For most students, the thought of graduating and leaving their friends is a frightening one.
Ama Kyereme (12), however, is not like most students.
Ama will be graduating early at the end of this semester to travel to Ghana, where she will be living and volunteering at an orphanage and entering into a journalism program.
“I knew when I started high school I wanted a global education, so I took a lot of classes with an international focus. I always knew I wanted to graduate early, but it wasn't until the beginning of my junior year that I knew I wanted to go abroad,” she said.
Ama is volunteering and learning through the Dream Africa Care Foundation, which allows students to interact with local communities in meaningful ways, whether that be through the form of service, education, or intern opportunities.
The Foundation operates in countries all over the continent, but Ghana worked out the best for Ama.
“I was originally thinking of somewhere in Southeast Asia, like Nepal of Cambodia. I eventually decided on Ghana at the beginning of this year because I had family there, and it really worked out well,” she noted. “We speak the language, Twi, at home, and since my mom travels to Ghana pretty regularly, there would be at least some familiarity.”
The best part of this, she pointed out, was that the program provides free room and board in exchange for volunteer work. Those involved only have to pay for transportation to the location.
Ama will be living and working in Accra, Ghana’s capital, but she’ll fly into Kumasi, Ghana’s largest city first.
She plans on spending a few weeks with her family there in order to get her bearings and acclimate to herself to the new country and culture.
“I’m really excited! But I’m also kinda sad to be leaving my friends behind and missing out on all the cool things at home. I was really looking forward to playing in the new girls CYO basketball club, but, now, I won’t be able to.”
When Ama arrives in Ghana, she’ll be bringing more to the orphanage than just herself. The International Club has started a toy drive to help Ama bring the children she will be working with a few gifts for the holiday season.
“Alicia Contreras wanted to organize a toy drive for the holidays, and when we both heard what each other were planning on doing, we decided to team up. We’ll be collecting toys and books until the eleventh,” she said. “I think it’s really great that we decided to team up, and I hope a lot of people will be able to donate to help the kids there.”
Anyone interested in donating can drop off gently used toys, books, clothes, and art/school supplies to Mr. Elsen’s room (100) until January 11th.
“I’m ready to go,” Ama says. “I think this is going to be a really great opportunity, and I couldn’t be more excited to end my high school career this way.”
Ama Kyereme (12), however, is not like most students.
Ama will be graduating early at the end of this semester to travel to Ghana, where she will be living and volunteering at an orphanage and entering into a journalism program.
“I knew when I started high school I wanted a global education, so I took a lot of classes with an international focus. I always knew I wanted to graduate early, but it wasn't until the beginning of my junior year that I knew I wanted to go abroad,” she said.
Ama is volunteering and learning through the Dream Africa Care Foundation, which allows students to interact with local communities in meaningful ways, whether that be through the form of service, education, or intern opportunities.
The Foundation operates in countries all over the continent, but Ghana worked out the best for Ama.
“I was originally thinking of somewhere in Southeast Asia, like Nepal of Cambodia. I eventually decided on Ghana at the beginning of this year because I had family there, and it really worked out well,” she noted. “We speak the language, Twi, at home, and since my mom travels to Ghana pretty regularly, there would be at least some familiarity.”
The best part of this, she pointed out, was that the program provides free room and board in exchange for volunteer work. Those involved only have to pay for transportation to the location.
Ama will be living and working in Accra, Ghana’s capital, but she’ll fly into Kumasi, Ghana’s largest city first.
She plans on spending a few weeks with her family there in order to get her bearings and acclimate to herself to the new country and culture.
“I’m really excited! But I’m also kinda sad to be leaving my friends behind and missing out on all the cool things at home. I was really looking forward to playing in the new girls CYO basketball club, but, now, I won’t be able to.”
When Ama arrives in Ghana, she’ll be bringing more to the orphanage than just herself. The International Club has started a toy drive to help Ama bring the children she will be working with a few gifts for the holiday season.
