December 2014Murmur, Waterford Kettering High School Student

murmur Volume 12, Issue 2 December 5, 2014

16

Under the Surface

page

Though Waterford is a tiny, quiet town, freshman Ty Fotineas knows it is not as perfect as it seems. He lost his uncle to heroin, and it seems drugs are on the rise in the Waterford community.

Photo by Alexea Hankin

MURMUR

contents

Editor-In-Chief: Alexea Hankin

NEWS

The Drift Editor-In-Chief: Lucas Hendricks

Apple for the teacher

Managing Editor: Catherine Habba Assistant Editor-In-Chief: Kristin Warholak Copy Editor: Sarah Murphy Illustrator: Josh Marko Photo Editor: Bridget Ekis Photo Coach: Veronica Latimer Exchange Editor: Calvin Habba Staff Writers: Brooke Boyer, Gracelynn Boylan, Bailey Caswell, Kelsey Cutean, Julie Dennis, Mariah Duncan, Erin Eggenberger, Grace Moultrup, Hannah Neal, Ally Pierchala, Becca Posigian, Dathon Skelton, Taylor Skelton, Erin Skibo, Hailey Sterling, Katie Taylor, Abby Webb Waterford Kettering High School 2800 Kettering Dr. Waterford, MI 48329 (248) 673-1261

Sponsors Jamie B. Collett, Kate Casper, Donald Neal, Sandra Pylvainen, Jennifer Mayle, Waterford Kettering Wrestling, Heather Neal, Steve Smitka, Bonnie Webb, Bryce Neal, Heather Halls, James Webb, Mike Malley, Laura Stephens, Lindsay Styke, Spanish department, Bill Pierchala, Ken Elliot, Bill Stephens, Monica Bandlow, Dave Crane, Jason Pratt.

THANK YOU

OPINION

4

Parking pass policy problems

5

Lead the way

6

A bunch about lunch

7 8

Geek girls Walking up a down escalator

9

Learn the differences between an actual relationship and the situation in-between.

10

Beauty and the Beast

11

Putting the giving in Thanksgiving

12

Black Friday goes red

13

Perfect harmony

14

Better late than never

15

IN-DEPTH

20

24-25

Revealing how winter athletes prepare for their season.

ENTERTAINMENT

Ads

21

SPORTS Earning their stripes

FEATURE Situationships

22

Everyone loves Christmas, but nobody likes hearing Christmas music right after Halloween.

Positive and negative effects the iPads have on classrooms and teaching styles.

Michigan college madness

X-mas X-list

Lets play/ What’s happening

23

Educatonal app reviews used by teachers and games review by students.

Movie talk

26

How anomymous is anomymous

27

1989 review

28

Ouija review

29

Fad foods

30- 31

The Murmur is printed monthly, and completely put together by the students in the journalism classat Waterford Kettering High School. The Murmur serves as an open forum for student expression, and the opinions printed are not those of the administration.

Up in smoke Many Kettering students agree that Waterford as a community does not have a problem with drug abuse, but is that really the truth?

16-19

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters from the readers are encouraged. Letters may be delivered to room 501 or can be sent to the newspaper’s email address, ketteringmurmur@gmail.com. All letters are subject to editing of grammatical and punctuation errors. Letters must be submitted with a signature. Letters with libel or slander towards another person will not be considered for publication.

Letters must be limited to 250 words.

ADVERTISING Advertisments do not reflect the views of the staff.

Potential advertisers can contact the staff through the Kettering phone number. The Murmur editorial board has the right to refuse any innapropriate advertising.

COLUMNS or editorials represent the opinion of the writer.

Thoughts or views which are expressed are not those of the entire staff or administration.

STAFF EDITORIALS are written by the staff and include the combined opinion of the full staff.

FEATURE // THE MURMUR

Letter from the editor W

hen the Murmur editorial board started discussing what the next topic for our cover story would be, initially, I had only one idea: I’d heard of this group centered in Waterford called Bryan’s HOPE (Heroin and Opium Prevention and Education).

I hadn’t heard much, only that it was some sort of program that was committed to educating the community about drug abuse and addiction.

The presence of this group struck me as peculiar—as a nerdy middle-class white girl living in a suburban neighborhood, I do not see a lot of hardcore drug abusers. I see white boys touting marijuana use, sometimes LSD or shrooms, but nothing honestly believeable. Keeping this in mind, I formulated a plan to call up the founder of the group and ask her why exactly Waterford needed them, and consequently to write a story about that idea: does Waterford have a drug problem we should be aware of?

But the second I brought this to the editorial board, everyone was apprehensive, and understandably so. So far, I had no idea if the story was even going to work—just a phone number, a woman who might not even talk to me. We deliberated, and momentarily bickered, for a few days to no avail. There were other stories brought into consideration but none felt as relevant this, so, we went with it for the moment to see how the initial interview went.

The first interview we conducted with Jeannie Richards, founder of Bryan’s HOPE, solidified the importance of this

story. She was so compassionate and driven to make her mark on this community that it felt almost fraud to leave her intentions unwritten. Besides this, she was very responsive, giving us her personal phone number in case we needed to contact her with ease and other potential sources to contact.

Richards’ own story revealed to us a trend that we had not previously been aware of. No one on our staff had heard of the multitude of heroin related deaths in Waterford, so a nerve was struck and a story sparked.

We realize at the Murmur that drug abuse, at least in high school settings, sometimes feels cliche and over-covered. That was also an original fear in covering this story. There is always the argument that people who do drugs will always do drugs and people who don’t probably won’t, and we recognize this.

But our point in writing this cover piece is not a guilt-trip into why you should not do drugs. It’s purpose is more to ask, and answer from different perspectives, whether or not Waterford has a “drug problem” and if we should be worried.

And for those individuals in Kettering who may be suffering from an addiction and want help, we wanted those resources to be easy for them to find.

We hope that this story covers that idea well—without sounding like your mom.

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Take polls, flip through recent photos, read Twitter: @WaterfordDrift Instagram: @waterforddrift stories, and see a new photo of the Vine: Waterford Drift www.waterforddrift.com week EVERY week 03 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

Donating blood is a process, not just any one can give up two cups of their blood because they want to miss class.

Once a participant meets all requirements from the drive, such as age, weight, and iron levels, they are ready to be poked. Smooth small talk initiates before anything drastic happens, along with the investigation of the vein.

After the vein is located, the donor is instructed to lay their arm down, breathe, and just enjoy the ride. With a dangling arm off the bed, and a combination of tape and paper rolled up in their donating hand, the donor stimulates their own blood flow by gravity. Pretty crazy.

As the donor twirls the makeshift stress ball in their hand, they are accompanied by the music playing softly in the corner.

“The music made me feel more comfortable and kept my mind off the fact that I had something stuck in my vein,” senior Julia Smith said.

Want to read more? Go to www.waterforddrift.com for the rest of the story and plenty of others!

NEWS // THE MURMUR

APPLE

for the te cher

BY HANNAH NEAL Staff Writer hannahneal17@waterforddrift.com

down,” Gilbert said. “The teachers don’t know how to work them and they take a while to get 0 inches of black screen stares at them hooked up to the TVs.” senior CJ Gilbert as her teacher Although students claim the iPads have sighs in defeat. Twenty minutes slowed down some of their classrooms, others have passed and there are still no notes to be say the iPads have actually accomplished their seen. goal.

A look of resignation “The new iPads crosses her teacher’s are fantastic,” face as she picks up a Spanish teacher whiteboard marker and Susan Abrams begins to jot down notes said. “It’s easier for the day the same way for the students she always has. to see and the Starting this year, pictures are teachers at Kettering have clearer.”

Spanish teacher, Susan Abrams received brand new iPad To many, Airs and a seventy inch the iPads have flat-screen TV was put into brought about an every classroom. entirely different way of learning.

Though these iPads were intended to “I think the classes are better with the iPads promote new ways of learning, students are because we can do so many more things in on the fence about their overall effectiveness class now, like look up stuff for projects and in the classroom. show the whole class.” junior, Jeremy Wharton “It’s worse with the iPads because it slows us said.

There have been some problems in which the iPads have been unable to work without difficulty, such as in the 500 hall. The teachers are being Apple has sold 13 million booted off of airplay and their iPads iPads to education systems have had trouble connecting to the TVs. K-12 and higher “Hopefully, it will become more consistent so that I can rely on the iPads iPads account for about more,” Abrams said.

94% of tablet usage in

Though multiple specialists have been brought in to help with the U.S. school districts iPad trouble, many teachers give up on There are over 500,000 the iPads all together after struggling for several minutes and they return to apps available on the app their whiteboards. store Surprisingly, students actually prefer The Apple store has over the old way of doing things and like it better when their teachers use the 80,000 education apps whiteboards.

“I like the whiteboards better because the class can move quicker when the whiteboards are used,” 04 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

7

“

The new iPads are fantastic. It’s easier for the students to see and the pictures are clearer.

Fast Facts

“

Kettering students and staff uncover the positive and negative effects the new iPads have on learning

Lessons Learned Math teacher Ms. Donelko teaches a lesson to her students using her iPad Air. Photo by Bridget Ekis

Wharton said.

Teachers are also better “trained” to use their whiteboards. They have been around them longer and are more comfortable with them.

“The whiteboards are better because the teachers suck at technology and the whiteboards are much more simple,” freshman, Nikol Huff said.

The teachers had training at the beginning of the year, before they received the new technology. Some of them still have trouble maneuvering the ipad and it’s functions.

“I am looking forward to more specific training, but the transition was easier for me because I had an iPhone first, which is very similar,” Abrams said.

Hopefully, when the teachers receive more training and begin to become more comfortable with the iPads, it will allow them to utilize the iPads and their full potential.

“I think that the iPads have potential in terms of technology to allow us to use new innovative ways to look at information,” Social studies teacher Natalie Britten said. “Different apps for education are more accessible for students and go past what textbooks offer.”

