Central High Times - Volume 109, Issue 2 - Winter 2022

IN THIS ISSUE...

STERLING MACER JR.’S VISIT MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WINTER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

IN THIS ISSUE

WAGS GROWLS &

ANIA KOVACS

Letter from the Editor

Pg. 01

Hot Chocolate Review Pg. 32

Letter from Santa Pg. 34 What Does Your Tree Say About You? Pg. 35 Spirited Review Pg. 36

OPINION NEWS

Accolades

Pg. 03

Mayor’s Tree Lighitng Pg. 05 History of Radioactive Waste in MO Pg. 06 Iran Updates Pg. 07 November Election Pg. 08

“Big Fish” Pg. 10 Saving University Heights Pg. 12

FEATURES

Holiday Celebrations

Pg. 15

Sterling Macer Jr.’s Visit Pg. 16 CHS in The 70’s Pg. 18 You Are Not Alone During the Holidays Pg. 20 Ukrainian Refugees Pg. 22 NYC Trip Pg. 23 Volunteering Opportunities Pg. 24 Keeping Warm Pg. 25

SPORTS

Fall Sports Recap

Pg. 26

Step Team Pg. 27

Boys Basketball Pg. 28 Girls Basketball Pg. 29 Girls Swim and Dice Pg. 30

Wrestling Pg. 31

ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP POLICY

The Central High Times has the right to accept, reject, edit, or cancel any advertisement at any time. Advertising will not contain statements, illustrations, or implications offensive to good taste or public decency based on the opinion of the Central High Times staff (i.e. any content containing anything racist, sexist, illegal for high school students or violates journalistic principles). Advertisements accepted by the Central High Times staff are not an endorsement from the staff, adviser, administration, or Springfield Public Schools District. Advertisements should refrain from attacking competitors unfairly or disparaging their products, services, or methods of doing business. If your organization would like to advertise in the Central High Times, or if you would like to provide a financial sponsorship for the Central High Times, please contact the adviser, Kori Chrismer, at kechrismer@spsmail. org. Sponsorships begin at $25 per year, advertising pricing begins at $50.00 per issue, and all money raised goes toward our printing budget.

Our boys basketball team is off to a hot start!

The final stretch of this semester is a tough one.

W GGCHS journalism and broadcasting has a new website in the works. www.BulldogDailyFeed.com

Intentional messes in the Commons..... let’s show our janitors some respect.

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Central High Times is a studentproduced publication of the Central High School journalism department. The staff and adviser strive to create an open forum for students and teachers. We take responsibility for accuracy and fairness and for work to be unbiased and responsive to the needs of readers in order to encourage the submission of readers’ ideas. We promise to practice honesty, to run the paper as a business and to avoid printing material that is legally considered obscene, libelous or private.

THE CHT Volume 109 Issue 1

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 423 E. Central St., Springfield, MO 65802

CONTACT kechrismer@spsmail.org

FONT FAMILIES Function, Century PUBLISHER Jostens Publishing

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICY

The Central High Times encourages the submission of ideas or comments from readers. Letters to the Editor must contain no more than 150 words. Letter to the Editor submissions should be typed, printed, signed and delivered to Central High School’s journalism office (room 024) or sent to kechrismer@spsmail.org with the subject line “Letter to the CHT Editor.” The Central High Times reserves the right to edit submissions for grammatical and spelling errors and for space limitations.

LETTER FROM

THE EDITOR

ANIA KOVACS / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The day I signed up for my first ACT test, I was in eighth grade, clicking the back arrows of the ACT registration page and trying to cancel an $85.00 charge. When I realized this was the price of the test itself, I was shocked that a commonly required academic assessment costs so much — or anything at all. As a 13-year-old with little to no understanding of the cost of higher education and tools associated with it, I almost felt ashamed to ask my mom to pay for it. Now, I am a senior that has taken the ACT 5 times and spent over $300 in total on standardized testing to optimize my chances of attending a good school. Why is this the reality for American higher education?

It is true that many high schools, including Central, hold one paid ACT test for every junior; however, many students with a low household income cannot afford to retake the test to improve their score, meaning it will not be representative of their true potential as a student. Official testing materials for preparation are also expensive. ACT textbooks cost $30-$80 and personal tutoring sessions are in

the hundred to thousand dollar range. In addition, first generation students may not know that studying and retaking the ACT is an option for them. This puts wealthy students at an advantage, regardless of their academic abilities.

Many colleges are moving toward permanent test-optional or test-blind policies for admission. The pandemic began to popularize these policies since many students were unable to safely access standardized tests. A large number of colleges, including prestigious institutions, are extending these policies past the pandemic, which is a change in the positive direction.

However, to think that this solves the problem would be naive. Having a closeto-perfect test score, which is achievable for most students with lots of practice and ($$$), will only improve an application that is already strong. A strong application with no submitted scores competing against a strong application with high scores will lose the fight.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI),

has adopted an 8-year test-blind policy that will not consider test scores for admission or financial aid. This vote eliminated the use of SAT and ACT test scores because faculty recognize that they are poor predictors of college success and they introduce and maintain inequities.

Because I am currently applying to colleges, my classes are buzzing with the comparison of scores and school lists and who got accepted where. A college-obsessed environment has molded students in my grade and many in my generation to react apologetically when a peer says they have an ACT score in the 93rd percentile. It is not fair that I grew up with the resources to afford and understand how to study, retake, and improve on the ACT because of the social stigma surrounding a “low” score, and yet others cannot afford to take it once. Higher education has begun its progress incrementally, but it is important that we further it with institutionalizing test-blind policies so that each student, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has a fair chance at getting a valuable education.

Accolades

LILITH CREEMER / SENIOR REPORTER

WRESTLING MEDALISTS

During early December, a total of 8 of our Bulldog Wrestlers received medals at the Bolivar varsity tournament. Make sure to congratulate our wrestlers for their performances!

TEACHER RECOGNITION

Around Thanksgiving time, Paul Epps was recognized as displaying incredible Bulldog P.R.I.D.E. He and a collection of students all received a Thanksgiving lunch cooked by our culinary department. More teachers and students will be recognized in the future, so make sure to nominate those you believe exemplify P.R.I.D.E.

MILITARY RECOGNITION

During November, Mason Lea was recognized for his position in the military. Lea is a teacher with the Scholars program and a captain in the U.S. Army National Guard. He is one of dozens of SPS teachers currently with the military. He was celebrated as part of an SPS program to recognize one teacher on the first Tuesday of each month.

ALL STATE ORCHESTRA AND BAND

Four musicians here at Central have received All-State honors during early December. Naomi Meng and Grace Park of the orchestra and Grant Bossi and Chris Beersman of the band were recognized for their performances. Congratulations to those four for their accomplishments!

A post recognizing Naomi Meng and Grace Park. Courtesy of the Central Twitter account.

BASKETBALL

As a positive sign for the future, our boys Basketball team has achieved a win ratio of 3-1 with their victory over Willard! This speaks both to the incredible accomplishments of our team and our coach Jordan Epps.

A post recognizing Grand Bossi and Chris Beersman. Courtesy of the Central Twitter account.

STAFF RECOGNITION

At the beginning of December, Shelia Austin was recognized for being a committed member of the Bulldog family for 25 years. A post on the Central Instagram detailed how committed to the school Shelia is. It also put into perspective how long she has been working with us, as Principal Brown is the seventh principal she has seen over the course of her career!

The boys basketball team lining up. Courtesy of the Central Twitter account.

Holiday Lights Are Glistening In Downtown Springfield

Holiday lights are abundant downtown, from the Festival Of Lights at Jordan Valley Park to the strings of lights around Park Central Square. Most notably, a large crowd of people gathered around Park Central Square on a cold and wintery night to watch the Mayor’s Tree being officially lit by Springfield’s Mayor Ken McClure on November 19th.

The Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony was a large and packed event with many places to go and activities to participate in, aside from watching multiple stage performances before and after the lighting of the Mayor’s Tree. The event kicked off at 6 pm with the Mayor inviting all the children to join him on stage for a reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. A variety of performances followed, from dancing groups such as the Springfield Ballet and Princesses of the 417, to singers such as Jessie Cowen, Kim Crosby, and many others. There were numerous activities and amenities within the event including free Hot Cocoa and Cookies along with a photo booth set up for people to snap pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus and there were free rides around the square from both a lit up train and a horse drawn carriage. There was also free admission for skating at the Jordan

Valley Ice Park where people could see the lights around Jordan Valley Park being lit as well.

All of the performances built up to everyone gathering around the Mayor’s Tree in anticipation and excitement with a big countdown on the jumbo screen to the Tree being officially lit up for the holiday season. This was accompanied by the large festival of lights all around Jordan Valley Park, where people will be able to walk around the trails along Trafficway to see lights flashing and soothing Christmas music being played in sync with the flashes.

This was a very festive and community centered event where people gathered to enjoy a multitude of live performances and holiday music, all for the people of Springfield to get together and watch a tree being lit up. Downtown Springfield has so many places to enjoy holiday lights on an evening stroll and many events to attend every year including the Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Downtown Christmas Parade. Downtown is the place to be for the holiday season.

