MOONBEAMS

ROMANTIC PLACESNeed an intimate getaway? Look no

further than these places, the most roman-tic in the world. Although it is unrealistic for any moon couples travel to such exotic locales, it’s no doubt fun to dream!

Europe has a vast amount of places just right for a romantic getaway. One of the most well-known places for lovers is Paris, France. The city of love has an abundance of activities for significant others.

Lonely Planet suggests taking a tour of the Eiffel Tower or a row boat ride down the Bois de Boulogne. Even a fancy, candle-lit dinner at the Le Coupe-Chou is a perfect date in Paris.

Another romantic place is Venice, Italy. A gondola ride is a must in Venice. It is exceptionally romantic to have a person row the boat as two lovers take in the sights down the Grand Canal.

Venice has many exquisite restau-rants with traditional cuisine for the most authentic Italian experience.

Time Out City Guides suggests to “try traditional dishes from the Veneto – like oca in onto (goose in its own fat) or fresh-water lagoon fish done in saor at Antica Adelaide, get the best polpette (meatballs) in Venice at Ca d’Oro (Alla Vedova), and a strong selection of Venetian antipasti, including raw sea food, at Vini da Gigio.”

Venice is the perfect destination for couples with a sense of adventure.

For people spending Valentine’s Day alone, there are plenty of fish in the sea at Make Out Reef. Located on a cliff, the reef’s environment is extremely romantic for teenagers with lots of colorful coral surrounding the spot. Bring a pillow and watch out for the Dirty Bubble.

Athens, Greece has lots of activities

for couples to do together, as well.Lovers could go sight-seeing at all

the ancient Greek agriculture and temples. Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus are just a few beautiful places to tour.

Athens has many art museums such as the Benaki Museum and the Museum of Cycladic Art, which both feature the stunning artwork of Greece.

U.S. News Travel says, “The beau-tiful, historical neighborhood of Plaka, located under the Acropolis, is largely residential. Still, its assortment of restau-rants and cafes keep it swarming with tourists each summer. You can also shop, especially if you're looking to bring home some gold jewelry.”

Plaka is the ideal spot for couples to spend their afternoon together, walking around the neighborhood, grabbing a bite to eat, or even shopping. Although the shops and cafes have certain hours, the neighborhood is free to visit all day long.

The U.S. has some romantic destina-tions too, such as the tropical islands of Hawaii. With eight main islands, Hawaii has many activities for couples to do together.

Hawaii has an abundance of volca-noes to explore, some of them are dormant but others are very active, which is perfect for a pair of risk-takers.

National Geographic said, “There are five active volcanoes in the state of Ha-waii and four of them are on Big Island. The one to watch is Kilauea Volcano, which has been erupting continuously since 1983 and considered one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Get a good view of the crater from the 11-mile Crater Rim Drive, which circles the summit caldera.”

by Isabella Mollica

On January 22, the School Board met to discuss the possibility of a later start to the school day. Though many are well accustomed to the traditional start time, a sleep expert was brought in to show the advantages of a later start.

Daniel Buysse, professor of sleep medicine at UPMC, spoke before the Board on the 22 to bring to light some of the problems inherent with lack of sleep in children and teens. His presentation, titled “Can We Sleep Our Way to Better Health?” focused on the health problems that can come as baggage with sleep deprivation, including depression, obesity, and early mortality. His presentation went through different aspects of the brain that can be affected by little sleep and also de-tailed the circadian rhythms of the brain, which is basically the internal clock that regulates the body’s hours.

In adolescence, the sleep drive takes longer to build up and the circadian sleep-wake rhythm has a later timing, meaning that it takes longer for the body to feel

tired and means a later time of day when the body can actually fall asleep. Because of society’s demand that the work day begin at so early a time, it can torment the body’s ability to function fully, especially in teens. This lack of functionality has been shown to increase the rate of teen driving deaths and lower standardized test scores.

On the flip side, getting over eight hours of sleep a night has been shown to raise standardized test scores, lower teen car crash rates by as much as 70%, and decrease the amount of tardiness and absenteeism in students.

While these are very obvious posi-tives, there were some downsides that can occur as a result. There is the matter of starting school later meaning getting out later, as well. In addition, there is the issue of watching younger kids in the morning and getting them to school, if both parents work, and several more issues that can arise.

by Olivia Estright & Delaney Snyder

by Connor Perry

Later Start Times?

Love is in the air at Moon Area High School. Many students are planning the per-fect day with their special someone, while others are preparing for their night of Net-flix, self-bought chocolates, and isolation.

Moon Area High School is not deprived of the Valentine’s Day atmosphere. In fact, many couples willingly show their love for each other and were willing to speak about it.

Juniors Cassandra Yetsick and Leonard Hricz say that they have been dating for over a year, as well as freshmen couple Julie Anderson and Clayton Cooper. Sophomore couple Madelyn Litchfield and Nathan Thompson say they have been dating for three years.

When asked how they met, Leonard said that he and Cassandra met in middle school but became close in Mrs. Zajicek’s seventh grade biology class. He said, “Towards the end of eighth grade and all through ninth, I knew that I loved her. I kind of tried to like other people as much as I liked her, but I really just couldn’t.”

Nathan and Madelyn also said that they met in the seventh grade at a friend’s bonfire. Nate explains that they were playing truth or dare when Maddy was dared to take Nate’s beanie. This dare turned into a flirtatious brawl between the two in which Madelyn won, Nate admittedly said.