THE MURMUR // NEWS

Illustration by Joshua Marko

S M E L B O R P Y C I L PO

BY GRACE MOULTRUP Staff Writer gracemoultrup17@waterforddrift.com

Students voice their opinion on paying to park

S

ophomore Marissa Roberts grinned proudly at the car that she received for her 16th birthday, but soon after, she came to find that she’s not allowed the simple responsibility of driving her own car to school due to that fact that she’s only a sophomore.

According to the parking pass policy, only juniors and seniors are allowed parking passes.

“It’s extremely frustrating that I can’t even drive my own car to school,” Roberts said. “I feel like that would make things so much easier on me and my family, I earned my license as much as any other junior did who can drive to school.”

“The only reason sophomores who are 16 can’t get passes is because there is just not enough space,” principal Jeff Frankowiak said.

Students argue Frankowiak’s statement.

“I do think there is enough space, but in the same respect I also think that it would be much tighter parking and more likely for accidents and car damage to happen.” Roberts said.

Roberts is not the only student that has a problem with the parking pass policy.

“It’s stupid that we pay to drive to school,” junior Ciara Mahrle said. “Some kids are forced to drive to school, it could be their only way, maybe their parents work.”

Teachers recognize students not wanting to pay for a parking pass, although they argue it’s on the cheaper end of the spectrum compared to many schools.

“Our rates have always been reasonable,” Career and College Recourse

Adviser , Laurie Ankoviak said. “Even private schools charge for parking passes.”

On the other hand, Mahrle argues “not many people can even afford the parking passes.”

Rick Helm, Parking Lot Attendant said “Nothing really stands out mostly they complain about prices, if you don’t like the price, the district pays to provide buses. We are one of the cheapest schools when it comes to parking passes, but students want to know why it costs money and why they’re paying just to park, and what the money goes to, the money goes to the school district, it helps us, and by having a pass, I can help you”, Helm said. “I can tell students if their lights are out, or if their car is dead and I can only get a hold of them by their pass. I can inform them so they can figure out something and don’t have to

panic.”

Mahre agreed that she would pay to help the school.

“The only reason I could see someone that would support paying for the passes is if the money went to something good, like sports,” Mahre said.

“The money students pay for parking passes goes to the wear and tear on Kettering’s roads, and snow removal, students don’t realize how much that costs,” Frankowiak said Frankowiak said “I don’t believe there’s too much negative feedback from the students” and Helm agreed, and said “not too many complaints, the main ones I hear are about prices though.” Frankowiak told us that “if students have trouble affording the parking pass, we work with their families, the schools can come to a deal with most families who have financial hardships.

Despite the opposing teacher/student opinions, Kettering’s parking passes go for cheaper than most schools with regulated permits.

“Parking Passes are used to regulate who is permitted on campus, Frankowiak said, “if we did not authorize entry on premises it wouldn’t be safe for the students.”

P a r k i n g passes, although inconvenient, are is t Ek meant for the better. ridge

by B

Photo

05 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

NEWS // THE MURMUR

Leading the way every day The Students Leading Students organization shows how they lead in the Kettering community

BY ALLY PIERCHALA Social Media Editor allisonpierchala17@waterforddrift.com t’s 7:20 am, Kettering Social worker cause you are trying to make a differGina Flavin sits down in her office and ence and change,” sophomore Sinbegins to review the pile of papers sit- claire Sahajdack said. ting on her desk. Flavin is responsible SLS helps bring together members for many aspects in the Kettering com- of the Kettering community of different munity. One of Flavin’s jobs is being the grades to provide support and work advisor for the SLS, or Students Leading together to make the Kettering environStudents, after school club. ment and surrounding community a posiSLS may often be confused with Lead- tive and safe place to be. ership, however Leadership is a class.

Members of SLS have worked on Though SLS and student leadership are projects like peer resistance and anti often confused as one due to their simi- drinking and drug campaigns. A selectlar names, they are not the same. SLS ed 25 students are working on going is an organization that focuses into elementary schools in Oakland on the positive impacts on Ketcounty to express anti tering and also the community. drinking and drugs and SLS has approximately 60 the power of non-violent students that meet with Flavin actions toward one anand come up with unique and other. positive things, they as a group, “I really enjoy being can do to positively impact the able to teach fifth gradKettering community as well as Sean Stanisz, 9 ers to say no to drugs, the waterford community. you’re the teacher, you The group meets every other monday teach them, they see you as a role modto discuss what activities they can do. In el,” senior Andrea Sanchez said. these meetings members discuss events The recent training of new members coming up, then break into groups ac- joining SLS have been going through cording to the event, or month, and and learning what it takes to be in the members will then sign up to work on club. them.

“I enjoy getting to do fun activities that “It feels great to help out with other also help students out,” Stanisz said. students having an all around good Trainees have been spotted handtime,” freshman Sean Stanisz said. ing out cards to Kettering students with SLS affects the community by work- positive and mood lifting messages to ing with other in school organizations, brighten fellow captain’s days. like student council, to help the Kettering SLS have also been working on a community.SLS teamed up and have bunch of fun surprises for the remaining been working on what they call Treats parts of the school year. for Troops an activity where students can By adding and training new memdonate candy to working troops. bers the club has flourished. SLS focuses “we wanted to give back to the most on the serious factors and radiating troops and it was brought to our atten- the good things in the community, while tion we could donate,” sophomore Col- also doing fun and upbeat activities to leen Squanda said. keep the Kettering community a fun and SLS has also been taking part in Happy place to be. working on ‘peer resistance skills’ that “We hope to accomplish students connects SLS to a former Kettering orga- supporting other students and helping nization called PPI. students make a difference in the lives of The Main focus of the club is to work peers and the community,” club advisor on ways they can make a change at Gina Flavin said.

Kettering, also to radiate positive actions and help improve the community for the better. “ It really makes you feel good be-

I

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It feels great to help out with other students

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06 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

WHAT’S YOUR DEFINITION OF A LEADER? A leader is someone who is willing to work for the good of others, Colleen Squanda, 10

Someone who puts other people before themselves, and guides them in the right direction, Jessie Nye, 10

Someone you can turn to in need, and someone who’s a good listener, Riley Dingman, 10

A leader is someone who’s confident and shows pride in their work, James Malone, 11

Someone who goes above and beyond to make a positive impact in their scool and community, Garret Zimmerman, 12

M

THE MURMUR // NEWS

ichigan adness

BY BECCA POSIGIAN Staff Writer rebeccaposigian16@waterforddrift.com

How much do teachers and students actaully know about the colleges they claim to love?

T

Illustration by Joshua Marko

I’ve just always been a Michigan fan becuase that’s the household I grew up in. We’re all Michigan fans, so it’s basically in the family I come from.

Alex Dorcey, 10

People from Michigan are really stuck-up.

Michigan State also seems like a lot more fun of a school to go to.

Haley Tewes, 11

he television is on, the better one? Are the bright flashes of color campus sizes, list of most catch his eye while successful majors, sports he leans forward on the teams, and more actually edge of his seat and listens taken into account when intently for the start of the people vouch for the school biggest state rivalry game of their choice? of the season--the Michigan MSU has over 200 versus Michigan State programs of undergraduate, college football game. graduate, and professional Junior Alex Church is study on a campus of 5,200 excited and beyond anxious acres. There are a total of for the game, hoping that 538 buildings, including the school he prefers wins 95 academic ones that the match-up. have held approximately Not only does Church 532,000 Michigan alumni. favor Michigan State for U of M offers 250 their sports teams, but graduate programs to the school as a place for students; including those learning as well. who are across the world.

“Michigan State In total, the school of University is just all around a more friendly campus than Michigan,” he said. “ E v e r y b o d y Natalie Britten, MSU there is nice alumnus to each other and there are some great people there. 3,452 acres has more than They have better sports and 540,000 alumni; 18,000 academic programs than of them are international.

Michigan too.”

At Kettering, it’s common Church prefers Michigan to walk by physics teacher State over Michigan, Nathan Nicholson and see but there are others who him decked out in U of M couldn’t help but feel the attire. It’s also common to exact opposite. see the huge ‘GO GREEN, “I believe Michigan GO WHITE’ banners is better than Michigan against the glass above State because it has some math teacher Stephanie of the best academic, Donelko’s door. Obviously medical, and law schools Kettering’s teachers are in the world,” junior Chris equally as split on the Thompson said. decision as Kettering’s The debate has been students are. going on for decades now.

“I think MSU is a different Which school is ultimately kind of atmosphere and it’s

“

You just get a good feeling when you’re there.

“

a little bit more laid back,”

Civics and AP World History teacher, Natalie Britten said. Britten is also an MSU alumnus.

“I feel like the people are friendlier and it’s such a beautiful campus. Not that U of M isn’t nice, it’s just that Michigan State has a homey feeling to me. I love it. It’s just fun and it’s a great place. I can’t explain it entirely. You just get a good feeling when you’re there.”

Language Arts and Leadership teacher, Christopher Burlingame, has a copy of The University of Michigan Story sitting on the ledge of his whiteboard and a ‘Go Blue’ banner hanging in the Student Council office. Burlingame is also a U of M alumnus and loves to display pride for U of M whenever he has the chance.

“Michigan has a long history of tradition combined with excellence.”

Burlingame said.

“My choice to attend was in part the atmosphere and educational programming offered by U of M. I felt I would fit in and thrive with accomplishing my educational goals. I’ve always been a Wolverine— ever since I was young.”

At the end of the game Church realized that it doesn’t really matter what college name is on your jersey, or what colors you wear on game day. What matters is enjoying the game and the schools who play them.

DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 07

FEATURE // THE MURMUR

A bunch about lunch

Long lines

R

ing, junior Jackie Lopez hears the bell ring as everyone gets up to leave the lunch room, yet Lopez just received a warm sub sandwich.

