Tornado Times Monthly Edition D E C E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 2

T h e N E W

News Reporting Adviser:

Mrs. Diane Rumbel

Contributors:

Maddie Shurock

Taylor Conches

Olivia Lubinski

Dylan Fiamoncini

Isabella Stellar

Natasha Nevis

Peyton Worhach

Luke Darrup

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Time is finally here again and before we put our brains in “vacation mode” De-

cember at MCA has many things going on and approaching. Winter Sports have begun for

the 2014-2015 season, students conquered their Keystone exams, and Christmas is right

around the corner and tis the season of giving! We’re less than a week away from Christ-

mas! We can do this! Three snow days extended our publish date, and we’re down to the

deadline highlighting what’s new at MCA. From everyone at Tornado Times and news

reporting class, we wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and see you in 2015!

Got news? Email us at: TornadoTimes@mca.k12.pa.us -Tornado Times Staff

Last Minute “Do it Yourself” Gifts

If you’re in a pinch because you forgot some gifts for family and friends and low on money, here are some ideas that are easy to make yourself and super cheap!

Personalized Mugs- Buy a plain while mug (most are $1) and Sharpies. Create

a design on the mug and bake it in the oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Let cool in the oven. Add some cocoa mix, candy, money, etc. into the mug.

Baked Goods- Of course everyone loves homemade goodies. Bake cookies,

pies, cupcakes, cakes, anything and decorate them to suit the recipient. Super fun,

easy, and delicious gifts!

“I will” Coupons- A classic. Create some coupons for your mom, grandma,

etc. that say for example: “I will wash the dishes every night for a week” or “I will

make dinner every Monday night for a month”. Easy, and practically no cost to

create.

Hot Cocoa Kit- All you need for this is a mason jar, and a killer hot cocoa reci-

pe. Place the loose cocoa at the bottom of the jar and top it off with chocolate chips,

marshmallows, or peppermints. Decorate the jar and you’re done! The recipient can

make the cocoa any time he/she wants.

Homemade Ornaments- Get a plain-glass ornament and remove the stem. Place

three of any color crayon bits into the ornament with the paper off. Use a hairdryer

to melt the crayon- creating an interesting, all-your-own design! Perfect for anyone

on your list.

Bookmarks- Perfect for those readers you’re close to. This can range to any-

thing from a quote, a picture of you and the recipient together, or something very

elaborate. Cut any design out from construction paper and decorate it your way.

Movie Night Kit- Gather up some of your favorite movie snack such as packs

of popcorn, Skittles, Hershey’s Bars, M&M’s, etc. Purchase a DVD and then

once you’ve gathered everything together wrap it up into what looks like a

little “kit”. Or go about it your own way. Either way the recipient will love it.

www.Pinterest.com has tons of “DIY” gifts that are very inexpensive. Gifts that

come from the heart are more meaningful. -By: Madison Shurock

Three snow make-up days as of Dec. 12, 2014!!

Shopping Season Tips and Tricks

Christmas is here and shopping

season is in full swing! If you’re on a tight budget this Christmas and

don’t want to over spend, these

tips might save your wallet.

· Make a list

· Stick to your budget

· Do online research

· Read newspapers advertisements

· Use money-saving apps

such as “RetaiMeNot”

· Make homemade gifts to save $$

T O R N A D O T I M E S M O N T H L Y E D I T I O N

School Board Merit Award

Tiera Domanski

Rotary Student of the Month

Thomas Moser

7th Grade Jr High Pride

Trent Moser

8th Grade Jr High Pride

Katie Flynn

Elks Awards:

Student of the Month Kayla Witt

Jr Student of the Month

Sara Cooper

Teen of the Month

Jacqualin Lyden

Jr Teen of the Month

Matthew Stellar

Student Council Awards for November:

Teacher: Mr. Stellar

Students: Raykal Adiansjah and Gabby Taylor

November Student Awards: Student Musicians:

Congrats to the Following District Qualifiers! District 8 Chorus:

