Features
It’s not as crazy as it seems: The truth behind black friday
Alexxus Hart
What do you think of when you hear the words “Black Friday”?
Thanksgiving? Discounts? Shopping? Wishlists? Ads? Cyber Monday? Lines? Waiting?
“Black Friday” can refer to the day after Thanksgiving, which is also noted as the first day of traditional Christmas shopping, in which crowds of consumers are drawn to special offers by retailers.
“Black Friday” for retail companies means that they can finally go “into the black” which means that they are making a profit.
But...
According to an article by Sarah Pruitt called “What’s the Real History of Black Friday” recently aired on the History Channel, Black Friday originated on September 24, 1869 and originally, had nothing to do with holiday shopping but everything to do with a much darker and complicated matter.
So let's stop right there, re-evaluate and discuss the truth and history behind black friday.
The dark truth behind Black Friday was the financial crisis, dealing with the crash of the U.S. gold market on September 24, 1869.
The financial crisis began when two Wall Street financiers worked together to buy up as much of the nation’s gold as they could. Jay Gould and Jim Fisk were hoping to drive the prices sky-high and sell it for astonishing profits. On that Friday in September, the conspiracy finally unraveled, sending the stock market into free-fall and bankrupting everyone from Wall Street barons to farmers.
Many retailers in the 1980’s wanted to turn Black Friday into something positive rather than negative, and that’s when the dark and truthful story behind Black Friday was thrown to the dark and forgotten.
Thanksgiving? Discounts? Shopping? Wishlists? Ads? Cyber Monday? Lines? Waiting?
“Black Friday” can refer to the day after Thanksgiving, which is also noted as the first day of traditional Christmas shopping, in which crowds of consumers are drawn to special offers by retailers.
“Black Friday” for retail companies means that they can finally go “into the black” which means that they are making a profit.
But...
According to an article by Sarah Pruitt called “What’s the Real History of Black Friday” recently aired on the History Channel, Black Friday originated on September 24, 1869 and originally, had nothing to do with holiday shopping but everything to do with a much darker and complicated matter.
So let's stop right there, re-evaluate and discuss the truth and history behind black friday.
The dark truth behind Black Friday was the financial crisis, dealing with the crash of the U.S. gold market on September 24, 1869.
The financial crisis began when two Wall Street financiers worked together to buy up as much of the nation’s gold as they could. Jay Gould and Jim Fisk were hoping to drive the prices sky-high and sell it for astonishing profits. On that Friday in September, the conspiracy finally unraveled, sending the stock market into free-fall and bankrupting everyone from Wall Street barons to farmers.
Many retailers in the 1980’s wanted to turn Black Friday into something positive rather than negative, and that’s when the dark and truthful story behind Black Friday was thrown to the dark and forgotten.
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Exams: The 411 on the most efficient ways to study
Alexis Torres
E.X.A.M.S.
↙↘ ↙↘ ↧
Extremely Amazing Satisfaction
Exams can be a real hassle for the average high school student, especially at Reagan. Some students claim that exams destroy their spirits. But I personally think that is a bit of an exaggeration. In most cases, this can be true - if you aren’t prepared! All you need to do is understand your goal, prioritize the tests that matter most, and know how to take a break when needed. All it takes is effort! Effort is the key to success!
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” - Benjamin Franklin
Now we all know the basic methods of studying, which include using flashcards, participate in group study sessions, prioritizing your time accordingly, and asking questions beforehand to the teachers. But I am sure everyone has their own methods.
I personally prefer creating my own study guides, asking the teachers what isn’t on the given study guide that we will need for exams, creating a study schedule, and rewriting important information that I will need to know - like for Spanish.
According to ”Teen Vogue,” sSome of the best methods of studying for exams is to aim to begin studying at least one month in advance, take reasonable snack breaks, know when to stop studying (within 12 to 24 hours of the test is the best time to stop studying), and to relax. Corresponding accordingly, there are three main study habits,based on scientific research, that prove to have the best effects when it comes to final exams. These habits include: studying in intervals, participate in some mini workouts for just 20 minutes (which by the way can improve your memory), and focus on what you eat in advance before a test. This is a major factor that affects you deeply because it can affect your testing. If you eat right, then it allows your brain to gain energy and not make you feel tired and/or forgetful. Another source states that one shouldn’t cram at the last minute and that one should not multitask. It’s important to review class notes at least every day, and to take accurate and thorough notes-which are all no-brainers of course.
After interviewing various Reagan students and faculty, I was able to get the latest insight into what habits prove to most successful for them and what they suggest to others.
So what does some of the Reagan faculty and students have to say…?
David Walker (Ronald Reagan Teacher for US History and Citizenship)
What are some studying tips you would suggest to students?
“Find a study partner who shares the same teacher, schedule out when you want to study each day, and plan on staying in the PBL or library after school to study.”
Would you suggest exempting as an alternative to students (using the exemption limit)?
“Yes, but only in certain circumstances. Only exempt if you already have earned the highest grade mathematically possible OR if you a really concerned about a particular class. Strategize.”
When do you think students should start studying for finals? Why?
“In terms of skills, finals review starts when the semester starts. Make sure you know all the particular IB skills for your class. For example, in US History students are expected to be proficient at OPCVL written responses, document analysis, compare/contrast, etc. We practice these throughout the semester. In terms of knowledge, as soon as you know what will be on the final, start reviewing the content! Teachers aren't trying to make your life miserable. They intentionally plan finals based on skills and knowledge that you have picked up on throughout the semester. Think about what matters in a particular class, and it will likely be on the final.”
Calie Herbst (Ronald Reagan Teacher for Spanish 2)
What are some studying tips you would suggest to students?
“Get comfortable! Go to a cafe or a friend’s house, break out some healthy snacks, and drink a cup of coffee. Make it fun. You could also rewrite and reorganize your notes from class and talk it out with a study buddy. Rephrase the things you learned in class out loud to somebody else.”
Why would you suggest these particular methods?
“People learn better when they are less anxious, so make studying a fun, comfortable activity.”
Tomas Molfino (Ronald Reagan Teacher for Algebra 1 and Geometry)
What are some studying tips you would suggest to students? and Why would you suggest these particular methods?
“Take careful notes throughout the semester so that when you study you can easily refer back to material to clear up any misconceptions and use your resources: study with other students (with collaborating with others you learn new studying strategies, see the material in a new light, and often review material that you otherwise would have overlooked), visit your teachers during ACP or after school for extra help, read your textbook (technical explanations, as often found in textbooks, can be really useful), watch videos online (online videos can explain concepts differently than your teacher, which may help you understand material better).”
When you were in school, how did these methods help you?
