Winter 2016 Pickens High School

Blue Flame Journal

Merry LITmas!

Journalism Staff

J1 J1 J1 J2 J2 J2 J2 J2 J2 J2 J3

Inside This Issue Fall/Winter Bucket List…………………………………………Page Two New President…………………………………………...…...Page Three Veterans Day………………….……………………………...Page Three Pageant…………………..……………………………………..Page Four Basketball………………………….……………………………Page Five Prepare Now for Midterms …………………………………….Page Six Bought v. DIY Gifts………………………………..………...Page Seven Christmas Spirit Week………….……………...……………..Page Eight Christmas Movies……………..……………………………….Page Nine Christmas Music………………………………………………..Page Ten Christmas Recipes………..………………………………...Page Eleven Christmas Lights………...………………………………….Page Twelve

Abbey Dodgens Caroline Fowler Micah Jordan Taylor Abercrombie Emily Cothran Chloe Dalton Cassie Dorr Katie Dorr Emilee Durham Katelyn Durham Zoe Mann

Co-Editors Elizabeth Ward and Ashleigh Scipio

Fall & Winter Bucket List

By Cassie Dorr Abraham Lincoln once said, “...It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Bucket lists are the key to making the most of our years, and there are many activities and traditions that we can participate in this time of year. Regardless of your favorite fall/winter traditions, there are certain things that are definitely necessary to add to this year’s bucket list.

Fall: -Sample lattes & frappes at local coffee shops (downtown Greenville is where it’s at– Spill The Beans, West End Coffee Shoppe, Starbucks, Coffee Underground, Port City Java, Methodical Coffee, Java Jolt) - Go to plenty of bonfires and make s’mores - Take weekend trip to stay in log cabin - Go camping, fishing, and hiking (if it’s not too freezing)

Winter: - Create a lit holiday playlist and jam to Christmas music all day - Go see/drive through Christmas lights (Anderson Christmas Light Show: $10 per vehicle, located at 3215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Anderson, SC 29621 [Across from Civic Center]. Roper Mountain Holiday Lights, $10 Mon-Thu, $15 Fri-Sun, Greenville. Greenville-Pickens Speedway, prices vary, Easley. Hollywild, $6-10, 2325 Hampton Rd, Wellford) - Take a pic with Santa (hit up the closest mall with friends) - ice skating (if you’re feeling adventurous– places in Greenville: Ice on Main, The Pavilion, Bon Secours Wellness Arena [select times and events], price is under $15) - Make a gingerbread house while drinking homemade hot cocoa (cliché I know) -Pick a Christmas tree and decorate it ($20-40. local tree farms: Merry Christmas Tree Farm, Central. Mystic Farm, Greenville. Elves Christmas Trees, Greenville.)

-Donate/volunteer to help with Country Santa (give back, it’s great) Check these things off of your bucket list and you are guaranteed to have the best fall and winter seasons yet!

Rows of Christmas trees at tree farms are

displayed and ready to be picked.

Local coffee shops have irresistible lattes just

waiting to be tasted.

Bonfires and s’mores make for a perfect fall

evening.

Ice-skates await to be laced up and taken on an

adventure.

Winter 2016 Page 3

Veteran’s Day

After a long eighteen-months of

campaigning finally came to a close, it was

November 8, Election Day. Forerunners

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton had

been engaged in a brutal battle, and it was

up to the voters to decide. Both campaigns

had been filled to the brim with

controversy. On the side of Mr. Trump,

there were various comments about his

radical plans, degrading swipes at women,

and more. His opponent, Democrat Hillary

Clinton, was and still is facing an email

scandal.

The choice was called at three A.M. on

November 9 that by a narrow margin,

surprising many, Trump had won. He soon

gave an acceptance speech and officially

was recognized as the 2016 president-elect.

However, amongst the rejoicing of some,

many were terribly distraught. A variety of

events occurred, one being Clinton’s

supporters breaking down in tears in the

middle of streets, inhibiting traffic. Others, of

a more radical nature, burned flags and held

protests across the country. Since then,

America has somewhat returned to a state of

peace.

Since Election Day, the transition party has

worked on choosing who our leaders shall be.

So far, alongside Mr. Trump and Vice

President-Elect Mike Pence is Reince Priebus

who is to be Chief of Staff. However, many

choices such as Secretary of State are still up

in the air. Trump’s overall plans include

economic turnaround, changing foreign

policies with countries such as Russia and

China, bringing outsourced jobs back into the

country, and major immigration reforms.

