WINTER SPORTS SEASON BEGINS

JOHN WILLIAMS

Boys Soccer: The boys soccer team is coming off a 8-5-3 season. Although successful, the Mats had trouble taking down the Campolindo Cougars, as they lost four straight times to them throughout the season.The Mats are willing to change that as returning starters Graham Ballantyne ‘23, Nick Govea ‘23, and Grant Scanlan ‘23 are looking to make an impact.With many talented past seniors leaving including Ponoma-Pitzer commit Giri Mase ‘22 and efficient defender Henry Hill ‘22, the Mats are looking for young talent to grow up fast.The Mats soccer program is currently in the Diablo-Valley league for soccer.This league isn’t the Diablo-Foothill league with teams like Acalanes, Campolindo, and Las Lomas.The boys are looking to fight for a spot back into the Diablo-Foothill league and prove that they can play with some of the best teams in the region.

Girls Soccer: The girls soccer team is looking for a bounce back season as they finished at 3-15-1 last year.The Mats dealt with multiple injuries within the starting lineup, putting them at a huge disadvantage for league play.With key playmaker Julia Hunt ‘22 leaving, many seniors and juniors will have to step up and help this team go back to their championship ways. Tahra Minowada ‘23, Addie Creson ‘23, Lola Kassela ‘23,Jada Deitrick ‘23,and Avery Welch ‘23 are all willing to make plays for this Matador team. However, last season, as a freshman, Katrina White ‘25 led the team in goals scored with 13. University of Chicago commit Tahra Minowada ‘23 used her skills to get those playmakers the ball through her one assist per game average.With tons of talent on the roster,the Mats are hoping for a deep run in the NCS playoffs.

Boys Basketball: Coming off an incredible 24-6 season, the Mats had a once in a lifetime type of talent on their roster.With huge names like Tyler Dutto ‘22, James Frye ‘22, Ben Murphy ‘22, and Caden Breznikar ‘22, the Mats went all the way to win the third place game in the NCS playoffs.With a disappointing state playoff record, the Mats are still hungry for more.With only one senior, Ethan Conley ‘23, there is a question about the leadership for this team. However, returning juniors Marcus Robinson ‘24 and Koleton Fenton ‘24 have filled that leadership responsibility and become role models for this young, inexperienced team.“Marcus has a softer voice but is correcting guys on the court.Koleton is great through organizing everyone to get on the court and following practice plans,” head coach Chris Lavdiotis said.

Girls Basketball: After a dead even record of 14-14, the Lady Mats had a very successful 2021-2022 season.The Mats are looking to ride off of star player Karena Eberts ‘24, as she led the team in points scored, rebounds, and steals.To complement the all league player are the Scheingart twins. Courtney Scheingart ‘23, averaging about 7.7 points per game, and Katherine Scheingart ‘23, averaging about 1.3 assists per game, both help control the ball on the court.With their smooth dribbling techniques and passion for the game, the Scheingart twins are ready to lead the Lady Mats to a championship season. One role that the team will have to fill is the absence of Chloe Breznikar ‘22.The 6’ 0” center helped big time with rebounds and assists.The Mats need to help fill those roles and get the ball to their playmakers as they could go far in their NCS playoffs.

Wrestling: With 26 active members on the wrestling team, the Mats are looking to go far into NCS championships this year.With senior star wrestler Hannah Ripper ‘23, many of the underclassmen are hoping to learn from the best. Ripper placed 1st at NCS winning the entire competition and placed 5th in the entire state of California. Ripper is currently ranked #1 in the state for her 131 pound division. Ripper and the rest of the wrestling team are looking forward to keeping the winning traditions of the Miramonte sport and continue their championship traditions.

Photo: Caleb Elkind Photo: Lola Kassela

Photo: Bowen Sande Photo: Hannah Ripper

Rockin’ & Rollin’ with the Express

ASHLEY DONG

“From the top!” drummer and freshman Xander Kim shouts. Clicking his drumsticks, Kim counts his fellow band members in, and the Matador Express fills the room with an explosion of music. The Matador Express is a school rock band led by band teacher Thomas Dwyer and consists of students from all grade levels. The idea for this band came from a suggestion by English teacher Steve Poling.

“Mr. Poling and I talked at a faculty party towards the end of the year last year, and he thought about putting together a rock band with staff and students,” Dwyer said. Dwyer, however, came up with the name Matador Express. “I’m a big train guy. I love taking the train, and so I thought, ‘Express,’” Dwyer said.