“Alicia Contreras wanted to organize a toy drive for the holidays, and when we both heard what each other were planning on doing, we decided to team up. We’ll be collecting toys and books until the eleventh,” she said. “I think it’s really great that we decided to team up, and I hope a lot of people will be able to donate to help the kids there.”
Anyone interested in donating can drop off gently used toys, books, clothes, and art/school supplies to Mr. Elsen’s room (100) until January 11th.
“I’m ready to go,” Ama says. “I think this is going to be a really great opportunity, and I couldn’t be more excited to end my high school career this way.”
bags of hope helps hundreds of local families
december 21, 2017 by gabby petruzzello
On Saturday, December 16th, hundreds of volunteers gathered at Dollar General’s new warehouse and helped to bag food that is
transported to families in need.
Bags of Hope is an annual event hosted by the School District of Janesville and this year, the food was distributed to 350 families with school-aged children and 50 seniors. The goal is to provide food for children who get reduced or free lunch at school and need food for the holiday season.
The school district raised around $43,000 from fundraising and left-over funds from the previous year. Festival Foods helped to make this event possible by giving the school district a dis- count on all of the food so that as many families as possible could be helped.
Additionally, Seneca Foods provided all of the canned goods and many other sponsors provided money or food in order to make Bags of Hope a success. The SDJ superintendent estimates that with the money and food from the sponsors combined the contributions of the school district, the food that is distributed is worth around $80,000.
Each family is given six bags packed with groceries ranging from stuffing mix to a couple dozen eggs. In addition to the bags of packaged food, the families are given a cart full of produce and other essential supplies ranging from a bag of oranges to a gallon of milk.
Volunteers were able to help with bagging or transporting the groceries to the families.
Volunteers grabbed a bag and many SDJ teachers and students helped to load food into the bags. The bags were eventually placed into shopping carts which many volunteers transported to the loading area. The six bags of groceries and the bags of produce were loaded into cars and buses in order for easy transportation to all of the families.
Many students from both middle and high schools came out to help. Over 100 students from Craig volunteered and many Parker students also volunteered.
Bags of Hope was taken over by the School District of Janesville nine years ago. Previously, the event was run and located at GM. Over the past nine years, the event has grown in size. The number of volunteers and the numbers of families helped by this event has grown incrementally over time.
The event lives up to its name. The bags of groceries help to bring joy and not hunger to the Christmas season for many families in need.
transported to families in need.
Bags of Hope is an annual event hosted by the School District of Janesville and this year, the food was distributed to 350 families with school-aged children and 50 seniors. The goal is to provide food for children who get reduced or free lunch at school and need food for the holiday season.
The school district raised around $43,000 from fundraising and left-over funds from the previous year. Festival Foods helped to make this event possible by giving the school district a dis- count on all of the food so that as many families as possible could be helped.
Additionally, Seneca Foods provided all of the canned goods and many other sponsors provided money or food in order to make Bags of Hope a success. The SDJ superintendent estimates that with the money and food from the sponsors combined the contributions of the school district, the food that is distributed is worth around $80,000.
Each family is given six bags packed with groceries ranging from stuffing mix to a couple dozen eggs. In addition to the bags of packaged food, the families are given a cart full of produce and other essential supplies ranging from a bag of oranges to a gallon of milk.
Volunteers were able to help with bagging or transporting the groceries to the families.
Volunteers grabbed a bag and many SDJ teachers and students helped to load food into the bags. The bags were eventually placed into shopping carts which many volunteers transported to the loading area. The six bags of groceries and the bags of produce were loaded into cars and buses in order for easy transportation to all of the families.
Many students from both middle and high schools came out to help. Over 100 students from Craig volunteered and many Parker students also volunteered.
Bags of Hope was taken over by the School District of Janesville nine years ago. Previously, the event was run and located at GM. Over the past nine years, the event has grown in size. The number of volunteers and the numbers of families helped by this event has grown incrementally over time.
