The Charger | Winter 2019

DECEMBER 20, 2019 | I SSUE no 2

The Char g er

W I NT ER 2019 Photo by Halliday Mafrige

Photo by Analys Barinaga

Photo by Halliday Mafrige

Photo by Sarah Calvin

TABLE OF contents

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Halliday's Holiday Recipe

two holiday recipes passed down through . generations T he Differing Holiday T raditions of Duchesne throughout the school, students celebrate the . holidays differently, mostly revolving around . the tradition of food

try this fun DIY decor to bring a little homemade touch to the holidays

Catching up with a Charger Abroad Sophie's Year Abroad in Germany

Senior Spotlight take a look at these dominating debaters of the class of 2020!

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W hy You're Not T ik Tok Famous Yet / Featured Poems learn the ins-and-outs of Tik Tok and check . out an ice-themed poem

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5- Minute Christmas Craft

W hy I 'm "Dying" at City Hall learn why Emily is "dying" and what you can . do to help out the cause

Quiz which cold thing are you? find out here!

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ramsey Ruffeno

DESIGNER-IN-CHIEF 'T was T he Week Before Christmas

Halliday Mafrige

a fun, upper-school story about the week . before Christmas

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Analys Barinaga

Hallid ay's Holid ay Recipe... p ar t t w o

by Halliday Mafrige I n the spirit of the holidays and family time, I thought it would be appropriate to share a couple recipes that my two grandmothers wrote. My family uses both recipes a lot as the holidays roll around, so I thought it would be fitting to share them with the community.

"Cream CheeseCookies"

by Joni Baird

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1 cup of butter, softened

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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

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1 3oz package of cream

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Cream butter and cream cheese together in a large

cheese

mixing bowl.

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½ cup sugar

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Begin adding sugar in gradually until combined.

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1 teaspoon of vanilla

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Mix in vanilla.

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2 cups of flour

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Gradually blend the flour into the mixture.

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Add food coloring, if desired.

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Do not chill this dough even though it is very soft!

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Place the dough in the cookie press and place the

* a cookie press is needed for this recipe*

cookie dough onto the cookie sheet -

Bake for 8- 10 minutes

"Cherry Cobbler"

by L inda Mafrige

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2 cups flour

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

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2 cups sugar

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Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and milk together

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2 tsp baking powder

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1 ½ cups milk

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1 cup of butter

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2 cans of cherries

in a large bowl until well combined.

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Melt the butter and slowly incorporate it into the mixture.

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Pour most of the crust mixture into a square pan

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Put the cherries on top of the mixture and sprinkle the remaining bit of crust onto the top.

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Bake for 30- 40 minutes or until the top is brown.

Photo by: Halliday Mafrige

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Photo by: Sarah Calvin

Different Holid ay Trad it ions at Duchesne

by Halliday Mafrige W hen it comes to the holidays, everyone has different

experiences,

routines,

and

traditions.

me that it is not. Her family eats solely sweets on

W hether it is faith- based, or a pointless antic passed

Christmas Day. T hings like cookies, cakes, and candy

down for generations, traditions are something special

are regular snacks on December 25 for her and her

that each family holds dear. I thought it would be

family. One thing that stuck out to me while talking to

interesting to look into different holiday traditions

her was her mother?s homemade hot chocolate. ?I t is

around our Duchesne community and see how they

made from scratch,? Diaz- Perdomo remarks. ?She uses

differ.

milk chocolate that we?ve bought throughout the year

Since my family is so large, we need to make a lot of food. Seriously. We are going on over 70 people who all love to eat. To accommodate this large request for food, many women in our family come to my house to

and melts it in a giant pot.? T he hot chocolate is enjoyed by soaking bread in the warm, chocolaty mixture, ?the closest thing to a meal we have on Christmas.?

cook traditional L ebanese food to reflect our heritage.

Bella Savarino (11) and her family get together during

We make pounds of kibbe, grape leaves, hashweh, and

Christmas to celebrate their I talian heritage through

kousha mahshi every year the day before Christmas

food. T he day before Christmas Eve, the Savarino

Eve, which builds anticipation for the wonderful,

family cooks around twenty- five dishes of lasagna. T he

hearty meal to come. T his food is served on Christmas

lasagna is homemade from scratch and frozen

Eve, where our family (and food) splits up into two

throughout the year to have delicious I talian food right

main groups, knowing that if the whole family got

at

together that night, nobody would go home in time for

Christmas Eve Mass at St. T homas High School. After

Santa to come deliver presents! On Christmas Day,

the mass, their family is joined by their family?s florist

though, the whole family comes together and spends

for dinner. T his tradition has been going on for a few

all of Christmas Day together (well, after we all sleep

years, after Savarino?s aunt noticed the man working

in and open presents). Since there are so many of us,

in his flower shop alone on Christmas Eve and invited

Christmas Day is the only day of the year where our

him over for dinner. A smaller tradition in Savarino?s

whole family is in one place, and even though it might

more immediate family is her grandmother buying the

be hectic, I would not trade it for the world.

