Embedded Files
Run-down of Alice in Wonderland
By: Killian Graff
November 7th, 8th, and 9th the Orion Theatre Department put on the show of Alice in Wonderland. This play was written by some younger playwrights, Emma Hughes and Cayla _____, and is original piece, as this was the first time it was ever performed. The play is based on the original book.
This play follows Alice, played by Killian Graff, as she stumbles through Wonderland trying to keep up with the White Rabbit, played by Landon Wisslead.
As she went through this new world, she is met by many unique characters, such as the duchess, played by Grace Lilly, who has a piglet as a child, or the Cheshire Cat, played by Mylie Essary, who keeps Alice questioning everything every time they talk. There are, also, of course the talking flowers, King and Queen of Hearts, gossiping Frog and Fish Footmen, and many many more. (Flowers: Brandon Bakener, Kaylee Welborn, Grace Dobbeleare, and Elaina Morgan; King of Hearts: James Morse; Queen of Hearts: Maggie Dochterman; Footmen: Collin Patterson, Payton Matthews)
Saturday night, the theatre department put on their first pre-show fundraiser. People enjoyed some refreshments, croquet, crafts, and a photo booth before the show at our very own Mad Tea Party.
Make sure you keep your eye out for the next show as well! Auditions for Little Mermaid are being held Monday, November 24th, from 3pm to 8pm, drop-in style. If you're interested in crew or tech you can also come to auditions to let us know you're interested, otherwise you can email Tyler Wilburn @tylerwilburn@orionschools.us. The musical will be on February 27th, 28th, and March 1st.
Cross Country Season Ends
Cross Country Season Ends
By: Haylee Downing
On Monday, November 10, the cross country team held their banquet, officially marking the end of the season. The coaches reflected on the season, sharing the happiest and proudest moments. It was a season filled with fun, laughter, and coming together. This year the team had large numbers compared to previous years, and even placed at some meets. The Fresh/Soph boys won their meet in Princeton, and the girls placed 4th. Overall, many outstanding PR’s were recognized, and the team held great accomplishments. There were also special awards given out to notable runners:
Most Valuable Runner (Girls)- Abi Kayser
Most Valuable Runner (Boys)- Noah Belowske
Most Improved (Girls)- Macy Mullen
Most Improved (Boys)- Aaron Lilly
Best First Year- Carter Sersland
Charger Spirit- Jordan Dodd
The last race was on October 25 at Saukie, and all of the runners did extremely well. Here are the best recorded times from each of the runners:
Abi Kayser- 21:50
Elyse VanDuyne- 23:41
Haylee Downing- 25:15
Lena Willett-23:29
Maggie Dochterman- 24:14
Sadie Hessler-
Macy Mullen- 21:56
Theresa Pettifer- 31:22
Jordan Dodd- 19:19
Noah Belowske- 17:29
Aaron Lilly- 19:44
Dillon Thomas- 17:52
Carter Sersland- 18:11
Collin Patterson- 19:00
Kamdyn Reynolds- 19:37
Ellis Thorndyke- 18:50
Unserious Yoga
By: Haley Ruser
On Wednesday, November 12, Orion’s Gray Matters chapter took a break from serious discussions and presentations to take part in unserious yoga. Instead of following an in-person instructor, the group followed a 20-minute YouTube video. The session was full of laughs, providing a much needed break from life’s responsibilities and stressors.
Yoga not only increases flexibility and encourages mindfulness, but it also decreases stress, increases overall energy, and improves sleep schedules. Blocking out a mere 10 minutes into your morning routine for yoga could exponentially benefit your life in ways you would never have imagined.
Additionally, forming routines for any time of day encourages overall organization as well as increases productivity and happiness. Routines give you full control over your life while following a sense of discipline.
Therefore, whether you are doing yoga on your bedroom floor, in a studio, or even with baby goats, you are taking a powerful step in benefiting your future.
