2019-2020 Issue 3
Table of Contents Page 1: Sadie Hawkins Page 2: Mock Election Page 3: Homecoming Page 4: Sports Page 5: Life Groups; Artisan Fair Page 6: Rescue Mission; Literacy Day Page 7: Fair Highlights Page 8: Mental Health Awareness Page 9: Student Life Page 10: Pumpkin pie or not?
An All American Good Time by Sienna Mehling
was a smart idea, because it was a cold night. All of STUCO did a great job putting it together and it was a big success! After Sadie’s ended, people went out to eat or hang out after. In particular, the freshman class had an after Sadie’s hang out where they played a game and all spent time together. Other groups of people did similar things as well. Overall, Sadie’s this year was one of the most successful Sadie’s we have had for awhile and everyone had a great time.
Immanuel students enjoyed an All-American evening by the river for this year’s Sadie Hawkins. The event was held at the beautiful Balakian Park along the King’s River from 6:30pm to 9pm on Saturday, November 2nd. That night, they served all-you-can-eat tacos from Ortega’s, as well as popcorn, cotton candy, funnel
cakes, and s’mores. Students took photos in front of a large American flag and a patriotic backdrop. Everybody had their blankets and chairs set up to watch the movie "The Sandlot". Some students decided to bring heaters, which
Mock Election 2019 by Jonah Gomez
Candidates Orosco, Perez, Shorey, Simonian, and Webb
The Mock Election has been a staple in the Immanuel High school experience for 12 years. Senior students from the civics and agricultural government classes split into different political parties to take on the challenge of becoming Immanuel’s next (fake) President. One student is chosen by their party for the president position while the others help gather information and make the ever classic party videos. The videos are shown in chapel to introduce the candidate and their party. After, all the candidates have a debate and are asked relevant questions relating to modern issues. They must answer according to their parties’ values.
The election never fails to be entertaining, shocking, and you never know which party is going to come out on top. This year there were five parties and five candidates running for the presidential title: Taylor Simonian for the Democratic party, Julian Shorey for the Republican party, Gunner Webb for the Libertarian party, Max Perez for the Democratic Socialist party, and Nathan Orosco for the Green Party.
Every student has a job for their own respective party. Students who are not candidates are responsible for researching issues, compiling information, and speech writing or editing for their candidate. In doing all this, students from both civics and agricultural government learn how the American voting system works. This year Nathan Orosco, candidate of the Green Party won the presidential title.
A Royal Legacy by Erin Orosco
Homecoming, and specifically the yearly crowning of the queen, is a special event that represents tradition for students and alumni alike. This year is especially sentimental because it holds historical value. On October 18, Claire Ramirez was crowned Immanuel’s 2019 homecoming queen, making this the 53rd year Immanuel has crowned a queen. Immanuel’s very first homecoming queen, Anna Marie Thiesen, was crowned in 1966 and is none other than Ramirez’s grandmother. The two hold a significant bond, and Ramirez says, “My grandma is such an influential and inspiring person in my life. It’s so special that now we both get to share this experience.” For these two ladies, the crown represents family, and the experience is something they will both have for the rest of their lives. Crowning Immanuel's First Queen, Anna Marie (Jost) Thiesen
Homecoming Highlights
2019 Homecoming Queen Claire Ramirez with her grandmother
Fall Sports Recap by Ronnie Alvarado
Immanuel’s Girls Tennis, Girls Golf, Girls Volleyball, and Football are all wrapping up. Senior Alyssa Goerzen, from the girls tennis team, says “My favorite part of this season was getting to meet new girls and having fun with them during practice and games.” She also added “laughing at memes with Lexi while we weren’t playing was always fun.” When asked if there was anything she wished she had done different, she said “I wished I brought headphones because the bus ride is pretty boring and no one likes sitting around doing nothing when you’re not playing”. Junior Winston Williams from the football team said “My favorite part of this year is all the things I’ve learned about the game and success.” When asked about what he would change he said he wouldn’t change anything.
