I
T
N
O
E
FINAL ISSUE•FINAL ISSUE•
D
of
December Issue Volume XVIII Issue IV
EDITORIAL BOARD
Covers and Page Designs by: Chiara Cole (unless stated otherwise)
Q: What do you look forward to, during this holiday season?
Elizabeth Jeon Grade 11 Baking cookies with family. This means a lot to me because baking cookies not only provides delicious goods, but it gives us quality time with family and creates more memories with my loved ones.
Culture Christmas Pickle 04 Economy of Nails 05 Holidays Around the World 06 Features Morbidly Beautiful Horror: Audition (1999) 08 Human of Appleton North Interview: Caroline Jia 10 Philharmonic Ventures 12 Interactive Perpetual Preston 14 Jumble 15 Mini Crossword 15 News Stand Up Takes Action 16 Opinions SAD Editorial 17 Wintersong: Why Christmas is a Time For Choir 21 10 Songs That Make You Feel Like You Are In A Coming of Age Movie 22 Sports Winter Sports Highlights 24 Winter Coloring Page 25 Sports Word Search 26 Explore Check Out The Spark 28
OUR MISSION
The Noctiluca is North's own student-run newspaper. Student editors make all content decisions. Founded in 1995, Noctiluca publishes information relevant to its readers while maintaining high ethical standards and providing a designated public forum for free and responsible expression of views. The newspaper allows students to express themselves through journalism. As a community of collaborators, we aim to create an inclusive environment for anyone and everyone to share ideas, inspire and be inspired, and have fun!
the Contents
Look for the rest throughout the issue!
Although December 21st marks winter’s official beginnings, the season's presence seems palpable already. As the last autumn leaves made their grand surrender to gravity, Thanksgiving brought relatives to households, dishes of delicious to tables, and holiday music to radio stations across the nation. But it's not winter. Yet. In many ways, this stretch of time signifies waiting: waiting for the affirmation of string lights and winter candles and gift sets, all reasonably and seasonably enjoyed; waiting for validation as the feeling of Christmas tree farms and cold weather manifests through roadside windows and snow-dusted streets alike; waiting, ultimately, for the actualization of a very current reality. In this issue of the Noctiluca, and in light of the short winter break ahead of us, our student journalists and artists urge you not to wait. We encourage you to belt "Jingle Bells" at the top of your lungs, then purchase Wintersong tickets to see how it's done. Immerse yourself in family traditions, then learn about holiday traditions observed around the globe. Find a fireplace and cuddle up with a cup of hot cocoa, coloring utensils, and our 2022 Holiday Issue. We hope you enjoy. Wishing warmth, peace, and joy to you and your loved ones this holiday season,
Senior Editor-in-Chief
Lubabah Ali Grade 12 Hot Chocolate that is not hot.
Collected by: Bridjett Relken
Susan Yao Grade 12 Playing with my dog in the snow.
Editor's
Andrea Buyze Grade 12 Visiting my family, having fun in the snow, the Christmas spirits, and being warm and comfy.
Senior Editor-In-Chief Mya Koffie Junior Editor-In-Chief Caroline Jia Managing Editor Umika Sivasamy Creative Director Chiara Cole Copy Editor Megan Mladucky Online Editor Susan Yao Multi-Media Editor Andrea Buyze Social Media Editor Bridjett Relken Culture Editor Melissa Sisto Sports Editor Nadia Tallroth Opinions Editor Elizabeth Jeon Features Editor Audra Jenike News and Interactive Editor Lubabah Ali Advertising Director Aurora Smith Advisor Aaron Ramponi
{{page}}
note
December Sticky Notes
By Gabi Stern
Whether you yourself have gotten nails or not, you have definitely seen them all around you. People love nails for many different reasons like complimenting an outfit, a special occasion, or simply just because they like them. But how is there a nail for everyone and every event? At first glance, they might seem like just nails, but there is a large variety of artificial nails. Whether you have never gotten your nails done before or are a regular at a salon, I hope this article can teach you a bit about the world of nails. Getting your nails done is a source of self-expression and can show your personality through your favorite color or maybe your favorite flower. Having fake nails can help people with insecurities and make them feel prettier or more attractive. Sometimes getting your nails done can simply be because they are gorgeous. For me, getting compliments on my nails makes my whole day, and I feel like all the time I put into doing my own nails paid off. There are many different types of nails for everyone such as acrylics, gel, tips, nail polish, and press-ons. With these types of nails, you have the creative freedom to do whatever you want such as making them longer, shinier, stronger, or even just more fitting to a particular aesthetic. However, there is something stopping more people from investing in these accessories--they are super expensive! To figure out why, I did a survey on what people liked about nails, how much it costs, who does them, what type of nails, and their least and most favorite part. Most answers varied from person to person, but something they all had in common was the price. Looking at the survey results, there was a lot of variation in the favorite and least favorite parts of getting their nails done. Some people said they loved how they look when they were done and some people said the process itself was therapeutic. A common dislike was the prep and how long the entire process takes. There definitely were some strange responses, like scratching people as their favorite part, and an uncommon but relatable one which is not being able to open things. Secondly, the average price of the nails was $55. About one-third of the people that said $30 or less do their nails by themselves, and people who go to a nail tech or a salon pay upwards of $70 each time. This hefty price tag comes from a few different sources, time being the biggest factor, with artists taking 2-6 hours to do nails. Other factors include the cost of materials and the desire for profit from businesses. Now that I've laid out all the ins and outs of the economy of nails, it's truly up to you to decide whether it's worth it to pay an average of $55 for these tokens of self-expression, or if that money is best spent somewhere else. Regardless, I hope this article has taught you something new about this fashion staple.
