Victory Obielodan
NHS is currently having a food drive. You can supply them with canned or boxed goods that will go
to the local food pantry for families in need by the end of this week, just in time for Thanksgiving. In Grant County, there are at least sixteen
food pantries. There is good motive behind food drives, as there are forty million people in the
United States that suffered of hunger in 2017; of the forty million more than twelve million were
children. Households that do not have certain access to enough food to live a healthy life are
called food insecure households. About 84 percent of families buy the cheapest foods available
instead of healthier options. Unfortunately, households with children are more likely to be food
insecure. One in six children in the U.S suffer from hunger. Children that face hunger are more
likely to be hospitalized and have health issues. As they grow older they may have problems in
school and experience developmental issues and social issues.
On a positive note, 58 percent of food insecure households participated in at least one of the
major federal food programs. Here are some statistics on food insecure households:
● 17.9% of children under 18 live in food insecure homes in the U.S; 17% for WI
● 56% of children eat school breakfast; 51.1 for WI
● 15.8% of children take advantage of the summer meals program; 16.5% for WI
● 83% of households eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
benefits receive them, 100% for WI
Remember the benefits that come with donating food to food assistance programs and food
pantries. It helps many families and children nationwide.
All information is from:
● www.feedingamerica.org
● www.nokidhungry.org
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Artsonia: A Virtual Art Museum
Anica Graney
The Platteville School District art department has been setting the foundation for a new program that allows students to view their artwork online. This program is called Artsonia and is a virtual museum where students can take pictures of their artwork and upload it onto the site so they can view it any time they want. The goal is to have students upload art from the time they are in first grade through the time when they become seniors in high school so they may view their growth and access their art easily. Students can also buy prints, mugs, t-shirts, and many other keepsakes of their work. What’s more is twenty percent of whatever bought is given back to the art department which benefits the students even more. Pretty cool!
Mr. Butcher, who is in his third year of teaching at Platteville High School, started this program for the entire district during his first year of teaching here. He comments as to why he began the program by saying, “I love the program because we keep getting compliments on it, and we get to see the kids artwork from first through twelfth grade.” The Voice would like to contribute to the growth of this program by selecting an artist every month and featuring his or her work in the newspaper, so be sure to watch out for this new segment in later editions!
The Platteville School District art department has been setting the foundation for a new program that allows students to view their artwork online. This program is called Artsonia and is a virtual museum where students can take pictures of their artwork and upload it onto the site so they can view it any time they want. The goal is to have students upload art from the time they are in first grade through the time when they become seniors in high school so they may view their growth and access their art easily. Students can also buy prints, mugs, t-shirts, and many other keepsakes of their work. What’s more is twenty percent of whatever bought is given back to the art department which benefits the students even more. Pretty cool!
Mr. Butcher, who is in his third year of teaching at Platteville High School, started this program for the entire district during his first year of teaching here. He comments as to why he began the program by saying, “I love the program because we keep getting compliments on it, and we get to see the kids artwork from first through twelfth grade.” The Voice would like to contribute to the growth of this program by selecting an artist every month and featuring his or her work in the newspaper, so be sure to watch out for this new segment in later editions!
One Down, Three To Go
Anica Graney
It’s a brand spanking new quarter, folks! Two months have come and gone since the beginning of the year, and within that time we saw the temperature drop fifty degrees, all of the homecoming festivities happen, and all of the fall sports come to a close. To any of the freshmen reading this, you’ve got about fifteen more of these to go; good luck! As for everyone else, we know the drill as for what is coming up: holiday breaks, scraping frost off of windows, snow days, icy roads, and exams. All inevitabilities that we will have to face within the next few months.
Second quarter is the last half of the first semester and can make or break grades because, let’s be honest, first quarter is mostly review and beginner lessons that ease everyone into what the class is about. This is not the case for second quarter. Now is when everyone must buckle down and hold onto their grade for dear life and hope that the exam won’t be too bad. Second quarter is also known for breaks off of school. We’ve got ten days of vacation just this quarter which includes Thanksgiving and winter break, so at least everyone will have that to look forward to along with the possible snow days. Keep getting after it, Hillmen; only three more quarters to go!
It’s a brand spanking new quarter, folks! Two months have come and gone since the beginning of the year, and within that time we saw the temperature drop fifty degrees, all of the homecoming festivities happen, and all of the fall sports come to a close. To any of the freshmen reading this, you’ve got about fifteen more of these to go; good luck! As for everyone else, we know the drill as for what is coming up: holiday breaks, scraping frost off of windows, snow days, icy roads, and exams. All inevitabilities that we will have to face within the next few months.
