The Messenger: Volume 123, Issue 4

M The Messenger

Wichita High School East 2301 E. Douglas Ave., Wichita, KS 67211 ehsmessenger.com Volume 123 Issue 4 December 3, 2014

Pay it forward Page 14

The Staff

Ask the Staff: Who is your favorite artist/band?

Two Story Road

Young Thug

Eminem

morgan winter reporter

jadyn fraley reporter

calvin rhinesmith reporter

zach vega reporter

Florence & The Machine

Spice Girls

SoMo

Kendrick Lamar

sneha verma reporter

abigail faflick reporter

camille buranday photogra-

celeste norum reporter

SoMo

Zac Brown Band

Time for Three

Ed Sheeran

Britney Spears

jackson laurie reporter

mollye baker reporter

savannah goodpasture reporter

jack clayton reporter

jade mursch photographer

trevor mahan reporter

Imagine Dragons

Ariana Grande

Phil Collins

No Doubt

Nickelback

brittan brenner editor-in-chief

cal siebenmark web editor

Jesse McCartney

Coldplay

megan sinik reporter

nicole ukofresco reporter

Mac Demarco

Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch

{

What is your favorite genre of music?

elizabeth linda sharon Tweet us @EastMessenger kane tran martin photographer photographer adviser contributing photographers: ryan smith, alexis banzet, lashaya lawrie, sabrina russell, sarah woodward

}

Editorial policy Soundtracks 7 frozenviavariety.com

“Messenger” is published in print once a month, except during vacations, by the communications department of Wichita High School East, 2301 E. Douglas Ave., Wichita, KS 67211. The Journalism department can be reached at (316) 973-7275 or via email at smartin2@usd259.net.

“Messenger” staff will publish news, entertainment, features, and sports in an unbiased and professional manner and serve as a public forum for the students of Wichita High School East.

Letters to the Editor may be submitted to room

Letter from

East quirks 8-9 jademurschphotographer

Diverse holidays 11 hanukkahviahuffingtonpost

on the cover: Megan Jacobs, jr., collects cans for the can drive on Nov. 19 in the gym foyer. lashayalawriephotographer

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E144 or by email, and must be signed, legible, and concise. The staff reserves the right to edit letters to conform to “Messenger” style. Baseless accusations, insults, libelous statements, obscenity, and letters which call for a disruption of the school day will not be considered for publication.

“Messenger” is the official student magazine of Wichita High School East and it is distributed free to students. The opinions expressed in this publication reflect those of the student writers and not the Board of Education, Wichita High School East administration, faculty, or adviser.

FIND US

The Editor

This month’s “Messenger” is filled with tradition.

With the holiday season in full swing, our staff worked to portray this season from multiple perspectives and the standout diversity at East.

This issue, Zach worked on a unique page featuring a variety of holidays and the meaning behind them as well as student perspectives on those holidays.

Meanwhile, Morgan and Celeste worked on a feature with ideas on what to do over our upcoming winter break. This includes a picture scavenger hunt for students to participate in. Tweet us pictures for a chance to win QuikTrip giftcards.

Pictures can be tweeted @ EastMessenger On top of those, Trevor created an inspirational page encouraging students to give back during this holiday season as well as providing information on how to help during the season.

On behalf of the entire Messenger staff, I would like to wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season. We’re extremely grateful for such loyal and interested readers.

Enjoy the Mess, editor-in-chief

ONLINE @EastMessenger “Wichita High School East: The Messenger”

M editor-in-chief

www.ehsmessenger.com

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NewsFlash

mollyebakerreporter

Debate season nears end

Rachel Barnes, jr, works in preparation for her upcoming debate tournament.

The national debate topic for 2014 involves oceans.sabrinarussellphotographer

The debate season started out in September and will end in early January.

This year’s squad not went into the season with not ony high expectations but also multiple returning varsity debaters.

“Different teams excel in different tournaments,” Vickie Fellers, debate coach, said. “We’ve had a number of teams place first in various tournaments.”

The weekend of Nov. 15 the debate team competed at Shawnee Mission East, where Yash Kamath, sr., and Kelly Bye, jr.,

took first place.

They were also at the Kapaun tournament where Stella Yang, jr., and Cody Degner, sr., took first.

It has been a very successful season so far bringing home several top place finishes.

Post- invitationals take place in December where the debate team will compete in the NFL tournament to qualify for nationals as well as the regional tournament for state.