The event lives up to its name. The bags of groceries help to bring joy and not hunger to the Christmas season for many families in need.
Alice in hungerland: we're all mad here
by gabby petruzzello
december 21, 2017
The first true showing of Al- ice in Wonderland came with its faults and its strengths. To begin with the props and the background, the tree backdrop added a nice touch to the play.
My favorite prop that was used were the giant mush- rooms. Alice called them spice cakes, but that’s probably be- cause she was thinking about food.
The makeup and costumes on several of the characters including the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire cat were tremendous.
For anyone who hasn’t seen this play, I can summarize the general plot in about one sentence. A girl was hungry... There was so many food references that I could hear my stomach growling.
Let me just list the main points food was talked about: 1) Alice eats the cake and be- comes bigger 2) Alice wants to eat more cake, but her tears make her shrink (if only tears could magically make some- one not want cake anymore) 3) Shouting all of the types of pie (while not knowing what it is) 4) Alice asking about a dozen times where she can and the tea party. 5) Many tears were shed over food (too many to count) 6) Spice Cake 7) Ghost Peppers 8) and so many more....
My favorite characters in the play were the Duchess and the Queen of Hearts who had an unhealthy obsession with cut- ting off people’s heads. The Duchess was so mean that it was amusing. She threw sponges at “Piggy” and could barely keep from smiling. The audience was full of laughter. The scene in which the Duchess tries a hot red pepper and screams for water was karma for her character. To make the scene even funnier, her servants came out and shot her with water guns...well she did ask for water.
The Queen of Hearts and Duchess demanded that the pepper grinder be used. The servants were unable to make it work and they were the perfect salesmen. The servants said they could order additional attachments or an up- grade in 7-10 business days. This scene adds a realistic touch to the otherwise impractical plot line.
In the scene featuring talking owers, I’m not sure who was laughing more, the audience or the actors. I loved the sassy ower; finally, there is someone who’s willing to put Alice in her place.
Other than the 100 times the word nincompoops was used, the storyline of the play was good and the actors did a nice job in accurately portraying their characters. Some of the main characters that were portrayed wonderfully include Figgsworth/Piggy, Alice, the Duchess, and the Queen of Hearts.
So all in all: Good job to everyone in the play and I can’t wait to see what the future of the drama department be- comes with the talent that everyone possesses!
My favorite prop that was used were the giant mush- rooms. Alice called them spice cakes, but that’s probably be- cause she was thinking about food.
The makeup and costumes on several of the characters including the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire cat were tremendous.
For anyone who hasn’t seen this play, I can summarize the general plot in about one sentence. A girl was hungry... There was so many food references that I could hear my stomach growling.
Let me just list the main points food was talked about: 1) Alice eats the cake and be- comes bigger 2) Alice wants to eat more cake, but her tears make her shrink (if only tears could magically make some- one not want cake anymore) 3) Shouting all of the types of pie (while not knowing what it is) 4) Alice asking about a dozen times where she can and the tea party. 5) Many tears were shed over food (too many to count) 6) Spice Cake 7) Ghost Peppers 8) and so many more....
My favorite characters in the play were the Duchess and the Queen of Hearts who had an unhealthy obsession with cut- ting off people’s heads. The Duchess was so mean that it was amusing. She threw sponges at “Piggy” and could barely keep from smiling. The audience was full of laughter. The scene in which the Duchess tries a hot red pepper and screams for water was karma for her character. To make the scene even funnier, her servants came out and shot her with water guns...well she did ask for water.
The Queen of Hearts and Duchess demanded that the pepper grinder be used. The servants were unable to make it work and they were the perfect salesmen. The servants said they could order additional attachments or an up- grade in 7-10 business days. This scene adds a realistic touch to the otherwise impractical plot line.
