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Volume LXXXVI October 5, 2020 Issue 1 510 13th St. Cullman, AL 35055

The Back to School Edition 147 School Days Until Graduation!

Fall Playlist

Coping with Covid

Tracks for the fireside.

Coronavirus causes more than physical problems

Presley Lafon, Staff Writer Isabella Phillips, Staff Writer 1. “River” -Leon Bridges

2. “Scar Tissue” -Red Hot Chili Peppers 3. “All the Pretty Girls” -KALEO 4. “Hold On” -Alabama Shakes 5. “Stubborn Love” -The Lumineers 6. “Morocco” -Moon Taxi 7. “Sweater Weather” -The Neighborhood 8. “The Ghost on the Shore” -Lord Huron 9. “Cardigan” -Taylor Swift 10. “Sedona” -Houndmouth 11. “Harvest Moon” -Neil Young 12. “Shameful Company” -Rainbow Kitten Surprise 13. “Hey, Ma” -Bon Iver 14. “still feel.” -half • alive 15. “Bloodbank” -Bon Iver

Features: 1-5

Pandemics can be stressful. The fear and anxiety surrounding COVID-19 is weighing on everyone right now, especially in a time when we are returning to school and have worries such as financial pressures, the health of loved ones, and the spreading of false rumors. During the pandemic, you may have been experiencing symptoms of anxiety, fear, sadness, loneliness and existing mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression may have worsened.

this hard time. Your by starting a new show physical health can be a or picking up a new hobbig impact on your men- by! tal health and vice versa, so make sure you are getting enough sleep every night, eating a balanced diet, getting outside, limiting your screen time, and always remember to relax and take a minute to recharge if you’re feeling too overwhelmed. By Since traditional methods of things have changed, not every thing is accessible anymore, so practicing basic physical try seeking out other alself care you can expect ternatives such as online reduced anxiety, imsupport groups, mental proved moods, clearer health articles, and maythinking, and increased be even online therapy! self esteem. Remember that your Although taking care situation now won’t last of your body has beneforever, and you have fits, not everything can already survived 100% be solved by a run and of your bad days! If you putting down the phone. feel helpless remember Your mental well-being there are always people is equally as importwilling to help such as ant so don’t be afraid your school counselors, to reach out for friends teachers, and fellow If you find yourself for a good support sysclassmates, so never be struggling with these tem, limit your exposure afraid to reach out to overwhelming feelings, to news media, try out someone in a time of remember to practice self meditation, keep a regu- need! care to help cope during lar routine, and stay busy

Sports: 6-7

Campus News: 8-10

Entertainment: 11-16

2 Features

Presidental Debate

A little about our 2020 cadidates

Ava Burns, Staff Writer

During these unprecedented times you might be thinking the last thing we need is a country dividing election, but Donald Trump’s first term is ending and the show must go on. So here is a look at our two front runners in the 2020 election, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Biden’s stance is more centrist than left, he tries to be progressive but in a gentle, gradual policy type way. For example, while he was lukewarm on Medicare for all, he does support a system like medicare that Americans can choose to buy into. This would bridge the gap between people who do not want a universal healthcare system and those who do. On the other hand, he joins the farther left position on gun regulations. He wants to ban assault weapons, buy back and further regulate those already owned, and

require universal background checks for all gun sales. Another further left position he takes is one on immigration, vowing to reverse Trump’s policies while implementing and improving ones that the Obama administration already had in place. One final issue that we are all thinking about, Covid- 19. The general hope is to develop a vaccine and try to return to normalcy as soon as possible, but Biden plans to do more than that. Drawing inspiration from his efforts in the H1N1 outbreak and the 20072009 financial crisis, he plans to enact emergency paid leave, free testing, and elimination of cost barriers for treatment. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Trump stands on the far right.His immigration policies consist of building a border wall and requiring new immigrants to be able to financially support themselves. He

also wants to make sure they don’t have access to welfare or taxpayer funded healthcare. As a country who was founded by immigrants this seems like a step against our own history. On healthcare he is surprisingly more left, planning to cut prescription drug prices and lower premiums, but there is one contradiction. He says he plans to “protect Social Security and Medicare”, but he called on congress to make his executive order of deferring payroll tax permanent, which would end Social Securities main funding. As he is pro 2nd amendment, he supports no gun restrictions. Finally, his plans for Covid-19 are the same as Bidens as far as creating a vaccine and the return to normalcy, but he wants to refill stockpiles for healthcare workers and prepare for future pandemics. Electing Biden is extremely

important for the left, without him our democracy could very well be in danger. On the Republican side it is more about holding on to and utilizing the power they possess with a wildly right wing president. Both sides are fighting for our incredibly different visions of this nation’s future. We all must prepare for the pros and cons of either candidate winning and for either side’s vision coming true. This election will definitely be one to go in the history books, so which side of history will you be on? Election day is November third, so put on those masks and go vote!

5 Ways to Boost Your Immune System Simple ways to keep you healthy and energized

Bella Cottingham, Staff Writer

Our immune systems are extremely complex; they need to be strong enough to fight off a wide variety of illnesses and infections, but not too strong to the point where it overreacts unnecessarily potentially resulting in allergies and other auto-immune disorders. In order to function in such a delicate balance, our immune systems are strictly influenced by a variety of factors. Despite their complexity, there are everyday lifestyle habits that are easy to undertake which can boost your immune system and supply what it needs to fight off infections and illness. Here are a

few steps you can take to help boost your immune system. 1.Maintain a Healthy Diet Maintaining a healthy diet plays a major role in sustaining a strong immune system. This includes keeping up with what you’re eating and of course, eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. These foods in

particular will provide you with the adequate amount of energy your immune system needs and also ensure a sufficient amount of micronutrients like vitamin B6, C, and E. Even small things like having a cup of orange juice in the morning or making sure you eat some fruits and veggies daily will help your immune system. (Fun fact: vitamin C which is also known

as ascorbic acid, is a disease fighting nutrient which is not produced in your body so you must get it from foods containing vitamin C. 2. Get Enough Sleep Believe it or not, a lot of important body processes take place while we are asleep. For example, many infection-fighting molecules are created while we sleep. So it is important to get the recommended amount of sleep for your age (about 8-10 hours) to make sure your body has time for these significant processes to take place. 3. Drink Lots of Water!

Drinking plenty of water has many other benefits along with supporting your immune system. From a scientific perspective, lymph is a

fluid which carries important infection-fighting cells through your body and is largely made up of water. Reduced amounts of water in your body can slow down the movement of this fluid which can cause a weakened immune system. 4. Exercise Regularly It does not have to be running miles everyday or lifting weights, but even a little bit of light exercise or physical activity regularly can help maintain a healthy immune system. Exercising aids in improving your circulation which means infection-fighting molecules and immune cells can move easily throughout your body. 5. Take Steps to Avoid Infection Especially during this time period, it is important to frequently wash your hands and wash them well. Besides washing your hands, there are many steps you can take to avoid

getting sick and keeping your immune system strong. Make sure to rinse any meat, poultry, fish, fruit, and vegetables thoroughly before eating or cooking them. Wash your hands before and after handling raw meats, and be sure all meat is cooked adequately. Especially during this time, it’s important to take as many precautions as possible to avoid infection and the spread of it. There are basic things you can do such as washing your hands (with soap, scrubbing in between fingers, for at least 20 seconds), covering your cough with your inner elbow, and wearing a mask in public. Please wear a mask! You may think you are not at risk for getting sick or worsecatching coronavirus, but we need to be mindful of other people. It’s like driving a car, even if you’re an amazing driver, this doesn’t ensure

you won’t ever get in a wreck. So, these are some tips which can build your immune system and keep yourself healthy and potentially others as well.

FEATURES New Faces That You Can’t See

New teacher interviews Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor 1.) How long have you been teaching? 2.) Where did you get your teaching degree from? 3.) What subject do you teach? 4.) What are you most looking forward to about teaching at CHS? 5.) What would most students be surprised to find out about you? 6.) What is the best teaching advice that you have ever received? 7.) What is one piece of wisdom that you would like to share with your students? 8.) What is the hardest part about teaching during Covid-19?

