Annoucements

Midterms  On  14th,  15th,  16th  Exam  schedule  is  posted  on  Corner-­‐

Computer  Lab.    The  Friday  before  Christmas  (Dec.  15)  will  be  a  half  day  for  all  grades.  During  Midterms  the  Middle  School  will  be  on  a  regular  school  schedule.  College  Admissions

already  been  accepted  at  the  colleges  of  their  choice.

 8th  Grade  RetreatComing  February  1st,  2nd,  3rd    Hill  Country  Hoops  Classic

Dec.  8th,  9th  and  10th.  Upper  School  GATE

 Hill  Country  Christmas  ConcertPerformed  by  Hill  Country  Choir.Kindergarten-­‐  4th  grade.At  the  Café  on  December  166:00  -­‐  9:00pm

December 11, 2011 (Vol. I, Issue 4)

Hill Country Christian School of Austin

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Operation Christmas Childby Kendal Burleson

It’s Not All Hog Heaven in 4-Hby Sara Jackson

“4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization. More than 6 million 4-H youth. . . stand out among their peers” (www.4-H.org).

And right here at Hill Country we have a champion hog wrangler. Sophomore Olivia Dahl has been participating in 4H for eight years. 4-H is an organization that involves both raising livestock and participating at state fairs.

Olivia’s participation in the 4-H has always been raising pigs. In her eight years, she has raised about twenty one pigs. The most she’s

cared for at one time is three demanding hogs. Once or twice a year, Olivia packs up her pigs and heads to the fairs to pit her pigs against others from around the state. Pigs are judged on their own, as examples of their breed, and also as pupils of Olivia, as she’s judged on her handling abilities.

Olivia has won many different awards through her experience. In 2004, she won Grand Champion with her pig named Sticker. Also, in 2004, 2005, and 2007, she won Breed Champion. This year, she is raising two pigs named Chip and Dale.

She has already gone to one fair where she received second place in the weight contest with one of her pigs, and sixth with her other pig. She is looking forward to seeing how she does in her other fair. Olivia’s favorite part of 4-H is raising the pigs. Her least favorite part of 4-H is the amount of time she puts in to get to the winner’s circle.

If you would like more information about how you can get involved in 4-H, go to http://www.4-h.org/get-involved/

organization has opportunities to learn, save for college and gain invaluable experience from barn to showring.

Plugged In

“Do your best to present yourself

to God as one approved, a

worker who does not need to

be ashamed and who correctly

handles the word of truth.”

2 Tim. 2:15

Plugged In is the student newspaper of Hill Country

Christian School of Austin. It serves as a laboratory class

for journalism students and is an open forum to exchange

ideas in the Hill Country community. The views expressed

in editorials and opinion pieces represent the opinions of

the writers and/or staff, and do not necessarily represent

the views of HCCSA administration, school board, or Hill

Country Bible Church. Plugged In will publish letters to

the editor which are responsibly written and signed by

the writer.

Staff

Jack Horton, Sara Jackson, Jessica Mocha, Connor

Pier, Matt Robertson, Bella Haeusel (roving reporter)

and Mary Lou Herring (Advisor)

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By Kendal Burleson

An Artful Showing

On November 12, Hill Country students had an art exhibit at Roaster’s located on 620. Parents, students and arts admirers all gath-ered to enjoy the festivities. Artwork was hung tastefully throughout the venue, with some in groupings on a burgundy wall, and others set off by themselves or in pairs. Art-ists represented included Armineh Davis, Nathan Brown, Jeffrie Tyler, Chloe Policke, Lewis Marx, Bella Haeusel, David Corliss and Aimee Mora. Several of the artists were present to explain their works to admiring fans. Hill Country art teacher, Mrs. Kristy Marshall, also handed out awards that ranged from Most Detailed artist to Best Use of Materials. While parents supplied some of the refreshments, Mrs. Susan Ledesma also contributed some beautifully decorated cup-cakes, complete with painter’s palettes on top, to round out a wonderful array of snacks for the attendees.

