Dec 2017 issue 2

Vol.l. 9 Vo Vol. Issu Is suee10 su Issue 1 Issue #2

Mill Creek

CHRONICLE DIY Holiday Gifts

Fall Sport Wrap Up Dance Showcase Study Like A Pro

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Front Cover Photo: Uriah Leverette carries the ball against North Gwinnett Photo: Jana Thomas

12 Study Like A 4 Pro

30 DIY Gifts

MASTHEAD Editors

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Michelle Ortiz Collins Sainovich

Hawk With A Story Other Stories Included...

2QOLQH (GLWRU Vanessa Medina

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Fast News

6WDɣ :ULWHUV

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Seasonal Jobs

10

Fall Sports Wrap Up

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Dance Showcase

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How to Help Around the Holidays Recipe Ideas

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Classic Holiday Movies

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Which Pet is Best For You?

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Amazon Echo

Caitlyn Bedillion Sapphire Brooks +DQQDK &RɤHOG Meaghan Exantus Samantha Fletcher Isabelle Harrel Madison Jackson Taylor Johnson Alyssa Johnston Abbie Key Catherine Lysaught Margaret Mosley Faith Montgomery Mark Pierre Gabriella Seeton

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18 Interacting With Puerto Rico

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The Mill Creek Chronicle is a student publication of Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, GA. It is distributed to students, faculty, staff, and the Mill Creek community in print and online. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire Chronicle staff or of Gwinnett County Schools, Mill Creek High School, its students, faculty, staff, or administration.

Content is designed and edited by student journalists.

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Mill Creek’s Cornucopia

24 Winter Attractions ɴ

FAST NEWS Br Bringing you the latest news including topics relating to Mill Creek High School, the community, national, and even international events. The Mill Creek Chronicle VWDɣ VWULYHV WR EULQJ \RX LQ WKH NQRZ RI ZKDW LV FXUUHQW trending, and happening in today’s society.

Twitter makes a small tweak By: Isabelle Harrel

This September, Twitter announced that they would be experimenting with a 280 character limit -double the original amount.�

This change was prompted because some Twitter users found the smaller character limit frustrating.

When experimenting with the idea of expanding the number of characters, Twitter selected some accounts to give the concept a trial run. Aliza Rosen, Twitter’s product manager, said that those who participated in the experiment told Twitter that “a higher character OLPLW PDGH WKHP IHHO PRUH VDWLVÂżHG ZLWK KRZ

they expressed themselves on Twitter, their DELOLW\ WR ¿QG JRRG FRQWHQW DQ 7ZLWWHU RYHUDOO´ (poconorecord.com).

The 280 character limit launched on November 7th, and it’s available for all languages except for Japanese, Korean, and Chinese since those languages don’t need as many characters to convey information.

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST TELLS ABOUT HER SEXUAL ABUSE Olympic medalist, Aly Raisman, came forth and told the world that her Olympic trainer, Larry Nassar, had sexually abused her.

Jonathan LaPook, of CBS news, interviewed Raisman. “You’re saying you were sexually abused?� asked LaPook. “Yes,� answered Raisman. “By the National Team Doctor?� asked LaPook.

By: Maggie Mosley

“Yes,� answered Raismen.

When interviewed, Raisemen said, “[Medical WUHDWPHQW@ , GLGQÂśW NQRZ DQ\WKLQJ GLÉŁHUHQW We were told he was the best doctor. He is the United States Olympic doctor and the USA Gymnastics doctor, and we were very lucky we were able to see him.â€?

Nassar has been arrested and charged with sexual assault.

TEXAS CHURCH SHOOTING By: Catherine Lysaught

All PHOTOS: Creative Commons

On November 5 in Sutherland Springs, Texas, a shooting took place inside of The First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs during the 11 AM service, resulting in the death of 26 people and the injury of 20 others. The victims of the attack range from the ages of 5 to 72 years of age, with nine of the deceased victims being from the same family. The pastor’s daughter and the shooter’s wife’s grandmother were among the slain victims.

The shooter was LGHQWLÂżHG DV 'HYLQ 3DWULFN Kelley, a 26-year-old retired member of the US Air Force.

Kelley entered the church in black tactical gear and unloaded his gun before RSHQLQJ ÂżUH RQ WKH FKXUFK members. A nearby resident who noticed the shooting chased after Kelley in his car after he left the church and shot him, wounding him.

Kelley was later found dead in his car.

This was not Kelley’s ¿UVW FULPLQDO HQFRXQWHU In 2012 he was discharged from the military on account

of assault. “He was courtmartialed in 2012 for assault on his spouse and assault on their child. He served a year LQ FRQÂżQHPHQW UHFHLYHG D bad conduct discharge and had his rank reducedâ€? (CNN News).

After the attack, the police have still been unable to determine what led Kelley to shoot. It has been determined that he has no link to any terrorist organization, but what led him to attack is still unknown. Police are still investigating, but his social media accounts and family have been little help.

With 26 people dead on the scene and many injured victims, this attack ranks as one of the deadliest church attacks in United States history. According to Time.com, “The attack, which has become one of the most deadly mass shootings in recent U.S. history, comes just a month after a shooter RSHQHG ÂżUH RQ D FURZG DW D concert in Las Vegas, killing 58 people.â€?

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PHOTO: Faith Montgomery

Mill Creek’s Cornucopia By: Faith Montgomery

Nearly thirty perceont percent of students enrolled at Mill Creek are eligible for free or reduced lunch, meaning that close to a quarter of the school, about 870 students, may not have enough food when they go home. This estimate could actually be lower than the actual number of students VXɣHULQJ PDOQXWULWLRQ According to Principal Lane, the Mill Creek cluster is seeing a declining trend of students receiving free lunch. As they move on to a new grade or school level, students are less likely to FODLP DQ\ DLG ,Q DQ HɣRUW

to reduce a lack of food in Mill Creek students’ home lives, Drew Philo and Student Council have been working to bring a food bank straight to the campus of Mill Creek.

have a pantry at each of the schools.”

