SOCIAL & DISTANT Aspen
6 FEET OCTOBER 2020
Country Day School Sixth Grade Unmuted
A VIRTUAL NEWSPAPER MADE BY KIDS FOR KIDS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
ISSUE 1
You can catch up on missed work. It happens to the best of us, getting an assignment and completely forgetting about it. Then finding out that day it is due! Well, use Covid to make sure that it gets done.
Will Halloween be Canceled? by Tru S., age 11
Every year, millions of kids dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes to go trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods. With Covid-19 this year, will Halloween and trick-or-treating go on? The North 40 has already canceled their annual Halloween festivities. Will other neighborhoods do the same? People are thinking about throwing Halloween parties instead. Here are some Covid-safe Halloween ideas: Ask your parents to buy candy for you instead of having to trick-or-treat for the candy. This keeps you from being exposed. It also gets you a better candy selection. Throw a party with fewer than ten people to cut down on gathering sizes. Or you could skip a party, but celebrate with your family: have a costume contest, roast s’mores, have a dress-up themed dinner, and even take a walk in your costume (without trick-or-treating). You can have fun dressing up your pets! Decorate your house with spiderwebs, bats, pumpkins, and ghosts. Since Halloween is on a Saturday this year, you could also celebrate during the day by carving Jack-o-Lanterns and bobbing for apples. →
TOGETHER
Make a leaf pile to jump in! What about making a homemade costume for your parents? That could be really silly! You could also do a scavenger hunt for candy with your family and friends. You could bake Halloween goodies like rice crispy treats or a pumpkin pie. Or, just give yourself a lazy day. Halloween can be fun even if trick-or-treating is canceled. Don’t make it boring, but figure out ways to do it differently. You can make new traditions this year that last forever. Staying safe and healthy is most important this year. Halloween will be fun. It’s up to you! _____________________________ _____________________________
How to be Productive During a Quarantine by Eliza D., age 11 Even
though quarantine might not sound fun or like an excuse just to be lazy, it’s actually a great time to be productive. These are some things you can do to accomplish that goal: →
Even though you should be staying inside, not getting outside is not okay. You should always get out, even if that just means going around your neighborhood. If you have a dog, you could take him/her on a walk. Use these times to spend time with your family! Play a game with them, watch a movie, or take a hike! (with a mask on). Even though we have to social distance from our friends, it does not mean that we can’t talk to them! You can make time to FaceTime. You can also clean your room! Switch things around (if your parents let you). You can do some cleaning. On that topic: you can re-organize your backpack and binders, so when we DO go back to school, you will have organized and clean supplies. We all need to wear our masks and practice social distancing. And make sure to have fun while being safe! So even if the pandemic seems boring, completing a goal feels amazing!
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In this Issue: OPINION, INSPIRATION, ADVICE, ART, COOKING, NEWS, SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, STORIES, HUMOR, HEART
Covid-19 Should Be a Lesson to All of Us by Felix S., age 12
It shows that in times of crisis, we need to unite, not divide. We need to work together as a team. We all need to stick to the guidelines that include wearing a mask, social distancing, and consistently washing our hands. This can be a tough time for people with chronic illnesses, older people, people of color, kids that rely on their school cafeteria for meals, and front line workers with children. Normally, if you get sick, you simply go to the doctor, and the doctor will take care of you. Now that there are so many more Covid cases, doctors are overwhelmed. There are limited ICU beds, so people are in the hallways, and doctors work double shifts. On top of this, they have to leave their kids at home. →
Never Giving Up by CoCo D., age 11
When life finds a loophole, it is your choice to close the hole, or you can give in and let it get you down. In such times, such as 2020, you must never give up because no matter how dark the sky may seem, there is always a little piece of sun that will eventually take over the entire sky. You just have to keep walking the rocky road.