Economy of Nails
?
By Lily Wamhoff
Christmas Pickle
Graphics by Fiona Price
Lily operates her own nail business through Instagram. You can check out her creations and support her business at @lily.do.nails on Instagram!
Graphics by Kara Bellg/Background by Chiara Cole
Have you ever puzzled over pickles in Christmas trees? For many families, hanging a glass pickle ornament is a tradition in their homes. Whoever finds the hidden gherkin on Christmas Day receives a special present or good fortune for the upcoming year. Many believe this originated in Germany in the 19th century; however, this myth was quickly proven false when revealed that a majority of Germans had never heard of the custom. While the origin story was never fully agreed upon, there are several popular stories surrounding the creation of the Christmas Pickle. One such tale is how an imprisoned American Civil War soldier from Bavaria asked for a pickle to be his last meal. When given said pickle, he regained the strength he needed to persevere and survive for the rest of his imprisonment. Another origin story focuses on two Spanish boys who were forced into a pickle barrel by an evil innkeeper but were soon saved by St. Nicholas. This is a variation of the original story where the two boys were kept in a preserved meat barrel, but can still be used as a way to show kids how kind Santa Clause can be. Lastly, one other theory behind the tradition perhaps explains why many attribute the tradition's origin to Germany. In the Spreewald region of Germany, some were too poor to hang anything other than pickles on their Christmas trees and brought their makeshift ornaments with them when they immigrated to America. These stories have never been certified as it is most likely that the entire tradition was a marketing scheme from the late 1800s to promote German glass ornament sales in American stores. One city in the southwestern corner of Michigan, Berrien Springs, embraced the festivity and declared itself the “Christmas Pickle Capital of the World '' due to its high population of German immigrants and the fact that it was a major producer of pickles. Every year, celebrations were held and led by the one and only “Grand Dillmaster.” Regardless of the true background of the Christmas Pickle, it serves as a symbol of good fortune to whoever finds it and brings good blessings for the holiday season and year to come. Try to find our Noctiluca Christmas Pickle hidden somewhere in this issue!
By Melissa Sisto
Holidays Around the World
When we hear "Christmas," most people think of Santa, trees, presents, and snow. But to others spread across the map, Christmas can represent very different things. With the help of Philip Heinze, an exchange student from Germany and a valued member of North's Noctiluca, I asked five other exchange students from North what Christmas looks like and means to them. Germanic Christmas, while very similar to the American holiday, has some distinctions. While German families also decorate their houses and listen to holiday music, they still have many differences. It's tradition in Germany to open presents on Christmas Eve rather than the morning after. At around 5-6 p.m. Christmas night, kids will go upstairs and wait for Santa to come. Immediately after his departure, they'll eagerly come back down, open their presents, and return to sleep. For Christmas dinner, many people will eat goose, which tastes similar to turkey. Philip celebrates with an advent calendar and spends time with his family while watching Christmas movies. One unique thing about the Germanic holiday season is the outdoor markets. They foster the Christmas atmosphere by selling all kinds of food and holiday presents. Christmas in Spain is unique, as they have many important traditions during the holiday season. They celebrate a completely different holiday right after Christmas on Jan. 5th and 6th, called "Los Reyes Magos," or The Three Wise Men. Because of this, their holiday season spans from December 22 to January 10. Madrid, the capital, will set up many lights and decorations throughout the city. They are known for big holiday parades, where people throw candy and celebrate the end of the holiday season. A particular tradition unique to Spain is their New Years' Eve grapes. Families will eat twelve grapes during the last minute of the year as a countdown. They will also put water and carrots outside their homes to help the three wise men and their camels on their journey home. Andrea Perez Herrero, our foreign exchange student from Spain, usually celebrates by decorating her home with a tree and a "Belen," which is similar to the Nativity. She also likes to visit the city center in Madrid, whether to visit the theaters or to walk around the city and enjoy churros. She says the best time to visit the city has to be during winter. Ain Jo, a student from Korea, also talks about how her country celebrates during the holidays. Like Americans, Koreans will decorate with Christmas lights, sing carols, and spend time with loved ones; however, less than half of the people will decorate with a tree in their house. In Korea, it isn't traditional to spend the holidays with your family so most people will spend Christmas with their significant others or friends. Usually, parents give presents to young kids, but gifts typically aren't reciprocated until they are older. However, after children grow up and become adults, it's customary for them to share their parents' gifts. In Georgia, a country bordering Russia, Christmas is a significant holiday. Seda Mosoyan, a student here at North, shares that all of the streets are typically covered with lights, and their capital city Tbilisi, is the focal point for the main decorations. People normally do not decorate their own houses, but the main city streets will have a Christmas tree that people can visit on Christmas Eve. They will also make a wish for the coming year at church during this time. Seda says the strangest tradition in Georgia is when kids ask for candy from neighbors, much like trick-or-treating during Halloween. Seda's family loves to cook many national dishes together, some including Georgian dumplings, called Khinkali, and wraps with grape leaves stuffed with pork and beef and mixed with rice. Next, in France, people come together in churches and cathedrals to pray and sing songs