Cover designed by Hollyn Griffin Photo provided by VectorShock
TAble of Contents
Mr. Hallmark’s “Milky Way Christmas”
2-3: Table of Contents & Letter From the staff 4-5: Student Aides 6-7: Home of the Brave
8-9: s-t-u-p-e-n-d-o-u-s spellers, $5,000 on the line & Excellent Electives 10-11: Shooting for Success, Shoutout A-M-S & Leave it All on the Mat 12-13: Tackling the World & Head in the Game 14-15: Feelin’ Frosty & Beyond the Stress 16-17: All Wrapped Up & Helpful Elves 18-19: Holly Holidays 20-21:Holly, Jolly Holiday
Mrs. Haydon’s “Christmas Jokes”
Mrs. Couvillion’s “Hot Chocolate”
22-23:Around the Globe 24-25:Toy Workshop 26-27:The Start of Something New 28: Around the Town
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Letter From the Staff
The Office’s “Schoolville”
Welcome to winter, Trojans! We are ecstatic to release our second edition to you for this upcoming holiday season. Thank you so much to everyone for helping us with interviews, photos and polls. Our two new Staff Editors, Karsyn Baty and Nathan Rosen, have been working with all of our writers to produce a fantastic edition for you all to read. From Student Aides to academics to everything holiday, all of the hot topics about AMS and the holiday season have been covered in this edition. You can find the most recent edition of the Trojan Times in your ELA classrooms starting on Friday, December 15. You can pick up and take home a newspaper by Mrs. Winegar’s room on the last day before break. We hope you enjoy this edition of the Trojan Times and have a wonderful holiday break! -The Trojan Times Staff
Andover Middle School
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Mrs. Riedy’s “Smart Cookies”
Mrs. Casady and Mr. Potucek’s “Gingerbread House”
Ms. Haggard’s “You’re a MEAN one, Mr. Grinch”
Andover Middle School
Mrs. Rogers’ “Buff Santa”
Mr. Garrison’s “Chillin in Science”
Mr. Oyler’s “We are Yeti for Christmas”
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Ms. Johnson’s “Cactus Christmas”
Mrs. Anderson’s “Together, we can do Anything”
Mr. Murray’s “Sleigh All Day Santa Baller”
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Above and Beyond
By Hollyn Griffin and Baylee Castleberry, Staff Writers
There are several different ways to get involved as a student aide here at AMS. The student aide positions include helping in the office, library, FAA, math, science, and P.E. classrooms. Each aide position offers unique responsibilities and opportunities for students to give back to AMS. Aide positions provide an extra hand whether teachers need help grading papers, running errands around the school, or planning and prepping. Each aide went through a diligent process to apply for the aide position. They all were hand-chosen because they were the best fit for the job. AMS is very privileged to have some outstanding helpers to get the job done. Continue reading to learn more about AMS student aide positions.
Active aide Jax Hunt is involved within school by being a P.E. aide. Being a P.E. aide means interacting with the other grades, setting up games, and on the plus side, getting to play all of the games. Hunt is a first hour PE aide with 7th and 8th graders and he loves coming to school to go straight to the gym. “I chose to be a P.E. aide because I wanted to help people in P.E.,” said Hunt.
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Divide and Conquer Math aide Henry Nigh, 8, works hard in the classroom. He loves helping students solve equations and he gets to interact with other students. Mrs. Robin Anderson appreciates all of the help that Nigh gives. No matter what task is thrown at him he completes it. Nigh is a hard working student with a passion for math. As a math aide Nigh gets to help the teachers and helps students with their daily assignments. Photos by Baylee Castleberry
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“I chose to be a library aide because I just wanted to help out.” Being a library aide means helping students find books they will enjoy reading, keeping the library in tip-top shape, and helping Mrs. Hobbs and Mrs. Carney with whatever tasks need completed. Mrs. Hobbs said, “The aides give us so much help when everyday their role as an aide changes.”
Elliot Hugh es
Photos by Baylee Castleberry
Andover Middle School
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Kara Eid
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Always there, always care Always right by your side. FAA Aide Kara Eidson is a helpful and caring student. “My favorite part about being an FAA aide is helping out the kids,” said Eidson. Being an FAA aide requires a lot of patience and Eidson never fails to execute. Eidson sets out task boxes for the students to do and also helps them do it. She is there every day ready to help the kids around her and is excited to be a part of these kids' lives. Photos by Baylee Castleberry
Avery Allum s
Chemically Awesome
Helping out the 6th graders, Avery Allums, 8, is always ready to take on a new challenge. As a science aide, students are able to help out with day to day work and fun activities such as experiments and labs. Mrs. Andrea Friend enjoys Allum’s help around the classroom with her encouraging and kind personality.
