The Viewpoint November | December 2021

The Vie wpoint Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556 STUDENT NEWS MAGAZINE MVHS VOLUME 16 ISSUE 2 NOVEMBER | DECEMBER Take a peek at pages 10 & 11 to learn more about precipitation

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The Viewpoint NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2021 VOLUME 16, ISSUE 2

Index 01 Cover 02 Ads 03 Index 04 Events 05 Winter sports 06 Winter fashion 07 Winter fashion 08 Holiday movies 09 Holiday help 10 Weather 11 Weather

12 Ad 13 Dinner ideas 14 Folklore 15 Folklore 16 Gift ideas 17 Celebrations 18 DIY crafts 19 DIY crafts 20 Zodiac songs 21 Origins of Carols 22 Album releases

23 Driving tips 24 Helping the ocean 25 Christmas decor 26 COVID and school 27 Advent calendar 28 Love language 29 New Year’s 30 Cookie recipes 31 Holiday seasons 32 Winter Break

Managing Editor CateLynn Aiman

Social Media Editor Juan Diaz-Gutierrez

Assistant Editors Tiara Bigelow Emily Smith

Advisor

Trisha Strahl

Staff Writers

Alex Baker Preston Bates Molly Calhoun Michelle Des Rivieres Miya Easley Caroline Fortiz Noemi Höhn Zöe Lucas Tessa Mattison Maia Roscigno Milana Waller

Editorial

The Viewpoint is a cross-section of the news and opinions of the student body at Winter weather can be scary. With everything so slippery, we asked the staff what is the worst part about driving Mountain View High School. in snow.

It is a forum of expression Emily, Michelle and Molly fear the icy roads. Molly said, “Just the fact that your car can swerve off the road at any published by aPrintis. Letters moment doesn’t seem too comforting.”

Juan, CateLynn and Tessa have a hard time seeing through the snow. Tessa said, “Worst comes to worst I’ll proba- and art to the editorial board are welcomed and should be bly just spend a lot of time waiting for the weather to pass.”

Zöe and Caroline are patient on the road, but do not like people in a hurry. Zöe said, “People aren’t necessarily submitted to room 500. thinking about how dangerous conditions are.”

Front Cover Tiara is most worried about the coldness. She said, “It can be very stressful waiting 15-20 mins on your car warmCateLynn Aiman ing up.”

Noemi finds driving in the snow stressful. She said, “Bad weather makes the drive longer and more difficult.”

Overall, winter weather is stressful. Check out page 23 for tips on driving in questionable conditions.

2014-2018 International Quill and Scroll First Place Articles 2014-2016 VHSL State Championship First Place Award 2013, 2014, 2015 Free LanceStar Best Over All Newspaper 2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556

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EVENTS HAPPENING

Take part in some winter fun from December through February by Caroline Fortiz

Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Christmas Town November 12 to January 2, 2021 Williamsburg, VA

Take a visit to Busch Gardens which will be decorated to the max with Christmas lights. Enjoy the various rides, entertainment, treats, and shopping. Date specific tickets start at $39.99 per person.

“My favorite part was the festive drinks and meals and decorations.”- Senior, Riley Rivero, who has attended the event in previous years and plans to return this year.

Fredericksburg Snowball Fight

Saturday, January 15 from 3:00-5:00pm FredNats Stadium, 42 Jackie Robinson Way Enjoy a fun-filled day of snowball fighting. To play , it costs $3 per person or $5 for two people.

Matches run every ten minutes. In order to play, a signed waiver is required. For more information, call 540-372-1086.

“I can’t wait to take all of my friends!”Wharf DC

Junior, Gina Slupek

The Wharf Ice Rink

November 24- February 2022 Washington D.C. Come skate on D.C.’s only over-water ice skating rink. The cost is $12 for an adult, not including skate rental.

“I love to ice skate and my family and I have already planned to go this year!”- Junior, Valerie Gayle

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Mountain View Winter sports Look out for the winter sports upcoming season; they might bring you into shivers

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What’s Hot this Winter?

How to stay warm while looking cool as ice using these winter fashion forecasts

by Michelle Des Rivieres

W

ant to look up-to-date this season but feel lost? This is your ultimate guide to the hottest winter 2021-2022 fashion trends and how to style them.

One of the most prominent styles you’ll see this season is pleated plaid skirts, usually in jewel or darker tones.

This item fits into the sort of dark academia style that seems to always come back into prominence at this time of year. This kind of skirt pairs perfectly with turtlenecks and cable knit sweaters. Add on a pair of black or tan ankle boots and an oversized long coat to compliment your cozy dark academia look.

Now you might be thinking skirts sound too cold for winter, or maybe you’re just not much of a fan. If so, I’ve got you covered. Another huge trend that you’ve probably seen if you’ve been outside at all this fall is flare jeans/ leggings. Inspired by the bell bottoms of the 70’s, these sweeping slacks give off a flirty, retro feel while flattering almost any body type. Now, what to wear with these? Well, to contrast the wide leg of the pants, you could wear a fitted long-sleeve or crop top and some platforms or high-heeled boots. Additionally, you could finish the look off with some large statement earrings or a colorful beret.

While flared pants come in and out of style, there is one winter fashion trend that’s always in vogue, no matter the decade: knitwear. Whether it’s a cozy sweater, knitted argyle dress, or even a quaint crochet tote, knitwear is a classic and essential part of anyone’s winter wardrobe. To contrast the thickness and weight of the knitwear, you should pair it with a thin, flowy fabric, such as satin. A comfortable, yet stylish winter go-to outfit could be a slim fitted satin slip dress with a large knitted overcoat. This outfit, along with the others I mentioned, will ensure you look painlessly put-together this season.

However, whatever the trends may be, you should always wear something that makes you feel confident and comfortable. Fashion is ever-changing, so it’s important to have your own personal style that suits you.

Creative Commons

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Where are your outfit pieces from?

“My sweatshirt is from Ohio State Gear, my jeans are from American Eagle, and my shoes are Converse.”

Why do you like this outfit?

“I really enjoy simple outfits like this because they are really easy to throw together and comfy.”

What is your favorite winter fashion trend?

“My favorite winter fashion trend is definitely boots and socks.”

-Riley Adkins, senior @rileyadkins0811

Where are your outfit pieces from?

“The top is from Talbots, the leggings are from Aerie, and my shoes are Converses.”

Why do you like this outfit?

‘I love wearing pink!”

What is your favorite winter fashion trend?

“My favorite winter fashion trend is puffer jackets.”

-Julia Zdanowski, junior @juliaalison_ As a senior photographer, what trends/styles do you see most during winter shoots?

“The trend I see the most during my winter shoots are layers!! They are so much fun to play around with and kind of use as props for the photo, but also have a great function of keeping you warm. Anything like cute jackets and shackets or scarfs and hats, always a good go-to.”

What colors do you think photograph best with an outdoor winter background?

“During the winter there’s basically no color outside. Dead grass, bare trees, it’s just kind of dull. So if you’re wanting to really have some photos that pop during the winter, lean towards some color! If you like a softer look, stick to pastels for a really clean photo.”

Meghan Baskin

In general, what is your favorite winter fashion trend?

“My favorite winter fashion trend has to be some heeled booties! White, snake skin, leather, etc. I love them all!! You can pretty much wear them with anything and take an outfit to a 10.”

