The Chatterbox - Dec. 12, 2014- CIX.06

Walnut Hills High School

Volume CIX, Issue 6

December 12, 2014

‘Tis the season to be generous Micaela Adams, ‘16

This holiday season, Walnut Hills High School is prepared to give to others in need. As temperatures begin to drop and snow starts to fall in the early months of winter, a familiar warmth creeps into the hearts of people everywhere.

The holidays are a time for parents, children, friends and lovers alike to show appreciation for one another through the purchase of excessive amounts of material items. However, people can take a step away from their lives and acknowledge the fact that there are those out there devoid of some of their most basic needs.

Boo Radley, a club known for delivering random acts of kindness around the school, is involved in a global program called “Shoes for H.O.P.E” that aims to collect 2,500,000 pairs of new and used shoes to distribute and re-purpose.

People suffer daily from parasitic infections and soil-transmitted helminths (parasitic worms that feed on a living host and cause disease) that could be prevented by wearing shoes.

A poll taken in 2011 by Missions in Motion International Ministries shows that the average woman owns about 17 pairs of shoes and only regularly wears three, whereas 300 million children in the world do not have a single pair. Students and teachers can deposit any shoes, wearable or not, in one of the boxes labeled “Shoe Drive” scattered throughout the building. There is one located in the main hall where the honor roll names are posted, and also one in front of Boo Radley advisor Catherine George’s classroom, 2715.

JULIAN SHOCKLEY/CHATTERBOX

SENIOR Tyler Adams donates his shoes to Boo Radley’s Shoes for H.O.P.E. box, located in the Main Hall. The shoes will be redistributed to people in need and will help save lives.

“We have collected over 150 pairs of shoes, at least,” George said. “There are a lot of programs offering to feed children and adults, but very few for shoes. What’s nice is no matter what shape the shoes are in, they can still get them to the people who need them because of the repurposing.”

Adopt-A-Family has become a staple for Walnut’s giving season.

As Student Congress President SENIOR Joe Malek said, “It’s been around since I was in seventh grade.” The goal of this program is to provide families with Christmas gifts who cannot afford to buy any.

The 2014 Adopt-a-Family is led

by Student Congress and over 25

Pre-exam tips

clubs/classrooms are participating.

The families range in size, but all are in need since many are without homes.

“The Evanston Community School finds families [who] need help,” Malek said. A note at the bottom of one family’s wish list says, “This family is currently homeless. Mom is a good parent but struggling financially and emotionally. Raising seven boys alone is tough. Your help is greatly appreciated!” There are similar notes at the bottom of others, describing financial situations, living conditions and health complications of the families.

English teacher Christine Betz and her students introduced a new food drive benefiting Oyler School. Oyler is a Pre-K to 12thgrade school in the Cincinnati Public School District. It is located in Price Hill and consists of 700 students, around 125 of whom go home every Friday with a “Power Pack” food bundle to get them through the weekend. However, Oyler’s supply is gone, leaving students unable to go home with their bundles. The drive is intended to bring in food that children are capable of preparing for themselves.

Food items such as fruit cups, granola bars, peanut butter crackers and microwavable macaroni and cheese were donated.

Shoes for H.O.P.E., Adopt-aFamily and the Oyler Drive are organizations that benefit people in need both internationally and locally.

This holiday season, students came together to share with others. Because of their efforts, those they helped will now have shoes to wear, food to eat, and presents.

Exams: just another hurdle for students Lela Robinson, ‘16 The end of the first semester is rapidly approaching and exams are on the horizon. Walnut Hills is among many high schools and colleges that administer exams before winter break. These exams are intended to assess the fluency of material taught during the first semester.

Something to consider is what makes an exam so stressful. An exam’s objective is to judge students based on their knowledge.

At a school like Walnut, the pursuit for academic dominance often transcends a desire for any sort of idolization or rank on the social totem pole.

With this mindset, exams can seem incredibly strenuous. And while the purpose of all exams is to test the aptitude of a student, there is something to be said about natural inclinations to certain subject areas and the amount of time a student dedicates to study. For sopho-

mores, juniors and SENIORS, semester exams allow AP teachers to administer a practice AP, preparing students for the College Board’s “judgement” of their knowledge.

With the inclusion of the word “college,” exams can seem even more daunting. The connotation of the word “exam” has taken on a certain stigma, leaving students in a pool of worry and stress.

In an ideal world exams would not exist, because there would be no question as to whether a person may pass or fail. However, this would demean the efforts of the student who went above and beyond. In other words, in an “ideal” world with an absence of exams, everyone is average, and at Walnut, is that ideal?

Realistically, it is hard to focus on studying for an exam. “I usually study my notes before and watch YouTube videos relating to the topic,” AP student Janice Donaldson, ‘16 said. Parents and teachers have been through the same experiences

A day before the exam, take the day off studying.

Research shows that a person’s short-term memory negatively impacts his/her long-term memory. This means that material studied over the weekend could be forgotten while testing because new material was learned the night before. This proves that cramming is ineffective.

Do not drink excessive amounts of caffeine.

It may seem needed at the time. However, this could generate more unneeded anxiety, rendering test-takers unable to fall asleep and tired for the exam.

Exercise.

Not only will exercising create endorphins in the body to make a person happier, it will also tire them, making it easier to sleep at night.

Have an incentive.

A good grade is the main one, but having something to look forward to can help motivate that extra hour of studying.

Be positive.

It is best to keep a positive attitude and not say, “I am going to fail this.” Negativity will bring negative results. Instead, think thoughts like, “I can do this” and “I am smart.”

Get a good night’s sleep.

