An Eventful Sport is Added to Hillie Nation

Emily Mills

After years of growing interest, Haverhill High School has recently added Gymnastics its vast repertoire of team-sports. All grades are welcome to join the team, coached by the experienced, Lyndsey Capra.

 The team is competing within the Merrimack Valley Conference league. There are 9 other teams within the league: Billerica, Methuen, Dracut, Lowell, Tewksbury, Chelmsford, North Andover, Andover, and Central Catholic High School. The HHS Gymnastics team being in its inaugural year, there are concerns having to do with the team not being prepared for the upcoming competition season. However, Coach Capra is not discouraged. “The team is working hard and within the first week, the team already looked promising,” said Capra.

 Coach Capra had been a gymnast herself for 15 years; competing before high school, during high school and one year in college.  She competed with Southern Connecticut State University for about a year before being stopped due to a back injury. Along with coaching the team for the high school, she is also coaching a handful of varied leveled gymnasts at Wilkey’s Gymnastics located in Tewksbury.

 Gymnastics is a very physically demanding sport, but even more so mentally. Fortunately, the Haverhill High School gymnastics team seems to be mixing well with each other. Megan Carroll, a sophomore on the high school team, describes the new gymnasts as a “small closely bonded team.”

Gymnastics is not only a team sport, but an individual sport. Individuals compete to earn points for the team. Teammates also compete against each other to get individual awards. Gymnastics consists of four events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and the floor exercise. Gymnastics is offered not only in high school but college as well. There are nearly 1500 scholarships available for high school gymnasts. It is considered a varsity sport for at least 82 colleges and universities in the United States.

The team will be practicing at the Haverhill YMCA. Practice began at the beginning of December and will continue until early February. The team practices five days a week, Monday through to Friday. Their first competition is the 30th of December in Tewksbury. The first home competition will be on January 6th.

For more information ask Coach Capra herself or someone within the gymnastics team.

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Soft As Baby Jesus' Bottom

Michael Whitcomb

America seems to be becoming more and more sensitive every day. Last week, Muslim citizens were offended by President Obama’s asking Muslims to be more vigilant in their neighbors for extremist, Muslim youths.  Before that, Duke University banned the phrase ‘man-up’ because of its discriminatory nature, and other campuses across the country recommended banning the use of the phrase “man-cave.” All of these point to an outer shell in American society that was once strong like bullets but is becoming more like a piece of tissue paper.

Trigger warnings have been around for years. They originated online to with the idea to warn people who have had a traumatic experience in their past about what was about to be discussed or viewed. Soon, trigger warnings gained momentum and began being applied and, in some cases, required of college professors in lecture halls throughout the country, stirring the current and heated controversy.

A Yale University organization conducted a survey revealing that 63% of students support the use of trigger warnings by professors. Most professors now warn students in their syllabi about possibly uncomfortable topics they plan to explore. The idea behind this is that students who have had a traumatic experience can prepare themselves and plan accordingly.

Similar to colleges becoming politically correct and sensitive to all possible conflicts, many companies have switched from the traditional 'Merry Christmas’ to ‘Happy Holidays’ for similar reasons, particularly to avoid "offending" people. Some companies that are saying ‘Happy Holidays’ are Staples, Footlocker, PetSmart, and Family Dollar. They have moved away from saying "Merry Christmas" because its Christian overtones can come off as offensive to other religions.

However, there are companies that still using the traditional phrase of ‘Merry Christmas.’ Some of these are Lowes, J.C. Penny, Wal-Mart, Macy’s, and Home Depot. These places do not get scrutinized by most people, but have had a complaint every now and again.

These continual conflicts surrounding the unintentional ramifications of primarily harmless traditions highlight America's progression towards becoming softer than Drake. Ideas, concepts, themes, and phrases that used to be acceptable are now being ridiculed for being ‘too offensive.’ People can’t make a joke anymore without someone trying to sue or give a lecture on why what was said is wrong. Understandably, jokes can sometimes be bad, such as a racist joke that is very offensive, but even little jokes that might just use a swear are ridiculed.

Little stuff like this epitomizes the strictly first world problems we are too often consumed and divided by.  In a world where rap lyrics allow children to idolize drug dealers and gang violence, and pornography is at everyone's fingertips, it's funny to think people are offended by a simple phrase intended to express happiness and well-wishes. Instead of accepting the phrase for what it is, so many people use this to divide rather than bring us together, which seems, whether or not you call it Christmas or Holidays, to be counterintuitive to the spirit of the season. So, try to keep your earmuffs tight if you need to and your heart as warm as the unseasonable weather, for I'm going to go there: Merry Christmas!

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The Roman Road to Walmart: Christmas through the Ages

Alina Page

Christmas is a time when families come together and celebrate. It can be a stressful time but also one replete with colorful rituals and traditions: Santa Claus and his nine reindeer; waking up to presents under the tree, stockings full of candy, and half-eaten cookies and milk on the kitchen table. Christmas, of course, is also a time for commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, at least for the devout among us. Whatever Christmas is to you, a time of gathering, a time of prayer, or an excuse to shop, it is a holiday that, more than any other, marks the passing of the year. 

The first evidence of Christmas was in Rome in 336 AD. The word "Christmas" originated from two archaic words: Christes maesse,"the Mass of Christ," the Catholic Mass during which the priest re-offers the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross during the time of Communion. But Christmas was not the sole, original winter celebration in the Roman Empire, in fact, the Saturnalia, or winter festival, was a pagan-inspired holiday that had long been observed and established. 

