Spring Cleaning
Kennedy Appiah | March 2023
Spring Cleaning is a thing most dread doing when spring pops around the corner. It is quite easy to hate spring not just for the allergies but also for when your mother wakes you up on a Saturday morning and hands you cleaning supplies while loud music plays downstairs. But aside from that spring break has more to offer than just chores, it has an origin and meaning to it, so why not find out!
Spring cleaning as most will know is when you or your family clean your home from top to bottom, typically during the start of March to the end of April. Up to 3000 years ago, in the b.c era, spring cleaning was a part of everyday life. In fact, there is even a national week dedicated to spring cleaning, between the sixth and twelfth of March. During the 1800’s the reason spring cleaning became more common is that houses back then relied heavily on coal, iron, and wood, and had to keep the cold out during winter since all they depended on was wax candles for warmth. This caused the buildup of a lot of dirt and grime and as soon as the first summer day came, cleaning up your house was a top priority and a productive way to welcome a new cycle.
But some may not like spring cleaning, not just for the cleaning itself but also for the memo it sends. Out with the old and in with the new, a saying that most hoarders and messy people will disagree with. I'm not one to judge. I'm sure once in our lives we’ve all been lazy, yet even a simple clean up would be a major improvement than you might think. According to Verywellmind, a medical reviewed and approved website, negative emotions are linked to clutter and mess found in your environment. It makes it difficult to focus on objectives and researchers recently discovered that a person’s vital cortex can be easily overwhelmed. As opposed to if you have a clean environment, it can give you a sense of control of your personal space. Cleaning can help you assert control over your life, being able to keep your space clean will typically put your brain on pause when dealing with chaos. It elevates your focus and can put you in a content mood.
However, that is not the only biology that goes into cleaning. Humans are less active and motivated during the winter, you know, like other mammals. The lack of sunlight during the winter produces substantial amounts of melatonin in our brain, a chemical that makes us sleepier. Since the sun is an energy source, the more we have of it the less sleepy we are, that’s why most people feel like cleaning in spring, their hormones aren’t making them drowsier. Fun fact the more you're outside the less likely you are to lose energy rapidly.
There is also a traditional aspect when it comes to spring cleaning. You may have or might not have heard but the spring cleaning we recognize now comes from Jewish Tradition. Back in history to the ancient Jewish custom, it was said that thoroughly cleaning the house in preparation for the springtime feast in April was good for celebration. Wiping and mopping your homes room by room, was a way to not insult your beloved god and can show your gratefulness during Passover.
Another thing that was ancient was the Iranian Festival of Nowruz or better known as Persian new year. On the first day of spring (March 21) the tradition included making sure the entire house is wiped and polished while also a change of clothes for early preparation of winter. This custom continues in other regions. In the northern parts of Europe and America, late winter to early spring was when cleaning was the most effective as the weather is warm enough to give fresh air and cold enough to kill any pests and insects. In China, when their new year has come, they excessively wipe ornaments, mop floors, ceilings, and even their walls to get rid of bad luck. Surprisingly, they don’t sweep as sweeping means they are getting rid of their lucky fortune when cleaning.
Spring cleaning isn’t just a chore of a holiday we do every spring, it’s also a way to not only improve your health and wellbeing but also your home. Remember when I mentioned allergies in my first paragraph? Deep cleaning can get rid of allergens and dust that has built up over the winter, and better help bad air quality in your home; particularly important to keep in mind when pollen increases chances of the flu. So, if there’s one thing you should learn from this article, it’s that cleaning is more important than you think, and it wouldn’t kill you to clean once in a while.
Sources:
History of Spring Cleaning - Spring Cleaning Customs Around the World (countryliving.com)
What is Spring Cleaning? History, Origin and Traditions - FC UK (fantasticcleaners.com)
How Mental Health and Cleaning Are Connected (verywellmind.com)
Spring Cleaning is a thing most dread doing when spring pops around the corner. It is quite easy to hate spring not just for the allergies but also for when your mother wakes you up on a Saturday morning and hands you cleaning supplies while loud music plays downstairs. But aside from that spring break has more to offer than just chores, it has an origin and meaning to it, so why not find out!
Spring cleaning as most will know is when you or your family clean your home from top to bottom, typically during the start of March to the end of April. Up to 3000 years ago, in the b.c era, spring cleaning was a part of everyday life. In fact, there is even a national week dedicated to spring cleaning, between the sixth and twelfth of March. During the 1800’s the reason spring cleaning became more common is that houses back then relied heavily on coal, iron, and wood, and had to keep the cold out during winter since all they depended on was wax candles for warmth. This caused the buildup of a lot of dirt and grime and as soon as the first summer day came, cleaning up your house was a top priority and a productive way to welcome a new cycle.
But some may not like spring cleaning, not just for the cleaning itself but also for the memo it sends. Out with the old and in with the new, a saying that most hoarders and messy people will disagree with. I'm not one to judge. I'm sure once in our lives we’ve all been lazy, yet even a simple clean up would be a major improvement than you might think. According to Verywellmind, a medical reviewed and approved website, negative emotions are linked to clutter and mess found in your environment. It makes it difficult to focus on objectives and researchers recently discovered that a person’s vital cortex can be easily overwhelmed. As opposed to if you have a clean environment, it can give you a sense of control of your personal space. Cleaning can help you assert control over your life, being able to keep your space clean will typically put your brain on pause when dealing with chaos. It elevates your focus and can put you in a content mood.
However, that is not the only biology that goes into cleaning. Humans are less active and motivated during the winter, you know, like other mammals. The lack of sunlight during the winter produces substantial amounts of melatonin in our brain, a chemical that makes us sleepier. Since the sun is an energy source, the more we have of it the less sleepy we are, that’s why most people feel like cleaning in spring, their hormones aren’t making them drowsier. Fun fact the more you're outside the less likely you are to lose energy rapidly.
There is also a traditional aspect when it comes to spring cleaning. You may have or might not have heard but the spring cleaning we recognize now comes from Jewish Tradition. Back in history to the ancient Jewish custom, it was said that thoroughly cleaning the house in preparation for the springtime feast in April was good for celebration. Wiping and mopping your homes room by room, was a way to not insult your beloved god and can show your gratefulness during Passover.
Another thing that was ancient was the Iranian Festival of Nowruz or better known as Persian new year. On the first day of spring (March 21) the tradition included making sure the entire house is wiped and polished while also a change of clothes for early preparation of winter. This custom continues in other regions. In the northern parts of Europe and America, late winter to early spring was when cleaning was the most effective as the weather is warm enough to give fresh air and cold enough to kill any pests and insects. In China, when their new year has come, they excessively wipe ornaments, mop floors, ceilings, and even their walls to get rid of bad luck. Surprisingly, they don’t sweep as sweeping means they are getting rid of their lucky fortune when cleaning.
Spring cleaning isn’t just a chore of a holiday we do every spring, it’s also a way to not only improve your health and wellbeing but also your home. Remember when I mentioned allergies in my first paragraph? Deep cleaning can get rid of allergens and dust that has built up over the winter, and better help bad air quality in your home; particularly important to keep in mind when pollen increases chances of the flu. So, if there’s one thing you should learn from this article, it’s that cleaning is more important than you think, and it wouldn’t kill you to clean once in a while.
Sources:
History of Spring Cleaning - Spring Cleaning Customs Around the World (countryliving.com)
What is Spring Cleaning? History, Origin and Traditions - FC UK (fantasticcleaners.com)
How Mental Health and Cleaning Are Connected (verywellmind.com)
The Importance of Hair to Black Women
Kennedy Appiah | March 2023
In the beginning, African hair was celebrated. Pre- colonized Africa considered hair as a person's identity, for African women especially. Whether it be when you're giving birth or when you're waiting for your husband to return from war it gave the idea to someone about what type of person you are. It was even common to consider someone mentally ill if they didn’t style their hair, man, or women.
This however changed after the Atlantic Slave Trade during the 1500’s, it was common for many Europeans to travel to Africa and steal millions of Africans to be sold and traded as slaves. During their travel across the Atlantic, they were stripped of their resources and most importantly their hair. During the trip to America their heads were shaved and did not have the resources necessary to maintain it, they relayed on things such as bacon grease and butter to protect their hair. When arriving in Europe they were met with the beauty standards of Europeans. The ‘good hair’ was associated with White texture, softer, smoother, lighter, and longer. Meanwhile Black hair textures were considered ‘bad’ with the texture of their hair being too nappy, kinky, and thick.
The beauty of black women was viewed negatively in all parts of America. This led to a broken psychology that they were deviant and abnormal because they didn’t fit the standard, which helped white southerners keep them enslaved because of this excuse. So due to this, most covered their hair completely because of how shamed they were because of it. But not all enslaved black women were ready to submit to their masters and so this is where the hairstyle of Cornrows came in. It helped communicate nonverbally the maps of the plantation to help other slaves escape. This was also an attempt to connect with their African traditions of braiding hair.
Yet, the damage was already done and when slavery ‘’ended’’ in the late 18th century when slaves were given freedom, they struggled to maintain the basic needs of everyday life thanks to their white counterparts making it impossible for them to have decent living in America. When freed black women in the south started to style their hair in beautiful styles, this pissed off the southerners who then forced the Tigon Law, a law that black women must cover their hair in scarfs called tigons. But black women were creative, and they rebelled by wearing colorful fabrics and decorated their scarfs in jewelry; this was the one of examples of resistance to white standards. This is also when the Hot Comb was invented as it had the ability to not only straighten white women's hair but also black women. Straight hair was deemed more attractive, and elevated black woman’s personal, social, and economic status. It could result in more opportunities for success.