Being tired while taking an exam causes decreases in focus and alertness, two skills needed for a good grade.

Eat a breakfast with protein.

Protein keeps the brain alert. Eating nuts, eggs, shakes and other protein-rich foods will increase focus and sharpness of the brain.

JULIAN SHOCKLEY/CHATTERBOX

SENIORS Mark Dovich (front) and Alexis Wells study for the AP Calculus exam. Study groups are a helpful way to review. According to Dovich, “Everyone has different strengths, so it helps being together with various people.” and often have many resources to offer. Social studies teacher Lauren Bernstein said, “Look at the study tips I post online, and read over your notes.”

In the scope of a lifetime, one

set of exams may seem inconsequential. However, they are a paramount to success. The harsh reality of the situation is that exams are important and often stressful. Ultimately, exams are another hurdle

Hydrate.

Research shows that the brain performs better when it is well-hydrated. Drinking water could make or break an exam score.

Tips taken from Kaplan Test Prep and <GoodLuckExams. com>.

2

Fine Arts

Walnut prepares for Scholastic Awards Over 800 pieces strong Swede Moorman, ‘16 Participating in this competition has been a requirement for students in AP art classes at Walnut Hills for years, but this year, in particular, is special. This year, students are submitting over 800 pieces into this year’s competition, over 730 more pieces than last year -- a growth that cannot only be attributed to the increased enrollment in AP art courses, but also because the submissions have become “program-wide,” according to Art Department Chair Donald Stocker.

Founded in 1923, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Emma O’Leary, ’16

have provided a forum for students across the United States to present their creative abilities and compete for scholarships. Setting aside almost $8 million every year, the institution gives scholarship money to students through different awards and achievements.

Last year, 255,000 works of art and writing were submitted to the competition. Over 68,000 students’ works were recognized at the regional level. The top 2,000 works in the country earned National Medals and were celebrated at a ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Jackie Tobias, ‘16

AISLING GRUENINGER/CHATTERBOX

AISLING GRUENINGER/CHATTERBOX

One of the seven pieces Emma O’Leary, ‘16 is entering in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, this pastel painting is a self-portrait. However, “there’s no painting involved,” O’Leary said.

One of the “flower series” portraits Jackie Tobias, ‘16 will be entering into the Scholastic Awards.

A portrait of one of her friends, the flower represents her inner beauty shining through her skin.

Maddy Fixler, ‘16

Swede Moorman, ‘16

Emma O’Leary, ‘16, an AP art student, is entering the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for the second time, having been awarded an honorable mention last year. She is entering seven pieces in this year’s competition. O’Leary works mostly with portraits and self-portraits, even using her family members as subjects. In recent pieces, O’Leary has employed a technique known as pastel painting, using oil pastels as a medium to create her pieces. In O’Leary’s words, “I like playing with color a lot.”

Almost halfway into her first semester as an AP art student, Jacqueline Tobias, ‘16 has decided to submit a series of paintings inspired by flowers into the Scholastic Awards. Tobias works at Robin Wood Flowers, a place which she claims serves as her primary inspiration for her series. In the portrait above, one can see a flower emerging from the eye of a woman.

Tobias says that the flowers in her work represent “beauty from within growing out,” and that everyone has “[inner] flower spirits.”

Veronica Victa, ‘16

Fine Arts in Cincy

THEATRE

A Christmas Carol (Nov. 26 to Dec. 28) Mr. Scrooge is back in Cincinnati at Playhouse’s annual production of Dicken’s story. Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mount Adams Circle <cincyplay.com> Striking 12 (Dec. 18 to Dec. 27) A disenchanted young man becomes inspired when he appears in a wonderful place after picking up Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Little Match Girl” on New Year’s Eve. Falcon Theater, 5269 Ponce Lane <falcontheater.net>

ART

Holly Dazed (Dec. 4 to Jan. 9) Need last-minute gifts? Visionaries + Voices’ annual artwork, merchandise and homemade crafts sale has you covered. Visionaries + Voices, 3841 Spring Grove Ave <visionariesandvoices.com>

MUSIC

Caroling in the Park (Nov. 28 to Dec. 20) All the holiday tunes you could possibly want to hear, every Saturday before Christmas. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St <washingtonpark. org> Have an event you’d like us to include in the next issue? Email <walnuthillschatterbox@gmail.com> to tell us more!

Style & Culture Review: 2014 Forest Hills Drive

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and nostalgic. He said he wants to makes you want to turn it off and stay close to “small town life” and listen to mixtapes from five years 12/8/2014 Cell­phone icons | NounProject ago. Compared to Born Sinner, per’s 2009 mixtape, The Warm Up. get to know his family better. That Both songs mention a girl he was is all honorable. But, I don’t think his last album, it barely measures in love with from afar and his self- he realizes that he hasn’t ventured up, but his effort and appreciation proclaimed shyness that prevented very far musically. As soon as he for love and vulnerability are comhim from pursuing this dream girl. actually makes a name for himself, mendable, especially in an indusAlthough the album is drenched he said in “G. O. M. D.,” “I want try where such things are frowned⬇ Down in assumed self-growth and posi- to go back to Jermaine, and I won’t upon. J. Cole is still one of the best tell nobody.” He’s only been signed in the game, but we’ve been waittivity, the overlapping Created bymusical Chris Kerr content is perhaps a red flag for the for five years. Instead of mak- ing for him to “Blow Up” for years Belfast, Northern Ireland, GB 2014 rapper’s downfall. There are only so ing you crave new material from now. many times a story can be told over J. Cole, 2014 Forest Hills Drive and over again with different beats and audio techniques before the story becomes unmoving and ineffective. The album also lacks a lot 2014 Forest of social commentary that was so Hills Drive prevalent in J. Cole’s prior works.

