KERRONICLEThe

DECEMBER 13, 2013 VOL. XX NO. III

Alief Kerr High School | 8150 Howell-Sugar Land Rd. | kerronicle.com

Celebrating holiday

traditions

2 | Kerronicle.com | Opinion

Kerr High School8150 Howell-Sugar Land Rd.

Houston, TX 77083(281) 983-8484 ext. 267

KERRONICLE

Editor-in-ChiEfTuong-Phi LeChiEf Copy

EditorNadia Zulfa

ChiEf dEsignEditor

Hadiqa Memon

E-MEdia EditorJeff Chien

story EditorAlyssa Martinezphoto Editor

Anh LuBusinEss ManagEr

Durand Nguyen

DECEMBER 13, 2013VOL. XX NO. II

The Kerronicle is published six times a year by the student newspaper staff of Kerr High School and serves as a medium of communication for its readers. It exists to inform its readers about school and com-munity, school policies and their changes, entertainment, and to serve as a forum for student expression.

Advertisers interested in placing an ad in the Kerronicle should contact the staff at (281) 983-8484 ext. 267 or 8150 Howell Sugar Land, Houston, TX 77083.

Letters to the editor are welcomed and encouraged. Letters should be delivered to room 302 or e-mailed to laura.negri@aliefisd.net. All letters must be signed.

KErroniClE staff:

staff rEportErs:Alyssa Andaverde

Amy HaokipJulia NguyenJulie Nguyen

Kevin NguyenYen TranDiana Vu

Anh LuCoverFeatured: freshman Vanessa Pereira

After study hall, I come into lunch and see the diversity throughout the tables in the

cafeteria. There are different people coming together and bonding over a filling meal. But most people wouldn’t recognize this, only the fact that there’s a clique here and there. They see the cool seniors at the front table, the theatre kids with their own crowd, and the card players having their tournament at another. These social groups are typically considered to be cliques. The question is, are they really just that? Is our high school, or any other high school, that shallow?

According to Kid’s Health, cliques are group of friends, but not all groups of friends are cliques. To elaborate, cliques deliberately leave others out on purpose because they feel like they don’t belong there. Sometimes, it’s up to the leader of the group who decides who’s in and who’s out. A person might start to act differently when they want to become a part of the clique or if they’re already in one.

So, let’s look back at our social groups. Seniors sit together because they have been with each other for the past four years. Theatre kids have the same purpose and that is to entertain. The card players all have a common hobby: playing cards. If I knew any better, I would think these are individuals who had just found a way to fit in. The only way this would make a difference is if they targeted someone with the purpose of hurting them, physically or emotionally.

I believe it’s just human nature for individuals to group together. It’s something automatic, interests that bring people together. If we look back, we have it a lot better today. Let’s observe the racial segregation held in schools back then in America. Colored students could not attend the same school as whites. This made

it difficult for a more unified youth. Two people of different races could like playing the same sport, but they could never play it together because of their skin color.

People forget that a clique and group of friends are completely different from each other. They look at groups of friends like it’s segregation all over again, but instead of by ethnicity it’s by common interests. Try saying common interests segregation without feeling awkward. Now say that common interests bring people together, which means gaining knowledge of each other as human beings. In the end, they are simply having fun and being happy.

There is a somewhat better unity then there was years ago. It’s sad that there are people who do intentionally leave people out. It’s simply something you cannot avoid in the world. But for the groups with a positive purpose, it’s a relief to know that different cultures have come together because of a club, sport, a band, or even a television show. With these, it’s good to know friendships have blossomed and there are people bonding rather than being alone and having no one.

Kerronicle wishes all a happy holidays with an issue full of celebration. In our cover story section, Yen Tran, Diana Vu, and Nadia Zulfa look at students’ holiday traditions, while Kevin Nguyen examines holiday volunteerism. Kerronicle also captures the spirit of Homecoming Week, the release of the highly anticipated film Catching Fire, and the flurry of Black Friday shopping.

I believe it’s just human nature for individuals to group together. It’s something automatic, interests that bring people together.

In this issue

810

4 8Cliques redefined to sense of unity and depth

Alyssa MartinezHadiqa Memon

News | Kerronicle.com | 3

Senior Nina Hua sits at her desk working on her college applications. As the clock

ticks, a second is lost while college application deadlines loom near. She reaches the end of her application and clicks send.

Though many students may be worrying about these applications, Hua is not one of them. Planning to apply to a total of seven universities, including the University of Notre Dame, Hua has been working on her college applications since the summer.

“[I] started during mid to late summer,” Hua said. “I did my Texas essays first so I could worry about my out-of-state ones for later. I started early because I knew I had a lot of AP classes and SAT chem to study for.”

Although she started in the summer, Hua said she did not begin the process early enough.

“I made the mistake of not looking into out-of-state colleges earlier,” she said. “There were some private schools such as Notre Dame that I would have never thought I would make it to, but after discussing with my cousin, I do have a chance just like everyone else.”