-Kelsey Marie, local senior and wedding photographer @kelseymarie.photo feature u november | december 2021 u the viewpoint u07

Holiday movies review Recommendations of the winter written holiday hit movies

by Miya Easley|photo cred Creative Commons

Home Alone Recommended by sophomore student Alondra Gotay. Home Alone is a classic christmas movie with many clever pranks and mischievous fun.

Barbie in A Christmas Carol Recommended by sophomore student Tamia Abbott. As Tamia says, “This movie puts a great spin on the cult classic of a Christmas carol... Though it follows the same formulaic plot as it’s predecessors; the movie’s heart never ceases to amaze me.”

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The Nightmare Before Christmas Recommended by freshmen student Clover Rodgers. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a popular Christmas movie with a spooky twist with an animation style that will catch your attention.

Santa Hunters Recommended by sophomore student Ori Garay-Ramírez. Santa Hunters is another fun family movie with colorful characters and adventures, perfect for a family movie night.

i think we’re going home Pixabay

Sometimes family isn’t familiar by Zöe Lucas

P

art of growing up is realizing that sometimes love isn’t enough to hold everything together. The holidays can be a difficult time for many people, whether it’s because of taut family relationships or just the lack of holiday spirit that can be difficult to facilitate during times of hardship.

Going home is a concept that has to be relearned and revisited over and over again. Leaving is always the easier part, but staying away from toxic circumstances and creating boundaries will always be one of the hardest things we take part in as human beings.

For those who may not have a wonderful home life, the holiday season can cause anxiety in large amounts, and that’s greatly understood. It’s difficult to enjoy your time with those you are supposed to love when they are also your biggest source of stress and at times even impact your mental health.

This is extremely pertinent to older siblings, who may have been tasked with raising the remains of a family while also trying to hold themselves together and come off as excellent role models.

mentally present somewhere else.”

An alternative option is making yourself a priority. There is nothing wrong with avoiding your home during the holidays. You don’t have to suffer in order to make others happy, especially if they never do the same for you. While avoiding sounds like a large and terrifying concept, it really isn’t if you break it down into smaller steps. Some forms of avoidance that can mitigate snowy spectacles include having a friendsmas celebration instead, going to see a movie to reduce the amount of time spent within your environment, and spending the holidays with the family that doesn’t give you migraines like your siblings or a favorite aunt.

Finally, as a junior told me, “Try to do activities that bring you comfort. Like play a game or watch your favorite movie.”

Part of growing up is also realizing that you are incredibly important and deserve happiness. Sometimes the best thing you can receive as a gift is the perfectly wrapped package of peace, no receipt included.

One Mountain View senior said, “Try to spend as much time away from them as possible, and if you are not able to get away from them, try to stay neutral and endure it for as long as you can and excuse yourself if you need to.” Another senior advised, “Bring a book to distract yourself and help you to be

Nachelle Nocomt

According to Oprah’s website, one method for dealing with these scenarios is to determine their consequences. Family get-togethers can straddle the line between uncomfortable and unhealthy, and you’re not supposed to constantly take the brunt of others’ issues and insecurities. In an article from Bustle’s website, one woman recommended doubling or tripling your therapy sessions beforehand in order to combat the behavior that you’re expecting while home. Oftentimes, whether that is unconscious or conscious, we do observe patterns of behavior and develop responses to work around them. Think about how common certain occurrences are and attempt to use that as a tool to protect yourself.

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Snow

Sleet

According to the website National Snow and Ice Data Center, snow precipitates as ice crystals. In the atmosphere, clouds are below freezing point. The water vapor is frozen and falls.

In Virgina, January gets the most snow with 8-12 inches.

Warm

Driving advice: drive smoothly, try not to brake or accelerate too fast.

BEWARE of THE WEATHER How the four winter types of precipitation form

by CateLynn Aiman

Getting caught in a snowstorm is no fun, but it can be interesting.

For sleet to occur, snow precipitates and melts into rain by a warm wind current. As the raindrop is falling it will pass a cold current and freeze into a raindrop shape.

Sleet is most common in February with an average of 14 inches.

Driving advice: drive slow and try not to brake. “I would be nervous. I don’t want some crashing into me, and sliding.” said Liliana Leal-Perez, junior.

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Freezeing Rain

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“When masses of water vapor in cloud form start to condense, that water falls to the ground. If the air that the water falls through is above the freezing point, we get rain. If that air is colder than the freezing point, we get snow.” - Shane Yeskey, science teacher

Freezing rain starts off as snow and passes through a warm current. It melts into rain and stays in that form until it hits the ground or a surface and freezes on to said object.

Freezing rain also occurs in January with up to 11 inches.

Driving advice: according to the website Drive Safely, it is dangerous to drive while freezing rain is precipitation. It would be best to not drive during this kind of precipitation.

Snow hits a warm current, and melts into rain. The warm current goes all the way to the ground, which causes the raindrop to stay as rain.

July is the rainiest month with an average of 4.67 inches.

Driving advice: Slow and steady wins the race, make sure the windshield wipers are on. “Sliding off the roads [is scary]. I wouldn’t drive when it snows,” said Gweneth Torres, freshman. feature u november | december 2021 u the viewpoint u11

“Order the carne asada tacos with onions and cilantro on corn tortilla. It will change your life!”

-Google Review

Salvadoran Grocery & Deli Hours: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily 432 Garrisonville Rd #111 Stafford, VA 22554

“The best food ever! I would eat here everyday if I could...”- Google Review 12 u the viewpoint

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Dinners for the season Skim over and find some quick and easy dinners for this holiday season by Molly Calhoun

Ingredients - One package texas toast - ½ cup of pizza sauce - One package regular sliced turkey pepperoni - two cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions Wrap one large potato wax paper, then set it in the microwave for about five minutes. Once out, cut it open and fluff it with a fork. Add the chili, cheese, sour cream and chives, done!

“Yes, I would make that during the break” - Adleigh Fraser, freshman

Instructions Preheat oven to 425°, once heated place the tray of texas toast in for about 5 minutes. Take out and add topping consisting of pizza sauce, cheese and pepperoni. After that just pop it back into the oven for another 4-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and you’re done.

“Yes, that sounds good” -Pamela Benavides-Barahona, senior

Ingredients - One large potato, ½ cup canned chil - 1-2 tablespoons of shredded cheddar - About a tablespoon of sourcream - chives (optional)

“I would make that” - Riley Cook, freshman Ingredients - Olive oil - ground sausage - onion powder - dried oregano - dried basil - crushed red pepper flakes -tomato sauce-15 ounce - 2 cup beef broth -2 cup mozzarella - ricotta cheese - 6 lasagna noodles broken in about 1-2 inch pieces

Instructions Began with adding about two tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet and cooking the sausage until it turns brown. Sprinkle in all of the spices to taste. Once incorporated, add in the tomato sauce and beef broth. Stair and bring to a gentle simmer. Simmer the noodles on the uncovered pan for about 8 minutes until cooked all the way through. Once cooked, dollop the ricotta on top as well as some optional fresh basil.