known as Chants de Noël. The "Christmas meal" is called "Le Réveillon de Noël" and is generally served on Christmas Eve. Other popular holiday foods include lots of seafood because of the country's many coasts, which can be served chilled with lemon and shallot vinaigrette. Tess, a French student, highlights La Bûche de Noël as one of the most essential holiday desserts. She usually celebrates Christmas Eve with a more formal dinner before opening gifts and eating dessert after Santa Claus' visit. Then, she will celebrate only with her parents and brother on Christmas day by eating breakfast and opening more gifts! Tess Rhodamel will visit her father's family with a less formal celebration, including ugly Christmas sweaters and games. However, this year will be her first ever Christmas without her family, but she's looking forward to experiencing a true American Christmas! She says a big French tradition would have to be the holiday markets. Stands and carts will sell all kinds of candies and goods, and a more popular demand would be the Les Champs Elysées in Paris. She says it brings the Christmas spirit and feel to the city. Lastly, Vlad Plyaka, a student from Ukraine, talks about his Christmas. The "last evening of the lean" is the night before Christmas. According to tradition, people will not eat anything until the first star appears in the sky, which is said to mark the birth of Jesus. Families will cook a Christmas dinner with 12 dishes, symbolizing the 12 Apostles. Some great dishes include kutia, which is usually prepared with boiled wheat and seasoned with honey, poppy seeds, nuts, and dried fruits. A popular drink in Ukraine is compote. It's made with dried fruits and honey and is very light. Traditionally, Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on December 25 and January 7 because of Western and Russian influences. Since the war in Ukraine is ongoing, Vlad and his family have come to know and experience how poorly Russia has treated his country for centuries. He used to celebrate Christmas with his extended family on both days, where they would open presents and remember what they were thankful for. However, this year Vlad's family has stopped celebrating on January 7th and will only celebrate in December.
By Umika Sivasamy
If there’s any film that’s so visceral and evocative since Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it's Takashi Miike’s 1999 psychological horror-thriller film, Audition. Commonality between the two movies exist as they both bend narrative expectations to reveal social fault lines concerning misogyny and mental abuse. Yet to view the film as only one of the horror genre is to continually emphasize the immense graphic power of its final act, downplaying the film’s robust vision. Rated R, Audition is a psychological drama, a “detonation of romantic-comedy clichés,” as well as a brutal examination of social isolation and malaise, and the gulf that often exists between men and women. “Miike’s greatest film to date isn’t a gonzo shock artifact, but a furious and mysterious howl of despair.” ~ Chuck Bowen, Slan Magazine (2019) Based on a novel by Ryû Murakami, Audition follows a widower named Shigeharu Aoyama who, years after losing his wife to a terminal illness, is urged by his son to get back out into the world and find someone. Agreeing to a proposal by his friend, a film producer, Aoyama takes part in an audition for a nonexistent film in order to find a potential bride from the candidates. Ultimately, his search leads him to the beautiful Asami Yamazaki, a beautiful former ballerina with a murky past. Slowly, Aoyama begins to grow closer to his new love interest, finding himself caught deeper and deeper in a web of intrigue that threatens to tear him apart emotionally, psychologically, and even physically. Often a common thread in many of Miike’s most outrageous films rife with psychological ironies is violence, presented as a matter of gleeful aesthetic that’s impressive but fairly easily shaken off. Though far from being Miike’s most explicit film, Audition is his most disturbing for the patience he displays. Miike mounts a character study portraying men and women as irreconcilably separated by social boundaries and personal traumas that must eventually be exercised by violence. Midway the first act, Miike presents Aoyama and Yoshikawa sharing a drink and a smoke at a bar, enjoying each other’s company in a way that they can’t enjoy women, which is reflective of the behavior of many men in real life. This sadness, as well as the ghastly asymmetry between Aoyama’s deception and the punishment it eventually incurs, keep the film from being a pat male-hating parable. (As Japanese cinema historian Tony Rayns observes in an interview included with this disc, feminism doesn’t enjoy the stature in Japan than it does in the United States.) He shares, “like Hitchcock, Miike sympathizes with his male characters, yet he’s enough of an artist to see in his women what his men cannot.” And this settles in as the women throughout the film perceive this mutual male enjoyment and yearn for it, partially resembling what Asami’s torture of Aoyama represents: a demand to be truly seen. Miike’s film holds its cards relatively close to its chest for most of its run time, unspooling its tightly wound mystery like garrote wire before peeling back its meet-cute veneer to reveal a pulsing mass of horrors roiling beneath. The entirety of the film descends into a macabre fugue state of assumptions, misdirections, and cinematic sleights of hand, with dreams that feel almost real set against a reality too terrifying to be anything but. In the end, though, these are just words. Only pain can be trusted. Something I loved about Miike’s work here is how, unlike many modern horror films, Audition understands such atrocity to be built on a seemingly banal bedrock of illusion, elusion, and accommodation that’s as scary, in its way, as a cooing wraith strapped in fetish gear, who, when confronting a lover, feels as if she’s facing her maker.
Cast: Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura, Renji Ishibashi, Ren Osugi Director: Takashi Miike Screenwriter: Daisuke Tengan Distributor: Arrow Video Running Time: 115 min Rating: R Year: 1999
Morbidly Beautiful Horror:Audition (1999)
FILM REVIEW
Aurora Smith Grade 10 Ice skating and Christmas music.