Mr. Guinn: 1.) This is my first year teaching. 2.) I earned my bachelors of science in biology from Athens State University 3.) I teach Physical Science. 4.) I am looking forward to sharing my passion for science with students, and I am excited about becoming a member of the Cullman bearcat family. 5.) This is a difficult question! I don’t know if it is a surprise, but I really enjoy paddle boarding on the lake and traveling. 6.) When I was a student, I always loved the teachers or instructors that respected their students. I think most students enjoy having a teacher that values their students’ opinions. Students do not want to be treated like kids, they want to be respected as individuals. 7.) “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” Choose to make the most out of whatever you are given. Your attitude is a choice. 8.) The hardest part for me is connecting with my students. It is difficult to get to know each student personally via zoom calls and google meets.

Mrs. Kinny: 1.) I have been teaching for 17 years. I am beginning my 18th year. 2.) I earned my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama Birmingham. I earned my Master’s degree and my Educational Specialist degree from the University of West Alabama. 3.) I am a Guidance Counselor at CHS.

4.) I look forward to getting to know the students at CHS and helping them through their high school years and preparation for their future careers/jobs. 5.) I am ambidextrous. 6.) Treat your students like you would want someone to treat your own children. 7.) Do not be afraid to chase any dream that you have. The world is yours for the taking! You can do anything you set your mind to and it’s ok to fail. Character is built from how you handle failure and where you go from there! Always find the positives in life and learn from your mistakes! 8.) I miss the interactions with students without masks. I love seeing smiling faces and it’s hard to see those with masks on everyday.

Mr. Malcolm: 1.) I’ve been involved with education for almost two years. 2.) I got my Bachelor’s degree from Idaho State University and I am working on earning my Master’s degree from West Alabama. 3.) I don’t teach yet but when I do it will be PE (hopefully) but right now at CHS I will be the Drivers Ed. sub when Coach Patterson is out driving. 4.) I look forward to getting to know everyone here at CHS. 5.) I can solve a Rubik’s cube in about 2 minutes or less. 6.) Best advice I’ve gotten would probably be to empathize with your students. 7.) Making connections and networking is very important and to find something everyday to make you laugh. 8.) The hardest part for educators at this time would probably be trying to plan through uncertainties.

Mrs Morris: 1.) This is my first year teaching. 2.) I have a Business Degree from Athens State University. 3.) Business Essentials. 4.) I love working with kids and I have always wanted to teach. 5.) I started my own monogramming

boutique and I still run it. 6.) Start the school year the way you want the rest of the year to progress. 7.) You are Loved. Never Settle for Less than You Can BE. 8.) The hardest part would be not being able to walk around and interact with kids.

Mrs. Thrasher: 1.) I am starting my sixth year teaching. I taught special education for grades K-4th grade at West Morgan Elementary. The past three years I have taught special education for grades 2nd-6th grade at East Elementary. This is my first year to teach at the high school level. 2.) I graduated from the University of North Alabama with my undergraduate degree in Collaborative Teacher grades K-6th. I recently finished my masters degree in Special Education K-12 from the University of West Alabama. 3.) At the high school I am a resource teacher. I teach study skills, transition, biology, and government. 4.) I am really excited to get to know the students and help them find the path they want to take after high school whether it be college or a career pathway. 5.) Most people think because of my height I played volleyball and basketball in high school. I actually played neither and played tennis instead. 6.) I think the best advice I was given is that getting to know students and making a connection with them takes precedent in order for students to learn. 7.) Don’t feel like you have to have everything figured out before you leave high school. Enjoy your time while you are here! 8.) During quarantine, one of the hardest things about teaching was losing that in person interaction with my students. I am so thankful to be back in person teaching!

Mrs. Watson: 1.) This is my 11th year to teach. 2.) My degree is from Auburn University at Montgomery. 3.) I teach science. (This year Pre-AP

Chemistry, General Chemistry, Physical Science, Virtual Chemistry, Virtual Honors Chemistry, and Virtual Earth and Space Science) 4.) I am super excited to be at Cullman! I am excited to have the opportunity to teach Pre-AP Chemistry. 5.) Students would be surprised to find out that I am training for a 100 mile race. 6.) The best teaching advice that I have received is to care about the students above all else. I want my students to learn and be challenged by my courses, but first I want them to know that I care about them and want them to succeed in all they do. 7.) Believe in yourself!!! You can accomplish anything you want to accomplish if you are willing to put in the work and the time. 8.) The hardest part about teaching is the distance it puts between everyone. I like being able to walk around and easily engage with working students. But being back at school with restrictions is way better than being remote.

Mrs. Williams 1.) This is my 4th year teaching! 2.) My degree is from the University of North Alabama. Roar Lions! 3.) I teach Geometry this year! 4.) I am most looking forward to growing as a teacher. Cullman is a fantastic school and I am so lucky to have the opportunity to teach here and to be a part of this faculty! I am also looking forward to being back in my community and getting involved! 5.) I think most students would be surprised to find out that I’m actually very shy. I don’t seem like it in a classroom setting but I am extremely shy around people I don’t know well. I am terrible at initiating conversations! 6.) The best teaching advice I’ve ever received was “Reflect on your day and make the next day better”. Some days things don’t go exactly like you plan, but as a teacher, you’ve got to be flexible. Reflect on what didn’t work and make it better tomorrow. 7.) Make it a great day.. Or not. The choice is yours. YOU choose how well your day goes. So make it great. 8.) The hardest part about teaching during this pandemic is not being able to get close to my students and provide the quality one-on-one time they need.

4 FEATURES Cullman City Council

The newly elected office holders Ava Burns, Staff Writer

Mayor Woody Jacobs

City Council place 4 is Clint Hollingsworth

Woody Jacobs has been Mayor from 2016-2020 and was reelected this year. He grew up in Cullman and returned after studying at the University of Alabama. Much of his life is spent giving back to our community. He has served as City Council President, President of the Parks and Recreation Board, and much more.

Serving his fourth term on the CityCouncil, Clint Hollingsworths’ main focus is on our school system and our economic growth. As a small business owner he understands the hardships Covid-19 is causing in our town and plans to use that knowledge to help local businesses get back on their feet.

City Council Place 1 Andy Page

City Council Place 2 David Moss, Jr

Andy Page came to Cullman in 1976 raising his children here and retiring with his wife. He has been part of the City Council for 12 years, and has quite an impressive resume. A few things he has done are acquiring over $30 million dollars in grants for Cullman with one of those being $14 million for widening highway 157.

David Moss junior has only been on the City Council for a year and a half, filling in for Garland Gudger Jr., but he has loved what little time he had. He plans to focus his efforts on the challenges our school system faces during this time. Coming from a line of office holders in Cullman, he wants to continue his father and grandfather’s efforts in making our city the best it can be.

Editor in Chief: Olivia Wood Co-Editors:

Isabella Cottingham Maggie Lunsford

Staff Writers: Gabriella Brown Ava Burns Presley Lafon Isabella Phillips Christen Sorrow Sponsor: Ms. Calahan

City Council place 3 is John Cook

City Council Place 5 is Jenny Folsom

Johnny Cook served on Cullman’s City Council from 2008-2016, and he is returning with a few goals in mind. He wants to aid in completing the duck river pipeline, replacement of the Eva road and Larkwood bridges, and continuing to build Cullman’s reputation as a destination spot.

Jenny Folsom has been serving our community for many years, not just in her 12 years as a Councilwoman. After graduating from Cullman High School, she taught at Wallace for 22 years. One of her big achievements as part of the City Council is helping finance updated equipment in order for our parks to be inclusive to all children.

Opinions expressed in The Hilight do not necessarily reflect the views of the falculty, staff, or admission of Cullman High School or Cullman City Schools.

The Hilight Cullman High School 510 Street NE Cullman, AL 35055 256-734-3923 Ext. 2045

FEATURES Cullman City School Board

The who’s who after the 2020 election Ava Burns, Staff Writer

School Board place 4 is Jason Neal

Superintendant Susan Patterson

Dr. Susan Patterson has been the Superintendant of the Cullman City School Board since 2015. Before she took on this role she was an educator and administrator for 30+ years! Sadly though, she is ending her long career in 2021 as she is planning to retire. We will miss you Dr. Patterson!

