December 2025

Wrapped in Wrapped in love love

The importance of spreading love through more than giving gifts this holiday season pg. 11

FROM THE EDITORS

NL Staff 2025-26

Editors in Chief

Riya Bhatt

Kenna Hulick

Creative Editor

Madeleine Duhn

Copy Editor

Drew Collins

Website Editor

Ana Van Dyke

Social Media Manager

Layla Carpenter

Associate Editor

Sophie Amberg

Staff Writers:

Sukanya Dunbar

Reese Graham

La’bria Hawkins

Trinity Herrera

Morgan Heyn

Madison Ream

Anna Svetkoff

Dear readers,

Welcome to our December, winter, and holiday edition! We’ve loved wrapping up this edition for you all, and although the process was long and difficult, we hope it gives you an extra treat this holiday season. While creating this edition, we efficiently demonstrated the themes from our center feature, expressing generosity and kindness through our Friendsgiving back in November and our Secret Santa exchange coming up! Thank you for reading our second edition of the year, and hopefully it gives you a little extra warmth as we’re headed into the winter break.

NL POLICIES

The Northern Light in print and online is the student-produced newspaper for Portage Northern HS. It is an open, designated, public forum for student expression, and the newspaper provides staff members with independent reporting opportunities and individual evaluation. Writing is based on a wide variety of research for a broad and diverse audience and topics of coverage are decided by the staff and editorial board with consideration to what is timely, relevant, compelling, educational, and important to the student body.

In accordance with best practice for student media, the Northern Light is not prior reviewed by administration. Building and district administration do, however, reserve the right to oversee the paper if necessary to ensure that the mission and vision of Portage Public Schools and the safety of students and staff are maintained.

As a MIPA, JEA, and NSPA publication, the Northern Light adheres to the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Photos, art, and other visual elements are created by Northern Light staff, formally designated for free use or part of the public domain. In rare circumstances, we may use other media with the owner’s written permission.

It is our desire that our readers join the discussion on our published work. We welcome letters to the editors and guest contributors, and the Northern Light will publish online all pieces received provided that they include the author’s full name and are appropriate for publication in a school setting. Letters to the editor are limited to 150 words in length and guest contributions are limited to 350 words in length. Pieces can be delivered to Amanda Thorpe’s room, 3.121, emailed to pnhsnorthernlight@gmail.com, or mailed ATTN: Portage Northern Light to Portage Northern High School, 1000 Idaho Avenue, Portage, MI, 49024.

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IN THIS EDITION

FRONT COVER

This front cover was inspired by the warmth of the holiday season and the joy that it brings. In an attempt to connect to the center feature theme of being “Wrapped in love” during the holidays, Creative Editor Madeleine Duhn drew an image of two people exchanging gifts by the glow of a Christmas tree.

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Commercializing kindness

Story by Staff; design by Drew Collins and Riya Bhatt

16 Women’s Wrestling

Story by Anna Svetkoff; design by Layla Carpenter

Story by Drew Collins and Sukanya Dunbar; design by Drew Collins

9 The value of a lightbulb moment

Story by Reese Graham; design by Madi Ream

10 One magical month isn’t enough; the case for Christmas starting on November 1

Story by Madeleine Duhn; design by Madi Ream

Evergreen or everlasting: the enduring Christmas tree debate Wrapped in love News briefs

Story by Labria Hawkins and Kenna Hulick; design by Trinity Herrera

Story by Madeleine Duhn, Ana Van Dyke, and Kenna Hulick; design by Madeleine Duhn

17 Consciously chic

Story and design by Sophie Amberg

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Young Frankenstein debuts on the PN stage News briefs

Story by Labria Hawkins and Kenna Hulick; design by Trinity Herrera

Investing in tomorrow: PPS 2025 bond

Story by Sukanya Dunbar; design by Anna Svetkoff and Riya Bhatt

Story by Riya Bhatt; design by Anna Svetkoff and Riya Bhatt

13 Lighting up the winter season with traditions

Story and design by Riya Bhatt

14 A mentally happy holiday

Story by Layla Carpenter; design by Riya Bhatt

This is how we play hockey

Story by Anna Svetkoff; design by Layla Carpenter

Story by Trinity Herrera; design by Sophie Amberg

19 Bored on break

Story by Madi Ream and Ana Van Dyke; design by Ana Van Dyke

BACK COVER

Every year, the Northern Light selects a back cover design that is continuous throughout each of our editions. This year, the staff selected a crossword to create an interactive puzzle for the Portage Northern students to enjoy. This piece connects all of the articles together, as each answer is found among them!