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Winter Folklore

Take a moment to investigate some of wintertime’s most feared creatures from cultural folklore from around the world

By Juan Diaz & Alexis Duley

Every culture from around the world has a story related to a monster that comes in during the winter months. Stories like Santa Claus and Bigfoot help tie a community together and reflect on their cultural beliefs. You can learn a lot about how certain cultures used these stories. A story about a hero would reflect on their morals while a story of a monster would be the antithesis or serve as a warning to the community. Learning about cultures from all over helps us better understand our own culture. ¨We are all mutts in this country, from different cultural backgrounds, and these stories are part of our families as well,¨ said French teacher Susan Steska.

Stories like these help people connect with one another from even outside their community by sharing them together. Throughout centuries people have exchanged stories in a form of cultural exchange.

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The Wishlist Thoughts on gifts for the holidays by Alexander Baker What gift do you want the most this holiday season?

Clothes. I’ve been wanting to improve my style lately and Christmas is a perfect opportunity for me!... -Katy Lolucci, junior

I want to see my grandpa. Thanks to COVID, we haven’t been able to see him for a while.

-Debra Pallant, junior

Money, hugs, and quality time -Jayda Moffatt, freshman

Honestly, I really would like to get some more clothes from a thrift shop and maybe some new Converse - Macy Roberts, Senior 16 u the viewpoint

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What gift would you like to give to someone?

Love and to spread happiness. -Lauryn Walker, junior

What are you looking forward to the most for the holidays?

Hanging out with friends and family! Ava Hur, junior

I’ve been meaning to sew a bucket hat for a friend. Hope to have it done by the holidays. - Sara Diana Newell, freshman

I am looking forward to seeing my family coming over, also the dinners and food.

- Elsie Afful, freshman

Food maybe? If not that, then some kind of cheesy gift to make someone laugh.

- Danielle Dickinson, senior

The new Spider-Man Movie, that trailer made me cry, man.

-Henry Gueliel, sophomore

I want to give people the gifts they really want. - Quinn Premo, sophomore

Spending time with the people I love… and money.

-Alexis Boakye, senior

Pixabay

Celebrations in the winter time We know why the different holidays over the winter time are celebrated. But how exactly do people celebrate them? by Noemi Hohn

The most celebrated holiday during the winter time: Christmas. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus by gifting each other presents and celebrating Christmas on the 24 and 25 of December. A” We always go to church on Christmas Eve,” explained Junior Alexis Kantor. A lot of tradition is also spread out over the first weeks of December. Advent calendars where each day a little present is opened till Christmas day or singing Christmas carols and decorating the Christmas tree. There are also many other traditions connected with Christmas. “ We always do white Elephant/ Secret Santa as a family, it is a gift exchange game to bring the family together,’’ said Aidan Baileys, sophomore.

The actual Christmas celebration only happens on the 24/ 25th of December. People celebrate together with their families, go to church and open presents. The Christmas story the little children get told is that Santa Claus brings the presents.

While they are sleeping, he comes down the chimney and puts them under the Christmas tree.

dKwanzaad Kwanzaa is a non-religious holiday. It usually focuses mainly on family and culture. During Kwanzaa, people celebrate their ancestors and their heritage. Everyday during Kwanzaa has a principle that is celebrated on each day. It starts with Umoja (Unity) on the first day, and ends with Imani (Faith) on the last of the seven days. The celebration includes dancing such as storytelling, reflecting on the topic for each day and poetry. Music is a very important part conveyed through singing and drumming. To eat, there are usually many traditional African recipes like collard greens. According to Taste of Home website, “Collard greens are cooked in veggie broth and aromatics for two hours until tender or fried okra. Usually, there is a small gift exchange on Imani, the last day. Just like the menorah for the Jews, there is a candle holder, the so-called kinara. The kinara has seven candles, one for each day. According to the official Kwanzaa website :”The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle.”

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Often people are only familiar with their own traditions and celebrations. Here is an opportunity to see how others celebrate this holiday season.

dHanukkahd Hanukkah- The most important Jewish holiday. The most important thing about this holiday is the family “It is a ceremony to celebrate your Jewish culture and upbringing and I feel like it is again a celebration of family and to appreciate your loved ones around you especially with gift giving and the togetherness with the candles,” said Nathan Howells, Junior. That is why people celebrate it together with their family. One popular tradition is to exchange small gifts on each day of Hanukkah. Really important is the Menorah, the candle lighter with eight candles. Each day during Hanukkah, one candle is lit. “ Each night you light a candle and I think it is supposed to signify completion. It is based on an old testament tale in Judaism,” added Nathan Howells, Junior. . Almost everyday there is reading or scripture from the old testament. Usually, there is a lot of fried food to eat because the fried oil celebrates the oil that kept the menorah lit for eight days. Popular recipes for instance are potato pancakes.

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DIY HOLIDAY CRAFTS DIY crafts to make this holiday season special

by Emily Smith

EASY FILL ORNAMENTS Craft courtesy of: Midwest Living website

Materials:

Clear plastic ornaments that can be opened to put things inside Ribbon Whatever you want to fill your ornament(s) with

Instructions:

Open up your clear ornament and place your decorations inside. Then, close the ornament back up and string it with ribbon so that it has something to hang from.

CHRISTMAS ART Craft courtesy of: Midwest Living website

Midwest Living

• • •

DIY crafts are a good way for people to be artistic.

-Charlie Botzman, art teacher

• • • •

12in x 12in painting canvas Paint Ribbons Glue

Instructions: Paint your canvas with whatever holiday color you chose and let it dry. Then, glue the ribbon on in whatever pattern you’d like.

Midwest Living

Materials:

SNOWBALL WREATH

Craft courtesy of: woman’s day website

Materials: • • • •

White Styrofoam balls in varying sizes Bow Hot glue gun Wreath frame

Hot glue the Styrofoam balls onto the wreath frame and hot glue the bow on top of the wreath.

18 u the viewpoint u november | december 2021 u DIY

woman’s day

Instructions:

GLITTERY CARDINAL

Craft courtesy of: Handmade Charlotte website

Materials: • • • • • • • • • •

Red acrylic craft paint (recommended: Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Craft Paint) Red craft glitter(recommended: Folk Art Glitterific) Paintbrushes DIY crafts Foam eggs are cool because Pencil Black marker they’re more Red card stock sustainable.

Scissors Craft Knife -Morgan Reams, Wooden skewers

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Handmade Charlotte

Instructions:

Pierce a wood skewer into a foam egg so you can easily hold it and paint all sides of it. Paint the egg red and let it dry completely. Then, apply a layer of the craft glitter and let that dry completely. While that dries, sketch out shapes for the cardinal’s head, feathers, tail, and wings on the red card stock and cut them out. Draw them the proper size to allow them to fit onto the egg. Next, after your egg has dried, carefully cut small slots into the egg. Cut a vertical slot on the larger end of the egg for the head, a horizontal slot on the smaller end for the tail, and a horizontal slot on each side for the feathers. These should be able to stay in place without any glue. Repeat as many times as you like until you have the amount of birds you want.

YARN LETTERS

Craft courtesy of: woman’s day website

Materials: • • •

Yarn Cardboard Hot glue gun

woman’s day

Instructions:

Cut out your desired letters from the cardboard, and hot glue the start of the yarn onto the cardboard so it stays. Wrap the letter in the yarn, then hot glue where the yarn ends to keep it in place. If you want to hang these letters somewhere, hot glue a loop of yarn onto the back of the letter for it to hang from.

