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Thanksgiving traditions

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By Grace Flinn

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday of blessings and giving thanks on the fourth Thursday of  November each year.   

      It was first celebrated in 1621 when the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians shared their harvest. Families have their own or follow the same traditions on the holiday. When one thinks of Thanksgiving they think of the traditional Thanksgiving feast: turkey or ham, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and pie for dessert. Before the Thanksgiving dinner some families join together around the table and give thanks for the food they are provided. After the families finish their Thanksgiving dinner, two individuals take the “wishbone” the bone attached to the breast meat in the turkey’s chest. They each take and end of the wishbone and make a wish. They pull on each end to break the wishbone in two, and whomever has the bigger piece, their wish will come true.

     Thanksgiving Day is the busiest travel day of the year when families travel far distances to be with their loved ones. Giving thanks is an important part of this special holiday. Family and friends get together and think about the moments they cherish and are grateful for they have. We are reminded on this day it is important to give thanks and share and give. Some families even like to help others in need that do not have the home or family to visit on Thanksgiving Day. Some will volunteer to help serve or donate to the homeless, Thanksgiving food at homeless shelters.

     Before the Thanksgiving feast, loved ones gather to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. There are many bands and floats with giant balloons shown in the parade, along with dancers and singers. Also, the traditional football games on television. It is a day to relax with your family and sit around to enjoy the Thanksgiving food.

    Thanksgiving Day allows families to get in the Christmas Holiday spirit. Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving where it gives a day for one to shop for the holiday season at stores with the best deals. Some stores and malls start their deals on Thanksgiving Day to give more time for people to get shopping done. Although, some might think it will cut into the family time they need on the special holiday.

     Thanksgiving is not all about the food, football games, parade, and shopping. It is a day to spend time with loved ones, and give to others. It reminds people to be grateful for what they have.

Front/Home, News

Strong start for Speech and Debate

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    By Sophia Boris

The SMFHS speech and debate team began their year on a good note.

There are weekly tournaments held at different schools including the high school, Kimpton and Lakeview. This past weekend the students at SMFHS participated in a tournament at Stow high school.

Perry High School placed first overall for the tournament. Stow ended up placing third overall.

Coach of speech and debate team Ms. Theisen said, “Overall the results were very well.”  

Also sophomore Sarah Laubaugh said, “Stow did really well, I am proud of my entire team.”

Teams are not just judged as a team but also by individual and team performances. There are multiple categories you can choose to compete from. For example, one category you can choose from is argumentative. Every category has a winner.

The speech team at Stow had a  successful weekend in these individual and team performances. Seniors Matt McCombs and Cam Stebbins placed third in duo interpretation. Also juniors Savannah Novak and her partner Elizabeth Angeletti placed fifth in duo interpretation. Along with these performances seniors Maddy Light and Samantha Wilcox placed 2nd in duo. Lastly junior Chloe Holm topped it off by placing 1st in poetry.

Stow’s speech and debate team having a triumphant weekend, Theisen looks to have further success this year.

“Each week the teams getting better,” Theisen said.

These weekly tournaments are preparing the team for districts and states later this season.

There was a huge turnout for this event, with 663 people, and 179 adult judges.

“We could not have done all of this without the help of our parent boosters who fed everyone, the wonderful administration who lets us use the schools for these events, and special thanks to the TWE that stayed all day and helped with electrical issues,” Theisen said.

The speech and debate team does not only work together in school, but they act as one unit. They are like a family.

The SMFHS speech and debate team strives to continue their season on a good note.

Sophomore Annemarie McCombs said, “Ms. Theisen is the light of my world and the love of my life.”

Editorials

ALICE drill should be taken more seriously by students

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By Kamryn Drach

Practicing Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate is the drill the school systems are using in case of in an emergency.

Administration informs students if there is an intruder in the building and what they need to do to keep safe, and teachers are taught what to do to keep themselves and students safe. It is important the schools are practicing what to do if ever needed to be in a lockdown.

The high school held a drill to see how students would do in a situation and to learn what to do. If there was an intruder, students have either a certain route to take to get out or a plan to barricade and hide in rooms. The decision depends on where the intruder is and where they are going. Teachers explained to classes that if their house is close they should go there.

“I didn’t know what to do, it was not planned out well,” junior Kayla Valente said.

Teachers told classes they were either running or barricading.

“I saw one class actually running,” said Sophi Perez.

Students were told they were going half way to there destination point, and instead students only went to places surrounding the school.

“We stood in the field as an easy target,” junior Kathrine Doty said.

The day before, the students were told to run halfway to their destination. Instead, they only went as far as the concession stand or trees in the field. Students were told to be serious and take this seriously and act like it was real.

People during the drill were talking, walking and carrying on. Students were told not to do those things but yet they did. It was just a drill but it could have been taken more serious.

    

 

Sports Opinion

Cleveland Browns to play Baltimore Ravens in divisional game

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By Declan Ange

On Nov. 30, the Cleveland Browns host the Baltimore Ravens in a divisional battle and have hopes to defeat the Ravens for the second time this year.

The Browns are having an absolutely terrible season this year sitting at a 2-8 season record and a 1-2 divisional record. The only two teams the Browns have defeated this year are two of few teams worse than them, the Ravens and the Tennessee Titans.

The Browns have had two different quarterbacks this year. The first being Josh McCown, and the second starter, who was previously named starter for the rest of the season, Johnny Manziel. When McCown started, the Browns had only won one game and lost six. Under Manziel, the Browns have won one and lost three.

The Browns are not the only team struggling this year. The Ravens are having a rough seasons as well. Baltimore has a record of 2-7, putting them ahead of the Browns in the divisional ranking, due to the Ravens already having their bye week.

These two teams happen to have a prime time game scheduled which should be a fun one to watch. The Browns have already defeated the struggling Ravens this year; therefore putting the odds in the Browns’ favor.

The first game was a close one as it went into overtime. The Browns won on a game winning field goal and the final score was 33-30. Both teams seemed to play well, putting up at least 30 points each.

The game on Monday night will not be a very popular game for people to watch, but it could be a key game for the Browns. If the Browns win a primetime game televised for all to watch, it may create a spark. The Browns need to come back and be a team with an 8-8 record.