In this issue>>>
Canned Food Drive
Top Christmas Songs
Favorite Holiday Dish
Spirit Banners
December 2017 Community High School
Viking Voi e
1
Vol. 11, No. 4
“Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate
it by giving the light of love to those who need it most,”
states Ruth Carter Stapleton. Community High School’s
Key Club definitely represents the bright light of love
around Christmas time. Through Operation Christmas
Child, a nonprofit organization bringing Christmas gifts to
children in poverty, Key Club is trying to make a
difference in the local and global community. By sending
out shoe boxes packed with toys and goodies, children all
around the world will be able to experience the loving
spirit of Christmas. This season, Key Club has packed
over nine boxes full of gifts!
“You never know what kind of impact you can make
on a child,” explains Key Club Sponsor, Mandy Beech.
“Something as small as a teddy bear or a toy car can have
a life changing impact on someone. I think it’s amazing
that people take time and resources out of their busy lives
to help children in need!" If you would like to help out, go
to www.samaritanspurse.org/operationchristmaschild.
Key Club members Jessica
Vicente and Macie
Lemmons organize
Operation Christmas Child
shoeboxes.
Dear Campbell,How do you get more subscribers
to your YouTube channel?From, Aspiring YouTuber
Dear Aspiring YouTuber,To get more subscribers, maybe
try uploading more diverse videos to your channel to appeal to different audiences. There are millions of people out on the internet; you’re likely to get a lot more people. Remember, things like this take time. If all else fails, you can buy your subscribers; you can buy anything online these days.
Sincerely,Campbell
1. Home Alone (1990) 2. Elf (2003) 3. A Christmas Story (1983) 4. It's A Wonderful Life (1946) 5. National Lampoon's Christmas
Vacation (1989) 6. The Polar Express (2004) 7. A Charlie Brown Christmas
(1965) 8. Home Alone 2: Lost In New
York (1992) 9. The Nightmare Before
Christmas (1993) 10. The Grinch Who Stole
Christmas (2000)
This list consists of the top ten Christmas movies of all time. Get ready to get your Christmas spirit on, and watch some quality films!
This poll is comprised of CHS students’ favorite Christmas movies!
How would you feel if you were in Walmart looking around for your new Halloween decorations, but you couldn’t find them because you kept running into Christmas trees, bows, wrapping paper, and all of those other classic Christmas decorating supplies? It seems that Christmas decorations are being put out earlier and earlier, showing that stores are forgetting that there are other holidays before Christmas, including Thanksgiving and Halloween. We even catch ourselves humming a Christmas carol in the middle of the year. This June, Hobby Lobby already had their Christmas decorations up, completely skipping the Fourth of July, which, in my opinion, is just preposterous. If it weren’t for our country being a country, we couldn’t even celebrate Christmas. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas! I love celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, drinking hot cocoa by the fireplace, and eating big meals with my family. It just seems that some people push Christmas to get here sooner because they want their presents faster and become ungrateful. People can get very aggressive on Black Friday just because of gifts. I mean, really people? Are we turning into a society that forgets what Christmas is really about? Personally, I believe that Christmas decorating should come after Thanksgiving. My family always decorates our house on the Friday after Thanksgiving, and it is still up long enough to feel that we are in the Christmas Spirit. Some studies even show that people get tired of all of their Christmas decorations before Christmas because they decorate so early. All in all, Christmas decorations should not come out of the attic until after Thanksgiving.
A lot of things in life start out as a hobby or simply just an interest. Sometimes our simple interests turn into things that we become very passionate about. For some, it could be a sport that the person grew up playing, a vehicle that they put a lot of time and money in, or a skill such as acting and performing or painting and drawing. Whatever it may be, we all dream of being as successful as possible in our interest. For Carter Eaves, he achieved one of those goals that a person shoots for. Carter went to the FFA Nationals for a type of dairy showing; however, in order for Carter to get there, he had to first show at the state level. At the state level, Carter received a first place award that certainly qualified him for Nationals! Nationals was held in Indianapolis, Indiana at several different venues such as Lucas Oil Stadium, Indiana State Fairgrounds, and Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Carter was provided cows from Indiana farmers to show, which was an honor in itself. When it was all said and done, Carter placed first in his division and sixth overall, which includes qualifying contenders from all across the country! Congratulations Carter on a wonderful accomplishment, and best of luck on many more to come!