Currently, Student Council is in charge of bringing the closet bank to campus, but Philo says, “After we get it started, President’s Club will take over so that all the service clubs in the school can be involved.” ,Q DQ HɣRUW to involve everyone at Mill Creek, “Every month a GLɣHUHQW FOXE LV JRLQJ WR collect food, so the best way for students to donate is to be involved in one of those clubs,” says Philo. The items that will be most needed are toiletries, including items like deodorant, toothbrushes,

“It was just one of our goals that after the Friday Night Food Fight, we would have a pantry at each of the schools.”

Philo says, “It was D FROOHFWLYH HɣRUW EHWZHHQ my mom, who runs the food pantry where the food from the Friday Night Food Fight goes to, the student council president at Dacula, and myself. It was just one of our goals that after the Friday Night Food Fight, we would

PHOTO: Faith Montgomery

PHOTOS: Meera Chaudhari

and toothpaste. Philo says, “These are really important just because you’re kind of looked down upon if you GRQÂśW KDYH VWXÉŁ OLNH WKDW DQG they’re basic necessities that everyone should have. So, I think those are the most important items we’ll need to be donated.â€?

Once the closet bank arrives on campus, “Distribution will be by word of mouth just to keep it lowkey because it’s an emotional situation, and most people probably won’t want others WR NQRZ DERXW WKHLU ÂżQDQFLDO situation. So, students can let counselors or teachers know that they need food, and then they’ll be able to get as much food as they need from the closet,â€? says Philo.

:KHQ WKH EDQN ¿UVW starts at Mill Creek, it will be located in the counseling RɤFH KRZHYHU LW ZLOO URWDWH

Students bringing in canned food items for the Friday Night Food Fight earlier this year.

throughout the school periodically. Philo says, “A good thing about the closet is it’s going to be on wheels, so we’ll be able to move it around. So, it won’t be in just one spot. People won’t know that the counseling RɤFH LV WKH SODFH WR JR WR JHW food. We can move it around wherever we want it to be.� “Right now we’re still deciding how we want the food bank to function, so we don’t have a set date for when it will be on campus,� says

Philo, but if students want to KHOS ZLWK WKH HÉŁRUW WKH\ FDQ always donate to the Pantry at HMUMC. Philo says, “To donate to HMUMC, there are bins throughout the church that they can set the food in, and people can also come on Saturdays from 9-11:30 a.m.

They can bring food with them, and they can volunteer as well, which is a good way to help out the community.�

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Seasonal Jobs

By: Caitlyn Bedillion Caitlyn Bedillion

The holiday season creates many job opportunities for students wanting extra money during the holiday season. Breaks from school such as Thanksgiving break and winter break allow extra free time outside of school for students to spend at a seasonal job. Many places around the Kirkland’s Temp/Seasonal Buford area have opportunities for students to work for a company at a seasonal job. Kate Key says, “I am planning on applying at Snow Mountain Team Member this winter to get extra money for the holidays while I will be on break This position is temporary and positions from school and swim practice.� are determined based on business needs.

The primary responsibility of a Team 0HPEHU LV WR SURYLGH D IXOÂżOOLQJ VKRSSLQJ experience to each and every customer utilizing the “Aâ€? service model while assisting with all aspects of operations and merchandising in their store with partnership and direction from the management team. Areas of focus include VDOHV DQG SURÂżW JURZWK H[SHQVH FRQWURO promotional, merchandising execution and exceptional customer experience through the execution of our “Aâ€? service.

This position requires a high level of comfort in building rapport through customer interactions.

All job descriptions courtesy of Snagajob.com

+LFNRU\ )DUPV 6HDVRQDO 6DOHV $VVRFLDWH Macy’s Customer Service, Retail Join this dynamic store team and you will have the opportunity to perform a wide range of retail functions ensuring that the customer is always our #1 priority. As a Customer Service Associate, you’ll perform placement and replenishment of PHUFKDQGLVH RQ WKH VHOOLQJ ÀRRU complete price changes, set up sales, DQG ¿OO FXVWRPHUVœ RQOLQH RUGHUV As the holiday season progresses, you’ll create an exceptional shopping experience by engaging with customers, completing register transactions and delivering a clean, neat, and easy to shop environment.

We are currently seeking Part-Time Seasonal Sales Associates to create the memorable retail experience that defines the Hickory Farms tradition of quality and excellence. As a part of our team, you will be an integral part of preserving beloved holiday traditions and crafting new ones through promoting high quality food products and gift sets. As a Team Member with Hickory Farms, you will... ¡ Engage, offer samples, and sell our merchandise to customers ¡ Approach and greet each and every customer ¡ Maintain a friendly and inviting customer-first atmosphere ¡ Achieve personal sales objectives while supporting the goals of the team ¡ Perform all other tasks and duties assigned by the Seasonal Store Manager to support the needs of the business.

Toys R Us and Babies R Us Sales Associate Do you like having fun and playing with toys? Do you enjoy seeing a child’s face light up with a smile? Do you believe in the magic of the season?

We are now hiring Holiday Heroes to assist our customers in preparing for the upcoming holidays!

We are looking for Seasonal Sales Associates with high integrity and accountability, who are passionate and who have a positive energy that is contagious.

We’re seeking people who inspire teamwork and deliver results - people who will be heroes to their customers, always SXWWLQJ WKHP ¿UVW 7HDP PHPEHUV ZKR are competitive, curious, and courageous.

Sound like you? Interested in delivering joy to children of all ages this holiday season?

What are you waiting for? Apply today!

Seasonal Sales team members perform the sales process to achieve Sales Average expectations, talk with potential customers and call existing customers to schedule and FRQÂżUP SKRWRJUDSK\ VHVVLRQV DV well as provide a delightful customer experience.

