Are You too Old to Trick or Treat?

Are You too Old to Trick or Treat?

As Today is Halloween, we are going to bring you an update to an age old debate; what age is too old to go trick or treating? The opinion on this differs vastly from age group to age group and from person to person. So in order to better grasp what age people view as acceptable, we conducted a poll. We asked random students and teachers during and between classes what age, they believed, marked the end to Trick or Treating. Without further ado, here are the results.

As you can see, the age groups of 18-19, 20+, and Never are the largest age groups for the student voters. It seems that the age groups of 12-13, 18-19, and Never seem to be most popular among older voters. Many voters seem to agree that death is the only barrier stopping them from celebrating Halloween, with Never being the most popular answer for both teachers and students. Roughly 1 out of every 5 students believes that they will be Trick or Treating after the age of 20, showing their optimistic, yet possibly naive, view of the future. Another 20% said that 18-19 is the end of the holiday for them, which makes sense. Those ages are typically right after the last years of high school, which were the last true times to spend with your high school buddies, and at this period friends are moving away and making it harder to celebrate. According to this data, it seems that many students plan to partake in Trick or Treating this year. Whether your are participating for the sweets or just to socialize, make sure to stay safe and courteous this holiday season.

Learning about Dairy

Learning About Dairy

Julia Fouts

As school presses forward, it is important for students to stay healthy. Between homework, sports practices, and club meetings, nutritious meals are vital. Dairy products have enormous benefits when included in one's diet; every serving is packed full of nine essential nutrients. During the school day, protein found in dairy products helps students to stay focused in the classroom. Milk, cheese, and yogurt also provide energy, powering kids through their extracurricular activities. After sports practices, the best refueling drink is chocolate milk; it has great nutritional value, and less sugar than power drinks. Even beyond high school, dairy products allow for a healthy life by strengthening bones, preventing diseases, and contributing to a stronger heart. Three servings of dairy products is the daily recommendation, and there are so many delicious options to choose from. One cup of lowfat milk, whole milk, and even lactose-free milk are a few varieties; they each have their own, unique taste. Cheese, yogurt, ice-cream, and butter are also great sources of dairy with a variety of options. As students’ minds grow from their education, their bodies will grow, strengthen, and refuel from dairy products.

Varsity Boys Soccer Sectionals Game

Varsity Boys Soccer Sectionals Game

    Alex Levitskiy

On Wednesday, October 22, 2014, the Homers Boy’s Varsity Soccer team had their first sectionals game against ESM.  It had been some time since the team had had a season that allowed them to advance to sectionals. The team and the coaches were excited and hoping to be successful.  Going into the game, the team was down three players.  During the senior night game against Marcellus, goalkeeper, Hiland Bush, and midfielder, Anthony Levitskiy, had suffered injuries.  A few days later during a tournament, Zack Sovocool had a hamstring injury.  All three players were out for the remainder of the season.  The Junior Varsity players that were commended for their work during their season by getting moved up to Varsity for sectionals were sophomores Scott Maus, Joey Esposito, Riley McEvoy, and Lucian St. John as well as freshman, Cody Wagner.  Senior Zack Sovocool started the game by wonderfully singing the national anthem, as he had done all season long.  As the game began, the stands were filling up, resulting in an attendance higher than the game against Cortland.  The game started off aggressively, and the play was on both ends of the field.  About halfway into the first half, Brad Sovocool made a great play, passing the ball to Tyler Ponticello, but ESM’s defense denied a shooting opportunity.  Towards the end of the first half, one of ESM’s players skillfully maneuvered through Homer’s defense and scored.  During the last few seconds, Marc Harris made a great run to the corner with a wonderful layback, but Homer went into halftime down 0-1.  Coach Shiffman told his team to play like it is 0-0.  He said this was an 8-9 game, pitting the eighth seed team, Homer, versus the ninth seed team, ESM, meaning it will be a close, tough game.  Only five minutes into the second half, ESM put another ball into the back of Homer’s net.  With the game tense, the crowds were getting rallied up.  Towards the end of the second half Scott Maus got fouled, getting Homer a free kick.  Later Homer got another free kick and a shot on the goal, but still could not score.  The intensity increased, resulting in an ESM player getting a yellow card.   They received another yellow card after Marton Tozser made a good run to the goal, getting fouled in the box.  The game ended in an upsetting loss for Homer; ESM won 2-0. This loss marked the end to the high school soccer careers of some successful seniors. After the unfortunate game, Coach Shiffman said that the team had had a great season. On a positive note, JV players Cody Wagner and Scott Maus did get an opportunity to play in the game.