Early in the 4th Century, the Roman Catholic Church, which was the dominant church in Europe, adopted the holiday and tried to convert it into a Christian celebration, declaring December 25 to be the day of the Lord's birth, calling it the Feast of the Nativity. While Christmas may be a religious holiday for many Christians, the Christmas holiday in the American culture isn't that religious at all. Christmas in the American culture is very secular, and that may be, ironically, because of Santa Claus. 

Santa Claus is the anglicized form of the Dutch name St. Nicholas Sinterklaas. Although the modern Santa Claus is associated with a world of fantasy, the historical St. Nicholas was a pious man known for his charity and generosity. There are many stories about Nicholas’s life, many of them emphasizing his kindness. It is said that Nicholas’s parents were devout believers who had long prayed for a child. When Nicholas was finally born, they devoted him to God. However, when Nicholas was still a young boy, a plague struck his city, and both of his parents died. In most cases, a loss like this might turn some away from God, but this drew Nicholas closer to him. After his death on December 6, 343 AD, a tradition of gift giving began in his honor. The custom of hanging stockings also comes from the story of St. Nicholas. 

1,500 years later, popular images of Santa Claus were being circulated by the German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast, who drew a new image of the character every year. By the 1880s, Nast's Santa had evolved into the old, cherry-cheeked man we now recognize. The image was standardized by advertisers in the 1920s. Today, Santa Claus is not a religious figure or symbol, Santa is a little bit of Christianity, a little bit of pre-Christian paganism, and a whole lot of modern, secular myth-making. Santa Claus as a Christmas figure has always been relatively secular, and this has only intensified over time. 

With the adaptation of Santa Claus, people also embraced the practice of decorating  trees. It was known that the evergreen tree was an ancient symbol of life in the midst of winter, Romans would therefore decorate their houses with evergreen branches during the New Year, and ancient inhabitants of northern Europe would cut evergreen trees and plant them in boxes inside their houses. However, by the early Middle Ages, the legend had grown that when Christ was born in the dead of winter, every tree throughout the world miraculously shook off its ice and snow and produced new shoots of green. With this legend, a star was affixed on the top of a tree to represent the star in the east that shone where the baby Jesus laid in a manger, and the lights and ornaments on a tree came to represent the stars and planets in the sky. Some Christians even place a manger at the base of the Christmas tree.

The works of O. Henry, Charles Dickens, and Thomas Nast all helped to shape our concepts of Santa Claus and other aspects of the holiday. The custom of giving and receiving presents at Christmas, in the Christian religion, is to remind us of the presents given to Jesus by the three Magi. The magi were kings from the East, wise men who traveled a great distance following a star, to find the Christ child and to bring him gifts. They brought Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh. Frankincense was a perfume used in Jewish worship and, as a gift, it showed that people would worship Jesus. Gold was associated with Kings and Christians believe that Jesus is the King of Kings. Myrrh was a perfume that was put on dead bodies to make them smell nice and, as a gift, it showed that Jesus would suffer and die. 

For some, Christmas is a way to celebrate the Christian holy day. For others, it is a special time to let family and friends know that you care by giving gifts. At times, giving gifts at Christmas becomes almost as a chore. When this happens, it is worth stepping aside for a few moments and considering why exactly we give gifts at Christmas. 

Merry Christmas!

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Girls' Volleyball: Road To Florida

Lina Woronko

The HHS girls’ volleyball team went to Disney in 2014 for a nationwide tournament in Orlando, Florida through the organization KSA Events. KSA Events hosts high school sanctioned sporting events throughout the United States for student athletes. Again, the girls were invited to attend the Classic Volleyball Tournament at Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida for the year 2016.

The idea of the trip is to prepare the team for their upcoming season. The tournament consists of teams from around the nation, some being the top high school teams in the country. Out of about thirty teams, a team from Wisconsin ended up winning the entire tournament in 2014. The Haverhill girls’ volleyball team were given the opportunity to play against Wisconsin and other higher level teams, learning to compete. Returning players now know what to expect and are ready to challenge these teams once again in 2016.

The tournament is held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The cost of the trip is about $28,000 for the whole team and includes food, hotel, Disney parks, practice time, and transportation. The tournament itself lasts for two days, but the team is given an extra day at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for two hours of practice time. Although the trip was meant for inspiring student athletes through competition and education, the team was most excited about going to the place “where dreams come true”.

Varsity team Captain, Kiana Bueno, who had attended the trip in 2014, said “spreading the word for our fundraisers and accomplishing the fundraisers successfully were major steps for our last trip and it will be just as important for our upcoming trip in 2016.” The team was able to attend Disney in 2014 for the cost of only $50 per girl. “The initial cost was $25,000. The whole team continuously encouraged each other to help out all the time. We got to go to Disney World and that, itself, was already a motivation, especially for the few girls who had never been”, Kiana stated.

Below are the upcoming fundraisers and events the girls’ team have prepared for donations towards their trip in 2016:

1/10/16

Bingo

Amvets Hall 2pm-6pm

1/30/16

Mattress Sale

HHS Gym 10am-4pm

If you are unable to attend any fundraisers, but are still willing to help, the girls’ volleyball booster club has also set up a GoFundMe account: Click here to donate

Any donation is greatly appreciated!!!
Thank you for your support!!!