One time a woman named Vivian
Greene said, ¨It's not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.¨ That is what wemust learn to do. We must learn how to go out and get the →
This can be difficult for the kids because they are doing online schooling alone; sometimes, they also have to cook, wash their clothes, and take care of their siblings. This can cause stress for the kids and their parents. Most kids my age can’t be with their friends, which makes things really hard. This is bad for our mental health. We need to socialize and spend time with our peers. People with illnesses had to be careful before Covid, and now some of them cannot even receive treatment. For others, they are forced to be isolated, get their treatments, and go home. They can’t spend time with friends or socialize at all. This is similar for older people. Many of them cannot go to work or see other people. The US economy is suffering at the moment. The leaders of the world have to make difficult decisions. They have to balance the economy and the safety of their people. →
I believe that they should put their citizens’ health first, but leaders will have many issues to deal with if the economy crashes. The country will have less money to support their people. They will have less money to give to the health care system, road repairs, the police, the fire department, etc. There could be chaos all over the country. We need to listen to and follow the guidelines set by our leaders. Following the rules is good for all of us. We all want this to be over as soon as possible. We have to work together to make that happen. Stay safe!
experiences we were planning on getting this year. The experiences we want may not be the same, but make this change a welcome challenge. There is a global pandemic.
doesn't matter, why? What matters is, how? How will I help?
Learning to dance in the rain means
your brain may struggle to get the answer. But in the end, the joy of feeling the cold rain splash on your face, all the struggle, and all the tears will feel like a movie you want to see over and over. It may bring you closer to your family.
Why? Why? is a question people ask
themselves every day. Why am I doing this NOW? Why would I do that? There are so many reasons to ask yourself, why? But in the end, it →
How will you help the world if you don't want to make a big splash? That is a normal question. You can still make an impact by being caring and being kind. The way you make a change can be small and big. In order to be happy with others and the world, you must first be happy with yourself. To be happy with yourself, you must first start with doing the things you love, learning to put a spin on the bad and to smile at the good.
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How to Draw a Bird by Theo M., age 11
Supply list: A piece of paper A pencil you can use to draw Shading pencils (optional)
STEP 3. Here, I went over my drawing, making some corrections. For example, I added some minor shape adjustments to the beak and moved the eyes down a bit. I also added the base of the wings and the rest of the feet. I then adjusted the shape of my bird’s back. Notice how I still kept everything light until it's time to make the final changes. I also started to think about what the bird is standing on.
STEP 1. Start by lightly sketching out a simple shape like this. Don’t worry if it’s a bit wonky. That’s why you do a light sketch so that you can edit it later.
STEP 2. Again, lightly sketch out some minor details like so. Also, make adjustments to your original shape if you need to.
STEP 4. This is where I added my final details and changes. This is preparing for shading. Also, start to go over your final details and sketch them a bit darker.
STEP 5. This is the final and most important part of your drawing, the shading. What you want to do is go over your bird and see where you want it to have different markings and patterns. This is what makes your drawing really pop. In some ways, it’s like coloring a black and white drawing. And now you have a beautiful homemade drawing of a bird!
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Social & Distant by Gigi V., age 11
People always ask me to social distance, but what does that mean for the social butterflies? I, myself, am a social butterfly, so this is how we can be both social and distant. First thing is first, technology. The way we attend school, at least for some of us, is we use Zoom. But we can use Zoom for other things too! For example, my dad's side of the family lives all the way in Chicago, so we have a family meeting on Zoom. Another way to communicate while using technology is FaceTime and/or Skype. This makes it possible to talk while also being distant. But what about if you want to see the person in real life? Well, here is how: Stay outside! There are multiple ways to talk and hang out with friends outdoors. Like for example, biking! Make sure each person has their own bike and then do a fun bike ride while either staying six feet apart (which is very easy with biking) or just wear a mask! You can also hike or walk.