“The lines are always really long and I have to wait a long time to get my lunch,” Lopez said.

BY CALVIN HABBA Exchange Editor Calvinhabba18@waterforddrift.com

Some people say there should be two sub lines instead of just one. They believe it will be a lot more convenient.

“If there were two lines, people would get to eat their lunch in time without being late for class,” freshman Jacob Cristofori said.

The art of cutting in line is found to be very disrespectful and aggravating.

“It doesn’t bother me when one person cuts in line,” Junior Chad Fegan said. “What really ticks me off is when a group of students decide that they should get their

Illustration by Joshua Marko

lunch before anyone else.”

In attempt to make a single file line on sub days, Tyrone Logan, a hall monitor at Kettering put up long yellow caution signs.

“I put up the caution sign last year because I thought it would be the best way to stop students from cutting,” Logan said.

The students at Kettering adore the subs that get served every Wednesday and Friday, however there are many possibilities to make the sub lines run smoother and more efficiently.

Controversial campus Kettering should have an open campus so students can leave the school to get their lunch, or they should be able to have lunch delivered to them. Also, this makes the students more responsible.

Kylee Cooper, 10 An open campus would be cool because I would get to eat outside food that taste a lot better than what the school serves for lunch.

Peter Eichhorn, 12

A closed campus would be safe because students could get into car accidents and that would just look bad for the school.

Courtney Moore, 11

Kettering should have a closed campus because there isn’t a lot of fast food restaurants near by, so students would have to drive far distances. Also, students would get into more car accidents.

Tyrone Logan, hall monitor

Forced fruit

F

Hesitant Hannah Senior Hannah Gebstadt picks up an apple for her lunch.

Photo by Bridget Ekis

reshman Amber Zielinski starts to punch in her student ID as she hears the lunch lady say she needs a fruit. Zielinski goes back to the fruit station to pick up a cup of pre-sliced pears.

“I don’t think we should have to take a fruit with our lunch if we don’t feel like eating one,” Zielinski said.

“I don’t even eat my fruit because I have no time.”

Fruits have the essential vitamins that allow an average high school student to function regularly.

08 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

“According to the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, a minimum of half a cup of fruits or vegetables are a required component for a complete meal,” Doreen Simonds, the associate director of Nutrition and Purchasing Services said.

Fruits have many health benefits like reducing the chance of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

“Students should try fruits,” Simmonds said. “We offer a great variety of fruits and veggies every

day so students don’t get tired of eating the same thing.”

Many students would say the fruits at Kettering go to waste.

“I always throw away my fruit because I don't like the taste of it,” freshman Reno Bunce said.

A majority of students don’t mind taking a fruit with their lunch ; however the time and presentation of the fruit can be the deciding factor between a student actually eating that fruit or throwing it away.

THE MURMUR // OPINION

Situationships The difference of having a “thing” and being in an actual “relationship” is the heart in-between.

I

n a world where smiley face emojis hint to someone that you like them, and goodnight texts show that you are cared about, another level of an “intimate relationships” are formed and out of it comes frustration, confusion, and constantly wondering, “When will he ask me out already?!”

A Situationship is the idea that two people can be intimate and spend time together, but without the structure of an official committed relationship. Essentially, it is another term for “friends-withbenefits”, but the difference is that Situationships involve spending more time doing the same things that couples do, which makes it all more frustrating.

“When I hear the word situationship, I think of what people call a ‘thing’,” said freshman Baila Lakatos. “It’s like when two people know they like each other and they kinda act like they’re in a relationship but they’re not actually boyfriend and girlfriend.”

At first glance, a Situationship might sound kind of nice, but there is a catch. If you’re the woman in

BY VERONICA LATIMER Photo Coach veronicalatimer@waterforddrift.com

the relationship, there is a kind-of expectation set on you that you won’t take advantage of the in-exclusivity by flirting with other guys.

So now, you’re in a relationship that you are expected to commit to, but are not sure if you can expect the same from your partner, because you’re not really in a relationship.

“The worst thing about a situationship is that your partner can be talking to other people, but you don’t really have a right to get mad at them because you’re not actually dating,” Lakatos said.

“The whole idea of a situationship is unclear. If you set up rules, then it sounds like you’re in a relationship, and if someone asks if you’re dating and you say no, your other may get mad at you for saying that. Overall a situationship is very unclear and confusing.”

The advantage of a situationship is that they’re easy to come by, and the disadvantage is that they’re easy to come by. It’s basically a lazy relationship; you

don’t make the time to get to know someone because you don’t want your feelings for them to grow. If you think about the time when you were a kid and would pluck all the poor little petals off a flower while saying “he loves me”, “he loves me not”, to decide whether you were in love, you can understand better situationships, and how to prevent them.

There are many things you can do to either avoid being put in a situationship, or to quickly get out of one!

First, don’t lead them on for too long! That is probably the number one reason why a situationship exists is because people get led on too long and wait to get asked out. It’s just like taunting a puppy. If you wave a bone in their face but never give it to them, what was the point? It will benefit you both better in the long run if you tell them what you’re thinking, so the other doesn’t make assumptions and start to think you’re saying “Au Revoir!”

Second, don’t lie to

your partner. Another go-given, but a lot of relationships these days don’t last long simply because of lack of trust. Lying to your other is never a good idea! You want to be able to tell them everything and have them believe you, and your partner expects the same as well.

Third, be honest with what you want in the situationship. If you simply want intimacy without additional expectations, be upfront about what you’re looking for. If situationships aren’t your style and you see one quickly approaching, curve it! Mama was always right, sometimes you just have to suck it up and wait for what you want to come. After all, “all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage.”

In the end, setting boundaries and being clear about your intentions is the best way to get what you want. Whether you’re just searching for the title of “His Girl,” or hoping to get a few heart emojis by your contact name in his phone, a Situationship can be a good or a bad thing. -xoxo (kissy face)

DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 09

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POSSIBLE IS EVERYTHING.

Architecture and Design | Arts and Sciences | Engineering | Management

Lawrence Technological University | Office of Admissions 21000 West Ten Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075-1058 | 800.225.5588 | admissions@ltu.edu | www.ltu.edu

10 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

B

eauty and the east

BY BAILEY CASWELL Staff Writer baileycaswell17@waterfordddrift.com

T

he Waterford Kettering Drama Club proudly presents- Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The cast and crew have put in long hours and lots of hard work to bring us this play, which will debut on November 13th.

Seniors Kelly Anderson and Charlie Nick will be playing the two lead roles, Belle and the Beast.

“Being a Disney princess is probably the coolest opportunity ever,” Kelly Anderson said. “Its always been a dream of mine and now I get to check it off my bucket list. This is my first time having a lead role in a musical,” Anderson said.

Having both been in productions before, they are excited to have big roles in this one considering its their last year of high school.

“It was a role I was really hoping for. I worked extra hard during the auditions,” Nick said.

Being a part of something so big here at Kettering is an experience they will not forget.

They have formed strong bonds with the people they work with.

“Most of the cast and I have been friends for years,” said Charlie Nick. “Being a part

1.

THE MURMUR // FEATURE

A tale as old as time comes alive at Kettering of this experience really draws us closer together because there is no shame in being yourself on stage. We are able to express and push ourselves and its incredible to watch each other grow,” Nick said.

Being involved in high school music is an outlet for many students. Whether they’re in band, choir, orchestra drama or a mix of them all.

“Whenever you are in a production there is a HUGE sense of family. The directors become our parents and the cast and crew are like the children. Being a senior this year, I definitely feel a lot more emotions towards leaving the drama department,” said Kelly Anderson.

Play the character, be the character.

“Lucky for me Belle is a very relatable character, I love books just like her, we’ve both been through some hard times, and it’s been the coolest thing becoming her,” Anderson said.

They have a strong grip on the characters they’re playing which will shine through on stage.

“Everyone has those moments where you feel alone and the world is against you, but

there is always a bright side to everything.

The Beast, towards the beginning, sees beauty as something that is external. Toward the end he realizes that inner beauty is just as or more important. That is something that I have dealt with myself focusing on who I really am rather than who I appear to be,” said Nick.

They both also have a favorite song that they can’t wait to perform/hear performed.

Whether they know it or not, it’s the same one.

“I may be a bit biased but my favorite song is one that the Beast sings called, “If I Can’t Love Her.” The song is just so empowering with so much emotion that I am very excited to see how the audience reacts to it,” Charlie said.

Kelly has said that’s her favorite song as well.

“My favorite song is actually one that Charlie sings, called “If I Can’t Love Her,” said Anderson.

If you missed the play, it’s available for purchase on DVD. A classic story of an enchanted rose, and exiled Beast and a beauty, laced with good old fashioned Disney magic.

3.

1.SWEPT OFF HER FEET Senior Kate Anderson flirtatiously leaps into sophomore Brendan Martin’s arms

2.LIGHT IT UP LUMIERE Senior Joeseph Nadon welcomes the crowd to the castle during Be Our Guest

3.FATHER KNOWS BEST

5.

2.

Senior Kelly Anderson believes in her crazy fathers ideas

4.CUP OF LIFE

4.

After a long journey of living life as a tea set, senior Brianna Lilleyman and Ever Liedel celebrate being human again

5.DINE AND DANCE

Seniors, Kelly Anderson and Charlie Nick, waltz across the ballroom after their first successful dinner date

Photos by Hannah Gebstadt and Veronica Latimer

DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 11

FEATURE // THE MURMUR

Putting the giving in

BY JULIE DENNIS Entertainment editor juliedennis@waterforddrift.com

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time full of overindulgence and gluttony, a stark contrast to the holiday’s original purpose. It is well know that Thanksgiving’s main purpose is to be reminded to be grateful for all that we have. This is not new information to anyone. There are numerous ways that people can easily be reminded that they should be grateful. Students at Kettering have various ideas on ways people can practice being thankful for this holiday season.

