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Travis States
Staff Writer For many people, Christmas is a time for family, giving, and enjoying familiar traditions. Bonneville High School staff members are no different, each celebrating the holiday in their own way, from meaningful memories to personal traditions. In a survey sent out to the school faculty, one of the first respondents was Mara Shiffler. Mrs. Shiffler’s favorite part of Christmas is being home with her family, playing games, eating delicious food, and opening presents: “It is just one of those days where you want to be with family, and you don't let little things upset you.” One of Shiffler's family traditions is that “everyone gets to pick their favorite cereal for Christmas morning. So we wake up, eat our favorite cereal then go look at what Santa brought us.” Afterwards, the family opens their presents. Later, her grandma and uncle arrive, and everyone exchanges gifts and plays games for the rest of the day. Shiffler's favorite Christmas memory was during her senior year of high school. That year, some family members that do not usually attend showed up, which allowed her to spend time with them. Additionally, she and some other family members helped her dad build a LEGO Death Star: “I remember that year my dad made all us kids stay up till about 3am to help him build his Lego Death Star.” Another faculty member who answered the survey is Camille Garner. Mrs. Garner’s favorite part of Christmas is spending time with her family, “I'm blessed to have a great family that's really close, and we always have a good time and laugh until we cry.” Her Christmas consists of a fondue dinner and a nativity play. Then on Christmas, her and her family unwrap presents, eat a breakfast casserole, and spend the rest of Christmas playing games and bonding. One of the activities her family participates in is making a giant quilt with squares made of old jeans, flannel, etc. After completing the quilt, Garner explained how her family uses it for giving: "We stuff the pockets with gift cards and treats, then doorbell-ditch it to someone who could use it.” Garner’s favorite Christmas was last year when all her siblings, in-laws, and nephews attended: “It's awesome to see the little grandkids playing together.” From Shiffler's family cereal tradition to Garner's charitable quilts, BHS staff members show that Christmas traditions create lasting memories while strengthening family bonds.
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Ashlyn Paredes
Staff Writer For students with December birthdays, the holidays can either make celebrating a birthday feel extra special or easily overlooked. Students with December birthdays completed a survey about their holiday experiences. The majority of the surveyed students celebrate their birthdays with friends and family. Some students do not receive birthday presents or receive fewer presents because of Christmas. For most of the students, their birthday and Christmas presents are combined. Saydie Lindely said, “I get my Christmas presents, and then I just feel like my birthday doesn't count.” Many students feel like their birthdays are overshadowed by Christmas; however, some students enjoy the festivities that come with it such as the lights and snow. Other students dislike the cold weather and wish their birthdays fell during warmer months for outdoor activities. Most of the surveyed students have said that they usually celebrate with friends and family but that is not always the case. Friends or family sometimes cancel plans on students with December birthdays because of their own plans, usually Christmas parties. One question asked the surveyed students about what their dream birthdays would look like, and the answers were all significantly different. Some students did not want anything to change and liked their birthdays exactly as they were. Ava Felter said, “Probably what I already have, my friends and family always know how to make everything I want.” Some students wanted something more complex. Megan Tonks said, “If my birthday wasn't in winter, I would love to explore another city or place I've never been before and, in the evening, end with something huge like a concert or party.” However, some students prefer something more simple. Jose Ruiz said, “In the summer outside playing a friendly soccer match with everyone I love.” Whether elaborate or simple, students consistently emphasized spending time with loved ones in their ideal celebrations. These diverse dreams reflect how December birthday students navigate the unique challenges and opportunities of holiday-season birthdays. For December birthday students, the perfect celebration often means finding ways to make their special day stand out during the busy holiday season. Aaliyah Garcia
