS Kids, Toca Boca, etc are all examples of ‘educational’ apps for toddlers. The developers of these apps try to incorporate games with learning (or at least their attempt at it) to appeal to this young age group. The fact that they have to use games as an incentive to learn is already a sign that technology shouldn’t be introduced this early. How are toddlers supposed to learn the concept of addition or subtraction from a game? They can’t read or comprehend spoken instructions they don’t know the meaning of. How will they know that in order to receive a virtual sticker they have to put 5 apples in a basket? If you’ve ever watched a little kid try to play a game like this, they usually try to play it through trial and error, frustratingly tapping on the screen because they have absolutely no idea what they’re doing. Schools are slowly beginning to incorporate

technology, which can be helpful with teaching kids how to grow into our increasingly digitized world. But it should be an aid to learning tools, not replacing them. Even though it’s been proven that interactive teaching is the best way for students to learn, these “modern” techniques of using technology as a teaching method are becoming increasingly used, limiting interaction between a teacher and students. Physical tools have always been much more beneficial for learning, such as taking notes in a notebook instead of a computer. Not only is it a problem in education, a common parenting technique is using devices as a “nanny” for children. If their kid is having a tantrum in the middle of a grocery store, an easy solution is to give them a device to calm them. This teaches them poor behaviour management and introduces instant gratification. There are numerous other bad effects of this in children, such as obesity, bad sleep quality, lowered self esteem, underdeveloped social skills, etc. I don’t even need to elaborate on how harmful social media is, as that is widely known. I’m not saying technology in itself is bad, just how we use it. We should learn how to use technology simply to our benefit, and not have a negative effect on our youth. After all, ‘the youth are the future.’

A Brief Description

incemeat pies, a traditional English dessert. As you bite into this little pocket of joy, the pastry crumbles and you can taste the rich, warm sweetness of apples, cinnamon, cloves, and raisins within. This lovely dessert includes mincemeat which is a mixture of chopped dried fruit, distilled spirits and spices, and sometimes beef suet (Sue-it), beef, or venison. Originally, mincemeat always contained meat. Many modern recipes contain beef suet, though vegetable shortening is sometimes used in its place. You can buy it in your local grocery store. These sweets include some pastry with a bit of mincemeat and cream cheese inside. Here is my English Grandmother’s recipe.

A Christmas Recipe:

Mincemeat Pies

A Traditional English Christmas Desert | Maja Dojs

The Pastry

4 cups flour 2 sticks of butter 8 tablespoons margarine 2 oranges, you will need the grated rind and the juice

The Filling

8oz cream cheese ¼ to ½ cup sugar A little milk

Tools List

A whisk 3 inch round cookie cutter 2¼ inch round cookie cutter Cupcake tin A bowl

Instructions

Rub the first three ingredients together with fingers, until breadcrumb texture, and add the grated orange rinds and juice, it should hold into a firm ball. Leave in fridge at least 30 minutes. Take the pastry out, roll flat to ¼ inch thickness. Beat the cream cheese with the sugar. Cut 3 inch circles until you have 24. Get a greased cupcake tin and line them with the pastry circles. Fill halfway with mincemeat and then a teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture. Cut 24 more circles this time 2¼ inch. Put these on top of the filled pies. Press edges lightly and make a small slit on the top of the pie. Brush with some milk on top. Bake 425℉ for 15-20 minutes till golden brown. Be careful when removing as they fall apart easy. Sprinkle with some powdered sugar for flourish. 7 7

ENTERTAINMENT

BEST WORST | Julianna Lengowski and Bella Sletteland

Santa Switch Fireproof: One (2013): Imagine The Santa of my teachers showed Claus, featuring Tim Allen, but it’s this awful movie to us in 8th Rodeo and Juliet been put through the industrial grade grade and I can’t stop thinking (2015): City girl moves to Hallmark blending machine until all the about the emotional trauma I have the country. City girl meets an comedy and heartfelt messages have disappeared. experienced since then. I’m not sure ‘untamable horse’. Immediately tames That’s the Santa Switch, a 2013 Hallmark movie. if this qualifies as a Christmas the horse. Ooh look a handsome cowboy. The film focuses on Dan, a classic workaholic dad movie but it’s getting included But wait, at the same time, her mom is having who’s business and marriage are collapsing. After for my mental clarity. trouble winning their real estate claims from Dan ruins Christmas for a random small child, Santa a handsome rancher. Ooh, tension. Ooh, barrel Claus forces Dan to take up the task of Santa until racing. But wait, it’s also Christmas! Oh no, he ‘learns his lesson’ and stops trying to buy the the ranch is in debt, what’s gonna happen? I love of his neglected children. The pinnacle won’t spoil it for you. It’s a cheesy Christof Christmas comedies for the whole I’ll Be Home for mas, horse flick and I highly recomfamily. the Holidays (1998): We love mend watching it with friends a man-child who has to be bribed and a bunch of popcorn. to spend time with his family during the

holidays. This Christmas disaster follows the quirky antics of a preppy college boy who’s entire character arc in the movie is to get home in time for Christmas dinner... only because his dad promised him a Porsche. Some people may forgive the disconnected, half-baked message of this film because of the charming main character and the fun road trip trope, but behind these cliches is a contrived plot with no Christmas spirit.