The Upper School studio art class is exploring the use of

several mediums: pencil, pastel, watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic, Chinese brush paint-ing, and photography. They learn foundation-al skills such as two-point perspective, color theory, composition, and shading. Addition-ally, they plan to illustrate stories submitted by the English Department prior to the end of the school year. There are also several trips planned. Thursday, December 8, they went to Georgetown to view a studio that works with fused glass. Students will have the op-portunity to apply what they learn by creating their own Christmas ornament or other proj-ects, if they choose.

At Hill Country, the art program works to equip students for the real world of art. Hav-

way to prepare students to use their art to glo-rify God in any area of their lives.

Christmas Worldwide

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By Publications Staff

Some Favorite Christmas

Movies

Geoff Nedelkoff – 11; ElfElissa Myers – 8; ElfChloe Policke – 11; ElfKyle Sellars – 11; ElfBrian Baptiste – 10; ElfKasidee Sato – 8; ElfMs. Inks; ElfJackson Monteiro – 9; ElfEmily Myers – 6; ElfKaren Baker – 10; ElfJacob Belloni – 6; A Christmas CarolArmineh Davis – 10; A Christmas CarolJessi Mocha – 11; A Christmas CarolJack Farrell – 6; A Christmas CarolMrs. Hechel; A Christmas Carol (George C. Scott)Carly Calvert – 6; A Christmas CarolMaKenna Dallmeyer – 6; A Christmas CarolJessica Lowry – 9; (New) A Christmas CarolFederico Mota – 10; A Very Harold and Kumar ChristmasHannah Palacios – 7; A Christmas StoryCourney Phillips – 10; A Christmas StoryNoah McVicker – 6; Frosty the SnowmanAshton Dise – 10; Die Hard 2Andrea Bandow – 10; How the Grinch Stole ChristmasMrs. Krohmer; How the Grinch Stole ChristmasCody McCourt – 12; National Lampoon’s Christmas VacationOlivia Dahl – 10; Home AlonePreston Glace – 10; Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerReid Aldridge – 12; Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerMrs. Glace; Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerTyler Grendel – 7; Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerSam Houghton – 9; It’s a Wonderful LifeKendal Burleson – 9; It’s a Wonderful LifeMrs. Neumann; It’s a Wonderful LifeJack Horton – 10; Polar Express

Sara Jackson – 11; White ChristmasMrs. Herring; White ChristmasMrs. Jackson; White ChristmasGeorge Lubrano – 6; The Santa Clause

Different families means different tradi-tions. For you, maybe it’s not Christ-mas without a movie on Christmas Eve. Or perhaps you set up your tree as soon as the turkey’s put away from the Thanksgiving dinner. Or you might be a family that volunteers every year to deliver Christmas toys to a children’s home. Maybe you’re the traveling fam-ily – trying to see all the relatives before the holiday break is over. Or you might be the insistent stay-at-home Christ-mas family. Some traditions come from relatives, some from our ethnic backgrounds, and some from our own religious interpretations or callings.

Sophomore Karen Baker and her family have a unique tradition. They go to Karen’s grandmother’s house and look for Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve. They also decorate their Christ-mas tree while listening to Christmas music, sometimes all day long. Senora Majcher had another unusual tradition. Instead of waking up early on Christ-mas morning, her family opened their presents after dark on Christmas Day. The Jackson family likes to visit the Town of Bethlehem, in Burnet, Texas, every year. Some families go to church on Christmas Eve – whether it’s the children’s service with groups of little ones dressed like angels and shepherds, or a more formal candlelight midnight service. Some people insist on chop-ping down their own tree, while others simply pull theirs out of the box in the attic.

No matter your traditions, what mat-ters is the celebration of the coming and birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. While the stores are lighting up earlier and earlier to encourage Christmas shopping, let’s take advantage of their reminders to make room in our own hearts for the tender message that comes with the Christ Child. Each of us was so important to God that He didn’t want us to be eternally lost, but instead eternally reunited with Him. In order to make that happen, God was willing to

over into new life. That is a gift that can’t be wrapped, won’t be on sale, and

can’t be bought. It’s a true gift that requires only acceptance on the part of the recipi-ent. Whatever else you get for Christmas – Nintendo 3DS, the newest SmartPhone, a laptop, a puppy – none of these will top the eternal gift that waits for you whenever you’re ready to receive it from your own heavenly Father. After you unwrap all the presents under your tree – double check that you’ve already accepted that most precious gift and, if not, be sure to not pack up Christmas without opening that last, most special present.

