Volume 96
Black Gold
The
Arts and Entertainment pg. 4 Turn to Arts and Entertainent for a review on some classic Christmas movies
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December 21st, 2015
2015 MIPA Spartan Award Winner
Issue 4
Photo: E. Simon
Focus pg. 3 Head over to Focus page for a guide to your favoirte holiday recipes
Traverse City Central High School 1150 Milliken Drive, Traverse City, Michigan 49686
Breakfast with Santa Fundraiser
All Graphics: H. Lancashire
Second Semester Stress
Counselors adopt new format for scheduling student classes starting in the next semester
Abby Harnish Staff Reporter
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Photo: courtesy of Meredith Allen Above, from left to right, Trevor Sears ‘18, Rachel Muszynski ‘18, Meredith Allen ‘17, and Arabel McLachlan‘17, smile for the camera at the Breakfast with Santa fundrasier. “We’re a national circuit team,” Muszynski said. “So the funding that we receive is just not enough, so we need to do fundraisers and this has always been a really great one.”
The absence issue
anuary 25th is the start of the second semester of the 2015-2016 school year. To help reduce the number of unneeded appointments that can add to the stress of scheduling changes, Central High School has adopted an online form where students can fill in their missing courses themselves. “It will help students because sometimes they are looking for a specific class in a specific hour, and maybe it’s not even available and they’d see that,” academic counselor Brandee Ludka said. “There’s no need to come down to the counseling office
An increase in absences force new policies to be considered
Fletcher Reyher Staff Reporter
Open campus would have to be one of the best perks of attending Central High School. This policy has created traditions and has given us a sense of freedom that our rivals across town have not experienced. “Schools in the United States that have closed campuses have better attendance,” lead principal, Rick Vandermolen, said. “In my research of the problem this is something that I’m starting to think about.” Open campus is an appealing aspect of Central High School’s campus, but it comes with a price. The student body of Central has compiled a preposterous amount of absences this school year. As of December 4th, there have been over 36,000 periods of school missed by Central students. This equates to approximately 6,040 days of school. These numbers are frightening considering Central’s total enrollment is 1,425 students. “If someone is consistently truant, they could do a few things,” English teacher, Kathryn Shelley Barnes said. “They could have Saturday school which they used to have in New Jersey when I taught there. Kids had to make up the time they missed, and let me tell you, it reduced the number
of times they were absent.” Ironically Saturday school was a part of Central’s past. According to Michigan Capitol Confidential, the state of Michigan considers students who miss ten or more days a year chronically absent. The statewide average of kids chronically absent is 25.5 percent. Other school districts also struggle with student absence. In Benton Harbor, 58.9 percent of students met the chronic absence criteria. The figure was 52.7 percent in Flint and 49.9 percent in the Pontiac School District. The new Detroit Public Schools
truancy policy calls for possible home visits by state agency workers when a student has six unexcused absences. After nine unexcused absences, students and their parents can be charged by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. “There should be punishments for students who are chronically absent,” Sierra Moore 17’ said. Obviously absences are a problem for TCAPS and not surprisingly a pet peeve of the teach- See Online pg. 6
and make an appointment to come in for five minutes and have me tell you that it’s not available. We are trying to save people time, and trying to make the process more efficient, so we can actually spend the time with the students who really need the time to figure their schedules out.” The link to the new online form is on the CHS home page. Once they have accessed the form, students can drop and add classes from an offered list. “I think the online form will be beneficial to our system,” Lauren Davenport ‘18 said. “It will save time for our counselors and our schedules will be changed quicker.” Throughout the years, students have been complaining of missing, conflicting, and unwanted courses in their second semester schedules. “I dual-enroll, so I was trying to figure out how to match my NMC classes with my classes over here, and get my graduation requirements in there too,” Cynthia Gidley ‘16 said. “I only need .5 math credits and that was proving to be a lot more difficult than it should’ve been.” Each counselor has a list of students that have an insufficient amount of courses and some that have errors with their schedule. They go through these lists and try to figure
out the reason behind the missing classes. Once the cause has been pinpointed, they put a see-counselor in the gap to notify the students to come down to the counseling office and talk to them. “One of the reasons why some students have missing classes is usually because they’re dual enrolling,” Ludka said. “I have to figure out if some classes here can be eliminated so that they can go over to NMC. Sometimes they are just missing an elective, and they have to pick something new.” In past years, schedule changes have been stressful. To fix errors in their schedules, students would have to stand in long lines waiting to make an appointment with their counselor. Counselors have many students they need to tend to, so this makes it difficult for students who are trying to contact them. “My NMC schedule just wasn’t working out, and I was having a hard time getting into the classes I wanted which was very frustrating,” Gidley said. “Sometimes it’s really hard to get a hold of Mrs. Ludka, but I understand that she is a busy lady.” Schedule changes occur every year. CHS is a large school, with 1426 students. For counselors to correctly make that many schedules, which can consist of seven or more periods, that do not overlap with each other, is close to impossible. “Schedule changes are common because there’s always going to be conflicts,” Ludka said. “We have a really big school and a lot of students to make schedules for, so it’s not going to work perfectly for everyone. When the schedules built over the summer, it is built to accommodate the majority. We always try to get between 70 and 80 percent of the schedules completed and ready at the beginning of the year. It’s really hard to get to 100 percent.” Not only do the large number of students enrolled affect this process, but students’ indecisive minds influence the stressfulness of the ever-changing schedules. “People change their minds, so that’s another huge thing,” Ludka said. “When students pick their classes in February or March of the year before, six months of time has passed and they’ve changed their minds. They come down to the counseling office and they try to get out out of things that they have changed their mind about.” Many solutions have been pondered over and proposed, but Ludka has come to the conclusion that there is no Holy Grail solution that will get rid of all schedule changes, but the new online form is a step in the right direction. “I don’t know if there’s a good way to prevent these schedule changes,” Ludka said. “It would take a lot to change the culture of the school, because it’s something that’s been done for years. Students expect that they can come down and change anything at anytime. We are also a school where there are so many things we offer. The students are really lucky to have so many electives, Career Tech Center, online courses, and NMC Early College. There are so many options out there that I don’t think there will ever be an easy way to prevent it.”