Photo Credits: Caitlyn Bedillion

Caitlyn Bedillion

-& 3HQQ\ 6DOHV $VVRFLDWH Responsible for creating an environment of good customer service through actions. This includes ensuring customer transactions are processed DFFXUDWHO\ DQG HɤFLHQWO\ HQVXULQJ the Company’s “2-in-a-line� standard, reinforcing Customer Service Desk standards and resolving customer problems by following policies and procedures in conjunction with following the “Yes We Can� policy.

Balances and processes refunds and media from sales and return registers.

Processes cash deposits and currency RUGHUV FRPSOHWHV DQG VXEPLWV GDLO\ reports to Store Management and Cash and Sales Audit department.

Petco Groomer Responsible to deliver customer service and grooming services to customer that align with our brand promise. This job is composed of D YDULHW\ RI GLÉŁHUHQW WDVNV WKDW DUH covered by operational guidelines, and while individual judgment may occasionally be required in order WR FRPSOHWH DVVLJQHG WDVNV PRVW questions are directed to either the Grooming Salon Manager or the General Manager. Position is responsible for the welfare of all live animals within the department.

GSM will report to the General Manager and collaborate to drive the business.

Magic M oment Phot ography Capturing all of Mill Creek’s magical moments

magicmomentphotography.com 770-979-4203 Éş

Fall Sports Wrap Up %\ 6DSSKLUH %URRNV 0DGLVRQ -DFNVRQ DQG )DLWK 0RQWJRPHU\

6RIWEDOO Stepping Up to Plate Mill Creek’s softball players walked away from the season with honors and recognition.

Senior Erin Weippert received the honor of all county academic. Junior Maddison Koepke, freshmen Madison Dobbins, and Dallis Goodnight Received the honor of All Team County. Junior Gentry Hammock and sophomore Emily Ammons received the honor 3OD\HUV RI WKH 0RQWK 7KH WHDP ÂżQLVKHG WKH season winning 6-4 in the region and 11-12 overall and ended up ranking 67 in the state. “This season saw a lot of people stepping up to the plate and the girls who received awards did the most out of all,â€? said Varsity coach Paul Pierce. When asked what set the awarded girls apart Pierce stated, “There are D ORW RI UROHV WKDW QHHGHG WR EH ÂżOOHG DQG , IHOW that these six girls really stepped up into these roles and did outstanding work.â€?

)RRWEDOO A change in season At the end of the regular season, Mill Creek Varsity Football ended with a winning season, 8-3 overall, and 4-2 in the region. The past couple of years, the football program hadn’t lost a regular season game, so this year, losing to North Gwinnett mid-season caused the players to face a challenge that many of them had never seen before: recovering from a loss.

Senior running back Uriah Leverette says, “The hardest thing was probably leading the team.�

Additionally, quarterback Brady Longnecker, who only had the chance to make three passing attempts in a Varsity

“I’m proud and excited to be recognized for it,â€? said Weippert. “I put a lot of time and HÉŁRUW LQWR WKH season both RQ DQG RÉŁ WKH ÂżHOG HVSHFLDOO\ with balancing playing with my Photo Credit: Georgia Stonecypher academics.â€?

All those who received awards are grateful for WKH UHFRJQLWLRQ \HW EHOLHYH LW ZDV D WHDP HÉŁRUW this season. “I’m extremely proud of all the girls on the team both those who were awarded and those who weren’t,â€? said Ammons.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth-Ann Turac

game prior to this season, played a vital role in the success of the team.

He ranked well above the national average in passing yards, touchdown passes, and completions, helping lead the varsity WHDP WR WKH SOD\RÉŁV $V /HYHUHWWH SXWV LW “Our success begins with willpower and dedication.â€?

Photo Credit: Joie-Rae Allen

9ROOH\EDOO Finally Part of the Four Varsity volleyball headed into WKH VHPLÂżQDOV ZLWK D VWURQJ VHDVRQ DQG a hopeful support system. The Lady +DZNV PDGH LW WR WKH )LQDO D ÂżUVW IRU Volleyball, and along the way conquered rivals such as Brookwood, Lambert, and Shiloh.

The team ended the season with a score of 38-5 and a state ranking of 12. With losses to only Norcross, North Gwinnett, Buford, and Lambert, the VHDVRQ ZDV ÂżOOHG ZLWK DQ RXWVWDQGLQJ amount of wins. In a tournament match, the girls beat Mountain View 2-0.

They also won (2-0) in a region match against Discovery. Shelby Dudey (11) says, “I enjoy playing all my games but the Discovery match was really fun and challenging.�

Coach Williamson said, “The most memorable part [of the season] was defeating Lambert in the elite 8 in our gym.� The Lady Hawks had a great season, and senior Sonya Silecky said, “We owe a lot of our success to our Coaches. They have guided us and helped us train.� “As a freshman it was very GLɤFXOW WR WUDLQ IRU YROOH\EDOO EXW DV WKH years progressed it got a little easier.�

Coach Williamson said they prepared by

GRLQJ ÂłD ORW RU WUDLQLQJ LQ WKH RÉŁ VHDVRQ´ team camps such as the one at Auburn University where they spent “3 days SUHSDULQJ IRU >WKHLU@ VHDVRQ´ DQG ÂżQDOO\ bonding experiences. Dudley said, “The WUDLQLQJ WKLV \HDU ZDV D ORW GLÉŁHUHQW IURP previous years and bonding with our teammates was especially importantâ€?.

The Lady Hawks have a bond that is special which allowed them to move Ă€XLGO\ GXULQJ WKH VHDVRQ 6LOHFN\ VDLG “We took a trip to Savannah this year , and it was great to fellowship with the girls and learn a lot of new skills.â€?

