RHS Knight Writers Vol. 61 Issue 2 December Digital | December 2020

Letter From the Editor: Carpe Diem, RHS!

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By: Anna Woodward Editor-in-Chief

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o friends, family and fellow Knights,

The Knight Writers newspaper is published by the first period journalism II-IV class at Robinson High School.

Editor-in-Chief Anna Woodward Print Managing Editor Amelia Foster Online Managing Editor Jennifer Le News & Features Editor Ella Wertz Opinion Edtior Olivia Godinez Sports Editor Hanna Malone A&E Editor Meena Vasquez Staff Ethan Adair Sarai Cochran Samuel Elliott Pimpaka Kuthran Zoe Thaxton Publications Adviser Nancy Oben Principal Robert Bhoolai Mission Statement The role and goal of RHS newspaper is to inform, interpret and entertain their viewers through accurae and factual reports, and be accurate, fair and impartial in its coverage of issues that affect the school community. The staff will strive to report all issues in a legal, objective, accurate and ethical manner, according to the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics.

Policies For more information about the staff policies, follow this link rhstoday.com/about/staff-policies Publication Memberships

While each issue we produce is unique in its own way, this one takes the cake. Opposed to traditional issues, each staff member was tasked with coming up with their own stories centered around a theme, and designing their own page. For most of our staff who had no experience in InDesign, this was an overwhelming task to face at first. But, I’d like to say it was a great experience.

In my eyes, there’s no better place to express yourself than journalism. Especially now, it’s hard to put how you’re feeling into words. While recipes and movie reviews aren’t as explicit as a poem or memoir, I’ve thankful that we’ve found outlets, and I hope anyone who reads this finds the opportunity to do the same.

To the freshmen: I praise you for facing such an unconventional first year head on. As someone who overthought everything as a fourteen year old, try not to stress. You are going to be presented with so many opportunities these coming three years, and I encourage you, seize them. Don’t worry about what others think; if you want to join band, go do it! You want to create a club?

Go do it! I know that this semester is difficult to say the least, but you can do this.

To the sophomores and juniors: I hate to group you in the same paragraph, but I have similar messages. From reading enough features and sports stories about you all, you’ve got some great things coming your way. I know this year has also been hard for you, especially when always being compared to the freshmen and seniors’ experiences. However, I wish you the best of luck, and I hope that you are exceeding your expectations with all the milestones that come in the span of these years.

To my fellow seniors: I don’t know if it’s just me, but this first semester has flown by. It’s easy to stress, but I’m going to tell you explicitly, you are going to end up alright, whether you go to college, or trade school, or a gap year.

Whatever happens, you have demonstrated that you can adapt. Maybe I’m biased, but also, please cut yourself some slack. Use these two weeks to your advantage; sleep

in, binge watch a show and do the things you love. You have earned it.

To the Robinson faculty and staff, thank you for finding creative ways to preserve some normalcy. Even when I’m cooped up in my room eLearning, I always look forward to a good Quizlet Live or Kahoot. I know it’s been just as hard for you, and I express my gratitude for pushing through. Especially to Ms. Oben, you have encouraged the expression and opportunities that I would never have thought of had I not joined journalism.

When everything was overwhelming, journalism became a recurring theme in my journey to remain present.

I believe I speak for the entire staff when I say I look forward to seeing your baby Yoda merchandise and all the interesting conversations we have in journalism.

As we wrap up 2020, I’m so excited to see what our staff will do next semester. As me and many other seniors on staff are gearing up for college decisions and concluding what has been some of the weirdest four years of our lives, I can confidently say that journalism will be one of the things I miss the most. It’s taught me confidence, and how to embrace my individuality.

Without this sounding too much like an ad, I encourage you to push yourself out of your comfort zone, and consider joining journalism if you enjoyed this issue.

The past four months have been a testament to our creativity and hard work, and I’m very lucky to work with such an amazing group of people. I wish you all happy and safe holidays, and what will hopefully be a plethora of new opportunities come Jan. 2021.

Knights, keep going. Challenge yourself to do the things you love, and give yourself some credit. This year has changed all of us; some for the better, some for the worse. Regardless, give yourself a pat on the back – do it! Without sounding too cliched, I have to explicitly mention the title of this letter. Inspired by the movie I desperately loved as a freshman, Dead Poets Society —I know, I know, but some of it resonated with my impressionable, licenseless self —I send you off with a proper “carpe diem!”

Sincerely, Anna Woodward Editor-in-Chief Knight Writers

From the Journalism 1 Classroom

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Opinion: College Athletes Should be Paid

The decision has been long overdue for many reasons – but in this case, better late than never

By: Rudy Joseph Journalism 1 Student

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020 has been a roller coaster of a year. Between a pandemic, social equality issues, and much more, the decision to let college athletes be monetarily compensated for their name, image and likeness, has taken many people by surprise; in a good way. The decision has been long overdue for many reasons – but in this case, better late than never.

Before the NCAA’s decision to let athletes’ profit, only the schools were allowed to make money; money that the athletes put their very own safety on the line for every time they stepped on the field, court, arena, etc... being one torn ACL or similarly bad injury away from ending their college athletic career, losing a scholarship, or possibly changing the course of their lives, with nothing but a pat on the back and a couple of memories to show for it.

With the new decision, athletes at least have some sort of financial backing stemming from the hard work they put into their craft if anything drastic were to happen to them. Ohio State University athletic director Gene Smith describes the decision as “... doing what’s right and for our student-athletes.”, and the general public supports it.

Imagine working almost every day making money for somebody else, with “exposure” and “experience” being the only compensation. Anyone doing freelance work in any field knows the ensuing infuriation after hearing

those words coming out of somebody’s mouth; so just because it is the norm for college athletics, doesn’t mean it is right.

Critics also agree, “...frequently point to the NCAA’s $1 billion annual windfall from media rights deals, sponsorships and other sources as proof the existing amateurism model doesn’t go far enough.”, $1 billion annually and not one penny allowed to go to the people enabling the obscene amount of profit.

