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Green & Gold A Publication of Wesleyan School
Volume XXVI, Issue IV EDITORIAL
NEWS
Editor-in-Chief Lily Morris advises students to extened grace to others this season. Pg. 2
Check out places to serve around the community during the breaks. Pg. 8
December 3, 2021 SPORTS
A preview into a new sports season. Pg. 17
FEATURES Take a look into Wolfie’s world.
Pg. 20
Wesleyan serves around the United States Ella Rayburn After two years of not having mission trips, the administration has decided that trips can happen domestically, so trips will be held during Spring Break on March 12-18, 2022 travelling to New Mexico, Kentucky, Colorado, Texas, and Florida, and are only offered to juniors and seniors. Seniors will have priority since they were unable to have mission trips the last two years. When interviewing Director of Missions Alex O’Donnell how trips would look different this year, she said, “As far as the ‘big picture’ goes, missions will not look different. We will still meet as a team and go through the entire mission season together until we serve on spring break. Logistically, we will be staying stateside.” With the remaining uncertainty of COVID, Wesleyan took time to decide what the best idea would be for trips this year. When asked how the school decided to have trips this year, O’Donnell said, “We worked really hard to provide opportunities for our students and our teachers to serve together. We think these experiences are invaluable and typically one of the most memorable experiences of high school. We decided to try to do everything we can to help our students have these experiences. We want to provide an experience for students and teachers to serve together while strengthening their faith in Jesus. It was important to us, so we just made it happen.”
Florida and Colorado will be the first trips to leave on Saturday, March 12. The Florida trip is being led by Modern and Classical Language teacher Guillermo Vallejo and assistant Director of College Advising and
Senior Bond Surber, faculty fellow Will Kimberlin, and senior Drew Wren enjoy their first mission trip meeting of the year.
Copeland
journalism teacher Andrea Shupert. They will be working with Lighthouse Family Retreat to get ready for their Spring Break and summer season. Vallejo is looking forward to going to Florida, and he said, “I am excited to
Winter musical will leave everyone “All Shook Up” Comforter Afobunor The Wesleyan Wolf Players will present their winter musical production “All Shook Up” for the entire school from Feb. 2 through Feb. 5 in Powell Theater. Shifting from the drama-filled musicals of previous years, the theater program will display a more comedic and upbeat show with plenty of dancing and singing while also delving into deeper topics. After having small casts last year due to COVID-19, the musical will provide opportunities for more students to get involved with the production. High School Theater Director Stephanie Simmons will direct the musical alongside her Assistant Directors, Brooks Hanrahan and Beth McConnell, and the Music Director Brad Meyer. This is Simmons’s first year as the director of the entire theater program. In discussing why she wanted to assume this role, Simmons said, “I felt the need to come to the high school because I think theater and getting to escape for a little while is a really good coping mechanism from the different pressures of the world. I’m thankful that we get to direct and do shows from a Christian perspective even if it is not a Christian story.” Simmons designs the show and brainstorms her vision for it. Then, she sketches the specific design out for the Technical Director Chad Simmons, who builds the sets for all the shows with his assistant Technical Director Ms. Wright. (Con’t on pg. 6)
get to know new people and learn from them, show our students that we are so blessed and have so much compared to billions of people around the world, and to be able to serve people in need and put our JOY motto in practice.” Colorado is being led by Social Science teacher Connor Breslin and O’Donnell. They will be working with 51:10 Youth Ranch in Buena Vista. 51:10 is a ranch for kids that connects them with their community and mentors. They will work on projects such as fence building, ground maintenance, and an after-school program for the kids in the community. Breslin said, “Mission trips represent a tremendous opportunity to live out our faith as Christians. I developed a passion for short-term missions as a student at Wesleyan, and now I am excited to share that passion with our students.” The other three trips: Kentucky, Texas, and New Mexico-will leave on Monday, March 14. The Kentucky trip is being led by Director of Christian Life Greg Lisson and science teacher Megan Lisson. They will be working in eastern Kentucky on projects to help those struck with intense poverty. They will be doing home repairs, evangelism, painting, and cleaning. The Texas trip is being led by math teachers Chuck Stevens and Kathleen Shade. They will be working in Dallas with Joshua Expeditions. They will spend their time doing projects (Cont’d on pg.6)
Opportunities abound to serve the community Riley Cavanaugh The holiday season is a great time for student, parents and faculty to support their community through service. The holidays are a time when the community rallies together to celebrate the season. This union calls attention to those in the community who are less fortunate. When asked about serving during the holiday season Assistant Director of Christian Life: Service Corrie Nash said, “You think about how special Christmas is, and for some people it’s a tough time.” Various groups struggle during this time, and the best way to help bring joy to these groups is through volunteering. Many groups exist to assist those in need and help make the season more bearable for them. Depending on one’s interest in serving, there is sure to be a volunteer organization that incorporate their interests. The Sandwich Project helps combat hunger and the effects of COVID-19 around Atlanta. The organization provides homemade sandwiches, fruit, and protein bars to those in need. Their mission is to provide homemade sandwiches to the homeless and those living with food insecurity. They are in need of volunteering to help make these sandwiches. The most important part of making a sandwich is to use quality ingredients. The organization accepts ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. These sandwiches could be someone’s only meal for an extensive period of time so making them with protein is vital. If interested in providing sandwiches, the volunteers must buy quality ingredients. Volunteers must then assemble the sandwiches, put them in a Ziplock bag, and finally return them to the loaf bag. Some volunteers also provide a short-handwritten encouragement note in the bags. After the sandwiches are complete, the volunteer is responsible for dropping the sandwiches off at a drop-off location on a Wednesday. Drop-off locations are houses in various locations where donations are needed. For example, there are locations in Dunwoody, Decatur, Alpharetta, and Peachtree Corner. The sandwiches are then driven from these locations to those in need by drivers on Thursday mornings. Volunteers are also able to serve by providing transportation of the donations. However, these (Con’t on pg. 8) volunteers need to be over 21 years old.
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EDITORIAL
green & gold
Extend grace to others this season Lily Morris The winter season is a time of nostalgia, memories, and valuable time spent with family and friends. This season reminds us to be thankful for the loved ones God gave us and to be grateful for the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. However, this season can also usher in feelings of sadness and loneliness for those experiencing difficult experiences in their life. I believe that it should be a priority this season to show others grace and compassion because we never know what is going on behind someone’s smile.
Show others grace and compassion because we never know what is going on behind someone’s smile. lllllFirst, I believe that we should take this time to be thankful for the people that reciprocate the care and love you show to them. Often loneliness can be caused by feeling unseen or unappreciated in familial relationships or friendships. Even within the loving environment of teachers and friends at Wesleyan, loneliness can inflict emotional pain. One way I believe we can help each other out is to take time to show our appreciation for those who care about us. In showing others that we appreciate them and their positive influence in our life, we can grow more meaningful relationships and help beat our loneliness with friendship and compassion. With this being my fourth year of high school, I know and have seen that the pressure of school work, college applications, sports, and other activities lead to students getting less sleep and feeling stressed. Personally, when
Christian Life speakers for December: Dec. 2 - Alex O’Donnell Dec. 9 - Lacy Gilbert Dec. 16 - no Chapel Green & Gold Staff Editor-in-Chief...................................................................Lily Morris ‘22 Assistant Editor-in-Chief.................................................Ella Rayburn ‘22 Senior Spotlight/Layout Editor..................................Kendrick Archer ‘22 Features Editor.........................................................Teagan Wilkenloh ‘22 Christian Life Editor............................................Comforter Afobunor ‘22 Fine Arts Editor...........................................................Caroline Croley ‘23 Student Life & News Editor...............................................Alex Edgar ‘23 Staff writers...............................Riley Cavanaugh ‘23, Audrey Pursell ‘23 ................................................Henley Davis ‘24, Anna Rae Copeland ‘22 .................................................................................Hampton Huggins ‘22 Advisers……....................….………………………..Meredith Jamieson …......................................................................……….…Andrea Shupert Editorials represent the opinion of the individual writer. The Green & Gold welcomes letters to the editor, and reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity, and content. Email greenandgold@wesleyanschool. org or place letters in Mrs. Shupert’s box. Publication address: The Green & Gold Wesleyan School 5405 Spalding Drive Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
my energy level is low and my stress level is high, I tend to become impatient with those around me. My stress and anxiety from work causes me to indirectly act angry and rude with my peers and family. I encourage anyone who also experiences these feelings of pressure during this time of year to consciously show compassion and patience to others even when stress is shortening your temper.
Even within the loving environment of teachers and friends at Wesleyan, loneliness can inflict emotional pain. I want to recognize that it is easy to get hurt feelings from tense interactions during this stressful time. Instead of being angry or holding a grudge against someone who has acted rudely, I advise anyone reading this to extend grace to those who may rub them the wrong way. Extending forgiveness to those who have wronged you can be difficult, but in doing so you resolve the negative feelings you have towards that person, and in doing so relieve your mind of stressing about the problem you had with them. God shows us forgiveness every sec-
Consciously show compassion and patience to others even when stress is shortening your temper.
The staff of the Green & Gold wishes each of its readers a joyful and blessed Merry Christmas!
We can all help one another to feel supported and loved during this emotional season of anxiety. ond of every day, so to honor the Lord we should forgive those who have wronged us as well. If we all focused on forgiving others and showing grace and compassion, we can all help one another to feel supported and loved during this emotional season of anxiety. During the winter season, the stress of Christmas, tests, exams, college applications, and relationships can all pile up to leave us feeling overwhelmed and extremely anxious. I believe that if we show a little more grace, a little more compassion, a little more patience – and maybe get a little more sleep – that we can help each other through this busy time in our lives by being there to support each other. Forgiveness tends to run low during this time of the year, but with the help of God, we can make this season enjoyable and memorable for all if we purposefully focus on being kind to ourselves and being kind to others.