The early 1900’s was a start for the growth of black hair. In this period weather conditions and lack of hair care products for afro textures had a damaging effect on Black women in the south. Many suffered with scalp conditions such as heavy dandruff and alopecia, among other diseases as a result, which inspired Black inventor to make a change. In 1902 Annie Malone debuted her Wonderful Hair Grower products, in 1902 one of her salespeople, Madame C.J. Walker, started her own iconic haircare brand in 1905. In 1909, Garrett Morgan accidentally developed the first chemical relaxer. This proved effective as many black women had better control over their hair and it elevated their ability to get a job in white society, though the job market was still scares. In the roaring 1920’s, Black women started a cultural rebellion and wanted to go against social norms, so this started the iconic hairstyle of the roaring twenties: The flapper hairstyle. A hairstyle that was short bob and hugged close to the head, sometimes with waves or pin curls additionally with the add on of bangs.
In the thirties women started going for more traditionally feminine hairstyles. This was because there was a new trend for shoulder hair length and perms became more popular to maintain sophistication. Waves came in distinctive style as water waves and finger waves and even on occasions wind blow out hair happened. In the forties they started to wear their hair out in curls such as brush curls and pin curls. Not much happened with hair during this time but something that did spark interest was the 50’s and The Civil Rights Movement.
In the fifties to late sixties, Beauty and barber shops for Black Americans were booming. Thanks to Jim Crow and segregation not allowing black and white to congregate in the same space, this led to most blacks communicating about their community in their personal shops. This is what first sparked the chain of many protests to growth as many Blacks were tired of being dehumanized and wanted to create a better society where all groups of color could be celebrated. It brought a new era in the fight for social justice as it encouraged Black people to reclaim their heritage and celebrate their identity and beauty whilst focusing on building their own economy, social, and political power. Many members of the movement wore their natural hair out in an afro, embracing their natural textures for the first time. The hairstyle quickly became known as a symbol of Black power.
In the 70’s, while The Civil Rights Movement brought a lot of progress it did not fix all the issues. Due to powerful political figures, there were many assignations of power figures in the black community like Malcom X and Dr. Martin Luther King jr. But this led to more mainstream celebration of black hair. Afros were growling increasingly popular and soon the first appearance of braids happened thanks to black celebrities at the time, although straight hair wasn’t completely abandoned. This is the first hallmark of diversity within hairstyles in black culture.
In the 80’s to 90’s shows made a new wave in not only the representation of Black people but created positive narratives about black culture. Black women on the shows would wear a variety of hairstyles, from cornrows, braids, and twists, to perms and wigs. This made black hair more celebrated and less shamed during the 90’s, whilst inspiring young Black women to wear and style their hair without a care in the world. This is also when baby hairs became popular and black women would slick down their edges to go alongside their hairstyles, this trend would however go down as the stigma still persistence even when the height of black hair love. Many (White People) saw the baby hairs as unprofessional and stated that black women were simply trying to texture their hair to make it more presentable, leading to some black women in the 90’s to surgery remove their baby hairs.
The early 2000’s to 2010’s had plenty of styles that did not disappoint. Crimped hair, flipped ends, curly ponytails, micro braids and so many hair accessories. Swoop bangs, super sleek ponytails, and buns, laid edges, flips, and spiral curls. Sales for relaxers started to grow as a result and even braids made a headway as more black women and girls wanted protective hairstyles. Yet, this sparked an interesting conversation about black hair. For example, Michelle Obama created the conversation when for the first time in eight years after presidents Obama’s presidency she was spotted wearing her natural hair after keeping her hair straight for almost a decade. The reason Mrs. Obama states was that if she wore her natural hair out it would have cost Obama his presidency. Even if she wore braids it was seen as unprofessional and not classy. This created the natural hair journey; a journey where black women wore out their hair in their natural state. And though there was push back from the black community and society, this movement gave a new confidence to black women.
The last decade has proved that the stigma around black hair is persistent from our community and society, despite the progress we made the issue still stands that no matter how we wear our hair we get pushback. Things like our hair is too nappy, too short, too difficult, too unprofessional, it’s a tiring battle we never win. Which is why today in this decade we need to make a change. We need to wear our hair proudly no matter if it’s in a protective style or not, it’s time we know the history of our hair and the pride we should feel for it.
Sources:
Tangled Roots: Decoding the history of Black Hair | CBC Radio
Black Hair Through The Decades - Behindthechair.com
A Brief History of Black Hair, Politics, and Discrimination | Teen Vogue
Black Hair Care and Its Culture, a story - African American Registry (aaregistry.org)
Hair & History: A short story on the evolution of hair in the African - Uhai (uhaihair.com)
The history of Black hair (stylist.co.uk)
History Behind the Slayed Edges Hairstyle and How to Pull it Off (tricociuniversity.edu)
Are High School Relationships Worth It?
Mac McDaries | February 2023
Valentine’s day is approaching, begging the question: are high school relationships worth the time and effort, or just a fleeting chapter in the journey of self-discovery? As teens navigate the ups and downs of young love, it’s time to dispute the validity of these relationships and determine if they hold any real value in the grand scheme of things.
Many young people advocate for relationships in high school. Jackson Neal, sophomore, says, “I believe it can depend from relationship to relationship. I fully believe that they are worth it, given that said relationships are actually healthy. A healthy high school relationship can benefit both parties.”
On the other hand, statistics tell us that less than 2% of people marry their high school sweetheart. Because of this statistic, many people believe that dating in high school is pointless, or just straight up a bad idea. When asked why he believed young dating was not a good decision, Mr. Marks simply responded, “The male brain is not fully developed until age 24.” He also expressed that many end up feeling regret that they dated as a teenager. Does young love even stand a chance?
There are several who have made young love work, even with the odds against them. For example, our very own Officer Rigsby married the girl he started dating in his sophomore year! This March, they will celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary. However, times have changed, and things are not the same as they once were. Officer Rigsby says, “I truly believe that there is too much social media that gets in the way of relationships. I also believe that the art of a true marriage or relationship is lost in today’s world. The art of talking with someone face to face and facing adversity is something that this generation struggles with because of the communication with phones.”
Clearly, there are very mixed opinions on young love. So to those who do decide to date so young, here is a closing piece of advice from Officer Rigsby: “Relationships are hard, nothing about a long-term relationship is easy. Both must work on the relationship. There is give and take in all relationships and it should be equal for both. Also, there will be fights and arguments in a relationship and that is good as long as you can treat each other with respect and try to understand one another’s feelings. We must be able to accept each other as we are but help each other to be better. You have to be honest with one another so that person knows how you want to be treated or cared for.”
Valentine’s day is approaching, begging the question: are high school relationships worth the time and effort, or just a fleeting chapter in the journey of self-discovery? As teens navigate the ups and downs of young love, it’s time to dispute the validity of these relationships and determine if they hold any real value in the grand scheme of things.
Many young people advocate for relationships in high school. Jackson Neal, sophomore, says, “I believe it can depend from relationship to relationship. I fully believe that they are worth it, given that said relationships are actually healthy. A healthy high school relationship can benefit both parties.”
On the other hand, statistics tell us that less than 2% of people marry their high school sweetheart. Because of this statistic, many people believe that dating in high school is pointless, or just straight up a bad idea. When asked why he believed young dating was not a good decision, Mr. Marks simply responded, “The male brain is not fully developed until age 24.” He also expressed that many end up feeling regret that they dated as a teenager. Does young love even stand a chance?
There are several who have made young love work, even with the odds against them. For example, our very own Officer Rigsby married the girl he started dating in his sophomore year! This March, they will celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary. However, times have changed, and things are not the same as they once were. Officer Rigsby says, “I truly believe that there is too much social media that gets in the way of relationships. I also believe that the art of a true marriage or relationship is lost in today’s world. The art of talking with someone face to face and facing adversity is something that this generation struggles with because of the communication with phones.”
Clearly, there are very mixed opinions on young love. So to those who do decide to date so young, here is a closing piece of advice from Officer Rigsby: “Relationships are hard, nothing about a long-term relationship is easy. Both must work on the relationship. There is give and take in all relationships and it should be equal for both. Also, there will be fights and arguments in a relationship and that is good as long as you can treat each other with respect and try to understand one another’s feelings. We must be able to accept each other as we are but help each other to be better. You have to be honest with one another so that person knows how you want to be treated or cared for.”
Will We Have More Snow Days This Year?
February 2023
The weather’s getting colder, and everyone is waiting for another snow day to give them the day off. We had two snow days on the 1st and 2nd of February, and the weather has stayed just above freezing temperatures since. So, what are the chances of Rockvale High School having another snow day? How does the school board decide when we have snow days? When can we expect the weather to be fitting for another snow day?
To have a snow day, the school region must have a justifiable reason to miss school. If schools used snow days carelessly, it would become confusing and pointless; it would cause problems for everyone involved. This depends on where the school is, as some populations can handle certain weather conditions better than others. Tennessee is often very warm, and most snow melts and freezes again to become ice. Tennesseans are not accustomed to icy roads, so this is often seen as a good reason to take a day off school. The school board must consider all the roads the students and staff need to use to be present. Everyone needs to feel safe and comfortable being in school during these conditions.
Snow days are usually decided by the superintendent or the community relations coordinator, Rutherford County’s being James Sullivan and James Evans. Schools are given a maximum amount of snow days at the beginning of the year. If more than the number of extra days is used, some schools will try to accommodate the missed days. Rutherford County Schools, however, have not needed to do this for a long time and do not have a current plan for this situation. So far, Rutherford County Schools has used 5 of its 11 assigned snow days, so there is a chance they will be more lenient with snow days than, for example, Robertson County Schools, who have used all but one of their 13 snow days.