School Board place 2 is Chris Branham

School Board place 3 is Cheryl Gable Harrison

School Board place 5 is Amy Carter

School Board place 1 is Joey Orr

After teaching early childhood education for 13 years Joey Orr now serves as the Children’s Minister at Grace Chapel. She Plans on using her history as an educator and a parent of three children in Cullman Schools to help improve the lives of all children during her second term.

Up for reelection is another longtime resident of Cullman, Jason Neal. During his second term he plans to focus on technology and the athletics departments in our schools. He also plans to update the facilities at CCPS, EES, WES, CMS, and CHS. Let’s hope he puts air conditioning in the old gym!

Chris Branham and his wife are both Cullmanites, graduating from Cullman High School and attending Wallace State Community College. Both of his children attend school in the Cullman school system, and he owns a small business in the area as well. He says he wants to join the School board to give back to the community that has given him and his family so much over the years.

Cheryl Harrison is also a Cullman High and Wallace State alumni, with a daughter in the Cullman school system as well. She says she plans to open a bridge between the school system and the city, as communication with members of the community is key.

Amy Carter has worked for a sports medicine company in schools all over Alabama. After being a resident of Cullman for 18 years she decided to run for the school board. Her goals during her term are to secure funding and space for future improvements, as well as student success and school security.

SPORTS

Cross Country

Insight into the runners’ motivation Isabella Phillips, Staff Writer We all hear the talk about the big sports around campus such as football, volleyball, and basketball, but what about cross country? Cross country is a high energy sport in which teams of runners compete on open-air courses and trails. With such an competitive and intense hobby, I decided to find out what makes these runners strive to keep running and to bring light to one of the most intense sports on campus. Troy Adkison 1. I’ve been a part of the team since 7th grade, so a little over 5 years. 2. I started running because my brother and sister were on the team and it seemed like a fun sport to be a part of. 3. Roughly 55 a week. 4. I think about my friends on the team and how much they mean to me to keep myself motivated. 5. The furthest distance I’ve ever ran was a little more than 18 miles. It was rough.

6. Cross country can be a very fun sport if you make it fun, and the people on the team are some of the best people you’ll ever meet. Adam Mangum 1. I’ve been a part of the cross country for 5 years, since 7th grade. 2. I joined the team because of teacher suggestions and being able to be with my friends. 3. During build up stages, 65 miles a week and during the season around 45-50.

into a hole. 5. The furthest I’ve run is 20 miles. 6. I want others to know cross country is a very special sport, you truly get out what you put in and you can meet the nicest people and lifelong friends that share the same fire for running that you do. Tess Heaton 1. I have been on the team since 8th grade, so 5 years after this one. 2. I decided to do cross country

Questions: 1. How long have you been a part of the cross country team? 2. Why did you decide to start running cross country? 3. About how many miles do you run in a week? 4. How do you stay motivated to run? 5. What is the furthest distance you’ve ever ran? 6. What do you want others to know about cross country? 4. I’m able to stay motivated by putting my teammates first and doing whatever is necessary to bring us to the top of the podium. You gotta find fun in it too, if everyday is just work you fall

around and running helps me take my mind off of other things. 5. 16 miles 6. Even though it seems kinda crazy, it’s actually really fun and i’ve met some of my best friends through it :) Joshlyn Hudson 1. I did it for four years. 2. I really liked running and a friend told me about it. 3. 40 4. I enjoy the feeling it gives me and all of the people I’m surrounded by during it. 5. 14 miles 6. It will give you some great friendships :)

because my friends were doing it but I ended up loving it so much and am so thankful that I decided to do it. 3. We do about 35-40 4. Mainly the people I get to be

Football

A look into the challenges of this season Presley Lafon, Staff Writer

Head Coach Oscar Glasscock commented on the difficulties that will come with this season, saying, “Maintaining 6 feet of separation and building practice schedules into 15 minute chunks has been a challenge. Plus, not knowing what players may not be available each week, because of contact tracing, is extremely stressful on the kids.” When asked what the biggest challenge this year’s team will have to overcome, he answered, “The challenge of social distancing outside of football practice and functions. It’s certainly a unique year, but our kids have handled it well so far.” Although many elements of the 2020 football season will be very different from those of years past, one thing that will remain the same for the players are their pre-game rituals.

I asked some players what their pre-game rituals are and here is what they had to say:

Logan Holley “Before the game I make sure all the footballs are in their precise place and then I eat with the boys. After that I take a nap and listen to some music. Then, I get dressed and make sure my socks are perfect, check my boy Sam’s drip and make sure we are ready to hit the field.”

Max Dueland “After school I normally go home and rest for a few. Then I come back to the field house for our pregame meal, listen to a guest speaker, and finally listen to music until we go out for warm ups.” Layne Dial “I really don’t do much besides listen to some music and then right before the game Evan Richards and I put our helmets on and hit each other in the head.” Isaiah Jones “Before every game I pray and give thanks to God for letting me play the sport I love, right before I run onto the field!” Josh Miranda “I always listen to music and pray.”

Jeb Bartle “I usually take a nap before the games.” Jaden Kay “I usually play some music, then I go to the weight room and take about an hour nap. I wake up about 2 hours before the game and put on my song called “What’s Free” by Meek Mill and get ready to hit the field.”

SPORTS Swimming into Senior Year

An interview with the CHS swim captain Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer The CHS swim team is made up of wonderful athletes who love the water. One special member of the team is Senior Captain Logan Holley. Logan has been swimming for almost eight years, and he says that many of his teammates have been swimming for at least that long, if not longer. I recently sat down with Logan and asked him about his favorite parts of being on the Cullman High School swim team. Q: “What are the requirements for being on the swim team?” A: “The only requirement is to have some swim experience, and then you are evaluated by Coach Goble.” Q: “Who are the coaches and do they inspire you to do your best?” A: “Coach Goble is the only coach for the swim team. Everyday at practice he shows up enthusiastic and ready to help

make the team better.” Q: “Do you guys do anything specific when you practice?” A: “ Usually we just get to the pool, change into our suits, do a team stretch and use resistance bands to warm up. Our practice is typically anywhere from 2,000-3,500 yards.” Q: “Do you guys have to practice for the whole year or just when it’s time for the season to start?” A: “High school swim season starts when school starts back. During the summer we have workouts to attend. Most of the swimmers swim for CST or for MSA over the summer.” Q: “Are there any pre-meet rituals that you do before the swim meets as a team?” A: “Usually we go to the pool before the meet and just lay down and get focused. But the night before the meet we go have a team dinner or we will

eat together after our meet.” Q: “Does the team do any fun activities outside of swimming?” A: “We usually eat before our meets and sometimes hang out after practice. Most of the time, we swim for about 2 hours and then are done with our practice. On Fridays, we play water polo or sharks and minos as our practice.” Q: “What is one of your favorite swim meets that you’ve participated in?” A: “My junior year at sectionals. Sectionals is the last meet before we go to state, so it is the last time to qualify for state. The guys team was really close to qualify in the 200 medley and 400 free, but we were nowhere near the time to qualify for 200 free. We swam the medley first and qualified, and then swam the 200 free, we were so close to qualifying. The last event was the 400 free, we were a younger group of swimmers and didn’t

think we would qualify.” Q: “What are some fun memories from different swim meets?” A: “Swim meets get pretty intense. My favorite meet was when we were swimming against Bob Jones last year and we were swimming the 200 medley relay. It is at the start of the meet and your adrenaline is pumping. I swam freestyle and swam the fastest I ever have and we came in 3rd. We are a smaller team and were swimming against bigger 6A/7A Huntsville City schools, so that was really big for our team momentum.”

