12/09/05 - San Marcos Academy

Vol. 90 

Number 3 

December 9, 2005 

The Laurel 

3 

4 

6-7 

10 

Inside 

Paying tribute to 

Mr. Chris Carrier 

Time to buy those 

holiday gifts! 

Scenes from the 

Talent Show 

Wild about Harry 

(Potter, that is) 

Spirit of Giving 

John Feather and 

Kristina Horne sort 

through some of the 

toys donated for the 

JROTC 

Christmas 

service project. Toys 

for needy children will 

be accepted through 

next week. 

San Marcos Baptist Academy 2801 Ranch Road 12, San Marcos TX 78666 

Three seniors to collect their diplomas Monday 

By Mandy Hare 

Graduation! To a senior, nothing 

is sweeter than that word. It 

means starting over, except this 

time as an adult. College, jobs, 

responsibility, what else could 

we want? 

Having to make good grades, 

keep our rooms clean, obey the 

rules--that’s all we really have to 

worry about while we are here in 

high school. However, as graduation 

nears for the three early 

graduates, we have 

to start our journey 

into adulthood a lot 

sooner than we had 

planned. 

All of us have 

our own plans 

when we get 

home after we 

graduate. I plan 

to go to junior 

college my first 

semester so that I can get 

my basics out of the way. Once 

summer is over and school starts 

again, I hope to have been accepted 

to the music school at 

Texas State. Mario Juarez plans 

In just three days, Chris Williams, Mandy Hare and Mario Juarez will 

be graduates of the Academy. A ceremony is planned for Monday morning 

at 8:05 in the RCC. (Note: for Senior Wills, see page 11) 

to attend The University of Texas 

at San Antonio but does not yet 

what he plans to major in. Chris 

Williams also plans to go to college, 

but taking a little while off 

and backpacking around Europe 

are his current plans. 

Being a senior means being 

the top dog. It means guiding 

the underclassmen to their senior 

year. Being a senior means 

senior privileges, and leaving 

behind a legacy for those upcoming 

seniors that they will never 

forget. It means growing up and 

having responsibility. It means 

showing all the teachers and 

people who have been watching 

over you since you have been 

here, that you are ready to grow 

up and face the real world and 

that everything they have taught 

you has paid off. 

The three of us early graduates 

will miss SMA as much as 

we sometimes hated it while 

we were here. How can we say 

goodbye to those special teachers 

who treated us like equals and 

ones of their own? How can we 

leave behind those friends that 

we have seen day in and day out 

and face the world in front of us? 

How do we leave the people who 

have made such an impact on our 

lives? We just do! It’s hard, but 

all those people are happy to see 

us make our lives remarkable. 

So, we will say our goodbyes 

and move on because we 

are now entering adulthood, 

which used to be just beyond 

our reach. 

Monday, Dec. 12, is our last 

morning here at the Academy. 

We will miss you all--wish us 

luck! 

Reception, Gala on schedule of activities for tomorrow 

By Mandy Hare 

The week before Christmas is always 

a busy week at the Academy. Many special 

events take place to celebrate the 

importance of Christmas. Some of the 

activities include the President’s Reception 

tomorrow night from 6:30 until 9 

p.m. at the Schmidts’ home. 

The sequencing of arrival is as follows: 

6:30 p.m. Faculty, Staff and 

Parents 

7 p.m. All Middle School 

7:20 p.m. All High School Day 

Students 

7:40 p.m. Crook Hall and 9-10th 

grade Boarding Girls 

8 p.m. Byrom Hall and 11 th 


8:20 p.m. Talbot Hall and 12 th 


8:40 p.m. Laurel Halls 

Faculty, staff and parents are invited 

to attend at any time. 

There is a dress code to follow at this 

event. The dress code tomorrow night 

is as follows: Men and male students 

should wear coat and tie (senior cadets 

may wear dress blues if they wish). 

Women and female students may wear 

holiday or basic black dresses. 

Dances are always a blast. The Fall 

Festival was great, so the Christmas 

dance should be good as well. The 

Christmas Gala will take place at the 

Crystal River Inn in San Marcos. The 

Middle School will attend from 7:30 

to 8:40 p.m. They will then attend a 

party at the home of Mr. Pat Price from 

9-10:40 p.m. The High School will 

attend the gala from 8:30 p.m. until 

midnight. 

Transportation for all events will be 

provided. Enjoy your Christmas holiday 

everyone!

Page 2 The Laurel December 9, 2005 

Editorial 

Students: show chapel courtesy 

At 8:10 a.m. Wednesday, our campus minister Mr. Craig Paul 

starts preaching. At the same time, different situations are taking 

place at chapel. A student in Row 3 is reading his new Harry Potter 

book; a couple of middle schoolers are sleeping; some girls in row 

6 are talking about their boyfriends and thinking inside of their 

little bubbles; a group of boys are laughing at what is being said 

at chapel, forcing a teacher to pull them out of the row and take 

them to the back of the room for a “courtesy talk.” 

Why do we have to go through all these things on most Monday 

and Wednesday morning? Courtesy is something that we all should 

have learned from our families and it represents the way we truly 

are whenever we are in public. Lately, there have been problems 

when students don’t show any courtesy at one of the times when 

it is most expected: chapel. 

This problem affects many people. It shows disrespect towards 

Mr. Paul, because as a campus minister, he tries to help us know 

Jesus better with his stories and message. It also disturbs students 

who actually care about what is being said at chapel. 

Diversity of cultures may be one of the reasons why we have 

this problem, because not all of our students share the same religious 

backgrounds. However, if a person feels that what is being 

said does not involve or apply to him or her, that person should 

still respect the 30 minutes of chapel and those who have prepared 

for it. Thirty minutes is not a long time to be still, stay awake and 

be quiet. Non-Christians could use this time to meditate if they 

don’t want to listen, but being a distraction to others should not 

be an option. 

This school is not trying to change anyone’s mind; those here 

just want to give us the opportunity to know more about God. The 

decision to accept the message is up to each individual. Meanwhile, 

however, we all need to respect one another’s beliefs and 

respect the hard work our speakers and minister do by showing 

some courtesy. 

Dear Laurie, 

Why is it that seniors get “senioritis” 

so early in the year? 

Signed, “Go Seniors, Class 

of 2006” 

Dear Go: 

It’s probably in anticipation of 

what is to come, such as college, 

career and perceived freedom, and 

no longer being under the rule 

of high school requirements and 

guidelines. 

Editor’s Note: In response 

to the following questions about 

college issues, Laurie Laurel 

asked her friend, Lynne, to help 

her with the answers: 

Dear Laurie and Lynne: 

Do you think that the fact 

that we go to such a small high 

school will affect us when we go 

to college? 