Ways to be

thankful

Students can write their teacher(s) an appreciation note.

Travell Weatherby 11

Make everyday count.

Kara Adams, 12

Give back to the community.

Being positive, kind and Go to a homless shelter and Give thanks.

Victoria Vander loving one another. help out.

Mandi Rusher, 11 Velde, 9 Andrea Sanchez, 12 Caleb Alexander, 12 Photo courtesy of Caleb Alexander

Five complaints that are reminders to be 1.

thankful

Student Complaint

There’s nothing to eat. Carlos Paz, 12

Reminder

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that nearly 870 million people of the 7.1 billion people in the world, or one in eight, were suffering from chronic undernourishment in 2010-2012.

3.

Student Complaint

We get too much homework. Nathan Ladetto, 11

Reminder

Globally, the number of adults who are functionally illiterate is estimated to be 796 million people. About 67 million children do not any access to primary school education.

12 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

Say some thanks to our troops.

Christina Townsend, 12

2.

Student Complaint

The Wi-Fi is soooo slow. Alex Georgiev, 11

Reminder

A report by the United Nations says that nearly three billion people around the world will have access to the Internet by the end of 2014. There are still 4.2 billion people in the world who will remain unconnected by the end of 2014.

4.

Student Complaint

I have to work today. Mariah Davis, 11

Reminder

According to tradingeconomics.com the United States unemployment rate is 5.80 percent. There are about nine million americans unemployed.

5.

Student Complaint

I’m soo tired. Caitlin Butcher, 10

Reminder

According to the Nation Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, between 2.3 and 3.5 million people have been homeless. About 1.5 million children are homeless each year.

Photos by Bridget Ekis

THE MURMUR // FEATURE

Black friday RED GOES

Black Friday Workers want Thanksgiving off to spend time with family instead

By GRACELYNN BOYLAN Staff Writer Gracelynnboylan18@waterforddrift.com

F

reshman, Audrey Jutis waited in the long line, among all of the other Black Friday shoppers, that would lead her into the Nike Outlet; one of the stores open for this crazy day. As the doors were opened to let shoppers in, customers acted like animals. Shoes were thrown, words were said and workers were left to deal with all of it.

Black Friday is a day used for businesses to go from the red; representing a loss, to the black; representing the profit of the company. Corporations use this day to gain any money lost throughout the year.

Shoppers used the term “Black Friday” to mark the start of the busy holiday season shopping. Many people also referred to it as “Black Friday” because of a financial crisis in 1869, where gold spectators tried and failed to corner the gold market.

“I go every year with my grandma, things get pretty hectic and crazy,” freshman Shayla Steele said.

There are only a few stores that are staying closed for Thanksgiving. These stores include Costco, American Girl, TJ Maxx, Dillard’s, Burlington, REI, Nordstrom, HomeGoods, Sierra Trading Post and Marshalls.

Many stores stay open though, including Walmart. The Walmart company

doesn’t stop working on Thanksgiving, neither do the workers.

“It really bothers me that they’re starting Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving,” freshman Noah Dunsmore said. “It’s busy enough on Black Friday and people should be with their families on Thanksgiving.”

Workers at Wal-Mart have have taken action to spend Thanksgiving at home with their families. A group of workers opposing early Black Friday shopping started a website and campaign to help get the day off. The campaign is called Our Walmart, and it is helping employees fight for their own family time.

The organization has many social media links and different web pages to support the cause. The workers main goal is to raise the wages paid to them on Thanksgiving if they are being forced to work, but their main goal is to cut out working on Thanksgiving all together.

“Our Campaign is pretty well known and its been busy this time of year,” An Our Walmart representative Mary Ann said. “This is our busiest time of the year.

This is when we prepare for strikes and protests. This is when we fight back.”

Recently, a page on Facebook with the same idea has been getting a lot of attention to “Boycott Black Thursday”. Overnight the page gained almost 30,000 new followers according to Huffington Post. The employee message is to “put employees

and families first”.

Long lines and hours of waiting are just some of the things experienced during early Black Friday shopping. This can’t be easily avoided, even if Black Friday didn’t start on Thanksgiving, but it would help with controlling the lines and having more workers at the store.

Walmart employees play a large role in the movement of boycotting Black Thursday, some have even dedicated their life to this. The complications that workers have faced over the years are extreme and challenging. Workers rights for family time are “respected” but not considered in the WalMart company.

“I used to go Black Friday shopping earlier than usual because I wanted to get good deals,” Wal-mart shopper, Lynnsay Clinton said. “It turned out that the deals could wait, I started to think about the workers. They deserve family time too.”

Walmart isn’t the only store that is open on Thanksgiving, but it is one of the few stores where employees are taking a stand.

Walmart employees play a large role in the movement of boycotting Black Thursday, some have even dedicated their life to this.

The complications that workers have faced over the years are extreme and challenging. Workers rights for family time are “respected” but not considered in the Walmart company.

The Point Of View of a Walmart Worker Whining Children

Carts Packed

Photo by Gracelynn Boylan

Worker monitoring

Busy Lines

All Lanes Open

Waiting Customers

DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 13

FEATURE // THE MURMUR

Perfe t Harmon A behind-the-scenes look into WKHS’ Choir

BY HAILEY STERLING Staff Writer Haileysterling18@waterforddrift.com

A

s Michelle Harness, the choir director, conducts her class she smiles as they sync and fit into perfect harmony. The Kettering choir classes are widely known but not many people take the time to think about what they actually do.

“Many people know about choir,” Harness said. “We get different groups of people like football players, band members, orchestra members.”

Despite their different backgrounds, students find common ground in the choir room.

“They all love to sing,” Harness said. “They all go to Solo and Ensemble [to perform].”

Solo and Ensemble is where many different choirs get judged and scored. Students go into a room and sight read required songs.

“Sight reading is where you read the note of a song and decide whether it is on the scale,” freshman Shayla Steele said.

They also have to sing for judges and show they have good posture and tone.

“Tone is the darkness of your voice,” freshman

Alyssa Kitchen said. “My favorite song we sing in choir is one of our warm up songs, ‘There was an Old Woman,’ because we have a dark tone and it makes us sound really good.”

According to Steele, there are many vocal exercises that happen within the choir room.

“In choir we don’t just sing, we do multiple things like exercise, warm up our voices, but most importantly we sing.“ Steele said.

The Waterford Kettering choir also takes a trip to Disney to perform in a vocal competition.

“Disney stresses me out, but it’s worth it in the end,” Harness said. “I feel people appreciate us; we do a lot of work and it pays off like during our Collage concert.”

Students at Kettering see the choir preform at various in-school concerts.

“I’ve only heard them sing a couple of songs and my favorite song [they’ve preformed] is ‘Somewhere In My Memory’,” freshman Austin Key said. “Our school choir is good.”

However, the choir does many more concerts outside of school. Americana is at the beginning of the year, later on is MSBOA Solo

I’ve seen choir and I’ve seen rain Michlle Harness directs her students to start off their singing during class.

Photos by Bridget Ekis 14 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

and Ensemble, and the last concert of the year is Pops. Coming soon this year is the Holiday Collage.

“It is our Christmas concert, so we sing multiple Christmas songs,” Harness said. “I like the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ song. We sing it because it’s a higher level and pushes us to our limits.”

Although many people think the Kettering chorus is appreciated, some don’t.

“I feel like our choir isn’t appreciated because some people don’t like the [classical] music,” freshman Jared Noogle said. “I think students would be more into joining choir if the people could connect with the music more.”

Regardless of how other people look at their class and the music that they make, dedicated choir students know the true values of the program.

“I like our music program because it helps us with our music skills” freshman Alyssa Kitchen said. “It lets us be us.”

Harness the power Choir teacher Michelle Harness conducts students during class.

Better

E LATthan never

The benefits of having late start scheduling and why Kettering has an early release instead

BY ABBY WEBB Staff Writer Abbigailwebb@waterforddrift.com

H

is senior year of high school was spent juggling activities and plans for the future. There wasn’t time for the sleep he felt was needed, and even when he did rest, it didn’t show in his performance during the school days.

It wasn't until after he graduated high school that Kettering Alumnus Anthony Kase got the sleep schedule and free time he’d always wanted.

“I’m sure it wasn’t because my teachers were boring Sleepy or anything, I think it was just the way high school worked center with those long days, and having all those things to do, it just comes down to doing less,” Kase said.

Kase is the same quirky guy he was in high school, and he continues to balance sleep and school priorities at Central Michigan University. He is not the only one who battles with balancing activities and scheduling at school.

“School is so stressful, especially for juniors and seniors who are getting prepared for college,” Avondale high school junior Cameron Noell said. “Especially if you play sports, you are already exhausted and don’t get home until 5 or 6 o’clock.”

Select schools around Oakland county have a day during the week that school begins later in the morning called a late start; Kettering however does not follow this method of scheduling.

“I agree with late start being better, but if it were to be later, practices, games, and after school activities would have to be pushed later too,” Principal Frankowiak said. Since it is required for a certain amount of hours of instruction time per year, a late start schedule would not be compatible here at Kettering.

Instead of enforcing a late start, Waterford became the school district in Oakland County to have a weekly early release. Early release was created in Waterford because instead of teacher meetings being held after school or before on a late start morning, the meetings are held after school every Thursday.

Student Junior Michael Groat rests his head during academic Photo by Veronica Latimer

“Early release is better for students, not so much teachers,” Frankowiak said. Kettering’s schedule is different than any other school in Oakland County, and it is logic and strategic planning that determine the structure of it. 1,098 hours of instruction are required in high school per year, this is why Kettering school days are seven classes a day, fifty minutes each.

In result of this, strategic planning and possible change in scheduling becomes necessary to implement a late start.

“Late start is perfect because it’s in the middle of the week so you can catch up on homework or future assignments and you can most importantly catch up on sleep,” senior at Lake Orion high school Kendall Ashman said.

