Sweet Laughs To

Make Your Day

Do skunks celebrate Valentine's

Day? - Sure, they are very scent

-imental!

What did one pickle say to the

other? - "You mean a great dill

to me."

What did the paper clip say to

the magnet? - "I find you very

attractive."

What did the bat say to his girl-

friend? - "You are fun to hang

around with."

What did the man with the bro-

ken leg say to his nurse? - "I

have got a crutch on you!"

What do you call a very small

valentine? - A valentiny!

What did one oar say to the oth-

er? - "Can I interest you in a

little row-mance?"

"Whale you be my Valentine?"

- "Dolphinately"

What did the boy rabbit say to

the girl rabbit on Valentine's Day?

- “Some bunny likes you!”

If your aunt ran off to get mar-

ried, What would you call her?

- Aunt - Elope

What did the little girl sheep say

to the little boy sheep on Valen-

tine’s Day? - “You are not So

Baaaaaaaaaaa-d Yourself!”

What did the caveman give his

wife on Valentine's Day? - Ughs

and kisses!

What did the boy cat say to the

girl cat on Valentine's Day?

- You are purrr-fect for me!

What did the boy bee say to the

girl bee on Valentine's Day? -

You are bee- utiful! Will you bee

mine?

What did the elephant say to his

girlfriend? - "I love you a ton!"

Do you have a date for

Valentines day? - Yes,

February 14th.

(continues on page 7)

SPECIAL VALENTINE’S DAY EDITION

Special points of interest:

Teacher Conferences—

Thursday 2/12 and

Tuesday 2/17

4:00 to 7:30

Teacher In-Service

Friday, February 13th

No School

President’s Day

Monday, February 16th

No School

Inside this issue:

Pick up Lines 2

Love Is In the Air 3-

7

February Festivities 9

Fun Zone 13

Around School 14

Sports 16

Cupids Corner 18

Volume XIV, Issue VII February, 2015

G E H S

Washington's Birth-

day, also known as

Presidents' Day, is a national holiday held on the third Monday of

February. This patriotic day was originally started in 1885 to cele-

brate both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays.

During that time period, there were two Presidents’ Days because Lincoln’s birthday

was on February 12th but Washington’s was on February 22nd. The citizens found this somewhat

confusing, which is why in 1950 Congress made the official name to this holiday Presidents’

Day, to celebrate all the president’s not just Washington and Lincoln. However, Americans did

not accept it because they did not think all the presidents deserved recognition. Things changed

in 1971 when the government declared the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create

more 3-day weekends for the nation’s workers and Presidents’ Day was moved to February.

Americans eventually learned to accept it. NO SCHOOL FEBRUARY 16TH.

Presidents’ Day!

ROSES ARE

RED

VIOLETS ARE

BLUE

GEHS IS THE

BEST AND

THE

STUDENTS

ARE TOO!

Valentine’s Day Massacre—That Which Occurred in ‘29 February 14, 1929, five members of the North Side Gang, plus gang collaborators Reinhardt H.

Schwimmer and John May, were lined up against the rear inside wall of the garage at 2122 North

Clark Street, in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago's North Side, and executed. Two of the

shooters were dressed as uniformed police officers, while the others wore suits, ties, overcoats and

hats, according to witnesses who saw the "police" leading the other men at gunpoint out of the garage

after the shooting.

This shooting became known as the “Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre,” due to its date. This was a

metaphorical message sent by notorious crime boss, Al Capone, to rival gangster Bugs

Moran. Capone was boss of the South Side Italian Gang, and Moran was boss of the rival North Side

Irish Gang.

-Aaron Troknya

The Torch Page 2 February Festivities

Pick Up Lines

Pick up lines are hilarious, cheesy, and a great way to woo your

Valentine, here are some of the cheesiest, funniest and cutest pick

up lines that you can try.

If you were a booger, I would pick you first.

Do you have a bandaid? I scraped my knee falling for you.

Do you have eleven protons? Because you are sodium fine.

I lost my number, can I have yours?

Are you French? Because Eiffel for you.

Hey girl, feel my sweater.. You know what it is made of? Boy-

friend material.

You must be a broom because you swept me off my feet.

Do you have a map? I keep getting lost in your eyes.

If you were a Transformer, you would be Optimus Fine.

I hope you know CPR, because you take my breath away.

If you were a triangle, you would be an acute one.

On a scale from one to America, how free are you tonight?

I think you are suffering from a lack of Vitamin Me.

You must be debt, because my interest in you is growing.

Are you the Hulk? Because you are smashing.

You look familiar, did we have a class together? I swear we had

chemistry.

Are you coffee? Because I like you a latte.

Are you Life Alert? Because I have fallen for you and I can not get

up!

Are you a library book? Because I have been checking you out.

Let us make like fabric softener and snuggle.

-compiled by Cat Towell and Shelby Press

LOVE’S TRUE FORM Since the dawn of time people have debated the meaning of love. Wars have been fought, riots have erupted, and people have

died due to the ever-growing controversies concerning the baffling concept of love. Many also debate whether or not love is uncon-

ditional, which entitles everyone the right to be loved, no matter who they are, or their background. Some races and religions be-

lieve other races and religions are not worthy of love. Some people deny love and compassion to criminals, because of their mis-

takes. There are so many different theories and opinions regarding love.

There is not one sole meaning for love, love is defined by one’s personal beliefs and values, but should be unconditional. Many

people cannot find the strength within themselves’ to love their self or others, but that does not mean they do not deserve to be

loved.

Love is not only shared by lovers and families, it can take many forms. Love could be a bond between an animal and its owner,

or the light breeze drifting in the moonlight. Love can be passion, but not only the heart-throbbing, eager, and spellbinding kisses

exchanged by star-crossed lovers, in romance novels. Passion can be a cause or ideal someone is willing to fight for or a sport or

activity someone enjoys.

Love is not fully understood; but it is not meant to be understood. Love is something bigger and better than ourselves; it is a force

stronger than gravity. Love will never be comprehended, but also never questioned about its cunning power to influence lives. That is

why people yearn for it as they do, it is an explicable experience that cannot be bought or packaged. It is a connection between

the heart and soul that is impossible to mimic.

Some people wait years for love to find them, and then give up hope that they will ever experience it. Others have lost love, and

fear that its glistening spark will never return to their hearts again. This is not always true, love has a way of drifting with the wind,

or following the riptide, it can end up any where sudden and abruptly. Even if it only stays for a short while, its impact on a person is

endless. Love is more than cards and candy, more than a relationship, more than a feeling; love is an energy that will light lives for

generations. -Staff Writer

Page 3 Volume XIV, Issue VII Love is in the Air

February is quite typical-

ly seen as the month of love.

It is all because of Valen-

tine's Day. Couples and/or

people in love come togeth-

er to take the chance to be

with their loved ones. Some

people might even use this

time to be with their friends.

Whether you are single, do

not have friends, or just got

ditched by your significant

other; here are some ways

to survive this lovely holiday:

Avoid ABC Family and the

Hallmark Channel (unless

you want to watch unbeliev-

able fairy tale romances in

envy or disgust).

Make/Buy some chocolate!

(Or have your mother buy it

for you.) Just because you

do not have someone to

give you chocolate, does not

mean you can not give it to

yourself. (Please ignore this

tip if you are, in fact, aller-

gic to chocolate.)

Watch Netflix! Endless (well,

I am sure there is an end..)

amounts of selections that

are not romance that you

can drown your lonely sor-

row in. Although, if you do

not have Netflix then it stinks

to be you.

Read a book. There is noth-

ing better than reading a

book by the window when

you are alone on Valentine's

Day.

- Minh Nugyen

Heartfelt Advise for the Unattached

Valentine’s Day, the day that some of us dread, and others absolute-

ly love, but is this holiday really overrated? People use this day as a

romantic excuse to do something nice for their significant other, but if you

truly cared for the significant other, would you not try to do nice and

romantic things for them all the time? Corporate companies see this day

as a day to make money, to build their corporation to catch sorry saps in

their trap, spending hundreds on materialistic things to show their loved

ones that they care. In reality, what amount of “stuff” is going to save

your relationship from going downhill?

