Dear Santa...high school style

by Calli Zimmerman

Dear Santa letters are seen and received at Christmas time every year, but for some reason the tradition of writing the letters fade after kids hit junior high. This week the journalism students were challenged to write a letter and here is what was returned. 

Dear Santa,

I have been trying to be good this year, even if my parents tell you otherwise. So please grant me everything on my Christmas list. My list consists of: makeup, makeup bag, cranberry grape juice, dark brown slippers from Aéropostale, a laptop without a virus, a memory card for my phone, zebra phone cover and a scrapbooking set. I will leave you cookies and milk so you do not get hungry or thirsty. 

Sincerely,

Andrea Farrington

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is my family, friends and a warm place to spend Christmas day with them.

Love,

Cami

Dear Mr. Santa,

I’m sorry I haven’t written you a letter since I was a kid. I’ve put a lot of thought into my Christmas list for this year and I promise I’ve been good. I want a new laptop computer for college next fall, the movie Despicable Me, some clothes, old Disney movies from when I was a little kid, colorful socks, a new pair of Nikes and lots of candy in my stocking. 

Your friend,

Teona Sutfin

Dear Santa Claus, 

How is everything at the North Pole this year? How are the reindeer and Rudolph especially? I don’t want much this year just a few things, I am wanting a new Coach purse and wallet, skull candy iHome, Army Wives season 4, a new Mac laptop for college, some clothes from American Eagle, gift cards, a new pair of shoes and a new North Face jacket. 

Love, 

Alexa Wheaton 

Dear Santa,

This year I’d like an iPod touch and seat covers for my car because mine don’t stay on. For my brother I’d like you to bring two Wii Controller Pro. For my mom, please bring her a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee because she deserves a nicer vehicle, preferably blue. For my dad, could you help him not to have anymore issues with the house so he can finish it stress free and relax? I know he has been very stressed for the past about four years and I would like you to help him not to have it be for another two years also. I will be sure to leave you the customary chocolate chip cookies and milk and mini carrots for the reindeer. I hope you aren’t too stressed up there in the North Pole this year! 

Love, 

Morgan

Dear Santa,

This year, as you may know, I have been really good. On Christmas morning, I would like to see a couple of presents from you under our family tree. I would like a puppy, a puggle to be exact, that will keep my parents company next year when I am at college. I would also like my mom to receive some new earmuffs to keep her ears warm at recess duty, and for my dad, new scissors for him at the Iowa Barber Shop. That is all for this year, have a safe trip!

Happy Holidays,

Bryan

The best gift is peace

by Jered Engelking

In 1914 British soldiers met German soldiers on a battlefield of trenches. Millions of lives were lost in the first year of the war. 

However, Christmas giving really shined through when German troops offered a truce to the Allied Army that no shots would be fired on Christmas Eve and Day. 

They even celebrated together, singing carols, trading goods, and playing a casual game of soccer. Most truces lasted for three days while in some parts it lasted for two weeks.

These men show that no matter what you have to compromise and set all differences aside, then you will see that the so called enemy is not that much different from you. You will also see that you can get along and celebrate with them.

 In the present, we could really learn something from these great men. Just as both sides gathered around the Christmas tree to sing Silent Night in different languages for one night, we should accept other people, not just for Christmas, but also for all of time. 

Braves suffer a tough loss

by Alexa Wheaton

The Montezuma JH Braves started the 2010 season with a close eighth grade loss of 31-30 and the seventh grade team struggled in a 36-23 loss against BGM on Dec. 6. 

Jake Hasley, Joe Peck and Mitchell Stevens led the eighth grade team. Peck and Hasley had 7 points, while Stevens had 5. 

Peck also led the team with a total of 4 rebounds while Luke Goodman had 3 rebounds. Hasley and Stevens also paced the team with each having 2 steals. 

Tyler Thompson and Brody McKeag led the seventh grade. Thompson had 11 points while McKeag had 6. 

Bobby McCulley and Thompson also led the team with 5 rebounds each. Thompson also guided the team with 3 steals. 