“I used all of these methods when studying for tests throughout my high school years and into college. There is no one strategy that is better than others. Like most things in life, a healthy mixture of diversified techniques/strategies leads to the best results. I would study a little bit on my own, then I would meet with friends and make study groups before exams. When studying alone, I would review my notes and research videos to help me understand the most difficult concepts. And in groups, I would come with any questions I still had and would learn about other study techniques that my friends did. Often, they thought about problems and solutions differently than myself, and this would also help me see how to solve problems differently.”
Anonymous (Ronald Reagan Student, 10th grade)
Would you suggest exempting as an alternative to students (using the exemption limit)?
“Definitely! I think if you have a good enough grade in a class and you know if you were to take that exam and would have a high chance of getting an even lower score, then you should exempt. Why take such a high risk?”
When do you think students should start studying for finals? Why?
“I think once you first hear a teacher talk about exemptions, then that’s when you should start figuring out everything you need to know for exams. As a sophomore, we have a lot of projects that count as grades for exams. We have our National History Day projects, our personal projects, and for those in film (like myself) we have to make a short film. It’s a lot of work. I automatically start working on them once I receive them. Leaving no time to waste. That way I will have extra time if an anomaly comes up. When it comes to myself, I had to switch the final products of both my personal project and my NHD project. I am mad that what I originally wanted to do for both didn’t work out (a website) even after I put in so much work, but I am also glad I started early because I still have time to start working on the new products with the rest of the sophomore class.”
Lupita Rizo (Ronald Reagan Student, 10th grade)
What are your methods for studying and how have they benefitted you?
“My methods for studying for studying for exams are reviewing my own personal notes, review the note packets we get, and completing the review packets the teachers give us. The way that this benefits me is because I’ve always passed my exams, so I guess it’s a good way to study because I pass everything.”
What’s the worst habit you have when you study? What can you suggest to beat this habit?
“The worst habit I have when I study is that I get distracted a lot and I tend to stop doing what I am doing, like studying, and instead watch t.v. or play on my phone which makes me lose track of time. I don’t know how to defeat this habit because that’s something I do all the time.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let’s take a moment to refresh back. In the second question Lupita says, “I don’t know how to defeat this habit because that’s something I do all the time.” So many people have the same issue and just do not know how to power through.
But here is what I suggest:
...IN THIS CASE, YOUR GOAL IS PASSING FINAL EXAMS!!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alston, S. (2013, December 12). Scientifically, The Best Ways To Prepare For Final Exams. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from http://blog.suny.edu/2013/12/scientifically-the-best-ways-to-prepare-for-final-exams/
Tishgart, S. (2012, April 30). 10 Essential Study Tips for Final Exams. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from http://www.teenvogue.com/story/final-exams-study-tips
Hyman, J. S., & Jacobs, L. F. (2010, December 10). Top 15 Hot Tips for Finals | Scholarship Search Insider ... Retrieved October 26, 2016, from http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2010/12/10/top-15-hot-tips-for-finals
How Should I Prepare for Tests and Final Exams? (2016). Retrieved October 26, 2016, from http://www.stlawu.edu/academic-support/how-should-i-prepare-tests-and-final-exams
↙↘ ↙↘ ↧
Extremely Amazing Satisfaction
Exams can be a real hassle for the average high school student, especially at Reagan. Some students claim that exams destroy their spirits. But I personally think that is a bit of an exaggeration. In most cases, this can be true - if you aren’t prepared! All you need to do is understand your goal, prioritize the tests that matter most, and know how to take a break when needed. All it takes is effort! Effort is the key to success!
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” - Benjamin Franklin
Now we all know the basic methods of studying, which include using flashcards, participate in group study sessions, prioritizing your time accordingly, and asking questions beforehand to the teachers. But I am sure everyone has their own methods.
I personally prefer creating my own study guides, asking the teachers what isn’t on the given study guide that we will need for exams, creating a study schedule, and rewriting important information that I will need to know - like for Spanish.
According to ”Teen Vogue,” sSome of the best methods of studying for exams is to aim to begin studying at least one month in advance, take reasonable snack breaks, know when to stop studying (within 12 to 24 hours of the test is the best time to stop studying), and to relax. Corresponding accordingly, there are three main study habits,based on scientific research, that prove to have the best effects when it comes to final exams. These habits include: studying in intervals, participate in some mini workouts for just 20 minutes (which by the way can improve your memory), and focus on what you eat in advance before a test. This is a major factor that affects you deeply because it can affect your testing. If you eat right, then it allows your brain to gain energy and not make you feel tired and/or forgetful. Another source states that one shouldn’t cram at the last minute and that one should not multitask. It’s important to review class notes at least every day, and to take accurate and thorough notes-which are all no-brainers of course.
After interviewing various Reagan students and faculty, I was able to get the latest insight into what habits prove to most successful for them and what they suggest to others.
So what does some of the Reagan faculty and students have to say…?
David Walker (Ronald Reagan Teacher for US History and Citizenship)
What are some studying tips you would suggest to students?
“Find a study partner who shares the same teacher, schedule out when you want to study each day, and plan on staying in the PBL or library after school to study.”
Would you suggest exempting as an alternative to students (using the exemption limit)?
“Yes, but only in certain circumstances. Only exempt if you already have earned the highest grade mathematically possible OR if you a really concerned about a particular class. Strategize.”
When do you think students should start studying for finals? Why?
“In terms of skills, finals review starts when the semester starts. Make sure you know all the particular IB skills for your class. For example, in US History students are expected to be proficient at OPCVL written responses, document analysis, compare/contrast, etc. We practice these throughout the semester. In terms of knowledge, as soon as you know what will be on the final, start reviewing the content! Teachers aren't trying to make your life miserable. They intentionally plan finals based on skills and knowledge that you have picked up on throughout the semester. Think about what matters in a particular class, and it will likely be on the final.”
Calie Herbst (Ronald Reagan Teacher for Spanish 2)
What are some studying tips you would suggest to students?
“Get comfortable! Go to a cafe or a friend’s house, break out some healthy snacks, and drink a cup of coffee. Make it fun. You could also rewrite and reorganize your notes from class and talk it out with a study buddy. Rephrase the things you learned in class out loud to somebody else.”
Why would you suggest these particular methods?
“People learn better when they are less anxious, so make studying a fun, comfortable activity.”
Tomas Molfino (Ronald Reagan Teacher for Algebra 1 and Geometry)
What are some studying tips you would suggest to students? and Why would you suggest these particular methods?
“Take careful notes throughout the semester so that when you study you can easily refer back to material to clear up any misconceptions and use your resources: study with other students (with collaborating with others you learn new studying strategies, see the material in a new light, and often review material that you otherwise would have overlooked), visit your teachers during ACP or after school for extra help, read your textbook (technical explanations, as often found in textbooks, can be really useful), watch videos online (online videos can explain concepts differently than your teacher, which may help you understand material better).”