MILES COMO / REPORTER

The Mayor’s Tree at Park Central Square lighting up

Santa and Mrs. Claus greeting everybody on stage

Jordan Valley lights at the corner of Trafficway st and John Q . Hammons pkwy

Train Ride Circling Park Central Square

CADEN’S CORNER Radioactive Missouri

In 1880, the idea of “radiation” was still a fairly new concept. X-Rays would still be discovered 16 years later, and the neutron wouldn’t be discovered until 1932. But on a November day in 1880, three men and a dog found a cave near the border of Missouri and Arkansas. Venturing in, they supposedly began to feel exhausted and talking erratically. They were then hospitalized with burns and sores all over his body, and one died weeks later due to paralysis. If this story is true, then the first known case of Acute Radiation Syndrome, or ARS occurred in the Ozarks. However, it is currently unknown if the story

CADEN RECTOR-CURRENT / SENIOR REPORTER

With the recent news of a school near St. Louis being found with radioactive contamination, what better time than to review how Missouri has a long history with radiation.

is true, or if there are any natural radioactive sources in the Ozarks.

Decades later during the 1940s, the city of St. Louis was thrown into the radioactive world again. The Manhattan Project was in full swing trying to make the Atomic Bomb. Although centered in New Mexico, St. Louis became the hub of transportation for all of the highly radioactive materials needed for the project.

To add to all of the radiation coming from the movement of the material, there was also a plant dedicated to the processing of uranium near the bank of the Mississippi river. Eventually, all the waste from this

plant was transported to an area just north of the current St. Louis Airport. However, the waste was not stored properly, and radioactive materials leached into a nearby creek. The communities near this creek now see an increase in cancer and autoimmune disorders.

When this was recognized as a major problem by the property owners, they moved most of the waste to be processed properly, but left a significant amount at the West Lake Landfill in 1973. This radioactive material then mixed with the soil and groundwater. The government decided to clean the contamination in 1990, which is currently ongoing.

The West Lake Landfill in 2017

Iran Updates

Mass demonstrations are ongoing in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The demonstrations began on September 16, and are on a scale not seen since the 2009 protests about election fraud. The death of 22 year-old Mahsa Amini (“Mahsa” was named Jina in her native Kurdish language), happened while she was detained by Iran’s “morality police” for allegedly not observing the strict headscarf rules enforced in the country. Iranian authorities claim that no foul play was involved in her death, but human rights activists have evidence she was murdered by police. Thousands of protesters have witnessed too many similar incidents to believe the government, and are taking to the streets. This huge uprising is the result of decades of oppression of Iran’s most vulnerable groups by its religious leaders.

Iran’s ethnic Kurdish population has been the target of increasing government oppression and discrimination ever since the 1920s, when the previous government was overthrown and taken over by Reza Shah Pahlavi. The Kurdish population, tens of millions people, live in a large region that compasses the borders of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Making up 10% of Iran’s population, the Sunni Kurds have been targeted consistently by Iran’s Shiite government. The government targets the Kurdish people and Iran’s Kurdistan region in order to consolidate power, and the recent riots have been no exception. Amini’s death, with Amini being Kurdish herself, first sparked protests in Kurdistan as her death naturally hit close to home. In response, the Iranian government occupied the mostly Kurdish city Sanandaj, turning it into a military stronghold. They have now began occupying the entire Iranian Kurdistan region, subjecting the people to constant fear.

While not targeted by military operations like the Kurdish people,

Expert Opinions +

women in Iran are still oppressed, and required to dress according to morality codes, particularly wearing mandatory headscarves, with threats of severe punishment if they fail to comply. This is enforced by the morality police, an arm of the Islamic Republic. While the rights of women have been an issue since the Islamic revolution, it has never taken center stage in Iran’s previous protest movements. The death of a young woman who was killed for not abiding by oppressive rules closely enough struck a chord with many women protestors, who are now dedicated to making their voices heard. Slogans such as “Women, life, freedom” and “Independence, freedom, optional hijab” have gained traction among female protestors to voice their discontent with the current rules women must abide by. In past protests, the names of male politicians would be chanted. Now, the names of young women whose lives have been cut short by oppression are heard among crowds. Teenage girls are taking off their hijabs while screaming “death to the dictator”.

“What makes this different from previous revolutions,” says Sara Bajalan, a historian at Missouri State University, “is that the protestors don’t want reform. They are much more radicalized than before. During the Green Revolution [in 2009] people were protesting to get their votes back. They were protesting to participate in the system. These new protestors don’t want reform or to live in the current system, they want to tear it all down.”

The government’s response has been violent and repressive; events in Iran are truly horrific, with thousands of arrests, security forces firing on demonstrators, and possibly hundreds killed for their defiance. However, because the protesters are often women and young girls, the optics of state violence are more difficult in this situation. Fear is ever-present and the

suffering has been great, but some hopeful people believe this movement could become a revolution that will lead to a better state. While this idea is appealing, getting overexcited is not advisable.

“I personally don’t think this will become a revolution. It’s possible, but the regime just has more points on their side,” says Professor Djene Bajalan, a Missouri State history professor who researches internationalism in the Middle East. “Point one is that the Islamic Republic has the army on their side… the army would have no place without the Republic so they won’t easily turn on it. Point two is that the opposition to the Republic is very decentralized. There’s no real plan to install a new government after overthrowing the current one.” Although Dr. Bajalan does not see a revolution emerging, he also says, “In my opinion what makes this different from previous mass protests is that previous protests were done by distinct groups of people in the country, whether that be workers or minority groups or liberals. This current movement sees many different groups protesting, middleclass people protesting, poor people protesting, liberal cities protesting, conservative cities protesting, Persians (the ethnic majority of Iran) protesting, many different minorities protesting, it’s a very wide-spread protest across many different social groups.”

Despite the fact that the odds are stacked against them, the demonstrators have not stopped. People all across the country, of different classes, races, and backgrounds have united in their resistance against the Islamic Republic’s rule. The protestors are unwilling to give up, and seem unwilling to settle for reform. Many people, no matter who they are or where they come from, want a full overhaul of how Iran is run – and the blood of the leaders they view as oppressors.

The Midterms

NED PICKETT / ASSISTANT EDITOR

Senate:

(R) Eric Schmitt (Victor)

(D) Trudy Busch Valentine

House:

District 1:

(R) Andrew Jones Jr.

(D) Cori Bush (Victor)

District 2:

(R) Ann Wagner (Victor)

(D) Trish Gunby District 3:

(R) Blaine Luetkemeyer (Victor)

(D) Bethany Mann District 4:

(R) Mark Alford (Victor)

(D) Jack Truman District 5:

(R) Jacob Turk

(D) Emanual Cleaver (Victor) District 6:

(R) Sam Graves (Victor)

(D) Henry Martin District 7:

(R) Eric Burlison (Victor)

(D) Kristen Radaker-Sheafer District 8:

(R) Jason Smith (Victor)

(D) Randi McCallian

State Auditor:

(R) Scott Fitzpatrick (Victor)

(D) David Gregory

With the midterm elections concluded, new laws passed and denied, and electees set to take office on January 3, Missouri is left with several major new changes to policy and people in power. The Republican party largely swept elections and held the state House of Representatives and Senate, in addition to the national Senate seat up for election this year. As such, like it or not, Missouri will likely be facing more of the same policies that it has had for the last several years.

As expected, Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt beat out Busch Beer family heiress and Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine for the seat of soon-to-retire senator Republican Roy Blunt. The 72-year-old Blunt has held his senate seat since 2010 and is currently serving alongside fellow Republican Josh Hawley, whose seat will next be up for election in 2025. This continues the combined dominance of Republicans representing the Missouri senate, as the last Democrat was Claire McCaskill, who lost her seat in the 2018 midterm elections. Schmitt’s website states that he intends to “[T]ake the fight to the Senate and save our values, our culture, and our country,” and references his record of filing a lawsuit against the Chinese Government for causing the pandemic, supporting former President Trump, and taking legal

action against Facebook, among other things. In addition, many Central students will recall Schmitt filing a cease and desist order that resulted in Springfield Public Schools ending their mask mandate policy.

Among the five questions on the ballot, three passed and two failed. The three passed include the creation of the Department of the Missouri National Guard which was formerly a part of the Missouri Department of Order and Safety (Amendment 5), an increase of funding for the Kansas City Police Department (Amendment 4), and the full legalization of marijuana in Missouri (Amendment 3). The two failed amendments included an amendment that would allow the State Treasurer to invest in state bonds (Amendment 1), and a question about the possibility of holding a Missouri Constitutional Convention in order to revise the constitution with delegates. This question automatically appears every 20 years on the ballot, and a convention was last held for Missouri in 1942. Amendment 3 has produced a fair bit of buzz among the student population, but secret stoners cannot rejoice just yet, as the age for marijuana is presently for citizens 21 and older.

And How to Vote in the Next One

In national news, the Republican party lost several seats in the Senate, and with the deciding vote of Vice-President Kamala Harris, the Democrats now have a majority. The House, however, has swung the opposite direction, with the Republicans now having a slight but very crucial majority over the Democrats. This split between the bicameral legislature could and almost certainly will lead to some problematic splits in voting decisions, particularly when factoring in the Executive Branch being led by a Democrat and the Supreme Court being majority Republican. Missouri’s two senators are of course Republican, and Representatives for the House outnumber the Democrats by more than a 2:1 ratio. In addition, only four districts consistently went blue, although these four districts all contain or were near major cities (Kansas City, Columbia, and Saint Louis and its surrounding area). As such, although the party split is around 55-45, it may take a while for the Democrats to gain any major traction in upcoming elections, such as the crucial 2024 Presidential race.

If you will be able to vote in the 2024 elections or simply did not get a chance to register for this recent election, the process is relatively easy to get through. Central High School or local groups will often

offer a chance to register to vote, or you can do it online through https://s1.sos.mo.gov/elections/ voterregistration/. Even if you are not eighteen at the time of voting, if you are at least seventeen and a half before election day or are of age before the election day, you can still preregister to vote. The only other requirement for the state of Missouri is being a citizen of Missouri and the United States.