Briefs
Madrigal Dinner with Choral-Aires On December 3rd and 4th, the Traverse City Central ChoralAires, along with the Vocal Majority Choir, held their 48th annual Madrigal Dinner Theatre. The events were held at the Presbyterian Church of Traverse City and were open to the public. Choral-Aires member and performer, Emily Jenkins ‘16 reflected on her experience of the evening. “We sing as the Madrigals in a play the church puts on about Christmas,” Jenkins said. “After the play and dinner, we perform a short concert for the audience of our Christmas repertoire.” Given that it was their first non-sponsored event, the Choral-Aires were able to feel like enjoying their performance
was the only priority. “There’s a big contrast between school-sponsored events and Madrigals,” Choral-Aires performer Abe Stone ‘18 said. “We weren’t doing it for a school concert we were doing it to perform.” The dinner offered a variety of entertainment that did not disappoint. “My favorite part of the night is probably the time when we got to go around and hang out with the audience because we could go down to
the seats and sing songs to the crowd,” Stone said. “I even brought my recorder! It was just really fun to interact with the audience.” Overall, the Madrigal dinners were a success for both the Choral-Aires and the community. “I enjoyed the concert portion of the night,” Jenkins said. “ We had been working really hard on our set list, and it was rewarding to see that our practice paid off.”
Photo: E. Simon
Breakfast with Santa Fundrasier On Saturday December 12th, the Breakfast with Santa fundraiser was held by Traverse City Central’s debate team at the Great Wolf Lodge. The event included various festivities for children and was a way for the debate team to give back to the community while making a profit at the same time. “This event has always been around since I’ve been here,” debate team member Rachel Muszynski ‘18 said. “I think it’s a really great way to give back to the community because they have given so much to us funding-wise and everything.” There were different stations filled with activities for the children to participate in and was an opportunity for
families to bond. “I worked at an arts and crafts table,” Muszynski said. “It was really fun to interact with all the little kids, especially when their faces lit up
when they saw Santa.” Breakfast with Santa brought holiday cheer to Traverse City and put everyone in a merry mood. Debate team member, Meredith Allen ‘17
recalled her experience of the occasion. “The best part was watching all the kids talk to Santa and get their picture with him,” Allen said. “This one little girl asked for a pony and it was really cute!” The event not only helped bring the community closer together and reminded them of the holidays, but also the debate team was able to benefit greatly from the proceeds. “It felt really great to raise money because our team travels all over the country,” Allen said. “We need to fundraise to go to all the tournaments we want, and I’m glad I could help our team achieve our goals.”
2 Opinion
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Dec. 21, 2015
Bus abuse dealt with TBAISD bus aide was sentenced to one year in jail for third degree child abuse
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“It obviously makes you wonder if they do enough in terms of background checks, but obviously if this guy checked out clean and he went through 250 hours of training then there really wasn’t any way to predict someone’s actions.” -Emily Jenkins ‘16 “It’s amazing that someone would do that to someone that obviously needed special help. They should trust the aids to take care of them. TBAISD managed to do it so quickly and it proves they care about each and every individual person.” -AJ Samba ‘17 “It’s a horrible thing that happened and it was obviously excessive force that was unnecessary. It’s more than working with normal kids because it’s a different situation to be exposed to. TBAISD definitely handled the situation correctly.” -Ally Brown ‘18
the Black & Gold
“The bus assistant overreacted to the student’s behavior. I think bus aides should be trained differently so they are more aware of what the students could do. They should have gotten rid of the aide after the first incident, not the second.” -Jacob Belcher ‘19 Editors-in-Chief Maddi Miller Julia Vannatter
News Editor
Kristin McLintock
Opinion Editor Carly Hernden
Feature Editor Maddi Miller
raverse Bay Area Intermediate School District (TBAISD) bus aide, William Rosinski, was arrested last September for third-degree child abuse charges on two separate occasions. According to the Traverse City Record Eagle, the Traverse City Police announced the incidents occurred on Friday, September 11th and Monday, September 13th both around 7:30 am at the TBAISD District parking lot. The incident began when Rosinski was displeased with how a middle school student was sitting/laying in their seat, so he took away the child’s pillow and blanket causing a verbal altercation. Through from video taken from surveillance cameras, Police say the child was attacked but there were no visible injuries and the child did not receive medical treatment. Prosecutors say Rosinski twisted the victim’s arm, placed his knee on the child’s head, and slammed the student into the side of the bus. Other students were on the bus when this event took place. The footage was played back to an open court when Judge Thomas Phillips told Rosinski it was one of the worst things he’s ever seen, according to UpNorthLive. Rosinski was sentenced to
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We at the Black & Gold believe the students safety should be a top priority regardless of the situation.
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one year in jail but was released on a $50,000 bond. Currently, he is not allowed on school property, on a bus, or to contact the student. As a result of the incident, Rosinski lost his job with Dean Transportation, for whom he had been working with for the past seven years. “The court was certainly justified in its sentence,” Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney Bob Cooney said to UpNorthLive. “I share the court’s disgust over the incident and I think the length of the sentence had to do with the fact that this was an assault on a special needs student and it had nothing to do with appropriate discipline.” Dean transportation CEO Kellie Dean claims all bus drivers and
aides go through 150-250 hours of training before they can be placed with All Graphics: H. Lancashire students. According to UpNorthLive, the company also takes pride in conducting extensive background checks on all their employees, but Rosinski did not have any history at the time. “We value our training program and hold it in very high regard,” Dean said to UpNorthLive reporters. “From all indications, he disregarded our training, our procedures, and what Dean Transportation is all about, so I can not condone any part of it.” We at the Black & Gold believe the students safety should be a top priority regardless of the situation. The purpose of a bus aide is to monitor the students and assist them with anything that is needed. When a student is misbehaving, it is up to the aide to calm them down and meet some sort of compromise, not encourage a further dispute that leads to violence. Special needs buses require a specialized type of assistance, but when aids who have received over 200 hours of training lash out at an innocent student, it poses disturbing questions about not only the training, but also the environment in which similar incidents could occur in the future. Rosinski had no previous history of abuse, so Dean Transportation had no way of knowing what he was capable of. Could this happen on any bus? The likelihood has been established, now the task is to figure how hiring and or hiring practices could be modified to possibly prevent a repeat occurrence. We at the Black & Gold strongly believe all measures taken by authorities were handled to the best of their ability. The criminal charges against Rosinski were severe and deserved because he abused a child when his job was to maintain a safe environment for students. Once he was released, precautions were handled immediately and effectively; there wasn’t anything else to be done. Other school systems should look to how TBAISD handled the situation and use them as a role model for future occurrences. The school had to deal with a disturbing event which they are unfamiliar with, and they deserve to be commended for the execution of a thorough response.