Aces lend a can East High school raised $1,651.05 for the turkey drive on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18. This allowed East to purchase 161 turkeys for Wichita families. The total money raised this year was the most East has seen for the turkey drive for the past few years.

As well as the turkey drive, Wednesday Nov. 19, Students donated 1,142 nonperishable food items for the canned food drive. This

is also the greatest amount of canned goods East has been able to donate within the last few years.

The teacher that raised the most money in their name was Alberto Ortiz, english teacher. He will be dancing in a turkey suit on the Dec. 9 at the winter pep assembly.

As a whole the district was able to purchase 3483 turkeys and 15337 canned goods were donated.

In Memory

This Day in History

•Dec. 5, 2008 OJ SImpson is sentenced to 33 years in prison for kidnapping and armed robbery.

•Dec. 5, 2012 8 people are killed and 12 injured by a magnitude 5.6 earthquake in South Korea.

Sara Lu, soph., collects money from John Jimenez, jr., for the turkey drive on Nov. 20. East was able to collect over $1500. lindatranphotographer

Finals policy changes Finals Schedule

Miguel A. Ramos, jr., took his own life Nov. 3. He is survived by parents: Miguel Sr. and Norma Ramos.

Liesl Wright, art teacher, remembers Ramos fondly.

“A memory that stands out is an interview he asked me to do for a class. The conversation that ensued was deeply personal and he was so Miguel Ramos, jr., was 17 when he mature and insightful,” Wright took his own life. His funeral was said. “I will always treasure that held at St. Margaret Mary Church photobylifetouch memory of him.” on Nov. 7.

Wed. Dec. 17:

ACE time and 3rd hour combined to take 3rd hour final

Thurs. Dec. 18: 8:00- 9:20-1st hour final 9:30-10:50-2nd hour final 11:00-12:20-4th hour final

Fri. Dec. 19:

Students stressfully study for finals. This will be the first year that any current East High students will be required to take finals regardless of their grades, lindatranphotographer absences, or tardies in a class.

A memorial for Miguel Ramos, jr., was made in Liesl Wright’s classroom in the days after his death. Students and teachers alike remembered the fond lindatranphotographer memories they had of Ramos.

Differing from past years, all students must be in attendance and take finals in all classes this year.

In past years students were excused from finals if they had fewer than five absences, three tardies, or had a B grade or higher.

First semesters finals will be held Dec. 17 through

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Dec. 19.

Many students are upset about policy change however due to finals we will have a different schedule that will release at 12:20 the last two days of finals.

Many students are still upset, however this schedule change may eliminate some disdain for finals.

8:00- 9:20-5th hour final 9:30-10:50-6th hour final 11:00-12:20-7th hour final

• • • • • •

Upcoming Events

12.5- Winter Pep Assembly 12.9 Choir concert 12.13-ACT Test 12.22-1.2- Winter Recess 1.14- Winter Sports Pictures 1.19-Martin Lurther King day No school

decembernews 3

Then and Now Depression preys on adolescents THEN

Taking control, boosting self-esteem may be answer to controlling depression Dec. 21, 1990 Lynn crouched in a corner, cold, not remembering the last time she felt good inside. Everything she did was incomplete or ended up as a failure. Her friends were genuinely worried, but they seemed afraid of her and her sadness. Lynn’s depression was a heavy black cloud, and she so badly wanted out.

Although the above situation is fictional, many teens find themselves in a severe depression. When you are depressed, you can feel like you are doomed.

Little problems explode into bigger, more serious ones. The worse the depression, the more you hate yourself.

A recent study done by Dr. Aaron Beck revealed that a large number of depressed patients expressed deep self-hatred. Eighty percent of these patients, according to Beck, see themselves lacking in the areas that most people value very highly: intelligence, attractiveness, achievement and health.

Almost all negative emotions result from a lack of self-esteem. A poor self-image can transform a small flaw into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.

In addition to having a poor self-image, most depressed people believe that because one person looks down on them, the rest

of the population feels the same.

If their cravings for approval are not satisfied, then their sense of worthlessness is heightened, and they lose self-confidence.

Having a perfectionistic drive is unrealistic. If you are depressed, chances are you are not thinking rationally. When others try to talk you out of the depression you are in, their positive ideas may seem foolish.

Luckily, there are ways of escaping the hole of depression. Dr. David D. Burns, M.D., has developed several different techniques that could help a person overcome self-doubt and become more motivated.