If Central is not holding an election drive prior to the election, you can register to vote at a library, the local election office, a driver’s license office, or another designated state office, and you must have a valid I.D. with you. For most students, this will either be a driver’s license or passport. You must be registered by either the election deadline or the end of the business day four Wednesdays before the upcoming election, depending on whichever is later. If you change your address you will be able to update your address at the polling center, but if you change your name, you must update your voter registration prior to polling day.

Missouri does allow absentee ballots and early voting if you are unable to attend the polling stations. You can request a mail ballot through several different methods, but the preferred method for many will likely be through email to the local election

authority. Early voting begins two Tuesdays before the official election date, and has no legally specified end date, although it is certainly better to be there on that date.

GO OUT AND VOTE

Central High Theater Presents...

Each year, Central High Theatre produces two shows- one in the winter and one in the spring. Any Central student is welcome to audition, either for a character role or to be part of an ensemble. Additionally, all students are invited to assist with the production of the musical, such as building the set or finding props. The theatre’s 2022 winter musical Big Fish was hosted December 2nd-5th. Auditions were held September 12-13th, and rehearsals began September 19th.

The production of a musical requires a lot of work, time, and effort. Not only are there a lot of cast members, there are also the technicians, and those helping with backstage tasks that aren’t always noticed by the audience. The musical is led by Dr. Gretchen Teague, the theatre and drama director at Central High School.

The choreographer is Alyssa Hakan, a member of Central’s 2022 graduating class. While studying at Central, she was involved in multiple school theatre productions. She’s also been the tap choreographer for SLT’s Spongebob the Musical and White Christmas. Nevertheless, there’s more to a musical than just the stage rehearsals for the choreography and music.

“The set, lights, costumes, props are a part of the work, but also the organization and cleaning and safety precautions are all happening behind the scenes,” Gretchen Teague said.

There’s a lot of technical work that goes into the production of a musical. These technical elements can also be the biggest obstacles that the theatre faces. They are usually addressed outside of the cast rehearsal time, and often call upon the help of regular Central students. For Big Fish, there were work days on November 5th and 12th for students to help build the props, costumes, and sets for the musical. These took place during the weekend, from 10 am to 3 pm.

Big Fish is a Broadway musical based on both a book and a film. The novel, Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions, was written by Danial Wallace in 1998. The 2003 film was written by John August and directed by Tim Burton.

Central’s production of the musical follows Edward Bloom, played by Andrew Hellman, and his son Will, played by Jaxson Marte. There are two timelines within the play. One is of the past, told in storytelling fashion by Edward, which reveals the exciting experiences Edward had as a teen- encountering witches, giants, and mermaids. The other is of presentday, where Edward is a sixty-year old man facing his mortality and

his son Will is preparing to be a father. These timelines meet as Will discovers all the secrets from his father’s past. The musical was largely chosen by Teague. “I love the story and the music. I connect with it in a lot of ways because my father was a big story teller just like Edward in Big Fish,” Teague said, “and there were lots of times growing up that I wondered if he was exaggerating or telling the truth.”

There are many characters and features within Big Fish that are rather mystical in nature, but the story is not purely fantasy. The audience also views the story set in real life, with Edward as an old adult and his son, Will, grown up. These differing characters and features are what bring this production to life.

Left: Edward (Andrew Hellman) and young Will (Ben Loughary) do the Alabama Stomp. Photo courtesy of Annie German.

Edward’s friends (Sky Louderback and Jeremy Crabtree) place flowers at his grave. Photo courtesy of Annie German.

MADI TAYLOR / COPY EDITOR

BIG FISH

There are many characters and features within Big Fish that are rather mystical in nature, but the story is not purely fantasy. The audience also views the story set in real life, with Edward as an old adult and his son, Will, grown up. These differing characters and features are what bring this production to life. “I also really love the big characters in this musical, such as circus performers, witches, mermaids, and giants. These characters are balanced with reality and it is fun to see the story bounce back and forth between the fantastical elements and real life,” Teague explained.

These characters and her personal connection are what encouraged Teague to choose Big Fish as Central’s winter musical. Throughout rehearsals, Teague has enjoyed watching the students make the performance their own. She loves seeing the show come together by the end, and she always looks forward to opening night.

“The thrill of the first night in front of an audience cannot be matched,” Teague claims.

Great amounts of effort were required and put into the play from every person involved. From the technical workers focusing spotlights on performers, to speedy costume and character changes behind the curtains, everyone had multiple parts to play. Shayla Frost, for example, had four costume changes-- an average for most performers in the musical.

With the winter musical wrapped up, it’s time for Central High’s theatre program to look forward to the spring musical, Peter and the Starcatcher. Make sure to be on the lookout for audition dates and any other important information.

Edward and Carl the Giant (Grant Bossi) shake hands. Photo courtesy of Elaine Klepper.

Will (Jaxson Marte) and his wife Josephine (Josie Glynn). Photo courtesy of Isabel Gamble.

Sandra Bloom (Renee El Kady) sings a ballad. Photo courtey of Isabel Gamble.

The Witch (Megan McNeilis) tells a fortune. Photo courtesy of Elaine Klepper.

University Heights VS

The University Heights neighborhood is facing a difficult challenge with the possible rezoning of four historic properties on the corner of Sunshine and National, the second-busiest intersection in Springfield. BK&M, which stands for Be Kind and Merciful, is planning on turning the corner into a five to six-story complex. BK&M’s plans for this project are subject to change as the rezoning process continues. Renders of the design they have in mind have been made public.

“It is a wonderful neighborhood,” Kit Creemer said, a University Height resident of 18 years. “Neighbors are kind and helpful to each other and the larger community. The houses have so much character and definitely aren’t cookie cutter.” University Heights, a neighborhood established in 1925, is known for its beauty, hospitality, and historic homes. Most homes are more than 85 years old, which adds to the uniqueness of the neighborhood.

“I think the rezoning would be a mistake,” Creemer expressed. “Carving into the neighborhood with a commercial business would increase traffic, decrease home value, destroy beautiful historic homes, cause flooding issues, and negatively alter the feel of the neighborhood.” Many members of the University Heights community have expressed their concern with the rezoning, some are worried for traffic reasons, and others about the history of the neighborhood.

As an effort to spread hope among the community, an unknown artist painted a heart on the door of the recently demolished home on the corner, also

TRAVIS DAVISON / SENIOR REPORTER

known as “the white house”. The heart held the words ‘Love your Neighbor’ and was noticed throughout the neighborhood.

BK&M plans on turning this corner into a commercial complex, complete with two restaurants, a series of retail or office spaces, and at least two floors of ‘executive lofts’. A sixth floor of lofts is also being considered. The ground

neighborhood, the architecture, and the “1920s vibe” the buildings gave him.

There will be a minimum of 50 lofts for rent at rates from $750 to $2,400 a month. These lofts could range anywhere from a 400-square-foot studio to an 8,000-square-foot penthouse suite.

“It sits on the second busiest intersection in Springfield,” Ralph Duda, the owner of BK&M told Springfield News-Leader. “The other three corners are commercial, but they lack housing and amenities needed to support surrounding businesses offices, hospital systems, and neighborhood. We feel our development will rebalance and complement this growing area.”

Though Duda has big plans for this project, residents continue to worry about the outcome. An 85-year-old named Dixie Seight told Springfield News-Leader that she fears the sixstory building will tower over her singlefamily home next door.

“It’s essentially a mixed-use project,” Lead architect Bo Hagerman told Springfield News-Leader. “We’ve got shopping, you’ve got restaurants, offices, and above all, we’ve got housing. So it’s a little bit of everything.” Hagerman added that he took inspiration from the

“I am an old tired lady who doesn’t like the idea of people coming over and looking at me from their apartment six floors up,” said Seight. “That’s not why I moved to University Heights twenty years ago. I never thought this would happen.” The idea of this change is generally unaccepted by the community. Most residents that attended neighborhood meetings had the desire to keep the zone labeled as single-family housing.

“A call loudly claiming ‘most people don’t want rezoning to change’ got raucous applause and cheers from the room,” Springfield News-Leader said, regarding neighborhood meetings about the rezoning.

Courtesy of Lead Developer of BK&M LLC

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Winter Celebrations

Nina Malega / Reporter

Many take advantage of winter’s cold weather by resting and recharging; however, this is not the case for everyone. People around the world celebrate the winter months in many different ways. The day of December 13, St. Lucia’s day, also known as the festival of lights, takes place in Sweden, Norway and other Swedish speaking countries. This day honors St. Lucy, as she was one of the earliest Christian martyrs who was killed by the Romans because of her religious beliefs in 304 CE. Many Scandinavian countries elect their own St. Lucia in every town. Each celebration is initiated by a procession led by the town’s St. Lucia elect. The young girls wear beautiful white gowns,a red sash, and a wreath of candles atop of their heads. The boys wear white outfits that compare to pajamas. In the homes, the oldest daughter will wake up her parents with coffee and baked goods such as saffron bread and ginger biscuits. St. Lucia’s day marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Scandinavia and it will ideally bring light during dark winter months.

The Winter Solstice is another celebration that takes place in the month of December. Beginning on the 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere, or June 20th or 21st in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the shortest day of the year with the longest night.

During the Winter Solstice, people all across the globe will hold celebrations and festivals in honor of this striking time of the year. For example, the citizens of Vancouver, Canada put on a beautiful lantern festival to recognize the beauty of the end of December. Thousands of people from Yaletown and Granville Island come to celebrate by participating in live music, dance, and lantern making.