Valentine’s Day is what should be called a corporate holiday, because

it is only a holiday for the big companies that give people more excuses

to buy the usual stuffed animals, chocolate, and flowers. Holidays like

this are well over-commercialized and have had no significant impact on

our society as a whole. When was the last time you saw Martin Luther

King Jr. Day all over televisions and stores? Or what about Memorial

Day or even Veteran’s Day? People and Companies spend too much

time worrying about insignificant matters that people can do every day

of their life.

The moral of the story here, why focus so much time and money on a

holiday that we could celebrate whenever we wanted? Yes Valentine’s

Day is overrated, it is one for the companies and the suckers.

- Adrian Avendano

A Day for Companies to Make Money

The Torch Page 4

Find as many words as you can! You can go up, down,

and diagonally. Every word must be at least 3 letters

long. You may use plural words if possible, but no prop-

er names. For a 3 letter word = 1 point, 4 letter word = 2

points, 5 letter word = 3 points, and so on. Also, you

score an extra 2 points for every Valentine’s Day word

you find! Make sure you write down the words you find

under “Word List,” and add up your points! Turn in this

sheet of paper to Mrs. Lach in room 439, and whoever

earned the most points will win a BIG box of chocolates!

Good luck!

WORD LIST

Love is in the Air

TOP TEN ROMANTIC MOVIES

1. “Titanic” is a story of a young artist that travels upon the great

Titantic and falls in love with a rich girl along the way.

2. “Fault In Our Stars” is about a cancer patient who meets a for-

mer patient during a support group, they share books, stories and

find love and stability together.

3. “Princess Bride” is a story of a young man who fights to save and

find the love of his life before a horrid prince takes her for his wife.

4. “Romeo and Juliet” is the tragic story, adapted from the famous

Shakespeare play about two star crossed lovers from two rivaling

families and how they fight for their love.

5. “Jerry Maguire” is a story of a successful sports agent and he

questions his purpose and is trying to find his way.

6. “ The Wedding Singer” is a story about a wedding singer who

falls in love with a young waitress, who has chosen the wrong person

to marry.

7. “ Sweet Home Alabama” is a story of a fashion designer in New

York that travels South to get her husband to sign the divorce pa-

pers, but instead she finds something more.

8. “Sixteen Candles” is a comedy about a young girl whose family

forgets her birthday and chronicles her wacky day.

9. “A Walk To Remember” a prank gone wrong makes a popular

senior enter in the school play as the lead but he falls in love along

the way.

10. “The Notebook” a poor man finds love in a rich women and

makes her feel free and social differences drive them apart.

-compiled by Austin Ashcraft

What a “sweet” game!

St.Valentine

For many centuries now, February 14th has been celebrated around the world as the day for romance, and this year will be no dif-

ferent. But where did this holiday originate from? Well, it started with a man named St. Valentine.

St. Valentine was a Roman holy priest, widely recognized for his martyrdom during the third century, when the Catholic Church was

being persecuted by an emperor named Claudius the Second. Claudius outlawed the marriage of young people because he believed

that young, unmarried soldiers fought better because they wouldn’t worry about the lives of their wives if they died in battle.

St.Valentine, a Catholic, fought for the right for young people to be married, and in secrecy, he married people and soon after he

was caught, imprisoned, and tortured for performing marriages. In jail, Valentine was said to have helped a Roman man named Aste-

rius, whose daughter was born blind. Valentine was said to have helped heal the girl by praying for her condition to get better, and

Asterius was convinced that Valentine’s praying had worked, so he converted to Catholicism. On February 14th, 269 AD. St. Valentine

was sentenced to a three part execution, where he was beaten, stoned and decapitated because of being a Catholic. In a letter to

Asterius’ daughter before his execution, Valentine signed it, “From your Valentine.” A popular phrase still used today. St.Va lentine is

widely known as the patron saint of lovers, happy marriage, young people and love. He was commemorated on February 14th. To-

day, St. Valentine is widely known for his help marrying lovers, and that is why on February 14th, we celebrate Valentine’s Day.

There is also another idea of the origin of Valentine’s Day; it is called A Pagan Festival in February, and celebrated on February

15th. It was a fertility festival called Lupercalia dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders

Romulus and Remus. The festival of Lupercalia was then noticed as “un-Christian” at the end of the 5th century. It wasn’t until much lat-

er that Valentine’s Day was recognized as a day for “love.” This was associated with the idea that the bird mating season started in

mid-February. Although writing and giving out Valentine’s Day cards didn’t start until the 1400’s, the first Valentine ever recorded

was in 1415 by Charles, the Duke of Orleans.

No matter how Valentine’s Day began, it is now celebrated by the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Australia, France, and of

course the United States. February 14th was, is, and will forever be known as the day for romance. -Cat Towell

Page 5 Volume XIV, Issue VII

- More than 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are ex-

changed annually.

- Over 50% of Valentine’s Day cards are purchased

in the 2 days prior to the holiday itself.

- There are 119 single men who are in their 20s for every 100 single

women of the same age group.

- As of the mid 2000s, there are 904 dating service establishments, in-

cluding online dating sites, that employee nearly 4,300 people and pull

in around $489 million in revenues on average.

- In 2011, Iran banned Valentine’s Day cards, gifts, and any other Valen-

tine related tokens as part of an Islamic Republic backlash against west-

ern culture.

- Valentine’s Day was first introduced in Japan in 1936.

- A “True Love Knot” or “Endless Knot of Love” was a very popular

“Valentine” in England and the U.S. in the seventeenth century.

- Esther Howland, the woman who produced the first commercial Ameri-

can valentines in the 1840s, sold a then mind-boggling $5,000 in cards

her first year of business.

- Valentine’s Day originates from the ancient Roman festival of fertility,

which was held annually on February 15th. The 14th of February was

celebrated in honor of Juno, the queen of the Roman gods and goddess-

es. Juno was also the goddess of women and marriage.

- The rose is the symbol of love, but the flower symbol for February

actually is the violet.

- According to one legend, Valentine's Day was inspired by Saint Valen-

tine, a Roman saint who was executed on February 14th, 270 A.D. St.

Valentine was killed for secretly marrying couples in defiance of an or-

der of the Roman emperor. The emperor had forbidden marriage after

Roman men began refusing conscription in order to stay home with their

wives.

- Men spend, on average, $156.22 on Valentine’s Day gifts, flowers, and

cards.

- The first heart-shaped box of candy was sold in 1868 by Richard Cad-

bury.

-The red rose was believed to be the favorite flower of Venus, the Ro-

man goddess of love and the mother of Cupid?

-Over 50 million roses are given at Valentines Day each year.

-To be awoken by a kiss on Valentine’s Day is considered lucky.

-About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine Day gifts to their pets.

- Compiled by Kevin Oliver and staff

DID YOU KNOW?

Love is in the Air

IS ST. VALENTINE’S DAY OVERRATED?

February 14 is the one day out of

the year to celebrate the love between two peo-

ple, to recognize and to appreciate the relation-

ship you may share with someone else. A lot of

people lose sight of how blessed they are to be

happy and in a relationship with someone and they

lose attention of that special bond holding their

relationship together. Valentine’s Day comes

around once a year to help remind them and get

their sight back on track of how lucky they are to

have found love. There are many people in this world that are

alone and full of love to give but have no one to give it to. Valen-

tines Day brings hope and inspiration to those souls looking for

someone to share their life with.

Valentine’s Day is not a day to celebrate the person you love,

but to celebrate the love you have for that person. It is to recog-

nize that of all the billions of people in the world, of all the places

in the world, and all the moments flying by never to be recovered,

you, and that special other, are together, against all odds.

Many people believe that Valentine’s Day is overrated be-

cause it is a “commercial holiday” that does not celebrate anything

particularly of any special meaning and is used just for gift giving

and more spending. While the gift giving is always nice, it is not

necessary. You do not have to buy someone something to express

your love for them or to let them know how much they mean to

you. People simply resort to buying gifts because it is the easy and

simple way of doing so. Other people, who really recognize and

embrace the love they have for someone, usually go that extra

mile and do something extremely thoughtful and from the heart.

Many people say that you should show the person you love

how much you care everyday, not just once a year. While I agree

with this statement, I also feel that it is important to set one day

aside, dedicated to celebrating one of the most controversial as-

pect of this world, love. On Valentine’s Day, you should dedicate

the entire day to this feeling. Be thankful that you found it. Every-

body wants love, or has at one point in their life, but not every

body is able to find it and keep a hold on it.