Given we still have 6 snow days left, when can we expect them to come? Unfortunately, the weather is beginning to get warmer instead of colder. There will be high chances of rain throughout most of February, but the only chance of the rain turning to ice overnight is February 10th and February 17th, which are both on Friday nights when we already have the weekend.
Snow is not the only reason a school would close for a day. Schools are also allowed to close if there are other severe weather conditions, such as heavy rain, that would create unsafe driving conditions. Insufficient amounts of teachers and staff create difficult learning conditions, which school boards can decide is pointless. Some schools can also cancel if there is air conditioning or other maintenance issues that will drastically affect the students’ ability to learn. Rockvale High School also has February 20th off for Presidents Day. There will also be a Teacher Administrative Day on March 21st, and spring break will be from March 27th to March 31st.
The chances of Rutherford County Schools having another snow day is not likely, but school can still be canceled for other reasons. The school year is ending, and although Rockvale might not expect many more snow days, there are only ∼79 days (about 2 and a half months) left until summer break. No matter the weather, this year is sure to go by quickly.
https://abc7ny.com/severe-weather-snowstorm-school-cancellations-is-canceled/3165368/
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2014/03/04/how-many-snow-days-left-in-middle-tn-school-districts/6006789/
https://www.google.com/search?surl=1&safe=active&q=weather&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1021US1021&oq=weather&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i271l2.2548j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.rcschools.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=523214&type=d&pREC_ID=1039510#:~:text=BACKGROUND-,Dr.,Dr.
https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/Murfreesboro+TN?canonicalCityId=729d18d075e23b62271e3e79efeb5f6f94408299d9fd8be7fc188a8199d3e950
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=TNZ062
https://www.egfl.org.uk/facilities/emergency-planning/severe-weather/reasons-close-school
https://4.files.edl.io/3c27/07/26/22/145508-5b6a5fbc-9bed-4d0d-91ae-84c740952b92.pdf
https://www.exactlywhatistime.com/days-until/may-26#:~:text=There%20are%2079%20business%20days%20until%20May%2026.
The weather’s getting colder, and everyone is waiting for another snow day to give them the day off. We had two snow days on the 1st and 2nd of February, and the weather has stayed just above freezing temperatures since. So, what are the chances of Rockvale High School having another snow day? How does the school board decide when we have snow days? When can we expect the weather to be fitting for another snow day?
To have a snow day, the school region must have a justifiable reason to miss school. If schools used snow days carelessly, it would become confusing and pointless; it would cause problems for everyone involved. This depends on where the school is, as some populations can handle certain weather conditions better than others. Tennessee is often very warm, and most snow melts and freezes again to become ice. Tennesseans are not accustomed to icy roads, so this is often seen as a good reason to take a day off school. The school board must consider all the roads the students and staff need to use to be present. Everyone needs to feel safe and comfortable being in school during these conditions.
Snow days are usually decided by the superintendent or the community relations coordinator, Rutherford County’s being James Sullivan and James Evans. Schools are given a maximum amount of snow days at the beginning of the year. If more than the number of extra days is used, some schools will try to accommodate the missed days. Rutherford County Schools, however, have not needed to do this for a long time and do not have a current plan for this situation. So far, Rutherford County Schools has used 5 of its 11 assigned snow days, so there is a chance they will be more lenient with snow days than, for example, Robertson County Schools, who have used all but one of their 13 snow days.
Given we still have 6 snow days left, when can we expect them to come? Unfortunately, the weather is beginning to get warmer instead of colder. There will be high chances of rain throughout most of February, but the only chance of the rain turning to ice overnight is February 10th and February 17th, which are both on Friday nights when we already have the weekend.
Snow is not the only reason a school would close for a day. Schools are also allowed to close if there are other severe weather conditions, such as heavy rain, that would create unsafe driving conditions. Insufficient amounts of teachers and staff create difficult learning conditions, which school boards can decide is pointless. Some schools can also cancel if there is air conditioning or other maintenance issues that will drastically affect the students’ ability to learn. Rockvale High School also has February 20th off for Presidents Day. There will also be a Teacher Administrative Day on March 21st, and spring break will be from March 27th to March 31st.
The chances of Rutherford County Schools having another snow day is not likely, but school can still be canceled for other reasons. The school year is ending, and although Rockvale might not expect many more snow days, there are only ∼79 days (about 2 and a half months) left until summer break. No matter the weather, this year is sure to go by quickly.
https://abc7ny.com/severe-weather-snowstorm-school-cancellations-is-canceled/3165368/
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2014/03/04/how-many-snow-days-left-in-middle-tn-school-districts/6006789/
https://www.google.com/search?surl=1&safe=active&q=weather&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1021US1021&oq=weather&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i271l2.2548j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.rcschools.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=523214&type=d&pREC_ID=1039510#:~:text=BACKGROUND-,Dr.,Dr.
https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/Murfreesboro+TN?canonicalCityId=729d18d075e23b62271e3e79efeb5f6f94408299d9fd8be7fc188a8199d3e950
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=TNZ062
https://www.egfl.org.uk/facilities/emergency-planning/severe-weather/reasons-close-school
https://4.files.edl.io/3c27/07/26/22/145508-5b6a5fbc-9bed-4d0d-91ae-84c740952b92.pdf
https://www.exactlywhatistime.com/days-until/may-26#:~:text=There%20are%2079%20business%20days%20until%20May%2026.
Day in the Life of a High School Freshman
Baylor Pritchett | January 2023
As best said by Anthony Cruz, “It’s easier than you think”. Being a freshman, from personal experience, isn’t hard. So long as you do your homework and pay attention 50% of the time, you’ll be fine.
Cruz starts his day by waking up 50 minutes before school. He then takes a cold shower, “like Andrew Tate” and eats his breakfast. From there he gets on the bus and heads to school. School in Anthony’s eyes is simple and easy. He keeps up all A’s with the exception of one B. After school he goes to soccer conditioning and sees Bradin Sullivan on the track.
Speaking of Bradin Sullivan, he starts his day with a cold shower, “like Andrew Tate” and sips a hot coffee. After that he gets dressed and heads to Baseball practice. After practice he goes to Crescent market to get a sausage biscuit and some chocolate milk. Sullivan then goes back to school, drops his bag off in his coaches’ room and chills in the gym. School is a piece of cake, he says. After school he goes to the after-school practice and runs on the track.
In the end, the life of a high school freshman is often uneventful and easy.
As best said by Anthony Cruz, “It’s easier than you think”. Being a freshman, from personal experience, isn’t hard. So long as you do your homework and pay attention 50% of the time, you’ll be fine.
Cruz starts his day by waking up 50 minutes before school. He then takes a cold shower, “like Andrew Tate” and eats his breakfast. From there he gets on the bus and heads to school. School in Anthony’s eyes is simple and easy. He keeps up all A’s with the exception of one B. After school he goes to soccer conditioning and sees Bradin Sullivan on the track.
Speaking of Bradin Sullivan, he starts his day with a cold shower, “like Andrew Tate” and sips a hot coffee. After that he gets dressed and heads to Baseball practice. After practice he goes to Crescent market to get a sausage biscuit and some chocolate milk. Sullivan then goes back to school, drops his bag off in his coaches’ room and chills in the gym. School is a piece of cake, he says. After school he goes to the after-school practice and runs on the track.
In the end, the life of a high school freshman is often uneventful and easy.
Chinese New Year
January 2023
Lunar New Year: What is it?
In the United States, almost everyone has celebrated the New Year ringing in on January 1, but for some people, the celebration isn’t done just yet! The Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year came around last Sunday, January 22, lasting from 3 to 15 days of celebration!
Things to do to Celebrate.
Here are some ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year whilst avoiding negative cultural appropriation:
2023 - Year of the What?
This year is Year of the Rabbit, one of the luckiest signs out of the twelve animals recognized in the Chinese New Year Calendar. In chronological order, the animals include Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The order, although seemingly unnecessary, has a myth behind it that starts with a race of twelve animals.
The Heavenly Race Origin Story
Long ago, the Jade Emperor wanted to collect twelve guard animals to protect each year. As a result, he creates a race to determine the guards. The first twelve animals to approach his gate will become a guard; the earlier the place, the better the rank. Rat and Ox were first and second, with Rat wittily riding on Ox’s ear whilst crossing a ravine and hopping off at the end. Tiger and Rabbit came third and fourth, with Rabbit’s speed was fast, but not faster than Tiger’s. Dragon placed fifth, with Snake slithering in before Horse at number sixth and seventh. Since they could not swim, the Goat, Monkey, and Rooster came together to make a raft that could carry them across the river, and scored eighth, ninth, and tenth. The dog could swim, but like most dogs, he played in the water and made eleventh. Finally, the lazy Pig, who slept halfway through the race, comes in at twelfth, which ends the cycle.
新年快乐! (Xīnnián kuàilè!/Happy New Year!)
Lunar New Year: What is it?
In the United States, almost everyone has celebrated the New Year ringing in on January 1, but for some people, the celebration isn’t done just yet! The Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year came around last Sunday, January 22, lasting from 3 to 15 days of celebration!
Things to do to Celebrate.
Here are some ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year whilst avoiding negative cultural appropriation:
- Eat some good food - Jiǎozi (or Dumplings), noodles, fish, and oranges are great symbols of longevity. Delicious!
- Wear red - Red is always a good color to choose for the New Year, especially since it is a sign of positive energy.
- Clean - Tidying up before the New Year will clean out the bad spirits from your home.
- Spend time with family - Sharing the New Year with family helps tie important relationships together that you have in your life. Maybe you could even watch some bright fireworks!
2023 - Year of the What?
This year is Year of the Rabbit, one of the luckiest signs out of the twelve animals recognized in the Chinese New Year Calendar. In chronological order, the animals include Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The order, although seemingly unnecessary, has a myth behind it that starts with a race of twelve animals.
