T h e

B r y a n

H i g h

S c h o o l

NORSEMAN

Volume 45, Number 1 October 2015

www.BryanHighNoresman.com

IN-BRIEF

3450 Campus Drive Bryan, TX 77802

bhsnorseman@gmail.com

Feast summons magical memories

SEE MORE through music, food, fun, & family
ONLINE

BREAKING NEWS

The News category of The

Norseman is the best way to
stay up-to-date with the news
& information at Bryan High.

FEATURES
Other features and news stories
can be found online. Upcoming
stories include articles on literary and the schools response to
concussions through the athletic training department.

SPORTS
To
stay
up-to-date
with
the latest sports scores for
Bryan High School athletic programs, be sure to visit
bryanhighnorseman.com/sports.

PHOTOS
We want YOUR photos!
We want you to be a part of
BHS Publications. Share your
photos with us and look for a
new slideshow of fan pictures
soon. http://bryanhighnorseman.smugmug.com/upload/
B7X8sB/vikings

Follow Us
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/
BryanISDBryanHighNorseman
Twitter
https://twitter.com/bhsnorseman
SmugMug
http://www.bryanhighnorsemanphotos.com/

Danica Mendes
Co-editor
Feast of Carols returns for its 32nd production this weekend.
Its a magical event hosted by the the choir and orchestra students, and transports guests to medieval time. Filling the night
with laughter, full stomachs and musical enjoyment.
Feast of Carols is a collaborative effort within the fine arts department, requiring weeks of planning, hours of rehearsals, and
outside effort by students to ensure the show runs smoothly.
Choir director Brittany Gibson is experiencing her first year as a
director for Feast of Carols, but it isnt her first go round with the
program as she is a former
BHS choir student.
Its different being on this
end because were learning
and teaching every song instead of just some of them,
Gibson said. We also have to
make sure that all of the logistics run smoothly beyond
the music and as a student, I
didnt have to concentrate on
that part as a student.
The Feast of Carols theme
resonates with families during the Christmas time, offering a truly medieval experience. Choir and orchestra
members serve delicious
food and perform in beautiful gowns and robes while
speaking in with an English accent, adding to the overall experience.
I really enjoy Christmas music so its really fun to be apart of
the big feast, senior choir student Marco Gutierrez said. Singing with everyone really helps get me into the holiday spirit.
Other choir students agree that it is a magical time that has
become an annual event that everyone looks forward to.
I like the magic that happens when we sing, and making people happy and putting them in the Christmas spirit by our singing, senior choir student Avery Potts said. I love being able to
do what I love fore the glory of God.

Feast of Carols brings warm memories of many Christmas and

is a family experience that people will continue to share. Every
guest at Feast of Carols is left with an overwhelming sense of
happiness and togetherness.
I love to attend Feast of Carols because it is a tradition that
marks the beginning of the holiday season, English teacher
Lisa Prejean said. I started taking my daughter when she was
in middle school, and then attended the program when she was
in the choir at Bryan High. Now that she has graduated, we are
still attending the Feast because it has become something we do
together each year.

Feast of Carols is an event that
brings
families
together and seeing the happiness
and togetherness
is what makes the
event even better
for those involved
with the production.

My favorite
part of feast is how
the event makes
the kids and audience feel, choir
director Alex Medlock said. Theres
just an excitement
and an energy that
is created with Feast of Carols. The Christmas season, for some,
is an emotional time it brings back good memories of memories
and how it makes the crowd feel.
Despite being around for over 32 years, Feast of Carols has yet
to lose its draw, selling out this years tickets in just three days.
Feast is a really quality product theres great singing and great
entertainment, Medlock said. The food is great, its centered
around family and bringing your friends together for a meal
which is always a hit and so thats why I think that feast is so
popular. Its just the family feel and sharing a meal and great music.

Page 2 - Around Campus

Around Campus
News & events at Bryan High School

Senior Pictures
This will allow them to
Seniors who did not take take the yearbook, cap and
a picture during the sum- gown, and casual pictures.
mer, should have signed They can also bring mulup through their English tiple outfits to change into.
class to take pictures on
For
any
questions,
either Monday, Dec 14 or please contact Rebecca
Tuesday, Dec 15.
Dominy in room 6160
Pictures will be in room or by email at rebecca.
6158 (across from the dominy@bryanisd.org or
cooking classes) on blue phone 979-209-2580.
campus.
There is no charge for Senior Ads
a yearbook only shot and Information about seseniors will be able to see nior ads for the yearbook
their picture before pur- will be mailed home to
chasing.
all seniors when school
If students are interest- resumes from Christmas
ed in doing a full sitting, break.
they should bring $15 at For questions, contact
the time of their pictures. Rebecca Dominy.

Spring Semester
School will resume for
students on Tuesday, January 8.
All students will report
to their first period class
for their first semester
class before switching
classes if they had a schedule change.

PepRallies

Fall Sports Banquet

The fall sports banquet
will take place in the Silver
Cafeteria on Monday, Jan.
11 from 5:30-9:00.
The banquet will honor
students involved with
volleyball, cross country,
football, and atheletic
training.

Language acquisition inspired by teachers passion, experiences

Gail Finch
Staff writer
Deutsche Sprache, schwere Sprache. German language, hard language. German teacher Jan Krammer doesnt want that statement to intimidate
students from learning German. With her cultural
experience and dedication to teaching high school
students a second language, she inspires her students to venture into the world of languages through
both words and culture.
With learning another [language], you learn your
own better, Krammer said. You have to be more
precise and more schooled in how you use your own
language in order to use a new one well. Every time
you learn a different language, you learn to think in
a different way, said German teacher and head of
the Language department Jan Krammer.
Krammer sees the study of languages as vital to the
study of humanity as it encourages students to think
beyond themselves and gain new perspectives.
Languages go together in different ways, and
because of that, you structure your thoughts differently, Krammer said. The more different ways you
can think about the world, the more open minded
you are, and the more able you are to adjust into
different kinds of situations.
Krammer brings a different perspective to the
teaching of language, as shes lived in and visited

many countries in Europe, adding first hand experience to her suitcase of tricks.
I can slide into most countries in Europe and just
hit my stride and nobody knows
Im not a local, basically, Krammer said. Its very convenient. I
just like being able to slip in there
and be part of the scene. I dont
suppose that Europe or any other
place is set up for my entertainment. I just like going in there and
interacting. It aint Disneyland, lets put it like that.
Aside from visiting Europe frequently, Krammer
also taught in Germany for
a short time.
[Teaching in Germany]
was hard, but it was interesting, Krammer said, I
really enjoyed interacting
with other faculty. It seems the way that schools
are organized, and the way that people think about
school is different from the way we think about
school [in America].
School in Germany is usually viewed with more
respect than it is in the United States, and extracurriculars are done outside of school.