In the scene featuring talking owers, I’m not sure who was laughing more, the audience or the actors. I loved the sassy ower; finally, there is someone who’s willing to put Alice in her place.
Other than the 100 times the word nincompoops was used, the storyline of the play was good and the actors did a nice job in accurately portraying their characters. Some of the main characters that were portrayed wonderfully include Figgsworth/Piggy, Alice, the Duchess, and the Queen of Hearts.
So all in all: Good job to everyone in the play and I can’t wait to see what the future of the drama department be- comes with the talent that everyone possesses!
Rotary Gardens light show shines bright
by gabby petruzzello
FFA animals warm craig students' hearts
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Annual holiday tree decorates front hall
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looking for last-minute gift ideas? here are a few
by madalyn thompson
Worried about fining the perfect last minute gift?
Not to worry, the Criterion has you covered for your last minute gift ideas:
• Fluffy/soft throw blankets
• Spa kit
• Chapstick
• Mani pedi kit
• Sweaters/sweatshirts
• A wallet full o’ gift cards
• Nail Polish
• Photo album
• Bath bombs
• Watches
• Scarf
• Board games
• Gum!
• Lotions
• Jewelry
• Movie kit
• Fluffy socks
Not to worry, the Criterion has you covered for your last minute gift ideas:
• Fluffy/soft throw blankets
- Coffee mugs
- Picture frame
and photos - An on-the-go
reading pillow - Gift card
- Jar of candy/ chocolates
- Bookmarks
- Hot chocolate kit
• Spa kit
• Chapstick
• Mani pedi kit
• Sweaters/sweatshirts
• A wallet full o’ gift cards
• Nail Polish
• Photo album
• Bath bombs
• Watches
• Scarf
• Board games
• Gum!
• Lotions
• Jewelry
• Movie kit
• Fluffy socks
Conspiracy! Chinese pyramids?
by logan mullan
december 21, 2017
Pyramids like those in Giza, Egypt, are some of humanity’s greatest works and wonders of the world.
The marvel of their construction and the presence of them is a welcoming site for many to see, a sight seen for centuries and by millions of people.
Pyramids have also been found in Central and South America, constructed by Mayans and other civilizations.
Some of them are even older that those in Egypt.
But there is an even bigger mystery regarding ancient pyramids, and that is the hidden Chinese pyramids.The pyramids aren’t officially recognized by the Chinese government, but pyramid-like structures are covered by foliage and tree’s that make them look like hills scattered around the Chinese countryside and have the potential to rewrite his- tory.
Foreigners are strictly forbidden from going to the sites and the locals that are allowed in there places don't tell the outside world.
The marvel of their construction and the presence of them is a welcoming site for many to see, a sight seen for centuries and by millions of people.
Pyramids have also been found in Central and South America, constructed by Mayans and other civilizations.
Some of them are even older that those in Egypt.
But there is an even bigger mystery regarding ancient pyramids, and that is the hidden Chinese pyramids.The pyramids aren’t officially recognized by the Chinese government, but pyramid-like structures are covered by foliage and tree’s that make them look like hills scattered around the Chinese countryside and have the potential to rewrite his- tory.
Foreigners are strictly forbidden from going to the sites and the locals that are allowed in there places don't tell the outside world.
A month of historical proportions: December through time
compiled by kayla dawkins
december 21, 2017
December 2
1805- Napoleon defeats Russia and Austria in Battle of Austerlitz.
1823- “Monroe Doctrine’ is introduced by President James Madison.
December 4
1791- The oldest Sunday newspaper in the world, The Observer was first published in Britain.
December 5
1492- Christopher Columbus discovers Haiti.
1933- The 18th Amendment was repealed.
1955- Bus boycott begins in Alabama in response to Rosa Parks’ arrest, for not giving up her seat to a white man.
1782- Martin Van Buren, 8th President of the United States is born in Kinder- hook, New York.