The catalyst propelling the drastic decision is California’s “Fair Pay to Play Act”, which in summary, would allow athletes to sign endorsement deals and licensing contracts. The NCAA didn’t make the decision out of the good of their heart, rather the pressure created

by California’s bill. Over 20 states are considering following Californias path, so the change was inevitable.

The coming years will be a wild ride for college athletes. The Fair Pay to Play Act is set to go into effect in 2023, finally guaranteeing what so many have been calling for. Only an average of two percent of NCAA athletes end up going pro, yet many more than two percent of college athletes are well-known.

Nevertheless, those in the “many more” category still inspire children, gain followings, and change lives; even from something as simple as a high five on the way back to the locker room. In the future, the remainder of wellknown athletes excluding the two percent will be able to kick start their lives from the monetary compensation,

Everhart Plants His Impact

Craig Everhart is more than just the head football coach

By: Grace Hilton Journalism 1 Student ne bright science teacher, one leading football coach and one dedicated gardener. You would expect this to be the description of three different people, but really it is just one: Robinson’s head football coach, Craig Everhart.

But, it’s not solely football that keeps him at Robinson, he is also the IB biology teacher. He tells us how he was influenced by others close to him to pursue science, as his brothers were both biology majors and found that he enjoyed the subject. Loving it so much, he wanted to be able to teach the subject to others.

“I started out, kind of like a lot of people do, following siblings’ footsteps in terms of biology,” Everhart said.

Everhart tried to look for the best place to teach biology, and after all

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Coach Everhart speaks to his players after a practice on Sept.

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A USF player readies himself for the play at the 2015 East-West Shrine Bowl. RHSToday File Photo. Photo by M. Hall

sort of like a “Thank you” for the years of hard work, dedication, and impact they had. The possibilities are endless.

As the precedent is already set, future classes of athletes will come to see this critical change as the normal, yet never forget the many years containing uphill battles against the sovereign state of the NCAA. The decision to let college athletes able to be paid has been long overdue, and badly needed. The general population can already see the future positive effects, only the time will let them play out.

The rest of this article is hosted on RHSToday.com.

Scan the QR Code to read more about Coach Everhart. of the high schools he tried, Robinson was his top pick. His enjoyment for the position he holds is the leading reason why he has stayed here for so many years.

“Being able to have such great students and teach at a high level, like college classes at times… that’s worth making sure of,” Everhart said.

One of the things that distinguishes Everhart from other teachers is his connection of education and football. He sees his class as a team that needs to work together to graduate as a whole. “[I] start with kind of coaching those kids through that process of getting ready for the IB biology exam, it’s kind of being like getting ready for a game on Friday night,” Everhart said, tying the two topics together.

Continued on RHSToday.com

A Walkthrough of 2020

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This year has been rather eventful, after all.

By: Hanna Malone Sports Editor

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anuary through December, we have now seen 2020 almost completely through. It has been a momentous year, including trifles as well as victories. With the majority of the year engulfed in an ongoing worldwide pandemic, and a consequential quarantine, a lot still managed to take place. Here is a timeline of some of the most significant events that happened in 2020 in chronological order:

The Beginning of a New Decade: 2020

START Jan. 16

Donald trump’s impeachment trial officially begins.

Jan. 20

First patient in the United States was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Feb. 3 Two violent shootings occur in the U.S. in one day: one on a Califoria Greyhound bus and the other at Texas A&M University.

Jan. 5

WW3 rumors start trending on Twitter in response to Quasem Soleimani’s, a formerIranian general’s, death in a US airstrike in Baghdad.

Jan. 26

Kobe Bryant and his thirteen year old daughter, Gianna, tragically die in a helicopter crash.

Feb. 6

The New Decade Brought a New Headache

2020 really did a number on my mental health By: Hanna Malone Sports Editor

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his year has not been the easiest for many, and admittedly, I am no outlier. During the earlier months of January through the beginning of March, I was naïve, and like the rest of the world, unknowing of what was to come. I fully expected to have a normal junior year, but alas, I was quite wrong.

When talk of COVID-19 first rolled around in February, I had been rather dismissive of it.

The weight the virus was unbeknownst to me.

By March, COVID-19 was a more popular topic of conversation; people joked lightly on the subject, creating memes on social media page.

Looking back today, the quips and jokes made were all insensitive, and I do sincerely regret in any partaking in the matter. Things began to feel much more real to me, however, when the school advised us to clear out our lockers before departing on spring break, as rising cases were becoming a cause of concern.

Of course, the state of Florida was soon after put under the Safer At Home mandate, and underwent a statewide quarantine along with the majority of the rest of the United States. I worried incessantly for my grandparents health, and became quite overwhelmed with the idea of unknowingly exposing anyone vulnerable to the virus during the weeks prior when I was at school. I was anxious about everything, and

First recorded death in the U.S. caused by COVID-19

Feb. 18

March 1

April 19

March 20

May 25

First two Floridians test positive for the coronavirus.

The Boy Scouts of Ameri- Tiger King premieres on Netflix. ca files for bankruptcy

during the same time found myself undergoing an existential crisis.

E-learning, though it had its perks, was exhausting in the last few weeks of the school year. I was overburdened by some teachers, and completely lost in others. School started to feel optional, reaching out to friends felt useless, and being in my house day in and day out became utterly exhausting. The first few weeks of quarantine were the most difficult mentally.

During the summer I was able to get a job, w hich proved to be a beneficial distraction. It gave me the purpose that I had longed for so deeply.

Still, I faded in and out of depressive states and episodes of intense worry for months. I stressed over every minor contact, and grew excessively concerned about the future – more than anything I wanted things to return to normal, though I realized that policies had been put into place for the safety of people’s health.

Today, I am almost finished with the first semester of my senior year. Though it is a bit disheartening that the senior class may not have the opportunity to experience prom or a typical graduation ceremony, I do not let these minor inconveniences bother me too much. The health and safety of students, faculty, and staff are far more important than dances and pep rallies.