SANTA ORNAMENT Craft courtesy of: woman’s day website

Materials: • • • •

Red ornament Black paint Gold glitter paper Glue

DIY crafts are a good way to repurpose old materials.

-Mark Hughes, art teacher

woman’s day

Instructions:

Paint a line of black paint around the middle of the red ornament so it looks like a belt. Then, cut out a small rectangle of the gold glitter paper, and cut out a smaller rectangle in the middle to make it look like a belt buckle. Glue the belt buckle in the middle of the black line, and it should look like Santa’s red suit with his black belt and gold buckle.

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TAURUS

August 23-September 22 Symbol - Virgin

Element - Earth

Christmas song associated with the sign “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams This sign is very realistic so the traditional Christmas aesthetics of this song attracts and relates to the ideals of a Taurus.

Element - Earth Christmas song associated with the sign - “Carol of the Bells” by Mykola Leontovych As you enjoy analyzing and exploring details, this song is perfect for you Virgos because of the amount of things happening in the song.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

Symbol - Ram

Element - Fire

Christmas song associated with the sign - “Run Rudolph Run” by Chuck Berry With its lively and happy vibes, “Run Rudolph Run” is most like you Aries, as you could dance to this song and never lose your energy.

CANCER

June 21-July 22 Symbol - Crab Element - Water

December 21 -January 20

LEO

VIRGO

April 20-May 20 Symbol - Bull

Symbol - Lion

Element - Fire July 23-August 22 Christmas song associated with the sign -“Jingle Bells” by James Pierpont This song is popular for it’s happy and energetic vibes, which is an accurate representation of your personality Leo!

GEMINI

May 21-June 20

Element - Air Symbol - Twins Christmas song associated with the sign - “The Twelve Days of Christmas” by Andrew Carter and Frederic Austin This sign thoroughly enjoys talking and being with others, so this song is perfect because it allows a Gemini to get away with singing a lot.

ABSTRACT ASTROLOGY

Christmas song associated with the sign - “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby This song’s melody connects with your sensitive side, Cancer, and it allows for your creativity to flow while imagining a “White Christmas.”

CAPRICORN

Your guide to the colorful world of zodiac signs and Christmas song associations by Tessa Mattison

Katherine Zendek, a junior and Taurus, “likes this song” and “tries to be a realistic person”, following the ideas of this song.

Symbol - Sea Goat Element - Earth

Christmas song associated with the sign - “O Christmas Tree” by Ernst Anschütz This classic channels your calm and collected personality, Capricorn, with the added bonus of being in style every Christmas season.

LIBRA

Cecil Hayden, a senior and Sagittarius, says that he thinks the song is “okay.” He also believes that the song is only accurate “if your whole natal chart is Sagittarius.”

Despite not knowing the song, Ava Guth, a freshman and Leo, named Jingle Bells as her favorite Christmas song!

AQUARIUS

September 23October 22 Symbol - Scales Element - Air

Christmas song associated with the sign “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Johnny Marks This song portrays you, Libra, because of it’s calming vibes and ability to bring people together, which is something you love.

SCORPIO

January 21-February 18

Symbol - Water Bearer Christmas song Element - Air associated with the sign - “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”

by Arthur Warrell February 19-March 20 Wishing others Symbol - Fishes happiness is a gift Element - Water in itself to you, Aquarius, making Christmas song associated with the sign this song perfect for - “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by you since making Michael Bublé others happy is all This song encourages you, Pisces, to get in it’s about. your feels with it’s heartfelt lyrics and gentle tunes, making it your perfect song.

PISCES

20 u the viewpoint u november | december 2021 uzodiacs

Sagittarius November 22-December 21 Symbol - Archer Element - Fire

Christmas song associated with the sign - “Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano This song is full of upbeat lyrics and happy vibes which is the personality of a Sagittarius, and it’ll encourage you to get up and dance!

October 23November 21 Symbol - Scorpion Element - Water

Christmas song associated with the sign - “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”

by Michael Bublé This song has a sensitive feel to it but not enough to expose the emotions, much like what you Scorpios do with your mysterious personality.

Public Domain Pictures

Public Domain Pictures

Origins of Christmas Carols O

Discover the behind-the-story of Christmas carols just in time for the holidays

by Tiara Bigelow

riginal Song Title and Meaning: According to Rice University’s website, originally the song was not meant to be a Christmas song but written as a “winter well-wishing song.” This song was written in 1916 by the composer Mykola Leontovich and was titled “Shchedryk” which means “bountiful.”

Original Song Story: “The song tells the tale of a swallow flying into a household to proclaim the plentiful year that the family will have,” according to Anothony Potoczniak, who is studying the song’s history. As said, the song goes back to one of the many original folk melody well-wishing tunes sung in many Ukrainian villages. In the villages, young adolescent girls would go house to house, singing good fortune to all. By doing this, they were rewarded with baked goods and other treats.

Current Title and Story: Now known as “Carol of the Bells,” the song has been associated with Christmas. While using the original lyrics, the song also used references from silver bells like the line “merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,” to give in more of a holly tune.

Pixaby

Carol of the Bells

Morgan Reams, senior, loves ‘Carol of the Bells’ out of the three.

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Max Pixel

O Holy Night

riginal Song Title and Meaning: According to Penelope Hart from Holidappy’s website, originally, the song was a form of a lullaby from Czech by Miss Jacubickova. Another name that goes by in Czech was the words ‘Hajej, nynjei’. Later on, it was given an English word by Percy Dearmer for the Oxford Book of Carols in 1928. The new title that it was given was the “Rocking Lullaby.”

Original Song Story: The story in the song is about a little boy who hasn’t got a present for baby Jesus but he plays his drums instead for him and for this he gets Mary’s approval. The transform from a small lullaby into a Christmas Carols all thanks to a composer from St. Joseph, Missouri named Katherine Kennicott Davis. She is the one who composed ‘The Carol of The Drum.’Although the drum tune made the song feel special, it was not intended to be in there on purpose. The drum turn was only there to help the chorus harmonize between a soprano tune and tenor and bass parts--for their rehearsals only. Somehow the tune made it into the song.

Current Title and Story: Later in 1914, the song ‘The Carol of the Drum’ turned into the song that we all know now as “ The Little Drummer Boy.”

The Little Drummer Boy

Both Delaney Bartlett, junior, and Ashton Barb, senior, think that the ‘Little Drummer Boy’ is the best Christmas song.

Picryl

Scroll paper made by Pixaby

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riginal Song Title and Meaning: According to Benjamin Ivry from America Jesuit Review’s website, the origins of “O Holy Night” originated in the mid-1800s in France. The song was initially titled, “ Cantique de Noel.”

While asked to compose a pen poem for his parish’s Mass that Christmas, composer Placide Cappeau thought about the birth of Jesus and converted the story into lyrics of a song. Cappeau also enlisted the help of his Jewish friend Adolphe Charles Adams to aid in the composition of the music. Somehow the music made its way to America through abolitionist John Sullivan Dwight, who slightly changed the lyrics of the song.

Original Song Story: The song reflects on the night of Jesus’s birth. As said, ‘O Holy Night’ elaborates that Jesus was born in a manger and through his humble beginnings, he shares his knowledge of God to us as a reminder to follow his leadership.

