theGrowlMassaponax High School, 8201 Jefferson Davis Highway, Fredericksburg, VA 22407 - (540) 710-0419 - mhsgrowl@yahoo.com - December 9, 2008 - Volume 11, Issue 3

MAKING YOUR LIST

Holiday

Editor-in-Chief Katie Arquiette makes her reccomendations for this season’s must-haves

page 8

Weather

Worst Case Scenario

NCAA BCS

Index

TODAYCloudy

High: 45 Low: 33

WEDNESDAYCloudy with showers

High: 50 Low: 37

THURSDAYSunny

High: 48 Low: 34

2. Editorial3. Entertainment4. Sports5. Sports6. Feature 7. Politics8. Holiday

Although the election season is usually consid-ered the most controversial time in America, the col-lege football Bowl Cham-pionship Series selection process finishes a very close second.

Instead of worrying about the opinions of coaches and computers, we asked 200 A-day lunchers who should play in the BCS title game.

How to:SILENCE A GROUP

OF CAROLERS1. Turn out the lights - Turn-ing out the lights belatedly after they arrive at your door will send a strong message, but beware of extremely determined carolers.2. Turn up your music- turn up the heavy metal because it often times is at a different pitch than carolers. If you are listening to Holiday tunes turn it off imme-diately or they may sing along.3. Answer your door in a robe or towel- partial nudity may offend them and make them unable to sing. Call to an imaginary person inside, “I’ll be right back.”4. Answer the door holding your telephone - Shout “I can’t hear you! There are carolers singing!” into the mouthpiece until the carolers move on.

Taken from the Worst Case Scenario Sur-vival Guide: Extreme Edition

‘TIS THE SEASON photo by Savi RoSS

Reaching for the top, senior SCA parliamentarian Blair Bolen puts a pair of gloves on the top of the giving tree as board members sophomore Logan Saunders and senior Nikki Gallahan help. The tree, which is located in the school library, is set up so that students can come in and donate hats an other accessories.

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER

the

This holiday season the Massaponax SCA is giving back to the area’s less fortunate

Texas

Boise St.

Florida

Texas TechAlabama

27.1%

10.6%

30.6%

12.3%19.4%

TexasLonghorns BCS: 3rd, .922

11-1, Big 12

FloridaGators BCS: 4th, .885

11-1, SEC

Texas TechRed Raiders BCS: 7th, .781

11-1, Big 12

AlabamaCrimson Tide BCS: 1st, .971

12-0, SEC

Boise StateBroncos BCS: 9th, .703

12-0, Mtn West

by Joanna MattalianoStaff Writer

Spreading the holiday season around the school and in their community, the student council association (SCA) does two annual holiday projects; The Giving tree, and the adopt a child project.

Each year they adopt two children from the local Red Cross letters to Santa program.

“Kids write letters saying what they want for Christmas. Their parents usually add to the list to write what they might need for the child’s winter,” president Kirsty Mohammed said.

Every year the entire board and executive members meet at Wal-Mart to go shopping for the children they adopted.

“We all meet at Wal-Mart and split into different groups. Each group gets a list of items that were taken from the child’s original list, we really have fun shopping for the kids,” adviser Kathy Fisher said.

They really enjoy doing for their community.“I like going shopping to buy the kids things they

are unable to get themselves,” Vice President Curtis Garnett said.

It is more than just a shopping trip, or something that needs to be done.

“It’s a fun way for SCA members to bond. It just

makes you feel good about yourself because we get to help kids that are less fortunate and make their Christmas better,” Mohammed said.

The Giving Tree is a project that the whole school can be involved in, and is located in the library.

Students and staff bring in new hats, gloves and scarf’s to put them on the tree. These items are then collected, and donated to the Hope House.

The Hope House serves as a home for homeless women and children.

The board tries to get the whole student body to participate.

“Once it is all done, the tree looks so nice with all of the articles of clothing on it,” Garnett said.

With the school’s participation, the tree is usually covered in mittens and scarfs.

“Usually there are so many items on the tree that the branches are drooping, or we have to take items off in order to make room for more,” Mohammed said.

During the winter season SCA is all about giving back to others, with the help of their school.

“It’s just another great community project that can really makes a difference. It always feels good knowing that you are helping other people out, especially during the winter months when people tend to struggle more,” Mohammed said.

Language clubspractice holiday spirit by caroling

Each year the language clubs at Masspaonax unite to make Christmas cards for the elderly at Beverly Health Care Nursing Home.

They put their Santa hats on and sing Christmas Carols in German, French, Spanish and Latin. The language clubs are dedicated and look forward to this time of year.

“The students feel good giving back to the community during the holiday season and they actually want to give back, they don’t have to be forced in to it,” French club adviser Michelle Silvestri said.

Most of the language club students are hand making Christmas cards together and are going to pass them out at the Beverly health Care Nursing home. Last year over 50 students attended the card making.

“I had lots of fun making the cards and going caroling with all the students” sophomore Tyler Ellis said.

Most students like Ellis are looking forward to the card making, and going to the nursing home to carol.

“I will definitely be attending this year, I like making people smile and making them happy,” junior Chelsy Collins said

This year, all four language clubs are getting together and continuing this long lived Massaponax tradition. Now more then ever students are going to the nursing home with over 60 French Club members.

“This year we have had more people sign up then any other year in French club so it will be a truly memorable trip,” Silvestri said.

One of the teachers that is sponsoring this trip is Latin Club adviser Angie Bohon, she is expecting their best trip yet.

“It’s a great experience and it brings happiness into the nursing home and helps the students feel compassion and if you’re there you can just feel the holiday spirit,” Bohon said.

Ponax receives taste of bluegrass

EXPERIENCE ON THE COURTPanthers enter season with fresh mindset seeking success

Sports, page 5

by Parez HarawayStaff Writer

by Marissa JohnsonStaff Writer

89.5 Bluegrass FM along with a few artists joined us at Massaponax on December 6. This concert is non-profit revenue managed by the station’s host Pete Stover.

The concert will be held on the second Saturday of each month starting in the next semester in the our school’s auditorium.

“Bluegrass isn’t really listened to among the students, but I think Sierra Hull will get the students to see that people their age are apart of this music genre,” administrator Troy Wright said.

The concert is not only to promote the genre; it is also to benefit the fine arts department by giving ten percent back of any extra money earned. With the help of art students such as Kayleigh Flynn, make the performance possible.

“In art class we planning to set up food and snacks so that viewers don’t go hungry!” Flynn said.

Some people are still skeptical about the whole idea of concert and are unsure of the music.

“Well it’s definitely not the kind of music that I listen to. I do know a few people outside of school that are going, but it’s just not my kind of music,” Flynn said.

While others may be unsure, many are willing to go to spread their musical interest.

“I think it would be different to go. So yeah, I’d be up to going to it,” said junior Casey Horne.

Tickets can only be obtained by calling the radio station and asking for them, but there is a limit to how many, so tickets should be purchased in advance.