Sincerely,
Lily Morris Editor-in-Chief
FEATURES
She said/She said
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Thanksgiving vs. Christmas
Henley Davis Alex Edgar Contrary to the words of the famous Christmas carol, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time Christmas is undoubtedly the best holiday of the year. No other holiday has as of the Year,” Thanksgiving is actually the most wonderful time of the year. long a season or is celebrated in as many diverse ways. Christmas is a global holiday The beginning of fall is marked by the changing of the leaves. The season is so that has brought joy for hundreds of years. It inspires more acts of kindness than any beautiful, soaring with colors every which way, instead of Christmas in the winter other holiday, and it brings families together from across the country and the world. when there are no leaves and no color. The beautiful spectrum of colors ranging from Christmas time is unrivaled in the eyes of millions of children across the globe and brown, orange, and red- these warm hues fill our environment with gorgeous nature. unlocks the childlike whimsy that is deep within the hearts of all adults. On Thanksgiving Day, the day is not only filled with good food and family but with The thousands of books, movies, and songs that are centered around the Christmas the peak of nature’s beauty. spirit speak to its massive reach. Entire channels devote the months of November and Also, unlike Christmas, Thanksgiving has the perfect weather. It is not too cold, not December to Christmas-themed movies and shows. Even magazines begin to send too hot, but just right. There is a slight breeze, which is perfect for sweater weather, Christmas issues in late October. Nothing beats the excitement of being a small child which is much better than the violent wind and cold during the winters of Christmas. looing through holiday issues of a toy magazine, entirely captivated by the colorful Not only is Thanksgiving the most beautiful time of the year, it provides the best gadgets and fun games. food. The classic fall flavor, pumpkin spice, is by far the most anticipated flavor of As the season progresses, old Christmas traditions are rekindled. Many a cold winany season. Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte is the most awaited drink of all time. This ter night have been spent watching classics such as the Polar Express while enjoying fall flavor provides over 20 million sales each year from Starbucks. Having anything a hot cup of cocoa and decorating a Christmas tree. Most people can recall specific pumpkin-spice flavored during Thanksgiving is a dream come true. memories surrounding some of their favorite ornaments or Christmas decorations, Christmas has some good flavors but none as classic as pumpkin spice. Thanksgiv- and the reminders of simpler times are summoned when these friendly knick-knacks ing has so many traditional foods, while Christmas is just a copy-cat of the feast of are brought out. From sparkling lights to the rich scent of Balsam trees to the brightly Thanksgiving. Turkey and pumpkin pie cannot be beat by the lacking pot roast and painted faces of nutcrackers, no other holiday season is as distinctive in decor. peppermint. Thanksgiving is known for having excellent food. Some people will fast With the first chords of “Jingle Bells” or “Deck the Halls” resound through the halls, all day before dinner in order to get the full satisfaction of this sweet and savory meal. the Christmas season is nearing. Only one holiday has its own genre of music, and Thanksgiving is not as hectic as the chaotic period that is the month of December. this is yet another reason why Christmas is the best holiday. The nostalgic feeling that During Christmas, everyone is so stressed out with crowded shopping malls, the wor- enters the heart when the familiar tunes begin to show back up on the radio, is enough ry of what gift to give, crowded airports, bad weather, and demanding decorations. to make a choir of angels sing. The classic crystal-clear notes of “Carol of the Bells” Thanksgiving has the same positive outcomes and time spent with family and friends, ringing through the room or the cheerful words of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like but without the pressure along the way. Christmas” emanating from a record player are enough to make it feel like a snowy Thanksgiving break is a full weeklong of rest and rejuvenation from the long semes- December day with the best holiday just on the horizon. ter before. The holiday comes at the perfect time when people are in need of a break. All over the world, children await the coming of Kris Kringle, Papa Noel, St. Nick, Christmas break is long, but it is not relaxing. Christmas provides no rest, unlike the Christkindl, Father Christmas, Pére Noël, and many other versions of Santa Clause. regeneration of Thanksgiving. No matter what language, the magical toymaker captivates young children and lights Thanksgiving provides fun activities such as carving pumpkins, making scarecrows, up their small worlds. Whether flying from Finland, the Arctic Circle, or a hidden city cooking with family and friends, hayrides, and corn mazes. My personal favorite is in the North Pole, this mythical figure prompts children to be kinder to their siblings the new trend of Friendsgiving celebrations. Friendsgiving is a version of Thanksgiv- and others and creates a sort of unbridled joy not seen the rest of the year. Never ing that you can spend with your friends. Adding time with friends to the Thanksgiv- around Thanksgiving time do parents tell their children to be good on account of a ing season takes it to a whole new level. turkey. Only with Christmas do parents get to make such requests. In contrast, during Christmas, there is nothing you can do without waiting in long Christmas time is a time in which people think seriously about their relationships, lines, freezing in wintery weather, or being totally stressed out. appreciate the many blessings in their lives, and partake in generations-old traditions. Thanksgiving is the better version of Christmas, as it is and always will be the most Nothing beats the healing fellowship of a Christmas dinner not even Thanksgiving. wonderful time of the year. Surrounded by family, the glow of the fireplace warming the soul, and the celebration of the birth of the eternal savior makes Christmas time unlike anything else. Whether one is a hardcore Christmas fan, watching the premiere of the first Hallmark movie on Oct. 22, or a strict rule-following Christmas enthusiast who refuses to listen to Christmas music until Dec. 1, the majority can agree that the holiday spirit is a tangible thing throughout the winter months. And this “holiday spirit” is not referring to Thanksgiving, but Christmas, in its unrivaled glory.
NEWS 4 green & gold Diversity discussed at the G.R.A.C.E Club Lily Morris
Every week at Wesleyan high school, there are a plethora of clubs offered for students to explore new interests and spend time in conversation with their friends. Clubs offered on each Friday morning include Literary Magazine, film club, outdoor club, several art clubs, board games, chess club, and much more. For students who want to spend their club time in meaningful conversation with teachers and students on the topic of diversity, the G.R.A.C.E Club is lead by Director of Diversity Jennifer Pinkett-Smith.
engage with their peers, sharing their differences, and learning about the various cultures and backgrounds at Wesleyan. At the same time, we hope they find some common ground and similarities.” Another goal Pinkett-Smith has for the group is “for our majority students to be able to learn and understand so that they can be allies and be a voice.” When asked how she would describe the G.R.A.C.E club, senior Connor Carroll said, “G.R.A.C.E is a great way to learn about different people’s views on the world instead of just your own.” When the G.R.A.C.E Club meets, Pinkett-Smith said they discuss “how to better unite our community, and the students’ ideas on how to better unite their peers.” She said they often share their own experiences and personal stories with the group, which is a refreshing change from hearing broad stories on diversity on the news. Pinkett-Smith said that the G.R.A.C.E Club has also become a space for students to learn to love their backgrounds. Pinkett-Smith said that within Wesleyan, students “are sometimes hesitant to be their authentic selves for fear they will be ostracized. Instead they assimilate and disconnect in order to fit in. We want them to feel they can be who God created them to be, an image bearer of Christ.” Around 20 consistent members attend the G.R.A.C.E (l-r) G.R.A.C.E Club member and former student Kaylynn Kirlken, alumna Madison Kerpics, former student Paige Lyons, alumna Emrie Harbor, alumna Lani Brown, alumna Alyssa Phillip, senior Imani Washington, alumna Reece Holbrook, Rylie Keller, alumna Katherine Graddy, senior Connor Carroll, alumna Jada Richardson, and alumna Abby Scott met on the quad during Homecoming week of 2019.
The G.R.A.C.E Club gathered in Austin Chapel in the Fall of 2019. Pinkett-Smith ll lWhen asked to explain what the acronym G.R.A.C.E stands for, Pinkett-Smith said, “GRACE stands for gender, race (ethnicity), age/abilities, culture, and economic status.” This club discusses all aspects of diversity both in the Wesleyan community and in the world. Pinkett-Smith said the club was a “spin-off of former Dean of Diversity Jason Sheer’s Mosaic Club prior to me coming five years ago.” She renamed the club to G.R.A.C.E in 2017 when she took over and Mr. Sheer left Wesleyan.
(l-r) Senior Connor Carroll, former student Kaylynn Kirklen, alumna Emrie Harbor, alumna Jada Richardson, senior Gray Bradach, alumna Madison Kerpics, senior Ansley Eigel, Alyssa Phillip of the G.R.A.C.E Club visited Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth home in Atlanta, Georgia. Carroll
(l + r) G.R.A.C.E Club alumna Jada Richardson, senior Connor Carroll, Kaylynn Kirklen, former student Paige Lyons, alumna Jahni Kerr, alumna Alyssa Phillip, former student Izzy Larsen, and senior Imani Washington celebrated homecoming week in 2018. Carroll When asked why she decided to rename the club G.R.A.C.E, Pinkett-Smith said, “I went to a conference in Texas with other diversity practitioners and heard them talk about the areas that are covered when we talk about diversity. G.R.A.C.E was the acronym they had come up with, and I felt it fit very well with our community as well.” When elaborating on her goals for the club during its transition from the Mosaic Club to the G.R.A.C.E Club, Pinkett-Smith said, “When [Sheer] had it, it was just a space for kids to talk. My goal was more focused on it being a space for students to
Club, and Pinkett-Smith said that the club will be meeting the second Wednesday of every month during lunch in her office, W129. When asked about why the G.R.A.C.E Club does not take place during normal club time on Fridays, Pinkett-Smith said, “I specifically did lunch so that students can participate in other clubs during club time. That’s part of them being able to lend their voices in other spaces, so that time was intentional for them to be able to participate in other areas of Wesleyan.” Faculty members Isiah Hill, Adonnis Jules, and Corrie Nash help Pinkett-Smith to run the G.R.A.C.E club. Pinkett-Smith described the club as “low commitment but serious commitment. When you’re here with us, we want to talk about things that can create change, so the expectation when you’re here is that you will be serious and engaged.” When asked about the future goals and ambitions of the G.R.A.C.E Club, Pinkett-Smith said, “I would love to see us do some community service with other schools. I want us to reach outside the walls of Wesleyan and to be more visible, and educate students on the things that
Carroll
are occurring right here in Atlanta. Taking field trips to downtown Atlanta and exploring the rich history would be a great way to take advantage of our community.” When asked how helping lead the G.R.A.C.E Club has benefitted her personally, Pinkett-Smith said, “I am able to learn a lot from young people. It benefits me because I can be a voice when needed, and an advocate for them. Although there were spaces where I had great mentors, there were times where I felt I could have used more of that in school, so I want to be that for them.” Pinkett-Smith mentioned having two strong female role models when she was in high school, and that she “wants to be that for others. I want to be what those two women were to me. They pushed me to love and appreciate myself, not be afraid to speak up for myself and others, and never make excuses.” She has seen many members of the club use their skills gained from their time together to go out and push for change in their communities. Pinkett-Smith said that the students involved in G.R.A.C.E “have become more vocal in seeing things they felt weren’t right and needed attention or needed to be addressed.” Carroll has been a member of the club since freshman year and said that she feels she has “learned how to communicate with opposing sides and just to be more understanding and patient” from her time with the G.R.A.C.E club. When asked what her favorite activity was with the club, Carroll said, “We went to march for social justice and went to Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth home together.” There are many clubs offered every week in the high school at Wesleyan, but the G.R.A.C.E diversity club is a unique club focused on the topic of diversity. Pinkett-Smith runs the club to provide a safe space for people of all backgrounds, cultures, and races and to provide a place to have open discussion about the topics that matter most in the Wesleyan and greater Atlanta community.
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FINE ARTS
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Chorus class sing confidently together Anna Rae Copeland
The high school chorus students have been working hard this year to improve their singing and prepare for their fall, winter, and spring concerts. Throughout the semester, many seniors have shown leadership and have helped improve the talent of their peers. The chorus students have good work ethic and a lot of talent this year. The Green & Gold sat down with seniors Tori Hedlund and Zach Russel to discuss chorus. What songs did you sing at the first concert? Russell- One of the bigger things we were doing is a piece by Mozart. He wrote a lot of Catholic Masses. We did Misa Brevis; it is probably one of the most difficult pieces we have done in chorus. We had a full orchestra with us at the concert, which is something we have never done before. Who has been a great leader during class and performances? Hedlund- We have designated leaders in each section. Russell leads the bass section and Theriot leads sopranos. Why do you participate in Chorus? Hedlund- For me it is mostly because of the people. Most of my best friends are in the class. We all have a super great community, and I love being in that environment. Listening and talking to Mr. Meyer is a joyous experience. I also love music and I love to sing. Russell- For me it is the people. It is a good break in the day from academics where we can focus on something that we love. I am hoping to pursue music, so I enjoy having this incorporated into my day.
