January 18, 2017
Viking Chronicles
Issue 19
New Brighton Middle School Journalism Class
Wonderful Ms. Shaw
by Bridget Baskerville
Sleep Deprivation
by Chase Hardin
99 Problems (But
Pollution Shouldn’t Be One)
Q: What made you decide to become a
science teacher?
When you wake up in
the morning, do you
ever feel like you
want to just go right
back to sleep? If so,
you probably are
among the many
teenagers who don’t
get enough sleep.
Teens need eight to
nine hours of sleep to
properly function the
following day. Many
teens don’t get to
sleep until after 11:00
p.m. The most
common reason this
occurs is actually due
to homework.
A: After I graduated from Berkeley in
1982, I worked for a couple of years with
the United States Geological Survey as a
mapmaker in upstate New York. While I
lived there, I read the New York Times
every day, and one week they ran a series
of front-page articles about the huge
science-teacher shortage in New York.
Most people with science degrees were
choosing to work in research rather than in
teaching, mainly because they could
probably make more money. (Since then,
teacher salaries have risen somewhat
compared to what research scientists
make). So because of the teacher shortage,
New York City schools were hiring
science teachers from Eastern Europe
(where there were not enough teaching
jobs) who spoke little or no English. I
figured that I would probably always have
a job if I became a science teacher.
Electronic devices
also create too much
brain activity, making
it very hard to fall
asleep. Believe it or
not, caffeine and
energy drinks also
affect how much
sleep you get as well.
Therefore, to improve
the quality and
quantity of your
sleep, it’s best to do
your homework
early, put your phone
away an hour before
you want to go to
sleep, and minimize
use of sugar and
caffeine.
Have you ever been
walking along the
beach and seen trash?
A serious problem in
our world is
pollution. Pollution is
in the land, water,
and air. Of course,
it’s very hard to get
rid of pollution, but
there are ways to
avoid it getting
worse. Some
products that cause
serious damage to our
world include plastic
bottles, Styrofoam,
and straws. Reducing
only those three
harmful products will
make our Earth a
happier and healthier
place.
(Ms.Shaw, Continued on Page 2)
(Sleep, Continued on p. 2)
Recently, one of our wonderful 6th grade
science teachers won an incredible award.
Ms. Shaw won the Pacific Section
American Association of Petroleum
Geologists Teacher of the Year Award for
the Western States, which include
California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska,
and Hawaii. Now she is in the running for
the national award. This is so amazing that
one of our teachers here at NBMS is being
recognized for her hard work. I was
fortunate to have Ms. Shaw as a teacher in
the past. She is a wonderful science
teacher. Recently, I had the opportunity to
interview Ms. Shaw about her award and
her teaching in general, and these were her
responses.
by Cassie Sears
One of the products
known for being
harmful to the
environment is
plastic bottles.
According to
recyleacrossamerica.
org, Americans throw
away an average of
three million plastic
bottles per hour.
Imagine all of the
bottles that never
make it to a recycle
bin that can
eventually end up in
the ocean.
(Pollution,
Continued on p. 10)
Kindness
by Laurel Grisham
Kindness. Common
word, right? But what
does it really mean?
Many people would
say, “Oh, it means
nice.” However, being
nice is a bit different
than being kind.
Here is an example.
Niceness is giving your
friend a piece of your
sandwich just because
they want it. Kindness
is giving a friend or a
stranger your whole
sandwich because they
don't have a lunch and
actually need the
sandwich. While I get
that sometimes you
actually need that
sandwich, I have found
that many people forget
that doing kind deeds
like this can make a bad
day into a good one for
a person in need.
Another example is
comforting a friend
when s/he’s upset. This
is a nice action. But
comforting a stranger
who’s upset on the
sidewalk is a kind
action. See what I
mean? Being nice is
wonderful, don’t get me
wrong, but being kind
can have a bigger
impact on a person’s
life.
(Kindness, Continued on p. 4)
Contents:
School-2-3
Food-5-6
Entertainment-7
Fiction-9
Community-4
Sports-6
Editorials-8
Environment-10
School
(Ms.Shaw, Continued from p. 1)
Q: Is this award going to
change your teaching in any
way?
A: I don't think so, but the
award made me feel that what
I am doing is valued by
professional geologists who
are very concerned about
education and about future
generations of geologists. I
didn't have any geology
classes until I was in college,
and I really wish I had had
Earth science training in
middle school and high
school. In the old days, when
I was a kid, Earth science was
not a big part of the California
science standards. Now it is.
Q: How did you feel when
you found out that you won
this award?
A: I was surprised and really
happy. I have no idea how
many teachers were
considered for this award, but
I do know that there are lots
of wonderful Earth science
teachers out there. Here is a
funny coincidence: Mr.
Shaff's high school Earth
science teacher (whom I have
met!!) won this same award a
few years ago!!
