The Highlander
What goes on Behind the Scenes of the Cafeteria? pg. 2 Learn about the Benefits of Crying for Mental Health pg. 3
Gymnix Tour
A week after their first show, the Gymnix team left on their tour for the next four days. They had plans to head to three schools for performances. The team was eager to travel, perform, and connect with students, hoping to inspire them with their skills.
On the bus, team pastor Diego Reynoso led a getto-know-you game, where members switched seats every two minutes to answer prompts like, “What do you enjoy outside gymnastics?” “What are your dreams beyond gymnastics?” They also created skits against drugs and alcohol with their seatmates. Upon arriving at Southern Adventist University’s (SAU) gym, they unloaded luggage and claimed sleeping spots. Until midnight, most of the team practiced tumbling and tricks into the foam pit off the trampolines.
The following day, the team left SAU for their show at Bowman Hills Adventist School. During practice, Logan Darrell split his chin while rolling over the globes but managed to finish the performance with his chin taped, with plans to get stitches later. The rest of the team completed the show safely and with smiles and excitement. A girl in the audience told them the performance brought her to tears, and Elkie Tidwell, sophomore, remarked, “The first show was my favorite because it was the most enthusiastic and encouraging.”
Each student was given ten dollars and let loose in a mall for lunch between the first and second shows. A group
of girls headed to Barnes and Noble while others went into clothing stores or immediately got food. At Lester Coon Adventist School, multiple moves, like Carson Watkins diving over around 13 girls and the butterflies went well. Unfortunately, Elkie Tidwell sprained her ankle, putting her out of commission, Zariah Hamilton, senior, got a concussion from stalling during a round-off back handspring back tuck, and at the very end,
while packing up, JP Mathis, gymnix sponsor, broke her wrist from a mat falling on her. Before the team returned to SAU, they took Mathis to the ER. SAU was conducting a class, so the team headed to an activity center called Activate. They could swim, play disc golf, or hang out in the welcome center. Most of the team picked
the pool to help them cool off after a long day. To end the day they all worked on separate moves, one being a four-high and another being a two-high butterfly.
Gymnix packed up their luggage the next day and headed to Providence Christian Academy in Lexington, Kentucky to perform. During the show, every older student cheered for Emmett Stevens because he used to be a student there. The team spent the rest of the day helping out at the church, and the team led a worship service for the students.
The following day, the team returned to the church to help make food. Some members led a song service, and a Highland alumnus, Anthony Allen, gave a short sermon. They spent the Sabbath afternoon at a park. Coach Rogers gathered the team for reflection. That is when Isaiah McKenzie, a senior, said, “We’re a team on the mats, but we’re also a team off the mats,” a sentiment that resonated with everyone.
The next destination was Malibu Jack’s, a Family Fun Park. There were many different activities, and each group went to various places, some bowling and others going to the arcade. It was the best activity to end the trip because there was team building but also lots of fun for everyone.
Magdalen Carlson
Photos from Magdalen Carolson
Academy goes on a Spread the Word Trip
THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA
While enjoying Highland Academy’s yummy cafeteria food, you may not think about the preparation, expenses, and effort that went into your meal. Highland staff such as Mrs. Anita Watkins, Ms. Stephanie Thornton, Mrs. Heather Severance, Mrs. Jill Reading and student workers help to prepare the food in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The cafeteria workers also take the time to work till 5 o’clock even on Friday schedule, and they work weekends so that everyone gets to enjoy a hot meal every day of the week.
Anita Watkins, Principal Watkins’s mother, is the food services director.
