The Ledger - Issue 2 - Winter 2024

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CONTENT

lhstoday.org • Design by Taylor Koehnemann and Bryleigh Conley

ISSUE 2

What’s Inside?

By Taylor Koehnemann and Bryleigh Conley, Editor-In-Chief

T

his year’s Ledger theme is the four seasons. If you had noticed, the last issue was our “fall” issue. Our second issue, which is the one you’re currently reading, is our winter issue. The basic theme of the four seasons entails change for each one. This shift also changes us all year-round, whether it comes to modifying our mindset or emotional habits.

With winter, most people normally think of the holidays and the nostalgia that comes along with it, while others struggle a little more to get through the season. There’s feelings of warmth, comfort, and bittersweetness, yet for some it’s difficult to understand why this is such a hard time of the year.

That side of winter feelings are usually skipped over.

We took initiative to include this overshadowed part of the winter season, as well as the strong nostalgic feeling that helps blend it all together. To add a bit of our own creativity into the magazine, every member of the Ledger individually made a personalized snowflake to show that every snowflake is unique and different in their own way.

For our cover, we have two people back-to-back to represent the two halves of winter experiences.

Keaton Franciskato (11) represents all of the upbeat and nostalgic times of winter. Reese Bedford (11) represents the more down feeling and lonliness of winter. By having them together we display that you can feel both ways during this time of year.

Cover photo by Kylie Brennan, and design by Faith Vaught.

@lhs.publications

@LHSJourn

@Libertylhspublications

The Ledger Liberty High School

2275 Sommers Road Lake Saint Louis, MO. 63367 636.561.0075 ext: 28039 jonathanhall@wsdr4.org

Volume 11 Issue 2 Editor-in-Chief Bryleigh Conley Photo Editor Anthony Rey Reporters Kylie Brennan, Keena Boschert, Becca Fike, Anna Greminger, Taylor Koehnemann, Abbie Luker, Meghan Lynch, Ella Quinney, Anumitha Vaka, Loukya Vaka, Faith Vaught. *Each editor also serves as a reporter

Intentions

The Ledger is a publication that releases four issues (one issue per quarter) throughout the year, distributing 1,000 free copies to the student body, faculty and administration.

The Ledger is a part of the district’s curriculum and is designed to provide a practical journalistic experience for written expression on a variety of topics. It is a student-led publication class that reports on stories

related to the school community.

Students write, take photos, and design the publication while the adviser supervises the student journalists.

The opinions expressed in this magazine may not be those of Liberty High School, nor of the Wentzville R-IV School District faculty, staff or administration. The main editorial, when included, expresses the opinion of The Ledger editorial staff.

Reacting

Letters to all editors can be submitted in room 239, emailed or mailed to Liberty. All letters must be signed. Limit letters you wish to be published to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space requirements and libelous material to the discretion of the editors. If you have a news story idea or comment, please contact us in room 239.

Credentials

The Ledger is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll and the Missouri Interscholastic Press Association.

Advertising

To further facilitate the space available for student writing, advertising will not be offered in The Ledger.

JAN. 2023

LEDGER STAFF

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Behind the Scenes lhstoday.org • Design by Anthony Rey

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the publishing of the Legder? Over the past few months we gathered some pictures of our staff and how we run our class. In that time, we have also had a few special events like Secret Santa and holiday parties. These are always fun because it lets us take a break from our other classes and from the stress of finals/tests.

By Anthony Rey, Photo Editor

Ella Quinney (10) and Keena Boschert (10) put the finishing touches on their layouts.

Kylie Brennan (11) and Meghan Lynch (10) work together on potential page ideas for the Ledger.

Editor-in-Chief Bryleigh Conley (12) (left) works with Meghan Lynch (10) and Kylie Brennan (11) as they look over a page sketch.

Senior Abbie Luker shows off the gift she got from her Secret Santa during class.

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The Ledger has many steps behind the making of it.

We started on issue two in early November and started actual designing after Thanksgiving break.

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Each student gets a page and at least one story in the Ledger to work on. It takes a lot of time and teamwork to get each issue out.

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The Ledger is printed once per quarter, so we have four issues per year. Along with that, this is our 11th volume of the magazine.

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Since 2013, our publications team has published 36 magazines.

Mr. Hall, our class adviser, works with the magazine staff as they develop this issue of the Ledger.

Fun Facts

• • •

All of our magizines are printed in Washington, Missouri.

We print 1,000 copies per issue.

The content in the Ledger is 100% student-led and produced.

Photos by A. Rey

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FEATURE

lhstoday.org • Design by Faith Vaught

ISSUE 2

Taking a Moment to Reflect A story about sticks, family, and growing up.