At the beginning of the school year, Dwyer opened sign-ups for the band to students and teachers. Currently, the band has six members—including Dwyer—and many of them are also in Dwyer’s zero-period jazz band class. Freshman Gunn-Wu Kim rocks the vocals, Kim pounds away at the drums, sophomore Thomas Boifort plays the bass, junior Julian Rustigian plays the tenor sax, senior Jack Hughes plays the electric guitar, and Dwyer plays the trombone.

“Everyone in the band is super friendly, and it is a very welcoming environment. I feel like the band can just jam together, and we work well together. I hope we can impress the school next semester when we play some music by more well-known rock and metal bands,” Kim said.

The band rehearses during academy periods, meeting in the band room to work on their songs. For their performance on the quad on Oct. 20, their set mainly consisted of 70s rock songs, including “25 or 6 to 4” and “Does Anyone Really Know What Time Is,” both by the famous band Chicago. “I think it’s fun to perform live music. It’s something that I care about deeply. In this performance, we had also to improvise

[the last two songs] heavily, which I think adds an element of magic,” Hughes said.

The Matador Express’s most recent performance was with Performers for Progress on Nov. 17 and 18, where they performed some of their 70s rock set. In addition, Boifort, Hughes, and Kim performed an original song titled “Don’t Cry to Me,” which was completed just days before the performance. Ending the show in true finale fashion, confetti cannons launched over the band as they played the final notes of their song, and the entire Performers for Progress cast celebrated behind them onstage.

“I enjoyed the instrumentals, which I thought were really well executed. I especially enjoyed the guitar solo in the first song—it thoroughly impressed me,” sophomore Tyler Hennessy said.

In addition to performing for the school, the band serves a deeper purpose. Over the last several years, enrollment in band classes—and the music program as a whole— declined. “A strong VPA program is critical for Miramonte as a whole and crucial to the success of so many students, so my hope is that we can continue to work together to get more sign-ups and grow our enrollment numbers back to where we all want them,” principal Ben Campopiano said.

Dwyer hopes the band will help remedy this issue. “I thought the band would be good for the music program and great publicity. [The low enrollment] is a little depressing, but I’m working on it, and I’m determined to make something here,” Dwyer said.

Nevertheless, the band provides a great experience for the students. “Being in any band—whether it’s instrumental, hard rock, or blues—is about playing music together as a group, performing for an audience, and most importantly, experimenting and having fun with the endless possibilities of music,” Rustigian said.

TARYN PEARCE

MS. FRUCI & MS. WILLIAMS

Lauren Fruci, a special education teacher, and Colleen Williams, an English 1 and English 4: Literature, Film and Media teacher, are known as the original besties around campus. They first met during their new teacher orientation in 2018. While at school together, they enjoy walking around and looking for snacks. They are able to spend so much time together because of shared students and prep periods. “Because I am a special education teacher, she has all my ninth graders. So we really do work together,” Fruci said. They also like to hang out with other teacher besties such as Jackson Avery and Matt Sweeney. “Like I said, we look for snacks sometimes. Talk to other besties like Jackson and Matt. Gossip,” Williams said. Not only do they enjoy hanging out during school, but they also make time to see each other outside of school. The duo enjoys going to restaurants to have lunch, brunch or dinner, and they also like working out and grocery shopping together. Some of their favorite memories of each other was when Williams was on maternity leave. “Ms. Williams had a baby last year and was on maternity leave. And I could not tell you the amount of people who walked up to make and asked, ‘are you ok? I know she’s not here, how are you?’ People were genuinely asking me if I was okay without Ms. Williams on campus and not seeing her everyday. I was like, yeah, it sucks, but I still see her,” Fruci said. With Williams at home, Fruci often stopped by to say hello. “One of my favorite memories is when I was on maternity leave and Ms. Fruci would often swing by after work and just bring me stuff. And it was my favorite thing because it just made me feel so good. That was really thoughtful and nice and made me feel loved,” Williams said.

