Volume 58 Issue 3

In thisIssue:

DECEMBER 2014

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Southern Lehigh High School5800 Main StreetCenter Valley, PA 18034

The Spotlight

Winter break is right around the cor-ner. Flip to back page to see some of students favorite holiday activities.

2014Trivia Crack is the hottest new game at Solehi. Read more about it on page 13.

The age of being a responsible young adult is closer than you think. Page 10 has money saving tips for you.

Wondering where breakfast sandwiches in the cafeteria went? Turn to page 3 to fi nd out.

Southern Lehigh High School

5800 Main StreetCenter Valley, PA 18034(610) 282-1421 x7122

slsdspotlight@gmail.comhttp://slspotlight.com

The Spotlight is published in print and online by the student members of its staff. Its purpose is to present news concerning Southern Lehigh High School and the Southern Lehigh School District, as well as to provide a forum for student opinion. Edi-torial content of The Spotlight expresses the view of the paper and not necessarily that of the Board of Education, administra-tion, or faculty of the Southern Lehigh School District. Bylined editorial content and letters to the editor represent the opinion of the writer only. All contents are copyrighted by The Spot-light. Sponsorship rates are fur-nished upon request.

Faculty AdviserMrs. Marlo Spritzer

Editor-in-Chief Dana DiGiovanni

News EditorAshley Zamichieli

Features EditorTalia Trackim

Entertainment Editor Nicole Schroy

Opinion EditorKatie Cole

Sports EditorCody Heffelfi nger

Our World EditorAshley Zamichieli

In-Depth EditorKylie Schmitt

Web EditorsKylie Schmitt

Robyn Somers

Copy EditorLizzi Thom

2014 PSPA Gold Rating2013 PSPA Silver Rating

NEWS2 SPOTLIGHT

by Brandyn Berean

Due to adjustments in curriculum, seniors have two new choices to ful�ill one of their half-year social studies electives. These courses, called Contemporary Issues, are divided into two sub categories -- issues in immigration, education, terrorism, and environment, or issues in race, poverty, healthcare, and crime. This year’s seniors took Civics and Government as freshmen; this was similar to a class that seniors used to take. It seemed redundant to teach government again to seniors, so the social studies department got together and made a list of contemporary world issues. They chose the top eight and split them into two classes. “It’s going to continue to evolve,” social studies department head Mr. Tom Beaupre said. “Right now, [Contemporary Issues] is in the beta stage.” Contemporary Issues in Immigration, Education, Terrorism, and Environ-ment is taught by Ms. Jen-nifer Wlodek. “I want the students to have a better understanding of issues that affect them whether it be on a local, national, or global level,” Mrs. Wlodek said. Her goals for teaching the class are to make sure all viewpoints on the topics are covered. She also hopes that at the conclusion of the semester, her students will be able to hold an intellectual conversation when they get to similar classes in college.

Mr. Brian Dow teaches the other course -- Contempo-rary Issues in Race, Poverty, Healthcare, and Crime. He hopes to bring current events that relate to the topics into the class while adding more depth to discussions. “[Students] can make connections to real life because these are lessons not out of a textbook,” Mr. Dow said. “They can develop a sense of empathy for others.” Students say they are bene�itting from the class because

it helps them become aware of issues they may have been unaware of before. “I think it is informative and it keeps me up-to-date on current events,” senior Drew Schell said. “Before I took this class, I didn’t know anything about education in the United States and internationally, so it opened up my eyes.” These classes offer more �lexibility for seniors, similar to what they will be seeing in college around the corner. To ful�ill their last social studies credit, students may select any two of a num-

ber of semester-long half-cred-it courses including the Con-

temporary Issues classes, along with Economics, Sociology, or Psychology. “A class like Contemporary Issues is important because it exposes students to the world around them, and it is not just memorization of facts,” senior Nick Cavacini said. “All the topics are interesting, and they can open up a lot of debate because there is simply no clear cut answer to any of the issues discussed.”

New Senior Social Studies Electives

it helps them become aware of issues they may have been unaware of before. “I think it is informative and it keeps me up-to-date on current events,” senior Drew Schell said. “Before I took this class, I didn’t know anything about education in the United States and internationally, so it opened up my eyes.” These classes offer more �lexibility for seniors, similar to what they will be seeing in college around the corner. To ful�ill their last social studies credit, students may select any two of a num-

With the ever-changing curriculum a new series of social studies electives have become available to current and future seniors.

Students research an assignment about where our trash goes after we get rid of it. Photo Credit: Brandyn Berean

This winter Southern Lehigh welcomes new head wrestling coach Ed Labatch who took over the position after former coach Ian Beitler stepped down to pursue an administrative position at Wilson High School. Prior to coming to Southern Lehigh, Coach Labatch coached wrestling for four seasons at Wil-son High School. He also coached football for a total of 12 seasons at Wilson, Palisades, and Saucon Val-ley. “I think he is a good coach. He is very encouraging and supportive,” sophomore Dylan Holschwander said. “He is also very helpful with improving new techniques.” Labatch plans to improve on restructuring fundamentals and work on making the boys more

physically and mentally tough. “I want to make the program competitive, increase number of kids who come out for the team, and teach discipline,” Coach La-batch said. “There is a great bond-ing experience between the team and myself; they are a great bunch of guys.” The returning wrestlers seem to agree, all stating that they like their new coach. Labatch wants to bring new things to the team, and the wrestlers are ready for it. “Coach takes wrestling very seriously. He makes it is his num-ber one priority that everyone gets better,” junior Wyatt Noone said. “He does not want to leave anyone behind, and that is what I really like.”

New Coach on the Center Circle

by Robyn Somers

New head coach Ed Labatch has big plans in store for the young men of the Southern Lehigh wrestling team. Photo Credit: Robyn Somers

As the winter sports teams looks toward the height of their season, the wrestling team takes down the most change under a new head coach.

3NEWSDECEMBER 2014

by Robert Bloss

by Sarah Marks and Talia Trackim

Looking for somewhere to share your passion for women’s rights? The Feminist Student Union is a new club at Southern Lehigh that discusses topics that are affecting women around the world and how to raise aware-ness about these issues. Senior Cara Schiavone founded the club under the supervision of social studies teacher Mrs. Jennifer Wlodek. It meets after school every other Wednesday and is open to all grades and genders. “We just want to do what we can to make the cause known in our school and do volunteer work or fundraisers for women’s charities,” Schia-vone said.

