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Make a Wish

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New Year’s Resolutions

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ISSUE #4

December 2018 Tech MOnTaGe

How to Beat the Winter Bluh

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The Official Newspaper of St. Cloud Technical High School

What to Do This New Year’s Eve Anna Miller and Kylie Starren

Grace Roeder

New Years is always a fun time of year. There are plenty of fun activities you can do to spend time with family and friends.

The annual SCSU New Year’s Eve Family Fun Fest is happening at 5pm to 10pm. Here you can go ice skating, rock climbing, and eat food. Blow up bouncy houses and arts and crafts are offered for kids, among many activities for all ages.

If ice skating and rock climbing isn't your forte, Lake George is having a firework display. Come and join the fun! Make sure to dress warmly. Hot chocolate will be sold.

If you are a skier, snowboarder or someone who enjoys tubing, Powder Ridge has a New Year’s Eve discount too. Head out to Kimball on December 31st; there will be live music, a torchlight parade, a bonfire with s’mores and more fireworks.

Now if you're just looking for a good place to eat this New Year’s, head to these restaurants that are offering great deals: Anton's Restaurant, Cafe Renaissance, Kohinoor Bar and Grill, Bello Cucina, Coyote Moon Grill, and House of Pizza. Enjoy one last good meal in 2018.

If you are more of a homebody and enjoy snuggling up to the fire with friends and family then these next activities are for you. Spending time with the ones you love is a great time spent for everyone. Playing games, eating yummy food, and being goofballs with them on New Year’s is another thing that you could do.

Have a family or friends game night and get competitive playing games like Heads Up, Life, Charades, and Monopoly.

One event many people have watched each year since 1907 is the New York City ball. This ball has dropped in Times Square for a total of 111 times and will drop once again in 2019. You can watch this on TV and see all the musical acts.

You could also do a rewind of all your favorite movies from 2018. Make sure to have a lot of popcorn!

Hosting a New Year’s Eve party with food, drinks, and games is another fun way to spend this night. Staying at until midnight to see 2018 become 2019 is an invigorating time, with all the people shouting to countdown the seconds to the New Year and starting their New Year's resolutions.

The New Year has not even started, and the fun has already begun.

Fireworks at Power Ridge, New Year’s Eve 2018

Montage Staff

Advisor:

Jodee Blair

Editor in Chief:

Kailee Kroska

Editors:

Samantha Asplund

Jenna Jacobs

Swetha Shankar

Josephine Walk

Photography Editor:

Kailee Kroska

Writers: Victoria Anderson

Drew Erickson Megan Maiers Taylor Maiers

Anna Miller Morgan Ness Libby Neuman Taylor Payne

Madeleine Prescott Grace Roeder

Swetha Shankar Caylee Snodgrass

Kylie Starren Ashley Tarrolly Josephine Walk

Quiz Which Evergreen Tree Are You?

Madeleine Prescott

Which of the following is your favorite Harry Potter character? A. Harry Potter B. Professor McGonagall C. Draco Malfoy D. Luna Lovegood Which of the following is your favorite Winter Olympics sport? A. Nordic skiing B. Figure skating C. Bobsledding D. Curling Which of the following is your favorite cookie? A. Sugar cookies B. Gingerbread cookies C. Biscotti D. Fortune cookies Which of the following is your favorite version of water during the winter? A. Snow B. Frost C. Ice D. Icicles Which of the following is your favorite kind of book? A. Classics B. Fantasy/fiction C. Books with anti-heroes D. Science fiction

Mostly As- You are a fir tree. You enjoy partaking in traditions and feel that what is not broken should not be changed. You know how to enjoy even the most mundane aspects of life. Mostly Bs- You are a white pine. With long, soft needles white pines radiate calmness and elegance, as do you. You carry yourself and choose what you say carefully, putting a lot of thought into how you present yourself to the world. Mostly Cs- You are a spruce tree. You may be a little prickly on the outside, but your strength lies in looking past other people’s prickly exteriors. You often sympathize with the character in books or movies that everyone hates. Mostly Ds- You are a Norway pine. Tall and ungoverned, you are slightly eccentric and unconventional. You may be talented in an activity requiring creativity.