In India, Makar Sankranti is celebrated on January 14 by the Hindus. It is a festival that celebrates the coming of Spring and the end of Winter. Throughout India there are numerous holidays that celebrate the movement of the sun from constellation to constellation, but Makar Sankranti in particular observes the transition into Capricorn and will honor Surya.

This holiday is celebrated differently in various parts of India.

Tamil Nadu celebrates Makar Sankranti for four days. The celebration starts off with the first day, Boghi. The people of Tamil Nadu will throw away and burn their own clothes to signify the end of the old and welcoming the new. Thai Pongal is the second day. It is celebrated by making the dessert Pongal. It is made with rice, milk, and jaggery. Then it is topped off with brown sugar, cashews, and raisins. This dessert will then be offered to the Sun God and enjoyed by family and friends. The second to last day is called Maattu Pongal and is focused on giving thanks to cattle. The cattle are dressed in flowers, bells, and paint. They are allowed to roam free on this day. The last day is titled Kaanum Pongal and during this day people will visit their friends and family and enjoy the holiday with them.

Winter is celebrated across the globe in so many ways, whether it be by relaxing with the people you love, or going out and participating in a beautiful festival.

Meeting

terling Macer, Jr.

TRAVIS DAVISON / REPORTER & MORGAN MARTENS / REPORTER

Sterling Macer, Jr. is an actor, writer, and director born and raised in Springfield, Missouri. He went to Kickapoo High School, got a football scholarship to the University of Arkansas, then finished his injuryriddled college career at Missouri State.

Recently, Macer took a trip to Central to talk to theater students about life as an actor and other

experiences that he went through during his career.

Sterling Macer, Jr. was born on November 28, 1963. Since he was in middle school, he has had a passion for acting.

“[It’s an] amazing feeling you get when you’ve sort of crossed into the mental and emotional life of another character,” Macer said.

Growing up, he faced multiple

challenges on his journey to becoming a successful actor.

As a black actor back in the late 1900s, he faced discrimination while reaching his dream.

The options for roles as a young black actor were slim, and sometimes very derogatory.

“As a black man, you always face a certain level of discrimination to be quite frank but that’s true of the

Macer ending his speech abou the importance of theatre abd the future of the students is bright and looks forward to seeing them in the future. (Morgan Martens)

entertainment business,” Macer said about his experience getting on his first primetime show around the early 1990’s.

“There were only three young black men on prime-time television,” Macer said. “It was myself, an actor named Blair Underwood, and another actor on a show called ‘Law and Order’. At that time, we were the only black men on prime-time television.”

The ’90s is known for its boom in hip-hop, R&B, and rap, which are a big part of African-American culture.

Macer helped pave the way for young black actors in the future, by facing those stereotypes and cliches to move toward his goal.

“Acting has impacted me in a variety of ways, but it broadens my understanding of human behavior. Acting requires an empathetic imagination, which is the key to walking a mile in someone else’s shoes,” Macer said.

Macer has had experience with acting, directing, and writing throughout his career. When asked which he would choose if he was only able to do one, Macer chose acting.

“I think maybe that it would be acting. I can only say maybe because I wouldn’t know how I’d feel about losing the others,” Macer said.

He also mentioned that when he is involved in one career, he gets a little upset he isn’t doing another.

“‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ was one of my favorite movies to have been on because I got to spend more time in New Orleans, which is a city I haven’t gotten to spend much time in,” Macer said. “The cast was such a wonderful group of people and the production team; they were amazing. It was love, all the way around.”

In his most recent book adaptation “Where the Crawdads Sing”, Macer played a character named Jumpin’.

Jumpin’ was a kindhearted person who owned a gas dock and bait shop.

He was seen as a father figure to Kya while and after her trial and jail time. This period drama takes place in the south during the ’50s or ’60s, which is the height of Jimcrow south.

“Personally, as a writer, working on this show was a meaningful experience,” Macer said.

Macer has been in multiple movies and shows including “NCIS”, “When We Were Apollo”, “Lincoln Heights”, and most recently, “Where the Crawdads Sing.” Macer has touched the lives of students here at Central, giving them inspiration and hope.

Macer left meaningful words for our aspiring young actors, writers, or directors:

“Be passionate enough about what you want to accomplish then, when your passion runs out, be disciplined enough to continue nonetheless.”

Macer, Junior taking a photo with the future of theatre.

Macer, Junior having a reunion with Tuckness his former

History Within the Walls

Every year a group of seniors take their last steps into Central’s doors knowing that the future awaits; however, very few will walk back through the doors. One student of the class of 1971, Greg Darnaby, knew Central as not just a school, but a second home.

“First time I came to Central was probably 1960 because my brothers and sisters all went here. My brother graduated in 61, my sister in 64, another brother in 68, myself in 71, and another sister in 76. All three of my kids went here and I had a niece and nephew that went here.” Darnaby said.

Many remember the memories of high school and having fun before the start of adulthood, but for Darnaby Central High School was more than a pretty building. Central educated all of his siblings and later his descendants. With each generation, Darnaby’s legacy ran through the hallways.

“I did not play any sports. Now my brother was a big athlete. He was captain of the football team, the starting center on the basketball team, and he even set a record for throwing the discus in track. I

wasn’t a big athlete, but I was president of the Chess Club, part of the Spanish Club, and probably the History Club too. I was big into academics.” Darnaby said.

Each student that walks through Central’s doors carries their own personal strengths. Darnaby is a prime example that it doesn’t matter if you’re an athlete, an academic student, or both. Every strength has an importance and a purpose. When students come together uniting their strengths, good things happen. Even while people of all backgrounds come and go, Central is still filled with the same beauty.

Times they are a Changin

When you ask a stranger, “What do you think of Central?”, there are many answers and some claim that Central looks like a castle. With its vintage feel, remarkable history, and large size Central could be considered a castle; however, the quaint details were what made Central so unique in the 70s and still today.

“On a warm day, we would open up the windows…I had an English class and a squirrel came and sat on the window sill, just sitting there watching it during class. Everything seemed a lot more relaxed.” Darnaby said.

School can oftentimes become stressful and having the access to the outdoors and nature makes for a soothing environment. Although, the technology we have today can affect students and teachers even in the most soothing environments. In some forms creating challenges, but also making the simple things easier.

“We didn’t have pocket calculators, they hadn’t been invented yet. We used a device called a “slide rule”, those of us who were

in mathematics.” Darnaby said.

Students today have the luxury of impressive technology that can solve problems, find the answer to a question, and connect with others in minutes, even seconds, while only 50 years ago, none of that technology existed. The students who didn’t have that technology available to them still had to find ways to research and explore the world. Fortunately, Central has always had resources for information.

“These shelves [located in the office conference room] used to be shelves up in the library which used to be located right up above us. Our librarian was a lady named Wilma Wade. She was somewhere between 73 and 112, nobody knew! She did, though, get everybody in the school to read The Grapes of Wrath. The way that she did that was taking it off the shelf. She stuck it under the counter and you had to go ask her for it if you wanted to read it and so everyone wanted it because she wouldn’t let us read it.” Darnaby said.

The library at Central may look a little different 50 years later, but it’s still filled with many stories and adventures

Greg Daraby freshman year

Darnaby (top row, middle) as Chess Club President

including The Grapes of Wrath. The library was not the only place Central provided adventures in the 70s. Classrooms were designed to be hands-on and informative, although that looked a little different from what classrooms experience today.

“We would dissect and experiment with things like measuring chicken organ sizes and all that. Well they didn’t want to kill their chickens because they were like pets to them…they’d think ‘Well I’m not killing my chicken’, so they’d throw them out the window from the 3rd floor. Chickens can’t fly so after about the third one hit the sidewalk that was the end of that. Except one of them actually did a loop and got caught on the ivy that used to be on the side of the building… it ended up in Wilma’s library so we had to go down before Wilma found it, otherwise we would’ve had some problems.” Darnaby said.

Central High School is full of rich stories and laughter, something not many schools get to have all the time. While things may look different and the stories may not look the same there are stories upon stories to be uncovered. Stories from 50 years ago all the way to the present day.

70s Fashion

Fashion is not to be taken lightly. As not only a sense of style, but also a time stamp you can look at a photo and depending on the fashion choices you might recognize location, time period, and maybe even the type of people. The 70s is not excluded from this notion, especially at Central.

“We wore bell bottom jeans, vests, and long collared shirts. You couldn’t have any facial hair and when I was a freshman, your hair couldn’t go over your collar. No mustache, no sideburns, but that was the thing back then to grow the sideburns.” Darnaby said.

Fashion trends in the 70s were influenced by groups such as the Beatles. Central did have some strict rules on dress code, however the students still make it look good.

New Building, Old Stlye

One aspect of Central that is cherished by so many is the history that still lives there. The antique floors, old building exteriors, and haunted tunnels are only a small part of Central’s past.

graduating class has left their mark one way or another and the future generations of Bulldogs will continue to do the same

The Student Becomes the Master

Greg Darnaby was no ordinary student. He left his mark on Central way beyond graduating in 1971. He was a key part of Central as a student, but most of all he was a key part of Central’s future.

“I taught math here at Central for 16 years and then I was an assistant principal for 15 years, I enjoyed them both. Lots of teachers only teach for three or four years then decide they want to become a principal. I taught for 24 years and then became an assistant principal because I wanted to learn the ins and outs,” Darnaby said.

“Central was originally built in 1893, they put the middle section in 1907, then this section [office building] in 1913. They haven’t done much to it since that time.” Darnaby said.

