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 The Personal Side Online Learning: The Rundown
Back in March, I didn’t think it was in the realm of
5 (New) Things To Do possibility that the pandemic would last long enough that
*to get ready for school* we would have to do online learning this school year. And
1. Find your workspace- Where in your house yet- here we are. It sounds like a nightmare. Sitting in a
can you work? If you share a room, there’s little room all day, on a computer, jumping from one zoom call to
chance that there’s space for you to work in your the next. Synchronous versus asynchronous, Canvas and
bedroom. Does the living room have space? Zoom- here’s an overview of how online learning with
What about the kitchen? Once you find your CMS is going to work.
space, claim a desk or table or find one for The goal is a blend of synchronous and asynchronous
cheap on Amazon. learning- synchronous is what you’d be doing in an actual
2. Decorate your desk!!!-Once you have a space classroom with a teacher teaching and students taking notes,
that is totally yours, you need to customize it while asynchronous would be working on a worksheet or
and get it ready for the year. Say goodbye to project at your own pace. Last spring, learning was largely
anything distracting and hello to things that are asynchronous, with students finding assignments on
useful but still fun! Make pencil holders, Canvas, completing them, and submitting them. However,
organize notebooks, and hang up art! You’ll be this year, each class will have a Zoom call every day,
here a lot, so make it something you like. followed by some asynchronous assignments. There’s a bell
3. Get your school supplies- This is not the place schedule and everything. As for electives such as band and
or time to go school shopping, but of course orchestra, students will get an instrument from the school
there are ways to get your supplies. Look and will learn online, the same way as any other class.
through online stores to get everything from Commence Operation Zoom!
pencil toppers to rainbow binders. You might
even save some money- it’s way easier to
compare prices and get the cheaper option!
4. Emotionally, mentally, and physically What We Love: School Stuff
prepare- A big change is coming. You will Pens: There’s a pen for every purpose. If you want
spend your days glued to the computer with something with a variety of colors and nice shape,
almost no free time. The dog days of summer Papermate Flair pens are your best bet- they don’t
will evaporate into thin air, replaced by a strict last forever (they become dry) but are excellent! If
schedule. But the change is needed. If you you want something with amazingly smooth writing
prepare, you’ll turn out just fine. and dark ink, Uniball Vision is the way to go. Finally,
5. Enjoy the last bit of summer!- Relax. Do the for a beautiful (but pricey!) pen, Rifle Paper sells
things you love- who knows when you’ll be able some lovely ones!
to again? Just kidding, surely you’ll be able to Notebooks: There’s nothing like a fresh, blank
do things you enjoy during the school year. But notebook. In my eyes, you really don’t need to buy the
have fun! triple-reinforced-waterproof-lightfast notebooks- it’s
not like you’re taking it to Mars. Still, for a strong
Hobby Spotlight: Club Joining (and nice-feeling) notebook, Five Star (by Mead) is
Clubs are possibly the best thing that ever happened to school. the way to go. They become so cheap just after school
There are SO MANY clubs. Chess Club, Choir Club, Science starts, so snatch them up!
Olympiad, Debate Club, Yearbook Club, even Anime Club. Headphones: There are so many different types of
While school is virtual, many clubs are still operating. Debate headphones. I like Apple earbuds. They have a
Club, for example, is holding zoom meetings. Being in a club is
microphone, which many headphones don’t, and a
not exactly a hobby, but clubs a groups of people with the same
button to pause your music or change the volume.
hobby. Check on your school website for a list of clubs, even if
it’s from last year. To find out if the club is happening, email Also try Audiology if you prefer squishier earbuds.
the contact. If they don’t know, offer to host a zoom meeting Fun Stuff: A great part about new school supplies?
and ask your friends to ask their friends to join the club. You Notebooks and binders are the perfect canvas for
can also start a club by yourself with your neighbors. Clubs stickers and washi tape galore. Kawaii Pen Shop has
need only 2 things: A name, and members! You can get supplies awesomely cute and low-priced products, with the
or snacks or a clubhouse, but just saying “Meet up at two!” can previously listed items and many others.
Literature// For older children and younger teens Cleo Strauss
Stargirl// Jerry Spinelli
School is brutal. The work, the long hours, the grades, the absence of break time. And, of course, the kids. Stargirl learns this the hard
way. She comes to school and shocks everybody. She’s magical. Strange. Beautifully sure of herself. She dances in the rain. She wears
clothes like she lives on the prairie. She gives her class little gifts and sings them happy birthday with her ukelele. She has a pet rat!
So many rumors start that no one can keep track. There’s one thing they’re sure of. She’s different. As they try to make sense of her,
things go up and down. Is she amazing? Is she gross? They just can’t decide. But just to be safe, they all leave her alone. That doesn’t
mean she leaves them alone. She keeps on singing, dancing and overall, shining. As we follow Stargirl through the eyes of Leo
Borlock, a student at her school, it’s clear that things can never be easy for someone so different. We watch her through it all:
Confusion, admiration, hatred, and back again. It’s impossible to stop reading. You are Stargirl. You are Leo. You are both, you are
neither. As they go through so many changes throughout the book, you go with them. Loving them, hating them, and not knowing
what to do. This book is everything that Stargirl is. The words are magical. They’re truthful and painful at parts. They make you feel,
sometimes guilty, sometimes, happy, sometimes so sad you could cry. The story is strange. There is no book like it. No book with
porcupine neckties, cacti used for advice, and a dress seemingly made from pure buttercups. This book is a bold rebellion against
conformity, so sure that it’s doing the right thing that it’s void of hesitation. It truly blows the socks off of anyone who reads even just
the first page. You question most everything you know about other people and yourself. It does all of this in 186 pages. This book is,
in a word, life-changing.