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Christmas Around The World

Josephine Ricardo and Marielis Batista

America: People in America like to decorate the outsides of their houses with lights and with statues of Santa Claus, Snowmen and Reindeer. Towns and cities often decorate the streets with lights to celebrate Christmas. It is common to organize a special meal, often consisting of turkey and a lot of other festive foods, for family or friends and exchange gifts with them. Merry Christmas!

Kenya:  On the morning of December 25th, people’s homes are decorated with flowers and a Cyprus tree. Christians attend church in the evening, for Midnight Mass. After church comes the party. A goat is usually killed for the occasion and the family will make traditional beer and the special dishes of their particular tribe. Plenty of singing occurs. Boxing Day, December 26, is the day for curing the hangover and giving gifts. A gravy-like soup made from the goat's blood and bone is  typical.
Merry Christmas: Kuwa na Krismasi njema!

Mexico: Their main Christmas celebration is called La Posada, during the procession, celebrants go from house to house carrying the images of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter. On Christmas Day, kids are blindfolded and taken to try and break a decorated clay piñata that dangles and swings at the end of a rope. Mexicans attend a Midnight Mass service which is called la Misa Del Gallo or, "the rooster's mass," and at the mass they sing lullabies to Jesus.
Merry Christmas: Feliz Navidad!

Dominican Republic: It’s a tradition to hear radio stations with Dominican Christmas songs. Private and public institutions make Christmas dinners and raffle them off for employees. While at dinner, you may be surprised to hear in your front yard a group of people from your neighborhood playing “aguinaldos,” which are songs popularly played during the Christmas season. On Christmas Day some people will exchange gifts, but most of the people wait until “El dia de los reyes,” “the Celebration of Three Wise Men,” on January 6th.
Merry Christmas: Feliz Navidad!

China: Christmas is only celebrated in big cities where more people are Christians. Chinese like to get together with friends, relatives, and with their couples. They like to have Christmas parties or hang out at some restaurant or a bar. Christians celebrate by going to special church services. On christmas eve there are choral performances and the congregation puts on dance and drama performances.
Merry Christmas: Shengdan jie kuaile!

Egypt: About15% of the population celebrate Christmas. Christmas Day isn't celebrated on December 25, but on January 7. For the 43 days before Christmas, from November 25 to January 6, Coptic Orthodox Christians have a special fast were they eat a vegan diet. On Coptic Christmas Eve, they go to church for a special liturgy or service. Merry Christmas: Mboni Chrismen!

Italy:  One of the most important ways of celebrating Christmas is by displaying the Nativity’s crib scene. A lot of Italian families have a nativity crib in their homes. Children go out caroling and playing songs on shepherd’s pipes, wearing shepherd sandals and hats. On Christmas Eve, no meat can be eaten, but Italians eat seven types of fish for dinner, they call it “The Feast of the Seven Fishes.” Christmas celebration starts eight days before Christmas with special “novenas,” or series of prayers and church services. Epiphany is also important in Italy.On epiphany night, children believe that an old lady called “Befana” brings presents to them.
Merry Christmas: Buon Natale!

Ecuador: Today Christmas is no longer a religious holiday. Farmers still celebrate it religiously by going to midnight mass and in urban areas they decorate their houses and give gifts. All houses decorate with nativity scenes instead of a Christmas tree. Families eat dinner at 11pm and afterwards open presents when the clock strikes midnight. The next day people either sleep in ate or go to a late mass.
Merry Christmas: Feliz Navidad!

India: Though India is predominantly Hindu, Christians attend special church services, gather with families, and eat a festival meal. They decorate their homes with banana and mango leaves that have Christmas carvings and display small electric lights and oil burners.
 Merry Christmas: Krisamas kee badhaee

Australia: Christmas kicks off the summer holidays, mid-December to early February. Australians decorate their houses and gardens with Christmas trees and lights and with bunches of “Christmas bush,” a tree native to Australia with small green leaves and cream colored flowers that become a shiney, bright red towards the end of December.
Merry Christmas, mate!

Brazil: Traditions come from the Portuguese. Nativity scenes, known as Presepio, are set up in churches and homes all thought out December. They have a Brazilian version on “Los Pastores”, the Shepherds. Many go to midnight mass and some go to the beach because of the hot weather. The children leave a sock outside their window so that Santa Claus or, as they call him, Papai Noel, can exchange it for a present. For dinner, they traditionally eat pork, turkey, ham, and other kinds of meat.
Merry Christmas: Feliz Natal!

France: They use Nativity scenes to decorate their houses and burn yule logs with sprinkled red wine so the house can smell good. They have a reveillon, long dinner on Christmas eve and in the twilight hours of Christmas day after returning from midnight mass at 1am. During the month of December most towns have festivals where they sell Nativity figures.
Merry Christmas: Joyeux Noel!

Cuba: Christmas is not celebrated in the country. The holiday was removed from the calendar in 1969 because Fidel Castro believed the holiday was interfering with the production of sugarcane, their main export.
Merry Christmas: N/A

Turkey: Since Turkey is a Muslim country, Christmas is not popularly celebrated. Only Christians that live in Turkey celebrate the holiday. You also, occasionally see a Santa Claus giving out candy to children. They traditionally give out gifts on New Year’s eve instead of Christmas.
Merry Christmas: N/A

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Holiday Date Ideas

Madison St. Pierre

With all the commotion that comes with the holidays and the spending, it may be hard to spend valuable and entertaining time with your significant other. Spending a lot of money during the holidays may leave you strapped for cash. However, Brown and Gold has you covered, whether you can afford a five star meal or only a meal at Mcdonald’s, we found a range of festive date ideas for any person.

