UPBeat News- December Special 2017
Covering the monthly UP Beat News of Upper Perkiomen HS
Greetings from Upper Perkiomen High School!
TOP STORIES
Carpenter's Corner
As we embark on the Holiday break, I wanted to wish everyone a happy and restful break and a prosporous new year. I hope you will be able to spend quality time with family and friends. In January, please be reminded that we will conduct the state Keystone and UPHS course final exams. Keystone exams will be administered in the areas of Literature, Algebra, and Biology.
The Keystone Examinations will be January 8th through January 11th, 2018. The Fall Semester final exams are scheduled for Tuesday, January 16th , through Friday, January 18th. We will have further communications on specific details for the Keystone and Final next year.
If you have any contributions related to the school, please contact me and I may include it in an upcoming newsletter. Feel free to contact me at 215-679-5935 or rcarpenter@upsd.org if you have questions or concerns. You can also follow us @upperperkhs and @UPnewsteam on Twitter.
Keystone Testing Information
3 Hour Delay Start
January 8, 2018: Module 1 Algebra 7:40AM - 10:30AM
Module 1 Literature 7:40AM - 10:30AM
January 9, 2018: Module 2 Algebra 7:40AM - 10:30AM
Module 2 Literature 7:40AM - 10:30AM
January 10, 2018: Module 1 Biology 7:40AM - 10:30AM
Module 1 Literature 7:40AM - 10:30AM
January 11, 2018: Module 2 Biology 7:40AM - 10:30AM
Module 2 Literature 7:40AM - 10:30AM
Class Schedule On 3 Hour Delay Start Testing Days
January 8, 2018 January 10, 2018
Mod 1: 10:40-11:15 Mod 1: 10:40-11:15
Mod 2: 11:15-1:15 Mod 2: 11:15-1:15
Mod 3: 1:20-1:55 Mod 3: 1:20-1:55
Mod 4 2:00-2:35 Mod 4 2:00-2:35
January 9, 2018 January 11, 2018
Mod 2: 10:40-11:15 Mod 2: 10:40-11:15
Mod 1: 11:15-1:15 Mod 1: 11:15-1:15
Mod 3: 1:20-1:55 Mod 3: 1:20-1:55
Mod 4 2:00-2:35 Mod 4 2:00-2:35
Make-Up Dates with regular schedule
January 12, 2018
January 16, 2018
Holiday News from UPN!
UPHS Staff Traditions
We went around asking students and staff about what their favorite holiday traditions consists of. Everyone has different traditions but the one common thread throughout is being with family and loved one. Dave Thomas, the communications teacher, stated that “[his family] all goes to church, eat seafood, and get a new pair of jammies each Christmas Eve.” This year Thomas will be going out with the family for dinner instead of cooking at home. Julia Moran, a senior, describes how she and her 30 family members gather at the grandmother's house to have a Polina exchange. Moran also bakes cookies each Christmas time. Much like Thomas, Moran and her family also exchange pajamas. Mrs. Leanne Legendre, the guidance counselor, explains that she “bakes cookies and travel together to each other's houses to be with family.” Like Moran, Legendre also bakes cookies with her family. Madison Harkins, sophomore, and her family open presents together on Christmas morning. Sadly, this year Madi will be working on Christmas for the second year in a row, becoming a depressing tradition. Every Christmas Eve, my family and I get pizza, go to church, and exchange a gift at the end of the night. ALthough the gift is always an ornament it's one of my favorite gifts to open each year. Everyone has traditions and everyone celebrates differently but the one thing everyone has in common is the time off from school and work to do whatever they wish with it.
Electronic "Must Have's"
Electronic Must Haves Of 2017! Christmas is coming and the time of giving. Everyone wants the hottest clothes but most importantly electronics. From little kids to adults this will fit for them. According to ZdNet & Reviewedtm, these are the hottest electronics of 2017. Laptops: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, HP Spectre X360 15-inch, Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon (2017), Asus ZenBook 3 Deluxe, Lg Gram 14, 13-and 15-inch MacBook Pro, Samsung Chromebook Pro & Chromebook Plus, Asus Chromebook Flip C302. Phones: Amazon Echo, Apple Iphone X, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Huawei Mate 10 Pro, Google Pixel 2 XL and Pixel 2, Samsung Galaxy S8/S8 Plus, Apple Iphone 8/8 Plus.
Speakers: UE Boom 2, Fugoo Style, JBL Charge 3, Bower and Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless, Bose SoundLink Mini 2, UE Wonderboom, Amazon Echo.