From personal experience, I know Valentine’s Day gives me

hope that someday I will be able to find that long awaited love

that everyone wants and that I will be able to have a Valentine on

the one day of a year dedicated

to the most powerful force in the

universe.

I want to wish a happy Valen-

tine’s Day to everyone, whether

you are alone or not, remember,

there is love out there, you just got

to find it!

The Torch Page 6

NO YES What was once a holiday about love and affection is

now a superficial celebration run by commercialism and

the business industry pressuring us to purchase gifts to

“show our love” with pointless items we do not need nor

want. These items do not show love since it is now a

social ritual to buy roses, chocolates, and cards where

they are now above and beyond cliché. Plus these gifts

are only guilt-ridden ways to show their “love” for an-

other. There is enough pressure on today’s couples with-

out having to live up to an ideal romantic adventure on this one

day; and why only this one day? If couples truly loved each

other should not they be practicing similar habits like this eve-

ryday of their own volition and not because of an industry

profiting holiday? Many think that a more appropriate day, if

any single day, to buy futile gifts such as these should be on

the couple’s anniversary, rather than a random day with no

significant meaning. Even most of those people believe that

couples should always say “I love you” and show their love for

one another everyday, and not on a commercialized holiday.

I personally agree with those believing that Valentine’s Day

is overrated. Valentine’s Day is a pointless holiday; especially

since there are more single people in the world than couples,

so why have a holiday for the minority love group? How did a

day dedicated to a true hero of love become a day run by

social media and commercialized industries? Valentine’s Day is

extremely overrated and should not be celebrated only to say

“I love you” to your significant other. People should share these

feelings with each other on a daily basis, and not buy senseless

items to show your affection for another.­ If people are going

to buy gifts for their loved ones, shouldn’t they use gifts made

from the heart anyway, and not cliché items such as chocolates

and flowers? Valentine’s Day is a nuisance that is glorified

only by the industrial tyrants of the world and should not be

celebrated.

-Torch Staff

Love is in the Air

HA HA (continued from 1st page)

What did the boy squirrel say to the girl squirrel on Valentine’s Day?

“I’m nuts about you!”

Boy 1: Why do melons have to get married in churches?

Boy 2: Why?

Boy 1: Because they cantaloupe!

Boy: What happened to your leg?

Girl: I went to a seafood dance on Valentine’s

Day.

Boy: And?

Girl: I pulled a mussel!

What did the pancake say to the other pancake?

I wuv you a WAFFLE lot!

Cupid is

known to all

as the symbol

of Love, and

coincides with

St. Valen-

tine’s Day,

but do we

know why or

how he came

to be?

Cupid, son of Venus and Mars, is the god of

love in Roman Mythology. Cupid is derived

from the Latin word, “cupido” which means

“desire.” Some myths claim that Cupid hatched

from a silver egg. Cupid is often depicted as a

baby with wings wearing nothing but a diaper,

equipped with a bow and a quiver of golden

arrows. The tips of the arrows are heart-

shaped. Cupid shoots these arrows at lonely or

unsuspecting people and when they hit, the

individual falls deeply in love with the next

person they rest their eyes on.

It seems quite obvious why Cupid is St.

Valentine’s Day’s mascot, but there can be

flaws to his method of love manipulation. What

if Cupid were to shoot someone whose eyes

rested upon a man or woman who was in any

sort of relationship? Cupid has been known to

have split personalities. In addition to his gold-

en arrows, Cupid carries lead-tipped arrows

that cause its victims to succumb to hatred.

Cupid may be known for creating Love, but the

fact that he is the one responsible for creating

chaos should not be neglected.

Cupid is always watching, ready to play

with any old heart that comes along. The next

time a friend says, “it is love at first sight,” edu-

cate them on the history of Cupid. Perhaps they

were struck by his golden arrows.

-Torch Staff

CUPID’S ARROW

Page 7 Volume XIV, Issue VII

Everyone knows what Valentine’s Day is and what day it’s celebrated on,

but not everyone knows the long history and specific facts about modern

Valentine’s Day celebrations and festivities. Here are some fun facts about the

holiday celebrated worldwide on February 14th:

-15% of U.S women buy flowers for themselves.

-About 3% of pet owners will buy gifts for their pets on Valentine’s Day.

-Over $1 billion will be spent on chocolate for Valentine’s Day in the U.S.

- Worldwide, over 50 million roses are given for Valentine's Day each year.

-There was a belief in the middle Ages that the first unmarried person (of the

opposite sex) you met on the morning of St. Valentine's Day would become

your spouse.

-Cupid, who is seemingly the mascot of Valentine’s Day, was the Roman god of

love.

-Each year around 1 billion Valentine cards are sent. After Christmas, this is the

single largest seasonal card-sending occasion.

-Children between ages 6 to 10 give more than 650 million Valentine’s cards

to their teachers, classmates, and family members.

-2.2 million marriages take place in the United States annually. This means

there are approximately 6,000 marriages per day.

Everyone here at The Torch would like to wish you a happy and safe Val-

entine’s Day! -Torch Staff

Fun Facts About Valentines Day

Love is in the Air

The Torch Page 8

Jealousy Needs To Stop! Jealousy is so overrated. People tend to get jealous when

they see their crush or love being flirted with or them even flirting

with someone else. Why be jealous? If you’re lucky enough to

be in a relationship, then you have to reason to be jealous.

Ladies, you see these little girls walking up to your man with

their red cheeks, giggling and hitting him playfully? I know what

you are thinking: ‘That girl needs to get off my man before there

is an issue.’ Do not worry about it! What I say is just go up to

your man and be like ‘so you met my boyfriend?’ ‘Is he not the

best?’ and smile at the girl nicely. Or if he is not your man, then

make him your man! Maybe you should flirt with him before an-

other girl can.

Guys, you see these big bulky guys with their athleticism flirt-

ing with your woman? I know what you are thinking: ‘That dude

needs to back off before he has to deal with me’ Forget about it!

What I say to this is that you let that guy know that she is your

girlfriend and not to flirt, maybe put your arm around her and

show him she is yours and no one else’s. Now, if she is not yours

then you need to show her that you are better than other guys

and flirt with her before any other guy can.

Jealousy is nothing to be worried about. You just have to be

confident and show how important you are. If you like someone

then go get them! Stop being jealous when other people flirt with

them. Jealousy is overrated and needs to be stopped

- Torch Staff

February Thoughts

St. Valentine’s Day Around the World

Italy

Originally, Italians celebrated Valentine’s Day as the Spring Festival. People gather outside in gardens and cafes to enjoy poetry

readings and music before taking a stroll with their loved ones. Now a days on Valentine’s Day Italians prefer having romantic din-

ners and exchanging gifts. Also, there is a tradition of giving chocolate to loved ones and Italians believe that in this case, size does

matter - the bigger the chocolate, the stronger the love you will have.

France

The French like to think of themselves as the most romantic people in the world, and it is often claimed that the first Valentine’s Day

card originated in France when Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent letter to the love of his life while imprisoned in the Tower of London in

1415. Today card giving is not as popular as it used to be. Instead, the French love their own food, restaurants do really well on Feb-

ruary 14, a day also considered the best time for a marriage proposal.

Finland and Estonia

Valentine’s Day celebrations in Estonia/Finland have their own way of celebrating it. February 14 is called “Friend’s Day,” so single

people do not feel left out. That means everyone is a winner thanks to nice presents given between friends and family members. That

does not mean there is no romance: shops, restaurants and even streets are decorated with hearts and other symbols of love. On this

day single people also get the chance to take a ride on a special “love bus” where they can meet others looking for love.

United States

In the United States, Valentine’s Day is a major card- and gift-giving festival. This day is not a public holiday here. Offices, schools,

stores and organizations are open as usual. Markets can be seen wearing a festive look and loaded with gifts to lure customers, days

before the actual day arrives. Cards have been exchanged in the USA since the early 1700s. Some other popular gifts that are ex-

changed on Valentine’s Day are fresh flowers, especially red roses, chocolates, candy baskets, candy boxes, lingerie and champagne

or sparkling wine. Most of the candy boxes are heart-shaped and tied with red ribbons. Some people take a step ahead by giving

big gifts such as jewelry, diamonds, etc.. -Michael Black

Page 9 Volume XIV, Issue VII

DATING IDEAS

Do you need some date ideas for Valentines Day? Here are

some that you should definitely keep in mind.