Signed, A Senior 

Dear Senior: 

If you are a flea, do you think it 

matters if you live on a Chihuahua 

or a Great Dane? Basically, you 

are a flea. I think what matters 

most is who you really are, not 

where you go to high school. 

Adaptation to surroundings will 

come easier to those who do not 

identify themselves by their surroundings, 

but those who identify 

themselves by their character, 

beliefs, and ideals. 


How do I know I am going to 

the right college? 

Signed, Confused 

Dear Confused: 

You can’t possibly know if you 

are going to the right college until 

you get there. Then, it’s like a 

host of other decisions you will be 

faced with in life. It is often a lot 

easier to identify the wrong place 

than the right place. Sometimes 

we have to choose what is best for 

us by the process of elimination. 

Sometimes we do the wrong thing 

or go to the wrong place, but it’s 

all part of the process of getting 

where we really need to be. And, 

we are the only one who can really 

know this. If we spend too 

much time trying to find the right 

college we might miss the journey 

altogether, and wouldn’t that be 

a shame. Also, the right college 

for you when you are 18 may not 

be the same right college for you 

when you are 20. Keep an open 

mind, and be flexible. 


What should you do if you 

don’t get accepted to your dream 

college but want to keep trying to 

get accepted? 

Signed, Disappointed 

Dear Disappointed: 

You keep on trying; however, 

while you are trying for your 

dream college, enroll in another 

college and keep the process going. 

Be aware that dreams can 

turn into nightmares, so don’t rule 

out College B, College C, etc. Remember 

the name of the university 

Devotional: 

Dare yourself 

to dream 

By Mr. Ben Smith 

I was asked if I would write a 

short devotional. I chose to share 

with you about daring to dream. 

You must dare to dream and 

strive to be the best that you can 

be with your life. I believe that it 

is going to take three things to succeed: 

First, you must have a DESIRE, and that is a passion. 

Secondly, you must have a DETERMINATION, and that is persistence. 

Thirdly, you must have DISCIPLINE, and that is a purpose. 

You were born with a purpose. When your mother and father had 

you, their dreams for your life were not to be a criminal, thug, illiterate, 

drug abuser or to be nothing. You were born and destined to be great. 

The Word of God tells us that “I can do all things through Christ who 

strengthens me.” You see, Greatness is not where we stand, but what 

in direction we are moving. You are born to be somebody great. You 

are born with a purpose. Dr. Myles Munroe stated the following: 

1. Everything in life has a purpose. 

2. Not every purpose is known. 

3. Where purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable 

4. If you want to know the purpose of a thing, never ask the thing. 

5. You must ask the manufacturer of the thing. 

Once you truly understand that you are made with a purpose, then 

you must protect your purpose. Protect it from all of the haters. Protect 

yourself from those who want to kill your purpose and stop you from 

reaching your dream. 

Please see “Devotional,” page 3 

‘Laurie Laurel’ addresses issues for seniors 

that appears on your diploma is 

not necessarily the name of the 

one where you started, but the one 

you where you finished. 


If a student has hard high 

school classes like physics and 

P&A, should he also take college 

courses if it might lower his grade 

point average? 

Signed, Undecided 

Dear Undecided: 

Do you want your intelligence 

to be measured by what’s on paper 

or by what’s in your head? When 

you enter life after high school 

you will find that some college 

admissions officers may be fooled 

by a high GPA, but not for long. 

Most college review boards will 

be looking for the young adult 

who is willing to challenge himself/herself 

and who is willing to 

stretch his/her limits. I believe 

colleges are looking for young 

adults who have been trained to 

think, not regurgitate. 

The Laurel 

Staff: 

Editor: 

Adelita Ayala 

Assistant Editor: 

Chelsea Clark 

Staff Reporters: 

Mandy Hare 

Mario Juarez 

Adviser: 

Shelley Henry 

Policies: 

The Laurel is published 

three times per semester 

and is printed by the San 

Marcos Daily Record. It is 

distributed free of charge 

to students, parents, and 

the local community. The 

Laurel may also be viewed 

online at the Academy website, 

www.smba.org. 

Opinions expressed 

in columns and editorials 

are those of the student 

writers and do not necessarily 

reflect the views of the 

faculty or administration of 

San Marcos Academy. 

Letters to the Editor are 

encouraged. Letters must 

be typed and submitted to 

the editor one week prior 

to the publication date. All 

letters should be signed. 

For information on advertising 

rates and deadlines, 

call the Journalism Department 

at 512/753-8046 or 

send e-mail to henrys@ 

smba.org. For information 

on San Marcos Academy, 

please visit our website at 

www.smba.org. 

Contact: 

Phone: 

(512) 753-8046 

Fax: 

(512) 753-8031 

E-mail: 

henrys@smba.org 

Address: 

2801 Ranch Road 12 

San Marcos, Texas 78666

More than just a teacher... 

December 9, 2005 The Laurel Page 3 

Chris Carrier: example of integrity and love 

By Chelsea Clark 

I had the privilege of sitting 

down with Mr. Chris Carrier last 

week for an interview. As I did, I 

was reminded of when I first came 

to this school to do an interview 

with Mr. Snuffy Smith. After talking 

for a while, we went down 

to the Rec Center. There I saw 

couches, a big TV, pool tables, a 

ping pong table and a teacher with 

a smile on his face to greet me—it 

Devotional, continued from page 2 

First, protect it from negative 

people. You think you are 

better than we are. Questions: 

What’s wrong with getting a good 

education and making “A’s” and 

“B’s”? What’s wrong with reading 

and writing on a higher level? 

What’s wrong with taking care of 

your body? What’s wrong with 

respecting your elders? What’s 

wrong with getting good grades? 

What’s wrong with wanting a 

better house? What’s wrong with 

not getting high or drunk? What’s 

wrong with wanting a better community 

and safer community? 

What’s wrong with wanting to 

save myself until marriage? You 

will have negatives in this world 

all of your life, but you must learn 

to “pick your friends like you pick 

your fruit.” Surround yourself 

with positive people. 

Second, protect it from the 

wrong crowd. The Bible teaches 

was Mr. Carrier. 

I was kind of shocked for a 

little bit. Having come from a 5- 

A public school, this was a little 

unusual. He made me feel comfortable 

in coming to this school, 

asking me questions about my 

hobbies and things I liked to do. I 

could really tell he actually cared 

about the students who come to 

the Academy. “I like to connect 

with students, and that is what I 

In the Student Activities office, Mr. Chris Carrier flashes his usual 

smile while he works on plans for the Christmas Gala and other 

events. Though busy, Mr. Carrier never turns away a visitor. 

think I do best,” Mr. Carrier said. 

Those memories all came back 

when I was sitting the Rec room 

another time recently and a family 

came by on a tour. The boy 

did not look like he wanted to be 

here, but Mr. Carrier gave him the 

opportunity to open up a little by 

telling him all the things Student 

Activities do and just seeing what 

interested him. It really amazes 

me to see a teacher open up with 

students on a teenager level. 