Second quarter is the last half of the first semester and can make or break grades because, let’s be honest, first quarter is mostly review and beginner lessons that ease everyone into what the class is about. This is not the case for second quarter. Now is when everyone must buckle down and hold onto their grade for dear life and hope that the exam won’t be too bad. Second quarter is also known for breaks off of school. We’ve got ten days of vacation just this quarter which includes Thanksgiving and winter break, so at least everyone will have that to look forward to along with the possible snow days. Keep getting after it, Hillmen; only three more quarters to go!
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
An End to a Season
Madison Albert-Nelson
On Friday, November 9th, the 2018 Division II State Girls Swimming & Diving Championships took place at the UW-Madison Natatorium. Two of the girls from the Platteville-Lancaster Swim Team punched their ticket last Saturday at the Sectional Meet held at Baraboo. Madison Albert-Nelson (‘20) and Brooklyn VanNatta (‘21) both competed at the Championship Meet. This is Madison Albert-Nelson’s (‘20) third year making it to the State Championship Meet in the 100 yard butterfly. She finished thirteenth out of the sixteen competitors with a time of 1:00.34, almost getting her own school record of 59.91. She also narrowly missed making it to State Championships in the 100 yard backstroke by three spots. Brooklyn VanNatta (‘21), a sprinter from Lancaster, made it to State in the 50 yard freestyle for the first time. She finished fourteenth out of sixteen girls swimming this event with a time of 25.36. Congratulations to these two and the rest of the team on ending the season with such a bang!
On Friday, November 9th, the 2018 Division II State Girls Swimming & Diving Championships took place at the UW-Madison Natatorium. Two of the girls from the Platteville-Lancaster Swim Team punched their ticket last Saturday at the Sectional Meet held at Baraboo. Madison Albert-Nelson (‘20) and Brooklyn VanNatta (‘21) both competed at the Championship Meet. This is Madison Albert-Nelson’s (‘20) third year making it to the State Championship Meet in the 100 yard butterfly. She finished thirteenth out of the sixteen competitors with a time of 1:00.34, almost getting her own school record of 59.91. She also narrowly missed making it to State Championships in the 100 yard backstroke by three spots. Brooklyn VanNatta (‘21), a sprinter from Lancaster, made it to State in the 50 yard freestyle for the first time. She finished fourteenth out of sixteen girls swimming this event with a time of 25.36. Congratulations to these two and the rest of the team on ending the season with such a bang!
Midterms 2018
Hypatia Fitzsimons
On November 6th, citizens voted in the midterm elections, and this has had the highest turnout ever. This year, 113 million people voted which is roughly 49% of able voters. The last time this many citizens voted was in the 1996 midterm election. For the 2014 midterm election, only 36.4% people voted, and in the past several decades only about 40% voted in the midterms. Michael McDonald, an associate from the University of Florida said, “You'd have to go all the way back to 1914 to get a turnout rate above 50 percent.” So this shows that the midterms are not very popular and it is pretty impressive that we got up 49%.
The midterms are held every two years after the general election and people do not think they are important since it is not an election for president. However, the midterms are still quite important. The way the votes turnout is a response to how well the President is doing, because the party he is affiliated with will either do well or poorly, and this can completely change how fast things get done. Now with this election, the House majority is Democrat and the Senate is still dominantly Republican. These two parties don’t have the same goals nor ideology, so we can predicate not as much will get done versus prior to the election when both the House and the Senate were majority Republican.
On November 6th, citizens voted in the midterm elections, and this has had the highest turnout ever. This year, 113 million people voted which is roughly 49% of able voters. The last time this many citizens voted was in the 1996 midterm election. For the 2014 midterm election, only 36.4% people voted, and in the past several decades only about 40% voted in the midterms. Michael McDonald, an associate from the University of Florida said, “You'd have to go all the way back to 1914 to get a turnout rate above 50 percent.” So this shows that the midterms are not very popular and it is pretty impressive that we got up 49%.
The midterms are held every two years after the general election and people do not think they are important since it is not an election for president. However, the midterms are still quite important. The way the votes turnout is a response to how well the President is doing, because the party he is affiliated with will either do well or poorly, and this can completely change how fast things get done. Now with this election, the House majority is Democrat and the Senate is still dominantly Republican. These two parties don’t have the same goals nor ideology, so we can predicate not as much will get done versus prior to the election when both the House and the Senate were majority Republican.