Around the world, Christmas is celebrated in many ways. We thought we’d bring you some of our research about traditions that might not seem so traditional to you:

Japan:Children here are told that Santa Claus has eyes in the back of his head to see every-thing.

Switzerland:Whole villages of people gather at midnight mass and compete in bell ringing contests.

Bulgaria:Maybe you’d like to try adding Sooroo-vachka to your family traditions. Here, the youngest child uses a special stick to tap the elders while wishing them wealth, health and happiness in the new year.

Australia:If you wake up Down Under, you might spend your day on the beach for a traditional Christmas morning picnic. Generally, cold turkey, ham, salads and seafood are on the menu.

Sweden:Christmas trees are usually taken inside only one or two days before Christmas. Decora-

small gnomes and straw ornaments. Santa doesn’t bring the presents – instead it is a Christmas gnome who rides a goat.

Iraq:Families often read the Christmas story as a family on Christmas Eve. The also burn

when it’s cooled to make a wish.

Ecuador:Employees often dress up and ride brightly arrayed llamas to their employers’ houses where they can all eat a Christmas dinner together.

Hawaii:Christmas trees have to be imported and usually arrive on the a special Christmas ship. Their Santa arrives in a canoe pulled by friendly dolphins.

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Hill C

ou

ntry

Ch

ristm

as

Su

rve

y

Students Who’ll

Be Home For

Christmas

Chloe Policke – 11Jonathan Howard – 6

Macy Todd – 6Lauren Shimer – 8

Aspen Patterson – 6Hannah Reese – 6

Christian Johnson – 11

Coach & Mrs. HorvathCaleb Roach – 6

Mr. BaptisteGrace Tinsley – 8

Kendal Burleson – 9Braeli Payne – 6

Lauren Tinsley – 6Ms. Inks

Nathan Howard – 8Brandon Hurley – 7

Mrs. Herring

Jonathan Mitchell – 11Emma Haeusel – 9

Ashley Read – 8

Mr. Baptiste Olivia Arant – 6

Jordan Niederhaus – 6Alex Folwarski - 6

Students Who’ll Be Travelling for Christmas

Alex Atha – 11; Fort Worth

Owen Hand – 6; IndianaReid Conway – 6; MarylandDylan Hunter – 8; Maryland

Holden Boorman – 8; Arkansas

Jonathan Innis – 8; DallasReid Aldridge – 12; Dallas

Mrs. Hechel; DenverKyle Sellars - 11; Dallas

Mrs. Hechel – DenverCoach Horne – South Dakota

Mrs. Simms – EastlandRachel Shanks – 12; Oklahoma

Zach Loveday – 7; Houston

Jessica Lowry – 9; DisneyWorld

Kasidee Sato – 8; FloridaMrs. Loveday; Houston

Cody McCourt – 12; Temple

Avery Dooley – 8; California

Jessi Mocha – 11; VirginiaSara Jackson – 11; Salado

Sarah Loveday – 9; HoustonVictoria Maher – 7; South Padre Island

Nate Neumann – 6; Camping in FredericksburgSophia Sells – 6; Uncle’s House

Zachary Patterson – 6; Grandparents’ House

Sam Houghton – 9; Grandma’s HouseMason Brooks – 6; Grandparents’ House in Dallas

Some Favorite Christmas Carols

Chloe Policke – 11; Go Tell It on the MountainMrs. Neumann; Do You Hear What I HearJack Farrell – 6; Angels We Have Heard on HighDavid Palacios – 6; Angels We Have Heard on HighMrs. Krohmer; Carol of the BellsTyler Grendel – 7; Jingle Bells

Kyle Sellars – 11; Jingle BellsGeorge Lubrano – 6; Jingle BellsNoah McVicker – 6; Jingle BellsHannah Palacios – 7; Jingle BellsJackson Moneiro – 9; Jingle BellsMrs. Jackson; It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like ChristmasMaKenna Dallmeyer – 6; Silent NightGeoff Nedelkoff – 11; Little Drummer Boy