MS. SMITH & MS. PORTER

Another teacher bestie duo is Cassi Porter, a Leadership and Chemistry in the Earth’s Systems teacher, and Jyllian Smith, an AP Environmental Science and Earth and Space Science teacher. The two first met on Zoom in the fall of 2020. At the time they were both AP Environmental Science (APES) teachers, so each Monday they would meet over Zoom and plan out APES content. They were finally able to meet each other in person about five months later. Outside of school, their

hangouts normally consist of walking their dogs together and eating good food such as Cheez-its and fellow teacher Katie Watson’s cookies. “Over the summers and breaks we walk our dogs together weekly! Our puppies are also best friends,” Porter and Smith shared. When asked about their favorite memory with each other, Smith shared: “My favorite memory of Ms. Porter was when she wrote a note about me forgetting about her and it was read in front of the entire staff. But we both won umbrellas so... win?” Porter said: “My favorite memory of Ms. Smith is when we were sitting in a whole meeting and she told the group that she didn’t have a collaboration partner, when I was her collaboration partner, and was sitting right next to her.”

MR. AVERY & MR. SWEENEY

The last pair of teacher besties is Matt Sweeney, a U.S. History teacher, and Jackson Avery, an AP U.S. History, Journalism teacher, and Mirador advisor. They first met during COVID while teaching online. One can often find them exchanging sarcastic and playful banter while exchanging ideas about their similar but different history classes. “We’re both U.S. history teachers, but we teach different types of history. So it’s really fun to talk about how we share curriculum,” Avery said. They enjoy playing pickleball together on Wednesdays with fellow teachers Xavier Frippiat and Lauren Fruci. Avery’s most memorable memory with Sweeney was twin day. “The first one was twin day this year where I dressed up as Mr. Sweeney because I’ll be honest, we look the same. I just had to put on a long hair wig and a yellow beanie and the whole alikeness was uncanny,” Avery said. Sweeney shared that some of his favorite memories were when they were joking around. “I often treat Mr. Avery like a little brother--I’m the youngest of four and never had a little brother. So I joke and mess with him as if he were. One time I pointed out that he had something on his sweatshirt--which he quite literally did--but as he looked down, I moved my finger up his shirt and got him in the nose--something my older brother and his friends did to me all the time when I was a kid. But, again, he actually had something on his shirt. I guess he doesn’t know how to do laundry properly? To be fair, I still do this to him and every fourth time or so, he definitely falls for it.” 21

Students’ Winter Holidays and Celebrations

LEILA MABOUDIAN & EMMA WONG

The winter months bring on frigid weather alongside cozy evenings spent at home with hot chocolate and fluffy sweaters galore. They also host a variety of holidays across cultures. After a tough week of finals, many Miramonte students look forward to their winter celebrations. Here’s what Matadors have to say about their winter holidays.

CHANNUKKAH

This year: December 18-26

Chanukkah, also referred to as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the recovery of Jerusalem and rededication of the Second Temple in the 2nd century BCE. Chanukkah is observed for eight nights and days. For many, it is customary to light a menorah in recognition of the significance of lights to the story of Chanukkah. “During Hanukkah, my family usually has a party for the first night, but then light the candles as a family for the next seven nights,” senior Maya Paykel said. “My dad can make really good latkes!” Many Chanukkah celebrations also feature modern and traditional music and dance. “For my Chanukkah celebrations, my dad usually sings in Yiddish,” junior Gen Korklan said.

CHRISTMAS

Yearly: December 25

Christmas is celebrated yearly on December 25 around the world as both a secular and a religious holiday; many celebrate by decorating a Christmas pine tree, giving gifts, and hosting an elaborate family meal. “I celebrate Christmas with my family! One of the traditions we have is that we watch ‘Home Alone’ together every year,” junior Willa Mapaye said. For the Christian faith, this holiday represents the birth of Jesus Christ, and its celebration may include Christmas church services and cooking or baking traditional foods. “I have Polish heritage on my mom’s side of the family, so we get together for a Polish-style Christmas celebration. We eat foods like pierogi and Polish candies, and we always play a huge game of Uno,” senior Alice Ball said.

DIA DE LOS REYES

Yearly: January 6

Día de Los Reyes, occurring annually on January 6th, is a Christian holiday also referred to as “Three Kings’ Day,” symbolizing the day the Three Wise Men visited and gave gifts to Jesus. The holiday concludes a line of Christmas festivities. Many observe the holiday by holding celebratory feasts and family gatherings. “I celebrate Día de Los Reyes with my family in Mexico. I’m going over there for winter break, and it’ll be really fun, [and we’ll] make tamales!” sophomore Santiago Martinez-Davis said. Families also often celebrate the holiday by eating rosca de reyes, or King’s Cake. “We eat rosca, which is a cake with a plastic baby Jesus figurine in it,” Martinez-Davis said. The plastic trinket represents prosperity upon its recipient and their family. “ In our celebration, whoever gets the baby Jesus has to throw a party and make tamales in February.”