Current Title and Story: The same star that shined Jesus’s birth is the star that pointed to the Savior of the world on that beautiful, holy night. Resulting in its name ‘O Holy Night.’

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Cool new releases Take a look at a handful of ice cold new albums this year to listen to over the winter season by Alex Baker CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST

Tyler Gregory Okanoma comes back after a two-year-long hiatus since his last album (IGOR) Which some may call a daunting task, considering Igor was Tyler’s first album to not only be nominated but win Best Rap Album of the Year in the grammys 2019. Nonetheless, he certainly did not disappoint.

The album itself has guest appearances by big names such as Youngboy never broke again, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Wayne, Domo Genesis, and many others. Keeping with his style, Tyler produced the entire album himself alongside Jamie xx and Jay Versace. The soundscape of CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST is one of a much larger hip hop origin compared to Igor; however, the other larger elements of soul, jazz, and most definitely pop are definitely present The album has had critical acclaim all across the board, with it netting a 88 out of 100 average through many reviews. With such a bubbly and distinct album with surprisingly romantic overtones, this is definitely one you won’t want to sleep on.

“Juggernaut on this album is perfect, honestly,” Daniel Rivera, sophomore

An Evening with Silk Sonic: is a welcoming debut by the new R&B duo, Silk Sonic composed by Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak respectively. This is a somewhat surprising new development specifically for Mars specifically. His last debut album was released in November of 2016.

Regardless, it’s clear to see both he and .Paak have been busy.

The pair of artists gave the first word wof their collaboration in February of this year along with a new album cover and a release date for their new single, “Leave the Door Open,” which dropped March 5, 2021. Topping the Billboard 100 list. With the guest appearance of Bootsy Collins and the writing of Domitille De Gaulle and JD Beck; the album was released on November 12, 2021.

The duo received universal acclaim all around, with an overall 84 average, even getting a 4 stars out of 5 from The Rolling Stones. With its 70s and 60s flare of soulful and funk-filled feels, this album gives a nostalgic feel that will definitely warm you up in the chilly weather.

“Decent stuff for sure. Been a while since I’ve listened to Bruno,” William Conard, sophomore

Valentine

“I’ve listened to all 3 albums. They are pretty good!” Colin Bonner, junior

Snail Mail (Lindsey Jordan) comes back with her second studio album Valentine. Her previous album Lush put the young artist in the spotlight landing her in spot 25 of Billboard’s top 50 albums of 2018. It’s clear to see Lindsey’s talent and it’s shown even more so in Valentine.

Development for Valentine began directly after her debut with Lush. However, she wasn’t able to really make any significant progress until the beginning of the pandemic.

Even writing while she was in a 45-day stay in rehab, according to The Rolling Stones, which she uses for inspiration as well in the album.

The album itself is relatively new, being released on November 5. However, the newness of the album hasn’t detracted from critics’ opinion giving it an all-around 84 out of 100. Even netting a ‘Best New Music’ Certification by the critic subscription Pitchfork.

With ballad-like romance and soft indie rock feels, it’s perfect to keep you cozy this holiday season.

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u november | december 2021u feature

Surviving Mother Nature’s Wrath

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Tips and tricks on how to deal with winter’s fury

By Tessa Mattison

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Preparing to drive in winter conditions- Driving in the winter can be especially dangerous, this is how to avoid the worst.

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The National Safety Council recommends preparing your car by: - Scheduling any maintenance due for your car - Checking your battery (the power falls with the temperature) - Checking the cooling system - Investing in good winter tires (deeper and more flexible) - Checking the tread of all-season tires, if your car uses them (if it’s less than 2/32 of an inch, replace them) - Checking the tire pressure (same as your battery, the pressure falls with the temperature) - Checking your wiper blades - Using wiper fluid made for -30 degrees (only while the weather is cold) - Avoiding a gas line freeze by keeping your tank half full at all times - Making sure that your car’s emergency preparedness kit is full Before you hit the road, the National Safety Council recommends: - Making sure there is no blockage on your sensors - Warming your car up - Never leaving your car run while in a garage (door open or not) to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning - Checking the weather before - If it looks like the weather may become dangerous, leave at a different time - If you must leave, tell someone where you are headed and the route you’ll take in case you end up in an accident

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Coach Cassiday suggests to “clean your car completely off” This includes: - The camera lenses and mirrors - The windows (clear of snow, frost, or ice)

To drive as safe as possible, AAA recommends: - Not using cruise control when the roads are unsafe - If you begin to skid, steer the wheel in the same direction your back tires are going (usually the opposite of what your front tires are doing) - When speeding up or slowing down, do so at a slow pace - Avoid stopping when driving uphill - If it becomes too difficult to see, pull off to a safe spot and wait out the weather Deputy Richmond recommends: - To “slow down” - Be “attentive to other cars in the distance, watch to make sure their car isn’t losing control” Coach Cassiday recommends: - To “only drive if necessary” - Also to “drive slower than normal” - “Increase following distance” - “Avoid heavy acceleration going uphill” - “Avoid hard braking going downhill” - To have a “full tank of gas” Levi Roach, senior, has experienced the effects of dangerous weather first hand. He said that if he could’ve changed one thing, it would be that he “had new tires.”

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Staying safe duringa winter storm

Here’s how to prepare, act, and recover when a winter storm hits.

Before the storm hits, the Center for Disease Control recommends: - Insulating your water lines, walls, and attic - Repairing any areas that could be damaged more during a storm - Placing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home (battery powered) - Creating a emergency preparedness kit for your car (see list below) - Checking weather forecasts frequently - Stocking up your home with food, water, and any other necessary supplies - Bringing your pets inside and anything that can be broken easily During the storm, the Center for Disease Control recommends: - Staying warm by using a fireplace or portable heaters - If the power goes out, using flashlights instead of candles (limits the risk of an unwanted fire) - If using a generator, placing it at least 20 feet from any openings that may come in contact with rain or snow - To keep the warmth in, avoiding opening doors and windows, close all doors whenever leaving a room, and cover windows and cracks When the storm has passed and you decide to venture outside, the Center for Disease Control recommends: - Layering up - Avoiding getting your layers wet (wet clothes steals heat from your body) - Learning the signs of hypothermia: shivering, tiredness, confusion and memory loss, and mumbling when speaking - Learning the signs of frostbite- loss of feeling and discoloration in the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Those areas usually turn a white or grayish hue and the skin feels firm or waxy - Avoiding walking on ice or walk slowly - Avoiding overworking yourself

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Staying safe in a broken down car Driving in the winter can be especially dangerous, this is how to avoid the worst.

Allstate recommends having an emergency preparedness kit full of:

- First aid kit and any medications - Flashlight and back-up batteries - Cellphone and, fully charged, portable charger - Jumper cables - Snow and ice scraper with a brush (most come with both) - Thick blanket or sleeping bag - Tire chains or tow straps - Extra warm and thick clothes - Small snow shovel - Kitty litter or a bag of sand (a tip from Coach Cassiday)

While waiting for help, Allstate recommends-

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Once in a safe spot, calling for help from either 911 or a nearby friend/ family member Staying in your vehicle to - ensure a better chance of being found - remove the risk of becoming hurt or disoriented - remove risk of becoming lost Making your car as visible as possible by: - turning your hazards on - raising the car’s hood, after the snow has stopped - tying a bright piece of fabric to your car’s antenna Also making sure to: - Keep warm by doing light exercises, huddling with any passengers, covering yourself in any available layers, and run the engine for 10 minutes every hour (running it longer will create a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning) - Drink fluids to avoid dehydration, which will rise the risk of health hazards

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featureu november | december 2021 u the viewpoint u23

A Frozen FrozenWasteland Wasteland Does cold even really exist?