Mistakes are often made throughout the process of college applications.

Other students, such as senior Kelly Dang, feel confident when it comes to something as important as college applications.

“I’m pretty positive I have most of my stuff right,” Dang said. “These college applications are important to me, so I wouldn’t mess up on them.”

Even though many students may seem secure with their applications, college counselor Sara Tones notes a common mistake she often sees with college applications.

“One mistake that happens is filling out your name, like if there’s

a nickname you go by,” Tones said. “Using the same name that’s on your school documents is important. Sometimes they get lost if you use the wrong name.”

Even underclassmen have already been preparing for what is waiting for them in senior year.

“I’m not ready to go to college yet, it’s a world where you’ve got to begin to be independent,” junior Jolie Hong said. “Right now I’m looking into a couple college requirements that’s in the state. I’m more focused on achieving a high SAT score during my

junior year.”College applications include a

number of steps. All applications are different, some may include essays and supplements, while others may only require the application.

“College apps may seem freaking scary at first,” Hua said. “Do your essays early, edit them, talk to your counselor, maintain your academic and extracurricular stuff, and this process should be easy.”

While her peers are either overloaded with PAK work or breezing through

their school year, senior Jennifer Torres is completing her remaining classes in order to graduate early in December.

Torres plans to enter a certified nursing program in the spring, graduate from the course the following April-May, and then enroll in a university.

“Graduating early gives me an advantage over everyone else,” she said. “Especially since I know what I’m doing with my life.”

Junior Praboda Perikala is graduating a year early, with the Class of 2014, to pursue a profession in

the medical field. Even though she will start her college journey earlier than most of her peers, Perikala sees several disadvantages.

“You wouldn’t be able to join Speech and Debate or another club that requires a lot of devotion because you’re trying to accomplish [something] in three years what others would accomplish in four,” Perikala said. “Your academics are number one, not clubs, so that would restrict your time.”

Junior Ryana Sbeiti, who is also graduating early, shares similar feelings.

“I made a lot of friends in the class of 2015, but whenever we are all together, it sucks because I won’t

be graduating with them,” Sbeiti said. “My friends are like, ‘You’re a traitor.’”

In addition to the social sacrifices, graduating early has academic disadvantages, according to counselor Mary Meadows.

“Graduating early takes away your full high school experience,” she said. “Early grad students could have used that extra year or semester to take more classes, so they don’t have to take that class in college.”

She advises students who are thinking about graduating early to consider the advantages of taking their time.

“[The counselors] want students

to graduate for the right reasons, not to escape from Kerr.”

Senior Trishna Parikh sees her decision to finish her credits in December not as an escape, but as beginning her adult life.

“I’m prepared to handle the responsibility of growing up,” Parikh said.

Torres agrees.“We’ll have to grow up eventually,”

she said.

5 Common Mistakes on College Applications

1. Using a nickname instead of a real name

2. Reading incorrectly/not following directions

3. Leaving areas and parts blank

4. Procrastinating/turning in items late

5. Grammatical errors and misspelling

Anh LuDurand Nguyen

Upperclassmen reflect on decisions to graduate early

College applications come with mistakes and regrets

Diana VuJulie Nguyen

Hadiqa Memon

Senior Nina Hua discusses college applications with College and Career Assistant Elizabeth Kelati.

1000 West Oaks Mall Suite 417Houston, TX 77082

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$554 | Kerronicle.com | Sports

Intramural sports boost moraleFOR LOVE OF THE GAME:

The stadium is the gym. The bleachers are the floor. The athletes are an aggregation of students from all grade levels. The pressure

intensifies as a coin flips to determine who gets to play first. Anticipation rushes through the players’ veins as they hurry to get into position. With fierce determination streaked across their faces and smirks gracing their lips, they lunge for the ball.

Welcome to Kerr’s after school sports.To participate in a sports tournament, a student

must form a team with the minimal amount of players for that sport and get their team approved by gym coach Jorge Diaz. For example, volleyball requires a minimum of 12 players whereas basketball requires a minimum of 10 players. This means volleyball would have two teams of six players and basketball would have two teams of five players. The sports tournaments are seasonal: for autumn, there is volleyball; winter for basketball, spring for flag football, and summer for soccer.

As word of a volleyball tournament circulated throughout the school in early September, many students became excited.

For experienced players such as sophomore Anne Risha Fajardo, the volleyball tournament would rejuvenate dormant muscles.

“I was a varsity volleyball player in the Philippines,” Fajardo said. “I heard there was volleyball after school at Kerr, so I joined.”

Senior Abraham Diaz played to uphold his cultural pride.

“To me, it’s a Hispanic tradition to make our own teams and win,” Diaz said. “That’s what Hispanics do; we want to be champions and be the best of everything.”

