The Villain Voice - Volume 2 (2025-26)

The Villa FAITH IMPORTANC By: Sammi SchultAdvent is the mark o beginning of our Christmas season. It is th of year when we pourselves for the birth of Christ. It is a time for Chrto prepare their heart minds for the sacred celebof Christ's birth. This focuses on core Christian such as love, peace, hop joy. Advent is often overbecause of Advent cale Volume 1, October 2025Advent reminds us of importance of waiting in faith, and most importwith patience. Our wor always pushing for infulfillment, Advent teache the beauty of slowing and taking time to reflec God’s promises. It is a sethat calls us to prayer, renand repentance. Preparin not only for Christ's birth his ultimate return. By t Christmas is the celebration after Jesus i which starts on Decemb and lasts for 12 days, while is the month of prepbefore Christmas. Since two topics are comconfused, it is meaning know how you should be ppreparing yourself spAdvent is not only a t waiting but also a time action. We can live o

8TH GRADE The Villa STUD By: Charlie SchoeOn October 22, the feede of Bishop McGuinness their 8th grade classes to campus. These students opportunity to see h schedules work and s classes that make Bishop For many of the kids it w first time seeing what hig looks like up close, and ho eased their nerves upcoming school year.This visit also happened t Volume 1, October 2025....JUNIOR RETR By: Jenna MurphyOn November 6th, 2025 Junior class of BMcGuinness Catholic School attended their aclass retreat. This year, it place at camp Hanes wstudents said was a beacamp ground perfect to stime with God and their pThe goal of an annual reamong the classes is to stronger bonds between students and nourish the Feature that Bisho focus The retreats are planned andrun by religion teacher, Mrs.Fisher, priest, Father Broc, andour volunteer students part ofpeer ministry, a student groupdevoted to spreading faithoutside the classroom walls.Weeks of planning go into eachretreat and it is important torecognize the time and effortput in by everyone involved.ActivitiesAs most people know and haveexperienced, it can be difficultto keep young adults engaged.

Due to this, a long list of gamesand hands-on activities iscreated and set to take placeat the retreat. This included,team battles, head-shouldersshoe, finish the lyrics, andothers. The light-hearted,stress free activities remindjuniors to be kids which is oftendifficult due to their rigorousschedules and what seems tobe ‘endless’ hard work.Along with games comes selfreflection spent in small groupsconsisting of classmates. Thegroups are randomly decidedwhich allows for a mix offriendships that likely wouldn’ttake place otherwise. It alsoleads to varying perspectiveson the walk of life itself which isso important to hear.Following FaithAs mentioned, the goal of eachclass retreat is not only to growwith friends but also in faith.The bible verse our retreat wasconstructed around wasRomans 5: 3-5: “Not only so, butwe also glory in our sufferings,because we know thatsuffering producesperseverance; perseverance,character; and character, hope.And hope does not put us toshame, because God’s love hasbeen poured out into ourhearts through the Holy Spirit,who has been given to us.” Thisdiscusses characterdevelopment through sufferingand highlights the idea ofperseverance.Student LifJunior year is pivotal for mreasons academically, socand emotionally and it obecomes a challenge. message reminds studen see the bigger picture push themselves to a hstandard. As a current jand a peer minister, I ca with confidence that retreat meant a lot to me.JUNIOR RETREAT: AN OVERVIEWVolume 1, October 2025I saw myself in the mesconveyed; and felt hear the speeches given by Brooks and McKenzie Eregarding perseverance. grateful for the opportthat Bishop gives us to gr relationships with God an peers and I look forward t coming retreats.

The Model UN Team here atBishop goes to collegiateconferences semesterly. In thefall semester, the team goes tothe University of Virginia inCharlottesville conference. Theconference is a 3-day trip forthe team, and it is held oncampus. The team takes 25-35students to the conference.UVA hosts a well establishedmodel UN conference, and thisyear, they hosted their 45thiteration of the conference.About VAMUNFormally, the UVA conferenceis referred to as VAMUN.Usually, VAMUN has a centraltheme with committee topics.This year however, due to asignificant increase inregistration, there were morecommittee rooms and anincrease in delegation numbersfor each committee. Therewere still some topicsimilarities across committees;many committees had a focuson AI for at least one topic, andthere were a few rooms thatwere entirely focused onconstitutional reform andsocial movements. The mostnotable related rooms were thejoint-crisis committees thatwere all separate rooms thathad connected storylines andresults. The topic was theKorean Martial Law Crisis.Student LifBishop at UVAWithin the many committeerooms at the conference, Bishophad at least one studentparticipating in each room.Some larger rooms had as manyas five Bishop students.BISHOP MODEL UN FALL CONFERENCE AT UVAVolume 1, October 2025By: Elena OrozcoAs a team, this was Bishop’sfourth year attending theVAMUN conference, and theyplan to attend in years tocome. The team took studentsfrom all four grades, with themajority of the students on thetrip being from the freshmanclass.

At Bishop McGuinness CatholicHigh School, gratitude isn’t onlya feeling that comes and goeswith the seasons; it’s woven intothe very fabric of daily life. Theschool thrives on a vibrant senseof community, faith, andpurpose, uniting students,teachers, and families in acommon goal: to grow not justin knowledge, but also incharacter.Bishop McGuinness takes pridein its faith in action, wherestudents embody their beliefsthrough daily prayers, engagingin service projects, and showingcompassion to those aroundthem. This strong foundationcultivates a culture of kindnessand integrity reaching farbeyond the classroom.The school takes pride incelebrating academicexcellence, thanks to thepassionate teachers who sparkcuriosity and fosterperseverance.Student LifWHAT IS BISHOP THANKFUL FOR?Volume 1, October 2025By: Madeline EdwWhether students are divinginto science experiments,engaging in literaturediscussions, or exploring theircreative sides, learning atBishop is always meaningful andpurposeful. Equally importantare the values of service andcommunity that inspirestudents to give back, supportone another, and make apositive impact in the world.From campus ministry to localoutreach, every act of servicehighlights the importance ofgratitude.At Bishop McGuinness, wefocus on leadershipdevelopment, embracing ourschool traditions, and fosteringa supportive environment tonurture confident andcompassionate students whoare ready to lead with theirhearts. Every day, gratitude is atthe core of our community,appreciating the faith thatbrings us together, thefriendships that lift us, and thecharacter that makes us proud.THE MOUSETRAPREVIEWBy: Daniella PerezFernandezBishop McGuinness producestwo full-length shows each year,and this year the theaterprogram is taking on TheMousetrap by Agatha Christie. Ifyou're interested in murdermysteries, this is a perfectopportunity to watch your fellowclassmates on stage. I took theopportunity to see the students’own take on The Mousetrap, andthese are my thoughts.While I had never heard of thisplay before, I did my fair shareof research to get an overallidea of what I was going towatch. What I learned is that thestory follows a group ofstrangers staying in a countryguesthouse who discover thatthere is a murderer amongthem. A snowstorm traps theminside, and a police officerarrives to investigate. When asecond murder occurs in thehouse, everyone becomes asuspect. This is a suspensefulplay that keeps the audienceengaged and encourages themto pick up on clues to uncoverthe murderer along with thecharacters.

While watching the play, ICHRISTMAS Cappreciated that even thoughthe entire production tookplace in one room, I never feltbored or like the setting didn’tfit any of the scenes ordialogue. Some of the things Iliked most were how thelighting, audio, and cast wereable to make me feel theintensity of each moment,especially the plot twisttowards the end. At certainpoints, the mood definitelyshifted from humor to horror,and I think they executed thosetransitions really well. Inaddition to the play, it wassenior night, which was a nicegesture that wrapped up thefinal show beautifully. Overall, Ireally enjoyed this production.The cast clearly put in a lot ofeffort to make the playengaging and entertaining, andI look forward to seeing thespring musical next.Student LifTHE MOUSETRAP REVIEWVolume 1, October 2025It’s that time of the seasonagain when the bells areringing and everyone is feelingjolly. It’s Christmas time atBishop! Each year, the musicdepartment gets the chance toput on a Christmas Concert inDecember to celebrate theseason and is able to playChristmas classics and spreadthe joy of music. After so muchtime and dedication being putinto the concert, the day of theWinter Arts Concert “Songs ofthe Season” arrives onDecember 11th.I got the chance to speakwith one of the senior students,Avril Lopez, who has beeninvolved with the artdepartment since herfreshman year, and I was ableto discuss with her what itmeans to be a part of thedepartment and the concert.Q: How has your experience inthis concert changed fromyour earlier years in highschool to now? A: “This yearfeels so magical, honestly. Asmy senior year wraps up, I’mseeing everything through anew light; one shaped by thefriendships I’ve made and allthe moments God has carriedme through. It’s such a joy towatch my classmates shine intheir gifts, and I’m so grateful Iget to be part of somethingthat celebrates the talents He’sgiven us.”By: Jacquelin LeonQ: What part of the performanceare you most excited for, andwhy?A: “I cannot wait for us to singVeni, Veni Emmanuel! It’s such astunning piece, and I truly thinkit’s our strongest. It shows off ourmusical growth, but even morethan that, it lifts up the beautyand hope of our Savior. Gettingto proclaim that through musicfeels so special.”A:What do you hope the audiencetakes away from yourperformance this year?“I hope the audience feelscompletely wrapped up in the joyand warmth of the concert—andthat they see how much heartwe’ve poured into it. Ourdepartment has worked so hard,and I pray everyone can feelGod’s presence in the music andsee just how wonderfully He’smoving through our musiciansthis year!”Overall, the Christmas Concertshould have an amazing outcomedue to the hard work thestudents put into it, and somewonderful music to get you intothat holly jolly mood. It isdefinitely a show to get into theChristmas spirit.

Bishop McGuinness CatholicHigh School features multiplelocations for students andteachers to work. Studying is acrucial part of students’ weeks,and it is important to have aspace where people can focusand review for differentclasses. Some of these areasaround Bishop include theCommons, collaborativemeeting rooms, teacherclassrooms, the cafeteria, andthe cushioned seats in thehallways. These areas are opento students from beforeschool, after school, and duringBishop Time on certain days.The ability to have a place to sitdown and engage inassignments or review materialis extremely beneficial to theacademic performance of eachstudent.As there are various areas tosupport students in striving foracademic success, manypeople attending BishopMcGuinness have a go-to spotwhere they feel they can dotheir best work. A survey wassent out to the entire studentbody, asking students for areport on their favorite locationto be productive at school. Theresults show that the mostfavored study spot is theCommons, with 48.3% ofstudents, which is open beforeschool, after school, and mostlyevery Bishop Time, with someexceptions.Student LifBEST STUDY SPOTS AT BISHOPVolume 1, October 2025By: Lily Webster11.6% put the conferencerooms in the Commons asmentioned before, and lastly,the courtyard and cafeteriagained 3.3% of votes.As seen in the results, theCommons is the most popularplace to study across thestudent population, as that isits main purpose. Overall, theschool is filled with differentoptions for where to study, andit is easy for students to find alocation that best suits theiracademic needs to besuccessful.It contains many tables andchairs, with small meetingrooms which are mainly usedfor group projects or studysessions. The Commonsremains quiet so each studentcan focus to the best of theirability. The second mostfavored study spot is ateacher’s classroom, with28.9% of students selectingthat. Teacher classrooms are agreat spot to get help from ateacher, hang out with a groupof friends, and collaborate onprojects outside of class. Next,the blue cushioned seats werethird, with 10% of peoplechoosing that option.BISHOP’S TAKE ON CLUB ROTATIONSBy: Curtis RiazziThis year, with the widespopularity of creating joining clubs taking over Badministration was requir make two separate club d Days and B Days. Rather th clubs in Bishop McGuimeeting at once on a single day, half will meet on designated A Day, while other half will meet on designated B Day.While this change allow students to join multiple and for all clubs to be prrepresented, some are n infatuated with this chan others. I wanted to find ou exactly this was.To begin, Bishop studen extremely involved in the community. Their interests more than just one field allowing them to join mclubs that will help them exthese interests.

