Issue 4

e h T

Bluestreak

What’s Inside:

Critique the Boutique pp. 6-7 What is Rape Culture? pp. 10-13 Winter Sports Preview pp. 18-19

The Official Publication of the Andover High Student Body

The Trojan Bluestreak

cover photo by Trevor Newton

Table of Contents

Bluestreak Staff

4 - Photo of the Month 6 - Critique the Boutique 8 - Ways to Give Back in Wichita 10-13 - Rape Culture 14 - Editorial 16 - Fall Sports Wrap Up 18- Winter Sports Preveiw 23-25 - Holiday Fun 26 - What Holiday Treat Are You? 27 - Calendar Addy Maples Editor-in-Chief Megan Curry Managing Editor Madi Hearne Design Editor Elizabeth Hartley News Editor Abby Beaver Pop Culture Editor Emma Starks Social Media Editor Stuart Jenkins Web Editor Elise Lindemann Photo Editor Grace Ball Sports Editor Emily Stybr Feature Editor Nicholas Ramirez In-depth Editor Maddy Bishop Fun Editor Rebekah Martin Columnist

2 Dec. 15th, 2015

Staffers Sophie Braynock Daryan Davis Ashley Dorf Carrie Friend Hayley Jones Izabelle Kirkendoll Savitri Lazarus Trevor Newton Ashley Shandy Kamilla Sims Liana Tauke

Follow us On Twitter! @ahsbluestreak

IN THE “NOW” Tragedy in Paris

The world recently suffered a terrible loss as terrorist attacks killed many in Paris.

The attack on Paris was performed by the terrorist group ISIS. Three groups of terrorists attacked multiple areas and places throughout Paris on November 13. The stadium known as Stade de France and many other venues were targeted. Reports say that over 500 people were wounded, over 120 of the wounded became fatalities.

Police have concluded to have at least 23 suspects and conduct raids on a mass manhunt for these suspects. During these raids, three suspects died by detonating an explosive vest strapped to them. Over 100 planned attacks have been prevented due to increased security measures. Authorities have tapped phone lines and tracked these suspects to find future targets and dates.

Out of all the attacks on Paris, one of the first, and most deadly, attacks happened at Bataclan concert venue where over 89 concert-goers were shot and killed. The american band Eagles of Death Metal, playing at the venue, had a total of 1,500 people attending the concert. The attack was issued by three ISIS group members.

Police and investigation services internationally are banding together to hunt down the criminals behind the mass murder of many in the famous French city.

-emilySTYBR

Future Weather Forecast Predictions

December 2015 High-50°F Low-20°F precipitation-once every 5 days

predictions by weatherwiz.com

February 2016 High-50°F Low-27°F precipitation-once every 5 days

January 2016 High-41°F Low-20°F precipitation-once every 4 days

The Trends of the Fall With the colors changing and the weather becoming colder, fall trends are gaining ground. From Hunter riding boots, to boot leg warmers, clothing is one of the biggest trend that changes with the season.

“I love my black hunter boots I have especially during rainy days,” junior Whitney Pepper said.

Another popular trend Andover students enjoy is the flavor of pumpkin spice and other seasonal flavors. The most popular source of these flavors is coffee drinks such as the pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks.

More fashion trends of fall include scarves, booties, cardigans, sweaters, and vests. These fads apply mostly to girls but guys do have fall trends as well. Hoodies, beanies, puffy jackets, jeans, and sweaters are familiar trends now seen around Andover on guys. Students find new ways to beat the cold by bundling up but keeping fashionable.

Other than fashion, foods unique to fall are made. Chili, apple/pumpkin/ cherry pies, pumpkin bread, and caramel apples are popular items to make when the temperature starts to drop.

-graceBALL & emilySTYBR

Photo by Savitri Lazarus

4 dec.

