Inkwell | Winter Wonderland | Winter 2026

INKWELL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CAM EOS: COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER FOCUS

DANCING IN THE SNOW

IMPROV

HOLIDAY SEASON ON THE FARM

GATORS TAKE ON THE SUN DOME, ONCE AGAIN!

STAY HEALTHY THIS WINTER SEASON

A WINTER FOR THE BOOKS

ARTIST HIGHLIGHT: AELITA ROGERS

GUEST POET: THEODORE BAI

CHILL SMARTER NOT HARDER: STAYING HEALTHY IN WINTER

BRIGHTENING THE GLOOMY SEASON THROUGH FILM

MOVIE REVIEWS: THE HOPEFULL, THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE TRANQUILIZING

WINTER PLAYLIST

WEATHER WALL AND WINTER WONDERLIND OF ZOOPTOPIA 2

COOKS CORNER

FESTIVE PETS AND PAWSITIVE VIBES

STEPPING INTO SUCCESS

ITALY’S WINTER WONDERLAND: WINTER OLYMPICS 2026

Dear readers,

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS STAFF

As we enter 2026, we looked at ways to give back this winter season. From leaving short letters, to helping out our community by donating resources. We linked several ways to contribute and give back, so if you are able or willing to help give back you can check out this issue’s “Cameo” section! You can start off 2026 by giving back, or return to this section next Holiday season. Writing about this winter season, we featured Washington’s large atmospheric rivers, tying that into our issues climate section.

Make sure you don’t miss our wellness issue on how to stay healthy this season and our coverage on global events including the 2026 Winter Olympics! We’re also bringing you another film review, this time across five pages from Superman to Sinners to the new Zootopia 2. Thank you for your engagement and participation in the surveys we sent out for the production of this issue! We hope you enjoy reading

Sincerely your Editors,

Eisha Ahmad (‘26)

Masha Kotelnikov (‘26)

Payton Matthews (‘26)

Eisha Ahmad: Editor in Chief

Masha Kotelnikov: Editor in Chief

Peyton Matthews: Social Media Design Coordinator, Editor in Chief, Articles

Chloe Yoo: Social Media Design Coordinator, Articles, Photographer

Maria Dorner: Design Editor, Article

Cooper Dicks: Assistant Editor, Playlist and Articles

Minh Nguyen: Articles, Playlist and photography

TT Nguyen: Articles, Playlists

Cayden Laynor: Articles and Photography

Presley Jones: Articles and Photography

Kaya Parker: Articles and Photography

Jaena Han: Articles and Photography

Gabe Droubay: Articles

Ethan Ngo: Articles

Featured Student Poet: Theodore Bai

Guest Student Writer: Charles Zhao

Guest Photographer

Jasmine Zhao, Kale Carter, Casper Reynolds

CAMEOS

As the weather gets colder, and the days get darker, Inkwell wanted to shift our focus to our community and how we create and, more importantly, how we support them.

The Angel Tree Project

Masha Kotelnikov

The Salvation Army runs a yearly program called the Angel Tree Program. Children or Seniors that are found eligible to be ‘angels’ create Christmas lists, and they are sent out locally to the community. Members of a community can accept a list, and provide toys, books, clothes, etc. for a particular family in need. Hundreds and thousands of kids and families are able to receive these gifts, and place them under their tree. A program like this can ensure all children and elders in a community are able to participate in holiday celebrations.

We have an Angel Tree program here in Tacoma, where we can contribute to these families and give back to the Angel Tree program. If you are interested in helping a family with their Christmas list this year, visit the Tacoma Salvation Army, where you can find an angel to sponsor! For more inquiries on eligibility for the program, as well as where you can contribute, check out the QR code!

Showing Gratitude

Cooper Dicks

Thanksgiving may have come and gone, but there are still many great opportunities to show gratitude. Not only does gratitude bring joy, but it also has many health benefits. According to Harvard Health, these

include “emotional and social well-being, better sleep quality, lower depression risks, and favorable markers of cardiovascular health.”

This is especially important in the gloomy months of winter, when lots of people can feel sad. My favorite way to show gratitude in the holiday season is with thank you notes. They only take a few minutes to write, and can make someone’s day. Even a simple “Thank you so much!” can show someone how much you care. Although thank you notes can seem like a hassle, I promise you won’t regret writing them.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gratitude-enhances-healthbrings-happiness-and-may-even-lengthen-lives-202409113071

Small Letter with a Big Impact Ethan Ngo

As winter settles in, the days start feeling colder, and break is in everyone’s mind. This time of year can feel gloomy, and even small gestures can spark a bit of joy within a community. Have you considered leaving a loved one a handwritten note? It doesn’t have to be a long essay but just a few words with meaning in it can change someone’s whole day and mood. It can be passed between friends at school or outside.Like slipping into somebody’s phonebox, or sending mail to people who live far away from you, these little messages seem to have the kind of warmth that people feel on a campfire in a cold winter day can’t reach.

Even though these are just letters they can impact someone else’s day greatly. Writing a kind note to someone doesn’t just help the person receiving it, but also boosts the mood of the person writing it too. For example, I found this website, Letters of Love, where people, mostly students, write to kids in hospitals. Organizations like this highlight how even something as small as a short message can leave a real emotional mark.

Letters of Love is a website for people to write meaningful letters to kids in need and to be seen. With the mission to provide emotional support to children battling serious illnesses through the creation of these letters that you write. Aiming to build a community of love and kindness, empowering young people to lighten up with letters that you can write.

Everyone may be busy this winter, just taking a moment to write these thoughtful notes reminds us and other people how important connection is. It doesn’t require any money, just some of your time for someone else’s improvement and your willingness to make someone feel seen.

Making the Winter Warmer with Music

Chloe Yoo

Symphony Tacoma is a nonprofit organization that operates with the mission of building community through music. They are dedicated to fostering a caring community with live music and the joy that follows with it.

While there are several ways to participate in giving back to the community through Symphony Tacoma, bringing non-perishable food donations to a concert is one way to benefit members of the community who receive support from the Emergency Food Network. For the winter of 2025, the organization presented the new Standing Ovation campaign to promote accessible music to all community members. The symphony visited schools, retirement homes, and community spaces to deliver their music directly to people who are no longer able to attend their concerts.

Every gift donation helps Symphony Tacoma further expand their music, so watch out for their future campaign or donation opportunities and consider contributing to a supportive community!

https://symphonytacoma.org/

My Sisters Pantry Presley Jones

My Sisters Pantry is a food and clothing bank located in Tacoma and is a facility where you are able to give back to the community and donate food, clothes and hygiene products.

If you aren’t able to donate anything there are other options such as volunteering to distribute the items to the less fortunate within the community. The amazing thing about this organization is that it offers an opportunity the clients to shop for their own food so they can select what they need best and what best fits their needs.

Their mission emphasizes dignity and community support, with volunteers who are kind and non-judgmental. You can volunteer by sending an email to office@ mysisterspantry.org with a bit about yourself and when you are available to volunteer!

You can also scan the QR code below to visit their website!

Zoolights

Zoolights is a fun holiday activity for people of all ages at the Point Defiance Zoo! Starting November 28th and ending January 4th, hundreds of lights will be spread throughout the Point Defiance Zoo, along with little animal sculptures.

This last year they also have multiple days dedicated to being able to bring your dog, so your furry friends can participate too! This is a fun family event that works to spread joy, and light within our community, giving people a chance to spend time with those they love and admire the hard work put into decorating the park for their enjoyment. Mark your calendars for 2026 for this event!

