December 2021 Norse Star Issue

Branching Out

Branching Out With Winter Celebrations

The Norse Star Stoughton High School December 2021

Table of Contents Cover and TOC Art by Emma Phillips TOC by Anja Royko

News Pg. 3

Sports Pg. 6

Cover Story Pg. 8

Entertainment Pg. 13

Opinions Pg. 16

Features Pg. 18

Ed i t or - i n - Ch i ef - A n ja Roy ko Cover St or y Ed i t or - A n ja Roy ko

N ew s Ed i t or - D el an ey Gau t h i er

O p i n i on s Ed i t or - D el an ey Gau t h i er Sp or t s Ed i t or - Gabe Rou sseau

A ssoci at e Ed i t or - i n - Ch i ef - Ava Par r

H ead A r t i st - Em m a Ph i l l i p s

Gr ap h i cs Ed i t or - M ad i son L u i ck

Feat u r es Ed i t or - Ava Par r

En t er t ai n m en t Ed i t or - Em m a Ph i l l i p s Cop y Ed i t or - Cl ar e B or ch ar d t

Bu si n ess M an ager - L au r en A m st ad t

D i st r i bu t i on M an ager - Au t u m n Even son

Soci al M ed i a Ed i t or - Ava Par r

St af f W r i ter s - L au r en A m st ad t , Cl ar e Bor ch ar d t , Au t u m n Even son , M ad i son L u i ck , M ad el i n e M on t h i e, Em m a Far l ey, Bh oom i Patel Fr eel an ce W r i t er s - L au r a Per r y, Sam Ross, B el i n d a A k al e Ad v i sor - L au r a St r ey l e

Ed i t or i al Pol i cy : T h e N or se St ar st r i ves t o p r esen t t h e n ew s i n a f ai r an d u n bi ased m an n er . A n y col u m n , ed i t or i al , or l etter to th e ed i tor ex p r esses th e op i n i on of t h e au t h or an d n ot n ecessar i ly t h e en t i r e st af f . T h e N or se St ar i s a p u bl i c f or u m w r i t t en an d p r od u ced by th e stu d en t s at Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool , an d t h ey ar e sol ely r esp on si bl e f or i t s con t en t . St u d en t s, st af f , f acu l t y, an d m em ber s of th e com m u n i ty ar e w el com e to su bm i t l etter s t o t h e ed i t or of 30 0 w or d s or l ess. L et t er s m ay be ed i t ed d u e t o sp ace l i m i t at i on s, obscen i ti es, or l i bel con cer n s.

N or se St ar w i l l ver i f y th e au t h en t i ci t y of an y l et t er s sen t on beh al f of sch ool or gan i zat i on s or gr ou p s. A l l l ett er s m u st be si gn ed an d em ai l ed t o sh sn or sest ar @gm ai l .com .

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Advanced Art Brings Germany to SHS B y L au r en A m st ad t Staff Writer & Business M anager

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tu d en ts in SH S?s Ad v an ced 2D A r t cl ass w i l l soon be gi v i n g th e sch ool a gl i m p se i n to Ger m an y t h r ou gh th ei r m osai c- sty l ed Ger m an m u r al . W h en com p l eted , t h e m u r al w i l l sh ow case th e f ood , ar ch i t ect u r e, n at u r al en v i r on m en t, an d m or e of w h at m akes u p Ger m an y ?s cu l tu r e an d l an d scap e t h r ou gh a com bi n at i on of p ai n ted 4- by - 4 i n ch can v as t i l es.

Each ar t st u d en t w i l l h ave tw o t i l es i n t h e m u r al t h at each r ep r esen t bot h t h ei r ar t t ech n i qu e p r ef er en ces an d th ei r i n ter p r etat i on of a r ef er en ce p h oto. Stu d en t s w er e abl e to ch oose th ei r t w o p h ot os f r om a gr i d d ed - of f col l age of Ger m an - r el at ed p i ct u r es m ad e i n Ad obe Ph ot osh op by th e cl ass. SH S ar t t each er Ru th Ph i l l i p s al l ow ed h er p ast stu d en t s t h i s sam e ty p e

of ar t i st i c f r eed om l ast y ear d u r i n g th e cr eati on of th e Sp an i sh m u r al , w h i ch can n ow be f ou n d h u n g u p at th e en d of th e 10 0 0 s h al l by th e Sp an i sh cl assr oom s. T h e su ccess of th at m u r al , al on g w i t h th e Ger m an on e so f ar , can p ar tly be cr ed i t ed to th e p er sever an ce of stu d en ts an d Ph i l l i p s th r ou gh obstacl es th at ar e i n volved w ith th i s sp eci f i c m u r al - m ak i n g p r ocess. ?I t 's alw ay s a ch al l en ge w h en y ou h ave m u l ti p l e p eop l e w or k i n g on a col l abor at i ve p i ece so th at th e en d p r od u ct l ook s u n i f i ed . M at ch i n g th i n gs u p i s h ar d [...] so i t 's r eal ly a m at ter of col l abor ati on i n cl ass,? Ph i l l p s say s.

Ad v an ced A r t stu d en t Sh ay Sw een ey ex p er i en ced su ch str u ggl es w h en sh e h ad to tr an sf or m h er d i gi tal r ef er en ce p h ot os to p h y si cal ar t on h er can v as ti l es.

?T h e d i f f i cu l t asp ects of m ak i n g th e m u r al f or m e w as th e am ou n t of i n t r i cate d et ai l s an d h av i n g to r ecr eate th at on su ch a sm al l ti l e,? Sw een ey say s. ?H av i n g to l i n e th e ti l es u p n ex t to each oth er w as ver y d i f f i cu l t. I t took a l ot of ad ju sti n g to m ake su r e ever y on e?s l i n es m et.?

Even af ter setback s, Sw een ey, al on g w i th m an y oth er stu d en ts, h ave com p l eted th ei r ti l es an d ar e n ow w ai t i n g to f i n d ou t m or e i n f or m ati on abou t th e f i n al i zati on of th e m u r al . I t i s u n cl ear w h en an d w h er e th e m u r al w i l l even tu al ly be d i sp l ay ed , bu t Ph i l l i p s h op es to h ave i t u p by secon d sem ester an d i s th i n k i n g abou t h av i n g i t h u n g i n th e 10 0 0 s h al l .

Regar d l ess of u n k n ow n d et ai l s an d som e u n f i n i sh ed ti l es i n th e cl ass, Sw een ey h as f ai t h th at on ce al l of th e

ti l es ar e com p l et e an d set i n th ei r cor r ect sp ot s by t h e d u e d at e of Jan . 4, t h e ar t of ever y on e will bl en d togeth er beau t i f u l ly t o m ake u p th e m u r al .

Ph i l l i p s i s al so con f i d en t i n th e w or k of h er st u d en ts an d bel i eves t h e f i n al p r od u ct of t h e m u r al w i l l r each i ts goal s of t each i n g stu d en ts an d st af f m or e abou t Ger m an y an d ?p r om ot i n g an ed u cat i on of cu l tu r al aw ar en ess.?

photo b y ruth phillips O n ce a t i l e i s co m p l et ed , i t 's p l aced o n i t s sp eci f i c sp o t t o f o r m t h e so o n - t o - b e m u r al .

District CO VID-19 Testing Available B y Sam Ro ss Freelance Writer

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s of O ct . 4, a n ew CO V I D - 19 t est i n g si te op en ed in Stou gh t on , d i sp en si n g h i gh - qu al i ty PCR testi n g (p r ov i d ed by Fi tch bu r g Fam i ly Ph ar m acy ) f or st af f an d st u d en ts of t h e Stou gh ton A r ea Sch ool D i st r i ct .

Cu r r en tly, t h e t est i n g si t e i s l ocat ed at 90 0 W W i l son Str eet , i n t h e gy m to th e l ef t of d oor 13.

Pr ev i ou sly, t h e CO V I D - 19 t ests w er e con d u ct ed ou tsi d e i n t h e n or t h p ar k i n g l ot of M ar t i n L u th er Pr esch ool , bu t t h e PCR tests u sed ar e r at ed f or over 2 d egr ees Cel si u s (36.6 d egr ees Fah r en h ei t), an d , as t esti n g si t e st af f m em ber N i ck Ad l er say s, ?Col d h an d s m ake sl ow w or k .?

W h en th e w eath er ch an ged i n t o l at e f al l , th ey r el ocated i n t o t h e bu i l d i n g occu p i ed by M ar t i n L u th er Sch ool , bu t w h en sp r i n g com es back ar ou n d , Ad l er the norse star, december 2021

ex p ect s testi n g to r etu r n ou t d oor s.

St ou gh ton A r ea Sch ool D i st r i ct i s n ot th e on ly d i st r i ct th at h as r ecen tly gai n ed CO V I D - 19 test i n g si tes. I n f act, D H S, w h i ch i s th e D ep ar t m en t of H eal th Ser v i ces th r ou gh th e state of W i scon si n , h as com m i ssi on ed m an y l ocal p h ar m aci es, i n cl u d i n g Fi t ch bu r g Fam i ly Ph ar m acy, to d i st r i bu t e CO V I D - 19 test s th r ou gh ou t sch ool d i str i ct s i n D an e Cou n ty.

T h ese p h ar m aci es th en p r ov i d e testi n g f or th e d i st r i ct s? stu d en t s on a r egu l ar basi s, as w el l as ou t br eak testi n g. T h ese test s m ake th ei r w ay to Ex act Sci en ces, w h er e th e test s ar e br ou gh t to th e l ab to be an aly zed .

T h e p r ocess of gett i n g a test i s f ai r ly si m p l e. Fi r st, y ou go to th e w ebsi te r egi st er .cov i d con n ect.w i .gov.

T h er e, y ou f i l l ou t a br i ef

su r vey i n or d er to su p p ly d at a f or stati sti cal an aly si s, as w el l as obtai n con tact i n f or m ati on so th at th ey can m essage y ou w h en y ou r r esu l ts ar e i n . T h i s w ebsi te w i l l th en ask y ou to r egi ster f or th e CO V I D - 19 test . T h i s su r vey can al so be taken at th e test i n g cen ter , f or th ose w h o n eed h el p f i l l i n g i t ou t.

Fr om th er e, y ou ju st n eed to take th e test , an d y ou w i l l get y ou r r esu l ts w i th i n a f ew d ay s.

For ever y on e w h o w an ts to be test ed f or CO V I D - 19, r egi str at i on i s r equ i r ed . For stu d en ts u n d er 14, th e con sen t of a p ar en t or gu ar d i an i s n eed ed . For stu d en ts ages 14 to 17, gu ar d i an con sen t i s n eed ed , as w el l as ver bal con sen t of th e stu d en t. For stu d en ts an d staf f w h o ar e 18 an d u p , al l th at i s n eed ed i s ver bal con sen t of th e p er son r ecei v i n g th e test .

For m or e i n f or m ati on ,

y ou can v i si t t h e SA SD w ebsi te, sel ect th e CO V I D - 19 t ab, t h en cl i ck on ?CO V I D - 19 Test i n g Pr ogr am .?

Accor d i n g t o Ad l er , t h e best w ay to stay saf e f r om CO V I D - 19 i s t o ?go ou t an d get vacci n es i f y ou can . I f y ou n eed t o get a CO V I D test , w e ar e h er e M on d ay s an d W ed n esd ay s f r om 2 t o 4 p .m .?

photo b y sa m ross C O V I D - 19 t est i n g i s av ai l ab l e o n M o n d ay s an d W ed n esd ay s f r o m 2- 4 p .m . t h r o u gh d o o r 13 o f 9 0 0 W W i l so n St r eet .

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O nsager Moves O n B y B el i n d a A k al e Freelance Writer

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f ter 11 y ear s as th e Stou gh t on A r ea Sch ool D i str i ct Su p er i n ten d en t , T im O n sager p l an s t o r et i r e th i s com i n g Febr u ar y. H ow ever , h i s p ath t o su ccess began l on g bef or e h i s p osi ti on h er e i n Stou gh t on .

O n sager gr ew u p i n Sou th M i lw au kee, a su bu r b of M i lw au kee, an d w as i n volved i n m an y act i v i t i es as a h i gh sch ool er . A f ter f ou r y ear s of ch oi r , cal cu l u s, an d A P En gl i sh , O n sager w en t on to UW M i lw au kee i n i ti al ly to st u d y en gi n eer i n g. A f ter t h e f i r st sem ester , O n sager say s th at h e k n ew t h at en gi n eer i n g w as n ot f or h i m . ?Peop l e sai d i f y ou 'r e good at m at h , go becom e an en gi n eer , [ bu t] I w asn ?t r eal ly f i n d i n g an y th i n g th at I l i ked ,? O n sager say s.

A f ter d i scu ssi n g w i t h col l ege ad v i sor s, O n sager w as of f er ed a cl ass th at w ou l d l ater al t er h i s car eer . ?I h ad a col l ege ad v i sor w h o sai d , ?W h y d on ?t y ou t ake th i s cl ass? [...] W e v i si ted sch ool s an d saw w h at h ap p en ed i n sch ool s, an d so I w as h ooked ,? O n sager say s. ?I w en t an d v i si t ed sch ool s, I w as vol u n t eer i n g in cl assr oom s, an d i t w as ju st k i n d of th e r eal i zat i on . T h i s i s w h at I ?m m ean t t o d o.

T h i s i s w h at I en joy.

I n t er acti n g w i t h p eop l e, n o

tw o d ay s ar e th e sam e.?

O n sager w en t on to ch an ge his m ajor to secon d ar y ed u cati on an d tr an sf er r ed to UW La Cr osse. O n sager got h i s f i r st job as a teach er at T h r ee L akes Sch ool D i str i ct teach i n g m at h an d com p u t er sci en ce. H e al so took on th e r ol e of coach f or f ootbal l , basket bal l , an d tr ack , becam e th e stu d en t cou n ci l ad v i sor , an d w as n am ed N ati on al H on or s Soci et y ad v i sor . ?I n a sm al l sch ool , y ou w ear m an y h at s. [I d i d ] k i n d of w h at ever th ey n eed ed m e to d o,? O n sager say s.

Fr om th er e, O n sager m oved to th e Reed sbu r g Sch ool D i st r i ct an d w or ked as a m ath teach er an d a gi r l s v ar si ty basket bal l coach .

A f ter th i s, O n sager r etu r n ed to sch ool to r ecei ve h i s m ast er s i n ed u cati on at W i n on a St at e. H e got h i s f i r st ad m i n i st r ati ve job as assi st an t p r i n ci p al i n th e W est Ben d Sch ool D i str i ct.

T h en , i n 1999, h e took a job as th e h i gh sch ool p r i n ci p al i n Ju n eau w h er e, al on gsi d e bei n g p r i n ci p al , h e w as al so th e d i r ect or of tech n ol ogy, d i r ect or of tr an sp or t ati on , an d a l on gt i m e su bsti tu te f or th e m i d d l e sch ool p r i n ci p al .

In 20 0 2, O n sager becam e th e D ef or est H i gh Sch ool Pr i n ci p al . W h i l e i n

photos b y molly shea

O n sager r ead s b o o k s t o st u d en t s at t h e San d h i l l r ead - a- t h o n i n O ct o b er 20 21.

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h i s p osi ti on , h e en r ol l ed at Ed gew ood Col l ege to ear n his d octor at e d egr ee al on gsi d e his su p er i n ten d en t l i cen se.

Si m u l tan eou sly, th e p osi ti on of d i str i ct ad m i n i str ator i n Stou gh ton op en ed u p .

O n sager p o ses o u t si d e t h e A d m i n i st r at i v e an d Ed u cat i o n al Ser v i ces C en t er .

?I d i d m y r esear ch an d l ooked at w h er e Stou gh ton w as l ocat ed , l ooked at th e com m u n i ty, an d l ooked at th e sch ool sy stem an d d eci d ed I w ou l d l i ke to be p ar t of Stou gh ton , so I ap p l i ed ,? O n sager say s.

