CULTURE

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY HOLIDAY

BY AVARY HEWETT     December 2020

The Holiday Season is here, and for many these are exciting times, but due to current events, it can also be very worrying. While we love celebrating and spending time with everyone around us, we must remember to be cautious and careful, meaning we need to take precautions to make sure everyone has a safe season. Here are some tips and tricks to a healthy holiday.

1. Try to enjoy yourself with only your household. Although, when we think of holidays, we also think of spending time with our family and friends, but now it is very difficult to see each other, without putting anyone at risk. It is a smart and safe idea to stay with our household this year, so we don't put ourselves or loved ones in danger of catching the virus, due to travel. But don't worry, there are other ways to connect! You can set up facetimes calls or meetings to chat with your family and friends and see their faces, creating a good time for all.

2. Do a distanced gift exchange. The holidays are about giving, so why ruin the tradition? You and your family/friends can mail each other gifts, or hand it to them at a reasonable distance, then when you have your goods, open them up on facetime with each other. You can also do it with more than one person! It is a great and safe way to keep up the holiday spirit.

3. Make some crafts! During this pandemic and quarantine, we have all gotten more creative and clever with our supplies. During the holidays you can create or make something your style. You can make some sparkly sweaters, beautiful paintings, or even glammed up masks! If you want to, you can share with others, and give them an awesome, new gift.

4. The last way to celebrate is to just relax. This year has been stressful for many and it doesn't stop there. A nice way to enjoy the winter time is to tone down and give yourself some free time. There is nothing better than treating yourself when needed. Get some hot chocolate, a cozy sweater, and just take a walk in the nice weather, or cuddle up next to the fireplace. Make sure you have the best holiday!

A TIME TO GIVE THANKS... SAFELY

Covid-19 has affected a lot of us in different ways, but while being socially distanced, we can still celebrate for the holidays! Here are a few ideas for things to do!

1. Go to the beach! Florida is known for many things and one big one is that we have LOTS of beaches! For me personally, I love the sound of the waves. It might be a little cold to go in the water, but you can still have fun!

2. You can also have a movie night with your family! There are so many good movies out there that you can pick from. Go and watch movies in your living room with some popcorn and candy!

3. This isn't for most people, but camping or sleeping under the stars in your backyard is a good idea! If you're in a place with a lot of lights, you might not be able to see the stars, but it'll still be a nice experience! If you don't want to be outside while sleeping, or aren't comfortable like me. Just make a fort or use a tent and camp out in your living room!

4. This is very traditional, but with your holiday dinners, you can always help in the kitchen! I'm sure your parents will love having help and enjoy your company.

5. Cycling or walking on trails is a nice outdoor activity. Because of Covid-19, we use our devices a lot and it would be nice to have a break. Go and explore the outdoors! Breathe some fresh air!

6. Another fun activity is to decorate for the holidays. It's always fun to put up lights and decorations for Christmas, Chanukah, New Years, and many more holidays!

7. For all those DIY and artsy people out there, make some crafts! Whether that'd be painting a cantaloupe for Thanksgiving, making ornaments for Christmas, or making a confetti popper for New Years. Having something that you've made is very delightful.

8. Reading a book is another great way to take a break from electronics. A lot of people have the mindset that reading is boring or hard. Or that if the book is good enough, they'll make a movie so why bother reading it? But actually, reading is supposed to be very helpful with grades, and is an enjoyable hobby.

Make sure you're social distanced, wearing a mask when you have to, and not putting yourself at risk. And have a fun break!

2020 CALIFORNIA FIRE

BY ALICE WEBBER     October 2020

The California Fire was a series of terrifying fires spread throughout the state of California. The first outbreaks started around October 2019 and continued to January 2020. There are always fires everywhere in California, but these were the major fires during the 2019-2020 burn season. This burn season has been the largest in modern history, over 4,267,386 areas burned with 8,500 fires so far. As of October 1, over 30 lives have been lost due to these fires. 

Wildfires in California are growing more dangerous because of the collection of wood and fuel in California forests over time. A normal burn season happens from about June to September, but it can also extend till about May through October if they are extremely long. This is called the Western Fire Season. Unlike most states in the United States, California does not stop-controlled burns and does not clear brush. The brush can be any fallen logs, sticks, or other objects of that nature that could attentionally start or trigger a fire. This is why you hear about fires in California more than any other state.