Under the old setup of clubday, you were allowed to joinmultiple clubs, but making timeto participate in both was ahassle, as you had to split yourtime and often miss importantmeeting information. This newsetup allows you to join theclubs of your diversifiedinterests, while still getting topractice both, as there areselect days for each of yourclubs. While the max number istwo, you are still able to be avaluable member of each clubdue to the fact you can committime to serve as a member inboth.While these are the benefits ofthe club rotations, there arealso detractors. For instance,students may only committheir time to one club, meaningthat they will either spend theopposite club day in a studyhall or join a club they mightnot fully commit to. Also, therotation means that club timeis significantly reduced,because individual clubs meetevery four weeks instead ofevery two. This couldsignificantly impact what clubsare able to accomplish within asingle school year due to thelimited time. BishopMcGuinness students werepolled about their opinions interms of whether or not theyliked club rotations, whetherthey preferred A or B Days, andwhether or not they wanted arotation or just one day.Student LifBISHOP’S TAKE ON CLUB ROTATIONSVolume 1, October 2025The results were nearly deadeven, as 56.3% liked therotations, while 43.7% did not.51.3% wanted one day, while48.7% wanted the rotation.Finally, 56.3% of students likedA Days, while 43.7% liked B Days.Whatever the case may be, theVillains sure seem split on thistopic!

END OF FAL The Villa SPORVolume 1, October 2025

SportsNFL MID-SEASON REPORTVolume 1, October 2025By: Diego MejiaWe’re past the mid-sepoint of the NFL year, an season has already delimore surprises than anexpected. There have teams that compcollapsed, teams that shoeveryone, and plenty of inand upsets that have chathe playoff picture. Her some of the biggest high lows so far.Two of the biggest lows The New England Patriots also impressed, posting two losses themselves, rookie quarterback Drake has quickly entered the conversation with his poise playmaking ability.Other teams have also mheadlines for unexpereasons. The Detroit continue to build off season’s success and look legitimate playoff threat. ..

A recent ESPN study highlightsthat the college footballcoaching “carousel” has beenspinning at an accelerated rateduring the 2025 season, with ahigh number of high-profilecoaches being fired due topoor performance or off-fieldissues. The trend underscoresa clear lack of patience amonguniversities. Several majorprograms have alreadydismissed head coaches due todisappointing starts or otherserious issues. For example,Oklahoma State fired theirlongtime coach Mike Gundyafter a disappointing 1-2 start.Virginia Tech also dismissedBrent Pry after his team beganthe season 0-3. UCLA cut tieswith DeShaun Foster very early,just three games into theseason after a rough 0-3record. Meanwhile, Stanfordfired Troy Taylor in thepreseason amid seriousallegations of staffmistreatment.Other major coaches let goincluded James Franklin atPenn State (due to theperception he couldn't win anational championship, thoughhe has since been hired byVirginia Tech), Brian Kelly atLSU (due to a lack of playoffappearances), and Billy Napierat Florida (due to error-filledgames and offensivestruggles).By: Tristan StyersSportsSTUDY ON FIRED COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHESVolume 1, October 2025The study emphasizes thatadministrations are quick toact when programs don’tperform. However, these firingscome at a significant financialcost; many of the coaches areowed large buyouts,sometimes in the tens ofmillions of dollars.Overall, the study argues thatjob security for college footballcoaches is weaker than ever, asuniversities are demandingimmediate success and arewilling to pay a high financialprice to try to reset theirprograms.NHL SEASON OVERVIEWBy: Lexi AspiazuThe NHL season is officiallyunderway, and hockey fanseverywhere are more excitedthan ever. With new players,major trades, and every teamwanting a shot at the StanleyCup, these early games arealready showing just howcompetitive this season isgoing to be. This article willcover the biggest moves, topteams, and what makes thisseason worth watching.One reason this season standsout is the number of bigoffseason changes. The CarolinaHurricanes made one of thebiggest moves by trading forK’Andre Miller and signingforward Nikolaj Ehlers to a longterm deal, giving their roster afaster, more offensive look.Montreal grabbed attention byacquiring defenseman NoahDobson in exchange for twofirst-round picks, showing theircommitment to building astronger blue line.

Colorado continued to reshapeits lineup by moving CharlieCoyle and Miles Wood, whileDetroit strengthened itsgoaltending by trading forveteran John Gibson. Thesemajor changes have creatednew team identities and raisedexpectations across the league.Once the season opened,several teams immediatelyshowed they were ready tocompete. The Vegas GoldenKnights started hot with a 5-0-2record (5 wins, 0overtime/shootout losses, and 2losses), even while missing keyplayers. The Colorado Avalanchecame out strong as well, playingat a level higher than manypredicted. The Winnipeg Jets’balanced lineup has helpedthem climb early, whileAnaheim’s young core andsteady goaltending have turnedthem into a surprising earlycontender.Not every team has foundsuccess right away. Tampa Bayis struggling with low scoringfrom their stars, and the NewYork Rangers have had troublegenerating offense despite asolid defense. Calgary has alsorun into issues with scoring andconsistency, making their earlyseason tougher than expected.With major roster changes,surprising standouts, and earlysetbacks shaping the standings,this NHL season already feels fullof drama and potential—givingfans plenty of reasons to keepwatching.SportsNHL SEASON OVERVIEWVolume 1, October 2025PREDICTING THE 2026 SUPER BOWL:WHO’S GOING ALL THE WAY?By: Emersen MartyAs the 2025 NFL season comesto a close, fans are alreadydebating which teams will battleit out in Super Bowl 2026. Withcompetition heating up acrossboth conferences, the race forthe Lombardi Trophy feels wideopen. From provenpowerhouses to exciting youngteams, the playoff picture is fullof possibilities. In the AFC, theNew England Patriots, DenverBroncos, and Kansas City Chiefsare leading the conversation.The Patriots have rebuiltthemselves into a tough,disciplined team under headcoach Mike Vrabel, combining astrong defense with a steadilyimproving offense. The Broncosare a rising team with plenty oftalent, but they still struggle toclose out games. While theycould be a threat, they have yetto prove they can consistentlywin when it matters. The Chiefsare never out of the mix. Even ina down year, the combination ofPatrick Mahomes and playoffexperience makes themdangerous if they get in.

In the NFC, the Los AngelesRams look like the strongestteam heading into thepostseason. Their offense isclicking, their defense is makingbig plays, and Sean McVaycontinues to show why he’s oneof the top coaches in theleague. Behind them, theChicago Bears are emerging asa team to watch. They are youngand developing fast, similar tothe Broncos in the AFC. TheGreen Bay Packers are alsobuilding momentum, with ayoung quarterback growing intohis role and a roster that isstarting to gel at the right time.Coaching will be a huge factorthis postseason. Mike Vrabel’sleadership in New England,McVay’s offensive creativity inLos Angeles, and Andy Reid’splayoff wisdom with the Chiefscould all be the difference intight games. With so manytalented teams in the mix,decisions on the sideline may bejust as important as the plays onthe field.A Patriots vs. Rams Super Bowlwould be a rematch of SuperBowl LIII, but with two verydifferent rosters and plenty offresh storylines. While theChiefs could still make a run, thePatriots and Rams seem bestpositioned to meet on football’sbiggest stage.Final Prediction: Rams vs.Patriots in Super Bowl 2026SportsPREDICTING THE 2026 SUPER BOWL: WHO’S GOINGALL THE WAY?Volume 1, October 2025

TINY HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS IN THE TRIADThe Villa LOCAVolume 1, October 2025By: Beau MartinAlmost 13% of the PiedmontTriad is currently living belowthe poverty line and double thatpercentage sees some form offood in security. Tiny HouseCommunity Development(THCD) builds tiny housecommunities to help thehomeless by providing themwith a safe, clean space duringthe harsh and unpredictableNorth Carolina winter. THCD’sgoal is to help betterunderstand the homelessproblem in our state withhelpful ideas about creatingspace for the less fortunate.These tiny homes vary basedon the location that you areassigned, but most of them boildown to a bed, a shower, and aplace to store your belongings.The idea is to give theseunhoused people a warm placeto bathe themselves during theholiday season so as not to letthem freeze to death. Many oftheir main communitiesprioritize former United Statesveterans. While it is not arequirement to get into one ofthese homes, it gives theadvantage to formerservicemen and women for allthey gave to our country.There is also another one oftheir campuses that prioritizesthe elderly, as studies show theyare most susceptible toweather-borne illness, as theytend to have weaker immunesystems.THCD builds thesehomes with help from localstudents looking forapprenticeships who live belowthe poverty line. THCDdeveloped an educationprogram for those individualsexperiencing homelessness,including veterans, thosecoming from halfway housingand incarceration, providing anopportunity to educatethemselves in the constructiontrade and soon in the plumbingand electrical fields. Theyreceive the nationally accreditedNational Center for ConstructionEducation and Research CoreBasic Construction Skillscertification through an 8-10week course. With thiscertification, the students havean opportunity to be hired bylocal contractors at $15/hour to$18/hour and lift themselves outof a poverty-level situation.THCD does some really amazingwork across the Triad and trulyexemplifies our values asmembers of the CatholicChurch.THCD also accepts donations tohelp continue these effortsthroughout the holiday season. Ifyou are interested, you candonate at nctinyhomes.com.

LocalFUN FESTIVITIESVolume 1, October 2025By: Abigayl MaryoWhen the first chill of winterfalls over North Carolina, thePiedmont Triad becomes awinter wonderland of lights, hotchocolate stands, and town-hallgatherings that heat up coldwinter nights. From wintermarkets and ice skating rinks toparades and candlelightconcerts, there are more than afew ways to reveal the magic ofthe season with family andfriends.Greensboro-PiedmontWinterfestDowntown Greensboro willsparkle with light during thePiedmont WinterFest eventscheduled between November21st and February 1st. Thisfestival normally runs betweenthe hours of 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.However during the season ofDecember 22nd and January2nd, the festival runs betweenthe hours of 12 p.m. and 10 p.m.Greensboro - Greensboro Ballet:The NutcrackerCatch the classic holidayperformance at the CarolinaTheatre over the period of Dec.11-14. Viewing times differthroughout the day withschedules given at 11 a.m. to 6:30p.m. This ensures that everyonewho wishes to catch the holidayballet performance can do so.High Point – Holiday FestivalParadeStart the holiday season at theHoliday Festival Parade onNovember 23rd at 3 p.m. onMain Street.This event offers the communitya chance to come together andexperience the holiday seasonwith floats and holiday cheer.Winston-Salem - TanglewoodPark Festival of LightsBeginning on November 14thand ending on January 1st ofevery year, the Tanglewood Parklocated in Winston Salem putson the Festival of Lights. Thisfestival occurs between thehours of 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. andshowcases the beauty of theholiday season.OverallNo matter if lights aredisplayed, holidayentertainment programs, orfun-filled holiday parades tickleyour interests this holidayseason, the Piedmont Triadregion of North Carolina has gotit all! Now grab the hotchocolate and indulge yourholiday spirit!