By Faith Vaught, Reporter

A

ll stories start somewhere. For junior Callahan Altheimer, he started here in the St. Charles and St. Louis area. Growing up he has always been an adventurous kid; finding joy in exploring new things or learning more about the world around him. You may have been the same.

He was not very worried about the future. “It was just kind of like a jelly bean jumping in between my brain,” Altheimer said.

Altheimer believes that there was not a whole lot going on in his head when he was younger. He had many different ideas of what he had wanted to be when he was older, each idea much different than the next. Some ideas that he wanted to pursue were: cooking, theater, a professional sports anchor, and an archaeologist.

“I was really into history, bones, and dirt,” Altheimer said. “Dirt was the main.”

When his family would go to parks, Altheimer would bring sticks and rocks home. A normal routine would be getting a shake down from his dad before leaving to check if he had stowed away any rocks on him.

When you’re young, you have adventures or new journeys all the time. Altheimer’s favorite story relates to that. He went on a vacation with his grandparents, their destination being Galveston, Texas. They decided to drive, his grandparents having a camper made the trip easier. Along the way they stopped at many different parks, one of which he stopped at the people who stayed at the campsite before had left a long stick that they had used to move fire logs around. He loved the stick bringing it all around the campsite. His grandparents had no issue with that. Callahan took that stick to Galveston, Texas and back to St. Louis.

His grandparents took it with them, leaving it in the trunk. Yet Callahan’s dad had only one rule with his grandparents, “Do not bring any sticks home.” His grandparents ignored the rule for the vast majority of the trip. At the last campsite, Altheimer’s grandmother said that they had to leave the stick there. So after protesting, Altheimer eventually left the stick.

A couple weeks passed. His grandparents showed up to their parents house one day with a stollen, a German pastry, to try and convince Altheimer’s dad to let him keep the stick; his dad eventually allowed it. His grandpa had snuck it back into the truck with no one knowing and drove it back to Missouri for him.

Altheimer has had that stick since. That was until his grandpa died. When he died, Altheimer cut a part off of the stick, carving the phrase “Omnes Sumus Peccatores,” which means “we are all sinners” and gave it to his grandma.

We all change and grow as people, some more than others. For Altheimer, he feels the same. “I was a little bit more reserved than I am now, as in the fact I didn’t wear turtle hats to school.”

If it’s something Altheimer believes is different compared to when he was younger, it’s that he’s become a lot more proud of himself and what he’s accomplished. He’s grown up and has just become a more realistic person. Altheimer wants to get into a college on a lacrosse scholarship. From there, he wants to go to school for art. He is currently working on a piece for his portfolio. Altheimer is a little worried for what is to come, but is excited for his future.

Was just kind of like a jelly bean jumping in between my brain.

Photos submitted by C. Altheimer

Photo by A Rey

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FEATURE

lhstoday.org • Design by Anumitha Vaka

ISSUE 2

By: Anumitha Vaka, Reporter

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ehind every great team is a person who, although stays on the sidelines, is a key player in the team’s success. This year the girls basketball teams have been doing exceptionally well, which as a coach Walterbach feels really great about.

“It’s good because we did a lot in the offseason...30 something games in the summer and we had a good fall season. So, just seeing it all come together is great,” Walterbach said.

Walterbach has been coaching girls basketball at Liberty for roughly 10 years, and this year is definitely a special one. This year’s varsity team is a very young one with more than half the team being underclassmen.

The varsity girls basketball team has been “I like to call it the season of firsts since we got such a talented team doing exceptionally well this season with this year. Where we have never beaten Howell North, we have never beaten their record being 10-1 as of Jan. 9.

“Hopefully we can keep this momentum Zumwalt North. So we are hoping to beat a lot of these teams this year,” going and I think the future is very bright Walterbach said. here,” Walterbach said.

As a coach, Walterbach’s job is an important one. He keeps the team on the same page during games and helps to motivate and push the players.

Basketball has always been a part of Walterbach’s life, and he explained how he knew beforehand he wanted to be a basketball coach.

“I’ve always played basketball. I’ve played basketball growing up and in high school. I played a little basketball in college-not for long though. My first job teaching was a coaching job. I knew I always wanted to be a basketball coach,” Walterbach said.

Junior and varsity team player Annabelle Hargrove talked about why she enjoyed having Walterbach as a coach.

“He’s fun but he knows how to discipline us and make us better players,” Hargrove said.

Walterbach explained the importance of the practice that goes into this year’s games, and when asked what is one piece of advice he would give to his girls basketball players and anyone who is interested in joining the team he once again talked about the importance of practice.