           

Pictures provided by Zack Sovocool.

Last Minute Costume Ideas!

Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

Skyler Powers

Let’s say you weren’t planning on wearing a costume on Halloween, or that you weren’t going to participate in the holiday at all, but now you are having second thoughts and need a costume fast..  Well, if this describes you, then you are in luck because I am here to help.  

We are going to start things off with a crafty costume.  You start with putting on a shirt and a pair of pants.  The color doesn’t matter for either.  Then you put your crafting skills to work and fashion one huge quarter out of foam, plastic, etc.  You may also be able to purchase a large quarter at the store.  You then pull out your handy hot glue gun and glue the oversized quarter to your back.  I recommend using a shirt you won’t miss as this quarter won’t be coming off easily.  What are you?  You are a quarterback.

Next up is probably one of the the simplest ideas.  You wear all black from head to toe, and then you take a postage stamp (enlarged if possible) and stick it to your chest.  What are you?  You are blackmail.  The next one will be convenient if the rain or snow decides to fall on Halloween.  You take an umbrella and pull out some stuffed cats and dogs.  Then, using string, you tie the stuffed animals to the umbrella so that they are dangling over the edge.  You can also throw on a raincoat if you want.  What are you?  You are “Raining cats and dogs.”

Next in line is a play on words.  Take out a shirt of any color and purchase some fabric paint or markers.  Then write “Go Ceilings!”  on the shirt.  If you want to go the extra mile, you can try to find a giant foam hand and write “Ceilings” on it.  What are you?  You are a ceiling fan.  Next is the most time consuming.  Go to the store and purchase all the gauze you can carry because you are going to need a lot and I bet no one has a closet full of gauze in their house.  Then, you are going to wrap yourself in the gauze from head to toe.  Once you are done, secure the end because you don’t want to be that poor fellow  that unravels themselves.  If you haven’t guessed it, you are a mummy.

For the next costume, put on all black or all white clothes.  Then, using black or white fabric paint (whichever is opposite the color of your clothes), paint a stick figure person on the clothes. Then, fashion a mask out of foam and create a face.  You will be the best stick figure in town.  Lastly, is this clever costume.  Put on anything blue (T-shirt, hoodie, etc.) and wrap yourself in any kind of cord (telephone, extension, phone charger, etc.)  Make sure this cord is long enough to be comfortably tied around your torso multiple times and not anywhere else.  Don’t tie it above or below your torso.  Then purchase a rubber chicken, if you don’t already have one, and wrap it in the cord with you.  This one is hard to guess.  You’ll be confusing everyone you meet.  What are you?  You are “Chicken Cord on Blue.”  

I hope that these classic to clever last minute costume ideas will save you from being that person that shows up to the Halloween party as himself/herself, or that person that is trick or treating with a plastic bag from Walmart and is costumeless on the scariest day of the year.

Homecoming 2014!

Homecoming 2014

Tighe Gugerty and Joe Settineri

Last Friday, Homer High School celebrated homecoming. The festivities kicked off with a parade through the town of Homer. This parade featured the High School band, International Club, SADD, Environmental Club, and class officers. The parade stopped at the Brewster House where the residents voted on the class banners. The homecoming court was composed of the following couples: Bill McLaughlin and Grace Gugerty, Danny Turck and Lucy Connery, Hyland Bush and Sophie Whittington, Nate Ulrich and Mara Nasiatka, Anthony Basile and Alex Contento, Dean Riley and Natalie Partigianoni, Jayden Gavadia and Jessica Deline, and Drew Cottrell and Mary Mercer. Lucy Connery was crowned queen and Anthony Basile king. The theme of the banners this year was the Seven Wonders of the World. The senior class featured an impressive Taj Mahal themed banner, the sophomores’ banner featured the leaning tower of Pisa , and the freshmans’ banner featured the Colossus of Rhodes (with Coach P’s head). The junior class was victorious in the banner competition with their banner featuring the colosseum and were also the winners of spirit week's Golden Helmet.