No More Thankful Grams
Hypatia Fitzsimons
Thankful Grams were fun little presents people could give to the ones they were thankful for, but sadly they are no longer available. When the school was selling the Boo Grams, some people thought it would be funny to send mean comments to others, but in reality, it was hurtful to both the people and the drive. Because of those few individuals who decided to send mean comments, we can no longer have any sales in which students can send messages to others.
For those who do not know what the Thankful Grams are, they are similar to the Boo Grams ,but instead of receiving caramel apple suckers, they were Teddy Grahams and student council sold them. The Boo and Thankful grams were cute and meant to make people happy and feel cared for. Sadly, they were used inappropriately, so the school made the decision to end all sales similar to Boo Grams.
Although it is disappointing that we no longer have the thankful grams, this might be a good lesson in the end. Sometimes people do not understand that others are joking and their words end up hurting them. It is okay to joke around with your friends, but just make sure that they understand it’s a joke and they are fine with it.
Thankful Grams were fun little presents people could give to the ones they were thankful for, but sadly they are no longer available. When the school was selling the Boo Grams, some people thought it would be funny to send mean comments to others, but in reality, it was hurtful to both the people and the drive. Because of those few individuals who decided to send mean comments, we can no longer have any sales in which students can send messages to others.
For those who do not know what the Thankful Grams are, they are similar to the Boo Grams ,but instead of receiving caramel apple suckers, they were Teddy Grahams and student council sold them. The Boo and Thankful grams were cute and meant to make people happy and feel cared for. Sadly, they were used inappropriately, so the school made the decision to end all sales similar to Boo Grams.
Although it is disappointing that we no longer have the thankful grams, this might be a good lesson in the end. Sometimes people do not understand that others are joking and their words end up hurting them. It is okay to joke around with your friends, but just make sure that they understand it’s a joke and they are fine with it.
From Rain To Snow
Madison Albert-Nelson
In the past couple weeks, it seems to be as if we’ve gotten nothing other than rain; hardly any sunshine has been seen. I wake up and look out the window; it’s raining. I’m released from school; looky here, it’s raining. I’m heading to bed, oh, but guess what! It’s raining. Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day. A thought to keep in mind for when the rain doesn’t comes back: it’ll very soon be snow. Are you ready for this? It’s a head spinner knowing that the upcoming days bring us the beloved, take it as you will, snow. Ah, snow. I can’t even begin to express how much I’m going to miss being able to walk outside without the wet, cold feet from accidentally stepping in the whiteness that will then cover the ground beneath completely. One of the good things that come with snow is the Snow Days! What better way to celebrate the cold by staying inside, snuggled up in our warmest blankets while avoiding school.
Snow may mean many different things to people, the good and the bad that come with it. Snow means it’s almost holiday break, two-hour delays, and maybe even no school at all. Snow also means that the end of first semester may be creeping up on us sooner than we thought or that it’s sick season and we need to be extra careful who were giving hugs to during the upcoming Holiday Season. Whatever snow means to you, it’s coming up in a hurry and it’s edging upon us sooner than some of us would like.
In the past couple weeks, it seems to be as if we’ve gotten nothing other than rain; hardly any sunshine has been seen. I wake up and look out the window; it’s raining. I’m released from school; looky here, it’s raining. I’m heading to bed, oh, but guess what! It’s raining. Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day. A thought to keep in mind for when the rain doesn’t comes back: it’ll very soon be snow. Are you ready for this? It’s a head spinner knowing that the upcoming days bring us the beloved, take it as you will, snow. Ah, snow. I can’t even begin to express how much I’m going to miss being able to walk outside without the wet, cold feet from accidentally stepping in the whiteness that will then cover the ground beneath completely. One of the good things that come with snow is the Snow Days! What better way to celebrate the cold by staying inside, snuggled up in our warmest blankets while avoiding school.
Snow may mean many different things to people, the good and the bad that come with it. Snow means it’s almost holiday break, two-hour delays, and maybe even no school at all. Snow also means that the end of first semester may be creeping up on us sooner than we thought or that it’s sick season and we need to be extra careful who were giving hugs to during the upcoming Holiday Season. Whatever snow means to you, it’s coming up in a hurry and it’s edging upon us sooner than some of us would like.
The Forgotten Holiday
Quinn Collins
Once the Jack-O’-Lanterns have been thrown out and the Halloween candy has been polished off, too many people have no problem jumping straight into the Christmas season without a second thought. Unfortunately, this leaves America’s most honest and heartfelt holiday in an awkward position. Too many people treat Thanksgiving like an annoying speed bump on their way to winter merriment. I am taking a stand by saying Thanksgiving is far too important to be treated like a second-class holiday!