When the Teacher Was Right (gasp!) Cleo Strauss

Sometimes, teachers or the school system’s curriculum can make you read horrible, boring, drag-on-forever books. Most of the time, though, the
books are good in the end. Here are some examples of books that seemed boring but were actually cool once you got into them.
1. The Pearl, by John Steinbeck. This is a tale of two village people, Kino and Juana, fighting through the fortune and
misfortune of finding a large pearl that they hope to use to pay for a doctor’s treatment of their sick baby, Coyotito. When my
class started this book, we complained nonstop. The sentences were almost as long as paragraphs and the paragraphs felt like pages! The class disliked it
so much that some students started a “I Hate John Steinbeck” club. However, a couple chapters in, as the story picked up, the grumbling slowed down.
By the end, we were all holding our breath.
2. I am the Cheese, by Robert Cormier. This novel spins a confusing tale with three different plot lines. One is a bike ride, one
is a transcript, and one is his memories. It’s hard not to laugh when you hear the name of this book. But it actually covers a range of very serious
topics. At first this book was no fun, like a really hard test you don’t know the answers to. No one could figure out what was going on! A couple chapters
in, I changed my tune. This was confusing, but in a good way, like a puzzle. And as we moved along and started piecing things together, it became one of
the best books I’ve read to this day.
3. Peter Pan, by J.M. Barrie. This classic story of the Darling’s trip to Neverland is truly enchanting. Peter pan. I mean, come on.
Peter Pan? It seemed crazy to be reading what’s regarded as a children’s book for class. As it started, I knew exactly what was happening. But then I
began to notice the fantastic writing that got lost when I recalled the plot of the story. The writing itself is full of imagery and poetic language. And, of
course, pirates, fairies, and mermaids.