LocalBEST CHRISTMAS TREES IN NCVolume 1, October 2025By: Lucia BennetMost people plan on using thesame plastic Christmas tree orgo to their local tree lot thisChristmas season. The trueChristmas tree lovers,determined to get the rusticand original feeling of Christmasfrom the smells of a real treeand decorating its beautifulbranches will attend tree farmswhere you can pick out yourown tree straight from theground. If you are looking for amore meaningful Christmas oryou have been picking a treewith your family for a while, thenhere are the top three farms inNorth Carolina.First, I would like to talk aboutfarms in the Appalachian area.Boyd Christmas Tree Farms islocated in Waynesville, NorthCarolina. They have a cozy,snowy, green Christmas vibe. It'sthe perfect place to wander thehills looking for the perfect tree,and buy homemade gifts andhot pastries with some cider.There is a farm in the Piedmontarea for people who live closerto the city but still want thatmountain vibe. Additionally,Sandy Hollar Farms, located inLeicester Carolina, offers a largevariety of trees to choose from.Christmas trees, up to 3 meterstall, are available. Lastly, locatedin Vale, North Carolina, is aChristmas tree farm that is veryoff the grid and not verypopulated.This is the place to go. In moreof a broader countryside area,Helms Christmas Tree Farm,you'll find your perfect, healthyChristmas tree. If your family islooking for cheerful activitiesother than choosing your ownChristmas tree, C and JChristmas Tree farm has manyholiday activities to partake in,like getting warm cocoa,Christmas light decorations,hayrides, meeting Santa in hisworkshop, and spending a fewdollars on local dry goods.Located in Boone, NorthCarolina, the three choose-andcut Christmas tree farms hereoffer some of the best holidayexperiences in North Carolina.Each location combines highquality trees with warmtraditions, making the holidayseason feel truly special. Nomatter which farm you choose,you're sure to bring home a treethat adds joy and beauty to yourcelebrations.NORTH CAROLINAWINTER ACTIVITYLOCATIONSBy: Nick SchultheisThere are many amazing placesto visit for winter sports andactivities, offering fun forpeople of all ages. When thetemperature drops and thesnow starts to fall, it’s theperfect time to grab your coat,lace up your boots, and headout for some winter fun.Whether you love skiing,snowboarding, or just sippinghot chocolate by a cozy fire,these winter wonderlands havesomething for everyone. NorthCarolina has many great placesfor winter activities, which isgreat if you’re looking for a funwinter.

LocalNORTH CAROLINA WINTER ACTIVITY LOCATIONSVolume 1, October 2025As winter approaches, let’s seewhere you can go for somewinter fun.Ice RinksThe Greensboro Icehouse isgreat for ice skating with friendsor family. At the Icehouse, youcan rent skates, a party booth,or even the whole rink if you areputting together a party. TheWinston Salem Annex is perfectfor playing ice hockey. If you’relooking for a place to playhockey this winter, the WinstonSalem Annex is the place to go.You rent skates, sticks, and anyhockey equipment you need toplay.Mountain ActivitiesHawks Nest in Seven Devils N.C.is good for snow tubing. AtHawks Nest, in Seven Devils,there are hills for tubing down, acabin area for relaxing, andplenty of things to do with yourfriends or family. SugarMountain Resort for skiing.Skiing is one of the best thingsto do in the winter; SugarMountain Resort is the spot todo it. They have differentmountains varying in difficulty,and a hotel on the property ifyou are looking to stay close.Whether you’re a recreationalskier, or looking for more of achallenge, Sugar MountainResort is where to go. Blue RidgeParkway is great forsnowshoeing. Going hiking inthe snow is a lot of fun; BlueRidge Parkway makes it morefun. The trails are very long andhave excellent viewing areas.You can also rent snowshoes ifyou or your family don’t haveyour own.

THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL: ALBUM REVIEWThe Villa ENTERVolume 1, October 2025By: Jenna MurphyOn October 3rd, 2025, TaylorSwift released her newestalbum, The Life of A Showgirl.She wrote this album while onthe Eras Tour, and fans wereunsure of the genre it wouldtake on. Along with this, sheentered the cinemas again witha film titled The Official ReleaseParty of a Showgirl. In anunexpected turn, most fansdidn’t enjoy the album, butothers argue it was her best yet.The answer is unclear, and theonly way to determine whereyou fall is to listen to yourself.The ReleaseTaylor is an artist known for hercreative riddles and gameswhen it comes to the release ofan album or personal news. Asmentioned in the article prior,this time was no different;however, she added morenews, announcing a premieralbum. This is unlike anythingfans have seen and has allowedthe artist to delve into hercreative freedom from thejump. Of course, the fans didnot let this new idea gounnoticed as the ticket salesreached over $46 million inrevenue for a movie that was intheaters for a matter of days.Swift says that the success ofthe Eras Tour brought on theidea of creating a movie alongwith the album.As an artist herself, it comes asno surprise for her to direct amovie along with that. Fans havesaid that the movie swayed theiropinion of the album entirely andgave true insight into the mindof a showgirl. Fan Reactions:ControversyOften, when larger artists comeout with music, it hitsimmediately because thefanbase refuses to let it drop. Inan unexpected contrast, manyfans said that upon first listen,they really did not enjoy thealbum. People speculate that thereason for this is a shift in thetone of music from her last threealbums, which all contained sadsongs.Her new album is pop-focusedand highlights a time in her lifeduring which she was extremelyhappy.Despite a lack of appreciation atfirst, it was clear that the moviebrought back old listeners andintrigued new ones. The albumdefinitely got love in the longrun, now holding the title formost albums sold in a week(modern era) and number oneon Billboard hits. As a fan, I hadto warm up to the album;however, I learned to love it, andI am happy to see Taylor get therecognition she deserves oncemore.

EntertainmSPOTIFY WRAPPED: TOP SONGS & ARTISTSVolume 1, October 2025Spotify Wrapped is an annualfeature released by Spotify thatgives users a personalizedsummary of their listeninghabits from the past year. Ithighlights top songs, artists,genres, and total minuteslistened, presented in colorful,interactive slides. Wrapped notonly celebrates each listener’sunique taste but alsoencourages sharing on socialmedia, turning musicpreferences into a fun, end-ofyear tradition.Cultural EffectWith the rise of social media,Spotify Wrapped has become amore popular thing amongstusers and artists. In recentyears, some artists haverecorded short videos thankingfans who have them as their toplisteners. Spotify Wrapped is afun and creative way for usersto share what music they listento. Other media platforms haveadopted the ‘wrapped’ ideafrom Spotify, introducing AppleReplay, Amazon Music’s“Delivered”, My Deezer Year, andmany more. Spotify Wrapped isa tracking of your listening fromJanuary 1st to mid-November. Itfeatures your top songs, artists,listening minutes, podcasts, topplaylists,‘music club’, topalbums, and sometimes specialclips from your top artists.Student OpinionsThis year, Spotify Wrapped wasreleased on December 3rd inthe morning, and there was aninstant buzz amongst Bishopstudents about it. Spotify is themost used audio streamingplatform amongst BMCHSstudents, with 70% of studentsusing a free or premium plan.This means that a majority ofour students receive an annualSpotify Wrapped. The otherleading streaming platformamongst Bishop students isApple Music, which has adoptedthe Spotify Wrapped traditionas Apple Replay. Senior GraceBougerois is a Spotify user andshe was so excited to have herWrapped come out as shethinks it is “such a cool conceptto see who you listened to themost”, her top artist was Drake.By: Elena Orozco Senior Curtis Riazzi is a Spotifyuser and he thinks “it's prettycool that you can see everythingyou listened to throughout theyear cause you can forget whatyou had over the year”, he findsit fun that you can always besurprised with your top song, hiswas ‘Plush’ by Stone TemplePilots. Junior Beau Martin is aSpotify user and he thinks thatSpotify Wrapped,“is a great wayto discover more aboutourselves through the music welisten to,” his top song was‘There was This Girl’ by RileyGreen. Junior Nancy Laney whodoes not have Spotify, but doeshave an Apple Replay thinks that“Replay is better than Wrappedwith a cleaner aesthetic”, hertop artist was Taylor Swift.

EntertainmDANCING WITH THE STARS RECAPVolume 1, October 2025Once again, another season ofDancing with the Stars has hitthe books. This season hasconsisted of many celebritieswith different backgroundsand amazing dance skills.Featuring some of thetoughest competitors yet, andrecord-breaking fan votes forthe show. After each week,eliminations draw closer to thewinners of the Len GoodmanMirrorball Trophy.Each week featured adifferent theme for thecelebrities to explore. Weekone was Personal Anthemsnight, where each celebrityperformed to a song they love,and ultimately, no one wenthome. Week two was One-HitWonder nights with adevastating double eliminationof Corey Feldman and propartner Jenna Johnson, andBaron Davis and pro partnerBritt Stewart. Week three wasTikTok Night, with each coupleperforming to a famous TikToksong featuring the TikTokQueen and winner fromseason 31, Charli D’Amelio.Ending with a shockingelimination of Lauren Jaureguiand pro partner BrandonArmstrong. Week four wasDisney Night, with each coupledancing to a Disney-inspireddance. Involving acontroversial elimination ofHilaria Baldwin and pro partnerGleb Savchenko.By: Jacquelin Leon Week five was Dedication Night,where the celebs chose someonespecial they love to join theirdance. Thankfully, no one goteliminated after a beautiful andemotional night. There was also aguest judge and former pro KymJohnson-Herjavec, who got tojudge. Then, with the competitionhalfway done, came week six, withWicked Night being an absolutespectacular night with the firsttens of the season. Received byboth Whitney Leavitt and JordanChiles. Jon M. Chu was a guestjudge, who is the director ofWicked. Sadly, Scott Hoying andpro partner Rylee Arnold wereeliminated. After came spookyseason with Halloween night inweek seven and a special guestjudge and former pro, CherylBurke. Sadly, Jen Affleck and propartner Jan Ravnik wereeliminated. Then, for week 8, it wasRock & Roll Hall of Fame Night withguest judge and rapper FlavourFlav. The night ended with DanielleFishel and partner Pasha Pashkovbeing eliminated. Next came weeknine with the 20th Birthday PartyNight, where many pastcontestants were seen, and guestjudge and former host TomBergeron joined. After aconversational journey, AndyRichter and partner Emma Slaterwere eliminated. The followingtenth week, with the semi-finalsbeing Prince Night, each coupleperformed two dances, and thenight ended with Whitney Levittand pro partner Mark Ballaseliminated.Finally, the finals had arrivedwith each couple performingthree dances: judges' choice,instant dance, and a freestyle.The night finally ended with fifthplace being Elaine Hendrix andAlan Bersten, fourth place DylanEfron and Daniella Karagach,third place Jordan Chiles andEzra Sosa, and second place AlixEarle and Val Chmerkovskiy. Infirst place and the winners ofseason 34, Robert Irwin andWitney Carson.