The game was a success as well, with the Trojans blowing out the Marcellus Mustangs 61-30.  The Homer Trojan’s are currently at 6-0, continue to plow through their opponents. Alec Bush, senior tailback, rushed for 285 yards and five touchdowns breaking two school records in the process. Bush set the record for most touchdowns in a season, 23, and has broken the record of career touchdowns, which was 32  (Bush is currently at 38 and counting.) Additionally, the Trojans have scored 52 touchdowns, an impressive number that only matches the 2005 and 1986 teams. With these impressive statistics the Trojans now have the challenge of tougher teams and the playoffs. The Trojans face the 17th class B ranked Westhill Warrior’s This Friday.

Girl’s Tennis Season

Girl’s Tennis Season

Ana Shore

Last week, the Varsity Girl’s Tennis Team ended their short season. The girls finished with an amazing 9-3 record and were in second place in the league! Sadly, they did not win their first match of team sectionals against CBA. However, Lydia Brown and Brooke White qualified for individual sectionals at first doubles and Christine Han and Victoria Shevchuk qualified for individual sectionals at second doubles. Neither pair made it past their first match at Cortland, although they tried their best! Congratulations to all the girls on their hard work!

PSAT Tips!

PSAT Tips

Mel Videto

In order to get into a good college, it’s a smart choice to take the SAT. But before that, you might want to take the PSAT. PSAT stands for the Preliminary Scholastic Achievement Test and is practice for the SAT. The PSAT will prepare you for the real thing by sharpening your test taking skills and giving you a glimpse of what to expect in the SAT. What you are about to read are tips for taking the PSAT but they can also apply to regular tests in school.

The PSAT is divided into multiple sections based on writing, critical reading, and math. The goal is to answer as many questions as accurately as you can within the allotted time, which is usually anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes per section. In the writing section, you are expected to correct grammar and punctuation. Carefully read the question and fix any mistakes. In the critical reading section, there are passages to read and then questions based off of what you read. Make sure to read the passage thoroughly and go back and look at the passage when answering the questions. The passages can be on any topic from the jazz era to the science of the brain, so there is no preparing yourself for the specific passage you will encounter on test day. Just take your time when reading the passage so that you comprehend it, flying through but not understanding it will only hurt you in the long run.

In the math section, you will have multiple choice questions as well as short answer questions. You will be provided with a limited list of formulas, some of which you might not even need. Try to answer each question correctly and quickly. Since it is multiple choice, you will have the answer right in front of you. You just need to recognize it. Try to plug the answers in for the appropriate problems. As for the short answer, or grid-in problems, you will not have any answers to compare to. A major tip for this is to carefully write your grid-in answers. Don't forget to write in any decimals or slashes for fractions. If you are having trouble on a question, try to write something in the answer box anyways because you won’t be penalized for a wrong answer on a grid-in question.

The difficulty level usually increases as the questions go on in each section. It is important to skip the harder or later questions if you have no clue, rather than skip an easy one that you might be able to solve with some more time. If you dwell on a hard question, you may end up wasting time and throwing yourself off as you scramble to finish the test. Remember, the PSAT is only practice for the SAT, but still try to do your best as quickly and efficiently as possible. Good luck!

Game Night Follow-up

Game Night Follow-up

This past Friday, October 3rd, SADD hosted their annual game night! SADD was please with the turnout, about forty people attended Game Night and had a lot of fun. There were games such as Candyland, Clue, Just Dance Broadway Edition, Super Smash Bros, Chutes and Ladders, and much more! As for snacks, there was soda, candy, and nachos. If you couldn’t make it this year, try to come next year and support the club!

Homer Tennis Matches

Homer Tennis Matches

Ana Shore

                                                  

On September 22nd, the Homer Girl’s Tennis Team played a long match against Marcellus. Even though the weather was questionable, the rain held off and Homer fought hard for three hours. In the end however, Homer ended up losing to Marcellus, 2-5.  First singles lost 0-6 and 0-6, second singles lost 3-6 and 3-6,  and third singles lost 5-7 and 5-7. First doubles lost 4-6 and 2-6 and second doubles lost 4-6 and 5-7. Third and fourth double players were able to pull some wins for the team with Maddie Jennings and Ana Shore winning 6-1 and 6-4 and Marissa Sackett and Rachel Crompton winning 6-3 and 7-5. Wednesday and Thursday the Trojans went on to win matches against Cortland and Mexico, securing Homer’s spot in team sectionals.          

SADD Movie Night - Cloverfield! 10/17

SADD Movie Night

Skyler Powers

SADD is holding its 9th annual Movie Night on October 17th at 7 p.m. at the Homer High School.  SADD will be showing the movie, Cloverfield in the High School’s library.  The admission is $2 and those over the age of 13 are welcome.  There will also be candy, popcorn, and drinks for sale at the event.  SADD does many events throughout October to provide alternative activities for teens at Homer High School as part of their OKsoberfest, which raises alcohol safety awareness.  

