GrowlThe Mexico High SchoolMexico School District 59The Mascot 2015

@MexicoMoHS @mexicohssports @MexicoDawgPound

Ahh, Christmas. A time where it’s okay to pull out your striped stockings and your ugliest sweater. A time full of friendly neighborhood lighting competitions. A time when little kids actu-ally go to bed early in hopes that Santa Claus will leave them every-thing on their list. So what exactly does Christmas mean to you? Does it mean getting that awesome new iPad you’ve been eyeing? Does it mean take out food and movies? Or does it simply mean hanging around the fire with your family? All of these things are

wonderful, but is it really what Christmas is about?

Christmas time is the season for giving, and in this issue of The Growl we cannot stress that enough. As our gift to you, we are featuring everything from volun-teering for the holidays to DIY gifts for the ones you love. This is a great time to give instead of

receive and that fact is something we can-not express enough. So kick off your boots, plop down with a hot cup of cocoa and en-joy this month’s issue all about giving.

“Just hear those sleigh bells jingling,Ring-ting-tingling too,Come on, it’s lovely weatherFor a sleigh ride together with you,Outside the snow is fallingAnd friends are calling, “Yoo hoo”,Come on, it’s lovely weatherFor a sleigh ride together with you.”

‘Tis the Seasonby Nyja Mitchell

Members of Ms. Jami Williams’ advanced production class present tickets to the Dec. 5 Garth Brooks concert in St. Louis to Bethany Turner. The tickets were part of a social media experiment the class performed to test the value and validity of social media in advertising. The tickets were given away initially by KWWR radio station using clues on social media sites. Followers were charged with finding the tickets using the clues. Members of the class agreed that they would follow the media clues and if they found the tickets, they would give them away to a local veteran or soldier who was nominated by a family member using Facebook. All of the names submitted were written down and one name was drawn at random. That name was Patrick Turner who was nominated by his wife, Ms. Turner. Pictured above presenting the tickets are, from left: Austin Alexander, Ayden Pendegraft, Ryan Spargo, Allison Smiley, Sadie Frazier and Shelby Gish. Members of the class who participated but who are not pictured include: Miranda Lierheimer, Austin Pattillo and Isaac Prior.

Stu-Co Hosts Christmas Partyby Ayden Pendegraft

The Mexico High School student council played host of their annual Christmas party on Dec. 14. This is an annual event hosted by the council each year. Members of the student council spend time with their “buddies” after school playing games, coloring and celebrating the season of giving with a gift exchange. This year, two very special guests showed up to help pass out presents and make the day even more special. Santa and Mrs. Claus brought presents and stories to share with each child. “This is one of my favorite activities of the year,” said junior Erika Smiley pictured above playing the elf for Santa and Mrs. Claus. Right, freshman Cameron Baumgartner shows off his artistic talent while helping his buddy color a picture.

two “ very special guests” make an appearance

At this year’s Christmas assembly one of the most time-honored and important traditions of Mexico High School history will be ob-served, and it’s not the ugly sweater contest. Two seniors, one male and one female, will be selected as the most courteous student in their class and awarded the Wise Cour-tesy Award. The Wise Courtesy Award was first presented in 1938. The cash award was created by the late Mrs. F.M Wise, and in the last seventy-five years, 150 students have been awarded the given the award. This year will the 76th annual presenta-tion of this award.

Wise Courtesy Award to be Presented

There’s a specific process for the selection of the award recipients. First, the administrators put a list of all the seniors onto an online survey and send it out to members of the faculty. Teachers then nomi-nate the senior boy and girl who, in their opinion, was the most cour-teous, polite, and well-mannered. The students who receive the most votes are given the award. Gail Lankford, secretary to the coun-selors, understands the importance of this award. “This award is spe-cial and should be continued; it’s a beautiful tradition.” KrisTurling-

by Shondella Merkley

• continued on page 3 •

vol. 89 • issue 4 • 12/19/14

•inside•holiday traditions - pg. 2

talent show - pg. 3santa letters - pg. 4-5

gifting/regifting - pg. 6-7senior fishbowl - pg. 8

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ULTIMATE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS POLLthe first-ever Mexico High School

the ultimate holiday question majority runner-up last/leastTree: before Thanksgiving or after?

Turkey, ham or chicken?

Celebrate: Christmas eve or Christmas day?

Any crazy relatives involved?

Presents first or breakfast first?

Tree: down before or after NYE?

Stockings or NO stockings?

Stay home or travel?

Early to bed or up late to catch Santa?

Peek or prefer the unknown?

Open one present early or wait?

Under the tree or hidden in the house?

Christmas music or no?

Outside lights or save it for inside?

Snowy Christmas or grassy fields?

77% said they prefer to enjoy Thanksgiving

18% said Thanksgiving evening

5% said that’s what they do on Halloween!