When you were in school, how did these methods help you?
“I used all of these methods when studying for tests throughout my high school years and into college. There is no one strategy that is better than others. Like most things in life, a healthy mixture of diversified techniques/strategies leads to the best results. I would study a little bit on my own, then I would meet with friends and make study groups before exams. When studying alone, I would review my notes and research videos to help me understand the most difficult concepts. And in groups, I would come with any questions I still had and would learn about other study techniques that my friends did. Often, they thought about problems and solutions differently than myself, and this would also help me see how to solve problems differently.”
Anonymous (Ronald Reagan Student, 10th grade)
Would you suggest exempting as an alternative to students (using the exemption limit)?
“Definitely! I think if you have a good enough grade in a class and you know if you were to take that exam and would have a high chance of getting an even lower score, then you should exempt. Why take such a high risk?”
When do you think students should start studying for finals? Why?
“I think once you first hear a teacher talk about exemptions, then that’s when you should start figuring out everything you need to know for exams. As a sophomore, we have a lot of projects that count as grades for exams. We have our National History Day projects, our personal projects, and for those in film (like myself) we have to make a short film. It’s a lot of work. I automatically start working on them once I receive them. Leaving no time to waste. That way I will have extra time if an anomaly comes up. When it comes to myself, I had to switch the final products of both my personal project and my NHD project. I am mad that what I originally wanted to do for both didn’t work out (a website) even after I put in so much work, but I am also glad I started early because I still have time to start working on the new products with the rest of the sophomore class.”
Lupita Rizo (Ronald Reagan Student, 10th grade)
What are your methods for studying and how have they benefitted you?
“My methods for studying for studying for exams are reviewing my own personal notes, review the note packets we get, and completing the review packets the teachers give us. The way that this benefits me is because I’ve always passed my exams, so I guess it’s a good way to study because I pass everything.”
What’s the worst habit you have when you study? What can you suggest to beat this habit?
“The worst habit I have when I study is that I get distracted a lot and I tend to stop doing what I am doing, like studying, and instead watch t.v. or play on my phone which makes me lose track of time. I don’t know how to defeat this habit because that’s something I do all the time.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let’s take a moment to refresh back. In the second question Lupita says, “I don’t know how to defeat this habit because that’s something I do all the time.” So many people have the same issue and just do not know how to power through.
But here is what I suggest:
- Ask yourself, “How is this benefitting my main goal?”
- Take time to decide if this bad habit is worth possibly failing or not reaching your goal
- Surround yourself with everything necessary that leads to you reaching your main goal
...IN THIS CASE, YOUR GOAL IS PASSING FINAL EXAMS!!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alston, S. (2013, December 12). Scientifically, The Best Ways To Prepare For Final Exams. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from http://blog.suny.edu/2013/12/scientifically-the-best-ways-to-prepare-for-final-exams/
Tishgart, S. (2012, April 30). 10 Essential Study Tips for Final Exams. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from http://www.teenvogue.com/story/final-exams-study-tips
Hyman, J. S., & Jacobs, L. F. (2010, December 10). Top 15 Hot Tips for Finals | Scholarship Search Insider ... Retrieved October 26, 2016, from http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2010/12/10/top-15-hot-tips-for-finals
How Should I Prepare for Tests and Final Exams? (2016). Retrieved October 26, 2016, from http://www.stlawu.edu/academic-support/how-should-i-prepare-tests-and-final-exams
let's talk about Teachers & tattoos
VALERIE MECHA
or
Giving Freshman and new students’ advice for finals
Maysa Saadeddin
The end of the semester is near and so are the final exams. Starting on December 19, students will be taking the final exams from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. each day Monday through Thursday. It's common for freshmen to be nervous for the final exams. Their main questions often are how are finals set up, what are the expectations, and how important are they really. So Reagan teachers, Ms. Nohl, a freshman science teacher, Ms. Milewski, a sophomore and freshman art and health teacher, and Mr. Kuehl is a freshman English teacher have advice to offer freshmen for the upcoming final exams.
Students might not know what to expect from the finals, especially Freshman. This can make students nervous not knowing what they are going to be asked on the test. Ms. Nohl said,”The students should expect finals to mirror or look similar to the texts the juniors and seniors take for DP (IB Diploma Programme) level courses.”
Mr. Kuehl said that students should expect the finals to cover everything they learned in the year so far “It focuses on the important aspects of the class.”
Ms. Nohl also said that the finals will be challenging and ask students to use several skills that they learned as IB students. Mrs. Milewski says students should expect to have a comprehensive overview up to this point in their classes.
Teachers’ expectations of the students are a major part of what students need to know for finals. Ms. Nohl expects her students to take time to prepare for the test by using the study guides given. “I encourage students to look back at old assessments...to see where their weaknesses are so they can focus on their studying.” Mr. Kuehl expects his students to show they gained the knowledge, not just from memorization or not just for that time. Mrs.Milewski expects students to do the review packet, study and come to the finals prepared to do their best.
Students might not understand how the finals are set up and answering this can help students feel prepared. Ms. Nohl and Mr. Kuehl both said the finals format will be different for every subject. Mr. Kuehl said, “English has multiple choice, short answer, long answer and a essay question.” He also said that it will be based off everything the students learned in the beginning of the year, covering the vocabulary, then short stories, poetry annotation, and the essay, which is about the “The Merchant of Venice.”
Explaining what the finals are and why we have the finals can help students feel more comfortable with knowing more about the exams. Mrs. Milewski said that the finals give the teachers a way to know how much information students have gained and retained of this first semester. She also stated it will help them know if there are areas of weakness and places that need to be readdressed. Ms. Nohl said finals are what college level courses are based on to see if the students learned information from that course. She also said that many fields require huge exams to enter into a program or graduation from a program. “For example, nurses have to take the NCLEX before receiving a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN). In high school, finals serve a similar purpose.” Ms. Nohl said.
Students are very nervous and stressed over these exams but teachers understand why students are this way. Mrs.Milewski, “Students are use to a test based on a unit and paced out in between. Such as a math test one week and a test in history in the next week.” Mr.Kuehl said, “A thing you guys stress about and won’t understand until five ten fifteen years later is that you're still worried about what other people think about you,” he continues by saying, “you think everyone's going to remember that day you didn't have your hair done and it was up in a bun or you had to throw on some sweatpants but it’s not forever.”
The Reagan teachers gave advice on how students should prepare themselves before the final exams. “One big piece of advice students are probably tired of hearing is don’t procrastinate…” Ms.Nohl said, “There's a lot of exams in a small period of time..try chunking up your studying and come up with a priority list.” She explained by saying, what can students study less on and what's their biggest subject to study on. Mr. Kuehl said students should work in study groups, so they can learn things they didn’t know before and so they can explain it better. He also recommends for students not to study last minute. Ms. Milewski also said to not procrastinate and to not study late.