O n sager h as n ow l i ved i n Stou gh ton f or th e p ast el even y ear s an d f i ve m on th s, r ai si n g tw o k i d s w h o h ave si n ce gr ad u ated f r om SH S. W h en asked abou t h i s d eci si on to r eti r e af ter bei n g a l i f el on g l ear n er , O n sager ex p l ai n ed h ow d i f f i cu l t th e d eci si on w as. ?I w on ?t go i n t o al l th e p er son al r eason s, bu t i t seem ed l i ke th e r i gh t ti m e [...] You alw ay s l ook at w h er e y ou 'r e at an d th e op p or t u n i ti es an d w h er e?s n ex t. T h ey tel l m e I ?m p r obably th e l on gest ser v i n g su p er i n ten d en t in th e h i st or y of Stou gh ton , an d i t w as ti m e to k i n d of step back an d l et som e oth er p eop l e take th e r ei n s an d r eti r e,? O n sager say s. ?I ?ve seen som e of m y col l eagu es i n oth er d i str i ct s w h o stay ed too l on g, an d I w an t ed to go ou t on m y ter m s w h en I ?m on top ? w h en I sti l l h ave a p assi on . I d i d n ?t w an t to be si t ti n g i n th i s ch ai r d r ead i n g com i n g to w or k . I w an ted to be abl e to [l eave] w h i l e i t?s sti l l exci ti n g, w h i l e I sti l l

en joy th e job. To m e, i t seem ed l i ke t h e r i gh t t i m e to f i gu r e ou t w h at I w an t t o d o w h en I gr ow u p .?

Cu r r en t ly, O n sager d oes n ot h ave an y con cr ete i d ea of w h at w i l l h ap p en af t er h i s r eti r em en t . ?I ?m goi n g t o t ake som e ti m e. I t?s been a l on g t i m e si n ce I ?ve been abl e t o n ot h ave to do an y th i n g," O n sager say s. "Par t of bei n g a su p er i n ten d en t , y ou 'r e on cal l al l d ay ever y d ay. I get cal l s at n i gh t , I ?ve h ad p eop l e k n ock on m y d oor on Ch r i st m as Eve. Esp eci al ly w h en y ou l i ve i n a sm al l tow n , y ou go t o t h e gr ocer y stor e, an d I ?ll h ave p eop l e tal k t o m e, so y ou ?r e on al l th e t i m e.?

O n sager bel i eves t h at SA SD ?s f u tu r e i s gol d en . ?T h e f u tu r e l ook s br i gh t. I th i n k t h er e's a l ot of d i f f er en t op p or tu n i ti es. T h e sch ool boar d an d ad m i n i str at i on ar e t al k i n g abou t h ow we ad d ex p er i en ces f or ou r stu d en ts.

W e?r e t al k i n g abou t m ak i n g su r e ou r stu d en ts ar e car eer an d col l ege r ead y. M ak i n g su r e th at y ou h ave w h at y ou n eed to be su ccessf u l i n t h e w or l d th at y ou i n h er i t .?

O n sager con t i n u es, ?[T h e] k i n d er gar ten cl ass r i gh t n ow i s t h e cl ass of 20 35, an d so w h at?s 20 35 goi n g to l ook l i ke? W h at sk i l l s ar e y ou goi n g t o n eed to be su ccessf u l ? H ow d o w e r ed esi gn a sch ool sy st em t o m eet th ose? Becau se sch ool sy stem s ar e sl ow t o ch an ge, an d w e w an t t o m ake su r e w e?r e m eet i n g [st u d en t s?] n eed s, n ot w h at w e sh ou l d h ave been d oi n g y ear s an d y ear s ago.?

O n sager say s, ?Stou gh ton i s at a gol d en op p or t u n i ty of bei n g abl e t o l ook at i tsel f , bei n g abl e t o l ook at th e w or l d ar ou n d .

I ?ve alw ay s t h ou gh t ed u cati on sh ou l d be a r egi on al r esou r ce an d i n stead of u s com p et i n g agai n st each ot h er . W h y ar en ?t w e com bi n i n g ou r r esou r ces t o gi ve t h e best op p or t u n i ti es f or th e stu d en ts?? the norse star, december 2021

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Back to The Renaissance B y A u t u m n Ev en so n Staff Writer & D istribution M anager

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H S?s M ad r i gal p er f or m an ces h ave been a stap l e f or t h e St ou gh ton com m u n i t y si n ce 1976, br i n gi n g m er r i m en t an d en t er tai n m en t ever y y ear si n ce. T h i s y ear 's m ad r i gal s p er f or m an ce t ook p l ace D ec.

11 in th e SH S Per f or m i n g A r t s cen t er . D u e t o CO V I D - 19 r est r i ct i on s, t h e d i n n er p or ti on of th e even t h ad t o be sk i p p ed , bu t t h at d oesn ?t m ean Stou gh ton h as l ost a p r om i n en t h ol i d ay cel ebr ati on .

Accor d i n g to th e M ad r i gal D i n n er ?s p r ogr am , m ad r i gal si n gi n g w as br ou gh t to En gl an d f r om I taly i n th e l at e 16t h cen tu r y as a ty p e of i n f or m al en t er tai n m en t f or th e n obi l i ty an d w eal t h y. L or d s an d L ad i es w er e t au gh t to si n g as a p ar t of t h ei r ed u cati on , an d th ey p er f or m ed t h e m ad r i gal s as an af t er d i n n er en t er tai n m en t . T h e son gs su n g ty p i cal ly d eal t w i t h r om an ce, m y th ol ogi cal t al es, n at u r e, an d cou l d som eti m es be com i cal .

Ry an Casey h as been t h e d i r ector of St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool ?s M ad r i gal Si n ger s si n ce 20 0 1. H i s p r ed ecessor , Joh n B eu t el , f i r st star ted t h e d i n n er s as an a cap p el l a gr ou p th at f ocu sed on m u si c of th e Ren ai ssan ce. D u r i n g th e 1970 s, m ad r i gal si n gi n g w as ver y p op u l ar , an d Stou gh ton h ad i t s ow n m ad r i gal ch oi r . ?[Beu tel] st ar t ed th e

d i n n er i n 1976 so p eop l e w ou l d h ave a w ay to com e an d see th e M ad r i gal s si n g, an d th en i t tu r n ed i n t o a h ol i d ay f east ,? Casey say s.

D i r ect i n g M ad r i gal s w i t h ou t w or r y i n g abou t th e m eal p or t i on w as a n ew ex p er i en ce f or Casey. ?I t 's str an ge n ot p l an n i n g th e m eal p or ti on of th e d i n n er . T h at takes u p a l ot of m y ti m e, d oi n g th i n gs l i ke i n ven t or y, an d or d er i n g, an d w or k i n g w i th th e ch ef s. I t ?s been d i f f er en t th e l ast tw o y ear s to n ot h ave th e d i n n er p or ti on ,?

Casey say s.

D esp i t e l osi n g th e d i n n er p or t i on of th e even i n g, th e p er f or m an ce sti l l kep t m an y asp ects th at m ake i t sp eci al .

H ead Tabl e i s on e of th e f ocal p oi n t s of th e m ad r i gal p er f or m an ces. H ead Tabl e i s com p r i sed of ar ou n d 16 si n ger s w h o au d i t i on ed th e y ear p r i or , an d th ey l ead m an y m ad r i gal tr ad i ti on s l i ke th e L or d s?oath s an d th e L ad i es?r ebu t tal s.

Sen i or D av i d Str acen er , a m em ber of H ead Tabl e, d escr i bes th e qu al i f i cati on s to be a M ad r i gal Si n ger . ?I t 's based on h ow w el l y ou can i n ter p r et m u si c, h ow f ast y ou can l ear n i t, an d h ow w el l y ou can p er f or m i t i n f r on t of oth er p eop l e, becau se th at 's m ost ly w h at i t i s. You 'r e p er f or m i n g som e r eal ly d i f f i cu l t m u si c i n f r on t of a l ot of p eop l e,? Str acen er say s.

St r acen er al so tal ked

T h e t w o h ead m en at ar m s, Geo r ge St an d ar d (11) an d H u n t er D al so r en (12), car r y t h e b o ar 's h ead acr o ss t h e st age. abou t som e of h i s f avor i t e H ead Tabl e tr ad i ti on s, sp eci f i cal ly th e boar 's h ead car ol th at H ead Tabl e Si n ger s l ead . ?O n e p ar t i cu l ar tr ad i ti on , r eal ly [i t?s a] tr ad i ti on al son g th at w e d o, i s th e boar 's h ead car ol .

T h er e?s a gr ou p of tw o gu y s w h o w er e voted i n t o th e r ol e of M en at A r m s. T h ey car r y i n a gi an t tax i d er m i ed boar 's h ead , an d th er e's a son g H ead Tabl e si n gs d u r i n g th at. I t's p r obably on e of m y f avor i t es, bu t i t's al so on e of th e f avor i t es of H ead Tabl e as w el l . I t's a ver y ch eer f u l son g [th at] r eal ly br i n gs u s al l togeth er ,?

Str acen er say s.

B esi d es th e d i n n er , th e H ead Tabl e Si n ger s p ar ti ci p ate i n a n u m ber of even ts. Each y ear th ey car ol d ow n M ai n Str eet f or th e V i ctor i an H ol i d ay W eeken d . ?W e w al k ar ou n d d ow n t ow n an d si n g ou tsi d e an d i n si d e sh op s w h i l e p eop l e ar e d oi n g th ei r h ol i d ay sh op p i n g. W e h ave a p er f or m an ce [...] at th e

photos b y a utumn evenson

H ead T ab l e si n ger N o ah K l ei t sch (12) gi v es a t o ast t o t h e r est o f t h e H ead T ab l e. the norse star, december 2021

sen i or cen ter . W e car ol on State Str eet i n M ad i son . W e do th i n gs l i ke r otar y m eeti n gs, op t i m i st m eeti n gs, sam e t h i n g f or th e boar d at t h e boar d m eeti n gs,? Casey say s.

T r ad i ti on s asi d e, t h e M ad r i gal Si n ger s ar e al so k n ow n f or t h ei r f an ci f u l costu m es.

L ast y ear , p er f or m er s u n f or t u n at ely cou l d n ?t p er f or m i n f r on t of p eop l e w h i l st d r essed u p , bu t th i s y ear t h ey w en t al l ou t. ?T h e or i gi n al costu m es w er e d esi gn ed an d con str u cted i n 1978. T h at 's w h en th ey star ted ad d i n g al l th e costu m es i n t o th e d i n n er . W e h ave p eop l e d on ate ever y cou p l e y ear s.

W e'l l get an ot h er on e t h at com es back , an d w e can ad d to th e m i x . Bu t som e of th em ar e i n p r et ty d i r e sh ap e an d t h ey n eed som e l ove an d at ten ti on ,? Casey say s.

Regar d l ess of th e ch al l en ges t h at t h i s y ear 's p er f or m an ce m ay h ave gon e th r ou gh , Casey f el t r ead y to sh ow St ou gh ton ever y th i n g t h e M ad r i gal Si n ger s h ad t o of f er . ?I 'm exci t ed w e get t o d o som eth i n g t h i s y ear . I t ?s better th an l ast y ear w h er e we d i d n ?t get to do an y t h i n g, bu t i t ?ll be n i ce t o be abl e to get back i n t o h av i n g d i n n er an d gett i n g on w i th th e t r ad i ti on t h at i s th e SH S M ad r i gal D i n n er ,?

Casey say s.

I n ad d i ti on t o car ol i n g an d p er f or m an ces, t h e H ead Tabl e M ad r i gal Si n ger s w i l l al so be f eatu r ed on N BC 15?s Sou n d s of th e Season sp eci al ai r i n g D ec. 24 at 10 p .m . an d D ec. 25 at 6 a.m .

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sports

SHS O ffers Life-Saving Course B y C l ar e B o r ch ar d t Staff Writer & Copy Editor

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ccor d i n g t o t h e U n i t ed States L i f esav i n g A ssoci ati on , t h e ch an ce of d eath by d r ow n i n g at a beach staf f ed by a l i f egu ar d i s l ess th an on e i n 18 m i l l i on . O d d s of w i n n i n g t h e l otter y com e i n at abou t on e i n 14 m i l l i on . B ei n g h i t by l i gh tn i n g i s cl oser to a on e i n 50 0 ,0 0 0 ch an ce. I t ?s even m or e com m on t o be a l ef t- h an d ed p er son w h ose cau se of d eat h w as a r i gh t- h an d ed p r od u ct th an i t i s to d r ow n i n th e p r esen ce of a l i f egu ar d .

W h i l e m an y i n d i v i d u al s m ay see l i f egu ar d s as f u n - squ ash i n g r ule en f or cer s, i t ?s n ot of t en th at on e step s back an d t h i n k s abou t ju st h ow v i t al a r ol e t h ese r ed - su i t ed w at ch er s p l ay.

Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool of f er s a u n i qu e op p or t u n i t y t h at m an y st u d en t s m ay n ot k n ow abou t : a l i f egu ar d i n g cou r se f or both p h y si cal ed u cati on cr ed i ts an d an A m er i can Red Cr oss cer ti f i cati on i n l i f egu ar d i n g, f i r st ai d , CPR, an d A ED u se.

K ate M al on ey, a p h y si cal ed u cat i on t each er at SH S, f aci l i t at es th i s cou r se an d is ver y p assi on ate abou t w h at i t can of f er to stu d en t s. ?[M y f avor i t e th in g abou t teach i n g t h i s cou r se i s] w atch i n g st u d en ts' con f i d en ce gr ow. L ear n i n g t o h el p keep ot h er s saf e ar ou n d w ater is em p ow er i n g. I n ad d i t i on , st u d en ts ar e f or ced t o f i n d t h ei r voi ce. T h ey l ear n to com m u n i cat e ef f ect i vely an d ef f i ci en tly,? M al on ey say s.

O n e st u d en t w h o can att est to t h e v i r t u es of t ak i n g th i s sem est er - l on g cl ass i s El i se Car t er , a sen i or w h o took t h e cou r se i n h er sop h om or e y ear an d h as been l i f egu ar d i n g ever si n ce. ?T h i s w as d ef i n i t ely on e of th e best cl asses I 've ever t aken at sch ool [an d on e of t h e] m ost u sef u l ,? Car t er say s. ?I th i n k ever y t h i n g y ou l ear n , y ou n eed .?

W h i l e si t t i n g ou t i n th e su n f or h ou r s an d t el l i n g 6

k i d s n ot to r u n on th e d eck m i gh t seem l i ke a f u n , easy w ay to m ake a f ew bu ck s, bot h Car ter an d M al on ey n ot e th at l i f egu ar d i n g i s n ot a job f or th e f ai n t of h ear t. ?I n or d er to be a su ccessf u l l i f egu ar d , a p er son m u st be con f i d en t, obser v an t, d eci si ve, r esi l i en t an d p h y si cal ly f i t ,? M al on ey say s.

Accor d i n g to Car ter , M al on ey m akes su r e to em p h asi ze th i s p oi n t at th e begi n n i n g of th e l i f egu ar d i n g cou r se, l eav i n g no r oom f or m i su n d er stan d i n g. ?O n th e f i r st d ay, M s.

M al on ey sai d , ?T h i s i s n ot a job to get tan an d be ou tsi d e [...] You ?r e goi n g to h ave to d eal w i t h p eop l e i n ser i ou s h ar m 's w ay, an d y ou sh ou l d f eel a l evel of an x i ety al l th e ti m e w h en y ou ?r e w or k i n g.?

Sh e m ad e i t u tt er ly cl ear y ou n eed to see th e w or st i n ever y si tu ati on . You n eed to be at ten t i ve,? Car ter say s.

B ei n g obser v an t , d eci si ve, an d p h y si cal ly str on g ar e n ot th e on ly sk i l l s n eed ed to d o th i s l i n e of w or k .

W hile on e can m em or i ze tech n i cal sk i l l s an d str en gt h en th ei r w ater f i t n ess an d en d u r an ce, an oth er m ajor sk i l l n ecessar y f or l i f egu ar d i n g i s ef f ect i ve com m u n i cat i on . ?St u d en ts ar e ch al l en ged to f i n d th ei r voi ce as th ey w i l l n eed to com m u n i cate ear ly an d of t en w h en on th e l i f egu ar d stan d . W e p l ay Catch Ph r ase on ce a w eek to w or k on com m u n i cati n g u n d er p r essu r e,? M al on ey say s.