The club focuses on the concept of “intersectionality,” or the study of sections between systems of discrimination, oppression, and supremacy. “Everybody comes, there’s no debating. It is more of awareness type of club,” Ms. Wlodek, who is concerned about negative misperceptions about the club, said. “People thought we were going to be burning bras and pick-eting.” The Feminist Student Union plans to expand and spread awareness about equality by possibly having a unique bake sale in the near future. This bake sale would re�lect pay grades in the real-world by selling cup-cakes to people throughout the school based on their gender and race. The goal is to spread awareness about unequal pay grades people receive in the real world, and make it relevant to students. Senior Jake Stattel joined the group because he was curious and want-ed to try something new. “But underpinning this was a realization that one of the key require-ments to creating a diverse and creative learning environment is hav-ing a degree of understanding between different groups of people living amongst one another,” he said. “By solving, or at least examining, some of the issues between males and females, we can make some real progress towards this goal.” Other students joined the club with a mission in mind. “I wanted to join the feminist student union to raise awareness sur-rounding women’s rights issues and eliminate the negative stigma that comes with being a feminist,” senior Natalie Jones said. Those who are interested in joining the Feminist Student Union are welcome to attend the next group meeting on January 7th at 2:30 in room 180.

Women’s Rights Are Now A Hot Topic at SLThe newest addition to the wide variety of high school clubs is the Feminist Student Union, which aims to discuss topics affecting women around the world.

Coffee, yogurt, fruits, cereal bars, bagels, and Jimmy Dean breakfast sand-wiches are just some of the things that have been taken away as a result of the cafeteria no longer serving breakfast. Employees who work more than 29 hours a week must now be offered insurance benefi ts, under the Affordable Care Act, and since the school district has not budgeted for this, cafeteria workers could no longer put in the hours to keep up with the breakfast program. “I blame Obamacare. I already have benefi ts and the extra hours will only help,” cafeteria employee Melcina Chontofalsky said. “But once again, thanks to Obama, my work hours shortened as well as my pay.”

Eating breakfast is important for everyone, but is especially so for children and young adults. According to the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast perform better in the classroom, with better concentration, problem-solving skills, and even hand-eye coordination. “If I was ever running late I always had the comfort of knowing I had a breakfast sandwich waiting for me in the cafeteria,” senior Kyle Swartz said. Students aren’t the only ones who feel this way. “I think the breakfast program really benefi ted students who missed the time to fi nd a healthy snack in the morning,” Principal Christine Siegfried said. “If it was up to me, the program would still be in place today.”

Where Did Our School Breakfast Go?With many changes taking place this school year, students may have noticed the disappearance of the school breakfast program. Where did it go, and why is it gone?

Some are wondering why breakfast dieappeared. Photo Credit: Allision Borelli

Once busy with the breakfast crowd, the cafeteria is now empty in the mornings. Photo Credit: Robert Bloss

In preparation for the 2014-15 season, Southern Lehigh High School’s ri�le team has started its practices at the Hellertown Sports-men Club. Just like any high school sport, anyone can join the team; however, there are tryouts due to the large number of interested students. During tryouts, Coach Robert Gaugler, a high school technology education teacher, teaches the style of shooting the team uses. The Colonial League teams use the Olympic style, in which the shooter is wearing shooting equipment and must lay on a mat 50 feet away from the target with open sights. That means there is no magni�ication when looking at the target. “It is like trying to look at a period at the end of a sentence from 50 feet away,” Coach Gaugler said. The ri�le team competed in their �irst match on Thursday, December 11 against East Stroudsburg North. In the past, this team has been a hit or miss for the Spartans, but South-ern Lehigh pulled through with a win, 463-424. There are ten teams in the Colonial Ri�le League. Each team competes against every school in the league one time. During a match, the goal of the shooter is to hit the target. Each target has ten bullseyes

which are scored. Ten people from each team shoot, and the top �ive best scores are the ones that are used to calculate the �inal score for each team. The team with the highest score wins the match. Last season the Spartans �inished third in league �inals in a tiebreaker match against

Berwick and Emmaus. “This year we are looking forward to beat-ing both Emmaus and Berwick,” senior Nick Cavacini said. “We also hope to win the league championship.”

FEATURES4 SPOTLIGHT

Scholastic Scrimmage is no Trivial Matterby Talia Trackim

Are you plagued with a variety of seemingly useless trivia facts? Scholastic Scrimmage may be the place for you. This academic team chal-lenges themselves by competing to see who can win the most points in an intense game of trivia. The team is made up of students ranging from freshmen to seniors. They practice in Mrs. Beth Dottery’s room every Friday after school to prepare for tournaments all over the region.

“It’s fun and casual, and if you want to challenge yourself and learn more, it’s a great way to do so,” senior and team president Jake Stattel said. Here’s how it works: the students form small teams of four or �ive people. They are asked a series of questions, ranging from nam-ing the works of famous composers to complex chemistry formulas. If someone thinks they

know the answer, they ring in on their buzzer, and if they’re correct, they receive points. The team that accumulates the most points wins. “There’s the challenge of just knowing the information or not,” Stattel said, “but there’s also the challenge of strategy, how you answer and how quickly you answer.” The team competes at several tournaments throughout the year. At their �irst tourment in November, the junior varsity team took sec-ond place. A part of the team also competes on television at the PBS 39 broadcast station in Bethlehem. “The team is young and inexperienced, and this can be a problem at the different tourna-ments,” Scholastic Scrimmage coach Mrs. Dot-tery said. “We know the answers, but things get dif�icult in terms of strategy.” Despite working hard to overcome challeng-es, the team members agree that being on the team is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. “The competition is pretty intense, but we have a lot of fun!” sophomore Daniel Qian said. During the upcoming months, the team hopes to expand their knowledge and gain more expe-rience. “I’d like to participate in more tournaments, and in more different types of tournaments,” Mrs. Dottery said. “We’ve increased the num-ber in the past couple of years, but in the future we’d like to do more.” If the Scholastic Scrimmage team sounds like a place for you, stop by room 209 for more information.

Rifl e Team Aims to Stay on Targetby Kylie Schmitt

The Scholastic Scrimmage team competed at Phillipsburg High School last November. Photo Credit: Mrs. Beth Dottery

Seniors Kale Donnely and Chris Guttman participate in a rifl e team tournament. Photo Credit: Mr. Robert Gaugler

5FEATURESDECEMBER 2014

Teachers Who Coach Go the Extra Mileby Alex Baca

Mrs. Byers coaches fIeld hockey. Photo Credit: Alex BacaMrs. Byers coaches fIeld hockey. Photo Credit: Alex Baca

There are a lot of teachers who dedicate their time to coaching, even though they have a lot on their plate. They have tests and home-work to grade, lesson plans to come up with, and families to care for, but they believe that coaching a sport they love is worth it.