LUNAR NEW YEAR

This year: January 22

The Lunar New Year, mainly celebrated in East Asia and its diaspora, corresponds with the beginning of a new year on a calendar based on moon cycles. Celebrations of the Lunar New Year vary by region; while there exist central traditions, many are culture-specific. China and Vietnam, for instance, celebrate the lunar year by changing zodiac signs. A lunar zodiac is a cycle of animals that represent a year within a repeating time frame.

The Lunar New Year places an importance on family celebration and traditions. “To celebrate the Lunar New Year, my family and I watch Chunwan, which is basically an annual Chinese show for the Lunar New Year,” junior Nicole Guo said.

Food is especially important to Lunar New Year celebrations, as certain dishes represent longevity, luck, and prosperity for the upcoming year.

“One of my favorite New Year traditions is nián nián you yú: we cook fish, and we eat some of it the final day of the previous year and then the rest the first day of the new year,” Guo said. “This is a symbol of prosperity... we’ll continue to have food and success in the next year.”

WINTER SOLSTICE

This year: December 21

The Winter Solstice, the day when the Earth is tilted farthest away from the Sun, is celebrated by many cultures, generally in the Pan-Asian region and its diaspora. Also called “the longest night,” it marks the beginning of days getting shorter for the approaching spring. Winter Solstice celebrations include the Persian tradition of Shab-eh Yalda and the East Asian Dongzhi festival. Traditionally, Yalda is spent with family, eating winter fruits and reading Persian poetry through midnight. “It’s all about culture and family. It’s important to gather around the table and spend the evening together to bring hope for the winter,” junior Ben Haidari said.

Enjoy These Holiday Comics! .................................................. ..................................................

........................................................ ........................................................ ....................................................................... ....................................................................... INDIE LEE & EMMA WONG 23 Kaylin Chang Corinna O’Brien Maia Vo Indie LeeEva Schroeder

Emma Wong Maia Vo

CASEY SCHEINER

A typical day at Miramonte consists of learning, socialization, and sugar. So much sugar. An average student likely eats brunch, lunch, a snack, and a drink. If they got this food from school lunch counters and vending machines, their sustenance may include a blueberry muffin, a slice of pizza, a Nature Valley granola bar, and an Izze soft drink. This alone totals approximately 65 grams of added sugar, almost triple the American Heart Association’s recommended maximum daily sugar intake for teenagers. This trend has overwhelmingly negative consequences for student health and academic performance. Thus, the district must improve the health quality of school lunches, brunches, and vending machine snacks.

In 1945, the United States Military saw a problem: lackluster health among potential draftees. They explained to Congress that adolescent malnutrition was a national security threat. The government acted, establishing the National School Lunch Program to improve youth health. However, over the past 75 years, politicians on both sides of the spectrum rolled back school lunch subsidies. In 1981, the Food and Nutrition Service even declared ketchup a vegetable to avoid paying more for healthy food. Policies like this deal a major blow to teenagers’ health.

Although our country may not be as focused on nurturing future soldiers now, both the importance of nutrition for molding great people and the complete lack of investment in such nutrition remain the same as when General Lewis Hershey addressed Congress in 1945. Given a complete lack of federal action, today, our district must act as leaders in the protection of student health by working to improve the healthiness of its food.

Today’s quality of school provided food is abysmal. Unhealthy snacks at the vending machine include Rice Krispy Treats, Welch’s Fruit Snacks, and PopTarts, all high in sugar and other harmful nutrients like saturated fat. Food handed out at brunch and lunch, including french toast, scones, pizza, and burgers, rarely provide sufficient nutritional value. The prevalence of junk food at school contributes to a larger problem: worsening health for teenagers. Skyrocketing adolescent obesity figures across the state, including a 15% jump over the last school year, largely occur because of excessive consumption of unhealthy food – the very foods our schools approve. Additionally, per Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of

Medicine, consumption of junk food has a negative impact on mental health, since the chemicals in it cause depression and anxiety.