School is school; its not where you go for your

competitions, Krammer said. Its not seen as a
social organizer of the community, its seen as the
educator of the
community, so
its taken seriously, its not
there to make
sure kids get to
play
football,
or get to march
in the band, its
there to make
sure kids get educated. Its different, and I enjoyed getting to
see that different
perspective, and
I enjoyed being seen as an actual part of the community.
Krammers cultural experience and knowledge
of language are only a portion of what makes her
a great teacher, her a great teacher. Her colleagues
see her as a passionate educator who keeps things
fresh in the classroom by bringing in her own experiences.

...continued on page 12

Student leaps onto stage in

lead role of Nutcracker ballet
Payton McKeehan
Staff writer
Lights on trees, wreaths on doors,
mistletoe hung overhead while visions of sugarplums dance in childdrens heads. The Nutcracker is a
classic production associated with
the holidays and family time. Suzannes School of Dance performs
the Nutcracker every year in the
Rudder Auditorium on the Texas
A&M campus. Sophomore Hannah Broussard was named the lead,
Clara, in this years production.
Auditions for the production were
held in August and performers have
attended practice for six hours every
Saturday since then.
Hannah has been a
part of the Nutcracker production before
in other roles, but
this is her first year
in the starring role.
I liked my parts
last year, Hannah
said, but its definitely an honor to be
the lead role and its
good to try different
things.
Tammy Broussard, Hannahs
mother, could not be more proud of
Hannah in all that she has achieved
including earning the lead in the
Nutcracker ballet.
I am most proud of Hannahs
dedication and being committed to
each and everything shes involved
in, Broussard said. Not including her regular dance schedule,
performing the part of Clara in the
Nutcracker required an additional
80 hours of rehearsal time. During
the past 10 weeks in preparation for
the nutcracker, Hannah was also in
another production of Peter and the
Wolf and has commitments as an
officer in 4H, varsity cheerleading
spirit officer, and was able to maintain all As.

The casting judges recognized

Hannahs dedication during her audition and saw potential in her abilities.
Hannah was cast as Clara from a
panel of judges and artist staff due
to her technical ability, stage presence, and maturity, director of the
Nutcracker, Suzanne Moreau said.
Size usually is also a factor considering Clara has partnering roles.
Throughout the production Hannah continued to improve as her
dance skills were required to move
to a new level.

[Hannahs] consistent commitment to her ballet training has

helped her grow technically as a dancer,

Moreau said. We were
very pleased with the technical
growth we saw in Hannah as she
clearly rose to the challenges that
working with a professional dancer
requires.
Hannahs mother has watched
her since she put on her first pair of
ballerina slippers at age 2, started
competing when she was 5, assisting
when she was 10, and teaching when
she was 12.
Hannah is an independent soloist
and she choreographs her own solos
and duets, Broussard said. Hannah has already had some great opportunities to work with some very
talented artists in the dance industry, I look forward to seeing whats

in store for her future.

Hannahs mother is her biggest
fan and has watched her work to
improve as a dancer over the years
through self discipline and hard
work.
Hannah is her biggest critic
and she is very hard on herself,
Broussard said. She uses video
of practices and critiques to help
her make corrections to improve.
When its time to perform, I
know shes done all she can
do to prepare. Before every performance we always
pray together that God will
allow her to do her best.
The experience of performing on such a large
stage has many upsides, but
sometimes the
best parts are
unexpected.
My
favorite part
was all the
little
kids
that were involved with
it, Hannah
said. Whenever they saw me
they would say Oh
theres Clara, Hi Clara! and it was
like they thought I was famous or
something.
With this experience Hannah recognizes opportunity the Nutcracker
performance has given her in both
improving her skills and learning to
cope with a large stage performance.
Before I went on I was very very
nervous, Hannah said, once I actually started dancing [the nervousness] all went away. The whole time
I was telling myself that this is
probably a once in a lifetime
opportunity so dont be nervous just enjoy it and have
fun.

Student Spotlight - Page 3

Page 4 - Sports

Senior finds recipe for success on court,

signs to play basektball at collegiate level
Star Salter
Staff writer
Jennyfer Tucker
Associate editor
His eyes move back and forth as the ball changes
hands and goes from one basket to the other, the
loud sound of the buzzer rings in his ears as the final seconds tick off, and the little voice in his head
says I want to be just like them, one day.
Basketball has always played a role in senior AJ
Lawsons life and he first stepped on the court at
just 5 years old. Earlier this year, AJs dreams came
true as he signed to play basketball for the University of North Texas in Denton on a full scholarship.
I signed, because its family oriented and close
to home, AJ said. The team is always doing things
together I would like to be a part of that and make
an impact. The fan base is also really big and supportive. I just love it there.
Chris Jones has been AJs basketball coach
throughout high school and believes AJ will be
successful playing at a school like UNT.
I think AJ is a division one size player, as hes
65, and has long arms, Jones said. He has a
good motor. A motor is his energy and its always

on. Some guys are capable of playing harder than

other guys, and hes one of those guys capable of
playing harder on the division one level.
AJ continues to improve during practice and
work outs, which coupled with his competitive nature, gives him an edge on his opponents.
Its difficult for anyone to match his intensity,
athleticism, and size, Jones said. His skills are
only going to continue to improve.
Though AJ enjoys basketball and plans to pursue
it in college, he has an education plan as well to
make sure he is successful in life.
Im going to major in sports management in
case basketbal doesnt work out, AJ said. I want
to start my own business and be my own boss. If
sports management and coaching dont work, Ill
probably be cooking.
Outside of basketball and sports in general AJ
has other interests relating back to his love of family oriented activities.
Cooking is what I enjoy the most, because I
grew up with a lot of girls, AJ said. My mom,
my grandmothers, theres just a lot of girls in my
family and thats what I grew up doing. What girl
doesnt like a dude that can cook?