Tacoma Rescue

Mission

Cayden Laynor

Tacoma rescue mission is a donation center for clothing, hygiene items, blankets and more to vulnerable men, women and children experiencing homelessness in our community.

The program is located in Tacoma, where they provide emergency shelters and meals for homeless individuals. They support housing and addiction recovery programs that promote self-sufficiency, sustainable transformation, and stability. By donating items like clothing, food, beauty products, hygiene, and monetary donations you can help our community immensely.

You can also help the program by going to the Tacoma rescue mission and helping organize the products, food, care packages, and clothing people who need them.

Dashing Through The Snow Gabe Droubay

If you are looking for a great way to get in exercise this holiday season, fun runs might be the perfect opportunity for you! These provide a great chance to connect with the community around you, and a lot of the entrance fees get invested back into the community. If you are looking for some runs in/around the Tacoma area, there are plenty of options.

There are lots of runs going on around Christmas, but if you missed out on one, there are still many opportunities to join in on the fun.

If you go to the Parks Tacoma website, FindaRace. com or simply look up “fun runs near me,” there will be plenty of options. Happy running everyone!

https://www.tacoma-runners. com/

https://www.parkstacoma.gov/

The Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County

Jaena Han

As winter approaches and the weather turns chilly, I’m sad to inform you that there are plenty of little friends who are going to spend this winter alone. If you’re looking for an additional family member to celebrate with, for the new beginning of 2026, The Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County is waiting for you to make the choice.

Here are 5 easy steps to find your friend from The Humane Society:

1) View the adoptable pets on the website

2) Fill out an adoption application!

3) Visit the shelter in person

4) One-on-one visitation with your possible new best friend!

5) Finally, you’re ready to adopt!

For additional information, or to fund currently adoptable pets, check the shelter’s official website!

Grounds and Hounds

Minh Nguyen

Grounds and Hounds is an online coffee shop that sells organic coffee; they put their profit towards supporting rescue initiatives and organisations, providing a second chance for pups in need of a helping hand.

They offer a wide range of products aside from just coffee, including drink wear, brewing equipment, mugs and gifts for both coffee and dog lovers. Their goal is to provide all dogs with a stable shelter and a new loving home. They put 20% of their profits towards funding rescue initiatives, it allows anyone to support the cause by just buying their amazing coffee and merchandise.

In this season of giving, why not give their store a look to get your family and friends some amazing gifts while also supporting a good cause? Click the link below to find out more.

https://groundsandhoundscoffee.com/pages/our-mis-

Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center

Kaya Parker

Fred Hutch Cancer Center is a cancer institute that is actively researching treatments and providing support towards patients who are diagnosed with cancer. Although it’s a very expensive process, this research is very valuable and beneficial to those who need it the most.

On their website they provide many ways to give back towards this foundation and provide assistance to those who can not afford it:

- Honoring a loved one

- Giving monthly

- Giving through your foundation

- Creating a fundraiser

- Volunteering

These are only a few of the many opportunities to give back to Fred Hutch. Donating is especially meaningful to Fred Hutch as they have been impacted by federal budget cuts by 85%, slowing the progress in their critical research. Many people including myself and my family, who have lost loved ones with cancer appreciate the donations immensely. These donations provide a better chance for an opportunity of finding a cure, as well as helping out families struggling with providing for their loved ones care.

Scan the code to descover more.

Puyallup Santa Parade & Christmas Market

Eisha Ahmad

The Christmas Market is a yearly staple you won’t want to miss next year located in downtown Puyallup with dates from December 5th to the 23rd! They are hosted at different venues, mainly at the Washington State Fairgrounds with rides and Christmas lights and at the downtown Puyallup Farmers Market at Pioneer Park Pavillion starring the infamous Santa Parade. There are Christmas dancers who perform yearly at this parade which you won’t want to miss out on! There is something for everyone with food, handcrafted decorations, and goods in a festive atmosphere best enjoyed with your family!

Mark this event on your calendars for 2026 and come out and support the small businesses and local vendors featured in this event. The Fairgrounds also offers free rides for kids’ entertainment.

https://www.puyallupmainstreet.com/signature-events/lighted-santa-parade/ https://www.puyallupmainstreet.com/signature-events/holiday-market/

‘Tis the Ski-son

Peyton Matthews

Winter: the time of snowfall and winter sports like skiing and snowboarding.

Washington State has a wonderful skiing community due to our wonderful ski hills in the area. Close to Tacoma we have Snowqualmie Pass, Crystal, and White Pass. White Pass has a wonderful program that allows them to have a top rate ski patrol team that operates completely off of volunteers. This allows them to have lower cost for lift tickets while keeping everyone safe. They are able to train and fully equip their team based on fundraising and donations. Their main fundraiser is called Brews, Brats, and Boards and happens every December to get ready for the season.

White Pass also throws a clothing drive fundraiser for the white pass area where you can attend a fun event and donate lightly used warm clothing that outfits the community.

This winter, reach out to the communities you are involved in and find out ways that you can give back by volunteering or donating to local programs.

Find out more information about their fundraiser here.

Annie’s Little Linguists

T.T. Nguyen

Giving back to the community plays a crucial role in supporting local growth.

We have a student-run project here at Annie Wright called Annie’s Little Linguists. They meet up every Saturday at midday in the Tacoma Public Library with a shared goal to teach and expose kids to new languages that they rarely encounter in school. We teach a wide range of languages, not just Spanish and French, but we teach Vietnamese, Polish, Ukrainian and Portuguese too. By presenting the kids with these languages, we hope to spark curiosity, broaden their cultural awareness, and strengthen their cognitive development.

Learning a second language doesn’t just build communication skills; it challenges the brain to think in new ways, adapt to unfamiliar structures, and approach problem-solving from different perspectives. This program aims to give children the tools to see the world more openly and thoughtfully.

Dancing through the Snow

Presley Jones, Kaya Parker

This was the second year SL&G and LABS Winter Ball and this year they built on last year’s success with many new and exciting activities to engage students.We wanted to hear some of their thoughts and reflections about the event

SL&G

What were you most impressed with regarding results?

I think I’m most impressed with how people were actually dancing there was one time when everybody formed a conga line and I was really impressed how many people were participating in it and also doing the bingo event too.

What were you most excited about for this event?

I am most excited about the food and drinks because this year we did a lot of Christmas themed drinks such as the Grinch Punch and there was also a drink called Santa Claus.

What was your favorite part to plan?

The most fun part was figuring out what we arranged in the bingo and what people might enjoy. We also ended up having very active events and some silent events.

Composing a song to a DJ for example or like also taking a selfie with your favorite staff.

If you could change something for next time what would you change?

I might ask for a student DJ because I think that might be very interactive and more people can participate in planning and helping out with the event.

What have you learned this year that you want to incorporate into future dances?

How expressing your opinion is as important as listening to other people when planning an event.

LABS

What were you most impressed with regarding results?

We got enough people to do this again next year! The layout made it more comfortable for people to hang out or dance without feeling isolated on the dance floor

What were you most excited about for this event?

The DJ’s setup was pretty cool

It was exciting to decorate though it did take a long time to make the snowflakes and it was hard to store them

What was your favorite part to plan?

Helping creating the bingo sheet and I enjoyed helping with the deorations and setting up the layoutsetting up a congo line

Anything specific you are really proud about for this dance?

The layout, it helped people have options and gave more chances for people to hangout . Also the atmosphere created by snowflakes and lights created a good winter atmosphere

If you could change something for next time what would you change?