Fiona Price Grade 9 Drinking hot cocoa while driving around with my family, and looking at Christmas lights.
HOAN INTERVIEW: Caroline Jia
Aiden Nettekoven Grade 11 Playing in the snow with my dog is always fun.
Q: Why is your favorite color orange? A: My favorite color is not orange. It’s green, but orange is a pretty color, I guess. My cats are orange though, so it's up there. Q: If you could live in any country other than the United States, where would you choose to live? A: Definitely Paris (France), Greece, or one of the Scandinavian countries, because they are generally more peaceful and less capitalistic than the U.S. (their healthcare isn’t ridiculous). Q: Can you remember what you were doing on July 23, 2022, at 7 p.m.? A: I was supposed to take a practice exam for the SAT but I’m not sure if that actually happened. I left for a road trip on July 24th, so I could have been packing. Q: If you could change one thing about North High School, what would it be? A: North’s walls are kind of mundane, so I would have them painted with more fun colors and patterns. It would make going to school more exciting. Q: Can you whistle? A: Yes, I can. Would you like me to demonstrate? (whistled "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star") Q: Which would you rather fight, a random 50-year-old or ten 5-year-olds? Think of it as a boxing match. A: I think I might just go for the ten 5-year-olds because, hopefully, they would be able to do less damage having not learned many combat skills through TV or violent video games. Q: From an educational standpoint, do you think your life would be any different had the pandemic not happened? A: I think I would still be academically focused but I wouldn’t have sacrificed as much time for academics because, had the pandemic not happened, I would have had more opportunities to be social. I also think I might have been sleeping more because pre-pandemic, the notion of staying up past 10:30 was just insane, but during the pandemic, I started staying up later. Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Appleton? A: If you’re talking about locally owned small businesses I would have to say Mai’s Deli because they have really good egg rolls, fried rice, and pho. Other than that, I really like Noodles and Company. It’s not specific to Appleton but it's really good and worth mentioning. Q: What is something you think North does really well? A: North has a good variety of extracurricular activities that you can be involved in. When compared to other schools in the area and just other schools in general, North has a lot more extracurriculars and other activities to do. Q: Should cursive be taught in elementary school? A: I think that it should be taught because, although it can be kind of annoying, it can be useful during a DBQ to not have to write a bunch of separate letters. It did sort of mess up my handwriting though because I now write in a combination of print and cursive. If I concentrate I can do cursive alone though. Q: What color is each class? (Math, History, ELA, Science, World Language) A: Math: Blue, History: Red, ELA: Doesn’t get a color, Science: Green, World Language: Purple
by: Will Sundvor
Melissa Sisto Grade 10 Skiing, snowboarding, and sledding!
By Nadia Tallroth
Philharmonic Ventures captures the love students have for making music and turns it into something the community can thrive off of. I co-run Philharmonic Ventures with Anton Granatella. Any student, even from other high schools, can sign up to play at Country Villa Assisted Living to receive NHS hours, practice for solo and ensemble, play instruments or sing with friends, and get connected with a group of people that are oftentimes forgotten. In past performances, people have played guitar, bass, viola, and sung a solo or duet. After the performance, many residents love telling stories of when they were involved with music. Some seniors recall having played in a band or having sung with a barbershop quartet. It is always such a blast watching their faces light up when they reminisce about their musical memories! As another contribution, we donated music stands to help other performers at Country Villa so they have an easier time sharing their talents. This initiative is run by a non-profit organization called Appleton Youth Education Initiative (AYEI). In this student-driven organization, there are many initiatives that center around an interest or need in the community. A few of these initiatives are HackAppleton, ACT prep, book drives, college-aged tutoring, and more. Jack Lewis, president of the non-profit, talks about the importance of AYEI, “AYEI prepares students for the transition into adulthood and provides them with opportunities to grow in alternative forms of learning such as advertising, community outreach, project management, professionalism, etc.” Jack believes that with the continuation of strong leadership, this organization will continue to develop and gain partnerships such as our technological partnership with Microsoft. Pre-existing initiatives grow every year and new ones form with the passions of the up-and-coming leaders. You can sign up today to be a part of Philharmonic Ventures at ayeinitiative.org. If AYEI strikes your interest and you would like to be a part of this community development, check us out at our website ayeinitiative.org and/or direct message us on Instagram @ayeiofficial.
FIND THE ANSWERS ON NORTHNOCT.COM
mini CROSSWORD
Perpetual Preston
JUMBLE
Preston’s perpetual predisposition persists as he proceeds in pursuing his plans to pace the picturesque planet. In our continued interactive piece, Perpetual Preston, search through the image below to find Preston as he travels around the world. Here is a reference photo of this adventurous soul as he explores Jerusalem:
Across
Down
1. Test of speed
1. First word of the 2016 Olympic location
5. Part of the joke
2. Another place to put a bracelet
6. Van Buren’s nickname: Abbr
3. Cobalt: Abbr
7. That’s why
4. Succeed
9. Vibrant, flashy, neon
8. Even plus one
11. Scraped by
10. The Sooner State: Abbr
15
Abigail Yang Grade 10 My favorite holiday is technically not a holiday but more so the time it takes place, which is around Thanksgiving and Christmas. The "holiday" I'm referring to is connected deeply to my culture, Hmong. Each year around the harvest time--October through December--is the Hmong new year. Parents call their children's souls to come home, in addition to bringing wealth, luck, and happiness. It looks complex but the words that the parents hant and offer to the ancestors are meaningful. The small things that our parents do are truly amazing.