“I had a dream that no one was wearing masks, Harry Potter was real, and fish would die when you want them to.” by Haven F., age 11
Masks are horrible. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They are saving half of humanity, but they can still stink. I have to wear them at school, when I’m outside, when I’m around people in general. When people wear masks, you can’t see their faces and whether they are happy are not. But, it is also good, because YOU don’t have to always smile at people when you walk past them, either. If you’re like me and don’t want to stare at a screen every second, books are good; particularly Harry Potter. If Harry Potter were real, we could just wave a wand, and the virus would go away. If the virus went away, we wouldn’t have to wear masks, and life would be normal again. If you’re wondering how many times a kid can read the whole Harry Potter series during a pandemic and not get bored, the answer is three…..and counting. Another good thing about reading in a pandemic is that you can forget about the pandemic and how annoying and life-consuming it is. Okay, so you may be wondering about the fish thing. I want my fish to die. I think I spend 12 minutes a week (and that’s TOO MUCH) having to take care of it. It may not be a great reason, but my fish is really boring. All it does it swim around. If I were the fish, I would jump out of my bowl. Unlike my brother, I still feed it every day, though, so I guess that counts for something. Cleaning the bowl, it just stinks. You have to take the fish out of the water. It’s a long process - not to mention the smell and the fish poop. Technically, we’re all fish. We’re swimming around in circles doing absolutely nothing during this crisis.
____________________________ THANK YOU TO GIGI FOR COMING UP WITH THE NAME OF OUR NEWSPAPER. - editor ________________________________________________________________________________
JOKE OF THE MONTH! Why do they call it the novel coronavirus? It’s a long story.
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SOCIAL & DISTANT by Desi C., age 11
Back then, there was traveling, going out for dinner, playing with friends, doing sports and hobbies. Now, things are different, such as wearing a mask everywhere you go, having to quarantine for two weeks before being able to see family, remembering to have your mask. If you don't have a mask when you are in a store, the manager can kick you out! Sometimes you don't even know if people are angry or happy because the mask covers half of their faces. A lot of crazy things have happened, stuff we did not even know existed. Online school is one of them. Almost everyone had to be on their computers learning and staring at their screen for six hours a day. It's also not the best way to learn. You can get distracted by food and noise and commotion. Kids have poor connections and mics that do not work when trying to talk. Seeing fifteen faces all on a screen and wanting to play with them (but can’t) is hard. Now, some things have closed up. You can go see your friend, but you have to be six feet apart. That means no hugging and no holding their hands and skipping across town. Six months ago, I was able to ride my horse. My trainer brought up Caleb, and I was able to get on and ride. Now, I have to keep my mask on the whole time. I only have 30 minutes to ride, and then I have to be off the barn property because it is someone else's turn to ride their horse. Three months ago, I was allowed to go into the barn and brush the horses for a longer amount of time than I can ride the horse now. I think things will loosen up in the future, and hopefully, things will get better. You just have to keep going with the flow, and not doing anything that will break the rules, so we can all stay safe, and things will go back to normal.
The Ups and Downs of Moving during a Pandemic by Noa A., age 11
Moving during a pandemic is tricky. Many factors go into it, like packing up everything and having to unpack once you have moved. The hardest part is letting go, letting go of your home where you grew up and made friends. Letting go and not knowing how long it will be until you see your old house again. And the hardest part, letting go. I have found that moving is an emotional rollercoaster, from when you get excited for a fresh start - to telling all your friends. You will feel “your” feelings, and that’s perfectly fine. It is all a part of being human. When you first find out, the hardest part is telling your friends trying to do everything possible to get the most experiences before you go. The reality is no matter where you go; these memories are always with you. The last couple of weeks are the most stressful, from packing to feeling your emotions. Overall, moving is hard, and even harder when you are in a pandemic. Once you have moved making friends can be tricky, especially during a pandemic. My family has different rules than other parents, which can be hard. My family can’t do playdates or sleepovers without masks. And it’s tricky. It’s easy to feel discouraged and give up, but when you give up, you're only hurting yourself. _______________________________________________________________________________
Six Feet Away from Sending Two Robots to Mars by Jack S., age 12
In July of this year, NASA launched two new vehicles into space with planes. The vehicles are set to land on Mars on February 18th of 2021. Perseverance is a rover that will take samples of the oxygen and dirt while searching for life in an ancient crater that might have had water in it. The samples will be collected and brought back to earth in later missions. The other robot, Ingenuity, is a helicopter that will scout Perseverance’s path to see if it is safe to explore. Ingenuity will also be the first helicopter to fly on a different planet. Due to the atmosphere and gravity of Mars, NASA has to make the blades of Ingenuity spin much faster, requiring a lot more power. Both robots will be studying an ancient crater that might have had water in it in the past. The crater has a spot that water might have come in from and a way for the water to go out. It also has a spot that could be a delta deposit. These are the first steps toward colonizing and studying Mars.
