October 2023

October 2023 Issue

Happy Halloween from 

The Circuit!

New Year, New Staff
By Gracie Graham

Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Mrs. Malcolm

Although she’s new here, Jana Malcom is no stranger to teaching, being the daughter of the legendary teacher (now sub), Mrs. Kubicki. Mrs. Malcolm has been teaching for a total of 8 years, and she spent the past 7 years at Bradley-Bourbonnais! As another alumni, she’s thrilled to come back to Andrew as a Special Education Teacher, because of all the amazing experiences she had in high school. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her husband, dog, and friends, as well as going out to eat, attending concerts, or reading a good book. Only a few months in, she’s impressed with how our student body treats staff and students. During her time here at Andrew, she plans on getting involved with the Special Olympics team since she had past experience at Bradley. She is currently a coach for the Powderpuff team, and has been a judge for the speech team for as long as she’s been teaching. In the Andrew community, she wants students to feel welcomed and appreciated when near her, because she loves to challenge and support students to become their best. Her main inspiration for her career in teaching stemmed from the women in her family, especially her mom. With the help of Mrs. Knezz’s teaching internship, she was really able to step back into our T-bolt family. Mrs. Malcolm’s favorite part of our school so far has been the support that staff and students display daily, a culture that she’s “very proud to be part of.'' We’re proud to have you here. Mrs. Malcolm! 

Ms. Marcotte

Watch out Andrew! Our EL program is growing, and there’s another new teacher to introduce: Sofia Marcotte, your new assistant sponsor of the Orchesis Dance Company here at Andrew! Ms. Marcotte has lived in Tinley Park her whole life, and heard about Andrew’s great reputation. Immediately when she walked in the school, she thought to herself, “This is what you’ve been waiting for Sofi!” and has been grateful ever since. If there’s one thing to know about Ms. Marcotte, it’s that she loves her dance! She is Oak Lawn’s varsity dance team coach, and dances with the Joffrey ballet when she has the time, as she finds dance to be the most therapeutic thing in her life. Besides dancing, she likes spending time with her mom, sister, and new staff members! Ms. Marcotte wants to reiterate that there are so many opportunities to think critically though fiction and nonfiction reading, which is the reason she loves reading so much. Ever since she could remember, she had teachers that pushed her past her advanced reading levels, and that inspired her to go into teaching. The feeling of community that she received on the day of our Homecoming Pep rally has been her favorite part about Andrew so far. Ms. Marcotte has definitely danced her way into our T-bolt hearts!



Ms. Venezio

Ms. Venezio, an English and EL specialist, is absolutely thrilled to be at Andrew, and we should be incredibly grateful to have her here! The Loras graduate brings a positive attitude into our community, and is already getting involved! Knowing the value of being involved, she has taken the spot of co-sponsor of the yearbook club, as well as co-sponsor alongside Ms. Al-Ouri for this year’s Project Diversity Show. Although she seems like she has it all figured out, Ms. Venezio didn’t always plan on becoming a teacher. The former cross country and track runner attended Loras University in Dubuque, Iowa, and quickly realized she missed being in the classroom, specifically English classes. For Ms. Venezio, teaching has always been an instinct. From watching her mom teach to being in a classroom, she made her decision and started taking some more English courses, and continued her schooling at Lewis University for her master’s degree. Ms. Venezio found the idea of coming to Andrew to be super exciting as she could immediately tell the staff and students truly love coming to school, and they’re proud of what they participate in. “The biggest impact the kids have had on me so far is the value of relationships,” she explains. She wants to emphasize that when students and teachers work together and build relationships, learning becomes much more meaningful. It’s going to be so exciting to see what Ms. Venezio takes on next! 

Ms. Shalash

Nowal Shalash may be a new teacher here at Andrew, but she’s not new to the Andrew family. From the graduating class of 2018, Ms. Shalash decided she just couldn’t stay away from her home. She is an Andrew graduate, attended 2 years at Moraine, and 2 years at Olivet University. When asked why she came back to Andrew to teach, she explained that the staff we have at Andrew motivated her to pursue her teaching career at our school. Ms. Shalash comes from a big family, so naturally approaching Andrew just felt right. One of her biggest inspirations on becoming a teacher stemmed from her mother who’s also in education as well! When she spent summers volunteering at Gigi’s playhouse and watched her mom pursue her own career, she stumbled upon the realization that she truly just loved being inside of a school. Ms. Shalash remains motivated by the student body, who so far has been amazing to her. She coached this year’s Powderpuff team and is taking the title as the Special Olympics Head Coach! A few goals that she’s working towards this year are giving the kids the confidence to fail. “Failing just allows you to learn from your mistakes, it's what gives school a purpose,” she explains. We’re thrilled to have Ms. Shalash rejoin our T-Bolt community and hope for a great year! 