Aug. 15th, 28th,2015 2015

AIDA photo of the month

The fall musical opened its curtain on the weekend of November 14th and 15th, presenting the awardwinning Broadway musical, AIDA. Directed by Ms. Sarah Koehn, the show is about an Ethiopian princess, named Aida, held prisoner in Egypt by an Egyptian General, Ramades, who secretly falls in love with her.

“I thought the musical was really fun to see and it was really entertaining. The music numbers were all really catchy and all the students who participated in the show did an awesome job of performing and making it a great production,” freshman audience member Abby Bishop said.

Some of the cast includes Hanna Watson as Aida, Nick Linhardt as Radames, Emily Rishel as Amneris, Levon Mathis as Mereb, Dawson Wagner as Zoser, and a number of others who helped make the musical memorable.

“The tech aspect of the musical was really fun. It was extremely stressful, but we accomplished more on this musical than on any in the past that I’ve been a part of. It’s my favorite to date,” said technology crew member junior Paige Ramsett said.

Pictured in the photo to the left is Hanna Watson as Aida as she is praised by her fellow Nubian citizens after accepting her role as their princess. To see more photos from the AIDA show turn to the back page.

-elizabethHARTLEY

dec. 15th, 2015

5

RedBird

2nd 2 None Consignment 229 N Andover Rd, 9747 E 21st St N #145, Andover, KS 67002 Wichita, KS 67206

LOLA Boutique 4730 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67208

Aspen Boutique 4724 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67208

Redbird Boutique has a fun flare of it’s own. With funky and fashionable clothing to small knick-knacks. Located next to Cinnamon’s Deli, and Tad’s Locker Room, Red bird is an easy access to cute clothes and accessories. Very organized and reasonable prices, but not much assistance from employees when in store.

Lola Boutique is extremely festive. Walking in, everything is organized and very chic.

Lots of “in” products and cute tops and jewelry present around the store. Very friendly staff that are helpful to locate specific items. Though, the prices are a little crazy, Lola is most definitely a place to go for trends.

Located next to Lola Boutique, Aspen Boutique carries lots of unique jewelry. They also carry apparel and shoes but overall it is an accessory store.

The prices are pretty even for the jewelry but they are a little high for apparel and shoes. Overall, Aspen Boutique is a fashionable place to go for accessories.

6 DecAug.15th, 28th,2015 2015

2nd 2 None is a unique consignment Boutique, which includes a variety of upscale resale items. Although, it mostly carries wedding and prom dresses it is a great place to shop during homecoming season. It has many fun, unique items in a quality based atmosphere but could be a little more organized.

Critique the Boutique wichita boutiques under evaluation

Pink Saloon 1423 N Webb Rd #137, Wichita, KS 67206

Chic Street 550 N Rock Rd, Wichita, KS 67206

When shopping around the Wichita area, locally owned boutiques are abundant. From clothing to jewelry, these boutiques provide the popular trends of the seasons. Bluestreak staffers Grace Ball and Emily Stybr went from shop to shop around the area and rated. The boutiques were rated one through five hearts based on quality of products, prices, and appearance of the stores. The amount of merchandise in the store is also judged. While exploring these boutiques, the care and attention the workers paid to the staffers while in the store was also put into our rating.

Boutiques are becoming popular lately due to their cute clothing and their interesting fads. While becoming increasingly popular, they present new opportunities for teenagers to fill up their free time and earn some cash.

Modeling and working at the stores are ways some of Andover High’s students are supplied with jobs. Being one of the first to see the start of trends and new merchandise, students working at these shops benefit greatly not only in their pocket, but also in the pocket of the new pair of jeans they got as a perk from working.

“I really like it. I love the owner and my manager and it is fun to help pick out the clothes for the store,” senior and Lola Boutique employee Elizabeth Kirk said.

Modeling at fashion shows for these boutiques is also a way for young girls to get their face out into the modeling industry.

This presents new jobs and openings to further their modeling careers.

Boutiques and shops around Andover provide students with an alternative way to express their own style; either with jewelry, shoes, or clothes. Some of the most popular boutiques around the area were put under the microscope to see which one would come out on top.