Trump’s presidential inauguration will take

place Friday, January 20.

By Kristopher Pickens

Trump Elected President

By Elizabeth Ward

Every year on November 11, we all make

the trek down to the football field to watch

the Veteran’s Day ceremony that is

presented by the school in cooperation with

JROTC, the band, and the chorus. While

most of us simply view the ceremony as a

great opportunity to miss class, the holiday

has an important history that each of us

should cherish and respect.

Veteran’s Day was originally called

Armistice Day and was a celebration to

commemorate the signing of the Treaty of

Versailles which took place on the eleventh

day of the eleventh month in the eleventh

hour on November 11, 1918, and

concluded the first World War. The

holiday was first recognized in 1919 by

President Woodrow Wilson and was a

national affair. Schools and businesses

closed and communities came together to

watch parades and celebrate the end of the

Great War. However, Congress did not

pass a resolution until 1926, and November

11 did not become a national holiday until

1938. As a holiday, the day evolved into a

day of remembrance for all of our nation’s

veteran, past and present after the

mobilization of troops in WWII and Korea

in 1954. While schools and government

offices remain open, the day is still

memorialized with school programs and

offers from the community to honor

veterans.

This Veteran's Day, Pickens High School

was joined by Dacusville Middle to watch

and participate in the 25th Annual Pickens

High Veteran's Day Ceremony. The

JROTC cadets stood at attention and in

formation on the football field respectfully

during the ceremony. The audience was

treated to performances by both the

Women’s Ensemble and by a quartet that

consisted of Mr. Harrison, Mr. Monroe,

Mr. Faithful, and Mr. Lawson. Colonel

Higginbotham shared the history of

Veteran’s Day and read a list of Pickens

High faculty and staff who are veterans.

Those in attendance joined special guests

and ceremony leaders in saying the pledge

of allegiance and the singing of the

National Anthem. The Wind Ensemble

played the service songs of each branch of

the Armed Services as Veterans stood to be

recognized. A cannon was fired twice

during the ceremony, and before the

JROTC marched, Justin Kelly played Taps

on the trumpet.

Pickens High School was honored by the

presence of veterans who served during

World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada,

and Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm.

The Blue Flame Journal and Pickens High

School would like to express our deepest

appreciation for our veterans and the

President-Elect Donald Trump

Inauguration Ceremony:

January 20, 2017

Page 4 Winter 2016

Pageant

The 2016 Miss Gem Pageant took place on

Thursday, November 17 and Saturday,

November 19. The theme for this year’s

pageant was Alice Through the Looking

Glass. Thursday night, the underclassmen

competed for a chance to win titles in 9th,

10th, and 11th grade categories. Seniors

competed that following Saturday night for

both Miss Senior and Miss Gem titles.

Sophomore Winners

Miss Sophomore: Carson Smith

First Runner Up: Ivy Sudduth

Second Runner Up: Savannah Gantt

Fan Favorite: Savannah Gantt

Miss Congeniality: Abby Hayes

Miss Photogenic: Savannah Gantt

Senior Winners

Miss Gem: Abby Keller

Miss Senior: Sarah Beth Aiken

First Runner Up: Tori Kennedy

Second Runner Up: Brennan Lassiter

Fan Favorite: Allison Dickard

Miss Congeniality: Sarah Atkins

Miss Photogenic: Brennan Lassiter

Talent Winner: Brennan Lassiter

By Katelyn Durham

Freshman Winners

Miss Freshman: Emme Welborn

First Runner Up: Maddie Grace Lewis

Second Runner Up: Haley Burton

Fan Favorite: Hannah King

Miss Congeniality: Haley Burton

Miss Photogenic: Maddie Grace Lewis

Junior Winners

Miss Junior: Chanler Burgess

First Runner Up: Shelby Nicholson

Second Runner Up: Sarah Porter

Fan Favorite: Chanler Burgess

Miss Congenialty: Shelby Nicholson

Miss Photogenic: Sarah Porter

Congratulations to Abby Keller for

winning Miss Gem and to Sarah

Beth Aiken for winning Miss Senior!

Winter 2016 Page 5

Welcome to Pickens, Coach Reid!

By Emily Cothran

A new basketball season is always

exciting, but it is even more exciting when

there is a new coach. The boys varsity team

is not only embracing a new basketball

season but a new head coach as well.