Visit us online at portagenorthernlight.com

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InBRIEF

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Hot-N-Bready Breadlift raises over $32,000 for children

at Bronson

Hospital

Story by Kenna Hulick and La’bria Hawkins; design by Trinity Herrera

While more than 200 students particapted in Breadlift, represented here is are Senators along with their adviser, Joey Wood. Courtesy of Aubrey Norg of the Bronson Community Foundation

For 60 years, Portage Northern High School has hosted its treasured tradition, the annual Breadlift. Breadlift encourages students to “lift” by taking time out of a Saturday to go door-to-door, asking for donations for charity in exchange for a loaf of bread. On Saturday, November 22nd, PN donated their earnings to the Bronson Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Fund to support patients fighting rare blood disorders. Junior lifter Samanvi Parsa says there’s a reason it’s a popular event at PN. “It’s a great way to give back to your local community

and other organizations and also have fun with your friends and classmates at the same time,” she added. History teacher and Senate adviser Joseph Wood explains that since Breadlift began in 1966, Portage Northern has been the highest performing school during the event. In 2025, the overall Breadlift donation was $32,304.64, the largest donation in PN history to date. Wood mentioned that this means PN has yet again bypassed PC in raising money for the event, concluding, “It always gives me a little bit of pleasure to know that we beat the crap out of Central.”

The winter play swap: Out with The Curious Incident, in with A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Portage Northern Drama’s 2025 winter play has been announced, but instead of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, it has been replaced with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream set in the 1980s. The play was changed because the PN Drama director originally thought it would be possible to make some script changes. However, it was later discovered that the changes to remove some swear words were not approved, which resulted in the play change. The Midsummer Night’s Dream performances will open from January 30th to February 8th, and auditions were held on December 1st. “This show offers more roles than the original choice,” said English teacher and Drama director Celia Weeks. “We are excited to take a Shakespeare show and set it in the 1980s and give the students the challenge of doing Shakespeare’s language.”

PN Cares: Week of Caring gives to those in need

Story by La’bria Hawkins and Kenna Hulick; design by Trinity Herrera

There are boxes for giving in the upper commons.

“ ...There’snobettergiftoftheholidays knowingthatyoumadeadifferencein somebodyelse’slife.”

-Historyteacher,JosephWood

Two weeks before Portage Northern High School’s anticipated winter break, the Student Senate hosts the Week of Caring, which combines various activities to give back to the community. Running from December 8th to December 19th, this year’s Week of Caring will include multiple activities such as the blood drive, writing cards for veterans, and more. “[The] Senate is working to put a lot together this year for the Week of Caring,” said Senate Vice President and senior Kyleigh Roe, adding that the Senate hosts the event shortly after Breadlift to continue working hard and caring for the student body. Roe encouraged all students to participate, saying, “We hope that the Week of Caring impacts students positively, as we want to let people know they are cared about and that they matter.” History teacher and Senate adviser Joseph Wood also encouraged student participation. He mentioned that anyone can engage in the Week of Caring, highlighting that it makes a significant difference in the community. “Just writing that little letter, taking four or five minutes to thank someone, makes a difference in your community,” he said. “It also gives you a lot of pleasure knowing that hey, you have done something for someone else, and there’s no better gift of the holidays knowing that you made a difference in somebody else’s life.”

Econ Fair showcases sophomore business skills

Story by La’bria Hawkins and Kenna Hulick; design by Trinity Herrera

Deals were made at the Econ Fair held on the 12th of December during 2nd hour in the lower commons. Econ fair is a gradedetermining event for many economics students, it’s mandatory for all sophomores enrolled in the class. It’s a chance to create, produce, and sell a product. They can go about this as a solo act, a partnership, or a corporation of three to four people. “It gives students the opportunity to demonstrate what they are learning in economics in ways other than standardized testing”, said history teacher Aaron Warfield. He explained that this assignment requires students to apply high-level critical

“Itgivesstudentstheopportunityto demonstratewhattheyarelearningin economicsinwaysotherthanstandardizedtesting.”

-Historyteacher,AaronWarfield

thinking skills and to utilize what they’ve learned during the semester. Government students also participate by buying products at the Econ Fair with tickets. Each 10-ticket bundle costs $5, and tickets were available from December 4th to December 10th. All money made from ticket sales goes to a student-picked charity, according to economics teacher Amber Dixon. “The econ students…get to create an extra credit presentation for where the money will be donated.” All money earned goes to that charity, including the PN History Trip Scholarship.

Investing in tomorrow: PPS 2025 Bond

Story by Sukanya Dunbar; design by Anna Svetkoff and Riya Bhatt

Portage Public Schools’ 2025 Bond is a district-wide project aimed at rebuilding several aging elementary schools and improving learning environments across Portage. The bond focuses on replacing buildings more than sixty years old, increasing safety and energy efficiency, and creating classrooms designed for collaboration, technology use, and modern instruction. Each project also includes contingency funding to manage cost changes, supply delays, and other con-

“All of the new buildings are customized to fit within their neighborhoods.” - Superintendent Johnny Edwards

struction risks.

Superintendent Johnny Edwards said planning for the bond began in 2018–2019 with input from teachers, administrators, and community members. Because of that early groundwork, “There were no concerns or disagreements that had to be worked through.” Edwards explained that each new school is custom-designed for its neighborhood and that architects spent twelve months gathering staff feedback. “All of the new buildings are customized to fit within their neighborhoods,” he said.