We would want to include a photo booth

We would like a different DJ who would take recommendations and play more familiar music, invest more money on decorations

Anonymous Student Responses to the 2025 Winter Ball

There were many opportunities to do different things, there were many options, and all in the Great Hall so it wasn’t as isolated or intimidating if you wanted to dance.

I really liked the snowflakes and decorations, it created a really amazing atmosphere.

It was a nice atmosphere and there were many options of things to do.

I enjoyed taking photos of my friends having fun.

I really enjoyed the auction at the end.

I enjoyed winning everything.

I liked hanging out with my friends .

I liked how they organized the Great Hall to provide different spaces for people and provided different activities.

I liked the Congo line!

The Bingo activities were fun

The drinks and snacks were really good

What have you learned this year that you want to incorporate into future dances?

We’d want to make sure there were more options for music people are more familiar with

More activities to engage people or advertise a bit more to encourage people to come

There were more people dancing and we had more spaces to hang out with our friends.

It was nice how they organized the space, it felt like there were many events and people all around

Gators Go Off Script

Improv is a theatrical art where actors make up their performances on the spot. This winter, Annie Wright’s very own improv troupe AWSPROV put on a show in the Kemper theater. Many Annie Wright parents and students showed up to cheer them on and it was a fun show and entertaining experience for everyone.

We asked the members of the troupe some questions about the show and the experience of Improv as a whole.

What has been the greatest challenge?

Cooper Dicks ‘27: staying in character, especially because things change so swiftly

Griffin Snow ‘27: The greatest challenge in Improv can sometimes be to simply actually be in the moment and not think about what you’re going to do. That’s the whole point but sometimes its hard not to try and think of something that would be funny in advance.

Liv Wenzel ‘27: I think not trying to be funny and letting the scene grow naturally

Tyler Weston ‘28: It can be really stressful and it is really easy to overthink and complicate the story when what people find the most entertaining are the simple things

Soren Solisnoriega ’29: Getting stuck on scenes where my brain just kinda funks out. It can be hard to get out of those situations once you’re in them, so it becomes a bit of a mess at least from my point of view, and it just keeps going until someone ends the scene or tags out/tags in, where it then kind of refreshes my mind.

What is your favorite character to portray?

Griffin Snow ‘27 The magician

Cooper Dicks

Cooper Dicks ‘27: old ladies because there are many different characteristics to play with- it always gets a laugh

Liv Wenzel ‘27: In the show Laila and I were yoga instructors, no names or any relation other than businesses partners who work and live in the studio together and help our clients through their problems through the art of yoga.

What is the main goal of improv?

Cooper Dicks ‘27 To explore different worlds and an opportunity to be as creative and free as possible

Griffin Snow ‘27: To have fun and create worlds while learning how to think on your feet

Liv Wenzel ‘27: To make each other look good and the audience laugh.

Tyler Weston ‘28 To entertain people

Soren Solisnoriega ’29: I think the main goal of im prov is to make people laugh and have fun. Like you can say, it’s about developing creativity or expressing yourself and those are both very much goals and essential parts of improv, but in my opinion I find my goals to just make people laugh and make sure every scene is fun.

What

do you enjoy most about

Improv?

Cooper Dicks ‘27: the team aspect of it- how we have to trust each other, all the other members and can’t just rely on ourselves and we have to share spotlight in order to really excel

Griffin Snow ‘27: The way we build up worlds slowly and naturally and are able to make connections to different scenes that enhance the story

Liv Wenzel ‘27: Making the audience laugh is the best feeling ever! Also, our little troupe works so well together it’s just so fun to do improv.

Tyler Weston ‘28: Being with friends, being able to perform and make things up and see what happens next

Soren Solisnoriega ’29: The uniqueness of everything that happens. The fact that everything is just made up and that nothing is ever the same. You never know what will come next, and the surprise of hearing a declaration or seeing a moment that completely blows you away and makes you laugh is amazing.

What

was your favorite scene?

Griffin Snow ‘27: The scene where I played the son of Cooper’s character which was a follow up to a scene where I played his wife who was leaving him.

Soren Solisnoriega ’29: I would say probably both of the scenes with Tod. The first one features the couple in the car, and the second shows the dad and son. Tod only made three appearances, but he was incredible.

If you could have taken your character or scene in a different direction, what would you have done?

Cooper Dicks ‘27: to the moon

Griffin Snow ‘27: I would have made stronger choices in the last scene

Soren Solisnoriega ’29: I think the mining scenes could have gone in different directions, involving like funny games to play about actually mining or even the ice cream could have gone in a direction where you play a game about like an infinite ice cream scooper kind of deal.

Which of your peers’ performances impressed you the most?

Cooper Dicks ‘27: Soren’s performances were impressive, he is such a funny guy

Griffin Snow ‘27: Soren or Paisley

Liv Wenzel ‘27: Tyler and Cooper I think stood out the most and not only made their scene partner look good but also made good declarations.

Soren Solisnoriega ’29: Laila and Liv’s performance for the yoga scenes was excellent with the syncing of their sentences and the declarations they made.

Photo Credit Minh Nguyen

Holiday Season on the Farm

When we wanted to highlight student and faculty pets in this winter issue, we were bound to have an overachiever.

Here is a visual narrative of the holiday and winter season with the treasured birds, bees, sheep and dogs on Mr. Graham’s Farm.

Gators Take on the Sun Dome, Once Again!

Peyton Matthews

Our Annie Wright Girls Volleyball Team made a great run at state this year after finishing the season as second in the Nisqually League.

The team faced some tough competitors in league, playing Cascade Christian who went into the WIAA 1A state tournament ranked 3rd in State. This year we had three teams from the Nisqually League make it to state which showcased the high level of teams Annie Wright plays during regular season. These past few years the AWS Volleyball team has been rebuilding after graduating 9 Seniors from the 2022 and 2023 seasons. They are now made up of 2 Seniors, 2 Juniors, 5 Sophomores, and 4 Freshmen.

Annie Wright was so proud of how they showed up at state, even if the outcome was not as desired. During the first round of state they played the 8th seed who went on to place 2nd in WIAA 1A State Tournament, and ended up placing 11th, what an incredible accomplishment!

We would like to congratulate Raina Matthews who received Second Team All-League and Peyton Matthews who received Honorable Mention Team all-league. Wish them luck in their next adventures as they push towards IB exams and wherever the future takes them next.

We are looking forward to seeing what next season brings as we cheer for the First Team allleague player Sloane Jackson who is destined to do great things on and off the volleyball court, and watch our underclassmen keep improving!

A Striking Winter for the Books

This year we’re not welcoming snow, or even slush— Washington got record breaking rains this winter season, while welcoming one of its large atmospheric rivers.

This storm started brewing in early December, when heavy rains triggered widespread flooding and mudslides. Local emergency proclamations began on the 9th, and only a day later Governor Ferguson declared a statewide emergency. By December 11th, Skagit and Snohomish reached record breaking flood levels. As mid December approaches, the federal government issued an emergency declaration, and provided assistance to several counties.

By December 15th, some river levels decreased, but there were still flood risks, and heavy rain continued. This was heavily intensified when a second atmospheric river hit the West Coast, ensuring water levels stayed elevated. As of December 17th, one fatality was confirmed in Snohomish, when a driver attempted driving through flood waters. Hundreds of thousands lost power, and thousands were forced to evacuate their homes.