three Savarino children pajamas to sleep in Christmas

Sarah Elisa Diaz- Perdomo (10) celebrates Christmas with her family through Venezuelan food. She and her

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W hile this may seem confusing, Diaz- Perdomo assures

their

fingertips.

T heir

family

also

attends

Eve night. ?Sometimes they match,? Savarino says, ?but it is more the sentiment of knowing she cares.?

family make homemade tamales and empanadas and go

Even though everyone has a different tradition, it is

to the Nutcracker Ballet each Christmas. Her family

fascinating to see how many people enjoy foods based

also has a tradition of no meals on Christmas Day.

on their heritage or culture.

Cat ching Up W it h a Char g er Ab road

by Analys Barinaga Sophie Maus, class of 2021, has been taking a year off from Duchesne to study abroad in K oln, Germany. T he experience helped her to strengthen her German language skills and experience daily life abroad.

Sophie already has a foundation in German (in addition to 4 other languages) but living a year in Germany has given her much more experience, than, say, just knowing how to order a coffee. She has talked about politics, taken a physics and chemistry class, and analyzed texts all in German. English is limited to talking to friends from outside Germany or when in English class at school.

She lives in a residency with college students, most of whom are international and study in Germany because university is free (* cough, cough* , US?). For school, Sophie is attending a German public school, where she says the classes are very long, but there is less homework. ?German education is heavily influenced by post W W I I education reforms? she says, furthering that ?students are encouraged, and often made, to question the teacher, the text they?re reading, or another student?s work or opinion.? She likes to hang out with her friends from the residency, one of whom went to a Sacred Heart school in Mexico. On Friday and Saturday, Sophie likes to go out and enjoy herself, such as by going shopping at Neumarkt with friends or walking along the Rhine.

However, Sophie notes that ?Sunday is a ?Ruhentag?, or day of quiet and

Sophie's Year Abroad in Germany rest.? On Sundays, the streets are empty, stores are closed and ?the only sound you will hear will be your footsteps,? she says.

I n addition to being totally immersed in the German language, Sophie has also learned a lot about German culture. She says that ?although Germans might seem a little zurĂźckgehlten (held back), or cold, when you break that wall between you and another German you?ll encounter a super loyal friend for life.? According to her, the food isn?t that great, unless you like potatoes. (Although the bread and pastries are good). Unfortunately, the weather is also dreary. For fashion, Germans tend to opt for comfort instead of glamour.

According to Sophie, ?makeup and just dressing elegantly, isn't really a thing here. I t's not I taly or France.?

Sophie says that she was surprised to find that Germany was heavily influenced by T urkish culture because of immigration. From music to trends, a lot of culture there has Arab roots.

Christmas is very important in K oln. To celebrate, many Christmas market set up, people make traditional Christmas baked goods, and families celebrate with an advent wreath. On December 6- St. Nicholas?s daychildren get chocolates in their slippers.

Residents of K oln are especially proud that their city is considered the city of the three kings, because of relics in the city. Other holidays in Germany include Carnival on November 11 and another Carnival

throughout the week before L ent, which includes dressing up, parades, and, of course, beer. Surprisingly, Oktoberfest isn?t a thing K oln. I n fact, only an area called Bavana in Southern Germany celebrates it.

Even though it may sound fun to take a year off and go study abroad, it?s not all rainbows and sparkles; it can be hard to adjust to life in a new country, especially if you?re there alone. T hankfully, Sophie says that adjusting was not as difficult a she thought because of supportive people she found, her comfort with the language, and the city she was in. ?K oln is a very international city.

T here are a lot of foreigners here and there?s absolutely no tolerance for racism,? Sophie notes. L iving by yourself leads to a lot of personal growth. Being away from family is a big change, not just because Sophie misses them, but also because of having to do certain things by herself, like keeping track of her own expenses, time, and traveling by herself.