To avoid construction delays, the district built a 10% contingency into every project and encouraged contractors to order materials early. Edwards hopes the new buildings create spaces where students and staff feel supported. “I hope students enjoy coming to school and teachers enjoy coming to work,” he said. He also noted that many current buildings are “60+ years old,” making repairs costly and limiting updates like natural light and air conditioning. Edwards added that the district is “extremely grateful for this support” and recognized that these decisions “will impact future generations.”

Although most staff members declined to comment during the transition, Moorsbridge Elementary teacher Wendy Plew shared how the building’s age affects daily instruction. Crowded classrooms and limited space mean “smallgroup instruction often happens in

tight areas or hallways,” she said. The lack of proper cooling also makes warm days difficult for students. “Families may not realize how much the heat and cramped spaces affect daily learning,” Plew explained. She hopes the new building will offer flexible spaces, better climate control, and room for students to work comfortably. Plew added that community support “means so much during this

Total bond funds needed:

$132.4 million

change.”

Overall, the PPS 2025 Bond reflects the district’s commitment to addressing aging facilities and improving learning environments. By replacing aging facilities and incorporating staff input throughout the design process, Portage Public School’s aim is to ensure that its building meets the needs of both educators and students, both now and in the future. District leaders have described these projects as longterm investments to support students and staff for years to come.

Interact Club shops for families

Students and advisors share their success with the annual holiday shopping trip

Story by Riya Bhatt; design by Anna Svetkoff and Riya Bhatt

Holiday gift shopping is something many people do for themselves or for their family, but the Interact Club provides a new angle: annually, the club partners with Portage Community high school to host a holiday shopping trip for families in need around the community. “Portage Community High School shares with us some just different names that we have from people in the community that might need some extra support for the holidays,” one of the Interact club advisors Kim Palmer shared. “Then we go as a group to

“I feel this event has a powerful impact on the community.”

- Sarah Leasure (12)

different stores– primarily, we go to Meijer and we purchase gifts for the family.”

The club leaves these gifts for families in need unwrapped and untouched. “And then, the family gets to wrap those gifts and just feel a part of that whole shopping experience,” Palmer added. Students who participated in the event this year could see the impact they made in the community. “I believe this event has a powerful impact on the community,” senior Sarah Leasure said. “It brings comfort and happiness to families who may be struggling, and it reminds us all of the importance of generosity and compassion.” Leasure took part in the event and wanted

to help families in need, adding, “I chose to participate…to make a positive difference during the holidays.”

The Interact Club shopped at Meijer on Westnedge on December 3rd, purchasing gifts for three families. “The holiday shopping event was a great success this year,” Leasure said. During the shopping trip, students looked at lists of requests from families and made their way around Meijer purchasing various items. “I know that the families just very much appreciate the fact that we’re able to do that,” Palmer shared about the experience. “It helps our students engage in the fact that not maybe everybody is as blessed as they are.” She added that she can truly see the impact of their shopping on both the students in Interact Club as well as the families in the community. “It’s really nice seeing, like the happy faces or knowing that you’ve made people happy,” junior student leader Victoria Afiademanyo said.

Students who want to get involved with Interact club should contact either Rick Searing, Kim Palmer, or Greathen Derenne. While the holiday shopping for this year has concluded, there are events in the spring such as $2Gether for Tuleeni that the Interact Club runs as well. “For students who want to help and come out and volunteer, all they have to do is sign up on our Google Classroom for Interact [Club] and they can come and join us,” added Afiademanyo.

2025 Shopping Trip:

- took place at Meijer on December 3 - bought gifts for 3 families

Commercializing kindness

Small acts of gratitude and kindness are important among the commercialization of kindness due to media

Story by the staff; design by Drew Collins and Riya Bhatt

An old Japanese proverb reads, “One kind word can warm three winter months.” Small acts of kindness have been forgotten because we’ve grown up in a digitized age. This has shifted our perceptions of what it truly means to be kind towards others.

In today’s time, we view kindness as an exhibition of material wealth instead of small acts of kindness, such as holding the door open for others or making someone smile. Kindness has become commercialized and the most recent display of consumerism in society, and the best representation of it is influencers making “burr” baskets for their friends or purchasing an insane amount of holiday gifts simply for show.

The holiday season is for giving, but recently, we’ve been questioning if that word truly has meaning anymore. Giving is seen as it’s portrayed online, without much experience of it in real life. Influ-

encers have become infatuated with looking like “good people” online to the point that they’re really only doing good deeds to gain followers and promote their content. The holidays are for support-

Kindness has become commercialized, turning generosity into a performance instead of a practice.

ing families and people in need, not self-promotion or Instagram captions. We have to ask ourselves if we truly care about what we’re doing, or if we’re just doing it for clicks and likes.

The intention behind acts of kindness matters more than the amount of money we’re spending. People tend to value money and luxury, but nothing can beat the

impact of a kind act done out of the goodness of the heart. In order to shift the focus of our world from getting likes and showing off wealth, we should smile at someone or donate our old clothes to clothes drives because we genuinely care about other people. Part of this comes with getting offline and experiencing life and interacting with others in a sincere way instead of encompassing ourselves in the world of technology to get famous.

