6 easy steps
To draw a bear you need
-Paper
-Pencil

1. Sketch the face
2. Draw the ears and the nose
3. Sketch the body
4. Fix the face of the bear
5. Draw the front and back legs
6. Shape the body of the bear the you want it to be

The Do’s and Dont’s of driving

When you first go to take your driving test it is important to remember where your lights are and where you emergency brake is. They will ask you to turn on and off your lights and and left and right turn signal. They will also ask where your windshield wipers are and your defroster is.

Now the Dont’s

1. Don’t hit a pedestrian
2. Don’t roll through the stops
3. Don’t turn into the wrong lane/incoming traffic  
4. Don’t forget to check your mirrors
5. Don’t go too fast or too slow

Now for the Do’s of taking your test!

1. Do be a confident driver
2. Do remember not to hit polls
3. Do remember  your left and right
4. Do remember to be prepared with you driving information at the window
5. Do ask questions at the end if you’re confused about anything

These are the Do’s and Don’ts of taking your test. It is important to remember the do’s and also the don’ts. If you fallow the do’s and you remember not to the don’ts then you are sure to pass you test on the first try!

Thinking about getting a new piercing soon? Holy Mackerel is the place to go. They have had the best feedback with barely any complaints other than to be pricey!

Verno, a piercer, is very understanding and clear about the piercing and after care instructions. Although this shop can get a bit pricey, compared to other shops, you always want your piercing to turn out looking great. It’s all worth it in the end. I have had great experience getting my navel and industrial pierced there.

Other great local shops would be Saint Sabrina’s, and Steady tattoo and piercings.

Also, whatever you do, I highly suggest you to not go to Almost Famous, located at the Mall of America. There are not too many good reviews from people that have had experience getting pierced here.

Samantha St. Clair, a former student here at Highland Park Senior High, has gotten her navel pierced at Almost Famous: they misplaced it and didn’t give her very direct cleaning instructions, and the piercing got infected within the first month and had to be taken out.

She later on went to Holy Mackerel to get it re-pierced once it healed. It turned out well, but there is still some scar tissue around the piercing where it got infected the first time.

So, be patient if needed, be safe, clean, and good luck! Also, remember you have to have a parent or guardian with you while getting pierced if you are under the age of 18.

                                                       Decorations for Halloween.

Here are some great ideas to make your Halloween pumpkin different from everyone else’s this holiday. These fun and creative decoration ideas for your pumpkin will make yours stand out from all your friend this Halloween!

#1 Glitter Pumpkin

Things you’ll need  

1. Pumpkin
2. Glitter of choice
3. Spray adhesive
4. Paint brush
5. Newspapers
6. Spoon

Instructions for glitter pumpkin

1. Lay out newspaper onto flat surface. (Table, floor, cement)
2. Spray the top half of your pumpkin with spray adhesive, if you don’t want the stem of the pumpkin to be covered in glitter do not spray with adhesive.
3. With your spoon, sprinkle glitter over the adhesive you previously sprayed onto your pumpkin.
4. Remove unwanted glitter by carefully shaking pumpkin over newspaper.
5. Let your pumpkin sit for at least 5 minutes.
6. Spray the bottom of your pumpkin with adhesive.
7. With spoon, sprinkle glitter over the adhesive you previously sprayed on your pumpkin.
8. Let your pumpkin sit for at least 5 minutes.

#2 Glow in the Dark Pumpkin

Things you’ll need

1. Pumpkin
2. Glow in the dark paint of your choice
3. Paintbrush
4. Newspaper
5. Paper plate

Instructions for  glow in the dark Pumpkin

1. Lay newspaper down onto flat surface. (Table, floor, cement)
2. Squeeze glow in the dark paint onto paper plate.
3. With your paintbrush, design your pumpkins how ever you choose.
4. Let the paint on your pumpkin dry.

#3 Starry Night Pumpkin

Things you’ll need

1. Pumpkin
2. Dark blue or black paint
3. Silver paint
4. Gold star stickers
5. Newspaper

Instructions for starry night pumpkin

1. Lay newspaper down onto flat surface. (Table,floor,cement)

2.Paint the entire pumpkin (including stem) either dark blue or black, depending on which color you chose to use.

3. Let your paint dry.
4. After the paint has dried, using the silver paint, paint a crescent moon onto your pumpkin.
5. Let paint dry.
6. Stick the gold stars all over your pumpkin.

                                                            Halloween Treats

These snacks are great for any upcoming Halloween event. All tasty, affordable and easy to make!

#4 Nutter Butter Ghosts

Things you’ll need.

1. Nutter Butters. (How many packaged you need/want)
2. 8 ounces of melted white chocolate.
3. 1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips.
4. Plate or tray
5. Fork
6. Parchment paper

Instructions for Nutter Butter Ghosts

1. Put 8 ounces of white chocolate into a microwaveable bowl and heat for 1 minute and 15 seconds.
2. Carefully place bowl onto a flat surface.
3. With a fork dip Nutter Butter into white chocolate, rotate until the whole cookie is covered.
4. With fork, pick up Nutter Butter and place onto parchment paper
5. Place two mini chocolate chips as the eyes of the ghost.
6. Let your ghosts dry.

#5 Gummy Worms

Things you’ll need.

1. 2 Rubber bands
2. Bendy straws
3. Jello (red)
4. Water
5. Large cup
6. Bowl

Instructions for Gummy Worms

1. Pack all of the bendy straws together and wrap two rubber, one on the top and one on the opposite end.
2. Make jello.
3. While the jello is still in a liquid form, pour into straws.
4. Let jello sit for 2-3 hours in fridge.
5. Carefully pour warm water over jello filled straws to release “worms” from straws into a bowl.
6. Pour out extra water.