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Photos by Baylee Castleberry
Smiling Faces
“Andover Middle School, student aide Nazi speaking, how can I help you?” Nazi Akhavan, 8, is a major help in the office during her hour of office aide. The office staff appreciates how passionate and determined Akhavan is. Some of Akhavan’s daily tasks include signing people into the building, answering the phone, and running deliveries to different classrooms. Akhavan completes all of her responsibilities with dedication and hard work. “My favorite part about being an office aide is helping around the office,” shared Akhavan. Photos by Baylee Castleberry
Andover Middle School
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Home of the Brave
By Beatrice Matthews and Stella McAllister, Staff Writers
“Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared to death,” -General Omar Bradley. On the 11th day of the 11th month, at the 11th hour, take a moment of silence. At that moment in 1918, The Great War had officially ended. By taking that moment of silence, we honor those who lost their lives in WWI. While November 11th had originally been called Armistice Day in the U.S., we now know it as Veterans Day. The most important part of celebrating this holiday is to commemorate veterans for their sacrifices. AMS did several things to celebrate our veterans. Leading up to the day, every eighth grader completed a Salute to Service Project in their social studies class. “Salute to Service Project is a student choice project on various aspects of American History and military service. Students can interview veterans, research battles, branches of the military, military heroes, veteran memorials, veteran charitable organizations, etc. Students then create a project that best tells the story,” said Mrs. Kelly Helmer, 8th grade AMS social studies teacher. These projects were to honor veterans, and four weeks were given to complete them. Some common projects students completed were interviews with a veteran, a painting, or an informational game; however, huge amounts of creativity were shown when both choosing a project and with creating it. “I would say the most unique was a hand-sewn flag that had the 6 branches represented instead of stars,” commented Ms. Sarah Johnson. “My Salute to Service project was on war dogs, specifically four. Smokey, Sinbag, Sargent, and Chips,” said Daniela Blanco, 8. In addition, the student body was able to show their pride during the week of Veterans Day by participating in different themed days such as camo and American pride day. This was to honor and show respect towards veterans. In other AMS spirit weeks students are encouraged to go all out, this time it was kept simple and respectful. “I dressed up for camo day in order to show my support for veterans,” said Miles Zuercher, 8. Since Veterans Day landed on a Saturday this year, AMS hosted a Veterans day breakfast and assembly on Friday, November 10th. Veterans who were related to an AMS student were honored at both the breakfast and the assembly. During the assembly, AMS boy scouts performed a flag presentation ceremony, the AMS choir sang the “Star Spangled Banner,” and 8th grade StuCo representative Grace Ricke explained what the meaning of Veteran’s Day with a wonderful speech. “I feel like the speech was worth it and it helped all of us relate to veterans, while it was a little scary,” said Ricke, 8. A Veteran’s Day tradition, the Table of the Missing Man, was set during the assembly. According to warmemorialcenter.org in this tradition each item on the table represents something for those who didn’t return home. Former Andover High School graduate, Ryan Zsido, zoomed in from his home in South Carolina and offered words of wisdom for AMS students and veterans alike. He spoke about how he will always rise to the challenge and about having grit, which anyone can accomplish. At the conclusion of the assembly, the band played an arrangement that included all the branches of the military and Mr. Raehpour performed “Taps” in remembrance of all who served. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” -John F. Kennedy.
1 Photo by Beatrice Matthews
Andover Middle School
2 Photo by Allizabeth Eichman
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Photo by Allizabeth Eichman
Photo by Allizabeth Eichman
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1. A salute to service project is displayed in the library, the bold words showing our honor towards Veterans. 2. Proudly bearing the American flag, Henry Peters, 6 marches down the gym in his uniform to complete the Veterans day flag ceremony. 3. Putting their hands together after an inspiring speech, members of the AMS 8th grade band, Addyson Green, 8 and Beckett Wilson, 8 can’t wait to perform for their school. 4. During the Veterans day assembly the Missing Man table was assembled by AMS students in the gym, to remember those lost in service to the country.
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What does Bravery mean to you? “It means to do stuff without fear.” eling “That when I’m fe feel a Aylin Ioerger, 7 scared I can also little braver.” l, 7 -Journey Kimbal
“Bravery means to be that you’d do anything for anyone if it’s the right thing.” -Rebekah Hackett, 8
“Being confident.” -Natalie Bryant, 6
“Sacrificing yourself and doing the right thing.” -Dotsie Foster, 8
“Being able to do something that you’re scared of.” Gavin Gantz, 7
“Sacrificing your life for someone else.” -Benjamin Walker, 8
an Interview with An AMS Veteran
Photo provided by Ms. Sally Renoux
Ms. Renoux
What was your job? When I first joined I did Payroll and Accounting with the Finance Corp. I also spent 2 years as a Drill Instructor. Toward the end of my 20 years, I moved to the Inspector General Office and was in charge of Quality Assurance which involved traveling around to inspect offices to check that they were doing their jobs correctly. What branch did you serve in? When I first joined I was in the Women's Army Corp - the branch they stuck females in because we were not allowed to join the Army. The WAC was disbanded in 1978 and all members were automatically transferred to the US Army. Why did you decide to serve? I graduated from high school and knew I wanted to be a teacher but I did not know how I was going to pay for college. The military was a good route for college funds so I joined. I wanted to join the Air Force but they had an 8-month wait so I joined the Army instead. How can we honor veterans? The best way people can honor veterans is to VOTE for government representatives who will take care of soldiers, both while they are serving and even more importantly when they are deployed to combat and return from combat. As adolescents, AMS students can't vote YET so I would say the best way for you to honor vets is to learn about the government and be prepared to VOTE when you turn 18.
Mr. Potucek
What was your job? "Infantry ParaTrooper." What branch were you in? "The Army." Why did you decide to join? "The event of 9/11." What did you miss about civilian life? "Being around my family." How can we honor veterans? "Maybe volunteering with a veteran organization or simply saying thank you."
Andover Middle School
How can you honor Veterans? “I’d thank them for their service and ask them where they served.” -Mia Rochester, 6 “You can thank them for their service when you see them and treat our country with respect.” -Miya Kimball, 8 Photo provided by Mr. Daniel Potucek
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s-t-u-p-e-n-d-o-u-s spellers By Emily Hatfield, Staff Writer
Intelligence is key when it comes to the spelling bee. Preparing for this consists of practicing and having dedication to do so. With a packet of various words, the AMS students who qualified for the bee were able to study for an advantage. On November 13, 16, and 29th, the participants worked very hard at practice in Ms. Anna Mitchell’s room to prepare. Scripps National Spelling Bee explains the history of this tough competition, “The National Spelling Bee began in 1925 when nine newspapers joined together to host a spelling bee. Little did they know that almost a century later their literacy effort would reach millions of students each year.” The order of the Spelling Bee goes: school, county, state, then nationals. The National Spelling Bee will be held from May 30 to June 1 at National Harbor, Maryland. The national winner will be awarded $50,000. A total of 15 students participated in this competition, but only 1 passed the test. Every student worked diligently to prepare for this bee so they could crush it. Studying for the Spelling Bee can be hard, but these students were up to the challenge. Advice can always come in handy when you are excited or even nervous about an activity. Willing to give advice, Tyler Veatch, 7, helped all participants out with the words, “Try your best no matter what.” Some words can be difficult to spell, but the Spelling Bee members had no trouble whatsoever. To illustrate, the word Christmas is a difficult term to either say or spell to Garrison Delk, 7. The longest word stated in this bee was retinitis pigmentosa. Winning is only the beginning; the next step is the county spelling bee. Carey Chesire, 8 was a student who made the cut, spelling the word calamitous. Keeping it close, Stella McAllister, 7, and Nathan Rosen, 8, were the students right beside the winner. In the end, everyone who participated in the Spelling Bee made history in our hearts. Photos by Beatrice Matthews
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$5,000 on the line
1. Nathan Rosen, 8, stands at the podium during the spelling bee, halfway through spelling a word as the camera clicks. 2. Daniela Blanco, 8 listens to Ms. Anna Mitchell’s advice for her podcast on Theodore Roosevelt. 3. The camera focuses in on the spelling bee participants, anxiously waiting for their turn to prove their spectacular spelling skills. 4. Deuce Watson, 8, interviews Emily Wallace, 8, for his advanced language arts podcast.