Mr. Carrier is originally from 

Miami, Florida. He came to Texas 

in 1988 to attend Southwestern 

Baptist Theological Seminary in 

Fort Worth. While there, he was 

interning at a church and met his 

wife, Leslie Ritchie. They were 

married in 1992. 

In 1994 the Carriers moved to 

San Marcos when his wife was 

pregnant with their first child, 

Amanda. At that time, his motherin 

law, Mrs. Lynne Ritchie, was 

going back to school to earn her 

master’s degree, and Mr. Carrier 

would sub one day a week here at 

the Academy. After staying in San 

Marcos for about six months, Mr. 

Carrier got a phone call from the 

church he attended back in Miami 

and was offered a job as a Youth 

us that “bad company will corrupt 

(destroy) good character.” To continue 

to hang with negative people 

who do not want anything out of 

life will rub off on you. It has been 

said, “If a man does not keep pace 

with his companions, perhaps it is 

because he/she hears a different 

drummer; Let him/her step to the 

music which he hears, however 

measured or far away.” 

Third, Protect it from wrong 

thinking. “As a man thinks in his 

heart so is he.…” You must believe 

in order to achieve because what 

a person thinks in his heart will 

either make him or break him. It 

has been said: 

Watch your thoughts; they 

become words. 

Watch your words; they become 

actions. 

Watch your actions; they become 

habits. 

Watch your habits; they become 

character. (Your character 

is who you are when the lights 

go out, when your parents are 

not around, when you are all by 

yourself. Your character is who 

you truly are.) 

Watch your character; it becomes 

your destiny. The Bible 

teaches us that we are to “think on 

those things that are true, honest, 

pure and lovely--to think on these 

things.” 

You must dare to dream. Unless 

you try to do something 

beyond what you have already 

mastered, you will never grow. It 

has been said, “Happy are those 

who dream dreams but pay the 

price to make them come true.” 

Some people dream of success, 

while others wake up and work 

hard at it. There are no shortcuts 

and there is no substitute for hard 

work. Success does not come 

without a cost. 

Minister. 

He made another road trip in 

1996 back to San Marcos. When 

he returned here, he started subbing 

again for the Academy. In 

1998, the yearbook, newspaper 

and photography teacher, Mrs. 

Cornett, left during the spring 

semester, and Mr. Carrier took her 

place as the journalism teacher. 

He has held many positions at the 

Academy since then. 

After finishing the semester in 

journalism and wrapping up the 

yearbook that summer, he was 

the Assistant Director of Student 

Activities, working alongside the 

then-Activities Director, Mr. Jeff 

Baergan. He also taught Christian 

Faith and Life to the Middle 

School before Mr. Craig Paul 

came to the Academy. 

Mr. Carrier has been the Director 

of Student Activities for 

the past three years. Last year, 

he pulled double duty, filling in 

as Campus Minister and teaching 

the Bible classes for middle 

school and high school while also 

being Student Activities Director. 

“I am thankful he is at this school 

and not somewhere else,” Max 

Holland said. “This school would 

not be the same with out him.” 

Question: what are you willing 

to spend for your success? It will 

get difficult, but don’t quit. There 

was once a man who 

• Failed in business at the age 

of 22 

• Ran for the Legislature at the 

age of 23, and was defeated 

• Again failed in business at 

the age of 24 

• Was elected to the Legislature 

at the age of 25 

• Had a sweetheart die at the 

age of 26 

• Had a nervous breakdown at 

the age of 27 

• Was defeated as the House 

speaker at the age of 29 

• Was defeated for re-election 


• Was defeated in his bid for 

Congress at the age of 34 

• Was elected to Congress at 

the age of 37 

• Was defeated for Congress 

John McWilliams added, “I appreciate 

all the work Mr. Carrier 

has done, and he is a pretty cool 

guy and teacher.” Kristina Horne 

added, “Mr. Carrier is an awsome 

person and I have many memories 

of events hosted by Student 

Activities.” 

Among the memorable events 

Mr. Carrier said he will remember 

at the Academy are dressing up 

like Santa for the Christmas Gala, 

serving pancake suppers during finals 

week, the Super Bowl social, 

Encounters and mission trips. “I 

am also thankful to work along the 

side of Mr. Baergan and Mr. Paul,” 

Mr. Carrier said. “They both are 

awesome people to work with and 

have a friendship with.” 

In the past the Student Activities 

staff has put on a carnival at 

the end of the year to provide closure 

and fun with the staff. “It was 

always very exhausting, but it was 

always worth the work because 

students were always looking forward 

to it,” Mr. Carrier said. 

“There are not really any bad 

events, because what makes the 

Academy unique is that when 

something happens, we come 

together as a family.” 

again at the age of 39 

• Was defeated for the Senate 


• Was defeated for Vice President 


• Was defeated for the Senate 


• Was elected President of the 

U.S. at the age of 51. This is the 

record of Abraham Lincoln. 

Keep daring to dream: the late 

Dr. Benjamin Mays once said, "It 

must be borne in mind that the 

tragedy in life does not lie in not 

reaching your goal; it is not having 

a goal to reach. It is not a calamity 

to die with dreams unfulfilled, but 

it is a calamity to not dream. It is 

not a disaster to be unable to capture 

your idea, but it is a disaster 

to have no idea to capture. It is not 

a disgrace not to be the stars, but 

it is a disgrace to have no stars to 

reach for. Not failure but low aim 

is a sin."


Students starting to make Christmas wish lists 


Christmas is coming, and it 

will be here before you know 

it. The big question is, have you 

finished—or even started—your 

Christmas shopping, or are you 

waiting to the last minute? Many 

teens wonder what they should get 

for friends, boyfriend/girlfriend or 

a family member. The following 

guides will give you examples of 

what to give to different people or 

will give you ideas for your very 

own Christmas list. 

Family members are not usually 

that hard to buy for, but 

they could be if you would like 

to find something else than the 

usual picture frame for mom or 

grandma. The winter break could 

get boring, so a book might be 

the perfect thing as a gift. Some 

of the books on the shelf at many 

stores are In Her Shoes by Jennifer 

Weiner, which is rated highly by 

MSN. The Historian by Elizabeth 

By Adelita Ayala 

This year’s electronic 

sensation is called the iPod, and 

it’s on the top of most teenagers’ 

Christmas lists. 

iPods are made by Apple and 

they have several versions. The 

newest iPod can hold 15,000 

songs, 25,000 photos and 150 

hours of video. There are also 

color iPods and mini iPods which 

hold 1000 songs. The new Nano 

iPod is super flat and small and 

can hold up to 1000 songs. The 

prices range from $99 to $300. 