Head Coach Austin Reid has had many

experiences preparing him for his first

season at Pickens, including assistant coach

at Berea High School and a member of the

coaching staff for Clemson’s Men’s

Basketball Team. He was head manager

under Coach Brad Brownell as a student

assistant for four years, until he graduated

from Clemson in August 2013. Coach Reid

then moved to Berea High School, where

he was an assistant coach for three seasons.

In his third season with the Bulldogs, he

helped lead them to the third round of

playoffs, and then a unique opportunity

arose.

Coach Reid’s career goal has always been

to be a head coach, so when Pickens had an

available position, Coach Reid made the

switch from Berea to Pickens. Reid said he

is excited for the opportunity to make some

positive changes, such as making the team

better players and more competitive as a

whole. He says, “This season I think the

students and fans will immediately see a

Blue Flame Varsity Boys

Basketball Roster

0 - Senior - 6'4 - Lenny Russell

2 - Senior - 5'10 - Cole Seaborn

3 - Junior - 5'9 - Nate Thomas

4 - Senior - 6'2 - Owen Harrington

5 - Junior - 5'11 - Jamal Blythe

10 - Junior - 6'1 - Will Alexander

11 - Junior - 6'1 - Stone Prince

14 - Junior - 6'0 - Jacob Chappell

20 - Senior - 6'3 - Sam Lawson

22 - Senior - 6'4 - Nathan Payne

23 - Senior - 6'3 - Dorian Butler

24 - Senior - 6'3 - Townes Rogers

33 - Junior - 6'2 - Grayson Hall

Coach Austin Reid calls plays from the sidelines to lead the Boy’s Varsity Team to a

Blue Flame victory.

change in how hard we compete and how

we play and carry ourselves the right way.”

Coach Reid also hopes the students and

surrounding community will be able to

experience the energetic vibe from the team

and coaches along with their determination

to do whatever it takes to have a winning

season. Be sure to come out and support the

The boys gather around Coach Reid to hear the upcoming plays against rival team

Easley.

Page 6 Winter 2016

Prepare Now for Midterms

Congratulations! You’re almost halfway

through the school year. With Christmas

right around the corner, we’re all counting

down to that nice, long Christmas break. But

unfortunately before we get to that, we’ve

got one more pretty important thing to do:

midterm exams.

What are midterm exams and why are they

so important? Our midterm exam counts

10% of our final grade, which may not sound

like much, but in the end it makes a

difference. Midterm exams for year-long

classes cannot be exempted like the final

exam at the end of the year can. Exams are

not just relevant to high school. If you go to

college after you graduate from PHS, you’ll

have exams there too. Believe it or not it

actually doesn’t stop there. Many jobs

require you to pass some type of exam before

you’re allowed to practice a profession. For

example, in order to practice law, a lawyer is

required to pass the Bar Exam. However,

even those who are not planning on college

after high school are not exempt. Many

technical careers require potential employees

to have a certain score on WorkKeys or pass

a certification test in their area. “Exams”

won’t just go away no matter how much we

wish they would. They will follow us for the

rest of our lives.

How do I need to prepare for exams?

I’m sure your teachers will do plenty of in-

class review to help you prepare and will

answer any questions you might have, but it

isn’t entirely up to them. Here’s some things

to keep in mind when you start studying that

have helped me in the past.

● Ask your questions ahead of time. Do not

wait until the morning of the exam to start

flooding your teacher with questions you’ve

had for two weeks. Make sure you have a

clear understanding of the topics ahead of

time.

● Don’t try to cram it all in the night before.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has tried

to study for a 50 question test at 10 o’clock

the night before. Not a good idea by the way.

Don’t wait until the night before to study

everything. Try breaking it up into sections

and studying a section of information each

night.

● Study using your learning style. I know

you’ve taken at least one assessment in

school to determine what your learning style

is. If you’re a visual learner, maybe you can

just read over your notes and be fine. For

auditory or kinesthetic learners, that may not

be the best approach. Auditory learners may

benefit more from studying in groups or

having someone call vocabulary words out

to them. Kinesthetic learners might want to

incorporate an activity into their studying.

It’s different for everyone, so try some

different things and find out what works.

● Take study breaks. Don’t sit for long

periods of time studying nonstop. Study for

a period of time then take a five minute

break. Get up and grab a snack, or take a

walk before you start again. It’ll keep you

from getting bored or really tired.