Seventh grade seems to be the year sparks fly, for it was also the year that Julie Anderson and Clayton Cooper met. Like most middle school relationships, they began with two different groups of friends awkwardly exchanging numbers. In Julie and Clayton’s case, however, their relation-ship is long-lasting and adorable.

When it came to cheesiest moments, Leonard and Cassandra take the cake. He pulled the classic Hollywood, atten-tion-grabbing technique that all girls wish would someday happen to them. Leonard said, “When I first met Cassandra and knew that I loved her a lot, I ended up going to her house and chucking pine cones at her window until she came out, but she wasn’t home.” Always remember it is the thought

that counts.Madelyn and Nate have also had their

own adorable moments. Madelyn explained, “He took me on his roof and we lit a lantern together. It landed in his neighbor’s tree and almost burned the tree down.”

Every couple has their quirks. For Julie and Clayton, they have their own “cringey” saying: “A sing mung ming a sing mung ming with a slung on top.”

Cassandra and Leonard enjoy listening to certain Elton John songs, reading the Harry Potter series, and they enjoy simply walking and talking to each other. Cassandra also said they like getting the “bomb sushi from Giant Eagle.”

Nate said, “I could do anything with

MAHS Couples: Crazy in Love[Madelyn]. Not only is she my girlfriend, but she’s also my best friend.”

For those who still need some inspira-tion on what to do with their date on Valen-tine’s Day, the band/orchestra bus to Florida seems to be popular for many. Unfortunate-ly, the orchestra and band departments are leaving the day before Valentine’s Day to go to Florida.

However, Madelyn and Nate have plans with pizza and Super Mario Bros.

Valentine’s Day is a day to spend with loved ones or things. Whether Valentine’s Day is spent living out Taylor Swift’s Love Story or snuggling with a fuzzy friend, MoonBeams staff wishes everyone a happy Valentine’s Day!

Cassandra Yetsick and Leonard Hricz on their one year anniversary.Courtesy of Cassandra Yetsick

Maddlyn Litchfield and Nathan Thompson after her performance in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Courtesy of Nathan Thompson

Continued on back page

Volume 2017-2018, Issue 3 February 14, 2018

Page 2

SportsJen Divito, Payton Herman, and Inde Patterson qualifying for WPIALS. Even though they are 2-5, the boys are sending Colton Diges, Steven Merow, Nick Settem-brine, and Zach Tomasic to WPIALS, as well.

“Next year, I want as many people pos-sible to make states. We are a strong team and we all get along so I know we can do it,” said Junior Captain Colton Diges.

When asked about his thoughts on the team, Josh McElvey named a few possible swimmers who could potentially qualify for states.

“We have the legend, Leah Baker, who broke the school’s record, her own record three times, and led the girls to states last year. And on top off that, we have some of the fastest swimmers I know,” said McElvey.

The next swim meet is away at Mon-tour at 6 p.m. on February 15. In the next few weeks, the girls and boys will compete in the WPIAL playoffs, hopefully going to states.

The boys basketball team will be head-ing towards the opportunity to win another WPIAL championship and possibly a state title.

Walking through the halls, do not hes-itate to wish the athletes good luck on their road to glory.

uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

by Isabella Mollica

It was a sad night for Patriots fans and a memorable night for fans of the team from Eastern PA as the Philadelphia Eagles won their first championship in the Super Bowl era on February 4. Backup quarterback Nick Foles was named MVP of the game after passing for three touch-downs and even receiving one.

Tom Brady, on the other hand, quar-terback for the Patriots, was unable to pull in a pass or his sixth Super Bowl cham-pionship. Pittsburgh Steelers fans were happy with the result as they remain the sole NFL team with six Super Bowl wins.

The Super Bowl was held at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minneso-ta. According to a Sporting News article, “The game will be the first Super Bowl in

Minnesota since Super Bowl XXVI, when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills, 37-24, on Jan. 26, 1992 at The Metrodome.” Opened in 2009, U.S. Bank Stadium can hold up to 70,000 people.

The halftime show was performed by the famous Justin Timberlake. His per-formance included a tribute to Minnesota native Prince, who passed away in 2016. Timberlake’s performance included his hit songs, “Cry Me a River,” “SexyBack,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” from the movie Trolls.

Many fans tune in to watch the com-mercials, and some of the highlights this year included ads from Amazon, Doritos, and Tide.

The boys basketball team is looking for another WPIAL championship. Courtesy of pa.8to18.com

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles raises the Vince Lombardi trophy.

Courtesy of CNN.

Super Blurb

R o a d t o G l o r y

by Chandler Sargent

The tides have changed for Moon Area’s sports from summer, to fall, and now to winter. Moon’s sporting events such as baseball, soccer, and football are now out of season, but the new season brings sports such as wrestling, basketball, hockey, and many more. People may think that sports are very minimal in the winter time, however, here in Moon, they are just getting started.

Moon Area’s athletes are coming out of their summer seasons and getting ready for their next sport. Winter sports such as wrestling, requires strength, tactics, and skill to out maneuver the opponent to pin them for the win. Here in Moon, athletes practice with “Red Flag Days” where the athletes go in and begin conditioning immediately non-stop for two hours straight. The conditioning consists of non-stop sprints, live practicing, or work out circuits. The intense time of condition-ing is meant to push the athletes to their breaking points with minimal breaks. This training helps the athletes to be more fit than their opponents in the match to help them to win. This year’s wrestling team has worked hard towards their goals to make it to the WPIAL Playoffs. The work and con-ditioning that they put in helps the team to reach their goals.

The team motivates themselves with the question, “How bad do you want it?”