The impact that this new music 

device has had among people 

from all ages has contributed to 

the popularity of accessories for 

iPods. Every month there are new 

models coming that will adapt to 

your iPod or other MP3 players. 

Among the top accessories are 

the iSqueeze, which holds your 

iPod or iPod Mini and has access 

for the ezCharge and the AirPlay. 

The ezCharge from ezGear is a 

high quality car charger providing 

your iPod with the power it needs 

to play on and on. It includes a 

coiled cable and a fuse protected 

adapter. Car chargers range from 

$16-20 . 

Kostova, is also on the bestseller 

list and is an interesting read. 

If your father or anyone else 

in the family is in love with a 

particular sport, there are many 

things for fans. There is a “Fanatic 

Football Pack” from Target for 

only $34.99 that includes peanut 

butter filled pretzels (4 oz.), hazelnut 

filled cocoa wafers (3.9 oz.), 

honey roasted peanuts (3 oz.) and 

sesame cocktail snack mix (2.25 

oz.). These delicious gourmet 

snacks arrive nestled in a keepsake 

11-inch metal football bank. 

You can never go wrong with 

movies. The top DVDs from 

Blockbuster, Amazon.com, DVD 

Empire and Wal-Mart are The 

Polar Express, Sahara, Batman 

Begins, Star Wars: Episode Three, 

Bewitched, and Willie Wonka and 

the Chocolate Factory. Movies 

range from $16-20. 

Homemade gifts touch the 

heart more than any other gift. One 

Some people wonder how to 

listen to iPod music in their cars 

and the solution for this is here! Is 

called “iTrip,” and it allows you 

to select from over 100 stations 

on which to broadcast. Over 100 

stations are available with the 

iTrip. You actually select your station 

directly from the iPod itself. 

An installed playlist called “iTrip 

Stations” contains every available 

station. You can keep them all in 

your iPod or just keep the ones 

used regularly--you manage them 

just like songs. 

Another option that offers you 

the same features as the iTrip is the 

iCarPlay Wireless Plus. With 

this you can play your iPod in 

the car on virtually any FM radio 

station? Now you can do that and 

keep your iPod charged at the 

same time. 

The new iPod Nano has 

some special accessories like 

the ezCharge Shuffle which is a 

quality car charger in iPod white 

that includes fuse protection and 

shielded cables. The ezLink 

Shuffle is a quality extension kit 

that includes a 4 ½ foot shielded 

cable along with a 3M Command 

system desk clip. You’ll never 

example are the simple chocolate 

covered spoons. These chocolate 

covered spoons make an excellent 

accompaniment to “gift in a jar” 

recipes for cocoa, hot chocolate 

or coffee. A simple plastic spoon 

coated in chocolate is also a nice 

added touch with a gift of coffee 

beans. You’ll soon think of other 

gifts that would be enhanced by 

these sweet utensils. 

For friends, boyfriends and 

girlfriends there are many things 

to get, but one main thing girls get 

are picture frames for each other, 

especially at a boarding school 

where you might never see an 

individual when you leave. Picture 

frames at Target run anywhere 

from $10-$40 in all different 

shapes and sizes. “I am going to 

get Jackie a cute picture frame 

with a picture of me and her in it 

so she will have it when I am not 

here next semester,” Chase Stone 

said. Also, watches are a big thing 

have to crawl under your desk 

again with the ezSkin Tankini, a 

quality silicon case that protects 

your iPod Shuffle from dirt and 

scratches. Finally the ezAudio 

Earphone Splitter allows you to 

share your music with friends or 

family with the same earphones. 

In case you would like to 

record yourself or friends at a 

party, you might check this new 

iTalk Voice Recorder from Griffin 

Technology; it offers high quality 

recording, auto gain control, 

and microphone and earphone 

inputs. Compatibile with iPod 3rd 

Generation, 4th Generation, iPod 

Photo, and HP iPods, the price for 

this is $39.99. 

The cases for the iPods are a 

major fashion thing. The 30gb/ 

40gb Third Generation Cases are 

$18. They have living color; the 

line has several new ultra-GLO 

(photoluminescent) skin tones 

that produce a vibrant glow in the 

dark and a new beautiful pink. 

They’re so cool, you’ll want to 

own them all. 

For more protection for your 

iPod, you could get the metal armor 

ezGear ezArmor. The metal 

protects the device from water 

for boyfriends and girlfriends to 

get each other. A titanium men’s 

Fossil watch runs about $165.00, 

while the casual strap runs from 

$65-$85. The women’s metal 

casual watch is about $65-$85, 

and the casual strap runs from 

$65-$75. 

Hopefully, now you have ideas 

on what to get other people for 

Christmas, but what do you want? 

Here are some of the items on our 

students’ and staff’s wish lists: 

James Hunt: Dirt Bike 

Kwasi Alleyne: Laptop 

Hannah Hartman: Free ride to 

a college of my choice 

Saad Sheik: Stereo system for 

my car 

Katy Vest: Perfect SAT scores 

and a free ride to Columbia University 

Chelsea Clark: A trip to see 

Caitlin Crunk in California 

Marco Gutierrez: Go-Kart 

John Weiland: a 30-gig iPod 

and is about $30. It is made of 

aluminium, and its interior is lined 

with neoprene to cushion your 

iPod. There is another model more 

stylish and lightweight called the 

Clayton King: Razor Cell 

phone 

John Feather: World Peace 

Rachel Hudson: New Car 

Kate Toone: a baby seal 

Tommy James: A quarter 

Kristina Horne: A car 

Jose Coria: New clothes 

Daniel Goodrich: $5,000 

Mandy Hare: An engagement 

ring 

Sarah Williams: Trip to Europe 

Max Holland: Million dollars 

Adrienne Anadonie: Ferrari 

Lizzy Banks: a Nano iPod 

Chelsie Box: To travel all 

around Europe 

Lydia Wharton: A new car 

Barbara Peters: For all my 

family to be healthy 

Adelita Ayala: Trip to Paris 

with friend 

Mario Juarez: Trip to Acapulco 

Josh Cox: A black Tahoe 

The most wanted gift of the year 

Buying iPods--and everything that comes with them 

ipod Armor. This keeps your iPod 

looking as new as the day you 

bought it. This one is about $35, 

and you can add a extra cushion 

for the interior. 

Sam Inman and Josh Cox check out their iPods as they listen to 

their favorite music. iPods are a lot of fun, but students must remember 

that they are not alllowed on campus during the school day.

Leading a riderless horse down the street, Hunter 

Dunfield walks in the Veteran’s Day Parade, followed 

by the Mounted riders, Max Holland, Richard 

Toedt, Audrey McGuire and Megan Tucker. 


