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This rings true for members of BSU. Emmanuel Joyner, a senior and member of BSU, described this community as a “family.” The Black Student Union is a place where “everyone is welcome,” said Danielle Mankessi, President of BSU and senior. For non-Black students at Leesville, BSU can be a place to “be educated on stuff that’s happening in the Black community or with Black lives,” said Kern. If you’re looking for a way to support the Black community, the BSU encourages you to join them. The BSU also wants everyone to know that “Black lives still matter even when it’s not a trend,” said Kern. They bring awareness to this topic as much as they can. For the school-wide blackout they organized, they brought awareness to “the Ah-

maud Arbery case because not a lot of people knew about it,” said Kern. For the Welcome Black Block Party, they collaborated with National Achievers Society to bring people together and have fun -- “It started out with a panel where we talked about some of the issues that we face within Leesville, and the change that we want to see and then after that we did a few affirmations which I thought were really helpful,” said Mankessi. The BSU would not be the same without their advisors. Senor Florence and Ms. Tabron are the official advisors of the Black Student Union, but Ms. Fletcher also provides her help. These individuals are heavily involved; the BSU “is a safe space with teachers and staff who are willing to help us with our issues,” said Mankessi.

Many new trends are expected to pop up in 2022. Styles like these will

become increasingly more poular. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF PUBLIC DOMAIN)

By: ViViana Straniero

Video Editor

The end of 2021 is sneaking up on us which means another round of fashion trends are available for us to try in the new year. The start of the new year brings a fresh load of styles to work into our wardrobes. Unluckily for some, there is not a lot of loungewear insight -- instead, these new styles are bold and inlude body-empowering pieces. Below are predictions to some 2022 trends that may already be sitting in your closet, along with some tips for how to wear them right now:

Yes, the cutout trend will stay thriving. Cutouts are proving to be far more of a long-term look than any of us initially gave them credit for. The flashes of skin that are in almost every type of clothing will only continue to grow in popularity as we head into 2022. Additionally, spring will bring a lot more asymmetrical cuts with intricate layering. Clothing with cutout pieces can be styled up or down, making them an ideal piece to have in your closet.

Instagram feeds and the runways have convinced us that maybe a combination of saturated hues isn’t such a bad idea. The key 2022 hues are a yellowish orange, calming blue, plant-based green, creamy shade of butter, and an electrifying pink. The beginning of the year is all about in-your-face color combos that are right on the verge of clashing. It is best to stick to solid hues for a custom color-blocked outfit.

As we saw the 2021, summer brightened up by groovy knitwear. The new season will continue celebrating knitted garments in comfy yet flattering silhouettes. Try out skirts, dresses, coats, and more for a cozy look that will keep you warm without too many layers. Even better, it’s a great way to add a bit of texture to a simpler styling pair. These are just a few of the many styles we can look forward to styling in 2022. Don’t miss out on these new trends as we start the new year.

Two students practice their pieces on violin to prepare for the concert. The challenging instrument takes a

lot of work to master. (PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF KELSEY SCHLEGAL)

year… we had mostly violins… because of schedule issues or virtual [academy], so now the music sounds more complete,” said Shani Inbari, LRHS orchestra member. They have put hard work and dedication into making the concert great, making up for what was lost last year. “To prepare, we practice[d] by taking the piece apart and then we put it back together again,” said Mark Stiles, Leesville’s Orchestra Director, via email. “We work together as a group or by section -- Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Bass… to help assess ourselves we record the piece and then listen back.” Many hours of work go into preparation, which pays off in the end. Stiles facilitates the preparation for both orchestras in addition to the middle school orchestra -- he has been a teacher for thirty years and has been the director for Leesville’s orchestra for twenty-three years. Stiles started playing the cello when he was five years old. He began his teaching career in New York, teaching for three years before coming to Leesville. He has been an invaluable addition to the school. “Mr. Stiles has always made the orchestra a safe place [that I can] rely on and make friends. He [is always] there for you and will make you laugh when you are down. He is very supportive but still pushes you to improve,” wrote Inbari. Without him, concerts like this one wouldn’t be possible. Show up on December 15 to support Stiles and Leesville’s orchestras in their exciting and magical winter concert.