She’s worked at Highland Academy for 25 years straight and expresses that it is her passion. She plans all the school meals for each day, she even takes suggestions from students. She loves to try new things and experiment with all the meals. Each meal is repeated every six weeks except foods like three peas pasta that is a student favorite and repeated every 4 weeks. Watkins goes shopping three times a week to bring back all the materials and food needed, which can cost up to $1500 altogether and $800 is spent on fruit alone. Stephanie T, the assistant cook, is usually in the kitchen preparing all the food with the student workers and other staff. She came in to work full time in 2015 and worked part time a couple years prior. “I enjoy working with the teenagers and cooking is just a side item,” Stephanie T says. Reading and Severance work part time making sure the food is put on the serving bar ready to be served. Don’t forget clean-up! It’s all hands on deck for that. In the mornings, Anita Watkins comes in to cook breakfast before
anyone else at 3:30 am Then at around 8:00 to 9:00 am Mrs. Heather Severance arrives. After breakfast The two cooks work with seniors Sabrina Mann and Yari Rosario, alongside sophomore Evelina Charchian. The student workers clean the cafeteria rotating jobs each day; washing dishes and trays, sweeping and mopping, wiping down tables, and going back and forth from the pantry at the back of the kitchen to restock cereals and going into the big freezer to restock the fridge. Then in the afternoon, after lunch, from 3:15-5:00 pm you will see the afternoon crew made up of all 3 freshmen Emilee Siegel, Sing Muan, Micheal Bushey, and junior Nikita in the cafeteria. They rotate from each area of the cafeteria every day, one would be sweeping the patio outside of the cafeteria doors and mopping the kitchen. Another worker is cleaning trays and dishes, and the other would be cleaning the entirety of the dining room, where they wipe down tables and restock the cereal and fridge. If one worker is absent for the day the workers have to split up and finish the absent workers job as well as their own for that day. “It’s fun when everybody is here so we all get to talk, but
when someone doesn’t come we have extra work to do” Emilee Siegel. They work with the assistant cook Stephanie T. When no one is talking and everyone is focused on completing their job she loves to play old fashioned music and Christian music, but when everyone is chatting and conversing she turns on musical background music with no lyrics.
After dinner TJ Brantley and Yari Rosario come in to clean the cafeteria from 6:00 to 7:00pm.
Rotating each night, one worker washes dishes, cleans trays, sweeps, and mops inside the kitchen. The other cleans the entirety of the dining room restocking forks, spoons, knives, napkins, cereals and wiping down tables and vacuuming. Luckily, hours of time is saved due the salad bar only having to be restocked and wiped down everyday because Anita Wakins prepares it on Sunday before the school week begins.
Though working in the cafeteria is a time consuming job, as Mrs. Stephanie T says “Working here is not a hard job, it all just takes time,” the students and staff make it fun while also making sure everything is cooked and cleaned for those who eat in the cafeteria. Staff and student workers put lots of time into cleaning up, sanitizing, and preparing meals don’t be afraid to come up and show your appreciation for them, especially Anita Watkins since she’s put her whole life into feeding the school and keeping students healthy.
Addison Atlee
Shiloh Bushey
I used to be scared of what I considered bad emotions. Some would classify them as negative emotions. I would pretend not to care just so that I didn’t feel embarrassed about getting frustrated, angry or sad. I did this so much that I eventually went numb. When something negative happened, instead of processing my emotions, I would push them down and “keep moving on.” I couldn’t cry. This numbness didn’t just affect “negative feelings.” When I was happy, I felt drained from it. I pushed loved ones away. I had no energy and no motivation, then this summer I pieced it all together and found that emotions play such an important role in our humanity. Humans are the only animals that cry emotional tears. God gave them as a gift. When you find yourself sobbing, it is important to recognize it’s a gift to feel so deeply.
BENIFITS OF CRYING
the ones that express our emotions.
Crying restores balance to your body as well as comforts and relaxes you by dulling pain.
There are three types of tears. Basal, reflex, and emotional. Basal tears happen when you blink. They flush out toxins and keep your eyes lubricated. Reflex tears happen when something like dust gets in your eyes to flush everything out and protect your eye. Emotional tears are
When you cry for long periods of time, oxytocin and endogenous opioids, also known as endorphins, are released from your body. When these hormones are released, it gives your body a calm feeling. The benefits of crying are not felt immediately, and
it may take some time shedding tears before you notice that relaxed feeling in your body. When you cry, your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), responsible for things like digesting and sleeping, is activated. “It decreases respiration and heart rate while increasing digestion, and is activated during periods of relaxation, rest, or feeding” according to ScienceDirect.
Crying can help you recover from emotional imbalances.
When you cry, specifically happy tears, your body may be trying to heal from a bad emotional “episode.”
Crying happy tears releases stress and regulates our body’s stress response.
CNN News reported that “Emotional tears might be unique in their chemical makeup. Concentrations of prolactin, manganese, serotonin, cortisol and adrenaline have been detected in emotional tears, most of which have some role in mood and stress regulation.”
Crying can help you feel better because it forces you to address and consider the problem rather than suppressing it.