#6 Witch Finger

Things you’ll need

1. White bread
2. Red jam/jelly
3. Peanut butter/almond butter etc.
4. Shaved almonds
5. Knife
6. Rolling pin
7. Plate

Instructions for Witch Fingers

1. Cut the crusts of the bread off.
2. With rolling pin flatten out bread
3. With knife spread peanut butter or almond butter onto the bread.
4. Roll bread vertically.
5. Cut a V shape onto one of the ends of the bread.
6. Put a small amount of jelly/jam onto the V shape of the bread.
7. Push shaved almond into the jelly/jam
8. Put sandwich onto a plate
9. Put jelly/jam onto end of sandwich

Helpful links:

http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/diy-glow-in-dark-pumpkins.html

http://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/handmade/how-to-make-glittered-pumpkins

http://thestir.cafemom.com/food_party/145588/nutter_butter_ghost_cookies_fo

http://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/holidays/8-fun-new-ways-to-decorate-a-pumpkin-pictures

http://www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/deadman-finger-sandwiches

http://www.allthingshomerelated.com/2012/10/ghost-cookies/

The gap year between senior year of high school and freshmen year of college is finding an increase in popularity in the United States, with a 20% rise since 2006, according to Forbes. Gap years originally started in the United Kingdom, but have expanded into an actual life decision. The American Gap Association records gaps as long as two months to two years.

Pros (according to Forbes and Time):

• Gives students a chance to learn about themselves and increase self-awareness
• More colleges are offering scholarships for students who want to take gap years, universities include Princeton and University of North Carolina.
• Can help you re-evaluate what college you want to go to.
• There are low cost gap year plans, such as AmeriCorps, City year, or WWOOF-USA

Cons (according to Forbes and Time):

• Because gap years are such a big commitment, it’s not a good idea to only want to only want to commit yourself if you just want to have fun or travel.
• Many public schools won’t let you take a gap year, if this occurs, try to talk to your school administrator.
• To avoid colleges, you have to go back to school by the end of the year, so make sure to decide where to go before or during the gap year.

Marah Prpich Grade 12, Highland Park High School, when asked about her stand on gap years says, “No, I want to get college over with, if they want a break from the academics, or a break to find themselves then that’s a good idea.”

Ms. Esso counselor from Highland Park High School says, “I think they’re a good year if students have a plan; if they’re going to volunteer or intern.  Sometimes, it can be harder for students to start school again if they take a year off.”

So, the decision is different for everyone. Just be concerned with what is the best for your future and which career decision will make you happy.

Being happy is something that is very important in life. Happiness is an important key to life. Although sometimes things may happen that may make you feel low, it’s always important to try to at least keep yourself lifted.

There are many little simple things you can do to make yourself happier, for example:

According to Tinybuddha.com talking to someone new can make you feel happier. You get to learn about them and also you get the opportunity to expand yourself. It makes you feel as though you are getting the chance to make a new friend.

Tinybuddha.com also suggests trying to respond to things in a positive manner and not let them affect your day. By doing this you can make the choice to have a better day and not get upset.

Immanuelopcpgh.org suggests to try soul-searching. I know it sounds kinda cliché but trying something new and stepping out of your boundaries can push you and help you find things that you didn’t know you had an interest in. Finding new passions can really create a more motivated person also give you new things to love to do.

Taking a risk can just push you to a happier life according to Immanuelopcpgh.org. Sometimes risks can be great give you more opportunities it just pushes you and you might find taking that risk help you get to where you wanted to be.

Apa.org says you should relieve yourself from stress. It takes some time to do something for yourself to really relax and reach your inner peak. You can really change your style of  life and make it more pleasant. Also learn to accept your body and start loving yourself. It makes a huge difference!

Enjoy the little things, for one day you make look back and realize they were the big things.” ~Robert Brault

The 2015 school year started off with a bang! Seeing familiar faces from last year and getting to know new faces arriving this year. It’s always good to meet new people and still have your regular friends during high school.

With that in mind, my fellow writer, Tationna, and I decided to write and give a survey to all students in each grade at Highland Park Senior High. This survey asked 5 specific questions

• Name
• grade
• class they have next
• their favorite class and why its their favorite class
• what type of grades they get.

We separated the surveys by grade level, and then separated it again into class type. In total we surveyed 21 people throughout HPSH.

Here are 2 examples of the survey responses that we received:

1) Name: Dejra Bishop

Grade: 10th grade

Class you have next: Small animals; Do you like it? Yes

Favorite class: English  Why: Cause I know people in my class.

Type of grades you get: A’s and B’s

2) Name: Yalayna Buther-Griffen

Grade: 11th grade

Class your have next: Math studies; Do you like it? Yes

Favorite class: Drawing  Why:  Because I like drawing

Types of grades you get: B’s and lower

We found out that it’s better for others to work in a classroom with people they know because sometimes, depending on whether it’s a hard class or not, knowing people makes it a little bit easier.

Most of the people that we surveyed picked “History” as their favorite class.  One of the people we surveyed said, “I like learning World History and I like the way the teachers teach the class.”

While we were surveying people, we discovered that asking people questions is a great way to meet someone new, and get to know them and what they are into!  It also gave us an opportunity to become better aquainted with what is available at school and the new students that are attending Highland Park Senior High.