How to survive family Thanksgivings
By: Caylee Lindsay
As November begins, so does the holiday season, bringing with it the rustic glow of fall colors and the ever-lingering smell of pumpkin spice, reminding us that autumn is in full swing. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means you might have to spend a pervasive amount of time with your dysfunctional family members. Here is a guide for surviving your family Thanksgiving this upcoming holiday.
Keep the light conversation going, and avoid delving into heavier topics. Let’s face it, your family is bound to ask you about your college plans, or somehow find a way to ask you about the least comfortable topic they could possibly ask. Whatever the topic may be, try to keep it simple.
Give the kids in your family a way to feel included. To ensure that all whining, crying, and restlessness be ceased, create a craft or activity for the younger members of your family to keep them busy.
Suggest playing a game with your family. Card and board games can be a fun way to distract your family from Thanksgiving insanity.
Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity for you to spend quality time with your whole family, so take advantage of this special Holiday to help your family prepare food, have some conversations with family members you haven’t seen in awhile, or just take a moment to appreciate the people in your life who give you a reason to be thankful.
-Caylee Lindsay (‘18) is a third-year Vault staff member and Print Editor-in-Chief.
By: Caylee Lindsay
As November begins, so does the holiday season, bringing with it the rustic glow of fall colors and the ever-lingering smell of pumpkin spice, reminding us that autumn is in full swing. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means you might have to spend a pervasive amount of time with your dysfunctional family members. Here is a guide for surviving your family Thanksgiving this upcoming holiday.
Keep the light conversation going, and avoid delving into heavier topics. Let’s face it, your family is bound to ask you about your college plans, or somehow find a way to ask you about the least comfortable topic they could possibly ask. Whatever the topic may be, try to keep it simple.
Give the kids in your family a way to feel included. To ensure that all whining, crying, and restlessness be ceased, create a craft or activity for the younger members of your family to keep them busy.
Suggest playing a game with your family. Card and board games can be a fun way to distract your family from Thanksgiving insanity.
Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity for you to spend quality time with your whole family, so take advantage of this special Holiday to help your family prepare food, have some conversations with family members you haven’t seen in awhile, or just take a moment to appreciate the people in your life who give you a reason to be thankful.
-Caylee Lindsay (‘18) is a third-year Vault staff member and Print Editor-in-Chief.
Guilty of PDA in the halls?
Find out if your embrace breaks the rules
By: Mackenzie Holder
Relationships are an important part of a high school experience, and displays of affection commonly happen as those relationships grow. Couples spend a good deal of time together while they are attending school, and this can lead to what is called in handbooks Public Displays of Affection or PDA. Most students will say that, at our school, contact that is okay and not okay is not clearly stated.
Principal Amy Anderson said that, “Some things are not necessary at school. We treat school like a workplace, and PDA is not something appropriate for work.” Whether you are walking through the halls going to your next class or working in a professional office, you do not want to look to your right and see people kissing beside you because it makes everyone feel awkward.
Students may think that it is not a big deal because the perception is that no one ever gets in trouble for PDA, but that is not the case. Some teachers have a game plan when it comes to intense embraces in the hallway. English Teacher Mrs. Garee states, “I take my pointer stick from my chalkboard tray out into the hall and wave it at them until they stop, like I’m shooing away animals. Other kids just laugh, but it seems to work.”
In reality, there have been multiple Wednesday schools given out in results of PDA. Anderson stated that, “If students were to go home and kiss in front of their parents, I do not believe that they would be okay with it.” Holding hands in the hallway is fine, Anderson clarified, and so are “side hugs,” but anything more than that is just not necessary at school.
So when you hear those heels clicking down the hallway, make sure nothing more than a side hug is happening between you and your significant other.
-Mackenzie Holder (‘19) is Jr. Print Editor for The Viking Vault.
Find out if your embrace breaks the rules
By: Mackenzie Holder
Relationships are an important part of a high school experience, and displays of affection commonly happen as those relationships grow. Couples spend a good deal of time together while they are attending school, and this can lead to what is called in handbooks Public Displays of Affection or PDA. Most students will say that, at our school, contact that is okay and not okay is not clearly stated.