By Lubabah Ali, Audra Jenike, Caroline Jia, and Susan Yao
By Lubabah Ali
By Bridjett Relken Takes Action
For the past five years, the Stand-Up Club at Appleton North High School has held a hygiene drive, but what is the purpose of this fundraiser? Harbor House, a domestic abuse shelter and prevention program, has seen a gross increase in the number of clients that walk through their doors as of January 1st, 2022. The trauma experienced by victims has also increased in severity. So, going into this holiday season, it is extremely important to consider the difficulty of survival after experiencing cases of abuse. As of September 23rd, 2022, Appleton North has raised over $1,500 for domestic violence prevention at a varsity football game. People in the stands wore purple in honor of domestic violence awareness. Now, Appleton North's Stand-Up Club is donating hygiene products to this shelter. Whether you donate liquid laundry detergent, deodorant, or a gift card, your donation is much appreciated. Harbor House also has an Amazon Wishlist and a link for online donations. Any physical donations can be brought to C. Salm's room (1339) or Harbor House itself. What can you donate to Stand-Up’s drive? Liquid laundry detergent Conditioner Body wash Paper towels Deodorant Full-sized laundry baskets Hair products Shampoo, leave-in conditioner, oil, cream, brushes, edge gel, do-rags Winter pajamas Woman sizes L-2x in need Girls sizes 10-12 in need Lotion Pillows Sheets Twin size in need Washcloths Bed bug covers Twin size in need Liquid hand soap Baby products Shampoo and body wash needed Trash bags (13 or 33 gallon) Aluminum foil/plastic wrap Gift cards for Target, Walmart, VISA, Woodman’s, Pick-n-Save, or local restaurants) Word search on page 27
STAND UP
Illustration by Chiara Cole
SAD Editorial
As winter approaches, the weather gets colder, and with it comes less daylight. Especially in Wisconsin, there is a shocking difference in temperature between fall and winter, which consequently creates a significant change in our body and mindset. Due to this frequent occurrence, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)—also known as seasonal depression—is really common in Wisconsin and places that experience cold weather and shorter daylight hours. Students and staff may feel a big difference in motivation, a decrease in pleasure, social withdrawal, frequent fatigue, and feelings of hopelessness. These are clear signs that people might be experiencing SAD. To accurately define SAD, it is a kind of depression that occurs the same time every year in climates where there is less sunlight. Both the Noctiluca board and special guest AASD School Psychologist Nancy Vanderloop, have come up with many coping strategies and mantras to give students a reminder to take care of themselves. As Melissa Sisto, the Cultures Editor, likes to remind herself, “[her] situation and [her] feelings are not permanent, and all things will pass.” Mrs. Vanderloop describes SAD's cause: “Colder days with less sunlight can result in people withdrawing from activities that are natural mood boosters, such as being outside, being social and connecting with others and movement.” Mrs. Vanderloop has worked with many teens who have experienced SAD. She explains that when she works with teens, she encourages students to “think of a ‘for sure’ activity that makes you feel better.” She gives an example of her own “for-sure” activity that comes to mind: “mine is exercising to trashy dance music or walking my dogs.” Similarly, Mrs. Vanderloop recommends giving yourself something to look forward to. This gives people anticipation—something to look forward to—which helps them get out of their fatigued mindset. What she means by this is to “decide what feels good to you and plan it.” “Whether it’s going to a movie with a friend, scheduling a time to grab coffee with someone, or curling up in a quiet chair with a book you love, make it happen.” Mrs. Vanderloop exemplifies that going outside makes a significant change in people’s physical and mental well-being. She indicates that “movement paired with nature is a powerful combination.” She then advises that being quiet with yourself, or self-care, is important in our daily lives. She puts into much detail that having a gratitude journal and meditating are very important activities to incorporate into our life. She explains that, “The practice of pausing and being grateful for the everyday things we often overlook and take for granted is a powerful one.” Meditation quiets your brain and helps you to be clear with yourself. This reminded her of the extensive research that was done by one of her heroes who works at the University of Wisconsin Center for Healthy Minds, Richie Davidson. His research has proven that, “Your prefrontal cortex, the area of your brain which serves as your control center, actually becomes bigger which allows you to be more purposeful in planning and organizing your thoughts and activities.” This provides much proof that meditation helps us align our thoughts and think more purposefully. The final activity she emphasizes is the act of giving. “Giving to others—in any or multiple forms—with money, time, or presence forces you to get out of your own head and take another’s perspective.” Mrs. Vanderloop finalizes her thoughts by concluding that “thoughts are a habit, and with intention, you can change them. Change oftentimes requires interruption… some of these techniques may be helpful tools to get you there. Please know, if you are feeling down, lonely, or isolated, there are people here at school who want to support you and walk through this with you. Please reach out to a trusted adult at home or at school, including your counselor Debbie Strick, our School Social Worker, or me, Nancy Vanderloop school psychologist. Dark days don’t stay, nor does the loneliness. Let’s figure this out together; the journey is far more interesting that way.” As the Noctiluca, we agree that it is important to incorporate favorite activities and self-care to help everyone have something to look forward to. Since SAD is a common disorder, especially in Wisconsin, we would like to share some of our experiences and how we strategized, or are currently strategizing, ways to cope with SAD. Online Editor Susan Yao, Multimedia Editor Andrea Buyze, News Editor Lubabah Ali, Junior Editor-in-Chief Caroline Jia, and Sports Editor Nadia Tallroth have experienced and/or dealt with SAD and have a few things to say about their experiences with it. Although they haven’t found true satisfaction in a specific activity, they have utilized some small habits that have helped them with SAD. Buyze