Pilot Volume 24 Issue 2 December 2017
Cover art by Samantha Xu
School Photo by Mr. Adam Nass
On November 9th through the 12th, Inspiration and Wisco Kids attended the WELS National Choral Festival at the LaCrosse Center which was hosted by Luther High School in Onalaska. Students spent the weekend performing for the Pops Concert and rehearsing for the Sacred Concert. They also went to sessions which were taught by clinicians.
Veteran’s Day
Photos by Lily Churchwell and Mrs. Ross On November 9th, WLHS hosted an annual Veteran’s Day Service which included performances from the WLHS Concert Band (God Bless America), the Barbershop Boys, and a specific choir (Thank You, Soldiers) formed just for Veteran’s Day. There were student and guest speakers. Chaplain Ray W. Stubbe (U.S. Navy, Retired) spoke under the theme The Vietnam War: A Hero’s Homecoming. Over 250 veterans and their guests were served. Chess season is in full swing. In the first meet of the year, the team convincingly won a dual meet against Reagan High School 36-4. In December, they placed second in a 10-school competition led by Julien Bonack’s strong endgame play and Evan Swiontek’s quick kingside attack. In recent weeks, they have been honing their tactical vision and ability to create plans in the middle game.
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Your Pilot Staff: Hannah Gorski Editor-in-Chief Jayonna Hicks Advertising Director School News Editor Reece Elton News Editor
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New Teachers By Hannah Gorski Pastor Doebler Pastor Doebler comes to us from California where he was a pastor. He is teaching Heritage of Our Faith and Living Christianity. In his free time, he likes to spend time with family, play games, and travel. His favorite part about teaching is "trying to help my brothers and sisters in Christ to see Jesus throughout his Word.” He is looking forward to working with the International students and their house parents as well as accompanying students on mission trips to help spread the gospel. His advice to students who are considering the teaching ministry is "If you're thinking about it, even a little bit, give it [MLC] a try. You never know where God will take you." Pastor Doebler also said, "I miss preaching in a congregation, so it is a huge thrill and privilege to preach in chapel for the 'congregation' at Wisco!"
Mr. Solofra Mr. Solofra is one of our new Spanish 2 teachers. He previously taught at “B. Group” which is a primary and secondary school in Lima, Peru. In his free time, he likes to listen to music, watch Netflix, and hang out with friends. He has also traveled to Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, and Peru. He is hoping his next stop is Spain. His favorite part about teaching is “finding fun and creative activities such as videos, dances, and games to help students learn Spanish.” He knew he wanted to be a teacher in high school. He went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic where he had the opportunity to teach VBS in Spanish. He is looking forward to “getting to know the students and faculty.” Also, he said, “I can’t wait to see my Spanish 2 classes learn how to dance Salsa.”
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Mr. McEachern Mr. McEachern is our new Biology and AP Biology teacher. He is coming to WLHS after 11 years of teaching at Luther Prep in Watertown, WI. His favorite part of teaching is when “students are excited--when the lightbulb turns on and they understand a difficult concept.” When asked what he likes to do during his free time, he said, “I like to watch all sorts of documentaries, and as a first time homeowner, I am learning the joy of yard work. “ Mr. McEachern is excited to be here. The first year is a time of learning; the things he learns will help him refine what goes on in his classroom. He is always striving to be a more effective teacher. His advice to students who are considering the teaching ministry is “You can do it! The Lord has blessed you with gifts and abilities that can be used to work in His Kingdom as a pastor or a teacher. You may not see them yet, but the gifts are there, and they can be developed over time with the different experiences you get at MLC. Also, I have been privileged to have Christ-centered coworkers and unimaginable experiences at every place I have taught.” Mr. McEachern went to high school at WLHS. He said, “It’s been almost 20 years since I was here as a student. It’s really neat to be in the same classrooms and walk the same hallways. My experiences at Wisco were very influential in my decision to become a teacher; it’s really cool to be back.”
Photos by Gerry Milton
Holiday
Student Council & Christmas Decorations Seniors Anna Johnson and Austin Bertram were leaders for the Communication hallway.
The Christmas decorations were created and put up by Student Council members. On December 1 they had a lock-in, and they worked hard on developing themes and creating the decorations. Students were divided into groups to fill the school with festive creations. Each group chose a theme and decorated a hallway. The mural pictured above was created by Mckenna Godager, Alicia Mengel, and Dunovan Rodgers.