Triumphant (Fairy) Tales

Every edition, this newspaper has a list of books that all fit a certain profile, or have a similar characteristic. Right now, we’re doing a
books-by-genre series (Hence the name), so each edition will feature books from a different genre. This week’s theme is books based on fairy tales,
for kids of varying ages!
1. A Tale Dark and Grimm- The first in a three-part series, this book is the story of how fairy tales connect. Is the Jack who
climbed the beanstalk the same one who fell down a hill while fetching a pail of water? Are the two children who were
slaughtered by their mother in order to bring a servant back to life the same ones that found a house made of candy? Each book
follows the same two children through a path of fairy tales, of varying degrees of obscurity. Though the author has some
pronoun-y type issues (he assumes, for example, that your babysitter is female and your doctor is male), he does tell a good
story, with intermittent pauses to address the reader directly- much like Lemony Snicket or Pseudonymous Bosch.
2. The School for Good and Evil- One of my favorite feelings is being entrenched in a story- so much so that I don’t want to do
anything else but read- and this book certainly delivers. In Sophie and Agatha’s town, every four years, two children go
missing. At first it was thought to be bears or the like- but then the missing children started showing up in fairy tales, delivered
to their bookshop’s doorstep every so often. It’s soon discovered that the mysterious kidnapper is taking the children to the
School for Good and Evil. Sophie longs to be kidnapped- while most children try to become as average as possible when a
kidnapping is coming up, she does extra good deeds, beautifies herself even more than usual. And as luck would have it, she’s
taken- with witchlike Agatha chasing after, trying to bring her back. But when Sophie is dropped at the School for Evil, and
Agatha at the School for Good, they’re sure there was a mistake. Can they fix it? Or is this the way their tale is destined to go?

Eat!//Cleo Strauss
Pack your lunch?
So some of us are not going back to school. But a lot
of things will be better at home. You can get water
without asking, do things at least a little bit on your
own time, and make your own lunch. Whether you are
a lunch packer or you usually go for cafeteria food,
this is going to be totally different. There are so many
things you can do with your extra time. You can cook,
prepare something, or even order something! No more
boring sandwiches and cold leftovers. Here are some
ideas:
1. Make a big batch of a meal base. Pasta, rice,
and other grains are perfect for versatile
lunches. You can customize them to be
different throughout the week. Just dish up a
serving, reheat, and add lots of toppings!
Making a batch ahead means less wait time.
2. Eat on your own time. I’ve had some bad
experiences with lunch times at school. In 6th
grade it was super early and in 7th grade I had
the last lunch in the school- 1:30! So, now
that you have the time, don’t rush it or starve
yourself. Lunch is whenever you’re hungry.
3. Change the scenery. No offense to the school
system, but the cafeteria isn’t exactly the most
welcoming place to eat. If you’re feeling
something similar about your
house-turned-school, mix it up. Grab a towel
and eat lunch in the yard, or, if it’s okay with
your parents, pack it up in a bag bike over to a
friend’s yard, or picnic at the park (socially
distanced, of course). Now that’s something
you can’t do at school.
4. Mish-Mash. Or hodgepodge. Or snack
around. Whatever you call it, make a
smorgasbord-style lunch. Cut up fruits and
veggies, lay out crackers, and carefully
arrange slices of cheese.
5. Redo your favs. If you want to relive some of
your best cafeteria days, make some classics
with a spin. You now have the time to be
thoughtful about your food. Can you make a
jam with a special fruit combo
(strawberry-cherry, anyone?) to amp up a
PB&J? What about recreating the famous
cafeteria cheese sticks?
Back to School Treat Cleo Strauss
I’m here to warn you about the future. Sometime this week, you will
close your laptop. You just completed half a day of online instruction.
Man, are you tired. With a sigh you assemble your lunch. As you sit
