Inside
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Denison’s Christm a s Ligh ts
Christm a s Swe ater Ch a l lenge!
Holiday Gif t Ide a s
Mr. Pa r k er’s The spi an Fe sti va l Awa rd
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December 2012 Volume 11, Issue 4
From the Edi tor Around Christmastime, the atmosphere in Denison begins to transform, full of bustling, busy families rushing to buy presents. Although our small town seems quiet and quaint on a daily basis, the holiday season gives her the opportunity to play dress up for a while. She can play pretend that we’re overflowing with chaotic Christmas shopping and crowded sales floors in large department stores, but the truth is that the kind eyes of the many retail employees here in Denison give away our ruse. Denison will always be a place of southern traditions and kindnesses, including during the holiday season. We will always know that we can visit her for a calmer way of life after traveling off into the world. For those students who are planning on packing up and moving on out to the big city at the first opportunity, this southern hospitality may be in finite supply. If you move on a real, bustling city next season, remember your Denisonian roots and wish a harried saleswoman “Merry Christmas” or a “Happy Holidays” before departing with your purchases. Merry Christmas, DHS, and may the new year be bright.
The
“From the Stinger to...”
2012-2013
Denison High School 1901 S. Mirick Ave. Denison, Tx 75020
Denison Embraces the Holiday Spirit The DHS Touch of Gold Band march at their last parade of the year.
COMING
EVENTS Boys Basketball December 21st
Against Lovejoy Home
January 4th @ Wylie
Girls Basketball December 21st
Photos by: Rachel Hodges
DHS Cheerleaders ride on a community float. Photos by: Rachel Hodges
Against Lovejoy Home
Devan Holley Staff Writer
In Denison, Christmas spirits run high as lights are hung and gifts are wrapped. There are some traditions that just seem to stick and never cease. The Christmas parade seems to be one of the biggest events of the year. Despite the freezing weather, people from all around town gather to watch the many floats stroll down the street. Every year the floats choose themes that seem to be anything from Dr. Seuss to a Hawaiian Christmas, and the highlight at the end of the flurry of floats and people, Santa
Claus. Along with the excitement of appearing in front of so many people, the winner of the “Best in Parade” contest receives an award, last year’s winner, Grayson Home Health was given 250 dollars. Toys for Tots is a non-profit organization that Denison citizens donate to every year in order to create happy times for children whose families cannot afford to buy toys for Christmas. Every year many toys are donated, giving under privileged children something to be excited about on Christmas day and something for
the donators to be proud about. The holiday lights down in Eisenhower Park are by far one of the biggest excitements of the year. New awe inspiring lights are added annually, and the lights are something many people in surrounding areas have grown up with. Lights giving the impression of water running in a watermill and children having a snow fight are only a couple of the collection. Delights such as these will never grow old, and will probably stay in Denison for many years to come.
January 4th @ Wylie
Girls Soccer January 4th @ Texarcana
2 SchoolLIFE
The Zo(i)e Sweater Challenge Kayla Robinson Editor-in-chief
Christmas sweaters have been described many ways over the years. “Tacky,” “ugly,” and “embarrassing” are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind when grandmothers cleverly hint that these classic knits will become presents for all of her grandchildren. Juniors Zoe Reed and Zoie Voight have taken the tackiness of Christmas sweaters as a challenge – a challenge to wear a Christmas sweater every day of December. “Some [Christmas sweaters] are kind of ugly. My ugliest one is white and it has a really weird looking picture of Santa on it,” Reed said.
Reed shakes up her Christmasthemed attire with scarves and shirts, warranting a few strange looks from other students in early December. “Some of my friends say ‘Ew, your sweaters are ugly,’ but it comes from both directions. Sometimes I get some kind of weird looks in the hallways because it’s early [to be
Zoie Voight (left) and Zoe Reed pose in their Christmas sweaters. Photo by: Kaylee Sanders
wearing Christmas sweaters],” Reed said. Neither girl knew of the other’s decision to wear a Christmas sweater every day of the month. While Reed has asked her friends and family to get involved by letting her borrow sweaters, Voight has quite a collection of her own. “I have more Christmas sweat-
ers at home. I haven’t had to buy any. My family thinks it’s cool that I’m doing it since it’s for the school. My friends just tell me ‘That’s a cute sweater, where’d you get it,” Voight said. Students began to notice the girls’ sweater pattern early on in the month, and wondered what was going on. “I saw Zoe Reed wearing a Christmas sweater at the blood drive. My first thought was ‘That is a rad sweater.’ I questioned why she was wearing sweaters two days in a row, but then I realized it’s a pretty awesome challenge,” senior Raegan Jacob said.
How to Celebrate the New Year Around the World Devan Holley Staff Writer
Edi tori a l Polic y The Buzz newspaper is a student-generated publication that is produced, edited, and maintained by the DHS journalism staff of room 105. The Buzz encourages student expression and is designed to be a forum for open discussion. As part of its mission to serve as a medium for debate, The Buzz supports and accepts letters to the editor. All submissions must be signed by the author and delivered to Room 105. The staff reserves the right to edit any material. Editorials appearing in The Buzz represent the sole views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration or those of the DHS Journalism Department.