What is your favorite thing about chorus? Hedlund- I love it when there is a piece we enjoy, and we all get to sing it together in unison. All the voices bleeding together make me so happy. When I am passionate about the song it makes it even more enjoyable Russell- My favorite is always the spring, the signoff especially. It is student led, which makes a huge difference. Chorus has had a great start to the year and had a concert on October 4th. The Green & Gold interviewed chorus teacher Brad Meyer to get more updates. Why do you teach chorus? I can’t get away from singing. I have never not been singing, ever. I think part of it is that I want to be singing at all times. When I went to do my music major I figured out I was a pretty good singer but the process and the sharing of music and putting the music together was much more my speed. What motivates you to teach chorus? The shared love of singing that I hope people have. I think everybody has the ability to sing. Some people just don’t know it yet, but it is a community activity. I enjoy seeing people’s light bulb moments and when they hear what they are doing right. A voice is a person’s own instrument and I believe everyone has the ability to sing. What is your favorite aspect about chorus? The community and the opportunity to share it and to share the love internally. I enjoy seeing all different types of experienced people try and sing. Everyone wants to have your back and the people in this class are not judgmental. When one person does well, everyone benefits. Who has been a great leader during class and performances? Russell has been really great with organizing things; we had a chorus retreat, and he has done a lot for our class and has been a great leader. Thieriot has been a model citizen doing a lot of things for everyone and has come up with really great ideas. Senior Brenna McConnell brings a lot of great ideas to the table and has shown really great leadership.
(l-r) Seniors Rylie Jones, Carson Green, William Sabonis-Chafee, Tori Hedlund, Brenna McConnel and junior Anna Kennedy relax after performing in their chorus concert. Jones How do you usually go about class? We start with a class warmup and then from there depending on what day it is. Sometimes we do music theory or sight reading for music literacy. Other times we work on concert pieces to prepare for our next concert. We truly change things up a good bit depending upon the week and what we need to get done. There is almost always a part of class where we try and sing something together; it is a good way to put everything back in context together.
What is the strongest aspect of your chorus students? The community in the class is very welcoming. I tell them that I am not the reason people come to take chorus it is the students. They are the reason people come and stay. This year we have had a lot of new people to the high school chorus. Everyone in the class is very welcoming and kind to each and every person. (l-r) Seniors Rylie Jones and Tori Hedlund are excited to perform in their last fall chorus concert.
Pinckey
(l-r) Sophomore Kathryn Seligman and junior Kensington Freeman pose before they take the sta ge. Pinckey
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NEWS
Winter musical will leave everyone “All Shook Up” (Cont’d from pg. 1)
The theater program had the blessing of hiring costume coordinators, Joan Rogers and Judy Beaman, both of whom have sons who participated in the theater program: Adam Rogers ‘20 and Patterson Beaman ‘19. They have continued to help with costume design ever since. Regarding her favorite part about directing the Wesleyan productions, Simmons said, “My favorite part is being in a rehearsal specifically dance rehearsals. I love it when the cast really gets the whole show put together, and then they put it up in front of an audience. The audience responds well to it, and you just see this lightbulb of joy go off because all of the hard work paid off.”
SHOWTIMES & DATES Wednesday, February 2nd - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, February 3rd - 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 4th - 7:00 p.m. Saturday, February 5th - 2:00 p.m. “All Shook Up” is a mash-up from one of Shakespeare’s romantic comedies, Twelfth Night. The storyline consists of many mistaken identities and secret identities in which the characters fall in love with people they think they are supposed to fall in love with. Set in a small town during the 1950s, the musical deals with the different challenges the U.S. faced during that time, including the socio-economic struggles and race-related issues. From this aspect, the Rock N’ Roll music comes into play as this decade represents the emergence of the genre music. The main character, known as “the rebel,” brings music back to the town and shakes things up a bit by performing several Elvis Presley songs throughout the musical. The style of writing resembles that of
On a mission to serve around the United States
an Elvis Presley movie, incorporating cheeky, fun, and colorful elements. When explaining what drew her to this musical, Simmons said, “There is a really good core group of characters and a fantastic ensemble that surrounds them. There are a lot of opportunities within the ensemble to have students shine. The biggest reason I chose the show was because I love this idea that in life you can think you know what’s right for you. For these characters, they think they know who they will fall in love with just based on seeing them one time. The reality is whenever we find our special someone, God is completely in control of that journey the entire time.” In referring to her favorite musical number, Simmons said, “My favorite musical number is called ‘C’mon Everybody’ from Elvis Presley’s movie musical ‘Viva Las Vegas.’ It is a really cool arrangement of it, and it is the first song that the rebel gets the town to sing with him and starts to shake everybody up.” The audition process for the musical consisted of several different components. Students showed up to the auditions on Nov. 3 and 4 from 3 to 5 p.m. Students interested in auditioning emailed Simmons to have access to the form and audition materials and to set up a time slot for them to audition. Each student auditioned for the winter musical in a 45-minute block with 10-15 other students. On the day of the audition, students performed the dance audition all together, and then, they sang the song they prepared in front of the entire group of students. They also had access to the line reads for the scripts beforehand and read certain scenes during the audition. Students also had the opportunity to audition for the spring production “Stories in Rep” as well during their audition time slot. The theater program and the students involved look forward to performing “All Shook Up” for the entire school and showcasing all their many talents in front of their peers. The Wesleyan community is just as excited and eagerly awaiting to see the musical in early February.
(Cont’d from pg. 1) such as painting, cleaning, playing with kids, and building relationships in the community. Stevens is most looking forward to, “The opportunity to impact the lives of those going to serve, as well as the Wesleyan students going on the trip.” He went on trips like this when he was in college, and that eventually led him to being a missionary in Rwanda for 9 years, so he’s excited by what God has in store for these young missionaries.” The final trip is New Mexico, which is being led by Assistant Director of Fine Arts Meagan Brooker and Head of School Chris Cleveland. They will be working with Navajo Communities and will spend their time ministering those communities and leading a Vacation Bible School camp. They will also be doing light construction and food distribution in the community. Cleveland is excited about the “Tremendous blessing to be a part of a mission trip team and have a front row seat for what God will do in and through the lives of students and leaders as we serve.” Trips were assigned Oct 29 and the first meeting for parents, students, and leaders is happening mid-November. Finally, when O’Donnell was asked what she was looking forward to most about having trips again this year, she said, “I am most looking forward to watching students and teachers say ‘yes’ to an opportunity and God doing amazing things with that ‘yes.’ It just takes one step of faith for God to come in and intervene in our lives, and I am so excited to see what God does throughout this process and during the week we serve together.”
CAST LIST Chad - William Sabonis-Chafee Natalie Haller - Brenna McConnell Jim Haller - Noah Walton Sylvia - Rylie Jones Lorraine - Emily Godfrey Sandra - Tori Hedlund Dennis - Alex Thorne Matilda - Nadia Thieriot Dean - Carson Green Earl - RJ Devlin Muse/Ensemble - Zach Russell Muse/Ensemble - Sarah Lim Warden/Garage Guy/Ensemble - Davis Olds Ensemble: Gigi Alembik Gray Bradach Norah Bishop Philip Burns Anna Rae Copeland Caroline Croley Madeline Davis Erinae Emmelhainz Hannah Ferdon Audrey Gilliam Palmer Louthan Mackenzie Maxwell Ginny Kate McDaniel Norah Mukana Dorothy Park Allison Reding Kathryn Seligman Caleb Walton Kailey Zavitz
Christmas Crossword
Hampton Huggins
NEWS
green & gold
Clubs and activites are in full swing
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Teagan Wilkenloh As Wesleyan students and faculty have moved quickly through the semester, clubs and activities has been a great time for students to escape from the school day to do the things that interest them each Friday at 10:15. Wesleyan offers 34 different club options for students, so there is a wide variety of options to choose from each week. Most students have found the clubs they belong to and where they best fit in, but many people tend to jump around to the more relaxed and low-commitment clubs. The clubs spotlighted in this article are the Wesleyan Book Club and the National Art Honors Society Club. Wesleyan Book Club The Wesleyan Book Club was started for kids who enjoy to reading outside their English classes. The club is sponsored by faculty member Peggy Hasty. The ultimate goal of this club is to provide a space for students to read purely for the joy of reading and to encourage students who perhaps have neglected reading to discover the pleasures of reading just for fun. Hasty said, “We find great fellowship in sharing what we are reading with one another.” The club tends to vary in numbers each week but usually has around from 10-12 students. Each student chooses their own book and has complete freedom in choosing what most appeals to her/him. Students also read every genre including fantasy, suspense/thriller, historical fiction, romance, and even modern-day classics. The book club is a great place for students to escape from the school day and enjoy a book that interests them. This club opens the opportunity to the pleasure of reading and escaping to a nice space during the day.
Sophomore Charley Jackson, sophomore Lindsay Bobo, senior Ella Grace Pickering and sophomore Emma Glazier paint a sign in National Art Honors Society during club time for the ARC. Noel
Faculty Fellow Abby Hooper works on a project during club time.
Students Mamie Pridgen, Kaki Bush, Kailey Zavitz, Nadia Desbordes, Isabelle Bailliard, Kathyrn Seligman, Margaret Gill, Henley Davis, Julie Anne Bush, and teacher Miss Francoise grab a book and start reading to escape from the day during club time. Wilkenloh
National Art Honors Society The Nation Art Honors Society is a program designed by NAEA to support and recognize students who have shown outstanding abilities in art. They support student members in their goal of attaining the highest standards in visual arts and bring visual arts education to the attention of the school and community. The Nation Art Honors Society chapter at Wesleyan has 14 high school students including seniors Madeline Davis, Kayla Kim, Ella Grace Pickering, Annabelle Lawson, Sophie Anderson, Norah Bishop, and juniors Eva Rahman, Lily Nydam, Jennifer Noel, and sophomores Abigail Glover, Lindsay Bobo, Emma Glazier, Rebekah Niemann, and Charley Jackson.
Noel
The faculty sponsors include Assistant Director of Fine Arts Meagan Brooker, Faculty Fellow Abby Hooper, and Art Teacher Michael Tablada. They meet every Friday during clubs and activities. When asking faculty sponsor Brooker how they spend their time on Fridays, she said, “We have fun! For the past two years, we have been working on murals in Cleghorn and are almost finished with them. They have taken a long time because of Covid. We are also working on collaborative art for the ARC center and painting beehives for the Peachtree Corners Community Garden.” For more than 40 years, the National Art Honor Society programs have provided national recognition and opportunities for students to exhibit outstanding scholarship in the visual arts. Participation in NAHS provides students, faculty, school, and the community with invaluable benefits like peer recognition, leadership growth opportunities, and college/career preparation. Brooker said, “The ultimate goal of this club is to use our artistic talent and creativity for service and community.”