There is a sense of nostalgia that comes when walking through the hallways knowing that there were people walking through the same hallway 100 years before you. Every

Darnaby never left Central, from the time he first came to support his family all the way to his retirement he stayed at Central doing all that he could to preserve what he loved and cherished.

“I started teaching in 1975, a long time ago, and my first contract was for $8,100. That’s only because I was in Springfield, if I would’ve taught in Sparta, Mo my contract would have been for $6,800. I mean it’s incredible what teachers do.” Darnaby said.

To describe teachers in one word is difficult, but they could be described as passionate or intentional. Teachers don’t work for the money or for the benefits. Teachers work because they love the students and they love to help people. Darnaby is a prime example of a passionate teacher who made a difference in the lives of his peers as well as his students.

“The teachers appreciate it because they know I’ve been through it. I know what it’s like to be in a classroom.”

Wilma Wade, librarian

Darnaby takes a look at the layout for Kickapoo High School

Greg Darnaby; 1971

Mental Health:

Going into winter, it’s clear to mental health workers that people are put under a surprising amount of stress. The school counselors know this, and they try their best to attend to the needs of the students, but sometimes their busy schedules don’t allow for much.

“The counselors have so much on their plates these days with scheduling and programming and coordinating programs for the district,” Brian Vega, an ex-SPS counselor who now works in private practice therapy, said. “Oftentimes, they are pretty overwhelmed.”

Beyond the standard counselors, in some schools there is also a dedicated therapist meant specifically for working directly with patients. They can be a helpful resource for students, although they can be regularly overworked as well.

“Many schools now have a schoolbased clinician, which is a therapist that is placed in the school through Burrell,” Vega said. “They are able to see students for one-on-one sessions, which is really nice, but again, it’s one adult in a school with 1,500-2,000 students.”

Here at Central, our Burrell clinician is Julie Scodak.

With their resources spread thin, counselors may also defer students to external aid.

“Even if the schools don’t have the resources on hand, they can work to connect students and families to services in the community that can meet their needs,” Vega said.

Vega himself is actually one of these external resources. Up to a fifth of the clients in his office are referred from schools.

“Maybe 10 percent of my patients

are school referrals, but our office in general gets a lot of patients referred to us by school counselors. About 20 percent, even,” Vega said.

Having plenty of resources is especially important while in winter, as many students may be struggling with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

“In my experience, it was always right before Christmas break and right before summer break,” Vega said, commenting on when he would see the most patients.

There are many potential reasons for this uptick in mental health requirements. One of the more common reasons for students is difficulty in one’s home life.

“In some cases that’s because the stability of their world is being turned upside down. Maybe school is the only place with safe, trusted adults, or maybe school is the only

How does our school support students?

LILITH CREEMER / SENIOR REPORTER

place that has meals provided to them, or maybe there’s just a lot of tension or things at home that aren’t super healthy for them,” Vega said.

Another big issue that can arise for people during winter is poverty, especially when the temperature can drop below freezing.

“Some resources can be lacking in the wintertime,” Mackenzie Hart, the Central school-based social worker, said. “Lack of clothing and lack of money for utilities can really contribute to poor mental health.”

Even though the counselors can be overwhelmed, they are able to get a lot of work done. This is partially

due to the three social workers that are able to focus more on student aid.

“We have a school based clinician, Ms. Julie Scodak, I am the schoolbased social worker, and finally, we have a homeless liaison, David Greer,” Hart said.

Mental aid also doesn’t have to rest solely on the professionals. Anyone can assist people in need in one way or another.

“A lot of times they just need someone to talk to, or at least someone to check in on them,” Hart said.

The most important thing for someone to hear can even just be a simple statement of support. Sometimes all someone needs to know is that things will get better.

“There is always hope. There are a lot of behavioral tools you can learn, there are different ways to reframe thinking, and there’s medications that are very effective. There’s hope and help for everybody,” Vega said.

“You have lots of people that care about you and it can seem scary and lonely, but if you’re willing to reach out, we can make it seem a little bit less scary and lonely,” Hart said.

You are not alone for the holidays.

French Fries Freedom and

ALLISON LOUGHARY / REPORTER

The Russian Invasion of Ukraine began 10 months ago and millions of people have been displaced. However, Russia and Ukraine’s problems didn’t begin in Februarythe two have history dating back several centuries. In more recent times, Ukraine was a republic of the Soviet Union from the start in December of 1922. It wasn’t until 1991, when the USSR collapsed that Ukraine regained its independence. Victor K. lived in Ukraine when the Soviet Union was in control.

While living in Soviet Ukraine, Victor and his family spoke Russian and had to do whatever they were told. There was no freedom, especially in terms of religion or speech. His family faced discrimination because of their religious identities. This was one reason why he eventually came to the United States. It wasn’t until after the USSR dissolved that there was any religious freedom.

“It was Gorbachev, President Gorbachev, and Reagan, American President Reagan. They got agreements for freedom religion people,” Victor said.

Victor left Ukraine in 1989 when he was 24 years old to make his way to the United States. He spent a month in Vienna, Austria and 10 months in Italy before making it to Portland, Oregon. There, he worked for 14 years until the company closed and the workers were laid off. It was two years before he found a job in the boilermakers union here in Springfield.

He went back to Ukraine in 2020

and returned to the United States two weeks before the current war in Ukraine started, though his family remained in Ukraine.

“When the war started, the border line was like 30 miles from where [we were] living at the time. I wasn’t there when the war started, but they, the wife and kids, they heard the bombs blowing up,” Victor said. “I talk[ed] to her everyday a few times on the phone, and she [said], ‘Oh, I’m scared, we’re scared, we can hear bomb.’”

The family came here in August through the Uniting for Ukraine program.

McDonalds as well, while Victor has gotten used to many American foods in the 30 years he’s been here. They make traditional Ukrainian and Russian dishes at home, such as Pyrizhky [peer-o-sh-key]—buns filled with a variety of meats or vegetables.

Victor said that it is difficult for the kids at school, as the language barrier is hard to navigate.

“But I remember I came, I was 24 years old and it’s hard. I did not speak English very good because I go to work. For adult it is more difficult than for children. They say it’s difficult for them in school, they don’t understand, but I told them stay time and they will be alright,” Victor said.

There were noticeable differences in the healthcare systems and economies of the United States and Soviet Ukraine.

“[W]e applied for [it] and it was easy and we came to United States. Was not long, [there] was no paper, just do [it] on our cell phone, just give your name and fill out the application form,” Victor said.

Now that they are here, the family is getting settled. The kids are going to school and they go to a park near their home.

“[T]he kids go there, kids like the playground and the fountain, a lot of flowers there, beautiful there,” Victor said. The kids have enjoyed the fries at

“[Y]ou just stand in a line, sometimes stay for hours, if it was not an emergency,” Victor said. “[I] t’s dirty, it’s all very old buildings with no paint like they never paint. And they switch[ed] from free medical now switch to pay.”

“It’s alway, economically [a] big difference than in Ukraine. The time, when it was Soviet Union, it was terrible, the average was 1800 roubles, but one pair of jeans cost 200, 250, 300 dollars, just one pair of jeans. Economically, here much better,” Victor said. “It’s good to be living in the United States. Still better economic in the world. Still freedom we have.”

Biting Into the Big Apple

During the week of October 17th, Central’s IB Theatre and Central Intelligence took a trip to the Big Apple- New York City. The group was led by Gretchen Teague, the theatre and drama director, and Jeremy Brown, Central’s principal. The trip lasted five days, and featured a variety of theatre-related events and activities for the students. From some good old NYC sightseeing, to singing waitresses, the IB theatre kids explored theatre in all the ways NYC has to offer.

The trip set off with a rocky start, with the group missing their flight and having to catch a later one. Once they arrived, however, the students took to the busy streets of New York City. They were given a full schedule to simulate life in NYC. They started their days with workshops which explored more non-traditional theatre. Then, they were given a break to grab lunch and explore the city scenery. The students also enjoyed a group dinner at Gayle’s Broadway Rose, where the waiters sang various Broadway songs, on their last night there. They attended three different Broadway shows-- The Play that Goes Wrong, Leopoldstadt, and 1776 the Revival. This trip wasn’t just to enjoy the bustling city of New York, but also to explore theatre through workshops. In these workshops, students learned about real life theatre, different theatre companies, and how they do their work.

“My favorite memory is simply walking around the city’s streets with friends,” Shayla Frost, 12, claims, “the scenery was busy and lively, plus it really felt like we lived in NYC in those moments.”

Frost is one of the seniors who attended the IB theatre trip to New York City. She found this trip to be greatly valuable to her understanding of theatre. She also feels that the trip provided her with important chances to collaborate and connect with her peers.

“I learned a lot about the approaches to theatre, and how different approaches and viewpoints can lead to creating different forms and types of theatre,” Frost said. “Not only did we learn to work together in the theatre workshops, but also when we had free moments to hang out we built and strengthened connections with fellow students and friends.”

Jaxson Marte, 11, also believes that this trip was prime time for him and his friends to connect. He recalls one of his favorite memories to be, ironically, taking a picture with Finn Thomspon, 11, in front of a poster of

TAYLOR COPY EDITOR

“I learned that the world is significantly bigger than what we are used to, and I’m excited to go out and explore it,” Marte said.

He has always had an interest in theatre, and has featured in several of Central’s own musical productions. Being able to experience scenery full of theatre was an incredible experience for him.

“My favorite memory was definitely the workshops we did,” Josie Glynn, 12, recalls. “The exercises and games we did helped me understand a lot of theatrical concepts I hadn’t thought of before, and I really think they helped me grow as an actor and as a person in general.”