“When an individual ingests too much of anything, whether it be sugar, sugar substitutes, sweeteners, supplements, energy drinks or any other chemically-processed food, that human is forcing their body systems to work extra hard to metabolize and process those chemicals, which inevitably leads to overstress,” Sports Trainer John Grigsby said. “Your body also requires variation and balance, sugar and carbs are only a piece of the puzzle.”

Our schools have a moral obligation to ensure the health of students. That’s why the district spends millions of dollars every year on wellness and physical education to accomplish its goals in student health and wellness. However, current policy on nutrition runs counterproductive to this goal, only worsening student health.

The food isn’t very popular either. “I don’t think our school lunches are either tasty or nutritious,” junior Rhys Hire said.

Because the district consists of educational institutions, its decisions should align with the goal of giving students the best education possible. Consistently pumping pupils’ bodies full of sugar will only limit their academic potential. A study from Michael Goran, a children’s health expert at the University of Southern California, found that sugar has a negative impact on kids’ academic performance, learning, and memory. Recognizing the problem is not enough; problems with student nutrition will not end until district leaders identify and implement solutions. Hopefully, such a plan looks something like this: First, vending machines should only stock food deemed nutritious by health professionals. Second, no foods distributed at brunch and lunch can exceed a level of sugar and saturated fat stipulated by the district. Third, the district should bring in a menu consultant to find nourishing cuisine that many students will enjoy.

Fourth, in an additional supplementary educational measure, the PE 9 and Human and Social Development courses should place further emphasis on teaching students healthy eating habits.

Obviously, such a plan will increase food costs and detract from profits. However, the purpose of schools is not to line their own pockets, but to foster education and growth. A renewed focus on nutritious food helps to accomplish this goal.

We are the next generation, the seeds of our nation. Watering these seeds with Izzes and Pop-Tarts, rather than water and protien, will only limit our growth. Making school food healthier will allow us to blossom as people in terms of health, happiness, and education.

Curriculum Should Include

Professional Skills Lessons

LEILA MABOUDIAN

.. . Miramonte’s student body is known for its unabating fixation on academic excellence. Students learn to pursue every feat of resumé-construction until they arrive at the final destination: graduation. So, what happens when it’s all over? The dream of adulthood becomes a reality. We swap the fear of math and history tests with utter confusion—what do we say in job interviews? How do we file taxes? How do we save for retirement? It’s nice to think that the post-graduation years are the time to figure all that out, but pushing life skill learning into an intangible future is a surefire way to guarantee intractably frustrating young adult years. By implementing more lessons dedicated to practical skills that help students navigate their adult lives, the school can assure that students graduate as well-rounded individuals prepared to succeed in a variety of paths. “We do so much planning for the rest of our lives from an academic standpoint, but we just don’t learn how to live life on our own, which is kind of shocking. Education should be more than that, especially since we’re all getting ready to embark on the crazy journey of life after high school,” senior Alexa Gutu said. Currently, many high school students graduate without sufficient skills to handle their new independence. According to a 2019 study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, an entrepreneur-focused economic development organization, the overwhelming majority of adults believe high school did not prepare them for their current job. In a follow-up study from 2021, students, adults, and employers all consistently deemed life skills, along with soft and technical skills—problem-solving, communication, people skills, perseverance, emotional intelligence—more crucial than subject-matter expertise. 77 percent of employers responded that high school preparation should emphasize real world skills above traditional subject matters. Consequently, practical skills such as curiosity and resourcefulness deserve greater emphasis in the curriculum. Young people who leave high school able to ask questions, research them, and trouble-shoot are better prepared for success in the workforce. “Research skills in general can be filtered into more classes, and asking questions is really at the heart of it. So, can you generate questions? Can you be curious about a topic? And how do you go about answering those questions? It’s really important that we are adding these skills into more lessons and discussions, in any topic,” librarian Susan Williams said. In conjunction with the absence of questioning and problem-solving skills, concrete life skills such as financial management should hold a greater weight in the curriculum. “Financial skills are really underrepresented in our high school education. I think we should learn about dealing with taxes, mortgages, investments, and loans,” junior Elizabeth Cooke said. “For example, we have AP Macroeconomics, but we don’t have Microeconomics, which involves personal finances, economic decision making, and budgeting. I think including that or similar lessons would be really helpful.” Shifting the primary focus of financial class offerings from simply broad economic trends to personal finance help will enable more students to make necessary and thoughtful financial decisions. . Even so, the suggestion to add life skills to our classes seems daunting. Students already have schedules packed with classes and extracurriculars—there is little room for additional coursework. However, these skills may be integrated into the curriculum gradually: relevant classes can add in or adjust lesson plans to involve such skills. “Going to college involves making a lot of major financial decisions that can be very difficult to understand when you haven’t been taught a lot about finances. So, there should be money management lessons!” freshman Trisha Prabandham said. Moreover, practical financial decisions go hand-in-hand with our career paths and ability to find employment in our chosen field. For many young people, in-person job interviews pose an immense challenge, requiring oratory skills and the ability to highlight specific strengths. Many syllabi already include oral presentations, but assignments should also expose students specifically to the interview format. Specifically, classes in technical subjects, such as science and computer science, should assess students similarly to the interviews that students in scientific fields will likely encounter in their job searches. In this way, the school will guarantee that students can communicate their ideas in a clear, concise, and engaging way. To prepare students for the more technical aspects of college and career paths, many classes also take advantage of the resources offered by the library, such as lessons on conducting research, synthesizing information, and evaluating resources to examine and interpret a variety of subjects. These lessons diverge from more abstract subjects and emphasize technical skills, which are essential for students to learn to exhibit caution and focus in approaching the broad research questions and thesis projects that will mark their college years. “Companies want nimble thinkers, people who are flexible and can understand things from different angles, and can also synthesize the glut of information that we have, make sense of it, and present a case,” Williams said. The victories of the libraries’ programs vindicate the necessity of implementing more lessons involving practical skills—not only within academic, but also in financial and social fields—in the curriculum.