“What you do in the season is a direct result of the work you put in during the offseason. We’ve had people in the past improve a lot from year one to year two, but we’ve also had people who don’t really put in the work necessary. For this team so far it’s good to see all of the work they put in and see them improve,” Walterbach said.

Photos by Sydney Davis and Caitlin McDonnell

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OPINION

lhstoday.org • Design by Abbiegail Luker

ISSUE 2

Apathy (Noun): Lack of Interest, Enthusiasm, or Concern

A commentary on why kids don’t clean up after themselves

By Abbiegail Luker, Reporter

T

he trash situation in our school has steadily gotten worse.

I often see trash left on tables, in the halls, on the stairs, in classrooms; just about anywhere you can think of. The question is: why? We’re not lacking in trash cans, that’s for sure.

During lunch, there are 16 trash cans in the cafeteria alone. Are we lacking in manners? Common sense? Common decency? It seems like we’ve collectively forgotten to clean up after ourselves, but our problem is not mass amnesia. This is one of many layers that make up what I’ll call an “apathy cake.”

You’ll often hear older generations complaining about disrespect and indifference from us, and while I don’t agree with a lot of them, I can attest that there is some truth to that.

Apathy is a weed that has sunk its teeth into our society, but why? What makes us increasingly apathetic to each other and our environment?

This can be partially attributed to the creation of the internet and our access to devices at younger and younger ages. Home computers and the internet boomed in the 80s and 90s, and the first iPhone was released in 2007. In the cellular phones formative years, many were receiving basic devices in their later teens, early 20s at the youngest. Many in my generation, including myself, started receiving phones in their early teens, even preteens. Many children now have tablets or access to their parents’ phones as toddlers and up, hence the term “iPad kid.” The internet connects us and opens up a whole world of information, good and bad.

Access to information provides us more global awareness than ever before. We can learn about events in real time, watching as tragedies happen. Being exposed to the harsh nature of the world so young and so often can cause us to experience information overload.

Humans have a tendency for negativity bias, almost an attraction to negative news and experiences. When that is what is so often being pushed to us on social media, it sticks; it’s overwhelming and it’s draining. While a lot of us are old enough to understand how to sift through media properly, children don’t.

It’s not an innate skill. Giving unsupervised access to the internet to children without even remotely trying to teach them media literacy is detrimental to us all.

It’s hard to feel hope for the future regarding our capacity for empathy. On the first day of second semester Jan. 4, Dr. Nelson went on the announcements and said that “you have flawed character if you make messes and expect other people to clean it up.” How many more students do you think actually picked up after themselves that day? We can push as hard as we can to get people to care but how can we combat behavior that is becoming so ingrained in ourselves? How can we push people to care when they grew up not having to? Children seem to be losing the capability to care and we are enabling them; we are hurting us all.

Our school’s trash problem is but a fragment of a larger, much more serious issue in our world today.

Pictured on the right is a collage of some of the trash left on tables after lunch during December.

Photos by A. Luker

JAN. 2023

OPINION lhstoday.org • Design by Anna Greminger

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Is this the best way to measure knowledge?

S

By Anna Greminger, Reporter

tandardized testing by definition is a fixed form of testing the abilities of a certain group in the same way and same grading method for everyone. Which in an ideal world, would make it the quintessential testing method- but is it?

Every individual person is completely unique to themselves- which makes the ideality of standardized testing less applicable.

A popular theory which opposes the standard testing structure is that of the VARK model theory of learning. This model suggests that there are four different types of learners, Vvisual, A- auditory, R- reading and writing, and K- kinesthetic. These different learning styles, if true, separate the audience which written testing benefits.

Standardized testing has been the preferred testing method for a number of years. Many reasons exist which support this settlement from the aspect of grading, but whether or not it is an accurate representation of a student’s academic abilities is a debate which has surfaced in past years and has refused to resubmerge.

The average grade for a student in America is a ‘B’, with the average GPA of a high school student being a 3.0. This would mean on average the percent of content which students are accurately understanding would be around 80% of all content being covered in a class. However, this statistic stems from a standardized grading scale, one which reflects the ability of a given student’s memory or ability to digest content and accurately regurgitate it on a test. What this would not reflect is the percentage of content which a student is able to comprehend; the school system as of now was not built for students more fittingly gifted in hands-on activities- and for students who find it difficult to muster an ‘A’ or ‘B’ on every test, this can be detrimental to mental health.

But is there truly any better way to reflect the abilities of every individual student in a realistic, efficient way?

Activities such as science projects, lab reports, or physical education evaluations are opportunities which utilize a different method of evaluating the abilities of its students, but is there an accurate and efficient parallel to translate these methods to other school subjects as well? For some subjects, such as math, there is no clear alternative to test what a student knows of the class material

Graphic by A. Greminger

other than to have said student perform the subject. Standardized testing is an easy and efficient way for educators to score students and test the effectiveness of their teaching methods, as well as compare the score of one individual student in relation to the rest of the class, which is an effective way for a student to figure out their strengths and weaknesses in school.