While the song “Fire Squad” focus1. “Intro” (2:09) 2. “January 28th” (4:02) es on issues of cultural appropria3. “Wet Dreamz” (3:59) tion in hip hop and R&B, there 4. “03’ Adolescence” (4:24) 5. “A Tale of 2 Citiez” (4:29) seems to be a loss of passion in his 6. “Fire Squad” (4:48) rapping and more of a focus on the 7. “St. Tropez” (4:17) instrumental, hooks and outros.

8. “G.O.M.D.” (05:01) 9. “No Role Modelz” (4:52) This is disappointing for older fans, 10. “Hello” (3:39) who often heard J. Cole rapping 11. “Apparently” (4:53) 12. “Love Yourz” (3:31) with a hoarse voice and putting all 13. “Note to Self” (14:35) his emotion into a song.

If one was to separate the album from prior works, it’s a good album. Compared to other contemporary rappers and the declining atmosphere of good-quality hip hop, Cole is far ahead of the game. He is his own worst enemy.

The idea of the album is to tell a story of his growth, but it fails in that sense. It genuinely seems as though J. Cole is recycling stories, similes and metaphors from his old mixtapes, before he was signed by Jay-Z. J. Cole is extremely humble and is a positive influence for people of This icon is licensed as Creative Commons – Attribution (CC BY 3.0) ➁ DESIGNED BY CHRIS KERR/THE NOUN PROJECT; “STARS” DESIGNED all ages. He likes to be reminiscent “CELL-PHONE”

BY RENEE RAMSEY-PASSMORE/THE NOUN PROJECT

Cell-Phone

J. Cole

2014 Forest Hills Drive is titled after the address of J. Cole’s childhood home in N.C that was foreclosed when he was in college. The album is expected to sell over 240,000 copies in its first week.

Nisa Muhammad, ‘15 J. Cole manages to remain completely under the radar when it comes to his music. Named after the address of his childhood home, the rapper’s third studio album 2014 Forest Hills Drive was released in stores on Dec. 9. This “Born Sinner” released the concept album with no singles and gave his fans a three-week notice that he had been working on new material. The album centers itself around themes of dreams and love, and features an abundance of mellow beats and a candid flow that will be appreciated by both old and new fans alike.

In 2014 Forest Hills Drive, the N.C. rapper continues to rap about his rise to stardom. Known for his ambition in the “Dollar and a Dream” and “Simba” series, this new album seems more like an earlier mix tape, such as Friday Night Lights, than new material. His vivid storytelling is what differentiates him from other rappers. The consistency in his craft gives listeners a feeling of déjà vu. His material serves as puzzle pieces whose matches often lie in songs from previous years to uncover the full picture. Such is the case with “03’ Adolescence” and “Dreams,” the latter being a song from the rap-

Short hair, don’t care

TARA SALES/CHATTERBOX

Ayrriel Hodge, ‘16 shows off her short hair with confidence, which is a must when making a decision that big. Having shorter hair is easy to style, leaving more time to sleep in, in the mornings.

Augusta Battoclette, ‘17 Change, if not anything else, can be scary. Cutting off hair is no exception. If done correctly, it can change a life in many different ways. The trend has been around for a long time, but recently, more

and more women, and men, have been seen sporting new cuts. Many celebrities have already caught onto the trend, including Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, David Beckham and Macklemore, but celebrities aren’t the only ones who can do it. Everyday women

❮

are making the choice to cut their your confidence level skyrocket, hair, and they’re looking just as too.” good as the stars!

Now the question is, how are you There are many different reasons going to cut your hair? You can girls and guys cut their hair - for either do it yourself, with family comfort, health reasons or just and friends or get a professional to because they feel like it. “I didn’t cut it for you. “If cutting it yourhttp://thenounproject.com/term/cell­phone/29541/ really have a reason for cutting self, research shavers so you don’t it,” Skyler Baney, ‘17, said. Emily accidently go bald,” Shelton said.

Shelton, ‘17, had a different reason Once you find an acceptable tool - she cut her hair because she didn’t to cut your hair, have a friend with like the way it felt anymore. “It was you to shave those hard-to-reach an obligation to look cute and girly places. SENIOR Collier Summay every day, and I didn’t want to any- let her friend cut her hair, but then more,” she said. later decided to have a professional According to Style List, there are clean it up. If you do this, you have many great perks that come with a little more freedom because the shorter hair. These include hav- way you cut it won’t be the fining fewer tangles, and thus more ished product. “Do it in stages - I time getting ready in the morning, cut my hair down to my chin first as well as saving money on hair and then I ended up cutting it all products and appliances. SENIOR off,” Harvey said. If you don’t care Zoe Harvey gives another benefit as much how your hair turns out, - “I feel like a kick-butt girl!” If you can always do what Isabelle you go through with cutting your Wagner, ‘19, did: she told the hairhair, you might feel self-conscious dresser to do what the hairdresser at first, but once you get used to pictured in her mind. Hairstylists it, you’ll feel much better. Style List are professionals, so they usually says, “Cutting off your hair is not know what they’re doing, but cusonly liberating, but it can make tomers can also bring in pictures of

their desired style as a reference.

One of the many hairstyle trends emerging for men is the growing popularity of the fade. This hairstyle is characterized by shaved sides, with the hair in the middle slicked to the back or side of the head with gel. For curlier hair, the hair in the middle rises. This is known as a hi-top fade. Anyone who wants it and is bold enough to get it can rock this hairstyle.