41% said who cares... MEAT!

35% said YES PLEASE! 24% said keep it tradi-tional with ham.

53% said Christmas day

33% said Christmas EVERYDAY!

14% said Christmas eve

64% said We put the fun back in dysfunc-

tional

27% said as far as everyone knows we are

normal

9% said we invite other family’s crazy people in

addition 14% said breakfast

is the most important meal of the day

18% said presents while we eat

63% said presents ASAP!

6% said it’s still up from last year

15% said tree down on Christmas night

73% said after the New Year celebration

13% said are we talking about pantyhose?

36% said it depends on how busy mom/

grandma is48% said it’s my favor-

ite part!

13% said mi casa es su casa!

32% said hit the road51% said stay in bed

21% said this is the year I’m going to get

him!

29% said I am out by 8 p.m.

50% said they don’t get out of bed during

break...

13% said surprises are scary

19% said I need to pre-pare my happy face...

68% said I love surprises

13% said I buy my own presents so the jig is

up!

35% said my mom still picks out the one on

Christmas eve

52% said the more the merrier on Christmas

morning

28% said I’d like it more if they didn’t start

in July

31% said I’d have a blue Christmas

without it

40% said there’s only so many times I can have a

holly jolly anything

7% said I like to start my morning with a little

treasure hunt

9% said just pile them on my bed and make it

easy...

84% said under, around and stacked by

the tree

46% said the best way to spread Christmas cheer is bright lights

31% said we like to keep it to ourselves

23% said we’ve had our outside lights up

since 10% said I’d really like to be able to see the grass... or the beach

16% said the weather doesn’t

matter at all71% said let it snow!

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by Kayla Scobee

ton, senior counselor feels that the cash award is just a small part of the impor-tance and significance of this award. “It’s important to keep tradition,” Turl-ington emphasized. “This award is not about giving out cash, but to recognize students that are always courteous and polite to not only faculty, but other stu-dents as well.”

Wise... from 1

Mexico High School’s student council will start 2015 with a joyful noise... and some dancing and other stuff. The student council is hosting a talent show featuring the students of MHS. “It was actually (student council president) Abby Dick’s idea to have the talent show,” explained Ms. Lind-sey Yancey, MHS librarian and student council sponsor. “She thought it would be a cool idea to invite the public into our school and see the awesome stuff that our stu-dents can do.” Many feel that a showcase of this sort is long over-due. “I know they have them at the middle school level sometimes, but I don’t think MHS has had one since I’ve been here... including when I used to go to school here,” Yancey laughed. The MHS talent show will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, in Emmons Hall. It’s free to sign up, and there will be no auditions. Interested students should fill out an entry form avail-able from Yancey by Jan. 6, 2015. Admission is $2 for students and $3 for adults. The grand prize for the win-ner will be a scholarship of 25 percent of the proceeds earned through the collection of admission. The judging criteria will be based on stage presentation, difficulty of act and creativity.

Stu-Co to Host Student Talent Showcaseby Mackenzie Morgan

We Proudly Support TheMexico Bulldogs!!

2 Locations in Mexico122 W. Jackson ~ 581-6292640 W. Jackson ~ 581-5955

PICK UP YOURHOLIDAY

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Call, E-Check-In Online!

573-581-28901-800-224-2890

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P.O. Box 600Mexico, MO 65265

Valid Through End of Dec.

“

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IF YOU JUST BELIEVE...Dear Santa, I would like to have a hamster, a new Game-Boy, a red one, and some games for it, some lipstick, makeup, jewelry, Video Now, some discs to go with it, clothes, but anything will be great! Love, Sydney Schutte

It’s a long standing tradition for The Growl staff to dig up some of the old “Letters to Santa” printed in The Mexico Ledger back when our students were just little ankle biters. We found 10 letters this year, written with wide-eyed expectations and hopefulness and we took those letters to the student that wrote it and asked the million dollar question: did you get what you asked for?

Sydney Schutte, 12 Dear Santa,My name is Dalton and I’ve been a good boy this year. Please bring me NASCAR stuff, racing suit, Vid-eoNow (color). I’ll leave treats for you and the deer. Thank you,Dalton Logerman

Dalton Logerm

an, 11

Karen Baker, 12

Dear Santa, Thank you for my Game Boy from last year. I have tried to be good with my sister. This year I would like a PlayStation 2. Next, I would like a portable DVD player so I can watch a movie on the way to Colorado. I would also like a puppy. Finally, I would like the Harry Potter 3 movie or the Shrek 2 movie. I hope you have a good Christmas. I will leave you milk and cookies on Christmas Eve.Love, Karen Baker

Dear Santa, Hope you have had a good year. I have been very good as you probably know. If you can here are some things I would like my own jewelry set, a fake phone, a toy computer, an ATM,

Mary-Kate and Ashley skirt. Your Friend, Shelby Gish

Shel

by G

ish,

12 Dear Santa,

My name is Michael. I’m 7 ½ this year. Thanks for the toys from last year. I really want a dirt bike. I promise to be careful. I also would like a Yu-Gi-Oh pack, DVD player for my room, stereo, games for my GameBoy and anything else you want to bring me. Please remember Matthew, my 2-year-old brother. He does try to be good. Have a safe trip. We’ll be at my papa and grandma’s house.Love, Michael Taylor

Michael Taylor, 12

““

I was surprised by how much stuff on that list I actually got! Everything except the lipstick, make-up and jewelry... even the hamster was under the tree!