Photo by Yoyo Yin
Student Council organized a “Spirit of the Season Week.� The week included dress up days, a trivia night, and a movie screening of Elf.
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Holiday
St. Nick’s: Traditions and History
By Jaydin Pluta “'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there…” -- Clement Clarke Moore You may recognize him as St. Nick, Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, but who exactly is he? And, why does he have so many names? The story of St. Nicholas began when he was born in the third century in Patara, Lycia (which is Turkey today). He was born into a wealthy Christian family; however, his parents died when he was very young, leaving him with a surplus of money. Wanting to obey Jesus’ words of giving to the poor, he did just that. One account says that as a young man Nicholas heard of the plight of a poor father who had three daughters, but not enough money for a dowry, so he considering sell-
ing them into prostitution. Over the next two nights, Nicholas threw a bag of gold into their window. One bag landed in one of the girls’ stockings, which were hung up to dry. On the third night the girl’s father waited to thank the mysterious donor. This act of kindness started the tradition of giving gifts and the legend of Santa Claus. Later, Nicholas was appointed as Bishop of Myra. Soon after, though, Roman Emperor Diocletian began persecuting Christians, and Nicholas was imprisoned. Once Constantine became emperor, Nicholas and the other persecuted Christians were released. He died on December 6, 343 A.D. and was buried in his church in Myra. Legend has it that a mysterious liquid formed in his grave, causing more people to be more devoted to him. His remains were later transported to Bari, Italy in 1087. Later, St. Nick had a variety
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of different names. In England, he became known as Father Christmas, and in France he is known as Pere Noel. Odin replaced Nicholas in Germany, and Sinterklaas was Holland’s gift-giver. After the Reformation, Martin Luther allegedly invented Christkindl, the Christ Child, who had blonde hair and looked angelic. This figure was a counter-image to Saint Nicholas, because he wanted to abolish the Catholic reverence of saints, but he did not want to stop the custom of exchanging gifts. In the early years of the United States, his name was changed to Kriss Kringle, another name for Santa! Although slightly fictionalized, St. Nicholas has become an example of gift-giving for all people. The celebration of St. Nick can vary widely depending on the country. In Germany, children leave their boots outside on December 5, hoping for a treat from Nicholas. In France, a small donkey walks down the street with treats for the children to take. In Italy, there is a festival called San Nicola, which celebrates the arrival of Saint Nicholas’ remains in Bari. In America, children hang up stockings or leave their shoes for a treat. Often children receive oranges, which symbolically represent the bags of gold St. Nick gave out. St. Nick, Father Christmas, and Santa Claus can be considered great representations of the selfless life Jesus lived for us. So, when you are waiting for a little treat from the man in the red suit, keep the greatest gift you have received in your heart--Jesus!
Puzzle
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Find the following words in the puzzle. Angels December Ornaments Words are hidden and . Bethlehem Family Shepherds Celebrate Gifts Snow ANGELS GIFTS Christmas Holiday Stockings BETHLEHEM HOLIDAY Cookies Jesus Tinsel CELEBRATE JESUS CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS COOKIES PRESENTS DECEMBER SHEPHERDS FAMILY SNOW
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Traditions Trees STOCKINGS TINSEL TRADITIONS TREES
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Christmas Gifts to the Children in Mexico By Emily Gorski
Photos by Janiya Vazquez
The holiday season is often called the season of giving. For the past 17 years, WLHS has collected gifts for children in Mexico who otherwise might not get any presents for Christmas. Students had the opportunity to take a slip with a child’s name and age on it. They could then either bring in $10 or bring in a gift for that child. Mrs. Kilchemann, who is in charge of this project, then got the gifts ready for shipment and delivery to the kids in Mexico. About 900 gifts were shipped from Wisco. About 400 of these were supplied by Wisco students. The remainder were collected from other schools and churches. About 30 Wisco students helped by typing labels, wrapping gifts, and sorting and packing gifts for shipping. A lot of the students like this opportunity and take it. Isabella
Delwiche, a freshman, said, “It was an awesome opportunity. It’s such a good feeling to know that you made a kid’s day and that you were the only person who gave them something. Not that the last part is a good thing, but it feels good to know that you were the one able to give them a Christmas present.” When asked about the project Ms. Kilchemann said, “I just returned from 4 days in Sonora, where a small group of volunteers delivered the gifts to 10 different villages. It’s wonderful to see how happy and thankful the children are to receive these gifts of love. Some of the parents shared with me that they remember how exciting it was to get our gifts when they were children! (Wisco has been sending gifts since 2001.) It was a wonderful weekend of sharing our common faith as we praised God for the birth of our Savior in each of the villages we visited.”