By Beatrice Matthews, Staff Writer
Did you know that according to geektime.com, the average podcaster makes around five hundred to nine hundred dollars an episode? However, an above-average student can make five thousand dollars for a single episode. National Public Radio (NPR) hosts an annual podcast competition for middle and high school students with a five thousand dollar prize. Students enter a five to eight-minute-long podcast on their own or with a partner. They’re encouraged to add sound effects, interviews, and other elements to draw the listener in. Students from Ms. Anna Mitchell and Mr. Caleb Thornton’s ELA classes entered the competition, along with over forty thousand students from all across the country. “I decided to have my students enter the competition because I feel they need a challenge and an audience bigger than AMS,” said Ms. Mitchell. Listing the skills students will learn from this competition, Mr. Thornton explained, “I believe that the NPR (Student Podcast Competition) provides students with immediately applicable multimodal skills to make use of in the world outside of the school building. By engaging in a combination of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic work, students are getting the opportunity to tap into a variety of learningconducive methods for effective, contemporary communication--a valuable skill to have!” Choosing a relevant topic is important to interest the target audience of fellow students, and that’s exactly what NPR is looking for when picking a winner. Past winner’s topics have been relatable and prompting change for the better. A day was devoted to brainstorming topics. “I am doing a podcast on how music benefits students,” said James Davis, 8. Win or lose, five thousand dollars, five hundred, or none at all, creating a podcast is a valuable way to learn writing, researching, and creativity skills. So sit back, press play, and enjoy!
Andover Middle School
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Excellent Electives
By Beatrice Matthews and Emily Hatfield, Staff Writers Robotics & Engineering: Design and Modeling
Teen Leadership
Offered by Ms. Karen Brown, Teen leadership is a class where speaking comes in handy. You will host presentations in front of your class for a grade to excel your level of speaking. This class teaches you the basics of public speaking, or taking a leadership role in your class. Either way, you will have a great time learning and bonding with friends.
Both classes are taught by are taught by Mr. Kurtis Boughton. In robotics sixth graders will learn to design and program a robot to complete challenges for them. In Engineering: Design and Modeling your engineering skills will be put to the test, completing many projects including 3D puzzles. What’s your favorite thing about Robotics? “Getting to build robots.” - Rowan Muether, 6
What’s your favorite thing about Teen leadership? “Move Mondays.” -Sophia Muniz, 7
FACS
Medical Detectives
Taught by Mr. Keegan Hallmark, in Medical Detectives you’ll spend a quarter learning the basics of anatomy and physiology. Bones, muscles, nerves, and more! The next quarter will focus on hands-on sports medicine and you’ll take on the role of crime scene detectives for the last few weeks.
In FACS you’ll learn the basics of cooking, sewing, and caring for yourself. This class is either a semester for the seventh and eighth graders, or a quarter for the sixth graders and is taught by Ms. Sally Renoux. Sew a bag, bake a cake, this class is a class you should definitely take!
What’s your favorite thing about FACS? “Getting to make drawstring bags.” - Evelyn Jolly, 7
What’s your favorite thing about Medical Detectives? “It’s a really fun class and you get to do a bunch of experiments.” - Karam Abusaleh, 7
CASE
Computer Applications
Excelled by Mr. Doug Frahm, CASE is a unique class that will teach you many things. Involving nano, short for nanotechnology, students are learning how to build things with this. They are studying how you can use nano to produce structures and objects.
This semester's class for seventh and eighth graders is provided by Mr. Kurtis Boughton. You’ll learn how to use Microsoft Applications, such as PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, and more. If you like learning about Microsoft, you’re sure to excel.
What’s your favorite thing about Computer Applications? “I like learning about the different applications.” - Nyomi Armbrister, 8
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What’s your favorite thing about CASE? “You work with new people every assignment.” - Scout Ruland, 7 1. Jordyn Johnston, 6, tests her robot out on the ground during her robotics class working to complete their latest challenge. 2. Focused in on his task, Connor Shippy, 7, paints a block in Engineering: design and modeling almost ready to put all the pieces together to make a puzzle.. 3. Saran Saravanan, 6, works to build a robot specially designed to complete a task, code is just half of the challenge. All photos by Emily Hatfield
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Shooting for Success By Hollyn Griffin and Ady Armstrong, Staff Writers
Sirine Lahmadi, 8, dribbles down the court to shoot for the Trojans.
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1. Going up strong, Taylor Blackburn, 8, shoots a layup with the crowd cheering her on. 2. With the flick of a wrist, Peyton Ayesh, 7, shoots a jump shot from the outside of the paint. 3. Flipping into the next quarter, Amerie Williams, 8, shows pride for AMS by tumbling during their quarter performance.