Kindness was never meant to be for clout. The only pure reason for being kind is creating a difference. The step to escape the digital world and display genuine kindness in the real world is vital for society. Afterall, doing good deeds isn’t a practice to show off how good we are; it’s a practice done sincerely from the bottom of our hearts, without a thought at all about fame.

Evergreen or everlasting: the enduring Christmas tree debate

Story by Drew Collins and Sukanya Dunbar; design by Drew Collins

REAL TREES FAKE TREES

Christmas isn’t just a holiday, it’s a feeling. It’s the feeling of coming home, the Christmas lights glowing in the living room, and people talking in every corner of the house. For many families, choosing a Christmas tree is more than a decorative choice or an excuse to avoid cleaning up excess needles; it’s a way to connect. The authentic aroma of a real pine or fir tree fills the house with a fresh woody scent that a candle could copy but never duplicate. That natural smell brings back old memories and makes new ones, turning the whole space into a reminder of past holidays. Beyond the smell, the experience of getting a real tree is its own tradition. Whether you’re walking through a tree farm, brushing snow off the branches, and tying it to the top of the car, or walking through the aisles in Home Depot, it’s something families do together. In those moments, the cost doesn’t matter.What matters is being together. Those shared memories are what make Christmas feel real. A real tree also brings a natural charm. The branches grow however they want, the shape isn’t perfectly even, and each tree has its own quirks. That uniqueness becomes part of the memory every year. The one your family picks is tied to that specific moment: everyone pointing at different trees, laughing, and eventually agreeing on “the one.” For many, that’s what makes Christmas feel like Christmas, not just having a tree, but the whole experience of choosing it together.

Christmas, as a holiday, is a question of practicalities. Is it practical to spend loads of money on gifts? Is it practical to spend multiple nights setting up festive decorations? The stereotypical image of Christmas night is that of a Christmas tree with expensive gifts beneath it, surrounded by a cheerful family. This image isn’t really possible for all families, though. Christmas trees require lots of care, and often involve a process of trimming down that a lot of families simply don’t have the time for. This can be seen in how, according to the American Christmas Tree Association, 83% of households plan to use artificial Christmas trees this year. Unlike real trees, fake Christmas trees are easily reusable for multiple years. They are also usually cheaper and more durable. Compare this to a real Christmas tree, which lasts less time and is more expensive. This reusability has a major impact on the planet. While artificial trees are commonly seen as being worse for the environment, as long as one is reused, it can have less of a negative impact than a real tree on the environment. There can also be personal reasons for using fake Christmas trees, such as people who have allergies to pine trees or other types of trees which are commonly used as Christmas trees. Ultimately, fake Christmas trees are cheaper and better compared to real Christmas trees. It’s not required to have a real tree for Christmas, especially for families that can’t afford to keep buying new trees every Christmas.

The importance of the LIGHTBULB MOMENT

Story by Reese Graham; Design by Madison Ream; illustration by Madeleine Duhn

For decades, the concept of a “lightbulb moment” has described the experience of coming up with an idea. It’s seen as a revolutionary understanding or ingenuity that comes all in a split-second. However, when actually faced with the difficulty of approaching the problem, we seek the result and reward, thereby dreading the work that gets us there. In a modern culture overtaken by a rise in social media, the cre ative process continues to be threatened by a desire for instant gratification. Despite this struggle between immediate and delayed satisfaction, it is necessary to maintain a pursuit of creativity and innovation.

The desire for instant gratification comes from the media and environment we’re surrounded by and has a monumental influence on our behavior. It’s described as a longing for immediate fulfillment, which results in prioritizing a short-term reward over a long-term benefit. The creative process of cultivating an idea can take time, making it less mentally appealing to those who are used to quick dopamine hits. A lot of art and creation falls in the realm of delayed gratification, and the reward can’t always be immediate. Instant gratification erodes our ability to focus on these long-form tasks. According to a 2015 Microsoft study, humans today have only about an eight-second attention span, so if something doesn’t grab our attention within a few moments, we lose interest. This is true for creatively engaging with material as well, and that is fundamentally concerning.

Human innovations should not come at the expense of creative desire. Modern inventions and technology are often designed to promote ease of living and make complicated tasks more efficient. This only contributes to our fixation on instantly receiving gratification from our actions — we expect this reward because it reflects what we’re most often surrounded by. Oftentimes, we can start out doing

imagination, we are being pushed to interact with the external world, take in ideas, and cultivate social relationships. It has similar effects to meditation, by being mentally stimulating to help decompress and relieve tension. Finally, it builds problem-solving skills, open-mindedness, and patience by allowing us to engage with an idea and develop it over time. As a result of a need for instant gratification, we are degrading our ability to process both information and emotions in a healthy manner. Reframing our mindset to perceive the process as part of the reward, and using techniques to break big goals into smaller tasks, can help overcome the need to give into quick gratifying habits. Pairing uncomfortable and pleasing tasks together, such as schoolwork while listening to a podcast, can also improve resistance. Feeling satisfied with an action is good; however, becoming increasingly reliant on immediate gratification to get through a task will only harm one over time. Taking time for creative expression, whether it be in the form of art, journaling, or other personal media, can have extended benefits in both health and mental well-being. A lightbulb moment must not only stand for the final reward of the idea, but also the dedication to the creative development of the idea that comes along with it.