Gymnastics is now in season, as well. It is a sport that is full of focus. Gymnasts practice their routines for beam, floor, vault, and bars throughout the year up to the winter season when they compete. They practice for hours on end after school and even during their summer break. The team learns the importance of being close together on the floor and out of school to help build each other up. At every gym meet it is easy to hear and see the team on their feet cheering on their teammates. They realize anything is possible with hard work and determination in the gym.

Moon’s gym team is currently un-defeated and section champs this season including beating their rival, Thomas Jefferson, at one of their home meets. The team is excited to compete in WPIALS and states where they hope to win it all again. Through all the time and pain the team always keeps their heads up and smiling through it all to meet their goals.

Athletes are making the time to get to their practices, through all the cold brutal weather, winter has brought this season. Make an effort to come out and support the Moon Athletes at their events this winter season.

Winter Spor t sMoon gymnasts practicing for their season earlier this year.

Courtesy of MAHS Gymnastics.

This winter season, Moon athletes have shown their skill and hard work, including the swim team and boys basketball team.

Last year, the Moon boys basketball team made a name for themselves when they beat Hampton at the WPIAL champi-onship. It was fun while it lasted, but now the team is back to work and hoping to return to the championship once again.

“I believe we are fully capable of reach-ing it to the finals. Anything is possible. We will keep competing and making the next tough play, and, hopefully, we come out on top once again,” said Junior Austin Ryan.

The team lost multiple seniors who made a big impact on the team, including Jarrod Simmons and Nick Castelveter. Even though they lost some great players, the team has done well so far with a record of They have a 17-4 record (9-2 in section).

“The seniors last year were a very special group. So far this season, I think we have done a good job of continuing what they started for us last year,” stated Ryan. “The sophomores work hard in practice. They are the future of this program. As a team, we’ve stepped up and filled the roles that we’ve needed to.”

The swimming and diving team has also done well. The girls’ record is 6-1 with Leah Baker, Abby Beatty, Emma Connors,

by Ana Molnar

Page 3

Sheetz on Moon

Pick Up Lines

by Delaney Snyder

by Ana Molnar

ValenTalesTea che r Teams :

O l ymp i c s Ed i t i o nby Olivia Estright

Pickup lines have been around for years, but aren’t used as much as they used to be. Despite this, we asked eight Moon students what pickup line they would use and why it would work.

Senior Kyle Kuminkoski and Junior Alex Estright: “You must be a camera be-cause every time I look at you I smile.”

Kyle: “I think it would be successful because it’s cute enough not to creep some-one out and it would probably make them smile.”

Alex: “I think it would make a girl an-noyed at first but then it would make them feel good about themselves.”

Junior Pat Mack- “What girl doesn’t love commitment? It would work 100%. ‘You probably didn’t know this but I’m an organ donor, and I’m willing to give you my heart.’”

Junior Jon Barcasky: “I think the best

girls respond better to straight forward con-versations. ‘Hi, do you have a few minutes for me to hit on you?’”

Senior Anthony Panucci: “I would say to compliment them. It would boost their confidence and show them you’re interested. ‘Do you want to see the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen? (shows them your camera)’”

Freshman Myca Torrence: “I would use it as a corny pickup line to try and make the girl laugh. It would definitely work. ‘Do you want to go to the gym with me? Cause I see you and me working out.’”

Freshman James Gill: “You’re giving them a compliment saying they are perfect and I think that’s a nice thing to say to them. ‘Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?’”

Sophomore Damon Slencak: “I would use it because it’s super slick. ‘Are you from Tennessee because you’re the only ten I see.’”

Here are some other pickup lines that weren’t said, but are just as good.

“I seemed to have lost my phone number. Can I have yours?”

“Have you been to the doctor lately? Cause I think your lacking some vitamin ME.”

“If you were words on a page, you would be FINE PRINT.”

“Life without you would be like a broken pen-cil…pointless.”

Courtesy of MoonBeams

The Winter Olympic Games: an international sporting event promoting nationalism, cooperation, and unification. The time once every four years when we get to watch unknown people repre-sent our country in sports that we barely understand.

Here at Moon, many of our teachers are destined to be on Olympic teams. Their strength, agility, and quick-thinking skills should not be overlooked.

She may be a math teacher during the day, but there is a chance she is an Olym-pic figure skater by night. Mrs. Eger could use her swiftness and liveliness shown in the classroom to help land her spot on the United States figure skating team. Not only could she use her physical capabili-ties, but she could also use her knowledge of trigonometry and calculus to calculate the exact angle measurements needed to perfect her turns, jumps, and stunts.

The history department is not lacking potential Olympic talent either. Most students say that they can imagine history teacher, Mrs. McPherson, participating in the biathlon. The biathlon is essentially cross-country skiing with rifle shooting. With her military experience, she could easily cross country ski for 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) and stop four times to shoot a rifle at a specified target with ease.

The Winter Olympics would not be complete without the intriguing sport of curling. Curling teams usually include three to four people. Although many of Moon’s staff has the potential to be on the American Olympic curling team, many students believe the best team would include Mr. O’Toole, Mr. Ianessa, Mr. Parshall, and Mrs. Ricciardi. With her mess-free classroom and attitude, many students believe Mrs. Ricciardi would

be perfect for the curling team as she would most likely uphold the position that sweeps the stones the most. Students be-lieve physics teacher and trach coach, Mr. Parshall, would also be a valuable mem-ber for the curling team due to his strength and knowledge of physics to calculate the exact force needed to sweep or throw the stone. As for Mr. Ianessa and Mr. O’Toole, students seemed to be entertained by the idea of them on a curling team.