NOW

Times, the nature of depression, have changed Dec. 5, 2014 Twenty four years later and depression in adolescents has only gotten worse. Depression, among many other mood disorders, has continued to negatively affect children 10-18 over the past decade.

In 1990, depression seemed to be more self-inflicted than it is today. While the lack of self-esteem and presence of self-hatred is still an issue, depression in today’s teens is more often caused by an outer source.

As it was stated in the editorial from 1990, it is often difficult for

anyone who is depressed to see eye-to-eye with someone who gives them tips on how to escape depression.

If you notice that your friends are off or seem to be sad, ask them what’s going on. Whether they realize this or not, all they need is someone they can talk to about it.

Our student body is not immune to this “epidemic” as some may call it. Three hundred and ten students who attend East have depression or other mood disorders such as dysthymia, bi-polar, that is 15 percent of our student population.

If you are included in that 15 percent, there are many ways to seek help at school. We have several support groups for students to join and many counselors who can assist those interested in becoming involved.

As more young people are becoming victims of depression, it is important that we become aware of the significant dangers that come along with it.

Having depression is nothing to be ashamed of and it is neccessary to instill that into today’s youth. We need to teach adolescents that asking for help should be praised, not ridiculed. jadynfraleyreporter

this issue, a few members of our staff have composed ‘minitorials’ to From the staff New voice their opinion on topics relevant to our student body

Icy conditions EVERYONE can agree that the parking lot during the winter is a wreck, the roads are never cleared after a snow. Students are bad drivers as is, add snow and ice to the mix and you’re asking for disaster.

Hall Etiquitte

STAIRS are meant to walk down not to sit on. If you are going to sit on the stairs, then don’t block the way of the people that are actually trying to use the stairs.

Opportunity

Freedom

PEOPLE don’t recognize and appreciate the freedoms we have in America. Over 5,000 American soldiers die every year for our freedoms; we need to remember that freedom is not free.

Teacher appreciation

WHY do people not appreciate the opportunities we are blessed with by living in the United States? We do not constantly live in fear for our lives every single day. Women have equal opportunities to gain an education and do not face harsh oppression in their everyday lives.

Lunch limitations

WE should be thankful for the teachers we have that truly care about their job. So many teachers just rush their way through the curriculum, not caring if the students actually understand the material or not. Therefore, we should cherish the teachers that go the extra mile to make sure all of their students grasp the concepts they teach.

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THE pizza that we have now is a poor substitute for the pizza we had in the past. The ridiculous nutrition restrictions aren’t going to change student’s eating habits. It also disrupts the prior fundraising techniques.

5decembereditorial

Smart Shopping When it comes to smartphone, more expensive doesn’t always mean better. If you are planning on getting a new smartphone this holiday season, consider all your options.

Top contenders iPhone 6

1,810mAh

8 MP

Battery

Camera

1.4 4.7” GHz

Speed

Retina

Screen

3,000 mAh

13 MP

Battery

Camera

2.5 5.5” Speed

3,220 mAh

13 MP

Battery

Camera

LCD

GHz

Screen

~iOS8 ~Fingerprint enabled ~Sleek design/easy to use

~Laser auto focus ~High capacity battery ~Quad HD resolution

$969.99 or $299.99 w/ plan Best look and feel

$499.99 or $49.99 w/ plan

Features *5.2” AMOLED Screen *13 MP camera *Water resistant *Fully customizable exterior

2,800mAh

16 MP

Speed

Screen

Battery

Camera

$898 or $249.99 w/ plan Most powerful

Buying the best smartphone on a budget $240 $99-$20 Motorola ™ Moto X

AMOLED

GHz

~Andriod 5.0 ~Ultra-High capacity battery ~Ultra-fast quad-core processor

Best all around device

or

2.7 6.0”

w/ plan

Super AMOLED

GHz

Speed

Screen

~Fingerprint Enabled ~4K UHD video ~Super AMOLED screen $660 or $199.99 w/ plan Best camera

Student picks @EastMessenger Ben Forte @BEEN_JAMM1N The iPhone is pretty slick fam

The Moto X gives users the power and features of a much more expensive smartphone for less than half the price. Not only is this device powerful and feature rich, it is fully customizable if purchased from the Motorola website with tons of options like the 25 different back covers (17 colors, 4 woods, 4 leathers).

