Viking Tribune October 2020

CREATE Club invited guest speaker, Carmen Guerrero, to come to discuss Dia de los Muertos. Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a 3 day celebration that starts on October 31 and ends on November 2. During this time it is believed that the dead can walk among us. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ms. Guerrero to ask her some questions. My biggest takeaway from our conversation was that everyone views death differently. Those who partake in Dia de los Muertos believe that the dead go to a place called Mictlan. Death isn’t very sad to the people who celebrate this holiday because they believe that you are given to the universe.

celebrating the lives of those who have passed. Ms. Guerrero told me that it’s disrespectful to dress up in “Day of the Dead” costumes on Halloween. They’re two different holidays and Dia de los Muertos shouldn’t be treated as a costume.&nbsp;

Ms. Guerrero and I had a conversation about other topics too. First, we talked about Columbus Day. Columbus Day upsets Ms. Guerrero. She said, “We don’t want to celebrate a man who was responsible for the genocide of so many indigenous people.” We don’t talk enough about Indigenous People's day, though it is very important. Ms. Guerrero agrees that we should get rid of Columbus Day and fully replace it with Indigenous People’s Day. Our history books need to be rewritten.&nbsp;

     Altars (ofrendas) are set up in houses to honor those who have passed. Candles, food, drinks, and flowers are placed on ofrendas. Marigolds are very commonly used flowers because the color orange symbolizes light.&nbsp;

    Skulls can be seen all around during Dia de los Muertos. Skulls are very important because they hold our brain and they protect our brains. Our brains are very important because we need them to live.&nbsp;

The system is trying to erase the native history. We need to learn about them and how they lived. They have been silenced for a long time. A lot of tribes have disappeared because of the colonizers who have come to America. We shouldn’t be pushing away such an important part of history. The remaining indigenous people who still live here are ready to speak up. It’s time to uncover the real history that has been covered up for so many years.

Ms. Guerrero told me the difference between Halloween and Day of the Dead: Halloween is a day to be afraid and a day to wear costumes. On the other hand, Dia de los Muertos is about

     CREATE stands for culture/ respect/ empathy/ appreciation/ tolerance/ education. We work hard to raise awareness on topics like these. We strive to make our school and community better.🔹

By: Aja Cole (Seekers) and Chloe Orbach (Mariners) - 7th Grade

the rest of the storm rotates. Hurricane season occurs from June until November, when the conditions of forming tropical storms are there: warm seas and humid atmosphere. It’s important for you to know about hurricanes and the warning signs so you can keep you and your family safe in case of an emergency.

     Has Mother Nature reawoken? In 2020, there has been hurricanes, murder hornets, tornadoes, and so much more. In this article we will talk about the changes in the environment.

      A hurricane is a rapidly rotating storm system witha low-pressure center.&nbsp;In 2020 there have been 9 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes. Hurricanes create a lot of damage like heavy rain, dangerously high winds, flooding towns near the coast, and even tornadoes. There have been so many hurricanes that&nbsp;scientists have ran out of 2020 Atlantic hurricane names so they turned to the Greek alphabet. The deadliest Atlantic hurricane in recorded history was the Great Hurricane of 1780, killing almost 20,000 people. The warning signs of a hurricane are strong winds, dark clouds, blowing debris and sea levels staring to rise. Hurricanes are tropical storms that occur mostly in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricanes are the largest storms on Earth. Their size varies greatly from 100 to 2,000km. The largest hurricane on record is Typhoon Tip, which occurred in 1979 in the northwest Pacific. Do you have an eye? Well so does a hurricane. The hurricane's eye is the point where

In the beginning of 2020 all we had to worry about was getting good grades, but now we have to worry about the environment, coronavirus, and murder hornets. The murder hornets aren’t like the regular hornets you are use to seeing. These murder hornets have way more deadly stringers and they can take down a whole hive of bees in only a few hours. The murder hornets aren’t from America. They are originally from East Asia. So how did they get here all the way here? Nobody knows for sure, but most likely they were shipped over unknowingly. According to Akito Kawahara “ Most likely, a single, fertile queen hornet entered Canada in a shipping packaging and created the colony that was discovered in 2019.” The government officials should track down the murder hornets before they cause anymore damage. This is very important because they can take out a whole beehive in a couple of hours. We need bees to pollinate our flowers, create honey, and a lot of foods we need rely on pollination. That’s not all - murder hornets can kill humans with a couple of stings. Scientists are just now starting to put trackers on them, so scientists can track their nest. If we did this earlier they would not have been such a big threat. Moving forward, people should stop