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Around the world the end of one year and the beginning of another is celebrated in a variety of ways. Some seemingly strange, and others are filled with excitement for what is yet to come. In Scotland the celebration held on New Year’s is call Hogmanay. In order to banish the old year, which is considered evil, an effigy of death, referred to as the “Auld Wife”, is paraded around the town and is then either burned, buried or drowned. Once the old year is out of the way, the new year may now enter. Traditionally, at the stroke of midnight, one would sing “For Auld Lang Syne” a song written by Robert Burns. It is believed in the practice of “firstfooting” that the first person to set foot in one’s house should be male and dark, while carrying whisky and short bread. Fire seems to be
a very big thing on New Year’s in Scotland. Throughout the streets of the capital, Edinburgh, a firework display and torch parade is held. While on the east coast giant fireballs weighing at most 20 pounds are lit and swung around. The fireballs represent the sun, and are used to devour evil spirits. Denmark jumps into the new year with excitement, literally. At the stroke of midnight people in Denmark jump off of chairs and right into the fresh year ahead of them. In order to continue their friendship with their neighbors, they break dishes on the neighbor’s doors. The more dishes a person finds out side of their door on the first of January the more friends they have and the happier they are. In Brazil and Argentina people show their New Year’s resolution
with their underwear. The color of the already bright underwear reflects what a person is seeking in the upcoming year. Yellow supposedly brings prosperity, red makes it more likely for one to find love in the coming year, and white, meaning that the person’s main priority for the new year is nothing other than peace. Panama shows its New Year spirit with dummies of popular celebrities and political figures. They call these figures muñecos and burn in a bonfire. This tradition was close to dying out some years ago, but in places like Chame and San Carlos, local politicians stepped in and created a contest for the best muñecos. The dummies range from Bart Simpson to local legislators, and of course give people the awe of watching something go up in flames.
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Opinion 3 A Senior’s Final Christmas at Home Callie Keese Copy Editor
As I begin to mark down the days until Christmas, it has slowly started to dawn on me that this Christmas will more than likely be much different from the Christmases to come. After missing my family’s annual decorating because I was in Houston for Thespian Festival, I’ve started to wonder just how the next holiday seasons will go. In my house, we have many traditions. From eating on special Christmas china to loads of garland, we are sure to make the season known. Granted, I’m not much help when it comes to lighting the fireplace or putting the star on the
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top of the tree, it’s still really nice to be able to help my mom and brother decorate the tree as opposed to being six hours away, and getting a picture of your dog with the tree, not only fully assembled but also decorated, in the background. My dad’s house on the other hand, doesn’t have very many traditions yet. We leave the decorating to his girlfriend, who is somehow able to make an giant mass of green, a clump of lights, and buckets of feathers and sparkly balls into a beautiful tree fit for a magazine cover. One huge tradition my dad likes to keep is the religious watching of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. We’ve had that movie for so long, I remember having it
on video that my parents actually recorded. As soon as November is over, I go digging for that movie so my dad and I can spend the remaining 30 days laughing for hours. Who knows what next year holds. Maybe my roommate and I will construct our own mini tree and watch Christmas Vacation for hours on end. I do know that no matter what, my holiday would not be the same without smelling the homemade mustard my mom cooks for our countless parties, or making a reference to a line from Christmas Vacation with my dad for the third time in a day.
Munson To Get A Makeover Devan Holley Staff Writer
After many years of service Munson Stadium is getting a 4 million dollar makeover. The west side, concessions area, and press box will be fixed up, adding 800 seats to the home side. “While the [W.B. Munson] Foundation traditionally supports educational and health issues for the community, it has also been supportive of the vitality of the downtown area and the image that that presents for the community. We see the stadium as a core facility in downtown Denison and the renovation of the stadium we thought was a worthy project to lend to the vitalization of the downtown in keeping it an active, vital part of the community,” said Foundation Board Chairman Peter Munson said to KXII News. The Munson Foundation donated 1 million dollars to the project. This money, along with the school funds, gives the necessary 4 million to fix up the concessions area, press box, and the west side seating area, which will boost the seating on the home side from 2,400 to 3,200, and will make the stands acquiescent with the Americans with Dis-
abilities Act. According to recent engineering surveys Denison ISD has only one more year before the issues in the stadium-some relating to safety- must be addressed. “My concern is the visitor side, because the band stands over there and the bleachers can be rather rickety where we stand,” senior Linnea Moran said. The 1.25 million dollars made from selling the land the school board owns on the corner of US Highway 75 and F.M. 84 to Denison Development Alliance will be used to help pay for the changes made to the stadium along with reserves that have been set aside for the stadium. No money from the school bond will be used in this project. The School Board is now attempting to raise another million dollars in donations to improve the field house. “We’re just urging other citizens and groups within the community to take advantage of this opportunity to revitalize a fairly old, but important facility in our downtown area, and also enhance the facility of Forest Park, which has always been a gathering point for community activities as well,” Munson said to KXII News.