May 30

Together At Home concert is SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launches conducted by Lady Gaga.

June 21

STOP

(Happy New Year?)

Dec.2

U.S. records its largest daily death toll at 2,885

Dec.1 “Blinding Lights” by the Weeknd is declared asSpotify’ss most streamed song.

Nov. 9

Pfizer projects that their COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective.

Oct. 31

Sean Connery, the actor who played James Bond, dies at 80.

Aug. 20

Kamala Harris accepts her vicepresident nomination.

Kurt Cobain’s guitar he famously played during Nirvana’s NTV Unplugged concert sells for a whopping $6 million.

July 5

The state of Florida breaks a record, reportFootage of George Floyd’s death sparks an outrage against police brutality, igniting pro- ing 11,458 new COVID-19 cases in one day. tests both peaceful and violent across the U.S.

Dec. 14

The U.S. begins its first round of the Pfizer/ BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines.

Nov. 23 Charlie D’Amelio, a sixteen year old dancer, becomes the first to earn 100 million followers on the TikTok app.

Nov. 3

Joe biden is declared the winner of the U.S. Presidential Election.

Sept. 18 Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader passes away

July 30

NASA’s rover, Perserverance, is launched to Mars.

Bossa Nova, Incomprehensively

Yes, there is more than just “The Girl From Ipanema.”

By: Samuel Elliott Staff Writer

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ossa nova is fabled to have been created by a one João Gilberto, purportedly in his sister’s bathroom in 1955, rather fitting for its downtempo, inobtrusive style.

The enchanting soft-samba that once briefly dominated popular music in the mid-century, is now sadly relegated to elevator Muzak systems and cheap compilation cds.

But unto the eyes of review, the genre is found to be filled with masterpieces. From guitar mastery by the likes of Baden Powell and João Gilberto, to the complex string arrangements of Antonio Carlos Jobim, and the effervescent vocals of Astrud Gilberto and Nara Leão, some of history’s greatest musicians show up on these recordings.

Here’s a short list of highlights to help a newcomer to the genre experience every beautiful aspect of it.

LOCAL MUSIC

(For those who might like to delve a little further, I’d add Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Stone Flower, as well as João Gilberto’s 1973 self-titled album to this list if I had the extra space)

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#1: Stan Getz & João Gilberto Getz / Gilberto The single diehard bossa nova fan reading this is groaning right now.

Because this is the album everyone points to to START HERE when you’re trying to get into bossa nova.

But with João Gilberto, Stan Getz and Antonio Carlos Jobim featuring, they kind of have a point. So yeah, START HERE. You won’t be disappointed.

#2: Nara Leão - Dez Anos Depois If you’ve ever fallen in love with someone’s voice, you already know the sensation of listening to Dez Anos Depois. Recorded as a return to genre after her ten-year selfexile to Paris, the album is entirely unconventional. While the first lp is intimate and acoustic, the second is fully orchestrated. For such a summery genre, this is somehow the perfect winter album. #3: Arto Lindsay - O Corpo Sutil (The Subtle Body) Recorded in 1996, long after the death of bossa nova, O Corpo Sutil is, a look back, if you will. A mix of artpop, 90’s drum ‘n bass, and of course bossa, the album’s mellow sound is perfect for a slow warm summer morning. Features such as Brian Eno and Ryuichi Sakamoto add a slightly dissonant undertone as well. Great album cover, too.

Places to Visit:

Microgroove Records in Seminole By: Samuel Elliott Staff Writer

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ituated between a used car lot and a pizza shop, Microgroove Records in Seminole Heights is easy to miss if you aren’t headed for it. But those who pull into it’s tiny parking lot are met with a rare treat that can fill an entire afternoon.

First walking in, you’ll be met by Keith Ulrey, the shop’s owner, who will promptly offer you some hand sanitizer behind the proection of a mask and a plexiglass panel.

Once past the sanitation procedures, you’ll find a myriad of cassettes, cds, and of course records awaiting.

The shop actually has a great selection, unlike many other stores in the Tampa area who focus solely on $30 Barnes & Noble-esque double lp reissues and Frank Sinatra records. Aside from an ample amount of classic pop, funk, rock and some not-often-seen 90’s and 00’s indie, the store has an extensive selection of releases from local outfits, spanning the city’s fabled death-metal roots to newer bands such as punk band Permanent Makeup.

My favourite thing, however, is the store’s used 7” singles section. everything from Numero Group limited releases to post-grunge EP’s that haven’t been listened to in years is in there, along with decent quality copies of classic singles from hit records. And if that’s not all, they’re all in the $1-$5 range, so you can walk in with twenty dollars and end up discovering 17 new bands. But for those looking for quality, not quantity, the owner displays rare pressings and popular releases along the walls, as well as having a new releases section and a “look-but-don’ttouch” box by the register for ultra-rare releases that you might not find anywhere else.

Coupled with a subsequent trip to a local cafe or aformentioned pizza place to thumb through your findings, Microgroove Records makes a perfect weekend trip that is both safe and enjoyable.

little know but lovely recent-ish releases by local artists:

Tia Mishkin - Back In (Dec. 11, 2020) Fuzzy, intimate bedroom pop served in bite-sized pieces.

for fans of...... SALES, Alex G probably

check out:....... their entire discography Larue Nickelson Trio - Down (Aug. 31, 2020) Comfy morning coffee jazz with hints of samba, and really great musicianship.

for fans of:...... any cool//chamber jazz, Eiji Nakayama

check out:....... “Gilberto Gil” Mouse Wife - The Days Are Blue (Oct. 14, 2020) Touching and intricately produced lofi, with icy, genuine vocals and 3/4 time.

for fans of:...... Whatever Dad, Yo La Tengo’s Danelectro

check out:....... The entire thing, seriously

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The outside of Microgroove Records. Photo by S. Elliott

Pets R’ Us at RHS

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Pet adoption and sale rates soar during COVID, so we featured some of the new companions

By: Meena Vasquez A&E EDITOR

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ets are always a great addition to every home, especially when were stuck in ours all the time.