Cooking Classes at BCAE:
122 Arlington Street Boston, MA
(617)267-4430

You can perfect your cooking skills this holiday at the Boston Center of Adult Education. They’re offering holiday classes such as: Holiday Appetizer Lessons, Cake Decorating Classes, and Easy Dinners for Two. If those classes are not your style there are an array of different classes to take. Other classes they offer are Foods of Hanukkah and The Art of Pasta Making. To check out other classes go to bcae.org or you can call and ask. The member fee is $50 per person and there is an average material cost of $20. The classes run at different times and different days and you can check on the website.

The Nutcracker:
Boston Opera House
539 Washington Street Boston,MA
(617)695-6955

The Nutcracker ballet runs from November 27th to December 31st of 2015. The run time for the show is 1 hour and 57 minute. The music was done by Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky and choreography by Mikko Nissinen. The tickets range from $35-$189 but the closer to Christmas price ranges from $45-$199. There is matinee and night shows ranging from different times that you can check out at bostonballet.org. This year’s Boston Nutcracker is new and revamped with all new sets and costumes but still have the same songs such as dance of the “Sugar Plum Fairy” and the “Russian Dance”.


Holiday Comedy Shows:
Improv Asylum
216 Hanover Street Boston,MA
(617)263-NUTS                    

This comedy show in the North End and is a signature audience-inspired improvisation and also has written sketches. The Improv Asylum also has a holiday themed revue. It is open: Thursday @ 8 pm, Friday @ 7:30 pm and 10 pm, Saturday @ 7:30 pm and 10 pm, as well as select Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesday. The tickets range from $22-$33. There are no age requirements for the show and show up to the show 30 minutes prior to the start of the show.



Ice Skating:
Boston Frog Pond
38 Beacon Street Boston, MA
(617)635-2120

The Boston Frog Pond provides a fun winter activity surrounded by lights. The Frog Pond is located in the center of Boston Common. They also provide ice skating lessons and it also has a snack bar. Admission for people under 58 inches and over is $6 and if you are under 58 inches the admission is free. Adult skate rentals are $12 and kid rentals are $6 but you are more than welcome to bring your own skates. There are also lockers that are available and they cost $3 to rent. The Frog Pond also provides skate sharpening for $10. Also if you are not the best skater they have Bobby the Skating Seal that you can rent for $10 an hour.
Times:

Mon.: 10 am - 3:45 pm

Tues.-Thurs: 10 am - 9 pm
Fri.-Sat: 10 am - 10 pm
Sun: 10 am - 9 pm


Stroll Through Faneuil Hall:
1 Faneuil Hall Square Boston, MA
1(617)635-3105

This year at Faneuil Hall they are presenting a light show called “Blink!”. This show offers a state-of-the-art, light and sound show set to music from the Holiday Pops. the show will run twelve times a night from now through December 31st. The show begins at 4:30pm and ends at 10pm. This show is set to play for the next five years. Also Faneuil Hall’s Christmas tree is the largest in New England and stands at 85 feet tall. It cost nothing to watch the show and there are a lot of places to eat in Faneuil Hall if you get hungry.

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The Actual Steps Being Taken to Defeat ISIS

Morgan Seale and Kevin Stacey

On December 6, in the wake of the San Bernardino shooting, President Obama gave the third oval office address of his presidency. The President briefly discussed the details of the attack on the San Bernardino office, calling it an “act of terrorism”; however, the main purpose of the speech was to inform the nation of what is being done and what should be done to combat ISIS. He laid out in detail the four main strategies being used by his administration to destroy ISIS. He also spoke about measures which he believes Congress should take to help the US’s fight against ISIS such as visa waiver reform, restrictions on assault weapons, and arming anti-ISIS Kurdish fighters.

We at the Brown and Gold realize that it is sometimes difficult to fully understand what the President says he has been doing since it is nearly impossible to see first hand the results of his actions against ISIS while we are safe at home in the U.S. Because of this we decided to dive deeper into the President’s four strategies he gave during his address and provide readers with a larger understanding of the specific action being taken against ISIS.

 1. A systematic campaign of airstrikes against ISIS

The first point of the president’s speech was the US’s strategy for hunting down and attacking ISIS members and targets. The President is often criticized for not doing enough and not using enough force in the fight against ISIS but the facts point to the exact opposite. President Obama has done everything he can short of a long, costly, all out ground war in the Middle East. Over the past 15 months the US has conducted over 6,000 airstrikes on ISIS targets while all other countries combined have not even broken 2,000. This averages out to be over 400 airstrikes a month.

2. Increased support to forces fighting ISIS on the ground

The second point of his speech was about the efforts being taken to “continue to provide training and equipment to tens of thousands of Iraqi and Syrian forces fighting ISIL on the ground”.  For months the US has been supporting the Syrian rebels in their efforts to overthrow the current Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, and to eradicate ISIS from their country. Additionally, on December 9th, the House of Foreign Affairs Committee passed a bill authorizing the U.S. military to directly arm and train Kurdish Peshmerga in the fight against ISIS. The Kurds are the U.S.’s greatest tool in the fight against ISIS, acting as our ground forces against ISIS.