Although students are able to prepare themselves by looking back at old assignments and notes, students might need extra help with with what they exactly need to focus on. Ms. Nohl, Mr. Kuehl, and Mrs. Milewski all give out study guides and reviews to help their students. Mr. Kuehl gives a study sheet to the class, narrowing down the vocab, giving what they will be asked on the test. He also said there will be a review day and give the essay question to the students to understand and prepare for the finals. Ms. Nohl confirmed that she is planning to set aside a day or two to do review. She has heard that other teachers are providing flashcards that are “easy”, “medium”, and “difficult”. Mrs. Milewski is suggesting many different ways students could prepare. ‘If there's a way you study best, you can break down the review packet into flashcards, rewriting the information multiple times.” She said that students should use the most effective method for studying that matches their learning style. The teachers are ready to prepare their students for the final exams by providing using study and review packets. Mrs.Milewski already has her review packet on her website for her students to study early if they’d like. The teachers want what's best for their students and are willing to help them
The finals are very important for every grade; however, students wonder if there's a grade level where they are more important. Ms. Nohl said the finals are important for every grade and explains why it's important for specifically freshmen.”Freshmen want to start developing strong and test taking skills and strategies.Finals mirror junior and senior level tests, so freshmen need to take advantage of these opportunities to score well.” Mrs. Milewski said every semester the finals are important and said it's important for freshmen to do well because they count as a huge chunk of your semester grade. “G.P.A. will take a harder hit if you do poorly.” Mrs. Milewski continued, ”It's harder to climb out of a hole than it is if you’re slowly chipping away at a good G.P.A. by not doing well at finals.” Mr. Kuehl explained that freshmen expectations aren’t lower, but they’re different. He also said it is helpful for showing students what they need to work on and an opportunity for growth.
Finals can be very stressful but Reagan is full of teachers willing to help, and they believe in their students.
Students might not know what to expect from the finals, especially Freshman. This can make students nervous not knowing what they are going to be asked on the test. Ms. Nohl said,”The students should expect finals to mirror or look similar to the texts the juniors and seniors take for DP (IB Diploma Programme) level courses.”
Mr. Kuehl said that students should expect the finals to cover everything they learned in the year so far “It focuses on the important aspects of the class.”
Ms. Nohl also said that the finals will be challenging and ask students to use several skills that they learned as IB students. Mrs. Milewski says students should expect to have a comprehensive overview up to this point in their classes.
Teachers’ expectations of the students are a major part of what students need to know for finals. Ms. Nohl expects her students to take time to prepare for the test by using the study guides given. “I encourage students to look back at old assessments...to see where their weaknesses are so they can focus on their studying.” Mr. Kuehl expects his students to show they gained the knowledge, not just from memorization or not just for that time. Mrs.Milewski expects students to do the review packet, study and come to the finals prepared to do their best.
Students might not understand how the finals are set up and answering this can help students feel prepared. Ms. Nohl and Mr. Kuehl both said the finals format will be different for every subject. Mr. Kuehl said, “English has multiple choice, short answer, long answer and a essay question.” He also said that it will be based off everything the students learned in the beginning of the year, covering the vocabulary, then short stories, poetry annotation, and the essay, which is about the “The Merchant of Venice.”
Explaining what the finals are and why we have the finals can help students feel more comfortable with knowing more about the exams. Mrs. Milewski said that the finals give the teachers a way to know how much information students have gained and retained of this first semester. She also stated it will help them know if there are areas of weakness and places that need to be readdressed. Ms. Nohl said finals are what college level courses are based on to see if the students learned information from that course. She also said that many fields require huge exams to enter into a program or graduation from a program. “For example, nurses have to take the NCLEX before receiving a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN). In high school, finals serve a similar purpose.” Ms. Nohl said.
Students are very nervous and stressed over these exams but teachers understand why students are this way. Mrs.Milewski, “Students are use to a test based on a unit and paced out in between. Such as a math test one week and a test in history in the next week.” Mr.Kuehl said, “A thing you guys stress about and won’t understand until five ten fifteen years later is that you're still worried about what other people think about you,” he continues by saying, “you think everyone's going to remember that day you didn't have your hair done and it was up in a bun or you had to throw on some sweatpants but it’s not forever.”
The Reagan teachers gave advice on how students should prepare themselves before the final exams. “One big piece of advice students are probably tired of hearing is don’t procrastinate…” Ms.Nohl said, “There's a lot of exams in a small period of time..try chunking up your studying and come up with a priority list.” She explained by saying, what can students study less on and what's their biggest subject to study on. Mr. Kuehl said students should work in study groups, so they can learn things they didn’t know before and so they can explain it better. He also recommends for students not to study last minute. Ms. Milewski also said to not procrastinate and to not study late.
Although students are able to prepare themselves by looking back at old assignments and notes, students might need extra help with with what they exactly need to focus on. Ms. Nohl, Mr. Kuehl, and Mrs. Milewski all give out study guides and reviews to help their students. Mr. Kuehl gives a study sheet to the class, narrowing down the vocab, giving what they will be asked on the test. He also said there will be a review day and give the essay question to the students to understand and prepare for the finals. Ms. Nohl confirmed that she is planning to set aside a day or two to do review. She has heard that other teachers are providing flashcards that are “easy”, “medium”, and “difficult”. Mrs. Milewski is suggesting many different ways students could prepare. ‘If there's a way you study best, you can break down the review packet into flashcards, rewriting the information multiple times.” She said that students should use the most effective method for studying that matches their learning style. The teachers are ready to prepare their students for the final exams by providing using study and review packets. Mrs.Milewski already has her review packet on her website for her students to study early if they’d like. The teachers want what's best for their students and are willing to help them
The finals are very important for every grade; however, students wonder if there's a grade level where they are more important. Ms. Nohl said the finals are important for every grade and explains why it's important for specifically freshmen.”Freshmen want to start developing strong and test taking skills and strategies.Finals mirror junior and senior level tests, so freshmen need to take advantage of these opportunities to score well.” Mrs. Milewski said every semester the finals are important and said it's important for freshmen to do well because they count as a huge chunk of your semester grade. “G.P.A. will take a harder hit if you do poorly.” Mrs. Milewski continued, ”It's harder to climb out of a hole than it is if you’re slowly chipping away at a good G.P.A. by not doing well at finals.” Mr. Kuehl explained that freshmen expectations aren’t lower, but they’re different. He also said it is helpful for showing students what they need to work on and an opportunity for growth.
Finals can be very stressful but Reagan is full of teachers willing to help, and they believe in their students.