I also had the chance to
interview one of Ms. Shaw’s
current students, sixth grader
Ashlyn Love, who said, “Ms.
Shaw is really nice and I like
how she makes it fun by
doing science labs.”
Ms. Shaw is a wonderful
teacher and very much
deserves this award. If you
currently have Ms. Shaw, I
just want you to know that
you are extremely lucky and
you will learn so much from
her.
Page 2
(Sleep, Continued from p. 1)
Importantly,
scientists have been
looking into lack of
sleep. According to
scientist Mary
Carskadon, “ ...teens
who get the least
sleep earn average
grades of C’s and
D’s, while those
getting more sleep
tend to get A’s and
B’s.” Another
consequence of sleep
deprivation is that it
can impair one’s
memory.
Additionally, more
than 100,000
automobile/car
accidents occur each
year due to sleep
deprivation. Lack of
sleep can cause a
series of many
different health
problems. For
instance, sleep
deprivation can give
you wrinkles, dark
circles under your
eyes, and an older
looking face.
On the other hand,
proper sleep can
actually help you lose
weight. Studies in
2004 have shown that
people who get less
than six hours of
sleep a day are
almost 30 percent
more likely to
become obese.
Further, lack of sleep
can increase your risk
of cancer and even
death. So get your
sleep at night to
avoid any of these
negative
consequences of
sleep deprivation!
Tips To Stay Focused In Class
by Brian Rocha
Being focused in class is sometimes a hard thing to do. We
often want to talk to our friends or just space out, but staying
focused is within your power once you know what to do. Here
are some tips to help you maintain your focus:
* Get a good night's sleep: Sleeping for eight hours makes you
less tired in class and more focused. This step is pretty easy to
do. Just make sure to get to bed early enough to allow yourself
to get eight hours of sleep and follow the same sleep schedule
as much as possible.
*Eat a good breakfast: A lot of people have heard the phrase,
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” and that’s
true. Eating a nutritious breakfast in the morning gives you
fresh energy for the day. Remember, a healthy breakfast doesn't
mean a big breakfast, just something nutritious to help you feel
more energized throughout the day.
* Put away all your of distractions: Some of us get distracted
very easily - and that's perfectly normal. But when distractions
keep you from learning, that's a problem. Put away all of your
distractions and you'll soon find your attention going to the
lesson in each class.
* Take notes: By taking notes, you'll be able to "get into" the
lesson. Recognize main topics as your teacher speaks, and listen
for important words such as, "This is important," "This is the
main idea," and "This will be on the test." And it’s also helpful
to review your notes. When you forget something about the
lesson, you can look at your notes and remember the main ideas
of the lesson.
* Ask a question: If you don't understand something, never be
afraid to ask. This really shows your teacher that you want to be
better, and can recognize the things you're having a hard time
with.
* Get involved in class discussions: When a teacher asks a
question, answer it. If they ask for an opinion, share yours. This
shows the teacher that you're listening during the class, and that
you know what to do. It can also help you avoid those
embarrassing moments when the teacher calls on someone and
that student has no idea what s/he’s being asked because s/he
hasn't been listening in class.
* Avoid sitting with friends: Talking with friends isn't going to
give you the focus you need to stay on top of class. If you've got
an assigned seat near a friend who wants to whisper with you all
the time, ask your teacher about getting your seat moved or let
your friend know that you just need to focus.
If you follow these tips, you’ll have a much easier time focusing
in class and will learn much more in your classes.
Ms. Rinaldi Interview
by Taitum Tow
I recently had the opportunity to interview one of our amazing new math
teachers, Ms. Rinaldi. Here are her responses to my questions.
Q: What do you enjoy about teaching?
A: I enjoy being able to share the magic of mathematics with my students.
Middle school math introduces critical concepts that are used in high school,
college, and beyond, so being part of such a pivotal moment in students’ math
careers is pretty cool. I also love being able to help students see their true
potential in math. Light-bulb moments in math class make my day!
Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: This is my first year teaching middle school. Before this, I was a preschool
teacher for 10 years at Rocking Horse Ranch Preschool. Teaching has been my
passion for as long as I can remember.
Q: When you were in middle school, what was your favorite subject?
A: Math for sure! I went to NBMS many years ago and had Ms. Cervantes, who
just retired last year. I also loved photography with Mr. Richter.
Q: What do you think about homework?
A: I think homework can be helpful with practicing skills learned in class, and
it’s a great opportunity for individual think time on math concepts.
Q: Where were you born?
3 - here in Santa Cruz.
A: I was born and- raised
Q: Tell me about your family?
A: My family is amazing. I have a wonderful husband, the sweetest, most
hilarious four-year-old daughter, and three kitties. Most of my immediate family
is spread out in California, ranging from Calaveras County to Santa Clarita.
Q: What's your favorite food?
A: I love sushi and burritos. A sushi burrito would be heaven on earth.