Signing Day

Basketball has contributed to the success AJ has

achieved both on and off the court by being able to
apply the lessons he has learned to every day situations.
My high school basketball career has helped me
improve my people skills and my communications
skills, AJ said. Ive met a lot of different people
through basketball and I wasnt really capable of
talking to new people, but now I can talk to people
easily.
The skills of working with others and communicating impact how AJ enteracts with his teammates on a daily basis.
Playing with AJ over the past two years has been
great, Zach said. He has really lead and guided
me. AJs been there for me, and he yells at me at
times, but I have to be coachable in those moments.
He helps me be a better leader and player.
AJ is a workhorse on the court, always driving to
make himself and his teammates better by doing
everything he can to succeed.
AJ is a leader, because hes a motor on the team.
sophomore teammate Zach Nuttall said. Hes like
a running car - always moving, never stopping. We
use that term a lot when referring to AJ.

Football
Senior AJ Lawson
signs to play
basketball for
the University of
North Texas in
Denton.

Senior Landon
Miner signs to
play baseball
at Texas A&M
University in
College Station.

Area Champions

Sports - Page 5

Diving in

Record Board

Trio of seniors leads swim team

Lucy Raleigh
Co-editor
Individual lanes, personal best times, different goals
for each swimmer in the pool, yet despite all of that swimming is a team sport meant to create an environment of
support and comradery.
And within a team setting its important for a leader
to step up and lead by example, and the captains of the
swim team do just that. With three seniors as captains,
Bethany Peterson, Marco Gutierrez, and Addison Ayers
have no shortage of responsibilities, hard work, and fun.
The captains of our swim team do a great job of leading this team not just by their words but more so by their
actions, swim coach Sarah Milne said. As a leader you
have to really lead the team by setting an example and
not just telling someone what to do.
The three captains work together to ensure personal
and team success by
leading through example.
Theyve all really
stepped up as far as
making sure people
are [at the pool] and
doing what theyre
supposed to be doing, Milne said. They make sure they encourage their
teammates and by doing this Ive also seen improvement
in their times and work ethic.
Being a team captain isnt always easy, and can come
with its own trials and tribulations as balancing schedules can prove difficult.
Its hard to fulfill all the responsibilities I have because
Im expected to be [at practice] and put in a lot of effort
every day, Bethany said. So I have to sacrifice other activities that I want to do in the mornings sometimes or go
to multiple things in one morning.
While being a captain on the swim team can sometimes
be difficult, the benefits often outweigh the drawbacks.
I get to be a mom to all the swimming girls and I get
to take care of them and encourage them and watch them
grow and thats really fun, Bethany said. Swimming has
also helped me become more of a leader by requiring me
to speak in front of people and learn how to encourage
fellow teammates and build people up.
While performing their everyday tasks as team captains, theyre pushed to give it their all in practices, as
well as at swim meets.
Having the responsibility of looking out for my teammates and caring for them and helping them do well is
the best part of being a captain, Marco said. Theres
definitely accountability that has to happen that if I ex-

pect my teammates to do well, I have to give a hundred

percent in practice. I really try to lead by example and
that causes me to be at my very best every time I get into
the pool to practice.
The swim team provides a welcoming and close-knit
community for team members, and provides an opportunity to form lasting friendships.
Out of all the other sports teams Ive been on, Ive
never been as close as Ive been to the people on the swim
team, Bethany said. So I enjoy having those friends
there for me all the time and seeing them a lot.
Even though having three team captains can be problematic, the trio of friends has no problem sharing the
title.
I like having two other captains because for one,
theyre my best friends, Addison said. And secondly,
they encourage me. They help me and I help them.
Sharing leadership responsibilities is made
easier because the
three have been friends
for a long time and
view their positions as
a way to spend more
time with each other.

I like being
a part of a three captain team because theyre my best
friends, Bethany said. I get to plan things with them
and just kind of hang out with them and that makes it
fun.
Although swimming is mostly an individual sport, each
member pushes the other to do their best in and out of
practice.
The community that we have together is really fun,
Marco said. We really care for each other. We have a lot
of fun, and we push each other to be better swimmers and
better people.

We really care for each other. We have

a lot of fun and we push each other to
be better swimmers and better people.
--senior Marco Gutierrez

Bob Stallings Meet

Julia Cook placed first in both 50
free (23.06 sec) and 100 free (49.6
sec). Both times are All-American
times and new meet records.
Julia also won the girls high points
award scoring 307 pts.
Belton Meet - First Place Finishers
Boys 200 Med relay: Addison
Ayers, Marco Gutierrez, Joel Coppernoll, Matt Hutchinson
Boys 200 free: Joel Coppernoll
Girls 200IM : Julia Cook
Girls 200 Free Relay: Cat Darnell,
Bethany Peterson, Maddie Foreman, Julia Cook
Boys 200 Free Relay: Marco Gutierrez, Addison Ayers, Jackson Thurstin, Collin Darnell
Girls 100 Breaststroke: Julia Cook
Boys 100 Breaststroke: Marco
Gutierrez

Senior Addison Ayers swims the breastroke

leg of the 100 IM.

Senior Marco Gutierrez powers to the wall as he

competes in the 100 fly event.
Senior Bethany Peterson warms up in the pool
before her event.