Overregulation of school dress codes School dress codes are monitored excessively for minimal violations and ignored for considerable instances Abigail Vannatter Staff Reporter
A typical high school girl struts down the hallway of a typical high school, head held high, overly confident with her revealing Hollister jean shorts, attitude bouncing off her with each step. She receives a couple odd stares, then eventually gets called out by a teacher. She claims she did nothing wrong. In that situation, clearly the school administration knew they were stopping a sight that no one wants to see. On November 21st, according to the website DailyMail, 12-year-old Morgan Hull from Franklin Township Middle School in Indiana was accused of wearing pants considered “too tight” by school officials. Hull had been wearing a common grey zip-up sweatshirt and dark blue jeggings when she was called to the office and informed her pants were too tight and deemed not appropriate for school. She was then told she needed to go home. When Hull attempted to go back to school the following day in different pants, she was immediately sent back home. The school sent an email to her mother, Traci Hull, stating that her daughter had been given instant suspension for violating the school’s dress code. Due to this suspension, Hull missed three entire days of school. I do see the need for a dress code to be put into place because it simply isn’t appropriate for students to dress in a provocative and suggestive manner in school. If there isn’t a dress code, the morality of that school could be negatively affected. These students need to be disciplined in a manner that takes into account both academics and moral standards. That being said, I certainly do not agree with the way Hull’s school dealt with this situation. It is excessive for a student to miss three whole days of school for inappropriate clothing. In my opinion, the school’s reaction was not clearly thought out. The logic of kicking out a student for multiple days based on the tightness of their pants is lost on me. Out of Dayton, Idaho, Evette Reay was
A&E Editor
suspended her last day of senior year for wearing too short of a dress, although it went down to two inches above her knee. Yes, two inches. No cleavage or midriff, just two inches of skin above the knee. If a cute, unrevealing dress is inappropriate for school, then we might as well show up in full length bath robes in warm weather to cover up. High school dress codes are by and large aimed towards female students and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to notice it. I’ve seen plenty of guys who have worn extremely tight shorts or tank tops that expose shoulders. These students generally aren’t going to get more than a couple odd stares from their peers and staff in the hallway. If a female student were to wear pants or shorts that are too tight, she would get called out immediately by teachers, administration, or potentially cat-called by other students, who are more than likely male. Even though my experience with dress code is limited, I have noticed a couple of patterns. When a student is pulled aside by
Taylor Weckstein
Julia Vannatter
Sports Editor
Business Managers
Noah Aulicino
Kirsten Berkey Hayley Scollard
Focus Page Editor
Photo Editor
Introspec Editors
Illustration Editor
Bethany Pataky
Maddi Miller Abbie Crick
Emma Simon
Henry Lancashire
Staff Reporters
Andrea Bavikatty Jackson Conlon Abby Harnish Jack Myers Fletcher Reyher Autumn Roberts Nicole Rogers Morgan Sheldon Alex Stern Aidan Stiebel Abigail Vannatter Baille Zipser
an administrator for violating a dress code, the student is informed that the article of clothing they’re wearing is distracting to other students. I have never been aware of a student who was so distracted by the attire of another student that they were unable to learn. Is it possible? Yes. But, is it a fitting punishment to prevent the provocative dresser from learning by suspending them from school entirely? Punishing a student and keeping them out of school for days at a time is too extreme. Dress code is a dilemma that stretches back to the first teenager. It is a constant battle between generations that may never get resolved. To at least loosen, pun intended, the tension, school districts might consider working on consequences that teach instead of punish. This will ensure a well rounded education while making sure students dress appropriately. I have always thought that out of all the rules set by schools, violating dress code was handled decently, but after Hull’s situation, I am having second thoughts.
Some Corrections: -On pages 5&8, the folios were on the wrong side. -In the Staff Box, Aidan Stiebel’s name was spelled wrong.
For suggestions, contact us at TCBlackandGold.opinion@ gmail.com
Feature
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Dec. 21, 2015
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A guide to gift giving for the: All graphics: H. Lancashire, A. Stiebel, E. Simon
Sporty
After enjoying fresh, organic grapes and a lean kale and pineapple smoothie, this mom brushes her hair back into a perfected pony-tail, pulling it back with her Lululemon headband. She bolts down the block with ease as her sculpted legs leap across the sidewalk - her third exercise of the day. She then returns to her room and puts away her dozens of perfectly color-coordinated running outfits. After checking her Fitbit she prepares some fat free, gluten free, sugar free, artificial preservative free, sodium free and fun free food.
Heart pumping in their chest and sweat dripping down their face is your athletic sibling, dedicated to sports above all else. Their heart and soul is most at peace when exercising and pushing themselves to be the best version of themselves possible while competing.This siblings’ style consists of running shorts, athletic pants and tshirts on most days. It’s usually a surprise to see this sibling wearing anything different than their sports gear. Gatorade, energy bars and protein shakes complete this sibling’s diet. Trying to spend time with this athletic sibling proves to be a challenge as their heart belongs on the court or field.
Jogging down the street, his nike shoes slapping the ground in a predictable rhythm, while getting in his daily exercises everyday to stay active for his family sport games, is your dad. Like a machine, he works through each activity he partakes in with his incredible strength and persistence. This man loves active play whether it be physical exertion, or vocal exertion from his couch while college football streams on the screen. This is shown in how he sits on the couch, or chair getting engaged in sporting programs that he watches everyday, or the intensity with which he plays a friendly game of baseball with his friends and family.
Relaxed
Relaxing on the couch with her feet up, this mom needs a break from her hectic lifestyle on occasion. After queuing up her favorite movie and resting a bowl of her favorite snack beside her, she leans back and relaxes, taking in the peace and serenity that she isn’t able to experience often. This mom deserves a break after standing on her feet all day and nothing is better for her than sitting in a dark room, wearing warm sweatpants and a huge sweatshirt.