Enforcing a late start in high school scheduling could benefit students sleeping routine, but would only work with scheduling that was already compatible.

Not every high school is prepared to have a schedule be completely changed around to have a late start once a week, despite how beneficial it could be to students.

All in all, it comes down to what is needed for a school as a community and the requirements involved, rather than the sleeping routine of students.

Tips to stay awake during school

Staying hydrated

Skipping meals during the school day

TRY Skipping sugar in the morning Chewing mint

AVOID Overloading on food in the morning

Energy drinks DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 15

43 of them claimed that the Waterford community does NOT have a problem Kettering students,

with drug abuse or addiction. Though the rough majority begs to differ, the rest is

16 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

McGinnis’ fate is an example of what some believe to be a growing trend specifically in the Waterford community. McGinnis, like many others who grew up within our city’s boundaries struggling with drug abuse, often attended meetings of a local group called Bryan’s HOPE (Heroin & Opium Prevention & Education), a Waterford-centered and Waterford-based group made in response to the growing number of deaths in the community caused by heroin, opium, and prescription drugs.

“About a year ago, I learned of the tenth death in the neighborhood that my kids grew up in that was influenced by heroin [within a two year span],” founder of Bryan’s HOPE Jeannie Richards said. “My son being one of the 10. It didn’t make sense to me that so many young people could die from the same thing and no one was saying anything about it.”

Bryan’s HOPE is named after Richard’s son, who

100

A trend and a reaction

In a survey of

Kyle McGinnis, uncle of Fontieas, was 18 when he got his first “dose” of heroin from someone on the streets. He battled with the drug on and off throughout the years, and in a bout of remission last October he attained what police called a “bad batch” that killed him almost instantaneously after working it’s way into the bloodstream. He was 24 years old, leaving behind a two-year-old daughter and a bewildered extended family, including Fontieas.

“His funeral was over filling with people I didn’t recognize,” Fotineas said. “They’d all gone to church with him, and he’d touched their lives somehow. It was really sad.”

F

reshmen Ty Fotineas describes his uncle as being “tall, nice, and extraordinarily funny.” He attended a local Waterford church every Wednesday and Sunday, and was an active participant in church functions. However, after service was over and the crowds of chatty neighbors and old friends evaporated from the church pews, he sat down with the pastor to talk about something no one else in the church ever knew about.

INDEPTH // THE MURMUR

SMOK

UPIN

BY ALEXEA HANKIN & CATHERINE HABBA Editor-in-Chief // Managing Editor alexeahankin@waterforddrift.com catherinehabba@waterforddrift.com

Continued on page 18

And though Richards’ community outreach Facebook page has grown from a few mothers sitting on a computer to a full-fledge non-profit charity, there are still those who believe that Waterford does not have any extreme problem with abusing drugs.

graduated from Mott and overdosed on heroin at 26. Initially, Richards struggled with talking about her son’s overdosage with anyone. She believed it was a taboo subject, one no one ever talked about unless behind closed doors. However, after hearing of the most recent deaths of one of Bryan’s fellow classmates, she took action.

“At first, I started a facebook page called ‘Heroin Epidemic in Waterford Michigan,’” Richards said. “Within one week, the page had 700-800 likes and in eight year’s time we now have three thousand people who regularly come to the page to ask advice and seek out support.”

In 2013, that Facebook page became Bryan’s HOPE—a full-fledge nonprofit charity group, intent on bettering the community and spreading awareness about the dangers of drug abuse. Bryan’s HOPE works closely with the Waterford Coalition and several other community programs to stay connected to Waterford citizens.

THE MURMUR // INDEPTH

KE

DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 17

INDEPTH // THE MURMUR *Continued from page 17

year anniversary of becoming a nonprofit, and Richards says she is proud of the work “I don’t think Kettering students do drugs they’ve done in the community so far. any more or less than any other school “We’re a community sounding board,” around,” senior Alicia Haines said. she said. “We get all walks of people at However, national statistics beg to differ. our meetings: We get families that are In Michigan University’s 2013 Monitoring looking for help with a loved one, we the Future study, it was revealed that 50.4 get recovering addicts looking for ways percent of high school seniors in the US to share what they went through. A lot of have tried illicit drugs within their lifetimes, it helps them stay recovered when time—25 percent in the last month. they can help other people.”

“I don’t think we’d be considered a Outside of the meetings, Bryan’s HOPE ‘heavy’ contributor to that statistic,” junior is still at work—some members work Emily Downing said. “But I do think we specifically on alerting legislators to their contribute. At least a moderate amount.” cause, and others are out actively finding Gina Flavin, a psychologist at Kettering, and assisting the addicts and families they admits that while our school may not have meet through their addiction. a problem more intense than any other “My family would tell you that I barely school, we’d be in denial to say that there live in Waterford anymore,” Richards said. is none at all.

“I spend about 20 I think the one thing that we Where it begins hours a day need to realize about drug helping, addiction is that it is a disease. It finding, “It’s hard for me to believe, but the probreaching is a sickness, and it needs to be lem starts really early,” people all treated like one.

Flavin said. “Kids are around exposed to drugs in Jeannie Richards, Founder of Bryan’s HOPE and I’m not fourth and fifth grade the only and it just goes on from there. Sometimes one. There’s a lot of us who spend their people get them from their parents because time contacting and finding resources for their parents are addicted. There’s just so people.” many factors that go into someone’s exposure to drugs.”

The verdict Flavin explains that many people are exposed to drugs though people who are Jeannie Richards has seen her fair close to them—when most students pick share of drug abuse, but she knows that up their first substance, they don’t see it as this city has a long ways to go before the the threat of an addiction. They see it as a majority shares her vision. one-time thing, something to get their mind “Quiet little town, with all the white-pickoff of the stress around them. et fences and the beautiful lakes,” she said.

“As a parent, prescription drugs scare “You would never know the death and me the most,” Flavin said. “Because there’s destruction that’s going on underneath.” no way of knowing. I can’t screen my kids Richards says that to make drug abuse to see if they took someone else’s Addertangible in the minds of those who do not all.” already see it, we have to stop looking at Prescription drugs are especially frighten- drug awareness as the same old scolding ing, says Flavin, because students may to those who do drugs. She claims we must get addicted on a substance their doctor destigmatize the common perceptions of prescribed to them for an illness or injury, drug-related conversations, and the percepwithout even knowing they’ve become tions of drug abusers themselves. dependent on the drug until the prescrip“When we hear that somebody has tion runs out and they have withdrawal cancer, we don’t turn and walk away,” symptoms.

Richards said. “We don’t keep quiet. We do fundraisers and we help families and Coming together we come together. But that’s the one thing people don’t understand about drug use— “My goal is to help as many families its the same thing. It is a disease of the I can to avoid this by educating them,” mind. And we need to have compassion Richards said. “To let them know what is for those who fall into it.” going on, what to look for, and what to do if they find it.”

Bryan’s HOPE has just celebrated it’s one

“

“

18 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

WKHS BY THE NUMBERS Do you smoke cigarettes?*

63

said NO

37

said YES

Have you tried marijuana?*

41

59

said NO said YES 21 students* have tried marijuana within the last month

Have you tried any illicit drugs?*

91

9

said NO said YES 1 student* has tried illicit drugs within the last month

USA BY THE NUMBERS

Do you smoke cigarettes?**

62%

said NO

38%

said YES

Have you tried marijuana?**

77%

23%

50%

50%

said NO said YES Have you tried any illicit drugs?**

said NO said YES 25% had tried illicit drugs within the last month *In a survey of 100 Kettering students **According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s 2013 Monitoring the Futre study

The CM-911 Act Before After

A group of friends are doing drugs together

THE MURMUR // INDEPTH

Making the change

A group of friends are doing drugs together

On October 13th, Jeannie Richards attended the signing of a bill that herself and the members at Bryan’s HOPE had lobbied months for. She, along with other Michigan drug awareness groups, were influential in the passing of the House Bill 5407 (also known as CM-911) that revolutionaized care for overdosing people. Not only are all EMTs required to carry overdose-retracting medicine within their medical vehicles, they are also required to obtain training for overdosage response.

Resources

One friend overdoses

Everyone leaves.

The friends do not call the police or an ambulance for fear of arrest and the friend is left helpless.

One friend overdoses The friends are able to call 911 and are enabled from prosecution. Basically, they will not get in trouble for calling for help even though they’re doing something illegal.

Signs of an overdosage Loss of balance

Internal bleeding

Vomiting/Diarrhea

Hallucinnations

Zzz...

Coma

Bryan’s HOPE founder Jeannie Richards

248.410.4163

Bryan’s HOPE also has meetings on the third wenesday of every month at the Waterford Police Department.

Waterford Kettering Social Worker Gina Flavin

FlaviG01@wsdmi.org Waterford Kettering Social Worker Gina Flavin

OsburJ02@wsdmi.org Seizure DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 19

OPINION // THE MURMUR

A

UP

Walking

BY BROOKE BOYER Staff writer brookeboyer17@waterforddrift.com

I

N DOW

A school day for someone with ADHD is like

Escalator

it takes awhile but eventually you get there

t all started when I was in first understanding and focusing on on ADHD, and didn’t ever treat grade, excessive talking remarks things. me as lesser because of the way I written on my report card, phone She was one of the few focused and learned things. calls home because I was “that teachers who actually understood My parents decided to student”. The teachers probably that I had troubles, she was very medicate me towards the end of dreaded having me in their class. sympathetic with the fact that as 3rd grade. The changes were I earned good grades and was a student with ADHD it takes me incredible, what was almost smart, I was good there. But twice as long to learn things. impossible for me, has been managing to stay in my seat, my And for that, I will never forget effortless ever since. My first time inability to allow words to come my 3rd grade teacher Mrs. getting medication was like the first out of my mouth before going Spolan, for one reason and one time I got glasses. The things my through my head, and staying on reason only; she’s the only teacher teachers and parents were asking task and not talking to my friends I’ve ever had who was educated of me finally became clear, and while the teachers were talking seemed literally of all 4-17 year olds in the impossible for me.