Staff Writer Christmas is approaching, and the students of Bonneville High School (BHS) are counting down the days! Different traditions are shared with households, bringing loved ones together. Traditions from Spain all the way to Denmark are revealed to happen in the households of students at BHS. Christmas can bring some family traditions to life, and make the holiday even more special. Bonneville students answered a survey asking about the different family traditions they do around Christmas time. One student explained how their family does a nativity scene from when baby Jesus was born, “We set up massive nativities that are just like old cities.” The student noted that they also celebrate the three wise men coming to visit little Jesus and do a parade throughout the cities giving candy, balls, and little trinkets like so.” The tradition, explained the student, originated in Spain and many Hispanic households follow this tradition as well. Three students have also explained that a family tradition their family does is buy a new Christmas ornament for their tree, and they all explain how they just started randomly doing that tradition every year. Students also shared their typical food choice during the holidays. One student shared, “We always make Æbleskiver (Danish pancake balls). It originated in Northern Europe." Another student explained, “On Christmas Eve we always have potato salad and Vienna sausages. On December 25 or 26, we usually meet my mother's family and eat duck. We do that because that is a very traditional German way to spend one's Christmas days.” Many students mentioned that they make different desserts such as monkey bread, cookies, and cinnamon rolls. Students also claim to eat Mexican food during the holidays as their traditions, this includes: tamales, leche frita, mole, pozole, and arroz con leche. With Christmas comes decorations! The students of Bonneville High School display interesting decorations in their homes. One student stated that the most unique decoration they have in their home is, “..a 3-foot nutcracker called Kunka..” The student explains how it was her fathers fulfilled lifelong dream and the nutcracker stands in their living room every year during Christmas time. Most of the students share that their favorite decoration is their Christmas tree. Some families have an extremely gigantic Christmas tree, while others describe their tree as a medium size tree with special sentimental ornaments that fill it. Everyone has a unique way of spending the holidays with their families. With Gigantic Christmas trees, Danish dishes, and nativity scenes, Christmas shares a special place in the hearts of students at BHS. Christmas is a holiday where they can spend time with their loved ones, and carry on life-long traditions! Kael Beckstead
Staff Writer The results of a school-wide survey for Bonneville High School showed that 60.3% of survey participants read at least one hour every week. Reading is a thoroughly entertaining and quite typical hobby among students, but most people do not consider the benefits of students’ reading for enjoyment. Many studies have revealed various benefits of reading, including enhanced academic performance, social intelligence, vocabulary development, and more. In fact, a post-secondary paper summarizing thirteen of these studies was “not able to find a single study that presented disadvantages, in any context, of reading for pleasure.” Of the aforementioned benefits of reading the paper went into far greater detail “...[R]eading for pleasure is linked to students having improved vocabulary, grammatical, and writing skills, in addition to higher levels of reading comprehension and engagement in classrooms.” Of these students, many of them recognized benefits of reading, but not to the extent that the studies show: “Reading for pleasure is also attributed to better academic performance not only in English settings, but in math, science, and history, as well.” Of the students that answered the form, 75% read physical books rather than digital. While 73.3% of students said that they think spending time reading is better than electronic entertainment, only 24% said they actually prefer reading to digital entertainment. Reading for pleasure has been linked to many benefits for the reader. Because of this, students were also asked to provide their favorite genre and a book recommendation. Of the various genres, fantasy at 56%, romance at 36%, and “romantasy” at 12.3% dominated the others. Of the student submissions, below is a table of title, genre, and possible content warning (no titles contain more than light romantic themes and moderate violence). With the cited evidence of enhanced academic and social performance, students who read can have the comfort of knowing their hobby is improving their academic lives in more ways than one, and students who rarely pick up books have an available compromise of enjoyment and academic help. Novel Title Author Genre Content Warning A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens Classic / Fantasy Themes of poverty and redemption; ghostly content Fablehaven Brandon Mull Fantasy Magical creatures and mild peril Anne of Green Gables L. M. Montgomery Classic / Coming-of-Age Emotional themes and family challenges Beyonders Brandon Mull Fantasy / Adventure Fantasy violence and perilous quests Harry Potter (series) J. K. Rowling Fantasy Dark magic, mild peril, themes of loss The Lord of the Rings J. R. R. Tolkien Epic Fantasy Epic battles, war themes, some violence The Chronicles of Narnia C. S. Lewis Fantasy Battles with evil forces and peril Dragonwatch Brandon Mull Fantasy / Adventure Magical creatures, moderate action The Giver Lois Lowry Dystopian Dark societal themes, mild peril Better Than the Movies Lynn Painter Romance / Contemporary Romantic relationships and teen emotional struggles Dear Evan Hansen Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul Contemporary / Drama Mental health and grief themes Heartless Marissa Meyer Fantasy / Romance Manipulation, revenge, romantic tension The Hagenheim Romance (series) Melanie Dickerson Historical Romance Historical conflict, romance, mild peril The Selection Kiera Cass Dystopian / Romance Competition, social hierarchy, romantic tension Once Upon a Broken Heart Stephanie Garber Fantasy / Romance Betrayal, romantic tension, magical intrigue P.S. I Like You Kasie West Contemporary Romance Romantic misunderstandings, mild emotional drama