In order to teach anatomy, a per-son must be one with the framework of humans. Mr. Hrivnak is clearly destined for skeleton, an isolated sport in which a person lies down facing an icy track while gliding on a small bobsled. Moon students would be lying if they found it hard to imagine Mr. Hrivnak facing the ground while naming bones, organs, or body functions. His uniform might even include a helmet that resembles the brain hats his students recently made.

Lastly, Moon staff would produce an iconic Olympic bobsled team. Bob-sled teams tend to contain two to four team members, and at Moon, the future bobsledding competitors are from the lan-guage department. Madame Ianarelli and Mr. Bamford would make a supreme bob-sled team. Using their energetic personali-ties, they could slay the other competition as they fly across the iced tracks. When they are not yelling at each other in literal foreign language, they could smack talk competitors from Spanish-speaking and French-speaking nations.

These Moon teachers may have missed the cut for the 2018 Olympics, but, as their students, it is our responsibility to help them achieve their destiny. Can any-body else already see the gold medals the United States will win with these teams in the 2022 Olympics?

The Moon Area High School hangout never fails to attract a variety of students at every hour. The universally-hailed Sheetz is a huge hit for Moon students when it comes to out-of-school gather-ings. The possibility of seeing a classmate at Sheetz—at any hour—is a definite possibility.

Knowing that Sheetz is a huge land-mark in Moon Township, the employees at Sheetz recognize the pattern of seeing students around.

We spoke with Michael, also known as “Sheetz Michael”. He is a current em-ployee at Sheetz and is there frequently to see the students who come in.

“I can tell who the Moon students are. They usually come in a crowd,” says Sheetz Michael. “There hasn’t really been a crazy experience but I am sure there will be in the future.”

Moon takes the Sheetz hangout seri-ously. There is a famous line around school that is trendy among all grades, “Let’s meet at Sheetz!” or “Can we go to Sheetz?”

Generally, after every Moon sport-ing event there is a party held at “Club Sheetz.” Whether it’s ordering some M.T.O. food or just hanging out with Ti-ger fans, there is always a warm welcome awaiting. Sheetz is far more than a gas station, serving everything from flaming appetizers to soothing ice cream sundaes.

The senior class of 2018 dedicated an honorable mention to the glorious gas station this year. They voted on a Sheetz King and Queen. Seniors Kyle Kuminkos-ki and Amanda Pawuk came out on top for the throne. They were nominated because of the excessive time spent at Sheetz, day in and day out. “I basically live there,” stated Kuminkoski. “It’s my favorite place to be.”

Sheetz is a fragile topic to discuss, knowing that if one shames the wonderful Sheetz, they are basically shaming their hometown. Moon Sheetz will never lose the title of the most popular hangout hub in town.

Mme. Ianarelli and Sr .Bamford com-peting as a stellar bobsleigh team.

Courtesy of Olivia Estright

n n

EntertainmentPage 4

by Chandler Sargent

Every year, millions of viewers and hundreds of select guests attend award shows. Some shows are more exclusive than others to get into. These shows are a time for celebrities and attendees to get together to award some of the best perfor-mances of the year. From the Grammys, to the Golden Globes, to the Oscars, each have a different atmosphere throughout their special nights. Whether it is music and live performances or the most golden night in Hollywood, each show has a spe-cial character to it.

The Grammys, a show dedicated to some of the best music and music artists of the year, is an award show where the statues come second and the performances come first. Live concerts of hip-hop, rock, pop, and many more genres of music allow viewers to listen to their favorites.

With music artist and fans in the crowd on their feet dancing and singing, it allows for a fun and enjoyable night. With this year’s Grammys, Bruno Mars swept Jay-Z with album of the year leaving everyone in shock. The Grammys always ends the night with the people talking about one of the winners or performances.

When the Golden Globes roll around every year, it is not hard to find jokes and laughter at the show. Celebrities are served dinner and drinks throughout the night which allows the acceptance speeches to be a little more interesting. It is a great time to see some of the most recognized

Behind the Scenes of Award Shows

By Connor Perry

Rarely are there issues that involve people across the board. Due to differing viewpoints and stances, common interests almost never prevail. However, there are some things that are generally considered by all. None of these interests would be relevant without consideration for the earth and the dire situation it is in now.

The writing has been on the wall for decades now. From 2000 to 2016, there were 16 record-breaking hottest years. There has been a 30 percent increase in the acidity of the ocean over pre-industrial levels, while on land the ten most dam-age-inducing fires in the United States all occurred within two decades. Everything has a breaking point, and the Earth’s is most likely being warmed by 2-degrees Celsius over aforementioned pre-indus-trial levels. This point of no return is gen-erally seen as more of a warning sign by scientists and a common goal to meet (or not to meet, depending on the viewpoint) than an actual barometer for how much the earth can take.

Various organizations and pacts have been ordered to try to create the elusive common goal, the most well-known being the Paris Climate Accords, which the Unit-ed States recently opted out of. This pos-sible lack of future awareness on the issue is only being accented by those who are not convinced by the masses. The public

It’s GettIn’ Hot In Here

has been “brainwashed into believing the science is correct,” according to Heartland News. There are those that profess the importance of science and its merits, but cower under the weight of the evidence on the issue. When Greenpeace shouts “Two Massive Hurricanes in One Week is Not a Coincidence,” they are rebuffed by cries of those who believe they are an arm of the brainwashed and trying to push a political agenda. The fact of the matter is that it is not likely that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere stayed constant at around 180-300 parts per million for four hundred thousand years, including the most recent ice age. Around 1760, the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the number in-creased exponentially from 180-400 parts per million in two hundred years; mean-ing, the accelerated change that occurred from 1760-1950 is the same rate of change that happened from 400,000 B.C. to 1760, according to NASA. The earth has hardly been given a rest since 1950, either. As more countries industrialize, their carbon footprint raises accordingly. In addition, with the United States no longer in the Ac-cords, which admittedly did not bind the countries to actually do much of anything, offshore drilling and mining has become a focal point for energy companies.