National Art Honor Society students Emma Glazier, Rebekah Niemann, Madeline Davis, Jennifer Noel, Sophie Anderson, Norah Bishop, Eva Rahman, Abigail Glover, and Kayla Kim presented 3 canvases to the ARC. Brooker
Sophomores Charley Jackson and Emma Glazier work diligently on a project. Noel
Senior Norah Bishop, sophmore Charley Jackson, and sophomore Lindsay Bobo work hard to finish their project for NAHS. Noel
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NEWS
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Opportunities to serve abound the community (Cont’d from pg. 1) The organization is led by a group of about ten people. of these people, Marcy Louza, said, “Those in need can always go to a food bank and get non-perishables, so the sandwiches make them feel special.”
Get involved making sandwiches with the Sandwich Project. Cavanaugh The best way to get involved with this group is through their Facebook group called The Sandwich Project; the link is also on their Instagram. Another way to get involved is through their Instagram account the username is thesanwichproject.teen. (The organization is also working on making a website, but it is not up and running yet.)
SERVING REFUGEES
Envision Atlanta is another group that helps those in need in the local community. It is a Christian organization with a mission to love God and to love people. The organization serves refugees in Clarkson. Clarkson is located in suburban Atlanta and is known as the most diverse square mile in the country. Ron Baum works for Envision Atlanta. When asked who the organization serves, Baum said, “Imagine if you had to move to Afghanistan and within three months you need to find a job, education, and necessities. That’s what they’re going through.” The organization serves around 15,000 refugees forced to leave their home country due to their safety.
Get connected to Envision Atlanta. Cavanaugh
These refugees typically leave their home country and are placed in a refugee camp by the United Nations. During this time, the United Nations determines which of the three countries they should be resettled to. If these people are settled in the United States, they must go through a two-year process of screening and background
checks. After this, they are put in a location around the county. The refugees have no choice of where they are put. One of the locations refugees can be sent to is Clarkson. Those sent there are often not fluent in English, which can make finding a job difficult often leading to poverty. Refugees are also required to get a job in order to pay back the United States government. One of the organization’s greatest needs is volunteers willing to help teach English as a second language to adults. Children often learn English through school, but adults do not have this opportunity, which can make learning English very difficult. Adult women also have a hard time learning English because they often come from countries that do not provide equal education to women. Another need is tutoring refugee children. The grade placement in the United States in based on age. For example, there was a fourteen-year-old placed in eighth grade who could not read. The grade placement causes an educational deficit and creates a large need for support and tutoring outside of school. The organization needs volunteers for their after-school programs to help tutor these students in various subjects. Another way to get involved during Christmas time is to support the community by donating board games. The organization is currently having a board game drive. The organization hopes to provide board games to families to encourage bonding within families because often mothers and fathers work opposite shifts leaving little time for the family to spend together. The best way to get involved with Envision Atlanta is through their website, https://www.envisionatlanta.org/. There is a volunteer button where an individual can state their interests with the organization and be placed in a part of the organization that bet suits their interests.
animals needing emergency care or being held for evidence in a court case. However, the building is currently home to nearly 400 animals due to the lack of volunteers and resources. The best way to reduce the number of animals in the shelter is through fostering and adoption. The organization subscribes to a policy known as “all adopters welcome.” They believe pet owners can look a million different ways and try to remove common barriers prohibiting the adoption or fostering of animals. This entails no requirements on housing or income which are common barriers to adopting or fostering. However, if you are adopting or fostering and have a previous dog, a formal introduction of animals at the facility is necessary.
SERVING ANIMALS
Dekalb County Animal Services are working to end the euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals in the Atlanta area. The group serves cats and dogs in around Atlanta. These animals are often homeless or neglected. The facility is currently overwhelmed by the number of animals receiving care at their facility. The organization is built to hold about half of the animals that it is currently housing. There are around 380 animals currently at the facility, and the organization receives aroound 20-30 new animals every day.
Get involved with cats through Dekalb County Animal Services.
Cavanaugh
The group is in dire need of volunteers. Erin Wright, the volunteer and events coordinator, said, “I would stress our need for help. We are just not getting the adopters, fosters, or volunteers we need to not be in a crisis situation.” Ideally, the building would only house
Get involved with dogs in need through Dekalb County Animal Services.
Cavanaugh
Another way to get involved is through donations. The organization has an Amazon Wishlist linked on their website. Their greatest needs in donations are Kong toys, treats, and crates (specifically large). These donations can be dropped off at the facility anytime. Donations such as food or kibble should be unopened or they cannot be used. Another form of donation is making treats for the dogs. Dekalb County Animal Services can supply the ingredients if needed, but it is more beneficial if the volunteer provides them. To make the treats the volunteer will need the cardboard center of a paper towel or toilet paper roll. The rolls are then filled with kibbles or treats. After filled the ends are folded over, so the kibble and treats do not spill out. There is always a need for these treats because the organization hopes to give one to all the dogs every day. Ideally 400 should be donated every day. These treats are important because they provide simulation for the dogs not attained by regular treats. The biggest volunteer need at Dekalb County Animals Services is dog walkers. Dog walkers walk and play with the dogs at the facility or around it. However, only those eighteen or older can physically walk the dogs. Minors can interact with the dogs, but for legal reason an adult must hold the leash. Dekalb County Animal Services also serves cats. If an individual wishes to serve cats at the facility, they can volunteer to play with the cats. The volunteers play with an individual cat for around ten minutes in a playroom, and then rotate to the next.
FEATURES
green & gold
The high school celebrated Thanksgiving Teagan Wilkenloh As students and faculty dive deeper into the holiday season, the Wesleyan community celebrated Thanksgiving with a week off of school November 20th-28th to spend time with family and friends. The holidays tend to be a stressful time with blended-family tension, sibling rivalries, and forced family fun, but there are many aspects to this holiday that make it special and memorable. Good food, fall football, and the crisp autumn air bring so much joy to the season, but sometimes the real meaning of Thanksgiving is forgotten over the years. It is a time to give thanks to God and reflect on why Thanksgiving is a holiday that is celebrated. What makes Thanksgiving so great? It all comes down to one word: tradition. Every family has their own traditions whether they are large or small. A tradition is a repetition of something over and over again with a certain group of people. The tradition of Thanksgiving helps give time to focus on those who are important to us. They give people something to look forward each year and create countless memories with family and friends. Senior Lucy Anderson said, “Every Thanksgiving we go to the beach and my brothers and I watch the Macy’s Day Parade while eating breakfast. I would like to continue our tradition of going to the beach each year because it is so fun to spend time with my family. I also would like to learn how to make some of the dishes my mom makes for the holiday, so I can continue the tradition of making them when I am older and have my own family.” When speaking with senior Annabelle Lawson about her Thanksgiving plans, she said, “I am going to my grandfather’s house in Vinnings, watching football with my family, and possibly staying at Avalon for a few nights with my mom for a staycation! It’s a time to come together with family. As little as my extended family is, it is so special to see them once or maybe even twice a year. Life gets so busy but Thanksgiving is such a blessing to have a break and catch up with the ones you love.” Many students and faculty spent their Thanksgiving
break out of town this year. Bible Teacher and Department Chair Glenn Archer said, “I am tentatively planning to go visit my son, Andy (Wesleyan 2016 grad), in Hawaii. He is attending grad school out there and playing baseball for the University of Hawaii. It will be fun to see his new set up at a new school since he graduated from Georgia Tech this past May. Also, we will go surfing most days and eat really well.” No matter how different each families’ Thanksgiving and traditions are, the Wesleyan students were super thankful for the time they received off to spend with friends and family.
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The staff of the Green & Gold hopes that you had a most restful and blessed Thanksgiving!
High school Omicron continues to serve the community
Kendrick Archer Omicron is an after-school service activity where high school students volunteer to serve the Peachtree Corners community during the school year. This is the first year that Omicron will be serving year-round, whereas in previous years Omicron only happened during the winter season. Omicron mainly focuses on tutoring younger children and spending time with the elderly. Omicron is
Omicron volunteers meet the children they help out with.
Nash
sponsored by Assistant Director of Student Life Corrie Nash. When asked to describe the service team, Nash said, “Omicron is a team of students that serves in our local community. We chose the name Omicron – the Greek letter “O” – since our team is all about the “O” – others – in Wesleyan’s JOY motto.” Everyone is welcome to participate and serve the community, and students do not need to commit to a full season. The Omicron fall service team began on Aug. 31 and concluded on Oct. 23. Omicron occurs for eight weeks on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and a couple of Saturday mornings throughout the season. The fall season was very successful with several of the service opportunities including tutoring with Spring of Peace Ministry on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and organizing and cleaning at Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries after school on Tuesdays. The winter Omicron team started on Oct. 25 and will conclude on Jan. 13. Unlike last season, there will be two separate teams during this season. There will be a Monday and Wednesday team and a Tuesday and Thursday team. Some of the service opportunities for this season include Corners Outreach and Spring of Peace. The mission of Corners Outreach is to equip underserved students of color and their families to lead full lives. Their vision is one community where every person thrives no matter their color, status, or background. Wesleyan Omicron helps on Mondays and Thursdays to tutor and serve these families and children. Spring of
Peace’s vision is to be a missionary outpost in primarily Hispanic communities. They aim to make a difference
Junior Morgan Akin helps tutor a girl during Omicron.
Nash
to elementary school kids and their parents through actions, trusted relationship building, fun fellowship with a purpose, and sharing Bible truths through stories and prayer time. Wesleyan Omicron helps by tutoring the community after school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Omicron is a great way to make friends and meet others in the community by serving alongside them.
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SENIOR
FEATURES
Cater Lawson What colleges are you applying to or going to? I am applying to Florida, Auburn, Clemson, Alabama, and Ole Miss. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Donald Glover What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Not knowing the schedule when I was new as a sophomore. What is one thing you will miss about high school? Mr. Krehemeyer’s Daily Announcements. What did you want to be as a child? An NFL coach Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Lucy Anderson If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Community” What is the theme song of your life? “Adventure of a Lifetime” by Coldplay Brody Howard What colleges are you applying to or going to? Florida State, Arizona, Auburn, South Carolina, and Clemson Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Bali Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Brooks Koepka What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Wearing my homecoming blazer to school on accident to chapel. What is one thing you will miss about high school? Being with my friends. What did you want to be as a child? Basketball player If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Breaking Bad” What is the theme song of your life? “I’m Alright” by Kenny Loggins Zach Russell What colleges are you applying to or going to? Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Kennesaw State University (KSU), Appalachian State University, Berklee College of Music Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Switzerland Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Adele What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Pushed William Dzikowski into the fire hydrant glass and had to pay back Wesleyan for the damages (5th grade). What is one thing you will miss about high school? The band room What did you want to be as a child? Doctor Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Mackenzie Madison If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “The Queen’s Gambit” What is the theme song of your life? “Fake Happy” by Paramore
Mickey Tesfaye What colleges are you applying to or going to? LSU, Kennesaw State, Ohio State, and Georgia Southern Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Maldives Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Bella Thorne What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Punishmentcut Sophomore Year. What is one thing you will miss about high school? Bonds I’ve made throughout high school. What did you want to be as a child? Wealthy Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Ashland Hemken If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Shameless” What is the theme song of your life? “Diamonds” by Rihanna Andrew Fleming What colleges are you applying to or going to? Either Clemson or Mississippi State Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Swiss Alps Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Dale Jr. What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? My tiktoks in 8th grade What is one thing you will miss about high school? Golf team What did you want to be as a child? Race Car Driver Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Danielle Kelly What is the theme song of your life? “Here for a good time” (George Strait)
All photos by Brian L. Morgan.