Mounted Color Guard 

plans upcoming events 

By Mario Juarez 

The Mounted Color Guard will be planning several events next 

semester. One of the possible events is the Star of Texas rodeo in 

Austin. The Mounted Color Guard is also trying to plan a trip in the 

spring to Fort Hood to see the 1st Cavalry Mounted Division. 

Additionally, the Mounted riders hope to plan a weekend retreat 

in the springtime. 

The Mounted Color Guard includes Richard Toedt, Audrey Mc- 

Guire, Megan Tucker, Hunter Dunfield and Max Holland. 

They have been experimenting with different combinations of 

uniforms. “In wartime soldiers, would not have worn a dress uniform, 

so we are trying a few different things to see what looks best for our 

group,” sponsor Dori Naivar said. 

Several volunteers who are currently involved in soccer or driver’s 

ed are participating by helping the Mounted Color Guard when possible. 

“I am very proud of the group,” Mrs. Naivar said. “They have 

worked hard and are taking very good care of the horses, and I hope 

we have a lot of fun this year.” 

With new year looming, 

many make resolutions 

Christmas varies in every culture 

By Mandy Hare 

Every year people think about what they want their next New Year’s 

resolution to be. Most of us pick the same ones, but some people give a 

lot of thought to how they want the next year of their life to go. 

Based on some polls taken at school, losing weight, gaining muscle, 

and getting grades up seem to be the hot choices this year. When 

asked what her normal new year’s resolution is, senior Adelita Ayala 

said it is to bring her grades up as high as possible. “I’m going to college 

soon, and I want my grades to be the best they have ever been!” 

Adelita said. 

On the other hand some students have very unique resolutions 

this year. “My resolution is to spend more time with my family and 

the people who matter most,” Laura Dunne said. Alex Muniz said he 

plans to “stay out of trouble.” “I’ve been doing a pretty good job of that 

so far this year,” Alex said. “Let’s just hope I can continue my lucky 

streak!” 

Most people don’t tend to stick with their resolutions, but one faculty 

member has stuck with his and is still going strong. Mr. Tom Rhodes, 

one of the Learning Skills teachers, said he made a commitment and a 

resolution to quit smoking 14 years ago and has not faltered once. “I 

knew it was something I had to do, and I quit cold turkey,” Mr. Rhodes 

said. “It’s been 14 years since I’ve touched one.” 

In polls that have been taken from the public, the top ten New Year’s 

resolutions are as follows: 

1. spend more time with family and friends 

2. fit in fitness/regular exercise 

3. lose the bulge/go on a diet 

4. quit smoking 

5. enjoy life more 

6. quit drinking 

7. get out of debt 

8. learn something new 

9. help others 

10. get organized 

A lot of us have the same goals for the rest of the year. However, 

mine this year is unique as well: becoming closer to our Lord Jesus 

Christ is what I plan to accomplish over the next year. Make a resolution 

this year, and stick with it. The rewards will be great! 

By Adelita Ayala and Chelsea Clark 

Students at the Academy represent a wide variety 

of Christmas traditions from all over the world. 

From Asia to America there is big difference in 

customs, mainly because the religions are not the 

same. This doesn’t exclude people from celebrating 

Christmas in their own way, though. 

Priscilla Go from Korea 

explained that in the U.S. 

Christmas is about celebrating 

the birth of Christ. But 

since Korea also has the 

influence of the Buddhist 

religion, some people don’t 

know about the Christian 

aspects of Christmas and 

only care about the presents. 

“We have huge signs at the 

shopping centers that tell 

about sales,” Priscilla said. 

In her case, she said her dad 

is Buddhist and her mom is 

Christian, so her mom is all 

about following Christian 

traditions, with cooking, 

decorations and buying many candles. Followed 

by the presents comes Santa, who is recognized 

by most people in Korea. 

Sohei Nishimura is from Japan, which he explained 

is similar to America. “Others celebrate 

the part of eating, parties and giving gifts, but my 

family is Christian, so we recognize and put an 

emphasis on the birth of Christ,” Sohei said. “I am 

ready for the Christmas break and am ready to go 

home to my family and friends.” 

Hannah Hartman spends her Christmas in Saudi 

Arabia, but the geographical change doesn’t make 

a difference in how they celebrate it. The only difference 

is that they have to go to Bahrain to buy the 

food because in Saudi, you can’t purchase pork. 

One funny thing is that Saudi is very hot during 

that time of the year, so her family often goes to 

the beach to spend Christmas or New Year’s Eve. 

“The rest of the people in 

Saudi celebrate it just for the 

presents,” Hannah said. 

From Puerto Rico, Katerina 

Kalantar explained a very interesting 

thing that they do on 

Christmas night. “We do the 

posadas, which are very typical 

of Puerto Rico,” Katerina 

said. They are based on people 

going around from house to 

house singing; the owner of the 

house lets them in and gives 

them food, then they go to 

another house and so on until 

past midnight. 

Saad Sheik is from America 

but celebrates the Muslim 

culture and religion. “Id-al-fitr is after Ramadan 

and that is the Muslim religion’s Christmas,” Saad 

said. Ramadan involves a month-long fast. When 

the fast ends (the first day of the month of Shawwal), 

it is celebrated for three days in a holiday 

called Iftar (the Feast of Fast Breaking). Gifts are 

exchanged, and friends and family gather to pray 

in congregation and for large meals. In some cities 

fairs are held to celebrate the end of the Fast 

of Ramadan. “I got a lot of presents and money 

during that time,” Saad said.


Talent Show features variety 

(Left) The senior guys sing and dance to, “So Long, Farewell,” the 

traditional finale for the Talent Show. David Newman, Daniel Goodrich, 

Dusty Hester, Marco Gutierrez, Chase Stone, Paco Alejo, 

and Denziel Owusu make up the group. (Below) Priscilla Pinales 

entertains the audience with “Don’t Have To Let You Go.” 

(Above) Does someone need lessons on how to apply make-up? Laura Dunne and Kimberly Beakley 

performed this comedy skit along with Cody Cook, Daniel Goodrich, Kristina Horne and Christina 

Valkovich. (Right) Performing ‘On My Own,” Michelle Deschner brings Broadway to the Academy 

stage at the Nov. 17 show. Michelle was accompanied by Daniel Wyman.


of stage-worthy performances 

(Left) Sitting at the piano with Daniel Wyman, Christina Valkovich 

sings “Think of Me.” The two performed the song as a duet. (Below) 

“Stout Hearted Men” Jose Coira, Dugan Dobbs and Matt Whatley 

encourage the audience’s applause after their rousing song. Jose 

also sang a duet with Mandy Hare, while Dugan performed a solo. 

(Left) One of many talented singers in the show, 

Emily Rainone performs “Down Do Long.” 