Continued on back page

celebrities of the year mess up on stage or maybe take a fall walking up the stairs to accept their awards. At this year’s show, a memorable moment when Sterling K. Brown makes history as first black actor to win best actor in a TV drama. The Golden Globes is a night of humor and fun while watching or even attending the show.

Hollywood keeps it classic on a more serious night with the Oscars. The Acade-my Awards is a night to remember to see what actors, actresses, and movies have showed their best performances of the year. By tradition the Oscars are one of the longest running award shows every year spanning over three hours and usually running longer. From the start to the end of the show it keeps the actors and watch-ers on the edge of their seats. The show is kept at the smoothest pace possible and if something gets messed up it is headlin-ing every front page possible. This year’s nominations for best picture range from the Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, Get Out, and many more. The Oscars is one of the most popular shows of the year; it is the time to show up and show out.

Award shows are the night every actor and actress work and look forward to every year. Each show has their different personalities and differ from each other. Everyone is eager to attend them, and ac-tors are anxious to know the results every year. These award shows inspire actors and actresses and they are the ones that help shape them every year.

Bruno Mars took home a Grammy for album of the year and five other catagories at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. Courtesy of www.eonline.com.

by Dan Russo

IT (R)Good horror movies are always a

good indicator of it being a good year for movies. A viral hit and a well adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic novel, it stands out in a decades long library of his works. IT is a diamond in the rough of Stephen King’s questionable transitions from page to screen. It is memorable more for its believ-able character development and excellent writing than for being a scary movie. That does not mean at all that you should not watch it. While time will tell if it has a lasting legacy like Stand by Me or Stanley Kubrick’s iconic adaption of the Shining, it’s still worth a watch.

Blade Runner 2049 (R)The sequel to the 80s sci-fi cult classic,

Blade Runner 2049 plays off everything the original film set up years ago, and recap-tures its vision of a colorful, yet dark fu-turistic Los Angeles. Slow and meticulous with a foreboding synth soundtrack, this film keeps audiences locked in a trance as it explores what it exactly it means to be human. Blade Runner 2049 is a must watch for any fan of sci-fi. Those who watch it will find an engaging, thought provoking story. To many it’s the best movie of the year, and has many reasons to be, despite it being overlooked this awards season.

Baby Driver (R)Edgar Wright’s newest film is a fun,

action packed, and an accomplishment in film editing. The most notable part of this film is its fantastic editing. Almost every action is tied with the films awesome soundtrack. Every gunshot and gearshift matches with a piece of Baby’s personal soundtrack, giving it just the extra bit of punch it needs. It will be hard to watch an action movie after this one without the musical timing. That’s not to say that the slower parts are boring either. The slower parts are just as entertaining and intense as the action scenes themselves. For those looking for a fun movie to watch with some friends, this is the one.

Coco (PG)Coco is Pixar’s first major step in

almost ten years. A company known more for their boring and repetitive sequels as of recent, Coco was more than just a pleas-ant surprise. It is a new breakthrough for Pixar. The weirdest thing about this movie is that Disney didn’t even have faith in it, having to a throw in a Frozen short to incentivize people to even watch it in the first place. Coco undoubtedly is one of the most beautiful animated films ever made, with so much color and personality stuffed into every frame. It really is a feast for the eyes and is certainly worth your time.

The Disaster Artist (R)Based on a book of the same name,

the disaster artist is as meta as it gets. Most bad films nowadays are made bad on purpose such as Sharknado or the second Birdemic film. 2003’s the Room is a com-pletely different story. It was a train-wreck in every way, and this retelling of what happened hit the nail right on the head. The man behind it all, Tommy Wiseau was genuinely trying to make a good movie, but it just turned out as one of the most unintentionally funny dramas of the past decade. Writer, director and actor James Franco captures Tommy eccentric man-nerisms to a T. Definitely worth a watch especially if you’re a fan of The Room already.

2017’s Best Movies

Pixar and Disney’’s, Coco, won Best Animated Fea-ture Film at the 2018 Golden Globes.

Courtesy of goldenglobes.com.

Page 5

AP For All?coming from Bob Evans go even if I have the green arrow and right of way.” Seniors Jayana McElvy and Bailey Taylor claim. “I’m just trying to get to school on time.” The start times are staggered in such a way that allows parents of both high and middle school kids to success-fully drop their kids off in a (somewhat) timely manner. Fiddling with that might not be an issue if the middle schools start times are changed too, but that might cause problems for parents who just take their kids on their way to work. Speaking of work, if all times are modified, then what about elemen-tary school children who have both par-ents that work? What if they’re not able to successfully see their children off to the bus because they have to leave? Who would watch them and make sure they’re ready to go? There’s also stu-dents that work jobs after school. Lastly, let’s talk sports. Hav-ing later start times could potentially throw a wrench in the entire WPIAL’s operation, unless all schools were to adopt this system. Some sports also have practices that can run really long. If the start times were dragged out, then there’s potential for students getting home way later than normal. So, they will themselves if they’re willing to trade 15 minutes of extra sleep for what eventually boils down to less time to do homework and study for tests. Would those 15 minutes really matter in the long run?Pushing school start times back seems like a really good idea on paper, but there are so many trade-offs that many would question if it’s even worth it. All of this for 15 more minutes of sleep?