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Christmas Traditions By Megan Orozco Everyone loves Christmas and has his/her own favorite traditions. Some look forward to opening gifts, others love the special Christmas treats, and others look forward to spending time with loved ones. Many of these Christmas traditions actually originated from different countries. Years ago, many argued over which day Christmas should be celebrated. April 9, April 18, May 20, and May 28 were all possibilities. In 336 A.D. Emperor Constantine, the first Christian Roman Emperor, declared that December 25 would be the day that Christmas would be celebrated. Nobody knows for sure when Jesus was born, but this is the day that most of the world has decided to celebrate this wonderful event.
America has gathered many traditions from different parts of the world. One well known tradition is the decorating of the Christmas tree. It was originally used as a decoration in many houses in Germany. The custom of sending Christmas cards started in England in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole . He set up the Post Office, and he was trying to get more regular people to use this new service. England also started the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe. The original custom was that as berries were picked from the sprig of mistletoe, the kissing could start. When all of the berries were gone, there could be no more kissing. Later it was hung on the ceiling. When one stands under it, he or she would be kissed by someone in the room. Another well-known tradition is hanging stockings. In some parts of the United States as well as in some other countries, children hang stockings on December 5 and awake to treats in them on the morning of December 6. This is to celebrate St. Nick, a Christian martyr who gave to the poor. This is not observed nationally--cities with strong German influences like Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Evansville, Indiana; Cincinnati, Ohio;
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Fredericksburg, Texas; Newport News, Virginia; St. Louis; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania celebrate St. Nick’s Day. In Australia, it is typical to spend a day on the beach in the hot weather since their seasons are the opposite of ours. Some like to attend a candlelight service, or a children’s service at their church on Christmas Eve. A few might travel to be with family. Some might go caroling around their neighborhood There are so many different traditions that have been carried on for many years, that most likely, today two families’ Christmases do not look the same.
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10.9.8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1. . . Happy New Year! The new year is rapidly approaching; it is the time to make positive changes and start something new. People in America celebrate the new year with a variety of traditions, but those in other parts of the world have their own customs. Since America is a nation of immigrants, many of our holiday traditions have origins in other countries, One of the most popular places in the United States to celebrate New Years is in Times Square in New York city where the sparkling Waterford Crystal ball drops. People began celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square as early as 1904, but it was in 1907 that the New Year’s Eve ball made its first descent from the flagpole. At 11:59 p.m., the ball makes it descent as millions countdown the final seconds of the year. Different places in South America celebrate the New year differently. Many South Americans have the tradition of throwing a pan or glass of water out the window to rid themselves of the bad luck of the past year. In Peru and Colombia, one can predict your financial situation for the
upcoming year with potatoes. Take one fully-peeled, one half-peeled, and one unpeeled potato, and throw them under the bed. Then without looking, grab the first potato you encounter. If you chose the unpeeled potato, you will have good fortune in the year to come. If you chose the half-peeled potato you will have a normal year, and if you were unfortunate enough to pick the fully-peeled potato, you will have financial trouble. In Peru, once it hits midnight, they eat twelve grapes that represent
Artwork by Helen Liu
By Stephanie Hernandez
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good luck for the next 12 months. The celebration is timed with the tolling of the bells at midnight; each grape is eaten in time with each gong of the bell. As the legend goes, each of the 12 grapes signifies a month in the coming year. So, according to the tradition, if you complete the challenge, you will have a lucky year. New Years is the most important holiday in Japan. Most businesses shut down from January 1 to January 3, and families gather together. Years are traditionally viewed as completely separate; each new year provides a fresh start. Consequently, all duties are supposed to be completed by the end of the year, while bonenkai parties (“year forgetting parties”) are held with the purpose of leaving the old year’s worries and troubles behind. Many people visit shrines and temples to pray for a healthy and prosperous year. In Italy, after eating a big meal, they have a bonfire which is said to ward off evil spirits. They also throw all their unwanted items out the window at midnight to symbolize letting go of the old and letting in the new. Each country has unique traditions; that’s what makes each one special.