It’s important to recognize that holding in your negative emotions causes you to feel numb, eventually affecting even the more positive emotions. Instead of taking care of what’s yours and healthily dealing with your emotions, you lash out at those around you. Taking care of your emotions can heal your relationships with others and even yourself. Don’t bottle everything up. Understanding the importance of taking care of your emotions can be the key to a happy life.
Spread the Word is an outreach program in which Highland Academy students provide the entire church service to our Kentucky-Tennessee SDA Churches. This year had three groups of students. These small churches look forward to what the students can share through a children’s story, music or testimony. Spread the Word is held twice a year, once in November and once in February. This past November, the groups visited Jackson, TN SDA, led by Mrs. Lopez and Ms. Markie; Gallatin, TN SDA, led by Mr. Ashcraft; and Elizabethtown, KY SDA, led by school Chaplain Pastor Will.
A senior, Nalayne Matheson, visited the Gallatin church and she got the opportunity to share her testimony for the first time.
This experience made her
SPREAD THE WORD
want to participate in something like this again. Matheson said, “The overall experience was, for lack of a better term, Amazing! I connected with some of my classmates, whom I don’t usually interact with much on campus.”
A freshman, Micah Hallam, also visited the Gallatin Church, and Hallam called for the offering. He found it fun and interesting that he could participate in the activity as well as hear other people’s testimonies. When asked if Hallam wants to do a different role in the future, he responded, “I would possibly like to share a testimony on being led here at Highland Academy- as I was looking at schools closer to home, but God opened doors for me to be at Highland.”
felt they had an impact on the church through their performance.
A Junior, Joshua Moyo, visited Elizabethtown KY SDA church, where he played piano and cello.
In response to his experience, he said, “I loved playing music, and it seems like the people there really enjoyed it; I would join it again.” Similarly to Moyo, a Junior, Malik Ceballo characterized this experience as enjoyable, not solely due to it being his first time but because he and others saw the church members and
A freshman, David Duncombe, visited the Jackson church, he described his experience as “Everybody was nervous at the beginning, but in the end, we made it; what matters is that God was able to use us there.” Duncombe helped with singing and sharing his testimony. Unlike some of the other participants, this was not Duncombe’s first experience in sharing his testimony. Every participant in Spread the Word, regardless of whether it is their initial experience, emerges transformed. This transformation extends beyond the individual, influencing their roles and the testimonies they share, all of which reflect the active presence of God.
Bertin Shyaka
Photos from Muguel Bittencourt and Stephenie Rufo
THE STOP SIGN
On March 18, 2024, a discussion with the City Council of Portland, Tennessee determined that there was a need for traffic controlled intersections because of speeding. Approved on April 1, 2024, the City Council “resolved” the issue of speeding traffic by installing a 3-way stop at Airport Road and Jim Courtney Road intersection, Center Street and Dollar Avenue intersection, a 4-way stop at Center Street and Richland Street, and what’s been on Highland Academy’s radar, a 3-way stop at Academy Road and Old Brush Cemetery Road intersection.
There is no doubt people are annoyed with this new installment. It is important to recognize that using stop signs has been proven ineffective. Portland expressly states the reason for adding these four
stops is to slow traffic, which is not permitted according to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) section 2B.06 under General Considerations. It states, “YIELD or STOP signs shall not be used for speed control.”
Inappropriate stop signs encourage drivers to go faster to “make up” for lost time. Research shows that adding stops to “break speed” often results in intentional road law violations causing more accidents than in the first place. Thus, the stop signs placed at Academy Road and Old Brush Cemetery Road are improperly placed. According to the MUTCD, stop signs should be no less than five feet from the ground to the bottom of the sign in rural areas and positioned seven feet from the ground in urban areas. Highland Academy is in what is considered a rural area, so the stop signs should be placed five feet from the ground.
However, the new stop signs placed at the Academy Road-Old Brush Cemetery Road intersection are just under four feet from the ground.
The addition of the new stop signs has many people who travel that road upset as many have taken to social media to discuss. The people who live on the road appear to support the addition saying that it makes the road safer. Those that do not live directly on the road but use it to travel appear to be the ones frustrated with the new stop signs, especially as no real need appears for directing traffic as that is what stop and yield signs were designed to do. A petition has been shared referencing the laws previously stated by the MUTCD asking that the Portland City Council remove the stop signs. Nothing has been done, yet, so pay attention as you head to Highland Academy. Make sure to look out for those signs on Academy Road.