EntertainmWICKED PART 2 REVIEWVolume 1, October 2025After a long year of anticipation,the producers of Wicked: ForGood, finally announced therelease date of the movie to beNovember 21, 2025. Ending on acliffhanger, fans are wonderinghow the famous “Wizard of Oz”ties into the remake of theclassic movie by Frank Baum andeven the play also called“Wicked”. As a fan myself, I wasexpecting to watch the moviethe night it drops to see if mypredictions were as I presumed.In Wicked: Part One, thebackstory of the Wicked Witch ofthe West, also known as Elphaba,which is not depicted in theoriginal “Wizard of Oz,” isexplained by Glinda, also knownas the Good Witch. It even goeson to show the complexrelationship between Glinda andElphaba, which surprised most,given the fact that they areenemies in the original. Therehave been a lot of predictions forthe Wicked: Part 2, also known as“For Good.” Judging by the trailerand the cliffhanger, this movieseems to be the backgroundstory to explain it all. This isespecially exciting, knowing thatAriana Grande and Cynthia Erivoare both starring as the maincharacters. Even before Wicked,I was in love with them andseeing them worktogether.Everyone had big hopesfor the movie, and many statedhow excited they were to see ifpink and green actually go welltogether.By: Gabriella Crite On November 22nd, I went tothe movie theater to watch it formyself. Before I even walkedinto the movie room, I noticed abig pink and green balloonbanner that you could takepictures with. People dressed upas Elphaba and Glinda, and evenscarecrows! The concessionseven had Wicked themedsouvenir cups. Seeing otherpeople as excited as I was,showed how meaningful theexperience truly was. As theanticipated sequel started toplay there were appropriatereactions to the plot, especiallysince the movie explained a lotof what we already learned from“The Wizard of Oz.”Even knowingthe ending, it felt like I waswatching it for the first time.The way both parts of the movietied together was so good.When the ending came, it wasobvious that people enjoyed thesecond part as much as the firstpart. I know I sure did! “Wicked:For Good” was an incrediblemovie and definitely worthwatching!MOVIES COMOUT IN DECEMBy: Alivia GarciaThe weather’s getting colder,Christmas is right around thecorner, and it’s the perfect timeto cozy up with a good movie.There’s just something aboutthis season that makeswatching films feel even better:blankets, hot chocolate, andmaybe a little snow outside thewindow. To make things easier,I’ve got a list of great movies tocheck out this December.Whether you’re into action,thriller, or something to justrelax with on a cold night,there’s a movie for everyone thistime of year.Avatar: Fire and Ash: Jake andNeytiri's family grapples withgrief after Na'vi's death,encountering a new, aggressiveNa'vi tribe. The Ash People, whoare led by the fiery Varang, areinvolved in the conflict onPandora as the conflict onPandora escalates and a newmoral focus emerges. Thismovie is an action/sci-fi moviethat is rated PG-13 and comesout on December 19.Song Sung Blue: This moviestarring Hugh Jackman is abouta Milwaukee husband and wifeNeil Diamond tribute act, whoexperience soaring success anddevastating heartbreak in theirmusical journey together.

By: Daniella PerezFernandezEntertainmMOVIES COMING OUT IN DECEMBERVolume 1, October 2025It is rated PG-13 and will bereleased on Christmas Day,December 25th.FNAF 2: One year has passedsince the supernaturalnightmare at Freddy Fazbear'sPizza. Former security guardMike and police officer Vanessahave kept the truth from Mike's11-year-old sister, Abby,concerning the fate of heranimatronic friends. However,when Abby sneaks out toreconnect with Freddy, Bonnie,Chica, and Foxy, it will set intomotion a terrifying series ofevents, revealing dark secretsabout the true origin ofFreddy's. This movie is ahorror/thriller genre, it is ratedPG-13, and will be released intheaters on December 5.David: From the songs of hismother's heart to the whispersof a faithful God, David's storybegins in quiet devotion. Whenthe giant Goliath rises toterrorize a nation, a youngshepherd armed with only asling, a few stones, andunshakable faith steps forward.Pursued by power and driven bypurpose, his journey tests thelimits of loyalty, love, andcourage, culminating in a battlenot just for a crown, but for thesoul of a kingdom. Rated PG,this movie comes out intheaters on December 19th.HOLIDAY BOOK RELEASESEverything is better when theholidays are near—even books.You may be familiar with sometitles that did well last yeararound the holidays, like The LetThem Theory by Mel Robbinsand The Answer Is No by FredrikBackman. In this article, I will goover books that are highlyanticipated for the 2025 holidayseason, featuring authors like E.Lockhart and Harper Lee, whosestories are sure to keep you upall night.There are several reasons whyauthors release new booksaround the holiday season.Holiday-themed books areperfect for gifting, and theytend to sell well since peopleoften have more time to readduring their break.Releases can also bestrategically timed—forexample, self-help books oftenperform well in January, afterpeople have made their NewYear’s resolutions. We Fell Apart:A We Were Liars Novel by E.Lockhart is highly anticipated asthe third book in the We WereLiars series. It follows twoemotionally broken people asthey try to heal together andrebuild their bond after theheartbreak and betrayals of theprevious books in the series.When the Fireflies Dance tellsthe story of Lallo, a young boywho experiences the death ofhis six-year-old brother. As hisparents grow distant, he takes itupon himself to move forwardin life and create his owndestiny. It’s a touching story ofsacrifice, and because it’sbased on a true story, it carriesa profound emotional impactfor readers.

During the holiday season,some people enjoy listening toChristmas music, while otherslisten to Christmas music allyear round, which helps themget into the Christmas spirit.Christmas songs for somepeople are a special traditionthat only happens once a year.The top 5 Christmas songs inthe world are 1. “All I Want forChristmas is You” - MariahCarey, 2. “Last Christmas” -Wham, 3. “Rockin’ Around theChristmas Tree” - Brenda Lee, 4.“Jingle Bells” - Bobby Helms, and5. “White Christmas” - BingCrosby. Out of all of thesesongs, Bishop's favoriteChristmas Song by far is “LastChristmas” - Wham.The responses say that 42.1% ofBishop’s student body likesWham the best. Bishop’ssecond favorite song is “All IWant for Christmas is You” -Mariah Carey. Bishop’s thirdfavorite song is “WhiteChristmas” - Bing Crosby.Bishop’s fourth favorite song is“Jingle Bells” - Bobby Helms.Bishop’s least favorite Song is“Rockin’ Around the ChristmasTree” - Brenda Lee. Which tellsus that only 10.1% of Bishop’sstudent body likes it. Mostpeople like these songsbecause they are nostalgic orremind people of theirchildhood.EntertainmHOLIDAY BOOK RELEASESVolume 1, October 2025Lastly, the book I’m mostlooking forward to is The HouseSaphir by Marissa Meyer. Thisnovel follows a young womanwho uncovers secrets about apowerful family whileinvestigating a murder. Shediscovers she must get rid of aghost and faces numerousobstacles and twists along theway.I hope that both avid readersand those looking to get intoreading can find inspiration andenjoy these new releases overthe holidays.CHRISTMAS SONGS BY THE NUMBERSBy: Dana Pirkl Some people might be asking,does bishop have a differentpreference than the world? Theanswer is yes, the world’sfavorite song is “All I Want ForChristmas is You” -MariahCarey. While Bishop’s favorite is“Last Christmas” -Wham.Responses from Bishop’sstudent body show wherepeople like to listen to theirmusic. The top 3 musicplatforms that Bishop uses areSpotify (66.5%), Apple Music(20.5%), and YouTube (5.6%).Bishop uses Spotify the mostwhen listening to Christmasmusic. Bishop is a fun placewhere people love listening toChristmas Music and whichsongs they listen to the most.

WINTER STARBUCKS MENU REVIEWThe Villa FOOD Volume 1, October 2025By: Grace BourgeoisAs Halloween decorationscome down and pumpkin spiceslowly disappears, the treesshed their leaves and theweather gets chilly, suddenlyeveryone feels the Christmasmagic. Thanksgiving barely getsits moment before people rushstraight into the holiday season.And what better way to kick itoff than with a warm, festivedrink from Starbucks? Onceagain, customers can enjoy thebeloved holiday beverages thatmake this time of year feel socozy. This season’s lineupfeatures returning favorites likethe Peppermint Mocha,Caramel Brulée Latte, IcedSugar Cookie Almond MilkLatte, and Iced GingerbreadChai. Later in the season, theChestnut Praline Latte and fanfavorite Eggnog Latte will alsomake their comeback.Peppermint MochaA classic blend of chocolate andmint that instantly bringsChristmas to mind. My onlycomplaint is that the chocolateflavor can be a bit overpoweringagainst the coffee.Caramel Brulee LatteGood initial flavor, but it has avery weird aftertaste that is notpleasant. It starts off strong witha nice caramel flavor, but theaftertaste is oddly bitter—moreburnt than brulée.Sugar Cookie Almond Milk LatteMy all-time favorite Starbucksdrink. It has that cozy, Christmaswarmth that makes even thecoldest days feel cheerful. I lookforward to its return every year.Iced Gingerbread ChaiThe Iced Gingerbread Chai is asweet, lightly spiced drink thatgives you a cozy holiday flavor ina refreshing way. A great choiceif you prefer something cold butstill crave that cozy Christmastaste.HEALTHIERHOLIDAYSBy: Cecilia DrabikWe are deep within the holidayseason, which means big mealsand good food. Although thesemeals are some of the bestmeals we eat all year, they aredefinitely not the best for us. Ifyou are the type of person whowants a healthy holiday mealthese swaps are for you.

Turkey 115Ham 180MashedPotatoes240Mac andCheese350Dinner roll 180GreenbeanCasserole200PumpkinPie320Apple Pie 400EntertainmHEALTHIER HOLIDAYSVolume 1, October 2025Yummy but Healthy SwapsCasseroles to rovegetables with olive oiMashed potatoes to potatoes (wmarshmellows) cauliflower mashBread rolls to sour drollsCookies to dark choccovered fruitsButter to avocado oilBelow is a list of typical h Studies suggest that tw three weeks leading up t holidays, if you go on at le 20 minute walk each da will be in better shape fo big meal. This is so the day you do not have to exaggat the gym.A holiday meal contains key foods to make it perf am not trying to influenc at all to not include thos FAMILY HOLIDAY RECIPESBy: Jetti ShirleyThe holiday season is a when kitchens come alive warmth, tradition, celebration. Recipes pdown through generatio newly discovered favtransform simple ingredinto dishes that embod spirit of the season. spiced cookies and rich p savory roasts and festive dthese creations are more meals, they are memories The first is Christmas delicate golden pastries shlike sparkling stars and with sweet jam. Light, crisp festive, they’re as beautif the holiday table as the delicious to eat. Next is CrMashed Potatoes, a ccomfort food that never f please. Made with tender bpotatoes blended with butter, and a touch of salt are smooth, rich, and f

The holidays are a tim sharing, and nothing bpeople together quite like made with care. These reremind us that the true sp the season is found not o tradition, but in the delmoments that you create family and friends aroun table.EntertainmFAMILY HOLIDAY RECIPESVolume 1, October 2025By: Annarose FieldenHot Chocolate is a staple families around the during Christmas time. Whit’s from sipping it watching a movie, or hav keep your hands warm wandering a light show Chocolate has been through it all, but which k the best of them all? bought or cafe made? which kind of both is bette I tasted all different kinds Last I went to DeBean, was the best hot chocola far! It had the perfect m chocolate and milk. It w little hot when it came ou that’s okay! I would rate it 5 stars. Store bought bcame next, and first we Swiss Miss. It was pretty not the best out of them a still very decent, so I gave out of 5 stars. Then Nwhich was extr HOT CHOCOLATE TASTE TEST