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH VIRTUAL MUSEUM

BY VRITI SHAH     October 2020

Hispanic Heritage Month appreciates the contributions and accomplishments of all Hispanic Americans. Hispanic Heritage Month started on September 15th and ends on October 15th. This year, Markham Woods Middle School has to celebrate a little differently due to the Coronavirus. We are awaiting a Hispanic Heritage Month Virtual Museum with submission from anyone here at Markham Woods Middle School.

The museum should be out for your viewing sometime next week! Everyone is invited to submit drawings, essays, artifacts, paintings, posters, or traditional music performed by singing or playing an instrument. Send in submissions to donald_fields@scps.k12.fl.us by Oct. 6th. All submissions will be posted on a website for your viewing. This website should be available on your Language Arts teacher's eCampus home page when the website is out!

This museum is a learning experience for those who are participating and for those who are scrolling at home. Markham Woods families will be able to dig deep, learning about important people in the Hispanic community who impacted the world greatly. They will also be able to experience the beautiful Hispanic culture with the click of a computer key!

Show off your inner artist and submit before the deadline comes! Make sure you check out the website next week to celebrate with the rest of Markham Woods Middle School.

VISIT THE VIRTUAL MUSEUM

BY AVARY HEWETT     

The month of October is the national Hispanic Heritage month. This month is to respect and recognize the contributions and achievements of the Hispanic Americans and their influence of the achievements and cultures of the United States. The Hispanic Heritage Month Virtual Museum is Markham Woods Middle Schools way of acknowledging and celebrating all the accomplishments of Hispanic Americans. Student Government has put together different ideas and forms of art that have been submitted by the schools students, teachers, faculty and staff, and families. Each section of art has a video provided with it to educate the readers even more. You can read and learn about well-known artists like Frida Kahlo and Lin Manuel Miranda as well as historic Hispanic art and traditional music. 

I had the opportunity to interview Vriti Shah, the Director of Cultural Inclusion. She, along with the help of Mr. Fields, and classmates, came up with the ideas of a virtual museum and helped build it to share with everyone in the school. I asked her "How did you come up with the idea of the Virtual Museum?" She responded with, "I wanted to create something that was safe for Markham Woods Middle School families in the midst of the Coronavirus while also sharing the important culture and heritage of the Hispanic community. When I thought of a virtual museum, it fit all the criteria and left room for creativity. It was just perfect!" I also asked the question, "Why is it important everyone learns about this, even if it means virtually?" She answered, "It's always great to open up your mind to learn about another culture. Just making the website, I learned so much about different people and traditions." It should be a goal for all to celebrate Hispanic culture as well as every other culture and admire their accomplishments. 

If you are interested in visiting the Hispanic heritage month virtual museum: https://sites.google.com/view/hispanicheritagemonth-mkms/home?authuser=0

CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

BY VRITI SHAH     October 2020

It's October of 2020 and we are officially in spooky season! Unlike most years, germs might be scarier than ghosts and goblins for most of us this year. Instead of trick or treating and going to eerie Halloween parties with our friends and family, we have to stay safe during a global pandemic. Here are some tips and tricks to keep it safe while keeping the scary spirit!

If you aren't in the mood for trick or treating or you don't feel comfortable going outside, staying home can be just as enjoyable! You could try a sinister horror movie and eat some delicious candy and kettle corn with your family. If that's not your style, you could have a frightful night by having a family game night. You could theme this game night something scary or just play some regular Monopoly, which is just as fun. If you want to add some fall activities, try a pumpkin carving/painting contest with your family.

Another option for those who don't want to go outside is hosting or going to a virtual Halloween party. Invite your friends to a virtual meeting with costumes and fun! According to healthychildren.org, "Use video chats for an online party with friends and family and show off costumes and play games." This is a great way to connect with friends while staying safe in the coziness of your own home.

Now, if you want to go trick or treating safely and in style, here's an idea you might want to consider. According to cnn.com, "Order cute or creepy Halloween-themed face coverings to wear during your socially distant activities. Keep it real: As the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminds us, costume masks are not a suitable substitute for protective cloth face coverings." Sorry, but your creepy goblin mask might have to sit out this year!

You should also avoid sharing candy and costumes with others. Also, make sure you wash your hands after trick or treating thoroughly with soap and warm water. According to safespaceco.com, "This is the best way to reduce the amount of microbes on the hands, so it's important that your children always wash their hands before eating - whether they're eating lunch, dinner, or a pile of candy."