Volleyball

Interviewing the team captains and players Bella Cottingham, Staff Writer Kada Milne- Senior 1) The thing I am looking forward to most this year is seeing our team grow as a whole and get tougher mentally. 2) My favorite part about being on the team is definitely getting to smell Ashlen Heatherly’s knee pads everyday. I’m totally kidding my favorite part about being on the team is the game. I love the game and it’s something I don’t want to leave anytime soon. 3) Wearing masks on the bench to prevent the spread of Covid has been a change; it definitely makes screaming and spreading germs more difficult. 4) I want to come back fully as a player, and be a better teammate and player than I have been in the past. 5) I think our greatest strength is our talent. We have a lot of talent on this team, but to unlock our greatest strength we have to defeat our biggest weakness which is our mental toughness.

Gracie Barksdale- Junior 1. Going to regionals and our road to state. 2. Spend the night parties the night before home games. 3. We have changed our practices around to fit social distancing guidelines and wearing masks when we are not actively in a drill or game.

friends. 2. My favorite part about being on the volleyball team is having a family away from my family. I love having a momma Cagle to talk to everyday. 3. The only huge change is having to wear masks off the court. 4. A personal goal I have for the season is to play each and every

Questions: 1. What are you looking forward to most this year? 2. What is your favorite part about being on the Volleyball team? 3. Has there been any major changes in how the team operates in response to coronavirus? 4. What is a personal goal you have for the season? 5. What do you think is the team’s greatest strength? 4. To be a leader for my team and always be the loudest one on the court. 5. Our greatest strength is our team chemistry and the love that we have for eachother. Ashlen Heatherly- Senior 1. I am looking forward to making a run at state with my best

game as if it is my last. 5. I think the team’s greatest strength is our ability to take every team to three sets even if it should not be necessary. Sarah Kate Dockery- Junior 1. I am looking forward to playing and being around a group of amazing girls who really make the team better.

2. I love the team aspect of the game. Other sports are very individual and you don’t really have to rely on your teammates. But in volleyball your team has to have your back or else you won’t succeed. 3. Wearing a mask on the bench has definitely been a major change because it changes how the people on the court hear and respond to you. 4.I want the team to do well at a large scale. 5.I think that the team has a great way of picking other people up, especially after a hard play.

8Campus

News

Please Don’t Stop the Music Homecoming 2020

Presley Lafon, Staff Writer This year’s Homecoming is going to look drastically different from Homecomings in years past, due to the current circumstances, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be the best one yet!

Pictured: Avery Orr and Reese Patterson

All Homecoming dress-up days are music themed: Monday- “Bright Lights”- Neon/ Tie-Dye Day Tuesday- “Surfin USA”- Beach/ America Day

Wednesday- Virtual Costume Day Thursday- “Sign of the Times”Decade/Throwback Day Friday- “Fight Song Friday”Black and Gold Day

Pictured: Lindsey Skinner and Annabeth Mauldin

Homecoming Events: Sunday- City scavenger hunt begins Monday- Cake decorating and cornhole tournament Tuesday- Lawn chair movie night

(“Back To The Future”) Wednesday- Wii Just Dance competition and Wii Mario Kart competition Friday- Pep Rally and Mega Relay

includes 9th grade representatives Avery Orr and Reese Patterson, 10th grade representatives Anna Beth Mauldin and Lindsey Skinner, 11th grade representatives Mary Elizabeth Barker and Tatum Nixon, and 12th grade representatives Brooke Cagle, Rosie Cowart, Presley Lafon, and Sadie Young.

Pictured: Mary Elizabeth Barker and Tatum Nixon

To end Homecoming week, the Cullman Bearcats will play the Columbia Wildcats at 7:00 pm. The Homecoming Court will take the field during halftime and the Homecoming Queen will be announced. This year’s Homecoming Court

Pictured: Rosie Cowart, Brooke Cagle, Sadie Young, and Presley Lafon

Fair Queen Fix

An interview with Presley Lafon Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor

Tankersley (Fairview), Sara Owens (Good Hope), Ella Absher (Hanceville), Raven Aldridge (Holly Pond), Jordan Chambliss (Vinemont), and Ashley Mann (West Point). I recently sat down with Presley to see how she is feeling about the upcoming pageant.

Each year the Cullman County Fair hosts the Miss Cullman County Fair Queen Pageant. A senior representative from each of the eight public high schools in Cullman is selected to participate. Contestants are judged on different rounds including interview, platform, and talent. The winner and first and second alternates all receive scholarships up to $3,000. Additional scholarships are also given by Wallace State Community College and the Cullman Lioness Club. In March, Presley Lafon was chosen as the 2020 Fair Queen Representative for Cullman High School. Presley will compete in the County Pageant on October 13, 2020. Her competitors include Annalise Hyche (Cold Springs), Ella

the opportunity to! 2.) What has been your favorite part of being the 2020 CHS Fair Queen Representative? My favorite part of being the 2020 CHS Fair Queen Representative has definitely been getting to meet all of the other girls from the county schools. Everyone is so nice and supportive and I can’t wait to get to know each one of them better throughout this process!

Pictured: Hannah Hoffman, Miss Congeniality, Presley Lafon, 2020 CHS Fair Queen Representative, Chloe Carter, First Alternate and Talent Winner

1.) Describe your experience as CHS Fair Queen Representative so far. It is such an honor to represent Cullman High School as Fair Queen Representative! I have really enjoyed all the planning and hard work that has gone into preparing for the County Pageant, as well as getting the chance to meet and work with so many amazing people that I otherwise wouldn’t have had

3.) What have you been doing to prepare for the county pageant in October? To prepare for the county pageant in October, I have been working with several people to choreograph a new talent routine, as well as working on perfecting my platform and backstage interview

skills. 4.)What will you do at the county pageant? At the country pageant I will have a private backstage interview with 5 judges. I will also be using my platform to talk about my experiences doing mission work on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Gallup, New Mexico. Finally, I will be performing a lyrical jazz dance to Bruno Mars’s “Talking to the Moon”. I am so excited for the county pageant and I can’t wait to have the opportunity to inspire other people through my performance! 5.) What are your other responsibilities as the 2020 CHS Fair Queen Representative? I am responsible for representing CHS in the Cullman County Fair Parade Saturday, October 3rd, as well as in the Cullman County Fair Pageant, held on Tuesday, October 13th. 6.) What changes have been made to the County Fair Queen Pageant because of COVID-19? As of right now, the Cullman County Fair Pageant is still scheduled for Tuesday, October 13th, but there will be limited seating avaliable, primarily reserved for the close family and friends of the contestants.

CAMPUS NEWS

You Can’t Make Change?

A look into the changing policies of ticket purchasing at CHS Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief If you have not heard by now, Cullman High School is transitioning to an online ticketing system for all events. This is through a website called GoFan. com. The goal is to transition completely away from taking cash at the gate to having everyone purchase their tickets online. For now, however, if you plan on purchasing a ticket at the door, make sure you have the correct change! At this time, the gate workers are prohibited from giving change back with a ticket purchase. This is due to new Covid-19 regulations

to protect the person working the gate, and everyone that purchases a ticket with cash. Because of the nature of the website, a $1 fee is

email. Please encourage anyone coming to the game to support you to purchase their ticket online! Many stadiums are limiting ticket sales

Scan this QR Code to be taken to the GoFan Website!

and charged these for every ticket will be sold on a purchased. For example, first come, an $8 football ticket would first serve basis be $9 when purchased at the gate. If you have any through the website. The questions, email link to purchase tickets can Mrs. Hall at be found in your student khall@cullmancats.net.

Where’s Lunch?

Pros and cons of eating in the classroom Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer Due to Covid-19, many things about school look very different. This includes how we change classes, how we use the restroom, and the most obvious: wearing masks. But one major thing that has changed for the juniors, sophomores, freshman, and teachers is where they eat lunch. I decided to ask some teachers and students “What do you like and dislike about eating in the classroom?”. Here are their responses: Teachers: Ms. McCutcheon Pro: “I like eating in the classroom because I get to talk with my students in a more informal setting. I get to know them more without feeling the rush of getting back to a lesson.” Ms. McCutcheon Con: “I dislike eating in the classroom, because I miss catching up with my co-workers and friends. Lunch in the teacher’s lounge was a time to hear what was happening in other classrooms and to hear about the joys and struggles in the lives of my teacher friends.” Coach Dingler Pro: “I can get some extra work done.” Coach Dingler Con: “Not being able to eat lunch with my colleagues.”