With 14 teams, names varying from Gucci to Bubbles and Team Rainbow to Tri-Ettes, the volleyball tournament was conducted into two brackets. Each team’s performance in the first game determined whether it would play in the winners’ or losers’ bracket. As the tournament progressed into the finals, the winning team in each bracket faced each other. This bracket system is used for all other sport tournaments as well.

KFC, Fajardo’s and Diaz’s team, emerged victorious as winners of the volleyball tournament. And though there wasn’t a prize at the end, the players played for recognition, for fun, and for friends.

Fajardo believed it was the coming together of her teammates to achieve a goal that let them win the championship.

“Every time we won, we knew we had teamwork,” she said. “Teamwork and communication was the key thing to winning.”

A. Diaz believed it was the bond between his teammates that ultimately propelled them into a winning streak.

“Danny [senior Daniel Aguilera, team captain] is my friend; we’re almost like brothers,” he said. “so that was one of the reasons why we won because we could understand each other. We all understand each other. That’s how the team worked. It’s special. Towards our final game, we were all on the same page; we understood what was supposed to happen and remained calm.”

As the volleyball tournament came to a close, Fajardo and sophomore Angie Vega reminisced about their time during the season.

Fajardo enjoyed playing volleyball because it relieves her frustration.

“Playing volleyball to me is a stress reliever,”

she said. “Hitting volleyball is like hitting my stress away, telling [the stress] to get out of me. I love volleyball.”

Vega, though her team didn’t win, was still proud of her athletic ability and teammates.

“In the end, we felt pretty good of our performance,” she said.

As the basketball tournament continues this winter, the competitive spirit remains within many players.

“Sports give you confidence and make you feel better about yourself,” Vega said. “It’s fun.”As junior Barima Afrane jumps for the shot,

freshman Garbiel Barboza and freshman Kevin Tran try to stop him.

Junior Barima Afrane dodges out of the way for freshman Gabriel Barboza to make his aim.

Julie Nguyen

In Focus | Kerronicle.com | 5

HO

LIDA

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Clubs’ Christmas events encourage bonding

Holiday spirit fuels volunteering

A bright, eager smile graced senior Tiffany Tang’s lips. It was choir’s annual Secret Santa gift exchange

and she wanted to know who had gotten her name. One of her best friends, senior Bill Nguyen, stepped forward into the circle and handed her an envelope. She opened it. It was a $50 gift card.

As Christmas draws closer, clubs begin their annual Christmas traditions. For old and new club members alike, the traditions serve as an opportunity to learn more about each other and to bond with one another.

When Tang discovered that Nguyen had traded with another choir member to be her Secret Santa, she was moved.

“We’ve been friends for like ten years,” Tang said. “It was interesting how you can’t put a price on friendship or happiness or Christmas.”

Junior Kyndhal Stewart, speech and debate historian, can identify with Tang. She was surprised by the scarf her Secret Santa bought for her the previous year and the thought that was put into the present.

“I learned how much the people actually pay attention,” Stewart said,

“And how much she really tried to get to know me for my present.”

However, Stewart also knows some dilemmas of Secret Santa.

“One downside to Secret Santa is that you [may not] know that person familiarly,” she said. “A bigger problem is the minimum purchase, a $5 gift. People can get jealous if they get a gift worth $5 and another person gets a gift worth $20.”

Senior Valerie Hanna thought the opposite.

“Because we have a limit on how much you can spend,” Hanna said. “Depending on what they like, it might be difficult to find. Like if you know someone likes Hello Kitty, it’s easier to get them a present than if they like anime. Because Hello Kitty is everywhere.”

Stewart recalls a time where she was disappointed by her gift.

“I got this girl a doll,” she said. “And I got a cheap radio. It broke down that day and they ended up giving to return it and get me another gift worth at least $5. I wasn’t given back what I gave.”

However, despite these troubles, freshman Lauren Trinh still looks forward to making new memories in this

year’s Secret Santa exchange.“I want to give this person something

so they’ll actually remember it,” Trinh said. “I don’t really want to give them something just because I have to.”

There are also some exceptions to the club traditions. Students of Humanity does not have any solid customs, but its advisor, Steven Levine, feels that “not having a tradition is a tradition.”

“Kerr is very multi-cultural with a lot of ethnic and religious diversity,” Levine said, “We have Muslims, we have Jews. So perhaps that is one reason we have tended to stay away from ‘holiday tradition.’ And there’s a lot of holiday tradition from other clubs.”

But as a whole, Christmas in Kerr clubs encourages bonding. Tang believes that happiness is one of the most important things the participants can gained.

“When you find out who got you that present,” Tang said. “You’re like, ‘Wow I never knew you knew me so well.’”

All across the nation, the sound of festive holiday songs drift through the streets and

decorations and sparkling Christmas lights cast a warm glow that lights up the rosy cheeks of joyful teenagers and the grateful hands of the less fortunate. Christmas, the season for giving, is the perfect time for students to give thanks for what they have and lend a helping hand to the many less fortunate who may just need a little extra Christmas joy this holiday season.