● Get some sleep. Don’t stay up all night

and expect to ace your exam the next

morning; it’s not going to happen. If you fall

asleep in the middle of your exam, chances

are you won’t do very well. Go to bed at a

decent time the night before so you’re

rested.

Good luck everyone!

By Abbey Dodgens

Day Date Exam

Tuesday December 13 1B and 2B

Wednesday December 14 1A and 2A

Thursday December 15 3B and 4B

Friday December 16 3A and 4A

2016-17 Midterm Exam

Schedule

BachelorsPortal.eu

Winter 2016 Page 7

DIY vs Store-Bought

To buy or not to buy? That is the question this Christmas. I mean come on, some of us are

hesitant to buy gifts for our own parents, let alone those certain people that will make you

feel guilty if you don’t buy them a present, too. Since some believe that store-bought gifts

are not as personal or thoughtful, many opt for DIY gifts. Whatever kind you choose, store-

bought or DIY, here are some gift options:

Gift Cards

Voted most unthoughtful of the unthoughtful group, but great to give when you don’t know

what to buy for that one difficult person. From Starbucks to Bass Pro Shop, it’s literally the

perfect gift for anyone.

Christmas Treats

Grab a bag and fill it up with delicious treats for those

food fanatics in your life. See page 11 for recipes.

A Movie Night Package

Perfect for the unashamed introvert. Swing by good

ol’ Wally World and pick up a movie or two, if

you’re feeling crazy, a bag of popcorn, a box

of candy (whatever kind the person likes), and

put it all in a popcorn bucket. To make this gift

cheaper, try to find a movie in the $5 bin.

O Cozy Night!

Scarves, blankets, and socks, Oh My! Okay,

sorry, hear me out. Those three things are

essentials to staying warm during cold winter

days (and nights). You can also pick all of

these items up at Wally World while you are

there getting the items for the movie night

package. But if you really want to make

somebody’s Christmas, buy the scarf from a local boutique, like Apple Blossom or

Something Special in Easley. You can also get a Sherpa blanket from Academy, and scented

fuzzy socks from Bath & Body Works.

Buying Dinner

Technically, this is store bought, but it is still as

thoughtful as a DIY gift. I did this for my dad’s birthday,

and he enjoyed it more than an actual gift. You can go

somewhere as simple as The Huddle, and all you have to

do is spend time with someone and buy their dinner,

scary, I know.

By Chloe Dalton

Christmas Gift Fun Facts

The average person spends

around $830 on Christmas

presents each year.

3 billion Christmas cards are sent

out in the US alone each year.

Christmas purchases account for

1/6 of all retail sales in the US.

During the Christmas season,

nearly 28 LEGO sets are sold

each second.

Statistics show you are going to

be elbowed three times while

Christmas shopping.

A Christmas club, a savings

account in which a person

deposits a fixed amount of

money regularly to be used at

Christmas for shopping, came

about around 1905.

Although many believe the

Friday after Thanksgiving is the

busiest shopping day of the year,

it’s only the fifth to tenth busiest

day. The Friday and Saturday

before Christmas are the two

busiest shopping days of the

year.

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store.”

- Dr. Seuss

Page 8 Winter 2016

Christmas Spirit Week

Exam Schedule 2016

Monday-Regularly scheduled classes

Tuesday-1B and 2B exams, 3B and 4B regular schedule

Wednesday-1A and 2A exams, 3A and 4A regular schedule

Thursday-3B and 4B exams, 1B 2B regular schedule

Friday-3A and 4A exams, half day dismiss at 10:50

*For more information or study tips, check Abbey Dodgens’ article on page 6.

By Caroline Fowler

Wednesday -

Christmas colors! Wear red and green

to get into the Christmas spirit.!

Tuesday-

Its time to pull out that ugly sweater

your grandma got you and wear it

proudly to PHS!

Monday-

Flannel Day! An old Pickens tradition–

wear your flannel, jeans, and of course

boots!

Thursday-

Come to school as Santa’s little helpers! Elves,

and reindeer welcome!

Friday-

Who wants to bother getting dressed to come to school on

a half day? Wear your favorite Christmas PJs instead!

A. The Polar Express B. Elf C. Christmas Vacation

D. Charlie Brown F. It’s a Wonderful Life G. Home Alone

I. A Christmas Carol J. Christmas with the Kranks K. A Christmas Story

____1. “Rats. Nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish

there weren’t a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we

have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?"