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My Life During April and May by Yale G., age 12
March 25 (approximately), Aspen had just closed down due to a group of Australian tourists who tested positive for the Coronavirus. Just like that, I didn’t know what to do. It was a sunny day in Aspen. April first. It is usually one of my favorite days because it is April Fools. I love pranking people on April Fools but I didn’t this year. What didn’t occur to me is that I could do prank phone calls, but I did not think of that at the time. It was the second-to-last day of not having online school. This was also around the time when I was introduced to a video game called Roblox. It is one of my favorites games to play today and probably will be for a long time to come. If you don’t know what Roblox is, it is an online gaming platform community with over 40 million user-generated “places” or games. The first game I started to play was Sharkbite. The objective of this game is to stay away from the shark and survive for around 5-minute games. If you were the shark then the objective was to eat everyone. Later, I started playing a game called Jailbreak. I still play that game right now. The objective of this game is to escape prison and rob stores to get money without being arrested, or to be a cop and arrest players to get their bounties. I played Sharkbite for a little bit on April Fools Day and then did a little bit of FaceTiming with some friends. →
A Letter to the Aspen Community Dear Aspen Community, I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings about my most recent 6th grade quarantine. When I first heard we had to stay home, I felt very frustrated. I couldn't help but think of everything I was going to miss out on. For example: hockey practice, playdates with friends, going out to restaurants, playing lacrosse, and most of all, going to school. I know this could have happened to any class at Aspen Country Day School, but I was annoyed that it was mine. And then I suddenly realized what my mom always tells me: there are always blessings in a bad situation. For example, there have been positives to this 6th grade quarantine. I get to spend more time with my parents and pets during the day. I also get to sleep a little later in the morning and not feel rushed to make it to school on time. I get to practice my cooking skills by making my own lunch at home. Even though I am not physically near my friends or teachers, I am able to see their faces on Zoom. I also like seeing my teacher's home life in the background on Zoom. For example, I love seeing Hunter drive Renee crazy and talk in the background while her mom is trying to teach. Most importantly, this quarantine has kept everyone healthy and safe. Finally, it's always important to look at the positives in any sad situation. I try to be grateful for all that I have. Sincerely, Pippa B., age 12
______________________________________ My Life During April and May, continued I open my eyes. Today is the day, time for online school. I was
introduced to the routine and how online school would work and adjusted to it. I later decided online school was the worst thing ever and decided that I would write paragraphs in all caps about how much I hated it. Another thing I did a lot during the period of quarantine is mountain bike. Before quarantine, I was very scared of mountain biking, but a friend convinced me to go with him once and I have loved it ever since. My life after quarantine was mostly the same except I did a lot more. As much as I hated quarantine, I have to say, it was not that bad. I actually did some good stuff during that time. Thanks for reading!