Photos by Grace Ball and Emily Stybr

-graceBALL & emilySTYBR

Located on 1423 N Webb Rd, Pink Saloon is one of the popular boutiques of east Wichita.

This boutique includes trending favorites such as Alex & Ani bracelets, Frame denim, and Wildfox sunglasses. With unique popular trends, you can find your one of a kind key, engraved necklaces. Definitely recommended.

The tiny boutique tucked beside Quickstitch, carries lots of cute knick-knack types of things. They do carry clothing and jewelry but it is limited to the first floor. Although the original prices are high, lots of sales commence throughout the year. Chic Street Boutique is a cute and snug feeling shop.

DEC. 15th, 2015

7

Give Back, get back Exploring ways to give back to the community during the holidays

With the thanksgiving and winter season coming about, an average Andover or Wichita citizen would most likely be spending time indoors, eating delicious food with loving family. However this is not the case for a number of other families in the area.

According to Kansas.com, a 2011 poll revealed that the number of homeless people in Wichita was about 600. This is a staggering 65 percent jump from another poll taken in 2007.

With the increasing numbers of homeless individuals it is important to reach out and help out in as many ways as possible, especially around seasons of extreme hot or cold weather, such as the winter.

There are a couple homeless centers in Wichita, such as Inter-Faith Ministry-Safe Haven and St. Anthony Family Shelter. Many currently being operation by church organizations, they play a big role in providing shelter, food, and aid to those in times of need.

Volunteering at such places could create an even bigger impact. Non-profit organizations such as the two homeless shelters previously named need all of the volunteer work they can receive. Rather it is donating food, money, or simply volunteering directly at the shelters, a little help goes a long way. The help is appreciated even more so when the organizations are using all the money they can grasp to benefit the needy rather than paying for copious workers.

Volunteering is not the only way to give back. In fact, simple acts of kindness can go a long way. Grabbing a drink at Sonic? Pick up the ticket for the person behind you. Hold the door open for people. Take any extra food you might have and donate it to shelters or

8 dec. 15th, 2015

bring a warm meal to the homeless man with a helpsprawled cardboard box.

Even at Andover High, there are opportunities to give back. Every year the school hosts food drives, blood drives, and many other donative causes. The Theatre Department hosts children’s shows every year for neighboring elementary schools.

According to volunteeringinamerica.gov, Kansas is ranked 5th out of all states and Washington D.C. for the amount of volunteering each citizen does. There are approximately 769,200 regular volunteers in Kansas, comprising about 36.1 percent of total residents. That also makes 39.1 volunteer hours per capita.

Kansas may be doing well, but there is more to be done. There are still over 137,000 children living off of food stamps in the state according to a 2015 census provided by spotlightonpoverty.org. Over 36,000 families are receiving federal rental assistance.

The elderly home in Andover could always use volunteers, as well as churches and other non-profit organizations that provide services to the needy. There is always more to be done and help will always be accepted by a plethora of institutions just a mile or two away from the school.

-lianaTAUKE&izzyKIRKENDOLL

Heartspring Lights on the lake

Heartspring Pediatric Services will introduce a dazzling new event to the Wichita Community at Noah’s Event Venue on December 5, 2015. The event is being held to celebrate the children who overcome obstacles at Heartspring and to recognize the community partners that make everything possible.

Courtesy photo

The Lord’s Diner

The Lord’s Diner, a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, provides meals to those in need every day throughout the entire year. They cooperate with and show respect to people of all faiths, communities, businesses, and organizations.

Photo by: Jeff Kontz

dec.15th, 2015

9

oct. 30th, 2015

“

Rape Culture is an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture. Rape culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety.

-according to Marshall.edu

“

Dec. 15th, 2015

11

“But what were you wearing?”

Every two minutes, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted.