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The Crucible By Isabella Delwiche Imagine a girl having a crush on a guy who already has a girlfriend. It’s not just an average crush though. This girl completely loves this guy., and she will do anything she has to in order to get that guy for herself--even if it means getting rid of his girlfriend. Now put that scenario on steroids, set the time back about 300 years to 1692, make that guy twice the age of the girl, change his girlfriend to a wife, and voila, the basic plot of The Crucible. Of course there is one added detail in the play. The people of Salem, Massachusetts have become preoccupied by a fear and disgust of witches, and it’s taking over their lives. Here is a quick background on The Crucible. The play is based on the real life events surrounding the Salem Witch Trials which took place in early 1692. A group of girls became sick; they were suffering from hallucinations and seizures. In Puritan New England, frightening or surprising occurrences were often attributed to the Devil.
The lives of the Puritans were focused on their religion. Since they did not know what caused the girl’s illness, people in the town feared that it was a case of witchcraft. Soon the girls, and then many other residents of Salem, began to accuse others in the village of consorting with the Devil and casting spells. (Old grudges and jealousies were at the heart of many of these accusations.) It became an atmosphere of hysteria. Even the Massachusetts judicial system was influenced by religion. Within a few weeks, dozens of people were in jail on charges of witchcraft. By the time the witch hunt ran its course, in late August 1692, nineteen people (and two dogs) had been convicted and hanged for witchcraft. Arthur Miller actually wrote this play in the early 1950s as a way to speak out against Senator Joseph McCarthy and the committee set up to identify Communist supporters in the United States. Just like the “witches” of Salem, suspected Communists were encouraged to confess and identify other Communist supporters. Some cooperated; others, like Arthur Miller, refused to identify names. Those who were revealed, falsely or legitimately, as Communists, and those who refused to incriminate their friends, saw their careers suffer. They were blacklisted from potential jobs for many years. In The Crucible, John Proctor and Mary Warren have a similar deci-
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sion to make. Do they speak the truth and risk being accused of witchcraft, and end up in jail or be sentenced to death, or do they identify others that are “witches”? Nathan Wranovsky (who played John Proctor) said that “to be an atheist in that culture was unacceptable. You did not depart from the church because then you were bound to Satan, which means that you must be a witch.”
The play explores sin. Wranovsky says, “When you are dealing with adultery, lust, lying ministers, and corruption of the church-these are sensitive topics.” Additionally, the play presents complex people dealing with challenging and complex situations.” For example, Lauren Bacik says about her character, Mary Warren, “She [Mary] realizes that she should tell the truth; the girls were just pretending to be bewitched, so that they do not get punished. Mary Warren knows what she should do, but she is afraid to speak the truth. Unfortunately for Mary, her friends turn on her and force her to choose between saying that John Proctor
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is lying or accused of being a witch and being hung. “She wants to save her own skin.” Throughout the play, many characters are afraid to speak out and tell the truth. The Crucible is trying to tell us that we have to think for ourselves. We must stand up and speak the truth. “As Christians, we have to use the Word of God in making our decisions” said Ms. Tranberg, the director of the play. Throughout The Crucible characters say or act a certain way simply because everyone else is. This play serves as a reminder to “not conform to the pattern of this world…” (Romans 12:2), but to look for the truth in everything. Sometimes that means being the odd one, but that is okay because that is what God has called His children to do. Pulling out the meaning behind a show isn’t easy. Every actor/ actress needs a great director to put on a wonderful show. The actors/actresses in The Crucible had the privilege of working with Ms. Tranberg as their director. Ms.Tranberg said that her favorite part of directing was, “helping students to get outside themselves and focus on characteristics that they don’t possess, but their character does.” Wranovsky has experienced that very thing, “I am not usually an angry person, so trying to be angry” on stage can be challenging. In the musical Mary Poppins... I had to be angry, and the first time I did it everyone laughed at me--for good reason. I was really bad at it.” That’s where Ms. Tranberg
comes in. She works with the actors/ actresses helping them to improve the skills they already have, and then she helps the students to portray different emotions. For instance, she turned a comically angry person into someone
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showing true anger. Besides the play, students who are interested in honing their acting skills can join Drama Club. In Drama Club students practice their acting skills, play improvisation games, and at the same time have tons of fun. At least once a year, they also go to see a play. Drama Club is open to everyone; a person does not have to be part of the cast of the play to join. Wranovsky says, “If you ever want to come just come...it’s for anybody!” Drama Club typically meets the third Friday of every month; check the announcements to join the fun!