EntertainmBISHOP MCGUINNESS HOLIDAY FOOD LEADERBOARDVolume 1, October 2025By: Curtis RiazziMany diverse foods represented during the hseason, an impressive feas is noted when doing someas simple as looking out the spread present on the during dinner. Thanksgivin Christmas, for as much fo they share, also each have own unique offerings tha only be seen during respective days instead o whole entire season. How 10. Casseroles (4.59): A offering at family gatherin can have one of many stuffed inside, they d resonate with Bishop ve receiving the lowest score.9. Stuffing (4.82): A Thanstaple made from brea whatever else the cook w cram in as well, this p culinary art must have also home with students.8. Green Vegetables (5 5. Chicken (6.83): You’re abound to find chsomewhere in one for another during the holida versatility and commoputs it squarely in the midd4. Steak (7.02): While certainly a rarer item as holiday gatherings go, th nothing to sneeze at with A top tier food wi representative ranking.3. Mashed Potatoes

CHILL IN STYLEThe Villa FASHION AND DECORVolume 1, October 2025By: Harper DanfordAs temperatures drop, style isheating up with a fresh wave ofwinter fashion trends. Fromoversized scarves and sleekboots to cozy knits and vintageinspired coats, this season’slooks balance warmth withpersonality. Across hallways andcity streets, people are layeringsmartly while expressing theirindividual style.One of the biggest outerweartrends this winter is dramaticallyoversized coats, ranging fromfloor-length puffers to boxytrench silhouettes. Designers areplaying with volume andstructure, creating statementmaking pieces that areinherently cozy. Faux-fur andshearling coats are alsodominating the runways, withboth full-length outerwear andtrim accents bringing luxurioustexture. This trend combinespracticality with glam, allowingyou to dress warmly whilestaying fashion-forward. Knitsare getting a serious upgrade too—not just as layers but as thecenterpiece of outfits. Chunkycable-knit sweaters, ribbedtextures, and even matching knitsets are all trending for winter.Bold, structured knits offer bothwarmth and sculptural style,making them perfect for layeredwinter looks.Coordinated knit sets—likesweater-and-pant combos—bring a sophisticated yet cozyvibe. Accessories are not justpractical this season; they’recentral to the look. Oversizedscarves in bold prints, fringedetailing, and rich textures arestealing the spotlight.And boots? They’re morefunctional. Slouch boots (therelaxed, gathered-leg style) areback, along with architecturalheels, square-toe silhouettes,and even mesh-accenteddesigns for a modern twist.Color-wise, the palette is bothelegant and bold. Jewel toneslike emerald and cobalt arepopular in outerwear, whileneutral winter whites (creams,ivories) are being embraced inknitwear for a soft, clean look.Meanwhile, luxe materials likesuede, leather, and faux furbring richness to cold-weatherwardrobes—often withsustainability in mind, thanks toimproved faux fur technology.Street style is leaning into retrorevival too: think vintageinspired shapes and provensilhouettes, but updated withmodern finishes and texture.There’s also a strong “quietluxury” vibe—elevated basics,clean tailoring, and tactilefabrics that feel expensivewithout shouting.Whether you’re dressing for theclassroom or a winter walkdowntown, this season’s trendsinvite you to layer thoughtfully,choose texture-first pieces, andmake fashion as functional as itis expressive. Cozy never lookedso chic.

Fashion and SILVER VS GOLD JEWELRYVolume 1, October 2025By: Sammi SchultheisMuch like the viral questiothe dress blue and bla white and gold?”, there ongoing debate about whsilver or gold jewelry is bSome argue that gold has value, lasts longer, and cless irritation. Others psilver for its affordaversatility with different tones, and easy replaceThis article will finally get t bottom of which is better Students were asked to cwhich type of jewelry they the most: gold, silver, or a both. Gold jewelry won by margin, with over 55 students choosing it. Silver in second with 26% of the and the rest preferred a both. Based on these resu clear that at Bishop McGugold jewelry shines above But the real question is—w you think?TOP 3 CHRISTMAS SHOE RELEASESBy: Madison FeltsThe holiday sneaker season forDecember 2025 is shaping up tobe huge, with several Christmasthemed drops generatingsignificant hype.Air Jordan 11 “Gamma Blue”One of the most anticipatedreleases is the Air Jordan 11“Gamma Blue,” officiallyreturning on December 13, 2025,for $230.Significance: This shoe isimportant because theGamma Blue colorway hasn’tbeen released since 2013, andit remains one of the mostpopular non-original Jordan11s ever. Its return brings backnostalgia and high resalepotential, as Jordan 11s aretraditionally tied to theholiday season.Design Details: The shoe featuresthe classic black mesh upperand glossy patent leathermudguard, highlighted withGamma Blue accents on theJumpman logo. The 2025 versionalso includes a slightly higherpatent leather cut, a detailcollectors appreciate for itsvintage look.

Fashion and TOP 3 CHRISTMAS SHOE RELEASESVolume 1, October 2025Nike Ja 3 “Christmas”Another major drop is the NikeJa 3 “Christmas,” releasingDecember 26, 2025, for $140.Significance: This releasematters because Ja Morant’sline continues to grow inpopularity, and Nike oftenuses Christmas editions toshowcase specialstorytelling and seasonalcolorways on signaturebasketball shoes. The shoeblends performance withholiday flair.Design Details: It mixes aclean white base with brightred and volt green holidayaccents, making it bothfestive and playable.Adidas Anthony Edwards 2“Christmas”The third standout release is theAdidas Anthony Edwards 2“Christmas,” arriving onDecember 20, 2025, at $130.Significance: This shoematters because AnthonyEdwards has quickly becomeone of the NBA’s biggestrising stars, and hisChristmas colorwayhighlights Adidas' push tobuild a strong signature linearound him. It combinesperformance tech with yecatching holiday styling.Design Details: Featuring boldmixes of black, red, andlemon yellow, this shoe bringsa fresh and energetic twist toAdidas' holiday lineup.

DIY Decor: Many peoplealso like to create their owndecor to save additionalmoney and add their ownpersonal flair.A very affordable and adorabledecoration you can put in yourhouse to create a cute,Christmassy winterenvironment is to createpresent cabinets in yourkitchen.All you need is the ribbon colorof your choice and thecabinets in your kitchen.Create a center bow with agood amount of ribbon, createa cross pattern across theface of your cabinets, andattach the bow to the centerto make the cabinet look like abeautifully wrapped present.This is a wonderful way todecorate your house for thewinter with minimal effort andminimal spending.Fashion and WINTER DECORVolume 1, October 2025The winter season is almosthere! Everyone is excited to seea white Christmas with fewerleaves on the trees and amarvelous chill in the dark air.The perfect way to get into thewinter spirit early is todecorate your house.Many people are looking forconvenient and lower-priceddecor to spruce up their housefor the holidays. You can findsimple but festive decor forgreat prices at stores likeTarget, Walmart, and FiveBelow.For larger or more uniquedecoration pieces, check outHomeGoods and Marshalls.This ranges from a beautifulwinter wreath with snowflakesto hang on the front door, to asmall throw pillow with a cutedesign to brighten the room.For example, you can often finda nice Christmas tree throwblanket for around $13.When decorating, you havemany options that areaffordable and convenient.Traditional vs. Modern: Youcan go for the traditionalChristmas look with classicred and green cushions, orchoose white and golddecor for a clean, modernwinter look. Adorablecushions and small throwsare a great way to expressyour style affordably.By: Ainsley NameBeyond that, here are twoother popular DIY ideas:Mini “Snow Globe” Jars: Useinexpensive glass jars (likemason jars or thriftedcontainers) and fill thebottom with a layer ofEpsom salt (unscented) tomimic snow. Then, nestlesmall items inside, such asminiature bottle-brushtrees, tiny animal figurines,or pinecones. This createsan elegant, glowing winterscene that looks beautifulon mantels or shelves.Natural Elements Garland:For a cozy, rustic look thatlasts beyond Christmas,collect pinecones, birchlogs, and fresh or fauxevergreen sprigs. Arrangethem loosely along amantel or tabletop andweave in a strand of whitefairy lights (batteryoperated). This brings inwoodsy texture and warmlight, which are key to acozy winter aesthetic.Overall, there are manyaffordable things you cando to prepare your homefor this amazing season!

These objects first appearedin Germany in the 1600s, andwere originally created byminers and woodworkers.They were not initially fordecor, but served as afunctional tool to crack nuts inthe mines. Over time, theytransitioned into decor,symbolizing protection,strength, and good luck forthe family. For old Germanfolk, these nutcrackers werebelieved to ward off evil spiritswith their bright expressions.The nutcracker's popularitygrew significantly in Americain the 1950s, mainly due to therise of the ballet “TheNutcracker.” Since then,nutcrackers have taken manyforms, including soldiers,chefs, kings, athletes, andeven movie characters.Fashion and THE ORIGIN OF THE NUTCRACKERVolume 1, October 2025With Christmas around thecorner, our festive decorationsare coming out of the housealong with the stories andhistory behind a special few.We have our nativity scenesplaced on almost any shelf wecan find and our nutcrackerson bookshelves and coffeetables. While most seenutcrackers as woodensoldiers that are simply part ofthe holiday season, many donot know the story and historybehind them.By: Charlie SchoeToday, these nutcrackers areno longer used for theiroriginal, functional purpose,but have become Christmasstaples, especially in America.Whether these items werehanded down through familygenerations or purchased as acollector’s item, they carry arich history and the holidayspirit with them.

Many people look down uponsecond hand shopping but toys,cars, clothes, handbags, andtechnology are all things you canget second hand.Christmas tree farms are oftennot looked at as seriousbusinesses but they do betterthan you might think. Accordingto The National Christmas TreeAssociation Every year Christmastree farms sell around 25-30million trees with each treedepending on the size costingaround $100. That is $2.5 billionof overall income on justchristmas trees during theholiday season!There are many things familiescan do to save money during theholiday season while stillcelebrating it to its full potential.Some other examples includegetting a fake tree, not going oncrazy trips, reasonable meals,and not going overboard for giftsunless you can make that moneyup and still support your familyand yourself. This does not meanthat you can't have fun duringthe holidays, just have fun inmoderation.COSTS OF CHRISTMASThe Villa SCIENCE AND TECHVolume 1, October 2025By: Nolly FrailAround the Holiday season manypeople, especially families spenda large amount of their incomeon gifts, travel, meals, andtraditions. Many companies'revenue increases around theholidays and some companiesonly sell merchandise during theholidays.Christmas is one of the mostexpensive holidays because ofthe abundant gifting andcelebrating that takes place. Inthe past ten years the averageChristmas spendings has risenabundantly. According to LiveNow From FOX the average priceten years ago for the averagefamily of four was $800-$900, itis now $1000-$1300. The amountof money from that family of fourgoes towards meals,decorations, gifts, and otherpurchases. As people get olderthe things that they want getmore and more expensive, goingfrom wanting toys as a kid, aphone as a tween, to a car as ateen. Many parents keepspending more and more eachyear on things for their kids asthey get older. One thing thatcan be done to save money whilealso giving your kids an amazingChristmas is watching sales. Ofcourse, there is black Friday thateveryone knows and loves andeven second hand shopping too.