Cloverfield is a 2008 Science-Fiction Action movie directed by Matt Reeves.  The movie is filmed in a “found footage” style and focuses on a small group of people who are caught in New York City in the midst of an unexpected monster attack.  They are forced to fight for their lives with danger lurking around every corner and are desperate to escape the city before it is too late.  

Come out to SADD’s Movie Night and support their efforts in making the lives of teens healthier and safer.  

Varsity Girls Soccer

On Thursday, October 2nd, Homer Varsity Girls Soccer played an away game at CBA. Kim Dieroff, a center midfielder, scored in the first half. During the second half, CBA scored on a dead ball. With the score 1-1, the game went into overtime. CBA scored the first half of overtime, which lasted ten minutes. During the second half, no goals were made until center midfielder Carolyne Yonta scored in last 56 seconds. The intense game created tensions among the fans, and the final score was 2-2.

Spirit Week Fashion Advice

Fashion Advice

Mel Videto

Want some fashion tips for Spirit Week this year? Well, read up on some of my advice so you can put the spirit in Spirit Week and help support your school!

Fashion Disaster (Monday, October 6th)

Well, this is pretty straight forward. Any colors that don’t match or that you wouldn’t normally wear together is exactly what you want for this day. Take any color from the color wheel and match it up with the color opposite it. This means that they compliments each color. Red, for example, is the opposite of green. Put those together and you get a wacky Christmas look! Or take purple and pair it with yellow for a flashy look. However, you don’t have to wear opposite clothes. If you really want to clash, take two colors on the color wheel that are next to each other and wear them. Examples would be red and pink, orange and yellow, green and blue. Just take anything bright or colorful and wear it!

Textures and patterns can also screw up your outfit (on purpose, of course). Ladies, you can take a burnout-textured shirt and match it with striped leggings or cardigan. Or take plaid and put that on top of your favorite patterned leggings. I think that layers work well and can work with any look that you want to go with. Here, we want a disaster. Perhaps throw in a cardigan or vest over an already crazy look. Guys, maybe you want to wear man leggings under your favorite shorts? Or perhaps wear a long sleeve under a short sleeve or muscle tank? Or hike you socks up over your shorts? Anything crazy is acceptable!

Let’s talk pants. For the girls (or guys if you wish), feel free to go all-out with the crazy leggings and match it with a patterned shirt. Or even wear shorts with any kind of leggings under them for layered look. Dawn the necklaces and heavy jewelry! Get out those crazy high knee socks and put them over jeans! The crazier you look, the better. Remember to put the disaster in fashion disaster!

Twin Day (Tuesday, October 7th)

For twin day, you obviously want to find a person or two to match with. While you can plan on just wearing the same jeans and perhaps a shirt that you both happen to have, why not consider dressing it up a little bit? We can take fragments of advice from fashion disaster day to make your outfit more tasteful and exciting. Why not go with matching knee socks or leggings? Feel free to swap a shoe so you and your partner can go around school with one flip flop and one Ugg boot each. Remember, twin day doesn’t have to be just about matching, you can dress it up!

Patriot Day (Wednesday, October 8th)

Okay, we all know what this means. Dawn your red, white, and blue clothing! For some people, wearing red and white tops with regular old blue jeans is enough, but for those of you who want to show more school spirit, there is a lot more that you can do. You could paint your nails American colors or even make you eye shadow red, white, or blue! Find a shirt with our flag on it or if you have a belt, necklace, bracelet, or even sticker, wear it for Patriot Day!

#Throwback Thursday (Thursday, October 9th)

For this day, you can dress as someone from any past decade. You can do anything from the  20s to 90s! Or even from way before! Use this day to dress as extravagantly as you wish. Dig out those old leg warmers or don the rainbow colors. Don’t hold back - throw it all back to last Thursday, whether that’s from last week or last century!

Bleed Blue (Friday, October 10th)

We can all guess what we should wear for this day, but some people may just decide to wear jeans. While that’s enough, you can also layer the blue with some more blue! Paint the nails blue or wear blue socks. Any blue jewelry works as well. Or, since this blue day is mostly to represent our school, why not match it up with some white? White tank top with a blue cardigan? Or just have your whole outfit be blue! Aspire to look like a blueberry!

Have fun dressing up!