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6 C ommuni t y NHS Continues a Christmas Parade Tradition:
Holiday from the Heart Kayla Robison Editor-in-chief
The DHS National Honor Society has long engaged in volunteerism and the spirit of giving back to the community. The holiday season is always a prime opportunity for NHS members to show their kindness with Christmas themed service events. This year, NHS is proud to present the fourth annual Holiday
from the Heart as well as introduce Breakfast with Santa. “I’m looking forward to the Christmas events because they’re going to be an opportunity for us to help out in the community and show them what NHS is about. Hopefully the events will inspire others to give during the holiday season,” NHS president senior Karina Kinghorn said. Holiday from the Photo by: Kaylee Sanders Heart entertained Denison citizens after the Christmas parade on December
DHS alumni Brad Roberts (above) and Shannon Choate (right) share their guitar skills during Holiday from the Heart.
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6th with performances by the very own wrapped present and Touch of Gold band, current served free breakfast, and could and previous DHS student take pictures with Santa, senior singers, free hot chocolate, NHS member Joseph Elliott. and provided the commu“The 15 members of the nity the opportunity to write Breakfast with Santa CommitChristmas cards for soldiers. tee have all put a lot of work “I’m so glad Holiday from into [this event]. We wanted the Heart came together. It required a lot of last minute Senior NHS members Katie planning, so I’m proud that so Burkhead and Emily Schaffer many NHS members stepped run the Christmas card station. up to help make this event a lasting tradition,” Holiday from the Heart Chairperson senior Kayla Robinson said. New this year was the December 15th Breakfast with Santa that 110 Lamar Elementary kindergarten and first graders were able to enjoy. Each student was given their
to include more schools, but thought we might start off small since we’ve never done it before. I think it will be really good for the kids and spark some holiday spirit,” Breakfast with Santa Chairperson senior Sydney Muldrew said. Photo by: Kaylee Sanders
Photo by: Rachel Hodges
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Se a sona l 7
The History of New Year’s Resolutions Mandi Elrod
Managing Editor Every year after Christmas, many people get ready to start the New Year with a celebration. Fireworks fly, and people await the last few seconds that end the year. Amidst these parties and various screams of joy, promises are made to start up the year, promises called Resolutions.
“In the past, I’ve made many different resolutions, most of which have actually happened. Many of them were along the lines of getting better grades in school, and having a more positive attitude while doing so,” junior Katelynn Cranfill said. Resolutions started in
many places. At the start of every year, the ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts, and the Romans prayed to their god Janus, for whom January is named. Most resolutions started with people doing good things for others, but
eventually it became promises to the people themselves, which started a tradition that still goes on today. “I always pledge to be healthier through diet and exercise, devote more time towards my own creative writing, and keep my house clean,” English teacher Mrs. Matherly said.
No matter the promise, or how big or small it may be, each promise means something. It means that no matter how difficult things get, or how horrible, people all over the world still try. Even if they fail, the fact that they tried still trumps all.
Rhymes and Riddles... Who am I? MaKayla Reese
Contributing Writer
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alty are spoken in my name, yet only a special few understand the true meaning behind the words uttered in droning unison each day. I fold, flex, and flourish as needed. In respectful memory do I fly, while always holding hope strong against the winds which wish to tear down the future all have worked so hard to achieve.
Answer: The American Flag
Purity and innocence are outlined by a deep sea of vigilance, perseverance, and justice; hardiness and valor wave in the passing breeze. Within my threads are the stories of those lost in history: the men and women who stood undaunted against the enemy, whatever the cost. I am old—I am ageless—I am ceaselessly changing. Promises of loy-
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And the award goes to... Assistant Principal
John Parker Callie Keese Copy Editor
On November 1st, principal John Parker received the Secondary Administrative Award at the annual Texas State Thespian Festival. “I felt very honored to receive this award. This is a very good organization and I am very proud of our students and the students across Texas that work so hard to make it great,” Parker said. Parker is a very big supporter of the school’s theatre department, especially when it comes to the One Act Play class, making sure to personally attend their competitions. “In One Act Play, he came to all of our competitive performances of Big Love and was there with us every step of the way. He congratulated us there and was very proud of all of our accomplishments,” senior Caitlin Cato said. For the theatre department, Parker is much more than an administrator, but a member of their family. “Mr. Parker is almost like our Godfather. Every time we need him, he doesn’t hesitate with a thing. He watches over us, and is always there. He really does mean a lot to us,” junior Holden Webster said. To Parker, however, the best part of the program is very simple: the students themselves. “The people that make up the department are my favorite part. They are the ones that make it great. They are the ones that have to work and make it go so they can spread the name and build the reputation of the DHS Theatre Department. To this point they have been very successful at doing just that,” Parker said.
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