Shaelyn Jordan (Navigators) and Maddie Novitski (Seekers) - 7th Grade

Distance learning is off to a strong start overall, but it is certainly not without its challenges.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At the time of this writing, Upper Merion Middle School has completed 40 days of distance learning. Distance learning is off to a strong start overall, but it is certainly not without its challenges. We spoke with several teachers and students to get a better understanding of how we are doing as school so far.

about online learning, she stated,”I like that I can turn my camera off and just pay attention.” Even though teachers may not like having the student’s cameras off, it seems to help the students learn. Not always having the pressure of looking presentable, or having to worry about what you look like is nice for some students. Sometimes it’s great to just roll out of bed and get into class. Even though a lot of kids have their cameras off, it may help them concentrate in the long run.

For students and teachers, it seems like the overall answer for this question was that online learning is pretty good for a variety of reasons. When Ms.Olea (a French language teacher) was asked what her likes were about virtual school, she said, “One of my likes is the fact that I’m teaching from home. I don’t have to travel anywhere.” Likewise, when Ms. Jones (a first year 7th grade teacher) was asked a similar question she stated, “I like being able to have a set up in my house and not have to go very far.” This shows that teachers can see some small personal positives, like less time in the car.

     Another strength that was shown by the data was that being able to have privacy is nice. When Izzy (a 6th grade student) was asked what she liked

Virtual learning is starting off on a good foot, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t come with its challenges. Mrs. Callis (a 5th grade math teacher) was asked about what dislikes she had when it came to online learning. She stated, “Some of the things that I really enjoy bringing to my class, it’s been hard to figure out how to make some of those things happen the same way that are just as meaningful to the students. Again too, making those connections. I just really miss having those face to face connections and connecting with the kids.” While it may be something that we took for granted in the building, making connections with teachers and peers is very important. Without those connections, it’s hard to make the students feel safe in the classroom. Making those connections through zoom is very difficult for teachers to do, but they are certainly working incredibly hard to make it happen.

     Vera (an 8th grade student) was asked the same question. She said, “I do get distracted easier. Also, I like when teachers can come up to you and help you [in school]”, which is something that many students miss during this time. While some students may find it easier to pay attention online, many students struggle with the distractions. This is something that I think we can all relate to one way or another. Mr. Kaplan (a 6th grade language arts teacher) was asked the question too. He stated, “It’s tough when you don’t visually see your students. Its everyone’s choice whether they have their camera on or not. I understand why students like their cameras off, but teachers do like seeing students like we would in the classroom.” While it may be more comfortable for some students to have their cameras off, it does mean a lot for the teachers to have them on. It seems like teachers are having a difficult time connecting with students through online learning at times. Since that is such an important part of school, figuring out how to make connections can be very difficult, and students have a responsibility in this too.

     Distance learning is off to a strong start, but it is not without its challenges. We concluded that some of the strengths of distance learning are not having to go far from home to work, and concentration can actually be easier. The weaknesses for distance learning that were concluded from the data was that connections are harder to make with students and distractions are abundant. While distance learning is not easy, it will get easier over time with practice.&nbsp;🔹

Book Review: Nevermoor by Jessica Townshend 

By: Shaelyn Jordan, 7th Grade - Navigators 

Genre: Fantasy Age Grouping: Middle Grade Pages: 461

I love a good fantasy novel. This one especially is one of my new favorites! Jessica Townsend writes this book in such a way that keeps the reader engaged. You never know what will happen and it keeps you interested. &nbsp;Even if you don’t like fantasy, I think everyone can get something out of this book. If you're more of a contemporary reader, I think that you would still like this book. It has concepts such as: found family, struggles of being at the middle school age, and other themes that you would see in contemporary novels.

Nevermore follows a cursed child named Morrigan Crow. She was born on Eventide-the unluckiest day to be born. Because of this, she is due to die at midnight of her eleventh birthday.&nbsp; As Morrigan awaits her death, a remarkable man named Jupiter North swoops in and takes her to a magical, unknown city called Nevermoor. It is in Nevermoor that she finds her purpose, friends and her new found family. She starts going through the trials of the most prestigious organization: The Wunderous Society. &nbsp;If she does not complete the trials, she must confront the deathly fate that awaits her.