El i se C ar t er (12) p o ses o n t h e p o o l d eck i n h er l i f egu ar d gear .

photos sub mitted b y elise ca rter

El i se C ar t er (12) t ak es a sel f i e w i t h Sy d n ey Sch i p p er d u r i n g a m u t u al sh i f t at T r o l l B each .

T h e acti v i ti es d on e i n th i s f i r st- h ou r cl ass ar e d i ver se an d cover a w i d e r an ge of sk i l l s n eed ed to r ecei ve cer ti f i cati on , ex ten d i n g p ast w ater en d u r an ce. ?W e h ad p ool d ay s, tw o to th r ee d ay s a w eek [w h er e] w e w er e d oi n g i n - w at er saves, i n - w ater p r acti ce [...] an d th en w e w ou l d d o n otes on op p osi te d ay s,? Car ter say s. ?[N otes w ou l d m ean ] w e go over p r oced u r es of CPR, w h at to do if som eon e?s h av i n g a str oke, w h at to d o i f som eon e?s bl eed i n g or som eth i n g h ap p en s i n th e p ool , y ou k n ow, th at k i n d of th i n g.?

T he ex p ectati on s i m p l em en t ed f or th e cou r se ar e con si sten t w i th th e ser i ou sn ess of th e job.

Stu d en ts can n ot put m i n i m al ef f or t i n t o th e cou r se an d ex p ect i t to w or k ou t i n th ei r f avor . N ot on ly m u st th ey com p l ete a p r etest to p r ove th ey h ave ad equ at e w ater f i tn ess, en r ol l ed stu d en ts m u st al so con ti n u e to m eet ex p ectati on s th r ou gh ou t th e cou r se to m ai n tai n el i gi bi l i ty f or cer ti f i cati on . ?T h e cou r se r equ i r es d ai ly en gagem en t [...] I f a stu d en t i s absen t m or e th an ten ti m es, th ey l ose th e abi l i ty to ear n cer ti f i cati on .

T h ey ar e sti l l abl e to get p h y si cal ed u cati on cr ed i t,

bu t th e A m er i can Red Cr oss i ssu es an au t om at i c f ai l i f a stu d en t i s h abi tu al ly absen t,?

M al on ey ex p l ai n s.

Ad d i ti on al ly, sh e say s, ?stu d en ts m u st ear n [an ] 80 % on al l k n ow l ed ge an d sk i l l s test s t o get cer t i f i ed .?

T h e r equ i r em en t s an d ex p ectati on s m ay f eel l i ke a l ot of p r essu r e, bu t i t ?s u n d en i abl e t h at l i f egu ar d i n g i s a r ew ar d i n g ex p er i en ce. ?I t d oes h el p , com i n g h om e an d r eal i zi n g p eop l e n eed m e. I f I w asn ?t at w or k , p eop l e w ou l d n ?t get w h at th ey n eed ,? Car t er say s.

Car ter t ou ch es on an i m p or tan t p oi n t: l i f egu ar d i n g can be h i gh str ess, bu t t h at?s becau se i t ?s a job th at i n volves h el p i n g p eop l e ever y d ay, an d becau se of t h i s, on e can be su r e th at w h at t h ey ?r e d oi n g m atter s.

Car ter en cou r ages p eop l e to con si d er t h e cou r se even i f t h ey ar en ?t on th e sw i m t eam , ar e u n su r e of th ei r abi l i t i es, or d on ?t l ove th e i d ea of a f i r st - h ou r sw i m cl ass. ?M s. M al on ey w as ju st th e en er gy I w an t ed t o be ar ou n d ever y m or n i n g [...]

Sh e kep t t h i n gs f u n [ bu t al so] ver y con ci se, ver y cl ear ,? Car ter say s. ?I r eal ly r ecom m en d p eop l e t o [t ake th i s cl ass]. T h er e?s su ch a sh or tage [of l i f egu ar d s] an d i t r eal ly i s f u l f i l l i n g.?

a rt b y emma phillips

the norse star, december 2021

sports

Underclassmen Above Expectations B y Av a Par r Associate Editor- in- Chief & Features Editor

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ach sp or t s season , ath l etes ch al l en ge t h em selves p h y si cal ly an d m en tal ly t o ach i eve bei n g a p ar t of a v ar si t y t eam . T h e d r i ve an d st r en gt h of th ese ath l etes is ap p ar en t , esp eci al ly w h en y ou see h ow th ey r em ar k ably com p ete.

A l t h ou gh th e var si ty team u su al ly con si sts of u p p er cl assm en , t h er e ar e alw ay s excep t i on al excep ti on s.

Fr esh m an Ev a Ram sd en i n i ti al ly joi n ed Cr oss Cou n tr y th e f al l of h er f i r st y ear at Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool i n or d er t o bu i l d en d u r an ce f or p l ay i n g soccer i n th e sp r i n g.

H ow ever , t h e sp or t soon becam e m or e t h an t h at f or h er . Sh e t r i ed ou t f or th e var si ty team an d m ad e i t.

Ram sd en h as w or d s of ad v i ce f or th ose i n ter ested i n bei n g i n h er p osi ti on . ?Keep p u sh i n g y ou r sel f .

T h er e?s alw ay s r oom f or i m p r ovem en t.?

Sh e con ti n u es, ?D on ?t get cau gh t u p on h ow ever y on e el se i s d oi n g. Focu s on y ou r sel f an d w h at y ou n eed to d o to becom e str on ger .?

Fr esh m an Jay Joh n son i s i n volved w i t h f ootbal l i n th e f al l , an d h e i s p l an n i n g on d oi n g ei th er basebal l or tr ack i n th e sp r i n g. For n ow th ou gh , h e w i l l be sp en d i n g h i s w i n t er season on th e v ar si ty basket bal l team .

Joh n son d escr i bes h ow h e w as d r aw n to basketbal l .

H e say s h e got i n volved becau se of th e ?i n ten si ty, p eop l e, l ead er s, op p or tu n i t i es, an d bei n g ar ou n d i t al m ost al l m y l i f e.?

H e w as m oti v ated to tr y ou t f or th e v ar si ty basketbal l team w i t h th e h op e th at h e

photo sub mitted b y eva ra msd en

Ram d sen co m p et es i n a r ace d u r i n g t h e f al l .

Ram sd en ex p l ai n s th at sh e w as m ot i v at ed t o t r y ou t f or var si t y i n or d er to ch al l en ge h er sel f m or e th an sh e w ou l d h ave i n JV. Ram sd en ?s cu r r en t p er son al r ecor d i s 22.51 m i n u tes i n 3.1 m i l es. A goal sh e h as f or t h e r est of h er t i m e on th e cr oss cou n t r y t eam i s to r ai se h er PR to a ?21 f l at,? m ean i n g sh e w ou l d r u n 21 m i n u t es ex act ly i n 3.1 m i l es.

D u r i n g t h e f al l season , var si ty cr oss cou n t r y m akes su r e Ram sd en h as a bu sy sch ed u l e.

T r ai n i n g f or Ram sd en i n cl u d es p r acti ce ever y M on d ay t h r ou gh T h u r sd ay f r om 3:50 p .m . to 5 p .m ., an d st r en gt h Fr i d ay f r om 7 a.m . t o 8 a.m .. the norse star, december 2021

cou l d p l ay i t al l th r ou gh ou t h i gh sch ool . ?[I tr i ed ou t becau se] I cou l d h ave f ou r y ear s of a v ar si ty sp or t th at I r eal ly l oved an d en joy ed an d w an t ed to go on an d p l ay i n col l ege,? Joh n son say s.

Joh n son sh ar es h ow tr y i n g ou t f or th e var si ty team h as tau gh t him v al u abl e l esson s. ?[I t] h as tau gh t m e h ow to i n ter act w ith ol d er p eop l e, [...] becom e a better p l ay er f or m y sel f an d team , an d th e l esson of t h e team v al u e, be sel f l ess," Joh n son say s.

Joh n son 's tr ai n i n g sch ed u l e gi ves a gl i m p se i n to th e d r i ve th at h el p ed h i m get on t o th e var si ty

photo sub mitted b y ja y johnson Jo h n so n d r i b b l es p ast a d ef en d er d u r i n g a gam e agai n st M cFar l an d . team . H e m akes su r e to tr ai n w h en ever h e d oesn 't h ave p r acti ce or a gam e. O n Satu r d ay h e w or k s w i th h i s tr ai n er s f r om 7:30 a.m . to 10 a.m ., an d agai n at 2 p .m . to 7 p .m ., d oi n g th e sam e on Su n d ay, d ep en d i n g on i f h e h ad a gam e th e d ay bef or eh an d .

To th ose i n t er ested i n i m p r ov i n g th em selves ath l et i cal ly, Joh n son ad v i ses w or k i n g w i th p eop l e w h o h ave m or e ex p er i en ce. ?I f y ou w an t to p l ay at th e n ex t l evel , y ou n eed to take y ou r gam e to th e n ex t l evel an d tr ai n [an d ] p l ay w i th p eop l e w h o ar e better th an y ou ,? Joh n son ex p l ai n s.

L ast y ear 's sp r i n g tr ack season w as a r el i ef f or m an y SH S ath l et es w h o h ad n ot been abl e to com p ete d u e to CO V I D - 19 r estr i ct i on s, as w el l as a n ew op p or t u n i ty f or br an d n ew ath l et es.

T h en f r esh m an , n ow sop h om or e, Teagan Sei d el tr i ed ou t f or var si ty l ast y ear w i th th e k n ow l ed ge an d

ex p er i en ce h e h ad gai n ed f r om bei n g i n volved w i t h r aces an d ju m p i n g even ts d u r i n g m i d d l e sch ool . ?I alw ay s w an t ed t o d o tr ack becau se m y d ad w as a r eal ly good at h l ete, an d I w as h op i n g I h ad at l east som e of th e abi l i t y h e h ad ,?

Sei d el say s.

A s tr ack i s cu r r en t ly n ot i n season r i gh t n ow, Sei d el i sn 't d oi n g an y sp eci f i c tr ai n i n g, an d i s i n st ead f ocu si n g on bei n g on t h e var si ty basketbal l t eam . H e i s al so tak i n g str en gth an d con d i ti on i n g t h r ou gh SH S. Som eti m e i n h i s h i gh sch ool car eer , Sei d el w i sh es to m ake i t t o state i n t r i p l e ju m p , a tr ack even t w h er e th e ath l et es t r y t o ju m p as f ar as th ey can f r om a h op , step , an d ju m p f r om a r u n n i n g star t .

To th ose w h o w an t t o be a var si ty tr ack at h l ete, Sei d el h as som e w or d s of ad v i ce. ?Fi n d ou t t h e even t y ou f eel th e best at , an d w or k h ar d to excel at i t ?

photo sub mitted b y tea g a n seid el Sei d el co m p et es i n t h e h i gh j u m p l ast sp r i n g.

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cover story

a rt b y emma phillips

Celebrating Christianity B y Em m a Far l ey & Em m a Ph i l l i p s Staff Writer, and Entertainment Editor & H ead Artist t?s th at ti m e of y ear agai n .

Sn ow i s f al l i n g, ch oi r s ar e car ol i n g, an d L u ke Pu gh ?

St ou gh ton r esi d en t an d SH S sen i or ? i s sp en d i n g t i m e w i th h i s f am i ly as th e Ch r i stm as h ol i d ay m oves cl oser . Pu gh i s a p r act i ci n g Ch r i sti an w h o h as been r el i gi ou s h i s en t i r e l i f e, bu t h e h as begu n t o t ake th e r el i gi on m or e ser i ou sly i n r ecen t y ear s. ?W h en y ou d eci d e y ou ar e becom i n g a Ch r i sti an an d h ave f ai t h i n Jesu s an d God , y ou r eal ly n eed to st u d y th e W or d an d r eal i ze t h at i t i s p ar t of y ou r l i f esty l e. B ei n g a Ch r i sti an sh ou l d be d i sp l ay ed t h r ou gh ever y si n gl e p ar t of y ou r l i f e; i t sh ou l d n 't ju st be p u sh ed asi d e w h en y ou 'r e d oi n g [oth er ] t h i n gs becau se w e sh ou l d r ep r esen t Ch r i st t h r ou gh ever y th i n g w e d o,?

Pu gh say s.

Pu gh at ten d s L akev i ew Ch u r ch n ear San d h i l l El em en tar y Sch ool in St ou gh ton w i t h h i s f am i ly.

Rai sed in a Cath ol i c h ou seh ol d , Pu gh an d h i s en ti r e f am i ly h ave p r act i ced Ch r i sti an i ty an d cel ebr at ed Ch r i st m as f or

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y ear s, bu t accor d i n g to Pu gh , th ey ar e m ak i n g ef f or ts to m ove aw ay f r om th e m or e m od er n , tr i v i al asp ect s of th e h ol i d ay s. ?I t seem s l i ke f or a l ot of f am i l i es Ch r i stm as i s r ath er gi m m i ck y [...] You d o stu f f i n th e sn ow, set u p y ou r tr ee, d ecor ate y ou r h ou se, m ake cook i es an d st u f f l i ke th at, an d exch an ge p r esen ts.

Bu t i t [sh ou l d be m or e abou t] r em em ber i n g th at w e'r e cel ebr at i n g th e bi r th of ou r Fath er an d Ch r i st.

[M y f am i ly an d I ] ar e ju st tr y i n g to th i n k [abou t] br i n gi n g i t back to m or e of w h at Ch r i stm as actu al ly r ep r esen ts,? Pu gh say s.

Ch r i stm as tr ad i ti on s f or f am i l i es ar ou n d th e w or l d i n cl u d e, l i ke Pu gh sai d , d ecor ati n g ever gr een tr ees w ith f esti ve or n am en ts, exch an gi n g gi f ts th e m or n i n g of D ec. 25, an d d ecor ati n g cook i es w i th f am i ly.

H ow ever , Pu gh h op es to f ocu s l ess on th ese p r acti ces an d m or e on th e or i gi n s of th e h ol i d ay. ?I t ?s a cel ebr ati on of th e bi r t h of Ch r i st. So basi cal ly, th e m an th at th ey al l tal k abou t i n Ch r i sti an i t y ? Jesu s ? h e w as God i n th e f l esh . [...] I t's ju st a cel ebr ati on of h i s bi r th an d h ow h e cam e to h el p f or gi ve u s of al l of ou r si n s,? Pu gh say s.

T r ad i ti on al ly, th e Pu gh f am i ly will put up a cou n td ow n cal en d ar to Ch r i stm as, w i th each d ay con tai n i n g a d i f f er en t ver se of th e Scr i p tu r e of th e B i bl e, a vol u m e bel i eved to con t ai n th e w or d an d i d eol ogi es of God bef or e He l ef t Ear t h . I n ad d i t i on , th ey w i l l p r ep ar e d i sh es su ch as h am , gr een bean casser ol e, an d cl assi c su gar cook i es.

Photo submit ted by Luke Pugh 8

?W e go to th e Ch r i stm as ser v i ce th at i s on th e Satu r d ay n i gh t [ bef or e Ch r i stm as], an d th ey alw ay s br i n g ar ou n d th ese can d l es sp eci f i cal ly on th i s d ay. W e si n g cl assi c ch u r ch Ch r i stm as son gs,? Pu gh say s. ?[T h e ser v i ce] u su al ly sh ar es th e cl assi c stor y of w h en Jesu s w as bor n to M ar y an d Josep h , an d th ey h ad al l th e p eop l e com e an d gi ve th em gi f ts. T h ey 'r e gu i d ed th r ou gh th e star s i n or d er to see Jesu s ? becau se th ey k n ew i t w as a si gn i f i can t m om en t i n th ei r l i ves, becau se th ey cou l d ju st f eel i t ? an d br ou gh t th em to th e stabl e w h er e Jesu s w as bor n .?