FEATURES
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SPOTLIGHTS
Christian Drayer What colleges are you applying to or going to? I am applying to Georgia, Clemson, Richmond, Wake Forest, and a few others. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? I would travel to Spain. Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? I would love to be stranded on an island with Zach Galifianakis, who is very funny guy. What is one thing you will miss about high school? I will miss the great community and friends I have made along the way. What did you want to be as a child? As a child, I always wanted to be on the Atlanta Braves. Who was your first Wesleyan crush? My first Wesleyan crush was Maggie Rheudasil in 3rd grade. If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “The Office” What is the theme song of your life? “On Top of the World” Imagine Dragons Maggie Rheudasil What colleges are you applying to or going to? UT Austin, TCU, Tulane, and others. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Switzerland Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Steve Lacy What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Falling down the stairs in middle school. What is one thing you will miss about high school? All of my friends. What did you want to be as a child? A veterinarian Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Griffin Caldwell in kindergarten. If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Hawaii-5-0” What is the theme song of your life? “It Was a Good Day” – Ice Cube. Stafford McDaniel What colleges are you applying to or going to? Samford, UNG, and Ole Miss. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Aruba Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Eddie Rosario What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Going to the wrong class my freshman year and it was a class of seniors. What is one thing you will miss about high school? Being with all of my friends everyday. What did you want to be as a child? Farmer Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Kaycee Tamel If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “The Office” What is the theme song of your life? “Can’t Touch This” Livi Stolle What colleges are you applying to or going to? Kentucky, JMU, Virginia, Indiana, Mizzou, UGA, Maryland, Delaware, and Oklahoma. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Tokyo, Japan Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Reese Witherspoon What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? The time I reenacted the SNL skit “Hans and Franz” in front of all the freshman and their parents with my peer partner Lucas Schelhammer. What is one thing you will miss about high school? The memories I have made with my friends. What did you want to be as a child? A crane operator Who was your first Wesleyan crush? RJ Casey If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Grey’s Anatomy” What is the theme song of your life? “Levitating”
Channing Stall What colleges are you applying to or going to? I am applying to Clemson, University of Georgia, University of Miami, University of Florida, and Mississippi State University. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? I would go to Patagonia in Chile/ Argentina. Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Lynn Stall What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? My entire JV basketball career sophomore year since I had never played basketball before in my life. What is one thing you will miss about high school? Sage Dining’s salad bar What did you want to be as a child? A limo driver Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Mitchell Badciong in prefirst. If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Psych” What is the theme song of your life? “Wide Open Spaces” by The Chicks
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Imani Washington What colleges are you applying to or going to? Arizona State, Auburn, Clemson, and Louisville. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Japan Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? God What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? In the middle of a basketball game, I was going to throw the ball in, and I was moving really fast when I slipped on nothing and everyone screamed at me to get up. What is one thing you will miss about high school? My amazing teachers. What did you want to be as a child? A fashion designer Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Jackson Merkl If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “That 90’s Show” Marisa Lambert What colleges are you applying to or going to? Auburn, Baylor, Penn State, Florida, LSU, FSU, Tennessee, Georgia, Iowa, and Mississippi State. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Italy Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Jennifer Lawrence What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Hurting my knee and having to walk around school with a huge knee brace and crutches. What is one thing you will miss about high school? The community. Being part of teams and connecting with students from all over the high school. Also getting dressed up for football games and cheering teams on at different sports. What did you want to be as a child? A vet Katherine Scott What colleges are you applying to or going to? UGA, TCU, Tennessee, FSU, Auburn, Wake, and South Carolina. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? I would go to Greece! Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Matthew McConaughey What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? It was the first day of school in lower school and I was walking up the stairs and I tripped and fell going up the stairs and everyone laughed. What is one thing you will miss about high school? I will miss my friends and the teachers at Wesleyan. What did you want to be as a child? I wanted to be a dentist. Who was your first Wesleyan crush? MattyB in 4th grade. If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Jane the Virgin” What is the theme song of your life? “Time of Our Lives” – Pitbull Mackenzie Maxwell What colleges are you applying to or going to? UCLA, UVA, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, and University of Utah. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Capri, Italy Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Bear Grylls (Hey, I kind of want to survive) What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? I dumped creamy tomato soup down my white chapel button-down and had to wear the red spillage of shame for the rest of the day. What is one thing you will miss about high school? Spending time every day with my best friends. What did you want to be as a child? Mermaid If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Avatar: The Last Airbender” What is the theme song of your life? “Seagulls (Stop it Now)” Brenna McConnell What colleges are you applying to or going to? My top three are Michigan, University of Cincinnati, and Oklahoma City University. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? I’d be on a gondola in Venice, Italy. Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Zendaya, because even if I die there at least I got to meet Zendaya, you know. What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Probably the time I forgot my shoes… and just walked around in socks for two periods before my dad brought them. But I managed to not get caught and given a detention so that was cool. What is one thing you will miss about high school? The Dunkin coffees in the spirit shop! It’s so convenient to just pick one up before class. What did you want to be as a child? A singer, a vet, or to run an animal rescue. Who was your first Wesleyan crush? William Sab-cha If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Avatar: The Last Airbender” What is the theme song of your life? “Fever Dream” – Mxmtoon All photos by Brian L. Morgan.
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FEATURES
Two teachers flashback to high school
Caroline Croley Have you ever wondered what your favorite teachers were like in high school? High school English teacher Katie Wischerth and high school science teacher and Twelfth Grade Boys’ Chair Isiah Hill reveal their high school experiences, which provide Wesleyan students into a better understanding of what shaped their favorite teachers.
KATIE WISCHERTH
Wischerth graduated high school in Jackson, Mississippi in 1998. She described herself as being a grunge rock-era student when she went to public school. She wore torn jeans, flannel, and Converses and listened to a lot of Nirvana and Pearl Jam. When she attended private school, she said that she hung out with the “outcasts” of high school. “I was always an excellent student,” Wischerth said. “Even though I wasn’t the most obedient child, I always did well in school. I loved art and English the most.” Wischerth thought that she was going to become an artist or an art teacher.
Katie Wischerth, aged 18, dressed up as a bird watcher for Halloween to match with her sister who was dressed as a bird.
Wischerth
When asked about her most embarrassing moment, Wischerth said, “On my first day of sophomore year, I drove into school in my banana yellow Ford Ranger, which was a total piece of junk – no gas gauge and a tan vinyl interior. It started shuttering with any speed over 55 miles per hour. What made it embarrassing was that my school was a lot like Wesleyan; a lot of the kids had really nice cars. For a while I was called ‘the girl in the
“I drove into school in my banana yellow Ford Ranger which was a total piece of junk.”
I didn’t either. It helped me appreciate close friends and good teachers.” Her advice to Wesleyan students is if you love high school enjoy every moment. “If you don’t,” Wischerth said, “then you will find your people in college. Just know that my room is always open.”
“I beat out many of the more popular girls, but it was fun. I still have the tiara.” - Katie Wischerth
ISIAH HILL
Hill graduated from William G. Enloe High School in 1988 from Raleigh, North Carolina. When asked to describe himself during high school, Hill said, “I was a weird guy because I was a football player who loved science. By day I hung out with the science nerds, by afternoon I hung out with the athletes, and on the weekends, I hung out with my mom. I was also a really quiet, shy guy, which was good because all my friends were talkers. I played three sports: football, basketball, and track. I was always busy studying or playing a sport.”
“By afternoon I hung out with the athletes, and on the weekends, I hung out with my mom.” - Isiah Hill
“I didn’t have a car the first three years of high school,” Hill said. “So, after school and practice I would walk three miles home. One day when I was walking home, Assistant Principal Mr. Wilson saw me and pulled his car over and asked why I was walking home. When I told him, he said if I came to his office after practice and completed my homework, he would give me a ride home. He gave me a ride home every day for three years.
“I didn’t know how to drive stick shift when I first got it but I taught myself as I drove home while other drivers were blowing their horns and directing profanity at me.” - Isiah Hill
When asked what his most embarrassing moment was, Hill said, “I went to a big school that had an east and west campus, and I would have to go back and forth between the campuses. My sophomore year, I had English in the far east part of campus followed by P.E. in the far west part of campus. A lot of the time I would end up being late to P.E. and my teacher, Mrs. Bridges, said if I was late one more time, I would get a detention. I had never had a detention before. So the next day I sprinted to PE and got changed really quickly and got in line just as the bell rang. Then Ms. Bridges started walking towards me. I said to her, ‘Mrs. Bridges, I was in line before the bell rang.’ And she responded, ‘You’re right Mr. Hill, but where are your pants?’ When I looked down, I didn’t have on any shorts just my blue underwear with purple polka dots. I had to run back to the locker room and put my shorts on, and she still gave me a detention.”
“And she responded, ‘You’re right Mr. Hill, but where are your pants?’” - Isiah Hill
- Katie Wischerth
yellow truck’ because no one knew my name.” When asked what her favorite moment was in high school, Wischerth said, “My favorite moment, was when I won the underdog vote for Winter Festival Queen – the “homecoming queen” of basketball season. I suppose I was more of a ‘joke’ vote as I beat out many of the more popular girls, but it was fun. I still have the tiara.” “High school was not the best part of my life,” Wischerth said. “But it helped me become a better adult and teacher. I can better empathize with those who don’t necessarily fit into the typical high school life because
When I got my first car, a Buick Skyhawk, it was on sale for 500 dollars. I didn’t know how to drive a stick shift when I first got it but taught myself as I drove home while other drivers were blowing their horns and directing profanity towards me.”
Isiah Hill was number 81 when he played football his junior year in 1987.
Hill
Hill’s favorite memory from high school was his last football game his senior year. “I scored three touchdowns that game,” Hill said “It was a really great and sad moment because I knew I would never play football with those guys again.” “High school is a time to make lifelong friendships and leave an impression on a community you have been a part of for years,” Hill said. “This is the time when you become the individual you will be for the rest of your life. The only regret you will have is that you didn’t take advantage of this time. These are precious, precious moments.” High school teachers went through the same and weird moments that all students at Wesleyan go through. Whether it’s winning Basketball Homecoming queen or not putting their pants on, Wesleyan teachers can empathize with their students.
FEATURES
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Jump into a day in the life of Wesleyan principal Henley Davis The daily life at school and at home of Wesleyan’s principal, Joseph Koch, is very chaotic due to his busy schedule. When asked what an average day in the life looks like, Koch said, “There is no such thing. That is the typical part. Every day is different.”
devotional books, and he loves a good Netflix series.