Ms. Inks; O Night DivineEmily Myers – 6; Little Drummer Boy

Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus

is My Two Front Teeth

is My Two Front Teeth

Mrs. Hechel; O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Carly Calvert – 6; NoelMrs. Glace; Hallelujah ChorusEmma Haeusel – 9; Silent NightElissa Myers – 8; Silent NightMrs. Herring; Mary Did You KnowKasidee Sato – 8; Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerCody McCourt – 12; Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerJessi Mocha – 11; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Jessica Lowry – 9; The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting)Reid Aldridge – 12; We Three KingsSara Jackson – 11; The Twelve Days of ChristmasSam Houghton – 9; Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Jacob Belloni – 6; Joy to the World

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By Sara Jackson

Exchange Students

Coming Soon1st Semester

High School

Exam Schedule

By Bella Haeusel, Jessi Mocha and Preston Glace

Making a Splash

The Hill Country boys’ varsity basket-ball team is currently 7-0. The varsity girls’ team is currently 2-3.

The Lady Knights consists of Senior Ra-chel Shanks, Juniors Sara Jackson, Jessi Mocha, and Stephanie Lowry, Sopho-mores Andi Bandow, Aimee Mora, Baley Hutchinson, Karen Baker, Bella Haeu-sel, Olivia Dahl, and Freshmen Sam Houghton, Jessica Lowry, and Emma Haeusel. The team has seven players: Seniors Paul Klein, Reid Aldridge, Cody McCourt, and Patrick Sullivan, as well as Sophomores Brian Baptiste, Collin Young, Ashton Dise.

Hill Country Christian School of Austin has a great opportunity to welcome 7 for-eign exchange students and one teacher from China. They will arrive on January 8th and remain in Austin for 5 weeks. They will return to China on February 11th. There are 3 boys and 4 girls, all in

-lish and are very bright students. They will attend classes with the sophomores. The teacher’s job will be to assist our teachers and are available for lectures to classes about China and the Chinese culture. These 7 students and the teacher will stay in 8 host homes. Already seven families have shown an interest in host-ing, but one more house is needed. A host home is required to give free room and board, as well as provide transpor-tation and sightseeing opportunities in the area. Each host family will receive a $500 stipend to offset some of those costs. If anyone is interested in hosting a home, please see Mr. McGee for more details.

Wednesday: 8:45-10:30

World Literature I & II, American

Literature, AP English 12

Teacher/Room: Hechel 4.110,

Herring 4.114

10:35-12:20

Biology, Physics, Chemistry,

Environmental Science, Honors

Biology II

Teacher/Room: Wermel 4.110,

Marx 4.114

Thursday: 8:45-10:30

Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II,

Pre-calc, Statistics, AP. Calculus

Teacher/Room: Perez 4.110,

Marx 4.114

10:35-12:20

World History I & II, Gov/Economics,

History of Western Thought

Teacher/Room: J Horvath 4.110,

C Horvath 4.114

Friday: 8:45-10:30

Latin II, Honors Latin III, AP Latin IV,

Spanish I, Spanish II, Honors Span-

ish III

Teacher/Room: Mathis 4.110,

Inks/Majcher 4.114

10:35-12:20

Bible Music/Art Appreciation

Teachers: Bolen/Majcher

By Matt Robertson

Basketball

Update

Four students and one teacher at Hill Country can be found most days at the Nitro Swim Center on 1431 putting in their laps. Hannah Palacios (7th), Corban Rawls (7th), Adam Toler (8th), Kevin McCarthy (10th) and Dr. Marx all have their teams and coaches at Nitro. Dr. Marx says he started swim-ming when he was 5 years old, but later stopped while in college. He just picked it back up in 2009 and “felt like he was called to be on the swim team” by God. Hannah has been swimming since she was 7, Adam since he was 5, and Corban since he was 3 years old. Kevin is a more recent convert to the sport.

Most of these swimmers are not just competent, but also competitive. Dr. Marx got 7th in nationals in the breast-stroke in 2007 and a year later took 3rd.

the South Texas Region Meet, with two -

als at Nationals. This gives him an all

which is a mix of all different strokes.

in their competitions, too.