3. Drawing on our substantial counterterrorism capabilities to prevent ISIS attacks

The third point of his speech was addressing the US-led coalition to fight ISIS. The US has been leading a coalition of anti-ISIS countries such as France, Germany and the U.K. As one of the United States’ closest allies, France has been assisting in the bombing of Syria but intensified their attacks after the terror attacks in Paris on November 13th. On December 3rd Britain joined the US-led bombing campaign over Syria. Likewise, Germany joined the fight on December 4th when their parliament approved a military campaign against ISIS. They authorized the use of six Tornado recon jets, a frigate to help protect the French aircraft carrier, and up to 1,200 military personnel. 

4. Providing humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians displaced by ISIS

The fourth point of the speech was about the humanitarian aid the US is providing to the victims of ISIS. The struggle with providing the aid comes from the fact that in doing so the government is also providing aid to the Islamic State. The US has struggled with a strategy of safely bringing in supplies and relief to victims of the terrorists without harm coming to anyone in the process. According to an article by The Daily Beast, aid convoys going to aid victims of the terrorists have to pay off ISIS leaders to enter Syria safely. Consequently, those bribes provide a piece of income to the pockets of ISIS leaders. A way around this problem has not been discovered. However, the US has been giving a significant amount to humanitarian resources. An article by foreignpolicy.com explains that in 2014, the total amount sent to Iraq in aid was $185 million.

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Shyla Dawn Davis: Haverhill's Own Sappho

Jacob Valenti

Shyla Davis, 17 year old senior and Creative Writing Club poet laureate, recently got nominated for an award and scholarship from National Poetry Quarterly. She sent in her poem, “Sonnet 18 Part Two,” which is a response to Shakespeare’s famous “Sonnet 18.” This poem is known for the line we all use on Valentine’s Day: “Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day?/Thou art more lovely and more temperate:” I recently spoke to Shyla about winning the award, writing, and her future in writing.

Tell me about the award that you are nominated for and what happens now?
“I don’t find out if I actually won the scholarship until October. I got selected as one of like the top 25 people in the country, I’m going to be being published in their quarterly magazine. They then have a final round of judges and we find out October 2016 who won the scholarship, I think they do that so that kids who apply to it can use the money when they’re in college.”

How did you hear about it and apply?
“I went on a crazy scholarship rampage and looked up all kinds of scholarships, and I signed up for like five or six different ones that I was eligible for. That one showed up on one of the matches on one of the scholarship websites I was on.”

Why do you like writing? When did you start? 
“Well I was encouraged to start writing several years ago when I got dragged to the Creative Writing Club.”
Was it by your handsome ex-boyfriend?
“Well it was by my ex-boyfriend...I like to write because, I feel like it's a really great way to get things out, because I have a lot of emotions, I’m a very emotional person, so I feel it’s a good way to release my emotions without being a jerk or crying, which I still do but writing does help with that, and I don’t know, it’s fun to let all of that imagination out.”

Tell me about the poem, why did you choose sonnet 18?
“So last year in English class, we were given an assignment to write a sonnet, we had to include all kinds of literary devices and it had to be a sonnet and meet all of the requirements. I felt like writing a response to Sonnet 18, and we had read that in class. So, I wrote it for my English class and I had all kinds of awesome stuff and I really love it, so I thought it was perfect for the scholarship. I thought it was a really good example of all that I can do.”
So it was originally an assignment but it spawned into something you really loved.
“Yes exactly, and I was really happy that our teacher, you know kind of forced us to write it because it made me realize I can really get a lot out of my writing.”

Do you want to pursue a career in writing?
“No I do not want to pursue a career in writing. The only reason I don’t want to pursue a career in writing is that I don’t think it is a stable career. It will definitely be a hobby that I will continue, I will do it in my free time wherever I feel I want to, however it really wouldn’t be reasonable financially to only be a writer. So, if I end up publishing any of my works and getting profits from my writing that’s fine and dandy, but it’s not a goal of mine. I just do it for myself.”

Thank you Miss Davis!
“You’re welcome Mr. Valenti!”

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Haley's Fantasy Football: Throwing more picks your way than Peyton Manning!

Haley’s Fantasy Football: Throwing more picks your way than Peyton Manning!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As we enter the holiday season, we have hit the halfway point in the school year and, more importantly, the fantasy football playoffs, where It is do or die each week to get the prize. Whether your prize is Christmas vacation, or a fantasy football championship, it has been a long road. Yet, here we are. We have all had to overcome injuries, suspensions, detentions, bad trades, and bad grades throughout the fall fantasy season, so here’s my rendition of a classic Christmas story:

‘Twas the Night Before Playoffs...

‘Twas the night before playoffs and all through the web,

We checked all our lineups just before bed,

My flex player was set, chosen with care,

In hopes a fantasy championship soon would be there.

Finally, I log out and shut off my phone,

While I envision players dancing in the endzone.

Many of my best players are hurt.

But I expect a big game from Tyler Eifert. 

I am nervous about playing against Shady,

But it will be okay if you start Brady!

A big game from Odell would be extremely cruel.

I will be out of playoffs and forced to just play FanDuel.

Another week, another fantasy stud falls,

This time, a broken ankle for Thomas Rawls.

Now, I must suffer my biggest fear.

Mark Ingram hurt his shoulder and is out for the year.

Soon, the playing field will be covered with snow.

And the Eagles will finally bench Demarco.

The winner will be the team that stays healthy.

As long as they don’t start Travis Kelce.

Now Palmer, Now Julio, Now Olsen and Teddy!

On AP, On Evans, On Carr and on Eddie!

To the top of the league, we will win it all!

I will take home the money I played for this fall. 

This Christmas season will be so merry,

with a couple touchdowns from Arizona’s Larry.

I don’t need a new toy or a new shirt from Hurley.