If you think that this book sounds good to you, I highly recommend it! It is very good and unpredictable.🔹

Genre: Teen Drama/ Realistic Fiction Age Grouping: Young Adult (14+) Pages: 313

As a picky reader, I would say yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone under the age of 13. There is some sensitive and inappropriate content that some reader may find disturbing, but overall, it’s a really meaningful and interesting book to get your hands on. It captures all the messy, awkward, confusing and dramatic experiences in a teen’s life that some YA readers will surely find engaging. This book eloquently conveys the complexity between love and grief which I personally loved! 8/10 ⭐️ 🔹

    Chemical Hearts is a book based on teenage love, relationships and heartbreak. Henry Page, a 15 year old high schooler, fancies himself a romantic, but he has yet to find the heart palpitating kind of love that he’s been hoping for. As a high schooler, who had never been in a relationship before, Henry struggles to confess his feelings to Grace Town, the new girl at Westland High School.

“Just because a love ends, doesn’t mean it wasn’t real.” 

Now Grace Town is everything but what Henry pictured his “dream girl” to be like— Grace walks with a cane, wears oversized boys’ clothes and barely smiles or talks. When Henry and Grace are chosen to co-edit the school’s newspaper, he finds himself falling for her. There’s obviously something unusual and broken about Grace, but all Henry wants is to help her glue the shattered pieces of her broken self back together. Little does he know... he was about to fall into the void of bittersweet, heart breaking, confusing, first love, and experience things he never did before.

“Grace had torn me apart and put me back together so many times that I'd started to believe that was what I wanted. A kintsukuroi relationship, more beautiful for having been broken. But something can only be shattered so many times before it becomes irreparable...“

From 2015-2018, pop songs started to fall off the charts and songs from other genres started to take over. The ones that managed to stay on the charts were always replicas of songs that were done before. It all sounded the same. Looking at the #1 charts of 2018, it is depressing. Over 80% of songs are rap and hip pop and out of the 80%, 60% was Drake with “In My Feelings”. If it wasn’t Cardi B then it was Drake, if it wasn’t Drake then it was XXXtentacion or Childish Gambino with “This is America”. All genres are amazing of course, but hearing Drake on the radio for 11 out of 12 months is tiring. Pop music is dying, and that is a fact we must accept.&nbsp;

In 2020, we’ve had a pretty good start with pop. Dua Lipa and her album “Future Nostalgia” have been doing wonders on the charts. Ariana Grande is becoming one of the most famous female artists in the world. Taylor Swift released her new album, “Folklore”, which isn’t necessarily pop but it’s nice to see a pop legend return. Halsey surprised the world with “Without Me” from the album, “Manic”. Lady Gaga returned with “Chromatica” that spawned hits like “Rain On Me” and “911”. She doesn’t fail to impress us all with her creativity, because that was what led her to win 5 awards at the VMAs this year. So the question is, is pop dying? Yes, it is definitely declining. Does it have a chance to revive? Definitely, but only if people like Taylor Swift release an album that has the similar success of the incredible, “1989”. Either that or we need new artists. We need a big superstar to top the charts. A new Lady Gaga or a new Taylor Swift. Not the same old pop song just recycled and recycled again. But there it is, a decade of pop with its rebirth and glory days. Nothing can change the fact that pop was what made up most our childhood songs. And in the back of all our minds, there is always a pop anthem that reminds us of times long gone.&nbsp;🔹

STEM Corner: The Mathematical Concept of Using Spirals in Nature

    When we learn about math and nature in school, we don’t ever put math and nature together. They’re supposed to be two different things, right? After all nature is all about plants and animals while math is talking about equations and formulas. But what if I told you that there are mathematical concepts all around us when we walk outdoors. As a matter of fact, there is. These mathematical equations form the golden ratio which creates a spiral shape that is found a lot in the outdoors.

     The golden ratio’s equation is one plus the square root of five divided by two. This creates the irrational number known as phi, 1.618. It creates something called the golden rectangle. How you get the golden ratio from the golden rectangle is you cut the rectangle into a square and another golden rectangle. Then you divide the length of the square by the width of the smaller golden rectangle. If you draw the curve of a quarter circle from one end of the square, to the other end, and cross over to the next square, then you get a spiral. This certain spiral can be seen on many shells in nature.

    As I previously mentioned, the golden ratio’s spiral is found on many different things. The most common appearance is on shells. The picture of the shell below is called the Nautilus. This is a type of sea shell that is commonly found in the depths of the Ocean. As you can see, the Nautilus Shell perfectly matches the spiraling shape of the golden ratio.