For Glynn, as a senior, a trip as big as this one is indescribableespecially because she could spend it with her friends. Glynn feels that she learned many important lessons, and not only in regards to theatre.

“Something I learned about myself is that I thrive in new environments. I thought that I was going to feel out of place and uncomfortable and insecure, but once the workshops started, I really think I stepped out of my shell and was able to soak in as much information as I could,” Glynn said.

IB theatre and CI juniors and seniors alike took a trip to NYC to further their knowledge of theatre and drama. The bright lights, busy streets, and golden opportunities defined this trip as a core memory in many of the student’s minds. They submerged themselves into the life of a New Yorker, living the dream of the bigger screens, even if it was just for five days.

MADI

Photo courtesy of Jaxson Marte.

Central High School

Volunteering Opportunities

NATHANIEL HUNTER / REPORTER

The holiday season is a time of celebration, gratitude and generosity. One way to embody and enjoy the spirit of the season is volunteering to help those in need enjoy the season as well. Volunteering your own time is a gift that builds community, and it allows you to connect with others. Central offers students many opportunities to volunteer in the holiday season.

One holiday volunteering opportunity is working on the Crosslines annual Christmas Toy Store and Food Distribution event. The Kilties and several other Central clubs participate in this event. Thousands of people attend each year for food and toys for their children. Last year, over 2,400 families were given food and almost 1,450 children were given toys. The event will take place on December 17th, 2022 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds.

The Central sports teams are working to gather donations to Toys for Tots, the nearly 100-year-old organization dedicated to ensuring that needy children have toys for Christmas. While the organization helps kids all over the world, your contribution can make all the

difference for a child in Springfield. Mr. Roger King is coordinating the Toys for Tots and Crosslines drives. For more information, you can email him at rking493@sps.org.

One of the main organizations at Central that can help you find holiday volunteering opportunities is the Key Club. Central Key Club students volunteer with Crosslines and the Ozarks Food Drive. The Key Club is an organization that has branches in schools all around the world, dedicated to teaching students “how to lead and stand for what’s right through service and volunteerism.” The Key Club has branches in 1000s of schools in almost 40 countries, and is committed to helping the communities of those locations through food drives and other projects. If you are interested in joining, Mr. Luke Vaughn is the Key Club faculty sponsor; the club meets in Room 332.

Though the main goal of volunteering is helping those in need, it can also have community and personal benefits. Research shows that volunteering can reduce feelings of depression in adolescents, and can help build self-esteem. You can build relationships with your fellow

volunteers, making your social life more healthy and making your life outside of volunteering more stable. Volunteering during the holidays can be such a positive experience that you may want to continue it into the new year. By volunteering, you are doing yourself and your community a massive service no matter where you are

Keeping Warm this Winter

NINA MALEGA / REPORTER

The winter months bring frigid temperatures and it can be a challenge to stay warm. Despite difficulties with navigating the winter season, Springfield offers many opportunities to stay out of the cold.

The Kitchen is an emergency shelter that provides help to families all over the Ozarks. The Kitchen will aid individuals to get off the cold streets and into a warm space. They will provide housing and potentially physical health, employment help, and education aid. To view the qualifications to access this program, visit thekitcheninc.org for more information.

The Community Outreach Center is a local clothing closet, food pantry, and emergency resource center that provides aid to everyone. The Community Outreach Center is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9am-1pm including a care clinic during those hours as well. Within this shelter there is the Emergency Transitional Family Center, whose main goal is to provide shelter to those in need when other shelters are at full capacity or temporarily closed. Children who are under 18 and their families will have access to the shelter every night opening

at 6 pm until 7:30 am. Children and their guardians will receive help to find long term housing by staff and leaders at the center. To learn more visit theconnectinggrounds.com.

Isabel’s House is a winter coat closet that takes place at central. Isabel’s House is accepting donations of old or outgrown coats that can be donated in the designated donation bin in Central’s commons. If you would like to donate, Central is accepting donations now until the end of the semester . If a student or a member of a student’s family needs assistance with a coat, contact the counseling office to make arrangements.

The Unity of Springfield center is a local shelter and has a goal of offering emergency assistance during days when weather conditions could be dangerous and unsafe to live in. The shelter is open and offers beds between October 15 to March 29 on the days when it is too unsafe to be on the streets or without shelter. The Unity of Springfield is partnered with The Connecting Grounds and Community Partnership of the Ozarks to provide a safe space to keep warm from . The shelter offers beds and resources to people of all genders and ages. Minors do

need to be accompanied by an adult to enter the shelter. The Unity Center of Springfield is currently accepting donations and is in need of volunteers. For more information, visit unityofspringfield.org

The YouthConnect Center is a drop-in center that is for school aged youth ages 13-18. The goal of the YouthConnect Center is to provide care to Springfield’s youth and help rid them of any obstacles they may encounter. The youth of Springfield can and will have the opportunity to connect with other youth and families. The center provides numerous services to youth in need. Some of the services include a food pantry and hot meals, laundry services, showers and hygiene items, clothing items, and more. For more information please visit fosteradopt. org

The winter months can be a challenging time of year for all. Though weather conditions can be unpredictable and a challenge, Springfield offers many resources to help and provide care to those in need during the winter.

Girls Golf

Two seniors on Varsity, Darby Plute & Kalei Arendell

Seven girls earned a Varsity letter: Hampton Richards, Darby Plute, Kalei Arendell, Emmy Smith, Greta Allen, Iliana Dudley and Gentry Goode Master of the Greens Winner – Hampton Richards Scoring Leader – Hampton Richards State Qualifier – Hampton Richards Sportsmanship Award – Darby Plute Scored a Central Varsity team-best: 416 at the Ozarks Conference Tournament Gentry Goode – competed in the Willard Invitational!

Cross Country

Alex Li became just the fourth lady bulldog in the last 21 years to qualify for the state championships, running the fastest time at the district meet in that span.

Additionally, she had the highest finish in school history at the state meet (82nd) at class 4-5 level. Alex ran the fastest xc 5k in school history at the Arkansas Chile Pepper festival on October 1st.

The boys team ran their fastest 1-5 average time at the district meet since 2005.

96% of the team (boys and girls) set personal records during the season.

The girls received a team score at the district meet for the first time since 2019.

Softball

Football

Junior Quarterback Antonio StarksFewell set a single-season Passing record with 304 yards.

Senior Tailback Tae’Sean McShane set a school record with 280 yards in a single game. Tied most 2-point conversions in a season with 11. Set a single-season rushing record with 1,220 yards in a season.

Sophomore Trevor Wilson set a singleseason sack record with 10 and a singleseason Tackle for loss with 24.

First winning football season since 2012 with a 7-3 finish.

1st home playoff game since 2012.

Fall Sports Recap

EMMARIE LOGAN / COPY EDITOR

Volleyball

Players named to the 2022 AVCA Phenom Watch List: Collette Buschhorn, Miliana Sylvester, Meghan Grone

Players named to 2022 All-Ozarks Conference Team:

1st Team - Collette Buschhorn

2nd Team- Miliana Sylvester Honorable Mention- Meghan Grone Players named to the 2022 All-District Team (Class 5A District 6):

2nd Team- Collette Buschhorn

2nd Team- Miliana Sylvester Honorable Mention- Meghan Grone Career Milestones Celebrated: Collette Buschhorn- 1000+ Career Assists

Miliana Sylvester- 500+ Career Kills Special Ranking Recognitions: Collette Buschhorn- #4 in the Ozark Conference in Assists (625 assists)

- #6 in the Ozark Conference in Aces (56 aces)

- #8 in the Ozark Conference in Digs (382 digs)

Meghan Grone- #3 in the Ozarks Conference for Digs (516 in season total)

- #5 in the State of Missouri (Class 5) for digs (516)

Miliana Sylvester- #14 in the State of Missouri (Class 5) for Total Blocks (89 in season total)

Laramie Hill- #15 in the State of Missouri )Class 5) for Digs (409 in season total)

Boys Soccer

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With wins and losses, we had a very rough year. We won one game. We did score 30 runs that game which is a single-game record here at Central. Individual highlights autumn Wuench lead the team in batting average at 335. Eli Inman hit 287. Holley Harrell had a great year playing shortstop defensively. She continued to grow as a defensive player and made the routine play throughout the season. We did lose five seniors this year, those will be hard to replace next year. We do have a couple of young kids and juniors that will be coming back for the fall of 2023. Mr. Sharp and I will go out together, we did retire this fall. We spent 17 years together on the softball field, becoming great friends in teaching the life lessons that go along with athletics.

The Central Fall Sports have come to an end, leading to many impressive accomplishments. Countless records were broken, teams have been strengthened, and many memories were made. This 2022-2023 fall season highlight is just a small glance at the Bulldog pride being shown at Central.

Girls Tennis

Brett Boney & Elana Hadi: won the Springfield Invitational.

Tennis Tournament (20 teams) won district doubles.

Selected for the all-conference team.

Went to the state tennis tournament.

CHS was the winner of the academic allconference team.

Annie German, Alex Li, Joya Pradhan, Emily Robb, and Marley Knust were selected for academic all-conference.

The big games to highlight are: Parkview we won 8-0 Spencer Henderson scored 3 goals and got 3 assists Republic we won 3-0, Boston Hawkins, with 2 and Jack Brinkman with 1

Beat Monett in overtime on Senior night 3-2 Boston and Julian Hom both scored, Jack Brinkman with the gamewinning goal

New Covenant we won in overtime 1-0 Felix Langguth scored the goal to win

Beat Webb City 3-2 Boston, Ryan Doel, and Max Robertson scored.