Page 6 - Santa Letters

eady
r
s
i
e
ar.
l
e
o
y
p
s
h
i
t
Nor
,
ce th
i
a
e
t
n
h
n
t
n
a
t
e
S
a
TV.
e
e
b
e
l
n
e
p
o
v

p
Dear
y
I
r
an A
year.
e eve
d
p
s
n
i
o
a
Ive
h
,
h
t
e
s
I
s
s
e
y
u
o
a
a
h
bec
ks, s
s
Holid
c
m
e
o
e
s
h
t
t
and
i
e
y
m
m
r
for
m
o
a
s
f
nd w
like
ne o
a
o
d
l
e
e
f
u
k
a
o
i
e.
ys
Iw
st l
m
a
a
t
r
e
S
o
l
f
.
t
hug
ld a
year
a
s
i
s
h
e
t
I wou
e elv
ood
h
g
t
o
d
s
n
been
use a
a
l
C
.
rly,
rs
e
M
c
n
e
i
v
S
gi
a
Danic


De

ar

Sa

nt
a,
ca
th
us
is
e
ye
to
I'v
ar
e
br
, I
be
i
n
Pl
g
w
en
ou
ea
me
so
ld
s
m
e
fa
on
go
lik
al
mil
e
od
y
e
s
y
o
a
yo
he
, f
nd
ma
u
al
r
dr
ke
ien
th
es
Co
ds
y.
s
se
ok
u
,
r
I
s.
'
ll
an
ies
e

d
m
le
y
fo
I
av
st
r
e
ay
yo
m
u
ilk
by
an
th
d
e
Le
tr
sl
ee
ie
.
Be

Dear Santa,
Ive been good this
year. For my
great actions, I wou
ld like a headehog, a pair of Nik
es, a Northface
jacket, and a new p
hone case.
Ill leave cookies u
nder the Christmas tree for you.

Sincerly
Mason

a,
Sant

Dear
to
d like
l
u
o
I w
of
l off
l
e
b
a
have
or
igh f
e
l
s
your
st
as ju
m
t
s
i
Chr
ar
e Pol
h
t
n
like o
ess.
Expr
Love

edge
ph H
e
s
o
J

Santa Letters

Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas
g.
is a really nice coffee mu
th
One that holds in warm
y
well and is easy to carr
w
around. Also, maybe a ne
phone if that isnt too
much to ask for.
Your Friend,

Christian

Dear Santa,
I want new Jordans
for Christmas. Please
dont forget to eat the
double scotch chocolate chip cookies I
leave for you.
Aries

anta,
S
r
a
e
D
like a
d
l
u
o
Iw
t from
e
k
c
a
j
new
Secret
a
i
r
o
t
c
Vi
w pere
n
d
n
a
d also
fume. I erov
like a h
board.
ordan
J

Dear Santa,
I have been
really good this
year, and I want
a toy solider.
Tameka

Dear

Santa Letters - Page 7

Santa

You kn
ow Iv
,
a
t
h
n
ig
a
h
S
e been
in
r
a
e
i
b
n
De
g
y
a
that o
m
wantis
h
e
t
n
t
lo
a
c
live gr
l
y
ib
s
s
o
p
I know th
e
en jac
quite
ou could
ket fo
y
some
if
e
t
h
u
t
b
,
f
r
o
d
t
n
ll
i
a
m
a
m
e
e
im
d
h
now...Y
e
iv
g
t
h
d
n
e
a
e
o
one to
u shou
les
ld b
ld be
get it
Harry Sty ersonality, that wou
f
o
y
r
o
ure t
me, be
s p
he bes
cause
real Harry o, an endless, lifetime
t
!
ls

A
Sincer
crackers
h
fantastic.
is
f
ld
o
ely,
G
ic
r
s
o
s
f
la
n
c
w

f
o
o
d
s
l
y
p
y
a
p
u
lw
s
Angel
Im also a
.
d
o
o
g
s
d
soun
ol socks :)
o
c
n
i
,
a
s
t
i
an
re
Christmas,
ry
Dear S very dog the with
r
e
M
d
e
t wishes an
s
Dear Sa
e
b
I want Pretty please
e
h
t
ll
nta,
A
.
y
c
d
u
L
n
)
u
e
it
o
r
p
o
v
F
o
a
e
f
r
h
r
t
Christma
( ou
y
on top!
s I think
n
y
ic
r
e
r
e
if
h
people
ac
could ju itd be
along fo
ove,
L
st g
r once

and not et
Draya
over pe
ar
tty thing

s that m gue
no se

and
s
e
h
t
w clo
e
n
f
and
to
,
o
,
l
o
a
o
a
t
t
n
g
Sa
mood
s fine
ballin
i
r
e
y
e
y
Dear
e
v
e
mon
een
hate
n
b
w
a
,
e
e
v
w

t on
m
o
I
f
n
I
e
.
k
l
.
.
t
y
I

don
latel
kies
I
o
s
o
?
e
c
r
o
a
c
them
sh
he
t
g
w
n
t
e
i
a
n
k
e
ea
e ma
e to
m
r
i
u
t
mayb
s
a
extr
in. Be
t
e
n
r

e
u
p
yo
we s
,
e
l
b
a
you!
r
o
the t
f
l just
a
i
ruly,
c
t
e
s
r
sp
You
nyfer
n
e
J

Dear S

anta,
Please
sen
for Ch
ristma d my uncle
home
s, and
An
gelica
let it
snow.

nse. Tha
t would ake
great.
be really

Enraged Teen
ager
Gail

,
ld
Santa mas I wou pies
r
a
e
D
hrist
f pup
For C k bed full o nd/or
truc
o
es a
like a cally huski would als
I
l
fi
(speci retrievers.) from schoo
I
s
golden ot less stres ep because
l
n
le
like a ybe some s ight sleep i
a
n
in
and m had a good also throw
t
haven . You could , thanks!
y
r
foreve Styles. oka achel. :-)
y
love R
Harr