Carter Eaves, above, stands for a picture at the North American International Livestock
Exposition in Indiana.
These Christmas songs are some of the most popular jingles for the season in no particular order. Snuggle up, and put these songs on in order to get into the Christmas spirit!
1. “Jingle Bell Rock”
2. “White Christmas”
3. “All I Want For Christmas is You”
4. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
5. “Last Christmas”
6. “Deck the Halls”
7. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
8. “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!”
9. “Silent Night”
10. “Joy to the World”
A “Notable Athlete” is a person who not only excels in his or her sport but also in the classroom. Also, he or she shows good
character and a cooperative spirit.
We asked each coach to make this selection because we feel this
has the most meaning for the athletes.
Logan Brothers Evan Petrie
“Logan is the perfect example of a
student-athlete.” -Coach Bishop
“Evan always shows up with a good attitude;
Evan always does his best.”
-Coach Davis
What do you call a dog who works for Santa?
- Santa Paws!
What do you get when Santa Claus goes down a chimney when the fire is LIT?
- A Krisp Krinkle!
What did the sea say to Santa?
- Nothing. It just waved.
9th-380
10th-300
11th-510
12th-410
Fun Facts… By: Jireh Von Dran
● Paraskavedekatriaphobia is the
fear of Friday the 13th.
● Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovo
lcanoconiosis is the world’s longest
word.
● Pantheism is the belief that God did
not create the universe, but rather
the universe is God.
● A single ant can live 29 years.
● The Welsh word for jellyfish is
psygod môr.
Community High School FCA/FCS recently completed their annual Canned Food Drive. Over a two week span, enough food was raised to significantly help eight families in need. “It’s always a blessing to get to share with people in the Community!” states FCA/FCS Sponsor Kathy Gregory. “The main thing with the Canned Food Drive is that we want people to know that we are thinking about and genuinely care about them.” Students donated a multitude of items ranging from peanut butter to mashed potatoes to spaghetti sauce. The food drive counted for class competition points, as well, with Juniors coming in first, Freshmen coming in second, Sophomores in third, and Seniors in fourth. The Canned Food Drive is always a special event at Community High School. Helping others by spreading God’s love is the foundation of FCA/FCS, and the selfless giving demonstrated during the food drive is a good reflection of FCA/FCS’s motives. This event always represents the loving heart of others that truly makes this place a COMMUNITY.
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
Advisor: Mrs. Gregory
Officers: Kaitlin Hill - President; Will Vaughn - Vice President; Makenzie Blanton - Secretary;
Hunter Norman - Treasurer; Isaiah Sons - Sgt.-at-Arms
Do you like to learn new, valuable skills? Do you want to start a business the future? If so,
FBLA is the right club for you. FBLA is the largest career student business organization in the world.
FBLA brings business and education together in a positive environment where members learn
valuable life skills that will help in them in the business world.
“We just attended the Fall Leadership Conference at MTSU. We are preparing for Regional
and State competition at this time,” Mrs. Gregory states. “Hopefully, we will have an after-school field
trip in the spring.”
Chess Pie is a Southern delicacy with a simple recipe but has kick! The recipe includes a simple filling of eggs, sugar, butter and a small amount of flour. Now for the kick, you can add flavors such as, vanilla, lemon, and chocolate. If you ever thought about getting creative, though, there have been times people have made blueberry, coconut, snickerdoodle, strawberry, orange, and red velvet versions of Chess Pie.
Though the origin of the name, Chess Pie, is unknown, there is a lot of folklore surrounding the name. The most probable explanation, however, is that since the English
lemon curd pie is close to lemon Chess Pie, it is believed that the word “chess” is an Americanization of the English word “cheese.” This refers to curd pie. Basically, Chess Pie is a cheeseless cheesecake.