Mrs.Burroughs Pro: “I have senior classes 5th and 6th, but they have the option of eating in class or the lunchroom. Those that want to have a quiter lunch eat in the classroom.” Mrs.Burroughs Con: “I don’t like eating in my classroom because I deeply miss the brief few minutes during lunch that I got to spend with my colleagues. I rarely even see the other English teachers who work right next door to me. I am also a ‘clean freak,’ so I don’t like the mess caused by having food at the desks. I will say that my students have been wonderful about cleaning up after themselves, though.”

They are loving their chips! Carrot day is a killer!!!” Freshmen: Kate Bradberry Pro: “Eating in the classroom is not as bad as I thought it would be. If I had to choose, I would totally choose to be eating in the lunchroom!!” Kate Bradberry Con: “I really like eating in the lunchroom a whole lot more because I get to talk with my friends. I’m a very social person and it’s hard not being able to talk to your friends as much.”

Coach B. Meyer Pro:“Food is always close by! And we get to have a lunch party!” Coach B. Meyer Con:“Captain D’s doesn’t deliver and no Alamitos salsa and chips.”

Kase Nixon Pro: “One good thing about eating in the classroom is if you have a lot of friends in there you get to talk to them.” Kase Nixon Con: “What I dislike about eating in the classroom is that you don’t get to see all of your friends like you do eating in the lunchroom.”

Mrs. Rains Pro: “I like that I can see their faces during lunchtime without their masks on. I have 9-12 in my classes and this gives them an opportunity to get to know someone new since they aren’t in the lunchroom sitting with their friends.” Mrs. Rains Con: “It is funny how loudly some of these students eat.

Sophomores: Mimi Lunsford Pro: “We don’t have to wait until we get to the lunchroom to eat. Once the lunch bell rings you can just grab your lunch and start eating.” Mimi Lunsford Con: “I miss seeing my friends and getting to talk to people I don’t have classes with throughout the day.”

Paxton Ponder Pro: “There’s not any.” Paxton Ponder Con: “Definitely not being able to see your friends in other classes.” Juniors: Addie Echols Pro: “We get to know our teachers more because we talk to them during lunch.” Addie Echols Con: “You don’t get to move seats, and lunch feels a lot shorter than it was compared to last year.” Tucker Apel Pro: “I personally do like eating in the classroom, but only in the right situations such as doing busy work or studying.” Tucker Apel Con: “One thing I don’t like is when people eat in the middle of a lesson because that can be distracting to others.” In conclusion, there are many things about this school year that look VERY different. What remains important is the ability to look on the bright side and remember that we are lucky to even be back at school at all. Hopefully, things can go back to normal and we can all be eating in the lunchroom together again very soon.

CAMPUS NEWS

CHS Band Update

A look into the band’s season thus far, and their hopes for the future Olivia Wood, Editor in Chef

The Cullman High School Band has been hard at work to get their show, Nothing But the Blues, ready for the home football games. They are playing charts entitled: St. Luis Blues, Night Train, and C Jam Blues. These are by famous composers W. C. Handy, Jimmy Forest, and Duke Ellington, respectively. Way back in July, the Cullman Band started band camp masked up and socially distanced and put in every effort to make sure that they could continue their season. Luckily, they made it through the two weeks of full band camp and their pre-season rehearsals without incident. Continuing rehearsals into the school year, the band has continued to wear masks and practice social distancing. The goal is to have as many home performances as possible. They have

traveled to two away games thus far. Despite being unable to travel with the entire band, they are continuing to travel with a smaller pep band. This consists of every senior in the band, all of the section leaders, and principle players. For the Grissom game, the band was only able to take twenty-eight students. For the Hartselle game, they will be able to bring approximately sixty. The travel restrictions at this time are caused by a limit on the number of students the stadium says that the band can bring. For example, Grissom set the limit at thirty due to concerns with social distancing and how it would affect the rest of the crowd. Because Hartselle set the limit much higher, the band will be able to bring members of the visual ensemble, as well as more individuals from

every section. Hopefully, and with a little bit of luck, the band will be able to travel in its entirety by the end of the season. Speaking of its entirety, the entire band does get to perform at every home game. At the Jasper Game on the 29th, the band celebrated their seniors in a senior recognition ceremony before the football game. During halftime, the band took the field and performed their show for the first time. They did not have the full show on the field at that time, and instead, played their first two tunes with “Victory March” at the end to finish off. Throughout the game, they performed several crowd favorites in the stands such as “Requiem”, “Hey, Baby!”, and “Ghostbusters”. While it was extremely hot at the game, the band mem-

bers were ecstatic that their first performance went well. In conclusion, the band has worked very hard to have the opportunity to perform and to continue rehearsing. Through wearing masks, maintaining proper social distancing practices, and doing temperature checks, the band has made every attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19. This hard work and effort is spearheaded by their multi-talented directors, Christopher Smith and Doug Tuescher. They have both put in many extra hours to make sure this season has the highest potential for success. The Hilight Staff wishes the band an extremely successful season, both on and off the turf!

The Cullman High School Band in its entirety. The Seniors of the Cullman High School Band.

ENTERTAINMENT

Quarantine Conversions

Things that have changed with us during the pandemic

Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer On March 16, 2020 our lives changed. The day we got out of school and thought we were just going to have a little break turned into a much longer break than we anticipated. I don’t know about you but things have definitely changed with me through this quarantine. I asked some teachers and students what has changed with them and here are some things they said. Mrs.Greenlee 1.) “I tend to stay pretty busy, so the pandemic forced me to slow down. It helped me take a step back and appreciate the little things in life. I’ve made sure my schedule leaves time for my family and more sleep.” 2.) “I started reading again during the pandemic and I’ve continued to make sure I have 30 or 45 minutes every day to get lost in a book.” 3.) “Not really. I wasn’t doing anything irresponsible before health wise while I was in public. I’ve always washed my hands, I’ve never entered other people’s personal bubble, and I don’t cough or sneeze in people’s direction or faces. Now I just wear a mask.” 4.) “No. I tend to be a hermit once I get home anyways. I am really looking forward to a huge meal with my church family again though.” 5.) “Nothing new really. My daughter started running during the pandemic to prepare for XC and the boys like to “train” too. I still love to run, I just do it a lot more and Todd still loves to cycle. His work hours went up drastically during the pandemic though, so it actually hurt his time to enjoy the bike. However, he is currently riding to work everyday and raising money for cancer research.” Ms.Calahan 1.) “Absolutely! I look at anything “planned” as tentative.” 2.) “Clean!!! I have always been a person who enjoyed cleaning; however, I now see cleaning things as my duty to human health.” 3.) “I am much more aware of how close I get to others. “Personal Space” used to be a couple of feet; it is now a larger circle that can be called “Pandemic Space.” 4.) “I do limit the number of places I go; I am now a big fan of Instacart and Wal-Mart Pickup. At church, I don’t get close to others and don’t shake hands or hug as in the past. I only truly visit family and my closest friend outside of school.” 5.) “Not really, however, I must confess that discovering TikTok has entertained lots of my time.” Coach Morris 1.) “I think I am more aware of how much I need in-person interaction. I’m a very social person and my depression flared up without being able to be around our students and faculty.” 2.) “I am more cognizant of how long I wash my hands. I’ve always been a big proponent of using hand sanitizer and washing hands, but a lot

of times I wouldn’t wash for a full 20 seconds. “ 3.) “Outside of school, I’m usually not out in public a lot, so I am not really changing things for the most part in my non-school day to day life.” 4.) “I work the farm most of the time when I’m not at school so I’m not really around people except the feed store and the gas station. I do avoid being around my grandparents right now. They are healthy, but they are in their 80’s and being around students and players makes it very likely for me to possibly make them sick, so I avoid them.” 5.) “We are doing mainly the same things. My kids did enjoy some of our school lessons out in the woods this year though.”

getting up early and meeting a local park to run each morning during the downtime once school shut down in the spring. It was a great way to spend extra time together and stay active.”