The best gift for me is a poor game from Todd Gurley.

Big Ben got my team here by the skin of his teeth,

And he should be even better with the return of Heath.

The Chiefs defense will surely rack up a big score,

Thanks to a great matchup against Baltimore.

Let the boys play and make the right calls, ref.

Cam Newton is balling like he is Golden State’s Steph.

The Pats will continue to embarrass the NFL on every play

Like Will Smith in “Concussion” on Christmas Day.

I have made some bad trades, just like Chip Kelly,

But my hopes are still big, just like Santa’s belly.

It has been a great year, and each team has put up a fight.

Best of luck to all, and to all a good night!

Stocking Stuffer (Add of The Week): Tim Hightower RB NO
This offseason, the Saints decided to take a more balanced offensive approach on the back of workhorse Mark Ingram. Ingram followed through with a top 5 fantasy back regular season. As many owners know, Ingram has been placed on the season ending injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Most people immediately scoured the waiver wire for satellite back CJ Spiller. To the surprise of many, veteran Tim Hightower was given the majority of the carries and performed exceptionally (85 yards, TD). He is not a starter over proven studs such as Doug Martin or Chris Ivory, but he is a viable option at the flex position or a team suffering from the loss of Ingram or Seattle’s Thomas Rawls.

Coal (Drop of The Week): Marvin Jones WR CIN
Jones was a beneficiary of Andy Dalton’s excellence this season. However, he has been battling Mohamed Sanu for snaps opposite All-Pro AJ Green. However, the Red Rifle will have to leave the safety on for the remainder of this season as he will miss the remainder of the season with a broken thumb. Jones has eclipsed ten fantasy points just once since their bye in week 7. He is unreliable and his value as a flex option is diminished with backup AJ McCarron slinging passes. On the other hand, McCarron’s fiance Katherine Webb is a keeper. Jones is not.

The Grinch (Sit of The Week): Demarco Murray RB PHI vs ARI

It gives me great pleasure to write this blurb as I remember Murray single handedly knocking my team out of the playoffs last season. How far we have come since then! The reigning rushing leader has not lived up to his salary in Philly or his first round pedigree in fantasy drafts. Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles (and arguably Kenjon Barner) have been far more productive in Chip Kelly’s offense. Demarco has seen fewer carries each week and may even be a healthy scratch for a poor Eagles team. The matchup against Arizona’s loaded defense is also extremely unfavorable. Kelly is known to recruit players he likes, and if history is any indication, Demarco may be on his way out of town after complaining to owner Jeffrey Lurie about his usage (see: Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Lesean McCoy, etc.).

Ebenezer Scrooge (Sit of The Week): Travis Kelce TE KC vs BAL

Kelce has been an extreme disappoint in fantasy leagues this season. Drafted as a top 3 tight end behind only Gronk and Greg Olsen, he now ranks seventh at a position with very little depth. Kelce has found the endzone just once since his bye in week 9. In the other four games, he has failed to reach five points. Bahumbug! Baltimore has been pitiful against receivers this season, but their athletic linebackers have been tough on tight ends. If you have another option, keep Kelce on the bench.

Buddy the Elf (Start of the Week): Larry FItzgerald WR ARI

Fitzgerald has enjoyed his best season in years with a healthy Carson Palmer. Byron Maxwell and the Philadelphia secondary have not. Fitzgerald has slowed down in the past four weeks, averaging six points per game. However, I expect him to bounce back this week. Fitzgerald has continued to excel on the field, without lighting up the stat sheets in the past couple of weeks (check out his block to spring fellow receiver Michael Floyd for a long touchdown). I think he will return to the endzone, and fantasy excellence this week. The best way to spread playoff cheer is starting Larry, as all will fear.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Start of the Week): Tom Brady QB NE vs TEN

Tom Brady, the sixth round draft pick, had some very high hopes. And if you ever saw him, you would even say he is the GOAT. All of the other players, used to laugh about DeflateGate. But they never wanna see Brady, in any of their games. In this crucial playoff week, I have come to say, since his matchup looks so bright, don’t you bench Brady tonight. Now that Brady has Gronk, and he’s playing Tennessee, Tom the GOAT Brady, you will win my fantasy league.

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Paris Climate Talks: World Gathers to Solve Climate Change

Michaela Kane

From November 30th through December 11th, nearly 200 countries met for the 21st annual Conference of the Parties in Paris, France.  The conference was held to discuss a solution for global warming. The representatives from each country worked together to reach an agreement that will gradually end climate change worldwide.

This agreement established steps and requirements each country needs to abide by in order to keep global warming controlled.  The overall plan is to keep climate change below 2 degrees celsius by creating plans to cut planet- warming greenhouse gas pollution, and to cause a fundamental shift from fossil fuels to clean energy sources.  Everyday life emits greenhouse gases through electricity, heat, and transportation.

This year’s Climate Talks was a success and scientists agree that the final agreement could lead to a better tomorrow.  The agreement states that countries will need to make plans to keep climate change below 2 degrees celsius and will need to review those plans every five years after 2020.  These plans could be the first step to slowing down climate change.

Greenhouse gases are harmful to the planet because they trap heat in the atmosphere, thus making the planet warmer.  Global warming may not seem like a problem at first glance, but it causes some long term damage to the planet.  According to NASA, temperatures are expected to rise between 2.5 degrees and 10 degrees over the next century.  In turn, sea levels are predicted to rise 1-4 feet because of melting glaciers; droughts and heatwaves will become more common, and hurricanes will be stronger and more intense.