Mr. Trokey

Kyle Trokey grew up and went to our sister school, Sandburg, and now he plans on making his way through Andrew! He played lacrosse for D230 all throughout high school, and his hard work and value on the team had led him into the Head JV coach position before starting as a full time teacher here. Trokey felt like it was fate to come back to D230, as he’s always felt it helped him grow into the person he is today. This year he is a full time teacher and interventionist, and he coaches football and lacrosse. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, golfing, and coaching! So far, our community has been very welcoming, as he enjoys attending the school events and getting involved. The Trokey family especially enjoys the Powderpuff game, because Trokey and his wife first met there in their freshman year. With the help of his coaching, our lacrosse team won sectionals, finishing top 8 in the state. With the goal of helping students learn from experience, he wants students to know that they can always come to him for extra help or guidance! Mr. Trokey’s favorite parts about Andrew so far are T-bolt time, Late Start Wednesdays, Homecoming, and Powderpuff! Let’s welcome Mr. Trokey back to the D230 family! 



Photo Courtesy of: Imdb,com

Photo Courtesy of people.com

Photo Courtesy of nytimes.

Photo Courtesy of billboard,com

The Eras Tour

By Elisabeth Skorupa 

Editor-in-Chief

The premiere of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour occurred on October 13, 2023. This movie release drew an impressive crowd of Taylor Swift fans to theaters all around the world who could be seen trading friendship bracelets and buying limited edition cups and popcorn tins exclusively sold in select theaters. According to CNBC, This concert film has already secured about $129.8 million in the domestic box office. It is an interactive ‘concert’ experience for audiences of all ages to participate in. The movie itself is measured to be two hours and forty-nine minutes of singing and dancing. Audiences attending the show were encouraged to sing along with the famed pop star and to dance in a respectful manner. Many fans also decided to wear themed outfits to display their favorite album in addition to their friendship bracelets. Similarly to the concert itself, Swift fans made friendship bracelets to trade with their fellow movie attendees. This served as a fun activity to occupy time as the filmgoers waited in line for popcorn and other theater snacks. 

As Taylor Swift finished up the first leg of her tour in the United States, she performed six sold-out shows in Los Angeles. She combined film from each of these separate shows in order to form the concert film of the Eras Tour. The film’s director was none other than the Emmy award winning Sam Wrench who pieced the film together from stunning visuals of Taylor Swift herself. The show is a beautifully created masterpiece which immerses the audience in captivating visuals that make it seem as if they are experiencing the concert in person. The cameras capture amazing views of the concert from every angle and show every aspect of the concert in a new way. The film itself is a once-in-a lifetime experience for everyone to enjoy. It encompasses Taylor Swift’s 17 year, award winning musical career and provides a small sample of each of her albums. The release of this movie has created a momentous event for all those who have attended it so far, in addition for all those who will attend it in the coming weeks.



Wind Symphony Wentz Concert


By James Abraham

Staff Writer

On October 12th, the VJA wind symphony was invited to perform three songs at the Wentz Hall in Naperville. Being one of a select few to be invited, this was a prestigious honor. The VJA performance went well with their three songs, “Fanfare for a New Era,” “October,” and “March, Freelance.” I interviewed 5 Wind Symphony members, of each grade level: Sophia Cescato, Madi Kirschner, Ashton Zopf, Gian Taupo, and Emily O’Conner.

Sophomore: Madi Kirschner: Saxophone, Ashton Zopf: Trombone

            M: “Yes, third chair”

            A: “No”

     A: “Shaky Ground” - Alphonso Bovo

     A: “Yes, I switched to baritone in 7th grade.”

     A: “None for the concert, I practice for ILMEA.”

     A: “The music.”

     A: “Because I wanted to challenge myself.”

     A: “Apart from Marching Band it’s comforting.” 

     A: “You have to use your ears to hear the notes  instead of pressing down notes.”

     M: “Of course, because it’s our first concert of the year.”

     A: “I’m excited because it’s the first concert, and I haven’t gotten to play in that sort of setting yet this year.”

     M: “I don’t know if I want to do it as a career or just recreationally.”