Coach Johnsey 1.) “Appreciating time with friends and loved ones, not taking any amount

Tucker Cagle (Sophomore) 1.) “I have changed a lot at the way I look at things since the pandemic

Avery Orr (Freshman) 1.) “I am enjoying each activity and moment more because I know what it is like to not have those.” 2.) “I have spent countless hours on TikTok.” 3.) “Yes, I am a little more cautious in crowds.” 4.) “At the beginning of quarantine I wasn’t in crowds at all. Now, things have loosened up a lot.” 5.) “We’ve had lots of family walks, game nights, and we got the old Wii out!”

1.) How have you changed the way you look at things since the pandemic started?

2.) Is there anything that you do more than you used to not do before the virus started? 3.) Has the virus made you more aware of how careful you are when out in public? 4.) Do you limit how much you get out of the house and who you see? If yes, who is it? 5.) Are there any new hobbies that you have with your family that you didn’t have before? of time you get to spend with them for granted.” 2.)“The obvious things are washing my hands, using hand sanitizer more, and, of course, …WEARING A MASK. I used to NEVER do that. *Borderline hyperventilating when trying to teach class while wearing a mask – I talk fast I am told, and fast talking needs a LOT of unrestricted oxygen flow apparently. Masks don’t necessarily provide that by design. *I judge people for NOT wearing masks, that’s new. Not the judging people part, just the judging people for that particular reason, not being rule followers.” 3.) “I am not much of a “crowd” person, so staying away from larger gatherings, keeping my distance from people in public is fairly normal for me. Now it’s easier – other people are doing it too.” 4.) “I really haven’t curtailed how often I got out too terribly much. As a family, my brothers and I made it a point to do little things to help limit our parents from getting out like going to the grocery store for them, picking up prescriptions. Since the virus adversely affects older people in much higher numbers than it does the younger population, the less they had to get out the safer they would be.” 5.) “My girlfriend and I started

started. it’s really taught me to be thankful for the people I have in my life and that you won’t always have them, It has also taught me to sanitize very well and just wash my hands a good bit throughout the day.” 2.)“Since the pandemic started, I had a lot of time on my hands and I was just sitting around and I started being a lot more productive in my day and getting to work on skills for my sport and workout a lot more which has really helped.” 3.)“The virus has made me a little more careful. I tend to not touch as much things if I am in public shopping or something of that nature. Luckily I have not had any family get the virus which is a blessing but we are just going to keep abiding by the rules of the pandemic.” 4.) “I do not limit at all how much I get out of the house. I spent a lot of time in my house over quarantine and I am very thankful we get the opportunity to get out of the house and be with friends and family.” 5.) “There are not a lot of hobbies that we have picked up since the pandemic. My family enjoys watching a lot of movies together and we have been gone a lot for baseball and stuff this summer so we just enjoy getting to spend time together.”

Avery Johnson(Junior) 1.)“I believe this pandemic will forever change the way we look at things. Never did I once think about catching a disease while at a concert, but now I think it’s something that will always be in the back of my mind. This pandemic has been so wild, I don’t think anyone will ever forget it” 2.)“I have done a TON of walking over the time we have been quarantined at home. I wish I had kept up with the number of miles because it definitely would be through the roof! I also did a lot of fishing, which is surprising for me! I guess in general I spent a lot more time outdoors than I had before.” 3.) “I didn’t really get out in the public much at all... but I think that this virus has definitely made me more selfaware, and also more aware of how my actions might affect the people around me. I don’t want my ignorance to be the reason someone else gets sick. So if I can do anything to keep that from happening, I will.” 4.) “Since the restrictions have loosened up a bit, I have been around a lot more people recently. I think a lot of that is due to school opening back up. But other than school or school functions, the only other people I am around is my family.” 5.) “My family stays busy, so this time of being home has been really great for us! We are actually remodeling a house, so this time of quarantine gave us a few days that we could all go over and work together. We have already made so many memories in that house and I love the fact we got to use this time to make those memories!” Chas NeSmith(Senior) 1.) “I’m over all of this coronavirus mess. The survival rate is at 99.78% which means almost 100% survival. I’m not saying the people who have passed lives don’t matter I’m just saying it’s overdone when it comes to regulationsespecially school related regulations. Once the election comes this will be all over.” 2.) “I’ve been able to work a lot more and see my relatives due to more free time that I have.”? 3.) “I would say yes. I’m more careful to stay distant to people and avoid older people to keep them safe since they are high risk.” 4.) “If yes, whom is it? I go out of the house just the same just not the same places. I see my close friends and neighbors and family members.” 5.)“My sister has had to move home from NYC due to the crazy, horrible place it’s become and we have enjoyed many family board games nights.”

12 E n t e r t a i n m e n t Quarantine Catwalking

How has your life been affected by the pandemic? Presley Lafon, Staff Writer

Elley Atchison (9th grade) 1.) “Nauseating.” 2. ) “At first, I was elated. I would sleep in, get my school work done early, and even work out. How wrong I was. My motivation for life went down the drain when quarantine started. I was in the depths of despair.” 3. ) “I will give you an example of my experience with online school: It’s a Friday night and I’m thinking to myself I have no homework, I can just relax and watch Stepbrothers for the fifth time this week. NO! Wrong, Elley. I had completely forgotten about a test I had to take for math. I made a zero. Maybe I had an anxiety attack, maybe I didn’t. Anyways, the bottom line is that online school just stunk. A big, fat no for me.” 4.) “No, because apparently my interests included gaining 5 pounds. That was not very compelling for me.” 5.) “Yes! I was really into ‘Sinking Ship’ by the backseat lovers. Really just anything by the backseat lovers.” 6.) “We went to the Florida Keys. I hated it. The beach is horrible and I loath it. The mountains are far more superior.” 7. ) “Mimi Lunsford. Her mother pays me to hang out with her. I don’t recommend it, because she is such a toll on your mental health. I almost shipped her off to a foreign country by week two.” 8. ) “Not wearing a mask. It will give me a lot more freedom to pull out my fake tooth and scare people with it. Nobody has laughed yet, but I’m not going to stop trying.Motivation is key.”

Natalie Freeman (10th grade) 1.) “Interesting.” 2.) “When I was told I would not be coming back to school, I had mixed emotions. In a way I was like “oh yay a long break” but then as time went on I missed seeing everyone at school, talking to different people, interacting with amazing teachers, and I realized I was missing a lot of high school that most teenagers get to

I would never take school for granted again.” 5.) “I never really listened to one song repeatedly, but I definitely listened to a lot of country music.” 6.) “I went to Nashville for a concert right before everything hit, but since then I haven’t gone anywhere, sadly.” 7.) “I spent the most time with my family and close friends, because I

1.) If you could describe the quarantine period for yourself in one word, what would it be? 2.) What was your first thought when you were told that we wouldn’t be coming back for school the next day? 3.) How did you feel about having to finish the school year online? Was the experience positive or negative for you and why? 4.) Did you find an interest in any new hobbies during the pandemic? 5.) Was there one song that you listened to the most over the break? 6.) Did you travel anywhere during the pandemic? And if so, where? 7.) Who did you spend the most time with over the break? 8.) What are you most looking forward to doing when the pandemic is over? experience.” 3.) “Honestly I hated online school. For me, I learn better in the classroom, and actually getting to hear the teacher makes life so much easier and instructions are easier to understand.” 4.) “I found out that not going to school and staying at home was so much more boring than it seemed, and

got super bored and needed people to hangout with!” 8.) “I am looking for everything to be back to normal, and no more masks!!!!”

or accent with reds or even greens to give your fall outfits that extra pizzazz. As the insufferable summer heat starts to fade into chillier mornings, try layering different clothing to create a fashionable and warm outfit. Something as simple as throwing a flannel over a graphic tee coupled with a pair of jeans instantly gives your outfit more dimension while keeping you warm in the upcoming chilly weather. Try putting together new outfits with clothes you haven’t worn in a while! It saves money because you aren’t going out to buy more clothes as you might put together an outfit you hadn’t thought of before!