T h ou gh th e m on t h of D ecem ber i s an esp eci al ly i m p or tan t on e to th ose p r acti ci n g Ch r i sti an i t y, th e i d eol ogi es an d p r i n ci p l es beh i n d th e r el i gi on stay r el ev an t y ear - l on g.

?K i n d n ess i s d ef i n i tely a m ai n val u e of Ch r i sti an i t y becau se y ou 'r e su p p osed to be ver y k i n d an d f or gi v i n g to oth er s. T h e w h ol e i d ea of Ch r i sti an i t y i s th at y ou ?r e su p p osed to r ep r esen t y ou r sel f l i ke y ou 'r e r ep r esen ti n g Ch r i st an d th at y ou 'r e f or gi ven of al l y ou r si n s [...] You w an t to be k i n d an d f or gi v i n g to oth er s, an d th en sh ow th at th r ou gh y ou r w or k ou t i n th e w or l d ,?

Pu gh say s. ?Esp eci al ly w h en [...] m ak i n g ch oi ces, y ou 'r e l i ke, th i n k i n g abou t th at a l ot . W h en y ou 'r e i n th e p r ocess of , m ay be

gh Photo By Luke Pu som eth i n g th at's bad , or y ou t h i n k y ou 'r e d oi n g bad t h i n gs y ou th i n k ?am I r ep r esen t i n g Ch r i st h er e?? So I f eel l i ke [Ch r i sti an i t y ] l ead s m e t o m ake better d eci si on s i n m y l i f e, an d I t h i n k I n eed t o con ti n u e t h i n k i n g of t h at becau se th en I can con ti n u e m ak i n g bett er d eci si on s.?

For Pu gh , t h e u p com i n g w i n ter br eak m ean s m or e ti m e to get i n t ou ch w i t h Ch r i st an d t h e t r u e m ean i n g of Ch r i stm as.

"I 'm exci t ed t o get m or e i n tou ch w i t h m y sel f an d m y Ch r i sti an i ty, an d t o be abl e to p r act i ce m or e,? Pu gh say s. ? [I ?m goi n g t o] t h i n k abou t r eal ly w h at th e cel ebr ati on i s? m or e t h an ju st th i s gi m m i ck y ver si on of Ch r i stm as t h at h as begu n [to be n or m al i zed ]? an d I gu ess, ju st m ake su r e I 'm r ef l ect i n g m y act i on s of Ch r i st d u r i n g t h e season , esp eci al ly.?

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Journeying into Judaism S

H S ju n i or Z oe L u l i n sk i sp i n s a d r ei d el on h er k i t ch en tabl e as h er m oth er l i gh ts th e m en or ah , si gn i f y i n g t h at t h e f i r st n i gh t of H an u k k ah h as begu n .

L u l i n sk i h as p r acti ced Ju d ai sm si n ce sh e w as y ou n ger , an d w as r ai sed on th e i d eol ogi es of th e r el i gi on . ?A m ai n v al u e of [ Ju d ai sm ] i s t o alw ay s be k i n d an d t o sh ow l ove to each oth er ,? L u l i n sk i say s.

L u l i n sk i i s n ot t h e on ly on e i n h er f am i ly w h o p r acti ces Ju d ai sm , bu t h er en ti r e f am i ly d oes n ot take p ar t. ?[M y f am i ly ] sh ar e[s] each oth er ?s bel i ef s, bu t m y m om i s Jew i sh an d m y d ad w as r ai sed Cat h ol i c. Both si d es of t h e f am i ly ar e su p p or ti ve, an d I sti l l cel ebr ate h ol i d ay s l i ke Ch r i stm as an d East er w i t h m y d ad ?s si d e of t h e f am i ly,?

L u l i n sk i say s.

su bst an ce u sed i n d ou gh or batter to m ake i t r i se.

L u l i n sk i d escr i bes H an u k k ah , of t en cel ebr at ed i n th e m on th of D ecem ber , i n m or e d etai l . ?W e cel ebr ate H an u k k ah ar ou n d th e w i n t er season , w h i ch i s ei gh t n i gh ts i n a r ow.

H ow ever , d u e to th e Jew i sh cal en d ar , th e ti m es of h ol i d ay s cou l d v ar y. For ex am p l e, th i s y ear H an u k k ah is tow ar d s th e en d of N ovem ber an d th e begi n n i n g of D ecem ber ,?

L u l i n sk i say s.

Som e of th e f ood s L u l i n sk i m en ti on ed sh e an d h er f am i ly eat during

Phot o by

Zoe Lul ins ki

?I t 's k i n d o f j u st u s, cel eb r at i n g t h e f act t h at i t w as [ ...] a m i r acl e t h at t h ey w er e ab l e t o l ast so l o n g" - Z o e (11) L u l i n sk i t h en goes on to ex p l ai n som e of t h e Jew i sh h ol i d ay s sh e cel ebr at es w i th h er f am i ly. ?Som e of ou r h ol i d ay s i n cl u d e Rosh H ash an ah , [t h e] begi n n i n g of Jew i sh n ew y ear [an d ] Yom K i p p u r , [t h e] en d of Jew i sh n ew y ear .

D u r i n g Yom K i p p u r , w e u su al ly f ast f or t h e d ay u n ti l su n d ow n . T h ese u su al ly t ake p l ace on e w eek f r om each oth er i n Sep t em ber or O ctober . T h ese ar e t h e tw o h ol i est h ol i d ay s of t h e y ear ,?

L u l i n sk i say s.

L u l i n sk i al so sh ar es abou t Passover an d h ow i t coi n ci d es w i t h t h e Ch r i stan h ol i d ay, East er . ?D u r i n g Passover , w e h ave a l ar ge f east cal l ed th e Sed ar . [I t?s] a m ajor h ol i d ay t h at cel ebr at es th e l i ber ati on of I sr ael i t es f r om sl aver y i n Egy p t . D u r i n g Passover , w e d on ?t eat f ood s w i th l eaven i n g,? L u l i n sk i say s.

L eaven i n g is a the norse star, december 2021

of w h y. ?H an u k k ah i s [...] k n ow n as th e f est i val of l i gh ts. [...]

For H an u k k ah , w h at w e d o i s w e h ave som eth i n g cal l ed th e m en or ah .

And th en ever y n i gh t w e h ave can d l es th at w e l i gh t[...] an d d on 't bl ow th em ou t. You ju st l et th em go ou t [ by ] th em selves. For H an u k k ah , w h at w e d o i s on e gi f t p er n i gh t f or m y f am i ly.?

H an u k k ah stem s f r om a l egen d abou t th e p eop l e i n th e Tem p l e of Jer u sal em .

T h e stor y goes th at th e p r acti ci n g Jew i sh p eop l e, tr ap p ed i n a d est r oy ed tem p l e, on ly h ad en ou gh oi l to l i gh t th ei r m en or ah f or on e n i gh t.

H ow ever , m i r acu l ou sly, th e m en or ah stay l i t f or ei gh t n i gh ts. ?I t's k i n d of ju st u s, cel ebr ati n g th e f act th at i t w as [...] a m i r acl e th at [th e

can d l es] w er e abl e t o l ast so l on g,? L u l i n sk i say s.

Som e of t h e act i v i t i es sh e an d h er f am i ly p er f or m i n cl u d e l i gh t i n g th e m en or ah d u r i n g H an u k k ah an d p l ay i n g gam es w i t h d r ei d el s. ?W e h i d t h e af i kom an d u r i n g w h i ch i m m ed i at ely f ol l ow s th e m ai n m eal . M y gr an d p a w ou l d hide it som ew h er e i n t h e h ou se, an d al l of th e k i d s w ou l d go l ook i n g f or i t . Ever y on e w ou l d get a p r i ze bu t w h oever f ou n d th e af i kom an [...] w ou l d get t h e bi ggest p r i ze,? L u l i n sk i say s.

An af i kom an , al so r ef er r ed t o as m atzo, i s a ty p e of f l atbr ead eaten d u r i n g H an u k k ah an d i s u su al ly eaten as a d esser t or a p r i ze.

T h ou gh , cl ou d i n g t h e m en t i on s of f ood an d gam es an d t r ad i ti on , L u l i n sk i sh ar es a n egati ve si d e t o bei n g Jew i sh . ?T h er e ar e som eti m es ster eoty p es t h at Jew i sh p eop l e ar e ch eap . T h i s stem s f r om w h en Jew i sh p eop l e w er e put in to gh ettos an d f or ced t o gi ve u p th ei r bel on gi n gs d u r i n g th e begi n n i n g of th e H ol ocau st,? L u l i n sk i say s.

i e Lul insk o Z y b Phot o

H an u k k ah ar e m ai n ly oi ly f ood s su ch as ?d on u ts [an d ] p otat o l atkes?. Pot ato l atkes ar e l i ke p otato p an cakes. L u l i sn k i th en goes on to ex p l ai n th e tr ad i ti on s sh e an d h er f am i ly take p ar t i n , as w el l as a br i ef h i st or y

L u l i n sk i ?s sol em n r em ar k , th ou gh sober i n g, ju st gi ves h er an d h er f am i ly a d eep er u n d er st an d i n g of w h at th ey t r u ly bel i eve i n , an d f or L u l i n sk i , i t ?s h er f am i ly an d h er f r i en d s. So th i s w i n ter , L u l i n sk i p l an s on en joy i n g t h e l on g br eak ah ead .

L u l i k n sk i say s, ?[I ?m goi n g to] h an g ou t w i t h f r i en d s an d f am i ly h ead i n g i n t o th i s h ap p y h ol i d ay season .?

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Practicing Paganism A

sm i l e cr osses ju n i or A n i A l l en ?s f ace as h er si bl i n gs? l au gh t er ech oes t h r ou gh th e h ou se. T h ey w atch ,, bem u sed , as th ey d ecor ate th e Ch r i stm as tr ee t ogeth er , h an gi n g ch eesy h om em ad e or n am en t s f r om i ts br an ch es an d st r i n gi n g l i gh t s t h r ou gh th e l eaves. Sti r r i n g t h ei r tea, A l l en (p r on ou n s: sh e/ t h ey ), tur n s aw ay f r om th e Ch r i stm as f est i v i t i es an d back tow ar d s t h e object of t h ei r p r ev i ou s at t en t i on : t h ei r al tar , w h er e th ey p r acti ce t h e r el i gi on of Pagan i sm . ?T h er e ar e a l ot of m ai n val u es th at w ou l d be ap p l i ed t o th e m ajor i t y of p eop l e w h o p r act i ce [t h i s] r el i gi on , [su ch as] ju st w or sh i p p i n g t h e ear th , [ bel i ev i n g i n ] equ al i ty, [...] [an d ] w or sh i p p i n g t h e p l an et ?

A l l en say s. T h ey gave an i n - d ep th v i ew on th e p r acti ce of Pagan i sm , i t s qu al i ti es, i t s t r ad i t i on s, an d t h ei r w ay of p r act i ci n g.

To gi ve a br i ef sy n op si s on th e h i st or y of Pagan i sm , i t i s r ef er r ed t o as th e r el i gi on of t h e an ci en t w or l d . A l l en d escr i bes th e r el i gi on as bei n g ver y br oad an d u n i ver sal , as i t i s on e of t h e ol d est r el i gi on s k n ow n t o m an . ?I t?s on e of t h e ol d est r el i gi on s, an d a l ot of h ol i d ay s an d r el i gi on s ar e based of f of an d i n sp i r ed by Pagan i sm ,? A l l en say s.

A s f or t h ei r w i n t er t r ad i ti on s in Pagan i sm , A l l en gi ves i n si gh t i n to Ch r i stm as, a h ol i d ay t y p i cal ly associ at ed w i t h Ch r i sti an i ty.

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?T h e w i n t er sol st i ce i s tech n i cal ly Ch r i stm as. W el l , i t w as or i gi n al ly [cal l ed ] Yu l e. [...]

Ch r i stm as i s or i gi n al ly a Pagan h ol i d ay,?

A l l en say s.

D iving f u r th er in to Pagan i sm an d th e w i n ter sol sti ce, A l l en p ai n ts a p i ct u r e of th e objects an d r i t u al s th at m ay be f am i l i ar to som e w h o cel ebr ate Ch r i stm as ever y y ear . ?T h e w i n t er sol st i ce i s cel ebr ati n g th e su n r etu r n i n g to ear th . T h er e?s a l ot of w ay s to cel ebr ate i t[...]

[For i n st an ce], d ecor ati n g a Ch r i stm as tr ee. A l ot of Pagan s l i ke to l i gh t f i r es ou t of a f i r ep l ace [...] or can d l es f or th e w i n t er sol sti ce, to keep bu r n i n g f or a d ay or tw o,? A l l en say s.

A l l en stat es th at th ey d o cel ebr ate Ch r i stm as as w el l as th e w i n t er sol st i ce, d u e to som e of th ei r f am i ly bei n g Ch r i sti an . ?M y m om i s Pagan , an d sh e h as been f or a l on g ti m e. T h e f am i ly th at I l i ve w i t h ; [...] w e d on ?t r eal ly cel ebr ate th i n gs in a r el i gi ou s w ay. I k n ow th at m y gr an d p a, m y si ster , an d m y u n cl e ar e Ch r i sti an . W e d on ?t r eal ly i n cor p or ate [Ch r i st i an i t y ] in to Ch r i stm as or an y t h i n g,?

A l l en say s. A l l en an d th ei r m oth er sti l l cel ebr at e a tr ad i t i on al Ch r i stm as w i th th e r est of th ei r f am i ly i n w i n t er , si n ce th e h ol i d ay h on or s bot h bel i ef s.

Even i f th ei r f am i ly ch ose n ot to cel ebr ate Ch r i stm as, A l l en r em ar k s th at th ey, al on e, sti l l w ou l d . ?Ch r i stm as i s or i gi n al ly a Pagan h ol i d ay, so I w ou l d cel ebr ate i t , ju st i n a d i f f er en t w ay. [I w ou l d ] u se d i f f er en t ter m s an d h ave m or e of a r i t u al to d o w i t h ou t h av i n g to f ocu s m ai n ly on f am i ly tr ad i t i on s,? A l l en say s.

A l l en al so d i scu ssed th ei r r eason i n g f or bei n g a Pagan , as th ey w er e n ot bor n i n to i t , bu t h ave on ly p r acti ced th e r el i gi on f or th e p ast th r ee y ear s. ?[I p r act i ce Pagan i sm ] becau se of w h at i t stan d s f or ? bel i ev i n g i n th e ear t h ,?

A l l en say s. ?I t ?s a p r ett y vast th i n g, bu t I d ef i n i tely th i n k

th at w or sh i p i n g th e ear t h i s som eth i n g th at th e m ajor i ty of p eop l e th at ar e Pagan w ou l d say [i s key ].?

A n oth er th i n g th at m akes th i s r el i gi on u n i qu e f r om oth er s i s th e sp eci f i cs of th e tool s an d acti on s w or sh i p er s can u t i l i ze i n p r acti ce. Pagan i sm h as i ts ow n tr ad i ti on s, f r om th e cel ebr ati on of th e w i n ter sol sti ce to th e ever y d ay p r acti ce of m ak i n g sp el l jar s an d

i Al l en n A y b Phot o p r otect i on

Phot o by Ani Al l en m an i f estati on of good i n t en t i on , as d escr i bed by A l l en . ?I h ave [...] th i n gs sor t of r ep r esen ti n g asp ects of Pagan i sm , th e ear t h , an d w h at I stan d f or . I h ave som e [eth i cal ly - sou r ced ] an i m al bon es. I h ave th i n gs th at ar e i m p or tan t th at f r i en d s h ave gi ven m e. I l i ke to keep f l ow er s [...] an d I ?d u se th ose p et al s f or sp el l s an d th i n gs l i ke th at ,? A l l en say s. ?T h ey ?r e n ot n ecessar y f or p r acti ci n g. T h ey ?r e tool s an d th ey can h el p y ou , bu t th ey ar en ?t n ecessar y at al l .

L i ke I sai d , i t r eal ly d ep en d s h eav i ly on y ou r i n t en t i on s.?