The top three goal scores were: -Boston Hawkins with 16 goals, 9 assists - Jack Brinkman with 7 goals, 3 assists -Max Robertson with 5 goals, 6 assists

Steppers

MORGAN MARTENS / REPORTER

Central didn’t always have a step team. In fact, the team that was formed years ago slowly dwindled into no one. With student determination during recent years, a new step team was formed under administrator and coach Dr. Felton.

This team aimed to become a source of spirit for Central. It’s something that will show a bridge between multiple races through dance and step.

“Being in an environment like this is welcoming and makes me want to do it even more,” Spriggs, 11, said.

Step team makes a statement for

who they are as a team and what they stand for. Anyone who wants to join is welcome. This nourishes a good athletic environment.Step team has grown their club from 3 to almost 20 as of right now. They are building a foundation for this team to last for a long time here at Central.

Their style of dancing and stepping through crowds is captivating. It brings attention to a style of dancing that many have not been exposed to. When the Step team enters the room, you know who it is.

Step dancing has been around for a long time as it started in the

1940’s. It is a tradition formed from a tribe in west Africa.

It was made to create a form of message towards slave owners as slaves weren’t allowed to play the drums that they had.

The Step Team is making a difference here at Central. They are creating a legacy and highlighting a dance that was formed long ago. Step team is not just a team, it is a group that fosters an inclusive and inspiring environment at Central.

Taniquea Yeager, 10 showing the new school flair in the step off. (Olivia Francis)

Old school versus new school dance battle face to face. (Olivia Francis)

All eyes on Trinity Jackson, 11, as she shows old school flair in the dance off. (Olivia Francis)

Boys Basketball Begins

With a BANG!

MILES COMO / REPORTER

The Boys Bulldogs came in strong this basketball season thanks to a coach that was very successful last year. The coach brought out the best of the team and led them to an incredibly productive season. This success has carried over in the athletes this year. Take Antonio Starks-Fewell, 11, for example, who plays on the varsity team.

this year. We get along off and on the court. I get to play with my friends that I’ve been playing with since middle school,” Sterling Vinson, 12, mentioned.

“Our chemistry on the team is just as if we’re brothers. We all basically grew up together so it really helps that part of the game, because we all get along and bump heads!” StarksFewell said.

The bulldogs are coming into this season with nothing but confidence-not only in the team as a whole, but individually as well. Antonio StarksFewell and Sterling Vinson show this not only in their energy, but in their dedication, success, and hard work.

the team is when they focus too much on themselves. This is something that they have improved on over the past year, though, as Coach Epps holds them more accountable.

“Our team’s biggest struggle is everyone thinking they can do it on their own. We are all good individually, but no one in Missouri can do it by themselves so I think we got to work on that,” Starks-Fewell said. The bulldogs are ready for a big season and to give it their all in each game. This is just the beginning.

“My experience with Coach Epps has been really good. In his first year being head coach, he was all new to the process, but this year he’s really stepped up by making sure the team keeps each other accountable,” said Starks-Fewell.

One of the most notable aspects of the boys team this year is their chemistry that is constantly growing. Since they’ve known each other throughout all of high school, and even longer, their bonds are strong. This brings out their confidence in their ability to perform well in games.

“I feel like our chemistry is going to be the strongest it’s ever been

“I’ve had a blast since I’ve been here. My favorite aspect of this game is that I get to come out and be the star player on the team and knowing I can score when I want to. I joined the team this year because we just have a really good chance of being good and what I anticipate going into the first game is just coming out and working hard,” Starks-Fewell stated.

“I chose to play basketball because that’s the only thing I really did growing up was hooping. I feel like we are ready for this season ahead of us and I would say we don’t have any struggles as a team,” Vinson said.

With a coach that brings out the best of them as athletes, the boys were able to work with strength, pride, and determination. They are good friends on and off the court, and they continue to respect each other in every aspect of the sport. The biggest issue that arises within

Devin Sanford, 10, shoots a 3 point shot.

Bryce Walker, 10, jumps for a dunk

Keion Epps, 10, goes for a lay up.

Adding Balance to the Bench

ALLISON LOUGHARY / REPORTER

The girls basketball team is already working hard as the new season begins.. They are 25 players strong from a mix of all grades. Central’s Lady Bulldogs have practiced hard from the start, so they can have the best season possible. Coach Lamberth was optimistic after tryouts.

“Every year I am hopeful and excited to start the season. This team is a very close group of girls that have a lot of fun with each other. They are talented and work hard which makes for a great combination,” Lamberth said.

as they grow. “This year we have a more experienced team with very high goals they are looking to achieve,” Lamberth said.

“I am excited for our upcoming season with a great group of girls and losing very few players from last year,” Laramie Hill, 11,said. Hill plays shooting guard for the varsity team. She has played basketball since she was in second grade. This is her third year playing for Central’s girls basketball team.

“I’ve played basketball since I was little and wanted to continue to play while I still had the opportunity,” Hill said.

“Practice is often lots of real game situations. Lots of 5v5 and scrimmage work,” Hill said. “I’m personally working on self-confidence and our team is working on unity.”

Last year, the team was fairly new, with no seniors on the team. This season, there are many returning girls, which has helped the team

Hard work goes into practices so the team is prepared for the real thing. “Practice is hard so that when it is game time, there are no surprises. We challenge each other daily, we compete in all drills and we have a lot of energy while doing all of that. The players become tired and have to think about the game mentally which makes them tough and prepared,” Lamberth said.

While first practices can sometimes be difficult from a variety of factors, Coach Lamberth was quite positive. “I have really been proud of our effort in these first few days of practice. We have come out eager and ready to get better,” Lamberth said. “Our athletes have been doing a great job of encouraging each other, communicating effectively and having great teamwork. Our theme for the year is Unity, Trust, Love and our girls work hard each day to be unified by trusting and loving each other.”

Pictures taken by Morgan Martens

Diving Into a New Season

ANIA KOVACS / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The scond quarter of school has begun, bringing bitter and frosty weather. The girls swim team is braving the cold, layering bundled clothes over their swimsuits, and preparing to take on the winter months. Jenna Skidmore and Fiona Lu are two of many returning team members this swim season. State qualifications and school records made last season a triumph for both swimmers, but they are hopeful that fresh faces will bring even more success this year.

Last year, the team had five state qualifiers. Naomi Meng (10) and Jenna Skidmore (12) qualified both individually and in relay events. Fiona Lu (10) and Tiffany Lu (11) qualified in both the 200 medley relay and the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Madison Geiger (11) qualified in the 400 freestyle relay as well.

Skidmore is not only an individual state qualifier, but has set school records for the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle events. She trained hard to gain these accomplishments, but her annual return to Central swim is largely due to her teammates.

“We push each other a lot and it’s a really encouraging group of girls,” Skidmore said. “I’m excited every year to come back to Central’s swim team because of how supportive the team environment is. We have a lot of fun at our travel meets and everyone on the team is so nice.”

In individual sports, harsh judgements and competition between team members can arise. These actions create a negative feedback loop that hinders growth for athletes. Fiona Lu shares this belief with Skidmore and expressed that the team would not be successful without consistent mutual support.

“Our team’s biggest strength is that we all kind of motivate each other to do better in a supportive way,” Lu said.

Despite the team’s unwavering comradery, both Lu and Skidmore believe

that having a small group of swimmers was their largest shortcoming in the previous season. The girls are looking to overcome this issue by recruiting members, and a few have already joined for the current season.

“Our main weakness would be not having a ton of swimmers,” Lu remarked. “We love our small team but if anyone’s interested they should definitely join us!”

“It was a pretty small group [last year], but this year there are some new faces so it will be nice to have a slightly bigger team,” Skidmore agreed.

Alongside new members, their coach has been a crucial component to the team’s success. Formerly an assistant coach, last year was Joe Price’s first season as the head coach of Central’s boys and girls swim teams. Coach Price pushes each swimmer to work hard during practice, but is also conscious of the difficult time commitment that comes with being a student athlete.

“Coach Price is a perfect coach for Central,” Lu said. “He understands that we’re all students and also have a life outside of swim, but he also pushes us to achieve our best when we’re in the pool because he knows that’s what we want. He’s also a firm believer in ‘Hard work pays off’ and it really does.”

Morale is high for Central swimmers, especially with a well-loved coach and new additions to the team. Central’s girls swim team is proof that a small team with a big goal can accomplish big things.

JENNA SKIDMORE, 12

“I’m excited every year to come back to Central’s swim team because of how supportive the team environment is. We have a lot of fun at our travel meets and everyone on the team is so nice.”

Pinning Perfection

EMMARIE LOGAN / COPY EDITOR

The winter sports season has kicked off at Central and the wrestling team is not pressing the breaks when it comes to working hard and facing tough competition. Coached by Bryan Pyck, the wrestling team consists of both boys and girls, each competing through a weight class system.

Wrestling is a unique sport played by many but it’s not considered for everyone.

“It is important for you to have a hard-working attitude and stay honest with yourself to see success,” Cohen Bane, 11, claimed.

A key component of any sport is working towards improving every single day. Whether that means physically or mentally, the wrestlers at Central work hard to be better every time they hit the mat. Wrestling incorporates skill just as much as it requires a healthy mindset. As an individual sport, all the wrestlers must be on their toes ready to go at any moment.

“ I would describe wrestling as a very intense, personal sport that only certain people will have the ability to commit themselves to, but once you make the decision you won’t regret it,” Rylan Lashley, 11, said.