(Above) Smearing peanut butter and jelly on 

nerdy Josh Brame, Jeff Cope and Chris Dyer have 

a messy job in the skit “Nervous Date.” These 

three boys took part in several other skits during 

the Talent Show. The comedy troupe also included 

Laura Dunne, Cody Cook, Kristina Horne, Daniel 

Goodrich, and Christina Valkovich. The show 

was directed by Ms. Stacey Herron, while Mr. Jeff 

Baergen was the emcee and Mr. Bear Bryant handled 

the lights and sound.


Second game of season here today at 4 

Soccer squad to take on New Braunfels Christian 


Today they soccer team will be playing its second game against 

New Braunfels Christian Academy. Last Friday the Bears had their 

first away game versus Antonian, which they lost 0-9. 

“The game with Antonian was a good chance to gauge the aspects 

in which we need to work for our next game,” Coach Tabitha Foster 

said. 

The soccer team has been working very hard during the past few 

weeks. Coach Foster and Coach Aric Bromonsky said they are very 

pleased with the effort of the team and the discipline that they have 

shown. “We are working on defense and positive attitudes,” Coach 

Foster said. “The players don’t believe in themselves, but we know 

that they can make it.” 

The team has demonstrated a very good attitude, and every day at 

practice they give 100% of their effort, the coaches added. This is all 

the coaches say they can ask of the team. 

An important aspect of the team, the coaches said, is that the goalies 

are awesome. The district team has 17 players, counting the 2 goalies, 

and the intramural squad has 10 players. 

“The team has a lot of talented players, but we are teaching them 

to play as a team,” Coach Foster said. 

At the UT Performing Arts Center, Priscilla Go, Heather Brown, 

Aaron Kwok, Katie Lee and Francis Huang get ready for their test. 

NJHS shares holiday cheer 

at two local nursing homes 


The NJHS group went Christmas caroling this past Saturday at two 

local nursing homes, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Rhodes. 

The group included Rachel Blewett, Kelsey Henry, Katey Henry, 

David Abugaber, Lainey Godwin, Cameron Dean, Chloe Rocha, Alyssa 

Shallenberger and Amy Cope. The group sang several Christmas songs, 

accompanied by Alyssa on the flute and Kelsey on the piano. 

“It was fun to see the look on their faces when we were singing,” 

Alyssa said of the experience. 

Both the NJHS and NHS are taking part in another Christmas 

project, providing gifts for needy children at a local mission church. 

The members selected a child and will fill a box with small gifts for 

the child. 

The NHS has also been working on their recycling project. Members 

take turns picking up papers in the teachers’ recycling boxes and 

taking them to the dumpster. “It is a good way to help our community 

and campus,” Casey Putman said. The honor society also made a recent 

donation to the American Red Cross of $500 for hurricane relief. 

With one game behind them, the soccer team is 

ready to face their next rival, New Braunfels 


Every year the music department selects a group 

of student to take the statewide Whitlock Theory Test 

at the University of Texas at Austin. 

This year’s students were Pricilla Go, Heather 

Brown, Francis Huang, Katie Lee and Aaron Kwok. 

Their teacher is Dr. Karen Munson. The test was Nov. 

5 and was sponsored by the Austin District Music 

Teachers Association. 

Each grade level from 1 st grde to 12 th grade has 

a different type of test. “It is a comprehensive test, 

so it is good preparation for college theory,” Dr. 

Munson said. 

The purpose of the test is for students to identify 

Christian Academy, here at 4 p.m. The varsity 

team has 17 players and 2 coaches. 

Five take Whitlock Theory Test 

Singing Christmas carols for residents of a local 

nursing home, members of the National Junior 

several things about music, such as intervals. The 

test for seniors is more complicated, asking students 

to compose a melody and identify meters (beats per 

measure) and to identify textures in music. 

Scores for this test rank from 1 to 100. Students 

who have a 70 or above receive a certificate; those 

with 90 to 94 get a bronze medal; those with 94 to 

98 earn a silver medal; and those with a score of 98 

and above get the gold. 

The results for this year’s test haven’t come 

back yet. Dr. Munson said that in past years, Austin 

Deschner, a former student of the Academy, received 

a plaque for earning 12 consecutive years of theory 

awards. 

Honor Society spent their Saturday afternoon doing 

this musical service project.


Both teams face Brentwood tonight on the road 

Bear boys take championship in home-court tourny 


The boys and girls basketball 

teams will take on Brentwood in 

a “Battle of the Bears” tonight at 

Heading down court, Brittney Sowell eludes her Hill Country 

School defenders, while Dee Dee Trevino waits nearby for the 

pass. The girls face Brentwood tonight at 6:30 in Austin and 

meet Eustacey Dec. 13, their last game before the holidays. 

their house in Austin. Our Bears 

played Hyde Park at home Tuesday, 

but results were not available 

at press time. 

This past weekend, the Bears 

captured the championship trophy 

at their own invitational tournament. 

The varsity played four 

games, coming out victorious 

in all. The Bears defeated San 

Juan Diego Dec. 1 and Woodland 

Christian, Lifegate and LBJ Dec. 

3. Denziel Owusu, Austin Mellen 

and John Feather received 

all-tournament honors, and Mellen 

also was named tournament 

MVP. 

Before the Thanksgiving break, 

three of our basketball teams, including 

the middle school girls, 

varsity girls and varsity boys, took 

on Hill County Christian School 

and all came out on top. 

“We are 5-2, and this is the 

first time in a while to have a good 

record so early in the season,” 

Head Coach Jason Campbell said 

of the varsity Bears. “The kids 

are starting to work hard and we 

will be doing good if we focus on 

defense.” 

Chris Williams is graduating 

early and will be leaving the team 

but said, “The team is strong and 

I’ll miss joking around with the 

boys after the games.” 

Coach Campbell added, “We 

have wonderful support and fans.” 

He encouraged everyone to continue 

to come out and support the 

teams. 

“Winning the tournament 

should be a stepping stone toward 

a great season,” John Feather 

said. 

Over the heads of the Hill Country defense, Marco Gutierrez 

takes aim at the basket, while Nate Grosch positions himself 

for the rebound. 

Skaters enjoy going to extremes 

At the chin-up station, Taylor Benson gives his best effort for 

the President’s Physical Fitness/Cadet Challenge LEAD. 


Skateboarding at SMA has become a big pasttime 

for students. Ned Thayer is one of those 

students who likes do to skateboarding every 

day after school. “I like to skateboard just 

for the fun of it, but I don’t get into competing 

that much,” Ned said. “I like to 

skateboard almost every day when I’m 

not in school.” 

Ned said his favorite brand 

of skateboard is Zoo York. 

His brother got him into 

skateboarding about a year 

ago. Ever since then, he has 

practiced almost every day. “Skateboarding 

is an extreme sport that could 

get you hurt,” Ned said. “Once I was 

trying to do my best trick, the 

Axle Stall, and I sprained 

my ankle.” Ned said that at 

the skate park near where he 

lives, many of the skaters do cool 

tricks and share new ideas. 