Don’t stress if the finished product isn’t perfect - hair grows. On average, hair grows a half-inch every month. There are some ways to make it grow faster, including increasing the amount of food you consume with keratin, a fibrous protein. This will result in healthier skin, nails and hair. Try to avoid using heat and chemicals on your hair and don’t over-brush it. It will take a while, but you shouldn’t stress: “Life is too short to really worry about hair. It will come back if worst comes to worst,” says Shelton.

For more information, please visit <stylelist.com>

The Chatterbox Policy Statement

The Chatterbox has been guaranteed the right of freedom of the press through the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The administration of Walnut Hills High School is thus bound to support and protect the Chatterbox’s inalienable rights as a free press.

As an integral part of the Walnut Hills High School community, the Chatterbox has the responsibility to report in the most comprehensive and objective manner possible. Students, parents, faculty, and administrators are

encouraged to use this publication as a forum to express any ideas or concerns, whether they be personal or of local, national, or international scope.

Journalists are required to work under established guidelines. Invasion of privacy as a means of news gathering is prohibited. Articles found to be discriminatory, libelous, or unnecessarily obscene (as determined by the editors or the advisor) will not be published. Finally, journalists are granted the right to keep private the name of a source from whom they

received information with the understanding that the source was to remain anonymous. The role of the newspaper advisor will be to provide counsel and criticism pertaining to the newspaper’s content and production. Although both the advisor and the administration hold certain powers regarding the Chatterbox, both must respect the paper’s autonomy. No student shall be prevented from joining the staff on the basis of sex, race, creed or national origin.

SARAH DAVIDOFF, ‘13

The Chatterbox Editorial Staff Zoe Cheng and Celeste Kearney, Editors-in-Chief Karinne Hill, Managing Editor Grace Hill, Managing Editor of Design Alex Persiani, Managing Editor of Photography Neriya Servant, Business Manager

Oliver Olberding, Online Manager Aisling Grueninger, Circulation Manager Samantha Gerwe-Perkins, Adviser Dawn Wolfe, Adviser

Features

A holiday index: a guide to winte

What holiday is it, anyway?

Ashwini Kamath, ‘17 Isaac Stephani, ‘16 Whether it’s putting the star on the top of the Christmas tree, lighting the fifth candle on the menorah, dressing a statue of Ganesha, chanting sutras or simply relaxing in front of the fire, the holiday season is a festive time to both embrace family heritage and celebrate with others. Religion can be a very controversial topic when it comes to holiday festivities: this is exemplified by Montgomery County, MD, where religious holidays will no longer see a spot on the school calendar. The absence of holidays on the calendar will not affect the school days, nor will it affect which holidays students may miss school to observe. Here at Walnut Hills, the religious diversity and overall holiday spirit are nearing their peaks during the holiday months, as different groups come together to both celebrate and reflect.

Celebrated by Christians around the world, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, who is believed to be the Messiah and savior of humankind. As a Christian holiday, Christmas lasts until the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, which is celebrated on the first Sunday after Jan. 6th.

The liturgical holiday preceding Christmas is named Advent, which means the “coming” or “arrival.” Advent begins the Sunday closest to Nov. 30th, roughly four weeks before Christmas, and ends on Christmas Eve. The tradition of wreath-hanging is derived from this holiday, as the original wreath, the Advent Wreath, was a garland of evergreens which bore four candles, each one signifying a week. In modern society, there are three purple candles and one pink candle, and although the original purpose was to mark time, the candles now symbolize four major themes: hope, faith, love and joy.

“We celebrate the winter solstice with the annual striking-down of the conifer and adorning its branches with baubles,” Mitchell Elliott Cook Price, ‘16 said. With the influence of one Catholic and one Atheist parent, Price is Atheist by choice. “We put up a Christmas tree because my mom’s family has always [put up a Christmas tree] but we don’t do the whole Jesus thing,” he said.

While many Christians still celebrate Christmas traditionally by going to church each Sunday and on Christmas day, Christmas has become something much larger. According to a 2012 Pew Research Study, 81% of non-Christians still celebrate Christmas, although there are discrepancies as to what “celebrate” means. “We celebrate Christmas less as a religious holiday and more as a holiday to be celebrated with our family and community,” said Madhulika Kastury, ‘17, a Hindu.

Around a little over a month before Price was setting up his Christmas tree,

Sarvani Vermuri, ‘18 was enjoying Indian food, light sparklers and dancing with her friends. Vermuri, along with the rest of the Hindu community, was celebrating Diwali.

Deepa, meaning “lights,” and avali, meaning “rows,” come together to form deepawali, symbolized by a row of lights. There is not one fixed date for Diwali, as the Hindu calendar changes every year and differs from the standard calendar, but this holiday is generally observed around autumn.

This festival of lights is observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, commemorating the conquer of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. While each faith respectfully celebrates Diwali following their own beliefs, the most common legend is that of Lord Rama. This great warrior king, along with his wife Sita and his younger brother Lakshman, were exiled by Lord Rama’s father, Dashratha, the King of Ayodhya.

In the 15th century B.C.E., after 14 years of exile, the Lord put an end to the demon Ravana of Lanka. As a welcome and to help guide their way back through the dark night to their kingdom in northern India, people lit rows of diyas, oil lamps. During the celebrations in America, “Everyone is just generally happy. It really brings the Indian community together,” Vermuri said.

Brad Gallop, ‘19 practices Judaism and is getting ready to celebrate Hanukkah, which falls on the 16th of this month. “I’m a proud Jew, and I’ll be Jewish my whole life,” Gallop said. His parents raised him to be Jewish, and now old enough to choose for himself, he continues with the family faith. “Every Saturday we go to a synagogue to pray. We believe in one god who created the world in a week, but on the seventh day, Saturday, he rested.”