explains that knowing that things will get better has helped her to persevere through her struggles. Tallroth also adds that “checking in with friends” reminded her that she is “loved and that there are others going through the same thing.” She allows herself “to have downtime and not feel guilty about resting and not being ‘productive’ 24/7.” Tallroth also tells herself that “resting is a productive use of [her] time and rejuvenation is extremely important” to help her reach for hope. Another habit that has been utilized is taking a nap; Yao likes to do this after school in account for the shorter daylight hours. Additionally, Ali adds that she distracts herself by doing schoolwork, which she says is usually enough to keep her “seasonal depression limited to the pure anger when [she] walks outside without enough outerwear and a hopeless yearn for warm weather.” This shows that small things can make a big difference in people’s mindset. Even if you aren’t experiencing seasonal depression, being there for someone who is experiencing it can make a difference. The Advertising Editor Aurora Smith and Features Editor Audra Jenike haven’t personally experienced SAD, but have seen second-hand what SAD can do to people and how it is dealt with. As Aurora describes SAD, she has seen across her friends and family that SAD “can negatively impact people's lives by forcing them to conceal their mental struggles.” SAD is not an easy disorder to get through, so when nothing seems to be working, getting professional help, like hiring a psychologist can help you get through it a bit smoother. Audra has seen that having a therapist has been beneficial to her friend. She says that it has brought her friend to talk about her feelings more openly and comfortably. In many examples of personal and second-hand experiences, it is all a process that “doesn’t resolve [itself] in a day, week, month, and so forth, but if you stay committed to yourself you will find the happiness that you deserve," says Chiara Cole, Creative Director. As Senior Editor-in-Chief Mya Koffie articulates, “light does always reappear in its own time. You just have to be patient and trust that a low can only continue so long; an upswing is on its way!” Out in the world, there are many coping mechanisms that can fit anybody’s needs. The most common method of managing SAD is by talking to someone about your difficulties and noticing that individuals who are experiencing SAD are dealing with a burdening feeling. Copy Editor Megan Mladucky emphasizes that “simply being cognizant of [SAD’s] existence and looking for symptoms within yourself and loved ones;” noticing and validating people’s feelings can be a start to helping them realize that they are worthful. A way that you can notice and validate someone’s feelings is by noting their eye contact patterns. Koffie explains how noticing people’s eyes is a big factor in telling if somebody is going through a difficult time. She explains,“If someone you know usually makes a lot of eye contact or reaches out often and suddenly struggles to look you in the eye or stops trying to make plans, you know something is seriously wrong. A lot of times, a lack of eye contact indicates that a person is in so much pain that they are trying to hide that pain from the people with whom they are close.” Talking and noticing the struggles and symptoms of SAD, “help[s] erase that feeling that you're alone-- because you really aren't.” Tallroth explains. Jenike agrees that listening closely to someone or being closely listened to helps you feel important, valuable, and validated. As reaching out to people about depression is difficult enough, being there for the person will help them feel that talking to somebody was worth it. As much as talking about your feelings is a helpful way to get someone through their struggles, there are other general methods that can be used to help get someone through SAD. General methods that were gathered from the board were taking a vacation where it's sunny, taking artificial vitamin D supplements, purchasing a light box or taking bright light therapy, and volunteering. Koffie says that “nothing will make you feel as good about yourself and as worthy of the life you are living like helping others." Managing Editor Umika Sivasamy expresses that bright light therapy (devices that emanate light, mimicking sunshine) is a soothing method that, “can help keep one’s circadian rhythm on track and results in chemical changes that boost your mood, thus alleviating symptoms of SAD. It’s more of an intimate use of therapy since no third party is involved and [it] helps with mental relief.” As proven, these general methods can help seasonal depression as much as talking with people. (TW: self harm.) However, a method that should be avoided is self-harm. Koffie asserts, “if they can at all help it, do not start self harm.” She continues to empathize that “it is a tricky and an addictive slope with dangerous consequences; it is a game no one should play or pick up the dice to begin.” She sends out a message to “anyone currently handling a self harm addiction, it is possible to stop and it is okay to lean on the people who care about you for support as you're dealing with and living through it.” Even though “life can be very painful, you do not deserve to inflict additional pain on yourself even if you convince yourself it's for the purpose of coping,” according to Koffie. Rather than dealing with self-harm and the consequences that follow it, there are so many other better options that will help you get through your difficulties. Then what can be done with these pieces of information? Spread the word! Spreading, posting, and talking about it on any media platform can help bring attention to SAD. Bringing attention to these types of topics will increase support, knowledge, and stimulate people to take action. Social Media Editor Bridjett Relken emphasizes that “telling people they aren’t alone and sharing stories and help lines” across the media can help SAD individuals feel better. Relken continues to call to mind businesses, websites, and media platforms that sell rubber bracelets, stickers, or some product that spreads awareness about topics like SAD and donates the proceeds to organizations for that specific cause. This is a way that awareness can be spread: purchasing a product from charity organizations. While purchasing and donating products are good ways to spread awareness, podcasts are also great to broadcast social issues like SAD. Jia listened to a podcast called Anything Goes by Emma Chamberlain, which presented a “really valuable point of view” that helped her understand SAD