If you know a parent who wants to hand out Halloween candy but is concerned about germs, they could try building a 6 foot long contraption of some sort. According to cnn.com, "Be the savior of trick-or-treating by making a socially distant, touch-free candy delivery system like this 6-foot candy chute an Ohio dad created from a cardboard shipping tube or this awesome candy zip line by Michigan woodworker Matt Thompson." This will keep you creative, safe, and socially distanced during this Halloween.

This year has been different and hard for everyone but don't let that stop you from having fun on Halloween safely. Whether it's in the comfort of your own home or getting candy outside. Remember to stay safe this year, so next year can hopefully be a little more normal!

LEAP YEAR

BY NATALEE GERBOC     January 2020

You've probably heard about leap year before, but do you even know what it means? Leap year begins on January 1st, 2020 and runs to December 31, 2020. A leap year is a calendar that adds an additional day, to keep up with the seasonal year. February 29 is a date that only occurs every four years.  Leap years are needed to keep up with Gregorian calendar alignment with Earth's revolution around the sun. It takes earth 365 days to go around the sun once, and since 2020 is a leap year, that means there are 366 days in 2020.

How can you tell that it's a leap year? Well, in the calendar, "the year can be divided by 4". Also, "if the year can evenly be divided by 100 then it's not a leap year unless the year is also evenly divisible by 400, then it's a leap year," as stated by www.timeanddate.com

Birthdays... do they get affected by leap year? Well people born on February 29 get to "officially" celebrate their birthday once every four years. However, when the year is not a leap year, they can still celebrate.  Most choose to celebrate on Feb. 28 or March 1. The people born on Feb. 29 are sometimes called Leap Babies.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION... COMING IN NOVEMBER!

BY MADYSON JESSIE AND ALICE WEBBER     January 2020

The 2020 United States presidential election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3rd. It will be the 59th election. America is a democracy and that means that citizens have the right to speak out and vote for what they believe in, and that is why we vote for the new president. 

If you are 18 or older and you are registered to vote, some places you can cast your vote (they're called polling places) are libraries, colleges, churches, and local community centers.  President Donald Trump will be seeking re-election. There will be others on the ballot, as well. 

Election Day is a public holiday in some states, including Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, New Jersey, New York, West Virginia, and the territory of Puerto Rico, but you can still vote if you live in other states/territories. The term "issue voting" describes when voters cast their vote in elections based on political issues. You can view a candidate's webpage to see what they believe about a certain issue. 

Have you ever wondered, "What does it take to be a president?" Well, you must meet these 3 basic requirements.

1. Must be a natural born citizen of the US.

2. You must be at least 35 years of age.

3. And you have to be a resident in the US for at least 14 years.

For more information on this you can check out this website and watch the video. https://www.usa.gov/election

Who knew that elections were so complicated? I hope this helped you understand how election work and how to make an educated vote!

WINTER OLYMPICS

The Winter Olympics start on February 4 and end on February 20. The Olympics are sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions. They started in Greece over 2,700 years ago. The different categories that people can compete in, according to olympic.org. are alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleighing, cross country skiing, curling, figure skating, free style skating, ice hockey, luge, Nordic combined, short track, skeleton, ski jumping, snow board, and speed skating. Some champions who have won gold include Armin Zöggeler (luge), Gillis Grafstrom (figure skating), and Claudia Pechstein (speed skating). You may be wondering, what does the symbol mean? Well, the symbol represents the 5 continents that participate in the games. And each flag has at least one color of the symbol.

I hope this helps you as you watch the Olympic games!

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU?

New Year's Resolutions... do they really work?

BY VRITI SHAH      January 2020

Every year, thousands of people make a New Year's Resolution to try to challenge themselves to make the upcoming year a better one. These resolutions might be to do better in school, keep your room clean all year, to try something new, or to get out of a bad habit. Most people like the idea of a New Year's Resolution but what people fail to think about is do resolutions even work?

While setting your mind to something is a good thing, New Year's Resolutions are committed to for the whole year which is harder than you expect. According to fee.org, "80 percent of New Year's resolutions don't live to see the light of day by the second week of February." In fact, according to holidayinsights.com January 17th is National, "Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day."