Page 8 - Entertainment

Trick-or-Tree

Movie provides transition from buckets of candy to milk, cookies

Lucy Raleigh
Co-editor
It is Halloween, or is it Christmas?
Many people (much like myself) are
still bummed out about Halloween being over. Now that its almost pointless,
and kind of pathetic, to still be watching Halloween movies, its time for the
inevitable switch to the insurmountable pile of Christmas movies that has
been idly waiting in the back of the
closet along with all the dusty tree ornaments and stockings.
For people still missing Halloween
but ready for whats next, there is a perfect movie to fit just such criteria. Creative genius Tim Burton has produced
and directed tons of movies in past
years, but out of all these films, one
shines unlike the others. The Nightmare Before Christmas, a beautifully
made stop-motion musical about a
mopey skeleton looking for something
new, is the perfect Halloween-toChristmas transition movie.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

features Jack Skellington, the bored
Pumpkin King of Halloween Town,
who is sick and tired of the same-ole
routine of scaring humans out in the
real world. The film kicks off with one
of my favorite movie introductions, an
intriguing introduction read by Christopher Lee, pulling viewers into the
story with the sight of the mysterious
holiday trees, each with their own door
shaped like a symbol from their holidays - an egg for Easter, a pumpkin for
Halloween, a Christmas tree for Christmas, and so on.
As the Halloween door opens with a
creak, audiences are pulled into the life
of Halloween Town on their best night,
Halloween. The ever famous song
This is Halloween can make anyone
excited to watch the rest of the movie.
There are plenty of other great tracks
in this film that add fun sing-alongs for
all ages like Jacks Lament, Whats
This?, and Oogie Boogies Song.

These songs add charm to an already

fantastic movie.
The film is filled with dynamic and
devious characters, like protagonist
Jack Skellington, the caring and charismatic rag doll-like creation named
Sally, the fascinating two-faced (an
allegory to most politicians being twofaced) Mayor of Halloween Town, and
the spooky and devilish boogey man
named Oogie Boogie. These characters
not only make the film what it is, but
since the films release in October of
1993, have also built a huge franchise
of action figures, Halloween costumes,
household items, apparel, and tons of
other commodities that are still produced and thrive today.
Of course, creating a film with a
booming line of merchandise is no
oddity for Disney, the multimilliondollar film company that lives off of the
aftermath of popular films. Box office
revenues are never enough for Disney,
and the more popular a film is, the

longer it will live on in stores and our

hearts. Its just nice that this film exists
as a contrast to all the princess movies,
providing once again that Disney has
something for everyone.
Apart from the beautiful stop-motion, perfectly imperfect characters,
and fun soundtrack, there is a lot of
dark and crude comedy sprinkled
throughout the film, some things I
didnt even catch until a year or two
ago. Even though this is a Disney movie, that didnt stop Burton from letting
his imagination run free in the making
of this movie. The film contains jokes
that are bound to make you giggle and
chuckle, even after countless rewatches.
So before people delve into the
Christmas season and begin the constant Christmas movie feed, take the
time to transition smoothly with a cup
of hot cocoa and some leftover Halloween candy and watch the timeless flick,
The Nightmare Before Christmas.

New doesnt mean better

Christmas classics should remain untouched

Star Salter
Staff writer
Waking up to sounds that
fill our hearts with joy and
laughter signifies a wonderful time of year- Christmas.
Hearing my favorite Christmas song, which has been
sung generations, warms my
heart. Christmas It seems to
be the best time of the year.
Every time I change the radio station theres another
old Christmas tune. My eyes
begin to sparkle until I hear
a spin on the beat, a person
freestyling, and an artist that
is struggling to hit every note
to sound better than the next.
I realize with horror that its
not an old classic, but a new
remix.

Christmas covers are the

worst. Remaking someone
elses song to make the song
sound better. Just ends up
being a mess. Its also rude to
the actual artist that wrote the
song in the first place. When
Christmas carols become pop
songs by having artists like
Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey,
and Ariana Grande to perform, things just dont sound
right. Trying to make a carol
turn into a rap track by adding rappers to the Christmas
song like Chris Brown, Ludacris, and Childish Gambino
also isnt a good idea either.
Now it has become the norm
for artists to take Christmas
carols and make them their
own by completely changing

the song.
The Glee casts Christmas
album is full of covers and
mash-ups of different Christmas carols like Deck The
Rooftop, Baby Its Cold Outside, and Jingle Bells. I do
not like cast groups, because
their voices are so washed
out. Its like the group has to
sing a certain way and they
cant really use their voices.
They have to blend in with the
others so it takes away from
each members voice. The
songs that they perform were
not great. I dont like the high
notes they hit or the way they
move their voices and notes
around. The songs were created by the original artist to be
certain way. And the Glee cast

butchered them. The songs

have a meaning, but when
a cast group like Glee just
throws the meaning away, it
ruins the Christmas spirit.
Instead of meaning and feeling, the group adds pop that
seems empty and shallow.
Glee focus more on the notes
and the person who sings it
rather than the way the words
tell a story. They are just a
cast with trained singers and
dancers, and musicians relaying, a heartfelt song.
Even though the other
Christmas covers were not
amusing to me, I did ejoy listening to This Christmas
covered by Chris Brown and
found it pleasing to play when
Im in the holiday spirit. The

song was originally sung by

Donny Hathaway and released in 1997. The original
version was a slow soft song,
but Chris Brown made it into
an R&B track with a matching
music video released alongside the movie of the same
name. I love the way he took
the song to a whole new level.
Things change in each
generation, and music is no
exception, but some things
should be preserved. I would
rather stick to the original
version of the music than listen to covers that have lost
their meaning and the soul
feeling of it. Music shouldnt
be for show. Thats not how
Christmas music should be.