· Go out to dinner at a fancy restaurant downtown (Newport) ,

ex; Dick’s Last Resort, Cheesecake Factory, Dewey’s Pizza, Brio

Tuscan Grille, Mitchell’s Fish Market, and many others to choose

from.

· Go to a movie or the drive in

· Go dancing

· Go to your favorite concert together (Make sure the guy pays

for the ticket…)

· Go to Fountain Square

· Cook a meal for your date and surprise him/her

· Take pictures together and make a photo album

· Take popsicle sticks and write a bunch of date ideas and pull

one out when you are wanting to go out on a special night

· Go out for coffee at his/her favorite coffee shop

· Paintballing (this is a suggestion for the guys, plus it is a great

time!)

Being a girl myself, I have realized that the little things mean

the most. It is the thought that counts. We do not need jewelry,

clothes or other expensive things; a simple dozen roses is all it

takes to make us happy. Hopefully these ideas will really help

you out and you try them over this sweet holiday with your special

someone!

-Mikaela Bobb

Americans have recognized black history since 1926. Originally it was known as

“Negro History Week’ and later changed to “Black History Month.” This tradition

started almost before any black history had been studied, or even documented. Afri-

can Americans have been in America since colonial times but it was not until the 20th

century that a respectable presence was found in the history books.

We owe the study of black history to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. His ancestral past

was former slaves, and his childhood was spent in the Kentucky coal mines. He did not

enroll in high school until age twenty, graduated in two years, and then received a

Ph.D. from Harvard. Dr. Woodson was disturbed to find in his studies that history

books for the most part ignored black American figures throughout history. He wanted

that to change.

Dr. Woodson wanted all Americans to know the contributions that were made by black Americans. He established the Association

for the Study of Negro Life and History, he founded the journal of Negro History, and in 1926 he launched the Negro History Week

to bring national attention to the contribution of black people throughout American history.

Woodson chose February because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population. These

men are Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. However, February has much more to show for its significance of black American

history. Events such as:

- February 23, 1868 – W.E.B. Dubois, civil rights leader and co-founder of the NAACP was born;

- February 3, 1870 – The 15th Amendment was passed granting blacks the right to vote;

- February 25, 1870 – the first black US Senator, Hiram R. Revels, took the oath of office;

- February 12, 1909 – The National Association for the Advancement of Colored people (NAACP) was founded by a group of con-

cerned black and white citizens in New York City;

- February 1, 1960 – A civil rights movement milestone when a group of black N.C. college students began a sit-in at a segregated

Woolworth’s lunch counter; and

- February 21, 1965 – Malcolm X, the militant leader who promoted Black Nationalism was shot to death by three Black Muslims.

From colonial times to the civil rights movement, many fell victim to racism and lost their lives to guarantee a better life for future

generations- for our generation. We cannot allow ourselves to let all that suffering be for nothing; we choose to remember the month

of February as black history month and celebrate the freedoms that everyone can now enjoy thanks to the courage of the heroic lead-

ers of present and past generations. -Staff Writer

February Festivities

The Torch Page 10 Love is in the Air

During Valentine’s Day, you usually get the gift of candy or flowers. The tradition of receiving candy

started in elementary school when your friends would give out Valentine’s Day cards along with candy.

The candy consists of “I LUV YOU, KISS ME, U R SO CUTE, and MARRY ME.” These candies are known as

candy hearts. Candy heart making developed into an industry during the nineteenth century through the

discovery of sugar beaches and the advances of mechanical appliances.

Nothing melts a heart like chocolates on the 14th. Whether your other half likes milk chocolates, dark

chocolates, nutty chocolates, or chocolate truffles, these Valentine’s Day sweet treats send a message of

love. While Valentine’s Day chocolates may not last long, the loving gesture and memory of the giver's

thoughtfulness will. The reason why we give out chocolate on Valentine’s Day is because chocolate has been associated with passion,

romance and love since the time of the Aztecs. They believed that chocolate was a source of spiritual wisdom, incredible energy, and

elevated sexual power. It was widely used at wedding ceremonies and today our chocolate is very different from theirs.

The flowers consist of a big bouquet or a single flower. Roses are the most popular flower that you would get from your sweetie.

A red rose means love, a white rose signifies worthiness, a yellow rose means friendship and a pink rose means happiness. The flow-

ers also symbolize fertility, love, marriage and romance. The gift of flowers happened in the middle ages when marriage was

severely prohibited. Lovers communicated for weeks and months through the gifting of flowers.

Some believe that Valentine’s Day and the treats that go with it are just another “Hallmark” holiday. Yet others see it as a chance

to start new relationships, rekindle old relationships, and to express their love for each other. We all love to receive candy and flow-

ers on the 14th of February but we should give more out than we receive. -Staff Writer

HEARTS AND FLOWERS

Who would not want to flirt with a nerd? They are interesting,

passionate and—um, interesting... And now that Valentine’s Day

is approaching, it is a perfect time to attract that special nerd in

your life. Here are the best nerdy pick-up lines that Tumblr had

to offer! So go on, get out there, and woo the love of your Comic-

Con centered life!

Harry Potter Pick Up Lines:

-If you were a Dementor, I would become a criminal just to get

your kiss.

-Did you survive Avada Kedavra? ‘Cause you are drop dead

gorgeous!

-Is your name Flitwick? ‘Cause you sure are charming.

-Your smile is like Expelliarmus, simple, yet disarming.

Doctor Who Pick Up Lines:

-Are you a weeping angel? ‘Cause I could stare at you all day.

-Hello, I am Captain Jack Harkness.

-You make both my hearts go wibbly wobbly.

-Baby, you are oodiful.

Math/Science Pick Up Lines:

-What is your sine? It must be Pi/2 because you are the one.

-I wish I was Adenine, so I would be paired with U.

-I want our love to be like Pi, irrational and never ending.

-You must be a carbon sample, I sure want to date you.

There you have it folks, any one of these lines are internet-

guaranteed to get you a Valentine. And hey, if you can not trust

random people from the internet, then who can you trust? Good

luck! And may the force (of romance) be with you!

-Danielle Watkins

Nerd Romance 101

Page 11 Volume XIV, Issue VII On the Emotional Side

Valentine’s Day is known as a day to celebrate love, be it with a significant other or even just

the friends you have come to enjoy having, but it can also be a big source of stress. Here are

some possible stressers to avoid:

1. People in relationships often worry about what to get their significant other for Valentine’s

Day, especially if it is last minute and they have absolutely no money to spend.

2. Husbands might also be left scratching their heads when their wives say “No, we do not have to do anything.” wondering if it is

likely a trap instead of an honest nonchalant attitude.

3. People who plan to cook for Valentine’s Day could very well find themselves panicking over the recipe or struggling to make it to

their exact standards, and then praying that their significant other will enjoy it when the time comes.

4. Singles may either be rushing to find that certain someone or just not caring at all. Either way, more candy for them.

5. Stress can also come if certain expectations have failed to be met or even from disappointment on how the day turned out.

6. Another source of possible stress could be from trying to find reservations for that fancy restaurant you have had your eye on,

only to find that it is packed and there is absolutely no way possible to treat your boyfriend/girlfriend to a romantic dinner.

7. Making plans that cost a lot of money, only to be dumped and have everything go to waste.

8. And of course there is the possible stress of everything going wrong, plans being wrecked, and potentially disgusting objects being

dumped all over your significant other and ruining everything. Anxiety could strike at any moment should any minor thing go awry or

something devious appears to muck up the entire day.

An easy way of coping with this stress is simple: just relax and enjoy the time spent with the people you care about. And treat

yourself to ice cream. Ice cream always helps. - Jacob Klump

STRESS RELIEF. . .

THE SEASON OF LOVE

With the season of love falling upon us, it is easy to “feel the

love,” but how do we show it? Here are some of the most common

ways you can “show the love” this holiday.

LISTEN - Many of us nowadays have perfected talking, we talk

like it is our job. Many of us talk too much, though, and have not

stopped to listen. Becoming a person that anyone can talk to is

someone everyone wants to be around. Also, remember that that

is a difference between just listening and hearing, so make sure

that you actually understand what the person is saying to you

instead of just being a present earlobe.