     Finally and most importantly, treat members of the LGBTQ+ community just like any other person! They are people just like you and there is no need to view them as different or any less normal than you are! Become their friends, learn from them, and be caring to all the people that you meet!&nbsp;

CHOOSE TO BE AN ALLY

The definition of the term “ally” means a straight individual who is not part of but supports the LGBTQ+ community! Below is a photo of the Ally Pride Flag. Let’s spread love and kindness in our school community and choose to be LGBTQ+ allies! Everyone deserves to be treated equally and with kindness and given fair rights, regardless of their age, race, gender, sexuality, physical appearances, religious beliefs, and/or health conditions. June is National Pride Month, a month in which all allies and individuals belonging to the LGBTQ+ community are celebrated. But you don’t have to wait till June to start showing your appreciation and support to those you care about! Every month can be a Pride Month as long as you have love in your heart and an open mind! Today, say something kind to a friend and let them know that they aren’t alone or any different from you! Send a virtual hug their way, and have empathy! Everyone is equal and deserves to be treated the same way you want to be treated, and the best time to start spreading awareness about the LGBTQ+ community is NOW!🔹

     Are you worried about the stock market? Don’t be. In the beginning of the lockdown in the spring, the market had collapsed as people stayed home but it has recovered as the economy reopened. For people who don’t know the stock market is a system for buying and selling securities, or stocks and bonds. A stock is actually a piece of a company. It’s not like a piece like a window, but is a part of the ownership of a company. Stocks can be bought and sold through the stock market. It went up about 8.6% from the beginning of the year, and it went up more than 30% over the past eight months. What this means is since the market is going up you won’t have to worry about losing money in there. Even though the economy is going up in some ways make sure to keep yourself, others, and your business safe. It's going back down now, but things can change quickly.

There are about 1 million deaths in the entire world caused by the coronavirus. 216k of those deaths happened in the United States. (Editor's Note: These statistics are based on the time of writing, not when you are reading this!) This is why we quarantine and wear masks, to prevent yourself and others from getting the coronavirus and being in danger. For me, the worst part about the coronavirus is how many people have been lost. It’s really sad to hear when someone you know passed away from the coronavirus. Just remember the memories you shared with them and that they will always be in your heart. If you know someone who lost a loved one, make sure to be respectful of their feelings and to show kindness.

     During this year, 2020, it is very important for you to know how to keep safe. One very important way to keep safe is to wash your hands. Every time you go out and come back home you have to wash your hands. There are at least 1,500 bacteria living on your hands. Before you get worried, some bacteria are good for you but others aren’t. You need to make sure you wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. But we, the people, also need to wear a mask. It doesn't just help you, it helps others that are around you. If you don’t wear a mask, you're putting yourself and others in danger. Lastly, one of the most important things there is to keeping safe is keeping social distance.. I know it can get boring, but it saves more lives than we will ever know.&nbsp;Remember to follow these rules to keep you and your family safe!🔹

Presidential Debate/President Had Coronavirus

     As you know, in the year 2020 there is a deadly virus that has spread across the world. Thousands have died from it and even more people have it or have had it. This article will help you learn more about the virus.

On&nbsp;September 29th, 2020 the United States held a presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Two further debates were scheduled to take place on October 15th and October 22nd, though some people think that it’s not going to happen due to Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis. (Update: They didn't end up happening) We all know that Joe Biden and Donald Trump disagree on certain issues, but behind all the arguing and interrupting, there are important topics that need to be discussed.

During the year 2020 there have been a lot of difficult things that happened, but to many kids, the hardest part was quarantine. Over the course of March to October a lot of kids got bored and lonely because they couldn’t see their friends. If you are starting to get bored more and more try to do these things. Look away from your screen for a couple of minutes, relax or take a nap, go outside and play, and last but not least my favorite thing to do is bake. Bake one of your favorite desserts, for example I love to bake brownies. They are a delicious and fast treat to make. Just remember if you get bored use your mind and think of fun and creative things to do.&nbsp;(Editor's Note: See pages 1-2 for more detail on this!)

Apparently these two presidential candidates have two different ideas of how to deal with the coronavirus. Trump accused Biden of wanting to shut down the country and Trump said that the states should stay open. Donald Trump refused to regularly wear a mask and refused to require his staff to wear a mask which may have led to them testing positive. Let this be a lesson to all wear a mask to keep yourself safe and other people around you safe as well.