Senior Molly Klassen from the girls golf team said, “My favorite part of the whole season this year was driving to the matches with my team. We would get coffee and tell each other funny stories. It was a good way to calm our nerves and get in a good mood before matches because your mood affects how you play”. She also added, “If I could have done anything differently I wish I would’ve enjoyed it more. I really loved playing but sometimes it’s easy to be too hard on yourself and not enjoy it. Now that it’s over I realize how much fun It was just to be with everyone and enjoy such a social sport.” Senior Mackenzie Coats from the girls volleyball team said “My favorite part of this volleyball season so far has been our team retreat to Cambria. It was so much fun hanging out with all the girls just messing around and creating memories spending the weekend together.” When asked if she wishes she could have done anything different this season she replied with, “I wish I wouldn’t have been affected by an injury this season but besides that I wish I just cherished all the moments a little more. This is the last time I’ll be with some girls I’ve been playing with since sixth grade. I’ve developed so many friendships through Immanuel volleyball and the sport and all the people I’ve become close with and hold a special place in my heart.”
Winter Sports on the Horizon by Aly Perez
We are about to enter November, which means Winter Sports are starting. Boys and girls soccer along with boys and girls basketball are already practicing in preparation for their first games. This year, girls soccer has a new coach, and Steve Ramirez is very excited to be this year’s head coach. Ramirez is father to current students Claire, Maddie, and Steven. Both of Coach Ramirez’s daughters will be on the team. John McCullough is also new this year, and is coaching boys soccer.
According to our Athletic Director, Mr. Franco, “Coach McCullough has a passion for soccer and coaching.” Joe Vazquez has been coaching girls basketball for two years as an assistant, and is taking over the head coaching position for the first time. Chris Woods is returning to coach boys basketball in an attempt to repeat the success they had last year when they made it to the state finals. Come out and support Immanuel’s winter sports!
Immanuel Students Visit Fresno Rescue Mission By Nathan Orosco
Immanuel students were given the opportunity in early October to step out of their comfort zone and serve the less fortunate. The Fresno Rescue Mission is a safe haven for those in the Fresno area who are struggling with addiction or other issues, such as poverty. It has been tradition for Immanuel students and members of RMBC to travel to Fresno and volunteer for a weekend, usually spending the night. However, due to an increase in need, the facilities are full and volunteers can no longer spend the night, but that didn't stop a group of students from spending a full day of volunteering a few weeks ago. Led by Luke Thomas and Joel Keresey, the students went to the Fresno Rescue Mission where they received a brief tour before traveling to the Tower District where they spent the morning cleaning up a safe haven for children named Martin Park. The clean up consisted of mainly yard work and picking up trash, as well as befriending an English bulldog named Eno. A smaller group returned to the Rescue Mission to serve lunch. Once all had returned and eaten, they heard personal testimonies from a few staff members at the Rescue Mission before being enlisted to pick up trash within a few block radius around the mission. Then there was some recreational time where volunteers could hang out with the Rescue Mission staff and play games such as volleyball and basketball. After dinner, the day ended with a heartfelt chapel service.
Elementary Literacy Day by Sienna Mehling
Immanuel’s campus was recently invaded by a parade of storybook characters. Elementary students dressed as a favorite book character and walked through campus hallways lined with cheering junior high and high school students. When they got back to class, there were special guest readers that come from the community and Immanuel that read to the students. The rest of the day is filled with book-themed activities, including a read and feed, book swap, a book-themed treat provided by the Parent Teacher Fellowship, lights out reading, and rotating through other classrooms. The goal of the whole day was to focus on the love of reading. Even the teachers get involved in the activities. Last year, Mrs. Hillner and Mrs. Bese were the White Witch and Dwarf from “The Lion, The Witch and The
When asked why this trip is important, leader Luke Thomas said, “It is not only a chance to serve, but a chance to see the life transformations that take place when people show compassion.”
Wardrobe,” and their costumes included a homemade cardboard sleigh and a “reindeer.” Elementary administrative assistant Mrs. Wall states, “It truly is one of the best days of the school year. We get to have fun, while instilling a love for reading in the students.”
Mrs. Garrett and Mrs. Wall are characters from popular children's book "Miss Nelson is Missing"
Mrs. Friesen's first graders show off their love for books
Life Groups, Explained by Jordyn Baptista
Life groups are Immanuel’s version of clubs, but instead of after school they meet every other Wednesday. In 2008 when Mr. Wood was principal, he thought of the idea. Back then Life Groups didn’t have a theme, they weren't co-ed, and just talked about life. Things have changed. Here are the Life Groups for the 2019-20 school year.