Entertainment - Page 9

Christmas wish list

Finding unique, affordable gifts this holiday season

Danica Mendes
Co-editor
Christmas is a time to celebrate,
spend time with family, give and receive presents, and eat all the food
we can. However, most people find
themselves struggling with one simple
thing the presents. Ive been through
it countless times, the holidays come
around, stores are booming with
sales, and everyones eager to receive
the best presents in the world, but
the ideas are nowhere to be found. It
seems that every time I dont have the
money or a reason to buy presents for
my loved ones, presents are jumping
off the shelves, but when confronted
with decisions of what to choose for
that oh so special Christmas gift, the
ideas are less than ample.
Ive thought long and hard, and Im
here to make the present buying experience a breeze. Far from the run off
the mill presents, here are just a few
fun and quirky items that will ensure
endless smiles come Christmas
morning.
First on my list is a tiny
drone. For $135 people
can own their very own
BB-8, an exact miniature replica right
out of a Star Wars
film. The drones
are extremely user
friendly, and are controlled through an app on
any smartphone. This android can
also react to voice control and can
be sent and view holographic messages. However, the android doesnt
have a mind of its own, its acts completely on the users command despite
Star Wars fans hopes. Have him roll
around, spin his head, and chase the
cat around the living room. This gift
is great for kids, as well as Star Wars
fans of all ages.
Next on my list is the 3Doodler.
Straight out of the future, for $99
the 3Doodler is a high end 3D printing pen. The 3D printing pen ex-

trudes heated plastic in strips like pen

marks that cools almost instantly into

a solid. Its perfect for making cool 3D

structures and art out of plastic. This
gift will be wonderful for anyone with
an interest in art, design, crafting,
anyone who just wants something as
cool as a pen that can draw 3D art.
This next item on the list is sure
to get the attention of anyone with a
smartphone. The Smartphone Projector will
change the way users look at videos.
Priced at the
low low price
of $31.99, the
Smartphone
Projector is a
charmingly lo-fi way
to share the phones screen.
Just
place any smartphone into the cardboard box constructed projector and
the lens instantly enlarges the image
by up to eight times! Since the entire
thing is made from cardboard and
glass, its ultra-portable, totally wireless, and uses no additional power.
With the Smartphone Projector,
showing the latest video to friends becomes a easily shared experience, that
will be sure to impress everyone. Display vacation snapshots on your living
room wall, throw up some visuals for
a house party, or watch a film in anywhere.
The next item on the list is the levitron. For $100, Christmas goers can
gift the Levitron Revolution with EZ
Float Technology. A mesmerizing way
to levitate and display small objects.
This device allows users to levitate
and slowly rotate collectibles, toys,

or small office supplies - pretty much

anything weighing up to 12 ounces.
To float an object, first levitate the
small magnetic disc, including with
the setup of four LED lights on the
base station help guide the alignment.
Then users can place an item of choice
on top of the disc. The Levitron automatically compensates for changes in
weight by making up to 1,000 corrections per second to the electromagnets
contained within the base. This gift is
perfect for anyone looking to display
anything in a
new and futuristic way
that will be
sure to catch
the eyes of everyone.
Almost anyone will be en- tranced by the air
purifying Himalayan salt lamp. For
$20-25 people can own a salt lamp to
sit at the top of their desk. The Himalayan salt lamp is made from a natural salt crystal thats mined from the
Himalayan Mountains. However, it
has a beautiful orange-reddish color
to the salt crystal that sets the mood
whenever owners trying to
do homework, or relaxing watching TV. People who have asthma,
allergies, and other
illnesses can also
subside from the the
effects of this product.
The bubble wrap
suit
is
a
must for anyone on the
cutting edge of style for
$14.99. Who doesnt like
bubble wrap, especially
made into a suit? With
this item owners can roll
around and make bubble
noises. This is a great way
to give family and friends a
big headache with the annoying sounds that the
bubble wrap makes. This

is a two-piece costume thats a hooded

jacket with Velcro closure and elastic
waistband pants. This whole outfit is
made entirely from bubble wrap, and
is extremely stylish.
The last item, priced at just $12, is
a key chain screwdriver set. If stocking stuffers make the list of must have
items, a set that includes a miniature
flathead and Phillips-head screwdrivers that will attach to any key
ring should be added
to the Christmas list.
This is a great gift
for anyone who is
very handy and will
need a screwdriver
at anytime. Instead
of looking through
their toolbox looking for the different
screwdriver, they have one at the tip
of their fingertips.
Any one of these presents is a sure
fire way to impress friends and family
with something new, unique, and fun.
Gift cards are the go to for the
people in your life that you dont
know what to give, but make a
little more effort and find something they will truly love.
For other unique gifts theses
sites have some great ideas:
www.vat19.com
www.thegrommet.com
www.shopplasticland.com
www.perpetualkid.com
www.incrediblethings.com
www.handpickedcollection.com
Customized gifts:
www.etsy.com
www.uncommongoods.com
www.cafepress.com
Or you can make your own gift.
Something handmade from the
heart is always a winner.

Page 10 - Opinion

Falling into fa la la

Most wonderful time of year cant get here soon enough

The sound
of steaming hot water for hot
chocolate,
Jennyfer Tucker sleigh bells
Associate editor r i n g i n g
in Christmas songs,
flashing colorful lights up and down different neighborhoods, being woken up by the smell of gingerbread
cookies, tacky Christmas sweaters, and the exciting
Black Friday advertisements for preparation of Christmas gifts. Christmas time cant get here any quicker.
Im a big sucker for Christmas and the holidays. It
only comes around once a year and its the best holiday there is. I dont know why anyone would not love
Christmas! People get the chance to give and receive
gifts from their loved ones, and see their jaws drop
when they open them Christmas morning.
Its a good time for friends and family to get together. I know people, including myself, that have family
get togethers for Christmas Eve and Christmas which
can develop better relationships and be put into the
memory book that people have automatically built
into their heads. There is no bonding time like Christmas time.
Its an exciting time for everyone and its something
that people look forward to each year. People get va-

