Revisit the top national and local stories from 2016
Drill team takes first and second in competition -Story on page 8 16 dec 2016
- see page 6
www.nstimes.org
volume 9 issue 4
WELL SAID “We’re more interested in helping you guys do well on the ACT than on a test that doesn’t matter.” –Science teacher Kolby Henrie on the decision to focus more on ACT Aspire than the SAGE test
UPCOMING EVENTS Friday, Dec 16 Boys Basketball Emery @ NS 4pm-9 pm Ugly Sweater Stomp 9 pm-11 pm (Commons) Tuesday, Dec 20 2nd Quarter Ends Minimum Day Dec 21-Jan 3 Christmas Break Wednesday Dec 21 Boys Basketball South Sevier @ NS 4 pm-9 pm Dec 23-27 Sports Moratorium
BY THE NUMBERS
3,158
NS region boundaries changed, travel time increased BY
K ALEB C OX
Every two years, the Utah High School Athletics Association (UHSAA) examines schools and realigns the regions as they see necessary. A public hearing was held by the UHSAA on Dec. 7 to decide if the previously proposed region realignment for the 2017-2019 athletic season would be ratified. The ultimate decision was made to accept the proposed realignment. It was officially adopted the next day. “We went to
the [UHSAA] and told them what we thought about [the alignment ideas],” said NS principal Nan Ault. “But ultimately, we’ll play.” This was the last meeting of several that would eventually decide what schools would be in each region. The UHSAA had come up with the region layout earlier this year, but didn’t make it official until just recently. The realignment will go into effect in the 2017 fall season and extend through 2019. This is huge, as NS has never seen a region
change this large. “I think the change was needed,” said girls basketball head coach North Sanpete will be part of Randi Griffith. “I a 7-team region next year. just don’t like the The total travel time to visit all realignments they schools in the region is over 26 total hours and over 1,500 came up with.” According to UHSAA Executive Director Rob Cuff, the change 44 miles 238 miles made was the best 0:50 hours 4:08 hours decision they could make to try and 136 miles satisfy everyone’s 416 miles 2:30 hours needs. 6:34 hours Though some 160 miles road games can take 564 miles 2:56 hours extensive amounts 9:02 hours of time to travel, Cuff feels the shorter distanced games balance the long “There’s not a ever yone,” ones out. perfect answer for Cuff said. See Regions, page 2
NS faculty completes Sub for Santa pledges in assembly
Percentage of NS students who dislike riding the bus
7 The national ranking of Utah in highest amount of yearly suicides
CONTENTS Features................5 Sports...................7 Arts......................10 Crossword...........12
photo by
Christian sanChez
Teachers Andre Rainey and Landon Bailey dressed up as women to fulfill their Sub for Santa pledge at the recent assembly. NS raised over $3,100 that was used to buy toys for children.
Emery
Richfield
South Sevier
Grand
San Juan
Eighth graders experience high school through Hawk for a Day program M EGAN
A LDRIDGE
42
Time in the morning that early-morning weights begins
Manti
BY
The amount of money raised during the Sub for Santa drive
6:15
CLASS 3A REGION 15
Walking through the halls of NS for the first time is a memorable experience for many students. The first day of high school is often accompanied by many emotions, from excitement to dread. This year, visiting eighth graders are experiencing these feelings earlier as they participate in the Hawk for a Day program. The eighth graders are picked up at noon every Monday and are taken to NS to be a high schooler for a day. They are taken on a tour of the
high school and then to the counseling center where they talk to counselor Chet Kiesel. They learn about all of the clubs available as well as the classes that they need in order to graduate. They are then assigned to a high school student who they will follow around to their classes. This gives them the chance to get to know high school students and the teachers. “I think it would be scary, especially if you don’t have any siblings in high school. I think it would be kind of intimidating, but I still think I would have done it,”
said student body officer Gavin Cox. The students are required to do everything that the student whom they are following is doing. This means that if the high schooler is taking a test, the eighth grader needs to as well. One eighth grader was impressed with herself for her knowledge of a couple of subjects on a math test. “I was so excited! I got two questions right on my college algebra test!” said eighth grader Emily Silva.
See Hawk, page 2
New ACT Aspire introduced to NS curriculum BY
A BIGAIL C LAWSON
In recent years there have been a number of changes made in the curriculum of Utah schools that have frustrated many people. This school year at NS, with the introduction of the ACT Aspire program, some of those frustrations are being resolved. Starting in October, students took the Inter-
im Assessment in their math, science, and English classes. This was the first time the students at NS have used the ACT Aspire program, as NS is going away from the SAGE program. “[The ACT Aspire] is kind of similar to the SAGE testing,” said Assistant Principal Jeff Ericksen. “But I don’t want to say that because people have a negative
attitude about SAGE. Instead of SAGE we want to focus on the ACT because it really matters for people; it carries more weight behind it.” Although NS is looking to the ACT instead of SAGE, it is by law still required of schools to give the final SAGE test in the spring. As this change is happening, and NS is leaving SAGE behind
and turning more towards the ACT Aspire to prepare students for the ACT, teachers are hoping students will be motivated to do well and to put more effort into the assessments. “We’re more interested in helping you guys do well on the ACT than on a test that doesn’t matter,” said NS science teacher Kolby Henrie. “I think that half of
the students don’t take SAGE serious because it doesn’t affect them, but with the ACT more students take it seriously because they know that is their college entrance exam.” With that motivation teachers can use the results of the assessments in a way they nev-
See Aspire, page 2
2 news Regions, continued from page 1 “[NS] is in the middle of the state, so it’s easy for them to go either direction, while Grand and San Juan have to play teams closest to them.” The realignment created an all new ranking of 6A, and major changes in each region in all non-football activities. The region in which NS will be playing consists of Emery, Grand, Manti, Richfield, South Sevier and San Juan. NS no longer shares a region with rivals such as Carbon
and Juab. “With six classifications, it allowed traditional rivalries to again be in the same classification,” Cuff said. “A lot of [teams] were bouncing back and forth between 2A and 3A over the past several years.” However, football underwent a variety of changes of its own. NS football is now in a region with Juab, Juan Diego, Manti, Richfield, and Summit. “Our biggest con-
cern is the travel time to Grand and San Juan,” Ault said. “Especially when we already have so many great rivals that are close like Juab and Delta.” As stated before, travel time, as well as the cost to do so, can be very concerning for coaches and athletes alike. With San Juan and Grand County now in the mix, away games can take up to nine hours to drive round trip. The teams them-
selves however, appear to be much more balanced this way. Larger schools like Canyon View have been moved up, making region competition much tighter. “[Currently] In 3A there’s such a drastic student number difference,” Griffith said. “You get to some of the St. George schools, and they have three times the student body as some of us smaller 3A schools.” Many believe that despite the overall cost
and time it takes to get to some of these new division teams, there were some positives to come from this realignment. “There is now a much more equitable division,” Ault said. “We don’t have those larger southern schools in there with us anymore, and we’re closer to the middle rather than the bottom [in size].” The board of trustees will begin the 20192021 alignment process in about six months, as
it takes eighteen to fair. The board will be looking at how things fair out with this most recent change, and adjust accordingly. “It’s kind of like Christmas,” Cuff said. “Everybody comes in and says what they want, but it’s impossible for the board to give everybody everything they want just because of the geography of our state.”