Mental Health How to Beat the Winter Bluh

Swetha Shankar

Every year around this time, many people feel the effect of the winter blues. These blues, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), affect people of every age. Symptoms include fatigue, depression, hopelessness, and social withdrawal, and they appear during late fall or early winter and go away during the sunnier days of spring and summer. There are many ways to lessen the effects of SAD. According to Sue Pavlovich of the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA), "Everyone's affected differently by SAD, so what works for one person won't for another. But there's usually something that will help, so don't give up if the first remedy you try doesn't work. Just keep trying." Below are some to steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the winter.

1. Keep Active Getting at least 20 minutes of vigorous activity four times a week has been shown to reduce depressive mood.

A daily walk in the middle of the day could be helpful as a light treatment for coping with the winter blues.

2. Get Outside Go outdoors in natural daylight as much as possible, especially at midday and on brighter days. When indoors, sit near windows whenever you can.

3. Keep Warm Being cold may make you feel more depressed, so staying warm may reduce the winter blues. Keep warm with hot drinks, hot food, and warm clothes and shoes. Additionally, aim to keep your home between 64 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Eat Healthy A healthy diet will boost your mood, give you more energy and stop you putting on weight over winter. Balance your craving for carbohydrates, such as pasta and potatoes, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

5. Take Up A New Hobby Studies show that keeping your mind active with a new interest seems to ward off symptoms of SAD. This can be knitting, writing a blog, joining a gym, or keeping a journal.

6. Visit Friends and Family It's been shown that socializing is good for your mental health and helps ward off the winter blues. Make an effort to keep in touch with people you care about and accept any invitations you get to social events, even if you only go for a little while.

If you feel down for days

at a time and can't get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, go see your doctor. This is especially important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed, you turn to alcohol for comfort or relaxation, or you feel hopeless. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, get help immediately through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Cooking & Crafting One of my favorite holiday

treats is my family’s soft caramels. With a rich, buttery flavor and enough sugar to boost you up, I am sure these caramels will become one of your favorites too.

What you will need:

1. 2 sticks of butter 2. 1 can of sweetened

condensed milk 3. 2 cups light corn

syrup 4. 1 teaspoon of Vanilla

extract 5. A generously

buttered 9x13 pan 6. Candy thermometer

Directions: Before starting, have everything measured and all utensils ready.

1. In a large saucepan on medium-high heat combine butter, sweetened condensed milk, sugar and corn syrup. Stir constantly so you do not burn the sugars.

2. Place candy thermometer in saucepan so the tip is just off of the bottom of the pan.

3. Keep scraping the bottom of the pan. You will see bits of caramel start to come to the top, that is usual and a good sign. Just keep scraping!

4. When the thermometer reads 240℉, remove from heat.

5. Add vanilla to saucepan while stirring.

6. Pour into buttered pan, even out the caramel.

7. Cool 15 minutes before putting in fridge for 45 minutes.

8. Cut into appropriate sizes. 9. Wrap in wax paper squares

by twisting the ends. 10. Store at room temperature.

Tips:

1. If you would like to double the recipe, you will have to do two different batches.

2. The cooking time will vary and is usual for candies. The temperature will rise rapidly at points, and will stall at others so be patient; do not raise the temperature to make it go faster. Grab a chair, keep stirring and watch it.

Homemade Caramels Drew Erickson

DIY Holiday Room Decor Libby Neuman

What a wonderful time of the year! With Christmas right around the corner, you may be wondering how you can spice up your bedroom for Christmas. Get that holiday music rolling, because here is one fun, simple, and cheap DIY decoration for your bedroom. Meet your future indoor snowman! Supplies needed:

• 1 white crew sock • 1 color sock (for the hat) • Rice • Rubber bands (or thread) • 3 Colorful buttons • Ribbons • Glue gun • Black marker or paint • Orange pom poms

Directions: 1. Fill your white sock with

rice. You’d be surprised how much rice you can fit into a sock! Once you have a decent amount of rice, tie a rubber band or thread abound the top.