The phone comes in 16 and 32 GB models and with a 2300 mAh battery that can last up to 24 hours on mixed usage. The camera is better than the iPhone 6 and comparable to other major Android devices like the Galaxy S5 and the LG G3.

As an added bonus, the phone is also water resistant which means it could survive a quick dunk underwater. Overall, the phone is very robust and much cheaper than other phones similar to it.

2.5 5.1”

Bush did 9/11

actually garfield @orenbunnyman The HTC M8 is really user friendly and customizable

yung wav@yung_wav The laser auto-focus on the LG G3 is pretty sick

Must-have accessories Tylt Energi 2K

$40

Double your phone’s battery life and recharge on the go.

AmazonBasics Cables

$9

iPhone and Android charger cables for half the price of other retailers.

Cambridge Soundworks Oontz $50 A powerful bluetooth speaker for your phone with up to 10 hours of battery life and decent sound quality

page by jacksonlauriereporter

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december

OUNDS in our heads

Students select their favorite movie soundtracks

Noteworthy

1. Disney Animation (“Frozen) (“Mulan”) 2. “The Fault in Our Stars” 3. “The Hunger Games”/”Catching Fire” 4. “Pirates of the Caribbean” 5. “Lord of The Rings”/”The Hobbit” 6. Musicals (“Les Miserables”) (“Phantom of the Opera”,) 7. “Star Wars” 8. “Harry Potter” 9. “The Great Gatsby” 10. “Pitch Perfect”

Out of 70 students polled,

53%

of people listen primarily to sound track music.

of people listen to other types of music.

Sound tracks are what bring the movies and TV shows we love to life. However, they can also have an impact on us off the screens. From emotion to pure genius many of the composers of our favorite sound tracks go unnoticed for their fantastic works. Here is some deeper insight into the sounds that we all know and love. jackclaytonreporter

47%

Best Composers John Williams Known For: “Star Wars”, “Jurassic Park”, “Home Alone” Why he is known: Williams has written the music of the movies of yesterday, and is still working our on favorite movies of today.

Michael Giacchino Known for: “Star Trek”, “The Incredibles”, “Mission: Impossible”

Why he is known: This guy could possibly be the next John Williams, winning an Oscar for “Pixar’s Up”, composing the upcoming Star Wars films.

Ramin Djwadi Known For:

“Game of Thrones”, “Pacific Rim”

Other notable works:

His work on the theme for the hit HBO series, Game of Thrones made people love to watch the show’s opening credits.

Howard Shore

Danny Elfman Known For: “Batman”, “The Simpsons”, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” Why he is known: Elfman’s music is the reason why most of Tim Burton’s movies have that wacky feeling to them.

Known for:

Hans Zimmer

“Lord of the Rings”, “The Hobbit”

Other notable works:

His musical contributions allowed the LORT franchise to become so popular among avid moviegoers.

Known for: “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “The Dark Knight”, “The Lion King”

Why he is known: He has done the music for some of the considered best Disney movie (The Lion King) and the best superhero movie (The Dark Knight).

composerphotosviaIMDb

jademurschphotographer

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Top to Bottom

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After opening in 1923 as the initial Wichita High School, our very own East High quickly became known for our outstanding sports, stellar academics, and for our beautiful building and campus. Although when you walk into the building you’re very likely to notice how cold it is or how big the halls are, we assure you if you look closely you’re very likely to find a little bit of treasure around every turn.

East’s rich history provides unique character brittanbrennereditor-in-chief abigailfaflickreporter

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Seasonal stained glass

On second floor east near the SSC stands four panels of stained glass. Many notice the trees and their vibrant colors however few recognize the hidden meaning in the glass.

Each panel represents a season, if you take a closer look you’ll notice that the two on the left represent spring and summer and the two on the right represent fall and winter.

The differences can be seen in the objects surrounding the trees as well as the varying colors depending on the season represented.

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Knowledge quote

Many students don’t know this even exists, however above the circle drive entrance the building reads “Know thyself. Control thyself. Deny thyself.” Some say that “know thyself” comes from ancient Greeks and their god Apollo.

The “control thyself” is said to have come from the Romans and “deny thyself” may come from Christian philosophy, encouraging people to “love thy neighbor as thyself.”

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Pipe Organ

East High is the only high school in the state to house a functioing pipe organ.Although we currently do not have a student who plays the organ, our accompanist, Steven Rue, does. The organ is used occasionally used for various concerts and shows performed by students.