In order for students to pursue their professional goals, more classes should incorporate skill-based lessons beyond the pages of a textbook.

Gingerbread House Kit rankings

MIRA HALDAR, JANIE HOLLERBACH, & JESSICA YOUN

A classic ode to the holiday season, gingerbread house making and decorating is a timeless tradition many eagerly await to partake in. However, whether pre-made or built from scratch, one question arises: What store has the best gingerbread house kit? Evaluating affordability, durability, and overall appearance, we put three gingerbread houses to the test. These are our results!

MIRA: 5/10

Target’s holiday mansion gingerbread house kit came with supplies that did not disappoint. Complete with prebaked gingerbread pieces, ready-made icing, fondant, and an assortment of decorating candies, the outcome was sadly quite underwhelming. Upon initially constructing the house, things began to go downhill – literally. The prepackaged icing did a poor job of supporting the house’s walls, eventually resulting in both deterioration and frustration. Additionally, the dense gingerbread pieces only added extra weight to the structure and served as a catalyst for disaster. However, the final result – a roofless, unsuccessfully constructed house – put up a more appealing front than its initial state. The kit’s decorating candies added an element of charm and, despite the weak foundation, the holiday mansion was ultimately festive, to say the least.

JESSICA: 9.5/10

JANIE: 8.7/10

While Target’s “Sports Stadium Kit” initially appears intimidating, it is anything but. This kit practically builds itself: the bargain price of $12.99 will get you ready-made gingerbread pieces, three separate kinds of icing, festive candies, and paper cutouts to decorate with. However, my favorite part of the kit was the plastic foundation that allowed me to skip the tedious construction process, allowing for a stress-free, satisfying experience. Thus, my tasks were limited to frosting each individual piece, decorating with sprinkles and candy, and laying the pieces on the foundation. My only complaint was that the corner pieces broke unevenly which forced me to get creative and use gumdrops to make up for lost material. Overall, this kit is a refreshing twist on the traditional gingerbread house perfect for anyone who wants to avoid the laborious process of actually building a house.

The log cabin gingerbread house proved a major success. With the chunky white icing providing little to no support, the four stability holders for the structure’s base and roof helped the building process significantly. Due to the stabilizers, zero moments occurred of frustration and hopelessness that usually come along when making a typical gingerbread house. Instead, most of my energy went toward decorating the home to its full potential. The white icing acted as snow on the window frames and roof, and the assortment of decoration candies accurately replicated a festive log cabin. Along with the green and black icing and candy, the kit also came with multiple gingerbread cut-out trees and chimneys. Although certain steps in the building process were tedious, the festive and spirited finished product was worth the work. Following the box’s building instructions and demonstrative pictures, the gingerbread log cabin will ensure an enjoyable experience full of holiday spirit.