For a more casual look this fall, try looking for eye catching sweatshirts and hoodies and a good pair of shoes. Since everyone knows fall weather doesn’t really hit Alabama until January, you can swap out a sweatshirt with a cute printed t-shirt that works well with any pair of jeans. And for shoes, keep an eye out for platform sneakers such as fila, vans, and converse that go great with any casual outfit!

Carter Gay (11th grade) 1.) “Very boring. A lot of texting girls and some moms.”

2.) “Darn. But I wasn’t too bothered.” 3.) “Positive because I cheated. A lot.” 4.) “Hanging with the boys.” 5.) “I hope.” 6.) “Hartselle, but that’s over.” 7.) “Sydney. We broke up though.” 8.) “Everything.” Caleb Brown (12th grade) 1.) “Boring.” 2.) “I was excited! That excitement quickly faded to boredom.” 3.) “I didn’t hate it. I would have preferred finishing the year in person, but with online school work I got to work a little faster and have extra freetime.” 4.) “Not any new ones, but I got a little bit back into playing piano.” 5.) “‘Idle Town’ by Conan Gray.” 6.) “Jackson, Tennessee to stay with my brother.” 7.) “Chloe Powers, Chloe Zinsmeister, Blake Tetro, and Justin Weygand.” 8.) “School hopefully returning back to normal.”

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Warming Up for Fall Fall fashion

Isabella Phillps, Staff Writer From cute sweaters to a good pair of new boots, fall is the perfect time for anyone to add some variety into their wardrobe. And with fall right around the corner, now is the perfect time to keep your eye out for these new fashion trends.

Now is the time to ditch the bright colors of summer and bring out the reds, oranges and browns that encapsulate that warm feeling of fall. Colors such as beige and black can be boring and dull if you wear them excessively, so don’t be afraid to throw in a pop of yellow

For the girls out there bored of the plain (but cute!) sweatshirt jean combo, try looking for skirts that

match your style! This season, flowy maxi skirts are in, with thousands of styles to choose from. A skirt can instantly boost any plain top into a dynamic and stylish outfit! Try pairing sweaters and boots such as Doc Martins with it as the weather gets colder for even more versatility!

ENTERTAINMENT Calendar

Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor Homecoming, October 2nd-9th Band Exhibition, October 10th

Fashion for Your Face Mask fashion

Ava Burns, Staff Writer

After years of weird fashion trends, what is 2020’s? Masks of course! After months of quarantine we’ve all had time to adjust to the pandemic life and acquire some sweet accessories. Which one of these masks are you rocking for the 2020-2021 school year?

Neck gaiters/ balaclavas. Look, I get it you don’t like the feeling of those strings pulling on your ears. The problem is you just look like you are going skiing or you’re going to rob a bank. I swear the people who wear these tend to not cover their nose, cover your nose people! These can cost $10-$20 on amazon.

Face Shields. Ground control to major Tom? I get very strong astronaut vibes from these.Extra points if you wear a mask under this, the world thanks you. $5-$40 on amazon.

ACT, October 10th Columbus Day (No School), October 12th Fair Queen Pageant, October 13th School Picture Day (Grades 9-11), October 13th (Students A-K), 14th (Virtual Students), 15th (Students L-Z)

Disposable masks, the plastic bottle of the mask world. Didn’t we switch to reusable bottles years ago, save the turtles and all? Kind of bland if you ask me, but hey you look like a doctor at least! A pack of 25 of these is about $15 at Walmart, so just get a cloth one to wash and reuse!

The cloth mask, the best choice. Comes in a wide variety of colors, style and shapes! The only good ones are the ones with adjustable straps and the nose wire. Glasses wearers will understand that one! Usually these aren’t over $25.

Gas masks for covid? Sure, why not! I have seen some people wearing these to Walmart. Definitely ready for pandemic, 2nd cold war, zombie outbreak, and who knows what else. Most expensive mask of them all, $100-$300 on amazon.

ACT, October 17th Oktoberfest Cross Country Meet, October 17th Daylight Savings, November 1st

Maskne, the New Acne

Presidential Election, November 3rd

Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor

Veteran’s Day, November 11th

Clear face masks. These are just kind of weird to me, but I understand the appeal. Perfect for teachers or people with deaf family members or friends. $15 from Rafi Nova

What causes it and how to prevent it As more states issue mandatory Mask Ordinances in order to fight off COVID-19, people continue to wonder how to fight off what’s under their masks--maskne. This new form of skin irritation is spreading across the general public, creating more discomfort and more hatred for masks. So, what can be done about it?

1.) What is maskne? Maskne is acne that is located in areas where your mask touches your face, such as your cheeks,

nose, and chin.

2.) What causes maskne? Maskne occurs when sweat, oil, or bacteria are trapped on your skin while wearing your mask. Your mask causes the skin to feel excess pressure, heat, and rubbing, eventually leading to irritation, inflammation, and pimples. Maskne can worsen skin issues that already exist or cause new ones. Furthermore, maskne is accentuated by heat and humidity, so it is usually more prevalent in people who live in areas with warmer climates (Source

New York Times, AZ Big Media).

3.)What are the best tips for treating and preventing maskne? Some of the simplest tips from The American Academy of Dermatology include cleansing and moisturizing your face daily, not wearing makeup under your mask, taking a fifteen minute mask break every four hours, washing your cloth masks after use, and not reusing your surgical masks.

Entertainment

Starbucks’ Fall Menu at Home Dupe recipes for Starbucks Bella Cottingham, Staff Writer Autumn is here, and so is Starbucks’ fall menu which is filled with all the pumpkin flavored drinks and baked goods. If you have a slight Starbucks addiction like me, it might be fun to take some of these popular fall items from Starbucks’ menu and try making them at home. So, I found two recipes that are said to mimic Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin and put them to the test to see how they compare to the chain’s fall menu items.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe Starbucks’:

• • • • • •

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin Recipe Starbucks’:

Homemade:

Ingredients: 1 cup of milk divided (any type of milk is suitable) 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ cup brewed espresso, or instant espresso if you dont have an espresso machine.

Directions: • Whisk 1/2 cup milk, sugar, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract in a small saucepan over low heat. Simmer for 5 minutes. Whisk in remaining 1/2 cup milk. • Pour milk mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove pulp. Return milk mixture to saucepan and simmer, whisking, 2 minutes. Add espresso and whisk until foamy, 1 minute. • Pour into a glass or mug, top with whipped cream and pumpkin spice if desired Feedback and Comparison: • The only problem with this recipe is the fact that not everyone has an espresso machine at home. Although there is instant espresso you can buy at the store which will work. Other than that, this recipe is fairly easy and quick. As for the taste comparison, the two lattes tasted very similar. I would say the Starbucks latte was more sweet and the pumpkin flavor was not as prominent. I would recommend adding more sugar than the recipe calls for (maybe a teaspoon or so more). I ordered the latte iced at Starbucks because I prefer cold coffee. I also made the homemade one iced; I just waited for the latte to cool then added it to a glass with ice and topped with the whipped cream and pumpkin spice. I would say this recipe is a great dupe for the Pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks and it was also fairly easy.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • •

• •

Homemade:

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar ⅓ cup vegetable oil 1 cup pumpkin puree 2 eggs ¼ cup milk 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 8 ounces cream cheese softened ½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Pumpkin seeds optional

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with liners. Stir pumpkin, oil, and sugar together in a large bowl. Do this by hand - don’t use a mixer. Stir in eggs, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and baking soda. Stir in one 1 cup of flour, then stir in milk, then stir in remaining 1 cup flour. Divide evenly among muffin pans, filling each liner ½ full. Make a small indentation in the top of the muffin with the back of a spoon, a little holder for the cream cheese filling. Stir together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Drop 1 tablespoon onto the top of each muffin. Use the back of the spoon to spread the cream cheese mixture into the little indentation you made and adhere it to the muffin batter. Sprinkle with 4-5 pumpkin seeds. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the muffin comes out with just a few crumbs stuck to it. Cool at least 5 minutes before serving.