This day of rest and religious abstinence from work is known as Sabbath and is observed by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and by most Christians on Sunday.

“There was a temple on the western wall of Israel that the Babylonians destroyed, and there was no oil except a tiny pitcher that they found. It was only supposed to last for one night, but instead lasted eight days,” Gallop said as explanation of the miracle. It is for this reason that the menorah, a candle holder with shamash, “the attendant,” in the middle, has four candles on each side representing the eight days the oil lasted.

Shamash is also the name for the synagogue attendant.

After lighting the menorah, this attending candle is kept in close proximity to the other candles so that if one goes out, it can quickly be relit. These eight days of festivity and praise are Hanukkah.

Another heritage that celebrates the holidays with candles is Kwanzaa. Seven candles represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa:

“We put up a Christmas tree...but we don’t do the whole Jesus thing.”

-Mitchell Elliott Cook Price, ‘16

“No matter where you come from, or what you believe in or what holidays you personally celebrate, the holidays are a time to reflect on the past year. Your triumphs, your defeats and your family are all worth celebrating.”

-McKenna Johnson, ‘17

self-determination, unity, responsibility, purpose, creativity, cooperative economics and faith. Seven is also the number of Kwanzaa symbols: a mkeka (straw mat), a candleholder, seven candles, crops, a unity cup, corn and gifts. A candleholder, the kinara, sits on top of the mkeka and holds the candles. Representing past and present struggles, there are three candles on the right. The three candles on the left represent hope for the future. The black candle in the middle represents the skin of people of African descent. On the first night, the black candle is lit, followed by alternating the lighting of the left and right candles on the next nights. Children receive gifts and all candles are lit on the final night.

While people celebrating Kwanzaa use the holidays to celebrate their heritage, Buddhists aspire to find inner peace. Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday that recognizes the day Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha, achieved enlightenment.

Seeking health salvation, h e

found t h a t the answer to his problems would be found through meditation.

He abandoned his lifestyle when he was 30 years old and retreated to a forest. He achieved salvation five years later after 49 continuous days of meditation. This year, on Dec. 8th, Buddhists came together to celebrate, meditate, study the Dharma, chant sutras and eat traditional meals.

Students of Walnut Hills find joy in celebrating their heritage, respecting others and embracing the overall mood of the holidays. “No matter where you come from, or what you believe in or what holidays you personally celebrate, the holidays are a time to reflect on the past year. Your triumphs, your defeats and your family are all worth celebrating; and celebrating doesn’t just have

to be through gift giving! It can be reaching out to those in need or simply wishing someone a happy holiday season. Everyone deserves some joy as the year comes to an end!” said McKenna Johnson, ‘17.

For more information, visit these sites: <huffingtonpost.com>, <independent.co.uk>,

< w o n deropolis.org>, < w w w . a b o u t b u d d h i s m . o r g > a n d < w w w. p e w f o r u m . o r g > .

Viewpoints

er celebrations at Walnut Hills One school, different cultures Taylor Darks, ‘15 With sales, food, and snow it’s not hard to guess that the holiday season is around the corner. But, not everyone celebrates the same holidays, some celebrate many and some don’t celebrate any at all. Walnut Hills is one of the most diverse schools i n

Cincinnati, and and the range of cultures and religions isn’t surprising.

Christmas is the perhaps the center of biggest commercial season in the United States, but has Christmas become just as much of a cultural holiday as it is religious? A research study done by the Pew Research Center has found that nine in ten Americans celebrate Christmas, but only half see it as a religious celebration.

In a survey of 150 Walnut Hills students that celebrate Christmas 114 were Christian and 36 were not. Those who were not were a majority agnostic, or Jewish.

SENIOR Matthew Heldman’s official faith is Judaism, and he celebrates

Hanukkah. However he said that he celebrates Christmas and loves it. He also listens to Christmas stations such as warm 98 and 93.3, once or twice a day. Avery Samuels is herself agnostic, however her Buddhist, Jewish, and Lutheran family also celebrates Christmas.

SENIOR Tori Russell is Christian and not only celebrates Christmas, but also Kwanzaa.

Her mother and aunt believe in exposure to a lot of things. There are also students here at walnut who do not participate in any winter holidays at all such as Destiny Lovett 16’ who is Hebrew Pentecostal.

Erin Fite, a Spanish teacher here at Walnut has her class study Dia de Reyes. A holiday very similar to Christmas, except the three wise men bring gifts, not Santa. Her classes look at first hand accounts of kids who celebrate Dia De Reyas.They look at pictures, and letters children have written to the three wise men. Fite said that “[Her classes] do a

“[Diversity at Walnut Hills] is actually pretty awesome, it’s pretty accurate to how it is in the real world.”

-Ayrriel Hodge, ‘16

lot of compare and contrasting, so how it is similar to what we celebrate here in the States, how is it different?” She is not the only teacher at Walnut who believes in exposure to different cultures. Another example is Dr. Harsh who celebrates Diwali with her family as well as with the Indian Culture Club. Indian Culture Club uses this holiday as a learning experience, to expand their understanding of the holiday and the culture itself. Generally Hindus celebrate Diwali, which is a festival of lights. They decorate their house much like Christmas, and have authentic meals similar to thanksgiving. It is ended with fireworks that are taken to Hindu Temple, and set off after the elaborate prayer.

She also said that in Indian culture club,”We talk about what we do during Diwali, why we celebrate Diwali. They have authentic Indian food that day, and besides that they learn about what different games they play” No matter what religion or culture a person comes from Walnut has always welcomed them with open arm. Exploring and learning about these holidays and cultures can help a person better understand those around them, and also better understand themselves.