What can these extreme weather conditions imply about climate change? Although Washington has always been at risk for flooding due to its heavy rains and proximity to open water, it’s not the only location experiencing an increase in flooding. According to NASA, the proportion of people living in flood prone areas has increased by 4% since the 2000s. In fact, in 2023, we tracked our sea levels to have risen to an all time high of almost four inches in the past 30 years. As a consequence of sea level rise and climate change, high tide flooding is 300-900% more frequent than it was 50 years ago, specifically prominent here on the West Coast.

Masha Kotelnikov

Ideally, we would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions that large corporations produce. Even if we do so, the sea level is predicted to be two feet higher than it is today. However, if we remain on the same course of action as we are today, with the same emission levels, sea levels will rise by closer to seven feet.

That being said, our current winter conditions are not fully in our control. What we can control, however, is how we help out our community during these hard times.

If you or someone you know is willing or able, I have attached a QR code to Central Washington’s Disaster Recovery Fund. Here you can donate to a local cause and help our community members in need!

A vehicle drives past a flooded neighborhood Tuesday in Snohomish, Wash.Brandon Bell / Getty Images

https://watchers.news/2025/12/12/skagit-snohomish-rivers-record-breaking-levels-washington-us-december-2025/?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://www.edf.org/why-are-floods-hitting-more-places-and-people https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-globalsea-level https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-globalsea-level https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-globalsea-level

Artist Highlight: Aelita Rogers

T.T. Nguyen

Our winter 2025 artist spotlight will focus on Aelita Rogers, a driven, creative and admirable young actor / director

Ever since she was little, she’s always been mesmerized by TV shows and films. When interviewed, she recalled her earliest exposure to this medium: watching a blooper video on Yuku, a Chinese platform similar to Youtube, and imagining how fun it would be to act. At six years old, she was shy and rarely spoke about her interests. As she grew, her fascinations became more of a distant dream as she explored other potential careers. Around the beginning of middle school, she became enthralled by the TV show Quantico and even dreamed of becoming an FBI agent. Despite these detours, film remained her passion. She was very attracted to the endless possibilities of film, where she could become anyone, tell any story and explore any world.

In seventh grade, she surprised her parents when she announced her interest in acting. No longer a distant dream, she begged them to send her to England, the birthplace of Shakespeare. Though the school wasn’t art oriented, their strong arts program allowed her to explore her interests. During this time, she learnedshe didn’t really like theater, but rather, was drawn to the acting she saw on screen. That spring break, her mom helped her land a role in a movie. The experience opened her eyes to the long, meticulous process of filmmaking: The film she worked on in eighth grade still hadn’t been released by her junior year, but the experience was invaluable in showing her more of the craft.

In her freshman year of high school she decided to join creative writing to start scripting her own stories. This marked the beginning of what she calls her “director era”. Sharing her ideas with her father, he suggested she explore directing, noticing her unique and interesting views. Over the summer of tenth and eleventh grade, she attended NYU summer camp for screen acting, She not only had a blast during her time there but also honed her directing abilities and directed her first film ever.

Asked about her inspirations, she shared some of her favorite film makers: Phoebe Waller-Bridge,

Greta Gerwig, and the Safdie brothers. “They all have a very unique artistry and I really admire them.” she said. One of the scripts she’s currently working on draws heavy inspiration from the Safdie brothers’ film Good Time. Beyond just film, she takes inspiration from every day life, experiences and emotions.

“Everything I see is an inspiration because maybe one day I might write about my life in the future and that might become a hit. Lol.” she said. She also looks at other films as benchmarks to strive for. Normal people is one of the series she loves. Lately, she started to watch a new comedic TV show called I Love LA, which is outside of her comfort zone. While she usually watches very serious , independent films, I Love LA was really funny and she enjoys broadening her perspective.

Although she doesn’t feel like she’s done enough films for it to fully define her personally, she acknowledges the growth that comes with the experience. Each new project has helped her hone her skills and understand what she still has to work on. She recalled a period where she felt hopeless about representations in the industry: “There’s a lot white people in the industry, all the main characters are white and whenever the main character was Asian, the whole cast would either be all Asians or that the setting will be in Chinatown. It was hard to find any Asian main character with a diverse cast.” The stereotypes and lack of representations even led her to consider whether she’d have to change her appearance to fit in more with the industry.

She’s a big dreamer, always envisioning the stories she’ll tell. To her, college is the next step, a space where with the right classes and mentors could help transform those visions into reality. One project in particular, something she’s longed to write: a period movie. Though she’s never tackled a full length movie before, only short films, research and challenges doesn’t cause

her to waver whatsoever. “I’ve been dreaming about writing this film for a long time and the only thing stopping me is myself but I’m going to deflect it to high school” she said. For her the only thing standing in her way from reaching her fullest potential is having the opportunity to gain the right knowledge and being surrounded by like-minded people.

She takes pride in every project that she undertakes. When she makes a film she gives it her all, her dedication is reflected by the end result. Recently she participated in the school’s varsity arts film program, where she and her teammates had just two hours a day for a week in order to project this idea out to the audience. The process was tedious and frustrating but when editing was done, she was really proud of what they accomplished within such little time.

Her greatest inspiration stems from films with softer dynamics or ones that convey intensity. While she’s inspired by a variety of genres, she finds the big-budget industrial films like Marvel and DC less inspiring. “It’s not to say I don’t enjoy watching them.” she explained. She likes them but she just doesn’t find them very inspiring. She mentioned that she doesn’t really connect with characters who have superpowers, rather she draws inspiration from characters who she can relate to, especially those with rich development. She pointed out that smaller studios often provide that depth, since they rely on storytelling and character developments more than a large budget. “A complete character makes the film so much more interesting.” she said. The careful attention to detail creates a richness and uniqueness that other films can’t replicate.

Thank you Aelita for the amazing interview, we look forward to seeing your next project with Varsity Arts: Film this winter and spring.

“Like Fate, Like Fortune” Student

Guest Poet: Theodore Bai

“Like Fate, Like Fortune”

Theodore Bai

Like a child in the dark, counting stars till dawn, like a hummingbird that tends to every flower yet gives its heart to one lone honeysuckle; like a hero coming home in glory, born to be beloved;

like fate, like fortune,

like every letter and every prayer in the turning sky speaking its own long soliloquy; like the butcher who sets down his blade, repents, and in that instant stands a Buddha; like stitching all the cracks along the road into something shaped like a river of stars, so the wandering sails can see the outline of light—

it’s alright, it’s alright; please let me invite all things to meet again in the wide, wild sea.

Chill Smarter Not Harder: Staying Healthy in Winter

Eisha Ahmad

It’s the winter season, when the air gets more crisp, and the chances for a snow day escalate. Yet, amid this chilly excitement, everyone is suddenly coughing in the hallways and feeling under the weather. Amidst colder temperatures, stress from final exams and shorter daylight hours, this season is when most people get sick or feel burnt-out. As your body gets less sunlight, your circadian rhythm, which plays a huge role in mood regulation, is impacted the most.

A Striking Winter for the Books Mash

https://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/ desperate-santa-claus.html

Basically, less light can make you feel foggy or unmotivated. Keeping up with healthy habits and maintaining them in winter isn’t just about avoiding colds

Kotelnikov

but it also includes setting realistic habits that strengthen your stamina–physically and mentally.

Here is a practical winter health guide to help you stay well!