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Dribble it, pass it, get that ball in the basket. The Lady Trojans thrived during their basketball season. The 8th grade A basketball team went 4-6 while the 8th grade B team's record is 3-7. Both grades have done great, with the 7th grade A team’s record 7-3, and the 7th grade B team ended the season with 9-1. The 7th grade B team performed astoundingly at their tournament on November 9th. They played two games and won both. The team took home the title of tournament champions. This title was earned through hard work and effort. “I felt victorious after winning the tournament,” said Julia Taylor, 7. While there were many exciting games throughout the season, Piper Page, 8, loved playing against, “Eisenhower.” “Playing against Salina Lakewood was fun,” replied Blair Hollenbeck, 7. During basketball season, many of the players make great memories. “My favorite memory of the season was the bus rides,” declared Karli Tilson, 7. Both grades had great success showing teamwork during basketball. Cheers to the Lady Trojans for a tremendous season.
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Tumbling into the season, the Trojan cheer squad was ready to cheer loud and proud. The cheerleaders worked hard during the Lady Trojans basketball season to show their spirit for AMS. “My favorite cheer is L-E-T-S G-O let’s go,” said Samantha Vermeer, 7. During the basketball season, the Trojan cheer squad performed on the court during timeouts and between quarters to excite the crowd. “My favorite part about performing during time-outs was watching the crowd participate in the cheers,” replied Adalyn Littlefield, 8. From cheers, chants, and stunts, the Trojan cheerleaders are passionate about the basketball season.
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Leave it all on the mat By Hollyn Griffin and Ady Armstrong, Staff Writers Hustle and tussle, Trojans. Dedicated, the Trojan wrestling team had a great season. Finding a way to win each match was the name of the game for the Trojans. They put in the work to become the best athletes they could be. “If you put in the work, put in the time, put in the effort, you’re going to reap the benefits.” - Richard Sherman In the WSL league tournament on December 9th, AMS came in 3rd place. The tournament took place at Salina Lakewood Middle School. “The best part about the tournament was winning,” replied Dresden Beard, 8. “My favorite memory from the tournament was beating my opponents,” said Austin Wright, 7. AMS wrestlers are in it to win it, when playing Eisenhower they did great with AMS winning 67 matches and Eisenhower winning 30. With success comes difficulty. “The toughest team to play against was Derby,” said Tino Pena, 7. Wrestling is a mental sport. You have to be mentally tough to compete on the mat, but the Trojan wrestlers overcame hardships and the wrestling season was a smashing success.
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1. Wanting to win, Will Kice, 8, battles on the mat. 2. Staring down his opponent, Brayden Moutray, 8, thinks about how he will pin the other wrestler. 3. Taking down his opponent, Nolan Hull, 8, is in control of his match. 4. Showing sportsmanship, Korbyn Dean, 7, wants to shake hands with his opponent after his match.
Andover Middle School
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Page 11
Tackling the World
By Nathan Rosen, Staff Editor, and Baylee Castleberry, Staff Writer Sunday, Monday and Thursday nights have been some of the best of the year. The NFL season is and has been a blast. The moment they step on the field in front of the crowd, players’ nerves escalate, but they rise to the occasion. The Eagles, Cowboys, 49ers and Ravens are fighting to be the top dogs of the league. They are the only teams boasting a current record of 10-3. The NFL is full of excitement in all different ways, and they couldn’t do it without their biggest cheerleaders: the fans. According to NFL.com, the top-ranked NFL player is Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs’ starting quarterback. His journey started at Texas Tech, earning a record of 7-5 in the regular season of 2015. Did you know that Mahomes was drafted into the MLB by the Detroit Tigers but did not sign the contract? On the other hand, college football is on a roll. These teams have worked extremely hard to get to where they are today. Michigan, Liberty, Washington and Florida State are all undefeated with a record of 13-0. Our local rivals are Kansas State University and Kansas University. They played against each other on November 18, and it was an exciting game. It was close the whole time, but KSU took the win in the end against KU 31-27. Kansas has a competitive rivalry between K-State and KU, but ultimately, both teams are excelling in their division with records of 8-4. We are excited as both teams continue to progress through the season and win their final games.
Aaron Donald
What teams do you want to make it to the super bowl? “Ravens.” -Lucas Ashley, 6
“Chiefs.” - Emily Fitzgerald, 7 “Dolphins,” -Whitley Wilscam, 6
“Cowboys.” -Angelina Pham, 7
D'Andre Swift Andover Middle School
Bengals 3.3%
Broncos 6.7%
“Steelers.” -Benjamin Montani, 7
“Cardinals.” -Jake Farley, 6
Damar Hamlin
Cowboys 3.3%
“Browns.” -Farren Thomas, 7
PAtrick mahomes
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Eagles 13.3% Bears 6.7%
Chiefs 60% 55 students surveyed
Trace Mcsorley
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Head in the Game
By Nathan Rosen, Staff Editor, and Baylee Castleberry. Staff Writer
Shooting, scoring, the crowd is roaring. Basketball is an exciting, energetic sport that requires you to be a team player. Passing is an essential skill to have if you are a basketball player. One of the girls basketball players from this past season, Karli Tilson, 7, shared just how important it is to pass to your teammates. “It's not a one person sport and I need my teammates,” said Tilson. NBA players are both strong mentally and physically. They are changing lives by showcasing their talent amongst millions of watchers around the globe. According to NBA.com, going 17-5 are the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference, the current number-one team in the NBA. In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics are right on their heels posting up a solid record of 16-5. Moving into the realm of college sports, the Kansas basketball teams are shining bright. Wichita State University is shining bright with a record of 7-3 and Kansas State University is dominating with a record of 8-2. Meanwhile, Kansas is looking phenomenal, only losing one game and earning a record of 9-1. Colby Rogers leads the WSU team with 17 points per game and 29 three-point shots made. K-State’s guard Cam Carter scores an average of 16.9 points for Kansas State every game, and Hunter Dickinson is KU’s star player, earning his team 19.4 points per game as well as 12.6 rebounds on average. While being an amazing college athlete is a challenge in itself, being a fantastic scholar is a whole different obstacle to tackle. One of KU’s star players, Hunter Dickinson, does a great job balancing student life and sports life, coming out of high school with a 3.74 GPA. This was not enough, however, to get into his dream school, the University of Michigan. He was accepted to Michigan State but transferred to KU three years later for the revenue increase and Michigan State’s recent losing season. Kansas’ star players are working well with their teams to conquer college basketball. All of our Kansan teams have dominant records, and it looks as if it is going to stay that way. All photos on this spread are not owned by the Trojan Times Staff.