down on the couch or at the table and take your first bite, something
will stir inside you. Unrest. There is something wrong, you will think.
I’ve been working my tail off since 9:00 in the morning, and what do
I get out of it? No friends. No recess. No cookie. It is true. It’s not fair
that you have to deal with the worst parts of school without any of
the best. No friends to talk to. No recess to play frisbee or soccer.
And no 25¢ cafeteria chocolate chip cookie. I cannot get you your
friends. I cannot give you your recess. But I can help you make a
chocolate chip cookie.
This recipe comes from a cookbook called “Kids Bake!”, so you
know it can’t be too hard. You need a stand mixer or electric beaters.
Supposedly. I don’t see why you can’t just mix everything together
with a spatula. That’s essentially what a stand mixer does, just with
electricity. Anyway, the recipe has 4 parts. Just four, easy parts. The
first is to gather your ingredients. That’s it.
You will need:
❏ 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
❏ ¾ cup packed brown sugar
❏ 1 stick butter (salted or unsalted, softened)
❏ ¼ cup granulated sugar
❏ 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
❏ ½ teaspoon baking soda
❏ ¼ teaspoon salt
❏ 1 large egg
❏ 1 ½ cup mix-ins
You also need to preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Next, you just beat everything until combined except the
mix-ins. This is where the fun comes in. I was a little short on
chocolate chips, so I put coconut, chopped dried cherries, and
granola in my cookies. Keeping the mix-ins to 1 ½ cups means
they won’t change your cookie. There’s not enough granola to
make it like an oat cookie. There’s not enough coconut to make
it a coconut cookie. It’s just a chocolate chip cookie with some
stuff in it. You can put anything you want- potato chips,
pretzels, peanut butter chips. After you find your mix-ins, mix
them in!
Now, scoop your dough onto an UNGREASED cookie sheet.
If should make about 24 in two batches. Bake the first 12 for
10-12 minutes. Then spatula them off the cookie sheet and bake
the next 12. And you are done!!
I’m eating a cookie as I type this and it is delicious! I have to
say it beats a cafeteria cookie by a landslide. They just don’t
make cookies like this in schools. Depending on what you put
in them, they can be ultra chocolatey, sweet and salty, or extra
crunchy.
I hope you create your new favorite chocolate chip cookie, or at
least find a proper substitute for the cafeteria’s beloved dessert.
Cleo Strauss
Arts+Editorial//Cleo Strauss
Writing Advice: Essays
Q: Last year, my teacher rarely assigned essays, but I hear that my ELA teacher this year is practically in love
with them! How can I step up my essay game, quick?
A: Essays are a unavoidable part of school. However, there are a few things that I do to ensure a good grade and keep the process fun. The first is to
be original. Don’t just start writing the first thing that comes to your mind. Chances are, if you thought of it that quickly someone else has thought of
it, too. Teachers don’t like to read the same thing over and over. Spend a little extra time forming your idea, and then get working. But don’t bang
out your essay just yet. Write an outline. Whether your essay is five paragraphs or 15 pages, keeping a plan makes it less stressful. Next, when you
do start writing, leave the first sentence for last. It will pack more punch and make more sense if you let your ideas develop first. Here are some do’s
and don’ts for writing a hook. Do make it emotional and powerful. Don’t use a dictionary excerpt. It’s way overused. Do try to trigger a reaction in
your reader, whether shock or surprise, sadness, or guilt. Sometimes making your reader feel bad prompts them to keep reading, so they can feel
better.. Remember to connect your conclusion to your introduction. Bringing things back full circle leaves your reader satisfied.
Once everything feels right, step back. Taking a break makes it easier to locate silly mistakes or places where you can improve. There are so many
tips to writing a good essay.. The most important thing is that you make it different, personal, and interesting. If you follow these tips, you might just
make the essay process a little bit enjoyable, for you and your teacher.