With the combination of talent, ambition, and determination, the Lady Hawks were able to complete the season as a distinguished competitor. Moving forward the volleyball team is keen on instilling the same values in next year’s team so that they can also succeed.

Photo Credit: Joie-Rae Allen

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Study Like a Pro

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split the work up into pieces.

Instead of looking at the work as one big study mess, break it down into sections. Sometimes it can help to set times for by: Abbie Key VWDUWLQJ DQG ¿QLVKLQJ 6HQLRU Jason Russell, who is number One study tip is study one is his class, says, “People every day. Studying everyday who struggle with studying can help maintain the information you are studying. can use a timer to help manage their time. Like set 45 minutes Studying everyday can also of studying for one class and help with making sure that a 15 minutes for a break. That you aren’t cramming in the information the day before the helps you keep focused.”

By rewriting notes, test. whether it’s on a noteSenior Camryn Petit card or even typing it helps who is second in her class memorize the subject better. says, “I run varsity cross country and track, and I’m also There are tons of studies that involved in multiple clubs such H[SODLQ WKH EHQH¿WV RI WDNLQJ as NHS, Beta club, and student handwritten notes, including one from the Association council. I manage my time between these responsibilities for Psychological Science that shows handwritten note E\ EHLQJ HɤFLHQW ZLWK P\ work ,and not procrastinating. taking can improve long-term comprehension.

I also devote almost all of Some teachers provide a my free time to studying to VWXG\ JXLGH IRU WHVWV DQG ¿QDOV ensure my academics do Most study guides are given QRW VXɣHU EHFDXVH RI P\ to help review everything on extracurriculars.” the upcoming test or quiz. “To Another study tip is to

study, I look over my notes from class, read the textbook, and complete practice problems and/or study guides if applicable” says Petit.

Working in groups with friends or other students from the same class can also help motivate you and keep you on task. Studying with a group can make the work load or project easier to handle. Junior Vesna Tran, who is second in her class, says,“I recommend making goals and surrounding yourself with the right people for the right reasons.”

What you do in class can make studying at home, or out of school, easier. Russell says, “I know a lot of people who try to write everything a teacher has on a slide, but i don’t prefer that method because you aren’t receiving all the information a teacher is saying. I try to write down ZKDW , ¿QG LPSRUWDQW DQG what the teacher says that is important.”

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Diana Kim, 11th grade “Time management is a big deal for me because I am in so many extra curriculars. For me I always write down what I need to get accomplished for the day on a white board then erase as I complete things.

I also try to stay proactive and keep a pretty detailed calendar on my wall to see all of my events.

My biggest tip for studying is finding what works for you. Everyone learns differently and studying one way may be more

effective for one person but not effective for another, it’s kind of a guess and check until you really hone in on what is your best way to study then using that to succeed.

I also recommend studying ahead and being proactive.

If studying a day ahead consistently isn’t working try studying for the whole week before.

During class, I try to write down big ideas then have bullet points with ideas that fit under each category.”

Cassidy Hettesheimer, 10th grade “I actually do a lot of homework during the weekends. I know, it might not seem fun, but it helps me feel more calm about the upcoming week.

Usually, my Saturdays are fairly busy with soccer games and cross country meets, so Sunday is the day that I work on essays, AP world mashup questions, and reviews. I honestly think that it’s a good way to set my head on straight so that i don’t go into Monday feeling like I’m already feeling behind.

For someone that struggles with studying, I would advise them to find someone that they know will keep them accountable and try to work with them as much as they can. It could be a tutor but I often think I work best with people that are studying for the same test as me, rather than revisiting a topic from the prior year.”

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HAWK WITH A STORY By: Maggie Mosely

Senior Alex Lewis is making his mark in his community. Lewis took an old, beat up RV and transformed it into a brand new concussion center.

Lewis started this project over the summer to create what would be known as the &DUH $ 9DQ 7KH &DUH $ 9DQ LV *HRUJLDÂśV ÂżUVW sports injury treatment center and concussion classroom on wheels. It will bring awareness to the severity of concussions. The Care-A-Van can save many young children from a lifetime of brain damage.

The center tests children at a young age and keeps it in their archive so if the child were to get a concussion, doctors could scan their EUDLQ DJDLQ WR VHH WKH GLÉŁHUHQFHV “The project took a mobile mammogram unit used for breast cancer awareness walks and totally transformed it into a mobile concussion center,â€? Lewis said. “We took it and converted it into a sports medicine and concussion care center unit all within this mobile home. We completely took out all of the interiors and rebuilt it around the idea of baseline concussion testing.â€?

The center includes an examining room, a waiting area, and multiple iPads to test the younger athletes. “Most of the time, when you get a concussion, you are not 100% sure whether you have one or not, so the idea behind baseline testing is to test the child or even adult and see how they perform under regular conditions,�

Lewis explained. “They take a baseline test before the season. Then, if they feel like they may have gotten a concussion, they can go back and take the same test again and compare the scores. They look at the score before the athlete may have had any mental drawbacks and compare it to the new WHVW WKDW PD\ EH DÉŁHFWHG E\ WKH FRQFXVVLRQ ´ KH continued.

Lewis unwrapped all of the vinyl on the old RV and sanded it. He also cleaned the entire RXWVLGH ZLWK WKUHH GLÉŁHUHQW VROXWLRQV DQG KHOSHG

Caption photo credits

“Most of the time, when you get a concussion, you are not 100% sure whether you have one or not, so the idea behind baseline testing is to test the child or even adult and see how they perform under regular conditions.”

-Alex Lewis

with the electronics on the inside of the RV. This entire renovation took a total of 2 months.

Help them.”

When asked what all he does for the marching band, Lewis answered, “Basically, I deal with things that need to be fabricated. I built the secondary synthesizer cart. It reduces the setup time. Our synthesizer player can roll onto WKH ¿HOG UHDG\ DQG MXVW SOXJ LQWR WKH PL[HU , helped with the production of props and overall instrument maintenance.”