A l l en d elves f u r th er i n t o th e ex p l an ati on of p r acti ci n g w i th i n t en t i on an d m an i f estati on of p osi ti ve th ou gh ts. ?I gu ess i t d ep en d s on w h at i t?s f or , an d i f y ou 'r e d oi n g som eth i n g w i th a sp eci f i c i n t en t i on . So, a l ot of th e ti m e I w ou l d d o

sp el l s f or p eop l e I car e abou t, m y sel f , or ju st som eth i n g [I ?m ] t r y i n g t o m an i f est i n t o ex i sten ce or i n t o m y l i f e or an ot h er p er son ?s l i f e. I u se a l ot of f l ow er p etal s an d cr y st al s,?

A l l en say s.

A s w el l as sh ar i n g t h ei r th ou gh ts abou t t h e r el i gi on an d p r acti ces t h ey p ar t ake i n , A l l en al so gi ves i n si gh t on som e of t h e m or e n egati ve asp ect s of p r acti ci n g a u n i qu e r el i gi on , su ch as th e n egat i ve ster eoty p es an d l an gu age th ey ?ve been ex p osed t o as a p r acti ci n g Pagan . ?A l ot of p eop l e t h i n k th at [Pagan i sm ] m ean s w or sh i p p i n g Satan , even th ou gh Satan i sn ?t com p l etely Satan in Pagan i sm an d is n ot p er cei ved as a bad d ei ty,?

A l l en say s. ?A l ot of p eop l e [...] w i l l n ot k n ow en ou gh abou t Pagan i sm an d m ake assu m p ti on s abou t u s bei n g ev i l or u si n g t h i n gs l i ke w i tch cr af t or w or sh i p f or bad . T h ey t y p i cal ly t h i n k i t ?s a n egati ve t h i n g.?

Even th ou gh A l l en h as r ecei ved back l ash f or t h ei r p r acti ce, th ey m ad e a p oi n t n ot to l et t h e r esp on ses af f ect th em . ?I get cal l ed a w i t ch , bu t i t?s n ot r eal ly an i n su l t at th i s p oi n t. I d on ?t l et i t get t o me becau se it d oesn ?t m atter w h at p eop l e?s op i n i on s ar e.?

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Illuminating Islam A

f l u r r y of sn ow p asses th r ou gh Stou gh t on , coati n g th e sh op s of M ai n St r eet i n a f r ost y sh een , an d Fat u sh e H ak l aj, a Stou gh ton r esi d en t si n ce 1999, p r ep ar es a d el i ci ou s batch of bak l av a, p or tr ay i n g a st ate of cal m am i d st a f r en zy of r el i gi ou s w i n t er f esti v i ti es.

H ak l aj i s an ed u cat i on al assi stan t w i t h t h e bi l i n gu al p r ogr am i n Stou gh t on . Sh e h as p r act i ced I sl am si n ce sh e w as bor n . A f ter f l eei n g h er h om e cou n t r y of Kosovo d u r i n g a w ar i n 1998, sh e an d h er f am i ly m oved to Stou gh t on as r ef u gees, an d t h ey h ave l i ved h er e ever si n ce. ?M y f am i ly an d I h ave been M u sl i m f or ou r en t i r e l i ves. [...] W e l i ved i n a com m u n i t y w h er e ever y on e w as M u sl i m ,? H ak l aj say s. ?T h e r el i gi ou s h ol i d ay th at w e cel ebr at e - - [Ram ad an ] - - var i es f r om y ear t o y ear becau se i t f ol l ow s t h e l u n ar cal en d ar r at h er t h an th e r egu l ar on e. So, i t al m ost seem s l i ke ever y y ear i t h ap p en s tw o w eek s p r i or to t h e y ear bef or e. Som et i m es i t cou l d en d u p d u r i n g th e w i n ter , an d som et i m es i t 's in th e m i d d l e of th e su m m er .?

A s w el l as ex p l ai n i n g th e cy cl i cal p at t er n of I sl am i c

h ol i d ay s, H ak l aj ex p l ai n s th e h ol i d ay Ram ad an an d h ow i t i s cel ebr ated by h er an d h er f am i ly. ?O u r m ai n r el i gi ou s h ol i d ay, [...] i t 's cal l ed Ram ad an .

Ram ad an is cel ebr ated on ce a y ear an d d u r i n g th at cel ebr ati on ? i t's f or on e m on t h , d ep en d i n g on w h en th at m on th f al l s? y ou h ave to f ast f r om su n u p to su n d ow n al l d ay, an d th at's i n cl u d i n g w at er ; [...] y ou can 't h ave f ood , w ater or an y th i n g,? H ak l aj say s. ?D u r i n g th at h ol i d ay, y ou al so h ol d back f r om a l ot of oth er th i n gs? l i ke, f or ex am p l e, sw ear i n g. I t's k i n d of l i ke a h ol i d ay th at cl ean ses y ou r w h ol e bod y. [ You] cl ean se y ou r m ou t h , cl ean se y ou r m i n d ; y ou alw ay s h ave to h ave p osi ti ve th ou gh ts.

For ex am p l e, i f a w ar w as br oken [ou t] during th at h ol i d ay, th e f i gh t i n g w i l l stop .

T h at 's h ow i m p or t an t th at h ol i d ay i s f or M u sl i m s.?

H ak l aj al so ex p l ai n s th e M u sl i m h ol i d ay f ol l ow i n g Ram ad an , ex p l ai n i n g w h en i t i s cel ebr ated an d ju st h ow si gn i f i gan t i t i s.

"T h en f ol l ow i n g th at h ol i d ay, w e cel ebr ate th r ee d ay s an d i t 's cal l ed Ei d . T h at i s th e th r ee d ay s w h er e y ou m ake a l ot of f ood an d y ou eat al l th e ti m e [an d ] y ou v i si t f am i ly. I t 's ju st on e of th e m ost i m p or tan t h ol i d ay s. N ow Ei d , th ou gh ,

t ed by t i m b u s Phot o e Hakl aj Fat ush

the norse star, december 2021

i s cel ebr ated tw i ce a y ear .

O n e ti m e w i th Ram ad an , w h i ch i s cal l ed th e Ei d M u bar ak , w h er e i t?s th e bi g Ei d , an d th en y ou h ave a sm al l on e th at i s w i th ou t Ram ad an ,? H ak l aj say s.

Sh e al so ex p l ai n s th at h er cel ebr ati on of Ram ad an h ad al r ead y p assed th i s y ear as i t f el l d u r i n g M ay, f ol l ow i n g th e l u n ar cal en d ar . H ak l aj d escr i bes an ot h er p ar t of th e p r acti ce th at sh e f eel s i s n ot sp oken or k n ow n abou t en ou gh ? th e f i ve p i l l ar s of I sl am . ?T h er e's on e i m p or tan t th i n g th at I th i n k p eop l e f or get w h en i t com es to M u sl i m f ai t h , an d i t's th e f i ve p i l l ar s of I sl am . [...] O n e i s Sh ah ad . T h i s i s [w h er e] y ou h ave to say th i s p ar t i cu l ar p r ay er to cal l y ou r sel f a M u sl i m . [...]

[A n ot h er p i l l ar ], i t's p r ay i n g f i ve ti m es a d ay. T h e oth er on e i s Z ak aat [...] an d th at m ean s y ou gi ve. L i ke i f y ou h ave ex tr a, y ou gi ve to p eop l e th at d on 't h ave [as m u ch ]. T h at i s on e of th e bi ggest th i n gs. [...] A n oth er on e i s f asti n g. [...] T h en p i l gr i m age, [...] I t?s cal l ed H aj j [...] an d th at ?s w h en [...] y ou 'd h ave to v i si t M ecca,?

H ak l aj say s.

Sh e al so ex p l ai n s a l i ttl e bi t abou t th e n egati v i ty sh e?s ex p er i en ced as a p r acti ci n g M u sl i m . ?W h en 9/ 11 h ap p en ed , r eal ly a l ot of p eop l e th en w an t ed to k n ow i f I w as a d i f f er en t r el i gi on or n ot. So I d eci d ed to cover [m y f ai t h ], an d si n ce th en , i t's been a l ot . N ot as m u ch i n sch ool , becau se I th i n k th er e's p eop l e th at k n ow

m e, an d t h at I 've w or ked w i th , an d al l t h e st u d en ts k n ow m e becau se I 've been i n th e d i str i ct f or so l on g. [...] Bu t I [al so] w or k at [...]

W al m ar t,? H ak l aj say s. ?I h ave h ad a l ot of cu stom er s stop an d say al l k i n d s of d i f f er en t t h i n gs.

L i ke, ?W h er e i n t h e Q u r an d oes i t say to k i l l som ebod y ??, th i n gs [l i ke], ?I k n ow w h y y ou cover y ou r h ai r ; becau se y ou 'r e t oo l azy t o w ash i t,? [an d ] t h i n gs l i ke, ?I s y ou r h ead col d ? T h en w h y d o y ou w ear a scar f ?? [...] I ?ll tel l y ou t h at a l ot of A l ban i an k i d s w h o ar e i n t h e d i str i ct w i l l l i ter al ly h i d e th at th ey 'r e M u sl i m , ju st becau se th ey 'r e af r ai d t h at som ebod y w ou l d say som eth i n g bad .?

Even th ou gh t h er e h as been back l ash H ak l aj h as been ex p osed t o, sh e st i l l em p h asi zed t h at sh e, as a p r acti ci n g M u sl i m , k n ow s h ow to h an d l e p eop l e l i ke th at. Sh e i s p r ou d of h er f ai t h , an d sh e d oes n ot h i d e i t an y m or e.

A s a l ast t h ou gh t , H ak l aj tel l s abou t t h e val u es of h er f ai t h an d w h y sh e p r act i ces. ?T h er e's n ot h i n g sp eci f i c th at w e h ol d , ot h er th an th at ever y M u sl i m h ou se w i l l h ave a Q u r an .

T h at i s l i ke t h e sy m bol of w h o y ou ar e. [...] I n ou r cu l tu r e, f am i ly i s ver y i m p or tan t. Fam i ly i s t h e bi ggest th i n g,? H ak l aj say s. ?T h e r eason w e st i ck by i t i s becau se [...] t h e r el i gi on br i n gs so m u ch f or y ou t o be a good p er son , t o be t h e best y ou can be, t o t r eat oth er s r i gh t , t o alw ay s be r esp ectf u l , [an d ] t o t r eat [...] ever y on e th e sam e, even i f th ey f ol l ow a d i f f er en t r el i gi on .?

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arts & entertainment

Rea d ing into New Yea r's Resolutions B y Gab e Ro u sseau Sports Editor A s 20 21 w i n d s d ow n , p eop l e ar e star t i n g to m ake th ei r N ew Year 's Resol u ti on s. W h eth er th at?s gett i n g a gy m m em ber sh i p , p i ck i n g u p a n ew h obby, or r ead i n g m or e book s, th e stu d en ts at SH S ar e gett i n g i n t o th e sp i r i t of t h e n ew y ear !

?C o n t i n u e t o b et t er m y sel f i n ev er y w ay I can .?

- El i B u r k e (12)

"K eep a p o si t i v e m i n d set an d eat h eal t h i er ."

- Et h an St r an d l i e (9 )

"C at ch b i g f i sh i ce f i sh i n g."

-W i l l N el so n (10 )

"Get b et t er at h l et i cal l y."

- C ar t er Su l l i v an (9)

?Get sw o l e.?

- C am b el l e C h r i st en sen (12)

?Gr ad u at e.?

- Sar a K r u eger (12)

the norse star, december 2021

"Get st r o n ger ."

- L esh aw n B r ow n (9)

"Get b et t er gr ad es an d h av e a b et t er sl eep sch ed u l e."

- A sh l ey L i v i n gst o n (9)

?Get r i ch o r d i e t r y i n g.?

- N at h an Vaged es (12)

"W o r k o u t m o r e."

- M ar y B u b o n (9)

?B e su ccessf u l .?

- Ram sey W i n t o n (12)

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arts & entertainment

Whiskers & Wardrobes B y M ad i so n L u i ck Staff Writer & Graphics Editor T h e h ol i d ay season i s u p on u s an d w i t h th e h ol i d ay s com es col d er w eath er . W h at d oes th at m ean ? I t?s ti m e t o br eak ou t t h at w i n ter w ar d r obe! D u st of f th ose scar ves, h at s, gl oves, h eav y jackets, an d sw eater s? esp eci al ly th e u gly on es. D on ?t d en y i t , w e al l h ave th em ? i t 's a h ol i d ay stap l e, a w ar d r obe essen ti al , i f y ou w i l l .

Regar d l ess of t h e ci r cu m stan ces p r esen ted to y ou , al m ost ever y h ol i d ay gath er i n g cal l s f or an u gly sw eat er . I t ?s t h e on ly t i m e of y ear w h er e bl i n k i n g l i gh ts sew n i n to y ou r cl oth i n g an d v i su al ly u n p l easan t col or com bi n ati on s ar e soci al ly accep tabl e.

T h ou gh i t i s al l i n good f u n , w e h u m an s ar e n ot th e on ly on es w h o can ap p r eci ate a good sw eater , u gly or n ot .

T h er e ar e p l en t y of op ti on s f or p ets to h op i n on th e ?u gly ? cl oth i n g f u n . U gly sw eater s com e i n p et si zes t oo, bu t w h en som eth i n g w i t h a f ace as cu te as these w ear s an ?u gly ? sw eater , i s i t r eal ly u gly ?

Sw eat er s, boot i es, ti es, col l ar s, an d ji n gl e bel l s on ever y th i n g? th er e ar e so m an y f est i ve accessor y op ti on s f or y ou r p ets.

T h e N or se Star st af f sh ar es h ow th ei r f ou r - l egged f am i ly m em ber s ar e gett i n g i n t o th e h ol i d ay sp i r i t. W e h ave i t al l f r om sw eater s to? w ai t , i s th at San ta?

a rt b y emma phillips

Coco (r i gh t) an d N i co (l ef t), an i con i c si ster d u o, ar e br i n gi n g th e h eat th i s h ol i d ay season . N i co?s f est i ve n eck ti e i s p r of essi on al an d sop h i sti cated , w h i l e Coco?s joy sw eat er cou l d p u t a sm i l e on even th e Gr i n ch ?s f ace. W h at 's on th ei r Ch r i stm as l i st th i s y ear ? T r eats? an d car d boar d boxes.

sub mitted b y a va pa rr

PO V: You ar e th e m i stl etoe. W i n st on , an esteem ed gen tl em an , w ai t s i n h i s d ap p er bl u e an d gr ay sw eater to com f or t al l y ou l on ely m i stl etoe- goer s th i s h ol i d ay season . A f ter al l , w h o n eed s r om an ce w h en y ou h ave W i n ston ? T h i s p u p p y ?s sn u ggl es ar e f r ee f or th e tak i n g ? on on e con d i ti on , d o y ou h ave tr eat s?

Si ster s M ai sy (l ef t) an d Ad el ai d e (r i gh t) sh ow of f th ei r f i r st- Ch r i stm as f i t s. M ai sy r ock s a bl u e an d w h i te sn ow f l ake m om en t , w h i l e Ad el ai d e sp or t s a cl assi c r ed an d w h i t e col or com bi n at i on d ecor ated w i th f est i ve r ei n d eer . (W i th p ocket s on th e back !) T h ey both p ose gr aci ou sly u n d er th e Ch r i stm as tr ee to m ake i t cl ear th at they ar e th e gi f ts th i s y ear . Ju st l ook at th ose f aces, w h at el se cou l d y ou w i sh f or ?

photo b y ma d ison luick

sub mitted b y emma fa rley

Bean i s n ot y ou r ty p i cal m al l San ta. T h i s San ta d oesn 't n eed a su i t, as i t w ou l d h i d e h i s ey e- catch i n g col or ati on . H i s sassy p ose an d p r i st i n e h at say i t al l , h e i s th e k i n g of th e h ol i d ay s. B ean , w e al l ar e d y i n g to k n ow, w h o?s y ou r tai l or ?