The Princess Switch: Following two versions of The Princess Vanessa Hudgens, a princess, Switch 3: What’s better than and an ordinary baker, a classic two identical Vanessa Hudgens? Christmas romance is spiced up with You guessed it, three identical Vanessa some Parent Trap- type shenanigans. Hudgens. As much as I love her, there Overall, it’s a fine movie if you are must be a cap for how much Vanessa Hudgens one can mentally handle during the into hallmark-style corny Christmas movies, but the huge plot holes Christmas season. I hope that if the franchise really ruin the Christmas ever stumbles its way to a fourth Princess spirit. Switch, every character will be played by Spookley and the Vanessa Hudgens and we can become Christmas Kittens (2019): fully immersed in the V. Hudge Even if you’ve seen the low budget, Twilight: Cinematic Universe. animated, halloween musical Spookley Even though most of the Square Pumpkin, I’m betting you haven’t you are confused on why I heard of it’s Christmas sequel. Spookley and included Twilight as a Christmas the Christmas Kittens is a masterpiece of cinema. movie, I come bearing evidence. It features multicolored talking cats, sentient Guests to the Cullen Christmas 2006 pumpkins, conjoined twins, a magic racoon genie, included Bella, Edward, Jacob, Renesmee, scarecrow ventriloquists, terrifying animation, and Charlie. Although Christmas was not and a mind boggling plot twist that I still don’t the most important scene in the series, I understand. I don’t know what else you had to include Twilight because it is could want out of a Christmas movie widely known as one of the best, about pumpkins. worst movies. 8

The Secularised Meaning of Christmas | Anonymous Writers #57 and #42 from the Great, Mighty, and all Powerful Nation of SamNathaniea

ou hear it every year, “Christmas is about the birth of Jesus!” Did Jesus ever give you a ©LEGO Ninjago 9450 Epic Dragon Battle Building set? I don’t think so! Clearly, the true meaning of Christmas is getting STUFF!! How do you get such treasures? By being a good boy/girl of course, and if you can’t there is only one other option. Fake it till you make it! If you want Santa to bring you anything good after all the bad things you did this year, just pretend you didn’t do them. Don’t forget to try and be good during December. If you are one of the unlucky schmucks to not receive gifts from Santa this year or you don’t feel like being a better person just use your parents. Put on the sad puppy dog eyes and say “pwetty pwease” and hope for the best. If that fails, the next option is to steal their credit card and buy those V-bucks.

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE IS MEANT TO BE TAKEN AS SATIRE AND NOT AS THE OFFICIAL OPINION OF THE MESSENGER OR ANYBODY AFFILIATED WITH THIS ARTICLE

Why is Christmas on December 25th? | Fiona Kelly

or many years, an issue non-Christians have brought up with Christmas is the claim that it is the Christianisation of a formerly pagan holiday. At first glance, this might seem to have a bit of merit. After all, one of the conversion methods of the Catholic Church has been to adopt the superficial customs of pagan religions in order to more effectively communicate to them deeper religious truths. This allows for an introduction of new ideas without “culture shock”, so to speak. However, the key word here is superficial. These superficial customs were not ones integral to pagan religion, but simply cultural traditions loosely tied to paganism. The traditions of the Catholic Church, or Doctrine, are able to change with the times or with the culture. The Dogma, or fundamental teachings, however, is not. The Roman Catholic Church has not altered the foundations of its teachings to conform with pagan religions. 9

As for Christmas specifically, the main point of the argument is that December 25th was the date of a pagan celebration prior to its Christianisation. According to the Julian calendar, the 25th of December was the winter solstice, a day on which the ancient Romans celebrated the deity Saturn. Christians first began celebrating Christmas on December 25th in 336, during the reign of the Emperor Constantine. Constantine had only recently changed the religion of the Roman Empire to Christianity. A possible inference is that the Christians began to celebrate on this date to undermine the established pagan revelry. It was also considered to be the date of the winter solstice, which was significant at that time to Roman culture. Although the Catholic Church does at times adopt superficial pagan customs, the foundation and teachings of the Church are unaltered.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT An inside look into some of the outside careers of our seniors.

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GRACE PANSEGRAU | CHEER MESSENGER: Why do you cheer? GRACE PANSEGRAU: I do cheer because of all the

stunting we do at practice, getting to spend time with my friends, and getting to show my school spirit on the sidelines at games. M: How did your competition go? G: Our Fall State Cheer Competition was the day after State Football in Fargo and we took 6th place. M: What would you say to people who want to join? G: I hope anyone that is interested joins! Lots of girls come in with varying experience and can learn very quick. Our coach cheered for UND, she’s really great at teaching us cool new things, and our team bonds together well. M: What’s your fondest memory of cheer? G: My fondest memories from cheer have been getting to do The Back to School Welcome at Cathedral- where all of the cheerleaders greet the kids on their first day of school in our cheer uniforms. As well as getting to cheer on the sidelines inside of the Fargo Dome, it’s so much fun!

KIERA OUKROP | GOLF MESSENGER: What is your favorite memory from being on the golf team?

KIERA OUKROP: Overnight trips with the team were the

best. M: What are some challenges you had to overcome in the sport? K: I honestly didn’t really have challenges. I worked hard and the sport is easy if you put time into it. M: What is your greatest accomplishment from golf throughout your time playing it? K: My biggest achievement is that I made it to state four years in a row. M: How do you motivate yourself before golfing? K: Our team is really great so I hang out with them and we pump each other up. M: Are you going to continue golf after high school? K: Of course! Golf is meant to be a lifelong sport.