Also, when you are trying to put your mind to something, after the holidays is not a good time for that. According to lifehack.org, "Not only are you coming off the back of holidays and getting back to the harsh realities of the world, but you see the whole of the year stretching ahead and summer's a whole six months away. It's not exactly an inspiring picture, is it?

New Year's Resolutions may not work but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try! Make sure you still try hard at school and at home! Making goals is still very important but try not to change yourself just because there is a new year!

BLACK FRIDAY

Ready, Set, Shop!

BY VRITI SHAH       November 2019

It's November and everyone is getting into the holiday vibes! With Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and so much more coming up, there is a lot to discuss. But, let's not forget one of the craziest days of the year, Black Friday!

Black Friday is the one day a year when every clothing store has humongous sales! People go insane shopping for themselves or for presents to use in upcoming holidays! This year, Black Friday is on Friday, November 29th.

Black Friday can be a fun time with friends and family but it can also be no joke! People do not want to waste the one day they get the best sales on everything! Here are some tricks found on numerous sources that may help you so you go into the field prepared!

According to consumerreports.com the author suggests that you should, "Do your homework." Don't worry the author doesn't mean school homework. James K. Willcox, the author, explains, "Getting ready means studying the ads...there are now dozens of websites where you can find leaked Black Friday ads. We regularly check BFAads.net, BestBlackFriday.com, DealNews, TheBestBlackFriday.com, and GottaDeal."

According to mentalfloss.com, another trick is to, "Resist The Impulse Purchase." This means to have self control on what you are buying. To help, everytime you see something that you want to purchase, ask yourself, "Do I need it or do I want it?". If you need it, buy it, if you want it, put it down! While doing this, you will not waste time and money on things that you do not need.

Clark.com says to, "shop late." It may sound crazy because things that you want are likely to be gone, but if you don't have a list and are looking for better deals, this is the hack for you! Clark.com explains, "They'll sometimes offer late shoppers deals in addition to the early bird offers. You might be able to sleep in, avoid the crowds, and score an amazing deal."

BestBlackFriday.com mentions that customers should, "Form a Black Friday Shopping Team." To explain, the author adds, "Team up with some friends or family members and you can literally (okay figuratively) be in more than one store at a time. It is truly a win-win for every party involved."

Black Friday can be pretty hectic but using the right resources, you might score deals and find exactly what you are looking for! Make sure you use one or more of these tricks to help your shopping experience be easier!

THANKSGIVING
A time to be thankful

BY MADYSON JESSIE AND ALICE WEBBER         November 2019

For many Americans, Thanksgiving is a joyful tradition that brings love and family time into many families. If you were wondering how Thanksgiving started, here is the story.

According to Wikipedia, Thanksgiving is "celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It originated as a harvest festival. Thanksgiving has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789. The 'First Thanksgiving' was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621.  This feast lasted three days, and ... it was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims."

Gabby Lakic, a 6th grader excited for Thanksgiving, said that on Thanksgiving Day she and her family go to their grandparent's house and they eat a variety of different foods. She enjoys Thanksgiving because she likes to spend time with her family and get to know them better.  That sounds like awesome Thanksgiving plans!

To us, Thanksgiving is about spending time with family, friends and, you guessed it, FOOD. Ham, and chicken and potatoes, and cranberries and pumpkin pie. Speaking of pumpkins, here's a family pumpkin bar recipe, that should take less than one hour to make and bake.

Ingredients needed:

4 eggs

1 2/3 cups of sugar

One 16 ounce can pumpkin

1 cup of cooking oil

Step 1: Blend the ingredients above together

2 cups of flour

2 tsp. of baking powder

tsp. of cinnamon

1 tsp. of salt

1 tsp. of baking soda

Step 2: Mix the ingredients that are stated above together. Combine both mixtures. Pour in pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Step 3: Once cooled you can add an icing of your choice, but chocolate or cream cheese icing are recommended. Cut into 2 by 3 size slices and enjoy! Bon Appetit!

We hope you try the pumpkin bar recipe and have a joyous Thanksgiving!

