December/January 2016
Editor-in-Chief Morgan Barnes Co Editor-in-Chief Nicolle Kain
BeechBark
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News-2
Lilly Homan
T h e D a k o t a P i p e l i n e Is Vine Shutting Down? Katelyn Bireline Editor/Reporter
The United States is the number one consumer of crude oil in the world, consuming approximately 6.9 billion barrels per year. To meet consumer demands though, we rely on help from foreign oil. The Dakota Access Pipeline, however, will decrease the reliance on foreign oil. Dakota Access is a company of Energy Transfer Partners formed to safely transport American crude oil. The company is the largest pipeline company in the U.S. by annual volume transported, providing transportation services since the early 1900s through underground pipelines. The US Army Corps of Engineers approved the Dakota Access Pipeline and granted final permits in July. The new approximate 1,172-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline will connect oil-rich areas in North Dakota to Patoka, Illinois. The pipeline will run from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota and Iowa into Illinois, traveling through 50 counties in 4 states. The Dakota Access team worked with engineers, agricultural experts, and farmers to ensure that the route of the pipeline had taken into consideration every aspect of the land. Once the pipeline is completed 470,000 barrels of crude oil will be shuttled each day, enough to make 374.3 million gallons of gasoline per day. Energy Transfer Partners believe that the pipeline will bring an estimated $156 million in sales
and income taxes to state and local governments. Also the pipeline will provide 8,000 to 12,000 construction jobs, to complete this $3.8 billion project. No method of transporting crude oil is completely safe, however according to statistics composed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, pipelines are the most efficient ways to transport crude oil. The goal of the project is to provide safe and reliable transportation of crude oil in the communities it crosses. The pipeline implements all state and federal standards into the design and operations of the pipeline. Energy Transfer Partners said it has tried to steer the pipeline away from residential areas; however, they are still working closely with each landowner and local officials to address concerns they may have on the proposed route, safety protocols, operations, and environmental protections. Despite the Dakota Access Pipeline attempts to satisfy landowners, there has been numerous protests concerning the pipeline, for the past couple of months. Some of the concerns of the protestors include the destruction of burial sites, prayers sites,
and culturally significant artifacts during construction, and possible water contamination due to breaches and eventual greenhouse gas emissions. Protesters have revolted, lighting debris on fire near a bridge and throwing Molotov cocktails at law enforcement. Archambault, one of the protesters, said his tribe will settle for nothing less than stopping the pipeline’s construction. Police have taken action, arresting numerous protestors, deploying bean bag rounds and pepper spray gas, and unleashing a high-pitched siren to disperse the crowd. However, on December 4th, the Army Corps denied an easement to the disputed Dakota Access Pipeline. The protesters saw this as a victory, however some fear that Donald Trump will overturn the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision. Trump’s spokesman Jason Miller said that the pipeline “is something that we support construction of,” and that the administration will review the Army Corps’ decision at the appropriate time.
The picture below is a map of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Justine Peters Editor/Reporter
Since 2013, the entertainment network Vine has brought millions of six-second clips to people all around the world. However, the popular app and website owned by Twitter will be officially shutting down in the coming months. Why is Vine shutting down? According to New York Times, many of Vine’s main users went on to other more profitable networks, such as YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook. Vine was limited to videos that could only be six seconds long, while the aforementioned apps allow users to create clips longer than Vine’s six seconds. Vine was unable to maintain enough public interest while it was competing with these other video clip sharing programs. The Twitter and Vine staff claims that “we’ll be keeping the website online because we think it’s important to still be able to watch all the incredible Vines that have been made.” This means that users will be able to download their Vines, and they will be notified before any changes are made to the app or website. How was Vine created? Vine was initially created to share
casual moments with friends, but the users decided to make humorous video clips instead. One of the founders of Vine, Dom Hofmann, claims that “our original beta had something like 10 or 15 people on it, and even with that small group we started to see experimentation pretty early on.” Hofmann continues, “watching the community and the tool push on each other was exciting and unreal, and almost immediately it became clear that Vine’s culture was going to shift towards creativity and experimentation.” Vine created many stars, including Shawn Mendes, Thomas Sanders, Ruth B, Nash Grier, and King Bach. Shawn Mendes and Ruth B. shortly earned record deals after posting their six-second clips onto Vine, and they both can be heard on today’s radio stations. Dom Hofmann stated that Vine’s shutting down is “like the band is breaking up and everyone’s going solo.” The company wrote, “millions of people have turned to Vine to laugh at loops and see creativity unfold.” Although Vine may be missed by some, the short video clips will still be available to watch for the time being.