Shiloh Bushey
The Highland Academy Bell Choir was invited to participate in the 24th annual Bell Ringing Festival at the First Adventist Church of Toledo, Ohio. This invitation-only Ring Fest is a large-scale Bell festival featuring 18 different schools from all around the country. The Bell Choirs worked the entire school year for this event. This trip was a fantastic opportunity for the Bell Choirs to showcase their skills while promoting and showcasing their schools.
The HA Bell choir left for Toledo on October 30th, early at 8:00 a.m. They were excited as they soon began their long eight-hour journey. They then arrived at Toledo First SDA to register and set up their tables and bells. Soon after they finished, our sponsors and music director, Mr. Alvarez, treated the group to a nice meal at Olive Garden and then made their way
RING FESTIVAL
to the hotel where they would spend the next few nights.
The next day began with breakfast at the hotel and heading out for the first full day of practice. Once arrived at the church, there was a brief devotional by the head pastor, then all eighteen schools with 300 participants were introduced to the festival committee and clinicians. This year’s clinician were David Harris, from the worldfamous bell group known as the Raleigh Ringers; he has led well over 200 handbell festivals and workshops in 39 states and in England, Singapore, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Caribbean.
Sandra Ethun is a worldfamous arranger and clinician. She has been commissioned to write music for many events and numerous individual handbell ensembles. She has over 600 handbell pieces in publications, several sacred keyboard books, and teaching collections for information on handbells in the music classroom.
The days were long for the participants, with lots of practicing and
standing for long hours with small breaks. Workshops were available to help with specific skills in a bell repertoire, like bass bell weaving, note recognition, and bell maintenance. There were also oneon-one coaching sessions with the clinicians to help you polish up rough areas in some of the songs being performed. Genrikh Semanivskyy did the Bass Weaving and said, “It was very helpful with teaching us how to change bells faster.” Curtis Ballew said, “The workshops were extremely helpful in learning the techniques of ringing multiple heavy bells.” When the day of the performance arrived, there was a full schedule before the actual performance, some last-minute polishing of the music, different group photos, and preparing oneself mentally. Most groups were so excited about the opportunity to perform, but some were nervous to be on stage for those to watch in person or online. By the end of the evening, the festival was a resounding success for everyone involved. The performance went off perfectly, and everyone seemed to have enjoyed it. Mr. Alvarez was elated to be offered the invitation to our group to return next year and looks forward to many years of Highland Academy performing. On the way back to Highland Academy, the Bell Choir stopped at Taylor Mills SDA to play for the church service and were treated to a wonderful sabbath lunch. All this gave valuable experience to the Bell Choir showing what can be possible with hard work and dedication.
Kyle Dudgeon and Stephanie Silva
Addison Atlee
Student Highlights
Kevin Severance is a freshman at Highland Academy. He enjoys skateboarding, playing the piano, sketching, and photography: He has an instagram account specifically for his photos. Severance was born in Nebraska and moved from Texas to Alabama before moving to Tennessee in 2018 where he and his family became part of the Highland community. Two of his favorite quotes are “With great power comes great responsibility” from the very first Spiderman movie which has his favorite fictional character: Peter Parker. His other favorite quote comes from a teacher he had in elementary school, Mr. Russell who said, “I am who He says I am.” Some things you may hear from Severance are “androids are better” and “mercy.” He says that his favorite thing about Highland so far has been “they include God in everything and we can talk about God anytime we want.”
Meet Mia Gomez. Her family lives in Murfreesboro, so due to distance, Mia lives in the dorm. She is a junior at Highland Academy. She has one sister named Aurora Gomez who graduated from Highland Academy in 2024. She loves baby raccoons and she had a German Shepherd. Because of her love for animals, she works in the horse barn. In her spare time, she likes to do her nails and she enjoys shopping. Her favorite subject is U.S. History and her favorite thing about Highland Academy is her room. Her favorite movie is “10 Things I Hate About You.”