Science and HOW-TO: BUILD A FIRE WHILE CAMPINGVolume 1, October 2025When camping a fire can bereally useful for things likecooking food or staying warm.Knowing how to build a fire isan important skill that can keepyou safe and help you survive inthe wild.The first step in building a fireis collecting dry materials. Drymaterials are very importantbecause they catch fire mucheasier than something that iswet or soggy. You can startwith dead grass or small sticks.Once you have some dry grass,you’ll need something to helpyou light it. One option is usingstarting fluid, which helps thefire catch faster. Next, you'llneed two rocks that can makesparks when you hit themtogether. The sparks will lightthe dry grass or twigs, startingyour fire. If you don’t havethose, you can also use drysticks, larger logs, and leaves.To start the fire, light the leaveswith a match and then add thedry twigs and sticks on top.Once the smaller twigs catchfire, you can start addingbigger logs to keep the firegoing. Make sure to watch thefire closely so it does not goout before the larger logscatch on fire, and to be sure itdoes not get out of control.Building a fire takes practice,but once you know how tobuild one, it’s a very importantskill.By: Anthony AspiTHE WOODS.By: Beau MartinHunting, a word met with manydifferent reactions. Iunderstand the view thathunting may be seen asinhumane, disgusting, and evil.But I believe that to know whypeople may feel this way, Ibelieve it is due to a lack ofeducation. While it may seemthat a hunter's goal is to go killa deer just because,. that issimply not how millions ofhunters see it. I want people tosee hunting for what it is. This ismy story.I wake up to the sounds of myduck quack alarm clock, tiredlyI slap my phone to turn it off.“It's way too early for this”, I tellmyself, but then I rememberwhy I am up,so I drag myself out of bed toput on my perfectly organizedgear that I laid out the nightbefore out of excitement. Ithrow on my last jacket andstart sweating from how muchcamo I am wearing. I found away to climb up in the truckand start my first trek. Sheetz,where all good mornings muststart. With a white Monsterenergy drink and beef jerky inhand, we are finally on the wayto my favorite place on earth.“The Property\" as I know it,thirty-five acres of paradise,two main corn plots, and someof the thickest forest you couldimagine. It’s my favorite placeon earth. I say my prayer andmake my way down to the treeline to take a seat and wait.

By now, my monster is gone, and the jerky is abo hot as me in my back poFor all I care, I could ha drink and half a sandwich t me for the week benothing else matters, hunting. As I start to comfortable and load my that was passed onto me dad, to me and his dad, to start to think not about the I might see, not about Science and THE WOODS.Volume 1, October 2025I can't see.I pack my bag, unload my pick up my trash, and hea of the blind and back t truck. As I make my way ba the truck, I start to think but not about the deer I have shot, not the ti ‘wasted’, the gas I spent gout here just to come with nothing. It was never the deer; it was about the spent in the woods, the

He is celebrated on his feast day,December 26th, which is calledSt. Stephen’s Day. His feastreminds Christians of theimportance of standing firm infaith, serving others, andshowing love and forgiveness,even in difficult times.Blessed Virgin Mary: The motherof Jesus is honored for herobedience and faithfulness toGod’s plan. She is important toChristmas celebrations becauseshe gave birth to Jesus, bringingour savior into the world. Peoplecelebrate her during this seasonto remember her devotion androle in God’s plan, as well as toreflect on the miracle of Jesus’birth.St. Lucy: St. Lucy was a youngmartyr from Sicily known for herdevotion to God and hergenerosity to the poor. Her feastday lands on December 13th,which is during Advent, a time ofwaiting and preparation forChristmas and the coming of theLord. She is celebrated as asymbol of light in the darkness,reminding people of hope,guidance, and faith, whichconnects to the Christmastheme as Christ coming as thelight of the world.St. Francis of Assisi: St. Francis isremembered for his humility anddedication to living a simple andholy life.SAINTS OF CHRISTMASThe Villa SEASONALVolume 1, October 2025By: Alivia GarciaWhile Christmas is often seen asa holiday surrounding presents,decorating, and Santa Claus, ithas been shaped with a deepermeaning by devoted saints whoembodied the spirit of giving andhope. Saints such as St. Nicholas,St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Lucyhelped shape the religious andcultural traditions that surroundChristmas. These saints showedwhat it really means to give andcare, not just through gifts butthrough love and sacrifice.Remembering them brings backthe real meaning of Christmas,not that it’s about presents andshopping, but about family, faith,and celebrating Jesus.Saint Nicholas: Saint Nicholas,also known as Father Christmas,is the most famous Christmassaint. In the 4th century, hewould secretly leave gifts forthose in need. Many of his storiesbecame the inspiration for themodern figure of Santa Claus. Heis celebrated around Christmasas a symbol of giving and joy,reminding people to share loveand kindness during the holidayseason.Saint Stephen: St. Stephen wasthe first Christian martyr andwas known for his unwaveringfaith in Jesus and courage, evenwhen he faced death.He is especially celebratedaround Christmas for creatingthe first live nativity scene in1223, helping people toexperience the birth of Jesusmore personally. His exampleencourages peace andsimplicity, remindingChristians to focus on the truemeaning of Christmas beyondwealth or gifts.

SeasonalHOW-TO: BUILD A SNOWMANVolume 1, October 2025As we know most people lovesnow , and some people’sfavorite thing is to build asnowman. This article will teachyou how to build one so you’renot left behind when friendsstart making them.The first step of building aSnowman is getting a little ballof snow and start rolling itaround until it gets to a goodenough size for the bottompart of the body.The next step is to repeat thefirst step twice, but make eachball smaller than the onebefore so you can build theshape of a body.After assembling all 3 balls ofsnow you have to give it a face.Start with a nose which youcould just use a carrot;however, it's up to you! Afterthat, find any small circularobjects you can use for themouth and also the eyes .Next look around the area andfind two small branches to usefor the ears of the snowman.Lastly, you can add things likea scarf, a beanie, or some sortof clothing to make thesnowman look better, and afterthat just leave it wherever youmade it and let it melt awayday by day.By: Diego Mejia

SeasonalBLACK CATHOLIC HISTORY MONTHVolume 1, October 2025November is Black CatholicHistory Month– a month tocelebrate the legacy,spirituality, and culturalachievements of BlackCatholics whose efforts havesometimes been put at themargins of mainstreamreligious histories. From SaintJosephine Bakhita andAugustine of Hippo tocontemporary leaders who'vemade their impact on theChurch in their activism,educational efforts, andvolunteering, this month is astepping-stone betweenheritage and faith, remindingus that Catholic history is richlymultidimensional and whollyrooted in Black history.Many Black Catholics havemade lasting contributions tothe Church throughout history.For example, Saint JosephineBakhita is remembered for herlife of faith and compassion,offering an inspiring exampleof resilience and devotion. St.Martin de Porres is celebratedfor his humility and dedicationto serving the poor, whileVenerable Augustus Toltonholds the distinction of beingthe first recognized BlackCatholic priest in the UnitedStates. More recently, SisterThea Bowman emerged as apowerful promoter of racialjustice and cultural pride withinCatholic education.By: Abigayl MaryThese figures together bringinto focus the courage,leadership, and spiritualcommitment that defines theBlack Catholic experience.Today, Black Catholiccommunities remain a vitalforce in the work of theChurch. At local parishes andorganizations across thecountry, faith, culture, andsocial activism are nurturedthrough education programs,volunteerism, and ministry. It isa critical component of BlackCatholic history– notsomething limited to yearsbefore– butlived today on streets and incommunities everywhere,calling a new generationforward to continue a legacy ofservice and spiritual witness.By celebrating Black CatholicHistory Month, we honor thepast, celebrate the present,and inspire the future. It is atime to reflect on the journeywhere faith and culture meet,realizing that Black Catholichistory is integral not only tothe life of the Church but alsoto the greater narrative ofAmerican history.HOLIDAYS AND ACCIDENTSBy: Iara SilvagnoliCar accidents and morespecifically traffic fatalities,increase significantly duringholiday periods, compared tonon-holiday times, withcontributing factors whichinclude increased travelvolume, alcohol impairment,speeding, .and fatigue. Workplace andhome accidents also increasedue to various seasonal factors.Holidays are statistically moredangerous for drivers andpedestrians. On average thereare more daily fatalities duringmajor holiday periods than onaverage days of the year. Otherdangerous incidents that occurare workplace

cause drivers to be tired anddistracted, impairing judgmentand reaction times. The rush toreach certain destinations ormeet deadlines often results inrisky behaviors like speedingand distracted driving.Workplace accidents are morecommon due to heavierworkloads, the hiring ofinexperienced seasonalworkers, and employee fatigueand distraction from holidaystress. Decorating for theHolidays leads to a spike inemergency room visits.Common injuries include fallsfrom ladders, cuts from brokenornaments, electrical shocksfrom faulty wiring, andburns/fires from candles anddry Christmas trees.Thanksgiving and Christmas Dayare peak days for cookingrelated fires. Other commonincidents related to cookinginclude burns, cuts/lacerationsduring food preparation, andfood poisoning from improperhandling and storage.Safety Tips for the HolidaySeason:If you plan on consumingalcohol if you are of age, planahead to have a designateddriver or another type oftransportation (Taxi, Uber, Bus,etc). Avoid using electronicdevices while driving to avoidbeing distracted. Whendecorating, be sure to usesturdy ladders and ensure alllights and electrical decorationsare certified for safetyHOLIDAYS AND ACCIDENTSVolume 1, October 2025Seasonalaccidents, decoration-relatedinjuries, and cooking/foodrelated injuries.Road travel is 14% moredangerous during the holidays.Every year, an estimated 16,000people get sent to the hospitalfor decor-related injuriesacross the United States. In thepast two decades, that addedup to nearly 312,000 estimatedtrips to the emergency room. In2004, there were an estimated14,800 hospitalizations,compared with 15,600 in 2022.The Christmas with the highestnumber of hospitalizations wasthe year of the Covid-19pandemic, 2020, with 20,000hospitalizations during theholidays. Christmas decor hasnotably been the biggest causeof accidents. The mostcommon injuries associatedwith Christmas decor havebeen strains, sprains,lacerations, fractures,abrasions, and ingestedobjects. The lower back hasbeen the most common spotfor injuries related toChristmas decor. Info from:(advocateslaw.com)Contributing Factors:Millions of people travel forcelebrations, leading to trafficcongestion on highways, and inparking lots. Holiday partieslead to many intoxicatedpeople, increasing the dangerfor the number of impairedpeople on the road. Longdistance traveling for theholidays canand inspected for damage. Bealert while driving, especiallyduring increased traffic to avoidpotentially reckless drivers.