For your mom
Lounging on the couch with a hand wedged in their bag of chips and a stack of uncompleted homework scattered on the ground is your lazy sibling. We all have this type of brother or sister that would chose a night in, watching a season of Netflix with their favorite snack, over a wild night out with friends. These individuals know the definition of the word relax and show its meaning on a daily basis. Often they chose a TV show over homework - procrastination is their middle name. They know of projects for weeks, but end up starting their project the day before a due date. This sibling is also familiar with staying on top of their favorite shows, although their grades aren’t held to the same caliber.
For your sibling
Laying down on that cozy sofa bed on his night off of work, your dad ensures that he will be comfortable. He is wearing his comfortable cotton shirt and sweatpants, watching his favorite movies, and shows on Netflix and Demand, forgetting about all the stress of the day. Getting situated, he quickly kicks back to get his night started. While leaning his head on a couple of pillows and putting his feet on the footrest, he takes in a few hours of rest and relaxation. Muting all the noise from his wife and kids he puts in his earplugs. Your dad deserves a day to himself.
For your dad
All photos courtesy of: Bing Images
On-the-Go
Buzzing in and out of stores in town with espresso shots coursing through her veins is your mom. This powerful and on-the-go woman balances a husband, kids, work, and passions with ease. She works throughout the day like a superhero, always swooping in to save her child’s day with each forgotten lunch box and last-minute work assignment. Although she is constantly on the run, she does this in style, and never fails to dress to impress. There is nothing this woman can’t accomplish and she seems to have her whole life in check.
Balancing school, work, friends and family is an everyday struggle, and this sibling makes it look easy as they are always busy and on the move. These individuals are also very organized and do constant tasks with ease. Most of these individuals mottos are “sleep is for the dead” because they lose hours of sleep finishing assignments, attending youth groups, and encountering unique life experiences. Some of these siblings constantly have a cup of coffee in their hand because that is vital for their busy lifestyle.On-the-go siblings always have their assignments turned in on time, responsibilities met and relationships maintained. They seem to be some sort of prodigy children that serve as a role model for balancing tasks.
Getting in and out his car, shifting between errands and work all day, your dad moves in and out of stores with the quickness of a master in order to travel all around town just to repeat this hectic schedule the very next day. He has no time to sit down. This on-the go dad depletes his gas tank daily, balancing work and his the needs of kids and their hectic schedules. From racing his kids out the door and onto the school bus every morning and all that follows. He finishes his daily work to come home to another set of tasks including helping his kids with math and English homework and his wife with cooking and cleaning.
4 Sports
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Dec. 21, 2015
Pre-season alpine training
Despite the unfavorable lack of winter weather, the Trojan alpine ski team finds new ways to prepare for the start of the season. New preparations include attending fall training camps and maintaining an effective team workout schedule daily
a i r t s u A , rol
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Maggie Dutmers ‘17
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We were there for 10 days. The overall purpose was kind of just to get back on skis and also to gain some insight on the culture over there. You get to see the different kinds of foods people eat and the hotel is completely different from any hotel here. I think the people that went made it most fun. I kind of knew everybody that was going to go, we were already friends. We’ve all been skiing with each other for a really long time and it was kind of like a family trip. It is nice because it is a little longer trip than the other thanksgiving trips, and we get to go overseas.
” “ Colorado,” USA“ Max Ranger ‘18
The purpose of the trip was just to get ready for the season, kind of like a refresher from last year and stuff had forgotten over the summer. Over there, we got up and went running at like 6:45, and then we had breakfast and went to the hill at like 8:00. We skied until about 2:00, and then came back to the hotel. The skiing was really good and it’s a cool country. Once, this girl asked me something in german, and I said like sí, or something, in spanish and it was really embarrassing. I never knew what she said.
Mack Galante ‘16
I was there a full week, so I came back friday after thanksgiving. It was to get back on the snow and to train out in conditions that we don’t have here with snow we don’t have here. We get good coaching so we can really develop in a short time span. We were up at the top of the hill at 6:15 and then we waited until dawn and once the sun was out we went outside and trained. I learned a lot about hand position, transitions out of the turn, activating the tip of the ski, and about putting a lot of mechanical work in the ski to accelerate out of the turn.
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Haley Klien ‘16
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It’s really important to be on the mountains and to be on bigger hills than at home because they’re really short here. It is just constant training, sometimes even from 6 in the morning to like 4 in the afternoon and it’s just really beneficial. It’s not just about the amount of time we spend, skiing it’s more about how many good runs we get in and how tired we are because it’s really hard in altitude. I think my favorite part was just how sunny it is there. I’ve gone my whole life, and just love doing it.
Trojans stay in shape off the slopes With a rigorous dry-land training schedule, the Trojans work on building strength and improving balance for the approaching season
Baille Zipser Staff Reporter
With January quickly approaching, the ski team is eagerly waiting for the snow fall to begin their season. “Most of us on the team haven’t touched the snow yet,” Brendan Wells ‘16 said. “We are a little behind in our training this year. Usually, during the season, we go skiing on Saturday but we haven’t been able to yet.” To overcome the training deficit caused by the lack of snow, the Trojan alpine ski team trains in the gym and weight room after school. Dry-land training began in early November, and the team is going to continue training until the snow comes in order to prepare for racing. “Our season usually goes from January to the end of February,” Wells said. We would normally still be doing dry land mixed in with some skiing. In the past we would also take trips up to Nubs Nob for the day.”
When the snow falls, the team will be balancing a very busy schedule of training and racing. “The day after Christmas is when we start training regularly,” Wells said. “Our first race is the day we get back from Christmas break at Boyne Highlands.” The bare runs have not discouraged the team. They continue to meet for dry-land training four days a week. They run stairs, lift weights and finish off practice with a team building game. “Training mainly gets your legs ready for the season”, Wells said. “We do a lot of cardio and leg work so we can push out of the gate and so you can handle going down the courses and build your stamina because some runs are are pretty long and you could get pretty tired.” Despite the lack of snow, Wells feels optimistic about the team’s progression so far. “The snow is going to come eventually,” Wells said. “Until then, we are just going to continue training, and stick together as a team.”