AVA SKIDGEL

The holiday season is the best time to buy new candles. They produce a festive atmosphere, make it possible to reminisce about the holidays, and make for perfect presents. Bath and Body Works devotees band together, waiting for their holiday fragrances all year. The Mirador’s Bath and Body Works enthusiast, Ava Skidgel, took it upon herself to write a comprehensive review of the best and worst of this year’s selection.

It provides an aroma of a seasonal treat. The delicate aroma of crisp apples isn’t overpowered by notes of caramel, making it a subtle scent. “Winter candy apple reminds me of December, as it’s my favorite month, and the scent of apple cider makes me feel really clean,” sophomore Sophia Laliberte said.

A recurring classic that smells sweet and creamy with notes of vanilla and marshmallow. “[Vanilla Bean Noel] smells like vanilla sweet cream from Starbucks. I love it,” sophomore Maya Sandoval said.

A fresh scent similar to the “strawberry pound cake” candle by Bath and Body Works. It has strawberry and creamy vanilla aromas that resemble a strawberry milkshake. It also has a faint bubblegum scent, making it artificial-smelling.

It smells like coconut and shea butter coming together to form a sweet medley of tropical coconut and icey vanilla. The scent is comparable to their current “Vanilla Coconut” scent, so a point deduction is necessary for originality.

If you want your room to smell like a holiday evening baking Christmas cookies, this fragrance–which is not a candle–is perfect. It smells like sugar cookies because of the aroma’s sweet vanilla and buttery notes.

This minty candle has vanilla undertones and the scent of peppermint candy. Subtle pine notes are in the aroma, reminiscent of a Christmas tree. If you like peppermint, it would be great to burn in your room; however, I think it’s too overpowering.

It has a pungent fruity scent with tangerine and peach notes that create a sweet but artificial aroma. However, I don’t detect any berry-like smell. The scent reminds me of an air freshener, and peaches don’t go well with snow.

LUKE LEWIS & JONATHAN SU

As we enter the Christmas season, it’s finally time to tune into those Christmas songs again. There are thousands of songs to choose from and such little time to listen to them, so here are the top picks from The Mirador to make the most of your holiday season.

“All I Want For Christmas Is You” – Mariah Carey

This iconic song by Mariah Carey perfectly combines the Christmas spirit and romance. Not only does it touch on Christmas presents, Santa Claus, and sleigh bells, but it also radiates love. Carey enthusiastically declared that the only present she needed for Christmas this year was the individual to which the song was sung. The song is the perfect accompaniment for anyone who wants to express their significant other at this time of the year. “I like the uplifting spirit of this song,” senior Ryan Kaelle said.

“Feliz Navidad” – José Feliciano

Interestingly, “Feliz Navidad” has 19 words repeated throughout the whole three-minute song. Six words are in Spanish, translating to “Merry Christmas, prosperous year, and happiness.” The rest of the words are, “I wanna wish you a merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.” Listening to this song gives you a feeling that everything will be fantastic for your upcoming year. “Listening to this song just gives me so much joy. It makes me think I’m going to have an amazing year ahead of me,” senior Nico Grinold said.

“Jingle Bells” – James Pierpont

A classic, “Jingle Bells” is a must-listen every year. It is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. The catchy tune leaves millions around the world humming all season long. The song follows the perspective of Santa Claus, who describes his exciting adventure on his sleigh. “The bells and jingling in this song are very spirited. Everytime I hear this song, I imagine Santa Claus right next to me,” Grinold said.

“Last Christmas” – Wham!

Popular duo Wham! expresses their sorrows over failed relationships in this popular Christmas song. The song spoke of devastating heartbreak when their significant other left them the day after Christmas. This song gives you a deep insight into the holiday season and shows that it is not always a time for happiness and festivities; it can also be a time of sadness and loneliness. Nevertheless, the song still drops a catchy tune, attracting millions of listeners yearly.

Photo: Sony Music Entertainment Photo: My Aesthetic Things Tumblr Photo: Sony Music Entertainment

Marshmallows and Whipped Cream Face Off!

CALEB ELKIND

With the cold weather, rain, and shorter days, many students partake in winter activities. Whether lying under five blankets, blasting overplayed Christmas music, or eating stale gingerbread, students try their best to make the most of the monotonous season. But beyond this, students are confronted with a tough decision. What is a better hot chocolate topping: marshmallows or whipped cream?

