There’s no longer any denying it, for some of us we’re down to our last days of high school. For most of us I’d say there’s mixed emotions, excitement, eagerness, maybe a little bit fearful. No matter how you feel about it, it’s going to happen. This is the last time this class will ever be together in this way again, and it really makes you think. About how you’ve changed through these four years, or how some of us haven’t, and probably never will. The one thing I know is that these last few months have made me appreciate those people who have stuck with me through everything, and I think we could all say that. Now’s the time when you’ll find your real friends. If we graduate and all lose touch after this summer then that’s life. But the people who really matter are the ones who will make an effort to keep that connection. If someone doesn’t make a place for you in your life, then you shouldn’t reserve one for them, because the people who really matter are the ones who will make it clear that they belong there. 

Winterfest 2012

February 21^st-25^th

Monday- No School

Tuesday- Movie-Star Day

Wednesday- Sports Day

Lunchtime Activity: “Donut on a String”

Evening Activity: Macho-Man Volleyball- 6pm Admission: $2.00 or 2 cans of food (for food bank)

Thursday- Super-Hero/Villain Day

Lunchtime Activity: “Ice Melting”

Friday- Blue & Gold/ FFA Day

Saturday-

-Award/Talent Show:

      -Cost: $3.00- Nominees and Royalty get in for free

      -Open to community

      -6:00 to 8:00 pm

-After-Party: Hosted by THS ASB

      - No charge

      -High School Students only

      -Freshmen and Sophomores will be selling       concessions

      -8:00 to 10:00 pm

College Costs

     Since a young age many of us have heard the same thoughts repeated so many times they’ve become subliminal messages: if you go to college you will be successful, if you go to college you’ll be smart, if you go to college you’ll do well in life, etc. the phrases go on and on. So what happens when you want to go to college and discover you can’t afford it?

This isn’t just an isolated event, average tuition and fees for a four-year public university have increased nearly 130% in the last twenty years (College Board), and since the average middle class income has not increased in proportion to these costs, well there’s a bit of a problem. More and more middle-class families are having the same issue, they want to send their child to college, but simply don’t have the money. They earn too much to be eligible for student aid, but not enough to actually afford a college education for their kids. There are two common solutions to this predicament. One would be to choose a two-year degree over a four-year, this is a fine fix, it definitely cuts down on expenses. Unfortunately with a two-year degree you end up with fewer job skills when employers need the opposite, not a great plan as far as getting a well-paying job in an already struggling economy. The second choice would be to just take out loans, this is a fine solution, until you have to pay them off. The average bill for a four-year degree as far as loan repayment goes now amounts to about $23,186. Graduating and searching for a job is hard enough, but doing so with the threat of debt hanging over your head isn’t the best option.

So what do you do? As much as we wish for it to happen most of us probably won’t have a previously unheard of great-aunt die and leave us with thousands of dollars, so for those of us with the motivation to do so, we must fund our educations on our own. Whether this means working a part-time job on top of a full college schedule, taking a year off to raise funds, or applying for every possible scholarship, those of us with the determination to do so will make our dreams a reality. One dollar at a time. 

Charity

This time of year it’s very easy to get caught up in yourself, despite the original idea of the Holidays being a time of giving and thanks. The commercialism and general greediness has caused the real message to be lost.

            Everyone wants “things”, but sometimes the most important things aren’t things at all. Sometimes they’re people, memories, or just a feeling. It’s important that we recognize this, and one of the best ways to do so is by being  charitable. Whether it’s helping with a local soup kitchen, babysitting for free, donating old clothes or toys, or actually giving change to the scary looking Santa outside that store.  I guarantee you’ll be left with a much better feeling then if you’d spent that change on something you wanted, or used the time spent volunteering to write a list of all the things you want. 

• Pay it Forward!

Help those in need this Holiday season.

• -Gently used books and toys
• 
  
•  -Clothing/Blankets (esp. children’s winterclothing)
• 
  
•  - Canned food (Please check expiration date)
• Donation box in corner of 
• Tonasket High School Commons, 
• please donate by December 12th

•                        Any questions? Please contact:
• Anita Asmussen  -(509)486-2161
• Or Melody Wolen -(509)846-6612

Here Again

There’s something so magical about the first snowfall. Somehow it always transports you back to that awestruck feeling you had when you were young. It makes sense though if you think about it. Snow covers everything, masks all the flaws, makes everything sparkle. If it’s perfect looking on the outside then what’s underneath must be the same, right? Like I said it makes sense, we’re always drawn to flawlessness, or at least flawless-seeming things. It’s most likely a facade, but it’s easy just to pretend it’s real.