Mrs. Kaitlyn ByersAssistant Field Hockey Coach and French Teacher“I wanted to coach fi eld hockey because the program is so great here at Southern Lehigh. I missed playing fi eld hockey, and I wanted to be involved in the sport again.”

Mr. Lou SkrapitsAssistant Girls Basketball Coach and Math Teacher“Coaching is hectic. You have to balance between three things- personal life, teaching, and coaching.”

Mr. Skrapits coaches the girls basketball team. Photo Credit: Alex Baca

Mr. Matt CooperGirls Basketball Coach and Social Studies Teacher“I can teach them [the students] or help them or infl uence them [in a way] that I can only do in sports and not in the classroom situation.”

Mrs. Adrienne SearfossField Hockey Coach and Biology Teacher“I enjoy working with a group of individuals and try to get them to achieve something as a team.”

Mr. Cooper coaches the girls basketball team. Photo Credit: Alex Baca Mrs. Searfoss coaches fIeld hockey. Photo Credit: Alex Baca

OPINION SPOTLIGHT

Letter to the

EditorDear Editor,

I think the administration should unblock any music-play-ing website, whether it be Pan-dora, SoundCloud, Spotify, etc. I, as do many of my peers, enjoy listening to music while doing homework or trying to focus on my schoolwork. It is scienti�ically proven that listening to music helps you concentrate and focus more. It is very common for students to lis-ten to music to relieve stress or anxiety, which is a fairly common side effect from school and dif�i-cult academic tasks. In fact, high school students in 2014 have the same anxiety level as insane asylum patients in the 1950s. Many of my teachers allow the students to listen to music while we work, but we can-not because the new computer blocking system has blocked every single music-listening website. If teachers �ind it ac-ceptable to listen to music in the classroom, then why is every website that allows this blocked? Listening to music can help not only students’ concentration levels, but can actually improve students’ school work and can improve their mental health, lowering levels of anxiety. Some students have the abil-ity to listen to music on their phones or iPods, so why aren’t they “blocking” or not allowing that? If students can listen to music on mobile devices, then what is the difference between that and listening to music on a computer? Also, I have provided links to websites from which I have de-rived information for this letter. If you do not believe some of the things I have said, you may read it for yourself. http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2000/12/anxi-ety.aspxhttp://www.studentpulse.com/articles/762/the-impact-of-listening-to-music-on-cognitive-performance

Sincerely, Corinne Isaac, Sophomore

6

Every time a student is suspended, the rumors start �lying about what happened. “The cops came and got them!” “There was blood everywhere!” “The one kid almost got knocked out!” I am well aware of this, as I was recently suspended for “�ighting” for three days. “A suspension is supposed to act as a deterrent to prevent students from not following the code of con-duct or to remove students from school if they have behaved in a way that is dangerous to themselves or others,” Assistant Principal Beth Guarriello said. I personally don’t see, though, how suspension acts as a deterrent. How does the school bene�it from sending students home for a few days, which is where students want to be anyway? According to a study by Duke University, “suspended and non-suspended students perceive suspensions as an of�icially sanctioned school holiday.” The explanation I got when I was in the of�ice await-ing my sentence was that “you need to learn your les-son.” I de�initely learned my lesson when I was eating Chick-Fil-A and watching Net�lix while my peers were at school listening to teachers drone on and on about photosynthesis and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I did my homework, but I know of a lot of other students who wouldn’t have. I’m not alone in my opinion on out-of-school sus-pensions. “If I was suspended I would just play video games and go on social media,” freshman Carter Prokesh said. “Suspensions don’t teach anything; I mean I can still fool around when I go home,” freshman Tim Colon said. “It’s not gonna teach kids anything. Just a break from school.” In fact, the school has no control over what kids do when they are at home. I would liken my recent sus-

pension to a �ive-day weekend. This brings up an important point: why would the school send kids home with no supervision and call it a punishment? In-school suspensions might prove a more effective form of discipline. “I agree with in-school suspensions,” freshman Nate Morris said, “but I’m questionable about out of school suspensions.” Here’s the basic idea. You sit in the of�ice all day with nothing but school work. No friends. No social time at lunch. Not even a lesson to pause the monotony of worksheets. I can’t speak for all students, but in my mind, if in-school-suspensions were movies, they would be scar-ier than “The Human Centipede.” With this in mind, if the school really wanted people to learn a lesson, they would completely remove out-of-school suspensions and force students to deal with the horrifying reality of in-school suspensions. The administration needs to face the facts that out-of- school suspensions are useless. With all the tech-nology students have at their �ingertips, the punish-ment aspect is almost nonexistent. “I believe that in-school suspensions would be much more effective than out-of-school suspensions,” Mrs. Guarriello said. “In-school suspensions would allow students the time and place to complete the school work that they have missed with the support of school personnel, and it would also provide time for counsel-ing.” I don’t wish for anyone to get punished, but every now and then the time will come where a punishment is needed. If the school is going to punish a student, they should actually make the punishment worth something.

Punished With a Vacationby Townsend Colley

Hats are generally worn as a trendy fashion state-ment or a way to cover the oh-so-dreaded bed-head. However, in Southern Lehigh, wearing a hat is a crime according to the student handbook. “There were some safety and security concerns surrounding this issue [wearing hats in school]” Southern Lehigh principal Mrs. Christine Siegfried said. “Wearing hats does not harm others and that was never a concern.” This raises the question: If wearing hats in school does not harm others, then what is the safety concern about hats? “I personally don't see any safety concern,” junior Draven Yandersits said. “That to me sounds like an-other excuse they sure to keep us from wearing hats. Honestly think about it, how is it an unsafe act?” Many students disagree with the hat rule, and rightfully so. Students should have the right to wear hats freely without a teacher telling them to take it off. “I understand students’ preference to wanting to wear hats, and I also understand the concerns that there are with hats, so it is somewhat of a balancing act,” Mrs. Siegfried said, adding that aside of some special hat days, there is no plan to do away with this dress code requirement. “I enjoy seeing students’ smil-ing faces rather than them hiding them under their hats.” “I respect the rule, and in the hallways, I always tell

students to take off the hats,” math teacher Mr. Lou Sk-rapits said, “but I usually let my students to wear them if they aren’t doing any harm in the classroom.” If we are allowed to express ourselves, within reason, through what we wear on our bodies, then we should be able express ourselves with what we wear on our heads, as well.