1. Sleep is at the center of it all.

Making sure you get a full night’s sleep (ideally 7 to 9 hours a night) matters much more during this chilly season when darker mornings and busier days at school can throw your normal sleep cycle off. Getting enough sleep is vital for your brain to reset. This provides the opportunity for our minds to rebuild the energy needed to focus and handle emotions without shutting down or risking getting burnt-out. Sleep deprivation can also cause more anxiety and motivation is more likely to disappear faster. Aim to stop using your phone or doom scroll on your electronics 15-30 minutes earlier than usual. This will prevent you from straining your eyes and stress

ing out your mind prior to sleep. Prioritizing sleep means ensuring your brain has enough recovery time to cope with all that’s going on in this hectic season online and offline. This means ensuring your brain has enough recovery time to cope with all that’s going on in this hectic season online and off.

2. Food and Hydration Tips

The colder Winter temperatures also dehydrate you faster, especially in combination with indoor heating which can worsen headaches and fatigue for some. Furthermore, when your blood sugar crashes your mood will crash with it.

What you eat can greatly affect how well your day goes, and during this time of the year it’s important to shift small things in your diet to feel better overall. Simple fixes can include just adding protein to your breakfast such as greek yogurt, eggs, or any lean meats such as salmon on your toast. Make sure you meet your protein intake needs so you reduce the chances of your blood sugar canceling and keeps you fuller for this harsh season. For hydration, drinking hot teas or drinks, especially water, can help while also keeping you warm.

3. Getting morning sunshine

Waking up early is hard, but getting sunlight while it is very limited in Winter can be vital for your mental health. Getting a little extra sunlight instantly resets your circadian rhythm which in turn helps regulate your body’s energy and mood levels.

The darker days in Winter push your brain to stay in “low power mode”, which can also feel like brain fog or lower motivation for no reason. In Washington,

the sun doesn’t come out as much, yet even cloudy daylight is stronger than indoor lighting. Spending your mornings or sitting by a window even just for 3-5 minutes can make waking up feel more refreshing.

4. Move your body to move your mind!

Everyday can feel the same during this chilly season. It’s easy to go from bed to car to desk to bed again. Light and simple activities, even just walking, can help your mind ease any stress by lowering tension and improving overall sleep quality. Furthermore, it releases certain hormones and neurotransmitters such as endorphins, dopamine and serotonin all that work to relieve stress, build motivation and stabilize your mood.

Getting in exercise doesn’t have to take much of your time either, stretching in between study sessions, climbing more stairs or doing pushups in the morning can be more than enough to not only elevate your mood but also your immune system so that you don’t fall sick again this winter!

The most important thing in following these tips is that you just have to do a little, but consistently.

Brightening the Gloomy Season through Film

Winter in Washington is filled with frosty winter nights, and warm cozy lights shining through the streets. How will you make this season more memorable?

The AWS Varsity Arts Film Team captures every season throughout the year from a camera’s perspective. We’re making outdoor films that will capture the glimpse of the gloomy feeling during this winter season. Some of these films are for practice, some of them are for competitions, but most importantly we’re just having fun! Making new friends with the same interest as you feels like finding a place where you fit right in regardless of grade level.

Cites Used

https://www.northfieldhospital.org/news/5-tips-healthy-winter-sleep

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/ winter-wellness-healthy-holiday-tips

https://www.swedish.org/news/uf/689816007?streamid=3129977

If you’re interested in films or film production, then learning and developing film-making skills is a great way to take the first step forward to your future. Inkwell has gathered personal responses from current AWS film team members for Upper Schoolers who are considering joining the film team.

Why did you choose to join the team?

Julie Shindo ‘28 I was interested in SFX makeup and creating costumes, and I heard that the team might need an artist for their movies so I joined last year. Now that I’ve learned more about the team and film-making, I fell in love with other positions and now I’m also an editor.

Aiden Ma ‘28 I like to practice my photography skills as a hobby, and since I was also interested in filmography, I decided to join the team and learn more about it.

Sarah Wang ‘27: To be honest, I joined the team to spend more time with my best friend, Aelita. But I learned more about making and producing films on the team, I’ve been in love ever since!

Which season of the year do you think is the most suitable for an outdoor film?

Aelita Rogers ‘27 Definitely spring or autumn. In winter, the sun goes down too early and the weather varies too much in Washington. During the summer season, sometimes it might get too hot that various technical issues occur.

Nic Galeas ‘29 As a Christmas movie lover, I’d like to say winter. It just has a specific aesthetic to it, that makes a film unique and cozy.

Max Farber ‘29 I know that there might be some technical difficulties due to the heat, but I love the mood of a summer film. The blue sky, greens of nature, oh, I just love summer.

How would you feel if more people wanted to join the team?

Julie Shindo ‘28 Having more people to help out with our films is always joyful. If you’re considering, just join already!

Max Farber ‘29 I joined late too, and I’d definitely say just do it! The members are so welcoming and we always have empty positions.

Coach Lindberg JOIN, JOIN JOIN! More people only means more fun we’re going to have. If you love film, the team would be a perfect fit for you.

If you are interested in joining Varsity Arts Film, contact Ms. Green, or drop by NAB 4:30 - 6:15 Monday - Thursday

Movie Reviews: The Hopeful, The Beautiful and The Tranquilizing

Minh Nguyen, Charles Zhao

2025 has been a crazy year for the cinematic landscape, with movies curated through standout performances, visually stunning storytelling, and also surprising flops that kept the scene full of surprises like the Minecraft movie.

And to celebrate the past year of movies, Inkwell is bringing you some of our insights on the hopeful, the frightful and the tranquilising aspects of the cinematic world, so you can decide for yourself which would be worth a watch and which to avoid.

Superman (2025)

“ ‘Cause I’m a punkrocker yes I am.”

This tune has been stuck inside my head ever since I’ve seen the new Superman movie, along with a bunch of memes and Lex Luthor nonsense. In all seriousness, James Gunn has brought us a fresh look of the age-old and classic Superman. This time, however, instead of being the impervious, always virtuous Henry Cavill Superman, David Corenswet presents a less mature, more human Superman who goes through the same emotional surges, the same mistakes that normal humans make, making him feel more relatable and his growth story more impactful.

Lex Luthor in this new Superman made his brand new appearance and personality with the genius acting of Nicholas Hoult. His character matching the logical, technical and deathly ambitious Lex Luthor from the comics. His ideals as a villain are in line with his personality and his perspective, which explain that his hatred towards Superman is to mask his fears of being conquered by a higher, better species.

David Corenswet’s Superman has significant character growth, given that he seems more like a naive boy stumbling to find his way to be the icon of justice in Metropolis when compared to Henry Cavill’s Superman. The movie is definitely a must watch, and it will brighten up your world after watching it.

Weapons (2025)

Weapons, directed by Zach Cregger, is a fall through fear with the trappings of a small-town mystery. The film opens with a fantastical occurrence. As seventeen children disappear from a single classroom at 2:17 a.m.. The story then shards out into overlapping points of view: a haunted teacher played by Julia Garner, Josh Brolin as a father drowning in guilt, and, perhaps most vividly, the cop coming undone under the unknown. Every thread tugs tighter until the film is less about what happened than about what fear can do to people when reason runs dry.

Cregger is not so much of a stretch. His comedy roots give his horror an odd rhythm, and his timing slices like a blade. The same impulses that used to drive punchlines now support dread: The silence stretches on a beat too long, the glance falls a second after it was needed, every reveal sets up like the setup of some cosmic joke, and we’ve run out of laughs.