Hawk, continued from page 1 Silva followed senior Jordan Hope to College Algebra and Rock-and-Roll History. She described high school as being more fun and exciting than she had originally thought it would be. Gear Up coordinator Heather Hafen, who started the program, has also noticed the enthusiasm of the middle schoolers. “[The kids] talk a million miles per hour. You just hear an excited chatter among them,” Hafen said. Hafen is in charge of Hawk for a Day and feels that the program will help the transition from middle school to high school be easier for the
incoming freshman. “Hawk for a Day kinda breaks them in, like a new baseball mitt, you have to use it once or twice before you go into a game with it,” said student body officer Brenden Blackham. Those who are in leadership positions take the students around and show them what NS is really like. This includes the SBOs, class officers and Hope Squad members. “I want to show the middle schoolers that they don’t have to do a fun class because everyone is taking it, but you can do something that you want to go into in the future and something that is benefi-
cial for you,” said student body president Jackson Blackhurst. There are little rules, however, they are important to abide by. The eighth graders must stay with the ambassador, they are not allowed to leave campus and they must be respectful and participate in the class activities. The rules are meant to be similar to the ones that they will face when they actually come to the high school. “They come so that they can get a look of how the teachers here act so that they can be prepared,” said junior Denisha Ivory. The staff at the middle school has seen many chang-
photo by
Megan aldridge
Junior Jordan Henson with her eighth grader, Avonlea Bell, and senior Gavin Cox with his eighth grader, Sadie Wilkinson.
es with these students, they like. I want to give them the are less worried to come here chance to say ‘I can do this,’” now. said Hafen. “I bring the students here so they can see what is really
See Aspire, continued from page 1 er could with SAGE. “With SAGE I can’t pull and go and look at each question individually, so what good does it do for me to know what your score is, but not know where you were struggling?” Henrie said. “With the ACT Aspire I can look at every question individually, and I can see what answer kids put wrong if they missed it; it’s way more valuable because then I can adjust teaching based on where [my students] are lacking.”
This gives teachers an extreme advantage in using ACT Aspire over SAGE, not only because teachers know exactly where students need help, but also because it is set with the core. “Not only is it asking questions similar to what the ACT will ask, but it’s aligned 100% with the core,” said English teacher Kate Carney. “As we look at the data we can say the students don’t understand this part of the core; you can just collect a part of the
core, right there, and make sure that we’re covering it…” The teachers at NS are taking advantage of this new feedback to help students improve as much as possible by looking at the individual test questions. “We probably spent an hour as a department looking at literally every question,” said Carney. “We looked at every question and then said our kids did really well on that; anything higher than 60 percent, even
50, we would look at it and know they got that.” The teachers then looked at those questions that a higher percentage of students missed, and are focusing more on the curriculum involved with it. This change is not only happening during regular time in class, but will also involve flex time starting in January. “Any class where the students in the class had less than 50 percent, we looked at that and asked what is this and how is
this connected to the core? Where is this, have we taught this yet, is this something that we’ve lacked, is it something that the middle school’s lacked?” said Carney. “Then throughout January, we have students that will be assigned to flex to do mini lessons in the four areas that we found the students to be lowest in.” With these advantages over SAGE, Ericksen explains ACT Aspire may completely replace SAGE, making NS
“ahead of the curve”. According to Ericksen, this is due to Principal Nan Ault, and her forward thinking. “I want to give credit to Nan,” said Ericksen. “She is a forward thinker, and because of her leadership we are ahead.” While it is difficult to say what the core will look like in the future, and what program it will use, it is safe to say that the ACT Aspire will make a difference at NS.
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news
Practice is important, but how much is too much? BY
K ENZY PALMER
There’s no question that being a student athlete is challenging and requires dedication. Any team wants to get as much practice in as is beneficial, for obvious reasons, but many coaches and players think that there is a point where additional practice can be harmful. The Utah High School Athletic Association (UHSAA) has set a 20-hour per week practice limit for all UHSAA sponsored extracurriculars from August 1 to June 1. Competition/game days count as three of the 20 hours. Anytime a team is together counts towards the 20 practice hours which includes, but is not limited to: team practice, team dinners, film time, weight training, individual instruction, etc. Restrictions include any meeting of the team and/or individual sportrelated contact with the coach. According to the UHSAA handbook, these restrictions were put into place to provide a “level playing field” between schools, to create a definable seasons of competition which allow students to participate in various activities without coaches feeling the need to “compete” with each other for athletes within their own school, and to allow students to have the opportunity to participate in a variety of extracurricular experiences. With these rules, UHSAA is also trying to provide some personal time for students between activities, pro-
photo by
Kenzy palMer
Senior Abby Smith goes up for a layup during girls basketball practice, while freshman Kaylie Peterson watches.
vide opportunity for family vacations and other family functions, and to prevent the exploitation and “burn out” of participant athletes and coaches. Senior Abby Smith is one such athlete who, as a multi-sport athlete, would know about these “burnouts.” However, Smith recognizes that when practice is no longer productive, players need a break. “There just is a point when [practice] is just not helping anyone anymore,” Smith said. “We get frustrated and we need a break.” Boys’ basketball head coach Cris Hoopes tries to avoid these burnouts by balancing the benefits of athletics with the individual needs of the players. “Practice is important” Hoopes
said, “but there is a point where it’s too much.” Hoopes stresses the importance of making sure his players take care of themselves off of the court as well as on it. “I think as a coach you really have to make them understand the importance of a good nights rest,” Hoopes said. “[Players] need to go home, get a good meal, and go to bed early.” Although it is important for athletes to take care of themselves, the teams recognize that the more practice they get, the better they become. All athletes must be extremely dedicated to their sport(s) to be able to compete at the highest levels. For this reason, last spring, NS offered a new early morning weights
program in the spring which several coaches have “strongly encouraged” their athletes to attend, including football and volleyball. This program doesn’t break the UHSAA practice restrictions because the program is open to anyone who wants to come, so it’s not “team” weights. Students come from 6:15 to 8:00 every morning in the spring. “I think it was really beneficial and I feel like we got closer as a team just because we were all working together off the court,” senior Abby Smith said. Senior Kaleb Bailey agrees that attending early morning weights helped create more respect between teammates. “Weights is good for team building,” Bailey said. “I got a lot stronger and I bonded with everyone there because a team that suffers together plays well together.” Smith knows that sometimes the demanding schedule required of a high school athlete can be draining, but she enjoys it. “It can be very demanding,” Smith said. “There’s something about doing hard things with your team; we just pulled each other together.” Beyond the athletic and team benefits of athletics, high school sports help students do better academically. “I absolutely believe that’s why schools put so much attention on it, because there have been studies done that prove over and over that people that are in sports programs do better than if they don’t,” Hoopes said.