Q What are some of your hobbies?
A: I am a big crafter - I love planning and preparing parties for people (baby
and bridal showers, birthdays, etc). I also love to read and watch movies.
Q: How long have you been interested in these hobbies?
A: I have been interested in party planning for a few years, and I’ve always
enjoyed reading - it’s very therapeutic for me.
Q: What's your favorite color?
A: I like blue and purple the best.
Q: How do you like being at New Brighton Middle School?
A: I love New Brighton - this school has such good vibes, and the teachers and
students are all so kind and welcoming. I’m very grateful to be a part of this
community.
Page 3
Congratulations to Our
Wonderful P.E.
Department!
Recently, our wonderful P.E.
Department was awarded
Middle School Physical
Education Program of the Year
by the California Association
for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation and Dance!
Our principal, Mr. Broadhurst
proudly shared, “This is a
tremendous award and just
recognition for their efforts in
creating the high quality
physical education program that
our students enjoy here at
NBMS.
Heartfelt congratulations to
Ashley Edgar, Jimmy Walker,
Katherine Hughes, and Melissa
Walding! Thank you for all
your efforts to create an
exemplary physical education
program. They will be
recognized at the annual
CAHPERD Conference in San
Diego in February.
I know you will all join me in
congratulating them …...
Outstanding Work!”
Because we became aware of
this award so close to the time
of our publication, we did not
have an opportunity to interview
our P.E. teachers, our many
students who have benefited
from their efforts, and other
staff members who have the
good fortune to work with our
extraordinary P.E. department
on a regular basis. We may
cover this story more in a future
edition of the Viking
Chronicles, but for now, please
accept our heartfelt
congratulations!
Community
“Not All Heroes Wear
Capes”
by Alyson Kosek
In superhero comics and
movies, the hero wears a cape
and has superpowers. However,
in real life, many believe that
heroes don’t exist and are just
fictional. The truth is there are
still heroes; they just might not
have superpowers and capes.
There are many heroes all
around you. Some might even
be in your family. One example
of a daily hero is people in the
military. Although many aren't
known to the public, they are all
heroes. They risk their lives to
protect and serve our country.
Another type of everyday hero
is doctors and nurses. They help
keep us healthy and active.
Imagine the world without
doctors: Who would help us
when we're sick? Without
nurses, who would give us our
vaccines? The answer is simple.
No one would.
Finally, parents and guardians
are one of the best type of
heroes. They may not fight wars
or save lives, but they give love.
They feed us, bathe us, clothe
us, and give us shelter. Imagine
the world without parents, a
world where you rely on your
older sibling to give you shelter
and food. Or, if you're the
oldest, you would have to take
care of your younger siblings
and take on the responsibility all
alone. I know... it would be
terrible!
As you can see, although
the superheroes on the
screen either have cool
powers or wear capes, the
ones in real life are what
matter. The world is a
much better place with
heroes, even if they don’t
wear capes.
Page 4
Living in Santa Cruz
by Brian Egan
If you are reading this, then you probably
live in Santa Cruz County, for which you
are very lucky.
Living in Santa Cruz is a blessing and
everyone should take advantage of it. This
area has all sorts of amazing things to do
and most of them are free or not very
expensive!
One of the greatest resources we have is
the ocean. There are so many oceanrelated activities to do here and almost all
of them are free. First off, we have surfing.
Santa Cruz is a haven for surfers from out
of the area and for the many surfers who
live here. Our 40-mile stretch of coast has
over 70 surf spots, some of which are easy
beginner spots and some of which are for
people who have been surfing most of
their lives. Surfing is a great hobby for
those who want to relieve stress in an
active, engaging manner.
Another activity to take up in the summer
is the junior lifeguard program. Junior
Guards is a summer program on the beach
for 6-18 year olds. There are lots of
different Junior Guard teams from all
across California, each one from a
different beach. Each team then picks a
few of their best junior guards and they
compete at Regionals, a giant competition
in California that consists of the best
athletes in the Junior Guard program.
One of the other great things about Santa
Cruz is the amazing weather we have here.
We have a wonderful, moderately warm
year-round climate. That means everyone
can be out and active all year long.
This region features our majestic, graceful
redwood forests. These giant forests have
beautiful redwood trees and many trails to
walk on to experience them. I walk these
trails frequently and it is an awesome
experience.
Santa Cruz County is a special place full
of awesome people and places. This
community has many wonderful
opportunities that I encourage you to take
advantage of.
(Kindness, Continued from p. 1)
While you don’t have to go
overboard and save someone from
a shark or anything, being kind is
still about the most wonderful
thing you can do. It’s pretty hard
to become a “kind person,”
although it is fairly easy to
become a “nice person,” and hey,
to be kind you usually need to
start being nice right? So if you
are being nice to people, you are
doing just fine and you are on the
long road to being kind.
Take Angelina Jolie for instance.