B el l e i s th e em bod i m en t of h ol i d ay r el ax at i on . Sh e h as been d oi n g th e m ost th i s y ear , af ter al l , l ook i n g th at p r eci ou s i s ex h au st i n g. Yet , d esp i te th at, th ose bi g ey es sti l l say ?p et m e!? T h er e's absol u t ely n o d ou bt th i s p u p si ts at th e top sp ot on th e n i ce l i st.

sub mitted b y a va pa rr

sub mitted b y a utumn evenson Sop h i e i s f u l l of h ol i d ay ch eer th i s season ! A l l cozi ed u p i n th at f est i ve sw eater , ju st l ook at th at w ar m sm i l e an d i n v i ti n g bod y l an gu age! H ol i d ay ch eer p r acti cal ly seep s f r om ever y w h i sker ? n o? H ey, I tr i ed .

sub mitted b y emma phillips 14

the norse star, december 2021

opinions

Class Mandate?

B y B h o o m i Pat el Staff Writer

T

h i n k of i t l i ke t h i s: y ou f i n al ly get t o p l an y ou r sch ed u l e f or t h e u p com i n g sch ool y ear , an d t h er e ar e a cou p l e of sci en ce an d ar t cl asses y ou w an t t o t ake.

H ow ever , y ou st i l l n eed to f i l l u p y ou r gy m an d En gl i sh cr ed i ts, w h i ch p r even ts y ou f r om t ak i n g t h e cl asses y ou w an t t o t ake.

T h i s i s p r obably a scen ar i o m an y h i gh sch ool st u d en t s go th r ou gh ever y t i m e th ey p l an th ei r sch ed u l es.

A s y ou can see, m an y st u d en ts can n ot t ake th e cl asses th ey w i sh t o take becau se of t h e m an d ator y cou r ses an d cr ed i t s th ey n eed to t ake t o gr ad u ate.

Sch ool s sh ou l d n ot m ake cer tai n cl asses m an d at or y or h ave stu d en t s t ake cor e cl asses f or a cer t ai n n u m ber of y ear s. I t i s u n n ecessar y.

For i n stan ce, SH S r equ i r es al l stu d en t s t o h ave f ou r En gl i sh cr ed i t s t o gr ad u ate,

m ean i n g, a stu d en t n eed s to take an En gl i sh cl ass each y ear of th ei r h i gh sch ool car eer to gr ad u at e.

M ost stu d en t s d on 't l i ke com i n g to sch ool becau se of th e cl asses th ey h ave to take.

T h ey m i gh t find it ch al l en gi n g to con cen t r ate an d h ave d i f f i cu l ty u n d er st an d i n g th e m ater i al , w h i ch th en l ead s stu d en ts to h ave l ow p er f or m an ce f or th at sp eci f i c cou r se. I n stead , stu d en t s sh ou l d be abl e to ch oose w h at ty p e of cor e cl ass th ey w ou l d l i ke to take.

To el abor ate, SH S r equ i r es f r esh m en to take A m er i can h i stor y as th ei r soci al stu d i es cr ed i t .

I n stead , stu d en t s sh ou l d h ave th e op p or tu n i t y to ch oose w h at ty p e of soci al stu d i es cl ass th ey w ou l d l i ke; su ch as w or l d h i stor y, p sy ch ol ogy, m od er n w or l d , etc.

M an y stu d en t s p l an to go to col l ege af t er h i gh

sch ool , m ean i n g th at th ese r equ i r ed cou r ses w ou l d ben ef i t th em . U n i ver sal ly, m ost col l eges r equ i r e f ou r y ear s of En gl i sh an d m at h , w h i ch i s a r equ i r em en t at SH S. I n con tr ast, oth er s u se h i gh sch ool as car eer ex p l or at i on i f th ey w an t to p u r su e a car eer r i gh t af ter h i gh sch ool .

H av i n g m an d at or y cl asses d oes n ot f i t w el l w i th i n th e h i gh sch ool goal s of each stu d en t.

I f a stu d en t k n ow s th at th ey i n t en d to go str ai gh t i n t o th e w or k f or ce, f u l f i l l i n g th e r equ i r ed econ om i c or gy m cr ed i ts seem s to be u n n eed ed .

Som e m ay ar gu e th at col l eges al so obl i gat e stu d en ts to take sp eci f i c y ear s of th ei r cor e cl asses.

W h i l e th i s i s of ten tr u e, stu d en ts k n ow w h at col l ege th ey w an t an d w h at cou r ses th ei r d esi r ed col l ege r equ i r es th em to take.

Stu d en ts sh ou l d d eci d e w h et h er or n ot t h ey sh ou l d take th ose cou r ses. St u d en t s sh ou l d take t h e r equ i r ed cou r ses based on t h ei r d esi r ed col l ege. M ean i n g, n ot ever y stu d en t w ou l d be obl i gat ed to t ake th e n ecessar y cl asses.

M an d at or y cl asses sh ou l d becom e op ti on al / el ecti ve cl asses.

I n stead of r equ i r i n g SH S stu d en ts t o t ake p h y si cal ed u cati on , fine ar t s, econ om i cs, gover n m en t , En gl i sh etc., w e sh ou l d i n stead l eave t h ose cou r ses to be el ect i ve cl asses. I n tu r n , th i s w i l l h el p st u d en ts h ave a br oad er r an ge of cou r ses th ey cou l d t ake f or th e sch ool y ear ; al l ow i n g th em to h ave t h ei r ow n ch oi ce i n ch oosi n g cou r ses, w h i l e al so gi v i n g t h em t h e m oti v ati on t o p er f or m w el l i n th e cl asses t h ey ch oose t o d o.

Baby, It's Cold O utside B y A u t u m n Ev en so n Staff Writer & D istribution M anager

G

etti n g t o sch ool on t i m e i s al r ead y a st r u ggl e, an d h av i n g t o w ai t ou t si d e bef or e get t i n g t o cl ass can m ake i t w or se.

Becau se t each er s h ave m eeti n gs i n t h e m or n i n gs, st u d en ts m u st w ai t ou t si d e t h e sch ool ?s en t r an ces u n ti l 8:15 a.m .. T h er e ar e f ew excep ti on s t o t h i s r u l e, an d i t ?s u n cl ear i f t h ese r u l es w i l l ever ch an ge. So f ar , t h e on ly w ay stu d en t s ar e al l ow ed i n si d e th e bu i l d i n g bef or e 8:15 a.m . i s d u e t o ex t r em e w eath er or ex t r acu r r i cu l ar s t h at m eet i n t h e m or n i n g.

Bei n g a sch ool l ocat ed i n W i scon si n , ou r w eath er can be u n p r ed i ct abl e.

A n y th i n g f r om a sn ow st or m t o br i gh t su n n y sk i es can h ap p en w i t h i n t h e sp an of a cou p l e of h ou r s. T h e sch ool sh ou l d n ?t p i ck an d ch oose w h at d ay s i t l et s st u d en t s i n si d e based on th e con d i ti on s ou t si d e becau se t h ey d on ?t k n ow w h at k i n d of w eath er w e w i l l h ave.

L etti n g st u d en ts w ai t the norse star, december 2021

i n d oor s r egar d l ess of w eath er w i l l el i m i n ate th e p ossi bi l i ty of h av i n g stu d en t s ou t si d e i n ex tr em e con d i ti on s.

T h er e ar e p l en ty of al ter n at i ves f or th e n u m ber of stu d en t s w h o w ai t r ath er th an h av i n g th em w ai t ou t i n th e col d . St ay i n g i n th e f r on t of f er s l i tt l e r oom , bu t stu d en t s sh ou l d sti l l be abl e to w ai t i n d oor s. T h er e ar e a ton of op ti on s i n th e back , h ow ever . T h er e?s th e p ool en tr an ce w i t h en ou gh r oom f or a con si d er abl e n u m ber of p eop l e.

Ex h i bi ti on h al lw ay al so h as en ou gh sp ace f or p eop l e to w ai t i n th e m or n i n gs.

A n ot h er p r obl em w i th h av i n g stu d en t s w ai t ou tsi d e i s th e d am age col d w eath er can br i n g f or m u si c stu d en t s? i n str u m en ts.

I n st r u m en ts sh ou l d n ot be ou t i n th e col d f or t h at l on g; col d tem p er at u r es can cau se i n st r u m en ts to go ou t of tu n e an d (i n ex tr em e cases) br eak . St u d en t s sh ou l d n ?t

h ave to w or r y abou t th ei r i n str u m en ts br eak i n g w h i l e w ai t i n g to get i n t o th e sch ool . N ot to m en t i on , m an y stu d en ts ow n th ei r i n str u m en ts, w i th p r i ce tags th at can be in th e th ou san d s.

T h er e i sn ?t an y r eason th at stu d en ts sh ou l d h ave to w ai t u n ti l 8:15 to begi n w i th .

I u n d er st an d th at teach er s h ave m eeti n gs in th e m or n i n g, bu t stu d en ts sh ou l d sti l l be abl e to get to th ei r l ocker s m or e th an 10 m i n u tes bef or e cl ass star ts.

10 m i n u tes i sn ?t en ou gh ti m e. Som e stu d en ts h ave to w al k acr oss th e sch ool to get to th ei r cl asses, an d I am on e of th em . I en ter th r ou gh th e back of th e sch ool an d h ave to w al k al l th e w ay to th e sen i or h al lw ay to get to m y l ocker , th en al l th e w ay to th e back of th e sch ool to get to cl ass.

I ar r i ve ear ly, I u su al ly get to sch ool by 8:10 , an d I d on ?t m ake i t to cl ass u n ti l 8:22 on a good d ay. L ett i n g stu d en ts

i n t o th e bu i l d i n g even f i ve m i n u tes ear l i er w ou l d gi ve stu d en ts m or e t i m e t o get t o th ei r cl asses an d be on t i m e.

M an y p r obl em s com e u p w i th h av i n g st u d en ts w ai t ou tsi d e, bu t if Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool w an t ed to f i x t h em , t h er e ar e a p l et h or a of sol u ti on s.

a rt b y emma phillips 15

opinions - editor's column

"Just a Word" B y A n j a Roy k o Editor- in- Chief & Cover Story Editor

A

f ter a w h i r lw i n d of even t s cau sed by CO V I D - 19, I am i n cr ed i bly gr atef u l th at w e h ave al l been abl e t o r et u r n to sch ool f or a som ew h at n or m al y ear . T h i s y ear , I h ave ex p an d ed my i n ter acti on s bey on d th e p eop l e i n m y ?CO V I D bu bbl e,? an d i n d oi n g so, l ear n ed m or e abou t th e p eop l e th at I h ave gon e to sch ool w i t h f or al m ost f ou r y ear s. I h ave gr ow n cl oser w i th som e an d m en d ed t at ter ed r el at i on sh i p s w i t h ot h er s, an d f or t h e m ost p ar t, i t?s been i n cr ed i bly f u l f i l l i n g.

H ow ever , on e t h i n g th at p ar ti cu l ar ly sh ocked me u p on m y r et u r n t o h i gh sch ool w as t h e f l agr an t u se of sl u r s f r om m y p eer s. I t sh ocked m e t o see p eop l e w i th w h om I h ave bu i l t m i cr o- r el at i on sh i p s an d m em or i es w i t h ? w h et h er t h i s m ean s sh ar i n g a secr et l au gh d u r i n g w or k t i m e or an an sw er t o a n egl ected h om ew or k assi gn m en t ? so

op en ly an d u n ash am ed ly u si n g su ch h at ef u l w or d s.

T he m ost com m on ly - u sed sl u r th at I h ave h ear d i s a d er ogator y ter m u sed agai n st m em ber s of th e L GBT Q + com m u n i ty, al so k n ow n as th e ?F? sl u r . I t br eak s m y h ear t to th i n k th at th ese p eop l e m i gh t n ot k n ow th e h ar m f u l i m p l i cat i on s of th i s w or d th ey ar e say i n g, an d i t m akes m e even m or e sad to th i n k th at m ay be th ey d o, bu t si m p ly d o n ot car e.

T h i s w or d w as n ot cr eated to be a ch eap p u n ch l i n e, to asser t d om i n an ce, or to p oke f u n at som eon e th at y ou f eel i s d i f f er en t f r om y ou . T h i s w or d w as cr eated sol ely to i n f l i ct h at e u p on an i n d i v i d u al f or som eth i n g th at th ey can n ot ch an ge.

T h i s w or d r ep r esen t s th e y ear s of h at e an d v i ol en ce th at m em ber s of th e L GBT Q + com m u n i ty h ave f aced an d con t i n u e to f ace to th i s d ay.

For y ear s, th e p eop l e an d gover n m en t of th e U n i t ed St at es tu r n ed a bl i n d ey e to th e h u n d r ed s of p eop l e w h o w er e d y i n g

f r om a v i r u s th at h ad been soci al ly d eem ed a ?gay can cer .? T h ose i n f ected w i th th e v i r u s (n ow f or m al ly k n ow n as A I D S) w er e n egl ect ed by f am i ly, f r i en d s, an d d octor s an d l ef t to d i e.

I t w as n ot taken ser i ou sly u n ti l h eter osex u al s began con tr acti n g i t, as w el l .

A s th e y ear s p assed , sci en ti sts l ear n ed m or e abou t A I D S an d f ou n d w ay s f or p at i en t s to m ai n tai n a som ew h at n or m al l i f e w i th th e v i r u s. H ow ever , th e d i scr i m i n ati on tow ar d s th e L GBT Q + com m u n i ty d i d n ot d i e of f al on gsi d e th e i n i ti al h y ster i a over th e v i r u s. Acts of car el essn ess an d h atr ed tow ar d th i s com m u n i ty w er e n ot l ef t i n th e p ast.

Peop l e ar e sti l l bei n g beaten , ter r or i zed , an d som eti m es m u r d er ed becau se of th ei r sex u al or i en tati on . Accor d i n g to th e U n i ted States D ep ar tm en t of Ju sti ce, 20 % of r ep or ted h ate cr i m es i n 20 20 w er e m oti v ated by th e sex u al or i en tati on of th e v i ct i m s.

T h at sl u r th at som e m ay ar gu e i s ?ju st a w or d ? i s

em bl em ati c of al l of t h e v i ol en ce an d d i scr i m i n at i on th e L GBT Q + com m u n i t y f aces.

T h at w or d r ep r esen t s th e an ger t h at on e f eel s tow ar d an i n d i v i d u al becau se of som et h i n g t h at th ey can n ot ch an ge. T h at w or d cou l d be ? an d h as been ? on e of t h e l ast w or d s on e h ear s bef or e t h ei r l i f e i s taken f r om t h em . Si m p ly p u t, th at w or d r ep r esen t s p u r e h atr ed .

W e al l m ake m i stakes, bu t th e tr u e m easu r e of a p er son ?s ch ar acter i s t h ei r w i l l i n gn ess t o ow n u p t o th ei r m i stakes an d ch an ge.

I ask t h at st u d en ts con si d er t h e i m p l i cat i on s an d h ar m f u l i m p acts t h at th e ?F? sl u r an d ot h er sl u r s al i ke.

T h ose w or d s ex i st on ly to h ar m . I ask ever y on e w h o car el essly an d t h ou gh t l essly u ses th at w or d t o m ake a m u ch - n eed ed ch an ge i n vocabu l ar y.

W h i l e y ou m ay n ot be u si n g sl u r s i n a w ay t h at y ou bel i eve to be d er ogat or y or of f en si ve, r em em ber w h at th ose w or d s r ep r esen t .

Pl ease ch oose t o be k i n d .

art by emma phillips

16

the norse star, december 2021

ot ph os

features

e it t bm su

- Wha t's Cooking a t SHS? d

by

i th t h e sch ed u l i n g season ap p r oach i n g, m an y st u d en ts ar e scr am bl i n g t o f i l l t h ei r d ay s w i th f u n , exci t i n g cl asses.

Fr om O r ch est r a t o Sp an i sh , t h er e ar e m an y cl ass op ti on s t o f i l l u p th e el ect i ve sp ot i n y ou r sch ed u l e.