Angela and Kiara’s recipe:

Recipe of the month...Pumpkin Pie!!

- 1(15 ounce) canned pumpkin - 1(14 ounce) canned sweetened condensed milk - 2 large eggs&nbsp; - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon - ½ teaspoon ground ginger - ½ teaspoon nutmeg - ½ teaspoon salt&nbsp; - 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices, and salt in a medium bowl until nice and smooth. 

Reduce oven temperature to 350°F and continue baking 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted 1 inch from the crust comes out clean. Cool it down. Add toppings as desired,&nbsp;and store leftovers covered In refrigerator. Enjoy! 🔹

these animals or insects from building a home or causing damage to the environment.

      A tornado is a rotating, cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 mph. But how much damage could they really cause? A lot. Most violent tornadoes can cause destruction with wind speeds of up to 300 mph. But all this can destroy large buildings, uproot trees, and hurl vehicles hundreds of yards away. Tornadoes can occur when a warm front meets a cold front, forming a thunderstorm, which then can spawn 1 or more twisters. There are many different types of tornadoes like the cone tornado, the wedge tornado, the rope tornado, and more. The rope tornado is the slenderest and most common form of tornado. The cone tornadoes are wider at the base than rope tornadoes, and much wider where they meet the thunderstorm, giving them a conical appearance. Wedge tornadoes are wider and broader than they are tall, and wedge tornadoes are some of the largest tornadoes and can be among the most destructive. The inside of a tornado has been described as a smooth wall of clouds, with smaller twisters swirling around inside before breaking free. Tornadoes can last for several seconds to more than an hour. The longest-lived tornado in history is really unknown. It is important to know about tornadoes because they are harsh storms that could change your life forever.

     The equinox is sort of like the northern lights, it’s when the sun crosses the equator. The equinox happens twice each year. This year it was on March 20 and September 23. Equinox comes from the Latin term “equinoxium” which means equality between day and night. The farther you lived from the equator the more changes in daylight you will see. People in Northern Canada, Norway, and Russia are “going to see a long dark winter” with not a lot of sunshine. The Aurora Borealis northern lights are usually more active during the equinox. People should know about the equinox because it doesn’t just help your family and possessions, it helps you see wonderful northern lights that for even a little moment you can forget about the dark months that will become.🔹

How to Survive Your Time at Home

By: Lorelei Bonefanti, 7th Grade - Mariners

Bored during quarantine? These tips will help!

there are several useful skills to learn, and this is a great opportunity. Some examples would be sewing, running, meditating, and writing. All these hobbies will help you grow as a person and learn new things about yourself.&nbsp;

    If you haven’t heard, the Coronavirus is forcing all of us to change our lives and spend lots of time at home. Because of this, people are becoming more and more bored as 2020 goes on. However, there are ways to make sure you don’t go insane during your time at home. Here are some tips and tricks to help you survive quarantine.

4.  Something else that will help you get through these times is keeping in contact with your friends. Humans need to socialize, which is hard when you’re not allowed within 6 feet of others. A great way to keep in touch is FaceTime, Houseparty, or other video call media. Though it’s not the same as talking to someone face-to-face, it’s as close as we can get.&nbsp;

1. Due to our time at home, we have lots of time on our hands. A great way to use this time is to clean or organize your belongings. Not only will this help you fill your time at home, but you will also accomplish a task that will help you find things easier, it will give you a sense of accomplishment, which is vital since it will improve your mood, and it’s something other than watching Netflix.

5. Finally, something to do in quarantine would be to discover a new show on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube or any streaming services. I’ve watched a lot of different shows over quarantine, and there are still a lot I want to watch. Thankfully, it seems there is no end to the amount of shows Netflix has. &nbsp;

2.  Another suggestion would be cooking and baking. These are skills that will help you a lot when you are an adult, and there’s no better time to learn how then now. However, you should have an adult near, particularly during your first times using the oven. It is easier than you think to ruin food, I’ve done it several times.&nbsp;

Hopefully, these tips and activities will help you get through this tough time. Make sure to take time for yourself, and take a break from screens every now and then. Most importantly, stay safe out there!