PROTECT YOURSELF                              AGAINST THE FLU

BY ZIA ALI        October 2019

Flu is short for Influenza. It is very common. There are more than 3 million cases per year in the US. It may be preventable through vaccine, but it is not guaranteed that it will work. The flu (influenza) can last several days or even weeks. Fever, aches and pains, headaches, a runny nose, postnasal drip, sneezing, reduced sense of smell, metallic taste in mouth, chills, cough, body pain, muscle pain, and a sore throat are all symptoms of having the flu. If you have the flu or you even think you do, go and see a doctor. You should drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest, eat healthy foods, and take care of personal hygiene if you want to reduce the chance of catching the flu. The flu comes around mostly in the cooler times. Make sure that you don't spread germs or even catch them. Trying not to catch germs is hard but you should still try to. You should wash your hands before eating, not touch your face, and not get too close to peoples' faces. There are many more things to do, those were just a few. Make sure to take care of yourself during this time of year! 

THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE

BY ZIA ALI     September 2019 

The Great Chicago Fire in 1871 started on October 8th and ended on October 10th. It was tragic and killed around 300 people, destroyed some 17,450 buildings covering almost 3.5 square miles, and caused $200 million in damage. Roughly one third of the city was burned and nearly 100,000 people were left homeless.

It is believed that the Great Fire started in a family's barn on 137 DeKoven Street by a lady named Catherine O'Leary and a cow, but it did not start like that. It did happen in the O'Leary barn, but it was not caused by a cow that kicked over a lit lantern. So next time you hear about the Chicago Fire, think about the people who lost their lives or went homeless and the money it cost to rebuild the city. It is a tragic part of Chicago's history.

LOVE YOUR MOTHER EARTH

Earth Day is April 22

BY NATALEE GERBOC     April 2019

     Earth Day is the day we demonstrate support for environmental protection. Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson. According to henslernurseryindiana.com, about 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day.                                                     

    You can celebrate Earth Day at school. These are some simple ways to celebrate, as stated from cuyahoarecycles.org: Plan an Earth Day activity, such as planting a garden. Develop an environmental day at school, where everyone picks up a few pieces of trash. Do a "zero waste lunch" for a day, where you try to have little to no garbage. Carry a reusable water bottle, to reduce the number of plastic water bottles being used.                                                              

    Jane Goodall once said, "You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."   

THE JOKE'S ON YOU!
April Fool's Day

BY ZIA ALI     April 2019

     In many Western countries, April 1st is traditionally an occasion for playing tricks. This custom has been observed for hundreds of years, but its origin is unknown. April Fools' Day or April Fool's Day is an annual Western celebration commemorated on April 1 by playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes. The jokes and their victims are called April fools. People playing April Fool jokes often expose their prank by shouting "April fool" at the unfortunate victim.                                                                                                                                            

Buzzfeed.com had some April Fools' Day Prank Ideas:                                                                                             

1. Text a GIF of the typing symbol to make your friends wait for a response that never comes.                           

2. If you can get into someone's phone, change their autocorrect shortcuts so that if they text something it changes to something else which is pretty funny.                                                                                                     

3. Bring a totally normal box of donuts or another delicious food in to work, and leave it out with a sign that says "April Fool's!" Then watch everyone try to figure out what you did to it.                                                         

4. If you live with your prankee or have access to their room, you can get alarm clocks, set them all to go off at different times, and hide them all over.                                                                                                                     

5. Hide a baby monitor or walkie-talkie in a closet or ceiling and meow into it. You could make ghost noises, talk into it, or make animals noises because then they'll go looking for that animal.                                            

6. Squish up a raisin and put it in a napkin. Tell someone that you just caught a fly and then eat the "fly" with a smile on you face and shrug while you walk away.

THE DAY OF LOVE: 

VALENTINE'S DAY

BY ZIA ALI     February 2019

     Valentine's Day is a day where people celebrate their love and affection for one another and it is celebrated on February 14. In the United States, the day is typically celebrated with roses and chocolates. In Denmark, friends and sweethearts exchange, not roses, but pressed white flowers called snowdrops. In Wales, you won't find the Welsh celebrating Saint Valentine -- instead, people in Wales celebrate Saint Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, on January 25th. One traditional romantic Welsh gift is a love spoon. Dating back to as early as the 17th century, Welsh men carved intricate wooden spoons as a token of affection for the women they loved. Welsh "love spoons" are still popular today. 

     Valentine's Day gets its name from Saint Valentine, a third century Roman priest. Valentine set up marriages in secret, as the emperor had banned soldiers from getting married. When he was caught, he was thrown into jail, where he fell in love with the jailer's daughter. When he was taken to be assassinated on February 14th, he sent her a love letter signed, from your Valentine.