Formally introducing you to the Winter Formal
Ema Nimphius
Who wouldn’t want to spend one night in a crowded room filled with loud music and winter-themed decorations making you feel as if you are in a mystical wonderland? Reagan will be hosting the annual winter formal where you will be able to spend time with your friends doing fun, safe activities. On January 27, 2017 the Winter Formal-Advance sales and Activity clearance will be held.
This year the theme will be "Throwback Circus.”Not only can you dress up for the dance, there is also a chance that we will once again have Spirit Days leading up to the dance! The dates and themes of the days will be discussed as soon as the students return from Thanksgiving break.
When students were asked to share some of their expectations for the dance, the same few words, fun, they are unsure, and cool were repeated. Ms. Holtgreive, the Student Council Adviser, and the student council are planning a spectacular winter formal that will outdo last year’s completely.
Plan ahead to purchase your ticket to Reagan’s Winter Formal and have a spectacular time dancing, singing, and being joyful with close friends and peers.
This year the theme will be "Throwback Circus.”Not only can you dress up for the dance, there is also a chance that we will once again have Spirit Days leading up to the dance! The dates and themes of the days will be discussed as soon as the students return from Thanksgiving break.
When students were asked to share some of their expectations for the dance, the same few words, fun, they are unsure, and cool were repeated. Ms. Holtgreive, the Student Council Adviser, and the student council are planning a spectacular winter formal that will outdo last year’s completely.
Plan ahead to purchase your ticket to Reagan’s Winter Formal and have a spectacular time dancing, singing, and being joyful with close friends and peers.
Multiple Reasons for the Season
Callie Spice
Look anywhere in the next month. Everywhere you turn, there’s Christmas! Christmas trees, red and green, and Santa Claus. Although it’s a large holiday, it’s not the only holiday. Afterall, 83% of Americans identify as Christian and Christmas is a Christian holiday… though some don’t even know why they’re celebrating. Also, what about those who aren’t Christian? Multiple holidays, as well as the meaning of them, are simply forgotten by the majority as the holiday season approaches.
92% of Americans partake in Christmas festivities, making it the most celebrated holiday in the country. The word “Christmas” derives from “Christ,” as in Jesus Christ. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth. He is the base of the Christian religion. Believers of the Christian faith take part in celebrating their Lord and savior’s birth to show appreciation for Him. For those who take the less biblical route of Christmas, many just use it as a time of celebration for family, joy and appreciation. Research has shown that 81% of non-Christians even celebrate Christmas. Many families celebrate by exchanging gifts and feasting. Christmas takes place on December 25 of each year.
Hanukkah is a holiday that many are very undereducated about while it is the most acclaimed Jewish holiday. Nearly 90% of the American Jewish population celebrates Hanukkah for at least one night. Hanukkah is an 8-day long celebration that commemorates the rededication to the holy Jewish temple known as the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This was in the second century B.C. after the Jewish took a stand to the oppression of their religion by the Greek-Syrians. “Hanukkah,” most literally translates to “dedication” in Hebrew. These events occurred after Israel came under the control of Antiochus III, the king of Syria. He allowed the practice of the Jewish religion, although his son did not. His son forbid the practice and demanded the praise of Greek Gods. His soldiers raided Jerusalem in 168 B.C. and left the Second Holy Temple in ruins as well as massacred thousands of Jewish worshippers. In modern America, the rededication of the religion on this holiday is celebrated through gift exchanging throughout the eight nights, as well as lighting one of the eight candles each night on the menorah to symbolize the oil found in the temple that burned for eight days when the Greek-Syrians raided it. The dates of Hanukkah celebration differs from year to year. This year, it will be celebrated from Saturday, December 24 to Sunday, January 1.
Yet another reason for the season is a holiday called Kwanzaa. Out of these 3 holidays, it is the least commonly celebrated holiday here in America. It’s been found that just about 2.3% of African-Americans celebrate Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is newer in the realm of holidays, first established in 1966. Dr. Maulana Karenga created the holiday as a way to bring African-Americans together to celebrate their rich African roots after the occurrences of the Watts riots in August of 1966. These riots were a result of racial tension between white officers and a black motorcyclist after wrestling with him because he was suspected of drunk driving in Watts, Los Angeles, California. As bystanders gathered, they grew more angry after witnessing yet another case of racially-motivated officer abuse on citizens. The riots lasted 5 days and had a casualty rate of 1,070 people, with 34 dead, 1,032 injured and close to 4,000 arrested. Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor and chairman of black studies from California State University, formed US, a cultural foundation and looked into African harvest traditions. After this research, he formed Kwanzaa, inspired from the harvest celebrations of the Ashanti (a group native to modern-day Ghana) and the Zulu (an ethnic group of South Africa). Today, it is a seven day celebration of the African culture celebrated through dance, music (such as the African drums), poetry, storytelling, and large meals, although this varies between each family. Similar to the menorah for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa has the Kinara, where a candle is lit each night by a child of the family for seven nights. Along with the candle lighting each night, on of the seven African principles, called the Nguzo Saba are discussed. On December 31, a large feast called Karamu is held. This year, Kwanzaa is held from Monday, December 26 to Sunday, January 1.
Although Christmas is the premiere commercial holiday, there are multiple other holidays celebrated around the same time. With America’s vast diversity, it’s important to know about holidays you may not celebrate, as you can relate to those around you and understand their traditions.
Sources:
Langer, Gary. "Poll: Most Americans Say They're Christian." Abcnews.go.com. ABC News, 18 July 2016. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
"Christmas May Be on the Cards, but Is It the Most Popular American Holiday?" Theguardian.com. The Guardian, 22 Dec. 2012. Web.
"History of Christmas." History.com. History, n.d. Web.
Lipka, Michael. "5 Facts About Christmas In America." Pewresearch.org. Pew Research Center, 21 Dec. 2015. Web.
Zion, Noam. "How American Jews Made Hanukkah the Holiday of Religious Freedom." Jns.org. Jewish News Service, 10 Dec. 2014. Web.
"Hanukkah." History.com. History Channel, n.d. Web.
"Hanukkah: History." Reformjudaism.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Kwanzaa." History.com. History Channel, n.d. Web.
"Watts Riot Begins." History.com. History Channel, n.d. Web.
92% of Americans partake in Christmas festivities, making it the most celebrated holiday in the country. The word “Christmas” derives from “Christ,” as in Jesus Christ. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth. He is the base of the Christian religion. Believers of the Christian faith take part in celebrating their Lord and savior’s birth to show appreciation for Him. For those who take the less biblical route of Christmas, many just use it as a time of celebration for family, joy and appreciation. Research has shown that 81% of non-Christians even celebrate Christmas. Many families celebrate by exchanging gifts and feasting. Christmas takes place on December 25 of each year.