Mrs. Deaver's Art Club works on chalk drawings
Ping Pong Club- This club is run by Mr. Goertzen and is an all boys club where students play in ping pong tournaments. Board Game Club- This Co-Ed club is run by Mr. Sorensen, Mr. Bergthold, and Mr. Thomas. In this Life Group students play board games like Checkers, Connect Four, and The Game Of Life. Spirit Club- This co-ed club is run by Mrs. Vanleeuwen. Students can show school spirit and their creativity by
Immanuel Artisan Fair by Taylor Simonian
I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the holiday season is right around the corner! The bad news is that the cold months are starting to rear their ugly heads, people are beginning to hint at what they want for Christmas, and you will need to start gathering gifts for all of your cousins and aunts and uncles and so on and so on. The problem is this: what is something original that you can get for all of these people while also pleasing them? Luckily for you, there will be an Artisan Fair co-run by FFA and IHS StuCo right here on campus from
making posters for upcoming events like Sadie’s, sports, and more. Baking Club- This is an all girls club run by Mrs. Laemmlen and Mrs. Friesen where students can bake their heart out, making cookies, cakes, and other treats. Restaurant Club- This co-ed club is run by Mrs. Johnson and Ms. Myers. Students can get food from restaurants in the surrounding community. Intramural Club- This co-ed club is run by Mr. Wood, and involves all things sports related. Baseball Club- This all boys club is run by Mr. Franco with only one rule: you must love baseball as much as he does. Thrifting Club- This club is run by Mrs. Ayers and Mrs. Robbins, where girls learn to up-cycle objects that they find in thrift shops. Music Theory- This co-ed club is run by Mr. Robbins, teaching kids how to speak the language of music. Art Club- Let out your creative side with Mrs. Deaver and learn to draw, paint, and more. Homework Club- This co-ed club is run by Mr. Ayers and gives students a chance in their busy day to slow down in a peaceful environment to work on some homework. Coffee & Christ Club- This all girls club is run by Ms. Martinez and Mrs. Burnham. In this club students can visit coffee shops and talk about the Bible. December 6-7. The fair will consist of small and studentrun businesses, selling candles, embroidered goods, hand painted items, jewelry, etc. It is the perfect place to stock up on gifts for the holiday season. Some businesses you might recognize are “Joy Girl Designs”, owned by teacher Deniele VanLeeuwen, “The Elegant Rose”, owned by sophomore Shyanna Ward, and “Pretty Little Succulents”,owned by 2019 alumni Morgan Thoneson. So, if you are interested, it will be open at 2:45pm-5pm on Friday, December 6, and at 11am-4pm on Saturday, December 7 on the main campus green. Come on down and support your local small businesses!
Big Times Are Back! by Julia Scarborough
Immanuel’s own FFA students brought home many top awards from the Fresno Fair in October! Here's an explanation that will help you understand the results. Market Class- the animal is scored on marketable qualities such as how much meat it will have to offer once it is harvested and how well the animal presents themselves in overall appearance. Showmanship Class- the animal and student are judged on how well they work as a team and presentation and knowledge of their animal. Beef Cattle- Carissa Hall earned 2nd place in Market Class and 3rd place in advanced showmanship Swine- Nicole Ward earned TOP title of Supreme Champion Market Hog, which means Nicole exhibited the BEST hog in the whole barn. She also earned 3rd place in showmanship. Trevor Piek earned 4th place in Market Class. Haley Piek earned 5th place in Market Class. Colton Vogt earned 6th place in Market Class. Sheep- Lauren Krahn earned 1st in Market Class and made the cut for advanced showmanship and placed 13th. Jorja Caviness earned 4th place in Market Class.Mia Barbosa earned 5th place in Market Class.
What Not to Bring to Friendsgiving by Erin Orosco
Rabbit Show- Evan Kaufman earned 2nd place in the All Other Breeds Class.Annika Deaver earned 5th place in mini lop breed Class Tristan Hará also did a good job and learned a lot. Ornamental Horticulture- Delilah Ayers placed 1st with her succulent project arrangement. Jaden Paboojian placed 1st with his succulent project arrangement Haley Piek placed 1st with her succulent project arrangement Photography- Kaity Deaver placed 1st with her Fair themed photos “From the Sierra's to the Sea”. Trash to Treasure- Trevor Piek entered his own project and won 1st place. Congratulations to all the exhibitors and we're excited to see how you all do next year!
Dry Turkey- Please, just don’t. Turkey is already not that great, not sorry about it. Plain Green Beans- If you’re going to be that friend that brings a vegetable, at least spice it up. Throw some bacon on there if anything. Pumpkin Pie- See other article for details. Canned Cranberry Sauce- Never had it but it looks gross. Scalloped Potatoes- Potatoes come in so many other, better forms. Please pick one. Any Brand of Sparkling Cider that’s Not Martinelli’s- Shouldn’t have to explain this one. A Bad Attitude- It’s called THANKSGIVING for a reason. Your Uninvited Significant Other- This is not the appropriate time to introduce us to your “soulmate” Chad. We don’t care if you met in a Kohl’s. And last but not least, please don’t show up wearing an ugly Christmas sweater. You think it’s funny, but it’s not. Let Thanksgiving have its day.