T h e E l e c t i o n R e s u l t s Winter Volunteer And Morgan Barnes Editor-in-Chief
Charity Opportunties
Morgan Barnes Editor-in-Chief
It’s the time of year for giving.. It’s the holiday season and it’s one of the best times to help those who need it. Give back to your community, and get in some of your graduation required service hours. Below are different opportunities for one to give back without spending large amounts of money or driving too far. There are also different types of opportunities depending on one’s own disposition. Clothing Drives Clothing drives are not only for your clothes. While during this time of year clothes are more greatly appreciated. There are other items that are also needed. Such as books, DVDs, Arts and craft supplies, and items for small children. Here are some place that are accepting donations. 1. Children’s Home and Aid, located at 1701 West 63rd Street: they will be taking donations of new or lightly used clothing from December 8th-11th. 2. The Chicago Bears Coat Drive ; one can drop off new or lightly used jackets at any Jewel-Osco around the Chicagoland area. They will be accepting donations from now until December 4th.
3. Goodwill: Goodwill stores will be accepting more than regular donations now that it is getting colder. They will be taking jackets donated and giving to local shelters. If interested all items can be dropped off at your local Goodwill. Food Drive 1.Northern Illinois Food Bank, located at 273 Dearborn Ct. Geneva, IL 60134: will be accepting non perishable food items. 2. Alicia’s House 17 Paulsen Ave. South Chicago Heights, Il 60411. 3. The best items found to give during the holidays is canned pumpkin, canned yams, cranberry sauce, boxed stuffing, boxed macaroni, canned chicken and meats. Also pasta, rice, cooking oils, flour, and oatmeal. Volunteer Opportunities Here are some volunteer ideas to do this winter to get your community service done. 1.Shovel a neighbors driveway for free. Remember these people must be elderly or disabled to get hours for school. 2. Go and help an elderly member of the community with yard work this winter. 3. Go to the Beecher Manor Nursing Home and offer your services.
BeechBark
Where Are You Going For Winter Break?
Lilly Homan
News Editor/Reporter Winter break is approaching quickly, looking for a way to pass time? Here are some things you might enjoy over the long two weeks: Sleep in: It is recommended to get about 10 hours of sleep each night; however, the average person gets between 7 to 8 hours. Some people even get as little as 5 hours of sleep. During winter break, take some time to get a good night sleep. Watch Netflix: Winter break gives you the opportunity to start a new Netflix series. Here are some top Netflix series to watch: One Tree Hill, The Fosters, Fuller House, Friends, The Vampire Diaries, and Arrow. Sledding: You can slide down the hills all day long, or until you get cold. A couple of hills near Beecher are Goodenow Grove in Crete, Willowview Park in Homewood, and Poop Hill in Bradley. Organize: Time to start the new year off right, by organizing your room, closets, and drawers. Donate the old clothes that do not fit anymore, or the old toys that you do
not play with. Places to donate are the Goodwill and the Salvation Army. A couple of local Goodwill stores are in St. John and Frankfort. Also, a few local Salvation Army stores are in Bourbonnais and Chicago Heights. Volunteer: During the holidays, being altruistic and offering your time to those in need is admirable. On top of that, you need the hours in order to graduate. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, and you can learn about your community. You can volunteer at local nursing homes, food pantries, and at local churches. Read a Book: During winter break, you can start a new book or finish one! Some top books that teenagers read are the Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, Wonder by R. J. Palacio, and The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. For more books, you can check out the library’s selection of books. Take some time during winter break to rest and enjoy the time off of school. Also, try take some time to do something productive! Set goals for the new year: personal or academic.
Perspectives-3 Nicolle Kain
Gift Ideas 2016
Jed Vergara
Spotlight Editor/Reporter
Gifts for Teen Girls: Gifts for Teen Boys: 1.) Handwritten Bracelet (etsy.com) 2.) Personalized Cellphone Cases (shutterfly.com) 3.) Books (barnesandnoble.com) 4.) Purse Mirror (etsy.com) 5.) FujiFilm Camera (amazon.com)
1.) RC Quad-copters (amazon.com) 2.) Video Games (BestBuy/Gamestop/amazon.com) 3.) Sports Equipment (Dick’s) 4.) Board Games (amazon.com) 5.) 3D Hologram Lamp (the3rdlamp.com)
Gifts for Parents:
1.) Baseball Glove Oven Mitt (treasuregurus.com) 2.) Tenkara Fishing Kit (tenkarausa.com) 3.) Family Photo Heart Canvas (shutterfly.com/canvas-prints) 4.) Travel Destination Maps (mapyourtravels.com) 5.) Heart Frame Collage Collection (shutterfly.com)
6.) “Reasons Why” Mug (etsy. com) 7.) Personal History Canvas (personalizationmail.com) 8.) Leather Tie/Accessories Case (macys.com) 9.) MLB Sports Love Wood Wall Plaque (personalcreations.com) 10.) “King of the Grill” Collection (personalcreations.com)
How To: Holiday Treats National Hobby Month Katelyn Bireline
Nicolle Kain
What You Need: -M&M’s -Hershey Kisses Step Two: -Butter Snaps Step One: Place pretzels on Place a Hershey’s Pretzels the baking pan Kiss on the center -Baking Pan of each pretzel
Did you know that January is National Hobby Month? A hobby is “an activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure.” This can range from gardening to pho-
Sports Editor/Reporter
Step Three:
Bake for 2-3 minutes at 170 F, or until the chocolate is softened
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Step Four:
Press an M&M onto the chocolate until it fills the pretzel
Step Five:
Refrigerate for 5-10 minutes until the chocolate is set
tography. Some of the most popular hobbies in America include reading, fishing, biking, and collecting. The BeechBark newspaper staff asked BHS students what hobbies they partake in. Here are the results:
BeechBark
Sam Glenn Returns
Lilly Homan/Katelyn Bireline Editors/Reporters On Wednesday, December 7th, Beecher High School had the honor of hosting the inspirational speaker, Sam Glenn. For nearly 20 years, Glenn has given speeches to make an impact on board rooms to audiences as large as 75,000 people at stadium filled conferences. Depending on your theme and meeting objectives, Glenn creates the right message for his audience. Due to a fire, Sam lost everything, becoming broke, jobless, and homeless. However, with some help from his friend Zig Ziglar, he changed his life for the better. Within two years he went from being broke to achieving what he once thought was impossible. His motivational speeches are intertwined with his own life experiences of success and failure. Because Glenn has been able to pull positivity out of difficult times, he has become the leading voice on the topic of attitude. With Sam Glenn, “It’s all about attitude and it all starts with attitude!” On December 7th, Sam Glenn showed the school this. He started his presentation with the drawing of an eagle, a symbol of leadership and attitude. He then went on to talk about how we need to choose an attitude that works for us. For example, when life gives you lemons, instead of making lemonade, make a lemonade stand, and make profit.
When you see more than what is just there, and have enthusiasm in what you do, magic happens. Also, when you have enthusiasm you treat others better. Your attitude is going to change who you are, and also affect those who are around you. As a person you should learn to laugh at yourself and lighten up. We shouldn’t care what others say, and instead live life to the fullest. Most people live with fears in their lives, however as Sam Glenn said you should have courage, and not be a prisoner to your fears. When you break through your fears, you become a better person, and have a better experience, which will help you grow. In Glenn’s presentation he explained to us that an eagle is a person who does something extraordinary, makes a difference, and creates a story, and a chicken is a person who always complains, and sees the bad in things. In life you should choose to be an eagle, instead of a chicken. Everyone has their own story, so we should all treat each other equally. As quoted by Robert Schuller, “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.” As a challenge from Sam Glenn, we should be nice to one person that we don’t know. It has not been officially decided on where the painting of the eagle will be hung. The possible location is the blank wall in the hallway between the Cafeteria and the Den. More will be known after winter break.
Features-4
Nicolle Kain
Under Pressure: S t uden t
Nicolle Kain
Co-Editor-in-Chief
The average high school student in today’s society faces challenges that are not just academic. “In fact, students today are busy beyond belief,” Rick Thurmond of the Sun Chronicle Staff comments. “In some high schools, students are being pushed to load up on the hardest Advanced Placement courses and take on even more extracurricular activities to bolster their college résumés.” Michael Gonchar, writer for the New York Times states. Are high school students being worked too hard? Do you feel the pressure? Many people attending high school not only have to worry about getting passing grades and maintaining a good GPA, but they also have to manage their time to fit in athletics and other extracurricular activities. According to the College Board website, staying involved is “extremely important to College Admissions Offices.” A student’s experience in
clubs and organizations helps colleges “judge their character” and benefits the student in more ways than one. However, student participation in clubs and sports costs time, commitment, and money. According to Time magazine, the cost of sports, musical activities, and school clubs has increased 7% across all high school grade levels. In the United States alone, parents of high school student-athletes spend $400 on average per year per child to cover the costs of equipment and the fees charged for registration. During the season, high school athletes are expected to attend workouts, practices, and games, which can cost an abundance of time and perseverance. This can leave the student with little time for studying, which can increase the pressure of getting good grades. This does not include the extra workload placed on students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) classes. AP courses offer a student the opportunity to experience a college-level course
Life
well as the potential to earn college credit; however, these classes can be especially difficult for athletes or students taking multiple AP classes. Through all of this, high school students are still trying to figure out what they are going to do after they graduate. Join the military? Go to trade school? Attend a four-year university? Gap year? While students work on maintaining their busy schedule, many of them are considering possible career paths, finances, scholarships, and their future. Teachers, parents, and counselors are all there to help students with these decisions along the way. Many high school students are able to handle their overwhelming responsibilities through proper time management and dedication. Almost everyone treats stress differently. Many experts advise high school students to remember to eat healthy, exercise, maintain a healthy sleep schedule, and enjoy high school while it lasts.
BeechBark//Lilly Homan
Christmas in Beecher
BeechBark//Lilly Homan
Sam Glenn beginning to sketch his picture before he speaks.