by Cassandra Yetsick

Boop in i on

by Sam Haberman

Few will argue that a good night’s rest can be one of the essential parts of getting good grades in school. It’s a pretty common belief among high schoolers pushing the start times of high school back would not be a bad thing. However, there are more working parts to the start times than one might initial-ly think. Just over the Sewickley bridge, our neighbors at Quaker Valley school district have announced that it will be experimenting with its start times for this year, beginning its high school classes at 8 a.m. rather than 7:45 a.m., CBS Pittsburgh reports. Other than a few student testimonies in favor of the idea, there isn’t really much solid evi-dence that this has actually helped the students get better grades. From a student’s point of view, a 30-minute delay to each school day might sound amazing. It would allow for just that extra little bit of shut-eye we all know we need. However, it is important to understand that simply pushing our times back a half-hour just like that is not the case. Yes, being able to sleep in a bit longer would be nice, but let’s look at this from some other perspectives. Anyone who has driven to school has either been caught in, or has seen the infamous line that forms outside the school on University Boule-vard. We’ve all heard the tales or have experienced them first hand. Legend has it that it once almost stretched out to the Primanti Bros.that’s on the road. Now imagine that, but with some middle school traffic thrown in the mix. “It takes forever, and too many parents drive their kids. The people

Sophomore SlumpHigh school lasts four years. For

some, those four years are the best times of their young adult life. For others, high school is just another prolonged step towards the future. As these four years drag on, students advance through the ranks from Freshman to Sophomore, Junior to Senior. In popular opinion, Sophomore year is the longest and worst.

“Sophomore Slump” is defined as a disappointing follow up to a first album, movie, or book. Examples of poor se-quels include Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, The Hangover 2, Cars 2, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Pitch Perfect 2, Insurgent, or Jaws 2. The term can also be applied to high school’s sophomore year since it is void of any special events or milestones.

Freshman year is exciting in its own way because students are moving to a new school and finally feel like what they do is contributing to their future. They are adjusting to a new school and have more opportunities available to them. Juniors have prom to look forward to and begin to think about college.

They are also able to take more courses to specify their studies for the future. Seniors have senior semi and, most im-portantly, graduation. Senior year is great for just the fact that it is senior year.

For Sophomores, the only thing to look forward to is the next year. Ev-ery day is the same routine, with the same amount of homework, in the same classes. Standardized testing is at a peak with English Keystones, PSATs, Biology Keystones, and some students making up Algebra 1 Keystones.

Going from transitional freshman year, sophomore year is a large letdown and seems to last forever. It is frustrating and exhausting for no specific reason. Sophomore year has no milestones that appeal to students and no purpose in a student’s academic career, so it seems in high school that the sophomore slump is unavoidable.

Catching more Z's for More A's?Dan Russo

Have a question to ask the MoonBeams staff? Let us know by emailing us at moonbeams.staff@gmail.com

or by sending a message on Twitter @mahsmoonbeams

Moon Area High School offers mul-tiple AP courses in the subjects of math, science, history, English, art, and many others to students. While there are ben-efits to taking an AP class, there are also some negative aspects that disadvantage students during high school and when entering college.

AP classes provide students with a raised GPA and the opportunity to receive college credits at a reduced price. Taking an AP class also enables those students the chance to preview the structure and work of a typical college class. It is a great college preparation and with the increasing price of higher education, it is a tough bargain to turn down.

However, AP classes might not be for everyone. Throughout the year, they can take away from the aspect of simply learning as the curriculum barely leaves any room for creativity to spur. The course is set at such a high rate of speed that we are no longer learning to receive knowledge; we are merely memorizing information that will be tested on the final exam. Throughout the year, teachers point out certain information saying “this will be on the test” and disregard other sections that could prove to be valuable or interesting, since they will not be featured in the finale of the AP act.

Along with limiting the amount of creativity, taking AP classes can limit stu-dents’ options when attempting to choose classes. Students can feel less inclined to take classes that they are interested in and will opt for these classes that will improve their transcript and chances of getting into a rewarding college. This year I could have continued taking Spanish or tried another class that I would have liked to get involved in, but I took an AP class instead. Although it was my choice to decide what classes would be best for me, I felt I should take the “best” classes that would help me get into college and place my GPA before my other interests.

Another aspect to consider is the price of the class. AP classes are much less expensive than the normal amount for a college credit, and that is a huge plus for many. However, the price can reach near $100. On the bright side, with the NMSI grant that Moon received this year, stu-dents taking AP classes in the subjects of English, math, or science will only have to pay $47 per exam.

Since many colleges will only accept

AP scores that fall on the upper side of the scale, students that manage to do well in the class but ultimately do not pass the test will not receive the credit for the year. While they still get the boost to their GPA, they spent the money and time on a course that they might possibly have to take again in college for an even greater cost. Even if students take the class and do well but ultimately decide not to take the test, they will not receive the weight-ed GPA that they would have gotten had they taken the course along with the test. However, students that receive a three, four, or five on the test will receive $100 at the end of the year due to the NMSI grant, according to Mr. Balaski.