College Basketball Standings Big 12 Houston (10-0) Baylor (9-0) Oklahoma (9-0) Kansas (9-1) BYU (8-1) TCU (7-1) Cincinnati (7-1) Iowa State (8-2) Kansas State (8-2) Texas (7-2) texas Tech(6-2) UCF (6-3) Oklahoma State (4-5) West Virginia (4-5)
American Athletic Conference FL Atlantic (7-2) Memphis (7-2) Tulane (6-2) Wichita State(7-3) Temple(6-3) Tulsa (5-3)
What is your favorite nba or college Basketball team?
East Carolina(6-4) SMU (6-4) UTSA (5-4)
“Bulls.” -Olivia Roberts, 7
Charlotte (5-4)
“K-State.” -Mila Matzen, 7
“Dolphins.” -Whitley Wilscam, 6
Andover Middle School
North Texas(5-4)
“Lakers.” -Brook Jarvis, 7
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UAB (4-5) South Florida(3-4) Rice (3-6)
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Feelin’ Frosty By Karsyn Baty, Staff Editor, and Emily Hatfield, Staff Writer Trends are calling and snow is falling. This winter, many new items have been brought to attention around AMS. Beyond AMS, the popularity of these items has also been skyrocketing around the world. Styles can change whether you realize it or not. In the blink of an eye, anything can be trendy, but the next thing you know it may no longer be. Trends can be all sorts of things you can think of. Trends are happening all around us. Not only could they be clothing or shoes, but they could also involve the new technology being developed daily. In particular, the iPhone 15, and Pro Max are the new Apple iPhones as of September. Along with the new iPhone, you can get some desired apps too. Some of these may include Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, BeReal, and YouTube. Out of 383 million people who have Snapchat, Kate Mitchell, 8, is an AMS student who has this app. Her favorite part of it is, “I get to talk to my friends.” From Birkenstocks and Nike Socks to Stanleys and Uggs, many items are being recognized for their great quality on this day. Besides these, staying comfy has also been favored as of right now. For instance, sweatshirts, PJ pants, and Crocs top the charts of popular comfy clothing items. Out of 50 students at AMS, the average opinion of the most popular item right now is Stanley Cups. Ellie Evans, 7, is a big trend follower who thinks differently and believes “Uggs,” is currently the most favored right now. According to businessoffashion.com, “Trends can last anywhere between a few weeks to even years.” These popular actions are not just happening around Kansas, but all around the United States. Staying creative, AMS is always keeping up with the latest trends.
Ethan Bailey, 7, and Logan Forsyth, 7, pose for the camera wearing comfy clothes.
Savanna Murray, 6 smiles for the camera in her comfy pjs.
Photos provided by: Ugg.com, Stanley.com, and Birkenstock.com
Colton Henry, 8, poses for the camera wearing sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and crocs.
Photos by Emily Hatfield
Andover Middle School
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Beyond the stress
By Karsyn Baty Staff Editor and Emily Hatfield, Staff Writer Motivation and dedication are always key. From taking notes in school to decorating for the holiday season at home, it can sometimes be difficult to stay on task and manage it all. There are many ways to help with this struggle. Some ideas could include: avoiding multitasking, eliminating all distractions, keeping a routine, and setting a list of attainable goals for yourself. It is also important to make sure that you are taking care of yourself both mentally and physically. Staying motivated in both ways is always important for your body to function properly. Keeping a positive attitude along with staying active throughout the holidays helps you achieve your goals. Caroline Marrero-Piccard, 8, makes sure to stay very focused during the holiday season. Marrero-Piccard, 8, shared, “I stay focused by making a lot of reminders and putting them on my calendar.” Another student at AMS, Drake Christensen, 6, agreed and added, “I stay motivated by focusing on getting my work done early, so that way it’s not done last minute.” Having dedication and motivation can impact your social, mental, and physical life. In some cases, it can affect all. According to HealthDirect.com, “Motivation is important because it provides you with goals to work towards, helps you solve problems, and helps you change old habits.” Staying driven during this season can be hard when you are struggling to know how to handle difficult times. There is always something to do inside or outside of school to help you with this challenge. To stay progressive, you can go on walks or bike rides with a friend or a pet. If you do an activity outside of school and are still struggling to stay active, you can always ask for advice from peers. Seeking advice from those who have been in your situation before tends to help and gives you more inspiration. The holiday season can be stressful, but by following these helpful tips you will be able to melt those worries away.
le “Stay on schedu f and don’t get of task,”
-Lilly Espinoza, 7.
,” “Study Blookets
-Bennett Goentzel, 6.
Andover Middle School
“I stay organized,”
om “Take advice fr ” my friends,
-Cash Morris, 7.
-Kinsley Chacko, 8.
“I go to bed early,”
-Ella Goodman, 8.
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What do you do to stay motivated? “I work out,”
-Evan Kaub, 6.
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All wrapped up
By Macie Bystrek and Ady Armstrong, Staff Writers Santa Claus is coming to town. Around the holiday season, it is common to have family and friends gather around the kitchen table. You could either be creating a gingerbread house or eating special treats. Holiday treats are a major holiday tradition for many. Students shared the special holiday treats that they love. “My favorite holiday treat is Peppermint Bark,” replied Ta’gea Reed, 6. “I love candy canes,” said Olivia Robert, 7. “Cookies and cream ice cream,” said Aaron McDavitt, 6. Did you know that cheesecake is the most favored Christmas treat in the United States is cheesecake? Cheesecake can be homemade or even bought at the store. Some students shared their special homemade recipes for holiday treats. Whether or not you have a sweet tooth, almost everyone will like these treats made by the students of AMS.