Sam Glenn’s finished drawing of an eagle, which he
incorporated into his speech.
Nicolle Kain
Co-Editor-in-Chief The holiday season is considered by many to be a festive time of year filled with food, family, and giving. Almost everyone has their traditions to celebrate, and Beecher is no exception. Beecher has organized a variety of events in the past to help bring people together for this special time of year. Beecher locals might have already noticed snowflake decorations hanging on the street lights to celebrate the season. In the past, businesses and organizations represented themselves by decorating a miniature Christmas tree to display in Fireman’s Park. The town has also held a lights parade in which Santa Claus made an appearance for the children. Due to lack of participation, however, this parade
will not take place this year. There are multiple locations in the Beecher area where one might purchase a Christmas tree. Bengtson Christmas tree farm is a 137 acre tree farm in Peotone, Illinois. They will be selling their trees for $8.00 per foot on trees up to 10’ and $10.00 per foot on trees more than 11’ up until the 22nd of December. Gorman Tree Farm, located in Monee, Illinois, will be selling a variety of potential Christmas trees, wreaths, and garland throughout December. Settler’s Pond in Beecher, Illinois will be open daily from Black Friday through Christmas Eve for tree and wreath sales. These are just a few examples of places a resident of Beecher could visit during the holiday season if they are looking for Christmas decorations. Christmas is quickly approaching, and almost every town has their own way to celebrate.
BeechBark
Katelyn Bireline
Athletes of the Month
Morgan Barnes Editor-in-Chief
Kate Landis (Jr)
Girl’s Basketball
The girls basketball Athlete of the Month is Kate Landis (Jr). Coach Keen praises Kate on her “huge heart and great defense”. He also gives her kudos for her dedication to the game, “she hasn’t missed a single day, including a tough game vs GSW where she managed to play the entire game while being extremely sick.”
Morgan Barnes
Sports-5
Jarod Stolzenbach (Sr) Hayley Graddy (Jr)
Boy’s Basketball
S p o r t s
GO BEECHER
Editor-in-Chief
Girls Basketball
- The girls’ basketball team is off to an amazing start this season with a 8-1 record. The team has held own with 3 wins in conference thus far. The team is also holding their record of no loses in a conference game since 2014. The team also placed 2nd in their Fall Classic tournament, beating out nine other teams earlier in the year. Coach Keen also praises their wins to the team’s efforts and adversity. Coach Keen also notes that the team is overcoming challenges of having two players out due to injury.
Spotlight Editor/Reporter
The X Games, founded in 1995, is an annual sports event. It is under the control and the supervision of the American sports broadcaster ESPN, which focuses on extreme sports. The first Winter X Games occurred in 1997 in Aspen, Colorado. Although it wasn’t until The Winter X Games VIII in 2002 that made great impact upon the games, as it was the first an X Games event was televised live. The games are as follows: Snowboard, Freeski, Snowmobile, Snowbike Bikecross, Snowmobile Snocross Adaptive, Snowmobile Freestyle, Snowmobile Best Trick, Snowmobile Snocross, Women and Men’s Snowboard Big Air, Women and Men’s Snowboard Superpipe, Women and Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle, Women and Men’s Ski Big Air, Women and Men’s Ski Slopestyle, and Women and Men’s Ski Superpipe. The first time the Win-
ter X Games was held in Aspen, Colorado in 2002 at the Buttermilk Mountain. On the days of January 26th-29th, 2017 the Winter X Games will return to Aspen Colorado’s Buttermilk Mountain for action sports, music, and not to mention snow! All sport competitions are open to the public. More information of such can be found on the official website of the X Games (xgames.espn.com) All musical events are to take place at the stage at Buttermilk Mountain. Bassnectar, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, The Chainsmokers, and G-Eazy are performing on each of the three days. Ticket prices vary from
Athlete of the Month for cheerleading is Hayley Graddy (Jr). Hayley ia hard working athlete who has been working hard to help her team succeed this season. Coach Assises tells about Hayley’s efforts, “she puts in time outside of practice to help the squad progress in multiple ways. She has also pushed herself with her tumbling and stunting
B r i e fs
Boys Basketball
Cheerleading
-The boys’ basketball team is off to a great start this season with a 5-2 record. Coach Shireman had this to say about the team’s hard work: “I am proud of our student-athlete’s work ethic and commitment to get better.” Coach Shireman says that he is happy with the boys work, but wants them to continue their hard work to reach their goals this season. “Our 5-2 record is the best start in recent memory, and we are led by Jarod Stolzenbach. If we continue to work hard, our goals for the season will be well within our reach.”
Winter X Games
Jed Moses L. Vergara
Cheerleading
The boys basketball Athlete of the Month is Jarod Stolzenbach (Sr). Jarod has been playing on the team since his freshman year. The boys basketball coach had this to say about Jarod,” because he has been our best player early in the season. We are extremely happy with his effort thus far and we hope he continues to improve.”