Half the battle of any sport is learning to love it through the pain, distress, and challenges you might face. The Central wrestlers face rigorous practices for the purpose of making them better not only as a player but also as an individual. Every challenge comes with many rewards however, some of those rewards turn into cherished memories.

“ I enjoy the memories I make when traveling with all my friends that are on the team and actually getting to see my progression from match to match.” Lashley expressed.

Wrestling is not the average Thursday night game. There are matches and duals at home throughout the season; however, the wrestlers get to travel to different tournaments around the state. Those trips are filled with fun, friends, and tough competition. Every time Central wrestlers compete, they showcase their talent and bring home some wins.

“Wrestling is different because while you practice as a team, it’s only you and your opponent on the mat. While being strong and fast is important, mentality and technique is what truly matters.” Lucas Gideon,

11, stated.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to understand how to measure success in sports. Athletes lose the fine line between good numbers and a good attitude, but the wrestlers at Central have learned a healthy balance of the two, creating such a welcoming and loving dynamic. When athletes can learn to accept the loss without accepting it personally, the potential to grow increases immensely.

“My favorite thing about wrestling is the feeling you get from winning or accomplishing a goal,” Bane said.

Every day the Bulldog Wrestling team chooses to work hard and because of their determination and discipline, they have an incredible program. The family dynamic creates a sense of community and confidence for each athlete. The wrestling program is continuing to grow year by year and it’s not hard to see why. The Bulldogs hope to accomplish goals and build each other up more than ever before this season. Tough achievements are never out of reach for the Central Wrestling team.

Cohen Bane, 11, takes down competitor.

Lucas Gideon, 11, holds Gavyn Walker, 12, immobile.

Hot Chocolate Review

CENTRAL HIGH TIMES STAFF

Hot cocoa is a staple of the winter season. So we put the best and brightest minds to the test to see which cocoa should grace your lips this year. And our opinions are in a magazine, so obviously they’re correct!

From Your J2

DESIGN - NATALIE REECE /

DIRECTOR

OF ART & DESIGN

Nestle

• Doesn’t mix well AT ALL.

• Very chunky.

• Best texture out of all of the other cocoas.

• Staff had little to say about this one.

• Could be a good choice if you’re feeling a little out-there.

HyVee

• The consensus was almost unanimous that THIS ONE IS NOT GOOD!

• Whatever you do, do NOT get this cocoa.

• The only good thing about this cocoa was that it mixed easily.

• Smelled weird.

• Was very watered down.

SwissMiss

• This was the best one.

• Most flavor out of all.

• Had a very rich taste.

• It’s not suprise that this classic cocoa beat all of the others!

A Letter From Santa...

We accept letters from readers or anyone of importance in the public eye who believes we have gotten a story wrong, or perhaps just wishes to speak their mind on a topic we may be covering. As such, the following does not reflect the views of the editors, advisors, or staff of the Central High Times, Yearbook, or anyone else affiliated with this publishing association.

Dear editor, writers, readers, and anyone else who may be reading this,

What in God’s name have you mud weasels done to me? How could anyone get someone so wrong? Why do you treat me so disrespectfully? I mean, other than the guy that Christmas is actually about, I can’t imagine a worse depiction of someone, and you would not believe how badly I’ve been treated. I’ve got a lot of problems with all you people, and I’m going to put them in the form of a list, since it seems like that’s the only way your numbskull kids seem to know how to talk to me.

Why do you guys always gotta make me fat and old? You’ve never seen me. For all you know, I’m immortal but still look like a 20 year old. Think about that for a moment. I’m probably the most attractive man you’ve ever seen, but no, for some reason, you think I’m an old man. And no, my belly does not jiggle like a bowlful of jelly, that’s not possible. For that matter, why do you make my wife old? In fact, how do you even know I have a wife? Did you even bother to ask me about that?

I don’t wear red, and combining the red with the beard makes me seem way too similar to Karl Marx.

I don’t use slave labor. The elves are paid, and you didn’t get them accurately either. They aren’t short, their ears are average size, and most importantly, THEY EAT MORE THAN JUST CANDY CANES. What kind of person could survive off of that, a rat? The elves eat a healthy diet of venison and berries. The only thing you did get right was the pointy shoes, but that’s the current popular style choice. I don’t give coal out to bad kids. I don’t even have the mineral rights in the North Pole-I sold them to OPEC.

I’m not Saint Nicholas. We’re buddies, but Nick’s a totally different guy. There are no sleighs, flying reindeer, magic, or anything. We do have reindeer, but we eat them. I fly a Boeing 747 and wear aviators.

STOP SENDING ME LETTERS. I already know what you want, did you forget that I already see you while you’re sleeping? My elves are better than the NSA (we contract them out to people once in a while), so it isn’t hard for me to find your Amazon search history. In fact, it isn’t hard for anyone to find your search history. But even if I wasn’t digitally stalking you, stop being greedy weasels and just accept what you get.

All your movies are wrong. I already told you I don’t look anything like what you think I do, you never get anything else right, and the number of horror movies about me is starting to get weird--making something wholesome dark isn’t creative anymore. Just stop with horror movies--you know what, just stop with all the movies.

I don’t start my operation until late November. There is absolutely no reason you need to start putting up those ridiculous inflatables of me in October. This is exactly what I want, and until my demands are met, Christmas is canceled. Insincerely, Santa Claus

WHAT YOUR CHOICE OF CHRISTMAS TREE SAYS ABOUT YOU

NATALIE REECE / DIRECTOR OF ART & DESIGN

Red Tree

If you’re choosing a green tree this season you’re probably not obsessed with Christmas. You enjoy the season but it’s not your favorite holiday. You’re into the classics and don’t want to stray too far from the norm. You’re most likely responsible and reliable.

Multicolor Tree

If you’re choosing a multicolored tree you like to live a little wild. You’re fun and loud and you don’t care who knows. You’re assertive and determined. People who know you know will think of you as a fun person. Not everyone can accept you for who you are, but you can. You’re proud to be a little extra.

If you’re choosing a red tree you’re probably a chill person. You’re most described as laid-back and easygoing. You may have some out-there tastes, but you make it work and others will respect you for having your own personal style.

Blue Tree

If you’re choosing a blue tree you’re probably not in the best headspace. You’re pretty fun and you like to stray from the norm. You have your own thoughts and opinions and they won’t be changed for anyone. You’ve probably cut your bangs yourself at some point in your life or dyed your hair on a whim. You’re a go-withthe-flow kind of person and you’re always down for a good time.

If you’re choosing a white tree you love everything to be in order. There’s probably a good chance that all of your other holiday decorations will be white as well. You are probably organized and practical. You enjoy the company of your friends more than your family this season. You are the one others can rely on when things get tough and you’re always put together.

Gold Tree

If you’re choosing a gold tree, you’re a very kind person. You like to do nice things for others. You always want to make sure that the people in your life know that they’re loved. You’re probably sensitive but it’s just because you’re empathetic. person.

The holidays are one of the most anticipated times of the year. There are many ways to invite the festive feeling into your own home. The most iconic of decorations for the season is the Christmas tree! These beacons of winter come in a variety of different shapes and sizes and they all say something unique about you and your personality!

Spirited Movie Review

if he can be redeemed, then it would have a larger impact on society as a whole.

shot. This is a visual masterpiece of film where you never want to take your eyes off the screen.

I’ve been getting very tired of the constant remakes and readaptations of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, because many of them have not had much to add to the table from the original story— until now. Spirited brings together an incredibly charming A-List cast of Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferell, Octavia Spencer, and many others to make a new imagining of the classic story with a musical that’s packed with satire. This film does something quite interesting as it looks at the entire inner workings of haunting people every Christmas Eve to redeem them into a better person as if it were your typical office job, which makes for great satire itself. Will Ferrel plays the ghost of Christmas present who has been dead for over two centuries and wants to retire from the job of haunting people to have another chance at life with a wife and children. However, there is one potential hauntee, Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds), that stands out to him so greatly due to his rather corrupt occupation which involves stirring up division and hate within the country through petty social media feuds along with his status of being supposedly “unredeemable”. Clint makes him want to stay on the job, because the ghost believes that

This film works best when it is comedic and showing the job perspective of being a ghost trying to haunt people or recreating someone’s past, present, and future as if it were a stage set. Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds have the perfect chemistry together as actors, because Reynolds plays the character that is either too charming or too annoying for the ghosts to be able to successfully manipulate the realism of the haunt and get the point across to him. He recognises himself as a horrible person and doesn’t believe he can be redeemed by the haunt. This makes Will Ferrell’s dynamic and comedic timing with Ryan Reynolds absolutely perfect.

I also love the musical numbers. They have great coordination and set designs behind them, especially within the opening of the film which shows how they break out into a song to dance and celebrate after each person gets successfully redeemed. There is quite a bit of cheer and comedy to be found within many of the musical numbers and they also give a lot of depth and personality to

This is not original material at any capacity and yet it still manages to bring a spin that is fresh and has its own unique ideas. It examines humanity as a whole through haunting as a job and modernizing what being a scrooge or a horrible person looks like today, but being very satirical about it and letting Ryan Reynolds be Ryan Reynolds in his own special way. I never thought I would truly enjoy and appreciate this film as much as I did, but it managed to be a great piece of comedy, holiday cheer, and having an overarching theme that change is not something that just happens overnight and you have to get up and decide to be a better person everyday. Whether or not you enjoy the many adaptations of Charles Dickens’s work, there is something here for everybody to enjoy. I strongly recommend Spirited as a fun holiday watch.

Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell dancing together

Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds as the Ghost and Clint Briggs.