The actual text of the deal calls on all countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, to create a plan to keep global warming to a minimum and avoid scientists’ fears.  With a plan in motion, developed countries are expected to help out the countries that are still developing by donating a large sum of money to them.  Africa alone may need up to $600 billion in order to adapt and solve climate change, but the question is whether or not the developed countries will foot the bill.

President Obama wants to get ahead of climate change and give $3 billion to other countries, but it is still awaiting approval from congress.  Countries, such as China (the top polluter) and India, are pushing hard for the US and other developed countries to contribute more.  The US alone has vowed to cut its pollution by at least 27% by 2025, and has already begun making restrictions on carbon emissions from power plants and other polluters.  China has promised to slow down its emissions by 2030, then they will make the restrictions necessary.  Nearly 200 other countries have made individual commitments to cut climate change.

This year’s Climate Talks was a success and scientists agree that the final agreement could lead to a better tomorrow.  The agreement states that countries will need to make plans to keep climate change below 2 degrees celsius and will need to review those plans every five years after 2020.  These plans could be the first step to slowing down climate change.

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Haley's Fantasy Football: Throwing more picks your way than Blake Bortles!

Haley’s Fantasy Football: Throwing more picks your way than Blake Bortles!

The injury bug has continued to spread throughout the NFL claiming Joe Flacco, Justin Forsett, Devonta Freeman, and Charcandrick West this week. In this Thanksgiving edition, we will enjoy a delicious three course meal and I will tell you what to avoid as you fill your plate and your lineup. The Lions, Cowboys, Eagles, Panthers, Packers, and Bears will kick off on Turkey Day. Now for the best part: the food.

Cheese and Crackers (Add of the Week): Terrance Williams DAL WR

I had extremely high hopes for T-Will this preseason expecting Romo to find him when Dez Bryant was double covered. With Dez and Romo out, he has extremely underperformed. With the return of Romo and Dez, Terrance found the endzone this week. His two highest scoring fantasy outputs have come in two of Romo’s three games this year. Available in almost 80% of leagues, Williams has potential to break out in the fantasy postseason.

Unsalted Peanuts (Drop of the Week): Joique Bell DET RB

I have no taste for Bell, who has failed to score 7 points in any game this year. Enticing rookie Ameer Abdullah steals more carries each week, even though his production is not much better. I have been preaching to avoid Detroit at all costs this season, and Bell is no exception. Try to add a running back stepping for injuries. Walk right by these peanuts on your way to the dinner table.

Turkey (Start of the Week): Jay Cutler QB CHI vs GB

Green Bay’s defense bounced back this week with 6 sacks en route to a victory over Minnesota. They swallowed Adrian Peterson and held him to under 50 yards. However, Teddy Bridge still managed 20 fantasy points. The Bears have proved to be a competitive team and Jay Cutler has been decent. Jay Cutler is very similar to turkey: bland. Expect another decent but not exhilarating performance that is worthy of a start in a pinch. Just like turkey on Thanksgiving, Cutler will be a solid part of the meal, but it is nothing to look forward to.


Bread Stuffing (Start of the Week): Eddie Lacy RB GB vs CHI

Ironically, Lacy is my bread stuffing after a disappointing season that may have attributed to his weight. Lacy bounced back against a stout Viking defense last week. This week, he faces a much better matchup. The Packers offense finally looked like a top attack with their bulldozing back performing. Look for Mike McCarthy to establish the ground game with Lacy early. Fill up on stuffing this Thanksgiving, and hopefully Lacy will avoid the stuffing.


Apple Pie (Start of the Week): Greg Olsen TE CAR vs DAL

Olsen has become a top tight end in the NFL and is Cam Newton’s most reliable target. The Cowboys have let the likes of Jordan Cameron and Luke Willson in the endzone already this month. Olsen is a far superior tight end on an undefeated team. Cut yourself a slice of Olsen this week and you will not regret it. Your dessert could put lead you to a win this week.

Squash (Sit of the Week): Mark Sanchez QB PHI vs DET

Sanchez has been praised as a top tier backup quarterback for the past few seasons. Someone with injuries to their quarterbacks may be forced to add Sanchez. Do yourself a favor and skip that vegetable. Many people may argue that squash is a delightful side, much like they call Mark Sanchez a quality quarterback. If you must load your plate with an orange blob, be sure to avoid Sanchez. PS.. last time he played on Thanksgiving was the infamous Buttfumble!


Key Injuries:
Ravens QB Joe Flacco is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Ravens RB Justin Forsett is out with a fractured arm.
Falcons RB Devonta Freeman left his game with a concussion and did not return.

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The Barking Dog Ale House

Kathryn Morgan

The Barking Dog Ale House is a Haverhill restaurant located at 77 Washington Street. Their comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, with dimmed lights, high ceilings, and classy pub-like style can be appealing to all ages. Their four story building can accommodate all different groups; renting out the fourth floor for a family party, or sitting in a cozy booth with your family and friends. I was able to speak to Clem Martineau, general manager of the Barking Dog Ale House, to see what the local hit was all about.

The Barking Dog originated in Amesbury, and the owner has been in the restaurant business his entire life. Ironically, the name “The Barking Dog” was inspired by the owner’s two dogs. Throughout the years, the owner has remained the same and their mission has not changed: to provide the best product and experience they possibly can. Clem Martineau gave a lot of credit to the staff when it came to the key to their success. He says the staff are extremely friendly and welcoming and they create a comfortable environment for their customers. He also mentioned that being located in Haverhill has great benefits; one being he finds that there is a lot support rather than competition between all the restaurants in downtown Haverhill.