So many holidays have become overly commercialized. It seems like Arbor Day is the only holiday that doesn’t involve buying a very specific set of items every year to celebrate. While the turkey industry certainly booms at the end of November, there are very few extra gifts, decorations, or knick-knacks that go along with the holiday. The pressure of buying gifts people will like without breaking the bank is completely eliminated. Shopping for Thanksgiving is just simpler than any other holiday.
Thanksgiving is also far more genuine than any other holiday. Christmas claims to be all about the gift of giving and the happy holiday spirit, but deep down inside we all know it’s about getting presents. Thanksgiving has fewer expectations and rituals, which leaves much more time for families to spend real time together. My fondest Thanksgiving memories aren’t tied to material possessions, but to my family and the people around me. That’s what holidays should be about!
I love candy and presents as much as the next guy, but Thanksgiving holds a special place in my heart. It’s not just an excuse to over-eat and watch football; it’s an excuse to do those things with the people we love most. So… before you start decking the halls, make sure you have a little turkey first.
Once the Jack-O’-Lanterns have been thrown out and the Halloween candy has been polished off, too many people have no problem jumping straight into the Christmas season without a second thought. Unfortunately, this leaves America’s most honest and heartfelt holiday in an awkward position. Too many people treat Thanksgiving like an annoying speed bump on their way to winter merriment. I am taking a stand by saying Thanksgiving is far too important to be treated like a second-class holiday!
So many holidays have become overly commercialized. It seems like Arbor Day is the only holiday that doesn’t involve buying a very specific set of items every year to celebrate. While the turkey industry certainly booms at the end of November, there are very few extra gifts, decorations, or knick-knacks that go along with the holiday. The pressure of buying gifts people will like without breaking the bank is completely eliminated. Shopping for Thanksgiving is just simpler than any other holiday.
Thanksgiving is also far more genuine than any other holiday. Christmas claims to be all about the gift of giving and the happy holiday spirit, but deep down inside we all know it’s about getting presents. Thanksgiving has fewer expectations and rituals, which leaves much more time for families to spend real time together. My fondest Thanksgiving memories aren’t tied to material possessions, but to my family and the people around me. That’s what holidays should be about!
I love candy and presents as much as the next guy, but Thanksgiving holds a special place in my heart. It’s not just an excuse to over-eat and watch football; it’s an excuse to do those things with the people we love most. So… before you start decking the halls, make sure you have a little turkey first.
Connect With Your School Choir
Quinn Collins
Singing brings people together in a way that few other activities can. Everyone can do it whether they’re good at it or not, and it’s truly a way to connect people. That’s what Mrs. Armstrong had in mind when planning the upcoming choir concert. This year, Armstrong chose the theme “Connect” as a way to tie together all of the choir’s pieces. On November 15th, the combined middle and high school choir concert will be held in the high school auditorium, and it will be a unique and exciting opportunity for all.
This concert will be the first in three years to feature choirs ranging all the way from 6th grade to 12th. Each of the choirs will get a chance to feature the wide variety of songs they have been working on all year long. It features everything from 1800s German compositions to modern adaptations of Canadian folk songs. The concert will conclude with one joint piece that will feature all of the choirs singing together. This will be the first and last time many of these singers will be together, making it a very unique opportunity to connect Hillmen singers of all ages.
For those who want to hear how music can connect us all or just want to hear the talent of our choir members, the choir concert on November 15th will be a wonderful opportunity.
Singing brings people together in a way that few other activities can. Everyone can do it whether they’re good at it or not, and it’s truly a way to connect people. That’s what Mrs. Armstrong had in mind when planning the upcoming choir concert. This year, Armstrong chose the theme “Connect” as a way to tie together all of the choir’s pieces. On November 15th, the combined middle and high school choir concert will be held in the high school auditorium, and it will be a unique and exciting opportunity for all.
This concert will be the first in three years to feature choirs ranging all the way from 6th grade to 12th. Each of the choirs will get a chance to feature the wide variety of songs they have been working on all year long. It features everything from 1800s German compositions to modern adaptations of Canadian folk songs. The concert will conclude with one joint piece that will feature all of the choirs singing together. This will be the first and last time many of these singers will be together, making it a very unique opportunity to connect Hillmen singers of all ages.
For those who want to hear how music can connect us all or just want to hear the talent of our choir members, the choir concert on November 15th will be a wonderful opportunity.
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