Weapons doesn’t go for jump scares or neat resolutions. It dwells in the uneasy space where fear incubates, where community crumbles, faith frays, and hope feels like a whisper. It’s horror that burrows beneath the skin and stays there, whispering that the true terror isn’t the monster in the dark; it’s what we become when we can’t face it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26581740/mediaviewer/rm1185591042/

Sinners: (2025)

From the opening frame of Sinners (2025), the film wraps you in the heat of the Deep South, turning the 1932 landscape into something sensual, scenic, and sinister all at once. Departing from his signature style established in Black Panther (2018) and Creed (2015), director Ryan Coogler attempts the impossible: fusing historical drama, cultural commentary, Gothic horror, racial allegory, AND action thriller in a spellbinding, genre-defying spectacle.

Michael B. Jordan delivers a powerhouse dual performance as brothers chasing fortune and freedom in Jim Crow era Mississippi, only to find themselves defending their cousin Sammie (Buddy Guy and Miles Caton) from a family of supernatural vampires attracted to his music. In particular, Jordan’s ability to distinguish between the demeanor of the twins Smoke and Stack earned him widespread acclaim, though somewhat over-the-top at times (but not miscast).

The music, however, is what truly makes Sinners stand out. Ludwig Göransson’s score doesn’t merely accompany the film; it possesses it. While not a traditional musical, much of the emotional heart of Sinners is conveyed through music, not because the characters spontaneously break into song, but because the music is imbued diegetically into the film itself. Numbers like “I Lied to You” (Miles Caton), “Pale, Pale Moon” (Jayme Lawson), and “Dangerous” (Hailee Steinfeld) weaves together the wail of Delta blues, the ache of gospel, and the pulse of something ancient and unholy to create a soundscape that feels eerily alive.

The film’s biggest gamble (and triumph) is its genre flip halfway through. What begins as a Southern Gothic family drama pertaining to two brothers trying to open a club slowly morphs into something entirely different, mythic, and best of all, bloodsoaked—a bold shift that reframes the entire first act. But unfortunately, some of its power was lost to the worst enemy of modern cinema: marketing. Had the twist not been marketed, the potential surprise of the transformation would’ve hit like thunder. Instead, the trailers tipped their hand too early. What should have been a revelation lands more like a confirmation.

Still, even knowing what’s coming doesn’t dull the terror. Sinners treats fear as a kind of poetry—rhythmic, lyrical, and rooted in historical memory. It’s a film that understands the most frightful monsters are often the ones we’ve lived with for centuries.

Yes, it’s messy. Yes, it’s indulgent, but it’s also alive—a fever dream of horror, history, and humanity that sticks with you long after leaving the theatre.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ryan-coogler-sinnersbox-office-opening-1236193272/

Thunderbolts* (2025)

In a superhero landscape crowded with multiverses and post-credit scenes setting up the next big crossover, Thunderbolts* feels surprisingly human. It’s a movie about broken people who still, somehow, believe they can fix something, even if it’s just themselves.

Unlike the polish and sparkle of the Infinity Saga’s Avengers, these new Avengers act more like a ragtag team of misfits that bruise, sulk, and argue over the most arbitrary things. Florence Pugh and Lewis Pullman especially really blow it out of the water with their respective performances as Yelena and Sentry, with the relationship between the two characters serving as the emotional backbone for the film.

It’s not perfect. The tone wobbles and not every joke lands, but when the movie finds its rhythm, it soars. And through it all, the hopecore sneaks up on you. You don’t leave the theatre cheering because someone saved the planet, but because someone found a reason to try.

Thunderbolts* doesn’t reinvent the superhero wheel, but it does spin it in a direction that feels refreshingly new and hopeful.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20969586/

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025)

There’s a fine line between meditative and maddeningly slow. Unfortunately, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey crosses it about halfway through its first act and never really finds the exit ramp.

On paper, it has it all: Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie, a surreal road trip, and a mysterious guiding voice that may or may not be sentient. Kogonada’s camera work is exquisite, with poetic framing, soft lighting, and colors that look like they were plucked from a daydream.

But for all its visual splendor, the film trudges along with the urgency of me during a math test. Farrell and Robbie try their best to inject the film with warmth and chemistry, but that’s particularly difficult when their dialogue feels like it was written by ChatGPT. Yes, there are moments of emotional honesty, but they fade too quickly. You keep waiting for the film to shift into gear—to reveal the deeper purpose behind its metaphors—but it just coasts, beautifully, into literally nowhere.

Many films often struggle to balance entertainment with meaning. Where some indulge entirely in the entertainment of its audiences and lack a deeper moral message, others focus entirely on the purpose and neglect film’s fundamental intent to entertain. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey somehow does both.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is indeed bold and beautiful—just not much of a journey.

https://abigboldbeautifuljourney.movie/

FNAF 2:

Have you ever seen a movie with writing so bad that it changes its own genre?

Continuing the story of the previous Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF) movie, this sequel retains the iconic, impressive looks of the animatronics, looking as if they were fresh out of the video game that inspired the movie.

The jumpscares, on the other hand, are disappointing - to say the least. Easily anticipated, either too short for the audience to get a good look, but too long to be a “mysterious unknown entity” type of scary. The supposedly scary jump scares become goofy, sometimes even just funny.

Along with the amazing visuals, despite the sub-par jumpscares, the story is decently crafted. Although it did upset long-time fans of the game by completely branching off from what was theorised from clues in the video game. The movie did a good job implementing the gameplay elements into the plot, ultimately showcasing how it would work in real life.

In general, FNAF 2 is definitely not a masterpiece, but the wondrous combination of jumpscares so bad it tickles a nerve instead of putting it on edge, a story with such heavy plot armour for the main characters, references scattered throughout the movie, easter eggs niche and unique for the fans of the original game to pick out. Those perks made the movie genre changed slightly from a horror movie to more of a comedy with slight factors of gore and a heartwarming story about friendship and overcoming guilt.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30274401/mediaviewer/rm2756026882/

Winter Playlists

Cook’s Corner Cooper Dicks

Every issue, Inkwell spotlights a few seasonal recipes. This time we wanted to spotlight our own local experts, the Kitchen Staff.

We wanted to take a moment to celebrate our local experts, the people who work so hard to help provide amazing and diverse dishes that make every meal a great experience for us.

We asked them each to share their favorite holiday treats. So, if you’re looking for a little inspiration, or want to expel the winter chill with a tasty treat, consider some of the recommendations (and a few recipes) they’ve provided below.

Kitchen Staff Favorite Winter Treats

Andrew (prep cook) Peanut Butter Fudge

Andrea (prep/bistro cook) My Mom’s Famous Nut Log

Xy (salad bar) White Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Mike (lunch entree cook) Coconut Macaroon

Tia (cashier) Lemon Snowballs

Marjorie (breakfast/bistro cook) White Chocolate

Yeraldin (deli) Abuelita’s Chocolate

Chef Teresa’s Favorite Winter Treat

—Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs1 2/3 cup sugar

1 cup vegetable or avocado oil

15oz pumpkin puree (1 can)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

Cream Cheese Frosting

8oz cream cheese, softened

2 tbs butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

2-3 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a 9x13” baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, oil, pumpkin and vanilla. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until completely combined, but don’t overmix or they’ll get chewy. Pour the batter into the baking dish and spread evenly. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool.

For the frosting—combine room temp cream cheese and butter in a bowl, with an electric hand mixer if possible. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla. Add powdered sugar until the frosting reaches the desired thickness.