2. Once you have that, tie another rubber band around the sock, splitting the rice in the sock into two.

3. Using a hot glue gun, glue the buttons unto the base of your sock snowman. 4. Draw the eyes and mouth with either a black marker or paint. 5. Hot glue the two orange pom poms together, then glue it unto the face of your snowman. 6. Now add ribbon for the scarf! Secure it with a hot glue gun. 7. Cut the foot part of the colorful sock (where the toes would usually go). 8. Fold this over the head of your snowman as a hat.

Tech

New Year’s Resolutions The Argument For (And Against) New Year’s Resolutions

Josephine Walk

I don’t think you or I or anyone in this school or country should make New Year’s resolutions. Well really, I’m fine with the whole resolution part. I think. But the New Year’s part? Unacceptable! Well, in most cases… Welcome to my collection of seemingly contradictory but all absolutely accurate views on the over hyped, underappreciated tradition that is setting New Year’s resolutions. First of all, it must be acknowledged goal setting and reflection is essential to being an ambitious human. Instead of only crossing our minds as the year changes, it should be a constant effort throughout the entire year.

It can be motivating to know millions of others across the country are putting in the efforts to better themselves at the same time you are. New Year’s resolutions are notorious for being broken quickly. You aren’t really still striving towards the goals you set this January, are you? The start of a new year is the perfect time to focus on self-betterment. What significance does January 1st really hold? Oh shoot, it’s January 4th. Gotta wait until next year to be a better person. New Year, new me! Why give into that pressure to completely change so quickly? This mindset lacks in allowing for failure; you miss one workout and your year’s ruined. Better luck next time.

In 2019, I’m going to eat better, sleep better, exercise more, save more money, and be more efficient. Do you really need to formalize these goals? Or were you really going to try to exercise less? Spend more? Allow yourself less sleep? I’m going to set a specific and attainable goal. If at first I don’t succeed, I will realize I am, in fact, human and understand that I can set a new resolution *gasp* any time of the year. Yes! Now you’ve got it!

The Value of New Year’s Resolutions Grace Roeder

Every year billions of people partake in New Year’s celebrations on January first. Celebrations include parades, dinners, parties, and, most importantly, New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions for the New Year force you to recognize what you can do better yourself throughout this coming year and to be the best version of you - or so many people think.

According to Business Insider, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. As if it couldn’t get even worse, these empty promises are almost all completely generic.

53% of people making resolutions in the United States aim to save money, while 45% would like to lose weight or get into better shape. Enjolie Yang, a junior at Technical High School, agrees. Her resolution is to “workout more because I enjoy it.” These statistics mean that about 97% of resolutions are, essentially, things that anyone could do to better themselves. The 3% of New Year’s resolutions that are unique, however, can be very insightful. For example, Emma Marx’s resolution is to “find a boyfriend.” Extremely discerning, if you ask me. Another student, Tyler Anderson, would like to “coach a team” in the upcoming year.

Keeping your New Year’s resolution, as statistics show, is not always easy. Psychologists advise to keep your goals simple and realistic. Allow your most important resolutions to have your complete focus, and don’t overwhelm yourself. Make sure you know how you are going to reach your goal. For example, instead of have the resolution of wanting to get good grades, create a measurable objective of getting all assignments in on time. While keeping New Year’s resolutions can be a long and often difficult process, in the long run it is worth it - usually.

Shopping Gift Ideas for Under $10

Caylee Snodgrass

Ever want to be the friend who is known for giving great Christmas presents but you don’t have the bank account for that kind of luxury? I have a solution for you; these are the best presents for under $10.

Cookies and Holiday Cards This is the perfect way to make sure your friends know that you’re thinking of them this holiday season. You can find a box of up to forty cards for only six dollars at your local craft store, and cookies are the best way to jazz it up just a little so it isn’t all tears when they open a card full of sentimental thoughts.