Shedding Some Light by Madisyn Baker
Do you remember that girl you went to middle school with? The girl that sat in the back of the classroom, sat alone at lunch time, and kicked around the rock she kept in her pocket just in case she got bored waiting for someone to love her? The girl you heard crying in the bathroom stall next to yours? She was the one who rarely received any hellos, and if she did, it was out of pity. School, for some people can be very fun; an exciting place full of learning and socializing. For most people, getting up in the morning, eating breakfast, and getting to school on time is a simple, everyday occurrence. But for others, getting up in the morning is a struggle. Some wake up feeling more tired than when they went to sleep. Some wake up wishing they hadn’t, but no one sees that. Most students can’t always understand what a day in the life of someone with depression or anxiety actually looks like. It’s an anxiety attack waiting to happen when turning in assignments, it’s struggling to fit in even when you are surrounded by friends, and it feels like telling anyone about your problems isn’t an option. It’s feeling overwhelmed, hating everything that makes you open up, and it’s hurting without any pain. A common misconception is that because a person is surrounded by positivity they would would be mentally stable, or at least radiate the same optimism, but this is not always the case. Immanuel is a Christian school with Christ-based teaching. Students go to chapel two times a week, and are required to take Bible classes every year. Because of all the godly support we have here, students tend to think there’s not many students that actually deal with mental health issues, but this is sadly not the case. These issues do still exist in the Immanuel community, even despite the constant uplifting spirit of the staff and students here. Students can deal with sleep disorders, eating disorders, and many other mental illnesses. Just because someone deals with these issues does not mean they are any less than anyone else. You belong, not only as a student of immanuel, but a member of society. We must remember that mental health has not ended. We talk about it and we practice being kind to people, but mean and cruel comments are not always the reasons behind depression. Some students deal with DNA-issued depression. Some depression was ignited as a small child due to bullying. As Immanuel students we need to remember depression is nothing to take lightly. It exists in the lives of many people, and can take control of anyone.
Mental Health: A Crippling Epidemic by Ethan Garcia
The mental health statistics are unbelievable. From 2000 to 2016, the suicide rate rose 30 percent overall. Around 11.3 percent of adults have experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, and around 20 percent of teenagers suffer from depression. As part of a new California law, starting this school year, school ID cards for every junior high, high school, and college student at any public, private, or charter school will have suicide prevention information printed on the back. At least one current Immanuel student struggles daily with clinically diagnosed depression. He shared his experience living with depression and how he’s able to overcome his issues. He states that he tends not to think about it and how he created a bond between his family, but no one trusts him alone anymore. He says that it is hard to limit himself, his time alone takes too much out of his day, and he often does not eat enough and deals with constant sleep deprivation. He feels that it is hard to relate to anyone. He struggles with a low sense of self esteem but it gives him confidence with talking to others. Mental health in general is a sensitive subject that shouldn't be taken lightly. If you have any issues, please seek out others, either a trusted teacher, close friend, or professional help. The hotline phone number on the back of the student ID cards is 1-800-273-8255.
Heaven Gains a New Angel by Nathan Orosco
Dear Immanuel students, it is my somber and grave responsibility to inform you of the death of the beloved Theresa the Praying Mantis. Theresa, the much misunderstood class pet of Mr. Thomas, is remembered by no heirs and is known to have eaten the only significant others she ever had. While the cause of death is unknown, it is clear in our current environmental state that we can only blame two words: climate change. Clearly the early death can be blamed solely and completely on those that have the largest carbon footprints.
Must we see all our pet praying mantises die? Though she was in the lives of students for such a short time, Theresa left a huge imprint in the lives of students. As chirpy student Trevin Paulson remembers, “My favorite memory of Theresa was when she bit the head off of a male praying mantis that she was trying to eat. This is the beauty of the circle of life. Eat your own.” Senior Josh Cabaluna says, “When I heard Theresa died, I couldn’t stop laughing, and I knew how the Joker feels on the inside.” He continued in tears, “Now I have no idea what to do for Sadies.” Josh, still in mourning, could not muster the strength to participate in the homecoming talent show, saying, “The mere thought of it
Your Handy Guide to Gen Z Slang by Lexi Perez
Did you know Gen Z has taken over the internet? No cap, dude! Generation Z are kids born in the years ranging from 1995-2015. Therefore, this generation has never known life without technology. On social media, many new words have been made up by teens and young adults. Here are some slang words to get a better understanding of what we are saying:
was just too difficult.” The only thing he finds the strength to play and sing is “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton. This event, though saddening, will hopefully bring both staff and students together.