These swimmers agree that it is a sport that helps them make friends and stay in shape. But swimming can be a hard sport. Dr. Marx gets up at 5 am in the winter - and it’s cold - to practice. Adam says, “We swim approximately 48,000 yards per week.” He goes two mornings a week before school, every Saturday morning, and every day after school to train. Corban shared that he aims for about 6,000 yards per day.

these swimmers and they give credit to “Coach Mike” and his staff for keeping

means eating right, working out on “dry-land”, especially for chest, back and abdominals. Looking for a good workout? Go to www.nitroswim.com to

Yearbook Pre-Sale

Going on Now

Find an order form

online at

What Knights

Need to Know,

December 6 edition.

Pre-Sale

price

of $45

Page 7

The Muppets have been gone for years. Ever since

their creator, Jim Hensen, died back in 1990, their ap-

pearances have been few and far between. Now, they’re

Segel. The Muppets are back sporting a surprisingly

star-studded cast, all the Muppets that you knew (and

the ones you didn’t), people randomly breaking out

into song, and even an 80s robot. This movie is much

actually has some funny moments. The plot is that an

evil oil tycoon wants to destroy Muppets’ Studios and

replace the Muppets with more cynical versions. In

order to save the Studio, the Muppets have two weeks

to raise $10,000,000. So, Kermit and three big Muppet

fans have to get all the Muppets back together for one

last show. It’s fun to meet (or get reacquainted with)

all the Muppets. . . with the possible exception of Ms.

Piggy. If you need a fun family picture to see over the

Christmas Break, try The Muppets. You just might be

pleasantly surprised.

Katie Davis, with help from Beth Clark,

writes an autobiography of her experi-

ence as a young missionary in Uganda.

Her goal in writing the book was not to

bring glory to herself, but to show the

story of “relentless love and redemp-

tion” from Jesus Christ. Katie does

an excellent job in describing the

poor conditions in Uganda and she

successfully appeals to the human

emotions, causing pity and a de-

sire to help those in this impover-

ished country.

Kisses from Katie tells how

Katie, in 2007, after high

school decided not to go to

college, but intstead take

a year off to be a missionary in

Uganda. There in Uganda, she started

a sponsorship program to help allow

hundreds of children to go to school

The Muppets Take Austin!by Connor PIer

A Call to Missionby Sara Jackson

who couldn’t afford it. Katie was not

more. She felt so much compassion for

the needy children in Uganda that she

started to adopt them – one at a time. To

date, she has adopted 13 orphans and tak-

en them as her own. Her one year mis-

sion in Uganda has grown to a lifetime

commitment to Uganda and her people.

Her book inspires people to live for God

and to show His love to all. If you would

like to follow Katie in her journey, go to

www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com And

if you need a good read this Break, pick

up a copy of Kisses from Katie. You

won’t be disappointed.

Page  8  

A  Silent  Nightby  Connor  Pier

Find  the  following  words  vertically,  horizontally  or  diagonally.

Advent

Angels

Baby  Jesus

Bells

Bethlehem

Camel

Candles

Candy  Cane

Caroling

Christmas  Tree

Decree

Donkey

Family

Frankincense

Gold

Hallelujah

Herod

Joseph

Lights

Luke

Manger

Mary

Myrhh

Peace  on  Earth

Pine  Needles

Presents

Promise

Prophecy

Shepherds

Snow

Stable

Star

Swaddling  

Clothes

Wisemen

Worship

Wrapping  Paper

Comic  by  Andrew  Prado

Weather or Notby  Jr.  Meterologist  Matt  Robertson

Monday-­  45%  chance  of  raining  sideways.

Wednesday-­  20%  chance  of  mad  penguin  disease  infecting  Burma’s  cattle  population.

Thursday-­  Cloudy  with  a  chance  of  meatballs.

Friday-­100%  chance  that  it  is  Friday….remember,  you’ve  got  to  get  down  on  Friday.

Saturday-­  0.00000001%  chance  of  a  tornado  growing  a  handle-­bar  moustache  and  entering  an  old  timey  bare  knuckles  boxing  match.

Sunday-­  It’s  gonna  rain!!!