The Heavenly Race Origin Story
Long ago, the Jade Emperor wanted to collect twelve guard animals to protect each year. As a result, he creates a race to determine the guards. The first twelve animals to approach his gate will become a guard; the earlier the place, the better the rank. Rat and Ox were first and second, with Rat wittily riding on Ox’s ear whilst crossing a ravine and hopping off at the end. Tiger and Rabbit came third and fourth, with Rabbit’s speed was fast, but not faster than Tiger’s. Dragon placed fifth, with Snake slithering in before Horse at number sixth and seventh. Since they could not swim, the Goat, Monkey, and Rooster came together to make a raft that could carry them across the river, and scored eighth, ninth, and tenth. The dog could swim, but like most dogs, he played in the water and made eleventh. Finally, the lazy Pig, who slept halfway through the race, comes in at twelfth, which ends the cycle.
新年快乐! (Xīnnián kuàilè!/Happy New Year!)
Lucky and Unlucky numbers
January 2023
Around the world numbers are important, but aside from helping us keep time, and track money, they have meaning to them. In some cultures, numbers mean good luck and fortune while in others it means the opposite, depending on the placement of numbers it can really be opposing. So, let us get into that!
*Unfortunately, there are no accounts of the numbers 1,2,5, and 10, being lucky numbers in any cultures or countries so we going to have to skip over them in this article*
#3
The number three is mostly considered a lucky number. Most films and television use the number three for love triangles, friendship, trios, etc. In places like Korea or Italy the number three is a division between heaven and earth and brings both strength and balance because the number makes a triangle.
However, in Japan and Vietnam, people don’t take pictures in three as they believe death will come to the person who stands in the middle.
#4
Four is called a perfect number by many. Think of nuclear families or the shape of a square, people like the number because of the solid foundation it symbolizes. There are typically four of everything: four seasons, four cardinal points, four elements, four phases of the moon. In Germany it’s known for being extremely lucky because of the four-leaf clover.
But four isn’t good luck worldwide. In most East Asian countries specifically China, because the number four when pronounced in Chinese sounds like (shi) which means death. People in China hate the number so much they refuse to have a fourth floor in buildings and entirely erased the fourth parking spots. It’s a phobia called: Tetraphobia.
#6
There’s not much to say about the number six but one thing it’s known for is the triplet of the number: 666.
Christians see it as the number of the devil, being a mark of the beast, it symbolizes the end of the world. Although in China, many Chinese see it good fortune and commonly have the number on their license plates and phone numbers.
#8
Many religions think of the number eight in a positive light such as Christians, Islam, Hindu, Buddhists, and even East Asian countries (China and Japan) . In fact it is a saying that anything happening on an eighth day or at eight o’clock would bring major success.
Interestingly enough in Bulgaria, eight is known as a cursed number from an event on May 26, of 2010, where a handful of people died. The one thing the victims had in common was the that they held and shared the number: 0888-888-888
This led to cell phone numbers being banned for ten years!
#9
Funny enough, a common theme in this article is that East Asians take a lot of value with their numbers compared to other countries.
In ancient China emperors used it as a number to be themselves since to them nine stands for completeness and eternity, it was also used to describe the larger territory of an empire. In Japan, as you could guess, it's quite the opposite. Not only the number nine, but there are also many numbers in Japan that are consider unlucky only because their pronunciation of the word in their language has a bad meaning (Ku- agony and Shi-death)
Honorable mentions
#12
Spain has the number twelve as a lucky number and there are two theories as to why. The first theory states that the belief of the number twelve being lucky comes from the fact that the Spanish word for “twelve” is “doce,” which is remarkably like the Spanish word for “good.” The second theory comes from a famous legend about a Spanish king who was attacked by robbers. The robbers took everything from the king, including his clothes, except for his scarf which had twelve stitches on it. When the king returned to the kingdom, the king’s subjects saw his scarf, and assumed that the number twelve was a royal number.
#13
In Norway, Sweden, and the UK, the number is disliked with it having a phobia called, triskaidekaphobia. Tragic events in history involving the thirteenth number are also what led to Christians developing a fear of the number as well (The Last Supper), yet in Italy it stands for fertility and an abundance of prosperity in life
#17
In Italy, the Roman numerals for seventeen are ‘’XVII’’ and when these are rearranged, they spell ‘’VIXI’’ meaning ‘’my life is over’’ if you were to translate from Latin
#28
For Greeks twenty-eight means freedom, leading to many people getting lucky charms and tattoos of the number. In Christianity, Jesus was born on the last day in February making it a special number in the religion.
#39
In Afghanistan, the number thirty-nine translates ‘’Dead cow’’ Which in their language is a slang term meaning ‘’pimp.’ Number plates with thirty-nine in or on them are almost impossible to sell, they often get covered up to not scare away buyers.
#42
The number forty-two is considered lucky in African culture, the letters in forty-two can be rearranged to form the word fortune, there are also usually forty-two cards in a standard deck of playing cards, and the letters in “Fortune’s Fool” can be rearranged to form “Fortune’s Four.” The number forty-two is also considered popular because it appears in many popular books and movies.
Sources:
Lucky & Unlucky Numbers Around the World - FotoLog
The 5 Luckiest Numbers in the World (According to Science) (letzmakemoney.com)
Unlucky Numbers Around the World - Adelphi Studio
Around the world numbers are important, but aside from helping us keep time, and track money, they have meaning to them. In some cultures, numbers mean good luck and fortune while in others it means the opposite, depending on the placement of numbers it can really be opposing. So, let us get into that!
*Unfortunately, there are no accounts of the numbers 1,2,5, and 10, being lucky numbers in any cultures or countries so we going to have to skip over them in this article*
#3
The number three is mostly considered a lucky number. Most films and television use the number three for love triangles, friendship, trios, etc. In places like Korea or Italy the number three is a division between heaven and earth and brings both strength and balance because the number makes a triangle.
However, in Japan and Vietnam, people don’t take pictures in three as they believe death will come to the person who stands in the middle.
#4
Four is called a perfect number by many. Think of nuclear families or the shape of a square, people like the number because of the solid foundation it symbolizes. There are typically four of everything: four seasons, four cardinal points, four elements, four phases of the moon. In Germany it’s known for being extremely lucky because of the four-leaf clover.
But four isn’t good luck worldwide. In most East Asian countries specifically China, because the number four when pronounced in Chinese sounds like (shi) which means death. People in China hate the number so much they refuse to have a fourth floor in buildings and entirely erased the fourth parking spots. It’s a phobia called: Tetraphobia.
#6
There’s not much to say about the number six but one thing it’s known for is the triplet of the number: 666.
Christians see it as the number of the devil, being a mark of the beast, it symbolizes the end of the world. Although in China, many Chinese see it good fortune and commonly have the number on their license plates and phone numbers.
#8
Many religions think of the number eight in a positive light such as Christians, Islam, Hindu, Buddhists, and even East Asian countries (China and Japan) . In fact it is a saying that anything happening on an eighth day or at eight o’clock would bring major success.
Interestingly enough in Bulgaria, eight is known as a cursed number from an event on May 26, of 2010, where a handful of people died. The one thing the victims had in common was the that they held and shared the number: 0888-888-888
This led to cell phone numbers being banned for ten years!
#9
Funny enough, a common theme in this article is that East Asians take a lot of value with their numbers compared to other countries.
In ancient China emperors used it as a number to be themselves since to them nine stands for completeness and eternity, it was also used to describe the larger territory of an empire. In Japan, as you could guess, it's quite the opposite. Not only the number nine, but there are also many numbers in Japan that are consider unlucky only because their pronunciation of the word in their language has a bad meaning (Ku- agony and Shi-death)
Honorable mentions
#12
Spain has the number twelve as a lucky number and there are two theories as to why. The first theory states that the belief of the number twelve being lucky comes from the fact that the Spanish word for “twelve” is “doce,” which is remarkably like the Spanish word for “good.” The second theory comes from a famous legend about a Spanish king who was attacked by robbers. The robbers took everything from the king, including his clothes, except for his scarf which had twelve stitches on it. When the king returned to the kingdom, the king’s subjects saw his scarf, and assumed that the number twelve was a royal number.
#13
In Norway, Sweden, and the UK, the number is disliked with it having a phobia called, triskaidekaphobia. Tragic events in history involving the thirteenth number are also what led to Christians developing a fear of the number as well (The Last Supper), yet in Italy it stands for fertility and an abundance of prosperity in life
#17
In Italy, the Roman numerals for seventeen are ‘’XVII’’ and when these are rearranged, they spell ‘’VIXI’’ meaning ‘’my life is over’’ if you were to translate from Latin
#28
For Greeks twenty-eight means freedom, leading to many people getting lucky charms and tattoos of the number. In Christianity, Jesus was born on the last day in February making it a special number in the religion.
#39
In Afghanistan, the number thirty-nine translates ‘’Dead cow’’ Which in their language is a slang term meaning ‘’pimp.’ Number plates with thirty-nine in or on them are almost impossible to sell, they often get covered up to not scare away buyers.
#42
The number forty-two is considered lucky in African culture, the letters in forty-two can be rearranged to form the word fortune, there are also usually forty-two cards in a standard deck of playing cards, and the letters in “Fortune’s Fool” can be rearranged to form “Fortune’s Four.” The number forty-two is also considered popular because it appears in many popular books and movies.