The Rape Crisis Center (RPC) says that an average of 39 percent of rapes are reported to the police each year. The RPC also reports that at least 10 percent of all rape victims are male.

In most states, rape is considered a federal offense. In Kansas, statutory rape (sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 14) is considered a misdemeanor, not a felony. A misdemeanor is classified as a crime punishable by up to a year of jail time. criminal.findlaw.com verifies that some form of sexual penetration must take place for an offender to be convicted of rape. If an offender cannot be tried for rape, they are tried for sexual abuse. Oftentimes, if convicted, the punishment for sexual abuse is stronger than for rape.

In today’s world, rape culture is the status of rape being pervasive and normalized by way of societal norms of sexuality. The feminist movement debates rape culture thoroughly.

“Rape is as American as apple pie,” blogger Jessica Valenti said. She goes on to describe American society as one of “rape culture” where woman-aimed-violence is “so normal, it’s almost invisible.”

American Enterprise Institute research assistant Caroline Kitchens sees it differently. Rape in America is classified illegal, and intolerable.

“Rape is a horrific crime, and rapists are despised. We have strict laws that Americans want to see enforced,” Kitchens said.

Political analyst and web author Zerlina Maxwell wrote about her experience with rape culture, when, after being raped, was immediately questioned about her own choices.

“When I came forward to report what happened, instead of support, many wellmeaning people close to me asked me questions about what I was wearing, if I had done something to cause the assault, or if I had been drinking,” Maxwell said.

Victims often hear “What were you wearing?” or “Did you say something to encourage [the attacker]?” With so many negative stories out in the media so often, many victims are dissuaded from coming forward for fear of ridicule or facing blame.

“It’s no surprise because most of us would rather believe that the terrible

12 dec. 15th, 2015

realities we hear about aren’t real or that, at least, we can’t do anything about it. The truth is ugly. But by denying the obvious we continue to allow rapists to go unpunished and leave survivors silenced,” Maxwell said.

Maxwell started the Twitter hashtag #RapeCultureIsWhen hoping that it would start a public conversation about rape culture, its facts and myths.

Some of the most popular #RapeCultureIsWhen contributions included: • Rape culture is when we teach women how to not get raped, instead of teaching men not to rape.

• Rape culture is when, in 31 states, rapists can legally sue for child custody if the rape results in pregnancy.

• Rape culture is when the lyrics of Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’ mirror the words of actual rapists and is still the number one song in the country.

• Rape culture is when the mainstream media mourns the end of the convicted Steubenville rapists’ football careers and does not mention the young girl who was victimized.

One in six American women and one in 33 American men have survived rape or attempted rape.

Authorsden.com published “Through the Eyes of a Rapist” by Richard Lee Orey.

Orey interviewed convicted rapists in the hopes that he could bring to light information that may help protect future victims. A few of the most popular revelations were: • Men are most likely to attack and rape in the early mornings between 5:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

• If someone is coming toward you, hold your hands in front of you and yell “STOP!” or “STAY BACK!” Most rapists interviewed said they would leave a [victim] alone if [he/she] yelled or showed [he/ she] would fight back.

“They are looking for an EASY target,” Orey said.

There are tips and tricks all over the Internet to help inform potential victims of ways to avoid an attack. Google ‘rape prevention’ or visit the links to the right to learn more.

-meganCURRY

Statistics from: https://rainn.org/get-information/statistics/sexual-assault-victims https://wearawhitefeather.wordpress. com/survivors/rape-culture-statistics/

Information proven helpful to assist in rape/sexual assault prevention can be found at http://www. authorsden.com/categories/article_top. asp?catid=10&id=51006.

Additional statistics can be found at http://rapecrisis.com/statistics/.

“Men rape because they have been taught that they have a right to claim women’s bodies.”