Principal Amy Anderson said that, “Some things are not necessary at school. We treat school like a workplace, and PDA is not something appropriate for work.” Whether you are walking through the halls going to your next class or working in a professional office, you do not want to look to your right and see people kissing beside you because it makes everyone feel awkward.
Students may think that it is not a big deal because the perception is that no one ever gets in trouble for PDA, but that is not the case. Some teachers have a game plan when it comes to intense embraces in the hallway. English Teacher Mrs. Garee states, “I take my pointer stick from my chalkboard tray out into the hall and wave it at them until they stop, like I’m shooing away animals. Other kids just laugh, but it seems to work.”
In reality, there have been multiple Wednesday schools given out in results of PDA. Anderson stated that, “If students were to go home and kiss in front of their parents, I do not believe that they would be okay with it.” Holding hands in the hallway is fine, Anderson clarified, and so are “side hugs,” but anything more than that is just not necessary at school.
So when you hear those heels clicking down the hallway, make sure nothing more than a side hug is happening between you and your significant other.
-Mackenzie Holder (‘19) is Jr. Print Editor for The Viking Vault.
Dr. Love
How to tell someone you don’t want to date them
By: Sydney Miller
If you’re like me, you get asked out a lot… but some people, like me, don’t want to date in high school. Here are some ways to tell them you’re not interested.
Sometimes you have to be creative when telling someone that you don’t want to date/go on a date with them. There are the excuses that you’re sick or have plans that you don’t have, but you have to get creative after those two excuses. Some other reasons that you can use are you’re going on a juice cleanse, so you can’t go out for food and if you go out near food you’ll be tempted to cheat. Maybe tell them that your mom is going on a juice cleanse and you can’t go because you’re too busy juicing apples for her. Try saying you had a super hard workout the day before, and can’t move from your bed… even if you don’t workout, say you’re starting to.
Now if that doesn’t work, you have friends for a reason. There’s a good chance that you have told them already that you don’t want to go out with this person, and you’ve asked for their advice. Since their advice didn’t work, you obviously came to the expert ... me. Though they didn’t give you the best advice, you can always have them take one for the team and let them tell the person who is asking you out that you really don’t want to date anyone right now, or they could say you’re just not their type. Sure, it may sound a little Middle School, but if it works, it works. If all else fails, tell the person that is asking you on a date that your friend would LOVE to go out with them.
In case everything fails and they still don’t get the hints, be blunt. Tell them you’re not interested or you don’t want to date anyone right now. Make sure to add something like :bud” or even “dude/dudette” at the end to make it sound not as harsh. You don’t want to be mean; imagine if you were them and you got your heart mildly broken. Let them down easy because it will let them know that, even though you don’t like them now, you don’t want them to remember you as the person who was a jerk face that shattered their high school dream.
Keep in mind that you shouldn’t just shut someone down because they don’t look like Zac Efron or Blake Lively. Beauty comes with age, and they’re like 30. Go on a “date” with them, then judge them after.
If this advice helped you, feel free to ask me for more specific help. I’ll be on the lookout for the answers!
Until next visit,
Dr. Love PHD
-Sydney Miller ('18) is a second-year Vault staff member and Senior Spotlight Editor.
How to tell someone you don’t want to date them
By: Sydney Miller
If you’re like me, you get asked out a lot… but some people, like me, don’t want to date in high school. Here are some ways to tell them you’re not interested.
Sometimes you have to be creative when telling someone that you don’t want to date/go on a date with them. There are the excuses that you’re sick or have plans that you don’t have, but you have to get creative after those two excuses. Some other reasons that you can use are you’re going on a juice cleanse, so you can’t go out for food and if you go out near food you’ll be tempted to cheat. Maybe tell them that your mom is going on a juice cleanse and you can’t go because you’re too busy juicing apples for her. Try saying you had a super hard workout the day before, and can’t move from your bed… even if you don’t workout, say you’re starting to.