In the past century, life has developed unbelievably quick with the growing importance of technology in our everyday lives. We live in a world where any imaginable knowledge is at our fingertips at the click of a button, and yet, our school systems seem to have neglected to update their educating methods to quite the same extent life has evolved to. Is our school system perfect? Is it so unbelievably perfected it would be an impossible, unimaginable task to create means of education which would surpass the level of perfection achieved a hundred years ago?

Prior to the late 1800s, the typical standard for testing would be a verbal exam given by teachers or administrators.

However, this standard would begin to shift as the reforming of schools would begin to be prioritized. There was a transition in which

schooling would become available to the widened public rather than the select elite class. During this time, written exams would eventually become mandated by schools in order to assess student progress and provide insight to aid administrative, as well as policy decisions. However, by the early 1920s the risks of students being overly concerned with percentages as a result of standardized testing across America began to surface; and the mental health of school-aged students would begin to reflect this.

A study at Case Western Reserve University showed that anxiety levels in children have increased substantially in the past century- in the 1980s, schoolchildren reported more anxiety than that of psychiatric patients in the 1950s.

Whether this be caused by an obsession with numbers and percentages or the growing stress of everyday life, standardized testing certainly seems to cater more to teachers and administrators rather than to the students themselves. But, is there truly any other, better way to accurately measure a student’s abilities that will benefit everyone, or will every method be detrimental to one group or the other?

SPORTS

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ISSUE 2

lhstoday.org • Design by Loukya Vaka

I

n many different aspects of life, it takes multiple parts that work in tandem in order to create a greater whole. In sports, this idea still carries much truth. After all, having good players allows for a great team to shine.

The girls swim team’s season kicked off on Nov. 6, and since then the team has been displaying their skills and teamwork, while continuing to work hard through their season. These athletes have been working on their sport for a long time, and to this day they tirelessly persevere and rise up to the occasion.

Photo by C. McDonnell

Photo by C. McDonnell

Jaina Daniels is a freshman and this is her first year being a part of the girls swim team. Even though this is her first season as a swimmer on the high school team, Daniels has been swimming on competitive swim teams since she was 7 years old, which means she’s been swimming for about 7 to 8 years now.

Daniels feels that the reason why she makes a great addition to the team as a whole is because she’s a good team player, and she can’t wait to see what the team accomplishes during her first year.

“From past experience, I have learned that everyone should be respectful and be a good teammate to everyone, no matter their skill level,” Daniels said.

Melania Palmiero is a junior and exchange student from Italy, which makes this her first and only year on the girls swim team. Palmiero has been swimming, mostly non-competitively, from when she was just 6 years old. Palmiero believes that it’s important to have a good team because the team is a group where everyone can impact the individual’s performance.

Palmiero also feels that some characteristics of a great team are, “communication, dedication, perseverance and encouraging each other.”

Photo by C. McDonnell

Photo by L. Brown

Sophia Sikes is a sophomore and this is her second year being a part of the girls swim team. Now, Sikes is on the varsity team. Before she joined the school team, Sikes had been swimming on teams since she was 5 years old, starting with a summer league team and eventually moving to club swimming when she was just 8 years old.

On the team, Sikes always makes sure to be a hard worker, be ready to swim when practice is starting, and tries to make the most of every practice as well as meet.

“I believe the importance of having a good team is to do your best. If everyone does their best, the team does their best, and with the team doing their best, everyone feels good about that,” Sikes said.

Jessica Wagner is a senior, and she has been swimming on the girls swim team for all four years of her high school career. Wagner first competed on a summer team when she was 9 years old, and she then continued on to start swimming on a winter club team when she was 10.

Not only does Wagner do well in a competitive aspect, but she also has been persevering with her team no matter what happens, whether that be having to wake up and practice during the early hours or the day, having to drive each other to meets when there isn’t a bus, or competing at an actual meet. Plus, as a senior, Wagner feels she has a unique role as well.

“I think the team is very important, and being able to bond is really important. It even makes practice more enjoyable,” Wagner said.

Photo by L. Brown

JAN. 2023

SPORTS

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lhstoday.org • Design by Becca Fike

Hockey Team Continues Its Winning Ways A

rguably one of the most important aspects of high school is sports. At Liberty, a good amount of students and staff are very involved with sports, and with the winter season bringing in more sports to the school year, it has been a very exciting and busy time of the year. One of our winter sports this season is ice hockey.