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Finding a Friend During the Pandemic
SPORTS AND RECREATION ______________________________________________________________
by Francie M., age 11
On March 4th, 2020, my life changed drastically. I went from the loud cars and streets of New York City to the peaceful mountains of Aspen, Colorado. I know for a fact that Covid-19 has changed everyone's lives either for the better or for the worse. Mine is a mix of both. It was very hard leaving New York, but I think that coming to Aspen has made it so I can spend a lot more family time. It has also made everything a lot easier and less stressful. I am so grateful to have a second home to come to, especially in Aspen. Spring here, which I never really experienced due to school, was truly outstanding. Watching the snowmelt on the mountains was honestly a gift. I really appreciate getting to be outdoors all the time. Because of Covid, it’s been hard to make new friends and meet new people. I’ve been lucky enough to make a new best friend, Annabelle. She is a caring, funny, and spunky friend who has basically everything in common with me. One trait that I really love about Annabelle is that she is really tough. When Annabelle faceplants off a ten foot wall while skateboarding, most people will start crying, but Annabelle will roll over laughing and try again. She is so determined and courageous; there is literally nothing she can't do. When someone says anything rude to her, she will let it roll off her like nothing ever happened. I love going to the skatepark to hiking Red Butte, or swimming with her. I know I've only known Annabelle for about five months, but It feels like we've been friends for years. And I am so grateful to have a friend who is (continued on next page)
NEW RULES ON THE MOUNTAIN by Max L., 11
As we all know, Covid-19 has affected people, jobs, and society. Aspen is famous for its amazing ski resorts but will they open this year because of the Coronavirus? Keep reading to find out more about the requirements if they do! As for riding the chairlift, you must wear a face-covering when loading and unloading. You will also be required to wear a mask and be socially distant when waiting in line for the chairlift. When you are riding the gondola, you will load with your family and friends if you are over two people. If you are two or below and are not comfortable riding with other people, the lifties will help you. If you are riding with other people, it is required you wear your mask at all times. Lifties will frequently sanitize gondola cabins throughout the day. As for dining, Elk camp, Merry Go Round, and Sundeck will be adding tented and heated seating. Picnic tables will be added across all ski resorts to sit and have lunch. Aspen’s teams are still managing the in-and-out flow of the restaurant. Aspen’s team wants you to make sure you wash your hands frequently, adhere to Pitkin County’s rules and regulations, stay at home if you are sick or at high risk, and leave immediately if you show any signs or symptoms of illness. I hope this has answered most of your questions and concerns for this year's ski season! ______________________________________________
The Dodgers are in the World Series ... … but is Cody Bellinger okay? by Ted F., age 11
On Sunday, October 18, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves in game seven of the MLB semifinals. It was a very close game and series, but it all came down to this: Cody Bellinger’s game-winning home run in the seventh inning to put the Dodgers up four to three. Now, you may be wondering: Why is it a big enough deal to write an article about? Well, here’s why: In the midst of celebrating the amazing homer, Bellinger dislocated his right shoulder while locking arms with a teammate (Click here to view the video). After the celebration, he said, “it kinda hurt.” His right shoulder has been prone to dislocation. “Maybe I’ll use my left arm next time” were Cody’s words, as he has never injured his left shoulder. While being prone to injuries, he is also prone to home runs. Bellinger has hit 123 home runs in his career and 12 in 2020. He was ranked the second best center fielder in the MLB during 2020 and continues to be a first-class player for one of the best teams in the MLB. The Dodgers will play in the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays and are favored for the MLB championship title. Game one begins Tuesday at 8:09 pm ET. Bellinger’s injury is not serious, and he will play on Tuesday. (Update at press time: t he Dodgers won the Series!)
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Reintroducing Gray Wolves To Colorado by Nico M., age 12
Finding a Friend, cont. from page 7
adventurous, outgoing, weird (very weird), funny, spunky, and, best of all, knows me better than anyone else. If nothing good comes from this pandemic, I will always know I have made a lifelong friend who has welcomed me with open arms.
Proposition 114 is a ballot measure that is trying to reintroduce wolves to the western parts of Colorado! “Why would you want to reintroduce wolves to Colorado?” You may ask. Well, ever since people out hunted wolves, the ecosystem has been off balance! Since wolves have been gone, deer and elk have thrived because they have no predators. With all those deer and elk, there are fewer aspen trees, grasses and plants. With fewer aspens, grasses and plants, there are fewer beavers and songbirds. Wolves also hunted foxes and coyotes. Without any predators, foxes and coyotes thrive, killing many rodents. With fewer rodents, birds of prey struggle to live! If wolves are reintroduced they could bring back balance. Vote yes on proposition 114 to restore that balance!