Now if that doesn’t work, you have friends for a reason. There’s a good chance that you have told them already that you don’t want to go out with this person, and you’ve asked for their advice. Since their advice didn’t work, you obviously came to the expert ... me. Though they didn’t give you the best advice, you can always have them take one for the team and let them tell the person who is asking you out that you really don’t want to date anyone right now, or they could say you’re just not their type. Sure, it may sound a little Middle School, but if it works, it works. If all else fails, tell the person that is asking you on a date that your friend would LOVE to go out with them.
In case everything fails and they still don’t get the hints, be blunt. Tell them you’re not interested or you don’t want to date anyone right now. Make sure to add something like :bud” or even “dude/dudette” at the end to make it sound not as harsh. You don’t want to be mean; imagine if you were them and you got your heart mildly broken. Let them down easy because it will let them know that, even though you don’t like them now, you don’t want them to remember you as the person who was a jerk face that shattered their high school dream.
Keep in mind that you shouldn’t just shut someone down because they don’t look like Zac Efron or Blake Lively. Beauty comes with age, and they’re like 30. Go on a “date” with them, then judge them after.
If this advice helped you, feel free to ask me for more specific help. I’ll be on the lookout for the answers!
Until next visit,
Dr. Love PHD
-Sydney Miller ('18) is a second-year Vault staff member and Senior Spotlight Editor.
Flush these habits in the school restrooms
By: Olivia Humes
NORTHRIDGE- There is a time and place for everything, and most of the time, the restroom isn’t the place. Written below are some of the most annoying things that happen in our school bathrooms.
One of the most annoying occurrences in the restrooms is when you walk in to see people crying their eyes out in front of the mirror. First of all, this situation is awkward for everyone: the person crying is just standing there looking at the person who walked in, and the person who walked in doesn’t know whether to ask what is wrong or just go on with their business and leave. This is especially awkward if you don’t know the person, so if you don’t want people to see you cry, then don’t do it out in the open in the bathroom. If you have to cry that badly, shed a few tears, then wipe them off and put a smile on your face because nobody wants to see you bawling.
Madie Legg (‘19) says, “The worst is when you walk in the bathroom and people are sitting on the floor crying! The FLOOR! Like, that’s literally just gross!”
Another annoying habit is when you’re trying to get to a paper towel dispenser or sink, but there’s a huge group of people around it talking, and they don’t even acknowledge your presence. For the most part, people are already annoyed that they have to come to school. So, when they have to stand there and repeat the words, “Excuse me!” until the group actually listens, it is very frustrating, and overall just annoying. If you are going to have a long, loud, obnoxious conversation, at least do it where you aren’t in the way of anything.
Darian Dick (‘20) says, “I really don’t like to talk to people I don’t know very well, so when people are doing that in the bathroom is makes me really, really, really annoyed.”
If you are one of the people that does either of these things in the school bathroom, please stop because it actually annoys more people than you think it does.
-Olivia Humes is the Jr. Web Editor and Sports Editor for the Viking Vault.
By: Olivia Humes
NORTHRIDGE- There is a time and place for everything, and most of the time, the restroom isn’t the place. Written below are some of the most annoying things that happen in our school bathrooms.
One of the most annoying occurrences in the restrooms is when you walk in to see people crying their eyes out in front of the mirror. First of all, this situation is awkward for everyone: the person crying is just standing there looking at the person who walked in, and the person who walked in doesn’t know whether to ask what is wrong or just go on with their business and leave. This is especially awkward if you don’t know the person, so if you don’t want people to see you cry, then don’t do it out in the open in the bathroom. If you have to cry that badly, shed a few tears, then wipe them off and put a smile on your face because nobody wants to see you bawling.
Madie Legg (‘19) says, “The worst is when you walk in the bathroom and people are sitting on the floor crying! The FLOOR! Like, that’s literally just gross!”
Another annoying habit is when you’re trying to get to a paper towel dispenser or sink, but there’s a huge group of people around it talking, and they don’t even acknowledge your presence. For the most part, people are already annoyed that they have to come to school. So, when they have to stand there and repeat the words, “Excuse me!” until the group actually listens, it is very frustrating, and overall just annoying. If you are going to have a long, loud, obnoxious conversation, at least do it where you aren’t in the way of anything.