She is 41 years old and does so
much volunteer work, and donates
to so many different charities. She
has even adopted a few children.
So while it may take you a while
to become kind, it is possible to
practice kindness at a young age.
Being kind will definitely benefit
your life in numerous ways, and
being nice will do the same by
making you a better person than
you already are, and making your
life healthier and happier. So I
recommend you perform nice and
kind deeds to steer you and others
in a positive direction.
Acknowledgements:
Special thanks to Katie Ferry,
Gavin Gasparotti, Isabella
Hammond and Taitum Tow,
who did much of the formatting
for this edition of the Viking
Chronicles. Thanks also to the
many Journalism students who
worked behind the scenes to help
with revising, editing, and
publishing the stories in our
school newspaper. Finally,
thanks to those of you taking the
time to read our publication. We
appreciate it! Enjoy!
Food
Dessert Recipes
The Food Industry’s Treatment of Animals
by Adam Foa and Patryck Chipman
A Food Editorial by Madelynn Piona and Chloe Pickett
Tired of getting desserts that cost a lot but
don’t taste very good? Or have you ever gone
to the store, seen a really good looking piece of
cake in a box that you buy and that you can't
wait to eat? Then, when you get home, the
frosting is awful and the cake is not as good as
it looked? If so, there are many desserts that
you can make at home that will be delicious
and that won’t disappoint you! Here are a
couple of our favorites:
Picture this, you and your family are about to go out for
hamburgers at a nice restaurant. Have you wondered where that
hamburger came from? According to freefromharm.org,
21,000,000 dairy calves are slaughtered for veal or cheap meat
globally each year. Furthermore, 97% of newborn dairy calves
are forcibly removed from their mothers within the first 12
hours. The rest are removed in a matter of days. These are just
some of the unjust acts that occur during the processing of
animal meat and products. Why should animals have to endure
endless suffering so that we can have access to inexpensive
meat and animal products? How can we stand by and let this
happen, much more support it?
Chocolate Lava Cake:
1 stick of butter
2 ounces of bittersweet chocolate
2 ounces of semisweet chocolate
1 ¼ powdered sugar
2 eggs
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon of vanilla
½ cup all-purpose flour
* Optional-Vanilla ice cream as a topping
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray four
custard cups with baking spray and place on a
baking sheet.
Melt the butter, bittersweet chocolate and
semisweet chocolate in a large bowl. Whisk
until the chocolate is also melted. Stir in the
sugar until well blended. Whisk in the eggs
and egg yolks, then add the vanilla. Stir in the
flour. Divide the mixture among the custard
cups. Bake until the sides are firm and the
centers are soft. This should take about 13
minutes. Let stand one minute. Place on
individual plates while warm and serve with
vanilla ice cream (optional).
(Recipe from FoodNetwork.com)
Root Beer Float:
1 glass
1 can of root beer
A scoop of any kind of ice cream
Pour root beer into a tall cup. Dump two
spoons of ice cream into root beer. Enjoy.
We hope you enjoy these tasty desserts, good
for any occasion!
Page 5
Cows aren't the only animals that receive this abusive treatment
from the food industry. Many chickens are also mistreated in
the process of being raised for food. Factory hens live a very
short and gruesome life. A majority of hens have a large portion
of their beaks cut off so they don’t peck or fight each other.
Some even go through this procedure within hours or days of
birth. Then these chickens get crammed into a wire cage with
two to three other chickens. These cages are usually extremely
small and dirty. Further, it is not uncommon for chickens to fall
into the cage below. If a chicken dies, she’s often left there. It is
likely that other chickens cooped up with these dead chickens
will become sick.
Next time you're at the grocery store, look for organic, freerange eggs, or even better, local eggs. Buying free-range eggs
doesn’t only help support better treatment of animals, but it also
positively affects your health. Due to harsh conditions, many
caged chickens become sick, and some of these illnesses can be
passed down to the eggs. For example, you have a higher
chance of getting salmonella if you buy eggs from caged
chickens because of the unhealthy environment where the
chickens lay their eggs.
One great local option to purchase healthy and free-range eggs
is Glaum Egg Ranch located in Aptos. Their chickens are freerange and fed organic feed. Once you pay for your eggs, you
can watch mechanical chickens dance and sing all dressed up
depending on what season it is. They are fairly inexpensive as
well. You can also buy them in most grocery stores located in
Santa Cruz.
We are lucky to have many wonderful and healthy resources,
and to be given the opportunity to make the best choices about
what we consume. While it’s easy to just focus on the taste of
our food, it’s beneficial to the animals and our health to
consider how the animal products we eat were raised. We ask
you to stop and think to yourself, “Did this animal have to
suffer so that I could have a nice dinner?”