“I GOT THE STUFF! “ “I think I got most of what I wanted

that year and just like every other Christmas it was a good one!

“ “ “I got a GameBoy but I don’t re-member what else I got. I was pretty excited.“

I got that skirt and I rocked it.

LETTERS TO SANTA

Isn’t it funny that at Christmas something in you gets so lonely for — I don’t know what exactly, but it’s something that you don’t mind so much not having at other times. ~Kate L. Bosher

Dear Santa, I would like a pocket rocket and a Video Now and an X-Box or PS2 and some games to go with it. I would also like an electric guitar. Could I have these things circle please one of them. Yes or No. I love you, Kip Jackson

Kip Jackson, 12

Dear Santa,My name is Harrison and I am 8 years old. I am in third grade. Thank you for all the presents you brought me last year. This year I would like a leather coat, Hot Wheels muscle cars, the Cars XBox game and the baseball cards. Please don’t forget my little brother, Jesse. I will leave you some milk and cookies.Your friend,Harrison Kleinsorge

Harrison Kleinsorge, 11

Dear Santa,I suppose I have been good this year. My

grades in school are good. I would like for you to bring me some XBox games, a big remote control “General Lee” car, a rock crawler (remote control), new Spin Uno,

PS2 games, GBA games, the XBox game “Cars” and the movie “Cars.”

Please bring my mom, dad, brother, Bran-den, my maw maw, my Aunt Cookie,

Uncle Bob, cousin Jason, my daddy Josh, Michelle and Noah something for Christ-

mas.Love,

Brian Baker

Bria

n Ba

ker,

11

Dear Santa,My name is Josh Cunningham. I am eight years old. This year for Christmas, I want a deck of Yu-gi-Oh dinosaur cards, a WWE 2007 video game, three packages of Yu-Gi-Oh, another Game Boy Advance and a cotton candy maker. I will leave some cookies by the tree for you.Love,Josh Cunningham

Josh Cunningham, 11 Dear Santa,My name is Haleigh Jacobs and I am eight years old. I’ve been a good girl in school this year so far and go some good grades too. I do my best and I don’t give up. All I am asking this year is a Bratz doll and disco van. I must say my brother wanted a PS2 hand game. If we get one thing, that’s what we need. I would like an Easy Bake set.Haleigh Jacobs

Haleigh Jacobs, 11

“ “I only got a guitar and a PS2. But I wasn’t too upset about it. “ “I don’t remember...

“ “I don’t remember what I got... that was so long ago! “ “

I didn’t get the Bratz and van but my brother got the PS2 and I did get the Easy Bake.“ “I’m not sure but I do know I

still have the rock crawler...

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Phone 581-1350

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David Ham581-2560

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It’s Not To Late To Make Your Wish List!

Name: Paige Schutte Grade Level: 10Q: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: A diamond ring.Q: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: A knitted scarf that was only one foot long.Q: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: Sure.Q: Have you ever regifted?A: No.

Name: Alex Massa Grade Level: 10Q: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: A friendship necklace.Q: What is the weirdest holi-day gift you’ve ever received. A: Sand.Q: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: Yes.Q: Have you ever regifted?A: Yes.

Name: Tesla Huffstetler Grade Level: 11Q: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: A necklace to my cousin.Q: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: Socks.Q: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A:Yes.Q: Have you ever regifted?A: Yes.

Name: Stephanie Groves Grade Level: 11Q: What is the best holidaygift you’ve ever given?A: Pink boots for my mom (expensive).Q: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: A como pajama shirt from my brother.Q: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A:Yes.Q: Have you ever regifted?A:Yes.

Name: Mr. Adam Barnett Grade Level: TeacherQ: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: A more than half-used bottle of detergent.Q: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: Already opened and eat-en can of popcorn. They ate all the caramel corn!Q: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: Oh. Sure it is.Q: Have you ever regifted?A: A couple of times. But it always comes back to me.

Name: Ra-chel Willet Grade Level: 10Q: What is the best

holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: An Xbox game.Q: What is the weirdestholiday gift you’ve ever received?A: A book in the shape of my initials.Q: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: No! It’s rude.Q: Have you ever regifted?A: No.