Freshman, Hunter Dunnington, said, ³$OH[ LV D TXDOLW\ JX\ ZKR SXWV RWKHUV ¿UVW LQ order to help them.”

Lewis also is part of the Mill Creek Front Ensemble. He came straight from working on the center to practice here at Mill Creek, every Thursday to practice with the rest of the front ensemble.

“I respect him and all the work he does for us,” said senior, Sung Jin Lee. ɲɶ

Dance Show By: Abbie Key Sophomore Emily Howell, danced in the songs “Snow Blizzard,â€? “Faith,â€? and “Rise up.â€? Howell says, “This was my third 0LOO &UHHN GDQFH VKRZ 7KH GLÉŁHUHQFH between this year’s dance show and years in the past is the theme of Rudolph.

Because of this theme, there are more of storytelling and acting in our dances.� “With my experience as dancing as a ballerina for 11 years, I can say that we have a great dance program at Mill Creek High School,� says Howell.

This year’s dance showcase was held on November 10th through the 12th, and WKH WKHPH WKLV \HDU IRU WKH ÂżUVW KDOI ZDV “Rudolphâ€? and “Modern Contemporaryâ€? for the second half. The songs for Rudolph included: “Elf & Reindeer Fun,â€? “Here Comes Santa,â€? “Reindeer Games,â€? “Candy )RUHVW ´ Âł,VODQG RI 0LVÂżW 7R\V Âś Âł6QRZ Blizzard (Yeti dance),â€? “Show Me the Light,â€? “Celebration,â€? and the “Rudolph Finale.â€?

Sophomore Sophia Darling is in 3rd period dance. She danced to the songs “Water,â€? “Divide,â€? “Future is Femaleâ€? and “Snow Blizzard.â€? “I love the dances that are contemporary because the music is to calming and nice. I also like contemporary EHFDXVH WKH GDQFH PRYHV DUH GLÉŁHUHQW DQG cooler than other types of dance styles.â€? “My favorite part of the dance showcase is the feeling of performing on a VWDJH IRU SHRSOH , JHW WKLV EXWWHUĂ€\ IHHOLQJ before every dance and in a weird way, it is a good feeling. I love the environment behind stage before the dance and after every dance.

Everyone is really pumped and cheering each other on, and its adds to the fun of the dance showcase,� says Darling.

For the Modern Contemporary portion of the show, the dancers performed to the songs: Divide, which was a mix of Ed Sheeran songs, “A Little Party,� “Running on Fumes,� “Rise Up,� “Bang Bang,� “Slow It Down,� “Unsteady,� “Next to You,� “Tessalate,’ “Future Is Female,� “Worry,� “Faith,� “River,� “Unbroken,� “Water,� “My Skin,� “Salute,� and “How It Ends.�

Junior Audrey Douches choreographed the dance, “Running on Fumes� this semester for the dance department. “I had to audition about 25 people for 9 spots in my dance.

Mostly, I came up with the choreography in my bedroom while listening to music, and then I would go to the dance studio and see if anything looked awkward or needed to be changed. For “Running on Fumes,â€? I came up with the choreography in a total of four hours over several nights. I really liked the song before I even thought about choreographing to it, but I was in the studio one day when it came RQ VKXÉĽH DQG , NQHZ WKDW , KDG WR FUHDWH D piece for the show to the song.â€?

PHOTOS: Sean Floyd

“I love being involved in the dance program here at Mill Creek and auditioning for dances gives me the opportunity to be a bigger part of it. Many of the students here choreograph dances for classes or create audition pieces which makes our show very diverse and interesting.�

-Caytlin Tuchschmidt, Senior

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Interacting with Puerto Rico By: Catherine Lysaught

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With the holiday season around the corner, the Mill Creek Interact Club is gearing up to raise money for Puerto Ricans impacted by Hurricane Maria.

7KH HɣHFWV RI +XUULFDQH 0DULD RQ 3XHUWR Rico have caused many unsafe living conditions to arise, many of which are not \HW ¿[HG Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, causing power RXWDJHV ÀRRGV GHVWUR\HG KRPHV DQG little access to safe drinking water. Even now, a month after Hurricane Maria, much of Puerto Rico is without safe drinking water and electricity. Hurricane Maria is marked as one of the worst hurricanes that Puerto Rico has ever seen, with much of the GDPDJH KDYLQJ D ORQJ WHUP HɣHFW The Interact Club of Mill Creek is working with their sponsor, the Braselton Rotary Club and an organization in Puerto Rico

to raise money and donate supplies to Puerto Ricans trying to recover from Hurricane Maria.

The goal of raising the money is to be able to DÉŁRUG WKH VRODU ODQWHUQV DQG ZDWHU VWUDZV WR send to Puerto Rico. “Honestly, everything is about helping others,â€? said Interact Club Co-President, Danny Mai, “the only goal is to help others recover from these natural disasters.â€?

PHOTOS: Creative Commons

The solar lanterns and water straws are designed to solve two of the biggest problems in Puerto Rico right now, unsafe water and no electricity. According to Vox. com, “Four weeks after making landfall, roughly 79 percent of the island still doesn’t have electricity.� The Interact Club aims to assist Puerto Rico in getting power and safe water again.

The water straws are a device that would allow previously contaminated water to drink safely without exposing the body to anything dangerous. The straw uses PHFKDQLFDO ÂżOWUDWLRQ WR PDNH VXUH WKDW WKHUH are no chemicals in the water and that it is safe to drink. Details on Amazon.com show WKDWÂł7KH /LIH6WUDZ ÂżOWHUV XS WR OLWHUV RI contaminated water without iodine, chlorine,

RU RWKHU FKHPLFDOV LW GRHV QRW UHTXLUH EDWWHULHV and has no moving parts.� Each straw would cost about $20 to donate to a child or family in need.