70 50 97

- Miya Yamanouchi, Embrace Your Sexual Self: A Practical Guide for Women

% %

%

of rapists said they did it because of “sexual entitlement” of rapists said they don’t feel guilty

of rapists will never spend a single day in jail

1 in 3

Victims of sexual assult are: more likley to suffer

3 times from depression 6 times

more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder likely to abuse 13times more alcohol

men would rape if they knew they could get away with it

16

% of rape cases will never see

13

the inside of a court room Oct. 30th, 2015

Staff Editorial

BLUESTREAK editorial policy

The Trojan Bluestreak exists to inform, persuade and entertain its readers concerning topics of importance. The newspaper recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment.

The Bluestreak operates as a public forum for student expression and the staff takes full responsibility for newspaper content and its ramifications.

The Trojan Bluestreak will not publish material considered to be legally unprotected speech, libel, obscenity copyright infringement,unwarranted invasion of privacy or material that could disrupt the educational environment.

The Bluestreak is a CSPA Gold Medalist and KSPA All-Kansas honor recipient.

Nic ramirez

The dark side of black Friday Empty hearts and empty wallets

Ah, yes, that festive time of year when grown adults claw, hiss, pounce and display otherwise inexcusable behavior in the hope of securing the latest gadgets at a discount. A simple search on YouTube reveals countless confrontations and fights over items such as TV’s and cellphones. One article from the New York Daily news is titled, “Shoppers brawl all over the country on Black Friday.” If you have any doubts, just look at the online Black Friday Death and Injury Counter. This actually exists, I kid you not.

It is no secret that this appropriately named holiday annually draws out the very worst in people. These events may seem random or brought upon by circumstance; but, according to the Huffington Post, the problem comes from within.

There appears to be a strong correlation between waiting in line and an individual’s natural response. Cheerful responses came from those anticipating an event such as a movie or concert, while those who waited to purchase something often displayed a negative or even violent reaction. More and more sources are starting to point toward the fact that, wait for it, material objects are not a source of happiness.

14 dec. 15th, 2015

If you have not yet spit out your coffee and tossed this newspaper across the room then you are handling the reality better than I did. The moral of the story, however, was ultimately that experiences provide more satisfaction than objects.

Think of it this way: Thanksgiving, a joyful holiday spent with family, highlights the multitude of things, material or not, for which we have gratitude. Black Friday, on the other hand, is a day categorized by people pepper-spraying each other in line at Walmart. Is the divide in behavior truly coincidence? Think about it.

Perhaps you camped outside of Best Buy Thursday night for the early morning door buster deals; if so, I applaud your perseverance and determination. Alternatively, maybe you stayed home and played with your dog, like me. No shame in that either. Browsing the list of Black Friday casualties, I have yet to stumble across any Andover names. Perhaps we hold ourselves to a much higher standard here in A-town. Nonetheless, next year will bring a fresh set of names to the list. Be careful, it is a dangerous world out there.

illustration by Kamilla Sims

Dec. 15th, 2015

15

wrap-up

Soccer

Tennis

Regional-substate champions Placed top 3 at all tournaments 3rd in state 1st in the league won 16 games st 1 at regionals tied 1 game st 1 at state lost 4 games

Girls’ Golf

6th at State 2 first place finishes 5 second place finishes 1 third place finish Top 5 in all tournaments PLACED 2ND at regionals

Cross Country Boys varsity: PLACED 1ST AT REGIONALS top 5 in 8 meets Girls Varsity: PLACED 2ND AT REGIONALS top 5 in 5 meets

16 Dec. 15th, 2015

Volleyball won 20 games lost 18 games

Football 1

won game lost 8 games

As the fall sports season comes to a close, the Trojans end with many riveting victories. Soccer ended the season with a remarkable record and a third-in-state finish.

The tennis team completed their time on the court with a three time state champion title.

Cross country finished their season with the boys team placing top five in 8 meets and the girls team placed top five in five meets this season.

Girls’ golf placed top five in all tournaments they participated in and first place in two tournaments, including regionals, and completed the season with a sixth-in-state finish.

All-in-all the Andover fall sports season was a successful one.