$25-$60 depending on the show. There are also Platinum Tower Passes for sale which cost a big deal of money. The FourDay Platinum pass, which costs $1,799 allows one access to the exclusive Platinum Tower at the base of the SuperPipe, along with gourmet food, and complimentary drinks. The best views of all X Games as well. Along with that, Platinum Pass holders also receive a limited-edition merchandise item, as well as a meet & greets with the athletes, and more. The Daily Platinum pass, which costs from $300-$600 also gives you access to the Platinum Tower, along with the same benefits as the fourday. However, these benefits last only for a single day. Some may spend their winter with family or friends, in their homes or in vacations. If one is an extreme sports fan, then consider joining the fun at the official Winter X Games next year in Aspen.
- The cheerleading squad has been working very hard to get to the ICCA Championships. Coach Assise had this to say about the team: “the cheerleaders continue to improve every practice. They have worked hard on their own prior to the season beginning. This has allowed us to focus on our competition routine and make the routine more difficult early in the season.” The team is looking forward to their three competitions coming up in December: 12/11 at Lincoln Way East, 12/17 at Marion Catholic and 12/18 at Oswego East.Coach Assise also said that the squad is hoping to once again qualify for ICCA Championships and Marion Catholic or Oswego High School.
Chicago Bulls Lilly Homan
News Editor/Reporter
The Bulls season started on October 27th, and they won the first three games. This year, the Bulls welcomed Dwyane Wade to their roster. They also acquired Robin Lopez, Jerian Grant, and Jose Calderon. They lost Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah to the New York Knicks. In their preseason, the Bulls won three and lost four games. They played the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, and Charlotte Hornets. The starters are Dwyane Wade ( Shooting Guard), Rajon Rondo ( Point Guard), Taj Gibson ( Power Forward), Robin Lopez ( Center), and Jimmy Butler ( Small Forward). As of December 7th, the Bulls season is 11 wins and 10 losses. They are 7th in Eastern Conference.
The Bulls are looking to upgrade their frontline, and they are interested in acquiring Paul Millsap from the Atlanta Hawks. The trade will include Nikola Mirotic and Denzel Valentine of the Bulls and Paul Millsap of the Hawks. If the trade occurs, Millsap would be an advantage to the team, because of his average record. He is averaging 16.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.6 steals in 19 games this season. The Milwaukee Bucks have traded guard Michael CarterWilliams to the Chicago Bulls for swingman Tony Snell. Upcoming games in December are on the 25th versus San Antonio Spurs, the 26th versus the Indiana Pacers, the 28th versus the Brooklyn Nets, the 30th versus the Indiana Pacers, and the 31st versus the Milwaukee Bucks.
BeechBark
Entertainment-6
25 Days of Christmas
Harry Pot ter: Where Are They Now?
Justine Peters
Justine Peters
Monday, December 19 (7:00am-8:30am) Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (8:30am-10:30am) A Dennis the Menace Christmas (12:00am-2:00am) Just Friends Tuesday, December 20 (4:30pm-5:35pm) Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (5:35pm-6:40pm) The Year Without a Santa Claus (8:50pm-11:00pm) The Santa Clause Wednesday, December 21 (11:05am-1:10pm) Happy Feet Two (6:20pm-6:50pm) Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story That Time Forgot (12:00am-2:00am) The Mistle-Tones Thursday, December 22 (9:30am-11:30am) Happy Feet Two (4:10pm-4:40pm) Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (4:40pm-5:10pm) Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story That Time Forgot Friday, December 23 (1:00pm-3:00pm) Jingle All the Way (4:35pm-5:40pm) Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (12:00-2:00am) Home Alone: The Holiday Heist Saturday, December 24 (7:00am-8:05am) Jack Frost (1979) (8:05am-9:40pm) Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (9:40pm-11:15am) Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas Sunday, December 25 (1:25pm-3:30pm) The Polar Express (4:35pm-5:40pm) The Year Without a Santa Claus (5:40pm-7:45pm) Elf
Now that the new, spin-off film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, is in theaters, fans may be curious as to where the cast of the original Harry Potter films may be. The Harry Potter film franchise released its first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, on November 14, 2001. Seven other successful movies followed, starring Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. Five years have passed since the last movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, was filmed, so, where are the actors now? Daniel Radcliffe has appeared in several films since 2011, including Swiss Army Man, Now You See Me 2, Horns, Imperium, Victor Frankenstein, and The Woman in Black. In 2017, Radcliffe will be starring in films such as The Jungle, The Modern Ocean, Tokyo Vice, and We Do Not Forget. Rupert Grint has starred in Moonwalkers, The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman, and Postman Pat: The Movie. Grint will also be starring in a British comedy series called Sick Note, set to air in early 2017. Other than acting, Grint drives around local towns handing out free treats in his ice cream truck. Emma Watson was appointed as a UN Women Goodwill Am-
To see the full schedule, go to http://freeform.go.com/news/ all-shows/25-daysof-christmas-schedule-2016.