One magical month is not enough: the case for Christmas starting November 1st

Story by Madeleine Duhn; design by Madison Ream; illustration by Madeleine Duhn

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” sings Andy Williams in his classic Christmas song, summarizing the surge of excitement that occurs every time the holiday season rolls around. Whether it be from the beautiful Christmas lights that lace houses in neighborhoods, the time spent with fam ily and friends, or from the nostalgia of Christmas’ magic, the world just seems to morph into a hap pier place. The contagious excitement and prepa ration for the holidays start early, which is why the Christmas season should begin on Novem ber 1st rather than waiting until after Thanksgiving. Starting the Christmas season early is scientifically proven to benefit our mood. A study from the Na tional Library of Medicine shows that looking forward to something exciting releases dopamine in the brain, which we all need an extra dose of these days. This means looking forward to decorating gingerbread houses and Christmas trees, wrapping presents (and of course opening them) will increase your mood. Especially in high school, it is crucial that the holidays are enjoyed to its entirety. As a sophomore, I only have three Christmases left while living at home, and I’d like to extend those seasons as long as possible. Af ter Halloween I am done with fall, and I’m not the only one. Starbuck’s fall menu ends and Christmas starts in the first week of November. Starbucks isn’t the only company that switches over to Christ mas on November 1st: from Target to HomeGoods, pretty much any and all stores are fully decked out in Christmas decor as soon as possible. Mariah Carey herself sings across social media plat at midnight every Halloween night, “It’s Time.” Additionally, Christmas is a holiday celebrated in numerous countries while Thanksgiving is primarily celebrated only in the United States. Christmas is celebrated in over 160 nations, so why should every-

one else wait while us Americans munch on turkey to begin spreading Christmas cheer? Thanksgiving should be celebrated as an extension of Christmas. At its root, they both celebrate the same idea: that thankful for things in our back to them. Thanksgiving have to delay start of Christmas, can instead overlap while rejoicing in the original meaning. We don’t necessarily have to cancel the holiday, it can just occur while we celebrate the better one. Decking the halls is not an easy feat. It takes at least a week for my house to be fully decorated between bringing everything up from storage, unboxing, and then actually decorating. It is exhausting, and should be admired for longer than 25 days. Decorations also help to bring families together as everyone pitches in to help. Some of my favorite childhood memories are from Christmas decorating, especially when I used to sit on my Dad’s shoulders and place the star on the tree. Not only that, but I’ve found that the cozy Christmas lights and decorations can make the shorter winter days feel much less gloomy. Rushing that process not only makes the end product worse, but can take away from these cherished memories. Starting the Christmas season on November 1st allows people to fully enjoy the anticipation, decorations, and traditions that make the Holiday season the best. Extending the Holiday to the beginning of November allows people to embrace the joy and magic that comes with the season for a longer period of time.There is no reason to limit the season to a few short weeks when it brings so much joy and love to the world, so the earlier it begins, the better.

one another in different situations. These situations include being kind, even in the most difficult times, when someone is going through a challenging part of life’s

showing up

No matter what holiday people celebrate, everyone can use the season as a reason to give back and show up for others. There

are numerous ways to do this, whether it be giving money to charities, food to food drives, or a gift to a child through a local Angel Tree. Sarah Micula, a Corps Officer at the Kalamazoo Salvation Army, shares that, “It’s easy to let Christmas become a season of receiving and of consumerism. The Angel Tree program can help each of us to put others before ourselves, even if it’s donating a simple gift. [...] There is a real child behind those tags, and you can help bring joy to a child on Christmas morn ing.” Taking the time to purchase a gift through an Angel Tree can make a kid’s Christmas dream come true. However, donating a gift isn’t the only way to show up for others this holiday season. Freshman Zachary Roemer notes other nonmone tary ways to give back. “Not… making fun of each other and just…being there for anyone [is important in giving back]. Like if some one’s lonely…you just go talk to them.” From gifting a present to a kid on Christmas morning to just being there for someone, spreading kindness during the holiday season can be the greatest gift of all.

Be the light in the dark

Many feel that in

light of recent events, giving back this holiday season is particularly important. Sackett shares, “[It’s important] because there’s just a lot of craziness going on.” Other students express similar sentiments, like senior Nathan Brubaker, who states, “In this society, there’s a lot of like…meanness and [hatred] now, so I think…when you’re kind to others, it can help to lift other people’s day, and they can help to [create] a better world.” Not only is there a heaviness nationally, but also on a local level here in the community. “At Northern, we’ve been going through a lot the past couple [of] weeks...” remarks Spanish teacher Katie Paynich. She further explains that the heaviness can be related to the recent passing of student Alayiah Lazzara and alumni Emmanuel Browning. So, spend the time on Earth giving back to others, being someone’s light in

With the events in the world today, being kind isn’t a seasonal action; it never should be. In every season, kindness and generosity should be at the top of people’s minds. Acts of kindness should be done anytime, not only in the winter season. Any that is caring to another is something that can be done at any time of the year. Make sure to wrap everyone in kindness this winter season and beyond.