SPEAK - Many of us these days seem to speak just to argue or to

prove someone wrong. Instead of just speaking, how about you

start taking into account what the other one is saying. There is

always more than one side to an opinion and making someone

else feel shameful about theirs is not the way to go about it.

GIVE - Giving is a great way to show either a stranger or some-

one less fortunate that you care. Help out at a homeless shelter or

volunteer to become a child’s big brother or sister. Remember

though to give it your all and do not hold back on handing out

love.

ENJOY - When someone has taken the time out of their day to do

something nice for your benefit, do not be picky or selfish. Always

remember to be thankful for what you have. Finally, always go

out of your way to make sure someone knows how much you ap-

preciate them.

TRUST (without wavering)-With the world we thrive in today, the

news has us wondering who can be trusted and not. Trust is the

one of the best gifts you can give someone. Unless they have not

earned it, do not give them the chance to not. As for vice versa,

always be the person someone can trust, if you want to be trusted,

you must earn it. - Kayla Overbee

THE PERFECT DATE

Valentines Day is typi-

cally the one time of the

year where couples want

to go all out and impress

their significant other with

the perfect date. Some

people need help with

finding things to do to

make that perfect date

and make that special

someone feel amazing.

Here are some places you

can go and gifts you could

buy for your loved one on

this special day.

Dates

Have a movie day at home

(rent movies) with popcorn,

candy, soda.

Make him/her dinner at

home

Go to the movies

Go to a nice restaurant for

a special meal such as

Applebees, O’Charley’s,

Cheesecake Factory, Olive

Garden, Outback, Long-

horn, Carabas, El Rancho

Grande, Benihana’s, The

Rock Bottom Brewery, 20

Brix, or The Melting Pot.

Take a trip to the

Aquarium

Go to a concert at Bogarts

Go to the top of the Carew

Tower in downtown

Go dancing

Take her to get her nails

done

Have a photo shoot

together

A horse and carriage ride

through downtown

Go to the art museum

Go to the Conserv-

atory in Eden Park

Devou Park

(located in Coving-

ton, Ky) to see the

Cincinnati skyline

Go to a Cincinnati

Cyclones ice hockey game

Rent a limo and go out to

dinner, movies, and drive

around downtown

Go to the Underground

Railroad Freedom Center

Go to Mount Adams

Go to Fountain Square

Go to Coco Key/Great

Wolf Lodge

Go to the Sky Galley Res-

taurant at Lunken Airport

Go to the Nature Center

Bake something together

Gifts

For her

Box of chocolates

Roses

A gigantic stuffed animal

(or a little one)

Candy hearts

A homemade card/singing

card/or gigantic card

Jewelry

Perfume

Candles

A puppy or other cute

fuzzy animal

A meaningful poem

Cookies or other baked

goods

Handmade Coupons (for

ex: free hug, free back

rub, etc.)

Red/pink shirt

For him

Cologne

Box of chocolates

Cookies or other baked

goods

Custom M&M’s

Buy him tickets to a sport-

ing event

Handmade Coupons (for

ex: free hug, free back

rub, etc.)

A giftcard to their favorite

store

A wallet

Boxers

A giant stuffed animal (or

a little one)

Red/pink shirt

Keep in mind that these

are only a few of the

many ideas that you can

do for your special some-

one. There are many things

you can do to make them

happy. All it takes is a little

bit of thought; after all, it

is the thought that counts

anyways, right? Hopefully,

one of these ideas helps

inspire you to have a fun

and creative Valentine’s

Day this year!

-Asia Mineer

The Torch Page 12

Top Love Songs

Heartfelt News

This Valentines Day surround yourself with

happy melodies that remind you of your babe,

here is a hot list to get you started!

Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden

Your Body is a Wonderland - John Mayer

Happy Together - The Turtles

Drops of Jupiter - Train

Sugar - Maroon 5

Love Story - Taylor Swift

I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney

Houston

Every Little Thing - The Beatles

Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney and Wings

You’re Beautiful - James Blunt

Perfect Two - Auburn

It’s Your Love - Tim McGraw

I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing - Aerosmith

My Love - Justin Timberlake

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

Isn’t She Lovely - Stevie Wonder

Secret Garden - Bruce Springsteen

Wonderwall - Oasis

Have I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart

Thinkin’ Bout You - Frank Ocean

Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Elton John

A Drop in the Ocean - Ron Pope

Old School Love - Lupe Fiasco ft Ed Sheeran

Sweet Child O’Mine - Guns N’ Roses

You are so Beautiful - Joe Crocker

She Will be Loved - Maroon 5

-Compiled by Brittani Siegel

Page 13 Volume XIV, Issue VII

♥♥♥ Valentine’s day does not have to be boring or

sad without a Valentine! Here are twenty riddles to

lighten up your loveless mood. Try to guess the

answers on the provided line (if you cannot figure

them out, the answers are on the bottom of page).

1. What do squirrels give for Valentine's Day?

_________________________

2. What did the valentine card say to the

stamp? ______________________

3. What did the light bulb say to the switch?

_________________________

4. What did the boy octopus say to the girl

octopus? ___________________

5. Knock, Knock, Who's there? Olive. Olive

Who? _____________________

6. What is a vampire's sweetheart called?

_________________________

7. What did the painter say to her boyfriend?

_________________________

8. What's the best part about Valentines Day?

________________________

9. What is another way of saying Happy Valen

tines day? ________________

10. What do you call two birds in love?

________________________

11. What did the paper clip say to the magnet?

______________________

12. What did one pickle say to the other?

_________________________

13. What did the elephant say to his girlfriend?

_______________________

14. What did the bat say to his girlfriend?

_________________________

15. What is the true purpose of Valentine's Day?

_______________________

16. Why is Valentine's Day the best day for a

celebration? ________________

17. What did one oar say to the other?

________________________

18. What did the pencil say to the paper?

_________________________

19. "Do you have a date for valentines day?"

_________________________

20. You wanna hear a joke? _______________

-Savannah Shepard

FEBRUARY FUN!

1.Forget-me-nuts. 2.Stick

with me and we'll go

places! 3.You turn me on.

4. Can I hold your hand,

hand, hand, hand, hand,

hand, hand? 5. Olive

you! 6.His ghoul-friend.

7. "I love you with all my

art!" 8. The day after

when all the chocolate

goes on sale. 9. S.A.D,

Singles Awareness Day!

10. Tweethearts! 11. "I

find you very attractive."

12. "You mean a great

dill to me." 13. "I love

you a ton!" 14. "You're

fun to hang around with."

15. To remind single peo-

ple they are single. 16.

Because you can really

party hearty! 17. "Can I

interest you in a little row

-mance?" 18. "I dot my

i's on you!" 19. Yes,

February 14th. 20. Val-

entine’s Day

Fun Zone

Answers to February Fun

The Torch Page 14

It’s around that time, Glen Este – time to start thinking about next year. Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors, we are

going to start scheduling soon, so start thinking about what you might want to take. Scheduling is estimated to start by

mid-March.

Post-secondary students and/or future post-secondary students, your forms for registration are due by March 30.

Don’t be late or you will not be able to get in to the program or UC Clermont. There is also an information meeting on

February 26 at 6:30 in the PAC, if you or your parents need questions answered or want something cleared up.

Seniors, hopefully you have turned in at least most of your college applications by now. If you haven’t, though, there’s still time.

A lot of local colleges around Cincinnati have rolling admissions, which means that they’ll accept applications at any time. It’s still

better to apply earlier, though, because they look at those first. Colleges with rolling admission will accept until they have a full

class. So, do your research and make sure you know when your college’s deadlines are. -Staff

Around School

SCHEDULING

HEAR YE HEAR YE

We all wonder why we get so nervous before we present in a class, or think

about what class will help me prepare for college or the future, or even what

would make me not be afraid to speak in front of a lot of people. The an-

swer is simple. Practice makes perfect.

The time is coming for scheduling to begin again. The class options are

numerous and it can be hard to choose what course is right for you. The best

advice for picking any class is to choose one that will most benefit you. At

Glen Este one of the most beneficial classes offered is also one of the most

disrespected. Speech class has a bad reputation, after all, few people actu-

ally like public speaking, but can actually be very educational and help de-

velop important life skills.