Frost the cooled pumpkin bars. Cut and enjoy! Our

Chef Knick’s Favorite Winter Recipe

—Bucatini all ‘amatriciana

A classic italian marinara based pasta dish originating from the town of Amatrici, Italy

Ingredients:

1lb 8oz chopped pancetta or bacon

½ cup crushed tomatoes

½ cup diced onion

3 cloves minced garlic

¼ cup white wine

½ cup pecorino or parmesan cheese

2 tbs salt

½ tsp black pepper or red pepper flakes

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Sauté the meat in a sauté pan until crispy. Remove the meat and leave the fat. Sauté the onions in the fat for about 3-5 minutes, until translucent. Then add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pan and sauté for 3 minutes.

Cook pasta in boiling water for about 8 minutes. Add the cooked and drained pasta to the sauce. Add about ¼ cup of the pasta water to the sauce.

Garnish with parmesan and the crispy bacon or pancetta.

Frosted Managerie

Photo credit Inkwell Staff

Thank you to our AWS Kitchen Chefs and Staff!

Weather Wall : The Winter Wonderland of Zootopia 2

Ethan Ngo

Zootopia 2 continues the story of the all mammal animal city back in the first movie. The first movie follows the story of the amateur police person Judy Hopps who struggles to adjust her life to the city. Later on meeting Nick Wilde, a sly, clever fox who survives in the city by running small smart scams because he sees himself and the world sees him as untrustworthy. They ran into each other during their journey and at first didn’t really get along until they learned more about themselves and their partner while solving an important case together. The second movie is more strongly connected to our “Winter Wonderland” theme than the first. Here, the atmosphere contains a snowy environment and icy weather making the theme more exciting and showing how different animals survive and live in harsh winter conditions they’re not fond of.

The main connection to the Winter Wonderland comes from the weather walls created by Agnes De’Snake, who is one of the side cast grandmothers, Gary’s specifically. The idea behind this large barrier that covered and split Zootopia into four lands is the existing proof that different animals coming from different climate environments can still come together and live within a city, with the help of the weather wall where animals can travel between different regions with the opposite weather to their own. It could be icy-cold, the heat of desert, a jungle, and more.

These weather walls are important because they can initiate conflict. If a weather wall breaks, then animals not used to cold weather might suddenly find themselves trapped in snowstorms or freezing temperatures. This could cause confusion, danger, and fear across the city. Although it might not have been the main theme of the story, it can still create a very interesting and engaging scenario.

The main characters face snow-covered streets, frozen rivers, and holiday-style decorations within the

city. This time, the movie helps audiences connect to themselves more as the main conflict surrounds trust, partnership and truth instead of the more focused introduction of the city in the first movie.

When things go wrong, animals from different climates should help each other out and solve mysteries during the conflict. This teaches a message about teamwork, understanding differences, and supporting one another despite our differences just like the internal conflicts of Judy and Nick in the movie.

Overall, watching the movie with friends will be fun. Audiences can learn more about trustworthiness and partnership, and I easily would recommend it. The Winter Wonderland theme, especially with the plot used in with weather walls and aspects of icy environments elevating audience experience and creating a beautiful atmosphere makes the story more exciting and meaningful.

The snowy setting is not only beautiful to look at, but also reveals the challenges of living together in a diverse city and the importantance of teamwork

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26443597/mediaindex/?ref_=mv?ref_=mv_

Festive Pets and Pawsitive Vibes Gabe Droubay

During the festive holiday season it is so easy to become obsessed with things that we cannot control, or to focus on the negatives in our lives rather than celebrating the positives.

One way I combat these negative attitudes is by spending time with my dog. It’s very common to overlook all the good that our furry little pets bring to our lives, however we cannot deny their larger than life impacts. For example, a study done by Johns Hopkins revealed that petting a dog lowers stress hormones, and increases levels of oxytocin, a feel-good hormone (the same applies to petting cats). As attitudes and moods are generally worse during winter, this small boost can easily change the course of someone’s day.

One other way to stay centered during the holiday and winter season is to recognize and thank those around us. I decided to put these two concepts together and surveyed Annie Wright students and faculty asking for pictures of their companions that Inkwell could include in the next issue. This is to both recognize the good that these animals do, as well as spread joy to everyone who reads it.

Please enjoy these festive photos of Annie Wright Student and Faculty pets!

Bambi

Ethan

Cooper

Gabe

1 year

Mr. Orr: Marley, 16 Years He’s a MIRACLE dog!!

Ms. Austin: Boo, 3 years old He loves his BEE!

Mr. Jiles: This is my new dog Obi! He’s an 8 month old German short haired pointer/pitbull mix

Ms. Kerr: Samson 10 years old Samson loves fuzzy (Christmas) blankets. If you sit down and put a blanket on your lap, Samson will immediately come running to jump on your lap and cuddle up.

Mr. Alva:

is 7

Mr. Considine: Daisy

and Leo

Daisy and Leo are brother and sister. They love to help open packages and wrapping.

Ms. Hanson: Snow and Winter, 11 and 6

PJ is a “cat lady” because of her sisters

Ms. Hanson: PJ, 5

PJ’s favorite words are chicken (her favorite snack), kitty (she loves cats), and Pepper (one of dorm parent Rob’s dogs name)

Ms. Ward: Paul, 5

Paul is a boat kitty, and lives on our 50 foot sailboat with us. He loves walking the deck, and hides under the covers when we start the engine or generator

Ms. Nivens: Bluey and Frenchie, 2 and 3

... Paul’s brother Peter lives with Ms. Gann’s mother in her retire

Ms. Wadsworth: Jackson, 14

Jackson or Jac Jax is a long hair kitty that loves treats and belly rubs while cuddling.

Ms. Wynkoop: Odin, 6 This is Odin with one of his favorite holiday toys! A Santa squeak toy that he destroyed in about 5 minutes :)

Ms. Kopriva: Tulio, 14 years old

I got Tulio when I was a sophomore in college and lived in a building that didn’t allow pets! He’s now an old man but an excellent trooper with costumes, kids and his cranky kitty sister Ziki

Ms. Huggins with Henry- 9 years old

Ms. Drivdahl: Mazie, 5

Ha, 90% of my photo roll is black cats, so you might get more than you bargained for in asking me this. :) Mazie is crazy. She spends most of December sitting underneath the tree, staring at it wide-eyed, but these sessions usually end with her removing ornaments from the bottom branches and carrying them off to goodness-knows-where.

When she was a kitten in December 2020, I was having a Zoom class and my students started laughing and yellingI turned around and the entire tree was shaking. Mazie was attacking it and ALMOST tipped the entire thing over!

Mr. Johnson: Nouyak, (proncouned Noi-ack) 15

Nouyak is an Alaskan village pup (mostly chocolate lab with some Blue Healer). He is a great family dog,. Although he has slowed down quite a bit the past few years, and he sleeps 12 hours a day, barks too much, and eats dirt and poops in the house, our family loves him 110%! He is great with the kids and always looking to be part of the family during dinner (eating our three year old’s dinner off the floor) and playtime (taking his stuffy out and barking that someone will play tag with him) :)

Mr. Neil: Seelie, 2

According to a recent doggie DNA test, Seelie is a 100% pure bred American Pit Bull Terrier, which surprised us because she is a rescue. We rescued her when she was 1 year old and she has lived with us for a little over 1 year. Despite showing signs of abuse in her life before joining our family, she is extremely affectionate and cuddly. Depicted in her winter sweater, she only goes outside briefly when it is cold and prefers to curl up under a pile of blankets most of the time. Her favorite toy is a black rubber kong (for extremely powerful chewers); she completely destroys one of these about once every three months.

Ms. Hemsell: Misha, 19

Ms. Schroeder: Moose, 5 months

She has no tail! She is full of energy and loves to cuddle. We go on walks and car trips and she loves to be where I am all

Likes to crawl inside packages, bags, and boxes once they have been emptied.