Editor/Reporter
G a m e s
bassador in July of 2014, where she will be dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Watson also earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Brown University. Additionally, she has starred in multiple films, including The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Noah, Regression, and Colonia. Watson will also play the role of Princess Belle in the live-action Beauty and the Beast in 2017.
apart of the British television series, Ripper Street, Happy Valley, and The Syndicate. Lewis was also seen in the drama film Me Before You, which was released in May of 2016. Bonnie Wright, actress of Ginny Weasley, has been modeling as well as performing in plays since the end of Harry Potter. Subsequently, she has starred in films such as After the Dark, Those Who Wander, Before I
Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, has continued his acting career throughout the years. Felton has had roles in the films Rise of the Planet of the Apes, In Secret, From the Rough, The Apparition, and many others. He currently takes part in the television series, The Flash, which has released three seasons so far since 2014. Matthew Lewis, actor of Neville Longbottom, has been
Sleep, and several other movies. In 2012, Wright acquired her Bachelor’s degree from London’s University of the Arts. Harry Potter helped launch these actors and actresses’ careers into what they have become today. Although these actors and actresses won’t appear in any more Harry Potter movies, they each remain willing to be apart of the film industry in the future.
a n d
P u z z l e s
Katelyn Bireline Editor/Reporter
Christmas Tree Find and circle all of the Christmas Tree words that are hidden in the grid. The remaining 53 letters spell a secret message.
ANGEL ARTIFICIAL BRANCHES CANDY CANES CELEBRATION DECEMBER DECORATE DECORATIONS FESTIVE FRESH CUT GARLAND GIFTS
GREEN LARGE LIGHTS NEEDLES ORNAMENTS PINE PRESENTS PURCHASE REAL SCENT SETTING UP SKIRT SMALL
SPRUCE STAND STAR TAKING DOWN TINSEL TOPPER TRADITION TREE LOT TREE FARM TRUNK WATER YEARLY
The hidden message is: The tradition of having a Christmas tree originated in Germany.
Editor/Reporter
Justine Peters
Everyday Holidays Justine Peters Editor/Reporter
December 1 Eat a Red Apple Day 2 National Fritters Day 3 National Roof over Your Head Day 4 Wear Brown Shoes Day 5 Bathtub Party Day 6 Mitten Tree Day 7 National Cotton Candy Day 8 National Brownie Day 9 Christmas Card Day 10 Human Rights Day 11 International Children’s Day 12 Poinsettia Day 13 Ice Cream Day 14 International Monkey Day 15 National Lemon Cupcake Day 16 National Chocolate Covered Anything Day 17 National Maple Syrup Day 18 Bake Cookies Day 19 Oatmeal Muffin Day 20 Go Caroling Day 21 Humbug Day 22 National Date Nut Bread Day 23 Festivus 23 Roots Day 24 National Egg Nog Day 25 Christmas Day 26 Boxing Day 27 National Fruitcake Day 28 Card Playing Day 29 Pepper Pot Day 30 Bacon Day 31 New Year’s Eve January 1 New Year’s Day 2 Run up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day 3 Festival of Sleep Day 4 Trivia Day 5 National Bird Day 6 Bean Day 7 Old Rock Day 8 Bubble Bath Day 9 Play God Day 10 Peculiar People Day 11 Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend’s Day 12 National Pharmacist Day 13 Friday the 13th 14 Dress Up Your Pet Day 15 National Hat Day 16 Appreciate a Dragon Day 17 Ditch New Years Resolutions Day 18 Winnie the Pooh Day -The Birthday of Winnie’s author A.A. Milne 19 National Popcorn Day 20 Penguin Awareness Day 21 Squirrel Appreciation Day 22 National Blonde Brownie Day 23 National Pie Day 24 Compliment Day 25 Opposite Day 26 Spouse’s Day 27 Chocolate Cake Day 28 National Kazoo Day 29 National Puzzle Day 30 Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day 31 Inspire Your Heart with Art Day
BeechBark
Spotlight-7
Jed Vergara
New year’s Eve ARTIST OF THE MONTH
Lilly Homan
Jed Moses L. Vergara
Editor/Reporter
Photo by: BeechBark / Jed Vergara
The festival features rides, slides, and the Chicago Blackhawks indoor ice skating rink. As the clock turns by for For the hours, you can go to some to once again celebrate https://navypier.com/winter-wonChristmas, some may use derfest/admission-and-hours/.
the time to create and pursue the fundamentals of art. In this edition, Beechbark recognizes a noteworthy student by the name of Katelyn Berkley, (Fr), as she contains a great aptitude in drawing, and has therefore earned the title, ‘Artist of the Month.’ Katelyn enjoys drawing and listening to music. “Some songs even give inspiration for my artwork,” she stated. Her favorite method of making art is drawing with a pencil then tracing over it with a black pen. “I’ve always wanted to try splatter paint or filling balloons with paint and popping them over a canvas,” she shared. “What I draw depends on my mood,” she mentioned, “or what I’m asked to draw. Typically, it’ll be animals which always end up turning into an animal-human hybrid,” she continued. She also said that it was her junior high teachers that influenced her drawings. “I would doodle and then someone Katelyn Berkley (Fr) is the Artist would ask me to draw them of the Month for this edition.