“[The Bible] helps me balance myself.”- Joseph Koch
High School Principal Joseph Koch shares meaningful messages to the high school in chapel. Koch Koch wakes up on school mornings at 5 a.m. He gets up early to go through his emails and check his schedule. Koch said he has coffee for breakfast while he wakes up the rest of his family, his sons, Lawson, Wiley, and Finn Koch, and his daughter, Jocelyn Koch. Koch said waking up his three sons is “a challenge.” He tries to leave for school each day by 7 a.m. m
Joseph Koch starts the first day of school with his family, Lawson Koch, Wiley Koch, Jocelyn Koch, and Finn Koch (L to R). Koch One of the only constants during Koch’s busy schedule is his second period AP Research class. Koch says his favorite thing about this class is “everything.” In his class, he said, “We get a lot of work done, and they have a great mindset and approach each day with a great attitude.” Koch enjoys being able to teach his class skills that they will need for life.
“There is no such thing.That is the typical part. Every day is different.”- Joseph Koch
Joseph Koch helps senior Sarah Lim with homework in AP Research. Koch For lunch, Koch typically has a salad and soup due to his diet, but he said, “If I could eat whatever I wanted, I would be crushing chicken tenders all day long.” After the school day, Koch normally does not leave school until 6 p.m. because he continues to work, but whenever there are sports games or other events at Wesleyan, he tries to stay at school for them.
Joseph Koch teaches the seniors about AP Research. Koch On the weekends, Koch loves to garden and spend time outdoors. His daughter plays travel soccer, his boys play lacrosse, and he also tries to find time for college football on Saturdays. On Sundays, Koch works part-time for the NFL with GSIS, the statistics crew. He works with 9 other guys, who compile all the stats from Falcons home games. Koch specializes in taking the stats for tackles. In the midst of his chaotic days, Koch said he reads daily devotions. On Wednesday nights, he and his wife participate in a married couple’s Bible study.
“We get a lot of work done, and they have a great mind set and approach each day with a great attitude.” - Joseph Koch
Senior Will Fuller and principal Joseph Koch work hard to get mind-blowing results. Koch Each night, Koch eats dinner with his family. On Monday, they have pasta night, Tuesdays are Taco Tuesday, and on Wednesdays, Koch cooks on the grill. Koch said, “I am the cook of the house.” Thursdays are pizza night, and on Fridays Koch attends the Wesleyan football games. On Saturdays and Sundays, Koch cooks big dinners for his family. He checks in with his kids to talk about their day each night. Then, he tries to read or watch television before he goes to bed. Usually, Koch goes to bed between 11 p.m. and midnight. “It is not uncommon for me to wake up with a book on my chest,” he said. He enjoys reading
Joseph Koch enjoys traveling with his wife, Elissa Koch. Koch Koch said, “It helps me balance myself.” He reads his Bible every night in order to ground himself. “If I weren’t grounded that way, life would be really hard to manage,” he said. It is obvious that Koch has a very hectic schedule that is anything but “average.”
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FEATURES
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Celebrate holidays with Hampton Hampton Huggins
The Christmas holiday time of the year is arguably one of the best of all the major holidays. In today’s first ever issue of Holidays with Hampton, I will talk about Christmas and why it is the best holiday for several reasons. First up is music. I mean, who doesn’t love some “All I want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey? The most controversial part of Christmas music is when you should start getting into the holiday spirit. The answer is very clear: right after the conclusion of Thanksgiving dinner is the first acceptable time to listen to your favorite Christmas tune. Whether it is “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms, or “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, the best way to get in the holiday mood is to get that radio playing.
“All I want for Christmas is You” averages almost 350 million streams per Christmas season. Next up is, of course, having a nice, long, Christmas break. At the conclusion of exams and a long semester, the best way to rejuvenate is having over two weeks off of school to enjoy time with family. Whether enjoying traveling, or staying at home, there is always something fun to do. One of my personal favorite activities is a good old-fashioned fire. There is truly nothing like going outside and making a fire to keep you warm and watch some football, of course. That of course brings me to the next subject: sports, the absolute best part of the year. You have the college football conference championships, playoffs, and
national championship. All starting and ending at the holiday. The NBA is in full swing, and the NFL has teams making their playoff push. This year, there are several teams in the hunt for the college football playoff. The unanimous number 1 team in the country is your hometown Georgia Bulldogs out of the SEC. Number 2 is the Alabama Crimson Tide also out of the SEC, Number 3 is the Oregon Ducks out of the Pac-12, and then Number 4 is The Ohio State University out of the Big 10. But it gets very intresting when a team like Cincinati, they are undefeated but ranked 5th in the country and they are trying to find their way to compete for that illusive College Football playoff spot. But now for the intresting stuff: the people’s answer to the best Christmas snack. After a poll given to 30 random students, over 19 of them voted for the one and only Christmas Tree Cake. Made by Little Debbie, the cakes are the best Christmas treat of a yellow cake with white icing and sprinkles. I would highly recommend you try them as they are my personal favorite.
The NBA Christmas day games average around 3.44 million viewers per game. This is estimated to be over 20% more than last year. Finally, is the big day, Christmas itself. On the 25 of December, you can find me waking up, opening presents, and getting myself ready for a wonderful day with
family and sports. This year I am particularly excited because I get to watch the Hawks play in Madison Square Garden at noon. And of course, no Christmas is right without a proper Christmas dinner. My personal favorite is some fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and banana pudding to finish it off.
The best selling Christmas song of all time is “All I want for Chritsmas is You”. Whether you celebrate the holidays with friends or family or nobody, it is the perfect time to enjoy all of these great traditions.
Top 10 Christmas presents Hampton Huggins
Christmas, the time to celebrate Jesus’s birth, family, and friends. And of course the presents. A survey was taken of 109 random Wesleyan students and they gave us their response of what they most wanted for Christmas. Even though most everyone has something on their list that is represented here, some people like senior Hampton Bingham like to go the more unique rout. He has aked for a steel drum to play his favorite songs on. Money Number 1- I believe that money is a very versatile option for Christmas. You can buy anything that you want with the money, or even save it to buy something more expensive with other saved money.
Clothes Number 2- I believe that clothes are also a good option. I would prefer maybe some golf shirts or pullovers to enjoy. Shoes Number 3- How can you go wrong with shoes? Although I am not an expert on shoes, some people are, and you can always find a good pair of shoes. iPhone Number 4- Stephen Street said “I’m tired of my small phone. It’s always falling everywhere, especially in the cracks of my truck. I’d love a new iPhone 13 Pro Max”.
Lululemon Number 5- I mean, lulu is the best. The shorts are unmatched in my opinion. They are the most comfortable thing I own.
Apple Watch Number 6- Drake Shook said “I wanted a watch originally as an easy way to tell time without have to pull out my phone, which I could get distracted by. I also wanted a watch for timing my daily runs as I run Cross Country”. Gift cards Number 7- Livi Stolle said “I would like some gift cards, especially for gas. This would help me with my budgeting because if I got just cash, I would spend it on other things that are not gas”. Jewelry Number 8- Norah Kate Andrews said “I would like jewelry for Christmas because it is pretty and I can wear it every day. I also like that it will always fit and will not go out of style”. A new pet Number 9- Forrest Lietz said “The reason I want a new pet is because one of my dogs died a few months ago, and I think it’s time to get a new hunting dog that can retrieve birds. Also, I love puppies, so it would be awesome”. A new gaming system Number 10- Max Ledbetter said “I would like a new Xbox because mine is kind of old. I would also like to use the new larger storage to have more games loaded on my Xbox at once”.
In 2020, the hottest selling Christmas present was reported to be the Nintendo
15 Weslayan celebrates Christmas traditions FEATURES
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Alex Edgar A myriad of ways exists that people all around the world celebrate the Christmas season and create traditions for the holidays. Whether created generations ago or within the last few years, everybody has some form of holiday tradition. Even people within the Wesleyan community have varying and distinct customs from one another. The Green & Gold spoke with some of the faculty and students to find out what some of their most unique traditions are.
into teams and they sing the “12 Days of Christmas”, each team acting out a different day. One of Brown’s favorite Christmas memories is that “[he] thought Santa was real until a solid fourth grade.” He said that he be-
“I thought Santa was real until a solid fourth grade.” -Brown
(l - r) Alumna Jack Godfrey ‘20, senior Emily Godfrey, sophomore Matthew Godfrey, and family act out the Christmas story in their home on Christmas Eve.
Faculty fellow Ellie Burns and her younger brother prepare to make some Christmas cioppino.
Burns
Ellie Burns New faculty fellow of the history department, Ellie Burns, recently graduated from Haverford College in Pennsylvania, although she grew up in Augusta, Georgia. When asked about one of her longest held Christmas traditions, she said, “We have a family arm wrestling competition every year on Christmas Eve.” She said this
“We have a family arm wrestling competition every year.” -Burns Christmas tradition began when she was about five years old. Having two older brothers and one younger brother, as a child, she and her siblings always fought over who got to put out the Christmas cookies and carrots out for Santa and his reindeer. They decided to solve this problem by awarding this privilege to whoever won the family arm wrestling championship. One of Burns’s fondest Christmas memories is the annual cookie swap she has with her friends and family. She said that everybody who is in town for the holidays comes over with their own home-made cookies, and then they share these cookies and watch the movie, Elf. In an answer to a highly controversial question: when she thinks the Christmas season starts, Burns said the day after Thanksgiving. She said that “You need to give each holiday it’s proper respect” and told the Green & Gold that Wesleyan will see “her Christmas sweaters make an appearance only after Thanksgiving.” Burns’s favorite Christmas movie is The Nightmare Before Christmas, and her favorite Christmas song is, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” by Mariah Carey. Lastly, being Italian on her mother’s side, Burns said that her favorite Christmas food is cioppino, an Italian seafood stew served with bread. She eats this with her family every Christmas. Emily Godfrey Senior Emily Godfrey shared about her fun Christmas traditions. She said that her most interesting tradition oc-
curs every Christmas Eve night. She, her siblings, and family act out the nativity story while her mom records it every single year. Godfrey says that they use a script, and that the songs they sing go along with all of the different parts of the narrative. After going to a church service on Christmas Eve, she said that her family eats soup together and bakes a “Happy Birthday Jesus” cake to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Godfrey said some of her favorite Christmas memories have happened during her annual gingerbread house making competition. Godfrey said, “Sometimes I will spend up to three hours on my gingerbread house, and I will eat a lot of candy in the process and feel really sick, but it’s worth it.” Godfrey’s favorite Christmastime food is apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Her favorite movie is Elf and her favorite song is “White Winter Hymnal” by Ronald Pecknold.
lieved that elves really were eating crackers and sprinkling supernatural glitter around the house, and that he really “drank the Christmas Kool Aid” as a child. In the Brown’s household, the Christmas season at the latest begins Dec. 1. Brown believes there should be a two or three-day cushion between holidays. Brown’s favorite Christmas food is either stuffing with homemade gravy or sweet potato casserole (with burnt marshmallows on top), his favorite Christmas movie is the Jim Carey version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and his favorite Christmas song is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” by John Mason Neale and Henry Sloane Coffin. He said he is excited for future Christmases because he and his wife get to “take all the traditions we enjoyed as kids and redo them with our kids now.”
Sophomore Nadia Desbordes’s dog, Ricky, welcomes the Christmas season with festive decor. Desbordes
Nadia Desbordes
(r - l, t - b) Alumna and Bible teacher Davis Brown ‘10, his wife, alumna Grace Brown ‘10, family, and friends celebrate Christmas together at a Christmas party.