Photo: courtesy of J. Aulicino
Trojan alpine skier Joe Aulicino ‘18 practices giant slalom in Hintertux, Austria while training for the upcoming high school season. “Skiing in the Alps is amazing. I love looking out and seeing the seemingly infinite expanse of mountains in front of me,” Aulicino said.
Hintertux Gletscher, Austria Avg annual snowfall: 354” Longest run: 7 miles Summit: 10,662 ft, base 4,921 ft 4,350 mi away from TC
Copper Mountain,Colorado: Avg annual snowfall: 276” Longest run: 1.7 miles Summit: 12,313 ft, base 9,712 ft 1,108 mi away from TC
All graphics: H. Lancashire
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Dec. 21, 2015
Favorite Christmas classics
The Black & Gold reviews popular holiday movies, including faculty and student input Julia Vannatter, Andrea Bavikatty, Alex Stern
A&E
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Focus: Metals & Jewelry Mikayla San Clemente‘17
Editor-In-Chief, Staff Reporters
“My favorite scene is in the toy shop when the store manager says ‘alright, Santa’s coming to town!’ and Buddy screams ‘Santa?!’ He is so excited he flips out. Will Ferrell is just hilarious, and as Buddy he’s even funnier.” - Macy Meindertsma ‘18 Her rating:
After being told his father is on the Naughty List, Buddy the Elf ventures to New York from the North Pole to try to figure out who his real father is and why supposedly he’s on the naughty list. This humorous Christmas film is a cute story about acceptance and love between a father in disbelief and a son who is an adopted elf. It’s an all season movie and brings out the Christmas spirit in anyone; no matter what age.
“I like when the boy gets the bell back at the end of the movie. Watching it as a kid I know that it meant a lot to him so it made me happy. It is for sure a classic Christmas movie.” - Tobin Schwannecke ‘19 His rating:
Photos: courtesy of www.imdb.com
Home Alone is a holiday classic that follows 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) when his parents accidentally leave him at home while rushing to make a flight to Paris for a Christmas vacation. Culkin’s humorous acting as well as his unrealistic independence and intelligence make this a fun and lighthearted Christmas film.
“It’s interesting how the family forgets about Kevin, and how he gets by on his own. I think it’s a classic film, and a lot of people like it. It’s so joyous and Christmassy.” - Cameron Faught ‘17 His rating:
Photo: E. Simon
As an absolute classic Christmas movie, A Christmas Story is full of iconic and widely known scenes, such as the repetitive warning given to Ralphie about his wish of receiving an air rifle (“You’ll shoot your eye out!”), Ralphie’s father’s infamous leg lamp, and even an extremely unpleasant department store Santa Claus. With its cheesy-at-times humor and retro vibe, this movie is considered to be a must-watch every Christmas for many.
“The humor in it is good, it’s just one of those classics that we always try and watch during the holidays. My son, who is six, is not ready to see it yet because it has a lot of adult humor, rather than a kid’s movie.” - ELA Teacher Courtney Mazurek Her rating:
This Christmas Eve-tale is known for it’s realistic animations and high-quality sound detail. While on a magical train ride to the North Pole, this movie does an excellent job of portraying true Christmas spirit from hot cocoa to music and dancing, building friendships, and gift-giving. It’s a must-watch holiday classic that is sure to excite your holiday spirit. Written by the famous Dr. Seuss, this unique and quirky film follows the story of the Grinch, a creature who is adamant about stealing Christmas from Whoville. To immediately introduce the Christmas-setting, the camera swoops onto a snowflake--the home of the Whos. This story blends holiday cheer and the Grinch’s cold heart, into a happy ending that even a Grinch could love.
“It is definitely a classic holiday movie from when we were really young, so we grew up with it being a definitive Christmas movie. It’s a starter to Grinch and chill.” - Sam Huver ‘17 His rating:
“Me and my brother watch this movie every Christmas. It’s like a tradition in our house. We’re not that Christmassy, so when the movie comes on, my mom gets mad and we just watch it anyway.” - Ce’Erica Chriss ‘16 Her rating:
Name of Piece: The Teapot Materials used: jeweler’s saw, bench pin, c-clamp, bezel, and epoxy Techniques: “I had to do so many solders for it, like a sweat solder and an edge-to-edge one.” Inspiration of Piece: “For my class, I had to make a box. I didn’t want to make just a regular box, and a teapot met the requirements for the project. The idea came from the teapot in the Beauty and the Beast.” Why did you choose this piece to be published? “It was really difficult. I messed up on so many parts and redid so many things, so when it was done.”
Logan Sandy ‘17
Photo: E. Simon
Name of Piece: Illuminati Materials used: hand saw, sandpaper, steel wool, and drills Techniques: “To make this piece, I used soldering, polishing, and a dremel. Soldering is when you melt two metals together.” Inspiration of Piece: “I just put a bunch of shapes together.” Why did you choose this piece to be published? “Out of my designs, I thought this one was the coolest. There wasn’t as much going on in the piece as the others, and there was a lot more work to it. It was harder for me to make and I liked the challenge.”
Sara Tucker ‘17
After Jack Skellington, King of Halloween town, finds himself in Christmas Town he tries to take over Christmas by kidnapping Santa and replacing him, he then realizes that it might be too late to fix his mistake. This movie has a surprising twist and also an unexpected sweet side, with Jack learning to accept not only himself but the town’s people.
First performance in Central’s new auditorium Choral-Aire students bring the community into the nearly finished auditorium to showcase the newly added features
Alex Stern
Staff Reporter Voices of Central’s choir reverberate throughout the nearly finished auditorium, and the audience is in awe as the voices echo off the walls. “It was awesome,” Karlee Corwin ‘16 said. “We sang a couple songs on the stage, it was just so nice to hear the acoustics.” As a way to bring the community together and show off Central’s new auditorium, the choir recently sang in hard hats so people could admire the new design. “We wore hard hats to thank the construction company for doing all the renovations, and it
was the first time we sang in the new auditorium,” Alex Windholz ‘16 said. “Really, the main purpose was to hear how we sounded in the new environment compared to last year.” Along with the addition of sound panels on both the walls and ceiling and new seating, there is also a new orchestra pit, which the choir is especially looking forward to for Footloose. “I’m just really hoping that someone doesn’t fall into the pit,” Corwin said. “That’s one of the main things that I’m worried about. Who will be the first to fall in? Will it be me? I’m just ready to have our Footloose show started so we can be performing in the auditorium again.”