Darian Dick (‘20) says, “I really don’t like to talk to people I don’t know very well, so when people are doing that in the bathroom is makes me really, really, really annoyed.”
If you are one of the people that does either of these things in the school bathroom, please stop because it actually annoys more people than you think it does.
-Olivia Humes is the Jr. Web Editor and Sports Editor for the Viking Vault.
Tinkle Time
Asking to use the restroom is a bit middle school
By: Cora Dorman
“Can I use the restroom?” is a question that teachers are asked countless times a day. The majority of the time, the answer is yes, but other times teachers respond with a sarcastic, “Well, CAN you use the restroom?”
Personally, I don’t completely understand why we have to ask to go to the bathroom, as a teacher can’t control how urgently one needs to go. If one needs to go so urgently, there may not be time for a teacher to respond to the asked question. From a young age, I was told by my parents that if I have to go so urgently and a teacher refuses to let me go, I should just go because the mess will be worse than the punishment.
Foreign exchange students have often thought asking a teacher to use the restroom is strange and very personal. Caylee Lindsay (‘18) says, “I remember past foreign exchange students being weirded out by the concept of asking a teacher to go to the bathroom.”
Additionally, I find it odd that seventeen and eighteen year olds are making decisions about their future and what they want to do for the rest of their lives, but they aren’t allowed to decide when they need to do something as simple as going to the restroom.
I don’t always agree with the process of a student asking a teacher to use the restroom, but I see the positives of doing so. For example, when a student is required to ask a teacher to use the restroom, the teacher always knows where the student is and the process is used as a safety precaution.
As strange as asking someone to go to the bathroom is, remember, everyone has to go at one point or another.
-Cora Dorman (‘18) is a second-year Vault staff member and News Editor. [email protected]
Asking to use the restroom is a bit middle school
By: Cora Dorman
“Can I use the restroom?” is a question that teachers are asked countless times a day. The majority of the time, the answer is yes, but other times teachers respond with a sarcastic, “Well, CAN you use the restroom?”
Personally, I don’t completely understand why we have to ask to go to the bathroom, as a teacher can’t control how urgently one needs to go. If one needs to go so urgently, there may not be time for a teacher to respond to the asked question. From a young age, I was told by my parents that if I have to go so urgently and a teacher refuses to let me go, I should just go because the mess will be worse than the punishment.
Foreign exchange students have often thought asking a teacher to use the restroom is strange and very personal. Caylee Lindsay (‘18) says, “I remember past foreign exchange students being weirded out by the concept of asking a teacher to go to the bathroom.”
Additionally, I find it odd that seventeen and eighteen year olds are making decisions about their future and what they want to do for the rest of their lives, but they aren’t allowed to decide when they need to do something as simple as going to the restroom.
I don’t always agree with the process of a student asking a teacher to use the restroom, but I see the positives of doing so. For example, when a student is required to ask a teacher to use the restroom, the teacher always knows where the student is and the process is used as a safety precaution.
As strange as asking someone to go to the bathroom is, remember, everyone has to go at one point or another.
-Cora Dorman (‘18) is a second-year Vault staff member and News Editor. [email protected]
Wonder Woman is worth renting
By: Jason Turner
Over the past couple of months I have seen the movie Wonder Woman in theaters, which became available on DVD about a month ago.
This movie is basically about an Amazon woman raised on an island, thinking that this was the only place in the world. The island was made up of all women that Wonder Woman, Diana, lived on. She was raised with the belief that she was a daughter of Zeus.
After she became an adult, a pilot by the name of Steve Trevor ended up on the island while being chased by German men. She protected him and then wanted to go back to help end the war and find the “bad” guy that she thought was Ares.
The movie, overall, was good. It followed the comic books relatively well. The only thing that didn’t seem real was the fact that there could still be an island out there with just Amazon women. If there was, how did Steve Trevor happen upon it?