Loneliness spiked as COVID-19 cases rose and many people adopted a new furry friend to their home. Here, we’ll be featuring some Robinson Students’ four-legged friends and finned friends!

Madelyn deVega (‘21) adopted a mixed Cocker Spaniel dog named Winnie from the Tampa Bay Humane Society. deVega and her family was driven by quarantine giving them enough time to train another pup.

“I’ve always wanted a second dog, and this seemed like a perfect time to train him” she said.

DeVega went almost once a week to the Humane Society until she could find the perfect dog for her family.

They were lucky to find Winnie because often, all the dogs were already adopted by the time her and her family got to the humane society.

Julianna Lebron (‘23) got a betta fish named Clifff from her local petsore after an enternity of pleading.

Ava Leclair (‘23) bought a Shetland Sheepdog puppy mix, quarantine provided them ample amount of time to bring a new bundle of furry joy in this unprecented and

scary time.

“Her name is Rummy. With everything that’s going on in the world it seemed like a terrible time to keep a pet without a home” she said.

Cliff, Lebron’s betta fish Photo by J. Lebron

Winnie, deVega’s dog. Photo by M. deVega

Rummy, Leclair’s dog.

Photo by A. Leclair

Odd Pets We Should Love

Picture depicting some exotic pets that you can own.

Photo Courtesy The Spruce Pets

Dogs and cats get all the love, but what about these guys?

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lmost everyone has a dog or a cat for an extra friend in their family. But there’s some animals that are often overlooked when browsing for a new pet. These animals deserve some love too! Here’s a list describing some animals that deserve the spotlight just as much as fido and feline.

Chinchilla A chinchilla is often overlooked when choosing out a rodent. Many pets that are picked from this family are mice and hamsters. But a chinchilla can be purchased at your local petsmart! These fuzzy wuzzy friends need a huge cage however, but besides that they’re low maintenance.

All they need is refilled water, food, and hay everyday.

They need their cage cleaned every week as well, along with some new toys. Chinchillas can cost anywhere from $150-$350.

By: Meena Vasquez A&E EDITOR

Axolotls Axolotls are a type of salamander and a cute pet, but they’re high maintenance. Their habitat requires a precise tempeture, water quality, and husbandry requirements. However, their diet is pretty straightforward and can live up to 10 years if taken care of right. To get an axolotl you’re looking at spending around $25-$30 for the actual animal but $85-$285 for their cage.

Tarantula A tarantula is a super unusual pet, but it does make a statement when you own one. A tarantula requires low maintenance, with a cage that needs a medium size and a high humidity cage and only need to be fed two or three times a week. No tarantula species are poisonous, but some are venomous so please extensive research before purchasing one. You’re gonna spend around $25 and $75 on these buddies.

Hedgehog A hedgehog is another small animal that’s overlooked. Hedgehogs are not considered rodents, but these small babies are low maintenance. You’re only looking around 15 to 30 minutes to clean their cage, food bowl, and water bottle, wheel and other toys. Of course, you will need to feed them daily and spend time with them as much as you can! Hedgehogs cost around $100 to $300.

Holiday Gift Guide

Knight Writers created a gift guide for this holiday season By: Ella Wertz NEWS AND FEATURES EDITOR

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ith Christmas and the holiday season right around the corner, many people are struggling to get their last minute gifts. KnightWriters has compiled a list of gift ideas that are relatively cheap to help students get all of their holiday shopping finished. lanters are good, small gift idea for weatshirts and pullovers are a great a friend or family member that is layering piece or just something you a greenery enthusiast. Planters are sold can throw on at anytime during the day. everywhere. I have found that the cuter Personally, I think you can never have ones are sold on websites like Etsy and enough sweatshirts. I have trouble finding Urban Outfitters. Your local Home cute and simple ones that aren’t too Depot or Lowes carries less exciting, but expensive. However, this pullover from functional planters for sale.

H&M is the perfect price. Pieces like this can be find at any of your favorite clothing Where to buy: stores.

Urban Outfitters Item: Three Where to buy: Legged Planter H&M Price: $24.00 Item: Relaxed Fit Sweatshirt Price: $14.99

Check out our Holiday Playlist on Spotify

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isposable cameras are quick and easy gifts that almost everyone can enjoy.

These cameras are not too expensive and they create lasting tangible memories that can be held on to forever. These cameras are sold pretty much everywhere including your local CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart.

Where to buy: Amazon Item: Kodak FunSaver 35mm Single Use Camera Price: $14.99

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f your friend or family member has a record player a new record is the perfect gift for them. Anyone with a record player will appreciate receiving their new favorite album on vinyl. Records can be purchased online, at Target, or at local record stores— which are really fun to shop at.

Where to buy: Urban Outfitters Item: Fleetwood Mac - Rumors LP Price: $24.98

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s 2020 reaches its end, everyone has a goal to be more organized, manage their time better, or get their grades up. Therefore, a planner is a great gift for them. Planners promote a more scheduled lifestyle and the endless design possibilities can make them a very personal gift. Planners are sold at Office Depot, Target, and Etsy.

Where to buy: Paper Source Item: 2021 Midnight Strawberry Fields Large Planner Price: $17.21

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hese hair clips have been really trendy lately are super functional. This is a cheap gift that your friend or family member would love and get good use out of.

Where to buy: Amazon Item: Revlon Strong Hold Hair Claw Clips, 2 Count Price: $3.28

Christmas is a Symbol of Hope for 2020 More people seem to be celebrating Christmas because it gives them a glimpse of hope By: Ella Wertz NEWS AND FEATURES EDITOR 020 has been a trying year. We have experienced a global pandemic, a stressful election – need I say more.