1901- Walt Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse is born in Chicago, Illinois.
December 6
1865- 13th Amendment was ratied abolishing slavery. 1917- Norwegian ship, Imo, collides with French ship, Mont Blanc, causing an ex- plosion killing over 1,500 people and injuring another 8,000. Mont Blanc was carrying war supplies which included 5,000 tons of TNT. The explosion caused a tidal wave that destroyed Hali- fax, Nova Scotia, where the two ships collided.
Decemeber 7
1787- Delaware is the first state to adopt the new constitution of the United States of America.
1941- Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a U.S. naval base, is attacked by 200 Japanese aircrafts, killing 3,000 Americans.
December 8
1941- U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan, one day after Pearl Harbor attack. 1980- John Lennon, former Beatles member, is assassinated in New York City. 1765- Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, is born in Westboro, Massachusetts.
December 14
1799- First President of the United States, George Washington, dies at Mount Vermont.
1918- For the first time, British women vote in general election and were able to run for of ce.
December 15
1791- Bill of Rights becomes effective after ratification by Virginia.
1939- World premiere of Gone with the Wind hap- pens in Atlanta.
1832- Alexandre Eiffel, de- signer of the Eiffel Tower and who helped designed the Statue of Liberty, is born in Dijon, France.
December 16
1773- Boston Tea Party occurs in Boston. Sons of Liberty members, dressed as Mohawk Indians, dumps 342 containers of expensive tea in the Boston Harbor. 1770- Ludwig van Beethoven, orchestral com- poser, is born in Bonn, Germany.
December 20
1956- Montgomery bus boycott ends after U.S. Supreme Court rules integrating the Montgomery bus system is implemented. Started on December 5th.
December 21
Winter begins in Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins in Southern Hemisphere.
1846- In Britain, anesthesia is used for the first time at University College Hospital in London, by Robert Liston who amputated a leg.
1945- World War II General George Patton, dies in Germany following a car accident. He was injured on December 9th and was taken to a hospital in Heidelberg where he died.
1972- East and West Germany establish diplomatic ties. This ends the almost two decades of Cold War hostility.
1988- A terrorist bomb on Pan American Flight 103 explodes, resulting in a crash into Lockerbie, Scotland. All passengers and crew, 259, and 11 people on the ground were killed.
1879- Josef Stalin, Soviet Russia leader, in born in village Gori in Georgia, Russia (as Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili).
December 22
1783- Following triumphant journey from New York to Annapolis, George Washington appears before Congress and voluntarily resigns his commission.
2001- Phoebe Werner, fellow writer of the Craig Criterion, is born.
December 25
Christmas Day, commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Although the exact date of Jesus is not known, it’s celebrated on December 25th by Western Church since 336 A.D. 1066- William the Conquer- or is crowned the King of England.
1776- George Washing- ton, during the American Revolution, took 2,400 men across the Delaware River, conducting in a surprise raid on British-Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey.
1642- Isaac Newton, known for his work on the theory of gravitation, is born in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England.
1876- Mohammed Ali Jin- nah, founder of Islamic Re- public of Pakistan, is born in Karachi.
December 26
Boxing Day in United Kingdom and other countries. December 26- January 1- Kwanzaa begins. Celebration of traditional African harvest festivals, focus on family unity, with community harvest feast on seventh day. Kwanzaa means “ first fruit” in Swahili.
December30
1803- Stars and Stripes ags is raised over New Orleans as U.S. takes formal posses- sion of Louisiana Territory. 1903- Fire starts in Iroquois Theater in Chicago, killing 588 people.
December 31
New Year’s Eve, final evening of Gregorian calendar year.
1805- Napoleon defeats Russia and Austria in Battle of Austerlitz.
1823- “Monroe Doctrine’ is introduced by President James Madison.
December 4
1791- The oldest Sunday newspaper in the world, The Observer was first published in Britain.
December 5
1492- Christopher Columbus discovers Haiti.