Last Minute, Cheap, Easy Gifts
by: Melanie McHugh
Who else relates to the feeling of being a Scrooge around this time of year? The joy of giving cheer and spreading love is really just testing everyone’s patience and bank accounts. Fortunately, the stress weighing on your brain about what the best gifts to get are at the cheapest prices end here with three simple gifts.
For any important female in your life, the best cheap gift is as simple as a Yankee candle. There are 28 different holiday scented candles to choose from in the up to $20 price range on the Yankee Candle’s website.
With technology today, we always have to have our devices charged. What better way to do that than with 10 extra feet? Get anyone the inexpensive gift of a 10 foot iPhone or android charger, which are necessary for everyday use, for only $5.75-11.99 at your local Walmart according to their website.
If none of these cheap easy gifts work for you, then just go with the classic socks. Fuzzy socks are always a necessity. Personally, I have a hard time even finding any matching socks in the morning, so regular everyday socks are also important. I hope these quick easy gifts relieve some holiday stress and provide peace of mind for fellow broke people around Christmas time!
The Legend of Santa
Where Did Santa Claus Come From?
By Madison Harkins
Around the world every year, millions of children stay up waiting for a big jolly man in a red suit to come down their chimney, but few people know where the story of the "Santa" we all recognize originates from.
Prior to 1931, Santa was depicted in many different ways, ranging from a tall gaunt man to a spooky-looking elf and he wore a variety of colors in his garb, not just the Red and White we know today.
So, ask yourselves which very popular company also is known for their Red and White colors. That's right. The Santa Claus that most children picture today was created by the Coca-Cola Company in 1931.
From 1931-1964, “Coca-Cola advertising showed Santa delivering toys (and playing with them!), pausing to read a letter and enjoy a Coke, visiting with the children who stayed up to greet him, and raiding the refrigerators at a number of homes”(The Coca-Cola Company).
This Santa Claus soon became the idol for children all around the world and is still looked up to today.
New Year Resolutions
By Julia Moran 2018
On January 1st, people all around the world will be making their annual New Year’s resolution, a common tradition. The purpose of these resolutions is usually to change something about one’s habits or behaviors in order to improve themselves, their lives, or to accomplish a goal they set for themselves.
Popular examples include losing weight, eating healthier, spending less money, spending more time with friends or family, or trying to be a friendlier person. According to University of Scranton’s research, only 8% of people actually achieve their resolutions. Forbes suggests that the best way to be successful in keeping a New Year’s Resolution is to keep it simple, make it something tangible, and to make it obvious to other people.
Here at UPHS, some of our the students and staff are planning on making their own resolutions for the upcoming 2018 year! Melanie McHugh (‘20) and Sarah Funk (‘21) want “to lose weight.” On the same note, Madi Harkins (‘20) and Avery Mawyer (‘21) want to “go to the gym” and “get thinner.” Mawyer also wants to try to “stop cursing so much,” and Brianna Goodwin (‘21) is willing to try “to be nicer” this year. Mr. Thomas says “This year I want to work on my patience with my students and my own kids.” So now, ask yourself, what resolution are you going to make for yourself this year?
Bored over Break??? Here's some things to do!
By: Sarah Funk
With Christmas coming up, break is almost here! And as teenagers, most of us do not have too much money to spare. So, to keep you busy during the holidays, here is a few things to do under $25:
Ice Skating: For $8-17, you can go ice skating at places near you! Such as, Hatfield Ice, Steel Ice Center, Bethlehem Ice Rink, etc. Each rink is open everyday out of the week, and times may differ.
Light Shows: For $0-12, you can watch light shows to your favorite holiday music! At places such as, Lights in the Parkway (Allentown, PA), and Acteon Light Up a Life (Ambler, PA). All you must do is head there in your car, turn on a radio station, and watch the show! (Times may differ)
Baking Cookies: For $0-25, you can have a Christmas cookie baking fest! Gather up some friends, siblings, or just yourself and bake away! You can make as many as you please, and eat as many you please. You could also give them as gifts.
Things to do over Christmas Break that are under $50
By: Avery Mawyer
Go to Art on Main with your friends and paint a Winter themed picture
Take some friends to the movies
Go to the local Walmart and buy cookies and movies for a Christmas Movie Marathon
Go to the local mall and buy your christmas presents for your friends (or yourself)
Visit a local spa for a relaxing time in the middle of winter
About the Upper Perkiomen Network
Email: dthomas@upsd.org
Location: 2 Walt Road, Pennsburg, PA, United States
Phone: (215) 679-5935
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Upper-Perkiomen-Network-510556745947081/
Twitter: @UPnewsteam