     A: “I would like to go school for music, but I’m not sure if that’s what I want to commit my life.”

     M: “Awesome, because it was the first concert I’ve experienced in wind symph.”

     A: *wasn’t there* 

Sophia Cescato, Freshmen flute player:

      S: “I’m a freshman, so this is my first year in wind Symphony!”

      S: “I’m first chair!”

       S: “‘October’ by Eric Whitacre. It’s such a beautiful lyrical piece and paints the visual of October and autumn so perfectly.”

      S: “I’ve played a ton of amazing pieces, but one of my favorites is ‘Old Friends’ by Les Aldrich. I played this my 8th grade year in the jazz band. It was a solo feature, and I got to play part of it! Some days I’ll still listen back to it. The piece reminds of old memories with friends, and sometimes that’s nice.”

      S: “I couldn’t get the buzzing for trumpet, and people said you needed too much air for clarinet (which you actually need more for flute), and I got the sound out of the flute almost instantly!”

      S: “Nope! But I do also play piccolo, ukulele (in my free time), and I’m trying to teach myself keyboard/piano.”

      S: “We rehearse during 4th hour everyday, so all I know is that we’ve put a lot of practice into it!”

      S: “Not many outside of school recently, because I’ve been so busy with marching band and theater. But I’m making it work.”

      S: “I really don’t think there’s much I’d change. Not everybody’s going to be perfect at their instrument or reading and understanding music. I think that’s what makes the band special; everybody gets to learn and it’s amazing when everybody figures it out and it clicks!”

      S: “I think it’s the fact of getting so many people to come together and perform something so beautiful. It’s crazy thinking that you can get 60 very talented people to create such beautiful music. The people have also made me enjoy it so much more. I’ve made some amazing friends since this year started.”

      S: “Some of my friends in high school kept telling me I would make it. I really didn’t think I would, but I auditioned just for the experience. But somehow I made it!”

       S: “I would say it’s definitely more comforting. Music is such a big part of my life, and I don’t know what I’d do without it. Marching band especially is a ton of hours, but it’s just so fun it’s not stressful to me.”

      S: “Air support is definitely very difficult! You get better at it over time, but it’s still something I struggle with and need to work on.”

      S: “I’m super excited for Wentz! I’ve never been there before (unlike most of the band), and I’m very excited to actually perform with the Wind Symphony for the first time.”

       S: “I definitely do! I mean, the main thing I participate in is band, and everything else I do is also in the arts of some sort. Playing the flute has been going very well for me, and it’s something I would absolutely love to do for the rest of my life. I'm not exactly sure what I’d do with music and the flute, though. I’ve been thinking of possibly being a teacher or a band director, but playing in an orchestra would be amazing too!”

       S: “I tried out for Wind Symphony just to go for it and for the audition experience. It was my first in person audition, as everything else I’ve done has been video submissions. I knew everybody there was really good so I knew I had no chance. But obviously I managed to make it! Even once school started and I was friends with a lot of them I still felt super out of place, like I shouldn’t be there almost. It’s definitely not like that anymore, and I couldn’t be more happy to be a part of the Wind Symphony."

Gian Taupo, Junior
     1. How long have you been in wind symph?

    G: “I have been in the wind symphony for two years including this current one.”

     2. What chair are you?

     G: “I am fifth chair in the trumpet section.”

     3. What’s your favorite song to play in the upcoming concert?

    G: “‘October’ by Eric Whitacre.”

     4. What’s your favorite band song you’ve ever played?

     G: “‘El Camino Real’ by Alfred Reed.”

      5. Why’d you choose the instrument you chose?

    G: “I chose to play the trumpet because I thought it would be fun and we already had another one at home.  This was because my brother also played it.”

     6. Have you ever changed your instrument?

     G: “I have never changed my instrument.  I have learned to play bass drum and snare drum for Marching Band though.”

     7. How many hours did the band put into practicing? 

     G: “We have been practicing every day during our wind symphony band period.”

     8. How many hours did you practice?

     G: “I practiced whenever I had the time to.  Trumpet isn’t the only instrument I play now, so I have to be smart with how I manage my time with practicing.”

     9. If you could change one thing about the band, what would it be?

    G: “It may sound like a cheap answer, but I don’t think the band needs to be changed.  I’m happy with how we play and most importantly how we treat each other.”

     10. What’s your favorite part about band?

     G: “My favorite part of band is the people you meet.  You spend so much time with these people so you get to know them very well.  It’s very easy to form friendships that can last a lifetime.”