Safe Utah app brought to NS to help reduce, combat state suicide rates E MI PALMER
There are specialists ready to talk to teens about what is Utah is ranked seventh in happening 24/7. The app is the nation for highest amount completely anonymous, so no of suicides, proving that sui- privacy is violated. All teens cide has become a big prob- have to do is enter a four digit lem. However, Utah has been passcode and they can call, making an effort to combat chat, and submit a tip with a this scary statistic by making single tap and get an immedian app that students and teens ate response. can use to report any crisis, The app is not only for the Safe Utah App. suicidal thoughts, but can be “[The app] creates a safe used to help students along way for kids to report some- with anything else they face. thing that is really difficult,” This includes the ability to resaid Principal Nan Ault. port bullying of any kind, if a BY
student is hurting themselves, abuse, drugs, mental health problems, planned school attacks, or weapons. “[Safe Utah App] gives kids a chance to really help someone without betraying their trust,” Ault said. Betrayal of trust is one problem that the Safe Utah App solves. Students sometimes feel ike they are disloyal to their friends when they report things. Some teens find it scary to talk face to face with a person, but with this app it
is easier to talk to someone anonymously. The app creates a safe place to talk about abuse or suicidal thoughts. Already students have taken advantage of this resource and reported things that were necessary. The students received immediate responses and were helped through the problem. The app is helping school environments to be a safer place. Utah is working actively to improve their suicide rates step by step, and getting help
to those who do need it. This app has been implemented in all the schools in Utah, so students can get help and get others the help that they need. The Safe Utah App is easy to use and available to almost everyone. For teens who do not have access to a smartphone there is a hotline that they can call anytime to talk a specialist. The tip number is 1-800-2738255.
Librarian creates new club for service, volunteering opportunities BY
M AK ADE TALBOT
The TACOS club, a club dedicated to fried tortillas filled with seasoned meats and various fillings? Although there might be a club dedicated to the Mexican dish, this club is something else entirely. TACOS is in acronym that stands for Teen Advisory Council of Students. The TACOS club is basically a club for students to go and get an opportunity to plan events, Ice cream
Drinks
organize volunteer work, and do service projects. Dawn Coates, a resident of Fairview, is the creator of the TACOS club, which she started a few months ago. The Mount Pleasant Library is the host of the TACOS club, which meets on the first Thursday of every month from 4 to 5 pm. “It’s a teen group at the library, where we give them purchases, a chance for volunteer work, and of course
there’s parties,” Coates said. The club is looking for motivated and dedicated teens. Some activities the club holds include planning programs and events, writing book and movie suggestions, volunteering, writing reviews, and creating displays. “I let them decorate the whole library for whatever holiday it is, or just when whenever,” Coates said. “They have shown an interest in doing a food drive and that kind
Snacks
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of thing.” Besides participating in these activities and projects, participants of the TACOS club may soon get an opportunity to help mold young minds. Coates also wants those not in the Tacos club to benefit from it as well. “I would like to eventually get some tutoring going, to help the younger kids,” Coates said. She thinks it would be a great opportunity for the members
of TACOS to get a chance to be a leader, and experience teaching kids. It’s also a great help for the little kids who need tutoring. The allowed age range is 13 to 18, and so far Coates has 15 students from all around North Sanpete signed up and participating in the club. She’s hoping the word will spread so she can get more participants.
4 news After eight years, time has come to thank President Obama, bid him farewell BY
A BR AHAM BUNTING
As the new year comes in, Republicans have a lot more to celebrate and look forward to in 2017 than do Democrats. The Republicans are looking at a government with a House, Senate, and Presidency controlled by their party. A Supreme Court vacancy will be filled by Donald Trump, and several more Justices are near retirement. The Republicans are in for a bright new year. Even more than the ascent of the Republican party, Republicans ought to be celebrating the potential destruction of the accomplishments of President Obama. In the first 100 days in office, Trump has promised to cancel America’s part in both the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Paris Climate Change agreements. Additionally, he has promised to repeal Obamacare, President Obama’s signature legislation from his presidency.
Our country’s sendoff to Obama demonstrates how much Americans, or at least 62 million of them, care about his accomplishments while in office. That is, nearly half of Americans felt that Obama’s major accomplishments were worthy of destruction and voted for a person who vowed to do just that. There really is a stark difference between the current, out-going President, and the incoming one. The fifteen years in age and difference in skin tone between the two is just the beginning. Candidate Obama represented the hope of a new era in politics; whether he succeeded or not, he was emblematic of a move from a conservative era to a more progressive one. Obama was seen as the vehicle from a post-9/11 national security focused America to a more hopeful, optimistic, productive country. However, such a hopeful, productive country only exists in
campaign rhetoric during election season. President Obama’s first term as president was a disappointment, at least if you judge it off Obama’s campaign promises. While he did cut taxes, pass a universal health program (Obamacare), created jobs, and left Iraq, he did so at the cost of about 6 trillion dollars in public debt. The country’s disappointment with Obama was evident when the Democrats lost their majority in the house and nearly did so in the Senate. Every blunder Obama made left conservatives cheering. After all, if Obama failed, then everyone would realize what a great idea conservatism was, and would put Obama out of a job. Unfortunately, for Republicans, this was not to be. Romney lost; Obama was in for four more years. Four years later, in 2016, after the rise of ISIS, Common Core, Ebola, government shutdowns, passage of the TPP and Paris treaties,
President Barack Obama drops the microphone at a state dinner. Obama has served two terms and prepares to step down for President-elect Trump. Obama’s accomplishments while in office are in danger as President Trump comes into office.
Brexit, and after more debt and job growth, the Republicans finally got what they wanted: the Democrats out of office. Although nobody in the party elite wanted Donald Trump, he was the one to lead the Republicans to a landslide victory over the Democrats. When a winner comes along, everyone jumps on. From Paul Ryan to Mitt Romney to Ted Cruz, when Trump won, most everyone on the right of the political spectrum jumped on board the Trump train. After Trump won, the
elite of the party, the very people who constantly criticized Trump for his lack of experience, racist comments, and uncontrollable temper turned a sharp corner and started calling him “a get-thingsdone kind of guy” and “the very man who can lead us to [a] better future.” Their turnaround really is remarkable. Even President Obama has congratulated and worked with Trump. If the political enemies of Donald Trump were willing to reconcile themselves to him, despite all his personal fail-
ures and shortcomings, shouldn’t the Americans who didn’t vote for him do the same? After all, he will be their President for the next four years. However, as we struggle to swallow the reality of a President Trump, let us at least give a passing regard to the out-going President. Let us express a token of appreciation for a President who, if not incredible, was at least competent and civil. As a tribute to his office, let us all say, one last time, “Thanks, Obama.”