____2. I want an official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot

Range Model Air Rifle!"

____3. "This is extremely important. Will you please tell Santa that

instead of presents this year, I just want my family back. No toys.

Nothing but Peter, Kate, Buzz, Megan, Linnie, and Jeff. And my aunt

and my cousins. And if he has time, my Uncle Frank. Okay?"

____4"First we’ll make snow angels for two hours, then we’ll go ice

skating, then we’ll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie-dough as fast as

we can, and then we’ll snuggle”

____5."Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the

world are the things we can’t see."

____6."If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with

'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding,

and buried with a stake of holly through his heart!"

____7."You’re skipping Christmas! Isn’t that against the law?”

____8.Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel

gets his wings."

____9.You couldn't hear a dump truck driving through a

nitroglycerin plant.

Christmas Movie Trivia Answers: 1.D 2. K 3.G 4.B 5.A 6.I 7.J 8.F 9.C

By Taylor Abercrombie

Match the lines below with one of the famous Christmas Movies from above:

Page 10 Winter 2016

Which Holiday Song is Your Christmas Anthem?

1. Which Christmas lyric is your favorite?

A.) “All I want for Christmas is you…”

B.) “It’s so much fun when Christmas

comes to town…”

C.) “Last Christmas I gave you my

heart…”

2. What is your favorite item to use to

decorate your Christmas tree?

A.) Red and gold ornaments

B.) String lights

C.) Popcorn strings

4.) What is your favorite activity to do

during the Christmas season?

A.) Decorating the house

B.) Drinking hot chocolate

C.) Going ice skating

5.) What is your favorite Christmas movie?

A.) “Love Actually”

B.) “The Polar Express”

C.) “Elf”

6.) Who is the all-time best Christmas

movie character?

A.) Rudolph from “Rudolph the Red-

Nosed Reindeer”

B.) Buddy the Elf from “Elf”

C.) The Grinch from “How the Grinch

Stole Christmas!”

By Ashleigh Scipio

Source: Buzzfeed.com

Mostly C’s:

Wham!

“Last Christmas”

3.) Finish the lyrics:

A.) Dolls, beautiful, presents, on

B.) Toys, prettiest, carols, on

C.) Lights, amazing, decorations, on

Source: Nerve.com

Mostly B’s:

“When Christmas Comes to

Town”

Mostly A’s: Mariah Carey’s

“All I Want for Christmas is

You”

Page 11 December 2016

Christmas Recipes

Christmas is a time for family,

celebrating, and cooking. Try some of

these recipes this Christmas.

Red Velvet Skillet Cookie

Ingredients:

6 tbsp. butter, softened

1/2 c. sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. flour

2 tbsp. Unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tbsp. red food coloring

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 c. mini white chocolate chips, plus more for sprinkling

1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate, plus more for sprinkling

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10” cast-iron skillet with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, food coloring, and salt. Mix until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.

Spread dough into skillet in an even layer. Top with more chocolate chips and bake 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream and chocolate syrup, if desired.

Crescent Pizza Sticks

Ingredients

1 can (8 oz.) Pillsbury™ refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

24 pepperoni slices (from 6-oz package)

4 sticks low-moisture part-skim mozzarella string cheese (1 oz. each), halved, or 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (2 oz.)

1 cup marinara sauce

Directions:

Heat oven to 375°F. Separate crescent dough into 8 triangles.

Place 3 pepperoni slices, slightly overlapping, on shortest side of each triangle. Place 1 mozzarella half onto pepperoni. Roll up, starting at shortest side of triangle, and rolling to opposite point. Place rolls, point side down, on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10 to 14 minutes or until deep golden brown. Meanwhile, in microwavable bowl, heat marinara sauce covered on Medium-High (70%) 1 to 2 minutes or until

warmed through. Serve immediately with pizza sticks.

Peppermint Pattie-Stuffed Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients:

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 tsp. baking powder

2 large eggs

1/2 c. canola oil

14 York Peppermint Pattie Minis

Sprinkles, for decorating

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment. In a large bowl, whisk together cake mix and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together eggs and oil. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until fully combined.

Using your hands, form small balls of dough. Flatten a ball, then place a Peppermint Patty in the center and fold dough over to completely cover. Transfer to baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough (you should have enough for about 14 cookies).

By Emilee Durham