Why Such Hatred for Hats?by Katie Youngs

Students are not permitted to wear hats inside of school, even Santa hats. Photo Credit: Gualberto107

7OPINIONDECEMBER 2014

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by Ana Burris

Students Beg Admin to ‘Let Us In!’

For some, winter means hot cocoa, warm coats and Christmastime. But for students at Southern Lehigh, it means waiting in the frigid Penn-sylvania weather just to get into school. Last year, Southern Lehigh made the decision to keep the school doors locked until 7:20 a.m. With decreasing temperatures, students are left to freeze because their parents dropped them off too early, or they are waiting to enter the building to speak with teachers. “For the people who get here earlier, they have to wait outside, and it’s really cold,” senior Hannah Docalovich said. “If you need extra help you won’t really have enough time.”

This change poses many dif�iculties besides having to brave the freez-ing temperatures, including club meetings. Many club meetings are held in the morning hours and are, therefore, forced to switch their meeting times from 7:10 a.m. or 7:15 a.m. to 7:20 a.m. The majority of students who are involved in these clubs know that this creates many new prob-lems. “It’s made Key Club meetings pretty short,” Key Club adviser and so-cial studies teacher Mr. Tom Beaupre said. “The students don’t really all get into the auditorium until at least 7:30. Everyone has to be in class by 7:40, so that only leaves us with about �ive minutes to have a meeting.” The choice to lock the doors until 7:20 a.m. came from the concern that students were coming in as early as 7:00 a.m. Teachers don’t have to arrive until 7:30 a.m., which allows students time to roam the building unsupervised. “We had some teachers who volunteered to be here at 7:20 a.m. to monitor students entering the building and so that was the earliest we felt we'd be able to open it,” Southern Lehigh High School principal Mrs. Christine Siegfried said. To be honest, before the rule was set in place, there were typically several teachers inside the school even before 7:20 a.m., so I do not un-derstand the sudden concern and change. “There are teachers who are here earlier by choice but aren’t neces-sarily on until 7:30 a.m. so teachers are still coming into the building when students are already here,” family and consumer science teacher Mrs. Linda Gross said. “They’re still unsupervised, just for 10 minutes instead of 20 minutes. So it’s still kind of the same thing.” After a year of implementation, the decision is proving to be ineffec-tive and an inconvenience. So I say let’s stop this nonsense and just let the students in.

Teenage Dream: Getting Enough Sleep Fact: teenagers are supposed to get nine hours of sleep a night. Fact: You probably don’t, considering 85 percent of teens don’t get enough z’s. Fact: sleep is vital for growing. Why are you yawning while reading this? It’s obvious: you’re tired. You stayed up late �inishing an English essay, and then you woke up early to cram for AP. So who’s to blame? Is it your fault for not managing time? Are you sleepy due to your after-school job? Or is school the problem? “School is supposed to be an enjoyable experience,” sophomore Jor-dan Finks said. “Waking up at six a.m. isn’t the best way to start the day happy.” The American Academy of Pediatrics urged schools to start no earli-er than 8:30 a.m. Guess how many schools followed this brilliant advice? Here’s a hint: Southern Lehigh, along with 85 percent of U.S. schools, still has the �irst bell ringing before 8:30 a.m. That’s right, only 15 per-cent of schools changed their schedules in order to assure that their students didn’t come to school half-asleep. Do you see the correlation between students who get enough sleep and schools that start at or later than 8:30? Look more carefully: 85 percent of schools start before 8:30, and 85 percent of students don’t get enough sleep. Obviously, school starting later would impact students dramatically. It is 1:00 a.m, and you just completed all your assignments. You crash on your bed and instantly fall into a deep slumber.

While you are asleep, you are growing. Almost like a battery re-charging, your brain and body are getting reenergized. According to the National Sleep Foundation, without sleep, our bodies don’t have time for “muscle repair, memory consolidation, and release of hormones regulat-ing growth and appetite. Then we wake up less prepared to concentrate, make decisions, or engage fully in school and social activities.” Considering that our bodies are supposed to wake up when the sun comes up (and not while it’s still dark outside), and the fact that human brains aren’t fully focused until 10 a.m., I strongly believe that school should start later. Sleep is something students can’t live without, and when we miss it, we can’t it get back. School should not be interrupting a mandatory phase in growing and learning. While I personally believe that school starting later would have nothing but positive effects, some students believe that there are rea-sons why school starts so early. “I think that middle and high school should start early because it prepares [the students] for when [they] have a job, and it teaches time management skills,” freshman Rabia Khan said. School starting later would impact time for sports and after-school activities. However, getting more sleep would fuel your body with the energy needed to succeed in those sports and activities. It is proven that more sleep will lead to a more alert, responsive brain. Why not give it a try? Allowing students a few extra hours of sleep each night could prove highly bene�icial.

by Emily Oberlender

Students wait outside before they are allowed to enter the building. Photo Credit: Ana Burris.

CENTER SPREAD SPOTLIGHT8Ever Wonder What Teachers Do When They Are Not Teaching? When They Are Not Teaching?

“My favorite thing to do is golf with friends and spend time with family.” ~Mr. Skrapits

“I enjoy golfi ng at Olde Homestead and Allentown Municipal Golf Courses. I go to Cape May to a family house. I like to spend time with my kids, and I love watching the Redskins lose.” ~Mr. Zeisloft

“I go to see Kenny Chesney every year. I like to go to Starbucks to grade papers and I also like to dance.” ~Srta. Swartz

“I collect and work on old tractors. I own seven tractors, two of which are front-end loaders, two are front plows, one a post hole digger. I have three walk-behind tractors; the biggest one’s a rototiller. I like to fi x’em, play with em, I mean I use them to plow snow, dig holes...I have six chainsaws. I have four weed whackers, and I have the mechanical tools to fi x most of them. I keep the neighborhood plowed in the winter time.” ~Mr. Roncolato

“My favorite thing to do is golf with friends and spend time with family.” ~Mr. Skrapits

CENTER SPREADDECEMBER 2014 9Ever Wonder What Teachers Do When They Are Not Teaching?