The 98th National FFA Convention
By: Allyssa Peterson
This year the Orion FFA went to the National FFA Convention during their time here they had lots of fun. They left October 29 and got back October 31, 2025. Their first day there they went to Fair Oaks Farm in Indiana and they learned about their facility and everything they do there. They even got to tour their milking facilities, breeding barns, milk parlor, and the swine barns. Then they continued on the road and got to the FFA Convention where they went to the rodeo. The second day they started their morning off with the opening session, where they learned about all the ways to EMPOWER our school, chapter, community, and thierselves. They also got to walk around the EXPO center and talk to buinesses and colleges and they decided to go to Hanna's Haunted Acres before they went back to the hotel. The last day of their trip there they got their morning started and went to the fourth general session. Then they went to the expo center and got the chance to dunk Illinois' state vice president, Koben Tate, into a ball pit. They walked around shopping for a while then were on their way back home. Before they got home they stopped at Hunterś Honey Farm, where they learned all about bees and honey. FFA reporter, Emma Schroeder, stated, "The FFA Convention itself was fun despite having to walk a lot, while in the Convention center we walked around and talked to different businesses and colleges. We also visited a honey farm where we bottled our own honey."
Starbucks Holiday Menu
By: Kadence Hammer
As of November 6, 2025, the popular coffee chain, Starbucks, has released their holiday menu for the Christmas season. This menu adds the drinks of the Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Iced Sugar Cookie Latte, and Iced Gingerbread Chai. The most popular drink on the holiday menu is the Peppermint Mocha, which has been a fan favorite for years. In regards to the newly added foods on the menu, there is the Cranberry Bliss Bar, Snowman Cookie, and a Sugarplum Cheese Danish, the most popular being the Cranberry Bliss Bar. Also around this time, there are different types of merchandise that you can get. With different designs each year, you can get a reusable holiday cup. One of the most popular cups you can get this year is the “Bearista Glass Cup,” which has actually caused chaos worldwide because everyone is trying to get their hands on it. So if you are trying to get it, the chances are very slim with the limited supply and the high demand rates. If you haven’t tried the holiday menu at Starbucks, go try some of their popular items.
Bear Attacks On The Rise In Japan, Troops Deployed
By: Andan Nguyen
Picture provided by The Guardian
Bear attacks have been a danger all over the world since the dawn of man, frequency of bear attacks have always risen and dropped. A major rise of bear attacks in Japan has been something else. Bear attacks have reached unprecedented highs in Japan. In recent months bear attacks have increased all throughout northern Japan. It has become so deadly and such a problem that Japan has deployed troops to the northern regions.
The bear attacks began to rise around April of 2025. This year alone encounters with bears have gotten 6 times more frequent with over 8000 encounters or sightings. Over 100 of which have been bear attacks. Since April of 2025, 12 casualties have been caused and 103 people have been injured from the bear attacks.
A Japanese supermarket was attacked by a bear in October. Which left several people with superficial injuries and destroyed several elements within the store. After a bear attacked a tourist from Spain, several European governments, such as the United Kingdom, issued travel advisory warnings on Japan due to its record bear attacks.
Hunters have been doing their best to kill or capture the bears but their efforts have not been enough. Several politicians have asked the government for some form of aid. This led to the approval and deployment of army troops.
Even though troops have been deployed, The military is not allowed to actively kill or destroy the bears, rather they provide intelligence and support to the hunters. They provide locations and sightings of bears for the hunters to track them down. Other soldiers set up steel traps and wire throughout the forests and rural towns. They also have several heavy duty trucks to transport several of the 2200 pound bodies of dead bears.
Many Japanese people have joined in to battle the crisis. Aside from the hunters and the Japanese Army, local governments, hunting associations, and police nationwide have joined the fight. Police forces have had authorization to shoot any bear they spot on sight.
Technology has also been helpful in this new battle against the Japanese bears. Cameras have been used for tracking movement patterns of several bears and finding out living locations. A detection system has been linked to rural cameras to activate alert systems for citizens and combatants alike. It will give civilians a notice to stay inside, decreasing the chances of bear attacks.
This has led to picnics in some areas to be banned or to be monitored to make sure bears don’t trace the scent of food or find scraps of food. Even walking around carrying goods, especially meats, increases someone's chances of being mauled.
The Environment Minister also made a statement blaming a poor harvest in 2025 leading to the bears venturing out into human inhabited areas to find nourishment. The Defense Minister hopes that the hunting of the bears will help the people of Japan feel safer in their day to day lives.
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