The solar lanterns would be used to give power to those still without electricity in Puerto Rico. With so many Puerto Ricans still in the dark and the government not sure when it will be Âż[HG VRODU ODQWHUQV ZRXOG DOORZ SHRSOH to get out of the dark and generate a source of energy. Each solar lantern could cost approximately $20 to donate to Puerto Rico.

The holiday seasons are typically a time of giving and donations, and this year the students of Mill Creek have the opportunity to make a large impact on people in need in other parts of the world. The Mill Creek Interact Club, have presented the opportunity to give back a little this holiday season.

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HOLIDAY R ECI PES By: Isabelle Harrel

Cho colate Pepp erm i nt Ba rk Ingredients: 1 pound 6 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate or white chocolate, 1 tablespoon corn oil, 2 to 3 drops of peppermint oil (optional), ½ to ž cup crushed peppermint pinwheel candy or candy canes Recipe from: kitchenlane.com 1. Place the peppermint candy on top of a cutting board.

2. Cover the candy with a plastic cutting mat and either wax paper or a plastic bag.

3. Smash the candy into pieces with a mallet or the back of a heavy spoon. (Be sure that WKH SLHFHV DUH QR ODUJHU WKDQ Ć— RI DQ LQFK because pieces that are any larger are hard on the teeth).

4. When melting the chocolate, put a pound of chocolate and corn oil into a microwavesafe dish.

5. Mix the chocolate and oil and put it in the microwave for a minute.

6. Take it out, stir it, and continue the process in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is melted.

7. Once the chocolate is melted, add in the rest of the chocolate and the peppermint oil.

Stir until there are no lumps.

8. Shift the peppermint dust into the chocolate before stirring again.

9. Pour the mixture onto the tray.

10. Sprinkle the remaining peppermint onto the tray.

11. Refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes.

Suga r C ookie s Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated white sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract, 1 egg, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 3 cups all-purpose ÀRXU Recipe from: inkatrinaskitchen.com 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees before putting the butter and sugar.

2. Cream the butter and sugar for at least three minutes.

3. Add the extracts and egg into the same bowl and beat the ingredients.

3XW WKH EDNLQJ SRZGHU DQG ÀRXU LQWR D GLɣHUHQW ERZO DQG JUDGXDOO\ DGG WKHP WR WKH other bowl.

5. Break the dough into batches before rolling it RQWR D ÀRXU FRYHUHG VXUIDFH DQG FXWWLQJ WKHP (The cookies should be about Ÿ of an inch thick).

6. Bake the cookies for six to eight minutes.

Pepp erm i nt Pattie s: Ingredients: ¼ cup of butter (softened), 1/3 cup light corn syrup, 1 to 2 teaspoons peppermint or mint extract, ¾ cups powdered sugar (divided), food coloring (preferably gel or paste), ½ cup granulated sugar (to roll balls in)Recipe from: momontimeout.com 1. Put butter and corn syrup into a bowl and stir.

2. Add and mix in 2 cups of powdered sugar before mixing in another cup of powdered sugar.

3. Knead the dough until it’s smooth with all of the sugar absorbed.

4. Split the dough into three portions.

5. Dye one portion red and one green. Leave the third white.

6. Roll the dough into ¾ inch balls before rolling them in the sugar.

7. Flatten the candies with a fork, and leave them uncovered at room temperature for a day.

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Holiday Movies to Watch By : Taylor Johnson

The holiday season is traditionally a festive time RI \HDU :DWFKLQJ KROLGD\ ¿OPV LV D FRPPRQ family tradition. Even though most holiday movies have similar themes, they have a variety of GLɣHUHQW VWRU\ OLQHV DQG FKDUDFWHUV WKDW LQWHUHVW teenagers.

“It’s A Wonderful Life” (1946) and “The Polar Express” (2004), have been popular worldwide, spreading the holiday cheer for years.

In this classic holiday movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” After George Bailey wishes he had never been born, an angel is sent to earth to make that wish come true. George starts to realize how many lives he has changed and impacted, and how WKH\ ZRXOG EH GLɣHUHQW LI KH ZDV QHYer there.

Scarlett Dunn (12th) says “My favorite holiday movie is ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ (1946) because it’s a classic that always inspires me and ALL Photos from Creative Commons

puts me in the holiday mood.”

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993), follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown’s beloved pumpkin king, who has become bored with the same annual routine of frightening people in the real world.

When Jack accidentally stumbles upon Christmastown, all bright colors and warm spirits, he gets a new lease on life -- he plots to bring Christmas under his control by kidnapping Santa Claus and taking over the role. But jack soon discovers even the best-laid plans of mice and skeleton men can go seriously awry.

ABC News created a voting poll that asked people what are the best movies of all time. According to their data,

“How The Grinch Stole Christmasâ€? takes place in Whoville, where the reclusive green Grinch decides to ruin Christmas for the cheery citizens of the town. However, WKH ELWWHU JUXPS ÂżQGV D hitch in his plans when he encounters the endearing Cindy Lou Who.

the number one Christmas holiday movie is “Scrooge�

(1970) and “Scrooged�

(1988).

%RWK ¿OPV DUH DERXW a man who’s cold ambition drives him away from the people he cares about. But, on Christmas Eve, he is visited by a series of ghosts who give him a chance to re-evaluate his actions and right the wrongs of his past.

7KLV KROLGD\ ÂżOP “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,â€? is about a man named Clark Griswold who wants to have a perfect family Christmas. So he pesters his wife and children, as he tries to make sure everything is line, including the tree and house decorations.

However, things go awry very quickly.

While Annalisa Thomas (9th) says, “I like the movie ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ (1989) because it’s humorous and a good movie to enjoy with my family.�

“Home Aloneâ€? is about a boy who is accidentally left home alone while the rest of his IDPLO\ ZDV LQ 3DULV $W ÂżUVW he thinks his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men plan to rob the home and he alone must protect the family house.