Therefore, with the holiday season, specifically Christmas, coming around, many people have been diving into the spirit of the season to alleviate the stress of this year.

Christmas even beyond the religious meaning has always represented hope, joy, and love. Even though it is nearly impossible to define the “Christmas Spirit,” it is pretty much common knowledge that it involves the hope of redemption and love, family time and belief in miracles.

These are important things that have been missing this year. In response to this, people have been embracing the festivities of the season even more than they ever have before.

The outward sign of the joy of the season can be seen in peoples’ exterior displays, using their homes as a template.

Throughout this specific season, I have noticed an explosion of yard inflatables.

More houses than ever are stringing up lights with intricate designs. Personally, my family bought six more boxes of lights to up our Christmas decorating game.

Additionally, Christmas tree lots were

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The outside of a house decked out in Christmas lights. Photo by E. Wertz

emptied significantly quicker than years past. My family attempted to buy our tree Dec. 9, a date that is considered early for us, and the lots were almost empty.

This rush on Christmas trees and people’s enthusiastic outdoor decorations are a reflection of their reliance on this holiday to bring them several of the ideals, like love, hope, and joy, that could not be attained during this year.

People tend to put a lot of effort into events or projects that they want to be good. Therefore, I believe that with a year as bad as 2020, people are sparing no expense or effort to make this Christmas a “good one” in order to attempt to end 2020 with a sense holiday hope and contentment for the future.

Perfect Last Minute Christmas Gifts

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Don’t spend an immense amount of money on a gift

By: Sarai Cochran Staff Writer

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hristmas is slowly creeping in and last-minute presents can be a struggle with the pandemic going on. There are many gifts to find when you’re on a time schedule and aren’t sure where to start.

Foods and treats are great options as a gift, especially if you make it from scratch and put effort into it. Cookies, cupcakes, brownies, or even something as simple as a hot chocolate basket are just a sliver of many options. It’s fast and easy and doesn’t take long at all with the at-home materials you have.

Some people may love to go to the mall or shopping and gift cards are best for them. Gift cards are easy to find and is a quick grab and go from your local Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart. Another idea is a money tree. All that’s needed is two chopsticks put together with money rolled up horizontally on the chopstick with some string. It’s super easy to make and shows appreciation and thought put into the gift.

Gifts for girls can be a struggle mainly when you aren’t sure what they want. A nice gift could be a manicure set of some sort. For example a mason jar manicure. Fill the mason jar with salt (as the fake snow), put nail polishes and nail files inside. To make it easier, buy the complete set, take everything out and put it in the jar. It’s not only

a good present for girls but the jar can be used for many other things.

Not all girls may like nail sets. There are many other things to gift them. A soap or bubble bath set is an exceptional gift as well. It can be put in something as simple as a gift basket. A good present doesn’t have to be fancy.

Unlike girls, guys have an easier find for last-minute gifts. Money is one, but there are many more. Pajama sets or pajama slippers are just the tip of the iceberg of ideas for them. It is also a grab and go gift and can be given as they are for the most part since some sets are already wrapped in ribbon and what not.

There are a numerous number of people who enjoy coffee or tea. One great gift is a tea or coffee tree. Hang their favorite tea or coffee flavors on a small tree or own mini tree. Some teas come in packets or bags together, so it’s a creative way to put together an ideal gift.

You don’t need anything over the top to gift someone something nice. A gift that comes from the heart and appreciation is what matters and is what Christmas is all about. Christmas is a day to enjoy with family and is a day of appreciation and love.

Finished tea tree.

Photo by S. Cochran

MidKnight Snacks: Christmas Cookies The holiday season has arrived!

By: Sarai Cochran Staff Writer

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The finished Christmas cookies. Photo by S. Cochran

hat’s Christmas without Christmas cookies? I personally love baking and making these cookies, which were in fact really quick and easy.

It’s great for the holiday season! It only takes around 20 minutes with most, if not all, materials lying around in your kitchen. It’s so simple and easy considering how amazing they turned out.

They also make great gifts for anyone.

Ingredients

Instructions

1 cup brown sugar 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup oil 2 eggs 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla 3 cups flour 1/2 cup of sprinkles 1 cup M&Ms

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter, oil and sugars.

Add eggs and beat until fluffy.

Add baking soda, salt, powder, vanilla and flour. Mix well.

Fold in sprinkles. Use cookie scoop to put on greased cookie tray. Top with four to five M&Ms. Bake at 350° for seven to eight minutes.

Tips I did not blend the sprinkles with the batter. I hand mixed them with a baking spatula. I also did not use 1 cup M&Ms, I picked out green and red ones and placed four M&Ms for each cookie.

Depending on how big the cookie is, the time may take longer. I made large cookies so instead of eight minutes, it was about 15-18. Overall, they were absolutely delicious.

It was without a doubt quick, efficient and perfect for a family hangout.

Band Winter Concert Split Over Two Days By: Amelia Foster PRINT MANAGING EDITOR obinson’s band’s annual Winter Concert was held on two separate days this year, concert band playing on Dec. 15 and wind ensemble playing on Dec. 17. In a year when many activities have had to be cut for safety, band director Christopher Revett made the decision to split the concert in two so the event would be approved by the school and the county.

In the past, the concert has been held in the auditorium over the course of one day. During the concert, all the students are together to present the work they’ve done since the start of the school year.

Besides the concert being held over the course of two days, other changes were implemented due to COVID-19.

The concert was held on the patio, which helped with the acoustics that are typically lost in an outdoor setting. All audience attendees were required to wear masks, and any performing students who were able to wore a mask.

“In the auditorium it is easier to develop the correct sound and balance with the players. Outside, everything

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changes. Some instruments can be heard easily while others are lost to the air,” Revett said.

The usual tone of the concert is more formal, but the outdoor setting led to a casual atmosphere. The audience was encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to relax around the courtyard as the band played.

“The mood was really calm and relaxing, everyone seemed to genuinely have a good time and enjoy the performance,” Celeste Lara (‘23) said.