Hannah Fetterolf—Soprano One

District 8 Orchestra: Noah Adams—Percussion

District 8 Band: Joanna Rompallo—Tenor Sax

Chris Stellar—Trumpet Luke Darrup—Bari Sax Cameron Getty—Flute

Joseph Rossi—Percussion Noah Adams—Percussion Aleah Alderson—Trumpet Carl Darrup—Euphonium Aurora Froutz—Clarinet

Emily Stasick—Trombone

2015 Susquehanna University Honors Band: Chris Stellar—Trumpet

Joanna Rompallo—Tenor Sax Cameron Getty—Flute Luke Darrup—Alto Sax

Joseph Rossi—Percussion Ashley Doyle—Percussion Carl Darrup—Euphonium

Lebanon Valley Honors Band: Cameron Getty—Flute Luke Darrup—Bari Sax

Joanna Rompallo—Tenor Sax Chris Stellar—Trumpet

Aleah Alderson—Trumpet Emily Stasick—Trombone Carl Darrup—Euphonium

AUDITION RESULTS FOR 2015 MUSICAL "Bye Bye Birdie”:

After much preparation and anticipation, the cast list for this year’s spring production of “Bye Bye Birdie” has been an-

nounced. Protagonist, songwriter, and president of the AlMaeLou Music Corporation Albert Peterson is played by senior,

Chris Stellar. His secretary and his love, Rose Alvarez, is played by Joanna Rompallo. Rock and Roll superstar Conrad Birdie

is headed to the army and is played by Manus McCracken. Kim MacAfee, the one who gets Conrad’s “one last kiss” is played

by Hannah Fetterolf. This “last kiss” is set to happen on the Ed Sullivan show, and Kim’s parents played by Luke Darrup and

Rachel Startzel, adore Ed Sullivan and get to make an appearance on the show. Kim’s unhappy steady is played by Carl Darrup

and Kim’s brother Randolph MacAfee is played by Patrick Rooney. Kim’s best friend, Ursula Merkle, is played by Isabella

Stellar whose mother, Mrs. Merkel, is played by Alyssa Menko. One of the “comical” characters, Mae Peterson, is played by

Chantelle Skavery. Mae’s choice to replace Rosie, Gloria, is played by Natasha Nevis. The mayor, who is so proud to have

Conrad Birdie come to his town, is played by Zachary Hunter, and his lovely wife Kayla Witt. There are also many other roles

that add to the show, to help make it complete! Practices have begun, and cast members are already acting, singing, and danc-

ing! The show is set for March 20 and 21, 2015. -By Luke Darrup

Congratulations! SAT’s

700 Club: Austin Joraskie Math 770

1300 Club: Joannna Rompallo Math 680 Reading 620

FBLA Winners Advancing to States: Maddie Lyash - 1st Desktop Publishing

Rachel Startzel - 1st Desktop Publishing

Dylan Carey - Intro to Information Technology - 1st

JoAnna Davidson - 1st Spreadsheet Applications

Sydney Spears - 3rd Computer Applications

Buttermilk Cut-Out Cookies

Ingredients:

3 c sugar

2 c butter or margarine

2 c buttermilk

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp salt

Flour (enough to roll out, almost 5 lbs)

Beat sugar and shortening until well blended. Then add ingredients in

order given; then enough flour to roll out but not too stiff.

Cut out and bake at 350° until light brown on bottom.

Apple Dumplings Sauce

1 ½ cups – sugar

1 ½ cups- water

¼ cup- red cinnamon candies

¼ teaspoon- cinnamon

¼ teaspoon- nutmeg

Dumplings

2 cups- Flour

2 teaspoons- Baking powder

1 teaspoon- salt

2/3 cup- shortening

½ to 2/3 cup- cold milk

6 wine sap, Rome Beauty, Jonathan or small

(2 1/2- inch diameter) baking apples, peeled and cored

3 tablespoons- margarine or butter

1 egg white, beaten

1 teaspoon- sugar Half- and –Half, if desired

In medium saucepan, combine all sauce ingredients. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Heat oven to 375ºF. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Using

fork or pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle flour mixture with milk while tossing and

mixing lightly with fork, adding enough milk until soft dough forms. Shape dough into ball. Roll on lightly floured surface into 18x

12- inch rectangle. Cut rectangle into 6 squares. * Place an apple in center of each pastry square; dot with margarine. Bring corners

of pastry squares up to top of apples; press edges to seal. Repeat with remaining apples.