Photo: E. Simon
From left to right, Cassidy Merten ‘16, Nick Myers ‘17, Alex Windholz ‘16, Maddy Ross ‘16, Abe Stone ‘18 and Lisa Brown ‘16 all perform in the auditorium. Eager for it to be completed, Windholtz is looking forward to the upcoming months. “I’m excited for our production of Footloose in January and the choir concerts we will be able to hold at Central later in the year.”
Photos: E. Simon
Name of Piece: Forks and Spoons Materials used: torch, mandryl, a saw, wire, forks, and spoons Techniques: “I cut the metal to the shape I wanted it and then buffed it to make it sandy. Then, I sanded the shapes.” Inspiration of Piece: “I found some forks and spoons. I wanted to do something that was different. I’ve seen stuff like this around and it looked cool.” Why did you choose this piece to be published? “It’s the only thing in the class that no one else has done. It’s my own project and they’re the most polished pieces I have.”
6 Ads
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Dec. 21, 2015
Place your ad here. Contact: filkinsji@tcaps.net
Absences Continued from pg. 1 “Attendance is an irritation from a teacher’s perspective having to catch up students who have missed class,” AP Psych teacher, Ms. Brunink said. “After a while it almost becomes impossible.” Having to reteach an entire lesson for students who have missed class is very stressful for a teacher. It needs to be a collaborated effort between the student and teacher to get the student back on track, “Personally it doesn’t concern me,” Lilah Singer ‘16 said. “But it should concern the people who are skipping all the time.” The consequences of skipping a job are far more severe than skipping class. The high school structure creates a rhythm that will get students ready for a career in the future. Regular attendance will help establish this rhythm leading to more success at the postsecondary level. “I think people take absences for granted,” Sierra Moore ‘17 said. “They use them when they don’t feel prepared for a test because they procrastinated on it.” Recently Vandermolen and the staff have been talking about the attendance issue and how to combat it. Math teacher, Hal Lalonde, has recently collected data on his class and found a strong correlation between grades and attendance. Vandermolen said, “I’m working with him because I want to spread that information out to not only a classroom but all classrooms.” Missing one day off class could affect a student’s grade by roughly 1.86% as seen in Lalonde’s class. This could become a serious problem for students who miss class frequently. For a lot of lower achieving students, skipping classes spiral them into a place where they cannot recover. A lot of students have not developed the skills to make up what they have missed. “I believe the biggest variable, if we want to address poor performance and address the achievement gap, is attendance,” Vandermolen said. This is a different story for students who are involved with extracurricular activities. They have developed skills over the years to keep up in their classes while missing school. They are also motivated to keep their grades up because of grade checks. “AP students have many extracurricular activities, and they usually are where they say they are,” Shelley-Barnes said. “They always come back and make up work so their grades don’t suffer as much.” According to Dr. Vandermolen TCAPS should be a role model when it comes to fighting poor attendance. That means new attendance policies are on the horizon. “Being in class does make a difference in your grade,” Vandermolen said. “There is a positive correlation for the kids who are there and the kids who are not.”
7
Focus
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Dec. 21, 2015
Central students share recipes
All graphics: courtesy of H. Lancashire
Take a closer look at favorite baked goods Page: courtesy of B. Pataky, J. Myers, and N. Rogers
Buckeyes
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Grandma’s Molasses Cookies Sa ge Ringsmu
Photo: courtes
y of S. Ringsm uth
th ‘17
“This particular re I bought at a us cipe came from a book that ed bookstore al tweaked it a lo though I have tw molasses. My le ith honey and the amount of as having to clean t favorite thing about baking it up after I’m is done.”
Fantasy8 Fudge
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Claire Selby‘1
“My mom C. Selby Ingredients: Photo: courtesy of makes 6 cups sugar this recipe sed) or margarine 1-1/2 cups butter orated milk (not sweetened conden ped . ar ye every op ap ch ev e, of at ol ns oc ca . Ch oz 25 ’S Semi-Sweet I started ER K BA ) ch ea . e (4 oz Marshmallow Crem baking when 6 pkg. oz.) JET-PUFFED Walnuts 3 (1 jar 1 y all re s I wa ANTERS 2 cups chopped PL little with lla ni my grandma 2 tbs. va ing over sides. st ju e I’v ends of foil extend lling boil in a d th an wi il, fo th wi n x9 pa full ro loved it ever Line 13 r, butter, and evaporated milk to ga tantly. su ns g co in g Br in e rr sti Th , . since medium heat on an ep eter reaches 234 uc sa om m ge lar candy ther til most chalun or es ut in m to 8 heat. lenging thing Cook 7 stirring constantly. Remove from F, until melted. Add s r about baking degree olate and marshmallow creme; sti oc is measuring Add ch d vanilla; mix well. ad to evenly cover bottom of pan. an ts nu e on do u yo spre if e us m pan before rfectly beca to prepared pan; les to lift fudge fro nd out everything pe ole product could go wrong. Pour in ha il fo se U . ely wh Cool complet out the thing wrong, the squares. en it doesn’t turn wh e lik n’t cutting in 1-inch do y all I re d.” way I hope it woul
Sock drive for STEP
Central’s Music Department helping those in need
Jack Myers
Staff Reporter As the temperature decreases, clothing to stay warm becomes increasingly important. Coats, boots, and pants are common items often worn and donated in the colder parts of the year. However, socks are a unique item to donate for a winter charity. The Sock Drive, is a charitable program sponsored by the TCAPS Music Department to provide people in need with socks. “The Sock Drive is something we do that is a little different than most holiday charitable events,” band director David Hester said. “A lot of times, there is Toys for Tots, Coats for Kids, and food pantries, and we gear our donations towards young children or food related things. This is something different, people need socks, they are inexpensive, they are easy to acquire, and it is something we often overlook when trying to help out families in need.” For the first time this charitable event is open to all students at the school in the past the Sock Drive has been exclusive to the music department, as a result the majority of donations traditionally come from music students. “Our school sometimes lacks in participation in drives, so making the drive more open to everyone would be a good thing,” band student Kristina Curtiss ‘16 said. An increase in student participation would have a massive impact on the number of socks donated, helping many recipients in need. “I think more students should participate in any drive that gives out necessities when need be. A lot of us at this school are very fortunate to have our needs met and exceeded, and it’s very hard for those who don’t have that ability to continue thriving in an environment such as school,” Curtiss said. “I think it’s very important for people to continue participating in this way. The annual Sock Drive, which was founded years ago also works with the STEP program, helping students here at Central. “The Sock Drive was a movement started years ago by Keri McCumber,” Hester said. “The music department is working with the STEP Photo: courtesy of E. Simon specialists in all of our locations. Together, we distribute socks to teens in our school who need them. If we find a need elsewhere we branch out, but typically the socks go to students at our school.” To get involved, students Hester sees the Sock Drive as beneficial to only need to throw a pair the whole community. of socks into the box. “We are all apart of the same community, “There is a box sitting the more we support each other, the better in the atrium besides the community will be,” Hester said. “We the orchestra and band can’t have continuous separation of class room,” Kristins Curtiss or socioeconomic divide, everybody needs ‘16 said. “Anyone is welto work together and the more we work tocome to come and throw gether the stronger our community will be.” Photo: courtesy of E. Simon socks in there.”