It’s that time of year when the weather begins to get colder, the nights get longer, Christmas decorations begin to appear, everyone is dressing for the holidays, and people begin warming up by the fire as they enjoy hot cocoa. But does anyone ever think about their pets? Yeah, they may have fur to keep them warm, but maybe they want to dress up too and join in on the festivity.
Viking Voice asked a few of our fellow schoolmates how they felt about dressing up their pets for the holidays. Here are a few of their responses.
Jewel Hewitt: “If my parents would let me, I would. My dogs would be Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and I would force my cats to be reindeer.”
Jessica Vicente: “It’s a must. If I could dress up my dog as a tree, I would, honestly.”
Mrs. Struk: “Already done. It’s what I do. I put my cats in sweaters. My cats wear Christmas sweaters. I would dress up my lab, but since she’s so big, all the Christmas sweaters for her are hideous.” Above: Mrs.
Struk’s cat, Chester, in his Christmas sweater.
Are you tired of trying to find awesome Christmas presents for someone else?
Well,Viking Voice is here to help! Here are the top five hottest Christmas presents
for teens this year. This list is in no particular order
1. Portable Clip-On Selfie Spotlight- $7.81
2. Emoji Pillows- $6.95
3. Mermaid Tail Blanket- $13.88
4. Polaroid Camera- $69.99
5. JBL Clip-On Wireless Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker- $34.99
We can all agree that Christmas is one of our favorite times of the year, but do you really know how much the average American spends on Christmas decorations alone? Census.com states that between January and September of 2016, Americans alone spent $1.1 billion on Christmas tree ornaments. Not only this, but also during these months, Americans spent $346.0 million on Christmas tree lights.
All monetary values aside, here are some pictures of one of our peers here at Community and the extensiveness of their Christmas decorating!
Photos were submitted by Senior Alyssa Amos. She’s definitely ready for the holidays!
After questioning the student body, the Viking Voice has found that the popular vote is a tie between Thor and Spiderman for best Marvel hero.
When comparing the two, it becomes understandable as of why the popular vote was originally a tie. Thor, son of Odin, God of Thunder, has a lot to brag about. With his hammer, Mjolnir, and the strength of a thousand men, he is certainly a good candidate. On the other hand, you have Spiderman, an insecure teenager, Mathlete, and professional dork. With his relatable self, and his ability to swing from building to building on his webs, Spiderman also becomes a viable candidate. So with this in mind, we went to the student body once again to choose our victor. Overall, it was decided that Thor is the ultimate Marvel hero!
VS.
Here we are at the semester break with midterms looming ever closer. Take this opportunity to better your grades by studying and doing well on the exams. It is a chance to salvage some of your less than ideal grades. The exams carry enough weight to help pull you through, if needed.
As we prepare to start the second semester, some new classes will begin. Check your schedules so that you are ready to do well in any new classes this January. The second semester is always a whirlwind of activity, so be prepared; it can be overwhelming if you are not prepared. A point of emphasis that I would like to address is the importance of attendance. This year, we have seen a higher than normal rate of absenteeism. Research by the state of Tennessee shows that students who are chronically absent, missing more than 10% of the time, which is more than 17 days of schools total, are 30% less likely to earn an on-time diploma. Absenteeism rates increase as you go up in grades. Absenteeism results in lower grades, decreased motivation, and a problematic behavior that carries over into workplace issues. I explain to students that being at school is the same as going to a job. You have to be there in order to get a paycheck (diploma). I encourage students and parents to make every effort to not miss school.
Don’t miss excessive amounts of time for appointments; often, you are able to come to school and then check out OR return to school after appointments. Classes are always going on. A development that I wish to make students aware of involves early checkouts and permanent checkouts. Presently, the practice of offering this opportunity is being reviewed and may be adjusted next year. Due to multiple factors and considerations, the flexibility that we have given to our students may be more restrictive. No decisions have been made, but as we prepare to start looking at next year scheduling, permanent checkouts may have some changes. Look for more information as it becomes available.
From basketball games to spring sports, upcoming plays, student council activities, and everything else, we have a lot going on. Get involved and be a part of what makes Community High School the best school….PERIOD!