Marshmallows vs. Whipped Cream

PROS:

Marshmallows are the classic choice. With three different sizes to choose from, marshmallows make the hot chocolate look complete. Marshmallows also give you more freedom to decide when to eat them. You can eat them right away while taking a big swig of hot chocolate, wait till you’ve drunk all of it, or any time in between.

“I like Marshmallows more than whipped cream because they taste better, and marshmallows can be mixed better with hot chocolate than whipped cream does,” sophomore James Jenkins said.

CONS:

The main issue with marshmallows is that they dissolve and add no flavor to the hot chocolate. In addition to this, marshmallows aren’t all that good, to begin with. Marshmallows are also made almost entirely with sugar, making them very unhealthy and just not worth it.

PROS:

Even the sound and look are enough to make you fall in love with the unknown chemicals (that probably cause cancer) in the spray paint-looking bottle. Who doesn’t love the soft texture and sweetness of good old whipped cream? The most overlooked advantage of whipped cream is that it cools the top layer of the hot chocolate, making those first few sips much more bearable.

“Whipped cream adds sweetness, texture, flavor, and a melting sensation in your mouth that is so inconspicuous to understand in any realm of human endeavor,” sophomore Cyrus Jowharchi said.

CONS:

Whipped cream is far messier than marshmallows. When you try to drink from your mug, the whipped cream always finds its way onto your upper lip, and gives you a white mustache. The other problem is that you can’t separate the whipped cream from the hot chocolate.

Best option?

Whipped cream. Whipped cream is so much more fun to put on hot chocolate; it looks better and it tastes better. So now, the next time you make yourself a warm mug of hot chocolate, remember to choose whipped cream on top and don’t forget to sprinkle some crushed candy cane bits for style points.

Start Your New Year With Horoscopes

JESSICA YOUN

2023 is coming in hot, and it can be overwhelming to consider everything the new year has in store for us. Zodiacs provide some reassurance with a tailored prediction of what each sign should expect!

Aries: Try to adopt a more positive attitude this year. Count your blessings and know that everything happens for a reason. You will feel more comfortable in your own skin and learn to shut out the world when you feel pressured. Keep persevering, but be practical!

Taurus: Pay close attention to your values in 2023, especially in regard to close relationships and money. You will experience situations where you will need to take direct action and make tough decisions – but don’t worry, this will lead to prosperity!

Gemini: Prioritize your relationships, especially at the beginning and end of the year. However, you will need to make independent decisions about what you want for yourself. While challenges related to education may arise, you will thrive academically!

Cancer: Good luck is in store for you this year. With an old cycle of your life coming to a close, you must sort out what you want to continue pursuing and what no longer suits you. You may experience a lot of pressure, but you will persevere and ultimately succeed.

Leo: 2023 will bring you a renewed sense of self-confidence and happiness. While your inner circle may feel smaller this year, know that it will consist of your true friends. At the same time, you should expand your network of acquaintances and involve yourself in your community.

Virgo: You will work hard this year and earn a growing sense of respect. As a result, you will feel increasingly optimistic as you receive encouragement and support from an extensive group of friends. You will continue on the path to achieving your goals and leaving behind anything that doesn’t serve your purpose.

Libra: Time management will be particularly important for you this year as you experience an increasingly pressured schedule. You will gain a strong sense of enthusiasm and end the year with high hopes and new friends.

Scorpio: This year, you must take direct action, be persistent, and go for what you want. You may feel an urge to travel more and have ambitious plans. Prioritize improving your study habits and know that success is coming your way.

Sagittarius: 2023 will be a crucial year for you. The next year may test your close relationships, but your strong partnerships will survive. This year will be one of exploration, understanding, and determination. However, be careful – don’t get carried away and stay humble.

Capricorn: Take time to support your close relationships, as they will guide you through periods of hard work. Nevertheless, ensure that you take enough time for yourself. 2023 will be a busy year for you, so self-reflection and understanding is your key to success.

Aquarius: Surround yourself with people who are similar to you and share the same ideals. This will be critical to helping you put your efforts in the right places and achieve your goals. Stick to what you know is right and listen to your gut!

Pisces: You will feel more social, outgoing, and confident this year. At the same time, you will gain heavier responsibilities that may weigh on you – as long as you focus on your ambitions, you will succeed. Pursue what will be the most rewarding