While this encourages more students to take these classes to ready themselves for college, it also invites many more that should not be taking such an advanced class into a year of difficulty and possi-ble failure. According to John Tierney, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, former professor of American government at Boston College and former high school teacher, the amount of people taking AP classes is increasing. Also, at the high school where he taught, he claimed that “…two thirds of the students taking [his] class each year did not belong there”.

After speaking to Moon students, it was evident that a big complaint was having to take a final in that class after already taking the AP exam. Although they are already studying the same infor-mation, the added stress of another test can be overwhelming. According to Junior Lillian Beckwith, having to study for yet another test after just recovering from an AP exam adds to the pressure that builds up at the end of the year.

In response to these concerns, Mr. Balaski stated that it is important for students and teachers alike to continue learning even after the test instead of losing productivity.

When schools offer AP classes, they are seen as one of the most important parts of a student’s high school career. How-ever, deciding whether or not to take AP classes can put more pressure on students and ultimately affect the course of the years remaining in high school. I think every student should be able to choose the best classes for them and their future, but it is important to understand that AP may not be for everyone.

Page 6

by Cassandra Yetsick and Dan Russo

DedateDo Millennials Care About

Valentine's Day?How do you feel about Valentine’s Day? “I still see it as important because it’s a day about love, and love brings the world together.”-Noel Hricz, Moon Graduate

“Why do you need a day out of the year just to tell your significant other that you love them? If you actually care about them, then you should tell them every day.”-Charlotte Barretto, Junior

“Valentine’s Days is nice; it’s a way to celebrate human relations. It’s the Thanksgiving of relationships.”-Nick Acuna, Senior

“It’s definitely a ‘Hallmark holiday’ where companies can make money off of it. On Valentine’s Day you buy your love for others. It’s pathetic.”-Colton Diges, Junior

“It does have a history, but it’s been lost. Now people treat it like a Hallmark holiday.”-Leah Bookser, Junior

‘Is Valentine’s Day overrated?’ “Yeah.”-Mr. Barthen

Cassandra: Valentine’s Day was meant to be a holiday to celebrate loved ones, yet it has mostly been used to benefit companies selling heart-shaped merchandise. Many organizations bank on the fact that people will buy useless things that hold little meaning compared to intangible items. Being in a relationship with someone is not about showering them with gifts and attention a couple days of the year then spending the rest of your dates watching Netflix at home. Everyday should be a day to spend time with loved ones or to demonstrate to someone how much you

appreciate them. While it is nice to have a day where people can explicitly celebrate those that they care about in their life, it is more important to show your affection to the ones that you hold dear no matter what the occasion is.

“I met my wife around the time of Val-entine’s day, so it has some meaning to me. Usually my wife and I like to do stuff together to celebrate the occasion.”-Mr. Ferri

“On Valentine’s Day, my family exchang-es cards and chocolates, but it’s honestly just another day. “-Mrs. Coulter

“In high school Valentine’s Day is over-rated. It is a day to appreciate your family and friends and for Hallmark to sell a lot of cards.”-Mrs. Temple

Dan: Frankly, Valentine’s Day is a stupid waste of time. I’ve always seen it that way. Then again, I’m a bitter pile of garbage, so what do I know? When it comes to these holidays like New Year’s or Valentine’s Day, you’re just celebrating things that you should be doing every day. Much like a good meme or a tradition between your friends, it’s way better when it’s not forced. So then why do we have a day that forces something completely nor-mal? New Year Resolutions and love are the same in that they are things that should occur or progress naturally. Honestly, if you really care about improving yourself in some way you shouldn’t have to wait for a day or publicize it on Snapchat or something by talking up your resolutions on New Year’s. You should just flat out do it, end of story. Same goes for love. So if there’s someone special to you, every day should be like Valentine’s day.

Aries (March 22- Apr 19)- Get the right perspective before you interact with others. You have a lot of issues to work through, and you cannot dive right in. As with all things, especially in relationships, bring a heart-centered approach to the matter.

Taurus (April 20- May 20)- It may not be best to tackle your problems today, as you feel you may not be able to do it justice. If needed, wait until you feel able to handle your issue properly, and go about it with a level head.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)- This Valen-tine’s will be a conflicted time for you. You will not be able to decide between right and wrong with your partner, and it may be best to weigh your options before acting. Be aware that you could inadvertently start an argument, when you wanted no such thing.

Cancer (June 21- July 22)- This Valen-tine’s Day will be a great time to meet new people. It would be a benefit to you to try to get out and mix with others, as you never know what could happen. And hey, if not, ABC Family is always playing reruns.

Leo (July 23- August 22)- This is an ideal time to get together with a loved one (or prospective loved one). You have genuine kindness and good humor and are always looking to show it off to those you care about the most.

Virgo (August 23- September 22)- Try to plan a first date for around this time. Throw in lots of interesting topics and hooks, but be aware you will not become too attached at first. All good things in all good time.

Libra (September 23- October 22)- Go on a date, go to a party, get out of the house, get involved. This is definitely a good time to mingle with others and express yourself. Turn your barely-there love life around, for God’s sake.

HoroscopesScorpio (Oct 23- Nov 21)- Make it a pri-ority to get out and meet new people. Don’t lock yourself into a routine too rigid, as it limits your potential. Don’t take anything too seriously and have fun for once.

Sagitarius (Nov 22- Dec 21)- Tread careful-ly when speaking to others around this time, your mouth tends to move faster than your brain. Give your thoughts some time, and talk meaningfully to others. You may not communicate at your best around this time, but interact anyway.