Hanukkah is a holiday that many are very undereducated about while it is the most acclaimed Jewish holiday. Nearly 90% of the American Jewish population celebrates Hanukkah for at least one night. Hanukkah is an 8-day long celebration that commemorates the rededication to the holy Jewish temple known as the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This was in the second century B.C. after the Jewish took a stand to the oppression of their religion by the Greek-Syrians. “Hanukkah,” most literally translates to “dedication” in Hebrew. These events occurred after Israel came under the control of Antiochus III, the king of Syria. He allowed the practice of the Jewish religion, although his son did not. His son forbid the practice and demanded the praise of Greek Gods. His soldiers raided Jerusalem in 168 B.C. and left the Second Holy Temple in ruins as well as massacred thousands of Jewish worshippers. In modern America, the rededication of the religion on this holiday is celebrated through gift exchanging throughout the eight nights, as well as lighting one of the eight candles each night on the menorah to symbolize the oil found in the temple that burned for eight days when the Greek-Syrians raided it. The dates of Hanukkah celebration differs from year to year. This year, it will be celebrated from Saturday, December 24 to Sunday, January 1.
Yet another reason for the season is a holiday called Kwanzaa. Out of these 3 holidays, it is the least commonly celebrated holiday here in America. It’s been found that just about 2.3% of African-Americans celebrate Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is newer in the realm of holidays, first established in 1966. Dr. Maulana Karenga created the holiday as a way to bring African-Americans together to celebrate their rich African roots after the occurrences of the Watts riots in August of 1966. These riots were a result of racial tension between white officers and a black motorcyclist after wrestling with him because he was suspected of drunk driving in Watts, Los Angeles, California. As bystanders gathered, they grew more angry after witnessing yet another case of racially-motivated officer abuse on citizens. The riots lasted 5 days and had a casualty rate of 1,070 people, with 34 dead, 1,032 injured and close to 4,000 arrested. Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor and chairman of black studies from California State University, formed US, a cultural foundation and looked into African harvest traditions. After this research, he formed Kwanzaa, inspired from the harvest celebrations of the Ashanti (a group native to modern-day Ghana) and the Zulu (an ethnic group of South Africa). Today, it is a seven day celebration of the African culture celebrated through dance, music (such as the African drums), poetry, storytelling, and large meals, although this varies between each family. Similar to the menorah for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa has the Kinara, where a candle is lit each night by a child of the family for seven nights. Along with the candle lighting each night, on of the seven African principles, called the Nguzo Saba are discussed. On December 31, a large feast called Karamu is held. This year, Kwanzaa is held from Monday, December 26 to Sunday, January 1.
Although Christmas is the premiere commercial holiday, there are multiple other holidays celebrated around the same time. With America’s vast diversity, it’s important to know about holidays you may not celebrate, as you can relate to those around you and understand their traditions.
Sources:
Langer, Gary. "Poll: Most Americans Say They're Christian." Abcnews.go.com. ABC News, 18 July 2016. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
"Christmas May Be on the Cards, but Is It the Most Popular American Holiday?" Theguardian.com. The Guardian, 22 Dec. 2012. Web.
"History of Christmas." History.com. History, n.d. Web.
Lipka, Michael. "5 Facts About Christmas In America." Pewresearch.org. Pew Research Center, 21 Dec. 2015. Web.
Zion, Noam. "How American Jews Made Hanukkah the Holiday of Religious Freedom." Jns.org. Jewish News Service, 10 Dec. 2014. Web.
"Hanukkah." History.com. History Channel, n.d. Web.
"Hanukkah: History." Reformjudaism.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Kwanzaa." History.com. History Channel, n.d. Web.
"Watts Riot Begins." History.com. History Channel, n.d. Web.
Reagan Link Crew: Making the Connections
Cori Kronschnabel
Ronald Reagan’s Link Crew does exactly what their name suggests - they are the link between the upperclassmen and freshmen, and they work to integrate the new students to the school. Link Leaders give up free time during the summer to help prepare for freshmen orientation in early August; however, that’s not all that they do. Throughout the school year, Link Leaders make connections with their freshmen group. They invite them to different school activities such as Reagan Fest, and they even visit them in their ACPs from time to time. Recently the Link Leaders planned an event for the freshmen, calling them down to the auditorium during their ACPs for some fun. It ended up being a tad chaotic, but that was the reason the Link Leaders planned this event - they wanted to test the capabilities of the freshmen and themselves.
Even if things don’t always go as planned, the main point that Link Crew constantly stresses is this: they are here for the freshmen. Especially since exam season is only a few weeks away, Link Leaders are freeing their schedules to help the freshmen through their first ever high school exams. Two extremely important exam-oriented events are coming up. The first is the freshmen kahoot after school on December 13. The Link Leaders are creating kahoot quizzes that cover all the core freshmen classes. This is an excellent opportunity for freshmen to pinpoint what exactly they need to study for exams. The next event is two days later on December 15. From 3:00 - 5:30 freshmen can participate in the Cocoa and Cram. There will be different stations in the library for all of the core classes. Link Leaders will be at each station, and will help freshmen review key concepts and answer any questions they have - there will also be hot cocoa. Freshmen are highly recommended to attend both of these not only for exam help, but for some moral support and encouragement from their Link Leaders.
For more information please speak to Mr. Puddicombe, Mr. Walker, or Mr. Silva.
Even if things don’t always go as planned, the main point that Link Crew constantly stresses is this: they are here for the freshmen. Especially since exam season is only a few weeks away, Link Leaders are freeing their schedules to help the freshmen through their first ever high school exams. Two extremely important exam-oriented events are coming up. The first is the freshmen kahoot after school on December 13. The Link Leaders are creating kahoot quizzes that cover all the core freshmen classes. This is an excellent opportunity for freshmen to pinpoint what exactly they need to study for exams. The next event is two days later on December 15. From 3:00 - 5:30 freshmen can participate in the Cocoa and Cram. There will be different stations in the library for all of the core classes. Link Leaders will be at each station, and will help freshmen review key concepts and answer any questions they have - there will also be hot cocoa. Freshmen are highly recommended to attend both of these not only for exam help, but for some moral support and encouragement from their Link Leaders.
For more information please speak to Mr. Puddicombe, Mr. Walker, or Mr. Silva.
Images below are of the Reagan Link Leaders and their freshmen on November 18.
Take it from the team: Concept of time
Eva Szocik
In high school, there are usually one of two general perspectives on time held by students. It’s either going by too fast, or it’s just dragging along. What is time, and how do all of our perspectives differ regarding it?
Personally, I am a junior and I feel as if high school, and life overall, is just flying by. I have daily feelings of nostalgia and distance from control of the clocks. It is interesting to dive into different viewpoints regarding this subject and see how we all truly have different lives and eyes along with perspectives on time. It is a subject that we all can relate to, and something that is very abstract and, in my opinion, fascinating, and a little scary to discuss and ponder with other people.