Just like skateboarding, there are 

those here with an interest in all sorts 

of extreme sports. “Motocross and snow 

boarding have also had a big influence on 

teenagers,” said Adrian Andonie. “They are 

among the biggest extreme sports.” 

Adrian said that he likes to takes his motocross 

bike to the ranch every weekend with his friends back 

home and do some of his tricks.


Rowling works own magic in ‘Potter’ books 

Hardly able to wait for the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter 

series, Kelsey Henry and David Mebane re-read some of the earlier 

books in the library. The Potter phenomenon has made J.K. Rowling 

one of the richest women in England. 

By Kelsey Henry 

Stop me if you’ve heard this 

one: a poor young woman walks 

into a café and begins writing on 

scraps of paper a story destined 

to become a phenomenon worldwide. 

Eight years later that same 

woman has three mansions and 

more money than the Queen of 

England. Her books have sold millions 

of copies and have spawned 

movies, which have grossed over 

a billion--the one with the “b”-- 

dollars. This story is actually not 

a work of fiction: it’s the story of 

J.K. Rowling, the good witch with 

a pen and author of the world-renowned 

Harry Potter series. 

It was a good year for Harry. 

His new book, The Half-Blood 

Prince, shattered records set by-- 

surprise, surprise--its predecessor. 

Now with the release of the movie 

based on the pivotal fourth book, 

he should have a considerable 

amount of Galleons and Sickles 

rolling in. 

Ever since the release of the 

first book back in 1997, the Harry 

Potter series has captured the 

imaginations of not only children, 

but teens and even adults as well. 

The books have even gone international, 

being translated into over 

40 different languages. 

“It’s pretty much the same 

story, but the names and words 

change for plot reasons,” said Sidsel 

Rasmussen, a fan who read the 

books in her native Danish. 

Most people say the reason 

they like the books is that they 

can’t put them down once they 

start. “It pulls you in and makes 

you want to read them all,” David 

Mebane said. 

In 2001, the books inspired 

a film series, and while some 

say that some important details 

get left out of the movies, others 

thoroughly enjoy seeing their 

favorite books brought to life on 

screen. “My favorite book is the 

fourth one, so it was cool to see 

the movie,” eighth grader Lainey 

Godwin said. 

According to J.K. Rowling, the 

series will end with the upcoming 

seventh book. Rumors have 

already begun to fly concerning 

the title, plot, and, most importantly, 

the inevitable death (ever 

since book four, each novel has 

contained a tragic death). Rowling 

has reportedly written the last 

chapter, but still has some editing 

to do. She has also hinted that the 

last word in the title will be “scar.” 

Many are concerned that Harry or 

one of his close friends will be the 

next to die. Let the countdown to 

book seven begin! 

So J.K. Rowling lived happily 

ever after. She has said she 

will keep writing after the Harry 

Potter series is finished. Perhaps 

her next novels will not be the 

phenomenon Harry Potter has become, 

but her rags-to-riches story 

certainly proves she can work her 

own special brand of magic. 

By Kelsey Henry 

The latest Harry Potter flick, based on the threepound 

fourth book of the series, The Goblet of Fire, 

reminded me a bit of a stick figure--a simple sketch 

with not much detail. While the film stayed true to 

the book better than the third and felt darker and more 

mature than the first and second, it remained rushed, 

covering the pre-Hogwarts chapters in less than ten 

minutes and therefore skipping important details. 

For those rare few who choose to skip reading 

the books, The Goblet of Fire is the pivotal book 

of the series, changing from cutesy pre-teen to edgy 

young adult in 734 pages that follow the rise of 

Voldemort, Harry’s mortal enemy, and the beginning 

of a war between good and evil. In the gargantuan 

tome, Hogwarts hosts a dangerous event known as 

the Tri-wizard Tournament, a Fear Factor-type game 

in which representatives from three different schools 

compete in three tasks in order to win. The wizard 

with the most points wins the game and “eternal 

glory,” not to mention one thousand Galleons (wizard 

gold). A victim of a devious plot, Harry becomes one 

of the champions despite the seventeen-year-old age 

limit (he’s fourteen in this one). 

The movie, in itself, has a much darker tone than 

the three previous ones, including the slightly unnerving 

Prisoner of Azkaban, directed by Alfonso 

Cuaron. The skies remain gray and rainy throughout 

and the school itself looks as though the electricity 

(or whatever light spell they use) has gone out. The 

climactic scene, which leads up to the rise of Lord 

Movie Review 

‘Goblet of Fire’ rates 3 out of 5 

Voldemort, Harry’s nemesis, is particularly dark. 

Ralph Fiennes acted beautifully as Voldemort despite 

an appearance not quite up to par. David Newell, the 

series’ newest director, showed the school in a different 

light while remaining true to the original set. 

The fourth movie is the first with a PG-13 (as 

opposed to PG) rating, allowing the characters more 

room to grow and mature. Harry and his friends Ron 

and Hermione have grown from awkward tweens 

to edgy teens with raging hormones. Each gets his 

or her first crush and first date. The screenplay by 

Steve Kloves, coupled with the masterful writings 

of Rowling, ages the trio excellently. 

The soundtrack, featuring variations on the 

haunting theme first created in The Sorcerer’s Stone, 

greatly adds to the movie’s suspense. The music 

remains a constant despite the series’ many changes, 

such as new directors and the death of an actor. John 

Williams, who also composed the soundtrack for the 

Star Wars movies, is a master, creating just the right 

tone for every particular scene. 

The film is far from perfect, however. Although 

the actors improve with each film, their performances 

remain only amateur. Goblet seems to be 

in fast-forward much of the time, dedicating more 

to the smaller, less important conflicts and speeding 

through the more significant and/or entertaining 

aspects of the book. The original Rowling story 

shines through, however, and leaves me to give the 

film three stars out of five. 

Finals to begin Tuesday; 

time for serious studying 


Students taking their final exams next week will likely study 

more than for any other test. There are many ways to study for a 

final exam. 

One good method is to make flash cards. You could use flash 

cards for any test that has vocabulary words. “This method of 

studying has helped with my English class so I can memorize all 

my vocabulary words,” Austin Mellen said. “It has also helped in 

some other classes like Government, by making summaries of the 

chapters and putting them on notecards.” 

Austin said he thinks students will have a better chance of passing 

their tests if they make flash cards a tool to study, especially for 

any final exams that count a big percent of your grade. 

Some students study by making summaries and lists of key facts 

from their reading to better understand the main concepts. “I do 

a summary with the key facts after I read the chapter and that just 

helps me to have an grasp of the main ideas,” Adelita Ayala said. 