Faith Ivy (9th) can’t decide between two. She says, “I like ‘Home Alone’ (1990) because it’s a hilarious movie that never gets old. But I also like ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas’ (2000) because it’s my childhood favorite Christmas movie.�

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WINTER ATTRACTIONS By: Gabby Seeton

PHOTOS: Creative Commons

LAKE LANIER Lake Lanier is doing their Christmas Adventure this year. Drive through seven miles of beautiful Christmas lights which lead to Santa’s village. Also, enjoy classical carnival rides that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Make sure to check out the “bigger than life KROLGD\ ¿OPV RQ WKH VWRU\ 6SHFWDFXODU 6FUHHQ´ -XVWLQ 3DULVK WK VDLG ³,W¶V D IDPLO\ tradition to go to Lake Lanier during Christmas time. The lights are amazing and there is so much to do. You can shop, ride roller coasters, meet with Santa, and more. I would GH¿QLWHO\ UHFRPPHQG SHRSOH JR WKHUH GXULQJ &KULVWPDV EUHDN ´

SIX FLAGS

PHOTOS: Creative Commons

6L[ Ă€DJV LV FRQWLQXLQJ WKHLU KROLGD\ WUDGLWLRQ WKURXJK WKHLU DQQXDO holiday in the park. With more than a million LED lights and a dozen Christmas trees, it’s sure to create a magical night for the family. They will be open from November 18th through January 3rd on select days. Ellie Seeton (10th) said, “My favorite part is going up on the roller coasters and seeing the park light up with beautiful Christmas lights.â€? Feel the American spirit as Six Flags goes back in time to Christmas pasts. With red, white, and blue lights make sure to pay tribute to our military service members and veterans. With more than 100,000 lights, a snow machine, and a 20-foot Christmas tree it’s a truly magical way to start out the holiday season.

STONE MOUNTAIN

PHOTOS: Creative Commons

Stone Mountain is holding their annual snow mountain and Christmas festival this year. Slide down WKH IRRW KLOO ZLWK WZR GLÉŁHUHQW KLOOV IRU DOO DJHV $W QLJKW WKH\ KDYH PDQ\ GLÉŁHUHQW WKLQJV WR GR HVSHFLDOO\ IRU 6DQWD ORYHUV 6WRQH 0RXQWDLQ ZDV QDPHG E\ 86$ Today as one of the ten best places in the country to catch 6DQWD &ODXV &ODVVLF KROLGD\ ÂżOP 5XGROSK WKH 5HG QRVHG 5HLQGHHU ZLOO EH SOD\LQJ LQ ' 7R ÂżQLVK RÉŁ WKH QLJKW make sure to check out the snow fairy.

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Five Reasons to Not to Adopt a Pet this Holiday Season by: Alyssa Johns ton

Christmas is right around the corner and the search for gifts has already begun. Deciding on what to get someone can be a hard decision. There are a lot of JUHDW RSWLRQV SHWV DUH QRW RQH RI WKHP 7KH\ DUH FXWH DQG cuddly, but the holidays are not a good time to give them as presents.

5HDVRQ The holidays are a crazy time of year. There is extra shopping, cooking and cleaning, parties, guests staying overnight, trips away from home to visit family and friends and so on. Pets demand time and energy and especially if you are bringing them into a new family.

5HDVRQ A pet should not be considered a toy, unlike a game console, dolls, or a new bike. Pets come with responsibilities. Adding a dog or cat to the family is a big responsibility all on its own, planning around the holidays would be a better idea than to put more stress on yourself.

They have to adapt and get used to where they are.

5HDVRQ Pets should start being trained upon the arrival at their new home. The weather around Christmas and the New Year are cold and wet, neither you or your new pet will want to be outside to do so. Waiting until spring when the weather gets warmer will benefit you and your pet.

Reason #3 Pets should not be a surprise. Yes, it’s cute and all to surprise your loved ones with a puppy or a kitten, but it must be well thought out. They must be completely committed to raising a pet. No one usually turns down a fur ball underneath the tree on Christmas morning, but a couple weeks in and they may change their mind.

5HDVRQ Some shelters and rescue organizations shut down adoptions for the holidays to prevent problems with giving pets as Christmas gifts. Due to this people are more likely to go to backyard breeders and pet stores. Around this time business and individuals are excited about selling all the new puppies, but most are shipped from puppy mills. With that some of the puppies are healthy and some are not, with them being bred inhumanely and in filthy surroundings. Waiting until after the holidays will save you and your loved ones from getting sick and poorly treated pets.

1) How much time do you have daily?

A. All day B. I leave for work/school daily C. Almost never at home D. Someone is always home if I am not 2) What are you looking for in a pet?

A. To learn about responsibility B. To play with C. To keep me company when I am at home D. Just to have something to look at

4) How much space do you have for your pet?

A. An entire house B. Inside and outside house C. Multiple rooms D. One room 5) What kind of person are you?

A. I like to keep busy B. Active C. Depends on the day D. Sedentary

3) Where do you live?

A. Home with land B. Home with fenced in backyard C. Apartment D. House without back yard 0RVWO\ $ $ ELJ GRJ ZRXOG EH WKH PRVW ¿WWLQJ IRU \RXU ZD\ RI OLIH

Photo Credit to Creative Commons Photo Credit to Michelle Ortiz

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0RVWO\ & VPDOO GRJ

Photo Credit to Creative Commons

Mostly D’s: At the moment a pet is not the best idea for you.

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PERCEPTION Personal Assistance Versus Privacy By: Mark Pierre

The Rise of Personal Assistants “The world will be live by 2027” said Grady Professor Keith Herndon at the Georgia Scholastic Press Association conference held this November.

He referred to the rise of personal assistants, a hot item this coming Holiday Season.