Taking a speech class can help develop communication skills which can make

working with other people much easier. You can also develop your persuasive

skills, which is always a good thing, because when you’re more persuasive

you can get want you want. Being able to speak in front of others also boosts

confidence which is a key factor that employers look for in job candidates. To

add to the benefits, speech is also a good class to take before going to col-

lege. When interviewed about the class Mrs. Dohrmann said, “I think this class

prepares you for college because all students will have to take a communica-

tions course at some point and it will involve some form of public speaking so I

believe this background experience is really helpful.”

Speech class is very different from other course options, but perhaps that’s

what makes it so important. Unlike some classes, speech has practical applica-

tions in the real world, in the coming weeks put some serious thought into the

classes you schedule for next year. Odds are, speech should be one of them.

-Danielle Watkins

Decisions - Decisions

Many new classes will be offered for the 2015-

2016 school year. Pay attention to new course

descriptions when scheduling for next year. You

might find one or two new classes that interest

you.

Page 15 Volume XIV, Issue VII

Wright State Wright State University is a welcoming community set in Dayton, Ohio that will be a perfect

setting for anyone to gain the knowledge necessary for today’s workplace. They offer more than 100 academic programs;

with no doubt that you will find the right fit for you! Even with over 20,000 students attending, the school still has that small

school feel. This is happening thanks to the faculty and staff who always find ways to connect with students on a more per-

sonal level.

There is so much to do on campus, that it is hard to become bored. Wright state offers over 200+ student clubs and organizations

that will have you out and about and meeting all the other students who reside there. If you have a hobby or interest that you had

before you came to Wright State, the school will most likely have it as a club! They have them all! Such as, comic book league for all

the comic book nerds, for all the young girls at heart a Campus Girl Scout WSU is available, and for those of you who believe in nat-

ural healing even a wilderness medicine group is available! That’s only to name a few though! That does not even count all the oppor-

tunities you will find just off of campus in the wonderful city of Dayton! This also doesn’t account for all the great games/matches

you’ll find on the fields of the Wright State Raiders!

Wright states tuition per year is around $19,238. While this is not exactly on the more expensive side, it is still not cheap. Wright

State understands the difficulty involved when it comes to paying for college. Because of this Wright State has set up a program that

when any high school student applies, they automatically check to see if you apply for any scholarships, no separate application re-

quired! These scholarships can range from $1,500 to a full in-state tuition, room/board per year, and it is renewable for four years!

With all the great opportunities wright state offers to get a degree while having fun and saving money, you are practically crazy

to not join team Raiders! -Kayla Overbee

COLLEGE

Are you scared silly about what’s in

store for you when your teacher

hands out the PARCC or OGT

Tests? The following PARCC and

OGT Test taking tips are going to

help you be confident and not

frightened o r nervous about the

intimidating tests. The exam chal-

lenges students' skills in writing,

reading, mathematics, science and

social studies. Knowing the materi-

al presented in the tests is critical,

but using some

basic test-taking strategies can minimize

some of the pressure during these stress-

ful tests.

- Get plenty of rest the night before. Try

going to bed at 10 or 9 o clock to ensure

you get at least 8 hours.

- The morning of the tests eat a healthy

and balanced breakfast. This gets your

brain activity up and helps get you think-

ing faster.

- Dress comfortable so you focus your

attention on the test and won’t get dis-

tracted.

- Use process of elimination so you will

have a better chance of getting the an-

swers correct.

- Answer all the easy questions first, then

move on to the more difficult ones.

- You’ll have a little less than a minute to

answer each question, therefore don’t

spend three or more minutes working

on one problem; Pace yourself.

- Answer all the questions on the test;

If you have time go back and check

your work but if you’re running out of

time just guess the rest so your able to

have al the questions answered.

- Practice; You may have heard it a mil-

lion times but practice makes perfect.

There are many websites that have

practice OGT tests to help you do the

best to your ability.

Good Luck!

PARCC TESTING IS:

February 23– March 10

OGT TESTING IS:

March 16 - March 20

CO

RN

ER

Around School

TESTING

Kings and Queens of the Lanes

It’s been a tale of two seasons this year for the Glen Este bowling teams. The Lady Trojans are off to

a hot start this year with an outstanding record of 15-0 overall and 11-0 in league play. The boys are off

to a rough start though on the other hand, going 8-8 overall and 6-5 in league play. Leading the way for

the Lady Trojans is freshman Danielle Cooper, leading the league with an average of 190.2 a match and a

high score of 256. Some experts have compared her to Glen Este legend, Leslie Campbell. Danielle does

not feel pressure though because she says, “once I start bowling, I just bowl.” Other key contributors for the

Lady Trojans are Courtney Chaffin, Drew Coutler, Emily Doppes, and Becca Rainwater.

Leading the way for the Trojans is junior Brady Dunigan, being third in the league with a 206 average and a high score of 278.

Brady feels that continuous practice and learning different strategies is a key to improving. The most difficult thing to adapt to is the

different oil conditions of the lanes. Other team members are Tanner Davis, Cole Hunley, Evan Dennis, and Jacob Klump. The men only

have three matches left in the season and the ladies still have four left to complete. -Austin Feltner & Zach Jones

The Torch Page 16

KUDOS Glen Este has an abundance of musically in-

clined students. Some of these students recently

represented Glen Este in the Ohio Music Educators

Association (OMEA) Contest and received stellar

results.

Josh Bunton- Trumpet solo- Excellent Rating

Jack Schmidt- Trombone solo- Excellent Rating

Austin Miller- Euphonium solo- Excellent Rating

Nick Schmidt- Trombone solo- Superior Rating

Nicole Line- Vocal solo- Superior Rating

Megan Ginn, Clair Surko, Alyssa Lowery- Clarinet

trio- Excellent Rating

Michael Meece, John Martino, Zack Williams, Sax-

ophone trio- Superior Rating

Josh Bunton, Jack Schmidt, Ben Wolfer, Dallas

Padgitt- Brass quartet- Superior Rating

Congratulations to all of these students! Be sure to

thank them for being such good representatives of

Glen Este!

Sports of all Sorts...

Box Score Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Sea. 0 14 10 0

N. Eng. 0 14 0 14

Super Bowl Recap The Super Bowl was a hard fought game between the New

England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle was de-

clared the home team and the game was played at the Univer-

sity of Phoenix Stadium which is home of the Arizona Cardinals.

The game was back and forth all night. The Seahawks made a

lucky catch inside the ten yard line with about 30 seconds left in

the game. On second and goal, the Seahawks decided to run a

pick route on the goal line and Malcolm Butler, a defensive back

for the Patriots, read the play and intercepted it on the goal line

to save the game for New England. Shortly after, a fight broke

out and one player was ejected from Seattle. The final score

was 28-24 in favor of New England. - Peyton

Top Performers

Passing: T. Brady (NE) - 328 YDS, 4 TD, 2 INT

Rushing: M. Lynch (SEA) - 24 CAR, 102 YDS, 1

TD

Receiving: J. Edelman (NE) - 9 REC, 109 YDS,

1 TD

Seniors Finish

Strong Congratulations to all the seniors for their leadership, perseverance, and dedication our senior athletes have

shown this winter season.

On Friday January 30th, our senior wrestlers, Kyle Kushner, Jason Belch-er, Gage Branson, Evan Gottis, Matt Kennedy, and Owen Reeves, were

honored during win against Moeller.

On February 9th, our bowling team celebrated their senior night, the two seniors being Jacob Klump and Emily

Doppes.

The girls’ basketball team will cele-brate their senior night on Wednes-day, February 11th before their game vs Turpin. Seniors that will be recognized are Whitney Brand, Lind-

sey Singleton, and Brooklyn Reese.

The boys’ basketball team will be having their senior night February 20th against Milford High School. The seniors that will be recognized are: Andrew Bingham, Dylan Chafin, Zach Jones, Aatur Shah, Austin Bryant, Tyler Creel, Jackson Madden, Peyton Burdick, Hunter Hoffman, and Alex

McCormick.

The Swimming and Academic team will also be on February 20th. The swim team seniors are: Destiny Byrne, Taylor Cecil, Margret Dulle, Ngan Phuong Mai, Breanna Ruschman, Prima Sirivasuntra, and

Harrison Douglas.

For the Academic team honors will be bestowed on senior Brittany

Armstrong.

Congratulate to all the seniors—they

deserve it!