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features 16 dec 16
NS math teacher helps students succeed
photo by Carli Johansen
NS students enjoy new math teacher Matt Syme. Although Syme wasn't always planning on becoming a teacher, student body and staff alike are glad that he did.
BY
CARLI JOHANSEN
Matt Syme, NS’s newest math teacher, has become the fourth Syme to teach in the district. There is something to be said about that family’s knack for educating. In Syme’s short time at NS, he has gained the love of his students. He has even accomplished the impossible, making high school students understand math. “He is my favorite math teacher I’ve ever had; he makes it easy to understand,” said junior Josh Jackson. Syme is glad to be back home, teaching at his own alma mater, with some of his own favorite teachers, such as Cheryl Hadley, math teacher and Craig Clark, former band teacher. “Me and my wife felt like we needed to move back home,” Syme said. Syme has upheld his family name by teaching at NS. He is joining his sister Tara Syme, current history teacher at the middle school, and two brothers, Ryan Syme, former teacher at Mt. Pleasant Elementary and current instructional coach, and Timothy Syme, teacher at Moroni Elementary. ‘[Syme] is fantastic, we are glad to have him
here,” Principal Nan Ault said. Syme has connected well with his students. Under his instruction, the freshman and juniors have excelled. “He’s really positive and willing to help,” junior Mackenzie Blackhurst said. “He puts in the time and effort it takes to help his students succeed.” In his own time at high school, Syme always found he understood math easily. He would know the math taught before his own teachers explained it. “Math just came naturally to me,” Syme said. Being a teacher wasn’t Syme’s plan, originally, though. Syme studied to be an engineer, but thanks to the influence of an religious institute teacher, Syme started to take classes to become a seminary teacher, then his plans later evolved to teaching a core subject. Syme’s life was forever changed after an incident on a date in college. “It was something that happened to me that changed my life in a different direction,” Syme said. Syme went on a date in college to a buddy’s cabin, which had a rope swing that swung over a cliff 50 or 60 feet in the air. While riding over the cliff, the seat on the swing broke, and Syme plummeted 40
feet. In a knee jerk reaction, he put his hand out to brace himself from the fall. “[After I had landed] I lifted my hand up to see what was wrong with it, and it just flopped back, my middle finger hit my elbow, my hand was more or less hanging by the skin,” Syme said. Syme had double compound fractures, with both bones hanging out. “It was at that point I realized I was probably hurt,” Syme said. Syme rode a life flight to Primary Children’s Hospital where they discovered that he had internal bleeding and a shattered hip. In surgery after surgery, the doctors did not think that Syme would walk again. He spent half a year in a wheelchair, but eventually through therapy, started to recover, and began to learn to walk. Years later, Syme still struggles with his injuries; his leg doesn’t work quite right, and he has no feeling in some of his fingers He has, in fact, burned them badly on the stove, and not noticed for some time. Despite his struggles, Syme doesn’t let his injuries slow him down, and the accident turned his life in a new direction. “It was the kick in the butt I needed to get my life in order,” Syme said. The date went so horribly wrong that it ended up putting Syme on a better path. He started to focus more on his future, it made him really think about his life. Syme has since lived by his life motto, “Never give up.” Before coming to NS, Syme taught in Wayne County High School, teaching every math class, financial literacy, and helping coach basketball and volleyball. Now that he is here, Syme really enjoys working with NS students and the students feel the same way. “[Syme] is the first teacher I have ever had that actually made me enjoy math,” junior Cooper Roselund said. “He is easy to understand,” junior Emily Barker said. “I really enjoy his teaching style.” “[Syme] is very personable, and easy to talk to,“ Jackson said. Words his students have used to describe him are somewhere in the range of goofy, exciting, nerdy, different, strange, caring, weird and kind. Syme and his family of five plans on settling and retiring in Sanpete so we can expect to see Syme around for quite a while.
Most NS students dislike riding the bus BY
LUCY A NDERSON
When people look back on their high school experience they will no doubt have both good and bad memories. Prom, questionable school lunches, and math tests might come to mind. Another memorable experience from school is the bus rides. Often times there are mixed feelings about buses. Sophomore Ky Mickel enjoyed the bus ride in seventh grade but stopped riding because of how long the ride was in eighth grade.
“I liked talking with my friends,” Mickel said. “But the ride was about an hour and fifteen minutes so I stopped riding.” Although some students enjoy the bus ride, in a recent survey to NS students, results showed 42% of students don’t like the rides. Many feel the buses come too early in the morning. “I have to wake up at about 5:50 just to get ready and do my chores,” Sophomore Makenna Davis said. “And then I catch the bus.” Buses will some-
times be described as a necessary evil. They make things simpler for parents that don’t have time to drive their kids to school. “I live in Indianola,” Davis said. “It’s so far away that there’s no way for me to just get a ride from my parents ‘cause they don’t want to come and pick me up” Many students have developed routines to help make the bus ride better. “I’ll bring a book and read,” Davis said. “Or I’ll bring earbuds and listen to music and
talk with friends.” While Davis deals with sitting on the bus for long amounts of time, others have to deal with time off the bus. Some bus rides are short but students have to wait long periods of time for the bus to come. Sophomore Crystal Everitt’s bus ride lasts for about fifteen minutes, but she has to be at the school over an hour more than she needs to. “My bus arrives at the school at 7:30 in the morning,” Everitt said. “It doesn’t arrive to pick me up from school until
about 3:40.” The bus rides sometimes come along with bad memories. “We go out on dirt roads and something’s wrong with the bus, there’s holes in it or
some sorts of openings,” Sophomore Hayes Bailey said. “So when we go over the dirt roads it dusts you out. You can’t breath. You can’t ever sleep on there or you might not wake up.”
photo by Lucy Anderson
NS students express frustrations with riding the bus to and from school.
features
6
NS staff looks back on 2016 top ten local news stories
B Y LYDIA M ADSEN
Holding the tenth spot is the addition of an ASL class to NS. Taught by Katrina Palmer, students are learning the basics of sign language. Coming in at number nine is the Lady Hawks taking a region title in volleyball. The NS volleyball team was able to take the region title again, making it a consecutive four years. The Lady Hawks were able to compete at and place fifth in state this year. Our number eight story is state band and choir. This year both the concert band and choir were able to score all superior ratings at region, sending them to the state level. At state the
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choir was able to receive superior ratings. Holding the seventh spot is the burning of Matthew Ricks’ truck. Ricks’ truck was left in the school parking lot and he came back to find it engulfed in flames. Arson was suspected, but no other leads were found. Coming in at number six is the new policy on parents’ sportsmanship. The district put out a new policy at the beginning of this school year, stating that parents can be suspended from watching games if they are not respecting the sports and its students. Guidelines were provided for appropriate and inappropriate behavior in order to give the students a more enjoyable experience in sports.