“When I’m not taking care of my kids, I like hunting and fi shing. My favorite place to fi sh is in the ocean, and I’ll hunt anywhere I’m allowed.” ~Mr. Donnelly

“I watch Netfl ix, specifi cally Gilmore Girls. I go to Starbucks with my BFF Señorita Swartz. I make delightful home-cooked meals such as meatloaf and apple crisp. Otherwise, I like to play with my corgi named Zoé and fi ll online shopping carts and sometimes buy them.” ~Madame Byers

“I play a ton of instruments like the ukulele. I have a walk-in vivarium in my basement which is a pretty much an ecosystem with plants and animals.” ~ Mr. Dougherty

“I enjoy staying active. Locally, I go on hikes at Hawk Mountain and Bake Oven Knob. I also do a lot of distance swimming. In the summer, I tend to my garden, so I can eat freshly picked lettuce and brussel sprouts for dinner! To relax, I often play Sudoku.” ~Sra. Imms~Sra. Imms

Contributors: Spotlight StaffPhoto credits: Spotlight Staff and featured teachers.

OUR WORLD SPOTLIGHT10Living On Your Own: Money, Time, and Effort

by Jamie Kish

Whether it’s leaving for college, changing households, or feeling the urge to live independently, some students are adjusting to the diffi cult decision of living on their own.

Tip #1: Be wise with your money

Tip #2: Look for the quality of the apartment and area

Tip #4: Keep utilities and services in mind

Tip #3: Try to earn money effi ciently

Photo Credit: fl ickr.com

When students are deciding if they are ready to move out, they must always consider expenses. The cost of rent, utilities, and supplies are the most important aspect of tenantship. To rent a one-bedroom apartment in Allentown, for example, the cost of rent can range from 600 dollars a month to about 1000 dollars a month. Only buy things you need, and save the things you don’t need for later. Although it may seem like a redundant piece of advice, it can really save you the �inancial stress that independent living can cause. Wasting money on things you are better off without can make the process of living on your own even more strenuous than it already is.

When looking for a cheap apartment or studio, try not to make a decision solely on its price. Remem-ber that many high-quality, low-cost properties exist, and you need to look for them. Low cost can some-times bring a burden. You want to make sure that you are moving into a livable, comfortable property, not relocating into a dirty, rat-infested dump. Nobody likes living next to terrible neighbors. This is an important thing to keep in mind when looking for a place to settle. If the property is farther away from your previous location and a realtor or property manager allows you to visit the unit, take that opportunity to observe the neighborhood and your possible neighbors, and get familiar with the area. You want to make sure you’re relocating into a comfortable, peaceful place.

As if it wasn’t obvious enough, water, gas, heat, and A/C is not free. In some apartments, necessary utilities may be paid for by the landlord, but some leave you on your own to pay for utilities.

Many students have jobs, whether it be working behind the counter of a fast food restaurant or volunteer work. Try to �ind an ef�icient method of earning money at a steady and consistent basis. A good job will help you afford a good place.

Tip #5: Divide Your Money Into Groups A good way to stay smart while living independently is to divide your savings into several different groups to help you keep organized. I would recommend dividing money into four different groups: 1. Rent 2. Utilities and food (Although quality may sometimes be kind of disappointing, cheaper grocery markets like Aldi or Redner’s can help save a lot of money on groceries and supplies.) 3. Transportation (Cars never have a de�inite average price. You can get a used car in perfect condition anywhere from 1,000 to 50,000 dollars.) 4. Luxuries (Personal items, things you want but don’t need. Keep a different savings pool separate from your necessities for a prized guitar or new bedroom set.)

Photo Credit: fl ickr.com

Photo Credit: fl ickr.com

11OUR WORLDDECEMBER 2014

In the News for 2014

On the Countdown to College: Financial Aid

Graduating high school and moving onto college is on just about every senior’s mind. However, there are a few months of life-changing decisions before the excitement of college can set in, and the biggest decision of all is where you’re going to end up. Sure, knowing that you like a college is great. Even deciding on a major is a step in the right direction. But, even if you do �ind a school that �its all of your needs, a big factor in deciding where you’ll end up is determined by the cost of the college. Navigating the �inancial aid process is no easy task. As college tuition is on the rise, in both private and public institutions, a school’s endowment becomes limited to how much they can give out to students. In addition, de-pending on the school, multiple documents are required to assess a family's eligibility for �inancial aid. The most important form for any student applying for �inancial aid is FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which becomes available on January 1st. Deadlines vary for the application, but a general rule of thumb is to complete the application by early February. As FAFSA is there to help you afford college, be aware that not every school will meet 100 percent of the �inancial aid your family is eligible for, as assessed by FAFSA. Another important document is the CSS Pro�ile, or the College Scholar-ship Service. Though not as common as FAFSA, the CSS Pro�ile is required by most private institutions. The CSS is available to be �illed out now, and should also be submitted by early February. Keep in mind that the FAFSA and the CSS Pro�ile assess the amount of �inancial aid you are eligible for, but it is up to the college or university to determine the way the aid is granted: grants, scholarships, loans, or work-study programs. According to collegeboard.com, about two-thirds of full-time undergraduate college students receive some type of �inancial aid, and of those receiving aid, 38 percent receive federal loans. Loans, however, can become risky business as Congress has set the interest rate on undergraduate student loans to 4.66 percent, according to studentaid.ed.gov. Filling out applications for �inancial aid can become confusing and over-whelming, but if you follow the tips below, May 1 will be one of the most exciting days of your life: 1. Fill out the FAFSA (which opens January 1, 2015) 2. Make sure to look at your college’s website for supplemental applica-tions that may be needed. 3. Weigh all of your options-- some students are eager to get into their �irst-choice school, and don’t realize the amount of money it will cost them. Each �inancial aid of�ice is different, and your second or third choice might offer you a deal you can’t pass up. 4.Negotiate-- If your top choice is 5,000 dollars more than your second, call up the �inancial aid of�ice and see if they’re willing to match or beat your better �inancial aid offer. (Not every school honors this, but it’s worth a shot if your heart is set on a school.) 5. On May 1-- RELAX! You’ve made your decision and now you’re ready to graduate and become a college student.

by Ashley Zamichieli

Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Education

Seniors are ready to move on from high school, and if college is on the horizon they have a few hurdles to jump fi rst, one of which is the fi nancial aid they receive.