This season has been a good one for the varsity hockey team, earning 7 wins, 5 losses and 3 ties so far, as of Jan. 10, which is the best record of all the schools in the Wentzville district.

By Becca Fike, Reporter

Having a varsity hockey team in the first place has been considered a huge achievement for the Liberty hockey department as it takes a lot of work and dedication to reach this point. Mark Turnipseed, the head coach for varsity hockey, speaks on how the season has gone so far.

"We have been excited to get this varsity season underway because we know we have a very talented team. So far we have seen the team come together well on both sides of the puck," Turnipseed said.

Photo by S. Davis

Lucas Kempf (#87) and Owen Johnson (#50) battle a Howell Central opponent for a loose puck.

Photo by S. Davis

Trey Wilson (#29) celebrates with teammates after a goal in a game earlier this season against Howell Central. Wilson leads the team in goals.

The team is filled with strong players that support each other even outside of the rink. Turnipseed said the varsity team has some of the best goaltending in the league.

Bobby Barber, Aaron Tinker and Tatem Cutter all are allowing an average of under 3 goals per game.

One of the varsity hockey team's senior players, Zach Chandler, hopes the team keeps improving as the season goes on.

"I expect that we will finish out the rest of the season strong and we'll put in our best effort," Chandler said with a lot of enthusiasm.

While the team has been doing well so far, they do have a few

Varsity Roster 2023-2024

weaknesses as well. One of these that the coach commented on was the team's consistency when it comes to actually showing up to matches and practices.

"In our very first game at FHC, all of our goalies were out of town and we had to dress a forward in goal. Not an ideal situation, but had to be done in order to play."

Despite this, the varsity hockey team continues to thrive, working hard towards their goals.

They continue to stay hopeful and confident as the season progresses.

"We're strong with moving the puck and we have some good team chemistry," Chandler commented, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Lucas Kempf Aaron Tinker Nicholas Kuhn Christian Visney Bobby Barber Greyson Howarth Cole McCune Max Westhoff Zach Chandler Quin Barker Keaton Howarth Quinn Meyer Cadean Eilerts Trey Wilson Evan Berger Owen Johnson Luc Girard Zachary Pruss Cameron Winkler Jude Bill Harrison Haddock Garrett Katz Ally Schmelz Connor Casella Dylan Handlan James Kemp Peyton Shreve Roster courtesy of libertyhockeyclub.com

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IN-DEPTH

lhstoday.org • Design by Bryleigh Conley

ISSUE 2

The S.A.D. Season

What to know about a Seasonal Affective Disorder

By Bryleigh Conley, Editor-In-Chief

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ith winter coming soon, the number of depression diagnoses will be starting to increase. This is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a form of depression that comes and goes with the seasons, instead of sticking around for the whole year like a common depressive disorder.

The most common season for SAD is throughout the colder months, starting around the end of fall to the end of winter. One of the most prominent reasons for this is not getting enough sunlight exposure As daylight savings comes around, the sun sets earlier causing the days to feel shorter. Although the morning hours now get more light, most people tend to still be asleep so they don’t get the same amount of daylight that they have previously been used to. Due to the lack of sun exposure it can make it harder for people to control serotonin levels and cause an increase in the body’s melatonin levels, which can ultimately influence people into feeling more tired than usual. “Both melatonin and serotonin are tied to how the body handles night-day cycles. When levels are out of balance, it can be harder for people to adjust to seasonal changes in day length,” describes the American Heart Association.

A few of the main symptoms to take in account for SAD are: having or feeling a loss for motivation, having trouble sleeping throughout the night, dealing with low self confidence, constantly feeling tired or drowsy, and noticing a loss in weight or a troubled appetite.“SAD affects more than just mood. It is also associated with the impaired cognitive function, including problems with concentration and working memory - like having trouble recalling just-learned information or finding the right words when speaking,” said by Harvard health.

To help reduce these symptoms, people with SAD can take medications like antidepressants and then lean off of them once those symptoms start to ease up and go away. According to Harvard health, a few forms of these medications are Bupropion (Wellbutrin), which mainly increases the levels of dopamine in the body, as well as, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotoninnoradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which help increase the body’s serotonin levels while taking them.

Another way to reduce symptoms of SAD (without taking medication) is by getting outside throughout the day, or at least out of the house. Socializing, meditation, and light therapy are also commonly used. Light therapy is a way of tricking your brain into thinking that you are actually around sunlight rather than just your average indoor lighting. This includes a light box with a bright light inside, preferably with a bulb of a 10,000 lux (intensity) exposure. Then keep the box in front of you and don’t look straight into it. Try and use this during the morning hours for around 30 minutes, to get a good amount of exposure.