Students clubs such as National Honor Society and National Art Honor Society, make it a goal to volunteer during the holidays. These students volunteer to help people, gain knowledge, and get community service hours.

National Art Honor Society (NAHS) sponsor Lisa Canorro allows her students to choose between many volunteering opportunities, such as collecting money for animal rescue.

“I feel that it is up to the individual to choose what their passion is,” Canorro said.

Students for Humanity vice president

Nina Hua agrees.“Last year, Students for Humanity

promised to have more volunteering [options] but did not fulfill the promise,” Hua said. To change this, she then took the initiative to organize more volunteering opportunities with a variety of organizations including Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center.

Senior Jason Quach, president of NHS, volunteers for a mentoring program at Kennedy Elementary and draws satisfaction from helping younger students.

“My drive is teaching kids things they would not have learned until years later,” he said. “I gained insights to the lives of the kids and how they think and socialize with other students of their age. It lets me see how it differs from the interactions between kids of different ages and backgrounds.”

Sophomore Yvonne Taboh gains enjoyment from running during the holidays.

“It’s a 5k thing for the holidays [and] goes to different charities,” she said. “I

think it’s a fun experience. I have always done it and I think it would be fun to do it again.”

Canorro believes that the most important benefit of community service is self-knowledge.

“They take away the knowledge of the experience themselves,” she said. “Experiencing something new by coming out of their own tiny world. Every time you do something new, you learn and grow.”

Sophomore Rosa Rodas has experienced many new things while volunteering at her church. LIke many other students, taking time out of her schedule has taught Rodas the importance of giving back during the holiday season.

“I learn that I [can] help anyone if I prepare myself to,” she said. “So I help people out because there are places that [don’t] have enough people so I help them out during the holidays.”

Yen Tran

Kevin Nguyen

Students compare regional Christmas customs

What is your unique fall holiday tradition?GQ:

Junior Stephanie Martinez, then four months old, celebrates her first Christmas with her aunt.

Senior Kristijana Arroyo (middle) poses for a picture with her mother (right) and older brother (left).

Yen Tran

Nadia Zulfa

The snowstorm poured fresh layers of white on the ground outside. For the umpteenth time, Jimmy Do wondered when it would stop.

He wanted to spend Christmas at home, not in an airport.

Now a senior, Do was 15 when his parents sent him to boarding school in Wisconsin. He liked the environment at first, but that soon changed.

“Winter came,” Do said. “It was cold; it started snowing really really hard; it was all nasty because the snow was actually really dirty and it was depressing. I was homesick in those cold, lonely nights.”

However, despite the dismal cold, Do genuinely liked Wisconsin’s Christmas atmosphere.

“It’s more like a movie,” Do said. “People came around saying hi, Merry Christmas and Happy New Years. It’s more like Christmas there.” And he was still able to enjoy the holiday at home: the snowstorm that had threatened to keep him in Wisconsin that winter was not severe and he departed the next day.

As Christmas nears, people from all regions of the United States hang up decorations. Students from states such as New York, Wisconsin, and Michigan, reminisce about their past Christmas customs and changes upon their move to Texas.

As a former resident of New York, senior Kristijana Arroyo can sympathize with Do’s appreciation for Northern winters.

“Every time fall comes,” Arroyo said, “It’s just a cozy feeling. I love the feeling in New York of a fireplace.”

When he lived in Michigan, junior Edward

Chiang remembers, he experienced many special moments of Christmas. His house was located on top of a hill, so he and his friends often went sledding.

“[My neighbors] brought their slopes over and then we just had a lot of fun sliding down the hill,” Chiang said. “Some days, when it was really nice or during the breaks or a snow day or something, we’ll go skiing.”

Chiang loved to celebrate Christmas back in Michigan, but in Texas, everything was different.

“We have those miniature [trees] that are like two feet tall,” Chiang said. “But it’s not really like in Michigan because the season isn’t really seen as much. It just feels cold, it’s not like snowy.”

Senior Brenda Bonola feels the same. Snow was a bigger part of Christmas in the North.

“Over [in New York], it got so cold way long before Christmas even starts,” Bonola said. “So by Christmas, it’s snowing a lot so we can get to do many traditional stuff like make snowman and hot chocolate.”

Junior Stephanie Martinez remembers colorful lights and decorations.

“A lot of people in New York would always go all out and put those moving reindeers out,” Martinez said. “It’s like daytime at night.”

Chiang wants to recapture that “daytime” image in Texas.

“I’m going to try to decorate,” he said. “I hope to bring those Christmas traditions back.”

