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The 2023-24 basketball team had one of the best seasons in Head Coach Bryce Stokes’ coaching career. The team went 17-7 last year, and with Stokes coaching, he has had 17 games won and the last 3 years. This group of boys are better than last year's squad. “A good group with great leadership, Junior Allandkim, a senior heading into his second varsity season, this group will take us where we need to be,” said Coach Stokes on his impression of the 2024-25 senior class. “I can only hope for a state run,” on how far Stokes thinks the team will get this season.

With having one of the best basketball teams in the city, Stokes has students wanting to transfer to play under him; not even just basketball players but the cheerleading program has girls who wanted or have transferred to cheer for his wife, Shauntee Stokes. Coach Stokes produces a lot of basketball players with talent. Mostly every senior of their class that played for him has got into college for their hidden talents on the court.

I don’t have a top 3 player, I just have a balanced team that can play the ball really well,” says Stokes about being asked who his top three players are. This roster is looking really good this season. The team has returning players like Junior Allandkim, a physical player that can put up points. Seydou Keita, a 6 '6 guard/wing that can drive to the rim really well, and Markece Mitchell, a 6 ‘3 guard that can shoot around the court. These players and the rest of the players will have a huge impact on this season and how far they will get. The coaching performance is the “best in the city” Coach Stokes says.

“The coaching is always intense because a lot from the seniors and the team. We have fun but most of the time it's hard work, blood sweat, and tears. Games are very intense, it's a battle for a winning spot on their record,” said Sada Berry, a junior basketball player on the team.

Imagine a society where social servants, and sports players get paid the same salary; However, in today's society that is far from true. The average contract for an NFL player is 3.26 million dollars, while the average teacher makes 57k. Supply and demand plays a big role in the pay difference. Becoming a sports player isnt easy, and actually being great at the sport you play is even harder. It can take years to have high level skills, so teams are prepared to pay for rare players. On the other hand, social servants like police officers, teachers, and firefighters. Are popular in demand, but are also accessible to more people.

Making the supply higher. Which makes their contracts lower. student Danyon’K Justice says, “I believe that the pay rate for athletics is a little too high for their job.” Major league sports teams make a lot of money from sponsors and fans from all over. According to the website Sportico, the business of sports during the 23-24 NBA season they made 1.5 billion just off sponsors. That does not include the revenue made from the tickets, shows, entertainment, etc.. However social servants do not receive the same amount of attention; society prioritizes sport for entertainment, so social servants rarely receive any recognition. They are often paid by the government, so the budget is lower. Citing ESPN, the average NFL player's career is about 3.3 years. This is due to the physical injuries players may sustain.

In contrast the average career for a teacher is about 30 year Overall, the pay difference between professions rely on various reasons, like society values, the demand in each profession and more.

Christmas is a holiday filled with traditions like making cookies, decorating the tree, opening presents, etc…. However, many people are unaware of the origin of this holiday and these traditions. Domanik Smith, a junior at Western Hills University High School says, “Every year my family open gifts, have dinner, and binge-watch Christmas movies every Christmas.” Christmas trees, wreaths, and candy canes originated in Germany and not the U.S.. Evergreen trees have been used to mark the winter solstice and signified the beginning of spring and new life.

The first Christmas trees as we know them started in Germany, becoming popular due to a sketch of Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Consort Albert standing in front of a Christmas tree with their children. Wreaths are even a religious symbol, according to Good Housekeeping, “The circular shape and evergreen material of the wreath represent eternal life.

The circle, which has no beginning or end, "symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul and the everlasting life we find in Christ.”’ The tradition of wreaths started in Germany by using the cut-off parts of the Christmas tree and weaving them making it more uniform instead of throwing the parts out.

According to Good Housekeeping, “The National Confectioners Association says a choirmaster originally gave the red-and-white-striped candies to young children to keep them quiet during marathon church services back in 1670. It wasn't until a German-Swedish immigrant decorated his tree with candy canes in 1847 that they became popular as a Christmas candy.”

Zayne Thomas a junior at Western Hills University High School says, “When I was a kid I believed in Santa Claus until other kids around me stopped, I then learned that he was not real. I think it's good for kids to believe in Santa Claus, they need to have something to believe in, because they need that Christmas spirit.” The modern Santa Claus used to be very different. Back in the 19th century there was a man called Father Christmas yet instead of being the jolly man that gives children gifts, he was more focused towards entertainment for adults.

According to Legacybox, “The character of Santa Claus originated from a 3rd-century monk called Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas lived in modern-day Turkey and became well-known for his kindness and generosity – it is believed that he gave away all his inheritance to the poor and needy, and devoted his time to serving those less fortunate. His popularity continued to spread over many years, with stories of his good deeds traveling all over the world.” In fact Coca-Cola played a big role in the shaping of the character we know today as Santa Claus. There have been many different versions of Santa Claus; a tall skinny man, an elf, and even a scary Santa Claus. In 1931 Coca-Cola released advertisements including the jolly gift-giving character we know today. Sierra Thomas, a senior at Western Hills University High School says, “I don't think the naughty or nice list is cruel or unnecessary. A child needs to be disciplined and know what's right or wrong.

They need to have some type of incentive to behave well or a punishment for when they don't, like receiving coal.” The first mention of the naughty and nice list is in the song “Santa’s coming to town” by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie in 1934. The idea of kids being naughty or nice came from 16th century Holland. Before stockings, parents placed their children's shoes near the fireplace. Good children would find candy or cookies while naughty children would find coal. Not everybody celebrates Christmas and not everybody who does knows the origin of specific parts of the holiday.

Whether you celebrate it or not, it's interesting to see the origin of things and how they came to be. Simple things overtime became this popular, joyous, and happy holiday people celebrate today.