Coach's philosophy guides young Braves

by Bryan Stanford

The JV Braves earned their first victory in their 59-29 win against the Iowa Valley Tigers. 

Offensively, the Braves were aggressive in the first half with 32 team points. Kane Barker and Siraj Thomason led the JV squad in scoring with 10 points each, while Tyler Swenson was close behind with 8.

Defensively, the Braves were able to hold the Tigers to under 16 points in each half without getting into foul trouble.

Coach DeJong commented, “Our guys continue to crash the boards hard. I think the guys have really bought into Coach Schulte’s philosophy of defending, rebounding and valuing the basketball.”

Two wins vs. the Hawks

Megan Baker grabs the loose ball during the 7th grade game at home against Lynnville-Sully.

by Cami Shaver

The seventh grade basketball girls pulled out a close 21-20 win against the Lynnville-Sully Hawks on Dec. 13.

Katie Maschmann paced the team with 9 points and 5 steals. Aliya Pargeon added 14 rebounds, while Maschmann and Megan Baker had 6 each. 

The eighth grade girls racked up a big 30-17 win later that night against the Hawks. 

Mackenzie James led with 10 points and 4 assists. Alex Brenner had 8 steals and Vanessa Minner had 7 rebounds. Brittany Bender also scored 9 points and had 8 rebounds. Both teams are currently 2-1.

Montezuma winter concert

Joyful noises raise Christmas spirits

The high school choir entertains the crowd with "The Twelve Days After Christmas", an interesting piece about the gifts from the classic carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

by Jered Engelking

Thursday night vocal and band students in grades 7-12 orchestrated a winter concert under the direction of Mrs. Behounek and Mr. Stanton.

Junior high choir sang two Christmas songs, “Cold and Still the Night” and “Feliz Navidad.” In “Feliz Navidad”, Jake Shaver played the Bongo drums, Tyler Geiger played the Claves and Clara Johnson shook the maracas. 

The high school choir sang five songs, three of which belong to the Messiah Book; “And the Glory”, “For unto Us a Child is Born” and “Hallelujah Chorus.” During the Messiah book, approximately 25 community members joined. The other songs the high school chorus performed were “The Twelve Days After Christmas,” and “Singin’ on Christmas Morn” with soloists Coleton Tompkins, Cassie Corbin and Calli Zimmerman.

Junior high band performed three songs,  “Matrix March” by Ed Huckeby, “Ultimatum” by Robert Smith and “Power Trip” by Dean Sorenson. 

The high school band also played three songs, “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing” by Mannheim Steamroller, “Songs of the American Civil War” by a collection of authors and “Deck the Halls” by Mannheim Steamroller. 

The combined song between the junior high and high school was “Joyful and Triumphant” by Huckeby. The band had the audience join in singing the joyful songs with them. 

Chorus member Morgan Sanders said, “It was good to hear the crowd respond to our songs. ‘The Twelve Days After Christmas’ was a lot of fun because it was something new and exciting that we don’t normally do.” 

Evans receives Tae Kwon Do honors

by Niamh Lyons

After six months of taking Tae Kwon Do, Maranda Evans now has three medals, two gold and one silver. 

The fifteen-year-old MHS student attends Forrest Gibson’s classes three times a week at Jung’s Tae Kwon Do in Grinnell. 

She competed in a tournament held by Martial Arts of America in Ankeny on Nov. 13 where she received a gold medal in both board breaking and forms and stances. She also received a silver medal in free sparring. 

Upon arriving, she was scared to compete, but once her competitions were done, she felt relieved. Evans said, “It felt like everyone was my family and I had nothing to worry about.” 

Evans enjoys walking into Jung’s Tae Kwon Do and hearing her instructor say, “Whenever you walk in that door, all your problems and worries are gone.” 

He keeps Evans motivated, along with her classmates and the five tenets (convictions) of Tae Kwon Do: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit. She works to incorporate these tenets into her daily life. 

Seeing martial arts on TV is what sparked Evans’ interest in the sport and made her want to get involved with it. 

Right now, she has a yellow belt but watching more experienced members inspires and encourages her to continue working to attain their level.