Students volunteer
NHS students are volunteering to help in the cold
Jack Myers
Staff Reporter Central High School students in National Honor Society (NHS) are actively volunteering in many organizations around throughout the Grand Traverse region. Volunteers provide services at various charities such as food pantries and nonprofits. Charities seek volunteers to help struggling people in the Traverse City area. “Right now there are events at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum, we are helping out the Women’s Resource Center, and we are participating in Can the Principal,” NHS President Megan Puckett ‘16 said. “There are always new opportunities popping up, these are just a few.” Helping those in needs provides unique opportunities to get involved with others in the area. The donors feel good about themselves and those benefiting are cared for. There is a more present feeling of happiness and joy in the hearts of those in the community. “Volunteering is a great experience to meet people and to get involved in the community,” NHS member Benjamin DeVries ‘17 said. “Not as many people are as fortunate as others, some people need help where others don’t and volunteering is a great thing to do.” Students in NHS are required to volunteer fifteen hours per school semester. To fulfill these requirements, students can volunteer alone or in a group for any type of organization. “Most of the time, students volunteer at smaller places on their own,” Puckett said. “But we make sure that if people don’t have a place that they go to volunteer at often, there are places they can go to get their hours completed.” Upperclassmen at Central who participate in NHS have an outlet to easily support people in need. NHS makes volunteering an easier task for its members. “NHS is a great opportunity to come together with our classmates and help out your community,” Puckett said. “Sometimes it Photo: courtesy of E. Simon can be hard to volunteer on your own, so organizations like NHS provide opportunities for a group of students to go out into the community and volunteer. NHS is a more organized way of doing this.” Volunteering alone or with organizations such as NHS or other groups in one’s commuPhoto: courtesy of E. Simon nity is vital to the wellbeing of the recipients. no matter how During the colder weather, volunteering is important to recipients. large or small, or what type the “I think volunteering during the winter months is one of the best aid is. times to interact with the community,” NHS member Benjamin “I think it is important to DeVries ‘17 said. “During that time so many people need help because spread the wealth and help of the colder weather.” those in need,” Puckett said.
8 IntroSpec
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Dec. 21, 2015
Love it or hate it: Winter The legendary rivalry between Abbie and Taylor is hashed out in this special holiday edition of Introspec Abbie Crick
Taylor Weckstein
IntroSpec Editor
IntroSpec Editor
The cold is in my bones, seeped in icy marrow. I crave long, winter nights where gusts of wind sculpt the landscape into magnificent drifts; where lopsided, white clumps fall from the clouds in slow motion. I long for air that nips at noses, so cold it turns breath into fog and forces a person to stop and take a moment to cherish every single inhalation. For those of you who usually cower to the elements and stay indoors, this year, go out there and explore. Hiking paths and wooded trails become suddenly empty of other people, allowing the perfect opportunity for a quiet winter run or cross-country ski. Snow may quell the euphonious chirping of birds, but the void in noise opens up a window for reflection and solitude. In poems and literature throughout the centuries, winter has become synonymous with death, but in my eyes the first snow is evokes joyful childhood memories. Who can deny the rejuvenating power of winter: each year adults lose their inhibitions and merrily toss snowballs at one another, trying to knock off each other’s floppy hats, icicles forming in their beards and eye lashes. Countless people, despite their age, embrace life as happily as a child when the snow starts falling. Winter is an inevitable aspect of our lives here in Northern Michigan. We can’t change it, so let’s enjoy it while it’s here. It is true that there are more car accidents when the ice gets slick. However, these rough driving conditions force society to slow down, and consciously focus on the sanctity of a human life. Usually, people frantically drive to their next destination, adding to the hectic nature of the modern American lifestyle. Winter forces people to drive more slowly, focus on the here and now, and live in the moment. Likewise, reckless teenage drivers begin learning how to drive responsibly after seeing the consequences of their actions during these months. Winter driving makes teens more thoughtful on the road the rest of the year, and the rest of their lives. When the Mu gets low students go on high alert (shoutout to Mr. Forton). Altruism increases exponentially when the snow starts falling. Countless families decide to help those less fortunate than themselves by donating presents or lavish holiday dinners. The need for winter apparel among the impoverished often evokes generous responses from our community members who always step up to the plate. Donations, ranging from boots and coats to hats and gloves flood into organizations that help the needy. Businesses in our quaint community, along with individuals, are particularly kind during this wonderful season. Anyone can park in the parking structure downtown for free during winter months, and the State Theater plays free movies on snow days. There are few things I’d rather do than read next to a crackling fire, sipping hot chocolate as I watch the trees outside droop sideways with an increasingly heavy white blanket. Then, if I’m feeling ambitious, journeying into the white abyss, strapping on snowshoes (or skis, or boots), and looking back upon the fresh meandering tracks that document my carefree venture. Simple pleasures like these, more than anything else, are the reason I love winter.