-elizabethHARTLEY

55senior athletes

16 football 10 soccer 11 cross country 6 cheerleaders 4 tennis 4 trojanettes 3 volleyball 1 golfer

Photos by Trevor Newton, Gili Tamir, Brittany Vuu

Dec. 15th, 2015

17

Winter wonderland

Andover winter sports are back 1.

Girls’ basketball The girls’ basketball team is ready to start back up for a new season.

Although the team lost the previous seniors, the girls are determined to improve. “Although we lost a lot of girls from last year, we do have a talented group coming up and we all have the grit and passion to win games,” senior Lauren Siebuhr said. The girls’ team has a lot to look forward to. “I am really looking forward to getting to know the underclassmen and really getting to bond as a team. We have so many great girls and I am excited to play my last year with them,” Siebuhr said. The girls’ first game was December 4 at Maize South.

2.

Boys’ Basketball The boys’ basketball season is back with new hopes for this coming season. “I am hoping we are more improved than last year and I think we should be. Our team is looking good so far. Having Colin Wreath as a new player adds some height, which should help us out. Since we have good team chemistry and we all play well together our team should do better,” junior Nick Kellerman said.

The team did lose the previous seniors however; they gained some new players on varsity. Only two seniors are on varsity this year. “I am excited to be around the team everyday. I think we all are ready for games to start again,” Kellerman said. The first basketball game was December 4 at Maize South.

wrestling The wrestling team has had a really good turn out the past couple years. Having 7 boys go compete in state last year, junior Connor Schillings had a lot to say. “I am hoping that more wrestlers get the chance to compete in state this year,” Schillings said.

They are all striving to be even better this coming season. “I think the team will be better than last year. I am looking forward to our tournaments and getting the chance to bond with the team,” Schillings said. Last year’s state qualifiers were Grant Staehr, Carter Guyer, Jack Maki, Paul Stuart, Griffin Bossingham, Jake Dusenbury and Christian Herrera. The first wrestling meet was December 3.

18 dec. 15th, 2015

3.

bowling

4.

The Andover bowling team is ready for a new year. The bowling team had their tryouts the week of December 1st-4th. The team is looking forward to this season. Senior Brittany Prytira said, “My goal this year is to not get a concussion. Bowling is very dangerous. Watch out kids. I am excited to bring bowling honor to my school. I can’t wait to meet all of my adoring fans. #proudtobeanamerican.” Their first bowling match is January 7 at 3:30 PM for JV and Varsity.

5.

Trojanettes Although the Trojanettes do not add any new members for the winter season, they are still excited and ready to continue performing.

Senior Masha Frish said, “Our ultimate goal is to get gussie again this year.” The basketball teams have more home games this year so that means more routines for the Trojanettes. The Trojanettes first performed on December 8.

Cheerleading

6.

The Andover cheerleaders are excited for yet another year of cheering on the basketball teams. Learning new techniques and skills, the cheerleaders feel more improved than last year. The cheerleading team added three boys to Varsity this year. Sophomore Miriam Young said, “I am really excited to cheer for basketball because I didn’t last year. I think we are more prepared and have things planned out more this year which should help us improve.” The cheerleaders are working on having more routines ready for the home games. They had a great time cheering on the girls and boys basketball teams on December 4th for their first game.

1. Freshman Cassidy Stiles catches a pass from teamate during Big Blue Review. At left is senior Kristie Wong.

2. Members of the junior varsity team battle for a rebound during the scrimmage at Big Blue Review.

3. Junior Connor Inman (right) wrestles sophomore Tyler Wilson in wrestling’s scrimage at Big Blue Review.

4. A bowler goes for a strike at The Alley (file photo).

5. Senior Elizabeth Kirk (front) leads the Trojanettes during their performance.

6. Sophomore Aundrea Reynolds (top) is assisted by her fellow cheerleaders during a routine.

Stories by Ashley Shandy Photos by Kamilla Sims

dec. 15th, 2015

19

Black Friday goes online Sale

Vs

Doors open and a flood of people squeeze through the small set of doors into the mall. A stampede ensues, elbows are jabbed, people in the back shove their way forward. By the time you reach the phone you have been dreaming about, you stare blankly at the empty shelf.