SeasonalCLASSIC OR MODERN: WHICH CHRISTMAS MOVIES AREON YOUR MUST-WATCH LIST?Volume 1, October 2025By: Lilia FellWhile modern Christmasmovies often lean towardsaction and newerinterpretations of holidaythemes, classic Christmasmovies focus on morememorable stories and a senseof comfort providing somenostalgia. Classic Christmasmovies often focus more onmemorable stories becausethey want viewers to have asense of comfort andsympathy for them whilemodern movies usually havemore action and have differenttakes on holiday themesbecause they want to attractnew and different audiences.Many people love the nostalgiaof the Classic Christmasmovies because older filmshave a distinct storytellingform that modern moviesstruggle to re-create.Recent releases like the 2023films Best. Christmas. Ever! andFamily Switch often haveharsher themes such asanxiety, diverse familysituations, or “modern humor”and special effects. Classicslike, It's a Wonderful Life andMiracle on 34th Street focus onvalues such as family, hope,and love which lets viewers feelemotional during the holidayseason.These films often show familiesthat have the “best” version ofChristmas which can give theman escape from the harshnessof the real world. Classicmovies are now considered tobe twenty to forty years old inthis instance. Based on the listshown below eight out of tenmovies are considered to beclassic Christmas movies whichcan tell us that many peopleprefer Classic movies overModern.THE WORSENING FOODINSECURITY CRISISBy: Yianni SkoteiniadisEvery year around the holidays,the public gets to see a newside of commercializationspecific to that time of year.Black Friday Sales, CyberMonday, and Christmasshopping all take place duringthis holiday season. Thecommercializationand the festivities of theHoliday Season surpass roughlya trillion dollars each year. Thisis only made possible byfamilies across the UnitedStates setting aside extrafunds to allow this lifestyle tohappen. Although many peoplecan participate in theseshopping sprees,

United States because millionsof Americans will no longer beable to afford and have accessto nutritious food options thatare keeping them healthy andsustained.As this crisis continues toworsen, there are many waysthat you can help fight it. Forexample, the biggest help is todonate. Donating food to fooddrives, spending your timeworking at a soup kitchen, etc.,are just a couple of thethousands of ways that youyourself can help fight thiscrisis. By helping yourcommunity fight this crisis, youcan help millions of Americansput food on the table, help lowincome individuals save up forother expenses they may have,and more.THE WORSENING FOOD INSECURITY CRISISVolume 1, October 2025Seasonalwith substantial amounts ofmoney each year for theholiday season, many Americanfamilies are unable to do so.This makes the holiday seasonmuch harder for those who areimpoverished or live in lowincome households tocelebrate because they areunable to set aside tons ofmoney for Christmas gifts,Thanksgiving meals, etc. Thisyear, especially, the holidayseason will be much harder forimpoverished people and lowincome households to providefor their families.One of the biggest reasons forthis worsening food insecuritycrisis is the rise in inflation overthe past year. According to theUnited States Department ofAgriculture, grocery prices overthe past year have risen at anoverall average of 2.7%. Thismeans that affordability forthese groceries will be harderfor those in low-incomehouseholds and impoverishedindividuals will struggle to putfood on the table. To help withaffording groceries, there is aprogram known as theSupplemental NutritionAssistance Program (SNAP). OnOctober 1st of this year, theSNAP program lost federalfunding. This means that over42 million Americans will losetheir monthly benefits of foodsecurity and discounted priceson nutritious groceries. This willworsen the food insecuritycrisis in theINFLUENCE OVER HOLIDAYSBy: Lillian SchultzAs we come upon the 2025Christmas season, we reflecton the past influences andtrends social media hasdisplayed from previousChristmas seasons that are stillin effect and will continuethrough this upcomingChristmas season. Fromprevious Christmas seasons,we see that social mediainfluencers display impossibleexpectations for Christmasthat include decor, foodconsumption, and giftspending. Social mediainfluencers continued to drivetrends around extra and oftenexcessive spending,contributing to a broaderculture of consumerism. Videosof “hauls” showcase largepurchases and luxuriousholiday displays wereprominent, pressuringfollowers to spend more, evenas economic concernspersisted. Social mediainfluencers already postunrealistic expectations of howyour body, house, or life ingeneral should be,

During the holidays, socialmedia projects joyful andcheerful moments that areprojected out to the world, butwe need to see the real effectsof it. Social media,overconsumption, and influencehave a negative impact on theworld.INFLUENCE OVER HOLIDAYSVolume 1, October 2025Seasonalso it becomes exceedinglyworse when the holidays comearound. In past years, it alreadyhas a history of unrealisticstandards that influencers postand present to the world.Younger viewers especially seethese expectations and areexposed to the false reality ofinfluencer’s lifestyles.According to TeenVogue.com,many people are interviewedand asked about their opinionson the overconsumptiondisplayed by influencers allover Tik Tok. The peopleinterviewed speak out aboutthis problem and urge peopleto really think about whether ornot they want to listen to thoseinfluencers.Along with overconsumptioninfluence, social media’sunrealistic expectations alsoimpact the mental states ofpeople all over the world.According tomtspsychotherapy.co, socialmedia platforms are floodedwith images and postsshowcasing festivedecorations, family gatherings,lavish meals, and joyfulmoments. While these postscan spread cheer, they canalso have a profound impact onthe mental health of those whoview them. The contrastbetween the happy images onsocial media and one’spersonal reality can exacerbatefeelings of loneliness andisolation.FAMILY ORNAMENTS FROM BISHOPBy: Annarose FieldenDuring Christmas time, allaround the world, childrendecorate their trees from topto bottom with beautiful andsentimental decorations. Fromtwinkling lights to popcorngarlands to pictures andgolden ornaments hangingfrom the tree, every little thingplaced upon the tree meanssomething special. We askedBishop our favorite question ofthis holiday season, whatornaments are sentimental toyou?Baby's First Christmas from theLaney family is such a beautifulrepresentation of family andlove. Nan Laney’s firstChristmas was in 2009, andCarson Laney’s was in 2007.Baby’s first Christmasornaments help us remembertimes of our childhood thatwere joyful and fun. FromMaddie Edwards an adorablereindeer and cute snowmanshowing the letter M in themiddle. The ornaments wehang from our treesevery year help us remembertime well spent. Lastly, my ownornament from a vacation toItaly. As this holiday seasonbegins we remember thatornaments are a great way forus to remember time withfamily, like vacations or trips.Family ornaments are sosentimental and a beautifulexample of family love andcreativity. All over the worlddifferent families will celebrateone of the best holidayssurrounded by friends, family,and an abundance ofhappiness.

Three Kings Day, known as “Díade los Reyes” in Latin America,is a Christian holidaycelebrated on January 6th tocommemorate the biblicalstory of the three wise men(kings) who each brought a giftto baby Jesus. This day marksthe twelfth and final day of theChristmas season, symbolizingthe manifestation of Jesus tothe gentile visitors from theEast. They chose to celebratethis on January 6th, twelve daysafter Christmas, because thethree wise men couldn’t seebaby Jesus until twelve daysafter his birth. The three wisemen brought gold,frankincense, and myrrh tobaby Jesus. The holiday isrooted in many differentcultures and religioustraditions, particularly in LatinAmerica, Spain, as well as partsof the U.S, and is oftencelebrated with special mealsand community gatherings. InMexico, Three Kings Day iscelebrated with gift-giving, aspecial family meal, and thetradition of eating Rosca deReyes, king’s bread.Celebrations and Festivities:Three Kings Day is celebratedwith a rich variety of festivitiesworldwide, primarily centeredon gift-giving, traditional foods,and community events thatcommemorate theSeasonalTHREE KINGS DAYVolume 1, October 2025By: Iara Silvagnoljourney of the Magi to theinfant Jesus. In many Spanishspeaking countries all over theworld, children receive theirgifts the morning of January6th, rather than on ChristmasDay. On the eve of the holiday(January 5th), they place shoeboxes by the door, window, orunder their Christmas tree,often filled with hay or grassand water for the King’scamels. In the morning, theyfind gifts or candy left in placeof their shoes. The naughtychildren might find charcoalcandy instead. Many cities inSpain, Mexico, and Puerto Rico,and other places around theworld host elaborate andcolorful parades on EpiphanyEve. These feature decorativefloats and performers dressedas the Three Kings, who waveto crowds and toss candies toexcite the children lining thestreets. In New York City,El Museo Del Barrio hosts arenowned annual paradefeaturing live camels and giantpuppets. A central anduniversal tradition is sharing aspecial ring-shaped sweetbread called Rosca de Reyes(King’s Bread) . The bread isadorned with candied fruits toresemble the jewels on acrown, and a small figurine ofbaby Jesus is hidden inside.The person who finds the dollin their slice is traditionallytasked with hosting acelebratory party onCandlemas Day (February 2nd).Some families focus on givingsimilar gifts to what the threekings gave baby Jesus, like for“gold” they can be given agold-wrapped coin or jewelry,for “frankincense” they couldbe given perfumes or candles,and lastly for “myrrh”, essentialoils or a simple anointing oilcan be given as one of the giftsfrom the three kings.

Every year, new trends comeabout and determine whatmost people add to theirwishlists for Christmas. Most ofthese trendy items die asquickly as they becomepopular and fade intoobscurity, but some withstandthe test of time. This article willreview 2024’s popularChristmas gifts and see howthey held up.1. Stanley Cups– Stanley Cupswent viral in 2024, notably fortheir sturdiness and powerfulinsulation. They had a variety ofcolors and styles that appealedto a wide audience and alsorolled out many successfulcollaborations. Stanleys wereTHE water bottle last year, and Ieven got one myself. But now,Stanleys have fallen off asignificant amount. They hadcontroversies surroundingquality and even lead poisoningthat tampered with their publicimage; they are now outshinedby brands like Owala. Overall, itis still a fine water bottle, butdefinitely not the best on themarket.2. Wide-Leg/Baggy Jeans–After the long lived trend ofskinny jeans, wide-leg jeansreplaced them in a powerfulfashion alongside the rise ofstreetwear. Seeminglyovernight, everyone switchedto the baggiest jeansSeasonalLAST YEAR’S CHRISTMAS GIFTS: TRASHED OR TREASURED?Volume 1, October 2025By: Sara Martinthey could find and would pairthem with also trendyoversized clothes. Nowadays,extremely baggy jeans are seenas obnoxious, but the wide-legpants look is still the standard.Overall, the wide-leg pantshave managed to stay relevantbut have been diluted inextremity.3. Labubus– Labubus startedgaining traction late in 2024and took the world by storm.These fuzzy Popmart creaturesmixed cute with scary and theblind box method of collectingthem incentivized people togamble to get the specificLabubu they wanted. Labubuswere the #1 global sensationfor 2024 to mid-2025, but atthis point,no one is talking about them.Even worse, most people haveturned on Labubus and hate onthose who like them. So,overall, Labubus were thebiggest bust of 2024 and didnot manage to stay relevant.As you can see, society movesvery quickly through trendsand this leads tooverconsumerism and a lack ofidentity for people. Hopefully,this article helped to show thatthe hottest item of the monthisn’t always worth the moneyand emphasized theimportance of makinginformed decisions during theHolidays. Merry Christmas!

During winter break, there area lot of fun activities andhobbies to do that match thewinter theme. This article willprovide a wide variety of ideasthat can make your break moreenjoyable. These activitieslisted will also give you more ofan idea on how each activitycan be very exciting and moreentertaining with friends andfamilies. With ice skating,building a snow house,snowboarding, snowball fights,and winter hiking, all of theseideas can help build a strongerconnection with your familiesand friends, along with makingyour break more entertaining.Ice Skating:Ice skating is an easy and funindoor activity to do withfriends because ice skating canbe very fun by racing aroundthe rink, it’s an enjoyableactivity to do while socializingwith friends, and it’s a greatway to bring families together.Ice skating can also be a greatactivity to do with familiesbecause it’s an activity whereit’s more fun to do it with otherpeople than just by yourself.Building a Snow House:Building a snow house wouldalso be a fun winter breakactivity because it’s a greatway to pass time throughoutyour winter break. Building asnow house is also great forshowing off your outdoorSeasonalWINTER BREAK ACTIVITY IDEASVolume 1, October 2025By: Jake Cornatzeskills to your neighborhood andshowcasing a nice snow house.Snowboarding:Snowboarding would also be agreat winter break activitybecause of the thrill of goingreally fast down a hill ormountain. It’s also more fun togo snowboarding especiallywhen you know how to dotricks down the slope.Snowball Fights:Snowball fights are really funwith friends, because it feelslike a fun team game thatincreases adrenaline. Snowballfights are also a creative way tobond with friends. It feels like aperfect time instead of indoorvideo games and buildsnostalgic memories.Winter Hiking:Winter hiking would make aperfect winter break activitybecause if you hike at the rightplace, it gives you a scenic viewthat looks amazing.It’s fun when you like the peaceand quiet, especially whenyou're not miserable in heatand sweat. Great local placesto go hiking in the winter arePilot Mountain, Hanging Rock,and Salem Lake.Overall, there are manyoptions on what you could doover the holidays and each ofthese ideas are very funoptions to choose from.Something that all of theseideas have in common is thatthey all share the same kind ofexcitement that still relates tothe winter theme and showshow each idea makes thewinter season special. Also, allof these ideas would only beenjoyable during the winterbecause these activities aremade for having fun in the coldand it wouldn’t feel the samedoing those activities in otherseasons.