Along with that, if you’re ever feeling out of it during the winter seasons, it’s okay. It’s common to feel more drowsy and less active during this time of year.

However, it’s not a bad idea to check in with your doctor if you are finding yourself with these symptoms just in case. Make sure to take care of yourself this season.

Photo by B. Conley Although winter wouldn’t seem like the ideal time to be outoors, going for a hike or walk, especially after a snow storm, can be both relaxing and a way to help keep people motivated.

“Some people may experience depressive episodes during the spring and summer months; this is called summer-pattern SAD or summer depression and is less common.”

- The National Institude of Mental Health

“Wih all the finals that come up during this season it doesn’t help with my anxiety nor my depression, and it definitely pushes my seasonal depression to make it worse,” descibes senior Maya Davis.

JAN. 2023

IN-DEPTH lhstoday.org • Design by Meghan Lynch

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Is the Past as Good as it Seems?

As we all grow older, the winter months seem to lose their luster. But are we remembering our childhoods correctly?

Photo submitted by K. Broussard

By Meghan Lynch, Reporter

N

ostalgia; noun; a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. Nostalgia is one of the most bitter-sweet emotions we feel as humans. It can make you feel grateful for your past or your happy memories, but it can also make you feel desperate for a time you deem as better than where you are now.

As the word morphed into what we recognize it as today, many psychologists continually studied nostalgia and why we feel it. One of these psychologists was Dr. Krystine Batcho, who gave an interview to the American Psychological Association in 2019. According to her, nostalgia serves multiple purposes in the human brain. “One example of this,” she said, “is it helps to unite our sense of who we are, our self, our identity over time. Because over time we change constantly we change in incredible ways.” Though nostalgia has its upsides, Dr. Batcho went on to say that it’s not the most reliable emotion. “We pick and choose,” she explained. “The memory process not only is selective, but it also distorts to some extent.” Meaning that even if one thinks a certain time in their past was better or less stressful, odds are they aren’t remembering the whole truth.

Did the world seem brighter when you were a kid? According to now-sophomore Kate Broussard, “Whenever I look back on my childhood memories there is almost always joy associated with them. It was easy to always see everything with a good perspective as a kid.”

Photo by M. Lynch

Even so, everyone likes to feel a little nostalgic every now and then.

Sophomore Hayli Cranmer thinks that it can be a sweet thing to look back on old memories. “I think that reminiscing about the past can bring forward happy memories,” she shared, “with both loved ones who are still with you and the ones that have passed on.” On the other hand, another student, sophomore Londyn Riley, claimed that dwelling on the past all the time can be somewhat harmful, saying, “Reality may hit you a little hard when you come back from looking into the past and reminiscing.” Nostalgia is often used a coping mechanism, which can be dangerous if it starts to blur the lines of reality and wishful thinking and can take away one’s appreciation of the present. and all that they have accomplished.

As we settle into winter, the feeling of nostalgia is definitely on the rise. “Winter is when a lot of holidays are,” Riley said, “so therefore you are spending a lot with your family.” The holidays are an obvious reason for heightened nostalgia. People are bombarded with memories of when they were children and everything seemed so full of magic.

An area of nostalgia that hasn’t really been touched on by many is its possible relation to things like seasonal depression. Anyone who’s experienced nostalgia knows it’s often accompanied by a sinking feeling in your stomach, or the “bitter” in “bitter-sweet.” Studies have shown that people tend to show more depressive symptoms during the winter, and it’s not entirely possible to rule out nostalgia as a contributing factor.

Nostalgia is a social emotion. It can bring people together through happy memories and shared experiences, but do not underestimate the harmful effects it can have. Many people much older and wiser have--throughout the years--advised against dwelling on the past, for it can keep us from truly enjoying our lives.

FEATURE

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ISSUE 2

lhstoday.org • Design by Kylie Brennan

Conflict in the Middle East: “Peace. That is the side I am on.” - Saiya Ameen (12) Saiya Ameen, a senior, speaks upon the horrors currently happening in the Third Gaza War that started in early October 2023. Genocide and war doesn’t happen out of nowhere, and many people are unaware of how this war came to be.

“Any war or genocide begins a very long time ago, not out of nowhere,” Ameen said. She goes on to speak about how bombs had been dropped on schools, graveyards and hospitals…children being left without parents, living in constant fear of their own lives. Ameen says that, “This isn’t war, this is genocide.”

There is much controversy on which “side” is in the wrong and Ameen feels that it isn’t quite that absolute. She says that she feels “There has been a lot of hate on both sides, anyone Jewish and anyone Muslim; that’s just not right. There should never be any hate for anyone in any religion.”