Based on the documentary Seaspiracy and Ocean Society, the following facts were gathered and are now conveyed to educate the readers on current issues facing the oceans.

Out of all the life on earth, the ocean is home to eighty percent of it. Currently, there are over 150 million tons of plastic infiltrating our oceans. Because of this, marine animals, such as whales, are intaking it.

This is not only problematic in the sense that it is cruel to animal life. Endangering whales, by association, also endangers humanity, as whales fertilize phytoplankton with the nitrogen and iron from their excrement that generate 87 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide. Essentially, taking care of marine life means taking care of humanity.

However, plastic is not the only issue contributing to the destruction and heating of the oceans. Fishing nets and gear account for a majority of plastic pollution in the ocean. While plastic is anything but good for nature, companies that seek donations often put weight on the plastic problem in order to deviate attention from one that is larger and more profitable: the commercial fishing industry.

The ocean is one giant carbon sink. The decimation of ocean life plays a vital role in maintaining the carbon needed to keep temperature safe, particularly for reefs. These reefs are the metaphorical nurseries of the ocean. They provide safe havens for many fish and other creatures who also rely on the reefs for nutrition. Therefore, keeping reefs alive means keeping fish alive, and fish keep the ocean alive at a healthy and sustainable temperature. The only unquestionable solution to reviving the ocean is to leave it alone. Marine life will come back exceptionally fast if only we allow it to. To protect the ocean more would be to fish less and meddle less with the ecosystems that naturally thrive there.

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For example, the oceans accidentally and ironically benefited from one of the world’s most massive oil spills. While this may seem confusing, it makes more sense once the scenario is broken down. After the spilling, fishing was entirely banned in that area.

Creatures simply avoided the oil and managed to recuperate in greater numbers than they had seen in a long time prior. Clearly, overfishing is a major issue. The amount of life taken out of the ocean is not sustainable and affects global temperatures negatively because fish and other oceanic animals help absorb a significant portion of carbon dioxide emissions. Fishing should not be marketed as sustainable to the level that it is.

According to the documentary, the societal goal to answering this problem could lie heavily in significantly decreasing our consumption of aquatic game.

“Stop eating seafood, particularly salmon and tuna.”

“Would fish farming be a solution?”

-Gabriel Wilson, senior -Hunter Morgan, senior Fish farming is not the answer. These aquafarms indirectly destroy ecosysThis is good advice, as salmon and tuna tems as they emit chemicals, pestiare two of the most heavily overfished cides, and natural wastes to susceptiand over consumed sea creatures. ble coastal waters. They also destroy mangroves that serve as natural barri“I think factories area a large con- ers from flooding. In addition, because tributor to climate change.” the fish obviously must eat to grow -Hunter Holmquist, senior and be harvested, it actually takes more fish from the wild to feed the Factories account for about 2/3 of pol- ones that are being farmed. Therefore, lution which contribute to the issue of fish farming directly necessitates the climate change according to Field.org. problem. Essentially, fish farming is just commercial fishing in disguise. feature u november type u | december december2021 2019uuthe theviewpoint viewpointuu24 3

Creative ornaments for creative people Dive into the Christmas season by making some homemade decorations for you and your family by Molly Calhoun Supplies

Begin with making a triangle with the cinnamon sticks, and gluing them together on the ends, pop on a pom-pom on the tip of the triangle.

Add eyes on either side of the nose, finish it off with the ribbon.

- Two pieces of paper - A rock - String - A black marker

Supplies - Three cinnamon sticks - Two googly eyes - One red pom-pom - One red ribbon - Liquid glue

“I like how simple these are” - Nathan Niesen, sophomore

Cut the paper horizontally to make it about three inches wide, roll and tape together. Cut out two strips of black paper, one as pants, other with spikes for hair.

Add one black rectangle and two white triangles glued on to make the face.

“It looks for the whole family” - Tristen Louisos, sophomore

Supplies - A paper plate - Strip of glitter paper - A string matching with the glitter Paper - 5-10 large confetti pieces

Take the plate, either cover it in glue and dump the confetti on top,or glue one down at a time around the plate.

Once the confetti’s on, glue the paper. Strip at the top of the plate, attach the ribbon loop.

Supplies - A piece of paper - Scissors

Crumble up the paper to make them more moveable, flatten out on top of each other and place the rock in the middle. Wrap the paper on the rock, leave the extra hanging. Tie string around the paper, and draw a face.

Supplies

- A green - Black, and white piece of paper glue and - Scissors

Fold the sheet of paper in as many ways as you can/want, grab the scissors and begin cutting random shapes out. Simply unfold the paper and then you have a snowflake.

“I like the star. It looks fun” Elizabeth Harvey, sophomore

Begin with gluing the cinnamon sticks together, two at a time. Almost like making three different triangles that are all missing a side then putting them on top of each other, basically just sticking it together in the shape of a drawn-out star.

Supplies - Five cinnamon sticks -Glue

feature u november | december 2021 u the viewpoint u25

Post-covid How Covid has changed our school lives and what happened in the past years

by Noemi Hohn

We all know that a lot has changed in school since Covid happened, but some aspects could be reflected on a little more.

We all know that Covid did change a lot when it comes to our school lives. We had to adjust to having classes online from home at the beginning of the pandemic and even now, while we are finally back in school, the pandemic still influences a big part of our daily lives.

When reflecting back on the past year and a half, there are many things that swirled through our heads. But what are the things that changed the most? What did we learn during the last months? Is there anything that we learned to appreciate more?

As freshman Anna Krohn said, “I liked not having to sit there every second. Lunch break was easier. I got a longer lunch and I was able to work at my own pace. But I like in-person school better because I can socialise and it is easier to get information down. I like to be able to participate in clubs and be busy.“ Covid showed us how important it can be for us to go to school even when it just means seeing our friends and getting to talk to them during lunch. The one thing we most likely all learned throughout the pandemic is how important our social contacts are.

“I definitely learned not to take things for granted because I didn’t realize how much the small things meant,” said Souhani Amin, senior.

Although it was nice to go back to the way we lived before the pandemic, many of us have changed during the pandemic and made a character development. Being at home for most of the time and only really seeing our close friends and family has changed many of us just like having school at home and having to organize everything on our own. “I definitely had to learn how to use your resources and try to figure stuff out yourself since the teachers can’t help you”, said Anna Krohn, freshman.

But what does it mean?

It is a scary thought to think that we can’t really compare these changes every single one of us has been through with something else. There is nothing similar to the past year. But most of us have learned important things during the pandemic, such as to schedule your work time better or learn something new about yourself while spending all this time at home or just simply appreciating how much we need to spend time with other people, or the contrary, that some of us shouldn’t just rely completely on others but concentrate on ourselves. So yes, Covid has changed a lot but we can only learn from it.