Scary, Exotic Food
Sports
Unusual Foods That Are
Eaten Around The World
Stephen Curry
by Renee Parker
by Ashley Biliske
(Disclaimer: This story may be disturbing to some people)
There are many unusual foods eaten around the world,
many of which can be gross to Americans. Some of the
strangest foods found around the world include those
listed below. Please enjoy and try not to lose your lunch.
Balut-Balut is a boiled duck fetus egg. The egg has a
baby duck inside that has not had time to develop yet.
Some people consider it a delicacy. Balut is mainly eaten
in China.
Surströmming- Surströmming is rotting Baltic Sea
herring. It is sold in a special brine for the fish to stay at
“perfection.” Surströmming is eaten mainly in Sweden.
Kopi Luwak- Kopi Luwak is one of the most expensive
coffees in the world and it is also called chelt cat poop
coffee. It is made from feces of an Indonesian cat that has
eaten coffee beans. Kopi Luwak is consumed around the
world, but it’s very uncommon in America.
Casu Marzu-Casu Marzu is fermenting sheep’s cheese
past its expiration date. It’s also known as maggot cheese
because after the rotting process, they place maggots in it.
You eat it with live maggots inside. It is a traditional
Sardinian custom.
Hákarl- Hákarl is the rotting carcass of a Greenland or
basking Shark. It’s buried underground in a shallow pit
and mainly eaten in Iceland.
Battenburg- Battenburg is a little sponge cake with two
pieces doused in jam or chocolate and two pieces
smothered in marzipan, which give it an alternative
checker pattern with yellow/brown or red/pink patterns
after it is finished. It is covered in fondant or sugar glaze.
Battenburg is mainly eaten in England.
As you can see, there are many weird and gross foods
around the world. Some of you may have been inspired to
try some of these or question why they are eaten. Sorry, if
you lost your lunch.
Resources:
www.hostelworld.com/blog/the-50-weirdest-foods-fromaround-the-world/
Page 6
Do you watch basketball? If you do, go check out
Stephen Curry. He plays for the Golden State
Warriors. He is a very talented basketball player with
a kind heart.
Stephen Curry was born in Ohio in 1988 to former
NBA player Dell Curry and his mother Sonya Curry.
Stephen Curry garnered national attention for his
impressive play at Davidson College. He was drafted
in 2009 by the Golden State Warriors, and eventually
developed into one of pro basketball's top players
with his amazing shooting skills. After being chosen
Most Valuable Player and helping the Warriors win
the NBA championship in 2015, Curry led the team
to a league record with 73 wins the following season.
In May 2016, he became the first person in NBA
history to be named Most Valuable Player by
unanimous vote. He’s also one of only 11 players to
win the MVP award two years in a row.
His father Dell Curry played several seasons in the
NBA, and his younger brother Seth also became an
NBA player. In 2011, he married Ayesha Alexander
and the couple has two daughters named Riley and
Ryan.
Curry is my favorite basketball player because he
always motivates me to try my best. He also is a good
role model. He always shows respect to the referees,
to his teammates, and to the other team. Even though
they’re not on the same team, Curry always goes up
to the players on the other team and gives them a hug
or a friendly handshake after each game. And even
more than that, he also shows determination in every
single game. If they’re losing, Curry turns the wheels
and makes a game-changing move. And if they’re
winning, he passes the ball to his teammates to make
sure everyone gets a chance to score while he tries
not to be center of attention (even though he already
is).
Don’t forget to go check him out and spread the word
about him. And also make sure to watch the Golden
State Warriors try to make their way up to the 2017
championship.
Entertainment
Book Review-13 Gifts
by Alyssa Molina
Have you ever missed out on a
big family trip or had to spend
your summer and birthday
with your little annoying
cousin? Tara Brennan, the
main character in 13 Gifts,
experienced both of these in
the same summer. The main
character did a lot of
mischievous stuff and now is
stuck in a little old town,
Willow Falls.
What Tara doesn't know is that
this charmed town has
something big in store for her
on her 13th birthday. The
fantasy takes up the story
when Angelina enters and tells
Tara she has to get 13 items to
create a play and the deadline
is her birthday. But then again,
nothing in Willow Falls is
exactly typical! For example,
Tara stole her uncle’s
collectible comic book to sell
to Angelina, but Angelina sold
that comic to her uncle. Tara
didn’t want to get in trouble so
that is when all the items come
into the story. That is when her
new-found friends enter the
action.
If you want to know how the
suspense unravels, you will
just have to go to our school
library and check it out and
read it. If you like other stories
by Wendy Mass like 11
Birthdays or 12 Finally, you
surely will like this book.
Also, for those who enjoy
fantasy, this book will be most
enjoyable.
Page 7
League Of Legends
A Game Review by Quentin Barnes
Have you ever heard of a game called League of Legends? The game takes
place in a Multi-player Online Battle Arena. It relies heavily on teamwork and
competition. The characters are called champions. It takes a while to get a hang
of the game, but it’s very interesting learning how to play. Champions start off
in the fountain in Summoner’s Rift, the main battlefield that leads into the
five-man team they establish before the game starts. The fountain heals their
respective red and blue members and is where champions respawn when they
die.