“Me and my mother don’t go trick-or-treating; we wait two days after Halloween and go to Walgreens and buy all of the candy on sale. It’s bonding time [for] me and my mom.” —Valerie Gonzalez, 10

“We eat hotpot every single day of Christmas, during the countdown days...We have different spices—we look at the Chinese calendar and each spice corresponds to a particular day. It started when me, my mom, and sister moved to America.” —Cindy Tsai, 12

“For Christmas, we do English Christmas crackers. There’s a paper towel tube with pretty wrapping. You pull it apart and toys and paper hats come out. Everybody gets one at the table and everyone wears their hats... This started because of their dad because he’s English.”—Kathleen Harrison, staff

“We eat Nigerian food. We eat jollof rice; it’s an orange type of rice with different types of seasoning. We eat hard finger foods like iyan and efo soup. They’re considered luxurious foods in my country.”—Blessing Falade, 12

6 | Kerronicle.com | In Focus

HOLIDAY Students compare regional Christmas customs

Students recall winter memories

TRADITIONS

Junior Kimberly Salmeron (right) poses with her younger sister, freshman Emily Salmeron (left), after their mother deco-rated the Christmas tree.

Diana Vu

The winter sun casts thin rays of warmth, but there are already ripped wrappers scattered all over the floor.

Four year old Vanessa Pereira wanted nothing to stand between her and her tricycle. But a knock on the door stopped her.

“There was a woman and a man,” Pereira, now a freshman, said. “They said ‘Merry Christmas,’ dumped a sack of gifts on the floor, and left. That was the first and last time that I saw them.”

Pereira was confused by this incident. She didn’t know what to do: continue to play with her already opened toys or succumb to her curiosity and tear apart those colorful wrappings.

When her parents came home, they opened the presents.

“They were expensive gifts,” Pereira said. “All these glow-in-the-dark and drawing toys.”

Even though she didn’t know the real reason behind it, Pereira believes that the toys from the two people weren’t simply an act of kindness.

“Now that I think about it,” Pereira said. “It was probably because they didn’t have kids, and so they gave us gifts.”

As winter approaches, the chilly weather sweeps in, heightening anticipation for the upcoming winter break. It is a time to remember past holidays and the memories they created.

Sophomore Jason Nguyen’s special memory was the arrival of snow in Houston when he was in sixth grade. In the middle of the day, Nguyen was called to the front office; his dad wanted him home before the snow would congest the roads.

“[My classmates and I] were looking at the snow from the classroom window,” Nguyen said. “When they heard I was going home, they looked at me and said, ‘Take me with you.’”

But when Nguyen arrived home, he was disappointed by the lack of snow. However, his disappointment soon dissolved: there was more snow on the roof.

“My dad got on top of the roof with a

ladder,” Nguyen said. “He was shoving ice into buckets, and all our neighbors were watching.”

With more snow on his hands, Nguyen invited his friends over his house when they were dismissed from school. An intense snowball fight ignited. The neighbors also joined in.

“It hurt so badly when we threw snowballs

at each other,” he said. “It felt like rocks.”Although, it was embarrassing to see his

dad on the roof, Nguyen treasured every second of it.

“In my neighborhood, we don’t really get out a lot, so being able to go outside and get my dad involved—he’s usually just sitting around, watching football—it means a lot,” he said.

Sophomore Inmer Carbajal remembers a planned event when he was nine years old. Carbajal, his immediate family, and extended family arranged to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas together.

“My whole family and I didn’t get together since I was two,” Carbajal said. “We just decided to have a family reunion to remember

how it was in the old days.”They went to the malls, arcades, and laser

tag.Carbajal appreciates that his distant family

was able to take time from their busy lives and gather together.

“Just hanging out with everybody made me happy,” Carbajal said, “just to see everybody together.”

When she was about seven years old, junior Kimberly Salmeron believed in Santa Claus. On Christmas Day, she woke up and saw that there weren’t any presents where she expected them to be. To her, no presents meant no Santa.

“I got sad, so I went back to my bed, crying,” Salmeron said. “I was like, ‘Santa isn’t really real.’”

Then, there were shuffling noises. It was coming from the chimney of her house.

“We were like ‘oh my god,’” Salmeron said. “We ran, and then saw the presents there.”

Through all the excitement, the noises were still there, and they attracted Salmeron and her family’s curiosity. Hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa, they found a much smaller being.

“We looked up the chimney, and there was a rat that had crawled up,” Salmeron said. “It was hilarious!”

Like Carbajal, there was also a small reunion in Salmeron’s family. Salmeron was able to spend Christmas with both her parents.

“I usually don’t spend time with both my parents. It’s usually either my mom or my dad,” Salmeron said. “It was really nice because I got to share something with my family.”

While they occurred a few years ago, the spontaneity of these events makes them memorable. Nguyen looks upon these memories as something to cherish.

“We don’t get those moments often,” he said.

In Focus| Kerronicle.com | 7

8 | Kerronicle.com | Food

Cupcakes take the cake

The holidays are around the corner and you

need a last-minute gift. Before you start to freak out, remember: food is always the answer.

B e f o r e Thanksgiving break, we took a trip to two cupcake bakeries: Celebrity Cupcakes and Ooh La La The Dessert Boutique. Both places sold their cupcakes for $3.50 each, but a

significant difference between the two was the size of their cupcakes. While Celebrity Cupcakes were regular sized, Ooh La La’s cupcakes were much larger with much more cake and frosting.