Disclosure: Avery Samuels is a member of the Chatterbox.

Santa chasers Joseph Glandorf, ‘16 Every December, the CanadaUnited States aerospace defense organization NORAD goes on high alert.

Billion-dollar military technology is employed in tracking the movements of one single target, a target whose actions every December 25th have colossal repercussions.

He circles the globe at breakneck speed, traveling 500 times faster than a NASA rocket. He is known by many names, but the most recognizable of all of them is Santa Claus.

This began in 1955, when a Colorado Springs store advertisement including ‘Santa’s’ phone number was misprinted, accidentally printing the number for the headquarters of NORAD’s prede-

cessor, CONAD, instead. When local children called the phone number expecting an answer from Santa, they were greeted by on-duty staff at the CONAD headquarters. The CONAD staff then began to give the children periodic updates on the current global location of Santa Claus.

Since then, NORAD has tracked the movements of St. Nick every Christmas Eve. The Santa-tracking service is manned by volunteer staff and paid for with government sponsorship, and is not funded by taxpayer money. NORAD’s exact Santa-tracking technology is as yet shrouded in mystery, but the organization claims to use a high-tech network of satellite cameras in geostationary orbit. NORAD currently has an online Santatracking service at <noradsanta.org> and an app available for download on the Google Play Store, the Apple App Store, and the Windows Phone store.

Google has recently announced that they will also be offering a Santa-tracking service this Christmas.

Santa Claus circles the globe at breakneck speed, traveling 500 times faster than a NASA rocket.

Letter from the editor

Let’s be honest, approaching exam week, the promise of two weeks off of school for winter break is really the only thing sustaining the student body. Sure we may be downing several cups of our choice caffeine every day, but the only thing motivating us to forgo hitting the snooze button one more time is the idea of waking up at 1 PM in less than two weeks.

However, our last task of the semester is to get through exams unscathed, and if you are a SENIOR this may seem impossible due to the inevitable onset of senioritis. Whether your study methods are under way or you’ve told your parents you’ve been “studying all day” when in actuality you have been binge-watching your favorite show on Netflix, you will survive this. We are in the homestretch.

For those unlucky underclassmen who have semester grades riding on exams, you will also be fine. Get out the flashcards, the highlighters, the notes,

and pretend you can get through this without crying (mentally preparing yourself is half the battle). Just remember in only a couple of days you’ll be sleeping your days away in a cozy little nest of your own making.

Good luck with exams, and whether you are rockin’ around the Christmas tree, spinning a dreidel, or doing none of the above this winter, have a safe and pleasant break.

Stay warm, Grace Hill Managing Editor of Design

Correction: In CIX.4, a photograph of Julie Inman, ‘18 was accidentally placed for Emma Farrell, ‘17.

Sports Star power or team chemistry: which is more effective?

Darien Jackson, ‘15

How would you feel if you had Kobe Bryant or Lebron James on your team?

Winning every game would be extraordinary, but you would never practice or bond as a team. Star power on a team can have a negative connotation.

“Having a star go-to player is helpful in clutch situation during a game,” SENIOR Berayah Yisreal said. He/she would be the scapegoat for every loss and would help the team win games. Would that really be so bad?

Walnut Hills has had star players such as basketball players DJ Wingfield, ‘13 and Isaiah Johnson, ‘13 and football players such as Kenny Davis, ‘12. During those years, Walnut was at the apex of its athletic history for those sports.

In the history of professional sports, a team has never won a championship without a star player. The star player lays the foundation to success and leads the team in moments of adversity. They can lead on and off the court in order to guide the team to victory.

However, team chemistry is needed, but is not a necessity like a star player.

Now we stand at the question: Would you rather win or have a bond with your team? Only 20 of the 186 surveyed students believe that star power is better than team chemistry.

Tony Heim, ‘15

INFOGRAPHIC BY TONY HEIM

AVI CHABOT/REM

SENIOR Macio Teague is ranked one of the top players in the state of Ohio. He has offers from Akron, Air Force Academy, Alcorn State, Bryant, Liberty, Oakland, Seton Hall, Winthrop and Yale.

Walnut alumni give back to student-athletes Whitney Bronson, ‘16 Walnut Hills has many alumni who give back to the school. There are approximately 18,500 alumni and many ways to give back besides donating money. But there are a few alumni who returned to Walnut Hills to give back what was given to them so many years ago.

A number of faculty members who work at Walnut are alumni of Walnut as well.

Some played sports while attending Walnut, too.

One of these teachers is social studies teacher and former basketball player Adam Lazar, ‘98. Right after his senior year, he immediately got a coaching job as the assistant coach of the boy’s junior high basketball team in the summer of 1998. “I never left…

Walnut is [part of ] my life, it’s become part of who I am,” Lazar said.

Now after 15 years of coaching boy’s basketball, Lazar is coaching the Walnut Hills girls’ varsity basketball team for the first time. Between practice and prep time, he dedicates four hours a day every day except Sunday to the program. The best part about coaching Walnut student athletes for Lazar is their level of commitment and that they are so focused on what they are trying to do.

Josh Hardin, ‘00 and Armand Tatum, ‘94 are also former alumni who now are apart of the Walnut Hills faculty. Hardin is the Assistant Athletic Director. He helps

6

organize Walnut sports functions and makes sure that they are executed flawlessly. Tatum is the Director of Student Athlete Support and Accountability. In other words, he helps student athletes get their grades together so they are eligible to play sports.

While at Walnut, Tatum was a member of the varsity football team. He came to coach football when the opportunity came and said that Walnut is a special place and he did not realize that until he got in the workforce. Tatum said a lot of what he learned at Walnut prepared him for life, college, relationships and professional jobs.