Photo provided by Blair Hollenbeck, 7
P h o t o p r o v ided by Holl yn Griffin, 8 “Hot chocolate.” -LG Parker, 7.
ies.” ook . c r ga ,8 “Su a Cox r o -C
“Candy canes.” -Ryan Shaw, 6.
“Sugar cookies .’’ -Bryson Mattin gly, 7.
“Christmas cookies.” -Kylie Meier, 7.
.” t bark n i m r . pe ne, 8 “Pep n La o s a -M
“Ice cream.” -Avery Schartz, 8. “Cookies.’’ -Max Hinz, 6.
What is your favorite holiday treat? Andover Middle School
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Helpful elves
By Macie Bystrek and Ady Armstrong, Staff Writers
Tips and tricks for all of your gifts. However you celebrate, most students receive gifts over the holiday season. Whenever you are having trouble either thinking of gifts for your wish list or shopping for others, you can always refer to this gift-giving guide. Gift-giving can be challenging, but we are here to give a helping hand to shopping during the holidays.
Gifts Under $5
Extra Spearmint Sugar-free Gum, 15 Piece, $1.49 at Target
PocketBac Hand Sanitizer, $1.95 at Bath and body works
Holiday Peppermint Candy Canes, $2.00 at target
Aquaphor Immediate Relief Lip Repair Balm, $4.79 At Target
Dash Mini Waffle Maker, $9.99 At Target
Ribbed Plush Throw Blanket, $10.00 at target
Buffalo Check Fleece Matching Family Pajama Pants, $10.00 at Target
Jessica Simpson Faux Fur House Slipper, $17.46 on Amazon
DAYBETTER LED Strip Lights, $19 on AMAZON
Monopoly Board Game, $16.99 at target
Gifts Under $10
Rubik's Cube, $9.34 at target
Gifts Under $20
Mason Single Wick Candle, $15.95 at bath and body works
The Trojan Times does not own any rights to any photos on this article. All photos provided by Google.
Andover Middle School
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Holly Holidays
By Nathan Rosen, Staff Editor, and Stella McAllister, Staff Writer “Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart,” – Washington Irving. The holidays are here, and they are being celebrated all around us. The holiday season is a time of giving. Some ways you can give back to the Andover community include donating to the Andover Food Bank and other nonprofit organizations like Dress For Success Wichita and the Union Rescue Mission Donation Center. AMS gave back by hosting its food drive which all AMS students could contribute to. The food drive lasted from Monday, November 13 to November 17, and all of AMS’ donations went to the Andover Food Bank. David Pham, 8, gives back to the community through, “The school food drive, being a part of student council, and giving compliments to people to make their day.” While students have holiday wish lists and gift ideas on their minds, teachers are doing the same. Classroom items are not the only things on our teachers’ minds as we enter the holiday break. Mrs. Amber Riedy shared a unique item from her holiday wish list, “A Christmas elf who magically cleans my entire house every night throughout December,” said Riedy. If you are bored and need something else to do during this cold, winter season, numerous shops and stores are holding their annual holiday sales. Shoes, jackets, sporting equipment, clothes, and more are being listed with holiday discounts. Some stores with excellent holiday deals include Target, Walmart, and Amazon. If you need to go shopping for the holidays, now is the time to do so. In addition, you can always make last-minute holiday decorations that range from paper snowflakes to ornaments made from balloons. From spending time with family and friends to shopping for gifts, the holiday season is filled with fun and joy. With all the holiday events surrounding us in our community, you are sure to find something to do during winter break.
Walmart 3.6%
Other 7.3%
Where do you shop during the holidays?
Target 40%
The Mall 21.8%
Photos provided by thepapermouse.com, thepioneerwoman.com, and apple.com
AMS students love to shop during the winter season. While there are many places to shop for gifts and goods, the most popular among students was Target. Amazon was another popular website of choice to get holiday shopping done. The mall was yet another super popular shopping location, earning 21.8% of the votes. Out of 55 students that voted, 49 chose one of these three locations while the other six chose other locations.
Amazon 27.3%
Andover Middle School
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All I want for Christmas is... iPhone 15 Pony Airpod pro max Balloons -Rylan Rivero, 7 Photo provived by apple.com Photos by Nathan Rosen
A Nike sweater Money Scheels gift card
Photo provided by Official Colorado Buffaloes Store
-Ryan Shaw, 6
To spend time with my family Relaxation time Hey Dude shoes Photo provided by Zappos
-Mrs. WHetstone
Andover Middle School
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Holly, Jolly Holiday By Allizabeth Eichman and Kylie Swindler, Staff Writers Decorate the halls and let the snow fall. From fan favorite classic movies and songs to family traditions and holiday recipes, there are a variety of activities to enjoy during the holidays. Did you know the song “Jingle Bells” was originally a Thanksgiving song? According to history.com, the song “Jingle Bells” was first written by the songwriter, James Lord Pierpont, in 1822. Some reports claim that the song was played at a Thanksgiving service or church. Originally the song was named “One Horse Open Sleigh,” but, when it was released a few years later the song was known as “Jingle Bells” (history.com). Some holiday traditions include opening stockings, lighting a menorah, exchanging presents, and holiday dinner parties. Each holiday has it’s own traditions that make it special. When celebrating Hanukkah, individuals light the menorah once each night starting on December 7th and ending on December 15. According to history.com, this commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. During this time, families also open one present per night. However, when celebrating Christmas, many decorate a Christmas tree with ornaments and put presents underneath the tree in anticipation of Santa Clause arriving on Christmas Eve. The tradition of Santa includes filling the stockings and waking up the next day to exchange gifts with loved ones. Although many have their special traditions and celebrations, it is important to celebrate and remember the fun times with family and friends during those times. There is many ways to give back this season to foster care, shelters, families, and much more.
Favorite Classic Holiday Song 58 students polled. "Feliz Navidad" 9.5% "Last Christmas" 11.9%
"All I Want for Christmas is You" 50%
"Frosty the Snowman" 9.5%
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" 19%
Favorite Classic Holiday Movie 58 students polled. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation 10.6%
The Grinch 17% Home Alone 48.9%
Elf 23.4%
What is your favorite Holiday gift you have recieved? “A pizza cooking stone,” Briggs Long, 7.