__________________________________ A roLLer cOaSter of emOtioN by Colter S., age 11
The pandemic has been rough at times, and sometimes it has been fun. My thoughts about this pandemic are that if I die from it, I will have known that it was my time to go, but other than that, I don’t mind this “stay indoors” thing too much. I live on a ranch and I have all of the space in the world to play outdoors. I feel very sorry for the people who live in small apartments. I feel super lucky to live on a ranch. It has been a roller coaster of emotions for me with this online continuous learning. It has not been ideal because up where I live - Wi-Fi cuts out a lot. To join my Zoom class, I have to drive down the road to get cell reception. Luckily for me, I got to go back to school in person. The ability to see my friends and interact with them was a huge savior. _______________________________________________
NOTICE AND FIX Hello, my name is Henry D. and I am running to be the next President of the United States. I will ban guns in households unless they get approval from my cabinet. I will ensure that everyone is equal, and immigrants seeking new lives will be welcomed. I will donate money to cities in poverty and make sure that the money is used for the well being of my people. I will also protect national parks from fracking and eliminate fracking as much as I can. My campaign slogan is Notice and Fix. It is inspired by a video I recently watched on slavery in James Madison’s mansion. The historian said we will continue to repeat the past if we don't take action. I am running for president because I feel America needs some new help focused on what my people say they need.
APPROVED BY CITIZENS FOR HENRY D. Here we all are!
by Henry D., age 11
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COOKING A FUN QUARANTINE TREAT How to Make Marshmallow Brownies.
Whose side are you on? Angel vs. Devil Interview
Quarantine Edition
Interviewer: What do you do when you wake up?
Angel: I go outside and smell the flowers or say hello to the world.
by Tenn W., age 12
First, preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper. You can also bake these without the parchment and coat the pan with nonstick spray. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine chopped chocolate and butter. Microwave on high heat for 30 seconds intervals, stir until smooth. When the chocolate melts, add in the sugar, eggs, and salt and mix until smooth, using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Lastly, stir in the flour. Then pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes until the center is just set and a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Devil: I don't wake up.
Interviewer: What do you enjoy eating for breakfast?
Immediately after taking the brownies out, sprinkle the marshmallows on top of the hot brownies and return to the oven for two minutes, allowing the marshmallows to melt. Set the brownies to the side to prepare the frosting.
Angel: I love heart-healthy granola and
Frosting
yogurt to get me going.
Devil: The darkest coffee from the darkest dungeon with no sweetener.
Interviewer: What do you do to
In a large saucepan, melt butter, cocoa powder, and milk together over medium heat. Remove from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar until smooth and no lumps remain. Pour the frosting evenly on top of the marshmallows, making sure all are coated. Allow the brownies to cool completely for 1 to 2 hours.
entertain yourself during these hard
Are you Bored During Quarantine?
times?
by Pryce R., age 12
Angel: I Zoom with family and friends and clean up my home!
Devil: I eat muffins, watch silly YouTube
Well, here are five fun things to make to pass some time. I love baking and so do my classmates. Baking really calms me. ●
Ginger Molasses Cookies: I have made these a bunch during quarantine. They are delicious and easy to make.
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Apple Crisp: This is a great fall dessert that everyone will like. This baking idea will have a lot of people doing stuff, so do this with friends or family.
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Pretzel Toffee: This takes less than 30 minutes and you only need four ingredients. It's super delicious and fun to make.
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Churros: These are DELICIOUS! I have only made them once, but they were so good and super fun.
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Beignets: these treats are from the movie P rincess and the Frog. It may take some time but it is worth it.
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Vanilla Cupcakes, this is super good and fun. My family and I put raspberries in the middle of the cup so you can do that if you like.
videos, and play Mario Kart till I cry and go back to sleep.
Interviewer: Well, that wraps it up for today, folks!
The angel's schedule was to say hi, eat healthy, and catch up with friends.
The devil’s schedule was to sleep, caffeinate, and play Mario Kart.
Whose side are y ou on?
Thanks for reading. Have a nice day!
I hope you have fun with these and you have some more things to do during quarantine. I hope these get you through these hard times, and I hope -Brock Z., age 11 they taste delicious.