Drawing by: Katelyn Berkley
a fox, or a dog, and that’s just how it started” she stated. There are many reasons for artists to draft their work, for Katelyn, “I draw because it’s what I’m good at. It’s what I love to do. It’s also something anyone can learn to do!” she exclaimed. She also mentioned that drawing is something that is easy to learn, but hard to master. “This helps me take pride in my work.” Her favorite style is semirealistic, “Which basically incorporates realistic facial features but adds a cartoonish quality to the rest of the face and body,” she said. “I’ve never really had a favorite artist,” she said. Katelyn also stated that she doesn’t like the idea of copying the work or specific style of an artist. “Although, I do occasionally look at some work,” she mentioned, “but, I don’t really pay attention to the artist’s name.” Katelyn did mention that she plans on pursuing a career in art. “I would like to be a graphic game designer, or design the characters and storyboard for animated movies.”
Getting to Know Us: Journalism Edition
HIDDEN TALENT
Katelyn Bireline Editor/Reporter
Justine Peters
Melissa Stanevich (So) has a talent for the art of
crocheting.
Photo by: Melissa Stanevich
Photo by: Melissa Stanevich
Editor/Reporter
Melissa’s crocheted potato
Crochet is a process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of yarn, thread, or strands of other materials using a crochet stitch. Melissa Stanevich (So) was chosen to be featured in this edition’s hidden talent for crocheting. Q&A Session: Hidden Talent Edition Q: How did you learn to crochet? A: Over 2015 Christmas break the Beecher Community Library held a crocheting class that I learned from. My friend, Lexi, then taught me more of what she knew and I have just been getting better since. Q: What are some things you have made?
A: Scarves, hats, owls, a penguin, a lion, an octopus, a Baymax from Big Hero 6, Pokémon balls, a pig, a rabbit, and a potato.
Q: What is your favorite thing that you have made?
A: My favorite thing I have crocheted is kind of funny, it is a potato, but it was super simple and it came out so cute.
Q: How long was the longest project you crocheted? Shortest?
A: Longest was 3 months and shortest was 30 minutes.
Q: What is your favorite crochet stitch?
A: My favorite crochet stitch is a double crochet.
Q: What do you enjoy most about crocheting?
A: I find it very calming and a stress reliever. I love being able to take a simple thing like yarn and turn it into a complex matrix.
In this edition of getting to know Beecher High School’s journalists, we’ll be focusing on Nicolle Kain (Jr.), Co-Editor-in-Chief of the BeechBark school newspaper. This is Nicolle’s second year being apart of the Journalism staff, but what else do we know about her?
Photo by: BeechBark/ Nicolle Kain
Fifth Third Bank presents the 16th annual Winter Wonderfest in Chicago. It started on December 2nd, and goes until January 8th. The festival will be closed on December 25th, for the Christmas holiday.
Editor/Reporter
Q &ASession: Journalism Edition Q: Why did you decide to join Journalism? A: I decided to join Journalism because I enjoy writing. I honestly wanted to join Journalism since freshman year, when I found out Beecher had a school newspaper. I love how I can write something that can influence the entire school. Q: Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies? A: I’ve played the piano since third grade. I’ve always loved music, and it’s something that I’ll continue to do throughout my life. Q: What is your favorite article you’ve written? Why? A: I’m proud of every article I’ve written because I work hard to make each one as good as I can. As of now, I’m especially proud of the article I wrote about the Chicago Cubs because it was my first editorial story. Q: Has Journalism helped you in any of your other classes? A: I would say that Journalism has definitely improved my writing ability. Q: What inspires you to write? A: I find my inspiration in the topic of the story. I usually choose an article about something I want to write about. Q: Do you see yourself pursuing a career in Journalism? A: I honestly can see myself pursuing a career in Journalism. It’s something that I enjoy doing, and who wouldn’t want to get paid for doing something they love?