Care Packages Care packages are a great way to individualize your presents this year. This way you can find the perfect budget for you and include all the perfect small things that you know will put a smile on your friend’s face. Personal Recommendations: Target face masks, nail polish, cards, cheap lotion, and a five dollar movie.

Homemade Board Games What’s more fun than a game night with all your friends? How can you incorporate that into your present ideas this season? Make your own game! You can find poster board and markers at any given store and that’s all you really need! You can make it fun with glitter, washi tape, and the classic bubble letters.

Playlists Yep, that’s right. I am recommending you make your friends a mixtape this Christmas. If you have Spotify, this is the easiest present you can give and it’s completely free! This is a great way to share what you love with your friends with no price tag. Just follow your friends, listen to the music you love and take ten minutes out of your day to make an awesome playlist for someone.

Framed Pictures Framed pictures of you and whoever you’re gifting this too are an awesome, personal, and cheap present. You can find inexpensive frames at the dollar store and print off any cute pictures that you want to share with your friend. Last Minute Gift Ideas

Taylor Payne

It’s well known the holidays are all about giving. But what is one supposed to give when they don’t have a slightest clue what to give their loved ones and friends?

First off, toddlers will like nearly anything. My advice is to purchase something more artistic, such as Legos ($11.99 at Target), colored pencils with a coloring book, Barbies, or a picture book. These items give toddlers an opportunity to express their artistic sides, plus they will keep them out of your hair for a while.

Once a child hits the age 12 and older, he/she will start asking for specifically what they are expecting in their hands by the time the holidays are over. A safe option is to allow freedom, like gift cards to his/her favorite shopping place or an iTunes gift card. Another choice would be headphones ($19.99 from Best Buy) or a wanted video game. If the teen is interested in photography and you don’t mind splurging a little, a Polaroid camera ($49.00 at Walmart) will definitely result in gratitude.

As for parents and grandparents, I’m still shopping for mine; however, candles are a great choice for grandmas and mothers ($24.50 at Bath and Body Works and cheaper at other locations). Coffee mugs or personalized frames will also work for adults. Another choice for adults, especially the ones you always find in the kitchen, are cooking supplies! Items like serving platters, utensils, and blenders ($29.99 from Kohl’s, prices range per location). Remember, your gift doesn’t have to be the most expensive to be meaningful. Always give from the heart, and happy holidays!

Outdoors Turn Off Your Netflix: Outdoor Winter Activities

Ashley Tarrolly

Chilly nights, crisp mornings, extra blankets, hot coco, and of course, Netflix. Binge watching Friends is sometimes nice and relaxing, but eventually your bag of chips will run out and you will have to get up. Instead of going to grab another bag of chips and starting the next season of Friends, try going outside for a change!

If you are unsure of things to do and you are trying to use that as an excuse, that will no longer work because I am providing you a list of outdoor winter time activities and where you can do them:

1. Sled at Calvary Hill 2. Downhill ski or snowboard at

Powder Ridge

3. Have a snowball fight (if you are or aren’t too fond of your neighbor, this is a good one. 4. Ice skate and play pond hockey at Lake George (wait until you know it is safe to be on the ice...if you do not wait, you may experience the Polar Plunge - another winter outdoor activity - whether you want to or not! Make sure the ice is deep enough to skate on for your safety) 5. Build a snow fort in your backyard 6. Ice fish... this is the land of 10,000 lakes, so I am sure you can find a spot 7. Snowshoe in any Minnesota State Park or in the Big Woods near Oak Hill Elementary

8. Build a snowman in your backyard 9. Help shovel for your parents or your neighbor If you just really do not enjoy being bundled up out in the cold, there are other things you can do inside too! Here are some ideas:

1. Read a good book by the fireplace

2. Do a puzzle 3. Make cookies and hot

chocolate 4. Make a gingerbread house 5. Play board games with

your friends or family Winter can feel like a long drag, but there are many ways to make the most of it and enjoy it! What to Do On a Snow Day

Morgan Ness Much like snowflakes, no

two students are the same, yet we all have one thing in common during the long Minnesota winter: we all wish for snow days. Snow days truly make up for Minnesota’s freezing cold weather, and they are wished for even more as finals roll around. Here are some ways to spend these fun and relaxing days away from school work.