As far as the DC comics and how it followed the rest of the Super Hero movies, I am not sure. I watch more of the Marvel series than DC. But I would say that it is a movie well worth watching and is as good as the first Iron Man.
Jason Turner (‘18) writes movie reviews for The Viking Vault.
By: Jason Turner
Over the past couple of months I have seen the movie Wonder Woman in theaters, which became available on DVD about a month ago.
This movie is basically about an Amazon woman raised on an island, thinking that this was the only place in the world. The island was made up of all women that Wonder Woman, Diana, lived on. She was raised with the belief that she was a daughter of Zeus.
After she became an adult, a pilot by the name of Steve Trevor ended up on the island while being chased by German men. She protected him and then wanted to go back to help end the war and find the “bad” guy that she thought was Ares.
The movie, overall, was good. It followed the comic books relatively well. The only thing that didn’t seem real was the fact that there could still be an island out there with just Amazon women. If there was, how did Steve Trevor happen upon it?
As far as the DC comics and how it followed the rest of the Super Hero movies, I am not sure. I watch more of the Marvel series than DC. But I would say that it is a movie well worth watching and is as good as the first Iron Man.
Jason Turner (‘18) writes movie reviews for The Viking Vault.
Naptime:
Lets bring it back
By: Madison Legg
In preschool, when teachers said “naptime,” you wanted to throw a foam block at them. But, now that you’re in high school, how would you feel if those in power actually brought naptime back?
I know that not only myself but many other people fall asleep during free periods, and those power naps really set me up for the rest of the day. Lauren Aamodt (‘21) says “whenever the teacher yelled nap time in preschool, I cried the whole time everyone slept. Now I beg teachers for nap time.”
Many people talk about how they fall asleep during class. I’m not gonna lie; I have had those moments where I start to count sheep during class. What if I told you there was a way to stay awake all day, by having nap time again. I propose we could everyday have a short 20 minutes period between 2nd and 3rd period to have a short nap time.
Even teachers feel sleepy at times and recognize there are times during the day that just feel right for a snooze. Mrs. Garee states, “Because of my bean bag chairs, I realize the struggle is real for my students. I have noticed students struggle sitting in them first period because it's so early and sixth period after lunch because they just want to slip off to happy dream land ... even though I consider my actual class its own version of happy dream land.”
Many studies show that if people take 20-30 minute naps a day it improves their mood, focus, and performance. (According to the study of Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience.)
Megan Castle (‘19) says, “If I did not nap during study hall every day, people would think I was a big grumpy bear.” So why wouldn't we bring naptime back if it is going to make everyone more happy, have better focus, and maybe make people have better grades?
So in the end many people want naptime because it will make them feel better and focus. It will not only better students but it will better be teachers because it will make them look better because students will get better grades.
-Madie Legg ('19) is a second-year Vault staff member and Entertainment and Publicity Editor. [email protected]
Lets bring it back
By: Madison Legg
In preschool, when teachers said “naptime,” you wanted to throw a foam block at them. But, now that you’re in high school, how would you feel if those in power actually brought naptime back?
I know that not only myself but many other people fall asleep during free periods, and those power naps really set me up for the rest of the day. Lauren Aamodt (‘21) says “whenever the teacher yelled nap time in preschool, I cried the whole time everyone slept. Now I beg teachers for nap time.”
Many people talk about how they fall asleep during class. I’m not gonna lie; I have had those moments where I start to count sheep during class. What if I told you there was a way to stay awake all day, by having nap time again. I propose we could everyday have a short 20 minutes period between 2nd and 3rd period to have a short nap time.
Even teachers feel sleepy at times and recognize there are times during the day that just feel right for a snooze. Mrs. Garee states, “Because of my bean bag chairs, I realize the struggle is real for my students. I have noticed students struggle sitting in them first period because it's so early and sixth period after lunch because they just want to slip off to happy dream land ... even though I consider my actual class its own version of happy dream land.”
Many studies show that if people take 20-30 minute naps a day it improves their mood, focus, and performance. (According to the study of Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience.)