Lighting up the winter season

Students at Portage Northern share their holidays and traditions

Story and design by Riya Bhatt

Studentsat Portage Northern celebrate a diverse array of holidays throughout the winter season. Ranging from Christmas to Hanukkah to Diwali, each student brings their own unique family traditions with their holidays.

Junior Hayden Palmer and freshman Sophia Rakoski celebrate Christmas on December 25. Christmas is recognized by many Christians and Catholics as the birthday of Jesus Christ, God’s son, but is also widely celebrated secularly by many. Many students have their own traditions for the holiday. “I love being able to celebrate Christmas with my closest family,” Rakoski shared. “We usually spend our Christmas mornings having a really big breakfast that my dad makes for us, then we exchange gifts and spend time together.” Later on, she added, her family goes out in the snow for activities such as skiing or ice skating. Palmer shared a similar experience, adding, “Some of my favorite traditions are decorating, making music, baking, and giving gifts.”

While many students celebrate Christmas over the winter season, some students take part in other holiday celebrations with unique traditions. Junior Ria Samanta cel-

ebrates Diwali with her family. “Typically, my family…gets dressed up in traditional Indian clothes,” she shared. “Then we set up all kinds of lights and candles around the house, inside and outside.” Diwali is recognized by many people of a variety of religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and is viewed as the “festival of lights” to Indian culture. This year, Diwali was celebrated on October 20. “My all time favorite tradition of Diwali is when we light fireworks towards the end of the night,” Samanta added.

Other holidays that people celebrate during the winter season include Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday known as the festival of lights and commemorates the Jewish people winning their fight against persecution in ancient times, according to the Jewish religion. People who celebrate typically light candles on the menorah, a candelabrum with eight candles and one shamash used to light the other candles. Hanukkah lasts for eight days, celebrators lighting one candle a day. This year, Hanukkah lasts from December 14 to December 22. Kwanzaa, on the other hand, is a holiday celebrated by many Af-

rican Americans to represent shared culture. It begins on December 26 and lasts until January 1. There are seven main principles that Kwanzaa helps represent, all examples of African culture. Many people who celebrate will light a kinara, a candelabrum with seven branches to represent the seven principles. Like Hanukkah, one candle is lit each day of the celebration.

While many people around the world and at Portage Northern celebrate Christmas, other holidays are represented throughout the community and students believe it’s important to recognize them. “I just think it’s important to understand the basics of other cultures and an important holiday like this one is a great place to start,” Samanta said.

“Some of my favorite traditions [for Christmas] are decorating, makng music, baking, and giving gifts.”

- Hayden Palmer (11)

“My all time favorite tradition of Diwali is when we light fireworks towards the end of the night.”

- Ria Samanta (11)

A mentally happy holiday

The winter season can come with seasonal depression, but students know how to combat it

Story by Layla Carpenter; design by Riya Bhatt; illustrations by Madeleine Duhn

AsDe-

cember rolls around, most people consider this to be a month of happiness and holiday spirit, but that isn’t the case for all people. Behind all the decorations and lights, some students struggle with grief, stress, and loneliness during the holiday season.

Beyond surface level celebrations, winter break comes with academic stress, isolation, and pressure from family members. “School and fi- nals definitely affect my mental health greatly during this time because

while I’m already struggling with things in my personal life and struggling to do anything in general, I have to worry about getting assignments done and studying,” senior Sara Almukahal expresses. Winter itself can lead to poor mental health as the shorter days lead to less sunlight. According to mayoclinic.org, Vitamin D produces serotonin, which is an important neurotransmitter that helps with mood regulation. Lack of vitamin D can make people feel more tired/down than they already are. Constant exposure to holiday music can even overwhelm someone who is already going through stress. Senior Zoe Ruess exclaims that some parents don’t understand how the holidays can affect some teens: “I wish parents understood that holidays aren’t the same because most stop making it fun when we start to get older,” she said. Students can preserve their mental health in December and beyond by creating small daily routines that keep them grounded, focusing on sleep and nutrition, doing things that bring them joy, and keeping a friend/family member in their support circle. Small routines such as meditating or journaling can help students relieve stress, helping them feel more motivated to complete their work. Sleep and nutrition is important for productivity; having a set sleep schedule

can help students stabilize their mood. Students should put their well-being first, doing what makes them happy can help relieve stress majorly, especially if it is with a close friend or family member. While the holiday sea-

son can be a difficult and emotionally difficult time, students are not alone in what they are feeling. Recognizing that December looks different for everyone, students and staff members can create a school culture that is more understanding and supportive.

This is How muskies play

Hockey

Story by Anna Svetkoff; design by Layla Carpenter

The Portage Muskies are brought together by bringing players from both Portage Northern and Portage Central High School together to play hockey as a team, a mashup that is only for some sports between the schools. With three seasoned captains this year, Senior Lee Laporte and Senior Evan Kakabeeke from Portage Northern, and Ben Berry, a Senior from Portage Central. The Muskies demonstrate in a way how two rival schools can come together to be a team. This collaboration between schools is an example of community spirit in Portage, giving leadership skills and helping bring big achievements to the schools.