The Winter Concert is one of many changes implemented this year due to the coronavirus. Band is a class that relies on in-person collaboration, and so it has had unique struggles with students split between eLearning and brick-and-mortar school. Performance face masks, weekly rehearsals on Thursdays and bell covers all all contributed to the success of the event.

“So many senior traditions have been cut, and especially as an eLearner, I often feel as though I am missing much of the senior experience,” Madelyn deVega

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(‘21) said. “I am just happy to partake in a Winter Concert no matter the format, especially since I have been part of the program for so many years.”

Band typically has three concerts throughout the school year—Winter Concert, MPA and a Spring Concert—and safety precautions will continue to be implemented so the remaining concerts can happen.

Naylene Vasquez (‘22) plaiying the saxophone. Photo by J. Le

MidKnight Snacks: Raspberry Preserve Filled Cupcakes I

think cupcakes are the most underrated dessert. First of all, they’re just cakes but smaller, and smaller foods are always better (ex: mini m&ms compared to regular m&ms), but they also have more opportunities for decoration than a normal cake. When I got the desire to create something that I could hold in my hands, but I was bored of knitting or embroidering, I turned to these cupcakes, a raspberry preserve filled cupcake recipe that I created from a Frankenstein of different recipes and decided to decorate like mushrooms.

Cupcake ingredients Icing ingredients By: Amelia Foster 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 cup unsalted butter PRINT MANAGING EDITOR 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 cup milk 1/2 tsp baking soda 4 cups powdered sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup unsalted butter red food coloring 3/4 cup granulated sugar Directions 2 eggs at room temperature 3/4 cup milk 1/2 cup plain yogurt 2 tsp vanilla extract Fruit preserves.

The raspberry preserve filled cupcakes split in half. Photo by A. Foster

It may seem weird to describe a baked good as gentle, but that’s the only way to describe these cupcakes. The goal was to have them be some cute cottagecore dessert where they looked like cartoon mushrooms, but as you can see in the photo, I don’t quite have the artistic skills to pull that off.

They were really sweet, but I have the biggest sweet tooth so I wasn’t complaining, and the raspberry preserves added a nice flavor to them. I don’t know why, but I always like cake and cupcakes better on the second day, so I’m glad to say that these definitely held up with time. I’ll be making these again and, hopefully with time and practice, I’ll be able to make them look as good as they taste.

Set out ingredients and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium sized bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

In another mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter with the granulated sugar One at a time, beat the eggs into the butter and sugar.

Mix in the vanilla.

Beat in dry ingredients into wet ingredients and whisk until only just combined.

Mix in the milk and yogurt.

Scoop the batter into 12 muffin tins, putting in 1/4 cup of batter. Bake for 20 minutes.

Make the frosting while the cupcakes bake.

Mix together softened butter and powdered sugar until creamy.

Mix in the milk and vanilla.

Separate frosting into two bowls, and add three drops of red food coloring to one.

Mix in until pink.

Take out the cupcakes and let cool completely.

Using a teaspoon, cut a hole in the center of the cupcakes about an inch deep Fill with fruit preserves.

First frost the cupcakes with the pink icing, and then use the white icing to make dots.

Pandemic Leads to New Perspectives

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Seniors reflect on a COVID-19 dominated college process By: Anna Woodward Editor-in-Chief n the midst of a global pandemic and altered senior year, the class of 2021 faces another challenge: applying to college. With many campuses shut down, the application process has changed significantly. Many students are unable to visit schools, resorting to virtual tours and webinars instead. Additionally, many schools have gone test-optional, and the Common App has even dedicated a section of their application to the virus.

For working teens like Amaya Posey (’21), COVID-19 provided a new perspective on the college process.

Posey took advantage of virtual camps and courses, strengthening her application with unconventional opportunities. Her personal experience with the pandemic became inspiration for some of her essays, an often dreaded part of the application process.

“I’ve written a couple of my essays on how I was working at a grocery store for a few months during the pandemic and how it felt to be a front line worker as well as the difficulties of online learning,” Posey said. “I also talk about the virtual camps and courses I took instead of attend in person.”

Posey, who hopes to attend Brown University in Providence, RI, expressed the advantage of schools going test-optional this application cycle. Like many other students, she acknowledges the new possibilities for the future that have stemmed from the pandemic.

“A lot of schools I thought I would have trouble getting into became test-optional, making it fairly easy for me to have a chance at attending,” Posey said. “Although my scores were decent, they weren’t necessarily the average of students of the school. Becoming test-optional made

I

it easier to highlight those areas that made me a better candidate.”

For some students like Ash Tune (’21), quarantine provided time for self-growth and new interests. While Tune was unable to schedule college visits and unable to get the same amount of information compared to

Blair Braddock (‘21) smiles as she wears a Wake Forest sweatshirt. Photo Courtesy B. Braddock.

in-person experiences, COVID-19 provided a new perspective on another significant factor: one’s college major.

“The whole pandemic has made me reconsider what

Opinion: School is Not Worth Sacrificing Self Care Stop putting mental health on the back burner for a grade

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ear school, Sometimes, you are too much. I’ve spent too many nights half-awake trying to memorize for you. I’ve come to realize that taking care of myself needs to come before school; otherwise, there’s no way to improve. The teenage years are stressful enough, so self care must come before school.

I vividly remember sophomore year, sitting at my desk studying for my upcoming chemistry test. Suddenly, it’s 1 A.M. and I still don’t understand what I need to know.

The only accomplishment I’ve had is losing sleep. In hindsight, I should’ve taken a nice bath and slept, because if I’m not going to know something by midnight, I’m not going to know it at all.

I can confidently say that when I realized I needed

By: Anna Woodward Editor-in-Chief

to take care of myself before my grades, I became a lot happier - and my grades even got better. Sitting at the same spot for hours studying is tiring, and often useless.