U.S have ADHD. That is This wasn’t just average behavior for a first grader. My parents children in the US with ADHD and teachers started to notice, but at school it was always treated like “bad behavior”. Most of my second grade year was spent on me being taught on how to be more of these of 6.4 million diagnosed aware of my actions and impulses and how they are taking were affecting those medication around me.

When I reached the 3rd grade, my teacher Males are and my parents worked There has been a very closely. After testing, and seeing a psychiatrist it was determined that I was suffering from ADHD. But I wasn’t put on medication just yet. Thus my teacher was aware. She worked times more likely with me very closely and to be diagnosed didn’t make me feel like than females an outcast or a burden because I had troubles

11%

6.4 MILLION

3.5 MILLION

the tasks and lessons the teachers were trying to teach me gradually made more sense to me.

As I get older I start to realize that my teachers are quite uneducated on ADHD. There isn’t anything more frustrating when a teacher doesn’t understand that there can be students in their classroom who can’t focus because they’re moving too way too fast on the notes, or has no rules on the volume level of the students during work time, and that sometimes students with ADHD work a lot slower than others.

What’s often forgotten and overlooked is that ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder in the U.S. This leaves about 5% of students affected by it. Teachers are bound to have a student in their class who suffers from it.

Next time you see a student with what seems like repetitive “bad behavior” or doesn’t quite understand the lesson on more than one occasion try to understand that it may not be something that they can necessarily control. ADHD is a disorder, and students shouldn’t be punished for something that may be out of their control.

These numbers translate into at least TWO children in every classroom with ADHD

42% increase in ADHD diagnosis in the last eight years

What is ADHD?

3

A problem of not being able to focus, being overactive, not being able to control behavior or a combination of these. For these problems to be diagnosed as ADHD, they must be out of the normal range for a persons age and development.

20 //

WATERFORDDRIFT.COM //

DECEMBER 5, 2014

THE MURMUR // OPINION

Geek G lz

Get the D20 dice out of your ears and listen

By Erin Skibo

L

Staff Writer erinskibo16@waterforddrift.com

et’s get real here: it is the twenty first century and the geek community still discriminates against women. Since the word “nerd” was created, women have been labeled as “fake” or “attention seeking” for participating in something that is, like most other things on the great green earth, male dominated and I’m sick of it. We, as a legion of nerds, need to stop excluding women from nerd culture.

The topic of women in nerd culture came to light once comic book artist Tony Harris, known for his work on Iron Man, Starman and Ex Machina, made a Facebook post ridiculing female cosplayers for dressing scantily, pretending to be a geek and “preying on” men at conventions. After that post, legions of people, both genders, Sought women interested in nerdy things to be their targets of hate.

This hate on women doesn’t just happen at conventions, it happens online, in video games and even in person. It seems so foreign to some people that women can be nerdy and enjoy nerdy things.

While I was playing one of my favorite MOBA games I was told by some dude on purple team “You’re obviously playing (League of Legends) because your boyfriend plays, you’re not a real fan.” Seriously bro?

Um, no. I don’t think a fake fan would invest countless hours in a videogame or a lot of friggin money. Reality check. I do this for me, not for anyone else. I’ll Faker level wreck you in mid lane, scrub.

It’s just so infuriating to me to have people think that women are not true fans or fake because they have XX chromosomes. Sure, maybe in the fifties the geek thing was a strict all testosterone club. People think that women

do this whole nerd jig for other people, and that’s where all of this hate stems from.

I mean c’mon guys, this idea that women do everything, not just being a geek, for attention or for other people, usually of the opposite sex, is insane. Women are people too for crying out loud! They’re allowed to like whatever they want.

Look back to the beginning sentence of this little tangent and I hope maybe, just maybe it can make an impact on your mind. It’s the twenty first century, the world is billions upon billions of years old, and some dude bros still think girls can’t like Warhammer 40k?

But it’s like, totally irrelevant because girls do everything for male attention, right? Give me a break.

Erin’s top 5 favorite female video game characters

1

Vi (League of Legends) A powerful fighter who lets her fists do the talking, an ex convict turned cop. She makes up the other half of Piltover’s Finest crime fighting duo. (But seriously, I love her and want to be her when I grow up)

2

Midna (Twilight Princess) A dethroned princess, of the twilight realm who guilds Link on his journey. Overall a very snarky, sarcastic and..well.. impish monarch(Also cute to boot, but i digress)

Millia Rage (Guilty Gear) A kick butt Rapunzel in a sense, a cunning and beautiful assassin who fights with her enchanted hair on the hunt for the man who wronged her (A super sass queen might I add)

3

4

5

Sylvanas Windrunner(World of Warcraft) A rebel of the Lich King, after a successful rebellion, She became the self apointed Banshee Queen with a legion of the undead behind her(You’re pretty alright with me if you have an undead army)

Samus Aran (Metroid) The very first woman main character in a video game ever, a solider turned intergalactic bounty hunter, she slays extraterrestrial parasites and fearsome space pirates(Power Suit or no Power Suit Samus still kicks serious butt).

Photo Credit to Creative Commons

DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 21

X

OPINION // THE MURMUR

X

-mas

-list

Deck the halls after Thanksgiving

BY SARAH MURPHY Copy Editor sarahmurphy@waterforddrift.com

H

alloween is probably my favorite holiday.

If you do it right, the creative opportunities and fun are endless, but in recent years my Halloween has been daunted by the knowledge of what comes at midnight on the 31st of October: Christmas music Nothing ruins my Halloween spirit like a cheery rendition of “Jingle Bell Rock.” I love Christmas music, but, as has been said countless times before, there is a time and a place.

Even after Halloween, I’m not ready for Christmas music. Once the candy is gone, my mind is on turkey and pumpkin pie.

I don’t want shimmery synthetic snowflakes and candy canes when I

Sarah’s Soapbox

walk down the aisles of Walmart, I want fake leaves and masochistic plastic turkeys holding “Happy Thanksgiving!” signs.

Thanksgiving dinner should not be interrupted by “The Little Drummer Boy.” Such songs should be saved so that, come Black Friday, they hit murderous, overindulgent shoppers with full force, and potentially save some lives or limbs.

The most irritaing part of all this is knowing that, in this time of goodwill towards men, the main reason Chrstmas music plays is for money.

Radio stations gain a mass of listeners when they start playing such noveltires as “O Chridstmas Tree” and “Noel.” As you might guess, more listeners means more money. No one is shocked by this, obviously, it’s part of living in a free market society, but it’s almost insulting. This music does not come from a place of love for this cheerful time, it’s from a place of gluttony.

As soon as Thanksgiving is over, I am all about Christmas, but let’s be honest: it gets old. The allure of Christmas is that it’s special, and it only comes about once a year. It’s a fluffy time full of family gatherings, the ensuing politics debates, and cheesy Hallmark films. It is arguably the best time of the year, or at least of the winter, and I don’t want to be sick of it before it even drops down the chimney. Just let me enjoy my holidays as they come.

h’s

Top 4

a Sar The Chipmunk Song I hope he never gets a hula hoop

Least Favorite Christmas Songs

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Feliz Navidad

The only spanish portion of this that anyone gets is “Feliz Navidad” and the whole thing just repeats over and over.

22 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

The concept of my mother macking on Santa is sort of destroying my childhood. Ew.

Santa, Baby

Why are you singing seductively to an archaic, married guy who spies on children?

THE MURMUR // ENTERTAINMENT

Let’s play!

Applications from the “Google Play Store” that are currently popular among students

“Brain Wars” education

Brain wars, created by Translimit Inc, can increase your brain power with fast paced strategically planned games. The rules are simple: outscore your opponents and make your way to the worldwide rankings. Now go train your brain!

“

“ICE”

In this fast paced and addictive strategy game called Ice created by Ice Cold Muffin, you can control your army of ant-like ships. Capture your enemies ships to win the game, but beware, they might capture yours first. Earn upgrades to beat your opponents. obtain achievements for completing goals and skill based challenges like: capturing 50 bases and your first victory. Compare your scores with your friends Play Now.

games

“

BY CALVIN HABBA Exchange Editor calvinhabba@waterforddrift.com

I think it is a better time killer than other games because it requires you to think more.

Michael Malley, History teacher

What’s h

PPening?

Applications from the “App Store” that are currently popular among students

“Pac - Man Friends” games

With tilt controls, you can maneuver Pac - Man through progressively challenging mazes to rescue his friends from the Ghosts’ Castle!

Steer clear of Blinky, leader of the gang, along with his fellow ghosts Pinky, Inky, and Clyde and all new obstacles or you’ll lose a life.

Enjoy this updated game of the legendary Pac - Man!

“Duolingo” education

Learn a new language on the go through engaging mini-games that test your reading, speaking, and writing skills.

Learn languases like Spanish, French, Italian, and Porutgese.

“

“

BY JOSHUA MARKO Illustrator joshuamarko@waterforddrift.com

It’s not so much a good review tool, but it’s a good learn from

scratch tool.

Susie Abrams, Spanish teacher

DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 23

SPORTS // THE MURMUR

EARN

YOUR

STR PES Bottles of empty gatorade, sweat stained clothing and late nights followed by even earlier mornings; the winter sports season has begun.

Conditioning, try outs, practice, practice, games and more practice; Kettering’s varsity athletes provide a glance at how they prepare and maintain their positions on a varsity team, earning their stripes. Winter sports season has just begun, with previews of eight varsity teams, the Captains have more than enough reason to be cheering on their athletes. “Observing the athlete’s conditioning, I’ve seen their hard work, intensity and focus,” Waterford School’s athletic director Allison Sartorius said.