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Tunnels

Originally included in the school for heating and cooling the tunnel system currently is used only to run electrical throughout the building. Previously the tunnels served as host to giant fans that pushed hot or cold air up vents throughout the building to control the temperature however when asbestos was found in the fans they had to discontinue their use. Soon after central heating and air conditioning was installed diminishing the need for the m and the tunnels were used solely to run electrical throughout the building.

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Tweet us your selfie with one of the pieces below at @EastMessenger for a chance to be featured in the yearbook.

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Bell Tower

Part of the original architecture of the building, the bell tower has remained one of the most iconic pieces of East High’s building. Although no actual bell has ever hung in the tower, it has consistently played our Alma Mater and fight song every day at 7:50 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. as well as 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the weekends.

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Roll of honor

When the school was opened it was during the time of the draft, meaning that the when male students turned eighteen they could be selected to go into the army and serve in World War I. Many East High students were drafted and a number of these were killed in combat. To remember their sacrifice and their dedication to our country there is a Roll of Honor located in the stairwell leading to the front lawn off of second floor east. On the Honor Roll is the name of every East High student who was drafted, those who were killed have an asterisk by their name to signify their ultimate sacrifice for our country.

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Old gym floor

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Striding panther

This piece is located on the second floor, south side, of the East Gym. When the gym floor was replaced as a part of the 2000 bond project, a piece of center court was saved and framed. It features Max in an airplane and now rests on the wall of the gym for spectators to see when attending games.

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Murillo painting

Art is a fundamental part of education and learning here at East and our hallways accurately depict this. Arguably the most interesting piece in the building is the Steve Murillo painting located in the west stairwell going from east second floor to east third floor. The painting was inspired by the Joffrey Ballet’s appearance in Wichita; Harry Litwin paid Steve Murillo to create the painting, it was then donated to the district and placed in East. The painting portrays layers of dancers in beautiful shades of blue, red, and white.

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Created by Bruce Moore, arguably the finest sculptor to come from Wichita, the “Striding Panther” was created for East High. For a brief time the panther was on display at the Wichita Center for the Arts however now the cat rests on display atop one of the many bookcases in the library. Moore was known for his sculptors of animals and human portraits.

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McKnight memorial

Many students don’t realize this piece has a name, but the statue that guards the pond is named the “McKnight Memorial.” The statue was donated to the school by J. Hudson McKnight in memory of her husband after his death in 1925. The bronze statue was sculpted by Alexander Phimister Proctor in 1931 and has stood on the front lawn since.

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zachvegareporter

While several significant holidays are celebrated in December, disputes and confusions arise in their original meanings. These origins can provide insight on the culture behind a holiday.

Bodhi Day Dec. 8

Bodhi Day honors the day the Siddhartha Gautauma, also known as Buddha, experienced enlightenment. It is celebrated in the Mahayana Buddhist sect, whose members represent three-fifths of the religion. While the story of Guatamua’s journey varies between traditions, all tell of his discovery of the root of suffering.

Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BCE by the Maccabees against the ruler at the time, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He outlawed Judaism and dishonored the temple by placing Zeus’s statue in it. After the rebellion, the temple was purified by candlelight. The candles burnt for eight days despite the presence of a one day supply of sacred oil.

Christmas Dec. 25

Hanukkuh Dec. 16 to 24

In religious contexts, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and closes Advent season, a time when churches prepare for the holiday. In the past century, Christmas has increasingly become a cultural holiday, adopting secular values such as gift-giving, caroling, and various decorations. The holiday possesses massive cultural influence and is celebrated by many Christians and non-Christians alike.

Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration celebrated by African diaspora in the United States. It was created by Maulana Karenga in 1966 to commemorate the history of blacks and reaffirm African origins. The holiday operates on seven major principles: unity, self-determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Each of the seven days is dedicated to a respective principle.

Kwanzaa Dec. 26 to Jan. 1

Custom customs

“Every Christmas morning, my cousin’s family would drop by and have breakfast with us.

That’s become an annual tradition in recent years.”

Duncan Campbell, soph.

“Chanukah begins as sundown on the first night. We usually get together with family and have dinner. We make latkahs, which are potato things that are usually served with apple sauce.”

“(Kwanzaa is} a holiday that isn’t necessarily tied to any religion but more so is supposed to function as a cultural celebration, since slavery is a big stain on our cultural heritage.”

Megan Jacobs, jr.

Jorge Banuelos , jr.