Before Covid, we never really thought about what could happen and that our daily lives could change that much now, looking back, we should be proud that we managed to adapt to a completely new situation and learned to appreciate the things that are really important and to which it comes down to at the end: friends and family.

The biggest open-ended question people ask themselves after this unusual past year is: ”Will it ever go back to how it was before Covid started?” The opinions are split most of the time. Dania Sbinati, junior, said, “Yes, definitely. Maybe by graduation or maybe even by senior year,” and “I think eventually it will but it probably will be a while as Souhani Amin, senior said. According to USA Today, the percentage of known COVID-19 cases in the US is still rising and Virginia is one of the places with more cases. The fact is we are all in this together and at the end nobody can change what will happen as long as we don’t try to make the best out of it.

Without the pandemic, we never would have realized how important some parts that we took for granted before are for us. We have to be more thankful for the last year and see everything from a more optimistic perspective.

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Christmas Cookie Recipes Kick off your holiday fun with some sweet treats for the family Gingerbread recipe provided by Sallys Baking Addiction and sugar cookies provided by Delish

3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter, slightly softened to room temperature 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar 1 large egg* 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional, but makes the flavor outstanding) 2 and 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour (spoon and leveled) 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt Easy Icing 1 and 1/2 cups (180g) confectioners’ sugar 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (omit and replace with water for stark white icing) 1 teaspoon light corn syrup* 2 – 2.5 Tablespoons (30-38ml) room temperature water pinch salt* 1. In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until creamed and smooth – about 1 minute.

Add the sugar and beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 or 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract and beat on high until fully combine, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Turn the mixer down to low and add about half of the flour mixture, beating until just barely combined.

2. Divide the dough into 2 equal parts. Roll each portion out onto a piece of parchment to about 1/4 thickness. Stack the pieces (with paper) onto a baking sheet, cover lightly, and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours and up to 2 days. Chilling is mandatory 3. Once chilled, preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. The amount of batches will depend on how large/small you cut your cookies. Remove one of the dough pieces from the refrigerator and using a cookie cutter, cut in shapes.

Transfer the cut cookie dough to the prepared baking sheet. Re-roll the remaining dough and continue cutting until all is used.

4. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until very lightly colored on top and around the edges. Make sure you rotate the baking sheet halfway through bake time.

Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before icing. No need to cover the cookies as the cookies cool.

5. For the icing, whisk the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, corn syrup, and 2 Tablespoons of water together in a medium bowl. It will be very thick. If you lift the whisk and let the icing drizzle back into the bowl, the ribbon of icing will hold shape for a few seconds before melting back into the icing.

That is when you know it’s the right consistency and ready to use. If it’s too thick (sometimes it is), whisk in 1/2 extra Tablespoon of water. If desired, add gel food coloring. You can pour some icing into different bowls if using multiple colors. If not decorating right away, cover the icing tightly and keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.. See image below

pixabay

by Preston Bates.

3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened 3/4 c. packed brown sugar 2/3 c. molasses 1 large egg 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 3 1/4 c. all-purpose flour 1 tbsp. ground ginger 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground cloves 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 2” piece fresh ginger, grated (optional) Zest of 1 orange (optional) 1/2 tsp. finely ground black pepper (optional) Sugar Cookie Icing, for decorating Sprinkles, for decorating 1. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and molasses until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, spices, baking soda, and salt until combined. With the mixer on low, gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, as well as fresh ginger, orange zest, and black pepper (if using), until dough just comes together. (Do not overmix!)

2. Divide dough in half and create two discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 2 to 3 hours. (Alternatively, divide dough in half and roll each piece of dough between two pieces of parchment to 1/4” thick.

Chill until firm.)

3. Preheat oven to 350° and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Place one disc of dough on a lightly floured surface and roll until 1/4” thick. (Alternatively, peel off both sheets of parchment from dough, then replace one sheet of parchment back underneath dough.) Cut out gingerbread men with a 3” wide cutter and transfer to baking sheets.

Bake until slightly puffed and set, 9 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of your cookie cutters. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

4. Repeat with remaining disc of dough. Decorate with icing and sprinkles as desired.

See image above

Wikimeada

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Love You loveFrom from Me me totoyou When it comes to shopping, having a goal is key By Zöe Lucas

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t’s the holiday season, otherwise known as the absolute best time of the year for some. While gifts are a staple characteristic of the time, it can actually be very difficult for some people to come up with gift ideas that they feel will be greatly appreciated (Yes, socks are enough).

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An easy way to avoid the hassle and anxiety of gift-giving is by observing the people around you. Love languages are a wonderful way to work with people and their interests as well as ensure that they feel appreciated and, well, loved. There are five main love languages and I’ll break them down below ( with a little help from Vogue ) along with some gift ideas to help the inner shopper in you fully debut.

QUALITY TIME: This is, not surprisingly, one of the more favored love languages among many people. Senior student Grace Holst said, “I would say quality time for me!” Fellow senior Kati McShea echoed the sentiment. “Quality time is extremely important to me.”

While it is popular, it falls under the difficulty category when it comes to gifting. The main aspect of quality time is spending uninterrupted time with the people you love and adore. Keeping this in mind, the following gifts would be an excellent purchase:

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION: This form of love is a hard one to touch, at least physically, though it’s a close second in popularity.

Mountain View teacher Matthew Bello said, “I would say words of affirmation are high on the list when it comes to me.” The basis for this is kindness and praise, and surprisingly there are a lot of gifts you could give to match. Some ideas are:

* A cute dinner set, perfect for intimate nights spent in * A picnic basket, complete with plates and utensils * New bed pillows ( Yes, pillows. Sleeping is actually a bonding activity for many. )

* Engraved jewelry * An annotated novel or book of poetry * A cultivated playlist with specially chosen songs

ACTS OF SERVICE: Sometimes last but certainly not least, we have acts of service. Individuals with this love language often think of others and their needs, so the best way to ensure their happiness is to do the same. While things like making dinner or breakfast are super thoughtful, not every person has the wall space for a fire extinguisher nor the ability to have the fire station on call. To minimize damage, here are some presents that don’t necessarily pack a… punch:

PHYSICAL TOUCH: In a pandemic???? Kidding! Kind of.

Covid etiquette aside, this love language tends to be a little lower on the list for some people. This could be because of a variety of things, but the more important topic is gifts for the people who do adore it. You can most definitely be on the more creative side when it comes to picking a present, but there are few things you can find in a store or online if you put your mind to it. Some wonderful discoveries include:

* A cooking set ( for the controlled fires ) * A set of wonderfully soft sheets ( make the bed to complete the gift! ) * Meal prep a favorite dish

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A cozy throw to cover you both Creative coupons ( think a well-needed back massage, hugs, etc. ) Couple Mittens (a couple is not required) to hold hands as you walk in the winter weather

GIFT-GIVING/RECEIVING: Hark the heralds angels sing! Glory to the biggest misunderstanding! I’m going to keep it crystal: this is my love language so I’ve got her back. When it comes to gift-giving and receiving, people tend to think that means huge and luxurious or give the label of shallow and materialistic. While there would be an appreciation for a Bottega bag with a book in it (we can be materialistic and intellectual), there would be an even bigger one for the gift of a simple baby tee from one’s Shein wishlist.