better. Awareness is an amazing way to get people’s attention and to help people support not-so-well-known issues, which later can benefit society. In account to the lack of sunlight, depression becomes more vulnerable, which means that being there for your loved ones is important. Everyone needs to also consider that “we should be there for the people we love, no matter what the season is; but in this time of little light and ample cold, it's especially important to let our friends and family know how much we care about them and to open the door for conversation, letting them know we are ready to support them if they need it!” Koffie said. Jia suggests that "looking at a season with a little more optimism can make it more tolerable and potentially even fun!” So don’t think about winter as a depressing season, but a season that provides fun activities. “Keep trying out new activities and new hobbies to find what feels right and what proves effective for you. Remember to have fun with yourself and to surround yourself with the people and activities that make you feel alive even when you wish you weren't. Be very intentional about the voices you are hearing; supportive friends and uplifting activities really go a long way.” Koffie says. “You never really know what others are going through, so please extend kindness-- a smile or compliment goes a long way.” Mladucky vocalizes. The Noctiluca board wants you to take care of yourself and take a step back from everything when things seem overwhelming. If you’d like to reach out to somebody about your depression or general struggles, go to your assigned grade-counselor, school social worker Debbie Strick, or school psychologist Nancy Vanderloop to seek insight. Know that you are loved, appreciated, and not alone. The difficulty you are experiencing is not permanent and good things are yet to come. The Noctiluca is proud of what you have accomplished thus far and we are always here to support you.
And if you need help, visit this website for hotlines: psychcentral.com/depression/depression-hotline-numbers#when-to-call Or Text “HOME” to 741741, a Crisis Text Line for any crisis.
continued on pg. 27
Find meditation and self-care activities at: headspace.com or visit Yoga with Adrienne (YT)
Wintersong: Why Christmas is a Time for Choir
There is no better time for choir music than the Christmas season. In the words of North's choir director Mr. Aumann, "There’s something about Christmas that makes our community crave choral music.” Appleton North’s Wintersong choir concert is a show that attempts to encapsulate the Christmas spirit and create a fun performance experience for everyone who attends it. Wintersong stopped for a few years before Mr. Aumann arrived at North, but once he started teaching here and listened to the requests of many community members asking for a Christmas concert, he revived Wintersong, which is now the program’s most popular show of the year! Although Wintersong is a choir concert, it adds more theatrical elements to the show than a typical concert. The show aims to be constantly entertaining and seamless, with no gaps where one choir exits the risers and another takes the stage. In the words of Mr. Aumann, Wintersong “works like a concert but is choreographed like a theater performance”. Its deliberate and lively choreography ensures that something is always happening, whether it be the bell choir, a skit put on by members of the choir, or singers scattered within the audience while another group transitions onto the risers. In addition to the staging, the crew puts in a lot of work behind the scenes to build a beautiful set with Christmas lights, winter backgrounds, and snow. To put it simply, Wintersong is coordinated to fully captivate the audience and to create the atmosphere and vibe of Christmas that we all love to lean into during December. The aesthetic and Christmas cheer created by the concert creates a feeling of tradition and comfort that is often found within the holiday season. We look for this comfortable sensation during the holidays more than any time of year, so it makes sense that Wintersong is such a popular concert. Wintersong’s spectacular theatrics, choreography, and set make it a captivating experience for the audience, but the people who are most affected by the concert are those who actually participate in the choir program. When I asked Mr. Aumann about the effect choir had on its students, he responded, “In choir we’re like a mini society… a group of people from very different backgrounds trying to unite in purpose. Something about coming together is what the world needs in order to heal and grow.” Not only does Appleton North’s choir program help bring Christmas cheer to its audience, it also helps the actual people within choir become better individuals, proving how important choir can be to everyone involved, especially at this time of year. For everyone involved in the choir program, preparing for Wintersong and bringing it to life is a powerful experience because of the traditions. Every year, there are certain songs and activities that are repeated. After someone’s first year in choir, they don’t have to work on memorizing certain songs because they have been singing them year after year and can instead focus on the feelings engendered by the song. Wintersong itself is a profound tradition, and there is something about traditions like these that create an idyllic holiday environment. When I asked Mr. Aumann about this, he said, “I think especially with music, it is a way for us to keep certain things alive that in our current world tend to go away.” He expanded on this, saying, “There have been so many years of people singing these songs in these choir rooms. Some of them aren’t with us anymore and some of them are on other sides of the planet, but the fact that we sing those same songs and invite alumni to sing them with us, makes it so they are still a part of that choir even if they graduated years ago. There’s something about this idea that is beautiful, that the choir still lives on even if they have moved on.” It’s this feeling of tradition that we look for within the holidays, a time where the beauty of Christmas and the beauty of choir seem to look pretty similar. Wintersong is a concert that truly captures the beauty of the holiday season and creates an environment that is unlike any other. The Christmas season is a time for choir. If you don’t believe that statement yet, maybe attending the concert will make you change your mind. If you’re interested in buying tickets, you can buy them at thechoirsatnorth.weebly.com. The dates for the concert are December 15th and 16th at 7 p.m.