“An Oclus,” Ryan Shaw, 6.
“A hair straighter,” Samantha Vermeer 7.
Andover Middle School
“Money,” Hugh Pankratz, 8. “A new Phone,” Mason Smith 7.
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“A big fluffy pink unicorn,” -Taylor Pleviak, 8.
“My crocs,” Calleigh Lassley, 6.
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Won 2nd place with the overall 19% of votes
2
1 3
Won 3rd place with the overall 11.9% of votes
Won 1st Place with the overall 50% of votes
What is your favorite Holiday Tradition?
“Decorating sugar cookies with my cousins.”
“A competition of eating a candy cane the fastest with my sisters.” -Emily Fitzgerald, 7
-Camryn Fletcher, 8
People will recieve gifts each night of Hannukah after lighting the candle for that night.
Andover Middle School
-Max Hinz, 6
“Eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve” -John Wiedenmann,6
All Photos on this spread are not owned by The Trojan Times Staff.
Individuals begin lighting the first candle on the Menorah on December 7th
“Going on a cruise.”
Did you know? While celebrating Hanukkah, you will continue lighting each candle each night from December 7th to December 15th.
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According to mentalfloss.com, in 1864, the Jewish poet Ludwig August Frankl named blue and white “the colors of Judah” in a poem not so surprisingly called “Judah’s Colors.” White is the radiance of the priesthood, and blue, the splendors of the firmament.
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Around the Globe
By Karsyn Baty, staff editor, and Macie Bystrek, staff writer It’s the most wonderful time of the year. There are many holidays around the world that people may not even know are celebrated during the winter season. Each holiday offers different activities and traditions that make them unique in their own way. Some winter holidays that you may or may not know about include Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, and the Winter Solstice. Many of these holidays have differences, but there’s one special thing they all have in common: food. All of them in some sort of way involve a feast as a way to celebrate. Max Small, 8 enjoys the holiday season by celebrating, “Hanukkah and Christmas.” No matter what you celebrate during the holidays, the winter season is just as full of hope and joy as any other occasion.
Holiday: Kwanzaa Origin: African American inspired holiday Did you know U.S. presidents habitually wish the nation a happy Kwanzaa? According to KidsNationalGeographic.com, there are seven candles, each which represent something different: one black, three red, and three green. The black candle represents unity, the red candles represent the past, and the green candles stand for the future. The candles sit on a kinara.
Holiday: Hanukkah Origin: Hebrew Did you know that Hanukkah means "dedication" in Hebrew? According to KidsNationalGeographic.com, Hanukkah represents the Jewish festival of lights. Usually, Hanukkah starts in late November to midDecember. To celebrate, they burn a candle for eight nights. The menorah holds nine candles— one for each night plus a candle called the shamash used to light the other candles. To celebrate, people pray, sing songs, and exchange gifts.
Holiday: Christmas Origin: Worldwide Did you know that candy canes date back to 1670? Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. All around the world, it’s celebrated in many different ways. Most people tend to decorate their homes with lights, wreaths, trees, candles, ornaments, and much more. Many people often exchange gifts as well.
Andover Middle School
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Winter Solstice 11.4% Boxing Day 5.4%
Holiday: Diwali Origin: India Did you know Diwali is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year? According to KidsNationalGeographic.com, the festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects them from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.
Christmas 37.6% Diwali 13.4%
Kwanzaa 9.4%
Hanukkah 22.8%
Winter Solstice: The First Day of Winter Occurs yearly.
Did you know the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year? The winter solstice marks the exact moment when half of Earth is tilted the farthest away from the sun. It usually happens on December 21 or 22, at the same second around the world (kidsnationalgeographic.com).
This pie chart represents the percentage of students who had recognized each holiday when polled. 50 students were polled.
Holiday: Boxing Day Origin: United Kingdom Did you know it is called Boxing Day because gifts given to the poor and the working class were traditionally packaged or wrapped in boxes? According to Brittanica.com, Boxing Day, which is celebrated in Great Britain and some Commonwealth countries, particularly Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, is celebrated on December 26. On this day throughout history, servants, tradespeople, and the poor traditionally were presented with gifts. By the 21st century, it had become a day associated with shopping and sporting events.
Holiday: New Years Eve Origin: Worldwide Did you know about 1 million people gather in New York City's Times Square to watch the ball drop? According to Britannica.com, New Year's Eve is a celebration to celebrate an upcoming year. Many people gather together for a festival. Many people mark the New Year as a time to refresh and think about their goals and resolutions they hope to accomplish in the year.
Andover Middle School
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Toy Workshop
By: Allizabeth Eichman and Emri Williams, Staff Writers
Word Scramble
Name that Jingle 1. “Dancin and prancin in jingle bell square...“
Akunahhk
Fle TsNaa
Andover Middle School
1. Hanukkah 2.Presents 3.Elf 4.Santa 5. Dreidel
Dleidre
3.
“Said Santa to a boy child, "What have you been longin' for?"...”
4.
“A pair of Hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots...”
1.Jingle Bell Rock 2.All I Want for Christmas is you 3.Run Rudolph Run 4.It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Stnesper
2.
“Oh-oh, all the lights are shining so brightly everywhere...”
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Attention AMS readers, we need your help! The elves have been hard at work at the North Pole preparing fun activities and games throughout their workshop. However, the elves have lost 5 golden presents from the workshop and cannot remember where they placed them last. The elves had to hide the golden gifts from the reindeers due to the presents being full of reindeer treats. They need your help to find them and return them to the head elf before it is too late. The 5 golden presents are hidden throughout The Trojan Times Newspaper. Can the elves trust you to find the golden presents?
Can you Find these Presents?
easy Medium Hard All photos on this spread are not owned by The Trojan Times Staff.