Mr. Tom Rhodes suggested that students gather old quizzes 

and tests to use in preparing for finals. “Review those and make 

connections with them,” he said. He explained that questions on 

finals often come from previous tests, so the more reviewing and 

repetition, the better. 

Finally, Matt Whatley said his studying techniques include 

making his own quizzes, making notecards, studying with friends. 

He added, “I also make games out of quizzes and try to use my 

time wisely.”


Graduating soon, Hare, Juarez submit Senior Wills 

I, Mandy Hare, will the following: 

To Sarah Williams: I will u all 

the happiness in the world because 

you definitely deserve it. 

To Chelsea Clark: I will you 

all the patience in the world with 

gum smackers. (hahaha) 

To John Feather, Maverick 

Jennings and Chase Jones: I will 

you some new HUMBLE attitudes. 

(I love u) 

To Keith Shimek: A round trip 

ticket anytime you want to see ur 

hunny bunny. 

To Jose Coira: I will you the 

coolest camera in the world. 

To Kristina Horne: I will you 

the patience to be around people 

you don’t like. 

To Kate Toone: I will you 

some wash cloths (haha) 

To Chase Stone: I will you 

a scholarship to UT! Hook em 

baby! 

To Chris Williams: I will you 

humility. 

To Mrs. Wade: I will you a 

electric shock fence so no kids 

can bother you and take over your 

office. 

To Chelsea Martin: I will you 

a car that works! 

To Jackie Monical: I will you 

tons and tons of money so u can 

go shopping everyday. 

To the Class of 2007: I will you 

all a great next year! 

To the Class of 2006: I will 

you to be the best seniors ever! 

Go Bears! 

I, Mario Juarez, will the following: 

To Adelita Ayala: Adelita, you 

have been a good friend of mine. 

You have helped me out through 

out the school and any other problems 

I had. You also treated me as 

one of your good friends, “cuidate 

mucho, portate bien, deja las 

malas amistades, y deja de tripiar 

ade, animate a ir a san antonio para 

salir, cotorrear, y alliviar las penas 

nunca cambias. ” 

To Marco Gutierrez: You have 

been a good friend to me, and 

also had a good time just goofing 

off in class. Thank you for being 

there since the beginning of school 

days. Acuerdese siempre, que la 

vida es una copa de …..Y como 

dijo chente aguita pa los pobres, 

lechita pa los licros. 

To Oscar Echeverria: You have 

been a good friend of mine since 

the beginning of school day. Gracias 

por ayudarme no ser tan flojo, 

y me la pase bien viendo todas las 

películas mensas que vimos este 

semestre. También me la pase bien 

platicando de la vida que no vale 

nada. Y como dijo chente crucesita 

más, crusesita menos. 

To Adrian Andonie: Gracias 

por enseñarme el mundo del rave. 

Y gracias presentarme las niñas 

bonitas. Y acuerdese siempre El 

mal tiempo trae bienes consigo: 

que huyen las moscas y los falsos 

amigos. 

To Lazaro Santos/ Geronimo 

Santos: Los Santos más locos que 

conozco. Me la pasé muy bien 

platicando con ustedes este semestre, 

que bueno que los conocí. 

Ojalá nunca cambien. 

To El Jesus: Que me a tratado 

como un buen amigo. Y que 

siempre tuvo un buen caracter 

con todos. Su personalidad me 

enseñó como tratarlo a el como 

una persona buena. 

To Jimmy Tran: A good friend 

of mine since last semester. A 

good person to have around and 

also an active person that likes to 

do exercise. 

Hays County hosts event for animal projects 

Prospect Show ahead tomorrow for 4-H Club 


Tomorrow, there will be a 

Prospect Show at the Hays County 

Convention Center here in San 

Marcos for 4-H students with 

goat, swine, steer or lamb projects. 

This will give the students a good 

opportunity to see what the judges 

are looking for and, as always, is a 

good a learning experience. Judging 

begins at 10 p.m. 

The big 4-H show that students 

have been preparing for and 

continue to work toward is approaching 

soon. The Hays County 

Livestock Show begins Jan. 25 

at the Hays County Convention 

Center. 4-H Sponsor Dori Naivar 

would like to remind students that 

this is no time to start slacking 

and that they should keep up the 

hard work, even over Christmas 

break. Pre-registration for home 

skills projects, such as sewing, 

photography, art and baking, was 

due Dec. 1. 

The December Hays County 

4-H newsletter is available on the 

4-H web-site or Mrs. Naivar may 

have more copies of it. It includes 

information on many upcoming 

meetings, scholarship opportunities 

and information about project 

validation. 

A scholarship opportunity 

is also available for members 

through a Christmas essay contest. 

The topic for the essay is, “Help 

Santa Find the Perfect Real Christmas 

Tree.” It is sponsored by The 

National Christmas Tree Association. 

There are four different age 

division, and the essays must be 

300 words. Those entering must 

also submit a photo along with 

the essay. The deadline is Dec. 

31. In each age group a winner 

will be chosen and awarded 

a $5,000 collage scholarship. 

The grand prizewinner will be 

awarded an additional $5,000 

in scholarship money. For more 

details, 4-H members can see 

Mrs. Naivar or go to this website: 

www.readlchristmastrees.org. The 

next meeting will be Dec. 13 in 

Thornton Theater at 7 p.m. Mrs. 

Naivar wants to remind everyone 

to bring four canned goods or 

an unwrapped toy on that night. 

There will be a surprise for those 

who remember do bring what they 

need to. “This meeting will be a 

very important meeting to attend,” 

Mrs. Naivar said. “It is during 

exam and dead week but please 

take care of business so that you 

will be able to attend.” 

The 4-H Club wishes everyone 

a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

All aboard the 4-H float in the Veteran’s Day Parade, members wave to those along the route by the 

Hays County Courthouse. 4-H members with animal projects will have a Prospect Show in San Marcos 

tomorrow and are gearing up for the Hays County Livestock Show in January.

Page 12 The Laurel December 9, 2005 

SMA big part of local Veterans’ Day Parade 

(Right) In perfect step, the cadets of Bravo Company march down 

the street as part of the Bear Battalion. All of the JROTC took part 

in the parade. (Below) Watching the parade roll by, Hayden Lyon 

finds a comfortable perch by the courthouse. Those students not involved 

in the parade supported their classmates by watching it. 

(Above) The only band in the Veteran’s Day Parade, the marching Bears fill the streets with music. 

(Above right) Battalion Commander Kameron Allison leads the cadets as they march in the parade. Behind 

him are the staff officers, Denziel Owusu, Casey Putman, Paco Alejo, Dugan Dobbs and Allie Puig. 

(Right) Showing their spirit, the cheerleaders perform some chants as they take part in the parade.

12/09/05 - San Marcos Academy

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