A History Lesson Through Art- Glass Mosaic Bowl, Unknown

This bowl is dated late first century B.C.E (Before Common Era) to early first century
C.E (Common Era). That means it has survived for around 2000 years! It still shines,
though the colors have changed some. The black was once purple and some red has
disappeared almost completely. It was made by slicing a cane, which is a thin rod of glass
or clay that contains a pattern. There are many ways to make a cane, by dipping molten
glass, into different colors to form layers or by flattening and layering preheated glass
sticks. The Romans commonly used the hot dipping and molding method. The cane slices
were then stuck next to each other to form a flat, patterned circle, which was then heated
and quickly pressed into a cast to take the shape of a bowl. Around the time that this was
made, the Romans were in the very beginning of their empire. Julius Caesar, the dictator
of Rome, had just been killed. Augustus took over in his place as the first emperor of
Rome. This began the Roman Empire. This bowl is said to be found in Panticapaeum, a
place in Ukraine which is now called Kerch. It was originally a Greek colony which was
later taken over by the Roman Empire. It was a large trading center, and this bowl was
probably imported to trade, not made there. The craftsmanship and work put into this
bowl makes it stunning. Imagine it 2000 years ago, sparkling on someone’s table. Isn’t
that crazy?!

School Style
School isn’t much fun any way you slice it. This particular cut is looking atrocious. The best thing you can do is close your eyes and act like everything is normal.
Invision yourself shoving your way through the hall, squeezing into a tight desk and holding your breath while you go to the bathroom. When I put it like that, you
don’t miss school as much, right? But seriously. Doing little things to remind yourself of going to school really does makes things feel more normal. One great
example of that is dressing up for school. That means no pajamas and keeping the sweatpants to a minimum. Even if your classmates will only going see your head
and shoulders, there’s a lot you can do there. I’m not saying you should do a full fledged makeup and hair look every day. It could be as simple as brushing your
hair.I feel infinitely times better when my hair is clean, brushed, and in a ponytail than when I just let if flop there. Giving yourself a little care does leaps and bounds
for your mood. And your mood does marathons for your attention span and ability to focus. Many studies, like this one, show that there is a definite link between
between color and mood. Rich colors help us feel grounded, bright colors help us feel happy, and while dark or neutral colors are comfortable and familiar, they can
make us too comfortable, ie. not attentive or passionate. There’s another important point I’ve been avoiding. I’m talking about the popular style. I think pretty much
everyone looks around to and see what everyone else was wearing and sometimes bases what they wear on that. It’s going to be hard to do that with online school,
which is really a good thing. You should bear what you want to, not what you think you should. I like clothes- all the patterns and textures and options make it seem
like very practical, wearable, art. Even when I was in preschool, I would wear double the clothes I needed. One shirt would go over another shirt and then a jacket on
top of that, with leggings under a skirt, all topped off with endless accessories. And all of them were a different color. So what I had the tallest laundry pile in the
history of laundry piles? It was worth it! Dressing up truly made me happy. While in preschool it could go unnoticed to be exploding with clothes, things change in
regular school. There were uniforms. Yuck! 6 years of elementary school uniforms kind of straightened out my oddball style, but not completely. With a gaggle of
older girl cousins, an older sister, and a couple of my mom’s friends constantly passing over hand-me downs, I was overflowing with clothes. None of them were
exactly what the common person would call… ummm, how do I put this? They weren’t completely compatible with the modern style. But they were pretty! And so
cool, at least to me. There were long, flowing skirts, button up blouses, sparkly tank-top dresses, striped business-y looking jackets, SO SO SO many knit sweaters,
and even a pea green petticoat.But, if you ask me, I rocked them. I was a trendsetter. A superstar! If you asked my friends, they would probably say I look okay.
That’s the thing about clothes. Like any art, it’s objective, and there’s no right answer. Going with what everyone is wearing is definitely not the right answer. At one
point, I got some normal clothes. My dresser was stocked with whitewash jeans and tightish shirts. Well, not exactly stocked. I had probably 6 new “stylish” things.
And I like them, but some part of me is drawn to the brightness and blind confidence of wearing weird old clothes, and if I take a little time to match them up okay,
they can look good! Anyway, that was just a very long way of saying clothes are hard. They can cheer you up, and even if your outfit is a little different than
everybody else’s, it can still make you feel great. So dress up for school. Put in some effort. It’ll show.
Puzzles// Cleo Strauss Cleo Strauss

The Back to School Maze Word Ladder

Summer

Concluded ______

____ Went to
court

Bitter ____

____ “I won’t tell

a ____”

School

Cryptogram- Each number represents a letter. See if you can figure out this
one!

Logic Puzzle
Leo, Shawn, Henry, and Spencer all love pasta. They each have their favorites, though. Use the clues below to figure out who likes
which!
1. Henry is vegan. Leo
2. The person who likes spaghetti doesn’t eat it with the
traditional sauce. Shawn
3. Leo doesn’t have the biggest or the smallest pasta.
4. Shawn doesn’t like sauces that have much color. Henry
5. Spencer’s pasta doesn’t have any of the same letters as
his name Spencer
6. Bowties can go with many sauces, but the person who likes it Emma Gates
thinks it’s best with
Spaghetti
with alfredo.
Bowties

Orzo

Gnocchi

Leo Shawn Henry Spencer Alfredo Oil Marinara Pesto

sauce