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Our number five story is the streaker on the softball field. While an adult league softball game was being played, a streaker ran across the field and went after one of the outfield players. The streaker was tackled and held down until police arrived on the scene. Holding the fourth spot is the addition of the HOPE Squad to NS. Students nominated peers who they felt they could trust and talk to. These peers were pulled together to create the HOPE Squad, which stands for Hold On, Persuade, Empower. Its goal is to give students who are struggling with suicide someone to talk to, and to help these students take the precautions needed to help them.
Coming in at number three is the passing of Proposition Seven. This proposition will raise taxes in the community a small percent in order to help with the building and maintaining of a community pool in Mt. Pleasant. Our number two story is the murder of Wes Nay. Nay was a former NS student whose remains were found in a shallow grave in the mountains. The suspect has been arrested. Holding the first spot is the retirement of Ed Staker. Staker retired as a science teacher at NS in May. He was awarded the “S” award and “graduated” from NS along with his eldest daughter, Amy Staker.
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NS staff looks back on 2016 top ten national news stories
BY
LYDIA M ADSEN
Coming in at number ten is the killing of Harambe. In May, a threeyear-old boy fell into the gorilla enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo. The gorilla Harambe then proceeded to grab the boy and drag him along. The zoo workers feared for the child’s life and shot and killed Harambe. This was recorded on video and outraged many people. This was talked about for several months, and several Harambe memes were created. Holding the ninth spot is the plane crash of a Brazilian soccer team. The team was on its way to compete for the winning title at Copa Sudamericana. While they were over the mountains, the plane experienced technical difficulties and soon after crashed into the mountains with 77 people on board. Only six people survived the crash. Among them were two crew members, a journalist, and three players. Coming in at number eight is the “Killer Clown” epidemic. In October a series of clown sightings over the earlier weeks was brought to
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the attention of the nation. Many people in several different states had witnessed creepy clowns in several different places. Some were dashing off into the woods, others were at gas stations, some were hiding on the side of the road, and some were following people. Many rumors got spread of planned purges and potential attacks on the schools. In most cases, the clowns did not injure anyone, but there were reports of clowns committing crimes and injuring citizens. By mid-November, the crisis died down. In seventh place is the Pokémon Go epidemic. Pokémon Go is an app that was released in early July and became big very quickly. It allowed people to catch Pokémon in real life through the help of their phone. Many people went outside and got active as they were trying to catch and hatch their Pokémon. Many people complained that Pokémon Go caused people to spend too much time on their devices, but other people argued that it was helping people to be active. Coming in at number six is the Black Lives Matter movement. In light of several different police shoot-
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ings happening between white cops and black people, a movement was started to protest this. Black Lives Matter stated that cops were being racist towards them and killing people for illegitimate reasons. Many cops--both black and white--were killed in protests and attacks, which started a Blue Lives Matter movement, stating that cops lives matter as well. Our number five spot is held by the Cubs win of the World Series. After 108 years, the Chicago Cubs came back from a 1-3 game score to win their last three games against the Cleveland Indians and secure the World Series title. Coming in at number four is the death of Alan Rickman, David Bowie, and Prince. Rickman died of pancreatic cancer on January 14th, 2016 at the age of 69. David Bowie died just a few days earlier on January 10th, 2016 of liver cancer, also at the age of 69. Prince died on April 21st, 2016 at the age of 57, caused by an accidental drug overdose. Holding the number three spot is the Orlando shooting. On June 12th, 49 people were killed and 53
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were injured in a terrorists attack/hate crime at the Pulse, a gay night-club. The attacker was Omar Mateen, who was a 29-year-old security guard. He was shot and killed by the Orlando Police Department. Coming in at number two is the Olympics and Michael Phelps. The summer Olympics were held in Rio this year. At the end of the competition the top three countries ended up with Great Britain taking third with 67 medals, China taking second with 70 medals, and the United States coming in first with 121 medals. Michael Phelps ended his Olympic career this year, or so he says, with 23 gold medals and 28 medals total. Holding our number one spot is the election. This year the Republican candidate ended up being Donald Trump, with Hillary Clinton being selected as the Democratic candidate. After a long political campaign, Trump won the election with 306 votes over Clinton’s 232 and became our President Elect. He is to be sworn into office on January 20, 2017.
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Senior excels in sports, brings talent to NS elementary and she hopes she can continue to play them for the rest of her life. Dyches started playing city league soccer in 4th grade and has continued playing into her high school years. Through years of playing, she has developed a lifelong long for the sport. “I think it’s just fun to be on a team,” Dyches said. “I’m also really aggressive so it’s a good way to get that energy out.” Dyches played went from city league to playing on the Ephraim Middle School team, where she attended despite living in Spring City. When she moved out of Sanpete, Dyches added her talent to the American Leadership Academy, a charter school in Spanish Fork. A lifetime of playing in different schools has contributed to a few soccer stories. “One time I was playing and I dislocated my jaw,” Dyches said. “I played the whole game with a dislocated jaw. That was interesting.” Despite moving right before her high school career started, an experience many teenagers would not be fond of, Dyches liked her move to Spanish Fork. “When I went to Spanish Fork it was nice to get out of Sanpete, just to try living somewhere else,” photo provided by Chloe Dyches Dyches said. “Now it’s okay to be back in Sanpete. It Chloe Dyches sits on the side of the pool. Dyches is involved in many activities, inwas just nice to get a break for a minute.” cluding socccer and swim team. When Dyches moved back to Sanpete her senior year she decided to attend NS instead of returning to BY NICOLE B URTON Manti. Upon returning, she decided to join the swim When asked what she likes to do, senior Chloe team along with soccer. “One day Nicole Day was like, ‘Oh, I want to do Dyches simply responds, “Sports.” Sports have played a large part of Dyches’ life since she was in swim but we need three other girls to join so we can
actually have a relay.’ Then other people I’m friends with told me that swim was fun and that I should do it, so I said okay,” Dyches said. Throughout the winter season, she has developed a love for swimming. “It’s such a good workout,” Dyches said. “It’s completely different from everything I’ve ever done before so it’s been cool to try something new.” Dyches has had a good season. Although it has been her first year competing, placing 4th in one of her meets. However, she is less optimistic when looking toward the rest of the season. “I was doing pretty well up until now, but I broke my hand [when I wrecked my truck] so it’s probably going to be pretty rough,” Dyches said. A broken hand won’t stop her from competing, though. Dyches got a waterproof cast so she can finish off the rest of the season. It also won’t stop her from continuing her other hobbies. When she’s not playing soccer or swimming, Dyches enjoys hiking. “It’s so pretty and I like to exercise just any way,” Dyches said. “It’s a fun way to exercise and you don’t feel like you’re actually exercising.” However, she doesn’t just like sports and exercising. Dyches also likes to draw, despite being adamant that she doesn’t take it seriously. She stills enjoys doodling, though. “Stuff will just pop into your head and you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, I need to draw this right now,’” Dyches said. “When you start drawing stuff, it just keeps coming out of your brain. Then, all the sudden, after you realize that it turned out to be pretty cool.”