Sources:
Lucky & Unlucky Numbers Around the World - FotoLog
The 5 Luckiest Numbers in the World (According to Science) (letzmakemoney.com)
Unlucky Numbers Around the World - Adelphi Studio
New Years Poem - Ringing in 2023
December 2022
This country founded two-hundred and forty-four years ago had led to a nation being born,
From freeing us from our mother land to enslaving Africans,
To grow aware that freedom isn’t all there,
To finding the true meaning of independence with new reverence for the people,
To writing more amendments, bills, and constitutions, for the rights we all deserve,
Yet it cannot be preserved,
Not everyone believes in the saying ‘’Freedom for all’’,
Some believe we don’t deserve those rights at all,
Today the media is divided as the tides of politics collided,
We aren't sure that the future is secured,
But as the threat of the world is coming uncurled,
What can we do to distract the impending doom?
The answer is we cannot,
Ignoring the problem will just lead to bigger ones,
Yet there’s not much a teenager can do,
We can’t vote, some of us can’t drive, and we don’t even have much to do except sit at desks,
But that’s what we believe,
That’s what they want us to believe,
Why not start with something small?
Make a petition, a protest, suggest a subject,
Soon there be a new year,
The world will never develop is others refuse to get up,
The past is the past and while it’s good to look back,
The point is to learn from it,
not keep up with it,
So why don’t we stand up?
All of us!
Because there’s only one of them and plenty of us.
This country founded two-hundred and forty-four years ago had led to a nation being born,
From freeing us from our mother land to enslaving Africans,
To grow aware that freedom isn’t all there,
To finding the true meaning of independence with new reverence for the people,
To writing more amendments, bills, and constitutions, for the rights we all deserve,
Yet it cannot be preserved,
Not everyone believes in the saying ‘’Freedom for all’’,
Some believe we don’t deserve those rights at all,
Today the media is divided as the tides of politics collided,
We aren't sure that the future is secured,
But as the threat of the world is coming uncurled,
What can we do to distract the impending doom?
The answer is we cannot,
Ignoring the problem will just lead to bigger ones,
Yet there’s not much a teenager can do,
We can’t vote, some of us can’t drive, and we don’t even have much to do except sit at desks,
But that’s what we believe,
That’s what they want us to believe,
Why not start with something small?
Make a petition, a protest, suggest a subject,
Soon there be a new year,
The world will never develop is others refuse to get up,
The past is the past and while it’s good to look back,
The point is to learn from it,
not keep up with it,
So why don’t we stand up?
All of us!
Because there’s only one of them and plenty of us.
Historical Variations of Winter
December 2022
The winter season is coming soon, and with it comes the wonder and excitement of religious events celebrated by both those who worship, and even those who don’t!
Christmas and Hanukkah are often the first holidays to come to mind, but they are not alone during the holidays. In fact, this season is so much more…
All throughout history, people have celebrated both gods and spirits correlated with either the ripe harvest of Autumn or the deadly chill of Winter.
The Winter Solstice, for starters, has been a time of worship since the Neolithic era, 10,000 years ago. It has been celebrated by such ancient cultures as Rome, Greece, Poland, and India.
Saturnalia
Saturnalia, or the festival of Saturn, was celebrated by Roman pagans during the fourth century. During this event, all work and responsibility was thrown to the wind as worshipers all over enjoyed seven days of gambling, parties, and feasts.
Saturnalia is often considered the historical origin of Christmas, as many aspects of Christmas originate from this tradition. This includes the date, the candles, and the wreaths.
Kwanzaa
The most recent of these traditions, and the most well-known, Kwanzaa is the only of these traditions that is not the result of pagan tradition. It was founded in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, based on various traditions of west and southeast Africa.
Kwanzaa celebrates the seven principles, comprising the Kawaida (common) philosophy, with each day devoted to its own principal. While it was once seen as an alternative to Christmas, today the tradition is celebrated next to the popular holiday.
The Kinara may seem like it a shared aspect with Hanukkah, but the meanings are very different. The Kinara is representative of three things: The red on the left-hand side represents the historical struggle of the African- American people, The green on the right hand represents Hope, and the black candle at the center represents the African American people.
Mari Lwyd
The mysterious Mari Lwyd is a folk tradition celebrated in old Wales, wearing the ghastly visage of a horse skull covered in ribbons or holly, underneath a white cloak that hides the identity of this strange being. The name translates to “Grey Mary, Grey Mane, and Grey Mare”
The Tradition goes that Mari Lwyd and her companions visit the homes in the village, Singing Carols and preforming a ritual called Pwnco, where rude rhymes are exchanged between the group and the residents of the house. After this ritual, the residents of the house may allow Mari Lwyd and her companions into the house, where they will steal food and drink. Allowing Mari Lwyd into your home is seen as good luck.
Conclusion
Not every part of these traditions has been told here, for this is only but a small article and they are great parts of a vast history. To learn about these traditions keeps them alive, and to celebrate keeps them healthy.
The winter season is coming soon, and with it comes the wonder and excitement of religious events celebrated by both those who worship, and even those who don’t!
Christmas and Hanukkah are often the first holidays to come to mind, but they are not alone during the holidays. In fact, this season is so much more…
All throughout history, people have celebrated both gods and spirits correlated with either the ripe harvest of Autumn or the deadly chill of Winter.
The Winter Solstice, for starters, has been a time of worship since the Neolithic era, 10,000 years ago. It has been celebrated by such ancient cultures as Rome, Greece, Poland, and India.
Saturnalia
Saturnalia, or the festival of Saturn, was celebrated by Roman pagans during the fourth century. During this event, all work and responsibility was thrown to the wind as worshipers all over enjoyed seven days of gambling, parties, and feasts.
Saturnalia is often considered the historical origin of Christmas, as many aspects of Christmas originate from this tradition. This includes the date, the candles, and the wreaths.
Kwanzaa
The most recent of these traditions, and the most well-known, Kwanzaa is the only of these traditions that is not the result of pagan tradition. It was founded in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, based on various traditions of west and southeast Africa.
Kwanzaa celebrates the seven principles, comprising the Kawaida (common) philosophy, with each day devoted to its own principal. While it was once seen as an alternative to Christmas, today the tradition is celebrated next to the popular holiday.
The Kinara may seem like it a shared aspect with Hanukkah, but the meanings are very different. The Kinara is representative of three things: The red on the left-hand side represents the historical struggle of the African- American people, The green on the right hand represents Hope, and the black candle at the center represents the African American people.
Mari Lwyd
The mysterious Mari Lwyd is a folk tradition celebrated in old Wales, wearing the ghastly visage of a horse skull covered in ribbons or holly, underneath a white cloak that hides the identity of this strange being. The name translates to “Grey Mary, Grey Mane, and Grey Mare”
The Tradition goes that Mari Lwyd and her companions visit the homes in the village, Singing Carols and preforming a ritual called Pwnco, where rude rhymes are exchanged between the group and the residents of the house. After this ritual, the residents of the house may allow Mari Lwyd and her companions into the house, where they will steal food and drink. Allowing Mari Lwyd into your home is seen as good luck.
Conclusion
Not every part of these traditions has been told here, for this is only but a small article and they are great parts of a vast history. To learn about these traditions keeps them alive, and to celebrate keeps them healthy.
Why is Choosing Healthier Foods Important?
November 2022
Well, you might think that the answer is obvious: it is to keep your body in good condition and protect you from various chronic diseases. However, some people do not get nutritious meals every day, some even skip eating lunch, and some kids make unwise choices for a meal. This is not beneficial to your body, especially if you are someone who stays after school and participates in activities, such as sports. But, when we whittle down the options, how does poor nutrition affect us, and how does it affect our bodies?
Loss of Energy
To start off, your body relies on important biomolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Glucose is the primary source of energy in every cell in the body, and glucose comes from certain foods containing carbohydrates. Not eating properly or skipping lunch won't give you the biomolecules necessary to give you enough energy to do simple things, such as focusing or doing something active, and these small changes can be very noticeable, especially during school. In addition, your choices could affect your academic achievement, as well. A study taken displayed students ranging from the ages of 5-18 showed, with a higher consumption of foods such as fruit and vegetables; additional micronutrients; and lower consumption of junk foods for breakfast, that they had higher academic achievement than those who did not. Why? The answer is because of the choices of food that students ate! Most of the healthier foods and vitamins have key roles to brain development, which the mechanisms that are involved in the transfer of energy from the foods we consume to neurons in our brains are important to the control of our brain functioning. So, if you are looking for some more energy during school, maybe eat some fruit like bananas, a famous fruit known for boosting concentration, instead of those leftover Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
Higher Risk for an Eating Disorder
Our bodies have hormones to help regulate our hunger. Our stomach lets us know when to eat by releasing ghrelin, also known as the hunger hormone, whenever it is empty. And to prevent hunger and balance out our energy, leptin, sometimes known as the "fat controller", is released from our body fat tissue, so you do not feel hungry when your body does not need any more calories or energy. However, if you don't listen to these signs, you might throw off your body's natural way of telling you when and when not to eat, which can cause a lot of problems. An example being an eating disorder. Sometimes, it can even cause cravings for unhealthy foods, such as sweets, or foods that are too high in carbs, which can cause weight gain. Eating junky foods daily is very bad, especially if you don't feel like eating and just want to eat something. Maybe instead of going through the concession line and buying just an absurd amount boxes of chicken tenders and fries, you should try and eat a regular lunch meal consisting of an entree, some vegetables, and some fruit.
Many Other Illnesses, Mentally or Physically
Choosing to eat foods that will not be able to sustain your body with the right substances can cause long term problems for your health, such as:
What can you do?
Let’s start with something simple! Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Cutting out unnecessary sugars, saturated fats, and other unhealthy things you might consume daily can make a huge difference! In addition, skipping breakfast is never a good idea. There’s a reason why breakfast is called the most important meal of the day; the glycogen levels in your body are low because of the 12 hours of not eating the night before. A balanced breakfast can replenish that missing energy, and it’s ready to start your day right!