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POETRY _____________ I AM FROM I am Addison Piper C. I am from Wisconsin, England, Colorado. I am from the land of cheese, mountains, the land of tea, the land of farms, the land of hiking. I am from Aaron Rodgers, Tim Allen, Simon Cowell. I am from steak, corn, pizza. I am from Christmas, Halloween, Easter, and New Years Eve. I am from hip hop, I am from phones, reading, watching movies, sports. I am from golfing and playing tennis. I am Addison Piper C. - Addy C., age 11 ______________________ I AM FROM I am Annabelle Juliet C.
I am from Aspen and Long Island. I am from the surf, bikes, one wheel, and skateboards. I am from Mom, Dad, Wyatt Canaan, Bas. I am from mushroom, spring rolls, ravioli. I am from Christmas and Easter. I am from teddy bears and iPads. I am from trampolines and pools. I am from Annabelle Juliet C.
THE BEST PART OF ME Using the following excerpt as inspiration from the book The Best
Part of Me by Wendy Ewald, students shared the best part of them in a writing assignment earlier this year. Keep reading to learn about some of the best parts of a few of our 6th graders. - editor
You often hear people describe themselves and their kinship with others in terms of their bodies - “I have Mom’s eyes,” or “I have my Grandfather’s ears.” People also use body parts to describe certain character traits in a person. “She has runner’s legs,” or “he has a pitcher’s arm.” The best parts of me are my legs because I hike a lot. I use my legs to walk from place to place, run, kick, and ski. You need strong legs to get around the gates fast. You need strong legs to pedal uphill when you mountain bike. You need to have a lot of leg strength to ride downhill and jump. You need to push up with your legs to play football because you need to run fast, and you need to stand strong when you get tackled. Hayden B., age 11
The best part of me are my eyes. My eyes are as blue as the sky and as green as a little piece of grass. They are as grey as a tiny sliver of metal. My eyes complement my “bold” personality. They make me unique. My eyes match my mom. My long eyelashes are as long as a black feather from a black crow. “My eyes are the best part of me.” Malia R., age 12
The best part of me is my athleticism. My athleticism is my best part because I love running around. I love soccer, tennis, basketball, football, and almost any sport. I like soccer because it gets me running, and I love the feeling of either scoring or assisting a goal for someone else. I like tennis because I like how you have to use hand eye coordination, and I also like running around. I like basketball because it takes skill to learn the form of a shot.
Oliver S., age 11
- Annabelle C. age 11
What is the best part of you? Share with your family or a friend
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POETRY cont. ___________________ I AM FROM
I am Emma Elese D. I am from California and Colorado. I am from the sandy beaches and the snow-covered mountains. I am from my family and my friends. I am from buttered pasta to vanilla cake. I am from halloween to hanukkah I am from pop to country. I am from sports to design . I am from stuffed animals to iPads. I am from trampolines to pools. I am from Emma Elese D. - Emma D., age 11 ___________________________
I AM FROM I am Dylan James F.
I am from Carbondale, Basalt, and Newport. I am from bright blue oceans to white snow-capped mountains. I am from Don Sr. to my Parents. I am from cheese pizza to steamers. I am from Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. I am from electronic music. I am from playing football. I am from Star Wars toys to hoverboards and bikes. I am from watching the Patriots win their 4th Super Bowl. I am from Dylan James F. - Dylan F., age 11
A Spooky Short Story
In the Shadows Lila G., age 12
Three friends were walking around the cemetery on Halloween
night. They were named Eliza, Gigi, and Lila. Eliza had just told a joke, and the three girls were bending over laughing. Their loud obnoxious
laughs drowned out the sound of faint ghostly music. They finally stopped
laughing and started walking again, through the path between the graves. Suddenly, Lila whipped her head around. “Guys… do you see that?”
Lila said very quietly.
“It’s probably just a dog.” Gigi casually exclaimed.