Ameen says that instead of hate, we should focus on education and teaching people about the conflict. She ends this by stating that she is, “Not on any one side, not the Jewish side or the Muslim side. I am on the children’s side. Peace.

That is the side I am on. This is wrong.”

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196

Submitted by Saiya Ameen

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1200 s BC

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Pictured on the left is the Israeli flag which was adopted on Oct. 28 ,1948, just months after they gained their independence.

Pictured on the right is the Palestinian flag. This became their flag on May 26, 1964. The design dates back to World War l, where each stripe and the single triangle were to represent separate Arab Dynasties.

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FEATURE

JAN. 2023

15

lhstoday.org • Design by Kylie Brennan

How’d We Get Here?

Timeline of the events leading to the current Third Gaza War

By Kylie Brennan, Reporter

20082009

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2006

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What is the Gaza Strip?

The history and background of how Gaza came to be

The red highlighted area shows the Gaza Strip, spanning 25 miles long and somewhere between 3.7 to 7.5 miles wide. This smaller width is what led to the saying, “From the land to the sea Palestine will be free.”

The Gaza Strip is located right along the Mediterranean Sea, and has one of the fastest growing populations in the world. It first had conflict in 1948 when the first Arab-Israeli war began. It was because of this conflict that the portion of land owned by the Arabs was condensed into a strip of land spanning 25 miles; this is when it was recognized as the Gaza Strip.

It was in between 1949 to 1967 that control of Gaza was being taken back and forth between Egypt and Israel. During this time it was populated by a number of Palestinian Arab refugees who were unable to emigrate to Egypt or claim their belongings or homes from Israel.

At the end of 1987 conflicts arose between the Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli troops that started the first of two “Intifada.” This conflict lasted until 2005, when the Prime Minister of Israel had all troops removed from Gaza territory. Just a year later, in 2006, Hamas won the parliamentary elections in Gaza and remained in control until 2014. It was at this time that Hamas was labeled as a terrorist group.

During the year of 2007, Israel began a complete blockade of what they labeled a “hostile entity” that was Gaza under Hamas. This made it impossible for those living in Gaza to get food, fuel and other goods. This blockage lasted for years, an organization under the name “Free Gaza Movement” made many attempts to bring resources to Gaza. It wasn’t until 2019 that these blockades were expanded as large as they were.

At the end of a six month treaty between the two, Hamas stated that they did not want to continue it. This led to more conflict between the two. As of late 2023, Hamas planned an attack on Israel that caused the deaths of over 1,200 people and took as many as 240 people hostage. This death toll is the biggest Israel had seen since its independence. On that same day Israel retaliated in Gaza, leading to hundreds of deaths. Only the next day Israel declared war. This is the ongoing Third Gaza War.

16

A&E

lhstoday.org • Design by Taylor Koehnemann

By Taylor Koehnemann, Reporter Home Alone is an all-time favorite for holiday movies. Since its release in 1992, the film has always been one that families everywhere always come back to every December. The fun and chaotic behavior of Kevin makes it always fun to watch. The movie has so many iconic scenes, and lines that never get old. Especially the traps and troubles the iconic Wet Bandits, Marv and Harry, always end up falling into.

Mean Girls is one of the most well-known movies in pop culture. It is a fan favorite for its brash comedy and relatability. The main character, Cady Heron, learns about the new clique she has unwittingly found herself in.

Even years after its release, it still remains one of the most watched and highly discussed movies in the twenty-first century.

Harry Potter movies are always great movies to go back to. The imaginative and wizarding world of Harry Potter sets it aside from other magic-based movies and media. With every movie Harry grows older and we get to watch him change and become the great wizard he is known for.

With its iconic scenes and worldbuilding, no wonder everyone loves the franchise so much.

Star Wars is by far one of the most iconic movie franchises in history if not number one. The spectacular effects and worldbuilding was so far ahead of its time that it still holds up today as one of the best movie series across the world. All the way from episode one to nine, it shows the great journey of our main characters and how each trilogy connects from one to another.

The Snow Buddies movie is a winter-time classic. Its wholesome and sweet storyline combined with its obviously adorable characters makes it a perfect movie to watch with anyone and everyone you know. The story follows 5 golden retriever puppies and a husky as they traverse the Alaskan frontier in a dog sled race to help their temporary owner; Noah Framm.

ISSUE 2

JAN. 2023

FEATURE

17

lhstoday.org • Design by Ella Quinney and Loukya Vaka

Title Graphic Designed by A. Bowen

Eagles Nest Kids Video Interview:

By Ella Quinney and Loukya Vaka Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: Police officer.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Noodles.

Q: What is your favorite toy?

A: Red (the red marker he has in his hands).

Q: What is your favorite thing to put ketchup on?

A: Cucumbers.