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sports 16 dec 16
Lady Hawks off to solid start
photo by Carlos Navarro
Junior Kesley Eliason goes for a layup during a recent home victory over Delta, 43-35. This was one of the Lady Hawks’ three wins so far this season.
NICOLE DAY
tans. NS lost the game 35-51 bringing their seaThis past Tuesday, son record to 2-3. the NS Lady Hawks “We did really good beat the Delta Rabbits for four minutes and at home, 43-35. The then we went down in past week, they traveled a burning inferno,” said to Emery where they Coach Griffith. played the Lady SparNS started out well BY
and found themselves only down by four after the first quarter. However, in the second and third quarters, NS fell behind. “We played scared for the first half,” said Linzy Flinders. “After
we realized there wasn’t anything to lose, we played well.” NS tried to bring it back in the fourth quarter. They gained thirteen points while Emery only squeezed in nine but that wasn’t enough
to dig them out of their hole. “We started out strong and played extremely well but as soon as they started hitting shots we stopped believing in ourselves,” Griffith said.
swimmers, and Cox says that it will be the job of the underclassmen to step up and get new swimmers for next year. Adams is hopeful that with the new swimming pool in Mt. Pleasant more people will join in the years to come.
“I think it will add quite a bit more swimmers because they won’t have to travel. That was an issue with a few people. It will also make people realize that they can swim and compete,” Adams said. With the swimming
pool projected to open up by July 4th the swim team would be able to use this pool for practices during their next season. This would open up many opportunities to the swimmers and the community. “I’m very excited for
However, this wasn’t the case against Manti, on Dec. 2. NS came out strong and played well beating Manti by a staggering 40 points, 66-26. “We kicked butt,” said sophomore Bailee Hansen. After a couple of rough games, NS came out ready to fight. Griffith was happy with the team’s defense, which is something the team has been struggling with this year. “I’ve been focusing on our offense at practice--it’s on me,” Griffith said. “We’ll practice defense this week.” On Dec. 1, NS lost to Morgan 31-67. “We played well the first couple of minutes,” Griffith said. After the first few minutes though, NS wasn’t able to keep up with Morgan who shot with 75% accuracy in the first half, which is unheard of at the high school level. Griffith doesn’t believe this is the only reason they won, though. “I’ve seen teams win games even if they can’t shoot the ball.” Griffith said. Griffith. believes the key to success is a good defense and hard work.
NS swim team’s hard work starts to pay off BY
H ANNAH O STR AFF
With a month and a half of swimming time behind them, the swim team has started to gain more confidence in themselves, but there has also been some setbacks for the team. The team has lost multiple people to previous injuries from other sports, but the swim team members are staying positive. “We knew we would probably lose a couple people for a bit when the season started,” senior Benjamin Palmer said. Some of these injuries were caused by other sports that consisted of cross country and soccer, and another injury was caused by a car accident. With the closest swimming pool being at Snow College in Ephraim, the swimmers have to drive around thirty minutes each way. This causes some concerns for parents and
students, but Coach Brittany Adams doesn’t think this is affecting the swimmers that much. “It makes driving everyday a bit of a chore but it has generally worked out. It has also made the parents more nervous,” Adams said. With the swimmers carpooling to Ephraim everyday they have become close as a team, and support and cheer for each other at meets. In these swim meets the team has been working on setting personal records, instead of trying to compete against the other larger swim teams. “I would say our biggest goal is personal growth. We have a lot of new swimmers this year and there is lots of room to grow not only as individuals but as a team as well,” Senior Blade Cox said. With most of these new swimmers being seniors, the team will only have four returning
the new pool, I think it will make swimming seem much more accessible and attract new swimmers,” Palmer said, “The possibility of more youth programs will also be a great help in recruiting.”
photo by Nicole Day
Senior Benjamin Palmer takes a breath during a recent meet. Palmer is one of few returning members from last year.
sports
9
Boys basketball learns to adjust to new lineup
BY
AVERY BRIGGS
The start of the 2016-17 basketball season has proved challenging for the NS boys team, as their record stands at 1-7. Two of the main problems that the boys are facing are a lack of experience and a height disadvantage. “Right now, the lack of varsity basketball time has kind of been the main challenge for our varsity,” said head coach Cris Hoopes. Senior Justice Green agrees. “We’re all new. We didn’t get a lot of varsity time last year, so we’re all new to the speed of varsity,” Green said. According to Green, in order to keep up with the speed of the varsity level the boys have to work harder, put in more effort, and keep the ball safe as there is no room for turnovers, bad shots, or unnecessary fouls. The other struggle the team has faced is the smaller stature of the boys compared to those of other teams. Because of this, the boys have to utilize their ability to be more agile. “We’re extremely small,” Hoopes said. “So we have to do the little things really well; we have to be quick to where we’re at, we have to use our speed.” As the boys are coping with these challenges, they are also working on how to fit together as a group. According to Hoopes, this adjusting leads to minutes where the boys don’t play well together, as well as times when they start figuring it out. One of the things the boys are figuring out is how to put their games away. “We’ve just got to learn how to finish the game,” said senior Tanner Morley. “In the fourth quarter they hit big shots and we miss our shots. Their momentum builds and ours slows down.” Hoopes agrees the boys need to learn how to take the game, but be-
photo by Avery Briggs
Sophomore Joseph Garlick attempts a defended reverse layup during a loss at Manti. NS is 1-7.
lieves the struggle is in more than just the fourth quarter. “It’s not just the fourth quarter, it’s the whole game. They’ve got to learn to take control of the game,” Hoopes said. With all of the trials the team is overcoming, Hoopes has been impressed with how hard his team works, and their ability under pressure. “We’ve handled pressure extremely well,” Hoopes said. “We don’t turn the ball over against presses very often.” He also is pleased with the rebounding effort, as the boys rebound better than he thought they would. However, in order to find success
throughout the season, the team has to continually strive to become better. Hoopes believes every game the group must take a step forward, and eventually the work will pay off. A major contributor to the way the boys are playing is their confidence, and according to Green they need more of it. “A lot of it is confidence. We have to just be more confident in everything we do, when we shoot, when we have to make a decision to pass [the ball],” Green said. Hoopes agrees the boys need to be more self-assured, and believes they will become so once games start going more in their favor.