Lee Laporte has been playing hockey for eight years, and Evan Kakabeeke has been playing hockey for fourteen years. They have both been playing for the Muskies team for the last four years. ”I have

grown in many ways with my time with the Muskies.

I’ve definitely seen a lot of improvement on the ice all around, as well as learning how to become a leader and help my teammates,” says Laporte. Kakabeeke has a similar sentiment, saying, “I’ve grown by becoming more confident, more disciplined, and more of a leader, and being part of the Muskies has pushed me to improve both on and off the ice.”

As the season progresses, the Muskies are ready for even more success, building on their achievements and working hard toward their goals as a team. Their recent victories against Sparta (3-2) and Canton (5-4) high schools highlight that the team is ready for the season. The team’s commitment both on and off the ice continues to bring pride to the Portage area.

At top, Portage Central senior Ben Berry is one of this season’s team captains. At center, Senior Lee Laporte Portage Northern’s team captain playing goalie. At bottom: Senior Evan Kakabeeke also one of Portage Northern’s captains. Photos courtesy of Geoff Miller.

PIN to WIN

The Portage Northern Women’s Wrestling team kicks off their 2025 season

Story by Anna Svetkoff; design by Layla Carpenter

The Portage Northern Women’s Wrestling team has just begun its season, and the community has been gaining recognition and popularity as more people appreciate the strength, skill, and determination of female athletes. The wrestling team is expected to learn and grow throughout the season. This early part for the girls is also a time to foster team spirit and set individual and collective goals.

With strong commitment and consistent effort, the Portage Northern women’s wrestling team is determined to make a significant impact in their competitions throughout the coming year. This season, senior Harleigh Toepfer is a returning wrestler. Toepfer started the sport because, “of a bet that I couldn’t wrestle. I ended

it to the state tournament again, and hopefully place this year.”

Overall, the beginning of the season sets the stage for a year of hard work, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence on the mat. She continues today that the team focuses on building a strong foundation through training and skill development, with the older members of the team helping the new members. “I enjoy going to practice and working hard. I also really like working with the younger wrestlers and helping to grow

Senior Harleigh Toepfer shows her skills on the mat at the first match of the season in Cedar Springs on December 3rd. “I did good, I won my match,” said Toepfer. “I was excited because it was the first match of the season and it’s my senior year.” At the tournament overall, the team went 1-1, winning one duel and losing one. All photos in courtesy of Rogue Toepfer.

consciously chicwith

With snow sweeping over Michigan, winter coats become a new staple in everyone’s outfits. Most of the time, a coat acts as an item just thrown on to brave the outdoors. However, there are numerous ways to beat the temperatures and stay stylish with all the varieties of winter coats and jackets!

A continuous tradition that rolls around each year is the simple wool overcoat. These coats are long, warm, and a fashion piece that can be reworn frequently and not feel repetitive. Colors vary when it comes to these, but neutrals tend to work the best, as a coat should not act as a statement, but more so an elevation. I feel winter colors can make the accessory pop, even if it’s just for walking down the street. Cherry-red, evergreen, or even a peacock blue all work in this scenario; it’s an aspect that doesn’t seem too flashy or extravagant, but it’s just enough of flavor to make a coat striking.

Another style of coat making the rounds in the trend cycle is the peacoat, specifically ones with high necks. A peacoat is very distinct and dainty, often a thick material, on the shorter side, and has large buttons up the centerline. They have more variety when it comes to colors, I believe they look the best with light colors, as the cut and style of the piece is very feminine. The versions that have a high neck, resembling a turtleneck, extend to the lower jaw with buttons lining it as well. With this, the “Olsen tuck” shines specifically with this coat. The Olsen tuck is a term coined from the famous twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. It’s a simple concept; when a coat is either zipped or buttoned to the top, one doesn’t pull out the hair stuck underneath the fabric, leaving it tucked. The Olsen tuck is an effortless and random feature that creates a unique, “lived in” style, even if it’s just for a coat. Similar in theory to peacoats, the

“Napoleon” style jacket gained recent recognition as a high fashion trend. These coats are, as named, a piece with a distinguished flair, gold accents, and buttons that are securely crossed over one another, resembling the fashion of the French leader from the 18th century. Frankly, it’s an odd concept, but it works extremely well, showing a new perspective to a normally stark accessory. These coats come in a classic French winter color palette: black, browns, and reds. The accent color additions often are either silver or gold, though some are a lighter version of the original color of the coat. The accent pieces themselves vary, though they are mostly seen as shoulder and elbow patches, loops for the buttons, or trimming details along the jacket. While some find that coats limit self-expression, it’s truly the opposite, as they can enhance an outfit with all of the different ways of personalization that come with them!