Design/Photography by Taylor Skelton Stories by Lucas Hendricks

HUFF

Dance requires tons of flexibility, so stretching is one of the most important things a dancer can do.

“I stretch a lot at home to keep NAME: Nicole Huff my flexibility,” freshman Nikol TEAM: Varsity Dance PUMP UP SONG: Oh Huff said. “I do studio dance too along with running 3-4 miles on the Boy Oh Boy by Diplo FAVORITE WORKOUT: weekends.”

Zumba

SMITH

Kettering’s wrestling team is known for their constant success. For many of the athletes the success is NAME: Rick Smith earned in the offseason, staying TEAM: Varsity Wrestling in shape and staying prepared PREGAME ROUTINE: so when the season dawns, they Long stretches and minimal are prepared.“ Coach Hanna communication has the team lifting twice a week FAVORITE PART OF with Mr.Knuuti,” sophomore Rick THE SPORT: Relationship Smith said. “We do two core lifts, with teammates and auxiliaries, and running.” coaches

TEWES NAME: Haley Tewes TEAM: Varsity Basketball PUMP UP SONG: Big Spender PREGAME MEAL: Spaghetti

24 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

“We never really stop,” junior Haley Tewes said. “We go to BSOOL and after that we have shoot around.” The Kettering girls basketball team has been very successful in the past few years, the hard work they put in before the season is just one of many reasons why. “I work out at planet fitness every once in a while, lifting weights and doing squats,” Tewes said.

Weather is unpredictable in Michigan, so the Waterford United ski team may have to deal with a lack of snow, which means a lack of time on the ski hill. To make up for that lost time the team spends time in the gym. “We do a lot of core, balance, and legs in the weight room,” senior Logan Stanley said. “We go in the gym every week, Monday through Thursday.” Its difficult for the skiers to stay in mid-season form during the off season, so the athletes have to find a way to stay in shape. “I wake board all summer long to keep myself in shape,” Stanley said.

Hockey is a year round sport for most players and the teammates on Waterford United Hockey have a variety of travel teams they play for. Once the winter comes around the boys from Mott and Kettering come together to represent the city as a united team. “We do a bunch of running,” sophomore Max Campbell said. “We also go in the weight room and go bike riding.”

Swimming may arguably be one of the most physically demanding sports, so the athletes on the varsity swim team have to stay in shape year round. “I swim year round on a club team,“ senior Joshua Schwimmer said. “The workout that I usually do is the 30x100’s.”

When the season nears the team has to push each other so they can succeed as a team “We all do the insanity as a team,” Schwimmer said.

A new coach, only one returning starter, and a new winning mind set. One thing that hasn’t changed is the motivation in the pre-season to get better. “We condition all throughout practice, everything we do we sprint,” senior Kyle Brabandt said. Brabandt is the only returning starter on the team and one of the team’s captains. “I stay positive and push other teammates to work harder,” Brabandt said. “I expect our team to have good team chemistry and to bring each other up whenever we are down.”

Competitive cheer may have a similar team compared to the sideline cheer team, but it takes a whole new level of talent and hard work. “Competitive cheer is a lot harder so we have to work out more,” sophomore Abigale Newkirk said. “When we workout we do cardio, leg workouts, and gymnastics but I work out doing more cardio at home.”

THE MURMUR // SPORTS

STANLEY NAME: Logan Stanley TEAM: Varsity Ski FAVORITE WORKOUT: Basket pickers PREGAME ROUTINE: Free runs by himself

CAMPBELL NAME: Max Campbell TEAM: Varsity Hockey AFTER GAME MEAL: Spaghetti or Steak FAVORITE PART OF SPORT: Looking out for teammates and scoring goals.

SCHWIMMER NAME: Josh Schwimmer TEAM: Varsity Swim PUMP UP SONG: Bonfire- Knife party PREGAME MEAL: Home cooked meal or Subway

BRABANDT NAME: Kyle Brabandt TEAM: Varsity Basketball PUMP UP SONG: Do the John Wall BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Working with a new coach and different players

NEWKIRK NAME: Abby Newkirk TEAM: Varsity Cheer BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Mental blocks PREGAME RITUAL: Put on right shoe before the left shoe

DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 25

M VIE TALK

BY MARIAH DUNCAN Staff Writer Mariahduncan18@waterforddrift.com

L

ate on a Friday night, freshmen Stephanie Spencer and Jake Krause head out to see the premiere of “If I Stay,” supposedly the hottest romantic movie out. Their friends told them that the movie had killer reviews, but the two are split.

After the credits rolled, they talked about their varying opinions.

“It was adorable and it hit me hard emotional wise,” Spencer said.

It easily became her new favorite movie.

Krause, not so much.

“It was tacky and way too girly,” he said.

Spencer and Krause aren’t alone when it comes down to differences in movie taste.

A good example is horror movies. The recent “Ouija” and “Annabelle” stirred up a lot of conflict in the high school community. While many see them as senseless and violent, some people love the thriller aspect.

“Annabelle was pretty good,” freshman

THE MURMUR // ENTERTAINMENT

We’ve all had experiences where we loved a movie but someone close did not.

Loved it? Hated it? “If I Stay” caused a variety of reactions.

Photo from IfIStaymovie.com

Aaron Damron said. “It was definitely scarier than Ouija, but I liked the storyline a little better.”

Ninth-grader Chase Cudnohufsky, though, said the opposite.

“It was okay but I feel like it was just jump scares,” Cudnohufsky said.

Another examples could be books that become movies. Many people say that they like a movie better when it’s not based off a book. On the site forbes.com an article written

by Carol Pinchefsky discusses 16 things “The Hunger Games” movie doesn’t clarify that the book does. Often times, people will compare the book to the movie and because they are very different platforms, many walk out of the theaters disappointed.

Four Kettering students were asked what their favorite genre is and “horror” was the most popular. It’s undecided whether or not that’s because more movies came in those genres or

I know we have different taste but overall there’s usually always something we can agree on.

Stephanie Spencer, 9

because people just enjoy that type of movie.

“The most popular genre I’d have to say depends on the season; right now because it’s so close to Halloween people are going to see horrors more than anything; but if we’re talking about overall, action [movies] are our biggest seller usually,” MJR usher and senior Brian Lowen said.

Genre, length, and type of movie all go in the same category when it comes down to deciding what movie to see; simply put, we tend to see what we find the most appealing.

Stephanie and Jake went to the theaters again the next Friday night, this time to a movie they didn’t really know anything about; it was called “The Maze Runner.” After the movie they both said they loved it; they had different favorite parts but that didn’t matter.

“I think it worked out better because neither of us knew what the movie was about in the first place,” Krause said.

We argue about each other’s opinions but sometimes not saying our opinions at all makes it easier to agree.

Jake Krause, 9

Thrive is a new art and music studio in Waterford that offers unigue, quality creative experiences!

www,buildingthrive.com

248.496.1047

tammythrive@gmail.com 7633 Highland Road Waterford 48327

Did you buy your yearbook yet?

Make sure that you do! Yearbooks are on sale now, but you better hurry: the last day to purchase one is January 15!

See Mr. Wilson in room 501 to purchase a book.

DECEMBER 05, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 27

An nym us said:

THE MURMUR // ENTERTAINMENT

The internet is a public place and nothing is kept secret for long

BY KATIE TAYLOR Staff writer katelyntaylor17@waterforddrift.com

W

hen students open the newly popular app Yik-Yak, they see this message: “You appear to be using this too close to a school. Yik Yak is for adults only.” Yik Yak is not allowed on school campuses due to its content, but underaged students are still able to use it thanks to its anonymous features.

In the past few years there has been an incredible and sudden increase in teens downloading anonymous messaging apps.

Anonymous messages can be both harmful and helpful when it comes to the internet where almost everything is public. Helpful in a way that it allow peoples to get things off their chest to someone they don’t know, which can sometimes be easier than talking to a friend, and harmful in a way that it gives easier access to internet bullies. Whether you’re using a phone app like Yik-Yak, Whisper, Wicker or you’re using a website’s anonymous feature, like tumblr’s anonymous messages, messaging is on a lot of highly trafficked websites.

Ip address means Internet Protocol address

and it allows your computer to participate on other computer networks. You will be able to find out the ip address of the anonymous messages using the steps below. If it is a hateful message you should block that user immediately. If it’s continued hate contact a parent or guardian to help you deal with it appropriately. Some websites or apps may tell you nothing can be traced which isn’t always the case.

“Somebody good with computers will find a way to find out,” said computers teacher Tony Miller. “Everyone can make the promise that you’re anonymous but there’s no way.”

The apps circulating now like Yik-Yak and Whisper allow it’s users to become anonymous while sending messages. These apps will tell you that there’s no possible way for your messages or pictures to be traced but not everything on the internet is as secure as most would think. Anything on the internet can be traced in some way whether they’re good or bad.

“I think anonymous messages are a

If it’s someone who is going to be rude and bully others then anonymous messaging is negative but people who just want to chat with their friends then it’s positive.

Cassie Vogel, 10

I feel like anonymous messging is something fake people use. I don’t see why you feel the need to hide your identity.

Landon Smith, 10

neutral thing,” said sophomore Cassie Vogel.

“Because although it can be used to bully others it’s a great way to communicate with friends who live far away.”

These apps provide an escape for some and a place for people express themselves without fear. That alone gives people a chance to take for granted the power they’re given. This abuse of power is what leads to the bullying that is so commonly found on the internet.

“I personally don’t like anonymous messages,” said sophomore Lauren Hotchkiss.

“Because people you know could go against you and say things that should be said without using the anonymous option.”

To some these apps provide a place where they can go and be rude and say harmful things to others while they think they’re completely unknown. There’s a false sense of security that goes hand in hand with being anonymous and that, on the internet, is a dangerous thing.

Nothing on the internet is secret.

On Tumblr there is a way to track those anonymous messages.

1.