Brown
Davis Brown Bible teacher and Wesleyan alumna, Davis Brown, has some unique Christmas traditions as well. When asked about one of his most interesting Christmas traditions, he said that every year at his wife’s family’s house, they invite as many friends and family members as possible over to eat together and sing Christmas carols around the piano. Brown says that “he will read through the Christmas story in between both modern and traditional Christmas songs.” At the end of the night, everybody groups
When asked about her most interesting Christmas tradition, sophomore Nadia Desbordes said, “Every year since my brothers and I were young, my mom will eat Santa’s cookies and use ash from the chimney to make reindeer hoof prints on the floor on Christmas Eve.” Annually since she can remember, Desbordes said that she and her family go to her grandma’s house on Christmas day to have dinner, which consists of fried chicken, green beans, mac n’ cheese, corn pudding, sweet potato pie and casserole, as well as Desbordes’s own homemade rice crispy treats. When asked what one of her favorite Christmas memories is, Desbordes said that when she was six years old, she and her brother forgot to open their stockings. Their mom reminded them to, and when they did, they found a little box that had tickets to go to the Nickelodeon resort in Orlando. She then said she and her brothers proceeded to “run around the house like madmen” from excitement. Desbordes says that for her family, the Christmas season begins on Dec. 1, but they do not usually decorate until later in the month. However, Desbordes said that she does not listen to Christmas music until Christmas Eve because she prefers other types of songs. Desbordes’s favorite Christmas food is rice crispy treats and corn pudding, her favorite Christmas movie is either the live action Grinch or Christmas with the Kranks, and her favorite Christmas song is “Louisiana Christmas Day” by Aaron Neville.
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FEATURES
Dining at the Lazy Dog restaurant Audrey Pursell
The recent addition of the “Town Center” in Peachtree Corners in 2019 has brought the wonderful new restaurants. One of the newest restaurants is Lazy Dog. Lazy Dog is located at the front of the Town Center next to First Watch and the parking deck. It takes less than five minutes to get to Lazy Dog from Wesleyan. Lazy Dog is often overlooked by its popular surrounding restaurants, but it is not to be underestimated. I went to Lazy Dog recently and wanted to share my experience. First, the atmosphere is extremely welcoming. The hostesses are quick to greet you with a smile from the moment you enter the door. The restaurant is family-friendly and casual attire is welcome. There are outdoor and indoor seating options including a range of booth, high-top, and regular table seating.
rella, parmesan and romano cheese. The pizza crust was toasted, and the different cheeses created the perfect variety of flavor. The pizza was cut into sticks, so it was the perfect portion size to share with friends. I would rate it a 9 out of 10. It was an amazing pizza, but it did contain a lot of grease. For dessert, the waiter suggested the Chocolate
Juniors (l-r) Caitlin Bridgers and Caroline Scott indulge in Queso Dip. Pursell
The server presents the “Queso Dip” dish at Lazy Dog. Pursell
Junior Elsa Moore enjoys the new “Garlic Queen” pizza sticks.
Pursell
lllllUpon entering the restaurant, I was seated immediately. The waiter was kind and brought me to my desired table. The waiter suggested the starter of queso dip which comes with jack, cheddar, queso blanco, pimento, hatch chiles, cilantro black beans, and hand-cut tortilla chips. The dip came warm, and the mix of ingredients provided an incredible flavor. The tortilla chips were crispy and flavorful as well. I would rate the queso dip a 7 out of 10. The dip was delightful but was quite filling not leaving much room for entrees. Next, I asked the waiter which entree was his favorite, and he said it was the Garlic Queen pizza sticks. This item is new on the Lazy Dog menu. This pizza contains garlic butter sauce, secret seasoning, oregano, mozza-
Brownie Sundae, which consists of a house-made white chocolate chip brownie served with a side of chocolate syrup and vanilla bean ice cream. The brownie had a chocolate filling, similar to a chocolate lava cake. It came warm and was a delightful way to end the meal. The ratio of brownie to ice cream was perfect. I would rate the brownie an 8 out of 10, only taking points off for the lack of plates given to share. At the end of the meal, the waiter gave the check quickly. The pricing was fair, which makes this a simple and inexpensive outing. I would highly recommend the Lazy Dog to anyone looking for a tasteful meal with family and friends.
Lazy Dog Ratings (out of five)
The chef at Lazy Dog beautifully plates the “Chocolate Brownie Sundae”. Pursell
17 Winter sports are kicking things into gear SPORTS
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Anna Rae Copeland
Basketball Cheerleading
It is a lot of staring at the black line. We try to make practice as not monotonous as possible: warm up, preset, main set, post set, and warm down. Practices are typically challenging but prepare the swimmers for high level competitions and meets. What group do you hope shows great leadership this season? We have a small senior class; I hope that whether they are captain or not they will consider themselves as leaders. Seniors, Sophie Villa, Mitchell Badciong, and Kaitlyn McGrath will be great in the upcoming season. Badciong will be great to have back after his prior shoulder injury. Wrestling
Senior Jessica Nolan excited after a fun Wolves win. Nolan Head coach Jennifer Pinkett- Smith What is your goal for the upcoming season? One of the goals is to acually be able to cheer at as many games as possible. Last year we could only do home games, and it is nice when the girls get to go away and cheer in a different space. What motivates you to coach this sport? Seeing girls progress in the sport especially girls who may not have had experience in cheer, to see them at the beginning of the season struggle some but to see how much they have learned and how well they have taken to the sport of cheer. I have had several girls go on to cheer in college, and to do what they love beyond. How does practice usually look? We typically start out with updates for the week. We always start out with prayer, and we have a routine for our motions to practice. We review and work on new material. Swim and Dive
Senior Aidan Conley prepares for his final season. Morgan Head coach Josh Tolman What is your goal for the upcoming season? My goal for the upcoming is for us to lean into a program identity. I want to answer the question: “What makes Wesleyan Wrestling unique?” If we as a team can answer this question with conviction, I believe that the rest of the season will take care of itself. What group do you hope shows great leadership this season? I’m really excited about our seniors, Aidan Conley, Brendan McIntosh, and Matthew Brown. These guys will be the ones to help us set a vision for who we’re going to be this season. What motivates you to coach this sport? I want to be a part of and help build a wrestling family that is first and foremost known for how we care for one another and persevere together. Girls Basketball
(l - r) Junior Lindsay Friendman and senior Mitchell Badciong celebrating a Wolves win. Copeland Head coach Kevin Kadzis What is your goal for the upcoming season? Our goal for the season usually does not change. Our goal is to improve, have a memorable/ meaningful experience, to work hard as a team, and do the best we can at the state meet. Through this process to improve from last year with our times for swimming and our scores with diving, we are learning how to adjust and reestablish some of the things we have done pre-covid. How does practice usually look?
(l - r) Freshman Johanna Potter, Desiree Davis, Londyn Walker, Sophomores Chit-Chat Wright, Eva Garabadian, and Junior Morgan Damm spending time together at homecoming. Cintron
Carolyn Blackman What is your goal for the upcoming season? Our daily goals are to have great effort, a great attitude, to communicate, and to have fun! We will set weekly goals as a team and the overall long-term goal remains the same- that is to win a state championship! How do you guys select the team for the upcoming season? We select the teams when we see who all is at tryouts and we go from there. What motivates you to coach this sport? I chose to coach this sport because this has always been my favorite sport to play and it challenges me daily as a coach. I played here at Wesleyan, played at Georgia Southern, and then I came back to coach here after college. This game has always been a huge part of my life, and ultimately, I want to give back and help to provide a great experience with everlasting memories for these kids. Boys Basketball
Senior Tate Gilley is preparing for his final season as a basketball player. Morgan Head coach Jeremy Oliver What is your goal for the upcoming season? Our approach is ultimately gonna be to win each day, and that starts with each practice. We are trying to be the best version of ourselves each day. Each drill each rep we want to learn from our mistakes and get better. I think ultimately if we are able to accomplish this, the results will take care of themselves, and we will have a successful season. What motivates you to coach this sport? Two things I have always loved-building relationships with my players and seeing them grow to be young men. In the realm of basketball, I love watching them become better basketball player. I have grown up loving the game of basketball, I have played my whole life and it is a lot of fun to watch and teach. Basketball is a lot of work, but it does not feel like that at the end of the day because of how much I love it. Since you are a new coach, what are your expectations? These guys have done a great job buying in since day one, and it has been a lot of fun for me. It is never easy to adjust to a new coach, but these guys have been great. One thing I am expecting is that I just want the guys to have fun and look back on the season and have great fond memories that are special to them. How does practice usually look? The pillars of our program are ACT- attitude, communication, and effort. We have to have a good attitude on the court for the 2 hours we have. I want there to be a lot of energy and communication, we have got to love our job. These guys love to play basketball so that love starts in practice.
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Fall season sports wrap-up their seaCaroline Croley With the end of the fall, comes the end of the season for many athletes; however, some seasons are extending into the winter season as playoffs continue. Students and coaches reflect on their seasons thus far and what they are anticipate for the remainder of the season.
FOOTBALL
The varsity football’s record this year was four wins and two losses. When asked how the football team has improved this year the Head Football Coach Franklin Pridgen said, “We’ve taken vital steps forward in a short time. We started this year with a lot of holes left by last year’s seniors and a lot of inexperienced players. But six games later we’ve gained a lot of vital information.”This
(l - r) Andrew Willis, Brooks Sturgeon, Lucas Schelhammer, and Trent DeBow start the game off with a great kick. Adent
the weeks leading to the end of football are still many, many years away. “I’ve been thrilled,” Pridgen said, “about the positive vibes we’ve been getting from the student body. I’m eager for the weeks to come.”