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decemberdecember feature 11

Breakin’

Fre e

morganwinterreporter celestenorumreporter

Snow has fallen, signaling the best season of the year for some, and the worst for others.

Anxious students count down the days until they are free to enjoy a 16 day recess. Many would prefer to forget, but school resumes on Monday, January 5.

Often by the end of extended breaks, students are completely bored of sitting on the couch with nothing to do.

“The Messenger” staff invites students to conquer the boredom with several ideas for winter break entertainment.

holiday traditions Families around the globe have special ways of celebrating holiday seasons. From Kwanzaa to Christmas, different cultures celebrate and remember history.

For Lily Phan, sr., one tradition is a constant theme of large family and holiday dinners.

“We set aside all of the food and burn incense to offer it to our ancestors and other deceased relatives or friends,” Phan said. “It is a sign of respect, and shows our loved ones that we still think about them.”

Many traditions have carried over generations. This is true for Phan, who has performed this act with her family for as long as she can remember.

Phan said that she will continue the tradition as she grows older, as a way to remember and thank her loved ones.

Dayna Johnson, sr.

What unique holiday tradition do you have with your family?

Nicholas tag. We are left treats, money, and gifts in a boot on Dec. 6.

What started this tradition?

My mom grew up doing this, and being part of the culture in Germany where she grew up, it passed into our family.

How long have you continued the tradition?

My whole life, and I will continue it with my children in the future.

Kaedra Brenner, fr.

What unique holiday tradition do you have with your family?

My grandmother’s family is Swedish, so we always incorporate Swedish traditions and food into our dinner.

Why has the tradition been carried on?

Culture is so important to my family, and we do our best to keep that fresh in our minds, especially during the holidays.

That is what makes us who we are, and without it, we cannot recognize and remember where we came from.

Isabella Ortega, soph.

Front row: Dayna Johnson sr., holds a boot celebrating Nicholas tag, and Kaedra Brenner, fr., displays a traditional plate used by her family. Back row: Isabella Ortega, soph., holds a pickle representing her Christmas tradition, and Lily Phan, sr., holds incense.

Do you have any unique holiday traditions?

On Christmas morning we do “Find the Pickle,” which is a pickle Christmas ornament.”

What happens if you find the ornament?

Whichever kid finds it gets an extra gag gift.

Is it something you plan to continue in the future?

Yes, it has been a fun twist to the holiday tand I would love to continue doing it.

category collision steps 1. Form a circle of players and select someone to decide on a category. (ex., action movies)

scavenger hunt Tweet us creative pictures at the location listed of you and your East High friends. The most creative photos submitted by the specified date will receive a $10 gift card to the Ace Place. (Limit one gift card per picture.)

Dec. 20: Bradley Fair 2000 N Rock Rd #160 (6 p.m. - 7 p.m.)

Throughout the month of December, Bradley Fair offers free carriage rides on Fridays and Saturdays.

Dec. 27: Pie 5 Pizza 334 South Ridge Road (11 a.m. - 10 p.m.)

Pie 5 is a national pizza chain dedicated to creating gourmet pizzas in five minutes or less.

Dec. 30: Wichita Ice Center 505 West Maple (open 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.)

Every Tuesday admission and skate rental at the Ice Center are only $2.

sledding sites Sledding can be a fairly inexpensive excuse to get out of the house for an afternoon, and all ages can enjoy the activity.

Ideal sledding takes place on a significant amount of snow, though it may deteriorate throughout the day. A variety of sled types exist, with plastic disc sleds being the most inexpensive, and also most common.

While sledding is an easy outlet to get out of the house for a day, remember to be aware of surroundings and dress appropriately.

Student recommendations: Sedgwick County Park Palace Theater College Hill Park El Dorado Dam (Butler County)

movies In theaters “The Hobbit : The Battle of the Five Armies” Dec. 17 “Annie” Dec. 19 “Into the Woods” Dec. 25 ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas number of times movies are played “Santa Clause” - 14 “Christmas Carol” - 12 “Home Alone” - 10 “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” - 9 “National Lampoon” - 8 “Elf” - 7 “Polar Express” - 7 “Grinch” - 6 “Jack Frost” - 3 “Dennis the Menace” - 3 “Miracle on 34th Street” - 3

Keep in touch

The winter holidays are full of family time and travel, but often we lose touch with friends.

These apps are multi-player games that you can play while you or your friends are on vacation.