Highlight the “block” link on the anonymous ask 2. Right click then click on ‘view selection source’ 3. A pop up will appear, highlight all the numbers after IP and copy them 4. Go to ‘http://whatismyipaddress. com/ip-lookup’ 5. Paste the numbers copied earlier in the ‘lookup IP address’ box

DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 27

ENTERTAINMENT // THE MURMUR

T.S. 1989

BY SARAH MURPHY Copy Editor sarahmurphy@waterforddrift.com

Taylor Swift’s new album is the coolest thing since 1989

W

hen I first put the CD in my car radio, I was praying that I hadn’t just volunteered to listen to 12 variations of “Shake it Off” as well as the original. What came through my speakers instead sounded very different than the vaguely-country Taylor Swift I’d come to know.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to inform you that Taylor Swift has left her country days in the dust, and it was actually a great decision. Every song on the album had a strong beat, and managed to sound cohesive without being redundant. By the time we got home, my sister and I were already singing along.

Taylor Swift’s first album was the soundtrack to my final years in elementary school, but along with “The Magic Tree House” and “My Littlest Pet Shop” she drifted out from under my radar. Sure, I listened to “Red” and “Mean” but they weren’t important, or tied to my life like Swift’s first album.

“1989” brought Taylor back into my line of intrest, and I’m excited to see where she takes her career next.

W.K. 2014

1989 represents Swift’s change from country to pop. Kettering students share what has changed them.

Joining the dance team helped me realize that it was easier to make friends than I thought.

Jenna Belian, 9

After my grandpa passed, I started to care more about my family.

Samantha Johnson, 11

28 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

Nine months in Children’s Village made me realize how valuable time is.

Ryan Knapp, 11

After my car accident in July, I opened my eyes to what I have, and to what I could have lost.

Shelby Thompson, 12

THE MURMUR // ENTERTAINMENT

BY DATHON SKELTON Staff writer dathonskelton17@waterforddrift.com

T

hey say danger is real, while fear is an illusion.

Sitting half way through the horror movie Ouija, directed by Stiles White, fear will jump out at you more real than ever before. The story line which portrays six friends and their experiences with the so called “game” Ouija, is full of many twists.

The Ouija board, which is the main focus of the movie, is a flat board marked with the letters in the alphabet, the numbers 0-9, the words “yes”, “no”, “hello”, and sometimes “goodbye”. It used to come in contact with spiritual figures.

The rules are simple: never play alone, and never play in a graveyard. Those who do not follow these rules, consequences will follow. For the 6 characters portrayed in the movie, many consequences occurred, due to the fact they didn’t follow

Say yes to Ouija, an indepth look of a truly horrifying film. the rules given.

When I myself sat before the movie screen, I knew right away fear would fulfil me.

A terrorful night of many scary thoughts would most likely keep me up, so I thought. The movie made me debate whether or not a Ouija board is real or not.

Before the movie, I would have easily said the board is fake, considering you buy it from a toy store. How could something made for children ever possess such scary characteristics? Well, Ouija will certainly clear that up.

I show much empathy for the fact you never know what is going to happen next. The movie leads you to expect the unexpected. During my movie experience I often believed one thing which later turned into a completely different scenario. I see that as a well designed plot.

The roles of the characters

were played very well. I thought the movie chose very good characters to play specific roles that only they themselves could pull off. For example during the movie you will encounter the old woman in the mental health facility. The role of the woman was played so well that you’d actually think she is crazy outside of acting.

She is not actually crazy, she is just a phenomenal actress.

One thing that could be a bit better was the special features. For instance, the scary effects of the movie were portrayed poorly. I found the special features a great example of the decline of the movies horror.

Overall Ouija was a very enjoyable horror movie. I still to this day get into debates whether or not the board is real. The answer to that is undecided. Is the board real, or not?

DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 29

F

D

F D

ENTERTAINMENT // THE MURMUR

BY KRISTIN WARHOLAK Assistant Editor-In-Chief kristinwarholak@waterforddrift.com

They made their come back and then vanished again. However, for the month that they were back, many people ate them everyday. This childhood favorite made it’s great return and was easily a month long fad food.

1

2 4 From Pumpkin Spice Lattes to Shamrock Shakes, the entire world becomes obsessed with whatever seasonal drink is available.

7

In 2009 the cupcake craze started. With all new “exclusively cupcakes” bakeries popping up all over the place, and TV shows about cupcakes, who could resist their sweet temptation?

5

The days of regular, old popcorn have come and gone.

The new hype?

Skinny Pop. With less calories than regular popcorn, and several health benefits, who wouldn’t choose Skinny Pop?

9

30 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

The olden days of regular pop are gone.

Blending some ice into your carbonated deliciousness makes it much more enjoyable.

Whether it’s a slurpee from the gas station or the all famous Baja Blast Freeze from Taco Bell, a slushie is better.

Several FroYo shops have opened all over the place. But not just any frozen yogurt, self serve. At (average) 44 cents per ounce with all the toppings you can choose, it’s an easy, fun, and popular dessert.

3

6

8

Life isn’t all about Coffee anymore.

Many people are drinking tea. The health benefits of tea encourage people to drink it, and with new, amazing flavors such as Spiced Apple Cider and Monkey Oolong, it is tasty and tasteful.

In 2010, the most popular lunch snack line treat was indeed, the Hot Cheetos. Every student wanted to get their hands on a bag, and some of the weak links bought a milk too.

10 Photos by Kristin Warholak

THE MURMUR // ENTERTAINMENT

F

D

F D

What

are they in love with?

Can you guess which fad food these students are in love with? Choose from the foods and drinks to the left, and see how many obsessions you can guess.

It’s like ice cream but it tastes better because you can taste that it’s healthier.

Madison Krumins, 9

A

It’s not buttery, it’s light. It’s really good.

Christian Rush, 10

It has more flavor.

I like it better than regular coffee.

Lillia Schoof, 10

B

They’re better than the regular cheese ones.

Brandon Breish, 11

D

E

G

H

I

F

I really like the sweetness and the mint together. And I really like the whipped cream.

Naomi Smith, 12

The consistency and flavor is really sugary and amazing.

Zach Batistoni, 10

C

It’s kind of like Starbucks, but not as basic.

Danielle Warner, 11

Write your answers here: 1 2

It isn’t sold in stores, so when Taco Bell got them and you couldn’t get it anywhere else, you got excited.

Taylor Salva, 12

3 4 5 6 7

They’re good and crispy.

They’re smaller to dip in stuff than regular chicken nuggets.

Reina Carreno, 10

Photos by Kristin Warholak

9 J

10 ANSWERS: Person A : Food 6 Person B : Food 8 Person C : Food 5 Person D : Food 7 Person E: Food 4 Person F : Food 10 Person G : Food 3 Person H : Food 2 Person I : Food 1 Person J : Food 9

They’re delicious and they’re fun to eat. They come in different varieties for everyone’s taste buds.

Katie Pettibone, 9

8

DECEMBER 5, 2014 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // 31

BACKPAGE // THE MURMUR

Photo illustration by Joshua Marko

DIY holiday gifts

Mom

BY ERIN EGGENBERGER Staff Writer erineggenberger17@waterforddrift.com

your head. “Ah-ha! I’ll make something!

The “do it yourself” (or “DIY”) Christmas gift is a fun, quick, and inexpensive alternative to buying an expensive gift that the new owner will soon shove under their beds, never to be seen again. (This also eliminates brawling for the item you need with that relentless mom on black Friday, which is always a plus.)

Wine bottle light

You will need: an empty wine bottle, a drill with a ½ inch glass drill bit, a small string of white Christmas lights, transparent rocks (any color), and a hot glue gun.

Dad

T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; Except for you, who is frantically scavenging through the mess in your closet for something that can be called a “gift”.

“How could I forget her!” Pings through you mind, “What am I going to do?”. Miraculously, a Christmas miracle occurs and a light bulb goes off in

First you will need to drill a hole in the bottom of your wine bottle carefully. After you have done that and cleaned out all glass, take the string of Christmas lights and thread it through the hole into the bottle, leaving the plug out. Once you have done that you can now start gluing on your gems the hot glue gun, let cool, and then you finished!

Sports team blanket

Put the 2 sheets of fabric together so they are lined.

Cut 3in by 3in squares off each corner. Take the ruler You will need: 2 sheets of fab- and place dots one inch apart and 3 inches toward ric (any color or design), a ruler, a the center. Start cutting slits at the edge of the blanket and stop at the dots. Now separate the individual marker and scissors. rectangles that the slits formed, tie the two layers together using a double knot, and when you have tied all sides your 4 sides, your finished!

Brot

her

Batman mason jar bank

You will need: a mason jar, black spray paint, yellow duct tape and a knife.

Sist

er

Floral letter

You will need: A piece of wood cut into the letter you want, fake flowers and a hot glue gun.

frien

d

First you will need to cut a slit in the lid of your mason jar’s lid that is big enough to fit any type of money (or just don’t use a lid). Next you will spray paint the jar and lid, making sure to cover it completely and then let dry. For the Batman decal, draw the shape of a bat on a piece of your yellow duct tape, cut it out and stick it on once everything is dry!

All you have to do for this present is take the wood that you have cut in the shape of the letter you want and hot glue the plastic flowers on. Once you have glued all the flowers, feel free to add any embellishments of your choosing.!

Pepermint body scrub

You will need: 2 bowls, a spoon, a mason jar, granulated sugar, peppermint oil and red food coloring

First, measure 4 cups of sugar and put it into a large bowl. Next mix in 11/4 cups of liquid coconut oil and a whole 1.25ml jar of peppermint oil. Divide the oil/ sugar mixture equally into two smaller bowls. In one of the bowls add no more than 5 drops of red food coloring. Stir, and layer the white and red mixtures in your jar to look like a candy cane!

32 // WATERFORDDRIFT.COM // DECEMBER 5, 2014

Photos by Erin Eggenberger