Meanwhile, when it comes to lunch, not many people get a sufficient amount of food to satisfy their needs. One of those major needs being hunger. “...A lot of kids don’t get a full meal, and so they come back, and they’re hungry still.” says Miss Faith, one of Rockvale High’s trustworthy lunch ladies. “But I think if you get a full meal, that includes the entrée and the fruit and veggie, that will leave you pretty full, at least until the end of the school day.”
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to choose what is right for your body, which requires a lot of restraint and responsibility to stay on the right track. However, although some choices might be unhealthy, a cupcake or fries saltier than the Red Sea wouldn’t hurt to munch on occasionally.
…Those Red Sea salt fries probably will deal some crucial kidney damage though...
Well, you might think that the answer is obvious: it is to keep your body in good condition and protect you from various chronic diseases. However, some people do not get nutritious meals every day, some even skip eating lunch, and some kids make unwise choices for a meal. This is not beneficial to your body, especially if you are someone who stays after school and participates in activities, such as sports. But, when we whittle down the options, how does poor nutrition affect us, and how does it affect our bodies?
Loss of Energy
To start off, your body relies on important biomolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Glucose is the primary source of energy in every cell in the body, and glucose comes from certain foods containing carbohydrates. Not eating properly or skipping lunch won't give you the biomolecules necessary to give you enough energy to do simple things, such as focusing or doing something active, and these small changes can be very noticeable, especially during school. In addition, your choices could affect your academic achievement, as well. A study taken displayed students ranging from the ages of 5-18 showed, with a higher consumption of foods such as fruit and vegetables; additional micronutrients; and lower consumption of junk foods for breakfast, that they had higher academic achievement than those who did not. Why? The answer is because of the choices of food that students ate! Most of the healthier foods and vitamins have key roles to brain development, which the mechanisms that are involved in the transfer of energy from the foods we consume to neurons in our brains are important to the control of our brain functioning. So, if you are looking for some more energy during school, maybe eat some fruit like bananas, a famous fruit known for boosting concentration, instead of those leftover Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
Higher Risk for an Eating Disorder
Our bodies have hormones to help regulate our hunger. Our stomach lets us know when to eat by releasing ghrelin, also known as the hunger hormone, whenever it is empty. And to prevent hunger and balance out our energy, leptin, sometimes known as the "fat controller", is released from our body fat tissue, so you do not feel hungry when your body does not need any more calories or energy. However, if you don't listen to these signs, you might throw off your body's natural way of telling you when and when not to eat, which can cause a lot of problems. An example being an eating disorder. Sometimes, it can even cause cravings for unhealthy foods, such as sweets, or foods that are too high in carbs, which can cause weight gain. Eating junky foods daily is very bad, especially if you don't feel like eating and just want to eat something. Maybe instead of going through the concession line and buying just an absurd amount boxes of chicken tenders and fries, you should try and eat a regular lunch meal consisting of an entree, some vegetables, and some fruit.
Many Other Illnesses, Mentally or Physically
Choosing to eat foods that will not be able to sustain your body with the right substances can cause long term problems for your health, such as:
- becoming overweight, or even obese
- high blood pressure and cholesterol
- depression and anxiety
- bone and tooth decay and weakening
What can you do?
Let’s start with something simple! Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Cutting out unnecessary sugars, saturated fats, and other unhealthy things you might consume daily can make a huge difference! In addition, skipping breakfast is never a good idea. There’s a reason why breakfast is called the most important meal of the day; the glycogen levels in your body are low because of the 12 hours of not eating the night before. A balanced breakfast can replenish that missing energy, and it’s ready to start your day right!
Meanwhile, when it comes to lunch, not many people get a sufficient amount of food to satisfy their needs. One of those major needs being hunger. “...A lot of kids don’t get a full meal, and so they come back, and they’re hungry still.” says Miss Faith, one of Rockvale High’s trustworthy lunch ladies. “But I think if you get a full meal, that includes the entrée and the fruit and veggie, that will leave you pretty full, at least until the end of the school day.”
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to choose what is right for your body, which requires a lot of restraint and responsibility to stay on the right track. However, although some choices might be unhealthy, a cupcake or fries saltier than the Red Sea wouldn’t hurt to munch on occasionally.
…Those Red Sea salt fries probably will deal some crucial kidney damage though...
Historical Variations of Winter
The winter season is coming soon, and with it comes the wonder and excitement of religious events celebrated by both those who worship, and even those who don’t!
Christmas and Hanukkah are often the first holidays to come to mind, but they are not alone during the holidays. In fact, this season is so much more…
All throughout history, people have celebrated both gods and spirits correlated with either the ripe harvest of Autumn or the deadly chill of Winter.
The Winter Solstice, for starters, has been a time of worship since the Neolithic era, 10,000 years ago. It has been celebrated by such ancient cultures as Rome, Greece, Poland, and India.
Saturnalia
Saturnalia, or the festival of Saturn, was celebrated by roman pagans during the fourth century. During this event, all work and responsibility was thrown to the wind as worshipers all over enjoyed seven days of gambling, parties, and feasts.
Saturnalia is often considered the historical origin of Christmas, as many aspects of Christmas originate from this tradition. This includes the date, the candles, and the wreaths.
Kwanzaa
The most recent of these traditions, and the most well-known, Kwanzaa is the only of these traditions that is not the result of pagan tradition. It was founded in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, based on various traditions of west and southeast Africa.
Kwanzaa celebrates the seven principles, comprising the Kawaida (common) philosophy, with each day devoted to its own principal. While it was once seen as an alternative to Christmas, today the tradition is celebrated next to the popular holiday.
The Kinara may seem like it a shared aspect with Hanukkah, but the meanings are very different. The Kinara is representative of three things: The red on the left-hand side represents the historical struggle of the African- American people, The green on the right hand represents Hope, and the black candle at the center represents the African American people.
Mari Lwyd
The mysterious Mari Lwyd is a folk tradition celebrated in old Wales, wearing the ghastly visage of a horse skull covered in ribbons or holly, underneath a white cloak that hides the identity of this strange being. The name translates to “Grey Mary, Grey Mane, and Grey Mare”
The Tradition goes that Mari Lwyd and her companions visit the homes in the village, Singing Carols and preforming a ritual called Pwnco, where rude rhymes are exchanged between the group and the residents of the house. After this ritual, the residents of the house may allow Mari Lwyd and her companions into the house, where they will steal food and drink. Allowing Mari Lwyd into your home is seen as good luck.
Conclusion
Not every part of these traditions has been told here, for this is only but a small article and they are great parts of a vast history. To learn about these traditions keeps them alive, and to celebrate keeps them healthy.
Christmas and Hanukkah are often the first holidays to come to mind, but they are not alone during the holidays. In fact, this season is so much more…
All throughout history, people have celebrated both gods and spirits correlated with either the ripe harvest of Autumn or the deadly chill of Winter.
The Winter Solstice, for starters, has been a time of worship since the Neolithic era, 10,000 years ago. It has been celebrated by such ancient cultures as Rome, Greece, Poland, and India.
Saturnalia
Saturnalia, or the festival of Saturn, was celebrated by roman pagans during the fourth century. During this event, all work and responsibility was thrown to the wind as worshipers all over enjoyed seven days of gambling, parties, and feasts.
Saturnalia is often considered the historical origin of Christmas, as many aspects of Christmas originate from this tradition. This includes the date, the candles, and the wreaths.
Kwanzaa
The most recent of these traditions, and the most well-known, Kwanzaa is the only of these traditions that is not the result of pagan tradition. It was founded in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, based on various traditions of west and southeast Africa.
Kwanzaa celebrates the seven principles, comprising the Kawaida (common) philosophy, with each day devoted to its own principal. While it was once seen as an alternative to Christmas, today the tradition is celebrated next to the popular holiday.
The Kinara may seem like it a shared aspect with Hanukkah, but the meanings are very different. The Kinara is representative of three things: The red on the left-hand side represents the historical struggle of the African- American people, The green on the right hand represents Hope, and the black candle at the center represents the African American people.
Mari Lwyd
The mysterious Mari Lwyd is a folk tradition celebrated in old Wales, wearing the ghastly visage of a horse skull covered in ribbons or holly, underneath a white cloak that hides the identity of this strange being. The name translates to “Grey Mary, Grey Mane, and Grey Mare”
The Tradition goes that Mari Lwyd and her companions visit the homes in the village, Singing Carols and preforming a ritual called Pwnco, where rude rhymes are exchanged between the group and the residents of the house. After this ritual, the residents of the house may allow Mari Lwyd and her companions into the house, where they will steal food and drink. Allowing Mari Lwyd into your home is seen as good luck.
Conclusion
Not every part of these traditions has been told here, for this is only but a small article and they are great parts of a vast history. To learn about these traditions keeps them alive, and to celebrate keeps them healthy.