He said, “Overall they’re good kids. I’ve coached other places where I can’t say that.”

Hardin came to coach football when the opportunity came and said that Walnut is a unique school with “unique, diverse and truly special kids.” He played basketball and soccer while at Walnut. He came back because he “really wanted to be involved and give back to Walnut because Walnut gave so much to me.” To Hardin, Walnut means “family, and with family I want to do everything to build tradition in the home of excellence, and help grow traditions with the motto of the school.”

Along with Lazar, Tatum and Hardin, there are many other staff and faculty members who contribute to Walnut Hills and give back so they can make an imprint their wisdom on the present-day students of Walnut.

TARA SALES/CHATTERBOX

Coach Lazar stands with his SENIOR players [from left to right] Amber Wilks, Berayah Yisrael and Taylor Darks. “Berayah is possibly one of the best leaders I have ever coached” Lazar said.

TARA SALES/CHATTERBOX

Coach Adam Lazar stands with the girls’ basketball teams at a weekday practice. As a result of these daily practices, they have began the season with three wins and one loss.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are guaranteed to win the NBA Finals this year. By their roster, the answer is obviously yes. A quick check of the Eastern Conference standings will tell you a different story. As the Cavaliers struggle to find their identity, teams like the San Antonio Spurs continue to find success with team basketball.

Teams need talent in order to win championships. Every NBA and WNBA champion has had at least one All-Star on their roster during their championship season. However, out of the 59 recipients of the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, only 22 players' teams won the Finals that year. That is less than a 40% success rate for the "best player" in the entire world. If they cannot lead their team to victory, then the team needs more than just one player.

The same numbers hold true in the WNBA. The MVP Award has been given 16 times since the beginning of the league in 1996, yet the winner has only won the Finals six times in the same year. The exact percentages are eerily similar even though the WNBA has fewer teams.

Numbers may say a lot, but it is people’s opinions that really matter. Out of the 176 surveyed students, ranging from effies to SENIORS, 142 agree that team chemistry is much more important. And this is not restricted to just sports; in life, people want to have cohesiveness with their peers, not an uncomfortable hierarchy.

Wakeboarder wins world championship

COURTESY OF JOHN LIPSCOMB

Guenther Oka, ‘16 poses after placing first at the World Championships in Florida in September.

His passion for wakeboarding has propelled him to a future career in the sport.

Brad Williams, ‘15 Guenther Oka, ‘16, has developed quite a reputation for being a world-class wake boarder. Traveling all across the United States, including stops in Texas, North Carolina and Florida, to compete against the best competition in the world has contributed to his success.

Wakeboarding is a water sport during which one stands on a small board and is usually towed behind a motor boat. The sport combines techniques from surfing, water skiing and snowboarding: sports in which Guenther also participates. While wakeboarding, a person rides up and over ramps performing tricks such as flips and turns while airborne. During competition, the sport divides competitors into age groups.

Wakeboarding competition season begins in April and ends mid-September.

Every other weekend, Guenther competes in competitions for which he travels all over the United States. Determining which competition to attend is based upon the strength of the other competitors. Competitions are held all over the world in places like Brazil and Dubai.

For the world tournament, Guenther

placed first. He also placed third in the National tournament for his age group.

As a result of his talent and success, he has received multiple sponsorships from companies such as Wake Nation, Liquid Forest Wakeboards and Cincinnati Mastercraft. These companies provide Guenther with the wakeboarding, water skiing and snowboarding equipment that he uses in every competition.

Guenther has worked hard to be the best; he has practiced six days a week for 13 years. He has propelled to be the best in the World for his age group. At a young age he began gymnastics in order to help him with tricks on the water. Now, Guenther is pretty much “over that” and just practices his tricks on the trampoline before he uses them in competition.

His ultimate goal is, according to him, “to make a career out of this.”His parents introduced him to water sports. His father was a professional water skier in Florida and his mother wakeboarded as a hobby.

Guenther’s goal of making a career of wakeboarding will soon be realized. In January, he is relocating to Florida to pursue his goal full-time. He will get an early start on training for the next season of competitions that begin in April.

Peanuts

Students’ views on stereotypes

Piper Peanut

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Dear Piper Peanut, My friend has been ignoring me for the past week or so, and I have no idea why. I can’t tell if she’s actually mad at me or if it’s something else that’s bothering her, but, if it is my fault that she’s upset, what should I do?

Sincerely, Concerned Cassandra Dear Cassandra,

REHME LEANZA/ CHATTERBOX

A group of junior high students hang out in the Arcade during lunch. At Walnut, students of different ethnic groups are enrolled and accepted in the academic community.

Allison Meier, ‘19 Whether they are obvious or not, stereotypes exist in our society.

These are the broad generalizations made about one type of person that are used to put all of them in a single group. Stereotypes can be based on race, gender or any aspect of a person. Ranging from seemingly lighthearted jokes to untrue, offensive comments, stereotypes are unfortunately common reasons to judge someone based on appearance instead of finding out what he or she is like in character.

Stereotypes have been common in conversations and in the media for as long as people have been around. It is not obvious that a stereotype is forming, though; they are subconscious. They have originated from how people naturally group each other together in order to predict another’s thoughts or actions. “Obviously, stereotypes are pretty stupid,” Afreen Minai, ‘19 said. “But there is some truth that they come from.”

One major source of these prejudiced thoughts is race. Based solely on race, people will often come up with their own opinion of someone before they have ever met this person. “Everyone thinks I’m mean automatically. [Stereotypes are] pointless. I mean, how are you going to make an opinion [of ] someone if you don’t know them?” Will VanLeeuwen, ‘19, who is Guatemalan, said.