At the beginning of the game, people usually purchase starting items. When
champions get later into the game, people purchase more expensive items with
their gold and get more powerful with them. People then go into their
respective lanes. Most of the action takes place in the middle, top, and bottom
lanes. In between the lanes, there is the jungle, where there are powerful
monsters that you get rewards for killing and plants that have various effects.
There are two people in the bottom lane but only one person in the middle and
top lanes. This is because one person is a marksman and does a lot of damage,
but they’re very ‘squishy’ because they don’t have too many health points
(when you run out of health points, you die). There are supports in the lane
with them to help them in the first part of the game when they are weak. Later
in the game, they’re really strong and that is why this role is usually called the
attack damage carry. Carries are the main factors in winning or losing games.
The middle lane usually has mages that can immobilize enemies and do a lot of
magic damage quickly. There can also be assassins in the middle lane who are
very mobile and use this to their advantage to deal lots of physical damage to
their opponents and defeat them. The top lane is usually where the tank
champions with lots of health points reside. They use a mechanic called Lasthitting to defeat the enemy minions. They receive extra gold and get strong
from items very early on because they last-hit so much. Everyone last-hits but
in the top lane, they’re experts at it. There is also a jungler who fights the
powerful monsters in between the lanes and comes to flank the other lanes.
League of Legends also has a professional scene with different teams
competing regularly. There are teams from Europe, North America, Asia, and
South America. Once a year, teams gather from around the world to play each
other for the chance to win $1-5 million! In 2016, there were about 14 million
people watching the World’s finals, which pitted the team South Korean
Telecom T1 (SKT T1) against Samsung Galaxy (SSG). SKT T1 won, and
they’ve been the defending champions for three years in a row!
I enjoy playing League of Legends because the feeling of working as a team
and winning is satisfying and thrilling. The evolving strategies, interesting
graphics, and gratifying sound effects make for an engaging and competitive
experience.
Editorial
Foster Care
Bullying
by Lily Bernheisel
by Taitum Tow
Do you know anyone who is a foster child or a
former foster child? Or maybe you don't even know
what a foster child is. And that is why I am here,
to explain.
Foster children are raised by people who are not their
natural or adoptive parents. Often, these children are
taken away from their families because their parents
were not able to properly provide for them. They are
then placed in different foster homes.
Most foster children spend their days worrying about
where their birth parents are and if they are okay.
They also often think about where their siblings are
and if they are in a safe home. Additionally, a
number of these children worry about where their
next foster home will be.
As a former foster child I know what it’s like. Many
of these children feel unloved, unwanted, and useless.
My brother and I were lucky and only went through a
couple of foster homes before eventually getting
adopted by our second foster family. We both feel
immensely grateful towards our parents for making
this significant commitment to us.
However, most foster children are less fortunate.
According to “Adopt Us Kids,” 93.1 percent of
children who are in foster care at the age of nine stay
in foster care until they become an adult at the age of
18. In 2015, 42,392 foster children turned 18 and
aged out of the system. The average number of
homes of a child who aged out of foster care is 18.
The most homes someone has gone through is 34.
Christina Hall says in an article that people who are
not in the foster care system are able to take
advantage of their childhood. She says that foster
children have to grow up faster because most have to
care for themselves a little more than others. “When
you're in foster care, because you're moving from
house to house, you don't have a childhood home,
and you are constantly losing your friends.” There is
a lot of pressure to be strong and courageous.
Many people think that foster care is a great thing
and that foster children should be so thankful.
However, while foster care is helpful to many
children, it's not always the best situation and in some
cases, it can be very challenging.
Page 8
For as long as I can
remember, I have
been a victim of
bullying. I have been
bullied by many
different people for
many different
reasons. I have been
bullied by my
classmates, my
neighbors, my
brothers, my best
friend, and even
random strangers!
Sometimes I feel like
I'm the only target at
an archery range, and
everyone else is the
archer with arrows of
pain they need to
shoot at me to
survive. But I’m NOT
a target! Life is NOT
an archery range!
I am a human being
with feelings.
Feelings that turn into
thoughts, and many
thoughts turn into
actions. In some
cases, people begin to
harm themselves or
others after being
bullied.
To ensure that we’re
safe and well cared
for, it’s important
that we realize the
impact that our words
and actions can have
on others, especially
in regard to bullying.
Let’s all be part of
the solution by
treating each other
with kindness,
respect, and
acceptance.
Advice for Sixth Grade
Students
by Laurel Keranen Grisham
and Julia Hunter
As former sixth graders, we have
learned a few lessons that could help
our sixth graders, and the rest of our
students, for the remainder of the
school year.
1. Do not swear- Even if other kids
are swearing, it does not mean you
should too. Swearing can become a
bad habit and can also get you a
detention.