Fall Activities to Improve Your Instagram Feed
Brianna Moran, Julianne Nunez, Bennett Lampkin | October 2022
As the weather changes and the leaves fall, this is the ‘official’ indication that fall is finally among us; subjectively one of the most ‘aesthetic’ seasons out there, as mentioned by Rockvale High Senior, Camdyn Mendoza. Additionally, she also states, “With this comes the struggle of finding activities that are not only suitable for the season, but also for your social media feed.” So, scratch the stereotypical fall activities and swap them for these:
Spooky Themed Dinner:
Have some fun and embrace your inner Halloween spirit by throwing a spooky themed dinner with your family and friends. Make sure to include your most haunting decor to spook your guests. You can even embrace your inner Poe by including faux black crows and ambient lighting to really set the mood. A dinner with a theme like this will definitely have your Instagram followers in awe. Art Gallery: Check at your local art gallery and see what exhibits they currently have. You may find that some fit the melancholic, dark vibe for your Instagram fall-esque feed. |
Outdoor Concert:
Peruse through Ticketmaster and look for some outdoor concerts in your proximity. This is the perfect opportunity to hang out with some friends and take some breathtaking photos for your Instagram. Coming from avid concert goers, wait a few days before the show to purchase tickets to save some big bucks. |
Pumpkin Patch Photoshoot:
Mendoza mentions that a good way to maintain the fall perfect feed is to stick to warm-toned photos, as well as including pictures of activities that complement fall. Additionally, she mentions that the perfect opportunity of this would be to take some photos at the pumpkin patch. However, this is cliche, so to ‘spice’ things up, change the typical pumpkin background for more mundane and simple backgrounds like the one pictured above. In all, social media is free reign with no ‘rules’; however, despite this, we also still have the option to highlight the art of how beautiful we can make our social media presence look. |
Did You Know? #1
October 2022
The Music Culture at Rockvale
April 2022
Here at Rockvale High, you can experience several types of music. While you walk down the halls, you can hear the students' music blasting out of their earbuds, and you can hear them humming/rapping to their music. You can especially hear the band and choir room. When you walk by the band room, you can hear them play beautifully. So, what do you think about the band and choir? Do you like it, or do you not like it? If so, what do you like about them? In this article, we are explaining information we’ve gathered about topics on music inside and outside of school.
Early on in our project, we decided to take a survey of the school’s population and what kind of music everyone listens to. Throughout the week we had our survey up we got roughly 160 results with the results showing that Hip-Hop is the favorite genre of Rockvale by a large margin. Some of the other popular genres were Pop, Rock, and R&B all with roughly 25 votes each. The survey gave us grate insight into where to start looking to learn about our school's music culture.
We started our investigation of our music culture with our school’s great band programs. Our band program is led by Alex Sears and Chris Lowrey and their classes include a beginning band (for those who want to learn to read music and a concert instrument), three concert ensembles all varying skill levels, two percussion classes, and finally a jazz band. Out of all these options, we decided to investigate our school’s jazz band since it allows for more student interpterion allowing for students to experiment and try new things with music. The jazz band is led by Mr. Sears and allows for students of varying skill levels to all join a class where they still get to perform music and, in some cases, learn a new instrument. When completing our project, we had the opportunity to take pictures of the jazz band and even interview a handful of the students who are in the class, one student of note is (now graduated) Evan Dye, who said “Everyone knows each other, and the music brings us all together,” another student Osten (also graduated) said that jazz band is “Different because it’s a lot more fun and less restricted.” As a whole, jazz band is different because it is not just another class, it is an entire community that allows students to be some of the best musicians that they can possibly be.
Next, we decided to interview Mr. Luker and Mr. Marks how they feel music classes add to the music culture of Rockvale. During the interviews we conducted with Mr. Luker and Mr. Marks both further explained how music classes- such as music, band, and choir- influence the school. Explaining how these classes drive students to become more and do more in their music. How teachers, even if they are not the teachers of these classes, can support and influence students to do their best and create their best. Mr. Luker states “These classes are set up to help students grow.” “We want to help you become better at that talent.” In choir, you’re able to learn different notes and how to create music using just your vocals. In band, you can learn about any instrument you can dream of! In Music, you can learn with instruments, songs, etc. Because of these classes, students can get scholarships into college and universities. In some cases, going to school for a music career can be beneficial to their careers. We’ve learned that school is a big step towards careers, not only music, but also other careers.
As a last step into the music culture, we decided to talk, try and find someone who was planning on perusing music in the future. Tristen Reeves, a local musician, told me he wants to go into a music program for rap music. He wants to understand how the music industry works, and how to produce and edit vocal recordings and beats. Tristen said, “I want to do it on my own, so I don’t have to worry about another producer, and not depend on anyone else.” He quoted that because that’s what he wants to do after high school. I have heard his rap songs and it is original, so I believe that he can go far in life with his music. When Tristen starts to write his songs, he writes about his past/future, and that helps him cope with everything he has been through. Lastly, he has always wanted to produce music since he was a little kid. Also, his uncle got him into music and didn’t want to start producing his own until a couple of weeks ago.
As the school year concludes, so does our investigation into what makes our school's culture so diverse. With it only being our third year at school, we at the Rockvale times cannot wait to see where our culture goes.
Here at Rockvale High, you can experience several types of music. While you walk down the halls, you can hear the students' music blasting out of their earbuds, and you can hear them humming/rapping to their music. You can especially hear the band and choir room. When you walk by the band room, you can hear them play beautifully. So, what do you think about the band and choir? Do you like it, or do you not like it? If so, what do you like about them? In this article, we are explaining information we’ve gathered about topics on music inside and outside of school.
Early on in our project, we decided to take a survey of the school’s population and what kind of music everyone listens to. Throughout the week we had our survey up we got roughly 160 results with the results showing that Hip-Hop is the favorite genre of Rockvale by a large margin. Some of the other popular genres were Pop, Rock, and R&B all with roughly 25 votes each. The survey gave us grate insight into where to start looking to learn about our school's music culture.
We started our investigation of our music culture with our school’s great band programs. Our band program is led by Alex Sears and Chris Lowrey and their classes include a beginning band (for those who want to learn to read music and a concert instrument), three concert ensembles all varying skill levels, two percussion classes, and finally a jazz band. Out of all these options, we decided to investigate our school’s jazz band since it allows for more student interpterion allowing for students to experiment and try new things with music. The jazz band is led by Mr. Sears and allows for students of varying skill levels to all join a class where they still get to perform music and, in some cases, learn a new instrument. When completing our project, we had the opportunity to take pictures of the jazz band and even interview a handful of the students who are in the class, one student of note is (now graduated) Evan Dye, who said “Everyone knows each other, and the music brings us all together,” another student Osten (also graduated) said that jazz band is “Different because it’s a lot more fun and less restricted.” As a whole, jazz band is different because it is not just another class, it is an entire community that allows students to be some of the best musicians that they can possibly be.
Next, we decided to interview Mr. Luker and Mr. Marks how they feel music classes add to the music culture of Rockvale. During the interviews we conducted with Mr. Luker and Mr. Marks both further explained how music classes- such as music, band, and choir- influence the school. Explaining how these classes drive students to become more and do more in their music. How teachers, even if they are not the teachers of these classes, can support and influence students to do their best and create their best. Mr. Luker states “These classes are set up to help students grow.” “We want to help you become better at that talent.” In choir, you’re able to learn different notes and how to create music using just your vocals. In band, you can learn about any instrument you can dream of! In Music, you can learn with instruments, songs, etc. Because of these classes, students can get scholarships into college and universities. In some cases, going to school for a music career can be beneficial to their careers. We’ve learned that school is a big step towards careers, not only music, but also other careers.
As a last step into the music culture, we decided to talk, try and find someone who was planning on perusing music in the future. Tristen Reeves, a local musician, told me he wants to go into a music program for rap music. He wants to understand how the music industry works, and how to produce and edit vocal recordings and beats. Tristen said, “I want to do it on my own, so I don’t have to worry about another producer, and not depend on anyone else.” He quoted that because that’s what he wants to do after high school. I have heard his rap songs and it is original, so I believe that he can go far in life with his music. When Tristen starts to write his songs, he writes about his past/future, and that helps him cope with everything he has been through. Lastly, he has always wanted to produce music since he was a little kid. Also, his uncle got him into music and didn’t want to start producing his own until a couple of weeks ago.
As the school year concludes, so does our investigation into what makes our school's culture so diverse. With it only being our third year at school, we at the Rockvale times cannot wait to see where our culture goes.
What are Rockvale Students Wearing?
Checkout these styles from Rockvale students in Spring of 2022.
Rockvale's Playlist
Noah Bettencourt | April 2022
As many of you may know, we at the Rockvale Times sent out a survey on what types of music people usually listen to. As this survey has reached it’s end. I plan on going over the results to show how diverse our music culture at Rockvale is.
The Purpose Of The Survey:
Before I get into the results, I would like to share our intentions for the survey along with some of the processes that went into making the survey. This survey was to get a general idea from the population of the school to get an idea of what music is popular at our school. When making this survey we had to account for many aspects that might not seem as important, like age and gender.
The Results Are In:
Over the week the survey was up we had a total of 153 responses all displaying a broad amount of music tastes among the school. As shown in the chart below, many of the more popular genres of music have similar amounts of votes all around 25; however, there is a clear winner in Rap/Hip Hop music with 38 responses. Another larger group is the other group, this one is as large as it is due to the fact that every vote that was counted toward other were one or two votes for a specific genre (an example of this is electronic music, which only had one vote)
One of the interesting things about who responded was their age. Almost 50% of responses were submitted by Freshmen with a gradual decrease to 2.5% of responses being from Seniors which ended up being outnumbered by even teacher results. With this in mind, and the fact that in total only 6% of the school responded, it is safe to say that these results would be more accurate if we were looking into a specific grade, in this case Freshmen.
Another aspect to note about the survey are the responses themselves. Going into this I had expected the results to look more like a gradual decrease with one clear winner and then bigger difference. While we had a big winner with Rap, many of the runner ups ended up being a few off from being higher up. Not only that, but it shows great diversity in the types of music we all listen to.
The Purpose Of The Survey:
Before I get into the results, I would like to share our intentions for the survey along with some of the processes that went into making the survey. This survey was to get a general idea from the population of the school to get an idea of what music is popular at our school. When making this survey we had to account for many aspects that might not seem as important, like age and gender.