January 17: President Obama Announces NSA ReformsFebruary 2: Seattle Seahawks Win First Super Bowl in Franchise HistoryFebruary 7: Sochi Winter Olympics BeginMarch 8: Malaysia Airlines Flight DisappearsApril 8: UConn wins both NCAA Championships May 20: Pennsylvania Legalizesw Same-Sex Marriage June 9: Taliban Attacks Pakistan’s Largest AirportJuly 13: Germany Wins World CupJuly 31: Ebola Outbreak Hits West African Coun-triesAugust 16: State of Emergency Declared in Fer-gusonAugust 19: ISIS Members Kill American Journal-istSeptember 30th: First U.S. Ebola Case Confi rmedOctober 24: Two Die in Washington State High School ShootingNovember 4: Republicans Take Control of SenateNovember 24: Chuck Hegal resigns as Defense SecretaryDecember 4: Protests Grow After Decision in Eric Garner Case

ENTERTAINMENT12 SPOTLIGHT

Carrey and Daniels are So Dumb, but So Funnyby Brandyn Berean

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part Oneby Lizzi Thom

On November 21, fans adrenalized for “The Hunger Games: Mocking-jay-Part 1” lined up in front of theaters to catch the third installment of the Hunger Games trilogy. The �irst part of the third book follows the aston-ishingly popular “The Hunger Games” and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” Gary Ross directed “The Hunger Games” in 2012. Since then, the fran-chise has moved in a different direction. Francis Lawrence directed the last two movies, and fans have seemed more responsive to his directing style rather than Ross’s signature shaky camera movement. Lawrence is already well known for his work directing “I Am Legend” and “Constantine.” Opening weekend, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1” raked in 123 million dollars in The United States and Canada. Although that is eas-ily the most impressive opening of this year, it is 22 percent lower than “Catching Fire,” which opened to 158.1 million dollars on the same week-end in 2013. The �irst “Hunger Games” �ilm brought in 152.5 million dol-lars in March 2012. In the latest installment, the country of Panem is in a civil war and Katniss Everdeen is the face of the propaganda. She struggles to cope with life and handle her post-traumatic stress without Peeta Mellark, who was captured by the Capitol at the end of the last �ilm. A major criticism of the Mockingjay novel was that Katniss is too ab-sorbed in self pity. Perhaps she was irreparably broken after the second games. Either way, in the movie she emerges as a compelling individual determined to overthrow the Capitol. “In the book she would just hide in closets and cry. It wasn’t the dra-matic heroine fans want to read about,” senior Mary Patterson said. “In the book, she came across as much more powerful.” Some question if the �inal book has enough substance to merit be-ing split into two movies. However, there is no way it could have been crammed into one �ilm without leaving out key plot factors and leaving loyal fans feeling let down. When “Mockingjay-Part 1” ends, the �inale is just getting started. “I appreciated that so many exact conversations followed the book per-fectly,” junior Zoe Geis said. “It didn’t feel rushed, but I was also on the edge of my seat the entire movie.” Catch “Mockingjay-Part 2” now. Don’t miss the districts unite behind Katniss and District 13 as they engage in an all out revolution to take down the autocratic Capitol.

Photo Credit: Lionsgate

You know a good comedy when you see one. The movie “Dumb and Dumber To” is the type of comedy that lets you sit down and laugh your head off the entire movie. Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, who play the two main characters, are a comedy duo that is so dumb, but so funny. Released on November 14, 2014, “Dumb and Dumber To” is a sequel to the �irst movie “Dumb and Dumber,” which was released on December 6, 1994. Jim Carrey plays Lloyd Christmas, a former limousine driver who gets �ired for caus-ing chaos at an airport. Jeff Daniels plays Harry Dunne, a former dog groomer who gets �ired for delivering some dogs late to a show. The two characters are best friends who have an apart-ment that they rent out in Providence, Rhode Island. In each movie, the two friends �ind them-selves on a quest. In “Dumb and Dumber,” Harry and Lloyd travel across the country to Aspen, Colorado to return a briefcase to one of Lloyd’s passengers who he drove to the airport before getting �ired. Little did they know, the briefcase holds a ton of money, and a group of people were after it. In “Dumb and Dumber To,” Harry and Lloyd travel once again but this time to El Paso, Texas. Harry wants to �ind his daughter who was put up for adoption because he feels like he isn’t

worthy of being a father. He wants to see how she is after twenty years. They �igure out who the adopted family is and learn that Harry’s daughter is heading to El Paso to give a speech at a science convention. Harry’s daughter (Rachel Melvin) used to be named Fanny but her name was changed to Penny when she was adopted by Dr. Bernard Pinchelow (Steve Tom) and his wife Adele, (Lau-rie Holden). Penny is asked by Dr. Pinchelow, a well known scientist, to give a speech on his behalf at the Ken Convention. He also asks Penny to give a package to the president of the conven-tion. When Penny leaves for her �light, she forgets her phone and the package. Harry and Lloyd tell Dr. Pinchelow they would give the package to Penny on their trip to El Paso for Harry to meet his daughter. Little do they know, this is a set-up, and the package holds something very valuable inside. The movie was very funny, and I was laugh-ing all the time; however, I strongly recommend watching the �irst movie in order to get the full effect. You will learn about Harry and Lloyd’s background and also see them go on another quest. As you watch this movie, you must keep in mind these guys are dumb and dumber. What

seems like an easy quest to a lot of people be-comes very dif�icult to two people who get pro-gressively dumber throughout the entire movie, absolutely making this �ilm a comedy for the whole family to enjoy.

Photo Credit: New Line Cinema

13DECEMBER 2014 ENTERTAINMENT

Coming Soon...