     11. Why did you audition for the wind symphony?

     G: “I auditioned for the wind symphony because I wanted to challenge myself.  I wasn’t content with my playing beforehand, so I set a goal for myself which was to make it.”

     12. Would you say band is more comforting or stressful for you? Elaborate.

     G: “I would say band is comforting for me.  Music really helps me relive stress from within me.  I’m able to play my heart out with some of the people I love the most.  I do understand how it can be stressful though.  It’s a lot of practice and a big commitment.  This can obviously put people under pressure.  If you want to have fun, you need to love it.”

     13. What’s the hardest part of playing your instrument?

     G: “The hardest part about playing the trumpet is playing as a section and truly sounding as one.  We’re all different people and we can interpret things differently.  The best trumpet sections understand that and I’m confident that we can get there.”

     14. Are you excited for Wentz? Why or why not?

    G: “I am excited for Wentz.  It’s our first show and we get to open for the Naperville Winds who are a very talented and well known group in the band scene in this area.”

       15. Do you see yourself playing your instrument in the future professionally? For example, going to school for it, or being in an orchestra professionally?
      G: “I plan to keep on playing trumpet in the future.  I don’t want to go to school for it because that’s not what’s best for me.  I hope I can still progress as a trumpet player but on my own terms.” 

Emily O’Conner, Senior:

     1. How long have you been in wind symph?

     E: “This is my third year in wind symphony, as I have been in the band since sophomore year.”

     2. What chair are you?

     E: “I am principal chair of the French Horn section.”

     3. What’s your favorite song to play in the upcoming concert?

     E: “My favorite song to play in the upcoming concert is October by Eric Whitacre.”

     4. What’s your favorite band song you’ve ever played?

     E: “My favorite band song I've ever played is El Camino Real by Alfred Reed. I have yet to play a piece that I enjoy more than the exciting El Camino Real.”

     5. Why’d you choose the instrument you chose?

     E: “When the time came around to pick an instrument for band, my dad suggested playing the French Horn, as it is an instrument played in the music that him and I like to listen to together. I chose to play the French Horn at first sight, as I found it to be a fascinating instrument.”

     6. Have you ever changed your instrument?

     E: “I have been playing the French Horn since 5th grade, and I have never changed my instrument.”

     7. How many hours did the band put into practicing? 

     E: “The band puts as much time as possible into practicing. We have a period during the school day to rehearse, as well as a rehearsal once a week after school. We begin rehearsals shortly after the marching band season ends, and each of our rehearsals last for a couple hours.”

     10. What’s your favorite part about band?

     E: “My favorite part about band is being able to create music. The songs we play often have a set meaning behind them, yet can still be interpreted in many ways. Performing live music that can move an audience creates a feeling that is much more profound than any other emotion I've experienced.”

     11. Why did you audition for the wind symphony?

     E: “Band has been a large part of my life since elementary school, so once I began high school, I auditioned for the wind symphony. I was a very determined horn player, and I auditioned for wind symph because l felt that I deserved to be a member of a passionate and high-achieving band.”

     12. Would you say band is more comforting or stressful for you? Elaborate.

     E: “I find band to be comforting rather than stressful, as being a band member is something I truly enjoy and am very passionate about. It is true that at times, band will be stressful. Trying to learn a difficult piece, or repeatedly working through a singular phrase can become frustrating. It is important to realize that we put hard work into learning our music so we can achieve the comfort of being able to perform at the best of our ability.”

     13. What’s the hardest part of playing your instrument?

     E: “Although I have been playing horn for eight years now, I still face a variety of challenges. I find that the hardest part of playing my instrument is placing pitch, which is setting my embouchure in the right spot so that the correct pitch will come out when I buzz into the mouthpiece.”

     14. Are you excited for Wentz? Why or why not?

      E: “I am very excited for Wentz, as it is one of my favorite places to perform at each year. Performing on stage at Wentz with the wind symphony leaves me feeling accomplished, and hearing the applause for all of our hard work is exhilarating.”

     15. Do you see yourself playing your instrument in the future professionally? For example, going to school for it, or being in an orchestra professionally?

     E: “I am going to continue playing horn after high school, and I would love to continue playing in a concert band setting. I do not see myself professionally playing my instrument in the future.”

     16. How was last year's Wentz concert? 

     E: “Last year, our band had a fantastic performance at Wentz. We were so lucky to have such a wonderful group last year, as well as this year.”