How can our pets celebrateChristmas too? Makingstockings is the perfect way toinclude pets in holidayfestivities. Stocking Stufferscan include: treats, toys,puzzles, and accessories. Bydoing this action of filling astocking your adorable pet canfeel loved and share a part ofthe Christmas excitement. So,what can be specifically put ina pet’s stocking?For a dog, items like toys,treats, or accessories areperfect for a stocking filler.Small salmon or chickenflavored treats would beperfect. Along with treats, dogbones would keep your dogbusy during all the Christmasfestivities. If a treat isn’t ofinterest to you then you couldadd tennis balls for fetch orsqueaking toys for their ownfun! Dogs are one of theeasiest animals to please so asimple Christmas surprisewould entertain them all day.Cats would love to receive acute toy or new food onChristmas morning too. Toyslike wand toys, mouse toys, oreven DIY toys would make yourcat’s day. Meanwhile, reptileswould enjoy structure piecesfor their habitats or some leafygreens. Structures couldinclude domes, rocks, ordishes. Reptiles could alsoenjoy enrichment toysSeasonalPET STOCKING IDEASVolume 1, October 2025By: Eloise O’Brienlike small balls or puzzlefeeders. Small furry animals likehamsters would enjoy exercisewheels, tunnels, hideouts, orchew toys. Overall, toys andtreats are the perfect gift forany pet. Christmas should be atime for everyone to celebrateincluding pets so make or buytoys and treats so your animalscan celebrate too!DO NEW YEARS SUPERSTITIONS WORK?By: Anna PartykaEveryone celebrates NewYear’s Eve differently, but acommon way to celebrate is byhaving a superstition. Manycultures have differentsuperstitions, but do theyactually bring luck? We sentout a survey to BishopMcGuinness’ students to seewhich superstitions work, andwhich ones do not.Common New Year'ssuperstitions include twelvegrapes of luck, broken plates,jumping at midnight, hangingonions, carrying suitcases,ringing bells, and jumpingwaves. These traditions comefrom many different culturesand are thought to bring luck,prosperity, and wishes to thoseparticipating.Of the responding students atBishop McGuinness, 50%celebrate New Year’s with asuperstition, with only around31% of students finding theirsuperstition to be successful.About 30% of studentsreported that eating the twelvegrapes of luck wassuccessful,while less than 3%reported that jumping atmidnight, carrying suitcases,and ringing bells worked. Nostudents that participated injumping waves or hangingonions had success. Of thetotal responding students, 19%ate twelve grapes of luck anddid not get their twelve wishes,5% jumped at midnight with nosuccess, and 4% carriedsuitcases or jumped waves,both without getting their NewYear’s wishes. If you arewondering what your bestchance is at getting your NewYear's wishes this year, here isthe breakdown of the mostsuccessful traditions. The topthree traditions that broughtstudents their New Year’swishes were the grapes of luck,the suitcases, and jumping.There were eight students whojumped at midnight, with asuccess rate of 63%, fifty-two

SeasonalDO NEW YEARS SUPERSTITIONS WORK?Volume 1, October 2025people participated in thetwelve grapes of luck, with anoverall success rate of 60%,and four students carriedsuitcases, with a 50% successrate. These three options arethe most likely to work basedon this survey, but everyonefinds success in different ways.HOLIDAYS ACROSS THE WORLDBy: Asael GuzmanPeople around the worldcelebrate holidays fromNovember to December. Eachholiday reflects a unique culture,religion, and tradition. This periodbrings friends, families, andcommunities together tocelebrate.North AmericaThe United States celebratesThanksgiving and this is the bigNovember holiday. This holidaybrings families together to sharemeals and express theirgratitude for each other. WhileCanada celebrates this holiday inearly October. In the UnitedStates, Christmas is focused ondecorating, parades, and giftgiving. In Mexico, Dia de losMuertos (Day of the Dead) iscelebrated from November 1st2nd. It is a very iconic holiday andeven has its own Disney movie.Families remember their lovedones who have passed on bybuilding altars, decorating withmarigolds, and putting artifactsthat their loved ones enjoyed.This can be any sort of food, toy,or music.EuropeAs December arrives, globalcelebrations shift to winterholidays such as Christmas.Christmas is a major eventaround the world, especially inplaces such as Europe. It ismarked by festive markets, giftgiving, and gatherings with lovedones to decorate. Europe is hometo some of the world's oldest andmost loved Christmas traditions.Germany is known for itsChristmas markets, hand craftedornaments, and festive musicfilling town squares. Austriamaintains its traditional folkloretradition such as Krampusnachtwhich blends myth andcelebration. The UnitedKingdom’s Christmas celebrationcenters itself around familygatherings and the broadcast ofthe monarch’s annual speech.South America and AsiaSouth America is home to manytraditional holiday celebrations.For example, in Brazil and otherSouth American countries,Christmas is celebrated duringthe summer and often combinedwith religious ceremonies.South American countries do nothave long commercially drivenbuild ups that can be seen inother parts of the world such asthe United States. Somecountries do not write to SantaClaus, but they rather makecards asking for presents fromBaby Jesus. In Japan, ChristmasEve is seen as a romantic holidaywith gift-giving and light festivals.While in the Philippines,Christmas is considered thelongest Christmas in the world.

A favorite activity of theholiday season has always beenvisiting Santa at the local mall.But with the ongoing trend ofthe decline of malls, the naturalquestion on everyone’s mind is:What will happen to Santa? Theanswer: Santa’s relocation isnot the end, it’s a transition.A new trend that’s catching onacross the country is the\"Santa Studios\" that are beingset up. This holiday experienceprovides holiday-themedrooms with photo packages sothat families do not have to goto the mall. However, it appearsthat local businesses are fillingthe void as well. Bookstores,coffee shops, communityorganizations, and outdoormarkets offering their Santaevents may well prove a moreauthentic experience than theusual setting of the mall. Virtualvisiting hasn’t disappearedeither. The kids can talkremotely with Santa Claus, andthe families will receive theirvery own video without theneed for lining up.Malls may be a dying retailphenomenon today, but SantaClaus definitely isn’t runningout of places to visit, he’s justspreading the holiday cheerelsewhere.SeasonalIF MALLS ARE CLOSING, WHERE WILL SANTAS GO?Volume 1, October 2025By: Everett SmithCHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AROUND BISHOPBy: Eli KollmBishop has many differentstudents with many differentcultural backgrounds. Thisbrings many differenttraditions and customs that weare exposed to, much likeAmerica, and how we’re amixing pot of culture.Christmas and the holidayseason are a great time to seefamily, friends, and yourcommunity, as well as a greatway to celebrate traditions. Allacross Bishop, peoplecelebrate differently, but alsothe same, from what we cookto how we decorate. Somepeople like to get special food,pray different prayers, andcelebrate other festivetraditions.Most importantly, the holidayseason is a time to give tothose who are less fortunatethan us; some common ways togive are: your time at a shelteror food collection service, be apart of a giving tree that isusually at churches or parishes,and Toys for Tots or Give A KidA Coat. You can find Toys-forTots outlet baskets at storeslike Target and Walmart, as wellas giving or Angel trees.Common items that are askedfor on Angel trees are new toys,sports balls, and books. Peoplesometimes forget why wecelebrate Christmas with allthe presents and otherdistractions, so during thisChristmas, just remember thetrue meaning of it, the birth ofChrist. Merry Christmas!

The New Year is upon us, whichis grounds for new goals. Everyyear, people make New Year'sresolutions to try and maketheir lives more “put together”,but statistically, only 9% ofpeople keep their resolutionsthroughout the year. Iinterviewed fourteen studentsfrom Bishop's different gradesto answer the followingquestions. These responsesshow ideas for futureresolutions and the statistics ofpeople who go about followingtheir resolutions.When asked about their NewYear’s resolutions, studentsshared a wide range of goals.Sophomore Harper Hardinghopes to be more responsiblewith money, while freshmanImani Say aims to grow closerto God and become the bestversion of herself. FreshmanAlex Chandler plans to pushhimself toward his passions,and sophomore Jaina Turner isfocusing on her health,friendships, and having astrong basketball season.Junior Jenna Murphy wants toprocrastinate less. SophomoreAna Paula hopes to be moreconsistent and focus more onschool, and junior Madi Feltsplans to save more money.When reflecting on pastresolutions that they’vesuccessfully turned into habits,students mentionedSeasonalSTUDENT NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONSVolume 1, October 2025By: Kaysie Goodeimprovements such asprioritizing mental health,praying more, working out, andbetter time management.Overall, half of the studentsreported following theirresolutions last year, and mostfeel confident about achievingtheir new ones. When askedwhich past resolutions they’vesuccessfully turned into lastinghabits, the same group ofstudents shared a mix ofpersonal improvements.Sophomore Harper Hardingsaid she’s made prioritizing hermental health a regular part ofher life, while freshman ImaniSay has developed a habit ofpraying more. Freshman AlexChandler has maintained aconsistent workout routine,and sophomore Jaina Turnerhas strengthened her timemanagement skills and learnedto play sports without gettingoverly stressed.Junior Jenna Murphy admittedshe hasn’t followed throughwith a resolution yet, butsophomore Ana Paula hascommitted to working outregularly. Meanwhile, juniorMadi Felts has made gettingmore rest a normal part of herroutine. These habits reflectthe steady progress manystudents have made over thepast years.Did you follow your New Year'sresolutions last year?Survey responses show it wasexactly 50/50 percent. Half didand half did not.Realistically, do you seeyourself completing these newresolutions?Survey responses show 6/7believe they will complete theirNew Year's resolutions

Every holiday season, kids andparents line up at malls andChristmas events to sit onSanta’s lap and share theirChristmas list with him. It is atradition that does not seem tofade, no matter how old weget. For most people, seeingSanta instantly brings out theholiday spirit and it makes yourealize that Christmas is finallyhere.The tradition of Santa photosbegan in the early 1900s, whendepartment stores startedinviting someone dressed asSanta Claus to greet childrenand attract shoppers. Kidswould come to share theirChristmas wish lists, andparents started taking photosto save the moment. Over theyears, what began as a simplemarketing idea grew into ameaningful tradition thatfamilies looked forward toevery year in December.excitement for both kids andadults. Younger children enjoythe magical feeling of meetingSanta, while older kidsappreciate the festiveatmosphere filled with lights,decorations, and music.Parents also love having ayearly photo to look back on,seeing how much their childrengrow and change each holidayseason.What makes Santa photosespecially enjoyableSeasonalSTUDENT SANTA PHOTOSVolume 1, October 2025By: Lexi Aspiazufor families now is theexperience itself. Whether it’sthe joy on a child’s face, afunny reaction, or thebeautifully decorated scenery,each visit creates a memorythat lasts even after the seasonis over. In a busy world, thissimple tradition brings familiestogether and reminds everyoneof the warmth and excitementthat comes with Christmas.Charlie Schoen, 2017Lexi and Anthony Aspiazu, 2011Lily Webster, 2009