![Sophomore Lily Bell posing as a player in the senior assassin game. Seniors participating in the game eliminate others by squirting them with a water gun, and can wear goggles for immunity against others. “People did have to go out and buy [water] guns, but most people have the googles at home, but you don’t even have to use a gun, you can use water of any sort,” senior Gwyn Christensen said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-1-1-900x1200.jpg)
![The shadows against a captivating blue are a nod to the “Catch Me If You Can” musical poster, both for this performance and the blue from the Broadway show. The detectives in this scene are at shooting practice, in preparation for when they finally encounter Frank Abagnale Jr. “We always say our motto is ‘theater is a team sport,’ and really just emphasizing to our students that everyone is welcome in the drama department. There's always a role for you, whether or not, on stage or behind the scenes, in the costume shop, in the scene shop. [There are] all sorts of different things that go into bringing a show to life. So we love our drama hawks and welcome everyone to drama,” Drama Director Mollie Jo Blahunka said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/cmiyc-1200x800.jpg)
![Henry, Emily (2021). People we meet on vacation [Book cover]. Berkley Books. Image used under fair use for purposes of commentary and review. Haley, Brett (2026). People we meet on vacation [Movie poster]. Movie poster courtesy of 3000 Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment. Made by Adilyn Hoop using Canva.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/vacay1.png)
![Lockhart, E. (2025). We fell apart [Book cover]. Delacorte Press. Image used under fair use for purposes of commentary and review. The newest book in the “We were liars” collection was released Nov. 4.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/wefell1.png)
![A Group of PEOPEL PE students and helpers set up an obstacle course during class. The “Amazing Race” unit had started in PEOPEL PE where the students and helpers got to compete in a variety of different activities and games. “We try our best to make [inclusion] a school-wide event, but it's just so much more different when you actually engage with the students hands-on and actually get to know them as people.” Sophomore Bree Christensen said. Photo Taken by Ada McNulty.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-12-1200x900.jpg)
An all-inclusive holiday season
Illustration by Katie Hernandez using Canva
AHS students share their favorite holidays and traditions during the holiday season. “I hope everyone has a great holiday season this year, and have fun and be safe,” senior Grace Gibbins said.
December 14, 2021
It is undeniable that the transition between fall and winter brings giddy feelings about the upcoming holiday season. However, it can become easy to get wrapped up in our own traditions and forget about the numerous holidays celebrated by the public, including the diverse students of Ankeny High School.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a widely celebrated holiday in the United States of America, where families get together to celebrate what they are thankful for.
“We get our family together and we eat a big meal [with] extended family every other year [and] we switch which side, so we either go to Omaha or we host, “ senior Grace Gibbins said.
Despite the center of the holiday being surrounded by family and giving thanks, the secondary aspects of Thanksgiving cannot be ignored.
“The days after [Thanksgiving], eating turkey sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls with cranberry sauce,” Gibbins said.
Shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday of 2021, another widely celebrated holiday began, Hanukkah.
Hanukkah
This year, the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah fell only a few days after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28-Dec. 6.
“[We are] celebrating the miracle of one drop of oil [that] lasted for eight whole days and allowed for the eternal flame in the temple to still be lit, and allowed for the Jewish people to make more oil and keep the flame lit,” sophomore Scott Kruse said.
This eight-day long holiday is packed full of traditions, and Kruse elaborated on his favorites.
“My favorite part, aside from presents, of course, is lighting the menorah. It’s just such a neat moment and really cool to watch,” Kruse said. “I also love the food. It’s so unhealthy but so good! And dreidel is always fun with friends!”
However, despite the excitement over the holiday, Kruse explains some of the problems facing Jewish people around the holiday season.”That’s partially because the Jewish population in Ankeny, and in the U.S., in general, is very small.”
To help with the misrepresentation of this holiday, Kruse had a few recommendations.
“There are a couple of things you can do to be more ‘holiday neutral’. Saying ‘happy holidays’ is nice because you shouldn’t assume that someone celebrates Christmas…,” Kruse said. “If you want to really be holiday neutral, use symbols that aren’t Christmas [related, like] snow, stars, candles, etc.”
Christmas
Alongside Thanksgiving, Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the United States. For many, the end of December and the Christmas holiday bring with it a love for the season.
“I actually really like when it snows… and I really like baking… and I get to see my family and my sister comes home from college,” senior Emma Heine said.
Traditions play a huge part in the celebration of the holiday as well. Many bake cookies on Christmas Eve, watch holiday movies and decorate a tree. However, Heine has some of her own special traditions.
“I read all night [on] Christmas Eve because in some countries there is a tradition where on Christmas eve they give each other books and they spend the rest of the night reading those books before Christmas and I really like it so I did it.”
New Years
New Year’s Eve and New Years Day are celebrated throughout the world, but the students at Ankeny High School have their own traditions with the holiday.
“I usually hang out with my friends and then we watch the ball drop, and play a bunch of games,” senior Morgan Gholson said.
Additionally, New Year’s shows the importance of friends and family.
“I like hanging out with close friends and their family members,” Gholson said.
Eid and Ramadan
The Muslim religion brings with it three major holidays, Ramadan, Eid al Adha, and Eid al Fitr.
“Ramadan is the holy month of fasting, Eid al Adha is more about family, and Eid al Fitr is a celebratory holiday,” junior Lejla Ahmetovic said.
These three holidays are spread out, in the upcoming year Ramadan will occur in April, Eid al Adha will be in May, and Eid al Fitr will also be celebrated in May. With three major celebrations occurring in the span of a few months, there are many traditions that coincide with these holidays.
Ahmetovic mentioned her favorite is her mother’s Baklava.
This dessert is not very common in Ankeny, but it is a sweet layered pastry that is enjoyed by many during the holiday season.
Similar to many other holidays, Eid and Ramadan have not received as much recognition or acknowledgment during their times of celebration.
“People don’t know about it” and “[people could be] more inclusive,” Ahmetovic said.
![Sophomore Lily Bell posing as a player in the senior assassin game. Seniors participating in the game eliminate others by squirting them with a water gun, and can wear goggles for immunity against others. “People did have to go out and buy [water] guns, but most people have the googles at home, but you don’t even have to use a gun, you can use water of any sort,” senior Gwyn Christensen said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-1-1-225x300.jpg)