Name: Ms. Elizabeth Ford Grade Level: TeacherQ: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: A puppy!Q: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: One year I got nothing from my kids. That was weird.Q: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: Yes.Q: Have you ever regifted?

A: Not yet!Name of Student: Kro-neshia BelcherGrade Level: 10 Q:What is the best holi-day gift you have ever given? A:The best gift I have ever given is a flat screen TV.Q:What is the weirdest gift you have ever received?A:The weirdest gift I have ever received is socks.Q:Do you believe that is ok to regift?A:No.Q:Have you ever regifted?A:No.

Name: Karsten Ekern Grade Level: 11Q: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: A puppyQ: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?

A: UnderwearQ: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: Yes it isQ: Have you ever re-gifted?A: I sure haven’t

Name: Tazshia Burgeson Grade: 10Q: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given? A: LipstickQ: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: SodaQ: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: No.Q: Have you ever re-gifted?A: No

‘Tis Better to Give Than Receive...

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Mon.-Thurs 11am-8pmFri.-Sat. 11am-9pm

Name: Kaylee Hutcheson Grade Level: 11Q: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: I gave my mom a moth-ers necklaceQ: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: Fingernail clippers kitQ: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: It really dependsQ: Have you ever regifted?A: No

Name: Mr. Miguel Garcia Grade Level: TeacherQ: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: Engagement ring.Q: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: A lotion for the bath-room for right after you poop.Q: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: At some point. But be careful to whom you regift. They might catch you!!

Q: Have you ever regifted?A: Oh yes!

Name: Al-lie Heckman Grade: 12Q: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A:iPadQ: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: Holiday SocksQ: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: Sure!Q: Have you ever regifted?A: Yep!

Name: Maia ShiversGrade Level: 10Q: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: My little brother for

ChristmasQ: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: Santa Claus erasersQ: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: NoQ: Have you ever regifted?A: No

Name: Donna Troesser Grade Level: TeacherQ: What is the best holi-day gift you’ve ever given?A: An engagement ring from my husband (20 years ago). When I was 8 or 9 I wanted a 10 speed bike, and I knew I wouldn’t get it, but my parents surprised me.Q: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: A real bag of coal from my brother. Needless to say, I got him back the next year.Q: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?

A: Some things - some things NOT.Q: Have you ever regifted?A: Oh, I don’t want to say one way or another, but if I must… Why yes… Yes, I have! But please don’t tell.

Name: Samuel Lee Grade Level: 11Q: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: A necklace.Q: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: UnderwearQ: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: Yes.Q: Have you ever regifted?A: Yes.

Name: Clint Smith Grade Level: 10Q: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: A neck-

lace.Q: What is the weirdestholiday gift you’ve ever received?A: Pink cap gun.Q: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: Yes.Q: Have you ever regifted?A: No.

Name: Mrs. Julie PappasGrade: TeacherQ:What is the best holiday gift you have ever giv-en? A:Hugs are free and nice so...hugs!Q:What is the weirdest gift you have ever received?A:The weirdest gift I have ever received is ugly pants.Q:Do you believe that is ok to regift?A:Sure. If you can’t return it, it’s better to give it to someone else who could use it.Q:Have you ever regifted?

A:Probably. I can’t remem-ber.

Name: Alex Schlatt Grade Level: 10Q: What is the best holiday gift you’ve ever given?A: iPod touch 5th gen.Q: What is the weirdest holiday gift you’ve ever received?A: My brother gave me a potato one year.Q: Do you believe that it is ok to regift?A: No.Q: Have you ever regifted?A: No.

May peace find you and yours this holiday season!

-The Growl Staff

And Have the Chance to Regift...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

8

The Senior Fishbowl Every senior’s name • one fishbowl •three random interviews per month•{ {

by Ayden Pendegraft

•Someday you’ll be famous for:photography or graphic design•You’d be voted most likely to:represent in a speed-talking contest•In five years you’ll be:a freelance photogra-pher/graphic designer. •The story of your life would be titled:My Fandom and Ban-dom Journey, and Other Things I Obsess Over.Shout out!Kayce R.Josh W.Mary-Rose S.

•Someday you’ll be famous for:doing something stupid and surviving.•You’d be voted most likely to:be voted off the island.•In five years you’ll be:thinking “How the heck did five years pass already?”•The story of your life would be titled:Help!•Shout out!Dylan Goff, Kaitlin Kirk-wood, and Austin Bitner. Abby

Gooch

•Someday you’ll be famous for:having a vineyard.•You’d be voted most likely to:live in a tiny house.•In five years you’ll be:Getting work experience and networking.•The story of your life would be titled:??(The Growl would like to recommend: I Was a Teenage Fiona)–Shout out!John Denver for some great music!

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