New Words with Friends

8 Ball Pool

Bat Dash

Words with Friends is essentially Scrabble for mobile devices. By syncing the app up with Facebook, you can connect with friends and play remotely.

Challenge your friends to a game of 8 Ball Pool and rise in the leader boards by earning money. This app also syncs with Facebook and Twitter.

In a game of strategy, see how high you can race the bat and beat your friends’ high scores.

2. The player to the left of the starting player then has three seconds to come up with an item that fits the topic and state it aloud to the group. (ex., “The Avengers”) 3. Repeat step two (no repeat words allowed) until someone cannot think of an item. In this case the person is out.

4. The next player thinks of a new category and the game continues until only one person is left.

Sneha Verma, jr., Ryan Smith, sr., Alexis Banzet, sr., Giselle Soto, soph., and Leah Alford, sr., play games without a board. camilleburandayphotographer

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PAY IT

trevormahanreporter

FORWARD

Girl gives gift of food for the holidays

The holidays are right around the corner and wish lists are already being made for gift giving.

However, the values of giving and paying it forward are often forgotten in the hullabaloo of Black Friday sales and big-name company products.

Mikala Selmon, jr., said that giving to the less fortunate should be one of the most important values on people’s minds, especially around the holidays.

“I just like helping out people,” Selmen said. “It’s my thing.

“I just hate seeing people going through that, just seeing them on the streets or they don’t have a place to sleep.”

When Selmon was in fifth grade, she served dinner on Christmas to the homeless at The Lord’s Diner.

This milestone event touched her life and many others all at once.

“I just hate seeing people like that,” Selmon said. “It kills me the most.”

In Sedgwick county alone, 15.9 percent of the population does not know when or where the

“I just hate seeing people like that. It kills me the most.”

Mikala Selmon, jr.

PAY IT

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FORWARD

Pick up a Pay It Forward bracelet from your Ace Time teacher. Start looking for opportunities to do random acts of kindness for others in the community or even around the school, your church, or your favorite coffee shop.

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next meal will come from.

As of 2011, 6000 people were counted as being homeless in Wichita.

Around the holidays, this number is the same, but people often get caught up in what they are getting and what they are giving to their loved ones. Selmon said that she tries to keep this state of mind year-round.

“My mom always teaches me to help out with others and show them how you want to be treated,” Selmon said.

The holidays are a perfect time to pay it forward and give to those who might be in a bad place during the most wonderful time of the year.

“People should be with their families on Christmas,” Selmon said. “Nobody should be out in the streets.”

It has been a few years since Selmen served the Christmas Day dinner, but after giving to several homeless people she has seen on the streets lately, she plans to go back this year.

“No one should be left behind,” Selmen said.

ONE BRACELET AT A TIME

Opportunities for generosity • • •

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SERVE

The Lord’s Diner - Christmas Day Dinner 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Episcopal Social Services - Holiday lunch on Dec. 16 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Baptist Homeless Ministries - Mt. Zion Baptist church is serving a Christmas Day lunch from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

DONATE Serengetee - Buy a pocket tee, bag, or jacket from their website and the money from your purchase will be donated to a specific charity St. Bartholomew Clothing Ministries - Donate any outdated or outgrown clothes to this ministry that distributes clothes for free to families in need.

Salvation Army Red Kettle - Drop a few bucks or some change in the red buckets that are everywhere during the holidays.

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Whenever you do a favor for someone or some act of kindness and are told “Thank You,” take off your bracelet and give it to them, saying, “Pay it Forward” and tell them to pass the bracelet on when they are told “Thank You.”

Go pick up another bracelet and keep the movement going. Whether it’s buying someone a cup of coffee or volunteering at The Lord’s Diner or even just holding a door for someone, never stop paying it forward.

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Mikala Selmon stands outside the Lord’s Diner.

The East boys prepare for the playoff game against rival Southeast.

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alexisbanzetphotographer

Whole lot of

Hoop-La Basketball seeks to maintain winning form The boys basketball team has built a reputation for winning at the highest level in recent years. Although East has almost always been a solid team, one of the goals of Joe Jackson, head coach, when he took over in 2011 was to take the team a step further in terms of State Tournament play.

“When I got here Coach Ron Allen had been here for a long time and had done a phenomenal job running the program and he definitely left the program in good shape when he retired,” Jackson said. “We had some talented kids, some kids that wanted to work hard and I just really believe that he left the program in excellent shape for us to come in as a new staff and try to continue to push the kids and to take strides in taking the next step” It seems the next step for the team is in progress. In the past two seasons the team has made it to the State tournament, winning third place and a City League title last season.

