by Michael Bolognino

Ah, the Holiday Season. The most wonderful time of the year! Whether it be a Merry Christmas, a Happy Haunakah, or even… Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day? Well, as it turns out, the Holiday Season doesn't simply consist of the days we know and celebrate each year. There are quite a few holidays we don't even think about, because we simply don’t know much about them. From smaller cultural celebrations, to wacky weird ideas, here are three holidays that take place in the Holiday Season we often don't think about.

As a society, there are certain things that we either are, or should be entitled to. Our fundamental “human rights”. On the 10th of December, the United Nations honors “Human Rights Day”, in commemoration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). In 1948, this declaration listed out the fundamental human rights for the United Nations to universally protect. It was listed as a “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations”, and is a display of the progress we had made following the second World War, and the first steps to an era of peace. Today, the holiday serves as a day of respect. We are all, together, humanity, and we are all entitled to these rights, and so on this day, remember that you, like everyone else, are human. And that makes you, in at least one way, on the same team.

On a much sillier note, December 30th is observed as “Bacon Day”. As you would never guess Bacon Day serves as a day of honor towards the magical prowess of, well, bacon. How do you observe Bacon Day? The holiday’s founders encourage you to “eat a variety of bacon while watching Kevin Bacon movies or movies with bacon in the title. Other suggested traditions  are bacon toasts and kissing under pork fat mistletoe.” While certainly a strange holiday, bacon is a joy that unites many of us in the world, and is celebrated accordingly.

Finally, December 5th. AKA, Ninja Day. This holiday celebrates the Way of the Ninja and encourages all to participate. The official website lays out clear instructions. “Every year, December 5th is the Day of the Ninja. Plague your co-workers with ninja-ness and wear a ninja mask to work! Got the day off? Run wild in the streets, or dress like a ninja at the mall! Just show the world that YOU ARE NINJA!” Funnily enough, this holiday actually has a rival. In September, “Talk Like a Pirate Day” serves as the sworn enemy of the Day of the Ninja.

The holiday season is a time for joy, above all else. And that joy can, clearly, come through many different forms. If any of these holidays interest you, give them a search. And there's tons more that weren’t mentioned, that I encourage you to explore. Have a happy new year, High Tech!

by Gabriella Hershorn

As first-time voters, we transform from passive citizens of democracy to active ones. For many young adults, that first chance to check a box in the voting booth is like a powerful, responsible growing-up act that makes them feel like they have a say in how their little piece of democracy works.

It's something we've been hearing for decades from parents and adults; it's something they talk about when discussing candidates and the spots for elections all year round. But when the time comes to check a box for ourselves, it becomes personal. When we finally come of age to responsible adulthood and citizenship, what once was so distant becomes personal. The ability to change those things with a pen makes it personal.

As a first-time voter, there's a level of excitement to make this process. There is so much to learn about registration to being exposed to candidates to ballot measures, and what's what and what it all means. We don't just vote for who we think should be in power for us, but for the trajectory of our country too.

Yet to millions of other voters, it sometimes feels like we're but a drop in the bucket. This is what first-time voters learn. They learn that, realistically, it's a small drop, but together, it's powerful. Movements throughout history have either been framed by voting or civil rights.  People either took those conditions under advisement or did what they felt was best once. For the first time, their voice is heard.

Finally, there's something special about a collective effort. From going into the polls with people to casting a mail-in ballot as a first-time voter. This matters because democracy is only as good as the people who work it, and if we have the power to work it in any way, we should feel empowered and not take such things for granted as others have struggled so hard for.

Thus, when we become first-time voters, we not only become aware of our civic duty, but we also embrace our humanity. We value change and participating in the process for our own benefit.

by Isabella Santini

The beginning of a fresh start for North Bergen was initiated these last few weeks, with the welcoming of North Bergen’s 7th through 9th grade students starting their school year in the newly established Junior High building which is the former home of High Tech High School. Located on 85th Street and Tonelle Avenue in North Bergen, the Junior High Campus opened its doors this fall to bring about change and impact in the education of incoming students. 

This project began almost ten years ago with North Bergen’s plan to renovate the previous location of the High Tech High School with discussions being made for the improvement of this building and what was meant for the town in coming years.

According to the Hudson County View, in December of 2018, the residents of the North Bergen Township had voted in favor of permitting the North Bergen Board of Education to borrow approximately 60 million dollars to fund the upgrading of education facilities and environments, with the school districts obtaining about one-third of that amount to move forward with constructing a new structure and alterations to existing classrooms. 

Nevertheless, the development of this project was severely delayed in relation to the Coronavirus Pandemic, lawsuits, and the strike of Hurricane Ida, leading to profound flooding within the foundation of the building. The website issued later in March of 2022 a statement of what this renovated building would be, declaring it to be a Junior High for grades 7th - 9th, incorporating a variety of activities and programs into their education to conduct a diverse reach across their students.  The Hudson County View article stated the opening of this Junior High school was scheduled for September 2023, but the effects of the flooding within the school’s structure delayed the process once again. The Township and North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority had claimed they would like to “reduce flooding to improve quality of life and enhance the safety of the new campus and surrounding neighborhood.” 

The induction of students this fall marked the conclusion of such a prolonged process for the town. This is a time of recognition and advancement for North Bergen, moving forward from its past and investing time into the future of the new generation of residents, with Principal Adamarys Galvin saying, “Together, we are laying the cornerstone for what will become a place of discovery, achievement, and belonging for generations to come.”