Vogue Fall Fashions

By Danya Rihan

Staff Writer

It's official, the pumpkin spice season has begun. It's time to switch out your summer apparel into something more warm. Here are the new fashion trends of 2023. 


To start, low heels, like slingback heels or kitten heels, are back in style! Flats have also made a comeback in the fashion world. Each one of these appear to be very low to the ground, in order to show elegance. 


Moving forward, there has been an uprise in longer clothes. As always, beige and black trench coats are a fall staple, and now so are skirts! Maxi shirts and midi skirts with versatile colors have gained popularity. Pleated, breezy skirts are the way to go. 


Next, chunky knit sweaters (as well as crewneck sweaters) pair well with those skirts. Multicolor sweaters, or solid color sweaters pair well with everything. Different patterns, such as stripes and patchy styled sweaters are statements. Another benefit is they keep you warm!


Finally, some classics include trench coats and knee high boots. As mentioned above, low heels are currently in style, and these boots are no exception. Super long trench coats have never left style, and are one of the best ways to stay warm. Investing in a good pair of boots and a nice trench coat can last for years if kept in a good condition. Black and shades of brown are versatile.
Works Cited

Parker, A. B. “Vogue Editors reveal their fall 2023 shopping list—and it’s filled with Easy-to-Wear trends,” Vogue, 2023.

Photo courtesy of pinterest.com

Baking the Scents of Fall

By Shelby Oliver

Staff Writer 


From pumpkins patches and apple orchards, fall is plentiful with ingredients to bake delicious treats and snacks. Why not use autumn to start a new hobby of baking? Here is a list of fall inspired recipes to try this season:


Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: 20 Minutes   


Ingredients: Pumpkin spice cake mix of choosing, canned pumpkin, milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and cream cheese frosting.


More information and measurements


Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: 15 Minutes   


Ingredients: all-purpose flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, unsalted butter, apples, and vegetable oil. 


More information and measurements


Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Cook Time: 20 Minutes   


Ingredients: all purpose flour, granulated sugar, salt, baking powder, vegetable/canola oil, eggs, milk, apples, and cinnamon. 


More information and measurements


A drink to go along with your baked treats!


Ingredients: cold brew coffee, pumpkin spice syrup, milk, and personal choice of toppings.


More information and measurements 


         With patience and delicious ingredients, anyone can be successful and “taste” the reward of baking. No matter what experience level you are, these fall treats and more are able to be enjoyed by yourself or with loved ones. So, what are you waiting for T-Bolts? Try out your new hobby of baking today!



Fall Fun: What to Do this Autumn Season

By Elena Aviles

Staff Writer


  Autumn is finally here! If you are anything like 41% of the U.S population, your favorite season is fall, the most loved season in the country. Luckily for you, there are many ways that this time of pumpkin spice, caramel apples, and colorful leaves can be celebrated in the area. Here are some autumn themed activities and events that you can participate in this season!

County Line Orchard

Hobart, Indiana  

Open 8:00am-6:00pm

This farm offers a plethora of many essential fall activities! Along with a variety of apples, pumpkins, and gourds available in their orchards, a large selection of homemade baked goods are available. Many family activities, such as tractor rides, live music, and a corn maze are also offered for everyone to enjoy. 

For more information, visit: https://www.countylineorchard.com/ 

Facebook/County Line Orchard

Konow’s Corn Maze

Homer Glen, Illinois

Open 10:00am-8:00pm

This corn maze allows families to participate in a large variety of fall activities. From their child friendly giant pillows, to pumpkin picking, indoor corn pits and the straw playground, you will always find something fun to do at this farm. Enjoy tractor rides, farm animals, and their famous corn mazes to create your own perfect fall day. 

For more information, visit: https://www.konowscornmaze.com/ Save On.com 

Turkey Trot

Tinley Park and Orland Park, Illinois 

November 5th, 8:00am (Tinley Park) November 23, 8:00am (Orland Park)

If you are looking to get some exercise this fall, take advantage of this opportunity to race a distance of 3.1 miles (in Tinley Park) or 2.5 miles (in Orland Park) through a neighborhood near you. The event is a fun experience you can challenge your family and friends to take part in with you, and it offers a great workout. This race occurs in multiple locations on multiple days, so find whichever works best for you!