Q: What is your dream pet?

A: Blue.

Q: What is your dream pet?

A: A kitty.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: A firefighter.

Q: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

A: Chocolate chip.

Q: Do you like being 4?

A: No. I like water.

Q: If you could be a food, what food would you be?

A: A hamburger. I’d be Hamburger Man, like the Cookie Monster.

Q: Would you rather have a million cookies or a million dollars?

A: Ten cookies!

Q: What is your dream pet?

A: *Makes fish face.*

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: A fisherman.

Q: What is you’re favorite thing about being 4?

A: Being with my Mom.

Q: What is your dream pet?

A: Taco and Burrito! (His two dogs)

Q: What is your favorite toy?

A: My unicorn.

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: *Sings “This is Halloween.”*

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: Elementals.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: Elsa.

Q: If you could be a food, what food would you be?

A: Watermelon!

Q: What is your favorite type of ice cream?

A: Says what sounds like “pasta rolls” followed by strawberry shortcake.

Q: Would you rather have a million dollars or a million cookies?

A: A million dollars.

Q: What is your dream pet, and what would you name it?

A: A dog, and I’d name it Connor, like me!

Q: What is your favorite toy?

A: Spiderman.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: A big boy!

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: A nurse!

Q: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

A: *Thinking noises* Rainbow! Ooh rainbow!

Q: What is the nicest thing you could do for someone?

A: Say hello, and say sorry.

Q: If you could be a food, what food would you be?

A: Ninja Turtles.... Pizza! Ninja Turtle pizza!

Q: Do you think there are aliens?

A: Yes. They’re in space. *Makes alien face*

18

A&E

lhstoday.org • Design by Ella Quinney

ISSUE 2

By Ella Quinney

JAN. 2023

A&E lhstoday.org • Design by Bryleigh Conley

Sc venger Hunt

19

To participate in the scavenger hunt, all you need to do is find where each photo has been taken around our school. Once found, take a photo of the location or object. Once you’ve found everything, show your findings to Mr. Hall in room 239 for a chance to win a $5 Qick Trip gift card! <-- Hint One: - Located in the 500 hallway.

- Out front of a teacher’s classroom.

Hint Two: --> - Full of different and unique handmade designs put together to make one big design.

- Every piece of the puzzle counts.

<-- Hint Three: - In a case for safe keepings.

- Front of the school.

Hint Four: --> What book is it?

- Use the sticker to help you.

<-- Hint Five: - One of many located in the school.

- It’s a specific one that is different from the others.

Hint Six: --> - Located in the 200 hallway.

- Crows in the morning

Photos by T. Koehnemann

QUIZ

lhstoday.org • Design by Loukya Vaka and Meghan Lynch

1. What kind of color describes your personality best?

A. Pink B. Red C. Blue D. Yellow E. Green

2. What aesthetic matches your vibe best?

A. Y2K B. Vintage C. Soft Girl D. VSCO E. Edgy

5. What Disney movie do you like best?

A. Teen Beach Movie B. Big Hero 6 C. Princess Diaries D. Zootopia E. Cruella

Mostly A’s: Super Bass by Nicki Minaj This one is for the people with the great persona. You are a person with strong character who always makes sure to take life by the reins and speak out about what you feel.

3. What’s your favorite comfort food?

A. Cheeseburger B. Muffins C. Milkshake D. Ice Cream E. Soup

6. When’s the best time to listen to music?

A. Driving with the windows down, music full blast B. 3 a.m., hanging out with your closest friends C. In your room, playing music through your earbuds D. Having a fun adventure on a bright, sunny day E. At a party, with loud music

Mostly B’s: We Are Young by fun.

You burn brighter than the sun with your cheerful demeanor. You are a fun, boisterous personality that lights up every room that you walk in.

Mostly D’s: What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction You light up the world like nobody else with your cool personality. You are a person who has a lively, excitable quality, and you are someone who loves making the most of every moment that you experience in life.

4. What winter activity brings you the most joy?

A. Having a snowball fight B. Hosting a holiday party C. Watching movies D. Sledding E. Baking cookies

7. If you were in a movie, what would the movie’s soundtrack be like?

A. Bubbly pop music B. Indie music C. Sentimental, romantic music D. Fun beach music E. Hard-hitting, powerful music

Mostly C’s: Teenage Dream by Katy Perry You feel like you are living in a world where the sky’s the limit. You are creative, as well as an intent individual who loves to think about what you want in life, and then you make sure to go out to get it.

Mostly E’s: Toxic by Britney Spears As someone who is very direct and confident in the different aspects of your life, it feels like you are on a great ride with each and every day you walk in to. You are not one to miss a chance, making sure to lead yourself with surety.