“Winning brings confidence,” Hoopes said. “Sometimes when you step on the court when you’ve been losing you think, ‘Um, are we going to win?’ and sometimes that shows. If our kids believe they are going to win, that confidence comes from winning.” The season may not be going the way the team would like, but according to Green the boys aren’t giving up. “[Staying positive] gets difficult but we know we have to refocus and learn from our mistakes. We are a young team and we know we have potential,” Green said. “We feel like we are getting there, and we’re excited for the future because our team is starting to connect.”
Spiriteers succeed at first competition of the year
photo by Christian Sanchez
The NS drill team performs their kick routine during half-time of a girls basketball game. This was one of the dances the team performed at their competition.
A DDIE A NDERSON
categories and second place in kick in the 3A region. On Saturday, Dec. 10, the Drill took part in the comNS Spiriteers had their first petition last year but didn’t redrill competition at Juan Di- ceive any major awards. ego High School in Draper, “We had a hard time last Utah. year,” said senior and drill coThirty schools from dif- captain Teya Smith. “It looks ferent regions across the state like we’ve come a long way,” participated in the Salt Lake The Spiriteers will comValley Classic along with NS, pete in four more competiwhere the team earned first tions before their season ends place in the military and dance in February. BY
“We’ve put a lot of time in for practice,” Smith said. “We’re just trying to be as ready as we can.” In order to be prepared for their competitions, drill practices every morning from 5:30 to 7:30 with three hour afternoon practices on Mondays and Thursdays. “It gets rough,” head coach Alisa Cheney said. “Thursdays are usually our Thursday drag
because they’ve been all week and it’s the end of the week so they’re getting a little tired.” Practices include breaking down each routine count by count to make sure that everyone is synchronized with the same hands and feet motions and facial expressions. “Just a lot of tedious work,” Cheney said. “Repetitive and breaking it down over and over and over.” Cheney has been the head coach for the drill team since 2008 when her daughter was on the team. Since then, she has stayed with the team because she enjoys coaching the girls. “[They have] really good attitudes,” Cheney said. “The girls are upbeat and they’re willing to work hard.” On top of having early morning practices, drill also prepares for competitions by performing at the home varsity games for both girls’ and boys’ basketball. Along with dealing with countless hours of practices, drill has had to bounce back after the loss of a senior captain at the start of this year. “At first it was really hard,”
Smith said. “We were kind of a mess and scrambled but I think we’ve regained composure.” What started as a big stumbling block has become a stepping stone for the team. “We’re getting along a lot better than we have in the past and everyone has really good attitudes,” said senior and cocaptain Olivia Hanson. “Probably one of the best years I’ve had on drill just because we’re all so close.” Smith and Hanson have both danced with the drill team for their whole high school careers and have loved being a part of it. “I’ve danced ever since I was little,” Hanson said. “Teya was doing it so I thought it would be fun to do it together. I kept doing it because I love dancing and I love my coaches and my teammates.” Smith agrees with Hanson that drill has been a great part of her high school experience. “I think it’s kind of a way to express emotion that you kind of hold up sometimes,” Smith said. “It’s a way to show yourself.”
sports
10
NS wrestling team deals with early-season struggles BY
CARLOS NAVARRO
It’s been a rough start to the season for the NS wrestling team as the team comes back from a big tournament. This year the team traveled down to Millard to compete in one of the hardest wrestling tournaments, the Iron Man tournament. The Iron Man tournament is a team dual tournament which means that you compete as a team against the other teams that compete. The wrestling team started out worse than what they ended at Iron Man, but learned a lot about how the season is to be this year. While most everyone who wrestles knows that Iron Man is one of the toughest
tournaments out there, Hootchy Brewer and Sam Sevy went undefeated at Iron Man. Keegan Eliason did very well. this tournament going 9-1. Senior Eddy Mendez is wrestling for NS at 132lbs varsity and is enjoying the season so far. “It’s hard to commit to wrestling because it’s such a long and hard sport that it kind of scares students away,” Mendez said. The varsity team for NS has nearly all the weights classes. Although they are missing a couple of weight classes, this year the wrestling team is a lot bigger compared to last year. “This year I want to at
least place in region for my senior year and end on a good note,” Mendez said. The wrestling team recently just traveled to Juab on December 8, to compete in a duel with them. Although they lost to the Wasps, NS put up a great fight with some very exciting matches. “I like the new coach; he is not uptight about things and is a really good wrestler who understands what we’re going through,” Mendez said. Bryan Strain is the new head wrestling coach from Flagstaff, Arizona where he’s been going to colleges and universities to receive his teaching degree. He grew up mostly in California and also competed in wrestling. Strain
took state his freshman year and went into the finals a lot after that. “I’d like to focus more on the technique and how to work as a team here with respect,” Strain said. As Christmas break approaches, the wrestling team will be heading over to compete at the Winter Classic tournament for two days starting on December 9th. The tournament at Juab is a lot like Millard’s; you wrestle as teams and not individuals. After this tournament, the Hawks will travel to Carbon this next Thursday and have a duel against them. Luis Rodriguez is a varsity freshman wrestler who loves the sport and is glad he
decided to stick with it this year. “I was nervous about wrestling this year because the weight I would go into are all huge seniors with lots of experience, but I decided to man up and go for it.” Rodriguez said. The team this year is expected to perform better than last year as they practice everyday to be the best they can, with some of the wrestler from NS are ranked to either take state or place. It’s a little bit too early to call the shots, so for now, the NS wrestling will just have to keep fighting hard and stay committed.
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11
arts 16 dec 16
New disney movie dazzles, delights disney fans BY
TR AYSON THOMPSON
“Moana” is Disney’s latest musical installment in their long line of “Princess movies”, which are usually known for their catchy songs, bright colors, and funny characters. While Moana has everything it needs to be classified as a “Princess” movie, the great thing about Moana is that it doesn’t even feel like a Princess movie! It doesn’t follow the usual tropes that those Princess movies usually have, because there isn’t any “Prince Charming”, or any romance at all; it also has more crude humor, and the plot is more unique and related to the Pacific Island style culture. The main character, Moana (Played by Auli’i Cravalho), is the daughter of the chief of a small village on an island out in the middle of the ocean. Moana is set to become the villages next chief, but she doesn’t want to be chief of the village because she wants to go out onto the ocean and go exploring for new islands. Moana’s father, Tui (Played by Temuera Morrison), doesn’t like his daughter’s love for adventure, and is constantly trying to prepare her to become chief of the village.