3. Next, a fun thing to do on your forced staycation is to pick up a new hobby. Much like cooking,

Letter to the Reader

How to Survive Your Time at Home

Dear Reader, We hope you enjoy this awesome October Issue! Our writers worked incredibly hard under challenging circumstances to put together an outstanding issue, which happens to be our largest yet. Do you have an idea for an article you'd like to see covered by our newspaper writers? Better yet - do you have an idea for an article that YOU would like to write? If so, send Mr. Kaplan an email at SKaplan@umasd.org We hope your school year is off to a great start, and keep your eyes out for our November issue in a few weeks! Sincerely, The Viking Tribune

By: Ann Picariello, 7th Grade - Navigators

     Like most parts of the world, football is being affected by COVID-19. Because of COVID, no fans can be in the stands which is very different for the players and something to get used to. The team area was expanded so now it spans the distance between the 15 yard lines which adds 20 yards for social distancing. Officials will use electronic whistles that go off when they press a button. Officials are tested weekly for Covid-19.&nbsp;

     Football schedules have been changing because of someone from either team getting COVID-19 ,so they will postpone the game a week to make sure no one else has it and to prevent COVID from spreading. So far, 22 games have been postponed.

     At the beginning of the football season 26 teams didn’t allow fans but as of Week 4, 11 teams welcomed fans or will allow fans soon, but there are 21 teams that still have no plans to allow fans anytime soon. In my opinion, I don’t think that they should not allow fans at the games at moment to keep the players safe and anyone who attends the games.&nbsp;

AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE

By: Jenna Xue (she/her), 8th Grade - Andor

     We all need to respect and care for one another and provide each other with support, especially during these challenging times we are all faced with currently. It is important to know about and respect all of the groups of people we share this beautiful world with and to make sure everyone is treated fairly and with kindness regardless of our differences. Sadly, there has been a rise in prejudice in our country, especially in the past few months. It is important that we stand up for what we believe in, have the integrity, and to speak up for those who are being discriminated against.&nbsp;

ACRONYMS, TERMINOLOGY, AND FLAGS

One community that is abundant in our country that everyone should be aware of, and most importantly, respect and accept, is the LGBTQ+ community.

     If and/or when you meet somebody from the LGBTQ+ community, treat them with kindness, because every human deserves to be respected, regardless of any differences between you and them. Be open minded and a good listener. It is usually okay to ask them questions, just make sure you check with the person first, and that you are mindful of what you are saying. If the person does not want to answer a question, respect that and don’t push on. Definitely do not ask anything that is inappropriate, extremely personal, or just outright rude. Sadly, many people use the word “gay” as an insult or disrespectful joke even though homosexuality is nothing to be ashamed of. Remember to stop and think before you speak! It is also very significant that you make sure you are calling somebody by the correct pronouns (whether it is “he/him”, “she/her”, “they/them”, “xe/xem”, “fae/faer”, “ze/hir”, “ey/em”, “e/em”, etc). A study has shown that calling members of the LGBTQ+ community by the correct pronouns can boost their self esteem and decrease their chances of developing depression! It has been noticed that many people in our middle school have started putting their pronouns into their Zoom profile names (I put my pronouns into the byline in this article), which is a fabulous idea and a great way for making sure that everyone is addressed the way they want to be addressed! If you make a mistake with someone’s pronouns, they will most likely correct you, and you can apologize and make sure to remember for next time. The person will most likely forgive you for the error in turn.

How to draw the golden ratio:&nbsp;

What you need: A piece of paper, pencil, ruler, and a compass.

Continue the quarter circle from the top left corner of the 6 ½ inch square to the bottom right corner. Continue drawing the spiral till you get to the last two squares. Now your drawing should look somewhat like this.&nbsp;

1) Draw a ½ by ½ inch square. 2) Draw the same sized square on top of the other square. Make sure they are attached. 3) Draw a 1 by 1 inch square to the left of the two smaller squares. This square should also be attached to the other two squares.&nbsp; 4) Then draw a 1 ½ by 1 ½ inch attached square to the bottom of the three previous squares.&nbsp;

If the written instructions are too hard to follow, then feel free to watch step-by-step video instructions: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/11iOfikq8j5P3gtLu2BrFWKEnZ3-BfWYf/view?usp=drivesdk">https://drive.google.com/file/d/11iOfikq8j5P3gtLu2BrFWKEnZ3-BfWYf/view?usp=drivesdk</a>

5) Then, to the right of all four squares attach another square that’s 2 ½ inches long. You’re probably starting to notice a pattern. Drawing the squares continues in a counterclockwise direction. Also the length of the next square is the length of the 2 previous squares.&nbsp; 6) Continue this pattern till you make a square that’s 9 by 9 inches. Turn your paper so that that square is to the left.&nbsp;&nbsp; 7) Now, take your compass, and draw a quarter circle from the bottom left hand corner of the biggest square, to the top right corner.