No cap- not joking, being serious I’m dead- something that made you laugh uncontrollably Lowkey- not obvious, secretly What’s the move- where are we going? Spill the tea- telling gossip/news Cringy- gross, cheesy Period- ending a conversation Cop- going to buy something And I oop- in shock, being interrupted That ain’t it- unacceptable That’s a bop- a really good song It’s been a cool minute- haven’t seen you in a while Take the L- losing at something Coo- cool Sicko mode- go crazy
Pumpkin Pie is Not Good (and You Can’t Change my Mind) by Erin Orosco
As the Thanksgiving season approaches, I resume my tirade against pumpkin pie, with the sole goal of convincing anyone who will listen that pumpkin pie is overrated (because it, in fact, is). To begin, one thing you must understand is my love of pie. I mean LOVE of pie. As in, “prefer it over every other dessert, give me birthday pie instead of birthday cake love”. I’ve been eating pie since I could hold a fork, and have given pumpkin pie many chances, only to draw the same conclusion every time: it sucks. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that not only do other people like pumpkin pie, for some it’s their favorite kind of pie. This concept is foreign to me, and quite frankly I’m offended that people can have an opinion that wrong. At this point you might be searching for my reasoning, or if you hold the aforementioned wrong opinion, you have stopped reading. For starters, know that my favorite kind of pie is apple. A fruity classic, as most pies are. Pumpkin itself however, is a fruit that masquerades as a vegetable,
which has no place in any pie besides chicken pot. Pumpkin pie filling has to be taken from the inside of the pumpkin, the guts. This creates a single, solid mess which lacks any variance in texture. Even more so, it has been proven that you can’t make a good pumpkin pie (oxymoron itself) from a real pumpkin. There are too many elements, namely stringy fibers and seeds, pushing bakers to use canned pumpkin purée. But what some don’t know is that this canned “pumpkin” is actually made from less stringy, sweeter, and more colorful winter squash. If pumpkin isn’t even the prime ingredient in its own pie, you might as well call it what it is: unidentified orange goop. In terms of flavor, I won’t go as in depth. It’s just not good; there’s no way around it. Good pie should be able to stand alone, and pumpkin pie is barely passable when smothered in whipped cream. This Thanksgiving, I oblige you to consider this and steer clear of pumpkin pie.
Pumpkin Pie is Delicious, Don't @ Me by Taylor Simonian
Pumpkin pie, which was first recorded soon after the Plymouth Colony was founded, is an all American classic. It takes two things that should never mix, squash and sugar, and makes the dessert equivalent of a warm hug from your grandma. Pumpkin pie is the center of every good thanksgiving meal. Scratch that. Pumpkin pie is the focal piece of any holiday season, and fall and winter are utterly and completely lacking without this gourd-based delicacy. In the world of dessert, pumpkin rarely goes unnoticed. When combined with classic spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, it creates a whirlwind of holiday cheer upon your tastebuds, taking you back
to your favorite winter memories in a second. There aren’t many things that have that kind of effect on someone. Let’s talk texture, since my friend Erin over here seems to be slightly peeved over that. She claims it is unpleasant, and more specifically, called it “orange goo”. As someone who thoroughly enjoys pumpkin pie, I would have to disagree. Now, let me preface this with the fact that I know that pumpkin pie lacks variance in its texture, and I’m aware that it is essentially pudding, but let me explain why it couldn’t be amazing in any other form. Pumpkin pie, put simply, is puréed pumpkin mixed with sweetened condensed milk,
eggs, and sugar, which allows it to hold its shape. If there were any chunks or other colors involved with this extremely basic recipe, pumpkin pie would quickly veer into the same lane that fruit cakes rides in, which would be described best as the completely rejected dessert club. We all know pumpkin pie doesn’t belong there. It should also be noted that pumpkin pie is extremely easy to make, which just adds to the greatness that it already has. Now, this is not a war on all pies that aren’t pumpkin. I am simply standing up for what I believe in. Actually, I’m standing up for what is right. Pumpkin pie will not be degraded in any form, at least not on my watch.