Comspec Doug Luciani Guest Writer
All graphics: H. Lancashire
As stated by my sweet, blindly optimistic co-editor, in literature winter is nearly always symbolic of impending doom. It is an unstoppable force of looming darkness. I agree entirely with the apt symbolism. Winter is unbearably awful. Winter kills. In 2013 over 31,000 in the United States people died of winter related deaths, according to the Daily Mail. So while winter may be a fun time to lob snowballs and enjoy winter sports for some, for others it is a time of stark and terrifying chances of death. The National Coalition for homelessness cites that over 44% of the United States homeless population is left totally without shelter in the winter months. Many of those left exposed to the elements die from slowly freezing to death, alone and forgotten on the streets. Beyond the devastating effect winter weather has on the underprivileged, according to the Federal Highway Administration 7,000 Americans die each winter on United States highways due to weather related conditions. As Michiganders we experience first hand bad road conditions and we often hear our local news stations report horrific stories of families torn apart by fatal crashes. Winter is a bearer of darkness indeed. Further, my beloved reader, consider this: winter is cold. Cold (without several layers of gear) is miserable. Ergo, winter is miserable. We should not have to don several layers of clothing and cover every bit of exposed skin, in order to venture outside. Why would we enjoy a season that is undeniably, physically uncomfortable? Explain, darling reader, what reasons we have to enjoy winter? Various gift-giving holidays? Pray tell, why could we not have those in summer? How much more enjoyable would the holidays be if gifts were given while lounging with tanned friends on a beach? How much more enjoyment would be gleaned by celebrating the holidays in shorts, under the stars around a lovely, backyard picnic for which one would not have to dress as if venturing into the tundra? I, for one, am a huge supporter of candy-canes in July. A decidedly more suitable month for cheer than dark, depressing December. The temperatures alone prove the season to be hostile! No matter how many hats or gloves or turtlenecks or coats or scarves or socks you wear, eventually I promise that you will get cold. And you will die. So my dear, sweet reader, I challenge you to take a more critical look at winter as you frolic around your beloved white powder. What is the point of suffering through cold? Would your favorite holiday not be more improved by a dusting of warm, white sand on a beach than it is by black ice and the inevitable onslaught of death that comes with winter? To elaborate on that point alone, how many of the deaths of your neighbors are a direct effect of your favorite season? Why do we choose to live in areas where a single season can claim over 31,000 lives a year? Most important would you want to be cold when you could be happy? Do you not love yourself enough to want happiness? Ask yourself, my darlings, what justification do we have to love winter?
The idea behind Introspec is to combine current events and opinion. Every issue we pick a topic, and Taylor and Abbie write about it from an inner perspective as students - Introspec. Doug Luciani, writes on behalf of the community - Comspec. And finally we choose two countires and cover how they view and deal with the issue - Globespec. Doug Luciani is the CEO of the TraverseCONNECT. Here, he gives his view on the Four Seasons, and most particularly, Winter.
I grew up in the northwest U.P. Snowfall there is between 250 and 400 inches per year. I played football in blizzards, and ran track in a winter jacket, gloves and hat. I am no stranger to winter. Of the seasons, winter would be Cinderella. Its step-mother and sisters leave us agape at their richness, hogging the light and the best wardrobes for themselves. We fill our days with activities and travel while the weather is nice. We are “weekend warriors” who eat too much and burn our skin in the sun. Then comes winter; unremarkable – nothing like its step-family. But the more time we spend with it and the better we get to know it, the more we find ourselves hopelessly in love with it. Not for its looks or its bitter cold, but for the way we are when we’re with it. It is in winter that we take stock of our lives. It is the time of year we sit inside next to a fire and feel warm and safe. We read by lamplight and we smell familiar smells of foods only made in winter kitchens. Winter is when we renew our quest for knowledge and take time to learn. It is the season when we pause to simply give thanks for our blessings and our loved ones. It is the season we celebrate our most meaningful religious customs. Winter walks are not distracted by “shiny objects;” they are spent looking inward. A fire by an ice-covered lake with temperatures hovering in the teens is exponentially more spiritual than a summer bonfire. The cold and dark squeeze out all but the most important things in our lives. I pity people in areas that don’t get all four seasons. They never have winter to reflect and recharge, to take a break from the superficial to the real, to rejoice in being hearty and to form values stemming from winter experiences. Having said all that, I can’t help but rejoice each year as winter retreats to its pumpkin carriage and its step-sister spring comes back. I doubt I would be nearly as happy to see spring, however, if I hadn’t been able to spend five months in the real world with winter.
Current Events Each issue we test students knowlege on current events, represented by an ostrich burried in varying degrees of sand
Abbie Crick & Taylor Weckstein IntroSpec Editors
Santa’s Reindeer Less than 30% of students polled could name all eight of Santa’s reindeer (not counting Rudolph because everyone knows Rudolph isn’t real). The reindeer are named Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blixen.
Menora
Students wererelatively knowledgable on the number of Menora candles
Reindeer
Students were relatively unable to nsme all eight of santas Reindeer
Menora candles Half of the students who answered a recent survey conducted by the Black and Gold knew how many candles were on a Menorah. There are eight candles and one lighting candle, so both the answer of eight and the answer of nine were accepted. As each day of Hanukkah passes one more candle is lit. Hanukkah lasts eight days representing sacred oil which was only supposed to last one night but miraculously lasted eight days. Given the small percentage of jewish students at Central High School, the student body was quite knowledgeable on this topic.
Globespec Winter’s effect on the economies of Swizerland and Jamaica are contrasted
Switzerland
With the Alps as a majestic backdrop, Switzerland transforms into a winter wonderland when the weather turns cold. Winter recreational activities such as nordic skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing (yes, I said tobogganing) bring in a flux of tourists each year. According to BioOne Research Evolved, the Winter Tourist industry is vital to the Swiss economy. Unfortunately, with changing weather patterns in the Alps due to climate change, BioOne projects that Switzerland’s tourism industry will lose $1.9 - $2.45 Billion each year.
Jamaica With warm, sandy beaches and crystalline waters Jamaican winters are tropical paradise. According to climateandweather.com Jamaican winter weather brings tempatures beteen 68-89 degrees attracting a slew of tourists who are tired of the cold. According to the CIA, Jamaica’s largest economic industry is tourism, meaning the winter season is vital to Jamaica.