2. Clean up after yourself-Not only
do we want to keep our environment
clean, we want our campus to look
nice. By doing this, you can make it
so that you and other students can
feel safe and comfortable. If we
clean up after ourselves, we can also
set a good example for other
students and visitors.
3. Be kind-By being kind, we can
make others feel good about
themselves, and maybe they will
carry on the kind gesture to other
students.
4. Follow the New Brighton WayNo matter what, it’s always a good
idea to follow the New Brighton
Way: Be respectful, safe, kind, and
responsible. It was created for a
reason and it makes our school a
better place.
5. Do your homework-Homework
is very important. If you do your
homework, you will develop
positive habits and improve your
grades. It can also help you develop
important skills that will allow you
to solve challenging problems in the
future, which might support you in
getting a great job.
We hope these tips will guide you
through the year, and lead you to a
wonderful and successful future!
Fiction
A Bad Day
by Emily Poole
It was a sunny, beautiful day when Jennifer woke up. You might be thinking this is a happy story, but let me
stop your thoughts there. Jenny hates sunny days. Not to mention, it was Jenny's birthday. The week before
when Jenny checked the weather and it said rain, it made Jenny extremely happy. So she planned a mud-sliding
party with seven of her best friends. Jenny said, “Well maybe today will be fun, my friends and I can go to the
beach instead.” Jenny wasn't going to let a silly thing like the weather ruin her day, so she walked down stairs to
her mom. Jenny said, “Good morning mom, do you remember what day it is?”
Of course Jenny was joking, but her her mom responded with, “Take out the trash day on the chore list.” This
didn't make Jenny feel very good, but she was a happy person who always saw the good in things. She thought
to herself, “My friends couldn't forget my special day.”
Jenny packed her bag and started walking to the new local coffee shop that her friends told her to go to. While
she was walking, Jenny was daydreaming about the surprise her friends were about to give her. While on her
journey to the shop, she realized she wasn't wearing shoes. At this point Jenny didn't even care, she carried out
the day like any other day with shoes.
Finally Jenny spotted Hot Star, a coffee shop. She noticed that nobody was in Hot Star. Jenny just assumed her
friends were hiding. “Maybe it was a surprise party,” she told herself. So Jenny walked into the shop. As soon
as she stepped one foot in the door, she screamed so loudly the whole block heard her.
As fast as she could, with tears falling from her eyes, and the ground rubbing against bare feet, Jenny hopped
out of the coffee shop. When she went outside, she realized the sign said “Hot Tar.” She saw the construction
vehicles and realized there was no coffee shop there, just workers filling potholes.
Now Jenny was mad and in pain. She was sad that her mom forgot about her birthday, but her friends too? That
took it to the next level. Jenny slowly began to accept the truth and started stomping to school angrily, with her
head down. Jenny was lost in thought…
Bad thoughts, in fact, she was so deep in thought she wasn't even paying attention to where she was walking. 10
minutes into her walk she started to remember the turn she missed, and then another, and another, and another,
and another. Jenny was now lost. Her tears started welling up again and she took a seat on the edge of the curb.
It had now been 20 minutes of crying… until a nice, old-looking lady pulled up in a fancy car. She asked Jenny,
“Do you need a ride hon?” Jenny was hesitant. She knew she wasn't supposed to take rides from strangers, but
Jenny was desperate, so she nodded her head yes.
She got in the car and the old woman said, “Let's go to the cliffs and look at the ocean. You are very sad, and
looking at the ocean always cheers me up.” Jenny thought that sounded nice so she agreed to it. The lady asked
Jenny what was wrong. Jenny was going on about her story. They were now at the cliffs. Jenny was at the hot
tar part of her story.
It surprised the lady so much that she slammed on the brakes. At least that's what the lady thought. But no, she
had actually stepped on the gas pedal… and off the cliff they went… down … down… down… they went.
They hit a rock… Jenny woke up. It was all a dream! She ended up having the best birthday of her life that next
day.
Page 9
Environment
(Pollution, Continued from p. 1)
Recycling
Now, how are we able to fix this? If you walk into
any store, you will find a reusable water bottle. Pick
it up and buy it! It will be your best friend, and can
help our planet. One amazing water bottle you
might want to invest in is the Hydro Flask insulated
water bottle. The liquid can stay hot or cold for
twenty-four hours! It comes in many different
colors and sizes. Hydro Flask also makes other
products such as thermoses, so you can get rid of
single-use containers.
by Blaise Braverman-Foster
Another product that is damaging to the
environment is styrofoam. On the website
greenliving.lovetoknow.com it says, Styrofoam is
made from polystyrene. This means it lasts forever
and never breaks down. Another downside of
Styrofoam is when you microwave it, like with Cup
Of Noodles, the chemicals can leak into your food.