Often, an individual is different than what they are thought of in these predominantly negative views. There is dispute, however, over whether or not they affect people in a major way. Some people think stereotypes can be either bad or good, but others have definite support for a particular side of the debate. “[Stereotypes] are alright; sometimes good, sometimes bad,” Miguel Palacios, ‘19, who is of Mexican descent, said. Palacios has been subjected to racial stereotyping before. Someone at one point told him that “Mexicans... they jumped over the border.”

Other students who have not been directly influenced by stereotypes in this way still oppose them.

“They haven’t affected me much. I haven’t had as many stereotypes. I don’t think they’re good, the stereotypes could offend someone pretty badly,” Sage Matthews, ‘19, who is white, said. Matthews also adds that he thinks that people affected by stereotypes “might get emotional.”

Bengy Mitchell, ‘19, who is African American, is one student who has not been affected as much by these stereotypical thoughts. “[Stereotypes] are okay. I think the reason being, I just don’t get really offended when people say them,” Mitchell said.

Being such a prominent part of modern society, stereotypes would be difficult to get rid of. Alex Turner, ‘19 said, “they’re stupid, but there’s not really a way to make them ‘not exist.’ They’re already out there.”

According to counselor Patricia Morgan, there could be a number of things that are going on to cause your friend to be mad. You are correct in noting that it may be indirect and that you are not the actual cause of her frustration. This might be the result of stressful issues that she may be having at home or at school, but it could also be that the two of you are just growing distant. If that is the case and you still want to be friends with this person, do something together like eating lunch or studying.

As you also said, you yourself could just as likely be the reason that she is upset. Think about something you might have said or done recently.

Could any of those things possibly be insulting or offensive to her in any way? Though sometimes it may not seem like what you say or do has an impact, saying something that might seem like a joke to you may be hurtful to her even if she pretends that it does not bother her.

In any case, you should find a time when the two of you can be alone and talk directly about the situation. If it is still too fresh to talk face-toface, just give her some space until both of you are ready to talk about it.

But in any case, no matter what you did, do not use any form of social media, such as Facebook or Instagram, to express your frustration about the situation. It will not help and may just make it worse. Getting friends involved to talk to the other person is not a good idea either because it would make the situation awkward, since it is a problem between you and your friend, not anyone else.

The best way to deal with a situation like this in the future is to prevent it from happening. Though you cannot control whether or not someone will get upset with what you do, always make sure you are mindful of what you say and that you are kind to others, and this issue will be easier to avoid!

Sincerely,

WalnutFest 2015 is coming!

Saturday, February 28, 2015 6:30 to 10 pm Clifton Cultural Arts Center Free valet parking available This important fundraiser is a great way for parents to meet other parents and staff members. Please join the Walnut Hills High School Association, WHIP and Athletics Department to help raise much-needed funds while enjoying a fun evening that will include delicious food, grand raffles, silent auction and sports team baskets.

Our own jazz and piano/string ensembles will be performing as well!

How Can I Help?

• Encourage your parents to attend!

STUDENTS

PARENTS

• Promote your business by donating your artwork, handmade jewelry & crafts, lawn services, babysitting, tutoring, etc. as auction items.

• Help maintain your school as the #1 in Ohio!

• Attend WalnutFest!

• Become a volunteer!

• Donate auction items!

Please send donations and questions to WALNUTFEST2015@GMAIL.COM

Arcade CIX.6

8

Sean Wood, ‘15

Rules: The answers to the clues exist in the word search. Solve the clues to find the hidden words. The answers are listed below backwards.

Clues:

1. The name of the largest continent in Earth’s history 2. The highest grossing superhero film of all time 3. CPS recently blocked the photo-messaging application ______(8 letters) 4. The only two NBA teams that have never moved from their original locations are the New York Knicks and the Boston ______ 5. The first African American coach to win the Super Bowl 6. The only subject that all Walnut students are required to take every year 7. The next Assassin’s Creed game, _______ will take place in Victorian London.

8. Ancient Greek poet who authored Media and Bacchae 9. E-Commerce and bidding site created by Pierre Omidyar in 1995 10. Mjölnir is the name of the hammer belonging to this Norse God

Answers:

Keep updated with the Chatterbox online: aegnaP sregnevA Like us on Facebook: tahcpanS Walnut Hills High School Chatterbox rohT scitleC Follow us on Twitter: @ChatterboxWHHS ygnuD ynoT Follow us on Instagram: @walnuthillschatterbox hsilgnE Email cboxwalnut@gmail.com to enter for a chance to yrotciV have one of your photos featured in the Chatterbox sedipiruE yabE

CIX.6 Sudoku

Chatterbox is Now Accepting Cartoon Submissions

Sean Wood, ‘15

• Do you draw as a hobby?

• Do you want to be published?

• Do you want your cartoons seen by thousands?

Guidelines: -The comic should be roughly 6’ x 4.5’ (about the size of this box) -The comic must have either 1 or 4 panels -The comic must contain less than 30 words of text.

Deliver submissions to Mrs. Gerwe-Perkins’ room, 2306, at lunch on Thursdays.

Perspectives

“Who is your dream date?”

“Nicki Minaj”

“Taylor Swift”

“Lauren London”

“Ariana Grande”

“Elmer Bullock”

- Isaac Clark, ‘17

- Bruce Gay, ‘17

- De’Ariss Hope, ‘19

- Elmer Bullock (right), ‘15

- Madeline Krebs, ‘15

Photographs and prompt by Oliver Olberding, ‘15