Name that Jingle Hint:
What’s your Elf Name? First Initial: A: Toostie B: Candy C: Pinkie D: Figgy E: Elvis F: Pom Pom G: Holly H: Nutmeg I: Tinsel J: Sparkly
K: Sugarplum L: Jingles M: Fluffy N: Twinkle O: Peppermint P: Fizzy Q: Frosty R: Boogie S: Pixie T: Snowy
U: Sparky V: Tiny W: Winkle X: Jojo Y: Elfie Z: Pluffy
Birth Month: January: Frost February: Joy March: Mistletoe April: Twinkle May: Peppermint June: Merry
Andover Middle School
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July: Ginger August: Bells September: Sparkle October: Pine November: Nutmeg December: Snowflake
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The Start of Something New By Karsyn Baty, staff editor, and Kylie Swindler, Staff Writer
New year, new you. With the 2023 year coming close to an end, you now have an opportunity to restart. Restarting can include making a list of goals you want to meet by the end of the year, resolutions, or even improving yourself for the new year. Starting fresh can sometimes be tough, but when making a list of goals or resolutions you want to achieve it’s best to begin by thinking about what you wished you had accomplished in the previous year. From there, you can begin to write down all of them, and then initiate the ones you believe are reachable. Quinn Ellis, 6, has many resolutions she wants to master, but her most reasonable one is “to get better at cheer.” Along with goals and resolutions that you hope to reach, starting strong for the new semester coming up is a great idea as well. According to Harvard.edu, some great ways to begin your semester off on the right foot include being organized, staying connected with your friends, and balancing out school, sports, and home life. Logan Forsyth, 7, hopes to start the new semester solid by “Doing my homework.” Positively beginning the year can assist you in setting goals and resolutions. This new year, the Trojans are working hard at home and school to start the year off in a positive way.
1.
“Workout more,”
Gavin Gantz, 7.
“Stay nice,”
Brixley White, 6.
“Get better grades,”
Trent Jones, 8.
“Read my bible everyday,”
Alexis Vandeusen, 8. 2.
“Being nicer to people,”
Emily Wallace, 8.
3.
1. Jaxson Flippin, 7, begins working hard to end his semester off in a positive way. 2. Maggie Williams, 8, focuses on the tedious science experiment to blow the largest bubble. 3. Kara Newby, 6, Noah Sprecker, 6, and Jasper Winfrey, 6, diligently work to complete their assignment before the end of science class.
Andover Middle School
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What’s your New Years Resolution? Page 26
“Working daily on sports,”
Lakkyn Ngo, 7.
Kennedy Ayesh, 8, hopes to have a 4.0 gpa by the end of next semester.
Photo by Karsyn Baty
“Starting on a team in football,”
Jeremiah Vandine, 7.
“To not get any conduct card marks,”
Payton Wiese, 7, goal is to make the basketball team.
AJ Siegrist, 6.
Photo by Karsyn Baty
“Stay in sports,”
Keith Snyder, 6.
Emma Graves, 6, “Read my bible everyday,”
Avelyn Thach , 7
Andover Middle School
desired goal is to have good grades by the end of fourth quarter.
Photo by Karsyn Baty
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Around the Town
By Hollyn Griffin and Emri Williams, Staff Writers
Leaves are out, snow is in, and the AMS Trojans are all in. All around town students are participating in locally admired holiday events happening at popular locations such as Chicken N Pickle, Botanica, the Sedgwick County Zoo, and Winfield Isle of Lights. Each location has its own unique activities and attractions. Chicken N Pickle is a popular site according to the students at AMS. This favored area has employees working around the clock to maintain the famous ice rink for the holiday season. Ella Goodman, 8, described the ice rink as, “Slippery.” Not only is Chicken N Pickle a popular place to socialize, but another admired local location is the Sedgwick County Zoo. Each year when the weather turns cold, the zoo transforms into a magical winter wonderland during the Wild Lights at the Zoo festival. People from all over the Wichita area travel to the zoo to admire the show of illuminations. This year the show includes Alice in Wonderland figured lights, lit up domes, and trees covered in a majestic glow. “My favorite part about the Wild Lights at the zoo was the lit up domes,” said Kylie Pepper, 6. From shining animals to trees lit up with joy, each leaves behind a spark of shine. Wichita is also home to another popular holiday attraction at Botanica. Visitors step through the magical arch into the gardens illuminated with holiday lights. Botanica shows their skill for creativity during the holiday season by stringing lights around, through, and in their enchanting plant life. “The most interesting display that I saw at Botanica was Santa and his elves,” said Megan Wertenberger, 8. Ice or lights, nothing can keep us away from happiness. Each location showed us the joy of cheerful emotions and the holidays. These lights spread a little cheer to all for the season. There are many things around the town during the holiday season to do with friends and family. Happy holidays Trojans!
Sedgwick County Zoo Light Show 5555 W Zoo Blvd, Wichita, KS 67212
Chicken N Pickle Wichita Ice rink 1240 N Greenwich Rd, Wichita, KS 67206
Photo provided by SedgwickCountyZoo.com
Photo provided by ChickenNPickle.com
Winfield Isle of lights 200 Main St, Winfield, KS 67156
Botanica Illuminations 701 Amidon St, Wichita, KS 67203 Photo provided by Botanica.com
Photo provided by Wichita Mom Blog
Photo Of the Month
The Trojan Times Staff Hollyn Griffin, Staff writer Macie Bystrek, Staff Writer Karsyn Baty, Staff Editor Beatrice Matthews, Staff Writer Allizabeth EIchman, Staff writer Nathan Rosen, Staff Editor Emily Hatfield, Staff writer Kylie Swindler, Staff writer Baylee Castleberry, Staff writer Ady Armstrong, Staff writer Stella McAllister, Staff writer Emri Williams, Staff writer Mrs. Haley winegar, Adviser
Andover Middle School
Photo by Beatrice Matthews
At the 6th grade band concert on December 5th, Beatrice Matthews lines the camera up to show both the twinkling lights on the tree, and the trombone players. They puff through their last song of the evening, “Frosty the Snowman.”
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