It’s more important to get a good night’s sleep, eat a balanced meal and even take a break to watch TV. It’s good to challenge yourself and be proud when you do well, but that validation shouldn’t come at the expense of losing sleep or altering your mental health. It’s hard to make the shift, but it’s necessary.

A grade will disappear after the year, but the lasting impacts of self-neglect are permanent on the report card of life.

Sincerely, A concerned—but well rested—student

I actually wanted to do. I was in the aerospace program for a while and was originally going to go into that field,” Tune said. “But after not doing much work for that class due to quarantine, I lost interest and completely changed my major from astronomy to marine biology.”

Blair Braddock (’21) is one of the few seniors free from the application process. Braddock was accepted early decision to Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC on Aug. 28. She visited the campus in Oct. 2019 and fell in love, but still wanted to keep her options open.

“I was able to tour UF the Monday before everything shut down so I finished all my tours right before COVID,” Braddock said. “I think watching how every school handled the pandemic and social issues throughout the summer was helpful in knowing what kind of school I wanted to go to and just confirmed that I wanted to attend Wake Forest.”

Having this decision solidified not even the first week into school allows Braddock to take some time to relax. In the meantime, she gets to focus on current grades and her senior year.

“It is absolutely great to know so early, especially with all the stress that seniors are going through because I don’t need to spend any extra time applying to schools. I just need to focus on maintaining my grades and growing as an individual,” Braddock said.

Despite the uncertainty of this year, the college process still remains an important part of any senior’s life. However, Robinson students have demonstrated that some advantages can be found within the disarray.

Classroom Competition Is competition a factor in the learning process?

Read on RHSTODAY

On the Sidelines and the Field

Granger-Welch juggles both cheer and colorguard

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avyn Granger-Welch (‘23) began her freshman year as a member of the Starlets, Robinson’s colorguard team. This year, she’s decided to up her game and also join the Robinson cheerleaders. She started in junior varsity (JV) cheer as the varsity alternate, but cheered for both JV and varsity by October.

Her interests began when she saw colorguard in a parade and wanted to try it out for her freshman year.

She had been in band in middle school. Granger-Welch was also a gymnast for 11 years and decided to try out cheerleading this year.

As a result of both colorguard and cheer being at football games, she was forced to multitask. This meant having to switch between the two when necessary.

“I would be with cheer during the quarters, then during halftime, I would go out onto the field with the guard,” Granger-Welch said.

Spectators could catch her switching between the two, changing shoes and uniforms when necessary. The switching was not an easy feat in the beginning for her.

“The first time I tried to do both I forgot my shoes and had to march barefoot. I also was in the very front and in the cheer uniform so I knew I was being watched the most, but it was definitely worth it,” Granger-Welch said.

When she had decided that she’d try to balance out the sports, She had to meet with her coaches to work out times and organize her schedule to fit her busy life.

“I was nervous because of Friday night lights and how it might be too overwhelming for her. Between sophomore year of I.B., having a job, having to learn our marching show plus practices for both [cheer and guard] and not to mention the club she volunteers for at the YMCA it seems like a ton of things to do for one person,” Starlets coach Siara Espejo said.

Unfortunately, cheer and colorguard practices would take place at the same time on the same days, but she decided she could make both work and talked to her

coaches about everything.

“There was a lot of running back and forth between practices and trying to keep both coaches happy,” Granger-Welch said.

Granger-Welch worked with her colorguard and cheer coaches in order to ensure that she wouldn’t miss out on any big drills or routines. This meant reorganizing her schedule for the year.

“I felt it was an opportunity for growth as a young adult. If someone decides to dedicate their time to multiple team sports they must be responsible to handle all responsibilities from both programs. It starts with a schedule,” Espejo said.

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By: Jennifer Le Online Managing Editor

A LOOK AT

WINTER SPORTS

BASKETBALL

SOCCER

Pictured: Troy Watkins ('21) Photo by Z. Thaxton

Pictured: Hayden Henderson ('22) Photo by J. Le

Granger-Welch spinning her flag. Photo by J. Oben

CHEERLEADING Pictured: Sara Gainer ('23) and Alison Quigley ('22) Photo by J. Le

WRESTLING Pictured: Jack Poyner ('23) Photo by J. Le

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Opinion: No, There Was No Voter Fraud

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Watching adults yell about nonexistent cheating is exhausting By: Zoe Thaxton Staff Writer

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ov. 3, 2020, Election Day, one of the most important days of the year in America. Even during a pandemic, Americans either cast their ballots days in advance or lined up on Election Day to cast their votes for the Democrat candidate Joe Biden, the incumbent president and Republican candidate Donald Trump or a third party vote. Having one of the biggest voter turnouts in years, it was expected that not all votes would be counted accurately on election night. That held true. The results weren’t announced till Saturday, Nov. 7, and with 80 million votes, Joe Biden won the election.

So... Joe Biden is predicted to win and the electors for the Electoral College meet on Dec. 14. Election over, right?

Apparently not.

President Trump, ever since the election was called not in favor of him, has been throwing a hissy fit and claiming voter fraud. Other Republicans in the Senate and House, in fear of retribution, also claim this, and of course, Trump’s following have been yelling about this supposed “voter fraud.”

Firstly, what is voter fraud? Voter fraud is any “illegal interference with the process of an election.” Voter fraud is a serious issue and shouldn’t be taken lightly, but without any evidence, it means nothing. This then leads us into our country’s current situation with the current president screaming “voter fraud” like he’s crying wolf and suing states left and right. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet and go over each claim of voter fraud from Trump and his supporters: “What about those sharpies on ballots?” Ballots were not disqualified for being filled out in sharpie.

Factchecker.org debunks this and says that states counted every ballot, regardless of sharpie or not, and didn’t discriminate based on who the ballot was for.

“Dead people can’t vote!” Dead people were never voting. According to factcheck.org, it says that yes, some people may have died just before their ballots got received, similar names have also caused this issue.