Sophie has taken advantage of living in Europe by going on several trips. Recently, she went to Russia and visited a friend there. About the experience Sophie says: ?W hen I first got here [ to Germany] , I was afraid to take the tram to school. But a month ago (in October) I flew to Russia by myself. After that experience, I ?ve become fearless.?

Overall, Sophie has enjoyed the experience of living abroad. ?"I have learned so much, and I wouldn't trade it for anything," she says.

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Photo by: Analys Barinaga

by Ayza Mushariff

Five Minute Chr ist m as Craft s To get into the holiday spirit, Christmas decorations are a necessity.

But if you're anything like me, you'll leave it for the last minute, scrambling to put something together. Well I 've got just the thing for you. All you'll need is some bowtie pasta, a needle with string, and your choice of decoration (e.g. paint, glitter and glue, or spray paint).

T rust me, this homemade decoration will be a fun last- minute activity for the family that'll surely make for good dĂŠcor. And no, the instructions aren't like a manual for assembling a desk. T his DI Y project is simply 5 steps. So, let's get to it.

1. Gather up all your materials (here's the list if you didn?t catch it earlier) - Bowtie pasta - Needle with string - Any decorations (e.g. paint, glitter and glue, spray paint) 2. Put some bow tie pasta in boiling water for about 10 seconds (jut to soften it a little bit) 3. Use a needle with a string to go though the center of each bowtie (use as many as you want) 4. Now decorate? paint them, glitter them, or use spray paint!

5. Hang it up for a simple, homemade, and crafty Christmas decoration or string it around your Christmas tree for a little bit of DI Y fun.

See! I t wasn't that hard. 5 easy steps to decorate the house and entertain the family all it once. Merry Christmas :)

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Senior Spotlight

by Sarah Calvin

Sylvia

Avnika

Danielle

Sylvia Duarte has been at Duchesne since middle school, and participates in NHS, advanced choir, and debate. Duarte looks forward to debate camps in the summer, and she enjoys all the fun travel trips with the debate team. Duarte is a comedian among the senior class and continues to make the most out of her senior year.

Super star Avnika Dubey, has been at Duchesne her whole life. Mrs. Hausmann?s music class in lower school has been Dubey?s favorite class at Duchesne. She participates in NHS, student council as class president, advanced choir, and most importantly, debate.

Dubey?s positive attitude keeps all who she sees in a joyful mood.

Duchesne L ifer Danielle L inbeck found debate by accident during her freshman year but ended up falling in love with the activity. She looks forward to summer debate camps and debate travel trips; moreover, she is said to be the best driver according to Ramsey Ruffeno. L inbeck lives by the motto ?PMA,? which stands for positive mental attitude, and she spreads this cheer among her teammates and peers.

Photo by: Halliday Mafrige

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q uiz

By: Ramsey Ruffeno

What Cold Thing AreYou?

A?s- Alright STOP Collaborate and LISTEN! You?re the coolest kid around and this holiday season is no exception. Th ou gh som e days m ay be TOO COLD, you?re like Vanilla Ice, and rap your way through life.

B?s- Winter?s a good time to stay in and k n ow t h at you ?r e lit er ally t h e h appiest per son alive and all of you r f r ien ds ar e so t h an k f u l f or you! Like Olaf, you stay positive even in the most stressful times (like midterms) and you make the most out of any situation.

C?s- Rawr, XD. Happy Holidays! Did you know that a group of polar bears is called a celebration? Like polar bears you like having a lot of friends and a lot of friends like having you! ?Rawr grr grr rawr rawr grrr grr rawr!!? (that means I love you in polar bear).

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D?s- Its no STRANGE THING that you?re the nicest person around. Like a slurpee, you?re sweet, fresh, and everyone likes you. Like Dr. Alexei, people com e t o you t o h elp w it h t h eir issu es, an d you m ak e a gr eat im pact in ever yon e?s lives.

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W hy You're Not Tik Tok Fam ous Yet

Feat ured Poem

by Ramsey Ruffeno

Or at least that's how it's supposed to go

T he holidays are blanketed I n a thick coating of snow

T iktok is, simply put, the easiest way to get famous via social media, but it also takes a GREAT DEAL of luck to get your

But here you'll find

name out there. Nevertheless, people still put hours of effort into

A Warm, sunny day

the app just to gain fifteen views and three likes (not an

I f you squint you'd think it was May

exaggeration).

T here are a few reasons why only a select few out of the millions of videos produced actually ?make the cut?. First, it all depends on the T iktok algorithm. I f your account is public and you post a video, right away it appears on someone?s For You Page (fyp hereafter). I f that first person double taps on the video you posted, then the newly liked video gets sent to two other FYP?s and if those people ?like it?, then the video gets sent further

Without the cold there how could the holidays be the same?