Megan Castle (‘19) says, “If I did not nap during study hall every day, people would think I was a big grumpy bear.” So why wouldn't we bring naptime back if it is going to make everyone more happy, have better focus, and maybe make people have better grades?
So in the end many people want naptime because it will make them feel better and focus. It will not only better students but it will better be teachers because it will make them look better because students will get better grades.
-Madie Legg ('19) is a second-year Vault staff member and Entertainment and Publicity Editor. [email protected]
Easy Thanksgiving recipes for high schoolers
By: Dayna Martin
Even though you might not realize it, the holiday season is upon us. This means that family gatherings, celebrations, and many delicious recipes are quickly approaching. As a high school student you may think that you are not able to contribute to your family dinners, either because you are too busy to prepare a dish or cooking may not be your forte. If any of these reasonings apply to you, then this is the story for you.
If you are searching for easy but delicious recipes to prepare for your family Thanksgiving dinner, here are a couple of ideas:
Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients:
2 (14.5 oz) cans of Green Beans, drained
1 (18 oz) can of Creamy Mushroom Soup
1 (6 oz) can of French Fried Onions
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit
In a 1 ½ quart casserole dish combine green beans, creamy mushroom soup, and half of the french fried onions
Bake for 20-25 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of baking, add the remaining french fried onions to the top and finish baking
Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
2 lbs potatoes quartered and peeled
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender around 15 minutes; drain
In a small saucepan, heat butter and milk at low heat until the butter is melted
Using a potato masher or electric mixer, mix the milk mixture with the potatoes until creamy
Add salt and pepper to taste
Now, for everyone’s favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal, the desert:
Apple Crisp
Ingredients:
4 cups sliced apples
1 cup sugar
¾ cup flour
½ cup softened butter
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Dash of salt
Directions:
Preheat oven 375 degree fahrenheit
Slice apples and place in 9 inch buttered pie plate
Mix: sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt. Once mixed, cut in the butter and mix until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples
Bake for 45 minutes
As the holidays approach and your workload as a student becomes heavier, always remember there are easy recipes that you can prepare to contribute to your Thanksgiving meal. Your family will wish they would have asked you to contribute to the meal long before now!
-Dayna Martin (‘18) is a second-year Vault staff member and Features Editor. [email protected]
By: Dayna Martin
Even though you might not realize it, the holiday season is upon us. This means that family gatherings, celebrations, and many delicious recipes are quickly approaching. As a high school student you may think that you are not able to contribute to your family dinners, either because you are too busy to prepare a dish or cooking may not be your forte. If any of these reasonings apply to you, then this is the story for you.
If you are searching for easy but delicious recipes to prepare for your family Thanksgiving dinner, here are a couple of ideas:
Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients:
2 (14.5 oz) cans of Green Beans, drained
1 (18 oz) can of Creamy Mushroom Soup
1 (6 oz) can of French Fried Onions
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit
In a 1 ½ quart casserole dish combine green beans, creamy mushroom soup, and half of the french fried onions
Bake for 20-25 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of baking, add the remaining french fried onions to the top and finish baking
Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
2 lbs potatoes quartered and peeled
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender around 15 minutes; drain
In a small saucepan, heat butter and milk at low heat until the butter is melted
Using a potato masher or electric mixer, mix the milk mixture with the potatoes until creamy
Add salt and pepper to taste
Now, for everyone’s favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal, the desert:
Apple Crisp
Ingredients:
4 cups sliced apples
1 cup sugar
¾ cup flour
½ cup softened butter
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Dash of salt
Directions:
Preheat oven 375 degree fahrenheit
Slice apples and place in 9 inch buttered pie plate
Mix: sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt. Once mixed, cut in the butter and mix until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples
Bake for 45 minutes
As the holidays approach and your workload as a student becomes heavier, always remember there are easy recipes that you can prepare to contribute to your Thanksgiving meal. Your family will wish they would have asked you to contribute to the meal long before now!
-Dayna Martin (‘18) is a second-year Vault staff member and Features Editor. [email protected]