Feedback and Comparison: • These muffins were very easy and fun to make; the hardest part was actually making the indentation for the cream cheese since the batter is pretty thick and sticks to the spoon. Other than that it wasn’t super time consuming. Compared to the Starbucks pumpkin cream cheese muffin, the homemade ones were less moist unfortunately. The flavor was still good though. The two tasted almost exactly the same; the texture was the biggest difference. Despite that, these muffins are a great dupe for the Starbucks pumpkin cream cheese muffins.

Entertainment

Bachelor Breakdown Love in the midst of Covid-19

Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor

Pictured: The Bachelorette, Clare Crawley

The Bachelor franchise is known for being over the top, from the drama to the dates. The shows usually involve lots of international travel along with constant social interactions between the lead, the contestants, and locals from each of the different locations. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, fans have been curious about what the upcoming season of The Bachelorette will look like during this unprecedented time of quarantine and social distancing. Season 16 of The Bachelorette, starring Clare Crawley, was set to premiere May 18 on ABC. Howev-

er, with Coronavirus still spreading rapidly at the time, producers postponed. The show also announced that international travel on Crawley’s season had been strictly prohibited; the idea of limited domestic travel is the only idea that might be explored on the show. Rounds of the show, such as Hometown Dates, might also look different because of travel restrictions. ABC also plans to confine The Bachelorette cast within one large quarantine location, with the hopes that Clare and the contestants will not be exposed to the virus, also allowing an easier quarantine if a cast member did test positive for Coronavirus.

Pictured: Tayshia Adams

Most recently, ABC has released the new premiere date for Craw-

ley’s season, Tuesday, October 13. Sources have also confirmed that Crawley quickly fell in love with a contestant in the early stages of filming; she has now been replaced by Tayshia Adams, a former contestant on Colton Underwood’s season of The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise. Footage from both Crawley and Adams’s stints on the show will premiere in October. Although every season of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette seems to be more dramatic than the next, the upcoming season may dwarf them all. Earlier in the summer, more puzzling information revealed that another contestant from Crawley’s season, Matt James, has already been chosen to be the next Bachelor. With so many spoilers being released before the show’s premiere, Bachelor nation fans are eagerly waiting to see how season 16 unfolds. But, until Crawley’s season premieres, a new miniseries, Love in the Time of Corona, can keep Bachelor nation fans entertained. Love in the time of Corona is a very relatable series that focuses on individuals who are looking for love in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing. The title is a

play on the 1985 novel Love in the Time of Cholera, written by Gabriel Márquez . Filming this show during a pandemic was very difficult; originally, filming was done virtually. However, producers found ways to safely film the show, such as finding cast members who were real live couples, friends, or family. Some scenes were even filmed in these actors’ houses; actors were also expected to do their own hair and makeup and to wear their own clothing. The miniseries premiered on August 22, 2020 and was given mixed reviews; unfortunately, most people thought that the show was simply average. But, hopefully Love in the Time of Corona can keep us all occupied until the new season of The Bachelorette premieres in October.

Pictured: James and Sade from Love in the Time of Corona

Coronavirus: Unmasked Covid-19 myths and facts

Gabriella Brown, Staff Writer The Coronavirus has become a very controversial topic. As people start to form different opinions about how to best protect themselves from coming down with the virus, many interesting ideas about the spread and prevention of Covid-19 have become widespread. Some people are running to buy every bottle of hand sanitizer and lysol and covering their faces with masks, while others act as if nothing new is happening. So what’s the truth? Is the Coronavirus really as bad as we make it out to be? Three Facts to Know: 1.) COVID-19 can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity. Early evidence was thought to show that the likelihood of catching the Coronavirus was linked to race. The CDC claims that “poverty and healthcare access affecting these groups are interrelated and influence a wide range of health and quality-of-life outcomes and risks,” not ethnicity. (source: cdc. gov) 2.) For most people, the immediate risk of becoming seriously ill from

the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low. Although it is still important for all of us to stay safe, the CDC says that the recovery rate for the Coronavirus is quick and the mortality rate is high. According to the World Health Organization, “older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.” However, it is still vital that we all wear our masks, wash our hands, and socially distance. (source: who.int) 3.) Not everyone needs to be tested for the Coronavirus. In the beginning of this pandemic, many people were being tested even if they showed no symptoms of the virus. We now know that testing should be strictly limited to those who have been exposed to Covid-19, who may have symptoms of Covid-19, or who have been recommended by a healthcare provider to be tested. (source: cdc.gov)

Top Three Misconceptions: 1.) Vitamin C and mineral supplements can cure COVID-19. Originally, many people thought that some vitamins and minerals(such as vitamins C and D and zinc) could help protect them from contracting, and possibly cure the Coronavirus. Although these factors are important for maintaining a healthy and strong immune system and also , the World Health Organization has said that “there is currently no guidance on the use of these supplements as a treatment of COVID-19.”(source: who.int) 2.) COVID-19 is caused by bacteria. When the Coronavirus pandemic began, many medical professionals believed that it was caused by some type of bacteria and attempted to treat it with antibiotics. We now know that COVID-19 is caused by a family of viruses called Coronaviridae; a bacterial infection may result as a complication from the Coronavirus, but it is not the cause.(source: who.int) 3.) Ordering or buying products shipped from overseas will make a

person sick. The World Health Organization and Johns Hopkins University can both agree that “the likelihood of becoming infected with COVID-19 from a commercial package is low since it has likely traveled over several days and been exposed to different temperatures and conditions during transit.”(source: hopkinsmedicine.org)

16 E N T E R T A I N M E N T Meet the Staff

Getting to know the 2020-21 Hilight Staff Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief

Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief 1.) Saltines! 2.) The Dead Poet’s Society 3.) Yellow, or green. 4.) I would have the power to refill anything instantly. 5.) I am super excited to be the Editor in Chief this year! We have a great group, and I cannot wait to get to know everyone. This is going to be an awesome year!

Presley Lafon, Staff Writer 1.) Chips and salsa! 2.) Jurassic Park 3.) Purple 4.) I would definitely want to be able to fly wherever I wanted to. 5.) I am most excited to be in Hilight my senior year because I love all of the people on the staff and can’t wait to document my last year in high school in such a meaningful way!

Questions 1.) What is your favorite snack? 2.) What is your favorite movie? 3.)What is your favorite color? 4.) If you could have one superpower, what would it be? 5.) What are you most excited about in Hilight this year?

Bella Cottingham, Co-Editor 1.) Banana and peanut butter. 2.) I love the Twilight movies. I also really like Train to Busan and Little Women. 3.) Red 4.) Telekinesis would be pretty cool. 5.) I’m excited that I am one of th editors! It’s fun to have a bit of a leadership role and help out the new staff.

Gabriella Brown, Staff Writer 1.) Goldfish 2.) Breakthrough 3.) Turquoise 4.) Telekinesis 5.) Being able to write with amazing people and be a part of something so fun!

Spot the Difference

Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor 1.) Peanut M&Ms 2.) Little Women 3.) Green 4.) Teleportation 5.) I’m most looking forward to working with Ms. Calahan and the great group of girls we have on staff! I can’t wait to get to know everyone better and enjoy my last year on Hilight with them!

Ava Burns, Staff Writer 1.) Beef jerky bites 2.) Blades of Glory 3.) Periwinkle! 4.) I would love to be able to stop time. 5.) Writing articles and getting to publish them knowing someone will read them.

See if you can find the 8 differences between the two images! Isabella Phillips, Staff Writer

The answer key can be found in the next edition!

Isabella Phillips, Staff Writer 1.) Dorito Chile Limon Chips 2.) Howl’s Moving Castle! 3.) I love red and light blue! 4.) I think the power to shape-shift is super cool. 5.) I’m so excited to get closer to the Hilight staff and write some interesting articles this

Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer 1.) BBQ Chips 2.) Legally Blonde 3.) Lilac 4.) Definitely mind reading! 5.) I’m excited about working with the staff! Everyone on the Hilight staff is so genuine and I can’t wait to work with all of them!