Aside from the Barking Dog Ale House’s history and friendly wait staff, their food is a key factor in what keeps people coming back. Martineau says one of their most popular items on the menu is the mac‘n’cheese. Whether it’s buffalo chicken, chipotle, or your basic mac‘n’cheese with a side salad priced between $9.50 and $15 it can not be beat. They also have a variety of desserts you can enjoy after your delicious meal, such as the cinnamon bun sandwich, fudge lava cake, or red velvet cheesecake. 

I recently made a visit to the Barking Dog Ale House for lunch. I was seated in a spacious booth, and was greeted by a friendly waiter. It was an extremely relaxed and casual environment and that is something a lot of people look for in a restaurant not just myself. I only had a glass of water for a beverage, but I ordered a chicken salad pita pocket with tomatoes, onions, and herb dressing with a side of french fries. It did not take long at all for my food to arrive, and it was hot and presented nicely. It was extremely tasty and is definitely one of my favorites at The Barking Dog Ale House.

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Where did the arts go?

Emily Bresnahan

It seems as if all people care about these days is how we perform on standardized tests, so to improve these scores we cut everything but math, reading, and MCAS practice. But ironically this may be exactly why our scores are less than admirable. 

According to Do Something, a non-profit organization for young people & social change, arts and music education programs are mandatory in countries that rank consistently among the highest for math and science test scores, such as Japan, Hungary, and the Netherlands. If this is the case, why are arts and music programs always the first to have their budgets cut? As President of the Art Club and a member of Chorus and Drama Club, I have experienced first hand how neglected the fine arts departments are. Our paintbrushes are hardened, our costumes are stained, and our stage is falling apart; yet there is nothing we can do about it. This is often the case for many public schools across the country. 

When budget cuts are discussed in school districts, the art department is normally the first to feel the pain. Overall, arts and music classes have been on the decline. In 1999, 20 percent of schools offered drama classes, but that number dropped to 4 percent in 2009. In a quote from Matt Wilson, MASSCreative Executive Director, he states that “Massachusetts is home to large-scale museums, theaters, and orchestras, as well as numerous community-based playhouses and art centers that drive our economy, enhance the academic performance of our students, and build vibrant, connected communities. Core to the success of these cultural institutions is public investment in the arts through the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The budget proposed today by the House Ways and Means Committee is a step backwards.” 

Without the funding from their own school districts, Fine Art Departments are forced to rely on private funds and donations. This is true in our own school district, since the only way we were able to afford new curtains for our theatre was from a private donation. Without the necessary funds to run a successful art program, art programs across the country will start to disappear. It's time to make a change and help support the arts and music departments in your town. 

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December Calender

Aubrie Campbell

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History of Thanksgiving and How it Has Changed

          Alina Page, Victoria MacMillan, Michaela Kane

Waking up to the smell of savory spices circulating the air, downstairs the Thanksgiving feast is in preparation. With the turkey slowly cooking to perfection in the oven, and the tablecloths being arranged just right on the tables, family is to arrive in only a short few hours. The television is on, the faint background sound of the Macy’s Day Parade, everyone on this day is joyful. It’s a day to rejoice and give thanks, to be loved and to give.

When we think of Thanksgiving, we think back to the time when the Pilgrims and Native Americans came together to have a feast after their first harvest in the New World in 1621. This feast lasted for three days and it was attended by ninety Native Americans and fifty-three Pilgrims. However, even before this day, people were worshiping God by having a feast, and these feasts were meant to remind them of His goodness and faithfulness, and to thank Him for a good year. Still, the name “Thanksgiving” did originate from the Pilgrims and Native people.

However, the peace between the Native Americans and settlers only lasted for a generation. The Wampanoag people do not share in the popular admiration for the traditional New England Thanksgiving. Since 1970, many native people have gathered at the statue of Massasoit in Plymouth, Massachusetts each Thanksgiving Day to remember their ancestors and the strength of the Wampanoag. Thereafter, in the 19th century, the modern Thanksgiving holiday started to take shape.

In 1863, a magazine editor named Sarah Hale wrote a letter to president Abraham Lincoln. The idea to make Thanksgiving a national holiday was part of Hale’s seventeen-year campaign. She thought it would benefit the country to have a national holiday for giving thanks, since the country was in the middle of the Civil War. After reading Hale’s letter, Lincoln declared two national Thanksgivings: one in August to commemorate the Battle of Gettysburg and the other in November to give thanks for "general blessings."

Today’s national Thanksgiving celebration is a blend of two traditions: the New England custom of rejoicing after a successful harvest, based on ancient English harvest festivals; and the Puritan Thanksgiving, a solemn religious observance combining prayer and feasting. Annual football games and shopping also play a big role in the celebration, and not just food shopping.

Just like Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer, Thanksgiving and Black Friday signify the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. It has been this way since 1924, when Macy's held its first Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. With Christmas right after Thanksgiving, Black Friday is a time where stores have huge deals for families to get all their holiday shopping done. Black Friday is slowly becoming part of Thanksgiving history, especially since it is now starting Thanksgiving night.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, be sure to remember the reason it all started.  Spend time with family, give thanks, and eat lots of turkey.  Thanksgiving is a time to recognize everything we are grateful for, so be sure to not forget the original meaning as you celebrate it this season.

Happy Thanksgiving

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