However, when a strange curse seems to be ruining living conditions on the island, Moana must set out to sea to find the Demigod, Maui (Played by Dwayne Johnson), so that he can restore Tafiti’s heart to reverse the curse that plagues Moana’s home island of Montinui. As a huge fan of Disney, I was actually decently hyped for this movie, I was expecting an okay story with okay characters and some okay humor. But when I actually went and watched the movie, my expectations were shattered! I honestly had a surprisingly good time watching this film, and while there are a few cheesy Disney clichés that basically have to be there, it didn’t hinder my enjoyment with the film at all. As for the films visuals, this may be Disney’s most impressive 3D animated movie yet! Everything is so bright, colorful, and full of life! Tons of hours must have been put into making each character, prop, and environment have as much detail and personality as possible. The music of Moana was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the man behind the popular Broadway show “Hamilton”, and it really shines through in the way the music is presented. Each song feels so unique, yet
it also feels like they could all fit together to make one huge song! It’s some of the best music I’ve heard from a Disney movie in a long time. Miranda also performed one of the songs in the movie, “We Know the Way” as Miranda sings about one of Moana’s ancestors, sailing across the perilous oceans looking for new land. I honestly hope that Moana will be
able to be even more of a Disney classic than Frozen already is, because it has so much more heart, creativity, and charm than Frozen had when it was first released. I really recommend you see this movie as soon as you can; it really is great.
Top ten movies for 2016-- by journalism staff BY
LYDIA M ADSEN
Kubo and the Two Strings
2016 has been a year full of new movies; the NS Times staff picked the best of them and presents the top ten movies of 2016. Top Ten Movies
Miss Peregrine’s Home of Perculiar Children Our number eight movie is “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.” Jacob Portman (played by Asa Butterfield) is a The Legend of Tarzan boy who has just been thrown Coming in at number ten is “The into a world of strange powers Legend of Tarzan”. In this movie and peculiar children. As he enTarzan (played by Alexander ters deeper into this world he Skarsgard) is brought back to discovers that he has a peculiarity his homeland of Africa. Back about him, and that it just might home, the village he is staying in be the key to saving everyone he is attacked by a man named Rom, knows. who captures Tarzan and his wife Jane Porter. Tarzan escapes, but will need to cross the jungle to save his wife.
The Jungle Book In ninth place is “The Jungle Book”. In this life action adaptation of the 1967 Disney film, Neel Sethi takes on the role of Mowgli. Mowgli is a man-cub who has been raised in the jungle, but now must flee it in order to be safe from the grasps of the tiger, Shere Khan.
Coming in at number seven is “Kubo and the Two Strings”. In this animated adventure, Kubo’s (voiced by Art Parkinson) life is turned upside by the havoc a spirit caused. In order to live through it all, Kubo must find a magical Moana Samurai suit once worn by his Our number four movie is “Mofather. ana”. In this animated adventure based on Polynesian mythology, Moana (voice by Auli’i Cravalho) must answer the call of the ocean to break a curse brought on by demigod Maui (voice by Dwayne Johnson).
win) and her quest to solve the mystery of the missing animals in Zootopia, all while proving she belongs on the police force.
Captain America: Civil War
Doctor Strange In sixth place is Marvel’s “Doctor Strange”. After suffering in a car accident, Neurosurgeon Stephen Strange is brought into a world of mystery and other dimensions. He must learn to put aside his Fantastic Beasts and pride and focus on the secrets of Where to Find Them this new world in order to protect Coming in at number three the universe he knows. is “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” Entering back into Finding Dory the wizarding world, we follow Coming in at number five the adventures and struggles of is “Finding Dory”. In this sequel Newt Scamander (played by Edto Disney’s “Finding Nemo” we die Redmayne) and his suitcase follow the journey of a familiar full of magical beasts we can find forgetful fish named Dory (voice among us. by Ellen DeGeneres). On this Zootopia journey, Dory uses her newfound In second place is Disney’s scattered memories to find her “Zootopia”. In this animated tale, family. we follow bunny officer Judy Hopps (voice by Ginnifer Good-
Coming in at number one is “Captain America: Civil War”. In this third installment to the “Captain America” series, the Avengers’ moral values are put on the line, testing the strength and trust of their friendship and team.
arts
12
Christmas Movies BY ADDIE ANDERSON
Heard in the
Halls ”lucky for us, I needed to pull up my pants.” -“Why can’t I have my fantasies without science always getting in the way?” -“Have you ever touched water and thought, “that is surprisingly wet.“ -”You sound like a sophisticated hick.” “Thank you.” -“You want to smell my ankles? They smell like Froot Loops” -”You’re like a flirty old granny.” -”Why is your face so fleshy?” -”I’d marry you, but there’s scandals here.” -”I am going to be a bygamist.” “Bygamy!”
Across
5. “’Fra-GEE-lay!’ It must be Italian!” 7. Little creatures that multiply when wet and become evil when given food after midnight 8. The 1965 animated television special based on Charles Schulz’s comic 9. Bill Murray’s Christmas movie with guest stars including George Clooney and Miley Cyrus 11. The classic chick-flick starring Sandra Bullock and Peter Gallagher 12. Lisa travels in Wizard of Oz-like fashion and arrives just in time for a wedding 14. The Hallmark classic starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Jessica Biel 16. While recovering in a hospital, war hero Jefferson grows familiar with a newspaper column writer 19. Jack the Pumpkin King stars in this Tim Burton stop motion film 26. Dr. Suess’s animated tale about a green creature 28. Santa Claus is looking for his successor and a hapless taxi driver is just the man to help him out 29. “And now I have a machine gun. Ho-ho-ho” 32. A mailman reveals the origin of Santa Claus in this classic film 33. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover star in this action movie that’s set during the holidays 34. Santa’s clumsy son who gets put on a mission to give out a present to a young girl in less than 2 hours. 35. Paul Reuben’s character who loves his bike stars in this holiday event 36. With a corn cob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of snow
Down
1. At a hotel that is only open during the Christmas season, a crooner and a hoofer vie for the affections of a beautiful performer 2. Chevy Chase wraps up a cat in this holiday movie 3. A cat burglar is forced to take a bickering, dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas Eve. 4. Kermit and Miss Froggy help out Scrooge in this movie 6. The movie that tells us whenever a bell rings an angel gets its wings 10. A 1964 Christmas stop motion about a misfit animal 13. A modern take on Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol starring Billy Murray 15. Two elves have to get past the Heat and Snow Miser to save Christmas in this stop-motion film 17. When a nice old man who claims to be Santa Claus is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court 18. The original movie based on Charles Dickens’ novel 20. A rom-com starring John Cusack and Kate during the Christmas season in New York City 21. Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Cameron Diaz, and Jude Law star in this Christmas chick-flick 22. The holiday classic starring Bing Crosby taking place in a Vermont lodge 23. Luther and Nora decide to skip Christmas after they think their daughter won’t show 24. A terrible animated movie based on an awesome book 25. When a man inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place. 27. Kevin McCallister’s quest to keep his house safe from robbers 30. The 1998 film about when a father who can’t keep his promises dies in a car crash 31. Santa’s maple-loving helper that heads to the Big Apple to find his dad
-”But I don’t want 8 husbands, I want 12 of them. ” -”When Michael Jackson died, did he become a black angel or white angel?” “Your military has a designed bust.” “He would probably make us graph the slope of his belly.”