A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Holly Jackson Mystery / Thriller Crime investigation, suspense, mild violence A Series of Unfortunate Events Lemony Snicket Dark Comedy / Adventure Misfortune, danger, dark humor Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians Brandon Sanderson Fantasy / Adventure Inventive violence, perilous quests Alex Rider (series) Anthony Horowitz Action / Spy Thriller Spy missions, moderate action and danger Attack of the Black Rectangles A. S. King Satire / Contemporary Satirical content, mild peril, dark humor Carnival Stephanie Garber Fantasy Manipulation, dark carnival settings, suspense City of Ember Jeanne DuPrau Dystopian / Adventure Dark dystopia, themes of survival Divergent Veronica Roth Dystopian Social conflict, moderate violence, identity themes Elantris Brandon Sanderson Fantasy Political intrigue, battle scenes, moral conflict The False Prince Jennifer A. Nielsen Fantasy / Adventure Deception, danger, moderate peril Five Survive Holly Jackson Thriller Suspense, kidnapping, danger Five Total Strangers Natalie D. Richards Thriller Mystery, suspense, adult situations Keeper of the Lost Cities Shannon Messenger Fantasy Magical danger, mild peril Lightlark Alex Aster Fantasy Dark fantasy themes, moral ambiguity The Wingfeather Saga Andrew Peterson Fantasy Family danger, fantasy violence The Inheritance Games (series) Jennifer Lynn Barnes Mystery / Thriller Crime puzzles, suspense, mild danger The Invisible Library Genevieve Cogman Fantasy / Adventure Magical intrigue, danger, deception The Last Kids on Earth Max Brallier Adventure / Comedy Zombie peril, mild violence, humor The Lunar Chronicles Marissa Meyer Science Fiction / Fantasy Rebellion, identity challenges, mild violence Mistborn (series) Brandon Sanderson Fantasy Political conflict, battles, moral dilemmas The Mysterious Benedict Society Trenton Lee Stewart Adventure / Mystery Puzzles, mild danger, villainous plots The Novice Taran Matharu Fantasy Battle training, magical combat The Queen’s Thief (series) Megan Whalen Turner Fantasy Political intrigue, mild danger, moral ambiguity Magisterium (series) Holly Black & Cassandra Clare Fantasy Magical conflict, moral challenges Maze Runner James Dashner Dystopian Traps, social conflict, moderate violence Realm Breaker (series) Victoria Aveyard Fantasy Epic battles, moral dilemmas, peril Renegades Marissa Meyer Science Fiction Vigilante justice, moderate violence Tress of the Emerald Sea Brandon Sanderson Fantasy Perilous adventures, magical threats Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson Classic / Adventure Piracy, mutiny, peril, moral dilemmas Wings of Fire (series) Tui T. Sutherland Fantasy Dragon conflict, adventure, betrayal Can’t Hurt Me David Goggins Nonfiction / Personal Development Intense self-discipline, physical challenges Inner Excellence Jim Murphy Nonfiction / Self-Help Performance pressure, motivational challenges The Art of War Sun Tzu Philosophy / Strategy War strategies, ethical dilemmas, historical conflict The 2025 winter break came and went quickly, but the BHS drama department had been preparing for quite some time. To welcome the holiday spirit, Bonneville High School put on their most recent play, The Curious Savage, with motifs such as family and friends. Family, friendship, happiness, and cheer appear across many forms of music, media, and productions. Movies such as Charlie Brown and The Grinch hold themes of friendship and happiness. Songs like Jingle Bells or White Christmas bring up family and cheer, but what does The Curious Savage bring to this season?
The Curious Savage uses the theme of family and friends in many ways such as during one scene, in which Wyatt Kent, one of the tech members described, “When Mrs. Savage was released from there, before she left she got all these mementos from everyone there, such as Hannibal gave her a song.” This has a similar theme to The Grinch when the Whos begin giving the Grinch presents. Giving gifts shows caring for each other. He added that “they had welcomed Mrs. Savage into their home, into their eggshell like world.” Amelia Dressen stated, “..At the very end we all come together and we show our true selves and show Mrs. Savage love and care and she reciprocates that back to us.” The use of friendship across the stage allows for bonding moments with the cast. Kent stated, “We started to hang out after the show and during everything.” He continued saying that the relationships and the hangouts are what he misses most about the play. Dressen said she “grew very close with all the cast members.” She also stated, “It was a different kind of connection because it was so in-depth.” Being able to connect with the cast allowed for the members to relate to their characters on another level. Kent commented, “The cast members bring all these snacks for everyone to have when they’re backstage.” The use of emotion relates to personal experiences of Christmas for all of us. Kent shared, “It’s just showing that we care and that we are giving these gifts.” Amelia Dressen stated her personal experience was similar to the play, such as when they play games, noting, “That is a big one because I play a lot of games around Christmas.” The Curious Savage holds themes such as family, friends, and cheer among the cast, backstage and the story. Growing friendships among the cast share the Christmas spirit and highlight family and fellowship. |
CampusCampus News is where stories relating directly to Bonneville reside. Most are reports on school activities and events. Archives
February 2026
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