BeechBark
Editorial-8 Morgan Barnes
FINALLY CHAMPIONS
Pictures taken and submitted by Nicolle Kain
What is the World Series? Baseball has often been referred to as “America’s favorite pastime.” The game has been played in backyards and fields throughout the country since the 1800s, and has gained popularity from the construction of baseball stadiums, sports coverage on the radio, newspapers, and TV, and a competitive spirit. The World Series is an annual event of Major League Baseball (MLB) that has occurred since 1903. It is a championship series between the American League (AL) champion team and the National League (NL) champion team. The first team to win four of seven games wins the championship, and receives the Commissioner’s Trophy. This trophy is made of sterling silver, and displays flags representing the 30 Major League teams. Currently, the American League has won 64 World Series championships and the National League has won 48. The four teams in each league play two series of “knockout baseball” to determine who “wins the pennant.” The winners of
bring his pet since they both had tickets to the game. At the entrance to the park, security told them that no animals were allowed inside, and refused to let Murphy enter. According to legend, Sianis was upset by this, and exclaimed, “The Cubs ain’t gonna win no more. The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field.” The Cubs lost that game, as well as the remaining series. The Cubs were believed to be cursed after a continuous losing streak. Sianis passed away in 1969, claiming that the curse was lifted. However, “the goat was still bitter.” In 1973, Sianis’ nephew and new Billy Goat Tavern owner, Sam Sianis, brought Socrates, a descendant of Murphy the goat’s, to Wrigley Field in an attempt to lift the curse. The goat was “escorted to Wrigley in a white limousine, and given a red carpet entrance to the park with a sign saying, ‘All is forgiven. Let me lead the Cubs to the pennant.’” Socrates was denied access into the park. The Tribune Company, new owners of the Cubs in 1984, invited Sam and Socrates to opening day at Wrigley Field in another attempt to lift the curse. The Cubs won their way to their first postseason game and division title in almost forty years. Sam and his goat were “left behind in Chicago” when the Cubs played the National League
Championship Series, and the Cubs did not advance to the World Series that year. Sam and his goat have made multiple appearances at Wrigley Field in the years that followed. Sam and his goat became known as the Cubs’ “Wild Card”, and even the name “Murphy” became associated with this Chicago baseball team. The Chicago Cubs are World Series Champions “at long last.” It is not exactly certain what broke the curse this year, although there are theories. Some might also say that it’s coincidental that the Cubs won their first NL Pennant in 71 years on the anniversary of “Billy Goat” Sianis’ death. Billy Goat Tavern is an operating location to this day, and has benefited from the publicity. The Cubs Parade and Rally Earning the title of “World Champs” took the effort of all the Cubs players, coaches, staff, and sponsors. There was a Cubs parade and rally in Chicago on November 4th to recognize the entire Cubs team and to celebrate the incredible accomplishment. The Chicago River was dyed blue for the event, and several businesses sold World Series Cubs gear to get in “the Cubs spirit.” This celebration attracted five million people to the city of Chicago, and was named “the seventh largest gathering in human history.”
Crowd gathers at Gant park for the end of the parade.
Pictures taken and submitted by Nicolle Kain
Co Editor-in-Chief
the Cubs experienced their only slump of the season and ended the month with a record of 63-41. Despite struggling, the Cubs maintained the best record in baseball going into August.” The season also saw quite a few player accomplishments. Second baseman Ben Zobrist won World Series MVP after Game 7. The World Series MVP award was created in 1955, and since the Cubs’ last Fall Classic win was in 1908, Zobrist is the first player in franchise history to receive this honor. Kris Bryant won NL MVP for 2016. This was an accomplishment for him, especially since he won “by a landslide.” David Ross, 39, was in his final year of his deal with the Cubs, and he will retire a World Series Champion. The Cubs have been determined to “break the curse”, and have “made no secret” about their plans for bringing a World Series win to Chicago. The Curse The Cubs have been trying to “break the curse” since 1945 when it was supposedly put in place. The Cubs were playing the Detroit Tigers in Game 4 of the 1945 World Series at Wrigley Field. The story goes that William “Billy Goat” Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, brought his pet goat, Murphy, with him to the game to bring the Cubs good luck. Sianis thought that it would be allowed to Pictures taken and submitted by Nicolle Kain
Nicolle Kain
the pennant are awarded a pennant to fly over their stadiums. The winners of the pennant then compete in the World Series. World Series Recap The Chicago Cubs played against the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 World Series, which took place between October 25th and November 2nd. This year, the American League won the All-Star Game, thus receiving home field advantage. So, Game 1 was played at Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians. The first game benefitted the Indians, with a 6-0 victory. The Cubs fought back at Game 2, with a 5-1 victory. The two teams then traveled to the windy city to play Games 3-5 at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. Games 3 and 4 were won by the Indians (with scores of 1-0 and 7-2). Game 5 was won by the Cubs with a score of 3-2. The teams traveled back to Cleveland, with the Indians having a 3-1 lead. The Cubs won Games 6 and 7 (with scores of 9-3 and 8-7). This was the first time in 108 years that the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. 2016 Cubs Season 2016 brought a successful season for the Chicago Cubs. The team’s regular season ended with a total of 103 wins, their best record since 1910. “After a June winning streak, the Cubs entered into July boasting the MLB’s best record at 51-27. From there,
Chicago river dyed blue in celebration of the Cubs big win.
Crowd watches the parade in Chicago.
Lions at the Art Institute in their Cubs gear.
Crowd watches the parade in Chicago. Pictures taken and submitted by Nicolle Kain