A survey was conducted on Husky Howlers on their personal viewpoints of time. There are various questions and responses that can be viewed below, to take a new perspective.
Q: What is your personal definition of time?
Answers:
Q: Do you feel like you're more of an "in the moment", futuristic or past-oriented thinker? Why and how?
Answers:
Q: Do you feel like time passes quickly for you? Yes or no? Why?
Answers:
Q: How do you view death? Does it scare you?
Answers:
Q: Are you an existential thinker? (do you think a lot about the universe/how we came to be/life,etc)
Answers:
Inquiring people on subjects such as time and posing the existential questions that we all find ourselves pondering from time to time can be a very interesting and eye opening experience. Talking about questions that have no set answer can lead to people establishing their own truths, regardless of what others may believe. Subjects like time will most likely always be broad and abstract, so in my opinion it is up to everyone individually to come up with their own personal viewpoint on all of it. There are no set answers, so why not create our own?
Personally, I am a junior and I feel as if high school, and life overall, is just flying by. I have daily feelings of nostalgia and distance from control of the clocks. It is interesting to dive into different viewpoints regarding this subject and see how we all truly have different lives and eyes along with perspectives on time. It is a subject that we all can relate to, and something that is very abstract and, in my opinion, fascinating, and a little scary to discuss and ponder with other people.
A survey was conducted on Husky Howlers on their personal viewpoints of time. There are various questions and responses that can be viewed below, to take a new perspective.
Q: What is your personal definition of time?
Answers:
- Cheyenne Rupert: “The future, and memories.”
- Emma Duffy: “Time is how we explain the continuous change in our universe.”
- Alexis Torres: “Time is the amount of life one has to live to the fullest.”
- Mya Bailey: “Time is something that has always puzzled me, to be totally honest here. The whole portion of life is defined by this sequence, and it's been tweaked with ever so slightly over generations. Time, in my opinion, is a concept created by human beings of the process we call life.”
- Corinne Kronschnabel: “I believe that time isn't real. It's a manmade concept. Time is measured differently in different countries - it's selective. It's based on perspective. I could talk for forever about this topic, so I'll try to sum up my thoughts quickly. I pretty much think that we are already dead. Our brain's way of coping with this fact is by replaying the events of our life in a chronological order from when we first existed to when we stopped "existing". I essentially believe in the tralfamadorian idea of time from the book “Slaughterhouse Five” by Kurt Vonnegut. Everything happens at once. We just happen to be viewing our lives in a certain order.”
- Freedom Gobel: “A human-developed concept to explain or express change, movement, and experience.”
- Morgan Stark: “I feel like we are always catching up to time. Time to me is a measurement of past and future but I don't feel like it is present because by the time we process time it’s already the past and can never be the present.”
- Eva Szocik: “My definition of time seems to change daily. The concept of it confuses me, and I have recently come to see it as possibly unreal, and that is a human fabricated concept and a way we have come to process and analyze the world around us.”
Q: Do you feel like you're more of an "in the moment", futuristic or past-oriented thinker? Why and how?
Answers:
- Cheyenne Rupert: “I am more of a futuristic thinker, because I think about what I am doing with my life, and how that is going to affect my future 24/7.”
- Emma Duffy: “I tend to focus on the past, because memories are more enjoyable than the present.”
- Alexis Torres: “I am more of a futuristic kind of person because I am always planning ahead for my classes and personal life. I love to have a plan that I can follow that will lead me to success.”
- Mya Bailey: “I tend to drag myself back to the past, but my thoughts of the future usually yank me forward once in awhile. Although, sometimes I recommend myself to take a breather, and stay in the present.”
- Corinne Kronschnabel: “I try to stay in the present because the past stresses me out and so does the future. I notice that I'm the happiest when I don't focus on future events that technically aren't affecting me yet in my timeline.”
- Freedom Gobel: “I consider myself to be an 'in the moment' kind of thinker. I don't like worrying about the moments to come, or worrying about the moments gone by.”
- Morgan Stark: “I seem to think more about the future and ahead of time rather than in the moment.”
- Eva Szocik: “As I strive to be more of an ‘in the moment’ kind of thinker, I find myself to focus the most on the future and the past. I’m always thinking about what I need to do, and some of the ways I’ve done them in the past and my successes/failures, along with memories with people that I tend to come back to often.”
Q: Do you feel like time passes quickly for you? Yes or no? Why?
Answers:
- Cheyenne Rupert: “Yes!!! It is crazy to me when I think about something that happened in 2007, and then I realize that 2007 was almost 10 years ago.”
- Emma Duffy: “Yes, as a person I've always been nervous for the future, so I often feel like I'm hurdling towards it.”
- Alexis Torres: “Sometimes. It's hard to believe that I am in 10th grade. I feel like just yesterday I was in 6th grade, about to go on my St.Louis field trip.”
- Mya Bailey: “I can't choose a clear yes or no. Only because, time is dependent on what is happening at that point in life. If I'm in a horrid mood, then time takes it's pace slowly, and the day seems never ending. However, if I'm enjoying everything then things begin to speed up.”
- Corinne Kronschnabel: “Since time isn't real, I believe that when we are having fun or doing something we enjoy, the "time" passes more quickly because we aren't paying attention to our anxieties or problems for a little while. We're at peace, and since it's rare to be completely at peace during our lives, our brain gets excited and the ‘time’ goes faster.”
- Freedom Gobel: “Time seems to be going by faster the older I get. Things that felt as if they lasted forever years ago slip past me before I get to appreciate them.”
- Morgan Stark: “Depends, such as in a class, time passes so slow but in times where I'm having fun is passes more quickly.”
- Eva Szocik: “Very much so. Every week, I find myself pondering the velocity of the days that seem to be passing before my eyes. I don’t understand it, really, and it scares me if I think about it a lot.”
Q: How do you view death? Does it scare you?
Answers:
- Cheyenne Rupert: “Death does not scare me. Thinking about someone I like, or love die freaks me out, but myself dying doesn’t scare me.”
- Emma Duffy: “Death feels like the next step, not the end, and while I am scared, I'm curious to see what happens.”
- Alexis Torres: “I am weird about it. I tell my friends I am immortal just for the heck of it.”
- Mya Bailey: “Death is a hard one. I've never dealt with death, besides not with anyone I was truly close to, but it will creep around the corner to frighten me at times. My opinion on death is frozen, for now, because I don't understand how to feel about it.”
- Corinne Kronschnabel: “I'm wary of what will happen once we die, because no one really knows. But I think it's okay to be scared because people in general are scared of things that we don't understand. However, I also think that we are already dead and the events of our life are just replaying in front of our very eyes.”