New on the market are Amazon’s Echo Connect and Echo Dot, using the cloudbased voice service, Alexa.

Alexa is the Amazon’s take on a personal assistant, not that GLɣHUHQW IURP WKRVH RI 6LUL RU

Google Assistant, capable of music playback, to-do-lists, setting alarms, and other helpful tasks. In addition, if on a product manufactured by Amazon, Alexa can access more services as opposed to thirdparty made products. Alexa’s functions can be increased via skills, ranging from game skills to news skills, much like phone apps.

Though Alexa and other services like Google Home sound convenient, they hold

a lot of risk on the front of personal information.

Just in early October, Google Home Mini was found to have been recording when the wake words “OK Google” wasn’t used. Android Police tech blogger and founder Artem Russakovskii Though in the Google Home Mini’s instance LW ZDV D KDUGZDUH ÀDZ ¿[HG E\ Google themselves, the risk of Amazon or Google devices and servers being hacked is minimal as most.

Amazon Echo

“The world will be live in 2027�

---Keith Herndon

,QIRUPDWLRQ LV DOVR DW ULVN LQ ZLÂż FRQQHFWLRQV and routers through the KRACK exploit according to Lifewire. The exploit lets hackers intercept on-line activity by bypassing security protocols and it is on virtually all Wi-Fi routers and system software.

7KH VLWXDWLRQ LV QR GLÉŁHUHQW WKDQ LQWHUQHW connected video baby monitors. In 2015, CBS New York reported on a case of one family’s baby monitor being hacked. According to the 3-year-old son, he could hear men talking “wake up little boy, daddy’s looking for you.â€? Text experts say the easy accessibility of the device is what made it hackable, and the same could be said for electronic assistants like Google Home or Alexa.

Just last year, Mirai malware hijacked webcams as a massive attack against Dyn, who hosted the Domain Name System (DNS). The attacked struck VLWHV OLNH 7ZLWWHU DQG 1HWĂ€L[ VKRZLQJ WKH VFDOH RI possible attacks.

Robert Clark, a sophomore adds, “it could be dangerous relying too much on technology.�

Though modern technology is often a pleasure in its utilities, there’s a major risk of privacy with the more we integrate it.

ThaiTech reported on one such privacy concerns on Google Drive, where users found their documents marked as inappropriate and against the terms of service. Though the line of code was patched, users were left mifed, believing that Google was spying on personal documents.

Jorge Zavala speaks on the issue of technology ALL PHOTOS: Creative Commons and privacy, saying “the more and more advanced technology get, the less and less security you have as they start doing more. Before, there was no camera on phones, but now there is. There’s always that chance of being recorded and you wouldn’t even notice it.

That wasn’t a possibility 10 or 20 years ago.�

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Gift Ideas

%\ +DQQDK &RɤHOG DQG 0DGLVRQ -DFNVRQ Photos: Michelle Ortiz

For Friends: Recipe Jar This idea is perfect for a friend who loves sweets.

Triple Chip Cookie Mix: You will need: 1 quart size wide mouth mason jar, 1 box of milk chocolate cake mix, 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips, 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips, 1/3 cup of white chocolate chips, and a bandanna.

Step 1: Empty the cake mix into your jar and lightly pat the top down.

Step 2: Pour the required amount of dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips into the jar.

Step 3: Put the jar topper on top, and put a round scrap of fabric cut out from the bandanna on it. Screw on the jar’s lid.

Step 4: Attach a label to the jar that includes these baking instructions: Beat together 2 eggs and ½ cup vegetable oil in a medium sized bowl.

Pour in contents of jar and mix well with a spoon.

Chill dough for 45 minutes before baking.

Roll dough into balls and place on an ungreased non-stick cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-9 minutes at 350 degrees.

Butterscotch Chip Cookie Mix You will need: 1 box of yellow cake mix, 1 11oz bag of butterscotch morsels, 1 quart sized wide mouth jar, and scrapbook paper.

Step 1: Empty the cake mix into the jar and gently pat the top down.

Step 2: Pour the bag of butterscotch morsels into the jar.

Step 3: Put the jar topper on top, and put a scrap of brown scrapbook paper cut into a circle on top. Screw the lid on.

Step 4: Attach a label to the jar that includes the following baking instructions: Beat together 2 eggs and ½ cup vegetable oil in a medium sized bowl.

Pour in contents of jar and mix well with a spoon.

Chill dough for 15 minutes before baking.

Roll dough into balls and place on an ungreased non-stick cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-9 minutes at 350 degrees.

For Siblings: Day Care Package This idea is personalized and useful for siblings.

Step 1: Decide on what to put your supplies in. It can be a basket an plastic container or a Christmas themed bag.

Step 2: Gather your supplies. Depending on the age and gender of your siblings, you’ll want to put different items in your package. Look at the list below for some ideas.

- Blanket - Scarf - Chocolate - Juice - Book - Coloring Book and Pencils - Candles - Gift Card - Slippers Step 3: Package it! Just put all your items in your bag, bin, etc. and gift it. Remember to make this as personal as possible! If your siblings like a certain scent or a place to eat, then work around those interests.

For Mom and Dad: DIY Mug This idea is great for parents who often drink hot beverages.

You will need: Sharpie (permanent markers) and plain white mugs.

You can pick up mugs as cheap as $2 from your local craft store (Michaels/Hobby Lobby) Step 1: Use regular Sharpie, permanent markers to write whatever you desire on the mug. You can use quotes such as: “Creativity is contagious, pass it on”, or other personal favorites.

Step 2: Put the mugs on a cookie sheet and put them in the oven.

Set your oven to 350° and set the timer for 30 minutes. Let the oven preheat with the mugs in the oven.

Do not wait for the oven to preheat before putting the tray in. If the mugs heat up too fast, they can break.

Step 3: After the 30 minutes is up, turn the oven off and leave the tray of mugs in there to cool before taking them out.

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