“No. It wasn’t. Point the light at it, Eliza!” Lila said, still
whispering with a troubled look on her face. Eliza slowly lifted the light to find a human shaped shadow, but there wasn’t a person in sight. “Oh my god. What the heck is that?” Eliza said, now sounding as alarmed and
scared as Lila. Slowly the shadow, still having no owner, started to walk towards them. Gigi screamed “RUN!”
All three of them sprinted back in the direction of Gigi’s house but
barely made it there. While they were running, everything seemed to go in slow motion. The girls were slowed down and then they heard ghostly music start to play. “What’s happening?” Lila cried. Then suddenly it
stopped. Just as soon as it had started. Instead of music, there were just crickets, and time had sped up to its normal pace. “I’m so dizzy,” Eliza slowly stuttered. “Is it gone now?”
The girls slowly oriented themselves to the space and found
themselves on the ground in Gigi’s backyard. They got up teetering a bit and then Gigi said, “Let’s go inside just in case.” They walked into the
kitchen from the back door and were going to grab their Halloween candy when they heard a noise. The girls all froze, being paranoid after their last experience. “HAPPY HALLOWEEN!” Gigi’s sister Lily and her friends
jumped out from behind the kitchen island and threw confetti on the three friends. “Oh my god you scared the life out of me!” Eliza hollered.
Everyone started to laugh about the fact that they thought that something was actually following them in the woods. “Why would you do that?” Gigi said, still laughing. “We just scared you. The confetti doesn’t bite” Lily said, very confused. “Then who was in the cemetery?” Lila said.
“We didn’t go into the cemetery. We have been in here.” Lily said.
The three girls looked at each other with wide eyes, all wondering the same thing. W hat was that? Is it still out there?
12
SOCIAL & DISTANT
POETRY continued
I AM FROM I am Jordan Sky M. I am from the Dominican Republic to the coast of Florida, the Turks and Caicos, and the Bohemian Islands. I am from pink sand beach and hiking the bowl, but always circling back to Aspen. I am from my mom and dad and my brother and sister and the voice inside my head saying you are amazing
Editor’s Note From Renee Wheeler, Sixth Grade English teacher M r. Wolman, our Head of School, said it was just a bump in the road. And it was! The first bump in the road, the first quarantine of the 2020-2021 school year. I n-person learning was thriving, but Covid-19 means business. The Sixth Grade students were ready, so when they found out their class was headed into quarantine, they rolled with it.
It was a seamless transition, and the students eagerly “zoomed” right
into their virtual classrooms. One of the things that these kiddos, living through this pandemic, seem to really understand is that o pportunities
appear i n the middle of difficulty. Hence, they jumped on the opportunity to submit an article to a class newspaper. A lovely mother had just shared another newspaper she had seen; it was created by young people and
and always will be.
focused on the pandemic. I couldn’t pass up the chance to make our own.
I am from laughing with friends to saying hi to some
creative and motivated. I asked the class to write, draw, cook, brainstorm,
We had time (ten days at home), and I knew this crew was extremely
uninvited guests. I am from sushi and fried ice cream to
or document what this pandemic has been like for them. There were no
a charcuterie for dinner, and I always
the other, each unique and full of character. Students proposed names for
save room for CPP. I am from presents under the tree on Christmas to chocolate hearts on Valentine’s Day. I am from playing the piano and listening to the ’80s whenever my mom’s around, but when I am in charge, it’s pop and country all day. And my fun-loving dad always trying to sing along. I am from cooking and baking to swimming and skiing. I am from my mom’s stuffed animals from when she was a kid to my snowglobe collection - even if I’ve broken or lost a few. I am from my favorite place on Earth, Camp Laurel South. And I am from the sky, Me, my middle name and the blue thing up above our head.
- Jordan M., age 11
rules, and the possibilities were endless. Articles “zoomed” in one after
the newspaper, and suggestions for the titles of articles echoed (literally) across the internet.
Ultimately, the Sixth Grade would like people to read S ocial & Distant to
find inspiration, entertainment, connection, and humor. It was written to help people pass the time during the pandemic and serve as a small time
capsule to share in the future. And last, but not least, to always remember, we can be both social and distant d uring this crazy time of quarantines. Thank you for reading!