Tucker Carlson, a Fox News host of his own show, called out a supposed dead man for voting... while yes, that man was dead for the past 14 years, it was his wife who was voting. Somehow, he didn’t see that and thus deceived others on this false claim.

“Wisconsin had more votes than registered voters!”

This claim was quickly debunked. Wisconsin has same day voter registration where citizens can register to vote on Election Day. This claim sprung up from looking at the 2016 registered voter list, not the 2020. (https://www. factcheck.org/2020/11/viral-posts-misreport-data-onregistered-voters-in-wisconsin/)

“But-but ballots that are mailed in are fraud.” Oh, and who told you that? Every election up to this point hasn’t had an issue with absentee ballots and states with mailin ballots don’t have issues with them either. (Mail-in ballots states, according to a study done by Washington Post assisted by the nonprofit Electronic Registration Information Center, had only a 0.0025 percent of being fraudulent either by double-voting or by voting on behalf of dead people) Those are just the more common voter fraud claims I’ve seen across the internet and of course there are more.

To this, I rebut, what about other states Trump won?

Why is voter fraud only in the states he lost? Also, what about the House and Senate? Were those not rigged?

The House lost Democrat seats and a good amount of incumbent Republicans kept their seats in the Senate!

As a teenager, why would I care about this election? I can’t even vote! Here’s the deal... this election was not just about now. It’s about the future. Our decisions now effect what will happen then. This hysteria over voter fraud is absolute nonsense.

I care about the country and our future. I want to live in a country where the election results are respected. Even if you don’t like them, that doesn’t mean fraud. There will be another presidential election in four years and you can vote for your preferred candidate then. Have debates, criticize the new president, do all those things, it is your constitutional right as an American.

But please, stop making up lies when it comes to voting.

For now, the election is over and these claims need to stop. We need to move on.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

A quick recap of Trump’s presidency By: Zoe Thaxton Staff Writer

For some Americans, it’s been a long four years under

President Donald Trump addresses the crowd at Target Center in Minneapolis, MN, for his 2020 presidential campaign rally on Oct. 10, 2019. Photo by N. Liepins

How was only the president part of the ballot fraud, but nothing else? It was all on the same ballot!

Lawsuits keep piling in and getting thrown out, even by the Supreme Court, due to lack of evidence.

Yet, still Trump is fighting. Now, Trump and 126 members of Congress (all Republicans), at the time this is being written, are backing the state of Texas lawsuit to completely invalidate every single vote in the 4 battleground states (Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) and overturn Biden’s win. The exact states where Trump lost.

If that isn’t undemocratic and seditious, I don’t know what is! Undermining a democratic process that has been the backbone of this country for 244 years? All because one man can’t handle the fact that he lost by 7 million votes! I honestly have no words.

President Trump. For others, it’s been the best four years of their lives. That’s just how it is with presidents. Some experience different things with different presidents.

Let’s step back and see what our president has done, successes and failures, over his entire term.

Successes - Economy: continued its all time high from the previous administrations.

- First Step Act: a law signed that shortened the mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.

- Space Force: a new service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces for space.

Failures - Impeachment: impeached by the House for meddling with foreign countries to tamper with the 2020 election.

- Handling with refugee families at the border: families and children are separated and kept in such smaller spaces not meant for the amount of people it’s housing.

- Management of COVID-19: no mask mandates, very late response to a lockdown, believing it to be a hoax.

- Economy: the country hit a recession due to the handling of the pandemic and millions of Americans filed for unemployment since March.

RHSToday.com: A Semester in Review

By: Jennifer Le Online Managing Editor

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B

efore my first year as an editor on the RHSToday staff, I never would have thought I’d be redesigning the entire website. Being the online managing editor originally seemed like a simple feat; make sure to keep up the story streak, keep online in check during print, edit/publish stories and so on. I’ve never seen myself as a perfectionist, but after hours of staring at the website and getting annoyed over uneven spaces, I’ve grown to be a stickler for even the slightest bit of perfection.Without the perseverance of the staff this year in getting a story published daily, I don’t know what our website would look like. Since I’d just joined staff last year, I remembered what it was like. No one’s going to want to try to go out of their comfort zone in their first year, so every so often I’d send a kind, passiveaggressive message on basecamp. Tough love I guess. I’m still learning to slow down and stop worrying about looking exactly like other sites. I can see several improvements that we can make to the site, but for now, I think we can all use this break to take a step back and relish in the growth of the website before refining it over and over again.

A&E

Features

Multimedia

Section editor: Meena Vasquez (‘21) Articles published: 49 Top article: “Review: Shawn Mendes comes back with a bang with ‘Wonder’” By: Anna Woodward Editor-in-Chief

Section editor: Ella Wertz (‘21) Articles published: 17 Top article: “Educator, father, Superintendent: getting to know Addison Davis” By: Anna Woodward Editor-in-Chief

Articles published: 18 Top article: “Quiz: What ‘Among Us’ color are you?”

By: Anna Woodward Editor-in-Chief

Featured image for the top A&E article. Photo by Island Records

Featured image for the top features article. Photo by Hillsborough County Public Schools

News

Opinion

Section editor: Ella Wertz (‘21) Articles published: 25 Top article: “Breaking: multiple admin in quarantine after COVID-19 exposure” By: Anna Woodward Editor-in-Chief

Section editor: Olivia Godinez (‘21) Articles published: 16 Top article: “The Confederate flag has no place in today’s society” By: Zoe Thaxton Staff Writer

Featured image for the top news article. Graphic by A. Woodward

Featured image for the top opinion article. Graphic by E. Adair

STAFF-WIDE STATS

New podcasts: 2

Best of SNO awards: 3

SNO distinguished site badges: 3

Featured image for the top multimedia article. Image by InnerSloth

Sports

Section editor: Hanna Malone (‘21) Articles published: 24 Top article: “Girls cross country preview: the race to state” By: Hanna Malone Sports Editor

Featured image for the top sports article. Photo by S. Lockhart

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