-Adrian Avendano

Page 17 Volume XIV, Issue VII Sports of all Sorts...

Even if you are not a football fan you are likely to watch the an-

nual Super Bowl for the commercials. The cost of a half-minute of

air-time was $4.5 million this year, so companies need to make a memorable ad. Opting usually for a funny or cute commercial, the

advertisements this year took a dark, thought-provoking turn to depression town.

The notorious depressing ad was Nationwide’s first ad, which ran during the first half. A young kid is the star of the commercial

where he spends the entire time talking about life experiences, such as flying and getting married, that he cannot experience be-

cause, “I died.” Nationwide issued the following statement about the ad: Preventable injuries around the home are the leading cause

of childhood deaths in America. Most people don't know that. The sole purpose of this message was to start a conversation, not sell

insurance.

The NFL also showed a new ad from their “No More” campaign against domestic violence. It features a 911 call of a woman that

cannot tell the operator that she is in a domestic violence situation. Instead of telling the officer she is in trouble, she pretends to order

the pizza. The commercial ends with the phrase, “When its hard to talk, it’s up to us to listen.” This adds fire to the ongoing conversa-

tion of domestic violence and the way women are treated.

The reason for the sad ads does not matter because people are talking about them. It provokes us as a society to take a step back

and look at a much larger picture. Are we really where we need to be as a whole? - Zach Jeschke

Bullying Is Not The Way!

As high school students, nearly everyone has played some part in

bullying before. There are three main roles in a bullying situa-

tion: the bully, the victim and the witness. Despite the media’s

emphasis on “the bully or who is bullied,” students are far more

likely to be a witness than either the bully or the victim. As ob-

servers, sometimes it is difficult to distinguish who did what to

whom especially when the internet enables bullies to verbally

abuse others from the comfort of their own homes. With technolo-

gy such as smartphones mixed with social networking like Face-

book and Twitter, bullies can reach their victims at any time, from

any location, without seeing them face-to-face. Cyberbullying I s

the easiest for most teenagers to take part in because it is the

least confrontational and takes no real nerve. While it is easy to

get swept up with the drama, heated arguments, and name call-

ing, it takes real courage to stop it.

The following tips are advice from the National Crime Prevention

Council: 1. Be assertive, but find peaceful ways to solve problems

and encourage others to do the same. 2. Help others, take ac-

tion when there is an apparent bullying situation or if you think

someone is being bullied. 3. Be accountable, if there is bullying

that isn’t reported, but is observed, the witness is just as guilty. 4.

Be a good example for others, others will follow in the footsterps

of those who lead. 5. Be empathetic to others, imagine yourself

in all three roles of a bullying situation. 6. Educate yourself on

different ages, backgrounds, races, ethnicities, religions, and men-

tal illnesses that might be a consideration for those people you

encounter in your life. Being educated develops a more accept-

ing, open mind.

Everyone has resources to help stop bullying and even pre-

venting it before it can begin. It takes courage and strong values

to put their resources to use. Bullying reports are always availa-

ble in the office. Teachers can also help you if you are being

bullied or if you see bullying. Do something—you know it is the

right thing to do! -Staff Writer

THINK LOVE NOT WAR

SUPER DEPRESSING ADS

Record Dives

The Glen Este Diving team competed with the Loveland Diving team in a verification/coaches’ meet on Sunday, February 8th. All of

the Glen Este girls achieved personal best 11 dive scores! Taylor Stassi scored a 224.90 in her first ever 11 dive meet. Bethany Ber-

ger scored a 302.20. The highlight of the meet was Baylee Lawson scoring a 324.85 to break the Glen Este 11 dive school record.

Coaches Dave Wolkoff and Ms. Werwinski are very proud of all of you! We are looking forward to a great championship season!

WAY TO GO TAYLOR!

The Torch Page 18

CUPID’S CORNER

To: Zachary Happy Valentines Day bae! - Erika

To: Corey I’m going to take Kendra to prom - Miguel

To: Mrs. Yarchi Thank you for all the help you give me about

college and stuff - Shawnee

To: Willie I just wanna fly planes… with you - Ally

To: Hailey Thanks for being there for me skittles - Anonymous

To: Sean Hope you have a fantastic birthday on valentines day

- Ashley

To: Michelle Obama I’m sorry but this isn't working out. I never

should have agreed to this - School lunches

To: Erica Love you best friend! - Siera

To: Austin Spanish is very enjoyable with you in the class - Thu

To: Stephanie You have to pay the troll toll to get to my heart -

-Alexandra

To: Whitney You know what's on the menu? me-n-u ♥ - Brittani

To: Megan I love you. Have a perfect valentine's day Meg!

- Mikaela

To: Ashley Stay strong and you will find the right one - Austin

To: Ms. Devoto Happy Valentines Day! Here’s a treat - Alison

To: Emily Hey you smell better when you're sleeping p.s. you’re

cute - Logan

To: Ashley Hi Ashley - David :)

To: Noah McDermott Thanks for being so sweet for two bells a

day - Mrs. Dohrmann

To: Luke Another year another lame holiday - Miguel

To: Matt Have a great valentines day - Ashley

To: Abigail Happy Valentines Day beautiful. I love you ♥ -

Christian

To: Natalie Thank you for being such a sweet student aide

-Mrs. Dohrmann

To: Ashley You’re an awesome friend! -Rebecca

To: Whitney You’re welcome - Paighton

To: Lindsey You’re beautiful inside and out! You’re one of the

greatest people I’ve ever met. - Savannah

To: Mr. Dicks Remember, Mr. Dicks you can be the difference

-Mrs. Dohrmann

To: Austin Have a great day! I’m glad we’re friends - Ashley

To: Taylor Those jam out sessions in your car were pretty fun

and you’re really cool - Thu

To: Sammantha with lots of love - Kyle

To: Shelby I ♥ you -Anonymous

To: Emily I love peaches - Bek

To: Keegan If it weren’t for you I’d probably be failing.

Congrats for being prego - Daniel

To: Brittany You have to be odd to be number 1! - Kristina

To: Will You suck but you’re still kind of a good friend I guess

- Cat

To: 2nd bell Thank you for being wonderful - Ms. McCollom

To: Haley A guy would be lucky to be with you - Anonymous

To: Navy Hey babe, I love you with all my heart and soul forev

er and always - Hailey

To: Adelina Wow. Never been so amazed by anyone else

-Anonymous

To: Haley You are just so dang pretty - Anonymous

To: Jacob Thank you for being here for me through all of my

tough times - Shawnee

To: Spencer Happy Valentines Day! Thanks for always taking

naps and eating with me - Kelsey

To: Alex Thanks for helping me through thick and thin - Austin

To: Art Club and AP Portfolio Thanks for being you! - Mrs. D.

Page 19 Volume XIV, Issue VII

CUPID’S CORNER To: Caleb S. Ay, we miss you bro, things aren’t the same with-

out you, please come back.—Canada

To: Cat You’re my one and only love - Cat

To: My fans Another mixtape coming soon “detention”, sorry

for the wait - Dchaf

To: Justin Thanks for being a great brother. You rock! - Austin

To: Asia You are my favorite person and you’re super cute

- Kelsey

To: Amanda You are great, you make everyone’s day better!

- Tyler

To: Erica Thanks for being there when I needed it. Love you so

much! - Hannah

To: Adelina You have amazing here - Anonymous

To: Kristan Thank you for being a lovely sassy friend, you’re

amazing! Love you!! - Cat

To: Erika Will you go to prom with me? - Zack

To: Mr. Ratterman You are a saint for putting up with Mr. Dicks

and his constant, childish antics - Loyal student

To: Baylee Thanks for the starbucks sugar - Elijah

To: Mrs. Keegan It’s a wittle bitty baby! - Destiny & 7

To: Zach You make me melt like hot fudge on a Sunday

- Anonymous

To: Ally thanks for being a gucci friend you’re the real MVP

- Catharine aka Cat

To: Sydney Thanks for making my walmart trips 10x better

and helping with soccer themed Saturday - Kristina

To: Katherine When i’m low you take me high - Brittani

To: Trent I am the only man you need. ♥ - Trent

To: Ms. Lach You will never have to do another cupids corner! -

Mrs. Dohrmann

To: Haily my bestie who is sweeter than the sweetest candy!!