cation time from work and from school, which I really start looking forward to around this time of year.
Teens dont have to worry about doing homework for
a whole two weeks, life becomes a stress free no school
zone. After Christmas students are refreshed and
ready to work when its time to go back. It gives everyone the rest time that they need or even the social
time that they miss out on because theyre too caught
up in everyday life with work and school. A lot can be
accomplished in two weeks, like traveling, shopping,
cooking, bonding, and even sleeping.
Christmas movies are a big deal around this time
too. I know for a fact theres many people whose eyes
widen when they see the 25 Days of Christmas on
ABC Family. Though its like 50 days when they announce it rather 25 days before, its still exciting to
count down the days. The closer and closer people get
to this time of the year, the more in the spirit they become.
Christmas lights and inflatable lawn ornaments are
just as exciting as opening gifts Christmas morning.
Putting up Christmas decorations and the Christmas
tree is a good way to prepare for the great holiday
thats ahead and the best part is putting the star on the
top of the tree for final touches.
Some stores, like HEB, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens
start their Christmas asiles earlier in the year. Hobby Lobby starts theirs in July, which is even better. I
know some people probably think that is insane, but it

makes everyone get into the holiday spirit. The earlier,

the better.
Though people think that its unnecessary to have
so much holiday decors in store aisles during the summertime or that its too early to purchase gifts, they
should also think of the benefits it entails.The earlier,
the cheaper. It gives the advantage of better deals and
saving more money. People can also get things that
other people may not have. If people know theyre
in the market for a big blow up Santa, buy it then, so
when Christmas time comes around and everyone
wants it, you will already have it before it sold out.
Bryan is a small town to live in, but during Christmas, there are many festivities to participate and attend. Christmas in the Park and Santas Wonderland
are fun ways to get into the Christmas spirit for people
all ages.
Activities in many different churches around town
also bring people together to celebrate and learn the
birth of Jesus Christ. This gives young children the
chance to learn one of the most important reasons
for celebrating Christmas. While Santa Claus and his
helpers are fun to know about, its even better to know
about why its celebrated so much world wide.
If youre one of those people that have a passionate feeling of not liking Christmas, just remember the
Grinch stole Christmas, hated Christmas, and wanted
Christmas gone, but look where hes ended up Hes
the Grinch who loves Christmas.

Educational topic absent from state curriculum

place so young people

can make responsible choices. When
students are uninformed, they may not
Payton McKeehan make the best deciStaff writer sions for themselves.
Out of sight, out of
mind is an interestSex education in Texas main- ing approach, but sex is ally focuses on abstinence, but ready on teenagers mind so it
that mindset is only forcing should be part of education.
many sexually active teen- Teenagers bodies change
agers to be ill-prepared. En- drastically physically and
forcing the idea of abstinence hormonally during a very
only education, only creates short period of time, so teacha taboo framework where ing them to know how to
some teenagers want to have deal with, and react to, those
sex because they are told not changes is important. With
to. Sex isnt just a religious or all the changes taking place,
moral issue, there is a level the internet shouldnt be the
of education that must take only source for teens to turn

to as there is a lot of misinformation out there. Education

should include basic information about anatomy and sex
education to prepare students
for life.
A semblance of sex education was taught in 6th grade,
which is a good starting place,
but many students are too
immature to grasp the information at that time. Sexual
activity typically starts in
high school so sex education should be taught again
in either the freshman or
sophomore year. With sexual
education being taught at the
beginning of high school, students would be more aware of
the risks that come along with
sexual activity. Ensuring stu-

dents know the risks associated with sex would help the
Texas abstinence campaign
by providing a forum to discuss the information.
Texas abstinence approach
is well meant, but ineffective. By only promoting abstinence, students fail to understand the risks of STDs
and unplanned pregnancies,
so it is to everyones benefit to
provide more education at the
proper age.
This type of sex education
approach is not effective in
that students are unprepared
for the world. Texas is sure
to educate in other areas for
the grown-up world such as
in physics, basic algebra, and
common vocabulary. How-

ever, the state is failing to

provide information in a basic
area of life because, even for
students who are abstinent
until marriage, they need to
understand how their body
works. Students are acting
without really knowing what
could happen to themselves
or their partner. Students
could contract a STD or end
up with an unplanned pregnancy, both of which will impact them for the rest of their
lives. The reality is that some
students are going to have sex
whether abstinence is the focus or not, so the state should
provide sex education information while still encouraging
abstinence so students can be
as prepared as possible.

Stuff your turkey, not your stockings

humbug to Christmas, not

at all, but when a holiday
takes more than a month
for itself despite there being two holidays before it
Gail Finch and, when Christmas stuff
goes up before school even
Staff writer
starts, I have a problem. It
makes me uncomfortable
As the end of October comes to when I see Christmas trees go
a close, the spooky Halloween up before summer even ends,
month fades into November. or fall even begins.
November marks the begin- The big holiday everyone
ning of two months of the knows and loves is also just a
living nightmare that is the huge marketing campaign that
Christmas season. Now, you earns businesses more money
may ask, why does the Christ- in the months of November
mas season start in Novem- and December than the rest
ber? Well to tell you the truth, of the year. The American
it starts in early October, or version of Santa Claus litereven earlier. Why does it start ally originated from part of a
so early? Its because people Coca-Cola ad from the 30s.
think they need to feel holiday The big fat guy in a red suit
cheer before it needs to be felt. lost his sainthood in order to
I wouldnt consider myself become a marketing scheme to
a Grinch, and I dont say bah- keep children in check so their

parents would buy them more

things for Christmas instead of
giving them a lump of something that goes in a fireplace.
If you hate Black Friday and
you work in retail, Im sorry. I
am oh, so sorry. Black Friday
gets people killed guys. Bodily
harm comes to people who
shop at midnight in order to get
a flat screen they wont be able
to afford because their medical
bills will be too high after they
get trampled. Retail workers
everywhere miss out on precious time with their family in
order to pander to people who
shop on Black Friday. They
also endure bodily harm due
to the fact that people are rude
and dont really know when to
stop fighting someone for a toy
that will break in of ten minutes after it is given to a child
on Christmas morning. The
true meaning of Christmas has

Spirit of humanity burns bright

Students in high school today were
either not born yet, or dont have memories of the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sepetember 11.
Because of this, we dont know what
it felt like to live in a world where America felt invincible. A world were things
only happened over there.
Since that time, other autrocities
have occurred on American soil including the Boston Marathon bombing.
And with that, we have adjusted to living in a world were we know bad things
happen, but we choose to see the good.
With the latest attack, which occurred in France, we once again saw
the true spirit of humanity rise to the
surface as people put aside their differences to support each other.
We live in a world where, if we allow ourselves, every morning we could
wake up in fear that something horrible
would happen.
Instead, we see our generation using
social media to take a stand against the
atrocities of a few as they try to cripple

societies with fear.