One r equ i r ed cr ed i t f or gr ad u ati on i s a CT E cr ed i t, w h i ch stan d s f or car eer an d t ech n i cal ed u cat i on . T h i s m an d ator y cr ed i t i n cl u d es cl asses l i ke Fab L ab, w el d i n g, w ood w or k i n g, au to, an d , of cou r se, cu l i n ar y ar t s cl asses.

SH S cu r r en t ly of f er s t h r ee cu l i n ar y cl asses w i th a n ew cu l i n ar y cl ass com i n g i n th e f al l . T h e cu l i n ar y cl asses cu r r en t ly i n p l ace ar e Cu l i n ar y O n e, Cu l i n ar y T w o, an d W or l d Cu i si n e. A l l of th ese cl asses ar e t au gh t

by A m an d a O l sen , w h o i s cu r r en tly i n h er t h i r d y ear of teach i n g at SH S an d i s h ead of t h e Fam i ly an d Con su m er Sci en ce D ep ar tm en t .

Cu l i n ar y O n e i s th e m ost basi c cu l i n ar y cl ass of f er ed at SH S an d i s a sem ester l on g. T h i s cou r se i s op en t o h i gh sch ool st u d en ts i n al l gr ad es w i t h no ot h er cu l i n ar y ex p er i en ce n eed ed .

T w o cu r r en t cu l i n ar y st u d en t s, A u d r ey Szan j a an d Si er r a B er gm an , m ad e a cak e i n C u l i n ar y A r t s T w o.

Cu l i n ar y O n e begi n s w i th a u n i t on saf et y an d san i tati on i n t h e k i t ch en bu t qu i ck ly p i ck s u p . Som e st u d en t f avor i t e f ood s m ad e i n Cu l i n ar y O n e i n cl u d e p er son al p an p i zzas, the norse star, december 2021

h om em ad e m ac an d ch eese, an d v ar i ou s sou p s.

Basi c k i tch en sk i l l s su ch as saf et y, p r op er knife u sage, h ow to avoi d f ood p oi son i n g w h i l e cook i n g, an d m u ch m or e ar e al so tau gh t i n th i s cou r se.

Cu l i n ar y T w o i s th e n ex t cu l i n ar y cl ass of f er ed i f a stu d en t w an t s to con ti n u e tak i n g cu l i n ar y cl asses.

Cu l i n ar y One is a p r er equ i si t e i f a stu d en t w i sh es to take Cu l i n ar y T w o.

Cu l i n ar y cl asses ar e en joy ed by m an y stu d en ts, su ch as cu r r en t cu l i n ar y stu d en t , sen i or M ad d i e H ou sl ey. ?M y f avor i te cl ass th at I 've been i n i s Cu l i n ar y T w o [as i t] h as l ots of d i f f er en t r eci p es th at w e d o, f r om m ak i n g om el ettes to m ak i n g ou r ow n ch ocol ate,?

H ou sl ey say s th r ou gh em ai l .

D av i d St r acen er , a cu r r en t cu l i n ar y st u d en t , m ad e l ef se, a t r ad i t i o n al N o r w egi an so f t f l at b r ead , i n W o r l d C u i si n e.

Cu l i n ar y T w o bu i l d s on th e sk i l l s l ear n ed in Cu l i n ar y O n e an d goes i n t o th e sp eci f i c tech n i qu es f or h ow to cook w i th eggs, m eat, an d f i sh p r od u ct s.

St u d en t s i n th i s cou r se al so bake good s l i ke d ecor ated cakes, br ow n i es, br ead , ci n n am on r ol l s, an d m u ch m or e. T h ey even h ave occasi on al gu est sp eaker s, i n cl u d i n g a baker f r om Fosd al B aker y ear l i er th i s sch ool y ear .

A n ot h er cu l i n ar y cl ass of f er ed h er e i s W or l d Cu i si n e, a cou r se f ocu si n g on d i f f er en t f ood s f r om cu l t u r es ar ou n d th e w or l d .

W or l d Cu i si n e d oes n ot r equ i r e an y p r er equ i si tes an d i s op en to al l gr ad e l evel s.

It is al so a

sem est er - l on g cl ass. ?For W or l d Cu i si n e, w e r eal ly f ocu s on [...] a w or l d tou r ,? O l sen say s. ?Ju st tr avel i n g ar ou n d ever y m ajor con ti n en t , w e h i t at l east on e or tw o d i sti n ct cou n t r i es. T h e ch al l en ge i s, of cou r se, th e w or l d i s a bi g p l ace, so w e tr y to ch oose m ajor cou n t r i es an d r egi on s th at h ave a l ot of cu l tu r al p u l l an d i n t er est to f ocu s on .?

W or l d Cu i si n e cl asses ty p i cal ly cook on e or tw o r eci p es f r om each cou n t r y 's cu i si n e th at th ey f ocu s on f or th at w eek .

Som e ex am p l es of f ood m ad e i n W or l d Cu i si n e so f ar th i s y ear ar e l ef se an d tam p as sam p l er s.

W or l d Cu i si n e i s al so a stu d en t f avor i t e cl ass an d f i l l s u p r ap i d ly.

D u e to th e h i gh d em an d f or m or e bak i n g i n cu l i n ar y cl asses, O l sen d eci d ed to cr eate a n ew cl ass d ed i cat ed en ti r ely to bak i n g. T h er e i s som e bak i n g i n Cu l i n ar y A r ts T w o, bu t bak i n g i s n ot th e m ai n p r em i se of th e cl ass. ?I t?s a l i ttl e bi t of w h at w e d o i n Cu l i n ar y A r ts T w o, bu t w e?r e tak i n g i t even f u r th er ,? O l sen say s. ?[...]

W e?r e goi n g to d o m or e w i th br ead s, qu i ck br ead s, p i es, p astr i es, ch ocol ate, an d d esser t s l i ke m ak i n g h om em ad e i ce cr eam , a w h ol e n ew bu n ch of stu f f i n th at cl ass.? en o ls

W

da an am

B y M ad el i n e M o n t h i e Staff Writer

Sep t em ber 20 22.

Cu l i n ar y cl asses t ake p l ace i n r oom 110 , w h i ch i s equ i p p ed with si x i n d i v i d u al k i tch en st ati on s.

Each k i t ch en st ati on i n cl u d es a st ove with bu r n er s f or stu d en ts t o u se.

El sa M i si n i an d H ai l y L ei s, cu r r en t cu l i n ar y st u d en t s, m ad e a cak e i n C u l i n ar y A r ts T w o.

Cl ass si zes t y p i cal ly r an ge f r om 15 t o 25 st u d en ts an d ar e u su al ly d i v i d ed i n t o gr ou p s of si x f or cook i n g l abs, w h i ch u su al ly occu r a f ew ti m es a w eek . Cu l i n ar y cl asses avoi d t h e u se of sh el l f i sh an d p ean u t s i n l abs to be aw ar e of t h ose w i t h al l er gi es.

Ky l i e N el so n , a cu r r en t cu l i n ar y ar t s st u d en t , m ad e h o t ch o co l at e i n C u l i n ar y A r t s O n e.

A l ask a H aas m ad e a d eco r at ed cu p cak e i n C u l i n ar y A r t s O n e.

T h i s cl ass w i l l be a sem est er l on g an d i s op en f or an y on e i n an y gr ad e. N o oth er p r ev i ou s cu l i n ar y cl asses or ex p er i en ce i s r equ i r ed , an d i t i s op en f or stu d en ts to joi n in

?I f I cou l d get ever y si n gl e stu d en t at SH S th r ou gh at l east on e of m y cl asses f or on e sem ester , I th i n k th ey ?d al l be so m u ch better f or i t ,? O l sen say s. ?Even i f y ou ?r e t h e t y p e of stu d en t th at h as a car eer p at h i n m i n d , y ou k n ow, y ou w an t t o go t o t h at f ou r y ear col l ege an d get t h at d egr ee, y ou sti l l h ave t o eat.?

17

features

From Stoughton to the Big Stage B y Gab e Ro u sseau Sports Editor

I

m agi n e gr ad u ati n g f r om h i gh sch ool , p ack i n g y ou r bags, an d m ov i n g 2,0 0 0 m i l es acr oss th e cou n tr y to l i ve on y ou r ow n an d p u r su e y ou r d r eam s.

You m ay t h i n k t h at 's cr azy, bu t to on e 20 18 St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool gr ad u at e, th at i sn 't cr azy at al l . M eet Set h Ch ar l eston , a si n ger , son g w r i ter , an d p r od u cer l ocated i n L os A n gel es, Cal i f or n i a. H e h as r el eased an EP, m u l t i p l e si n gl es, an d h as w r i tten an d p r od u ced m u si c f or n u m er ou s ar t i st s i n th e Sou t h er n Cal i f or n i a ar ea. Fr om st r eet sh ow s i n M ad i son to t h e br i gh t l i gh t s of L os A n gel es, Ch ar l eston i s set to m ake h i s m ar k i n t h e m u si c i n d u st r y.

C h ar l est o n m ov ed t o L o s A n gel es i n 20 18 an d h as b een cr eat i n g m u si c t h er e ev er si n ce.

H ow ever , h e d i d n 't get t o th i s p oi n t over n i gh t.

Gr ow i n g u p , Ch ar l est on w as i n volved in v ar i ou s acti v i ti es an d h ad a l ove f or basebal l . W at ch i n g h i s ol d er si st er p er f or m i n ch oi r , p l ay s, m u si cal s, an d at th e PO PS con cer t s, m ad e h i m con si d er t ak i n g a p at h i n m u si c.

"L ook i n g u p t o w h at sh e w as d oi n g r eal ly i n sp i r ed t h e w h ol e l ove f or m u si c f or m e i n t h e f i r st p l ace," Ch ar l eston say s.

In seven t h gr ad e, Ch ar l eston got h i s f i r st gu i tar , an d with th e com bi n ati on of sel f t each i n g an d t ak i n g cl asses, h e qu i ck ly p r ogr essed an d st ar ted to f i n d h i s p assi on i n 18

cr eati n g an d p l ay i n g m u si c.

I n h i gh sch ool , h e w as i n volved i n p l ay s, m u si cal s, th e A cap el l a gr ou p D i ve I n , N or w egi an D an cer s, al on gsi d e i m p r ov i n g h i s cr af t i n h i s ow n m u si c i n h i s f r ee ti m e.

"I w as tr y i n g m y best to m ake f u l l u se of ever y t h i n g th at w as at m y f i n ger t i p s, an d i t m ad e f or a r eal ly good h i gh sch ool ex p er i en ce. W i th th e m u si c p r ogr am i n p ar t i cu l ar , I w ou l d n 't h ave f ou n d a l ove f or m u si c i n th e w ay I d i d i f i t w er en 't f or al l of th at," Ch ar l eston say s. "I t w as a bi g bl essi n g gr ow i n g u p h er e."

A s Ch ar l eston n ear ed th e en d of h i gh sch ool , h e h ad d eci si on s to m ake. H i s i n i ti al p l an w as to att en d a m u si c sch ool , bu t af ter som e th ou gh t , h e d eci d ed th at tu i ti on cost s an d oth er v ar i abl es w er e en ou gh to n ot m ake th e ju m p r i gh t aw ay. H ow ever , h e k n ew th at a car eer i n m u si c w as h i s cal l i n g. A f ter a tou r i n Sou th er n Cal i f or n i a f or N or w egi an D an cer s, Ch ar l eston saw p oten ti al f or a f u tu r e th er e.

"I th i n k th at tr i p r eal ly i n sp i r ed m e. I r em em ber w h en I [w en t] th er e, I w as l i ke, ?I w an t to l i ve h er e som ed ay,?an d so I en d ed u p com i n g to th at d eci si on p r et ty cl ose to th e en d of m y sen i or y ear . I w as l i ke, ´You k n ow w h at ? I ju st w an t to k i n d of m ake t h e l eap an d go f or i t '."

A f ter sp en d i n g th e su m m er af t er gr ad u ati on w or k i n g at Stou gh ton T r ai l er s an d p l ay i n g gi gs ever y w eeken d , i t w as ti m e to p ack h i s bags an d take th e l eap . O n Sep . 23, 20 18, h e p acked u p h i s car an d m ad e th e d r i ve to L os A n gel es.

"I d i d n 't k n ow a si n gl e p er son h er e. I h ad a cou p l e ver y v agu e con n ecti on s th r ou gh m y si st er , bu t asi d e f r om th at, I h ad n o job. I h ad n o con n ecti on s. I w as p r et ty m u ch f or ced to ju st star t f r om scr at ch ," h e say s.

In Au gu st 20 20 , Ch ar l eston w as abl e to

r el ease h i s f i r st EP "Stay T r u e," w h i ch con si st s of f ou r son gs. H i s son g "Take a Seat ," h e say s m ean t th e m ost to h i m . "[M ak i n g] i t w as a l ot of f u n becau se i t w as th e f i r st ti m e I 'd ever op en ed u p to col l abor ati on i n an y sen se," h e say s. ?I t r eal ly op en ed m y ey es to h ow m u ch better som eth i n g can be w h en y ou ar e w i l l i n g to p u t y ou r ego to th e si d e an d ju st op en y ou r sel f u p to w h at oth er p eop l e h ave to say."

photos submitted by seth charleston C h ar l est o n sm i l es t o t h e cr ow d b ef o r e a p er f o r m an ce.

H e bases h i s m u si c on h i s ow n ex p er i en ces an d ex p r esses h i s l i f e th r ou gh h i s m u si c.

"Ex p er i en ce i s d ef i n i tely at th e f or ef r on t of w h at I w r i t e abou t ju st becau se i t's r eal an d au th en ti c. I t's m or e d i f f i cu l t f or m e to w r i t e abou t th i n gs I d on 't f eel ," h e say s.

T h e jou r n ey h as been a con stan t l ear n i n g p r ocess.

"I t's a con si sten t gr ow i n g p r ocess.

L i ke, basi cal ly l ear n i n g h ow to l i ve, i n con ju n cti on w i th l ear n i n g h ow to f i n d m y sou n d [an d ] h ow I w an t to p r esen t m y br an d an d i m age. I t w as a l ot m or e d i f f i cu l t th an I cou l d h ave ever i m agi n ed . Bu t I r eal ly d o m ean i t w h en I say i t's th e best d eci si on I m ad e f or m e," Ch ar l eston say s.

Ch ar l eston d escr i bes h i s m u si c as i n d i e r ock an d al ter n ati ve r ock , bu t al so

h as som e p op r ock el em en ts to i t as w el l .

B ei n g a n ew ar t i st, n ot al l of th e d ay can be sp en t on m ak i n g an d p r od u ci n g m u si c. Ch ar l est on say s h e sp en d s th e m or n i n g an d ear ly af ter n oon m ak i n g m on ey an d sp en d s t h e even i n g ei th er w r i t i n g, p r od u ci n g, or p l ay i n g m u si c. A l on g w i t h h i s ow n m u si c, Ch ar l est on h el p s w r i t e an d p r od u ce f or var i ou s ar ti st s in th e Sou th er n Cal i f or n i a ar ea.

"I l ove w r i t i n g an d I l ove p r od u ci n g f or p eop l e," h e say s. "O n e of m y bi ggest str en gth s h as alw ay s been son gw r i ti n g."

In th e m ean t i m e, Ch ar l est on is cu r r en t ly w or k i n g on h i s secon d EP, w h i ch h e say s w i l l be com i n g ou t som eti m e ear ly n ex t y ear .

"W e'r e r eal ly f ocu si n g on ju st m ak i n g i t as t i gh t as p ossi bl e, with th e p r od u cti on an d ju st ever y el em en t of i t bei n g r eal ly sol i d . [I ?m ] l ook i n g t o p u sh i t to l abel s an d r ep s an d th i n gs l i ke t h at," h e say s.

"I 'm star ti n g t o w or k on bu i l d i n g a team ar ou n d m e.

I t's becom e ver y bl atan t ly obv i ou s to m e t h at y ou n eed a team ar ou n d y ou t o get to th e n ex t l evel ."