    So, why is this important. Well, aside from it being aesthetically pleasing, the spiral has other uses. It basically means that math is all around us and not just in a classroom. As you can see, math is also found in the natural world. It also shows certain objects like shells, and flowers have more in common than what meets the eye. That means that the spirals could be one way to better understand the world that we live in.&nbsp;

National Coming Out Day!

On October 11th marked National Coming Out Day. For many, this day is sentimental to the lgbtq+ community. It is a way of expressing to the world how people aren’t ashamed of their identity and that all people, no matter what gender or how they identify themselves as, look and act the same. Now, October 11th isn’t just a random date assigned for National Coming Out Day. Going back to October 11th, 1987 is when the national march for LGBT rights took place on Washington. National Coming Out Day can now be associated with a positive reminiscence of the march. Special days like these acknowledge and make more people aware of the lgbtq+ community.&nbsp;

uniforms.The “gay rights” movement continued on for decades. It wasn’t until May 17th, 2004 where gay marriage was first legalized in the state of Massachusetts. In 2016, the ban for transgendered people to serve in the military was lifted. Organizations such as “girl scouts'' and “boy scouts” have lifted a ban that was against trans people, and now they allow trans people to be leaders of the organization.&nbsp;

How can we be allies to the lgbtq+ community?

A Brief History: The Fight for Gay Rights

Back then, the community suffered through multiple injustices that impacted how they were treated as humans. Because being gay was associated with a negative connotation, the lgbtq+ individuals fought for their rights with peaceful protests and banded together to form organizations that advocated for lgbtq+ rights. In 1924, a German immigrant named Henry Gerber started “The Society for Human Rights”. It became the first documented gay rights organization in the U.S. On December 19th, 1938 gay prisoners that were held in concentration camps in Germany wore pink triangles on their prison—

An ally is a straight, cisgendered person who supports equal civil rights, gender equality and the lgbtq+ social movements. As a student in Upper Merion you may be familiar with peers who are a part of the lgbtq+ community. Our influence as people who aren’t a part of the community&nbsp;should mean that we learn how to respect how people identify themselves as. It is our job as peers to make sure everyone feels included and welcome. As our learning continues to be virtual one way we can be an ally is by including our pronouns in our Zoom names (she/her, he/him, they/them, she/them, he/them). The purpose of including pronouns, whether it is in your zoom name or on social media is to normalize and create a safe environment for trans, non-binary, and genderqueer people. Even if you are cisgendered a small act like this will promote the culture of not assuming someone’s gender or identity based on their looks and mannerisms. Teachers can also be an ally by asking students for their pronouns.

All people, no matter how they identify, deserve to be treated equally. It is unfortunate that in today’s society the reality is that because

*Pride month takes place in June to celebrate and bring unity to the lgbtq+ community. It is also an opportunity for many to join together and peacefully protest and raise awareness of current issues facing the community.

people are different they don’t receive equal rights and opportunities. However, no hope shall be lost and as the generation progresses and more issues have been made known, rights are still being fought for. We have come a long way where society has started to be more accepting of the lgbtq+ community. The community has received more representation in the media, and is reaching a younger audience where kids can be educated and informed. Days like NCOD and Pride month should not be the only time to spread awareness. Our differences should not set us apart.&nbsp;Love is love.

As a student, I have heard multiple slurs that should not be said by people thrown around, as well as many jokes that can be offensive to the lgbtq+ community. Actions like these seem to be tolerated and normalized, which shouldn’t even be justified. Here are two links that lead to an articles that can educate you furthermore on the community, and teach you how to change pronouns on Zoom 

How to be a better ally- <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/22/health/lgbt-how-to-be-an-ally-trnd/index.html">https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/22/health/lgbt-how-to-be-an-ally-trnd/index.html</a>

How to add your pronouns to your Zoom name- <a href="https://youtu.be/B1ZtFka_XnE">https://youtu.be/B1ZtFka_XnE</a>

*The term,“ lgbtq+” is an acronym used as a move towards inclusivity. As time progresses, and people evolve, the lgbtq+ community has expanded to be more inclusive of other groups of people. Lgbtq+ holds a different significance to everyone. You may see longer or shorter acronyms of the term, but to sum up, the “+” acknowledges other identities that aren’t included in the acronym. The letters of “lgbtq+” represent the different identities.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We were all born in a time where pop music was in its prime. We always hear it on the radio and pop songs are always the ones that are becoming massive hits. So when did pop music become so popular? We have to start with the beginning, the “revival of pop”.