This habit of winning is something the team will want to continue and Coach Jackson said that this season is as good as any to continue that habit.

“It’s going to be an interesting dynamic this year with the kids we have

Athlete Highlights

coming back to see who’s going to be able to step up for us,” Jackson said. “We’ve got two first team All-City kids back and one second team All-City kid this year which, as a coach, is really exciting,” Jackson said.

“We are really excited about how guys have been conducting themselves off the court as well.”

One of those three All-City players is Xavier Kelly, jr., who impressed in his debut season as a sophomore. This season will be different for him personally because of the expectations as an upperclassman.

“My role is to be a leader as well as a scorer now that I’m an upperclassman,” Kelly said. “When I’m playing, my goal is just to run up and down the court and hopefully score some points.”

East’s first opponent is rival Southeast. This first match up will give Jackson and company a chance to repay Southeast for handing the team its only loss in the regular season.

“That game (against Southeast) is always an intense one and I think that our guys will remember them handing us our only City League loss last year in the final game of the season and that will give them motivation to win this one,” Jackson said.

Boys bowling

Girls bowling

Boys swim

Girls basketball

wrestling

Michael Faldet, sr., started bowling when he was in sixth grade. “My mom said I needed to get involved in something, so I joined a bowling league,” Faldet said. He thinks the team will perform “swell” this season and hopes to at least place in State.

Aspen Herzberd, jr., began bowling between the ages of three and four. Her father’s parents, her father and her mother were bowlers. “I think we have a good chance at winning this year because we are recruiting a lot of freshmen. “

David Vu, sr., has been swimming since he was in fourth grade. He joined Wichita Swim Club because his friends and parents encouraged him to join. “I think we will do pretty well, however, compared to previous years, I don’t think it will be as good,” Vu said.

Astrid Same, soph., began playing basketball when she was three years old. Both of her parents played basketball, so they wanted to start Astrid at a young age. “I think we will do better than last year because we are a younger team and we are smarter in basketball IQ,” Same said.

Ryan Lenk, jr., started wrestling during his freshman year. He has enjoyed it and hopes to win state this year. “We are a really young team with not very many experienced wrestlers, but I feel the team has very good potential,” Lenk said. elizabethkanephotographer

Thrifting Treasures

Some people might be against buying clothes that are not straight from a warehouse and a little worn in but these students disagree. With multiple thrift stores in Wichita, shoppers buy more clothes for less money. Not only can they get more bang for their buck but they can also find some treasures that would be difficult to find in more popular stores.

Thrift shoppers include, front row, Samantha Greene, jr., Rachel Barnes, jr., and, back row, Mark Briggs, sr., Isabella Bond, sr.

nicoleukoefresoreporter

How much would you spend?

Nifty Thrifters

Out of 100 males and females polled they said...

Males On the average males would spend..$13.65..on scarves The most: $35 The least: $8

On the average males would spend..$40.35..on sweaters The most: $125 The least: $12

On the average males would spend..$22.95..on sweats The most: $35 The least: $5

On the average males would spend..$85.25..on boots The most: $350 The least: $15

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Females On the average girls would spend..$15.45.. on scarves The most: $50 The least: $5

On the average girls would spend..$34.55.. on sweaters The most: $80 The least: $15

Frequent visitors of thrift shops explain why they think that thrifting is beneficial and why they love thrift stores.

Isabella Bond: “I shop at Goodwill all the time and I love thriting because you can buy comfy clothes that have already been worn in.”

Rachel Barnes: “I also shop at Goodwill, but I go to random thrift shops around Wichita as well. I’m economical so I go thrifting to buy more things for less.”

Parnia Razinobakht: “I like to dress a little edgy, and I go thrifting because you can find a lot of different things that would be extremely hard to find in the mall and other popular stores.”

On the average girls would spend..$21.35..on leggings/sweats The most: $70 The least: $8

Goodwill has two locations in Wichita: 5525 W Central Ave, On the average girls would 4997 S Broadway St, and spend..$60.35..on boots Plato’s Closet owns one location 2172 N Amidon Ave The most: $300 in Wichita on 8241 E. Kellogg, This chain is by far the most The least: $24 where customers can both buy popular location for thrifters to and sell clothing buy their unique wardrobes .

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