Young Frankenstein

Young Frankenstein debuts on the PN stage

Story by Trinity Herrera; design by Sophie Amberg; photos by Riya Bhatt

Debuting its first performances on the Portage Northern stage, Young Frankenstein makes its first appearance on November 14, 2025. The parody observes the story of Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of the original creator, as he inherits his family’s castle in Transylvania and follows his grandfather’s footsteps to create a monster. “They did very well on vocals and choreography,” freshman Emily Begnoche said, “When I went, I had a good laugh, and they did very well with the comedic aspect of it.”

Senior Vincent Brow appears in the production as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein. He shared that his favorite part about performing in this show is, “The comedy aspect of it, because I think it’s really hilarious, and it’s always fun to hear the audience laugh.” Brow has performed in the last four musicals at Portage Northern and has also performed at the Kalamazoo Civic Theater and Kindleberger Arts. He stated that he has a passion for acting. “I love it, and I want to go into this,” he exclaimed.

Alongside Brow, sophomore Jason Altwies, who in this production plays the Monster. “I auditioned for

Young Frankenstein because I’ve always enjoyed music, and it sounded like a fun show,” he said.This is not Altwies’ first time on a stage, either. He expressed that he has auditioned for all three of his middle school shows. “I auditioned for High School Musical Junior my sixth grade year, Mary Poppins my seventh grade year, and Beauty and the Beast my eighth grade year.”

There were various perspectives on what the best song is in the Young Frankenstein production. Freshman A.J. Brow, who plays Frau Blucher, shared that their favorite song is “Probably ‘Life, Life’, because I think that all of the chords lock really well, and I think the special effects for that scene are really cool. Another cast member, sophomore Jacob Snead, playing Herald and Bob, shared his favorite song. “‘Surprise’ cause I get to play a really silly character.A lot of people laugh.” Overall, the cast and crew put in a significant amount of time preparing the show.“The leads are doing a very good job at keeping the show together,” freshman Josie Seith said. When it came down to the final show, the production came to a close on November 23, 2025.

Bored on Break

Ways to try and avoid the boredom that can come with winter break

Story by Ana Van Dyke and Madi Ream; design by Ana Van Dyke; illustration by Madeleine Duhn

Winter break is most likely one of the most anticipated times of the school year, and the time away from the bustle of school finally draws near. The twoweek break allows students and staff to decompress, recharge, and reflect on the approaching new year.

Winter vacation is also known for offering downtime that most look forward to, and while such a privilege can be appreciated, one can soon fall into the trap of boredom, leading to the question of, “What should I do right now?” A fair question often wondered by at least one person during winter break. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can be explored to cure boredom that comes with winter break.

Like other seasons, winter offers ways to combat boredom in a variety of settings, indoors and outdoors. Once snow has fallen,

the exhilarating adrenaline rush of downhill skiing. Freshman Layla Emrick shares one of her favorite activities during winter break. “I especially love going ice skating with my friends, because I get to move my body and talk with the people I love all at the same time.”

To enjoy these outdoor activities during the winter, especially winter break, all that is needed is a warm jacket and motivation to put the device down. Of course, if one wants to diversify their solution to boredom while making their parents happy, shoveling snow off the driveway is an option.

Perhaps the chill of winter is not for everyone. But the cure for boredom can also be found indoors. Students can find enjoyment with a favorite video game, revisit a missed hobby, or find comfort by cuddling with a favorite blanket and a good book. Students could also test out their kitchen skills by

nog, many will be addressing and discussing the Stranger Things episodes released during the holiday. Freshman Hannah Holmes shares why she enjoys watching holiday movies during the winter months, saying, “I like that I can feel in the holiday spirit by watching fun family films that basically make my holidays every year special.”

Winter break can also bring new and familiar experiences, such as traveling. With everyone having time off, families can spend time together exploring new, unknown areas and revisiting ones they’ve seen before. Some may travel to see the people that they can’t normally see during this break. The opportunity to spend time with loved ones is what makes Christmas extra special every year. Getting to see loved ones who aren’t a part of one’s day-to-day life can be exciting and can make core memories for all involved.

30 Out of 35 PN STudents

said that they sleep in or sleep too much over break students

“the

break is the only time I really get to sleep in and catch up on my sleep.”

Nick Downey(12)

said that they Hang out with Friends, drink hot cocoa, or watch tv during break students

“[I like]Being around people who get me.” Micheal Miles(12)

Come see us near you:

7886 Oakland - 3 min / 1 mi from NHS

5228 Westnedge - 6 min / 3 mi from NHS …and also at: 3321 Stadium and 5965 Sprinkle

$7 STUDENT SPECIAL 8” sub, chips, AND a drink!

forFUN

Down

1. Page nine is all about a __ moment!

3. What’s the color of the bow from the cover design?

4. How many days does Hanukkah last?

6. From page ten, “__ the halls is not an easy feat.”

8. Our center feature is wrapped in?

9. A subtopic from our center feature “The __ of showing up”

Need a hint? The answers are found within the edition

Across

2. What’s Young Frankenstein’s first name?

5. “Consciously Chic” primarily discusses whichstyle of coat?

7. On page twelve, how many presents are in the stack?

10. The calendar graphic has which date listed?