At Celebrity Cupcakes, located at 2343 University Blvd., we tried the popular Southern Red Velvet and the seasonal Pumpkin flavors. The place itself was very clean and cute and the lady at the register was informative and very kind as well.

For the Southern Red Velvet, the cream cheese frosting was moderately sweet but the cake wasn’t very moist. It was a good cupcake, but not good enough to be memorable. It tasted just like any other red velvet cupcake. Nothing was very ‘southern’ about it, so it didn’t live up to its title.

The Pumpkin flavor was another story. It added that

touch of spice with the ginger candy sprinkled on top creating the perfect balance of sugar and spice. This cake was moist with a perfect sweetness that complemented the soft frosting very well. We have high hopes for their seasonal cupcake in December.

Overall, we’d give this place 7/10.At Ooh La La The Dessert

Boutique, located at 770 West Sam Houston Parkway North, Suite 500, we tried their red velvet cupcake, called the Velvet Elvis, and their cupcake of the month, French Toast. Inside, the boutique was very pink and cozy. They offer a variety of sweets like macaroons, pies, cakes, cookies, etc, enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.

For the Velvet Elvis cupcake, the cream cheese frosting was the king. Unlike Celebrity Cupcakes’s red velvet, the flavor of the cream cheese stood out and blended with the cake perfectly. The cake was very moist and soft; it wasn’t hard and didn’t crumble

everywhere when you bit into it. Living up to its name, the Velvet Elvis rocked our mouths filled with an overall satisfying taste of cream cheese and a well-baked cake.

The first bite of the French Toast cupcake might put you off due to the exceedingly sweet frosting, and the cake wasn’t enough to balance it out.The center was moist, but it was filled with sprinkles of cinnamon, making the whole cupcake one sugar rush. It is a possibility they could overdo this with other cupcakes, such as the holiday ones, that aren’t baked daily.

We’d give this place a 7/10.Overall, both cupcake bakeries

had something good to offer. With comparable prices, the decision comes down to what kind of cupcake lover you are buying for: more-is-better or not-too-sweet.

Brownies in a Mug: A 2 Minute Holiday Treat

Alys

s Alyssa

There’s nothing better than brownies, except for brownies IN a mug. They’re inexpensive, delicious, and easy, which makes them the perfect holiday treat. It only takes about two minutes to create one of these delectable holiday desserts.

Other than the mug, a microwave, and measuring spoons, here’s what you’ll need:

1/4 cup of all purpose flour1/4 cup of sugar2 tablespoons of cocoa powder (unsweetened)2 tablespoons of vegetable oil3 tablespoons of waterToppings to garnish, examples: peanut butter, crushed candy canes, or hazelnut spread

Step 1Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa pow-der, vegetable oil, and water in your mug.

Step 2Mix the ingredients until you’ve gotten

a smooth mixture. I find that using a fork works well.

Step 4Take out your mug, let the brownie cool, add your toppings, and enjoy!

Step 3Place your mug in the microwave for 1 minute and 40 seconds. The time you

cook your brownie will depend on how strong your microwave is, so you may have to play with it in order to get the

perfect brownie.

Ooh La La’s French Toast and Velvet Elvis cupcakes.

Alyssa Martinez Alyssa Andaverde

Durand Nguyen

Entertainment | Kerronicle.com | 9

Have you heard of the movie Catching Fire?” the customer asked.

“Yes,” senior Janae’a Brown replied.“Is it good?” the customer asked.“Have you read the books?” said

Brown.“No,” the customer responded.Standing at the register at

Tinseltown movie theater, Brown rolled her eyes as customers passed by to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, upset that so many were watching the movie without having read the books. Between helping customers, she scrolled through movie times, trying to plan her breaks to catch a glimpse of the screen.

“I was being tortured,” Brown said. “Everybody kept saying, ‘nah who are these people anyway?’ I was like in so much pain because half the people in the movie theater didn’t even know about it and the other half are watching it and they didn’t read it. I just felt so alone.”

Having read these books before the movie came out, many students are interested in the Hunger Games movies.

“I read the books back when I was in eighth grade,” senior Marc Parra said. “I like the premise for it because of the whole idea about fight to the death and the battle in the arena; I thought that was an interesting basis

for the story.”Junior Samantha Davis believes

that much of the hype the book receives is from its transition to a motion picture.

“It’s just nice to see it come to life,” Davis said. “It’s like you have this imagery in your head so when you go see the movie you want to see how they would think the movie would turn out.”

Senior Christopher Le enjoys the story’s realism.

“It’s logical. It could possibly happen in the future,” Le said. “The character development is way better and people die left and right. And when people die, like a main character that you developed so well dies, you just get into it.”

Students also found the writing to be more engaging.