- Freedom Gobel: “Death reminds me to think about what really matters in my life. I'm not fond of it, but I think I am more comfortable with the concept than most people are. It's natural, and I wouldn't want to live forever anyway.”
- Morgan Stark: “No, I'm not scared of death. I'm scared of after death. Is there a life after? What happens to our soul? Are we born again or just dead?”
- Eva Szocik: “I am very scared of death, and I don’t know how I can possibly get over this fear. I’ve experienced it with a couple of my family members, but they’ve taken place when I was younger and have thought less about the concept/reality of death itself. Sometimes I try to convince myself of a certain theory that happens post-life, but then I think about the idea that no one really knows what happens; this scares me even more. It’s a very… abstract, yet so simple concept that I have yet to come to terms with.
Q: Are you an existential thinker? (do you think a lot about the universe/how we came to be/life,etc)
Answers:
- Cheyenne Rupert: “Yes. I like to think about questions that nobody really has the answer to.”
- Emma Duffy: “Oh yeah, I like thinking about how absolutely tiny and insignificant we are compared to the rest of the universe. I think I find it comforting in a way because something that tiny can't really change anything no matter how badly they mess up, you know?”
- Alexis Torres: “I don't really think about it too much. But I am curious about if there are other species further out in the universe.”
- Mya Bailey: “Extremely. I grasp onto questions about the universe and it's existence and anomalies. I'm really intrigued by conspiracy theories, and I'm always falling into countless rabbit holes of wonder. So, yes, I'm definitely an existential thinker.”
- Corinne Kronschnabel: “Yes and it often freaks me out.”
- Freedom Gobel: “Yes, I think about my existence all of the time. So much lead to this point, and one simple shift could've changed everything. Many would say that I have dark thoughts, but I think that blocking yourself from thinking of the ugly, the sad, and the unanswerable is keeping yourself from seeing the bigger perspective.”
- Morgan Stark: “Yes, all the time!! How did the universe come to be I mean it didn't just appear out of thin air, did it?”
- Eva Szocik: “Yes. I am constantly asking myself those big questions that no one really knows how to answer, and trying to make sense of the truths that we’ve come to accept while analyzing knowledge itself.”
Inquiring people on subjects such as time and posing the existential questions that we all find ourselves pondering from time to time can be a very interesting and eye opening experience. Talking about questions that have no set answer can lead to people establishing their own truths, regardless of what others may believe. Subjects like time will most likely always be broad and abstract, so in my opinion it is up to everyone individually to come up with their own personal viewpoint on all of it. There are no set answers, so why not create our own?
SCIENCE FAIR PHOTOS
JACKIE JONES
Holiday Hopes: Teacher Edition
Ema Nimphius
Over Christmas we are enamored with large snowflakes, silver wrappings, and joy. Usually when we are looking for hopes and wishes around the holidays we immediately think of bright eyed children that yearn for Christmas day. Sadly our minds never wander to the thought that our very own parents, grown family members, and even our teachers have wishes for themselves.
Mr. Molfino, a mathematics teacher here at Reagan, was the first person to be interviewed. After starting off the conversation with a brief discussion on his new Fifa club, Mr. Molfino shared his views on the holidays. Though he is not a Christmas-holic like some, he does enjoy the holiday and spending time with his friends and family. Though Mr. Molfino is thankful for presents, he says that he does not ask for anything specific. Meanwhile his wishes for inside of the classroom are not much different; the only thing that he could use are some Expo markers, but other than that he says “life is wonderful.”
Ms. Milewski, one of the art teachers, has a strong love for christmas. She would like a calm, festive holiday filled with sparkling snow, loving family, and joy. She would love to have a great, quiet holiday with her daughter. She is also wishing for all of her students to turn in their work on time.
Mr. Putnam, an IB teacher, not only loves Christmas, but says it is his favorite holiday! Mr. Putnam’s first wish is snow. His second wish is that his children have a great and memorable Christmas. He not only wishes his children have a fantastic Christmas, but he also hopes that his students have a nice, relaxing christmas as well.
Mr. Miller, a history/citizenship teacher, enjoys gathering his family together to have a joyful holiday. He hopes that everyone has a great Christmas. His wish is that everyone will understand it is not all about gifts; ; it is about enjoying time spent with family and friends. He wants everyone to enjoy their time and appreciate with what they have.
Ms. Overland enjoys christmas. She enjoys the festivities, the cheer, the Christmas trees and the beautiful lights. Her only wish is she would like to see everyone to be more accepting and nicer. “There has been a lot of unkindness going around in society in general and I would really like to see some kindness,” said Ms. Overland.
After interviewing a very small handful of teachers here at Reagan, it is apparent that many are excited to receive something during the holidays, but most remind us of the need to remember that presents are temporary, but family and friends are forever.
Author’s Note: My wish for this year is to change our perspective on the holidays, and instead of giving and receiving presents, let's give and receive kindness, joy, and acceptance.
Mr. Molfino, a mathematics teacher here at Reagan, was the first person to be interviewed. After starting off the conversation with a brief discussion on his new Fifa club, Mr. Molfino shared his views on the holidays. Though he is not a Christmas-holic like some, he does enjoy the holiday and spending time with his friends and family. Though Mr. Molfino is thankful for presents, he says that he does not ask for anything specific. Meanwhile his wishes for inside of the classroom are not much different; the only thing that he could use are some Expo markers, but other than that he says “life is wonderful.”
Ms. Milewski, one of the art teachers, has a strong love for christmas. She would like a calm, festive holiday filled with sparkling snow, loving family, and joy. She would love to have a great, quiet holiday with her daughter. She is also wishing for all of her students to turn in their work on time.
Mr. Putnam, an IB teacher, not only loves Christmas, but says it is his favorite holiday! Mr. Putnam’s first wish is snow. His second wish is that his children have a great and memorable Christmas. He not only wishes his children have a fantastic Christmas, but he also hopes that his students have a nice, relaxing christmas as well.
Mr. Miller, a history/citizenship teacher, enjoys gathering his family together to have a joyful holiday. He hopes that everyone has a great Christmas. His wish is that everyone will understand it is not all about gifts; ; it is about enjoying time spent with family and friends. He wants everyone to enjoy their time and appreciate with what they have.
Ms. Overland enjoys christmas. She enjoys the festivities, the cheer, the Christmas trees and the beautiful lights. Her only wish is she would like to see everyone to be more accepting and nicer. “There has been a lot of unkindness going around in society in general and I would really like to see some kindness,” said Ms. Overland.
After interviewing a very small handful of teachers here at Reagan, it is apparent that many are excited to receive something during the holidays, but most remind us of the need to remember that presents are temporary, but family and friends are forever.
Author’s Note: My wish for this year is to change our perspective on the holidays, and instead of giving and receiving presents, let's give and receive kindness, joy, and acceptance.