Meet Elkie Tidwell. She is a sophomore living in the dorm and long-term lives in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Tidwell has one brother named Ian Tidwell who graduated in 2021 from Highland Academy. Her favorite animal is either a jellyfish or a capybara. She owns four pets: two dogs, a cat and a guinea pig. Her favorite sport is either Badminton or Volleyball and she loves baking/cooking, making jewelry, singing, rock climbing and gardening. Her favorite thing about Highland Academy is “being surrounded by friends basically every time of the day.” Tidwell’s favorite classes are Biology and Algebra 2, “since we can talk,” she said. Her favorite Bible verse is John 14:27 which says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Martina Ruba is a senior dorm student who likes photography. She likes to go with the flow, so she hasn’t set up a project to work on for her photography. Her favorite restaurants are Cava’s a mediterranean fast food place and Moe’s. When listening to music, Ruba usually goes for Lofi as it is her favorite genre, but she also listens to the occasional Christmas song. Ruba has two dogs: an American Eskimo named Sparky and a Shetland Sheepdog named Teddy. The teachers are Martina’s favorite thing about Highland. Her favorite class is A&P saying, “Mrs. Kuntz makes it fun and challenging.” Ruba was born in Vietnam and grew up in Indiana. She can drive but chooses to do so at her leisure. Some of the sayings she is most known for include: “Help,” “Eww,” and “ Do we have a test today?” One thing Martina wants you to know about her is that she is not quiet outside of school, and she is a big talker with friends and family.
The Highlander Staff
Editor-in-chief
Magdalen Carlson
Designer and Art
Director
Tristan Naumann
Reporters
Shiloh Bushey
Addison Atlee
Bertin Shyaka
Samantha Anderson
Photographers
Miguel Bittencourt
Shiloh Bushey
Sponsors
Melissa Weisner
Stephanie Rufo
Activities/Art
Samantha Roddy
Rosie Fernandez
Casi Demaree
Social Media
Stephanie Rufo
Samantha Roddy
Rosie Fernandez
Magdalen Carlson
Shiloh Bushey
Samantha Anderson
When did the Mulligan’s Stew setting transition from Litchfield’s farm to the school ballfield? ------------------------------
Jared Litchfield, son of Jim and Alice, the founders, shared how Mulligan’s Stew started and how it transitioned from the Litchfield’s farm to the Highland Academy’s campus. His parents, Jim and Alice Litchfield joined the social committee at Highland SDA church and began what is known as Mulligan Stew. They started hosting the “Mulligan Stew” event just a mile down the road from Highland on their small dairy farm until the early 90’s. In 1992, Jim, Alice Ann, and many volunteers renovated the academy’s old dairy barn to become the new Pathfinder building. “Mulligan Stew” began being held there for many years while they were directors of the Pathfinder Club. Eric Weisner, Mulligan’s Stew is a church social function that was started by Dean (deceased) Evens and Donna Evens (now Dodd), Linda Weisner (now Evens), Michael (deceased) and Leslie Smith, Alice Ann (deceased) and Jim Litchfield.
Around the mid-2000s, it was decided to make it a campus-wide event instead of just a Highland Church social gathering, so they held it at the Academy’s ballfield with more mouths to feed, a second large pot of stew and chili giving more options
MULLIAGAN’S STEW
and leaving plenty of food to go around. The secret recipe for the Mulligan Stew is best kept among the Highland Church members, but no matter who you ask, they never want to share it.
Along with the large pots of stew and chili, Litchfield, and social committee and many volunteers would make homemade donuts for all to enjoy, but in the past few years, it has changed to the community bringing bread and desserts. In the past, Eric Weisner recalled a moment fond, “I believe one time we ‘bobbed’ for apples” (bobbing is trying to catch floating or hanging apples with one’s mouth). The young and old enjoyed hayrides, games, sitting around the fire, enjoying soup, warm cider and good company. Next year will be 50 years of Mulligan Stew with the Highland community.
What are your overall thoughts about the Mulligan Stew?
A freshman, Micah Hallam, said, “It was interesting that the stew was made of different things. I didn’t try it, but the chili tasted great.”
The Mulligan Stew is an event that
brings the church and students together. Hallam connected with many people and was part of the marshmallow fight. Ms. Nazarenas brought out the Marshmallows and others saw it as an opportunity for dodgeball. Like Micah, a sophomore, Saniya Livingston participated in the marshmallow fight and hung out with her friends during the event. “The marshmallow fight started small, The marshmallow fight started small, but only when others saw what was happening did they decide to join.”
A senior, Fawn Ndanyi, said, “My overall thoughts on the event are that it was fun, and the hayride was long, and at one point I got scared because he’s bringing us to the middle of nowhere, like the back of the pasture. I was able to make new connections, specifically with a freshman I didn’t interact often with.” The Mulligan Stew is a special event meant to bring the church family and Highland Academy together to interact and have fun together.
Bertin Shyaka