Capricorn (Dec 22- Jan 19)- If you are entertaining some very inflexible views on a subject, it may be in your best interest to bend them a little. See the other side’s point of view, but don’t cater to it. Even though you may be stubborn, try to reach a com-promise, as this can benefit you and your partner.

Aquarius (Jan 20- Feb 18)- Take care not to feel too bad about what your partner may say to you (after all, they may be a Cancer, and who listens to them anyway?) and in-stead work on repairing what may be failing relationships. Give your best to those who give theirs to you.

Pisces (Feb 19- March 20)- You’re far too aware of the energy you waste trying to win unwinnable arguments. Take it easy, and try to let others know where you stand, without being pushy or aggressive.

by Connor Perry

The Winter Olympics are back again and hold promises of even greater show-ings from many of the world’s best. The biennial, multinational event begins Feb-ruary 9, and will continue until February 25, pitting the top athletes against each other in a varied schedule.

The 2018 Winter Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang, marking the first time South Korea has hosted the Games since 1988, and the first time it has held the Winter Olympics. The opening cer-emony, slated for February 9, will usher in roughly two weeks of competition in fifteen sports, with 102 events to be held altogether. In addition to the road tested sports of ice hockey, skiing, figure skating, and the like, four new variants on such sports will be making their debut on the Olympic stage. Big air snowboarding, mixed doubles curling, mass start speed

Winter Olympicsby Connor Perry

skating, and mixed team alpine skiing will be given the green light for trial runs, for a total of sixteen sports to be debuted in the Games since 2014.

The logistics of such a large operation nearly doomed the project in South Korea from the start. $2.4 billion was needed to finance the enormous cost of hosting the games, a number that they fell short of by more than a quarter of a billion dollars, according to CNN. Lack of enthusiasm for the Games from sponsors also threat-ened to ground them before it had even gotten off the ground. Coupled with the same construction difficulties the host city seemingly always seems to inherit, the prospect of the Winter Olympics being held there- seemed dubious at best, even a few short months ago. However, Pyeo-ngchang rebounded from these setbacks to provide those lucky enough to grab a

ticket with decidedly modern and techni-cally impressive facilities. In addition to the obvious stadiums and slopes, attend-ees will also be lucky enough to kick off the games in the temporary $78 million Olympic Stadium, which is capable of holding 35,000 spectators and resembles an enormous baseball diamond.

Fears of the continued threat from the neighbors to the north of South Korea are in no small part responsible for the flag-ging ticket sales. With Pyeonchang being only sixty miles south of the Demilitarized

Zone, there are plenty who are apprehen-sive about the Games. There are signs of life, however, within the peace camps. In January, delegates from the two countries agreed to walk under one flag during the opening ceremonies for the first time since the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Also negotiated was the first joint women’s ice hockey team between the two countries. While these developments are promising, and any form of peace talk is preferred to the alternative, this is in no way promising a long term agreement between the two countries.

Although there are still fears sur-rounding the games, overall it looks to be a competitive and exciting Olympics. With the new sports added and the nation-al unity being shown, there is a promise of even greater things for the upcoming Games.

Art Siderrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Page 7

Mrs. Pollino’s Photo 2 Class

Photo Courtesy of Sydney Lewis Photo Courtesy of Kasey Osman

Photo Courtesy of Cara Postufka

Artwork Courtesy of Abbey Sinclair Artwork Courtesy of Maryrose Ceccarelli

Artwork Courtesy of Leah Eberts

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Mr. Chevalier’s Art Class

STAFFDelaney Snyder.....................................................................Editor-in-Chief

Cassandra Yetsick........................................................................Copy Editor

Olivia Estright.........................................................................Sports Editor

Sam Haberman.....................................................................Tiger Tales Editor

Ana Molnar....................................................................Entertainment Editor

Dan Russo..........................................................................Editorials Editor

Isabella Mollica.................................................................Debate Page Editor

Chandler Sargent.....................................................................Art Side Editor

Connor Perry.............................................................................Staff Writer

Mr. Dodd....................................................................................Advisor

It’s Gettin’ Hot in Here

(continued from page 4)

Couples can go on a romantic snorkeling adventure together in the reef filled clear waters of Molokini. This small island is a partially submerged volcanic crater and a Marine Life Conservation.

Oahu has several activities for couples like a romantic horseback riding tour. It

is a perfect way to spend time with your significant other in the beautiful, tropical environment.

Doing something nice for your signif-icant other is most important. No matter where the two of you are, spending time together is always the best.

Romantic Places(continued from page 1)

Awareness on the issue may be its most important defense, however. With 164 countries passing laws designed to combat the change, there certainly is more awareness than there was half a century ago. Countries such as South Korea and France have implemented stricter rules on pollutants in recent years, and have set an example of how the best way to go about

this sticky business is.Although the United States and others

have taken steps to clear up the problem, there is still a long hill to climb until the situation can be stabilized. In the mean-time, make the world a lot cooler by switching the thermostat from Fahrenheit to Celsius.

happy valentine's day from

moonmemes!In-tiger-rogative

Hey MoonBeams Staff,

What are your plans for Valentine’ s Day?

With affection,

Crushing in Crescent

I will be on a bus with my boyfriend on our way to Cocoa Beach and Disney World. -Sam

Probably gona be spending my entire paycheck on Sheetz and playing my two favorite video games, Overwatch adn Tinder. -Dan

Any new shows on Netflix? -Connor My puppy and I have a date with Netflix. -Olivia

I’m probably going to binge-watch sad movies all night by myself. -Ana

I will be spending Valentine’s Day alone while my boyfriend heads to Disney World. -Cassandra