1933- The 18th Amendment was repealed.
1955- Bus boycott begins in Alabama in response to Rosa Parks’ arrest, for not giving up her seat to a white man.
1782- Martin Van Buren, 8th President of the United States is born in Kinder- hook, New York.
1901- Walt Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse is born in Chicago, Illinois.
December 6
1865- 13th Amendment was ratied abolishing slavery. 1917- Norwegian ship, Imo, collides with French ship, Mont Blanc, causing an ex- plosion killing over 1,500 people and injuring another 8,000. Mont Blanc was carrying war supplies which included 5,000 tons of TNT. The explosion caused a tidal wave that destroyed Hali- fax, Nova Scotia, where the two ships collided.
Decemeber 7
1787- Delaware is the first state to adopt the new constitution of the United States of America.
1941- Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a U.S. naval base, is attacked by 200 Japanese aircrafts, killing 3,000 Americans.
December 8
1941- U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan, one day after Pearl Harbor attack. 1980- John Lennon, former Beatles member, is assassinated in New York City. 1765- Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, is born in Westboro, Massachusetts.
December 14
1799- First President of the United States, George Washington, dies at Mount Vermont.
1918- For the first time, British women vote in general election and were able to run for of ce.
December 15
1791- Bill of Rights becomes effective after ratification by Virginia.
1939- World premiere of Gone with the Wind hap- pens in Atlanta.
1832- Alexandre Eiffel, de- signer of the Eiffel Tower and who helped designed the Statue of Liberty, is born in Dijon, France.
December 16
1773- Boston Tea Party occurs in Boston. Sons of Liberty members, dressed as Mohawk Indians, dumps 342 containers of expensive tea in the Boston Harbor. 1770- Ludwig van Beethoven, orchestral com- poser, is born in Bonn, Germany.
December 20
1956- Montgomery bus boycott ends after U.S. Supreme Court rules integrating the Montgomery bus system is implemented. Started on December 5th.
December 21
Winter begins in Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins in Southern Hemisphere.
1846- In Britain, anesthesia is used for the first time at University College Hospital in London, by Robert Liston who amputated a leg.
1945- World War II General George Patton, dies in Germany following a car accident. He was injured on December 9th and was taken to a hospital in Heidelberg where he died.
1972- East and West Germany establish diplomatic ties. This ends the almost two decades of Cold War hostility.
1988- A terrorist bomb on Pan American Flight 103 explodes, resulting in a crash into Lockerbie, Scotland. All passengers and crew, 259, and 11 people on the ground were killed.
1879- Josef Stalin, Soviet Russia leader, in born in village Gori in Georgia, Russia (as Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili).
December 22
1783- Following triumphant journey from New York to Annapolis, George Washington appears before Congress and voluntarily resigns his commission.
2001- Phoebe Werner, fellow writer of the Craig Criterion, is born.
December 25
Christmas Day, commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Although the exact date of Jesus is not known, it’s celebrated on December 25th by Western Church since 336 A.D. 1066- William the Conquer- or is crowned the King of England.
1776- George Washing- ton, during the American Revolution, took 2,400 men across the Delaware River, conducting in a surprise raid on British-Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey.
1642- Isaac Newton, known for his work on the theory of gravitation, is born in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England.
1876- Mohammed Ali Jin- nah, founder of Islamic Re- public of Pakistan, is born in Karachi.
December 26
Boxing Day in United Kingdom and other countries. December 26- January 1- Kwanzaa begins. Celebration of traditional African harvest festivals, focus on family unity, with community harvest feast on seventh day. Kwanzaa means “ first fruit” in Swahili.
December30
1803- Stars and Stripes ags is raised over New Orleans as U.S. takes formal posses- sion of Louisiana Territory. 1903- Fire starts in Iroquois Theater in Chicago, killing 588 people.
December 31
New Year’s Eve, final evening of Gregorian calendar year.