- Kyle

To: Patricia hope you have a great valentines day - Ashley

To: Kaylin I am secretly in love with you but don't tell your

brother! - Anonymous

To: Ms. Devoto We ♥ you - Student body

To: Mr. Shelton thank you for your rugged good looks and

charm - Mrs. Dohrmann

To: Bobby Walker we love you but get us more snowdays

please :) - Student body

To: Samantha Hope you have a wonderful day - Ashley

To: Kylie Thanks for being an awesome friend! - Anonymous

To: Alyssa I miss you, lets be friends more - Brittani

To: Kelsey I need some answers for my math homework. Quick.

What’s your number - Anonymous

To: Mr. Ratterman i cant wait to see you rock your tuxedo.

You’ll be the best escort ever! - Mrs. Dohrmann

To: Ally Catie made me write one but you are “plane”

amazing - William

To: Sam I hate trucks - Miguel

To: Jake Diana have a good day! - Anonymous

To: Taylor Thanks for being a great friend - Rebecca

To: Zach wanna make a bet? - Jenn

To: Ms. Lach your calves remind me of Mt. Rushmore, gotta

love the boulders - Peyton

To: Alyssa Y ou are beautiful, don't let that kid get you down!

P.O.P. holdin’ it down - Tatiana

To: Hailey I can't make a shot because I’m too busy looking at

you! - Peyton

CUPIDS CORNER

To: Alex Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers that

grow so incredibly high - John

To: Brea Occasionally you are a good person but its okay

because I like you - Taylor

To: Zach Roses are red, violets are blue, I have a huge crush

on you! Love you Balls! - Jake

To: Jesus I love you! I’m so happy we’re together. Will you

be my Valentine? - Savannah

To: Alyssa You’re my favorite and i love you. Will you be

my valentine, just kidding :) -Hannah

To: Tommy Hey Tommy thanks for being my bestest friend

and for being there for me. You da bomb

- Mikaela

To: Julia I’m going to miss you when you leave, I love you :)

- Alex

To: Brandy Hey girlfriend you’re my bff, and ilysm!

- Mikaela

To: Stephanie To my favorite lunch buddy thanks for being

awesome - Cara

To: Destiny You just keep doin what you’re doin cause you

doin it right - Brittani

To: Kristina Hey girl, you’re perfect! Dont forget it! Love

you!! - Mikaela

To: Cat Hope you have a fantastic valentines day - Ashley

To: Brooke You’re my WCW every week - Chops

To: Rebecca Roses are red, violets are blue, the world would

be lost without you! - Anonymous

To: Ms. Lach Ms. Lach will you be my valentine - Andrew

To: Siera I love you dork!!! - Hannah

To: Emily I love you! - Alison

To: Zoe Just thought I’d send you one of these because you

are my bff. Love you - Mikaela

To: Brittani One Love - Bob

To: Mrs. Cook Thanks for being an awesome pre-calc

teacher! - Anonymous

To: Haley You are hot - Anonymous

To: Ms. Lach Sometimes we don’t appreciate you so hope-

fully this candy will suffice - Thu

To: John How do I say, “you’re the grossest thing ever” with

out offending you - Olivia

To: Asia You’re gorgeous, you and Germy are relationship

goal - Anonymous

To: Danielle I’m doctor 11, my tardis is blue, I need a com

panion, I'll surely choose you - Matt

To: Alex You’re my favorite cousin, and I love ya! Happy

Valentines Day!! ♥ -Mikaela

To: Kayla Hope you have a great valentines day - Ashley

To: Adelina You are so pretty - Anonymous

To: Stephanie To my favorite lunch buddy, thanks for being

the bees knees - Cara

To: Megan Hi Megan, I love you, goodbye! - Anonymous

To: Kyla I’m glad we sorted things out, you’re my best friend

and I love you - Cat

To: Corey I love you Corey - Miguel

To: Taylor Marry me, I love you bae! - Hugh

To: Mrs. Schmidt You’re my favorite teacher - Chris

To: Danielle Happy Valentines Day, thanks for being a

great friend - Taylor

To: Jacob I can’t conceal how I feel about you - Fisa

To: Cassidy I love you with a passion of a thousand suns

- Melquaan

To: Megan You, Taylor, and Aleesha always made my day

better during lunch last semester - Thu

To: Corey I don't have a library card, but do you mind if I

check you out? - Kendrick

CUPIDS CORNER

CUPIDS CORNER

To: Kara Oh! Look who bought a candy gram for a certain

someone again!... me - Kayla

To: Kendra Ready for prom!!!! - Miguel

To: Carrie I think you’re hot - Secret Admirer

To: Carrie I bought you a candy gram… again!! God I love

you - Kayla

To: Mrs. Dohrmann You brighten up my day when you visit

second bell! - Austin, Zach, & Peyton

To: Senior Ratterman Your class inspires me to do great

things in my personal and eventually professional

life - Anonymous

To: Danielle Best club leader ever! - Kyle

To: Megan Happy Valentines Day sweetheart - Jackson

To: Kylie If you were a fruit you’d be a fine apple - Rebecca

To: Thu Have a great Valentines Day! - Ashley

To: Anthony To my best friend. You are a true friend to me!

- Garret

To: Megan You’re the best bff ever, sometimes I love you

and sometimes I hate you - Taylor

To: Matt Them eyes boy! ♥ - Kayla

To: Emily You’re a good friend (I guess) 42 - Lauren

To: Glen Este students I love working with you all everyday -

Ms. Devoto

To: Taylor Mein friend - Kyle

To: Kylie Have a fantastic day - Ashley

To: Mrs. Dohrmann Have a GREAT Valentines Day!

To: Austin Can’t wait for baseball and wings together! -Zach

& Peyton

To: Shelby I know we haven't been getting along lately, but I

still love you - Kayla

To: Savannah Have a great Valentines Day - Ashley

To: Hailey Hey babe, I wanted to tell you happy Valentines

Day I love you so much! - Navy

To: Emily I like you - Brittani

To: Saraya Thank you for being a lovely best friend I love

you more than h.s. - Cat

To: Adelina You’re beauty is equal to the light of a thousand

suns - Anonymous

To: Jacob Everybody nose were meant to be - Lord Volde

mort

To: Simon It’s a yes from me - Anonymous

To: Anonymous I got my I on you - Bill Nye

To: David You’re the most adorablest junior. Ever. You’re

hawt - Yours truly

To: Grippa Your class stinks. literally - Shelby

To Cheyenne I love you! - Shawnee

To: Adrian Oye cono otra vez contest vina vamos chico alas

peliculas o algo. cono!!! - Miguel

To: All Seniors We’re finally graduating!!! - Shelby

To: Asia You told me to tell you you’re pretty, so you’re

pretty - Taylor

To: Michael You’re an idiot. Navy beats Army - Navy

To: Michelle Thank you for being my best friend. - Shawnee

To: Hailey You’re my WCW everyday - Chops

To: Jacob Help I’ve fallen for you and I can’t get up

- Life alert lady

To: Bobby I am lucky to have you in my life babe. Happy

Valentines Day - Mariah

To: Kendra Please be my valentine - Anonymous

To: Aydan Superman may be from DC but boy you are a

marvel - Anonymous

To: Robby You like my car? - Miguel

CUPIDS CORNER

To: Nancy Are you a tamale? Cause you’re hot - Anonymous

To: Ashley Hope you enjoy the candy attached you deserve

it - Thu

To: Hannah You are so beyond beautiful. Thank you for

being my friend - Anonymous

To Taylor Do you work at Taco Bell? Cause you spice up my

night - Asia

To: Kaitlyn Does your dad work in a bakery? Cause you

have a nice set of buns - Anonymous

To: Ms. Lach Thank you for allowing me to joke with you in

class lol - Shawnee

To: Adrian The Marines are okay. But the Navy is better

wise words said by Shelby - Anonymous

To: Kayla How’s it going? I hope you had a nice day

- Wyatt

To: Jacob Lettuce be more than friends - Lettuce lover

To: Cat I enjoy spending time with you, you’re super

amazing. I love you - Cat

To: Ethan Hey hook me up with a discount on the TV’s

- Miguel

To: Blake C. I’m always watching your beautiful face :)

- your secret admirer

HAVE A

SWEET DAY

GLEN ESTE

ON

FEBRUARY

14TH

The Torch Staff