By Aurora Smith
9
4
songs
Ruby Soho - Rancid “A ska-punk classic,” Ruby Soho tells the story of a heartbroken girl whose boyfriend leaves her to pursue his dreams of music and touring, much like a coming-of-age movie.
coming of age movie
Complicated - Mac Miller On this song, Mac speaks about how life is complicated, much like the way complications riddle the everyday life of a soon-to-be college student.
6
Song Description
10
3
i'm so glad i feel this way about you - Insignificant Other "i’m so glad i feel this way about you" is a poetic breakup song about two lovers who slowly grew apart with age, and how it affected their relationship.
My World - Descendants “My World” could definitely resonate with those who feel isolated in their own lives, and it nearly perfectly encapsulates the feeling that comes with growing up.
By: Joey Martino and Charleigh Huenik
You're On Your Own, Kid - Taylor Swift In “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” Taylor reflects on her hometown and past relationships within it, longing for love. It’s a very universal feeling, and l think anyone could relate to it on some level.
to make you feel like you're in a
Going Away to College - blink-182 Written by pop-punk kings blink-182 when they were early college students, this song speaks of the love between two students before they go their separate ways, leaving each other, with the repeated chorus of “This world’s an ugly place, but you’re so beautiful to me.”
8
5
1
Over the Moon - The Marías A ballad of love, "Over the Moon" is filled with a mixture of love and loss, creating something truly beautiful.
Everlong - Foo Fighters Not needing an introduction, "Everlong" is arguably THE coming of age song of this generation. It checks all the boxes from the bittersweet instrumentals to the emotional lyrics. A masterpiece even.
2
7
Fun and Forget - SSJ Twiin Released by two high school students and made on a free music producing app, this song has the perfect carefree, easy vibes and embodies high school.
Hybrid Moments - Misfits There's definitely a feel to Misfits’ music that can only be executed by them, and "Hybrid Moments" is embodiment of that. Though a little intimidating, "Hybrid Moments" comes off as a sweet love song until you dig deeper into the lyrics.
Girls Basketball
By Lisa Luangpraseuth
After a successful fall sports season with several state-qualifying North teams, plenty of exciting football games, and hard volleyball matches, the fall sports are finishing up for 2022. The time for Appleton North winter sports is coming up! Basketball, wrestling, swim and dive, and more exciting sports are starting. After a hard season last year, our boy’s basketball team is ready for the 2022 season. They started their season against Shawano High School on November 29th. The season includes 11 riveting home games from early December until February. On November 22nd, the girl’s basketball team started with a 46-29 win against De Pere at North. They have 9 more home games during their regular season. Our boys and girls wrestling team, with head coach Scott Clough, started their season at West De Pere on November 25th. If you are interested in watching our successful wrestling team at North, you can see them on December 1st and 15th and January 5th and 19th. Their website is a good platform to see an updated version of their schedule. The North girls swim team had a successful fall season. They ended up being a top 20 WIAA team! Now the exciting season for the Northeast team is about to start. About 20 North and a few East athletes are on the Northeast swim and dive team. Appleton North and East have successfully been combined for 8 years. Last year, the Northeast boys won 3x gold, 2x silver, and 1x bronze during their sectionals. The athletes are looking forward to a challenging season starting on December 2nd for the divers and 3rd for the swim team. The WIAA top 50 team is swimming 3 meets at home on December 20th, and January 3rd, and the swimmers have a third home meet on January 13th. All Swim meets are at North. The Two diving meets are at Appleton East. The winter season hosts a variety of interesting sports and gives all students and staff many chances to support North athletes at thrilling home games and meets. Season passes from fall are still valid for all 3 seasons. If you still need a season pass you can buy them at the main office. “Win the day[s]! Go Lightning!” Days and times can change, check the internet/QR codes for the most up-to-date information!
Winter Coloring Page
Boys Basketball
Wrestling
Winter Sports Season Highlight
By Philip Heinze
SAVE THE DATE!
Find these words
Graphics by Kara Bellg
Body Covers Laundry Baskets Oil Pillows Towels Washcloths Brushes Deodorant Liquid Laundry Detergent Pajamas Shampoo Trash Conditioner Gift Cards Lotion Paper Sheets Wash
Sports Word Search
Word Search
touchdown
tackle
stride
goal
swish
bogey
freethrow
par
bunker
cleats
grounder
spike
streamline
assist
strike
bump
forehand
batter
half nelson
libero
paddle
home run
sabre
freestyle
ace
h
e
a
n
d
t
g
z
f
s
w
v
p
i
b
r
m
y
x
u
j
c
o
l
k
q
continued from pg. 21
By Adam Nahm
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.
@northnoct
watch on IG
INTERESTED in joining! We would love to have you
Hosted by: Mya Koffie (Music Mondays), Caroline Jia (Teach It Tuesdays), Audra Jenike (Word of the Week Wednesdays), Aiden Nettekoven & Will Sundvor (Think About It Thursdays), Aurora Smith & Melissa Sisto (Feature Fridays) AND POSSIBLY YOU!
check out our website @northnoct.com
VIDEO SHORTS