From the actions of ordinary citicizens opening up their homes in Paris to
people who needed shelter via Twitter,
to complext organizations like Anynolmous vowing to take down ISIS online
presense, we will not let fear win.
We will not let a few dictate how we
live our daily lives. We will applaud social warriors as they came out onto the
streets of Paris in protest of what happened to show that they would not be
scared into submission. We will thank
our service men and women for fighting for the freedoms we enjoy. And we
will hug our loved ones because these
events have reminded us, not that we
should fear, but that each moment is
precious.
As we approach Christmas and a time
of family and friends, we hope that each
of you will take a few moments to reflect on the life you have and be thankful for those who help ensure our safety
and freedoms.

-The Norseman Staff

been long gone, thanks to this

unofficial day of mourning for
everyones dignity.
Dont get me started on
Christmas movies. Dont even.
I do very much enjoy the animated classics and animated
shorts such as the Charlie
Brown Christmas Special,
The Grinch (not the one with
Jim Carrey), Rudolph the
Red-Nose Reindeer and so
forth, but the overly produced
Christmas movie where a little
girl or boy wants to find the
true meaning of Christmas via
getting everyone to sing a stupid Christmas carol from the
40s and everyone magically
remembering what Christmas
is all about, horribly inaccurate renditions of the baby Jesus birth, or rom-coms about
falling in love on Christmas.
Some may say that preparing for Christmas early means

Opinions - Page 11

less stress when the big day arrives, and I agree. Preparing
for Christmas is a good idea,
but not seven months before
December even comes up.
Christmas stuff doesnt need
to be in stores before the end
of November, no matter how
much you love the holiday. I
cant tell you how many times
Ive gone into Hobby Lobby
for something random like tiedye, and I see Christmas trees.
In July.
Leave all the Santas, elves,
and nativity scenes in the attic for another month or so,
or at least until after Thanksgiving. Thats a holiday too.
Its like Christmas without the
presents and all of the other
things that come along with
the winter holiday. Stuff your
turkey, not your stockings, and
wait just a little bit longer for
Christmas to come.

NORSEMAN
Adviser
Rebecca Dominy
Co-editor
Danica Mendes
Lucy Raleigh
Associate editor
Jennyfer Tucker

Staff writers
Gail Finch
Payton McKeehan
Star Salter

http://www.
bryanhighnorseman.com
http://www.twitter.com/
bhsnorseman
http://www.facebook.com/
BryanISDBryanHighNorseman

The opinions expressed are those of the writers and are not reflective of the
administrators, faculty or staff of Bryan Independent School District.
Submissions to the editor are welcomed, but must be signed and should not
exceed 300 words. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions in the
interest of clarity and length or to not print a letter at all. Letters containing
obscene or libelous material will not be considered.
Bryan Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race,
religion, color, national origin, sex or handicap in providing education services.

Page 12 - Finals and Fun

Semester Exam Schedule

Wednesday, December 16

Thursday, December 17

1st Period 8:15-9:00 45 min

2nd Period 9:05-9:50 45 min
3rd Period 9:55-10:40 45 min

6th Exam
5th Exam
4th Exam

8:15-9:40 85 min
9:45-11:10 85 min
11:15-12:40 85 min

4th Period

10:45-12:40 85 min

Lunch

12:40-1:15

A Lunch
B Lunch
C Lunch
D Lunch

10:40-11:10
11:10-11:40
11:40-12:10
12:10-12:40

30 min
30 min
30 min
30 min

5th Period
6th Period
7th Exam

12:45-1:25
1:30-2:10
2:15-3:40

40 min
40 min
85 min

35 min

Friday, December 18
3rd Exam
2nd Exam
1st Exam

8:15-9:40 85 min
9:45-11:10 85 min
11:15-12:40 85 min

Lunch

12:40-1:15

Other Information

Exempt students must stay in their

testing room.
Thursday and Friday, all students
who have finished their exams are
dismissed at 12:40, if they have a
way off campus.
Students unable to leave will follow
their regular schedule for the afternoon.

35 min

German
teacher
...continued from page 2
Mrs. Krammers best attributes are her inspiration and charisma, French teacher Tara Bailey said.
She is always positive and enthusiastic, with great
stories to tell. They definitely help her students stay
motivated and wanting to learn a second language.
It is evident that Krammer pushes students to see
learning a language, not as drudgery or something
they just have to get through for a credit, but instead
as a way to connect to a culture and history of a people.
She has a wonderful ability to make the students
feel connected to the language and see a purpose,
Bailey said. The stories of her adventures draw the
students in and inspire them to travel and become
world learners.
With that enthusiasm and charisma, students are
inspired not only by her stories and knowledge, but
also her dedication to her job.
She loves her job and that makes any teacher a
thousand times better, senior Joan Fackler said.
She talks to us like were actual humans. She knows
what shes talking about and she loves what shes
teaching.

My favorite present was a

bike when I was 5 because I
had just learned to ride.
Jessenia Garcia, 11

My favorite present was

a speaker when I was 13,
they were very loud.
William Rutherford, 9

My favorite present was

a hoverboard because
they are awesome.
Robert Golden, 11

My favorite present were

One Direction concert tickets
when I was 13 because I was
obsessed with them.
Megan Mead, 10

My favorite present was

a Barbie my dad gave me
when I was 6.
Lee-Ann Lloyd, 10