Standing in line for hours with thousands of other shoppers to obtain the hottest items of the year only happens once a year on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Many retailers significantly discounted their items this year, often earlier than November 27, and the millions of Americans who wanted a piece of the action waited in long lines and freezing cold temperatures to obtain “steals” on the hottest items of the season.

A few years ago, some major stores announced that they would open their doors at midnight. From then on, these shops opened earlier and earlier, as early as around 5:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. With these announcements, shoppers camped out days before the sale. This year was certainly no exception.

Some retailers chose to close their doors this Black Friday, such as Sam’s Club, GameStop, and sporting goods store REI. On its website, REI said it was encouraging its employees to “Opt Outside” by closing all their stores, and they claimed that their employees were paid on their day off.

The day happened to be a cold and icy one here in Kansas, possibly impacting the number of in-store shoppers in the Wichita area.

“The roads were terrible so the lines weren’t as long as usual, but they were still people wrapped outside the store, waiting to get inside,” junior Hannah Steinert said.

Black Friday took a new turn in 2015 with explosive growth of online retail, breaking the typical mold of one the largest holiday shopping days. Many shoppers ordered their items online and engaged in online spending this year, with sales increasing by 16.1

20 dec. 15th, 2015

50% Off

online deals only

percent, according to tracker Custora. In-store sales declined about 1.2 billion, respectively, according to the Associated Press. In ecommerce, advertisements in email increased sales from last year by a fourth, according to Adobe.

Sophomore Miriam Young did the majority of her holiday shopping online this year.

“I mainly shopped online instead of in stores because it is easier; you can see everything and you don’t even have to leave your bed,” Young said.

Shopping digitally seems to be the way of the future, but there are huge roadblocks to a perfected online market. For clothing, it is complicated to order the right sizes online and ship back clothes.

Shipping and handling charges tack on an extra cost for the comfort of shopping at home. Inconvenience is a deal breaker for some shoppers, too, since items can take several days to arrive. Nonetheless, this Black Friday might have jumpstarted online retail for good, and the strong sales online could soon overtake physical shopping with some improvements.

Conversely, a growing trend is Small-Business Saturday, following Black Friday. Customers shop at small businesses, which helps support local establishments instead of big-box stores. Some believe that this is a way to grow the economy of a small region rather than feeding money to large companies that earn millions of dollars in revenue each year.

The following week includes Cyber Monday, essentially the digital version of Black Friday. Stores online significantly discount their products and eliminate many of the unfortunate consequences of brick-and-mortar shopping.

- ashleyDORF

e t a l p

for the

holidays

?

Wha t’s

r u o y on Dietary restrictions during the holidays With the holidays quickly approaching, many families are faced with a challenging predicament: some family members have health and dietary restrictions that keep them from enjoying traditional holiday foods with the rest of the family. Holidays with dietary restrictions can be a stressful and difficult obstacle to get around, but as time goes on it is becoming easier to gain access to foods that are more appropriate for people with specific dietary needs. Specialty food stores, such as Whole Foods, offer more health-conscious choices to create more inclusive holiday meals and snacks for all family members.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies -Gluten Free -Low Sodium -Wheat Free -Vegetarian

Ingredients: • 3/4 cup potato starch • 1/2 cup almond flour • 1/2 cup sorghum flour • 1/2 cup white rice flour • 1/2 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened • 3/4 cup sugar • 1 egg • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps: 1. In a medium bowl, whisk together potato starch, almond flour, sorghum flour, rice flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

2. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about three minutes.

Beat in egg and vanilla until well blended. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed until combined. Divide dough in half and shape into two disks. Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate until firm, at least one hour or overnight. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

3. Working with 1 dough disk at a time, roll out on a floured surface 1/4 inch thick. Cut out cookies with floured 3-inch cookie cutters and place about one inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.