Corrigan: Banjo, 5

Stepping into Success!

Presley Jones, Cayden Laynor, Kaya Parker & Jaena Han

The USB and USG Basketball teams have both made immense impacts on our sports here at Annie Wright.

As of last year our USB Basketball team won State as well as the USG placing 5th. So, here’s some insight on how both teams are feeling about the upcoming season!

Here are some interviews from a few of your USG and USB Basketball captains!

Q: What are you most excited about this upcoming season?

Brian Holliday ‘26- I’m most excited to see how our new group steps into its own identity this season. Coming off a state championship, there’s definitely a high standard, but that just motivates us even more. With so many fresh faces, we have a great opportunity to grow, build chemistry, and prove that we can compete at a high level again. I’m looking forward to seeing how we come together and create our own momentum this year.

James Thomas ‘29- I’m excited for this year and just enjoying the season with my teammates.

Jasmine Andrisek ‘28- I’m excited to bond with and win games with my teammates and make memories this season.

Q: Who do you think your biggest rival is?

Brian Holliday ‘26- I would say cascade is our biggest rival.

James Thomas- I think our biggest rival is Belluve Christian because they’re just so far away and I feel like that makes them our rival.

Jasmine Andrisek ‘28- I think our biggest rival this year will be Bellevue Christian since they beat us last season, but this year we are determined to win against them.

Q: What are you most excited about taking leadership as a captain?

Brian Holliday ‘26- I’m most excited about the opportunity to set the tone for our team. As captain, I get to help build a culture where everyone feels supported, motivated, and confident in what we can achieve together. I’m looking forward to leading by example on and off the court and helping our team grow, stay connected, and push each other to be our best. At the same time, this role is pushing me outside my comfort zone in a good way. I’ve always struggled with being more vocal.

James Thomas ‘29- I’m most excited to lead my team as a freshman and lead us to the State Championship.

Jasmine Andrisek ‘28- I’m excited about getting to help the team advance further to winning state by keeping up the team’s encouragement and bond.

Q: What might be the biggest challenge for this season?

Brian Holliday ‘26- One of the biggest challenges this season will be finding our rhythm as a new team. With fresh players stepping into bigger roles, it may take time to build chemistry and understand how we work best together. But I see that challenge as an opportunity once we settle in, communicate, and trust each other, we’ll be able to grow into a stronger, more unified team.

James Thomas ‘29- The biggest challenge might just be our attitude and how we come out every game. We have to come out ready to win.

Jasmine Andrisek ‘28- The biggest challenge for this year might be staying focused and consistent throughout the season especially through games that might be a bit tough.

Q: What do you love most about your sport?

Brian Holliday ‘26- What I love most about basketball is how it brings people together. There’s something special about the energy on the court, the teamwork, the communication, the intensity, and the trust you build with your teammates. I also love the constant challenge there’s always something to improve, a new skill to learn, or a moment to grow from. Basketball pushes me, motivates me, and gives me a place where I can compete, have fun, and be part of something bigger than myself.

James Thomas ‘29- I love this sport cause its basketball what’s not to love aboutt it

Jasmine Andrisek ‘28- I love the completeness of basketball and the excitement it brings me especially because basketball is a team sport so getting to play alongside my teammates is very fun.

http://www.cvleague.org/rosters/schools/93/dist_roster_AnnieWright__202526_20260113133506.pdf

Italy’s Winter Wonderland: Winter Olympics 2026

Excited to watch some thrilling winter sports in the snowy season? The upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics–”Milano Cortina 2026”–will be held in Italy from February 6-22, with the Paralympics following from March 6-15.

With the winter games taking place across multiple cities in three regions of northern Italy, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are the hosts of this year’s Olympics. As Italy’s second most populated city, Milan will be hosting the Opening Ceremony as well as multiple ice events including figure skating, ice hockey, and speed skating. The other co-host Cortina will be holding the games for bobsled, skeleton, curling, and more. Lastly, the Closing Ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics as well as the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics will be taking place in the Arena di Verona.

https://www.italia.it/en/veneto/verona

Among multiple pieces of news regarding the upcoming Winter Olympics, ski mountaineering’s debut in the Olympic programme is definitely a noteworthy one. While ski mountaineering, or “skimo”, is already a popular sport in the Alps, it demands intense endurance and professional techniques from athletes to perform the combination of uphill skiing, climbing, and high-speed descents. In contrast with alpine

Chloe Yoo

https://seeitalytravel.com/blog/verona-the-irresistible-italian-gem-that-stirs-the-senses/

skiing, skimo also requires athletes to make their wa y up to the mountain before skiing down heals. Taking place in the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, fans attending the game will be able to watch the vigorous performance of one of the most resilient athletes.

Looking into individual athletes in different sports, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo is making his way closer to becoming the revolutionary champion in the field of cross-country skiing. As the most decorated male cross-country skier in history with five Olympic golds, Klæbo is the youngest Norwegian man ever to win the FIS Cross-Country World Cup, a world championship title, and an Olympic gold. Klæbo also demonstrated his excellence as an athlete by claiming six gold medals at the 2025 world championship, breaking the all-time record for men’s world championship titles. With his outstanding results raising anticipation for his performance in the upcoming Olympics, more notable outcomes are expected in his future career.

At the age of 17, Chloe Kim became the youngest woman ever to win the gold medal in the snowboard halfpipe as an athlete representing the United States. Becoming the first woman to win two Olympic gold medals four years later at Beijing 2022, Kim is aiming

https://www.ispo.com/en/trends/ski-mountaineering-olympics-hardest-climb-done

to claim her third gold medal in the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026. If she succeeds to win her next gold medal, she will be joining Shaun White as the only snowboarders to hold three Olympic halfpipe golds. While Kim officially announced that she had considered retiring after the Beijing Olympics due to depression, she later publicly shared that the shift in her goal and motivation of her games from winning medals to building a life she wants helped her continue on with her career as a snowboarder.

Although skimo, Klæbo, and Kim were the focus of this article, more highlights of individual athletes and sports are expected in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Italy’s speed skater Arianna Fontana is looking forward to writing history with her current 11 medals, Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri are aiming for their first Olympic medal as an Italian ice dancing pair with a 15-year partnership on ice, and last but not least the Italian curling mixed double athletes Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini are anticipating another successful game in their home country after their first gold medal victory in the Beijing 2022.

Furthermore, American speed skater Jordan Stolz and figure skater Samodelkina, representing Kazakhstan, are coming out as audience favorites. Now 20, Stolz already participated in the Beijing 2022 at the age of 17 and has continued to break every possible record as the youngest world champion. If he manages to deliver an outstanding performance in the 2026 Winter Olympics, he would bring himself closer to being one of the greatest speed skaters in the world.

As one of the dark horses considered to win an Olympic medal, Samodelkina’s success in recent competitions at the ISU Grand Prix is also raising expectations. Her ability to perform a broad range of difficult technical skills in figure skating serves as one of her biggest strengths. Samodelkina’s achievements this Winter in her first Olympics game, especially after switching her nationality from Russia to Kazakhstan, is something to look forward to.

So, whether the personal goals and stories of the athletes sound interesting or you’re just excited to enjoy the winter sports, mark your calendars for the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics and look forward to spending the winter season with some amazing performances from the players!

Citations

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/milano-corti na-2026-10-storylines-to-watch https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/chloe-kim https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/klaebo https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/sports/ski-mountaineering