VOLUME 7 ISSUE 2
BROOKINGS HIGH SCHOOL
DECEMBER EDITION
Best places to travel during break
Snow covers the ground in the week leading up to Christmas as two prolonged systems merged to create travel difficulties severe scheduling conflicts. For many, however, the image of a snow-covered Christmas morning is worth the difficulties that winter weather creates. Photo by BROBOCA Staff
I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas by Chase Struck
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Brookings. Holiday music has taken over the radio, neighborhoods are covered with lights, department stores are crowded with toys, and perhaps most importantly, there is a white sheet of snow on the ground. Nothing goes together quite like snow and Christmas. Indeed, 78.2% of respondents to the December Broboca Student Survey said they are hoping for a white Christmas. What are the chances that the snow will stick around for Christmas Day? In meteorology, a Christmas is officially considered “white” if there is 1 inch or more of snow on the ground.
So, in order to tell if this year’s Christmas will be white, we only need to predict that there will be at least 1 inch of snow on Christmas morning. Unfortunately, winter is notoriously unpredictable, but by looking at the data from the past and forecasts for the future we can get a good idea of the odds. The National Weather Service has recorded regional snow data on Christmas Day for 83 of the last 87 years. According to that data, 45 Christmases had at least one inch of snow on the ground while the remaining 38 had less than 1 inch on the ground or none at all. Therefore, roughly 54.22% of the last 83 Christmases have been white. Thus, there is a historical precedent,
albeit a narrow one, for a white Christmas in the region. The recent forecasts also point to snow. During the week of Dec. 12, the Brookings School District experienced an unprecedented four snow days leading up to winter break as a winter storm brought extensive freezing rain and approximately 8 inches of snow. Additionally, the upcoming forecast predicts an additional 3-6 inches of snow and record wind chill temperatures leading up to Christmas Day. Hence, it is almost certain that at least 1 inch of that snow will remain on the ground by Christmas. Therefore, it would seem that there is a very high chance of a white Christmas this year. see “Snow” p. 3
by Alex Stafford This year BHS has one of the longest winter breaks ever, and we’re all thinking of the best way to spend it. Some people prefer to stay home during the long break, but others like to travel. This begs the question; where is the best place to go during winter break? In this article, I’ll be trying to answer that question with three recommendations on where to go for winter break. 1. Turkmenistan Turkmenistan is located in Central Asia, with a population of about 6.1 million people according to the World Bank. It is on the top of my list because not a lot of people go there for Christmas Break and it truly has amazing wonders, such as the Darvasa crater pit which has been on fire for over 50 years now due to natural gas escaping the ground. If you prefer to stay in the city, Ashgabat has a lot to offer. It has many popular attractions, including the Arch of Neutrality, Turkmen Carpet Museum, and more. 2. The Gambia The Gambia is a small African country on the west coast of Africa. It has beautiful beaches, nature reserves, and great resorts. The Gambia is a cheap place to visit for what it offers, with an inexpensive meal costing just a few dollars. The Gambia also offers a lot of traditional African cultures, which is a great learning experience. Banjul is the biggest city in The Gambia, and you can spend days wandering around the various markets that it offers. see “Travel” p. 3
“Schoolsgiving” returns for 9th year by Ryann Davis and Lexey Thompson
This past Thanksgiving at Brookings High School, students from the special education department made a meal for approximately 50 staff and students. Mrs. Taylor begain organizing this event nine years ago. It has been going strong ever since. Mrs. Taylor describes the process students go through in order to prepare for the meal: “We start by researching the different foods, and start planning on the first day of school. We take out one lesson per week to focus on a different food.” This project is a big deal for students and adds a positive start to the holiday season. This year, the delicious array of food
the students prepare can be smelled from every corner of the school. Their delightful foods include cocoa pumpkin brownies, leftover mashed potato pancakes, mac and cheese, green bean casserole, juicy roasted chicken, buttery herb stuffing, and Mrs. Taylor’s personal favorite, sweet potato pie. Some people even volunteer to come back every year and help with Schoolsgiving. When long time volunteer Melissa Simmons was asked about her experience, she said, “When I first started learning what Mrs. Taylor started doing in her class, I think it’s amazing that she’s teaching these kids how to cook. I love coming back, and I love helping.” see “Schoolsgiving” p. 3
Jolena “Jo-Jo” Glaus prepares a dish for “schoolsgiving” as Lisa Nguyen looks on. Students prepared a meals for invited guests on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break.