&nbsp;&nbsp;Lady Gaga bursted into the music scene with “Just Dance” back in 2008, completely changing the sound of pop music and inspiring her other peers to do the same, thus marking the revival of pop. Then came Kesha with her dance music and EDM beats. Being the forefront of club music, Kesha pushed pop into the nostalgic sound we all love. Rihanna with “Umbrella” and “Only Girl in the World” was a stepping stone in leading everyone into the golden age of pop. Songs like “Starships” by Nicki Minaj cemented the fact that pop is reborn and heading into the top of the charts. We may remember One Direction and their chart topping hit, “What Makes You Beautiful”, released in 2010, or we may dive deep into our memories and think about the countless hits spawned by The Black Eyed Peas such as “I Gotta Feeling”. Those were the iconic songs and artists we remember from the good old days. And right after came what we know as the “peak of pop”, which lasted from 2010-2015.

Again, this era was mainly started by Lady Gaga with “Bad Romance”, the hit single off the album, “The Fame Monster”, that earned multiple awards including a Grammy for best pop vocal album. Ellie Goulding and her debut, “Lights”, released and it became a nostalgic anthem. Of course, we can’t forget Taylor Swift. From “Love Story” to her album “Red”, she’s been constantly evolving into the mega pop star we all know her as. Her album, “1989”, was the album that made her a legend. You can’t lie and say you haven’t heard “Blank Space” or “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”. Those songs are literal childhood monuments built into this world. Who hasn't heard of Beyoncé? “Halo” and “Single Ladies” were ruling the world. Britney Spears, a pop icon with hits like “Toxic” and “Gimme More”. Let’s think about Katy Perry, one of the most successful female artists of this decade. From “Teenage Dream” to “Prism”, she’s put out hit after hit after hit. She was the #1 girl we all knew. Another legend we all know is Adele with her record breaking albums, “21” and “25”. There is definitely a time in our lives where we jammed to “Hello” and “Someone Like You”. How about Carly Rae Jepson? Did we all forget “Call Me Maybe”? Do we remember Twenty One Pilots, Imagine Dragons, and Fallout Boy? With all these artists flooding the charts, music was revolutionary during that time. So what happened?&nbsp;

Those who answered “Physical Learning” responses were “School has gotten boringER- we lost the main fun part of school; socializing with friends in person.”

1. What advantage and disadvantages has Covid given to you?

4. How did your attitude towards COVID-19 change from when it started and was mild, to now when it’s gotten more extreme?

Answers to this question summed up to&nbsp; “I have more time alone, and not as much to socialize with others, but I’m fine with that since I stay inside most of the time, and even when I go out, socializing with others wears me out.” or “I can’t go out, meet friends, meet new people, travel, visit far away family, or anything. I hate it. The only advantage these times have given me, is more time to practice things I do alone, which isn’t that much, since almost all my favorite activities have to do with association towards others.” Less of the time, we got answers combining the first two. Students are either all in one way, or all in the other.

Again, there were two “opposing” responses; “Nothing. It was meh before, and it still is meh. I didn’t go outside to socialize anyways.” and, “Earlier, I was excited we wouldn’t have to go to school, but not so later on, the realization of the fact we can’t meet friends or anybody else really, hit me.”

5. What do you think is the best solution to end Covid cases?

2. What are you finding difficult during Covid?

Pretty much everyone we asked responded with the same 2 answers; “I’m losing SO much practice with things I used to be able to do.” or, “I can’t socialize and that’s really difficult for me.”

Everyone agreed, wear a mask, social distance, and avoid physical contact with others.

3. Do you prefer virtual or physical learning more and why?

Those who answered “Virtual Learning” responses were “we can get away with more; lay in bed, eat in class, space out, watch YouTube.”

     What we found is the fact several people have opposing opinions on our questions; the two main groups of opinions seemed to have opposite opinions, one generally hating these times, and the other finding our situation not&nbsp;so different from their usual lifestyle. Nevertheless, in the end, everyone agreed on the last question- “wear a mask, social distance, and avoid physical contact with others.”🔹

Name

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