“I like where it’s all against one and how they kind of like rise to the top,” sophomore Misti Fulmer said. “And she’s not even doing it on her own. It’s much more of a different concept and not much of a trio thing where Twilight was more romantic this is more action and it’s got a hint of romance other than the other way around.”

Brown agrees that the Hunger Games novels stand out among young-adult fiction.

“Most stories these days like, teen

fiction, are really predictable,” she said, “and you pretty much know what is going to happen just by reading a couple of pages.”

Some students were excited because of the casting.

“I had pre-ordered my ticket [for Catching Fire] for the midnight screening with my sister and some friends,” freshman Alejandra Garcia said, “because we all love the Hunger Games … for Liam Hemsworth especially.”

Many found the Catching Fire much more intriguing compared to the first Hunger Games.

“Catching fire is better because it has lot more going on,” sophomore Dara Hall said . “The quality was a lot better, not once was there a dull moment. In the Hunger Games it was more like you had to wait for something to happen. Since there are newer characters from different districts you get more attached to them. It really keeps you going, not once was there a time where you’re like “okay what’s happening next?” because it just keeps going.”

Brown agrees that the surprise is yet to come.

“It’s so good, you think it’s over but it’s not,” Brown said.”When they go back to the games, everyone is like, ‘here it goes again,’ but the big twist is the way the games are set up and the

surprise ending, oh my gosh. When the first book ends, we know they are at home in safety but the second one ends and they are not in safety and you’re like, ‘what is this world coming to?”

After waiting four days, Brown finally had time to watch the movie.

“I was really excited because I’ve only been waiting a thousand years for it to come out,” Brown said. “When I did OMG it was amazing, I didn’t even expect it to be that amazing. It was so good I cried like five times.”

It’s that time of year again. Stores are decorated with festive lights and holiday decorations line the streets

of busy shopping malls; five- and six-foot Christmas trees sparkle and shine through the windows of brightly lit houses; chestnuts roast on open fires; Jack Frost nips at your nose and…Justin Bieber sings Christmas carols on the radio?

Today, it’s not uncommon to hear modern artists put their own twist to an old Christmas favorite or create their own original Christmas song. Just to name a few, classic Christmas songs like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” introduced by Judy Garland in 1944; “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)”, recorded in early 1964 by The Nat King Cole Trio; and “Winter Wonderland,” written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith, have been covered by modern artists

like Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews Band, and Coldplay. In addition, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey, “Shake Up Christmas” by Train and “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber are only a few examples of the many original songs created by artists specifically for the holiday season. But as change often is, these new takes on an old tradition have been received with mixed results.

“I think the new songs are good,” senior David Ramirez said, “They make the old Christmas songs livelier.”

Freshman Gina Nguyen agrees.“I like modern bands’ versions better

[than the original songs] because they put their own spin to it,” Nguyen said. “I think that’s really creative.”

Ramirez and Nguyen appreciate the way that covers of traditional Christmas songs and original holiday songs by modern artists cater to younger generations while still maintaining their

original purpose.“In the words and the messages

that they give they both do capture the meaning of Christmas,” Ramirez said. “But the new ones kind of create a livelier, happier feeling of what Christmas is about.”

To Nguyen, modern bands that throw a spin on old holiday songs is a refreshing change.

“I prefer the covers because the original Christmas songs are kind of overplayed,” Nguyen said. “It’s nice to mix it up a little.”

Not everyone agrees. While some celebrate these new takes on an old tradition, others aren’t so sure that they like what they’re hearing.

“These new songs are like what you would play in a club or something,” senior Uyen Tran said, “it doesn’t make sense.”

For people like Tran, these new holiday tunes fail to live up to the

standards that their predecessors have set.“The original Christmas songs are

usually really slow and they’re probably what people today think old people listened to in like the 1950’s,” Tran said. “But now people are energetic; they want dubstep, they want pop, and that totally ruins the entire song.”

Whether they want to celebrate the season with the energetic beats and upbeat voices of modern artists like Mariah Carey or prefer to cuddle up with a good book in front of a warm fire to Nat King Cole, one thing is certain. Whatever music people choose to enjoy during the holiday season will bring back warm old memories or will create new ones.

“[Holiday music] just captures the spirit of Christmas,” Tran said. “Whenever you listen to it, you just remember Christmas.”

Amy Haokip

Classics vs. Covers

Modern artists throw new twist on old Christmas favorites

Igniting the Hype: Catching Fire sparks students interest

Senior Janea’a Brown dresses up as a character from the The Hunger Games series, Effie Trinket.

Hadiqa Memon & Alyssa AndaverdeAnh Lu

10 | Kerronicle.com | Entertainment

away:Spirited Homecoming

week earns a new meaning

Anh Lu

1. Freshman Dieryll Henderson makes a run with the ball past sophomore Ola Solabi.2. Sophomore Susan Nguyen helps set up for the homecoming dance.3. Junior Saba Shekhani and STUCO President Durand Nguyen talks about decoration for the entrance hallway.4. Sophomores Shafin Amin, Mary Garcia, May Tran, and Emmanuel Valencia brings out school spirit during twin day.5. Juniors Gabby

Lopez and Katia Disodado act it out for Jock vs. Nerd Day.6. Sophomores Cindy Tran and Stephanie To match in Eeyore costumes.7. Freshman Megan Phu, Allyson Huynh, Philip De Villa, and Faye Thai embrace their nerdy side.