Alternatives to Styrofoam include biodegradable
products made from recycled paper, bamboo, and
corn plastics. Every ton of 100% post consumer
products saves 12 trees, 1,100 pounds of solid
waste, and 1,200 gallons of water. It also saves
three cubic yards of landfill space and 390 gallons
of oil. Think of how much we will be saving if we
make more conscious choices about the items we
use.
Another product most people rarely think of is the
straw, but they are worse than people think. Straws
are what you drink out of at restaurants to avoid
germs. Yet at restaurants, you eat off of forks,
spoons and knives. According to
onegreenplanet.org, humans use 500,000,000
straws every day. Many of those straws end up left
to float in the gigantic ocean, slowly degrading into
a toxic mess, or are eaten by innocent animals. Over
the last 25 years, humans have picked up six
million straws and stirrers during beach cleaning
events. That is not counting all of the straws swept
off into the ocean. Unlike plastic utensils, if you try
to wash a straw, they will melt and leak onto the
dishes. The food won’t be so amazing if you are
eating them with toxic chemicals.
Of course, there are ways to reduce the use of
plastic straws. Target sells paper straws. Yes, paper
straws do work! You can also buy some metal
reusable straws. Or you can drink without using a
straw.
All in all, pollution is a serious problem and we
can’t run away from it. We have to take baby steps
in order to conquer big challenges. Pollution is a
massive problem and those three items being flung
around like they’re harmless is actually very sad.
Here is to hoping one day our world will be fully
healthy, but until then, everyone should try our best
to clean our Earth.
Page 10
Recycling is reusing what would be considered “waste” and turning it into new,
useful objects. I see some recycling at our school, but not nearly enough. Often,
kids throw recyclables in the trash instead of properly disposing of said items.
We could improve the recycling programs, especially for plastics. Properly
disposing of and recycling plastics is much harder than you might think. There are
seven types of recyclable plastics, and each one is different. Each recyclable
plastic has a number on the item, which tells you whether or not it is recyclable.
Some of the plastics are dangerous, some are safe. It is your job to look out for
what number is on the plastic items you have, so as not to develop health issues.
The following list provides information about what the numbers on the plastic
containers mean:
1. PETE or PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) Plastic number 1 is what is used
to make plastic water, soda, and mouthwash bottles. It can be recycled into life
jackets, furniture, and paneling. PET plastic is very hard to decontaminate, and
cleaning it correctly sadly requires harmful chemicals. It has also been known to
accumulate bacteria.
2. HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) Plastic number 2 is usually opaque, and
picked up by most roadside recycling trucks. It is one of the only three plastics
that is considered safe, and has a very low risk of leaching. It is commonly found
in milk jugs, detergent bottles, butter tubs, and motor oil bottles. It is remade into
pens, fences, benches, and picnic tables.
3. V or PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Plastic number 3 is used to make food wrap,
plumbing, detergent bottles, and is usually not taken by recycling services. Vinyl
used to, and could still, have phthalates, which are linked to quite a few health
issues including miscarriages. They also contain DEHA, which could be
carcinogenic (cancer causing), with long-term exposure. It’s recycled into
paneling and flooring.
4. LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) Plastic number 4 is most commonly found
in squeezable bottles, clothing, carpet, and some food wraps. Curbside recycling
programs don’t often pick up this plastic, but more are starting to. It is one of the
other few plastics that is considered safe. It’s recycled into trash bins, paneling,
cans, and floor tires.
5. PP (Polypropylene) Plastic number 5 is becoming accepted by a great many
recycling programs, because it is one of the safer ones. It’s commonly found in
syrup, ketchup, and medicine bottles. It is remade into brooms, bins, pallets, and
bicycle racks.
6. PS (Polystyrene) Plastic number 6 is styrofoam, which is extremely hard to
recycle. It is also very bad for the environment, thus, most recycling programs
won’t accept it. It is found in CD cases, egg cartons, and disposable plates/cups. It
can be recycled into vents, foam packing, and insulation. Polystyrene could
possibly leach styrene, which is a possible carcinogen, and could also cause
human health and reproductive problems.
7. Other/Miscellaneous (BPA, Polycarbonate, and LEXAN) Plastic(s) number
7 is/are all the rest of the bunch, which don’t fit in with the other six plastics. They
are usually dangerous, like BPA, which is a hormone disruptor, and has been
linked to infertility, hyperactivity, reproductive issues, and other health problems.
It is found in iPod cases, computer cases, nylon, and bulletproof material. It is
recycled into many things, including plastic lumber.
You should probably try to avoid plastics 3, 6, and 7, and if possible, plastic 1,
because while it is generally considered safe, it could be harmful. While it’s best
to avoid plastic altogether as much as possible, if you must use plastic, try to look
for plastics 2, 4, and 5, as these are the safest out of all the plastics. And please,
try to start using reusable bottles instead of disposable plastic ones, as they are
safer for your health and the environment.