For more information, visit: https://www.turkeytrotchicago.com/ 


These events and locations are just a few of the various autumn attractions throughout the Chicagoland area. While many of them are different, they all offer various opportunities to participate in classic fall activities and have fun with your family and friends. Which events will you take part in? Enjoy the autumn season!

Last Minute Costumes

By Gracie Graham

Asst. Editor-in-Chief

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably thought about your Halloween costume all October, in the midst of absolute fall bliss. The only downside of fall is how quickly you can get wrapped up into other activities, leaving you costume free with only a week left to prepare. Not to worry, there’s plenty of affordable options that will still make your Halloween festive that you can find in your own closet! 

Mario and Luigi

Mario from Super Mario Bros 

Somewhere in your closet, you’re guaranteed to have a red shirt and jeans. All you need to complete the look is a red hat and a stick on mustache to finish up the look. Find a green shirt/hat combo for a friend, and they can be your Luigi! 

Photo courtesy of walmart.com

M & Ms

M&M’s are not only a great last minute group costume, but they double as a delicious Halloween treat.  A Hobby Lobby or Micheal’s Craft Store carries pretty inexpensive, solid colored T-Shirts. With the help of some fabric paint, or white fabric and hot glue, you have yourself a sweet treat and costume! 

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Barbie

Movie of the year = costume of the year! Barbie is a super easy costume to figure out; Find a bunch of pink and put it all together! Barbies can be anything, since Barbie has been in every career field in the world. You can be a doctor Barbie, a scientist Barbie, a writer Barbie, or a construction worker Barbie! 

Photo courtesy of dearcreatives.com


Wind-up Toy

The best part of this costume is that you basically just get to be yourself, with all the compliments of having a good costume. If you can get your hands on some cardboard, you can make a wind up attachment to your everyday self, and act as a classic toy! 

Photo courtesy of ehow.com 



Grandparents

A grandparents costume is bound to get some laughs out of people on Halloween. Bonus points if you borrow clothes from your own grandparents! This costume is perfect for the last minute, because clothes/accessories can be found at a thrift store, or a drugstore near you.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Thanksgiving Traditions

By Kaitlin Smith

Staff Writer

  The Thanksgiving holiday is a wonderful day celebrated all over the world, never failing to bring families together to appreciate one another. There are many different ways this holiday is practiced in various parts of the world, yet they all have one thing in common: gratitude. From Japan to Puerto Rico, here are Thanksgiving traditions around the world.


Germany

Thanksgiving in Germany is called Erntedankfest and is mostly celebrated in the rural parts of Germany rather than in cities and less rural areas. In cities, Erntedankfest is usually sponsored by Protestant and Catholic churches. The day is full of dancing, food, and music as well as a procession completed with the crowning of the harvest queen with a “harvest crown” made of grains, fruit, and flowers. In the rural part of Germany, there are often country fairs and town gatherings with food to celebrate the day. The main meals consist of die Masthühnchen which are fattened-up chickens and der Kapaun which are castrated roosters!


Japan

In Japan, Thanksgiving is officially labeled as Labor Thanksgiving Day. This holiday is a day for citizens to show their gratitude for one another for the work they have all accomplished throughout the year. The labor festival is held each year on Labor Thanksgiving Day in the city of Nagano and is usually sponsored by local labor organizations. It is also common for nursery school students to make drawings and crafts for local police officers; it is a whole day full of appreciation!


Canada

A Canadian Thanksgiving consists of a dinner table full of food, a beloved football game, and a nationally televised parade, very similar to Thanksgiving in America. The average Canadian holiday dinner is an array of autumnal-themed foods, yams, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, squash, and Canadian bacon. This hardy dinner is often paired with iconic desserts: a flavourful pumpkin pie as well as the appearance of a maple-walnut layer cake and maple butter tart. Their annual Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Parade is full of bands, floats, and huge inflatables! The holiday is enjoyed differently across the nation, definitely a more laid-back day with no real “rules” on how to properly celebrate it, a day for gratitude and relaxation.


Puerto Rico

One of the most unique and notable aspects of Thanksgiving in Puerto Rico is the food presented in the dinner, truly making the day their own. They indulge in a roasted turkey served with arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), pasteles (made from green bananas and root vegetables), yuca con mojo (yucca with garlic sauce), and many more side dishes. Desert is often a coconut pudding called tembleque or rice pudding called arroz con dulce. This holiday is usually celebrated with a large group of family, it is a common tradition to put up the Christmas tree with family as well to kick off the holiday season. They also do not fail to participate in huge shopping sprees on Black Friday.