The Results Are In:
Over the week the survey was up we had a total of 153 responses all displaying a broad amount of music tastes among the school. As shown in the chart below, many of the more popular genres of music have similar amounts of votes all around 25; however, there is a clear winner in Rap/Hip Hop music with 38 responses. Another larger group is the other group, this one is as large as it is due to the fact that every vote that was counted toward other were one or two votes for a specific genre (an example of this is electronic music, which only had one vote)
One of the interesting things about who responded was their age. Almost 50% of responses were submitted by Freshmen with a gradual decrease to 2.5% of responses being from Seniors which ended up being outnumbered by even teacher results. With this in mind, and the fact that in total only 6% of the school responded, it is safe to say that these results would be more accurate if we were looking into a specific grade, in this case Freshmen.
Another aspect to note about the survey are the responses themselves. Going into this I had expected the results to look more like a gradual decrease with one clear winner and then bigger difference. While we had a big winner with Rap, many of the runner ups ended up being a few off from being higher up. Not only that, but it shows great diversity in the types of music we all listen to.
What Should You Do This Summer?
Alexis Katz | March 2022
We are currently only a few months away from summer. Specifically, two months and six days but really who's counting? Me... I am. As the days till summer dwindle away, many students have begun to consider what they should do. Well, there are a lot of options, so let's discuss.
Many may decide to sleep away the summer but is that really ideal? In truth, students should be considering activities that will prepare them for their future. Whether that is researching future careers or picking up new skills, you should consider activities that will make you a better candidate for a college or career and will help you in school.
First you can always get a job. It can be as simple as mowing lawns or babysitting for quick cash. Or you can apply for a more typical job for teens like fast food or retail. No matter what, these jobs teach you responsibility and other skills that will help you in school. Jobs also look quite good on college applications.
You can also look for volunteer opportunities. Many organizations such as NHS and Beta require you to complete a certain amount of volunteer hours each year. If you spend your time volunteering it not only allows you to complete club requirements but can also give you a sense of fulfillment. Not to mention colleges and employers like to see potential students contribute to their community.
You can always study for a class you are taking next year. If you are taking a class that you are nervous about, you can always get a head start. There are plenty of videos about a variety of subjects on websites like YouTube. On top of this, you can take an online class over the summer. Simply looking up “free online classes for teens” can allow you to see an assortment of subjects. From programming to music theory there are classes for everyone.
Additionally, you can start or continue looking into your future plans. You can research colleges and careers that you want to pursue in the future. Looking into majors and scholarships is always helpful even if college feels years away. After all, high school flies by.
Mrs. Arceneaux, Rockvale’s AP Language and Composition teacher declares that “the best thing that students can do over the summer to not have a 'summer slide' regarding academics is to read, read, and read some more!! Reading increases background knowledge, increases vocabulary, and helps build reading stamina for those longer reading tests you take during school.”
In the end, you can spend your summer anyway you want. You can even spend it sleeping. But summer is one of the only times you can use to its fullest without worrying about traditional schoolwork. Summer is a time to explore your interests and start planning for your future. I truly suggest that you use your summer to its fullest and sometimes that’s spending time with friends and family, having fun- and that is okay.
We are currently only a few months away from summer. Specifically, two months and six days but really who's counting? Me... I am. As the days till summer dwindle away, many students have begun to consider what they should do. Well, there are a lot of options, so let's discuss.
Many may decide to sleep away the summer but is that really ideal? In truth, students should be considering activities that will prepare them for their future. Whether that is researching future careers or picking up new skills, you should consider activities that will make you a better candidate for a college or career and will help you in school.
First you can always get a job. It can be as simple as mowing lawns or babysitting for quick cash. Or you can apply for a more typical job for teens like fast food or retail. No matter what, these jobs teach you responsibility and other skills that will help you in school. Jobs also look quite good on college applications.
You can also look for volunteer opportunities. Many organizations such as NHS and Beta require you to complete a certain amount of volunteer hours each year. If you spend your time volunteering it not only allows you to complete club requirements but can also give you a sense of fulfillment. Not to mention colleges and employers like to see potential students contribute to their community.
You can always study for a class you are taking next year. If you are taking a class that you are nervous about, you can always get a head start. There are plenty of videos about a variety of subjects on websites like YouTube. On top of this, you can take an online class over the summer. Simply looking up “free online classes for teens” can allow you to see an assortment of subjects. From programming to music theory there are classes for everyone.
Additionally, you can start or continue looking into your future plans. You can research colleges and careers that you want to pursue in the future. Looking into majors and scholarships is always helpful even if college feels years away. After all, high school flies by.
Mrs. Arceneaux, Rockvale’s AP Language and Composition teacher declares that “the best thing that students can do over the summer to not have a 'summer slide' regarding academics is to read, read, and read some more!! Reading increases background knowledge, increases vocabulary, and helps build reading stamina for those longer reading tests you take during school.”
In the end, you can spend your summer anyway you want. You can even spend it sleeping. But summer is one of the only times you can use to its fullest without worrying about traditional schoolwork. Summer is a time to explore your interests and start planning for your future. I truly suggest that you use your summer to its fullest and sometimes that’s spending time with friends and family, having fun- and that is okay.
What TV Genres Do RVHS Students Enjoy?
Elie Littlepage | March 2022
The invention of the television was revolutionary. It has shaped how people all over the world enjoy entertainment. TV shows also shape some teenager’s lives. For decades, teenagers have bonded over watching TV. But what TV genres do RVHS students enjoy?
In a poll conducted around the school about favored TV genres, RVHS students gave a wide range of answers. Almost all students choose to watch their TV shows on streaming platforms rather than use cable TV. Streaming was highly favored, mostly because of a diverse range of shows that are available.
The top TV genre in RVHS is comedy with 29% favoring it. Males mostly voted for comedy. Many liked satire and documentary comedy such as “Parks and Recreation” or “The Office”. Comedies have been favored since the television was created, with many students enjoying the genre.
Another favored genre is drama with 24% choosing it. Females favored this genre more than males. K-drama, medical, and mystery were highly chosen among females and war was liked among males. Some dramas that were favored were shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy” or “Euphoria”.
Action was highly chosen as well. Many people enjoy this genre, mentioning Marvel TV shows as their favorite examples. Many conversations around the school revolve around the newest episode of the latest Marvel TV show. Several people are brought together by this genre, many enjoying the TV shows together.
The invention of the television was revolutionary. It has shaped how people all over the world enjoy entertainment. TV shows also shape some teenager’s lives. For decades, teenagers have bonded over watching TV. But what TV genres do RVHS students enjoy?
In a poll conducted around the school about favored TV genres, RVHS students gave a wide range of answers. Almost all students choose to watch their TV shows on streaming platforms rather than use cable TV. Streaming was highly favored, mostly because of a diverse range of shows that are available.
The top TV genre in RVHS is comedy with 29% favoring it. Males mostly voted for comedy. Many liked satire and documentary comedy such as “Parks and Recreation” or “The Office”. Comedies have been favored since the television was created, with many students enjoying the genre.
Another favored genre is drama with 24% choosing it. Females favored this genre more than males. K-drama, medical, and mystery were highly chosen among females and war was liked among males. Some dramas that were favored were shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy” or “Euphoria”.
Action was highly chosen as well. Many people enjoy this genre, mentioning Marvel TV shows as their favorite examples. Many conversations around the school revolve around the newest episode of the latest Marvel TV show. Several people are brought together by this genre, many enjoying the TV shows together.
Upcoming School Prom
Katelynn Harris | March 2022
Prom has always been a magical memory for high school students. Although COVID has changed our world so much in the last two years, we will be having prom. The prom will be on May 7th in the evening time. We are having a prom show, but they have not given us a date yet. There is also a dress code for prom, you cannot show midriff or anything that shows too much skin. In my opinion, there should not be a dress code except formal dress attire. I also believe no one will follow the dress code.
Many seniors I know have already gotten their dresses and/or suites. We do not have nominees for prom queen and king yet. Many people have already been asked to prom, although do not let it get you down if you do not have a date, you can always go with friends. The theme is Vegas.
Proms usually last until about 11:00 or 12:00. There are always after parties to go to. Remember to make smart decisions and even though you are in high school you can still get in serious trouble for things like drinking and drugs.
I spoke to a friend of mine about prom. Teagan said,” I cannot wait for prom, I have been looking forward to it as long as I could remember. I have already got my dress and decided who I am going with.” Many seniors feel the exact same way. However, some have decided they do not want to go.
If you plan to take someone to prom that does not go to high school anymore then they cannot be over 20 and they cannot be younger than a sophomore in high school. There is a form you must get signed for them to be able to come to prom. They also must show their licenses.
Prom has always been a magical memory for high school students. Although COVID has changed our world so much in the last two years, we will be having prom. The prom will be on May 7th in the evening time. We are having a prom show, but they have not given us a date yet. There is also a dress code for prom, you cannot show midriff or anything that shows too much skin. In my opinion, there should not be a dress code except formal dress attire. I also believe no one will follow the dress code.
Many seniors I know have already gotten their dresses and/or suites. We do not have nominees for prom queen and king yet. Many people have already been asked to prom, although do not let it get you down if you do not have a date, you can always go with friends. The theme is Vegas.
Proms usually last until about 11:00 or 12:00. There are always after parties to go to. Remember to make smart decisions and even though you are in high school you can still get in serious trouble for things like drinking and drugs.
I spoke to a friend of mine about prom. Teagan said,” I cannot wait for prom, I have been looking forward to it as long as I could remember. I have already got my dress and decided who I am going with.” Many seniors feel the exact same way. However, some have decided they do not want to go.
If you plan to take someone to prom that does not go to high school anymore then they cannot be over 20 and they cannot be younger than a sophomore in high school. There is a form you must get signed for them to be able to come to prom. They also must show their licenses.