The main theme of this love language is attention, as in paying attention to the little things. You don’t have to take out a loan to give something meaningful to someone who shows love through this avenue. Some simple and affordable gifts include: * A scented candle * A vase with faux flowers ( or authentic, just… maybe not wrapped ) * A lounge-wear set

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mountain view’s If you are unsure about your New Year’s resolution for 2022, look for inspiration from your classmates. New Year’s is the best time of year for new goals and self improvement

by Milana Waller

“I want to go to the gym regularly” -Macy Roberts, senior Emma Stalteri

Roberts

“I want to read more books in 2022.”

-Emma Stalteri, senior

Madi Bice (senior) wants to work on better time management in regards to academics.

Alex Britten

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Madi Bice

Alex Britten (senior) wants to get a good grade in her math class, IB Math Applications HL.

“I want learn how to manage spending because its a life skill that will be useful in the future.”

Isaiah Alvarenga

-Isaiah Alvarenga, junior

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12 Days Before Christmas

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Come along as we countdown the 12 days before Christmas with some fun activities. activities. by Preston Bates

Tour the Lights

Watch a movie

Take your friends and family around the neighborhood and see the beautiful lights

Watch a holiday movie to get in the Christmas spirit

Board games are always a great way to enjoy the presence of family.

Help the community

Ice Skating

Buy gifts

There’s no better time to go ice skating, go have fun with some friends or your significant other.

Giving gifts is a signature things to do for the holidays. Kick it off early with some heartfelt gifts.

Make Your Own Decorations

Snowball Fight

Give a helping hand to those in need. help the homeless clean up trash etc.

Ice skating There’s no better time to go ice skating, go have fun with some friends or your significant other.

Being festive is always great and making our own festive decorations is a great way to do it.

Bake

Sledding

Make some tasty treats for the family.

Go for an exhilarating ride on a slippery slope with your friends.

Game Nights

Take some pent up aggression out on your friends with a snowball fight.

Christmas Carols

Singing Christmas carols is a good way of showing holiday cheer.

Do you guys do anything special during Christmas time?

-“My family and I drive around and look at the Christmas lights while drinking hot cocoa” (Lindsay Meinert, senior) -“We always go and find the perfect tree to cut down for our living room” (Lexie Dobberstein, senior) -“I always like to get a group of friends together and go ice skating., It’s really nice to spend time together during the holiday season” (Zarai Marbra, senior) 30 u the viewpoint

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Holidays of the season Learn more about the various holidays celebrated by Caroline Fortiz DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

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anukkah is an eight-day Jewish celebration. Since it is based on a Hebrew calendar, the dates change each year. On the Hebrew calendar, Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25th day of Kislev. This year Hanukkah falls earlier than normal on Sunday, November 28. The following year, in 2022, Hanukkah will start on Monday, December 19.

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The History website states that in 165 BCE Syrian-Greeks had put an altar to Zeus in the temple and were sacrificing pigs. As a celebration of reclaiming the temple, they lit a menorah, but it was said that they only had enough olive oil to keep the candles burning for a day. Instead, the flame continued to flicker for eight nights, which was seen as a miracle.

This is now why people celebrate and continue in traditions for eight days.

Julie Snow celebrates Hanukkah yearly with her family. They celebrate by making food and lighting their menorah.

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hristmas is celebrated every year on December 25. Christmas is a religious holiday, celebrated by Christians as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. His teachings form the base of Christianity.

Many families attend church service on Christmas day.

Additionally, Christmas is also celebrated culturally. Some may celebrate it as a period to come together and give back to one another.

The Christmas spirit refers to the feelings of joy given off during the holiday.

Both instances of celebration are shown with senior, Breasha Rousseau, and sophomore, Ainsley Fritz. Rousseau states that she “celebrates Christmas as a way to remember Christ’s birth and all that He’s done for me.” On the other hand, Fritz said, “Christmas is important to me because it’s an opportunity for my family and I to see our cousins in Connecticut. We make gingerbread houses, gnocchi, and enjoy each other’s company.”

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wanzaa is a seven-day holiday. Each day is dedicated to one of the seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. It is celebrated primarily in the United States. Kwanzaa lasts from December 26 to January 1. It is a non-political and non-religious observation, not meant as a substitute for other holidays celebrated like Christmas and Hanukkah.

Both the name and celebration started from Maulana Karenga, an important figure in Afrocentrism. He created Kwanzaa in 1966 in Los Angeles after the Watts Riots. Kwanzaa is a celebration of life, community, family, and culture that affirms African family and social values.

The three colors used to celebrate Kwanzaa are black, red, and green.

The color black represents the people of African descent. Next, the color red symbolizes the blood that was shed during their struggle for freedom. Lastly, green represents Africa’s fertile lands.

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A guide to Virginia colleges Information about local colleges & universities by Maia Roscigno

Graduation Rate: 74.3% Acceptance Rate: 72% Public University Cost: Before aid- 31,738 Cost: After aid- 24,185 Majors: 21 Located: Newport News

Graduation Rate: 91.5% Acceptance Rate:37.7% Public University Cost: Before aid-39,595 Cost: After aid- 16,383 Majors: 31 Located: Williamsburg

Christopher Newport University

William & Mary

Cameron Eggie, sophomore, says, “Making new friends, being more social & free, getting a good education to get a good job” are his reasons to go to college.

Graduation Rate: 71% Acceptance Rate: 57% Private College Cost: Before aid- 63,602 Cost: After aid- 30,321 Majors: 27 Located: Prince Edward County

Hampden-Sydney College

Graduation Rate: 51% Acceptance Rate: 89% Public University Cost: Before aid- 27,070 Cost: After aid- 15,680 Majors: 16 Located: Norfolk

Old Dominion University

Kamryn Wright, sophomore, says, “Looks for social experience, football games, and independence.” information from respective official college website

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Alejandro Peña-Cortez, sophomore, said, “Getting a good education is really what I look for most.”

Graduation Rate: 57.% Acceptance Rate: 74% Private University Cost: Before aid- 47,850 Cost: After aid- 29,001 Majors: 33 Located: Winchester

Shenandoah University

Graduation Rate: 52.4% Acceptance Rate: 71% Private University Cost: Before aid- 56,940 Cost: After aid- 20,762 Majors: 29 Located: Roanoke

Hollins University

Graduation Rate: 62.9% Acceptance Rate: 75% Private College Cost: Before aid- 62,943 Cost: After aid- 26,256 Majors: 35 Located: Salem

Graduation Rate: 69.4% Acceptance Rate: 87% Public University Cost: Before aid- 29,166 Cost: After aid- 20,321 Majors: 63 Located: Fairfax

Roanoke College

George Mason University

feature u november | december 2021uthe viewpoint u33

Spending holidays The many ways our students are planning holiday fun this year by Miya Easley

Riley Stanton, a sophomore student, is planning to visit his mom in New York for Christmas.

Alex Noel, another sophomore student, is also planning to visit family for the Holidays. Alex is going to spend time with her mom first. Then she is planning to go to her dad’s house to spend the rest of her holidays with him and her brother.

Makayla Mugele, a junior, is planning to visit family in Illinois for her brother who is leaving for the military.

They are also visiting her cousin, and her baby, for the first time since the baby was born. Makayla says that their entire family enjoys cooking and will be having a lot of home made food.

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