H e say s t h er e ar e bi gger p l an s ah ead .

"M y goal n ex t y ear i s t o star t tou r i n g. W h eth er t h at be r egi on al , l i ke SoCal , or even u p th e W est Coast."

Fr om th e sm al l 13,0 0 0 p er son p op u l ati on of Stou gh ton t o t h e n ear 4 m i l l i on p op u l ati on of L os A n gel es, Ch ar l est on 's d r i ve an d w or k eth i c ar e bou n d t o l et h i m stan d ou t n o m att er w h er e h e goes. Ch ar l est on n otes th at w h i l e a jou r n ey l i ke h i s m ay seem scar y t o som e, h e w ou l d n 't ch an ge a th i n g. H e of f er s som e f i n al w or d s to p eop l e l ook i n g t o take a l eap at t h ei r d r eam s, even i f i t m ay seem cr azy.

"I w an t t o em p ow er p eop l e to f i n d w h at t h ey en joy i n l i f e an d t r y t o bu i l d th ei r l i f e ar ou n d t h at. I f t h e i tch i s th at bad , d on 't i gn or e i t, go f or i t!" the norse star, december 2021

features

SHS Goes International I

n Au gu st of t h i s y ear , f ou r y ou n g p eop l e al l m ad e t h ei r w ay t o Stou gh t on , W i sc. to p ar t i ci p at e i n a f or ei gn exch an ge p r ogr am .

L ast y ear , due to CO V I D - 19, f or ei gn exch an ge st u d en t s w er e n ot p er m i tted t o com e t o th e U n i ted Stat es, bu t t h i s y ear , t h ey ?r e back .

H ai l i n g f r om t h e m i d d l e of Fr an ce, i n t h e sm al l tow n of H au t e- L or i , ju n i or Casti l l e Gr at as say s h er ex p er i en ce i n St ou gh t on h as been m u ch d i f f er en t f r om h er u p br i n gi n g. ?I n Fr an ce, y ou can ?t ch oose. You h ave gen er al cl asses l i ke m at h an d Fr en ch ? i t?s an obl i gat i on . H er e y ou can ch oose y ou r cl asses, so th i s i s ver y d i f f er en t ,?

Gr atas say s.

D esp i t e t h e d i f f er en ces i n cu l tu r e, Gr at as h ead ed i n to th e p r ogr am w i t h goal s f or h er sel f . ?I d eci d ed [t o joi n th e p r ogr am t o] l ear n En gl i sh an d f or th e A m er i can ex p er i en ce,? Gr atas say s. ?[I w an t to] sp eak En gl i sh an d gai n m at u r i t y an d be i n d ep en d en t an d en joy m y t i m e h er e.?

T he i m p act Gr atas ex p ects th e p r ogr am t o h ave on h er i s tr em en d ou s. ?I ?m goi n g t o be m or e i n d ep en d en t becau se I ?m l i v i n g aw ay f r om m y f am i ly an d m y f r i en d s an d m y l i f e,?

Gr atas say s. ?I h ave a n ew l i f e.?

Gr at as (r i gh t) an d Ky an n a W i l l i am so n p o se t o get h er b ef o r e t h e h o m eco m i n g d an ce t h i s y ear . photo sub mitted b y ca stille g ra ta s

the norse star, december 2021

B y D el an ey Gau t h i er News & Opinions Editor W i th th at n ew life y ou r f am i ly. You h ave to com es n ew ex p er i en ces. p ay f or th i n gs y ou r sel f an d ?I r em em ber m y f i r st take car e of y ou r sel f , f ootbal l gam e i n M ad i son . I t becau se th e p eop l e y ou ?r e w as ver y h u ge, an d I w as l i v i n g w i th ar en ?t y ou r ver y am azed by ever y th i n g,? p ar en ts. [...] You car e abou t Gr atas say s. th em , bu t i t?s n ot th e sam e,?

O f cou r se, w i t h a n ew Can al N ú ñ ez say s. l i f e com es ch an ge, as w el l .

Ju n i or T i m H aji cek i s a ?[Ever y t h i n g h as f or ei gn exch an ge stu d en t ch an ged ] becau se I d on ?t f r om Pi e??an y, Sl ov ak i a. h ave th e sam e f r i en d s, sam e H aji cek say s th at on e of h i s p ar en ts, th e sam e sch ool , d r eam s w as to v i si t A m er i ca. sam e cl asses, or th e sam e ?You alw ay s see i t i n l an gu age. [T h er e?s been ] a m ov i es an d stu f f , an d i t l ot of bi g ch an ges,? Gr at as l ook s su p er cool . I t w as say s. r eal ly r an d om becau se w e Cl ar a Can al N ú ñ ez, w er e i n sch ool an d CO V I D sen i or an d exch an ge stu d en t w as th er e, an d m y f r i en d f r om L éon , Sp ai n , say s th at sai d h e w an ted to go to com i n g to A m er i ca h as A m er i ca, an d I sai d I w ou l d been a goal of h er s f or l i ke to go, too. I cam e to th e al m ost f ou r y ear s. con cl u si on th at I ju st w an t ?I n n i n th gr ad e, I w en t to see h ow p eop l e l i ve, y ou r to L on d on f or a w eek [...] I tr ad i ti on s an d stu f f , h ow u sed to be r eal ly scar ed of y ou r or d i n ar y l i ves l ook ,? goi n g ou t an d bei n g H aji cek say s. ?I w ou l d say r esp on si bl e f or m y sel f . I th at th e ar ch i tect u r e, th e d i d n ?t k n ow I cou l d d o i t. I r oad s, h ou ses, an d sch ool s w as k i n d of scar ed , bu t i t [ar e d i f f er en t]. [St ou gh ton ] w as on ly a w eek , an d i s h al f of ou r tow n si ze, an d L on d on w as r eal ly cool . I y ou get f ast f ood . W e d on ?t d i d a l ot of th i n gs, an d th en h ave M cD on al d ?s i n ou r I w as l i ke, ?I l i ke En gl i sh . I ci t y.? sh ou l d d o th i s m or e, I T h ou gh H aji cek is sh ou l d go [t o] m or e p l aces,?? gr atef u l f or th e n ew Can al N ú ñ ez say s. ?I w as op p or t u n i ti es af f or d ed to tal k i n g on e d ay w i th m y h i m i n th e U n i ted States, best f r i en d , an d w e w er e bei n g a f or ei gn exch an ge th i n k i n g abou t [...] goi n g to stu d en t d oesn ?t com e th e U n i t ed St at es.? w i th ou t i ts d r aw back s.

O n e of Can al N ú ñ ez?s ?I t?s a bi g ch an ge f or m e. f avor i te m om en t s f r om h er You go to a f or ei gn cou n t r y ti m e i n W i scon si n h as been f or [...] ten m on t h s. You h er tr i p to M i lw au kee to see h ave n o p h y si cal i n t er acti on H ar r y St y l es i n con cer t i n w i th y ou r f am i ly. You can O ct ober . on ly see th em th r ou gh a "I actu al ly w en t to th at. I v i d eo ch at, y ou can ?t even saw H ar r y St y l es. W e w er e see th em ,? H aji cek say s. i n th e sam e r oom ,? Can al T h ou gh th er e ar e tr i al s N ú ñ ez say s. ?I d i d n ?t h ave an d tr i bu l ati on s th at com e th at op ti on in Sp ai n , w i th bei n g an exch an ge becau se he on ly d oes stu d en t, th er e?s p l en ty of con cer ts i n l i ke tw o p l aces. ad van tages, too.

O n e of th em i s l i ke f ou r an d ?I r eal ly l i ke f ootbal l . I t?s a h al f h ou r s aw ay, an d th e on e of th e th i n gs y ou see i n ot h er on e i s l i ke ten .? m ov i es an d stu f f . [B ack N ew, exci ti n g h om e] n obod y w atch es ex p er i en ces asi d e, Can al A m er i can f ootbal l , becau se N ú ñ ez say s th at th i s soccer i s f ootbal l . I al so l i ke p r ogr am h as al so gi ven h er h ockey, an d I al so l i ked th e th e op p or tu n i t y to becom e cl asses. I l i ke th e i d ea th at i n d ep en d en t . w e can ch oose ou r cl asses. ?I ?m m or e m at u r e. You [I n Pi e??an y ] w e can n ot n eed to be m at u r e to be ch oose ou r cl asses ? th ey ?r e h er e.

You n eed to ju st gi ven to u s,? H aji cek u n d er st an d h ow to take car e say s. of y ou r sel f . Even th ou gh Ju n i or Ch ar l otte M u n k , y ou ?r e w i t h a f am i ly, i t?s n ot an exch an ge stu d en t f r om

photo sub mitted b y cla ra ca na l núñez C an al N ú ñ ez (f ar l ef t) an d so m e f r i en d s at t h e H ar r y St y l es co n cer t i n M i l w au k ee i n O ct o b er .

N eck ar stei n ach , Ger m an y, say s th at com i n g t o A m er i ca h as p r ov i d ed h er w i t h som e br an d - n ew ex p er i en ces. ?H om ecom i n g w i t h m y h ost si ster an d f r i en d s w as a m em or abl e even t becau se we d on ?t cel ebr at e H om ecom i n g i n Ger m an y. I al so r eal ly l i ked [m y h ost f am i ly ?s] tr i p t o D u l u th an d Ch i cago,? M u n k say s. ?[Eat i n g Ch i cago p i zza] w as a n ew ex p er i en ce becau se th e p i zza i s ver y d i f f er en t.?

Si m i l ar t o t h e ot h er exch an ge st u d en ts, on e of M u n k ?s goal s f or h er t i m e i n Stou gh ton i s t o i m p r ove h er En gl i sh . ?[I w an t t o] h ave a u n i qu e ex p er i en ce, t o get over m y sh y n ess an d ju st sp eak En gl i sh . I t can be h ar d som eti m es, esp eci al ly w h en y ou d on ?t k n ow a w or d y ou n eed ," M u n k say s.

Even th ou gh bei n g an exch an ge st u d en t com es w i th ch al l en ges, M u n k say s i t?s an ex p er i en ce sh e?s th an k f u l f or . ?I w ou l d say I am ver y gr atef u l [t o h ave] th e op p or t u n i ty to do an exch an ge y ear , h av i n g su ch a gr eat h ost f am i ly, an d t h at SH S al l ow ed u s exch an ge stu d en ts to com e t h i s y ear ,?

M u n k say s.

I t?s cl ear , n ot ju st t o M u n k , bu t t o t h e ot h er exch an ge st u d en ts as w el l , th at th ei r t i m e i n St ou gh ton h as p ai d of f . ?I n ow h ave m or e p eop l e I k n ow [...] an d m y En gl i sh h as i m p r oved i n t h e l ast m on th s,? M u n k say s. ?I th i n k i t?s obv i ou s m y l i f e h as ch an ged i n d i f f er en t , bu t on ly good , w ay s.?

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features

A PEP In Your Step s we w atch ed a p an d em i c w or sen th e h ar d sh i p s of f am i l i es acr oss t h e gl obe, i t becam e cl ear t h at even t h e sm al l est assi stan ce cou l d be i n cr ed i bly h el p f u l i n th e l i ves of ou r f r i en d s an d n ei gh bor s. A s t h e h ar sh w i n ter m on t h s d r aw n ear , t h ese r esou r ces ar e even m or e val u abl e. For t u n ately f or Stou gh ton r esi d en t s i n n eed , th e Per son al Essen ti al s Pan t r y, l ocat ed d ow n tow n , i s w or k i n g to al l ev i ate th e f i n an ci al st r ess f r om CO V I D - 19, as w el l as p r ov i d e gen er al assi st an ce t h r ou gh ou t th e f am i l i ar u r gen cy of t h e season . ?I n 20 11, Past or Jef f L ovel l [...] f or m ed th e Per son al Essen ti al s Pan tr y f or th e Stou gh ton com m u n i t y. I t w as cr eat ed u n d er th e au sp i ces of PEPar tn er sh i p A l l i an ce I n c, of M ad i son , a n on - p r of i t [...] or gan i zati on ,? say s Sh ar on Boer sm a, th e p an tr y ?s l ead i n g or gan i zer .

For m an y f am i l i es, th e W i scon si n Food Sh ar e Pr ogr am i s abl e t o ease st r u ggl es w h en i t com es to p r ocu r i n g en ou gh t o eat.

U n f or tu n at ely, th i s or gan i zati on d oes n ot p r ov i d e n on - f ood h ou seh ol d i t em s f or f am i l i es i n n eed . ?W e ar e abl e t o h el p su p p l em en t t h ose i t em s f or avai l abi l i ty,?

B oer sm a ex p l ai n s.

T h e PEP of f er s a r an ge of i tem s, i n cl u d i n g, bu t n ot l i m i ted t o, cl ean i n g su p p l i es, p ap er p r od u cts, an d toi l etr i es. A t eam of vol u n teer s w or k s to d i st r i bu te t h ese i t em s.

M ar ci e Ross, a vol u n teer at th e p an t r y, say s t h at on t h ese d ay s, ?T h er e ar e a t otal of th r ee p eop l e t h er e f or each tw o h ou r sh i f t.?

Vol u n t eer i n g can be a gr eat ex p er i en ce f or al l ages. ?I t i s a n i ce w ay t o gi ve back t o th e com m u n i t y,? Ross say s, ?an d t h e vol u n teer s w or k w el l as a t eam .?

In ad d i t i on to vol u n teer s, t h er e ar e sever al ot h er m em ber s of th e or gan i zati on t h at w or k beh i n d th e scen es, sh op p i n g, at t en d i n g

A

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B y L au r a Per r y Freelance Writer

photos b y isa b ella lippi A co l o r f u l co m m u n i t y m u r al i s v i si b l e o u t si d e t h e p an t r y.

Si gn s ar e p o st ed o n t h e PEP w i n d ow .

T h e PEP i s l o cat ed o n M ai n St r eet .

m eeti n gs, t ak i n g p h on e cal l s/ assi sti n g cl i en ts, an d en ter i n g d at a.

For f am i l i es t h at ar e i n t er ested in r ecei v i n g ser v i ces f r om t h e p an t r y, i t i s as easy as a p h on e cal l t o m ake an ap p oi n tm en t .

Ad d i ti on al ly, d i str i bu t i on of good s occu r s f r om 1- 5 p .m . d u r i n g th e f i r st an d t h i r d T h u r sd ay of t h e m on th .

T h an k s to gr an t s, f u n d i n g, an d d on ati on s f r om l ocal bu si n esses, cl u bs, ch u r ch es, an d i n d i v i d u al s i n th e com m u n i t y, t h e PEP h as m ad e an en or m ou s i m p act on Stou gh t on f am i l i es during th e CO V I D - 19 p an d em i c. ?Fr om D ec. 20 20 t o D ec.

20 21, PEP w as i n str u m en t al i n p r ov i d i n g 1,482 ap p oi n t m en t s t o i t s cu stom er s. W e ser ve [an ] aver age of 40 h ou seh ol d s each m on th an d an t i ci p ate th i s n u m ber w i l l i n cr ease d u e to h i gh er h ou seh ol d ex p en ses th at ar e p r ed i ct ed f or th e u p com i n g w i n t er m on th s an d f r om w h at w e ar e seei n g [p r esen t ly ],?

B oer sm a say s.

T h i s bei n g sai d , t h e p an tr y i s alw ay s l ook i n g f or vol u n teer s t o i n cr ease t h e am ou n t of assi st an ce t h ey can p r ov i d e to th e com m u n i ty.

Ross r ecom m en d s t h at st u d en ts who ar e i n t er est ed in vol u n teer i n g, w h et h er i t be at th e PEP or el sew h er e i n th e ar ea, t ake t h ose op p or t u n i ti es soon er r at h er th an l ater . ?For m e, each t i m e I p u t i t of f , I th en r egr et t ed n ot d oi n g i t soon er . D on 't be af r ai d to ask in th e com m u n i ty i f p l aces n eed vol u n teer s,? Ross say s.

Scan t h i s Q R co d e t o v i si t p ep st o u gh t o n .o r g. the norse star, december 2021