Build a snowman. Snowmen are so cute and a fun activity to do with your siblings or on your own. Throw on your snow gear and make the biggest snowman possible to make your neighbors jealous.

While building your snowman, I suggest listening to Disney's classic ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman’ to spread the winter cheer. Decorate him with your mother's favorite sweater and top it all off with a carrot nose.

Morgan Ness and Angie Kiffmeyer

building a snowman outside.

Sledding is another excellent way to make use of the snow and have fun on a snow day. If you have a hill in your backyard or in your neighborhood, take advantage of the slope and have a snow filled ride down.

If you hate the cold, a good way to stay inside and still enjoy your snow day is to bake cookies. Whether it's grandma's recipe or from the box, you cannot go wrong with cookies. Impress your family with your good cooking skills and welcome them home with a good treat. All in all, sleep in and enjoy a relaxing day off. You deserve it!

Seasonal Staying Healthy Over the Holidays

Victoria Anderson

Upcoming Tech Events:

Jan. 21-22: No School

Jan. 23: Pajama Day

Jan. 24: Jersey Day

Jan. 25: Groutfit Day (All Gray)

Jan. 26: Snowball 8 P.M. – 11 P.M.

At this time of year, many Tech students take time to celebrate and spend time with family for a variety of reasons. During a season of food, travel, and freezing weather, our environment and regular habits can change, causing risks to our health. During this chaotic time of the year, it is important to find ways to continue to care for ourselves. Here are a few ways to stay healthy during the holiday season: Stay Hydrated: Although it can be difficult to remember to drink water when the weather is cold, our bodies still need plenty of water!

Hydration in the winter is particularly important to keep your skin from drying out, protecting your immune system, and helping with digestion in case you overeat. If you find yourself forgetting to drink water, try carrying a water bottle, and try forgoing pop or eggnog with your meals and drink water instead. Stay Nourished: In the winter months, it is important we remember to maintain a varied and nutritious diet. When you’re eating your hearty holiday feasts, try throwing in fruit or vegetable! And if you eat a few too many plates of casseroles or snowman-shaped cookies, don’t panic! Your body can recover.

After overeating, Healthline Magazine recommends trying yoga, going for a walk, and NOT skipping later meals. Keep Moving! When we get busy and the weather gets cold, it can be easy to want to stay curled up in a ball under a bunch of blankets and never move again. However, especially during such a stressful time, it is crucial we stay active. Try using exercise videos on YouTube (I highly recommend the channel Yoga With Adriene), taking a trip to the gym, taking up fun winter activities, such as skiing or snowshoeing, or even simply going on a walk on a warmer winter day.

Holiday Traditions Megan and Taylor Maiers

During the holiday season, people are constantly busy with their usual traditions. These can include winter activities such as building snowmen and sledding to holiday activities such as having a gift exchange with extended family. Of course, the holidays are usually filled with sweets of all kinds. Families come together to create all of their favorite recipes on a day filled with sugar. There are always the classic cookies that were mastered and passed down for ages and are recreated every year. Traditions can be simple and special, such as creating a gratitude chain every year. Paper chains can be made out of colorful paper and people can write what they are thankful for on each sheet.

Each day, one will be created by each member of the family, creating a long chain by the end of the holiday season. This can help to bring in some more appreciation to the holidays that are usually filled with selfish thoughts and wants. A common but still fun tradition is creating gingerbread houses with family. People of all ages can put together a beautiful house made of sweets that is unique each time. It is a great way to show creativity, and this can take as much time as someone wishes. Visiting tree farms are also a tradition. While picking out a tree and cutting it down may seem like a chore, it brings families together and can bring the spirit of the holidays.

Caroling is a tradition for many families. Whether it is caroling in neighborhoods, at a hospital or nursing home, or at relatives’ homes, it lifts the mood. This tradition is more of a classic, but it is still used today to bring back the memories of childhood to adults and start new memories for young children.