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Aside from the fun and games, Kerr students brought out the best of their school spirit this year with a fantastic homecoming week followed by an intense football game and ended the week flaunting off their best dressed masks.

8. Sophomores and juniors lift sophomore David Felix in the air after he scored the winning touchdown in the last seconds of the game.9. After a close game, the Classes of 2015 and 2016 rejoice in their victory.10. Sophomore Peniel Tadesse and freshman Vincent Guevarra perform a fight scene for the Band halftime show.11. In a special performance by the Alief Jazz Ballet, Frida Adame (Hastings) performs a

flip over Alexis Rosendo (Hastings) during halftime.12-14. Juniors Tran Trinh, Lisa Nguyen and Lily Do (12), sophomore Gabby Rodriguez (13), and senior Wallace Wilson (14) let loose during the homecoming dance.

Entertainment | Kerronicle.com | 11

When left is right

Race against time: Kerr, Taylor, Elsik, and Hastings theatre departments put together “Beauty in the Beast” in less two months.

”

“ All your peers, sometimes they mock you or they discriminate: ‘Ha, you’re left-handed! You’re different!’ It’s probably joking but it sometimes gets out of hand. I had a tough childhood. Your parents beat you up when you’re left-handed.

Paul Tran,

10

“

”

When I was in first grade, my first grade teacher tried to change me to write with my right hand. My parents had to go to school and meet with the principal and tell them that they did not want that done. I more or less taught myself to write.

Valerie Erwin,

staff

Kyra Rodriguez,

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”

Actually, I used to be able to write with both hands, and then as I got older, I started writing more with my left hand and that became dominant. Sometimes it’s hard to find stuff for left-handed people, so there aren’t a whole lot of advantages. It’s also hard to reach certain parts of the page.

”

“ I always knew I was special! In my culture, you have to eat with your right hand, so I kind of trained myself to do everything else [except write] with my right hand.

Mohammed Waheed,

12

Despite challenges presented by scheduling difficulties, cast changes, and the trials of working with new crews, the four Alief schools were able to produce an extraordinary production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. “The people that worked and performed were incredible teachers, leaders, performers, and learners.” Cadre Kerr director Julie Ryan commented. “[Kerr students] came back with a sense of great pride in Alief, our troupe, our officers and our family here at Kerr.”

Nadia Zulfa & Tuong-Phi LeNhu Pham

6% students15% faculty

identify as left-handed in a school-wide census(figures are approximate)

Approximately 10% of humans are left-handed. In many places, they deal with suspicion or prejudice. But for Kerr denizens, the left-handedness is most marked by day-to-day inconveniences. Illustration by senior Nhu Pham, a left-handed artist

Anh Lu

6

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Belle, played by Toni Baker (Taylor),

turns in disgust when she’s asked

for her hand in marriage by Gaston,

played by Joseph Johnson (Elsik).

Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts, played

by senior Alex Vinh, senior Raymond

Luu, and Ann Morris (Hastings), respectively,

bring laughter with their witty jokes and

comical actions.

Belle and the Beast, played by Mario

Yang (Elsik), dance to the classic theme song, “Beauty and

the Beast.”

(Top) Lumiere leads the dance for “Be Our Guest” with a chorus of Allecia Johnson (Elsik), Angie Hoyas (Elsik), Blessing Yemi-ese (Elsik), and Debrah Tifase (Taylor) and finishes the big number with a twist alongside Belle (left).During “Gaston,”Kenny

Figuroa (Elsik) leapfrogs over senior Wallace Wilson.

12 | Kerronicle.com | Etc.

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“

”— Tuong-Phi Le

Senior

Boots10.5% Hats/

Beanies8.5%

Scarves6.5%

Coats4.5%Leather Jackets

6.0%

Earmuffs1.5%

Gloves3.5%

Dresses0.5%

Sweaters49.5%

What is your favorite winter clothing item?

What are your Black Friday plans?

These statistics are based on a survey of 200 students, 50 from each class.

Hadiqa Memon

Survey taken by: Alyssa Andaverde, Nadia Zulfa, Hadiqa Memon

“I will be camping out in front of Game Stop to give my little brother his Pokemon game and 2DS.” — Thanh Le, 11

“For Black Friday, I’m hoping to make some big savings on Christmas presents and Secret Santa. My budget is $50.” — Ann La, 12

“I’m going to hang out with friends at Walmart. I want to buy computer parts.” — Erick Bosquez, 9

“As usual, I’m going shopping for cheap and low prices because I need new winter clothes.” — Hiral Mistry, 10

Julia Nguyen