Sony Art Films Disney Vilage Roadshow Pictures

December 25 CANCELED December 25December 25

Sony Art Films Vilage Roadshow PicturesDisney

Trivia Crack: the Newest Addictionby Alex Baca

September 15, 2014 marked the day where several celebrities and their professional dance partners took the dance �loor to display their newfound dancing shoes. Monday nights turned into a “Dancing with the Stars” evening, with the premier reaching up to 16.9 million viewers. These celebrities in particular knew how to give the audience a jaw-dropping performance that left the viewers wanting more. With hard work and dedication from beginning to end, “Fresh Prince of Bel Air’s” Alfonso Ribeiro took home the mirror ball trophy. Every year before the premiere, 13 celebrities are picked to join a selected group of professional dancers to perform styles from the samba, to the tango. This season’s celebrities ranged from YouTube sensation Bethany Mota, to “Mean Girls” cast member Jonathan Bennett. “The cast this season was de�initely interesting! Tommy Chong really stood out. He was so funny and cheerful,” senior Elizabeth Ruth said. Overall, this season had an amazing group of talented celebrities who left their hearts on the �loor. But when it came down to the end, Alfonso Ribeiro, Sadie Robertson, and Janel Parrish were the three that created the most competitive �inale in the show’s history. “Pretty Little Liars” star Janel Parrish took the third-place spot, while “Duck Dynasty’s” Sadie Robertson was the runner-up. Each girl had a memorable experience on the show, along with newly found friends. After a long season, champions Alfonso Ribeiro and his partner Whit-ney Carson couldn’t have been happier with the win. For Ribeiro, this was a ten-year dream that �inally came true. In addition, his fan base was excited to see such a genuine person win. “I was so happy when Alfonso won!” Ruth said. “A man hasn't won in a while and he stuck out until the end.” In an interview with ABC News, Ribeiro said that his dream to be part of the show began when he watched the �irst season in 2005. The win for both Carson and Ribeiro was a �irst. “He’s one of the most hardworking people I’ve ever met,” Carson said about her partner. During week four of the show, the producers decided to let the fans be a part of the show. The viewers had the opportunity to help the judges score the dancers. Season 19 was a year of memorable moments, injuries, and dreams coming true.

Yet Another Star is Reality TV Rebornby Anna Esposito

There is a new game addiction at Southern Lehigh. And no, it is not on our school laptops to distract us from learning. Accessible by smart-phone, the game is called “Trivia Crack.” You ask friends or random opponents to play a game against you. Then, you spin a wheel, and land on one of six categories: history, sci-ence, sports, art, geography and entertainment. It is also possible to land on a crown, where you can win a category �igure of your choice if you answer correctly. Another option if you land on the crown is to challenge a friend with a series of questions. If you do not land on the crown, you must get three answers right in order to gain a character �igure or chal-lenge a friend. “I think the kids are really into it and enjoy it; [they] challenge each other and ask teachers to play with them,” Spanish teacher Mrs. Jennifer Jaen said. “I’ve only played it for one day, but it wasn’t successful.” There are twenty-�ive rounds per game. If you answer a question cor-rectly, you get to spin again and keep going until you answer incorrectly. When you get an answer wrong or run out of time, the round is over. If you win a character in all six categories, you win. Questions are contributed by users of the game. If you run out of lives, you have to wait an hour or pay 99 cents to re-�ill your lives. If you wait an hour, you gain a life back. “Trivia Crack is addicting because it is fun to play with against your friends and win,” junior Sanjay Deel said. “It also makes you feel smart when you know all the answers.” Unlike most addicting games, this game is educational. It asks legiti-mate questions that you would learn in a history or a physics class. You could even learn something interesting or mind-blowing that you’ve never even thought would be true. “When you get an answer wrong, it tells you the right answer and you remember it,” junior Clark Amory said. “The stuff you learn is useful for school.”

Photo Credit: ABC

Photo Credit: Trivia Crack

SPORTS14 SPOTLIGHT

by Brandyn Berean

The 2014-15 Southern Lehigh boys’ basketball team is ready to get back to shooting some hoops after last year’s loss to Blue Mountain High School in the District XI 3A Playoffs. According to some players on the team, they feel they can get right back to where they were a year ago. “Our �irst goal is to win leagues,” senior Noah Kandt said, “and then once we get into districts, we will make things happen.” Kandt is this year’s captain, and he hopes that he can lead his team to a championship. An adjustment this season is that Southern Lehigh has moved up from 3A to 4A in District XI. Second-year head coach Ben Tannous feels his team is ready. “We have a very good team to contend for the league title,” Coach Tan-nous said, “but we know districts will be a little more tough since we are playing in 4A instead of 3A.” Tannous asks his team to make sure they come out and play their best everyday and to make sure that there is great effort in winning games. He advises them to forget about last year’s loss as much as they can, but keep it in memory because it gives them playoff experience. One of last year’s standouts was newcomer Lucas Hudson. Now a sopho-more, Hudson looks to have another great year. “I put a lot of hard work in the offseason and every time I could, I tried to get better,” Hudson said. He also feels that the team has gotten a lot stronger from last year. “We have more experience and we have more team unity,” Hudson said. For the most part, the team seems pretty con�ident of their status right now. There is, however, one thing that Coach Tannous asks of the Southern Lehigh student body. “We love the student sections, and it will be a good key to our success this year and we need more of them,” Coach Tannous said. “It gives us a good home court environment.” Like any sports team, the team sets goals for what they would like to achieve this season. The Spartans only have one. “Just win,’’ Coach Tannous said.

Solehi Basketball Teams Ready to Take the Court

Senior Noah Kandt shoots a free throw during the boys’ game against Northern Lehigh on Friday December 12. Photo Credit: Mrs. Cathy Henderzak

Southern Lehigh girls’ basketball team is off to an explosive 2014-15 season, with their �irst two wins of the season at the Hazel-ton Tip-Off Tournament, followed by a crushing 50-34 victory over Wilson Area High School. Even after a dramatic change in coaching staff, the girls continue to show promise for the upcoming season. Assistant coach and social studies teacher Mr. Matthew Cooper stepped up as head coach after physical education teacher Ms. Megan Dellegrotti stepped down at the end of last season. “The coaching staff is really impressed with the girls so far; they’ve been pushed very hard in practice lately and have answered the call,” Mr. Cooper said. “It’s not always easy to have a new team come together, and their chemistry is heading in the direction of a strong united team.” This year’s starting lineup includes seniors Madyson Campbell, Tyler Saraceno, and Abbey Cerciello, junior Sydney Cyr, and fresh-man Amanda Mobley. Clearly, the girls’ team shows a lot of talent from a variety of different grades. “Our four senior captains have shown great leadership,” Mr. Cooper said. “Mady, Kenzie, Abbey, and Tyler and some of the other underclassmen such as Syd Cyr and the Mobley sisters: Brianna and Amanda.” The opinion is widely accepted throughout the entire team.“This year the seniors really have stepped up and challenged us to work harder,” Cyr said. “I look up to them as role models and they are my best friends.” The team is hopeful now at the start of their season, but they have a long road ahead of them against rival teams such as North-western and Salisbury. “I hope to go very far this year because we have a very skilled and athletic team,” Campbell said. “I think we have all the potential to win leagues and go far in districts.”

by Dana DiGiovanni

The girls basketball team huddles before every game to get themselves ready for a battle . Photo Credit: Mady Campbell

