FOCUS Issue Three - December 2018 Read Online at fcsfocus.org Page 1 When Secret Snowflake Flakes... it?s immensely successful when everyone participates.? Even though the Secret Snowflake Exploring The Shortcomings of our Holiday Traditions program strives to spread cheer throughout the entire campus, there are unfortunately By: Katia Campos '22 situations With Thanksgiving long since passed, I think it?s safe to COTD. on Page 2 say that winter is approaching. With winter comes the joyous holiday of Christmas. We at FCS have a special way to show our school spirit and love for the holiday... a little something called ?Secret Snowflake? (though many still call it "Secret Santa"). For those of you that are unaware of what Secret Snowflake is, it?s an annual tradition in which the Student Council randomly assigns each upper school student and teacher a fellow classmate or colleague to purchase a small treat for right before Christmas. In the past, the Student Council has suggested that nobody spend more that $5 on a gift. According to Student Council Vice President McKenna Blinman ?19, the event has been arranged for many years. ?We continue this [tradition] because it is a relatively easy way to spread holiday cheer and show others in the community how much you care about them,? says McKenna. She continues, ?the joy of getting a gift from someone but not knowing who it is, [and] seeing the work they put into sharing a little happiness [is] unbeatable. Witnessing your person?s joy as they open their present from you might be even more gratifying than getting a gift.? McKenna ends her interview by saying, ?the event is really about spreading happiness and holiday cheer around our campus, and In This Issue: Quaker ism + Spor ts? (P2) Film Review (P8) Skiing Reccomendations (P3) Video Game Review (10) Featured Ar tist (P4) New Music Review (15) New iPad: Wor th It? (P5) Spor ts Review (6) Issue Three - December 2018 Read Online at fcsfocus.org Page 2 'Secret' COTD. from Page 1 In Quaker Spor ts, Good Char acter where people end up not is the Name of the Game receiving anything from their Secret Santa, causing them to By: Miles Johnson ?19, feel let down. Focus reporters went out in search of people incident unfolded in the who hadn?t received gifts in The Quaker SPICES, midst of an intense playoff years past to see what their Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, game, both teams stopped experiences were like. Max M. Community, Equality, and what they were doing and Cohen ?19 says that he has Stewardship, are known to checked on the player. At experienced this situation guide the behavior of the end of the game, we before: ?I had spent a few days Friends? Centralites in the lost one- zero and were trying to figure out what I classroom. The school also knocked out of the Friends would get from my Secret Despite the sadness of expects that its League Playoffs. Despite Santa, and I had picked a Pierce?s ninth grade student- athletes will uphold this, our players handled pretty cool gift, candy of some experience, the story has a these values outside of the the loss with the SPICES in sort. I was thinking, ?I can?t silver lining, because in classroom, even while mind. A day after the loss, wait to see what I received.? tenth grade, he did receive a competing in athletic the head coach of the team, You know, like a letter of some gift. He reflects on how it programs. As an institution Galen Guindon ?06, said to sort, something small. I kept felt: ?It was fantastic. It was routed in Quaker values, his players, ?I received an waiting, every day. It never just so nice. I finally felt that came, and I was really Friends? Central aims to email from the MFS coach somebody actually thought disappointed. instill in student- athletes today. He wanted to thank of me, and it made a huge strong moral character on you all for the kind words difference.? and off the field, even and classy way you handled Sadly, Max wasn?t the only one though coaches of course their player getting injured. not to receive anything from a Students not receiving urge their teams to win. Yesterday wasn?t our day, Secret Santa. Pierce Hayton anything for Secret Santa can but I am always proud of ?20 received the same A beautiful example of be quite devastated. The the way you represent our treatment when he was in ?character over outcome? Student Council encourages school and program!? ninth grade: ?It was the last occurred at a recent boys? that everyone participate to week before Winter Break and avoid this situation. Let?s all soccer game. The team had I interviewed Liam I was waiting the whole week. I get into the ring and fight a four- seed versus five- seed Sullivan ?19. Liam is a was excited, it [was] my first the injustice of not receiving playoff game against four- year varsity soccer year of high school, my first a gift together. This year, let Moorestown Friends School. player and has been one of Secret Santa, and Friday us leave none of our Seven minutes into the the captains of the boys? comes and goes and I received classmates or teachers game, one of the players soccer team since his nothing.? Despite Pierce not behind, and actually have from Moorestown Friends junior year. Liam told me receiving anything that Friday, fun trying to surprise the was laid out on the ground that before he went to he didn?t give up hope. Pierce person that we?ve been injured. Everyone eventually Friends? Central, he was a says, ?I [thought] to myself, assigned to. You never know, learned that the player competitive player, but ?Maybe they just missed it, I?ll sometimes all someone broke his leg and after 20- 25 was never really concerned get something after break.? needs is a little gift to keep minutes, he was carted off with sportsmanship until Then, the first week after them going, to give them the field by an ambulance. he came here. break [came and went] and it hope for a new day. On that was a huge disappointment.? Although this unfortunate note, happy holidays! COTD. on Page 14 Issue Three - December 2018 Read Online at fcsfocus.org Page 3 Slope?s Up! Where to Ski Here in PA by Aiden McLean '21, Guest Contributor accommodates all of our With winter here, it?s all needs and desires in a way too easy to remain indoors, that other local mountains curled up in a blanket, and don?t. For example, Bear binge- watch Netflix. While Mountain has very few the frigid weather certainly slopes from which to choose. prevents us from visiting the The price for a season pass beach or taking a dip in the at Blue Mountain ($599) is pool, it actually allows us to just ridiculous! We heard Elk has it (except for There are only three participate in an array of from some friends that vertical drops and cliffs). problems with Elk. First, outdoor activities only Camelback wasn?t For those even more it is a two- hour drive possible in the winter. Skiing necessarily the best choice. extreme skiers, there are from Philadelphia. and snowboarding are some This reduced the list down to two challenge courses to Second, there just aren?t of the most popular winter one: Elk Mountain. try. Each trail and slope is enough areas to tree ski, sports. My family has been different and offers Elk mountain reminds me so and last, the time it going skiing regularly every different challenges. much of Breckenridge, takes the lift to get you winter for the past four admittedly on a much The trails at Elk are to the top can feel like years. In December of 2015, smaller scale. This place is groomed daily and kept in an eternity. However, my dad took us to Colorado, the best spot to go for both exquisite condition. There Elk?s amazing slopes and we skied in Breckenrid- experienced daredevils and are medical and ski make up for all of these ge, one of the best ski resorts newer people just trying out support staff all over the shortcomings. Whatever in the country. After that, we skiing. There is a large place, ready to aid any level skier or developed a taste the sport bunny slope and they have mishap within minutes. snowboarder you are, and wanted more. We can?t great classes to choose from. The staff is always ready to Elk can accommodate afford to go to Breckenridge The only green slope, help. The lodge at the you. every winter, so we decided ?Tioga,? is an easy trail to bottom of the mountain Despite the long drive, it that each year we would rent perform, yet still fun for has some decent food, is still possible to have skis from a local shop and hit more experienced skiers. For candy, and hot chocolate, just a day ski, if your the slopes here in our own intermediate skiers and perfect after a long day of group has a well state. There are many snowboarders, a variety of skiing. It even comes with laid- out plan of leaving mountains to choose from in blue trails are available. All its own separate restaurant home early and leaving Pennsylvania, all with are fun to go down. Some are with better food. Elk a little bit early as different varieties of slopes, winding, some have spots Additionally, there are well.