Around the world, there are millions of traditions people follow each year. In Sweden, people celebrate the Yule Goat, which derived from Swedish mythology. Each year, the people of Sweden gather in Gavle to witness the straw statue standing in the center of town. In Australia, people beat the heat by heading to Bondi Beach and cooking out on the sand. Afterwards, they head to the “Carols By Candlelight” concert in Sydney. In the Marshall Islands, families divide into teams and prepare themselves for a contest of song and dance on Christmas Eve. The weirdest tradition I’ve ever heard of comes from Japan; each year in Japan, KFC (yes, Kentucky Fried Chicken) decks the halls with Christmas decorations, and families all around Japan travel to a nearby KFC to enjoy a Christmas meal.
● December 7 - Christmas
Band Concert
● December 13 - Sleigh the
Day
● December 15-20 - Midterm
Exams
● December 20 - FCA/FCS
Christmas Caroling
● December 21-January 5 -
Christmas Break!!!
According to South Korea, North Korea has fired a ballistic missile. Nuclear programme tensions continue to rise.
NORTH KOREA
HARRY AND MEGHAN
Prince Harry and Meghan are now set to wed in May of 2018.MEETING CANCELLEDDemocratic leaders have cancelled a meeting with President Donald Trump after an attack on Twitter.
Photo source: U.S. Weekly
Photo source: The New York Times
Photo source: Fox News
Watergate Salad:
● 1 can ( 20 oz.) crushed pineapple juice, undrained
● 1 pkg. (3.4 oz) Jell-o pistachio flavoring, instant ● 1 cup miniature marshmallows● ½ cup of chopped planters pecans● 1 ½ cups thawed, Cool Whip topping
1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl2. Stir in Cool Whip3. Refrigerate 1 hour
Recipe by Kera Reynolds
Chocolate Gravy:
● ½ cup of sugar● 1 heaping tbsp flour● 1 heaping tbsp cocoa● Dash of salt ● About 2 cups of water● ½ stick butter
1. Mix dry ingredients well so there are no lumps
2. Stir in cold water and heat slowly on stove, stirring the entire time.
3. When it gets thick, add the butter.
Recipe by Mrs. King
Sugar Cookies
● 2 ¼ cups sifted all-purpose flour● ½ tsp. baking soda● 1 tsp. baking powder● ½ tsp. salt● ½ soft butter or margarine● 1 cup of sugar● 2 eggs● 1 tsp. vanilla● 1 tbsp. milk
1. Mix, roll, and cut with floured cutter2. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes
**makes about 5 dozen**
Buttercream Frosting for decorating● 1 tsp. vanilla ● ½ cup of solid vegetable shortening● 1 stick of butter (softened)● 4 cups of confectioners sugar ● 2 tablespoons of milk
1. In a large bowl, beat shortening and butter with an electric mixer, until light and fluffy. Add vanilla.
2. Add sugar one cup at a time, while beating on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When sugar is mixed, icing will appear dry.
3. Gradually add milk; beat at medium speed until fluffy and light.
Recipes by Mrs. Lemmons
Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls
● 1 can (8oz.) of Crescent Rolls● ¼ cup butter● 4 teaspoons of sugar● 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon ● ½ powdered sugar● 1 tablespoon of milk
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees 2. Unroll dough into 4 rectangles3. Spread 1 tablespoon of butter on each
rectangle.4. Mix cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.5. Spread mixture evenly over rectangles. 6. Roll the rectangles up, then cut them into 5
pieces. Place into a baking sheet, touching sides.
7. Bake 17-23 minutes or until golden brown. 8. Meanwhile mix milk and powdered sugar
in a small bowl. Drizzle over cinnamon rolls when done. Serve warm.
Recipe by Anna Katherine Lemmons
Art III students created self-portraits with mixed media that expresses their interests and personality. The assignment involved creating an artwork of a subject of their choice and using at least four different media in one artwork. For example: Colored pencil, oil pastel, and paint.
Art III, Patrick Blanton, Expressive Self
Portrait
Art III, Jaydah Curry, Mixed Media Experiment