Basketball Schedule for the Month of January BOYS

1/02 vs. Palisades1/05 @ Freedom1/06 vs. Palmerton1/10 @ Pen Argyl1/13 vs. Salisbury1/15 vs. Northern Lehigh

1/17 vs. Bangor1/22 @ Northwestern1/24 @ Moravian Academy1/27 vs. Catasaqua1/30 vs. Saucon Valley

GIRLS1/02 @ Palisades1/06 @ Palmerton1/10 vs. Pen Argyl1/13 @ Salisbury1/15 @ Northern Lehigh1/17 @ Bangor1/22 vs. Northwestern

1/24 vs. Moravian Academy1/26 @ Freedom1/27 @ Catasaqua1/30 @ Saucon Valley1/31 vs. Pocono Mountain West

15SPORTSDECEMBER 2014

Athletes Of The Issue

Name: Noah KandtSport: Boys BasketballStats: • 13.8 points per game• 69 total points scored this

year.• 9 three-point shots made

this year.Noah Kandt was selected as male athlete of the issue for his spectacular start to the season, especially the Wilson game where he scored 28 points and scored the game winning basket to lead the Spartans past the Warriors.

Name: Mady CampbellSport: Girls BasketballStats: • 12.3 points per game• 37 total points scored

this year • 2 three-point shots

made this yearMady Campbell was se-lected as female athlete of the issue for her excellent start to the season along with her team leading 12.3 points per game.

Name: Noah Kandt Name: Mady Campbell

The Southern Lehigh swim team opened up their season with meets against William Allen and Tamaqua High School. Both the girls and boys teams handled the competition and started the season with a pair of vic-tories. “All the swimmers have been working extremely hard so far this sea-son to get off to this great start and they deserve the wins,” senior Arden Stayer said. Last year, the boys team �inished with a record of 7-3, and the girls completed their season at 8-2. Since then, the team has lost 11 seniors to graduation and are looking for the seasoned seniors along with 14 fresh-men to be a key part of the team this year. “Losing all [of last year’s] seniors made me upset because I looked up to all of them,” senior Tori Touzeau said. “It’s different not seeing them in the halls and the pool, but as each year goes on more people join the team and more friendships are made.” Led by Coach John Neumann, the team has a history of success and will lean on swimmers such as three-time district champions seniors Jenna Forrester and Raechel Rodriguez for the girls team. As for the boys team, seniors Drew Schell and Trevor DeCastro, as well as juniors Chris Schell and Nico Kreider, have all competed into the swimming postsea-son. “Along with the whole team, we have been very successful at the past district competitions,” Drew Schell said. “Knowing I am reliable in a big meet situation gives me con�idence that I will continue to succeed, and I feel the same way about everyone on the team.” Unknown to some students, since there is not a swimming pool at the high school, the swimmers’ “home” pool is at the Upper Bucks YMCA. The swim teams have also moved up to competition in the AAA league where they will compete with bigger schools. “Now that we are moving up to AAA, we are really going to have to step it up,” senior Drew Schell said.

Swim Team Seals Early Season Wins as They Dive into New Territory in AAA District Competitionby Preston Amato

Many students join winter track and �ield to get ready for competition in the cold season and also get �it for spring. There are various events in win-ter track and �ield, from long distance and sprints, to throwing and jumping events. And the team has fun too. “Running is pretty fun, but I also enjoy the snowball �ights,” sophomore Jack Wetzel said. Many people �ind the winter season bene�icial for conditioning and for devising plans for the future. “Winter track lets me stay in shape during the winter and prepares me for our spring season,” junior Angela Justin said. As their conditioning continues, the team members hope to improve from their past events as they anticipate their �irst track meet. “[I’m most looking forward to] improving on all of my times from last year,” junior Alec Sunners said. The team bonds throughout the season and looks forward to spring.

The VandeBunte sisters along with Coach Strong take a daily run as part of winter track practice. Photo Credit: Sarah Yanega

Running Track in a Winter Wonderlandby Robyn Somers

A lesser-known but growing activity at Southern Lehigh is the dance team, which was categorized as a winter sport until this year. “I would like for the team to be a sport,” team coach and Spanish teacher Ms. Jessica Swartz said. “But it comes with more responsibilities such as competing more and practicing more.” Last year the team performed in two competitions; however, this year they do not have any competitions planned. The dance team does have tryouts over two days. On the �irst day, audi-tioning students learn two dances from Ms. Swartz. Then, on the second day, they perform the dances in front of a panel of judges who grade their perfor-mance. “I wanted to join the team because I love dancing and I really love the girls I dance with at the studio,” senior Gabrielle Koehnlein said. “So I de-cided to try out for the dance team since most of them did as well.” This year, 20 girls made the team. They rehearse twice a week, once be-fore school and once after school, in either the high school gym or the inter-mediate school cafeteria. The team performs during halftime at both the girls and boys home bas-ketball games. “I like when we perform a new dance for the �irst time,” senior Sid-ney Boty said. “[It’s] also great when there is a big student turnout for the games.” “My favorite part about performing is the adrenaline rush you get when there’s a big crowd, and you get nervous,” Koehnlein said. “It’s just awe-some.”

They’ve Got the Movesby Cody Heffelfi nger

ODDS AND ENDS SPOTLIGHTDECEMBER 2014

“I like to decorate the Christmas tree with my

boyfriend and brother while listening to Christmas music.”

-junior Jordan Munoz

Favorite Holiday Activites

“My favorite tradition is putting tinsel on the Christmas tree. It was always my job to do that.”

-junior Chris Smith

“My favorite thing to do during the holidays is to bake cookies with my family. I love this because it’s a tradition and it’s great to spend with

them.” -junior Madelynne Jameson

“I am looking forward to the holidays because I get to spend time with

my family and the people I care most about.” -senior Dan Capp

“During the holiday season, you could defi nitely fi nd me spending time with my best friend. Being with her truly makes everything better. Some activities we might do this winter break include ice

skating, snow tubing, and decorating the christmas tree. This holiday, I cant wait

to be with my best friend.” -junior Luke Simons

“I’m looking forward to spending New Years with all my close friends and starting 2015 with the people I love.”

-sophomore Hailey Jordan

“I love watching all the special movies with a cup

of hot cocoa! Especially Elf, it’s my favorite!”

-senior Emily Bowman

“My favorite tradition is putting

Favorite Holiday Activites16

“Hanukkah is more than just eight nights of candles and pres-ents. It’s a time for

the whole family - in-cluding our dog - to laugh, smile, and

cherish each other’s company.”

- sophomore Isabel Oberlender