T he picture seems to not fit in the frame

down the line.

T he next reason why people don?t get famous is because of the material itself. I f the joke is overused, then there is a significantly lower chance of someone liking the video. I f the video quality is low (blurry, bad lighting, etc) than people will keep scrolling.

To close, next time you post a T iktok, know that there is a one

So we take a new one Because it doesn't matter the temperature outside But the warmth in our hearts that we in no way hide - Gaby Smith

in a million chance you?ll get famous, BUT at least you tried ;).

Photo by: Halliday Mafrige

Photo by: K atie Giveon

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Photo by: Halliday Mafrige

Photo by: Sarah Calvin

W hy I'm "Dying " at Cit y Hall

by Emily Cabello Merry December 6th! As many of you (don?t) know, December 6th is an important day in the United States and for the UN. Not only does the sixth actually mark one of the days that the UN Climate Change Conference will be held in Chile and the day that hundreds of strikes will take place in the United States, but it also marks the day that?

I ?m ?dying? at City Hall.

I n Houston, the Sunrise Movement is hosting a die- in strike at city hall to demand action regarding the climate crisis. W hile it is not as large as the September 29th climate strike, it?s appeal is more action- based than it is based on numbers. T he strike will show officials who work at city hall that young people are serious about the well- being of the planet and about how the climate crisis will be handled. I t?s purpose is to draw attention to the strike and the cause: more action and legislation against rapid climate change. So, for these reasons, I , along with other high school and college students, adults, and other members of the community, will be ?dying? at city hall. So, what is a die- in? From what I ?ve been told and heard, it is (in Camille?s words) planking

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on the steps of city hall. I don?t know exactly what this entails, but what I do know is that from 3- 5pm, I will be joining fellow Houstonians in a die- in.

Hopefully, the die- in will attract the media and other prominent members of the community to take an interest in our efforts for climate justice, and with enough traction, we can use these media outlets to spread our cause to other young people and officials who can put forth legislation that will help stop this climate emergency.

FUN FACT : ?Climate Emergency? has been named the Word of the Year for 2019 by Oxford Dictionaries because it is ?a word or expression shown through usage evidence to reflect the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the passing year, and have a lasting potential as a term of cultural significance.? T his word was chosen from a short- list that included words like ?climate action? and ?extinction.? Clearly people have been talking about the emergency that has rocked media outlets everywhere!

'Tw as The Week Before Chr ist m as

by K atie Giveon

'T was the week before Christmas, when all through the school, T he students were trying to just keep their cool.

T he Quizlets were made by each student with care, Awaiting the weeks when they?d not be there;

T hey were shocked to see that it was Mrs. Swenson.

W ho lives far above the equator line.

Faster than ChaCha, through the blue sky they came,

He says that he?s seen the hard work you?ve put in

And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

From textbooks and novels, the students still read

"Now, English! now, L anguage! now Math and History!

W hile visions of sleeping in danced in their heads;

On, Science! on, Art! on, Tech and T heology!

And the teachers in classrooms could barely wait;

To the top of the Oak! to the top of Fine Arts!?

At last they had reached their well- deserved break!

W hen on the W hite House L awn there arose such a clatter, W hispers of CongĂŠ soon turned to a chatter.

Away to the windows they flew like a flash,

(And on each reindeer?s plaid harness was a small Sacred Heart) T hey all ran outside to see what?s going on, As she landed the sled and stepped onto the L awn.

I n her hand was a letter, with a red seal on top,

Pulled up the blinds and let out large gasps.

And when she started to speak, all other talking just stopped:

W hen what to their wondering eyes did appear,

?T he Upper School?s silent ? it?s a Christmas miracle!

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,

(Cause there?s no other way to explain a thing so atypical)

With a well- known driver beloved by a ton,

Now, I ?m holding a letter from a dear friend of mine

And more impressed, he?s never been.

He says to Ninth Grade, the first year?s almost gone; Tenth is almost halfway, just keep holding on; Eleventh is rough, but you?re close to the top; And to T welfth Grade, you?re near the stop.

So congrats to you all for a job so well done!

You?ve certainly earned the right to some fun.?

With those parting words, she got into the sleigh, And with a wave, she drove up, up, and away.

But they heard her exclaim as she drove out of sight ? ?Merry Christmas to all, and see y?all in a fortnight!?

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The Char g er