VOLLEYBALL
The varsity volleyball team played a total of 50 games, winning twenty-seven and losing twenty-three. The top players for this season have been juniors
“The top players for this season have been juniors Lauren Van Wie, Savannah Johnson, Parker Tidwell, and Sophia Shaffer.”- Ted Russell Lauren Van Wie, Savannah Johnson, Parker Tidwell, and Sophia Shaffer. Van Wie led the team in serve receives and digs. Johnson and Tidwell both lead us in kills. Schaffer has been a key player with her serving, defense, and hitting.” “Our most improved player this season,” Head Coach Ted Russell said, “Has been sophomore Kate Stolle. She has been so versatile and has been able to play so many positions for us.” The volleyball team is graduating four seniors: Em-
year, the football team had a fantastic line up of offensive and defensive players. “We are certainly blessed with a lot of great players,” Pridgen said, “which is why we are having such great success.” The two best offensive players this year have been juniors Thomas Cook and Will Tucker. Defensively, our three best players have contributed to the team are seniors Matthew Brown, Byrne Ahrenkiel, and Drew Ball. “We’ve got a lot of terrific kids,” Pridgen said. The favorite game of the season so far for Pridgen
“I want the seniors to know how much I appreciate them and the sacrifices.” - Franklin Pridgen
and Brown was Athens Academy. That was Athens Academy’s homecoming game and Wesleyan beat them twenty-three to two. The varsity football team is graduating thirteen seniors; Byrne Ahrenkiel, Drew Ball, James Black, Jaydin Brown, Matthew Brown, Will Burns, Bobby Cook, James Hufham, Hampton Huggins, Jett Miller, Lucas Schelhammer, Michael Soukup, and Brooks Sturgeon. When asked what he is going to miss most about football, Brown said, “I am going to miss the experiences off the fields with my teammates. Wesleyan football has taught me persistence and hard work.” “I want the seniors to know how much I appreciate them,” Pridgen said. “And the sacrifices that they have made. I rely on their courage, character, and leadership.” It has been an exciting season for football with everyone getting back to the games. Pridgen is hopeful that
low the players to reveal what is most important to them during devotions, the team connects more.” Junior Morgan Perry’s favorite devotional was from fellow junior Mary-John Reinhard. “Mary-John talked about courage,” Perry said, “which is something we don’t talk a lot about. Her points were very special to me.” The verse Reinhard used for her devotional was Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
CHEERLEADING
The varsity cheer team was excited to get back to normal this year after last year, when COVID restricted attendance at games. When asked how it was different cheering for a larger crowd this year, sophomore Hannah Ferdon said, “It’s definitely been a lot more fun. There is a lot more energy cheering with the student section there.” Ferdon’s favorite game was the Homecoming game because the cheerleaders from the class of 2021 came back to visit. The varsity cheer team also cheered with the middle school team and the junior varsity team. This year the cheerleading team has doubled as a
(Top row: l - r) Seniors Anna Rae Copeland, Sophie Anderson, Kaitlyn McGrath, (bottom row: L to R) Channing Stall, Grace Eversbusch, Livi Stolle, Maggie Rheudasil, and Ella Rayburn cheer during the Homecoming game. Copeland
(l - r) Junior Lauren Van Wie, seniors Emily Godfrey, Amber Mathis, junior Savannah Johnson, and sophomore Nadia Desbordes play against Hebron in a region game at Wesleyan. Godfrey ily Godfrey, Annabelle Lawson, Amber Mathis, and Jessica Strohmeier. When asked what he is going to miss the most about the seniors, Russell said, “I am going to miss the seniors’ desire to do the right thing for the right reasons. It’s been fun to see them grow in their leadership, and that is something I am going to miss about them.” The team has bonded a lot during this season. Van Wie said, “We’ve set aside time to come together as a team. We’ve had two team dinners that have been good for improving our relationships.” This season, Russell started giving each player a different week to devolp devotions to present to the team. He instituted this so that the team could be more intentional about their relationships. Russell said, “When you want to improve the relationships in the team, you need to go to the ultimate source, the Bible. When you al-
competition team. “The girls and parents wanted to form a competition squad, and we were happy to facilitate that for them,” Coach Alex O’Donnell said. This new squad will also allow these very talented cheerleaders to showcase their impressive skills at competitions. The varsity cheer team will be graduating eight seniors: Sophie Anderson, Anna Rae Copeland, Grace Eversbusch, Kaitlyn McGrath, Ella Rayburn, Maggie Rheudasil, Channing Stall, and Livi Stolle. When asked about the seniors, O’Donnell said, “We’ve coached them for all of high school. We are going to miss the leadership all the seniors have.” “Out of everything,” Ferdon said. “I am going to miss the seniors the most. I’ve cheered with them for two years, and it will be sad when they leave.”
“Out of everything, I am going to miss the seniors the most.” - Hannah Ferdon
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sons and say goodbye to their seniors
Con’t from pg 18
SOFTBALL
This season, the varsity softball team has dominated with twenty-one wins and four losses. The softball team also won State in Columbus, Georgia on October 30th.
(l - r) Coach Lisson, sophmores Marjee Williams, Macey Cintron, and junior Kate Adent prepare for a game early on in their season. Adent When asked how the team has improved this year, Head Varsity Softball Coach Mary Stephenson said, “We have improved a lot. Offensively, we are more consistent hitting the ball, base running, and bunting. Defensively, we’ve gotten a lot sharper and have not allowed the other teams to make many runs, which is due to junior Ryley Kutter and sophomore Macey Cintron. We’ve made the other teams pay for their offensive mistakes.” When asked with the same question, Kutter said,
“We’ve gotten our bunting down and we’ve bonded more as a team.”
a long way from the start of the season. For the girls, we have a lot of talented runners from all grades. This year has been one of the deeper lineups we’ve ever had. The girls’ team has done a good job of coming together as a team. It’s been exciting to watch them grow.”
The most improved boys this season have been seniors Paul Baiser, Hunter Suits, and junior Carter Hayes. The most improved boys this season have been seniors Paul Baiser, Hunter Suits, and junior Carter Hayes. For the girls, Abigail Glover, Gracie Brown, and Anne McSweeney have shown major improvements from last year. McDaniel said, “The common thread between these runners is that they ran the entire summer.” Running during the summer is very important to prepare for the upcoming season. Basier, Suits, Hayes, Glover, Brown, and McSweeney put in the work necessary to improve this summer. When asked how she has improved, Brown said, “I have become more mentally tough since my freshman year. I’ve had to block out negative thoughts during a race if I’ve wanted to succeed. Both teams have bonded
- Ryley Kutter and Macey Cintron
“We’ve gotten our bunting down and we’ve bonded more as a team.” “Our favorite game of the season,” Cintron and Kutter said. “Was beating George Walton three times.” Stephenson’s answer was the same. “We came out of the loser’s bracket,” Stephenson said, “and beat George Walton who has one of the best pitchers in the nation.” The varsity softball team will be graduating four seniors: Tinsley Bertram, Jessica Nolan, Grace Purrington, and Imani Washington. “I hope,” Stephenson said, “that the seniors have learned what their gifts are and how to use them to build God’s kingdom.”
CROSS COUNTRY
The varsity cross country team had a fantastic season this year. The girls cross country team won state this year as well. “Last year,” Head Varsity Cross Country Coach Chad McDaniel said, “We graduated five out of our seven top runners for the boys. This year’s team looked different because of that. I am proud of the depth that the boys’ team has provided in the starting lineup. They’ve come
ning with each other every day at practice.” The favorite meet of the year has been the Great American and Wingfoot. “Wingfoot was my favorite meet of the year,” junior Alexander Glover said. It’s sponsored by the Atlanta Track Club and features a DJ, Dasani water bottles, and a challenging – but fun – course. This is a meet a lot of the team used to qualify for the Great American race. The boys’ cross-country team is graduating twenty-one seniors: Paul Basier, Parker Bingham, Zach Blan-
(l - r) Junior Chris Izzo, senior Aiden Staley, and junior Alexander Glover celebrate finishing their Wingfoot race. Glover ton, Sam Cleveland, Aidan Conley, Christian Drayer, Walker Edge, Marcus Eriksson, Andrew Fleming, Colin George, Broderick Howard, Cater Lawson, Joseph McDaniel, Brendan McIntosh, Sam Middleton, Drake Shook, Thomas Staley, Hunter Suits, Bond Surber, Lukas Ware, and Andrew Wren. The girls’ cross-country team is graduating twenty-three seniors: Kendrick Archer, Gray Bradach, Gracie Brown, Danielle Kelly, Palmer Louthan, Sophie Vila, Lucy Anderson, Lauren Balch, Morgan Chisholm, Amelia Doss, Ansley Eigel, Erinae Emmelhainz, Maegan Ewing, Audrey Gilliam, Ashland Hemken, Audrey La Framboise, Marisa Lambert, Annie Langenbeck, Mackenzie Maxwell, Katherine Scott, Caroline Stakel, Ramsey Wilkenloh, Teagan Wilkenloh, and Sofia Woomer.
“We formed a close group of friends through cross coutry.” - Colin George
(Top row: l - r) Seniors Sophie Villa, Morgan Chisholm, Annie Langenbeck, Marisa Lambert, Audrey LaFramboise, Gray Bradach, Palmer Louthan, Ashland Hemken, (bottom row: L to R) Kendrick Archer, Danielle Kelly, Lauren Balch, Ramsey Wilkenloh, Lucy Anderson, and Maegan Ewing celebrate their last year in cross country. Wilkenloh this year as well. Junior Kate O’Shields said, “The Great American meet in North Carolina is a great way that the team bonds – through the bus ride, hotel, and other fun traditions we do on the trip. We also bond just by run-
“I hope,” McDaniel said, “that every team member has learned their value on the team and in life has nothing to do with performance. It has everything to do with the fact that they are a child of God and made in his image. I hope every team member has been pointed to Jesus through interactions with coaches during their time on the cross-country team.” When asked what he is going to miss the most about cross country, senior Colin George said, “I am going to miss the team bonding we have. As the season went, the team dwindled down but we got closer and closer. We formed a close group of friends through cross country.” Wesleyan has had a fantastic fall season, which is in part thanks to the amazing seniors.
20 green & gold
THE BACK PAGE
Wolfie’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day
Anna Rae Copeland Dear high school students, I have been sneakily roaming around campus to see what you high school delinquents have been up to. It has come to my attention that the last issue of the Green and Gold was mistreated. As I was going through the trash looking for scraps, to my surprise, I recognized the newspaper in the rubbish can.
My heart is shattered, broken in pieces, I went outside to bury the remains of the newspaper when I came across some hooligan super speeders without parking stickers, that’s right you heard me… NO PARKING STICKERS.
storm, which was brewing in my mind. Will Fuller and Drew Ball single handedly restored my faith in the high school. I decided that I still should still tell Mr. Smith about all the things that happened on my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I made my way back to his office, but I happened to peak in the windows of a classroom and to my suprise saw kids playing games.
This was a shock after just seeing all the newspapers in the rubbish can. I decided I was over peopel mistreating property. As I was making my way back to tell Mr. Smith about the outrageously unacceptable behavior shown by the students, I saw an unfamiliar car-clearly not a senior’s car. I am not sure what this hooligan was thinking; it was a moment of rage, fury, disgust. I will find you and come to your house and howl at you until your ear drums burst. I contemplated my next actions. As the mascot of Wesleyan, I decided that it would be best for me to restrain my frusturation. If you are reading this, take this as a warning. DO NOT park in senior lots or else! I made my way back to Mr. Smith’s office when I came across homecoming king Will Fuller and star football player Drew Ball. Drew Ball had his giant jug of water in hand and Will Fuller had his accordion. This was a nice break to my terrible,horrible, no good, very bad day. After talking with these two kind gentlemen I was reminded that not every student is as perfect as they when making decisions like throwing away the newspaper or speeding. Will Fuller taught me how to keep composed when in stress and he told me some of his king strategies. Drew Ball’s existence was enough to calm the
I didn’t know you kids could pull up games! I heard that type of sorcery was not allowed here. I thought this was a place where all games were blocked? Every bone in my wolf body crumbls at the sight of you people’s behavior. As I said earlier, Will Fuller and Drew Ball had restored my faith and given me hope for a better future. I let this go... once again today. I hope that you guys are seeing this pattern. I am going to start making more appearances around school here so I can check in on you hooligans. I am sorry that this letter has been a wee bit passive aggresive, but I hope you kids understand its time to straighten up! I am going to start releasing a letter in each issue of the Green and Gold with random messages to keep you kids in line! Here are some photos to show off my patrols!
As the mascot of the school, I hope that you Wolves straighten up soon. See you in the next issue! Go Wolves! You know you love me. XOXO, Wolfie