Place ungreased 13x19- inch pan. Pour sauce in pan evenly around dumplings. Brush dumplings with egg white; sprinkle with 1 ta-

blespoon sugar. Bake at 375ºF for 40 to 50 minutes or until dumplings are light golden brown and apples are tender. Serve warm or

cool with half – and – half. Makes 6 Servings

T O R N A D O T I M E S M O N T H L Y E D I T I O N

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 2

Snow Cream 1 cup rich milk or heavy cream

1 egg, beaten well

3/4 c. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 qt. freshly fallen, clean snow

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, except

snow, thoroughly. Then add snow and mix quickly.

Eat at once! You may have to add additional snow,

depending on the water content.

`In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and

cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool approx. 30 min.

Classic Chocolate No-bake cookies

1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. milk

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. peanut butter

1 t. vanilla

3 c. quick oats

Mark Your Calendars!

P A G E 4 V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 2

12/17-12/24- Hanukkah

12/23- Act 80 Day- Early Dismissal

12/23- Festivus

12/24-1/5 Christmas Vacation

12/25- Christmas

12/31-1/1- New Year’s Eve/Day

1/8-1/10- District Band Festival

1/16- Last Day 2nd Marking Period

Act 80 Early Dismissal

1/19- Snow Make-Up Day #1

First Day 3rd Marking Period

1/22-1/24- District Chorus Festival

1/30 7-9th grade semi-formal 7-9

1/31 Coaches for Cancer

Basketball Tournament

There’s still time to get

your VIT’s just in time for winter sports! Admission

to all home events Girls & Boys Basketball,

Swimming, Wrestling $20 students $35 adults

Available in the Athletic Office

Room 108

The MCA Winter sports season has begun, but not without the

winter weather playing a key role. MCA competes interscholastically in five

sports throughout the winter seasons. These sports include varsity girls bas-

ketball, varsity boys basketball, varsity swimming, varsity wrestling,

and varsity winter track. All updated sports schedules can be found on the

Mt. Carmel Area school website. Tune into MCA-Live each morning to catch

the latest updates on your favorite high school sports teams!

AVOID THE FLU! With flu season already upon us, it’s important to know the signs and symp-toms and decrease your chances of getting the flu. Prevention is key; here are a few tips to keep you from feeling under the weather.

Wash your hands with soap and water

Don’t share personal items such as food, drinks, or unwashed utensils

Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. If one is not available, it is better to cover coughs and sneezes with your upper arm

Symptoms of the flu include: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired

If you are diagnosed as sick, you will be sent home. Stay at home for at least 24 hours after having no signs of a fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Staying at home will reduce the number of peo-ple who may get infected Thanks to our school nurse, Mrs. Ryan, for these few helpful tips. Remember to stay hydrated and wash your hands!

The MCA Lady Tornadoes in conjunction with the Fast Break Club raised close to $6,000

dollars at the Hoop Shoot-out held in the high school gym. Players and coaches paired up with

guest shooters to make the most foul shots and get the most donations. The gym was filled with

basketball supporters and MCA alumni who relived basketball memories on their home court.

Sophomore, Marissa Kleman and her partner, Ali Varano, 2014 alumni, made the most shots with

a total of 92 out of 100. Freshman, Maci Mazzatesta and her partner, Maria Fantanarosa, PA’s all

time scorer and 1985 alumni, raised the most money. Anyone can still donate to the girls basketball

program. Make a check payable to the “MCA Fast Break Club” c/o the High School office.

T O R N A D O T I M E S M O N T H L Y E D I T I O N

7th, 8th, 9th Grades

Winter Semi-Formal

January 30, 2015 Tickets available Jan 29-30 in school

Sponsored by Student Council

$3.00 admission

Refreshments

*No jeans*