4. Bake until cookies are just golden around the edges, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cookies cool on the baking sheets on wire racks for two minutes, then transfer them to the racks and let cool completely.

Decorate as desired. Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days or in the freezer for up to two weeks. www.wholefoodsmarket.com

- rebekahMARTIN

dec. 15th, 2015

21

It’s

the

most

Of

the

year

This holiday season I am thankful for...

Holiday Playlist Mariah Carey’s “oh santa!”

leona lewis’ “one more sleep”

Ying Yang Twins’ “Ho ho ho”

The vamps’ “Hoping for snow”

Torah Tots’ “Dreidle Dreidle Dreidle”

Britney spears’ “My only wish”

Snoop Dogg’s “the grinch”

Pentatonix’s “Sleigh Ride”

Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe”

Ariana Grande’s “Santa tell me”

24

Festive Candles

Scarf

1

2

Sugar Cookies

s l a i t n e s s E r e t n i W 4 3

Emma’s Corner

i

Winter Stats 733 different versions of Silent Night

“oh my this is so embarrassing, looks like we have to kiss”

Holiday Apparel

4

-40

76 billion

candy canes degrees is the are made per lowest year temperature recorded in Kansas

more than

50% of people actually want gift cards

i

soures: http://www.berkshireeagle.com http://www.candycanefacts.com/

25

what holiday

Treat are you?

Love or Hate Snow?

Dressing comfortable or dressing cute?

Giving gifts or Getting Gifts?

Ham or Turkey?

Movie marathon or Playing board games?

You’re quirky and fun! You tend to be the lifeo fthe party and your sass keeps people on their toes.

You don’t let anyone get away with rudeness or general bad behavior. This inspires those around to be the best that they can be.

26 dec. 15th, 2015

Mittens or Gloves?

One big present or lots of small presents?

Gingerbread house or Gingerbread man?

You’re cool and reserved.

Your wit makes you a good math for a gingersnap-romantically or platonically. You tend to be quick with comebacks and always know the right thing to say.

Family Time or Friend Time?

Go out of town or Stay in town?

Putting up decorations or viewing decorations?

Snow Man or Snow Angel?

You’re always considerate of other people and put them before yourself. This makes you a good listener and a good friend. People tend to think highly of you. You foster strong, long-lasting relationships with everything.

You’re everybody’s go-to.

You follow the crowd for the most but know when it’s time to be your own person and stand out.

You’re friendly to everyone and always talking. You can sometimes be viewed as the favorite.

December 2015 Wednesday Thursday 7:50 Final Review 1st Hour 8:30 2nd Hour Final 10:10 Final Review 3rd Hour 10:50 Final Review 4th hour 12:00 Final Review 5th hour 12:40 6th Hour Final 2:15 Final Review 7th hour

Friday

7:50 Finals Makeup 7:50 Finals Makeup 9:00 3rd Hour Final 9:00 1st Hour Final 10:10 Final Review 3rd 10:40 Finals 7th Hour Hour 10:35 Finals 4th Hour 12:40 Finals 5th Hour 12:15 Finals Makeup

16 17 18

Finals Schedule

January 2016 Tuesday • First day back • Long Winters Nap (Pajama Day)

5

Wednesday

• Guys in Ties, • Dynamic Duo Girls in Pearls (Spongebob (Dress up day) and Patrick) • Homecoming Assembly

6

Friday

Thursday

7

Homecoming week Schedule

• Hunters vs.

Prey (Camo vs.

Animal) • 7:30 Basketball Game vs.

Goddard

Glowstick Get Down 9:00 P.M. (after the basketball game)

8

dec.

OCT.15th, 30th,2015 2015

27

Fall Musical - AIDA See pages 4-5 for more info.

28 Dec. 15th, 2015

Photos by: Savitri Lazarus